I’ve read before that book collecting and book reading are two separate hobbies. The more I’ve pondered the statement, the more I’ve realized its …

The Read and Unread Library

Something seemed off. There was a wind warning. When was the last time we had a wind warning? The wind warning was before the main event. The temperature was forecast to drop 40 degrees overnight. The ill wind meshed with the way the people felt. Time seemed frozen on the black Sunday. Many were lost in their thoughts. They had hurt others. They pushed the guilt from their minds, but today it all came back. Certainly, they were of the elite. Learning to destroy those who are weaker than you and then claim their property and wealth. It has been said, ‘To the victor belongs the spoils.’ A tree fell onto Giant City Road. How would that feel if it fell on your head? Unrest was in the air. The satisfied assurance of being in the right waned as the wind picked up. We are vulnerable. All made of flesh and bone. The Proprieters of propaganda were strangely absent. The Wicked Wind was present.

‘This is a Wind like I have never seen,’ Chet said. ‘When it strikes you in the face, it causes reflection of the soul,’ Chet noted. ‘How did we arrive here?’ Chet asked. ‘Has it been God’s plan for us to rise to the top of the Heap by stepping on the weak?’ Chet said. ‘We tell those whom we bomb and kill that we love them…it is a funny way to express love,’ Chet mused. ‘Many are coming out of their homes and standing in the street to assess the wind and what it brings,’ Chet noted. ‘I remember a distant time where we loved each other and helped each other…if our neighbor was hungry we fed them…if they were cold we took them in…if they wept we dried their tears,’ Chet said softly. ‘Jesus ministered to the poor and loved them, Chet said. ‘Christ neither sought the rich nor gave them special place in his movement…he said it was harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,’ Chet explained. ‘Remember when we welcomed the stranger as the scripture has taught,’ Chet asked. ‘Have we ended up in Hell and never knew when it happened,’ Chet postulated.

‘I fear our two-by-six walls will not hold in this terrible wind,’ the Leader said. ‘This house is hurricane proof, according to the builder,’ the Leader noted. ‘How is it that this mysterious wind has arisen and we were not told about its coming,’ the Leader said. ‘We have prepared…we have prevailed…we are the chosen…and yet the Wind,’ the Leader said. ‘Who shall we blame for our calamity,’ the Leader beamoaned. ‘This freakish weather must have come from the countries we want to bar from our shores,’ the Leader exclaimed. ‘Excuse me, but I must go to the bunker in the White House due to my importance,’ the Leader informed.

‘The days have changed since I was a girl,’ Neva J said. ‘Once we were all poor and helped each other…one family had apples, and another had chicken…all of us ate something if it was no more than persimmons we found in the woods,’ Neva J said. ‘Persimmons are good when you are hungry,’ Neva J laughed. ‘Leaders spoke of helping others and being servant/leaders,’ Neva J noted. ‘Somehow we entered the time of every person for themselves… no compassion… no love…only how much money can I gain,’ Neva J said somberly. ‘I have read of Hades and have read Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy,’ Neva J said. ‘Do people in Hell know that they are in Hell?’ Neva J asked.

‘Come, my friends, we have a place to gather in the Woods,’ the Preacher said. ‘We shall hide from the Wind for a while,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘Change has occurred, and most do not realize it,’ the Preacher explained. ‘Many will be taken in the Wind,’ the Preacher said. ‘We have trusted in our own strength and the diminishment of others,’ the Preacher said. ‘Now the Mysterious Wind of Change is here, and all of us will suffer,’ the Preacher said.

The Woods were especially lovely on this bright Saturday. The Old Man waited outside Mr Badger’s home. There was much to discuss about the coming Spring Fest. Mr Badger would have excellent ideas regarding enjoyable activities for both the human and animal kingdoms.

‘Welcome, my friend,’ Mr. Badger said with a wide smile. ‘I have been waiting on your arrival with Moley and Toad to join us in our planning meeting,’ Mr Badger winked. ‘Moley has forgotten his spectacles, so I have loaned him a pair of mine,’ Badger said. ‘Moley is very nearsighted and reluctant to admit it due to his pride,’ Badger noted. ‘The three of us have been kicking around the idea of inviting those with whom we disagree for fellowship food and dialogue,’ Badger continued. ‘I am breaking in my Skechers Slip-Ons as I hate to bend down to put on my shoes,’ Badger laughed. ‘I swear, why could the shoe manufacturers have invented such a wonderful, easy-to-put-on shoe years ago?’ Badger laughed heartily. ‘Toad Moley and I want to move the discussion of understanding forward in the Woods and beyond,’ Badeger noted.

