Earlier this month we had the privilege of spending five days in Edinburgh, Scotland.  This was during the Fringe Festival that encompasses all types of Arts which includes over three thousand separate performances.  In fact it is still going on for the next few days!

One of the most interesting events that we took part in was separate from the Fringe and truly a chilling experience.

The tour we joined was created by a local historian and was not given to histrionics or gimmicks but rather relied upon the murders, brutality, and all out strange phenomena that is associated with Edinburgh throughout its’ long history.

At the beginning of our tour our guide noted the heart on the old cobblestone pavement that marked what used to be the opening of the dungeon.

We walked to Greyfriars Kirkyard which is the graveyard that surrounds Greyfriars Kirk.

Here many of the City’s poor and indigent were buried in unmarked graves.

The above picture illustrates the common practice, in earlier days, of putting a cage around your loved ones grave to prevent their remains from being robbed by persons who would sell the remains to the University of Edinburgh Medical School for their research.

William Burke and William Hare committed 16 murders in 1828.  They sold the bodies to Dr. Doctor Robert Knox for his Anatomy classes.  Due to measures being taken to keep graves from being robbed there became a shortage of cadavers for the purpose of dissection in Anatomy lectures.  “When a lodger in Hare’s house died, he turned to his friend Burke for advice and the two decided to sell the body to Knox; they received, what was to them a generous sum seven pounds and ten shillings.  A little over two months later, when Hare was concerned that a lodger suffering from fever might put others off from staying in the house, he and Burke murdered her and sold the body to Knox,” according to Wikipedia.

Burke and Hare’s Cottage Industry was going quite well until a student in an Anatomy class recognized Margaret Docherty’s corpse as one of the lodgers at Hare’s home.

Hare turned kings evidence against Burke.  Burke was found guilty of one of the murders and subsequently hanged.  His corpse was dissected and his skeleton displayed  at the Edinburgh Medical School where it remains to this day.

Burke and Hare were two members of a well done fictionalized account of ignominious murderers throughout history in a popular Twilight Zone program entitled, The New Exhibit.

One of the truly eerie segments of the tour came at the conclusion where we went underground to the vaults that had been uncovered.  Our guide said that although she had only worked for the Tour Company for less than a year…she had striven to remain neutral regarding the existence or non-existence of ghosts.  She went on to recount that within the last two months three disturbing reports had been given to her by members of her various tours.

The original owner of the vault, that we were in, had two children who were tragically killed.

The first account came from a woman at the conclusion of one of our guide’s tours when she asked the guide who the little boy was that was at her side during her explanation of the vault they were in?

The second occurrence was our guide noticing that a man and woman had no more than entered the vault when they hastily turned around and exited and returned above ground.  When our guide met them at the conclusion of the tour she enquired as to their rapid exit.  They responded that as soon as they entered the vault they saw a little boy setting in the corner of the room.  Our guide found this concerning as she had not told of the history of the room or the untimely death of the two children.

Recently yet another woman saw a little boy standing at the side of our guide during her entire presentation in the vault.  This woman knew nothing of the first two occurrences.

The picture above is Jonathon…not the ghost…but is illustrates the dark, dank, environment we were in.

A fellow American from Texas took several pictures while we were down there and showed me an image that I did not recall seeing while I was there?

The last item we saw was where one of the stones had fallen from the wall and when you bent down to look in…there were bones.

Few life occurrences have given me more pleasure than my re-connection with my friends Jeff and Margo beginning in 2010.  Jeff and I met in 1971.  I was attending a small non-denominational church in Elkville, Illinois and Jeff began attending church along with many of his fellow hippies.

I have always liked hippies,…and I think Jeff and many other Commune dwellers who lived along the Royalton Blacktop, who were fascinating people, opened a whole new world to me,…are the reason why.

I stayed at the Commune on more than one occasion and experienced things that I had never thought of before, such as Gefilte Fish and Matzo.  Many of my hippie friends were Jewish.  I also felt such a sweetness and love and acceptance from the Commune members.  Many of these wonderful people became Jews for Jesus.

