Two weeks ago today…on a cold and cloudy January day…we were asked if we would like to join my great brother-in law and sister-in-law for a trip to Florida.  After  thinking for about 1.5 seconds we said yes.  It was like Christmas in January!

I love the Ocean.  I love any body of water.  I find it amazingly peaceful and soothing.  Our house in Carbondale, Illinois adjoins a large pond…I stare at it for hours.

I also am fascinated by sunsets…especially sunsets on the Ocean.

The interaction of clouds with the Ocean is a never changing kaleidoscope of color.

The beauty of the ebb and flow of the Oceans waves is constantly changing.

Now while we were enjoying the grandeur of nature I was sipping another natural product procured from our visit, on the trip through Tennessee…and a visit to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Gentleman Jack and Honey Jack.

And, so we have the gift of breath in our bodies…and God is in his heaven.  Let us never forget to enjoy this unparalleled gift of life!

Yesterday was Inauguration day for the 45th President of the United States.  I watched the events on television as many Americans did across our country.  I watched with as much of an open mind that I could muster…and I saw some instances of hope…I thought.

I noticed, once again, that President Trump’s family is lovely.  The recognition and appreciation of President Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton’s attendance at his Inaugural and his giving them a standing ovation was heartfelt and classy thing to do.

President Trump’s obvious affection for his ten year old son Barron and Barron’s wonder and enjoyment of the Inaugural Parade was humanizing of our new President and gave me hope.

Today…his first day…he chose to delegitimize the media and accuse them of publicizing falsehoods regarding his opinion of the Intelligence Community.  He did this in front of the CIA’s Memorial Wall of their 117 fallen comrades, which is sacred place at CIA headquarters, and then he continued to speak for nine of his fifteen minute address regarding the size of the crowd at his Inauguration.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer accused the media today of, ‘deliberately false reporting,’ on yesterday’s size of the Inauguration crowd, according to the blaze.

A photograph of the Washington Mall during President Trump’s Inauguration placed side by side with President Obama’s Inauguration reveals an objective difference between the size of the crowd on the Mall.  President Trump’s Inauguration crowd is noticeably smaller.

I could not help but notice the very non-judgmental reporting by CNN yesterday during the festivities.  The reporters had little if anything negative to say but rather focused on the pomp and circumstance of the majesty of the Inauguration.  I do not recall anyone talking about crowd size…they did talk about how beautiful our American tradition of the Transfer of Power was.

Facts do matter.  We have to agree that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West.  It is settled fact that our Earth is round.  As the saying goes, ‘are you going to believe me or you’r lying eyes?’

Today women across the globe were motivated to protest due to the election of President Trump.  This world wide coordinated protest is factual…and extremely unusual the day after the Inauguration of a United States President.

Women have been a powerful influence thought my life.  My father left my mother and I when I was five years old.  My Mom was devastated…but she picked herself up off the floor and enrolled in Photography School…to learn a trade…to feed her son and put clothes on his little back.

My lovely wife, Mary Jane, took care of my Mom, after my stepfather died, while at the same time retuning to University and obtaining her Master’s degree…at the age of forty.  Mom suffered from Alzheimer disease.

I saw the first female Chancellor of Southern Illinois University fired on trumped up charges with less than a year of service.  That short year was like a breath of fresh air for faculty…staff…and students.  We finally knew that we had a University Leader who cared about us.

Women are over half of our population.  They are vital to every human endeavor.

In the 1986 movie Poltergeist the little girl played by the actress Heather O’Roarke stated, ‘They’re back,’ in reference to the evil spirits that had invaded their home.

We must have a free press.  That does not mean that you have to like them…or agree with them…or always believe them.  We must not accept when a leader, Democrat or Republican, tells us something that is diametrically opposite from what our eyes and ears and brain know is true.

If we do this…then we are under the influence of an Alternate Reality that is dangerous…and by aquiesence can control our freedom and our truth.

I am always a little sad at this time of year as I miss the unique feeling of love and joy and camaraderie that is more evident during Christmas time.  I have often reflected on what is it that so enthralls me about the holidays.  There is a special…almost parallel universe of peace and goodwill and helping others during Christmas…that is painfully missing from everyday life from January to December.

We celebrate the miraculous birth of Jesus in a manger surrounded by his loving mother and father and the wise men and the animals…and yet the magnitude of the birth is often lost to us when we forget the reason for the season is message of hope that he brought us.