‘I say my good man, you are looking fit in your leather outback hat and L.L. Bean coat,’ Toad noted with aplomb. ‘The three of us are looking for you to guide us in our quest to lower the anger temperature in our world,’ Toad said sincerely. ‘I have been driving my motor car for several days to think clearly,’ Toad noted. ‘Why do you humans hate your own kind if they look different from you?’ Toad asked. ‘Your species struggles for dominance of a hill or valley when you already control the Blue Orb,’ Toad postulated. ‘We Woods Dwellers live in harmony,’ Toady said. ‘Each of us has our own interests and hobbies, but we do not infringe on our neighbours,’ Toady explained. ‘The simplicity of harmony and sense of place is a beautiful thing,’ Toady said.

‘I think having those with whom we disagree is a lovely idea,’ the Old Man said with enthusiasm. ‘We can learn from each other and listen with a desire to understand the feelings of those around the table,’ the Old Man assured. ‘If we are going to move forward, we will either move together or continue in chaos,’ the Old Man said. ‘Throughout history, we have measured the success of humans by winners and losers when we should have measured by love for each other, the Old Man attested. ‘We drop bombs on our fellow humans and feel we are the victor when we demonstrate our limited mental acuity and emotional maturity,’ the Old Man said with a tear in his eye. ‘We have won no contents when we kill our sister or brother, the Old Man whispered. ‘We satiate a macho false construct that helps no one and hurts everyone, the Old Man continued. ‘Woe to us that call good evil and evil good,’ the Old Man said.

‘I know you are thirsty, Preacher…drink of the wine in my wine skin,’ the Profound Gentlemen said. ‘Name a place on the Earth…I have been there…Dubrovnik…I have been there,’ said the Profound Genteleman. ‘I love fine art and concerts in grand palaces…Chopin was my friend as well as Mozart,’ the Profound Gentleman continued. ‘I will give you the sweet and save the sour for myself…I will give you the power and the glory…the rule of all the kingdoms of the Earth…, and I will be your lowly advisor in the shadows,’ the Profund Gentlemen said with intensity.

‘What shall I do when I invite someone to our Spring Fest, and they tell me that I am less than them or not to be considered… not of their club,’ Moley asked. ‘I have often felt the cheek reddening of being rejected,’ Moley continued. ‘I hate the feeling, and then I wonder if they are right, and indeed I am not worthy of consideration,’ Moley noted. ‘Once I asked the Weasels to join me for dinner, and they laughed and poked fun at me and my poor eyesight,’ Moley said with pain. ‘I told them I would have Ale and Meade and that there would be no cover charge if they would honour me by joining me for Supper,’ Moley proclaimed with a pure heart.

‘Love one another as I have loved you,’ the Preacher said.

The Old Man laughed as Mr. Fox told him of his adventure. Mr. Fox had gone to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis to see The Nutcracker in December before Christmas. Foxy wore his leather Outback hat and his black winter coat to the event. He had enjoyed an old-fashioned at the Theatre’s Bar before the performance. As the Theatre lights went down and the curtain went up, Foxy had a wonderful Fox Idea. He would perform in the production and dance with the mice and toy soldiers. Now this was a bit out of the ordinary, but then again, the performance was at the Fabulous Fox, and he fit the Playbill. It had been Foxy’s dream to be a theatre actor. He had read Shakespeare.

‘Look…Momie… a Fox is dancing with the mice and others,’ Jane said. ‘I do not remember a Fox in the performance when we saw it last year,’ Jane continued. ‘My goodness, he is light on his feet and has a winning smile,’ Jane observed.

‘I wonder if Mr. Fox is perhaps the producer of the production,’ Neva J said. ‘He appears to know every movement and is perfectly in sync with the music, Neva J continued. ‘In fact, he looks amazingly like my good friend Fred Fox from Giant City Woods,’ Neva J proclaimed.