During these young days many of my new friends stood out to me; such as Helene, Michael Toppel, Michael Black, and my friend of 45 years…Jeff Lestz.

One Sunday morning after staying over at the Commune I asked where I might take a shower?  Michael Toppel and Jeff Lestz took me to the back yard to what I can only describe as a unique human cleansing device.  The shower had three sides with the front or entrance completely open to the world.  The water came from a tub that had been strategically placed on top to the shower with garden hose protruding through the roof and an on and off knob suitable for a garden hose within arms reach the shower participant.

Michael instructed me to turn the water on…cold…and get wet…then turn it off…soap up…and then turn it back on for the rinse cycle…as there was not enough water to keep the flow coming throughout the process.

When I enquired as to the totally open entrance…Jeff and Michael remarked that it was not a problem while the adjacent corn field was high with corn but that there was some privacy issues after harvest.

Jeff was someone that I felt an immediate connection with.  His desire to learn and improve was Herculean!

For the past three weeks my family and I have been traveling with our dear friends Margo and Jeff.  Toward the end of our Holiday Jeff had invited me to attend a business meeting with him in Leeds, England that was entitled…An Evening with Jeff Lestz.

I told my lifelong friend that I would be happy to do so and that I would set in the back.  He responded that he not only would like for me to attend the meeting but to say a few words regarding the beginnings or our friendship.  I was honored…and could not resist the opportunity!

Jeff is the Co-CEO of an extremely successful company called Genistar that is based in the United Kingdom.

The energy and excitement and anticipation in the room in Leeds was palpable.  People were eager to hear from my friend regarding the financial opportunity that he was offering…and about Jeff Lestz the person.

I looked around the room of fifty to seventy-five people and saw the most lovely mixture of races and cultures.

Horatio Alger in the latter part of the nineteenth century wrote very popular books that were categorized as Rags to Riches stories of young men who came literally from poverty to wealth.  I cannot describe to you what a thrill it is to have as my life long friend a true Rags to Riches story!

The secret to my friends success is simple…he has always had a heart to help others…and thus the genuineness of his heart touches those in need.

I must bestow my favorite quote on to my friend Jeff, as it describes his dedication to others who are less fortunate… perfectly: “We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”  G. K. Chesterton

We have just returned from a lovely three week journey to the United Kingdom.  As usual I have so much that I want to write about I think that I will be writing until Christmas!  However I can’t  imagine anything that touched me more than a meeting at the conclusion of our trip the morning after we arrived back in the United States…than our meeting my long lost brother Brock and his lovely wife Marcy.

We met my youngest brother, who I had never seen, at the Radisson Hotel near the airport in Nashville, Tennessee.  What beautiful people!  You see the reason that I had never met them was due to my Mother and Father divorcing when I was five years old. We had lived in Chicago and I had been an only child.

Have your ever first met someone and felt like that you had known them all of your life?  The feeling of looking your brother in the eyes and seeing an element of yourself…is surreal.

Brock also uncannily resembles our Dad.

Both Marcy and Brock are hard working people.  Marcy works in the Health Care industry and Brock has held more than one responsible management positions with various companies.  They are the proud parents of two great children, a daughter and a son.

Meeting them gave me a feeling of Home and Place that I had not experienced as an only child.

They are coming to see us…and we are planning a hiking adventure at Giant City State Park!  We all are excited about this new chapter in our lives!

“The Dorothy Morris Garden is where the Morris’s backyard used to be” according the Southern Illinois University’s newspaper The Daily Egyptian.  The Morris’s house was where the University Museum, located in Faner, now is.  “Dorothy removed the maroon veil from the sign which read Dorothy Morris Gardens.  As she looked beyond the Gardens she recalled what her backyard used to look like,” The Daily Egyptian goes on to tell us.  This was October 1998 and I was one of the fifty people present at the dedication.

