We had a delightful visit with our niece Paige last night in celebration of her birthday! It was a wonderful time because Paige is a delightful person. She brightens any room that she is in. When I see Paige I see her wonderful mother, Tara. She cares about others and can project that care simply through her lovely smile. Paige was with us in Maine in 2022 and her laugh and positive attitude made my trip! I remember her laughing at my telling of a great waiter at Taste Of Maine who often described the offerings at the restaurant with the expression of ‘Yum!’

Happiness is often found in the eyes of others who spend time with us listen to our stories and cares and never seem bored. Really our time is the only thing of substance that we can give. When we are alone at times we feel a bit lonely. When someone wants to know us and give of their most precious commodity…time…we are renewed and refreshed and rejuvenated.

I ponder the meaning of possessions. We work our entire life to acquire them only to say goodbye to them at our passing. I was watching a person on a detective show on Acorn TV the other night who commented to his colleague that when his father died he set about going through his possessions and found that most of what his Dad had…was junk. Now I am certain that his Dad’s possessions did not seem like junk to him…but his son had difficulty in discovering the meaning of a life of collection of significant things to the soul of his father. Indeed we see our world through our own kaleidoscope. Events that touch our hearts and stir our brains cause us to search for a physical manifestation of the spiritual event.

Recently we changed televisions and therefore TV stands. Housed in the old gargantuan Entertainment Center were years of collections of stuff that had significant emotional appeal to us at the time of their purchase. A very much pared-down amount of the precious stuff went to the new TV stand and the rest went to the utility room…probably for the boys to go through at our demise.

Thanksgiving is almost here. Today I was in my usual spot…the Woods when I noticed quite a bit of dung on the ground. Now I am not an expert but after some time exploring I can determine certain manure and this was horse. Not long after there came a line of horses with their riders attached. I moved off of the path and the procession stopped and stared at me for a moment…then proceeded. The lead person of the horse line asked that I speak to each one that went by for them to individually determine that I was a human. Thus I assumed that I was a Horse Whisperer. As I greeted each horse with a Hello…Hello…they nodded and the riders smiled or laughed a little. I told one of the proud animals that they need not worry as I was just an old man in the woods…whereby the horse stopped dead in his tracks released more manure and then proceeded.

Animals intrigue me. They have their own analytical systems culture and language. They are many steps ahead of us humans in a multitude of ways. We wonder what our mission in life is while the animal kingdom is settled on that question and happy with the answer. We hope for more gold for our watch fobs and diamonds for our fingers while the horses I saw this morning were happy for a Horse Hello and a moment to study the curious Old Man in the Woods.

Two weeks from now I will be seeking Santa Claus. Santa has continually been a presence in my life since he visited my home on West Street in Eldorado many years ago. There he was looking like a benevolent giant standing at my front door. Neva J greeted him as if he were an old friend. When he asked me what I wanted for Christmas I was speechless. I was akin to Ralphie in the Movie A Christmas Story when he finally got the opportunity to tell Santa all about it. At times it is a long journey from the words that are in our heart to our tongue.

Black Friday meant a trip to St. Louis to see the Christmas Bears at Famous Barr’s Signature Store. They were frolicking and building gingerbread houses. They were trimming the Christmas Tree and wrapping Christmas gifts. Joyous Noel was in the air. They were animatronic and they were wonderful!

MJ baby Aaron and I traveled to the DuQuoin Walmart to purchase Aaron’s first Christmas Tree. The holiday possibilities were endless. We bought a big one and it looked real and we put Victorian Ornaments on it…that were made out of pressboard and were magnificent. We saw handmade Nativity Scenes in the Mall and thus traveled to the kind lady’s home who made the wonderous creations and purchased one. It was $100 and worth every penny…we still have it.

St. Charles, Missouri this year for Black Friday. Tiny Tim Mr. Scrooge and Santas from all over the world and history will be present along with roasted chestnuts Christmas Carloers and even a marching band.

The temperature in Little Egypt has turned seasonal once again. The brown leaves have made a thick carpet on the Woods floor. Autumn will soon be two-thirds over. Hope springs in the creation’s breast as we look toward the sleep of winter and then…

‘Wisdom involves a healthy dose of perspective and the ability to make sound judgments about a subject while knowledge is simply knowing.’ We hear countless examples of knowledge but little wisdom. I watched the Republican Debate last night and I witnessed one of the participants spout seemingly rote memorization of what he perceived as knowledge while he fell to attempting to marginalize the only female moderator of the three present as well as the only female debator of the six present and finally criticizing Nikki Haley’s daughter…then he ran out of women to misogynist against. If this is supposed to be accepted as wisdom then we are on another Earth than the one I grew up on.