‘Greetings, friends…join me for a drink in the Theatre Bar as it has been an exciting evening,’ Fred Fox said. ‘Most folks do not know that I am a creative consultant to the Ballet Company performing the Nutcracker,’ FF said with a wide Fox Smile. ‘The primary actor for the mice took sick today, and so I stepped in and, rather than put on the hot mouse costume, I chose to be myself in honor of our Fox Theatre Performance,’ FF laughed. ‘We fox think on our feet and have some wiles about us,’ FF winked. ‘We are also wild animals, but I hide my wildness very well,’ FF said as he took Neva J’s hand to enter the Bar for another Old Fashioned…

The day began like most of them do. There was more time to think since retirement. Even now, the days are not hard to fill. Thinking is a noble vocation. Many problems yield to concerted thought. Hypothesis requires analysis. Separating truth from fable takes research. Those who admonish us to simply trust them need examination.

Albert Einstein developed the core concepts of the theory of relativity, both special and general, in his mind through intense, visual thought experiments. (Gedarankenexperimenten), often pictured himself riding light beams or falling elevators. He used these mental simulations to visualize physical paradoxes and intuition, later translating them into mathematical frameworks.’

A truth becomes clear when we listen to rhetoric versus reality. Not everything that is said for fact is such. As children, we played follow the leader. We continue to follow, as adults, a charismatic, compelling speaker who can captivate our attention with the cadence of their words. We want to believe what we are told meshes with our thinking. Our peers nod their agreement with the Leader, but we do not want to disagree. After all, what the Leader says sounds promising.

‘Welcome, all come in and make yourself at home,’ the Speaker said. ‘Here we are set apart from the world and its evils,’ the Speaker said. ‘We are hidden from the world and set apart…we are the chosen,’ the Speaker assured. ‘We live communally and pool all of our assets for the good of the group,’ the Speaker continued. ‘We gather for Bible Study five times a week,’ the Speaker explained. ‘We are the light and all around us is darkness, we are a candle in the night,’ the Speaker whispered with tears in his eyes.

‘American for real Americans,’ the Leader said to thunderous applause. ‘We must purify our nation and our blood and soil,’ the Leader said. ‘Prices are going down every day…do not believe what your lying eyes tell you,’ the Leader said as he danced. ‘Do not listen to the Fake News or those who do not agree with me…I am always telling you the truth…the truth is what I say it is,’ the Leader laughed.

Many were quiet. It was difficult to understand what was happening. Understanding takes focus. It is easy to believe the story rather than investigate the truth. A lie runs around the block while the truth is still putting on its running shoes.

Spring is in the air. Green is making its presence known. In these early days, you have to look for the green, but soon it will be abundant. The brown of winter earth is still with us. The land where the snow lay heavily upon the ground. Trees lift their bare branches to the sky, looking for change. So it goes with us. Life looks static on its surface. Beneath the surface, a hidden world is preparing.

Christ spoke to the people of his day in parables. ‘A short tale that illustrates a universal truth.’ Discovering the truth in our modern days is a bit like a riddle contest. The problem with riddles is that you change the answers regularly. This would be the modus operandi of some in government. It is difficult to run for the goalpost when it keeps moving.

Word games and riddles are fun for kids, but they can be dangerous when lives are on the line. A joy of the French Quarter was seeing people who were not pretending. The life lines in their faces revealed their walk through the world. The joy in their music was a worshipful experience. Genuneness of spirit is exciting. Real is hard to beat. There is a magnetic connection with people of goodwill and singleness of purpose.

Fear is not the answer. Hiding from a Bully will not satiate him. Looking away from a housefire will not save the occupants.

‘The Leader says everyone should build a bomb shelter,’ Chet said. ‘He says we are under the threat of imminent attack,’ Chet continued. ‘He says he can not identify the attackers at this time for our own good but that we must build our war supplies in preparation,’ Chet continued.

‘Endless war refers to a state of perpetual, unresolved conflict, often characterized by unachievable goals, sustained military spending, and a lack of clear exit strategies.’

‘I have a lot I want to give you if you will just let me explain,’ the Kindly Old Man with the red eyes said. ‘I will give you all of the kingdoms of the Earth, and you will be my king and be loved by all,’ Kindly Old Man said with a quiet smile. ‘You are tired and hungry…you need sleep…all of these needs I will gladly fulfil for a leader of your skills,’ Kindly Old Man said. ‘Most men are motivated by their fear and lust…they will serve you gladly, and I will be at your right hand for advice when you need it,’ Kindly Old Man admonished.

