PPL

 Is it who you know?

Most of us meet people every day, both ftof and on pc.  Now, how that influences us varies.  Just passing, clerks, workers etal and the circumstances involved with all relationships are factors.  

What I'm particularly interested in are all the 'I know or met' certain people of influence, let's say.  That can be important, socially and personally.

People like Bob Wise and Pat McGoohan are examples for my life and work.  Reminds me that name dropping can be both good and bad.  Guilt by association perhaps.  Or enlightenment.  Also, the difference between coat tailing and networking.  

Personally, the folks I've met have been remarkable.  Some are well known.  Others hardly anyone will remember.  All lived.  

Kids I knew in school, friend and foe, neighborhood store owners, neighbors, salespeople, repairmen, mechanics, teachers, janitors.

Then kids/families in our parish outreach area.  Round that time paradoxically, I had a job in a liquor store, while studying for the ministry.  A lot of neighborhood denizens fluttered round there.

My assistant was perhaps another paradox.  He was what they called at the time a wino.  But I couldn't have a better helper.  He was never drunk nor did he steal.  We chit chatted and got along well.  He was an artist and regaled me with stories of his WW2 Army service in Germany.  He also drew some of the regular girls and his animals were great.

Many socalled 'night people' came round.  I invited some to church and some came.

I could write a book about that alone.  Maybe I will and include other encounters.

So many.  Socalled famous and not.  But each memorable.  Mostly good.  Only a few bad.  Many lessons learned.

It boils down to content of character.  That's the main thing.

I'm thankful for them all.

22

 This day, one wanders and wonders.  There is moire than meets the eye.  Remember what has happened as a result.  But where were we?

Particular events  stoke our memories.  12/7/41, 6/6/44, 9/11/01 and so on.  Both good and bad, we may have been alive and somewhere.  Everything from birthdays to attacks reside within and around us.  

Today is 11/22.

In 1963, a young man sat in his 8th Grade Social Studies class.  It was a Friday and the weekend promised relief.  And it was a movie day to boot.  No notes.  Just sit and watch the show.  I think it was a break for the teacher too.  

During the film, he noticed the Principal slipped in and talked to the teacher.  His expression was grim as he whispered something to her.  She burst into tears.  He patted her arm and left.

She immediately stopped the film, turned on the lights and came to the front of the class.

''Class, the President has been shot.''  She then dismissed the kids to their homerooms.

In the hall, it was mostly stunned silence, a lot for Jr High students.  The boys were grim and many of the girls were teary.

Not much else was known at the time.  They prayed and hoped he would be ok. 

The homeroom teacher read 'Sail On Oh Ship Of State'.  Good advice.     We were to hang on and stay the course.

We quietly went home by usual means.  Quietly.

He remembered walking the 3 blocks home.  No other kids.  Alone with his thoughts and a hunger to understand.  

The teachers then were top notch.  Patriotic, God fearing folk who encouraged kids' potential.  And they unofficially were for kids to settle things among themselves.  Yet there was guidance.  And they listened.

The weekend was a veil of grief, punctuated with the assassination of the supposed killer.

He knew there was more and started him on a lifelong quest for truth.  It is just beginning 60 years later.

We must not fall for the con.  We must expose perfidy.

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.

Loyalty..

 The loyalty of a dog is not mindless.  It is born of love.

Love is the basis.  Not fear.

Name it. Family.  Friends.  Associates.  Freedom.  We love these.  And more.

Love is healthy, giving.  

Taking an oath is an expression of loyalty.  Of course, it can be for weal or woe.  To country or to the fallen, there is a difference.

I've never taken an oath.  My loyalty is, however, to God and country.  That's no secret.

What is a secret might be those thing, as said, that might fall into the wrong hands.

Yonder, there is no love.  Loyalty is fear by force.

Love.  Do what's right.  The birth of loyalty.

Loyalty persistently restores.