This stone and gate are remnants of a wall and gate around the Morris’ Home.

Here are pictures of additional stone wall from the Morris time.

I can remember the morning of the dedication so vividly.  Mrs. Morris was stately and regal..with a kindness and softness about her that was compelling.  My friend, Chancellor Jo Ann Argersinger along with President Ted Sanders were there.  I thought about how much promise Chancellor Argersinger had…much in the same vein as Dorothy Morris and her husband Delyte.

The greatest days of our beloved University were during the twenty-three year leadership, 1948-1971, of Dorothy and Delyte Morris.  Above you see the annual tradition of Watermelon Feast…that the Morris personally hosted for the entire Campus Community.

When I began as a Building Service Worker I in October of 1978 many of my older custodial colleagues remembered fondly the Morris Years!  They spoke often how that both Dorothy and Delyte rode their bicycles around Campus in the evenings and how they knew their names…the custodians.  They felt that they were as important to the success of SIU as anyone associated with it.  They felt like family.

Chancellor Argersinger made us feel that way…for her short time as our leader.

After working at Southern Illinois University for over thirty-two years, I still cannot get enough of the profound beauty of the place!  I subsequently walk the Campus four of five days a week and receive spiritual empirical enrichment each time I am there.

The lovely classical architecture of the Old Campus is like nothing you will see in Illinois.

Or the commemorative statues of Delyte Morris and his wife Dorothy who with their combined efforts built the Southern Illinois University of today.

It is a supreme joy to have such a beautiful academic facility so close.  Indeed when people from all walks of life move to Carbondale from much larger and more urbane settings…they never leave!

The slower life style coupled with the Arts and academic enrichment of a major university is a compelling combination…for a relaxed…peaceful…diverse and interesting existence.

This past Sunday Pastor Janice delivered a lovely sermon based on Psalm 137. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.  We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.  For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.  How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?”  Psalm 137: 1-4   KJV

The scripture is referring to the removal of the Israelites from their native land by their cruel enemies.

I wonder how often the oppressed peoples of our Earth feel just as the Israelites felt so many years ago?  How did our African American brothers and sisters feel when our ancestors took them by force from their homeland..in bondage and chains…to a new land for slavery and degradation?

What of the Syrian people who are fleeing their country under the combined threat of Assad and ISIS?  As they seek refuge and shelter and food…a friendly…peaceful…kind human… to help them in their extreme suffering.

What of our Policemen and Policewomen?  How do they feel when their colleagues are being murdered in Dallas and Baton Rouge, and all, many of them want to do is provide for the Public Safety…and return home to their family’s and live their life…and worship their God?

How do we all feel when the potential is great that the focus of our Country…The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave…may be changing dramatically?

Are all of the inclusive loving and caring…’opportunity for all’ tenets…now realigned to a pragmatic doctrine that excludes many groups of people on the basis of the color of their skin or their religion or their gender?

Often I have heard individuals say that they want to take their country back!  While this statement appears to be a worthy cause…what are they wanting to take their country back to?

During World War II our soldiers fought valiantly for our country!  My wife’s uncle Merle is buried at Fort Bliss.  After visiting his grave we walked throughout the cemetery of uniform white grave stones.  Proudly engraved on the hallowed stone monuments are the; Muslim Crescent and Star, the Jewish Star of David, and the Christian Cross…among others.  All of these brave heroes of our Land…did not hang their harps on the willow trees!

Emma Lazarus famous poem is ‘graven on a tablet on a pedestal’ on which the Statue of Liberty stands.

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,  With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, who’s flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.  From her beacon-hand Glows world wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air bridged harbor that twin cities frame.  ‘Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!’  cries she With silent lips.  ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled massed yearning to  breathe free, The Wretched refuse of your teeming shore.  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Thursday afternoon shortly after 4:00 pm Mary Jane and I were watching CNN when Breaking News flashed on the television screen that there had been a large refrigeration truck drive through a massive group of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France.  The nineteen ton white truck sped down the Promenade des Anglais swerving to the left and right in order to strike and run over and kill as many of the people, who were returning from the fireworks show, as possible.