We watch as the storm clouds gather. You can feel it in the air. Change is happening and not for good. It is in the eyes of the children. Fear is blowing in on the wind. It is difficult to see the big picture when the little things take our attention. Politics has always been a blood sport, we tell ourselves. Politicians lie we say as we watch the latest movie. We want to feel safe. We need security. We hope for peace…for us and those we know. Does this mean a lack of security and peace for those we have not met? Is the price of our happiness the unhappiness of the Others?

‘The Opera Houses are full, and the performances are better than they have ever been,’ Claus said. ‘My wife’s dress shop has never had so many customers, Claus continued. ‘Since we removed the Undesirables from our business community, we are flourishing,’ Claus laughed as he held his rotund belly. ‘We just finished moving all our furniture into a beautiful flat with ornate woodwork and a fine art fireplace in each room,’ Claus boasted. ‘The family that resided there before us was very rich and had many works of art on the walls which we are enjoying,’ Claus continued. ‘My daughter Nina wept when she saw her little friend Abigail cry as she was being ushered away to the Camp,’ Claus said. ‘Gretchen told her to weep no more as God in his providence had given us their flat and all that goes with it,’ Claus chuckled.

‘Iran has installed the son of the Supreme Leader as their new leader,’ Chet noted. ‘The king is dead…long live the king,’ Chet noted wryly.

‘A rationale is created to support every hypothesis,’ Neva J said. ‘It is easy to blame someone other than ourselves for our mistakes,’ Neva J continued. ‘We show no mercy, and a generation later mercy is not shown us,’ Neva J whispered. ‘We ask for understanding from those whom we have marginalized and hurt in the hope that they have short memories,’ Neva J noted. ‘Many must die to avenge the death of others, despots tell us as they bomb cavalierly and brag that they will take care of military conflicts over their lunch,’ Neva J wept. Raw power is exalted while quiet diplomacy is an orphan, Neva J noted.

The Old Man saw the dark clouds gather in the Woods. Dark clouds were also gathering in the minds of both leaders and their followers. Night was falling in midday. The birds ceased singing. The leaves stood still. Squirrels returned to their dens and the deer to their place of rest. The music was in a minor key.

Leaders watched in silence as the clouds gathered. They feared mental instability. They feared violence. They feared for their own safety more than the safety of those whom they represented.

A lovely day. Blue sky and hopeful hearts. Soon it will be time to press forward, but not today. Today, the Old Man reflects on how good it has been. A little Grey Goose vodka is fun. We celebrated Jennifer’s birthday on Wednesday and Saturday. She brings smiles wherever she goes.

Spring is almost here. Spring is the Easter season, which has become increasingly important to me over the years. I love the story of Peter Rabbit. We need stories. Stories help us endure the unthinkable. Stories get us up in the morning and put us to bed, pulling the covers up to our necks each night. Peter Rabbit has wisdom that many know not of.

‘There is a disquiet in the White House,’ Peter Rabbit said. ‘I must talk with the President,’ Peter continued. ‘The President appointed me his special advisor regarding happiness,’ PR continued. ‘I have been planning a wonderful Easter Party where all people are welcome, PR continued. ‘I must tell him that the children of the Earth will be here and are looking to him as a father figure,’ PR said. ‘The President loves his grandchildren, and he must see these children as he sees them, ‘PR noted. ‘Humans are complex creatures, and the President is no exception,’ PR said. ‘When kids are presented to the President, he can not turn away…he must see their little eyes and hear their voices,’ Peter Rabbit said.

Halt the bombing of Iran…the kids asked me to, and I promised them I would,’ the President said.

Life has giant trees. The forest floor is dark due to the natural canopy. What is beyond the tree’s roof? Each day we travel our appointed rounds, assured that our darkenened forest floor is the same for everyone. It is hard to visualize the light if you have not seen it. It is hard to be the light if you have not felt it.

Who can say why we are like we are? Did we roll the boulder up the mountain one too many times? In the midst of our Sisyphus phase, did we stop to wonder, ‘What’s it all about, Alfie?’

