Bony

 Appropriate for the season I think.

For over 200 years it had been a home.  Pioneers, businesspeople, lawyers, teachers and other had lived there, a home and place of learning.

She weathered many seasons and events.  From War of 1812, to the Alamo, War Between the States, WW I and II, to more current conflicts, she silently witnessed suffering and loss, national, world and personal.  Also noted were triumphs, victories and achievements with the same scope.

A long day on the farm, capped with washing up and a home cooked meal all the way to many jobs and schools and even voice lessons unfolded over the years.  

Family and friends celebrated marriages, births, graduations as well as mourning deaths, as the days passed and became decades then centuries.

Life lingered in body and spirit.  She offered refuge and entertainment.  

Many animals came and went, companions and friends and family.  It was, in spite of life's drama, a place of sanctuary.  

She was a veteran battleground where good ultimately triumphed over evil.  Depths and heights followed along life paths.  

Built steady, she slowly aged.  Wear and tear took their toll.

Now silent, her walls are gone.  Sepulchral, she's empty save for memories.

Carried in our hearts we will remember and make new homes.

Books..

 Paper and ink are the tools, activated by mind and spirit, which are the makers of vehicles that can take us anywhere.

Sure, there are electronic options now.  But, nothing touches the soul like paper and ink.

Mind you, I have recorded texts etc.  They are a marvelous way for the written word to be shared with the sight impaired.  They can accompany us on trips, during chores and times to recreate.

Still, for me, nothing reaches, touches me like paper and ink.

Certainly, paper books never burn out/lose power.  A little weight/bulk won't hurt.  They can be destroyed.

I lost most of my collection.  I am now slowly rebuilding.  However, books live in my mind and spirit.

People have suffered greater losses..  Look around.

Books can inspire and open.  They can also maintain a closed status quo.

Find out for yourself.

They are not just lumps or cyphers taking up space.

They are reference, ready to carry us to our own accomplishments.

Books can feed our spirits.

Some briefly fill, then leave us hollow.

Others have seemingly infinite power to boost our lives.

Read and decide.

Jacks

 Are they better to open lol?

We can talk about that another time.  Symbology abounds.  Delve into words and meanings.  Etymology.

Believe it or not, I think there are pretenders among us.  Whether like the TV show, there are extremely high IQs who can quickly adapt.  To what extent and for what purpose, who can say?

There are also some who recover quickly from various maladies or adversities.  They may or may not be Jacks/Jills of all trades as well.  

Let's see if this ends up being noted elsewhere -s-.

My advice: Carefully learn.

We all have abilities.

Don't jack around.

Creds

 There was an exchange in a chat.  

Someone criticized a socalled authority who had criticized another.  Dog eat dog.  

The host sided with the 'authority', suggesting, after a lengthy diatribe, that the 1st person show his/her credentials to said authority.  Apparently one needed permission to be critical.

Creds such as med school and how well one did, for instance, are critical for skills acquired.  Experience goes hand in hand.

OTOH a patient often knows his/her body well.  One's own research can be beneficial.  And 2nd or 3rd opinions are important.  Be fully informed.

There are people who fake creds.  Impressive nothings harbor just labels.  Education and military have their shares of fakes.

Also, there are the 'zeros'.  They have actual degrees or titles, yet they have produced nothing.  Nothings.  They have done nothing or someone else did their work for them.

And there are the bloviators.  They pretend their views/work are the definitive products.  

Some of us may have experience, may have achievements that are not official because of a lack of degree and commensurate activity.  Yet, there are positive results. 

Be sure.  Let your conscience be your guide.