The ability to acquire a lot of money is often equated with wisdom. The acceptance of churlishness and misogyny and demonization of others who are different from us is applauded as the ‘Real America.’ The most cutting insults, name-calling, and back-biting are something to be striven for in our new normal.

Bloodsport is the name of the game of success…until it is our blood. We want to be treated with respect and in a balanced manner. We all want recognition of our shared humanity. We seek love and acceptance. We hope that when others meet us they will see in us our value and appreciate our contributions to our shared journey.

Jesus asked the woman who was about to be stoned where her accusers were. After he wrote in the sand they departed one by one the scripture tells us. None of us want to have someone write in the sand our faults and missteps.

Wisdom when encountered is memorable. At times it seems rarer than hen’s teeth. When you see it…you feel it…you know it. Wisdom heals division. It reunites the broken. Wisdom is a balm on the wounds of our soul…

‘So, Mr. Mole, you really have not seen God after dying and coming to heaven,’ He asked? ‘That is one of my most anticipated meetings when I was on the other side of the Great Hill…we write songs about it and hymns…and poems too,’ He continued.

‘Oh for ‘heavens sake…’ can’t you just believe…look around at the lovely scenery…the majestic Woods…the Technicolor…we have been searching for Him too…but he is an elusive Rascal,’ Mr. Mole exclaimed.

Mr. Mole, Ratty, and I have been up and down the river in our little boat, and at times we almost catch a glimpse of him…but then the Shadow evaporates and we are back where we started,’ Badger explained.

‘Sometimes I hear him in the early morning when the birds are singing their hearts out, said Mr. Mole.

‘Well, I must snap a photo of him to prove his existence…the Woods is so lovely that he must be here somewhere,’ He said.

‘Camera shy…he is,’ said Mr. Mole. ‘I had my Polaroid Big Swinger and almost got a photo once and a cloud came up and obscured my view…then I discovered to my amazement that what I thought was God was a beautiful sunset on the horizon,’ he continued.

‘I see God in the eyes of Mrs. Badger…until she chases me out of the Den with her broom,’ Badger ruminated. In any case, we must continue on as this is only the first stop for you and it will be dark if we do not seize the day,’ Badger extorted.

‘You mean this is not the place we have been waiting for…the great destination…the halcyon of halcyons,’ asked He.

‘Hello…Hello…could someone help me over the Great Hill,’ the beggar asked? ‘I am so tired and very happy to see someone out here as I have been living in the Woods for 5 years with no company,’ the Old Man said.

‘Any news of God…we are looking for him…have you seen him,’ asked Mr. Mole? ‘We almost see him and want to meet him and even snap his photo…but he seems to be around just the next corner,’ Badger said.

‘Follow me over the next hill and I will show him to you,’ the Old Man said with a wink.

Before the intrepid explorers was devastation and ruin. There were sick kids and crippled dogs and every type of malady and even hunger. Amid the suffering, the Old Man sat down and began to tell a story of God.

‘My goodness this place does not look familiar,’ He said.

He had been walking in the Woods and in an unfamiliar area as well. The trees seemed opaque and the leaves were pastel in color. ‘I should have gone to the eye doctor last month but I thought that I could make it another year,’ He thought. ‘That last hill was a doozy and I was a bit out of breath…but in a good way…after all, I did close my ring on my iPhone,’ He thought some more. ‘The Woods has transformed into a Technicolor movie somewhat like The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston portraying Moses,’ He said out loud to the surrounding animals.

‘Pardon me…kind sir…were you speaking to me,’ Badger asked as he locked the door to his den. ‘I heard that you were coming but you are somewhat early…nevertheless, this is usually true for your kind,’ Badger continued. ‘You look a bit lost…was it the last great hill that did you in,’ Badger asked?

‘Well I did feel a little faint but still good and I closed the ring on my iPhone,’ He answered. ‘I considered getting an Apple Watch for Christmas but instead, She and I decided to get a 65-inch Television and we now feel like we are at the Theatre,’ He said with a smile and a wink. ‘I noticed a marked change in the terrain after climbing the great hill and the colors are so brilliant much like our new TV,’ He added with a satisfied smile.

‘Well my friend…you have crossed over to the next phase…and I will assist you in your acclimation to it,’ Badger said with a matter-of-fact tone.’ ‘Hello Mr. Mole…we have been waiting on you,’ said Badger.

‘I simply could not find my spectacles…I can not see a thing without them,’ Mole said with a determined and squinting gaze at He and Badger. ‘Did you you tell him yet, Badger, Mole asked?

‘I really do not know if He is ready for the truth of his current circumstances…He seems to be very happy with his success in closing his ring on his iPhone,’ Badger groussed.