‘We need a rule book,’ Mr. Mole said as he cleaned his spectacles. ‘Perhaps some daytrips outside the forest and a guided tour of other exotic lands,’ Mr. Mole noted with a small smile. ‘Once we are on the water with Ratty in his boat, the forest looks altogether different than under the dark canopy of trees,’ Mr. Mole said. ‘Remember last boat trip when the sun shone off the water like a rainbow,’ Mr. Mole asked. ‘It was so lovely and beyond description,’ Mr. Mole exclaimed.

‘I am told this is Sanctuary from those who would harm us,’ Traveler said. ‘Mean faces surround me and keep me awake at night,’ Traveler continued. ‘The faces tell me to go home, but when I tell them I’m home, they throw stones and sneer,’ Traveler said softly. ‘I seek a place to rest and gather my thoughts,’ Traveler explained. ‘I have no place to rest my weary head,’ Traveler whispered.

‘The Great Purge has begun,’ Hollow Man proclaimed. ‘For too long we have allowed the undesirables to reside among us,’ Hollow Man continued. ‘No more…we will purify our country…our blood…our soil,’ Hollow Man said with heavy-lidded eyes. ‘You will know us by our pedigree,’ Hollow Man noted. ‘We are the chosen, the righteous and just,’ Hollow Man danced.

‘It is a brilliant day in the Woods,’ the Old Man said with a wide grin. ‘With the leaves off their branches, you can see the sky clearly,’ the Old Man continued. ‘I am pleased you have joined me on my Woods Walk,’ the Old Man said to Traveler. ‘Where do you hail from?’ the Old Man asked Traveler.

‘I come from a long way and have seen many things,’ Traveler said. ‘I visit people who have become lost in life,’ Traveler continued. ‘It is easy to substitute faith for nationalism or Servant/Leadership for the riches of our world,’ Traveler said. ‘It is easy to miss the forest for the trees,’ Traveler said.

The weather is spring-like. Not long ago, I wore layers of sweaters; now a light jacket is too much. Here we are in March, and soon the first third of 2026 will be over. I still want to say Happy New Year, but it is a bit late for the greeting. Our iconic New Orleans Journey is now in our rear window as we plan for a return engagement. Time is a mystery. We grow older and hopefully wiser. We have money for bombs and nothing for bread. A settled mind and spirit are good medicine. A divided mind leads to chaos and destruction. Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis at the Plaza Frontenac is closing in May. A favorite store to find higher-end clothes, fine cologne, and perfume. A fun store at Christmas with Santa sitting in his massive chair and his elves assisting him as he held an audience with the kids of St. Louis. I remember when FAO Schwarz took over the basement for Saks Fifth Avenue during the Christmas Season. I bought a wonderful cashmere sweater at Saks in 2013. The staff was dressed in business clothing. They were happy and knew their retail establishment inside and out. I assume they planned on retiring from Saks Fifth Avenue. Sixty-five staff will be laid off.

When we drove to the East Coast in the 90s, I found that the multiple lanes coming into New York City tapered into just four lanes as they entered the City. So it goes with life at the moment. We have so many things going on that it is challenging to determine which one has priority. We glorify death and destruction once we decide that the people doing the suffering are the Others. A coarseness has permeated our public life. Some military leaders admonish their troops that they are preparing for Armageddon.

So the people look for meaning in the minds of barbarians. There is neither a plan nor a program for tomorrow. The quick thrill of victory leaves no room for the agony of defeat.

The Old Man walked in the rainy spring woods. The deer walked alongside with smiles on their faces. All was well in the woods. The pattern and purpose of nature were on display. Yellow flowers stuck their head above the soil. Then the Woods Family asked the Old Man why there was more war. ‘Political Leaders have a strange way of demonstrating to their family in foreign lands when they explain that they love them and that is why they are bombing them,’ Delbert Deer said. ‘How can we do evil that good may come,’ Delbert D. asked.

It was a spring day full of promise and light. Easter would soon be here. Pastel colors and a deep breath of fresh air were enjoyable. The Teacher was profound and simple. He loved all he met. His words were easily understood. His actions matched his thoughts and speech. The forgotten and shunned felt comfortable with the Teacher. There was no anxiety in him. When political leaders spoke, the Teacher listened quietly. The politicians’ unrest was palpable. Then the Teacher said peace to the President. The President became quiet and subdued.