‘The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.  But wisdom is justified of her children.’  Matthew 11:9  KJV

‘They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commands us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?  This they said tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that its without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:  and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?’   John 8:4-10   KJV

What did Jesus write on the ground?

‘When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he  anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,’   John 9:6   KJV

The suffering and less fortunate and homeless and destitute are among us like never before.  How much Christmas can we have in our actions and in our hearts by helping someone in need?

The Syrian, the Mexican, the African American, and the Muslim seek a Christian Community that exemplifies the example of their founder.

People who are different from me does not mean that they are lesser than me.  Difference should be celebrated and welcomed and learned from.

The theme of our great Country depends on the actions of each of us.  If I want a welcoming Country…I must be welcoming.  If I want peace…I must be a peacemaker.  If I want the hungry to be fed…I must feed the hungry.

Christmas is powerful because of the ideals and demonstrated gracious and loving actions of the little baby born in the manger…so long ago.

The elusive happiness that we all seek…is at the end of our hand…helping our fellow human traveller.

It was a wonderful Holiday Season.  A reconnection with an old friend and a two lovely visits to one of my favorite cities, St. Louis, helped to enrich my holiday enjoyment.  I did all of this and also fractured three ribs in an inopportune fall on ice.  The pain, especially the muscle spasms in my right side was like nothing that I had experienced to date.

Mary Jane and I especially enjoyed visiting with our niece Tara and her husband Mike on Thanksgiving and Christmas.  They are delightful people who we love and admire…and we feel like we know them better after our recent visits.  Their children are wonderful.

I had a lovely gift from my life long friend Jeff, who has lived in Europe for several years, that was truly touching.

Life has brought us, in the United States, to a New World.  We have elected a President who is much different from his predecessors.  His rhetoric during his campaign was hurtful and unnecessary.  His spoken words regarding many groups of people were frightening.  Does he feel strongly regarding all of the hurtful words that he said about ; women, minorities, the handicapped, and immigrants…probably not?

There have been encouraging economic signs since we have had since a President Elect Trump.  The saving of 700 Carrier jobs in Indiana and Ford Motor Company deciding to not build a plant in Mexico and instead doing so in America.  The Tweet of the President Elect disavowing the Republican House members attempt to reduce the power of the independent House Ethics Committee and the subsequent change of heart of the House Membership.

Obamacare has problems.  It is to expensive for many middle class Americans.  Often you are not able to keep your Physician that your are comfortable with.  But, twenty-million Americans now have insurance where they did not prior to Obamacare.

If the President Elect will fix the Affordable Care Act…and not replace it…he will show statesmanship and wisdom that will be appreciated by Republicans and Democrats alike.

Let’s not embrace the Despot, Vladimir Putin.  Let’s not belittle and besmirch all of our Intelligence Agencies…who put their lives on the line…and who we rely upon for our safety and security.

Our President Elect has exhibited an ability to make a deal.  Let us hope and watch and wait for a President who will negotiate with both sides of the aisle in Congress to produce a much needed Infrastructure Program that will repair our out of date bridges and roads, and replace our crumbling rail lines and put millions of Americans to work.

President Elect Trump has shown a desire to consult craftsmen and women on his work sites, directly, as to their expert opinion.  He now has the golden opportunity to reach out to; African Americans, Women, the disabled, Muslims, Mexicans and others and demonstrate the magnanimity of the highest office in the land.

The President Elect, as do we all, craves approval…and being liked…and being appreciated.  Nothing would reinforce this Presidential desire more than genuinely and sincerely reaching out to those that, due to his campaign rhetoric, feel apprehension and real fear.

Often, when I was a manager of a large housekeeping organization, my leadership staff would bring to me disparaging comments that someone within the organization had uttered concerning me.  I repeatedly asked them to not share such comments with me unless someone was threatening my life or trying to get me fired.

A member of my immediate staff told me once, that if you did not know who was my enemy or my friend…you would never be able to tell by the way that I treated them…as I appeared to treat my enemies just like my friends…if not better.

I am sure that this gracious comment was not true…but it was what I strove to accomplish.

Mr. President Elect…make your enemies your friends…and your friends…love you.