‘Well He will not need an iPhone here…we are more advanced than that little piece of plastic…it will never replace books as far as I am concerned,’ Mr. Mole proclaimed with earnest delight. ‘You must tell him to not pull at E.T. and attempt to call home,’ Mr. Mole continued.

‘You see my friend…you have crossed over the great divide…you have boated down the river Jordan…you have in essence bought the farm,’ Badger said to He. ‘It takes some years to acclimate to the reality that Heaven or the afterlife or whatever you choose to call it looks a bit like where they came from…without the iPhones and the suffering of what humanity does to itself when it is bored or tired or just jealous of each other, Badger continued.

‘Did you bring news with you of how God is doing…we have not heard from him in some time…we miss him although we never saw him but rather heard stories about him and how he loved us,’ Mr. Mole said.

It is a picture-perfect Sunday. It was a bit cold and now it is a bit warm. Such is life. I traveled to Eldorado yesterday and visited the Eldorado Museum. They had a vintage toy collection which was outstanding. One of the items was a baby buggy from the 1800s. Also Fischer Price before plastic. I returned with four commemorative coins from the centennial celebration of 1973 when I was still in high school. They were buried in a time capsule that year and I recall thinking that 50 years was a lifetime…and lo and behold I have lived to see it!

The last days of the colored leaves are upon us. Aaron MJ and I are watching the Enfield Poltergeist on Apple TV +. This happened in Enfield, England between 1977 and 1979 and is a fascinating documentary that uses the original tape recordings with the actors lip-syncing the words. The Hollywood movie Conjuring 2 was based on the Enfield occurrences. Some judge the paranormal events to be staged while others assert that they are real. The tape recordings are chilling…

Thanksgiving is fast approaching whether we are ready or not. Similar to my centennial coins of 50 years that seem like yesterday I am amazed that 2023 has raced by. Busy days are happy days and they are quick days. We want to believe in the Enfield Poltergeist as we know in our hearts that there is more than we can see without our eyes and hear with our ears. We are spiritual beings in houses of clay.

‘Smoke Good,’ said Frankenstein when offered a pipe to enjoy.

‘Well Halloween is over but we did not get to have our costume party,’ Jane bemoaned.

‘How about tonight…it is a great and chilly fall night and we still have the costumes,’ said Billy B.

‘I wonder if we might get in a bit of trouble with a late Halloween Costume Party,’ Chet ruminated. ‘Everyone is thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas and probably more about Christmas, he added.

‘I would like to dress as Jackie Kennedy and I have the hair for it,’ Neva J said. ‘I also have an identical outfit as she wore when she gave the White House tour to the press,’ she continued.

‘If you are going as Jackie I will dress as Jack Kennedy and we will make quite the couple, The Wiz added. ‘My goodness the Cuban Missle Crisis is over and we need to celebrate the victory, The Wiz grinned with an otherworldly gleam in his eyes.

The November 2nd Halloween Party was in full swing in the haunted house on Illinois Avenue. In attendance was President and Mrs. Kennedy as well as Premier Kruscheve and Fidel Castro and even Bozo The Clown was there with his big red nose and clown shoes.

‘I will take another helping of that wonderful punch,’ Neva J grinned. ‘I think it is spiked with vodka.

‘Vodka is mother’s milk to me…fill up my glass as I decide what to do with Kennedy’s ultimatum,’ said Kruscheve.

‘May I have this dance,’ Kruscheve said to Jackie. ‘You know I am unaccustomed to such beauty in Russia, he added through blurry eyes.

‘Well Mr. Premier…we beat you this time…no need to take off your shoe and beat it upon the table…we have averted Nuclear War,’ Kennedy said to Kruscheve.

‘Not so fast Mr. President…we are a proud people and we are bent on your destruction…never doubt our resolve…the only person that has stopped me is your lovely wife,’ Kruscheve said.

‘May I cut in,’ Kennedy said to Kruscheve. ‘I am somewhat jealous of my wife’s attention, he muttered.

A whistle could be heard outside the Victorian haunted house.

‘

‘I told Vice President Nixon that we would capture you without firing a shot…but I did not mention…bombs…’ Kruscheve said as he spun Jackie across the dance floor…

The Cartoon in question is displayed on Facebook by Mother Lode of Warm Fuzzies. An otter and a priest are sitting on a park bench and the otter is explaining his understanding of the often-quoted words of Christ. The otter displays in his innocence the modus operindi of many of us as we feel good about ourselves and our magnanimous charity towards others. We look around us and attempt to see the folks who are in need and who we can reach out to…and more often than not they look and act like us…

The House of Representatives has a new Speaker. Upon first blush, he seems very reasonable. But his speech identifies him as a gentleman who identifies God’s will God’s people and God’s church in a narrow rendition of his particular fundamentalist dogma. Now if you are of those self-same beliefs you are comforted your heart is warmed and your soul is fed. But…how do you feel if you are not? The founders of our country and the authors of our Constitution based on their belief that church and state must be separate. Indeed they had experienced religious persecution and being a part of the government’s church.