We were fear stricken as our dear friends Margo and Jeff live in Nice!  We immediately began to email and text them both and were so relieved to hear that Margo was just ahead of the massacre and had been able, along with many others, to run into one of the restaurants for safe shelter.  She was shaken by the incident but safe!

Jeff was in the United Kingdom working with his business at the time of the heinous act…but rushed to be by Margo’s side as quickly as possible.

Two years ago this past June we were with Margo and Jeff in Nice.  Nice is a lovely, peaceful, friendly city.  We walked along the Promenade des Anglais at least once a day for the week that we were there.

I thought of the sweet people in the Hat Store where Mary Jane and I both purchased a hat.  I thought of the lovely people that we met in the various restaurants that we ate in.  The great group of authors that we met at a meeting that Margo invited us to…they were so kind…and caring.

It makes a difference when you have actually been to a geographical location that later experiences tragedy.

Across our planet we have a growing affinity with violence.  It is thought by many that, “The only way to fight fire is with fire.”

Certainly the swiftest prosecution of murderers and those who support terrorism is necessary and appropriate.  But there has to be a deeper answer for the Cancer that is growing across the Globe.

I wonder if we all work to create more love and understanding with those who are demonized and set apart…and disenfranchised…can we make a difference in our generation?

There is no rationale or reasoning that will cause me to understand how anyone can cavalierly murder innocent people, including children.  The dramatic turn to bloodshed has frozen societies…politics…and religions into a grudging acceptance of what until recently was beyond imagination.  I think we must all ask God for answers…and work to promote healing among those we come in contact with.

“An eye for an eye will make the world blind.”

I am politically an Independent.  In the 1980s I voted for Ronald Reagan.  I also voted for George H. W.  Bush.  At the time I thought they were both wonderful!

Over three separate interviews this past week Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has voiced her views regarding the presumptive Republican Nominee for President of the United States.  In an interview with the New York Times the Justice said, “I can’t imagine what the country would be-with Donald Trump as our President.”  In an interview with the Associated Press Justice Ginsburg stated when asked about a possible Trump victory, “I don’t want to think about that possibility, but if it should be, then everything is up for grabs.”  In an interview with CNN on Monday she said, Trump was, “A faker who has no consistency about him.”

Justice Ginsburg has been almost universally condemned for what is considered an inappropriate comment coming from a sitting member of the highest court in the land.  Condemnations range from, how can she be viewed as impartial when and if a case comes before the Supreme Court regarding a Trump Presidency to her casting a cloud over the entire Court.

Presumptive Republican Nominee Donald Trump responded by tweet on Twitter, “Justice Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court has embarrassed us all by making very dumb political statements about me.  Her mind is shot-resign!”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the daughter of Russian/Jewish immigrants.

I watched the CNN Town hall with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.  On more than one occasion during the hour event Speaker Ryan was asked how he could support Donald Trump who has demonstrated extremely candid misogynistic, racist, xenophobic statements and opinions?  The Speaker replied that it was a binary decision and thus he could accept Trump rather than Clinton.  That is probably the appropriate stand for the Republican Speaker of the House to take as he is the Chairman of the Republican National Convention that begins on Monday…but what about the excluding of the entire Muslim faith and people from the United States?  What about  referring to Mexicans as rapist?  Is it apparently more political expedient to disregard fifty-one percent of the residents of the United States and to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the most egregious demeaning comments about women…so we can win an election?  Is it now acceptable to make fun of disabled people?  What about being slow to disavow and nonplus about the Ku Klux Klan?

Republican questioners in the Town Hall audience looked like “deer caught in the headlights” when the Speaker of the House of Representatives basically informed them that he was able to look over all of their concerns…just to place a Republican in the White House.

What comes after the election?  What shall we be willing to accept?