The Christmas Season is my favorite time of year.  It has been so since I was a child.  I recall Christmases in Chicago where we had a massive Christmas Tree and many presents.  Mom and Dad were still together…and all seemed right with the world.  There was Laughing Santa!

Then, there was Christmas when it was just Mom and me in Eldorado, Illinois.  Money was short and wishes were long.  One or two small gifts were all that were available carefully placed under an aluminum christmas tree.  Yes, aluminum christmas trees were popular in the 60’s.

Christmas in Elkville, Illinois with my sweet wife Mary Jane and our wonderful sons; Aaron and Jonathon…both small and full of holiday wonder.  It was tremendous!

Christmas, now, in Carbondale still presents Aaron and Jonathon full of holiday delight and their Dad full of wonder and Mom full of Holiday surprises.  Now I ponder the precious gift of life and love and family and friends.

I visited a friend of mine yesterday…that I have know for over forty-five years.  What a delightful person…and I was transported back to our younger days.  I remember this great lady’s kindness to me…inviting me to supper with her and her sons…when she really did not have enough for them.

Who do you know who needs a little encouragement?  Who do you know who is down their luck…or that is lonely…or is battling illness…or who has lost a loved one?

In the famous short story by O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi, originally published December 10, 1905, we read of Mr. James Gillingham Young and his wife Della.

Jim and Della, ‘have only two possessions between them in which they take pride.  Della’s beautiful long, flowing hair, almost touching to her knees, and Jim’s shiny gold watch, which had belonged to his father and grandfather.  On Christmas Eve, with only $1.87 in hand, and desperate to find a gift for Jim, Della sells her hair for $20.00 to a nearby hairdresser named Madame Sofronie, and eventually finds a platinum pocket watch fob chain for Jim’s watch for $21.00.  Satisfied with the perfect gift for Jim, Della runs home and begins to prepare pork chops for dinner.  At 7:00 o’clock, Della sits at a table near the door, waiting for Jim to come home.  Jim comes home and immediately stops short at the sight of Della, who had previously prayed that she was still pretty to Jim.  Della then admits to Jim that she sold her hair to buy him his present.  Jim then gives Della her present — an assortment of expensive hair accessories (referred to as ‘The Combs’), useless now that her hair is short.  Della then shows Jim the chain she bought for him, to which Jim says that he sold the watch to buy her combs.  Although Jim and Della are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realize how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how precious their love is,’ according to Wikipedia.

Please enjoy this thought provoking Blog from Deborah.

‘Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within the other being’s frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another’s position.  Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with ears of another and feeling with the heart of another,’ according to Wikipedia.

The New York Times reports today that, ‘Jolted into action by a wave of hate crimes that followed the election victory of Donald J. Trump, American Muslims and Jews are banding together in a surprising new alliance.  They are putting aside for now their divisions over Israel to join forces to resist whatever may come next.  New groups are forming, and interfaith coalitions that already existed say interest is increasing.’

African American CNN Commentator Van Jones is beginning a new expose, entitled The Messy Truth, regarding his visits and interviews with white blue collar middle class Americans as to why they voted for President Elect Trump.  At one point, in the Show’s preview tonight while interviewing a white middle class family who had previously voted Democratic, the man being interviewed noted that he and other Democrats had placed many Democratic candidates for President… in the Presidency…and that candidate Clinton did not even mention them.  Mr. Jones noted that he looked at his cameramen…and they were ‘teared up.’

I have been asked, more than once, since the Presidential Election, what I thought about it.  My response is that everything that I have written regarding hateful and divisive words that were uttered, on a regular basis during the Presidential Campaign, I stand behind…and indeed would not withdraw a single word that I have written.

‘Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone,’ as posted by Spirit Science.

One of the first lessons that I learned when I became a manager of a large custodial department was that suddenly my words, even casual ones, mattered.  Having worked for managers and administrators who were quick to speak hurtful words…I have personally experienced the disruption…worry…and agony of being both fearful of the machiavellian manager…but also a witness to others in the organization being emboldened by the leaders rhetoric and subsequently treating those who were different from them in an abusive manner.

Victory in a Presidential Election is only the first step in governing our country.

President Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, said during his second inaugural address…just days prior to the end of the Civil War…’With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work that we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have born the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.’

This past Friday, Black Friday, we made are customary journey to St. Charles, Missouri to enjoy the Christmas festivities of this historic Missouri Town.