Looks are deceiving. Words are suspect.

‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other people… robbers, evildoers, adulters…or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God have mercy on me, a sinner.’

‘Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat…would you please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny a hay penny will do…if you haven’t got a hay penny…God Bless You!’ This verse Neva J would sing all of November and December each year. She laughed joyously as she sang and at the same time set upon fulfilling the verses admonition. Neva J sought neither fame nor fortune and did her good works where no one could see. She sought not those who were like her but rather the marginalized the untouchable and the unwanted. If society ignored you…Neva J loved you.

Rosie was small in stature and a rotund woman. She wore Moo Moos exclusively. Several of her teeth were out but there was one in the middle that was on prominent display. Rosie talked to herself a little and periodically answered as well. Rosie loved JFK and Neva J loved Rosie. Neva J helped Rosie pay her bills gave her money and took her to Eldorado to do her shopping and to our house for the holidays. Neva J was as proud to be seen with Rosie as if she were the President of the United States…

One Eye had a terrible nickname and a scarf permanently on her head and the reputation of being a gypsy. She was shunned by society. She did have one eye and she was set apart to mock and scrutinize. No one took an interest in her until Neva J. People said that she stank…but she did not. People said that she was crazy…but her observations were more professorial and spot-on than most people in the little community. Her name was Abigail and she was a sweet person who would do anything for Neva J.

Mrs. Westbrook was called the Cat Lady. She had 100 cats and she loved them all. When people saw her they would walk on the other side of the street…but not Neva J. Neva J became Mrs. Westbook’s friend. She lived on the underside of Eldorado and knew not of the society of the community. Mrs. Westbrook heard voices but she peacefully communed with them. She was alone and afraid until Neva J became her friend. Mrs. Westbook soon found homes for many of her Cat Family and with Neva J’s help cleaned up her home and had a Thanksgiving dinner with her friend and Billy B.

The smallest of towns has a pecking order. The villages and the hamlets have the Sears measurement of…Good…Better, and Best. Of course, some are poor challenged, or marginalized who do not ascend to this scale and are forgotten.

Have you ever been forgotten? Have you ever been the last person chosen to play on a team in school?

‘Who likes smoked turkey,’ Grandpa E asked?

Do you have a little of that good rum, Neva J asked with a Rummy’s gleam in her eyes?

‘How many will be here for Thanksgiving,’ Billy B. asked as he played host to the ever-expanding gathering. ‘I have all of the folding chairs out and the card table for the kids,’ he added.

The little house had only four rooms…but they were four rooms filled with love. Grandpas B and E were telling tall tales and Neva J was on her third shot of Thanksgiving Rum…and there was a Rum Cake as well. Niece T was there and her sweet mom and dad and even Granpa Mike asked…’ Janey do you always have these lovely balloons on display?’

‘I love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Fernie said.

‘MJ you always have such a wonderful dinner and real napkins…and I so appreciate you asking me each year,’ Mrs. M said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Aunt Wanda came in and Uncle Bill and cousin Billy. They had in their arms pumpkin pie and Divinity and homemade fudge as well. Neva J asked them if they would like a bit of rum to ward off the cold and they said that they would love some.

There was happy talk of shopping on Black Friday and traveling to St. Louis. They were going to see the Christmas Bears at Famous and Barr and then have dinner at Casa Gallardo. Thoughts of Christmas were swirling about in their heads. The Sear Wishbook had been dog-eared by Aaron and Jonathon for possibilities for under the Christmas Tree.

Billy B looked startled as suddenly everyone was gone and the house had transformed into a much larger one. He had been there. It was as real as anything he had experienced.

‘Chet…did you see them leave…are my eyes playing tricks on me…were we not just celebrating Thanksgiving at Elkville with all of the family and life before us and our hopes at their zenith,’ Billy B asked his lifelong friend?

‘Not only were we there but they are here…past and present are in a circle and all are transpiring at the same time…shut your eyes and open them and you will see,’ said Chet.

‘Pass me another slice of that delicious smoked ham,’ said Grandpa E.

‘You know you really can taste the rum in the rum cake,’ Neva J laughed as she sliced another helping.

‘Please do not ever leave,’ Billy B implored the Thanksgiving group.

‘We are always here…we never left…,’ said Grandpa Mike…