St. Charles is not only decorated with the finest and most ornate holiday regalia but it also features Santa’s from around the world and Charles Dickens Characters right out of his Christmas Classic, ‘A Christmas Carol.’

Shortly after we arrived we visited Fraser Leonard’s Fine Art Gallery.  Mary Jane saw a Copper Winter Tree that she admired and I noticed the ‘Trump Tie’.  Then it was on to lunch at Bradenton’s Cafe.  They have the most wonderful Reuben sandwich.  Usually I  partake of the Grand Mariner as the bartender gives generous proportions of the orange flavored delicacy…and it is a holiday tradition.  However our server explained to us that there was a draft beer made by the Schmaltz Brewing Company called Jubilation.  Our waiter warned us that Jubilation contained 17% alcohol.  A better beer I have not had!

As we enjoyed our Reuben sandwiches and luxuriated in the Jubilation…we decided that we must return to look at the Copper Winter Tree.

Upon our return to Fraser Leonard’s Gallery…I suddenly noticed the profound message that the ‘Trump Tie’ spoke to me.  I have been fascinated by the Presidential Candidacy and now the President Elect Trump’s success in the overwhelming belief that he would fail.

The ‘Trump Tie’ is an over three feet long steel tie that is painted fire engine red.  It is a ‘power tie.’

I had one of the most enjoyable discussions with some of my beloved family members over Thanksgiving.  They voted for President Elect Trump…I did not.  However, many of the issues they brought up…I agreed with.  They hope of a better economy for the middle class…so do I.  They hope for an insurance program that will serve all Americans…so do I.

Does the ‘Trump Tie’ signify the fears that I have had of the hurtful rhetoric that Candidate Trump regularly uttered on the Campaign Trail…or does it signify positive change?  I have a definite opinion…read my Blog…but I hope for positive change.

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’   Luke 2:14  KJV

As Tiny Tim said in A Christmas Carol, ‘God Bless us Every One!’

I have always been fascinated by former President John Kennedy.  He is the first President that I remember.  I recall how frightened my Mother and Father were during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962.  I heard my parents talking about the possibility of ‘the bombs’ and the fact that we did not have a ‘bomb shelter.’

Tomorrow, November 22, 2016, will mark fifty-three years since President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas…shortly after noon.  I was six years old and in first grade…and Mrs. Kittinger announced to our class that President Kennedy had been shot.  School ended for the day and I walked home to the big…cold…scary house that we had moved to in Eldorado, Illinois.

My Mom was weeping.  When I asked her why she told me that President Kennedy had died.  I was amazed that my mother was so emotionally moved by the President of the United States death…I wondered if we were related to him.

For much of the rest of my childhood our Country was filled with unease.  I watched Walter Cronkite announce each evening on the CBS Evening News the American fatalities for that day.  My cousin was drafted.  I was sure that when I became of age…that I would be drafted and sent to Vietnam as well.

In school we had ‘bomb drills’  where we either crawled under our desk or when we became larger we exited into the hallway and knelt against the wall and covered our heads with our hands.

Today, there is a significant amount of disquiet in our land.  Americans from many different walks of life fear that our beloved country will no longer fulfill the wonderful poem written by Emma Lazarus in ‘1883 to raise money for the construction of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty,’ wikipedia.

The Poem is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty Pedestal and reads in part, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breath free, The wretched refuse of you’re teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!’

Thanksgiving is a time of thankfulness and renewal and re-energizing.

It is a time to realize our many blessings…and to think about those in need…and to resolve to help lessen the suffering of our fellow human beings.

Let us all realize that the success of our Great Country has never been about a President…no matter how charismatic he might be…but it has been about our inclusiveness and working and struggling together…much as our wonderful troops did in World War II.

The secret of the United States Success is the acceptance and transformation of ‘the huddled masses yearning to breath free…the wretched refuse…the homeless and the tempest-tost!’

If;  Bigotry…Xenophobia…Misogyny…Respect for the Disabled…’Standing Rock’ and the horrible manner our government treats our Native Americans…has given us concern…it is up to us to do your part to make it better.  No political leader will ever solve those Herculean problems for us.

As President Kennedy admonished us at his Inauguration… so many years ago…’My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your Country.’

The Quakers say, ‘Speak Truth to Power.’