The Path to the Wizard of Oz....

Lost little Dorothy from Kansas and that yap yap dog she carried around is an image most of us remember.  As she walked along that yellow brick road and ran across the scarecrow with no brain, the tin man with no heart and the lion with no courage, the four unlikely sorts banded together  in search of someone - someone great who would solve all of their problems.  This great mystical creature was suppose to be all knowing, but as with all tall tales, challenges emerged along the way to the promised land.  The wicked witch, the helpful  munchkins and others all played a role in the path to find "the one".  Most, if not all of us, have seen the movie.  As a child, I found it fascinating, as an adult, I find symbolism - perhaps you do as well.  In the end though, the story ends with triumph, without any aid from the wizard - who is nothing more than a legend - and in reality is just a man pulling the strings - literally and figuratively - just so people will worship him.  Symbolism?  Yep.  For what?  Well, as in all symbolism the meaning is up to you.  Could be many things - religion, marriage, career or a silly little carefree movie - it is not up to me to decide for anyone but me.....

Throughout my almost 50 years, I have travelled that yellow brick road in search of all of those traits and of course for a place like home.  Often during that trek, I would stop on the oft chance that maybe, just maybe, everything I wanted and needed would be given.  That is the trouble with yellow brick roads - they are merely a road on the journey and not a road to an end.  Along this path, I grew a brain - with a little help from some talented professors, a couple of powerful bosses and a hell of a lot of independent study.  My heart most of life was hard - but as I live and watch  my girls it has softened some - and while I am a liberal - I am no bleeding heart - I merely believe everyone deserves the basics in life - without or without much effort on their part - does that give me "a" heart?  Maybe.  I suppose the courage has always been there - almost fearless to a fault - as a little boy and as a teenager - my courage was often a whole lot bigger than my size - I grew in to the courage and thankfully - my almost 6 feet frame and 192 pounds - combined with my courage fits firmly together. 

I suppose that story will always resonate with me - it is a remarkable concept about life - we often want something that we don't have - and we simply think that someone or some power will solve all of our problems.  For those who do not want much - those powers can and should exist without recourse - be those powers the government, charity or religion.  For those that want a great deal more than mere traits of which they already possess - the only real answer is self - not selfish - but self action. I heard a quote recently - "I have no choice, but to believe in free will - for if I did not - I would have to believe in intense blame."  I could not have said it better myself - although I will admit - that when Dorothy said "There is no place like home" - she may have said no truer words.   Home, though, is not a place in Kansas or even a place in Springville, AL.  Home is who we are each day - mere mortals  without mystical powers - trying to be humane not just human - still developing our  brain, warming our heart and building our courage along our own yellow brick road.  Somewhere over the rainbow we think we will find it - I think we already have it all - right here - right now - @ a place in each of us - a place I call home...As I close today,  I can hear Elton singing "Beyond the yellow brick road."  Yep,  WAY beyond.....Or so  goes my thoughts from my almost 50 years.....

Emotion like Youth is often wasted on the Young and the Old

Got to love emotion...I mean after all - emotion is the foundation of love, faith and charity.  Or is it?  When you ask someone why they love someone - usually they give you a few TANGIBLE things that person does.  When you ask someone about their faith - they often list a few things that have happened to them .  Charity is great - but while I suppose caring is a part - if money were not required then there would be no need for one to be able to give online with MC/Visa.  I will admit that I am not very emotional.  I suppose I also should admit that I do tend to show some emotion when my plans are not executed - but in the end -the emotion serves no real purpose - the action must still take place.

When my 6 year old was playing soccer this past week I got a little emotional - I did not yell or holler at her, but my body language showed that I did not like the fact she was not taking the game as serious as she had her other games.  In the scheme of life - it really does not matter about that one game.  Unless that one game becomes a habit.  Even if it does, it still will not truly matter.  What will matter is at some point in time, someone will say something to her about not giving everything she has all the time and she may become emotional.  Notice that the emotion did NOT come first - the action did.  Isn't that the way life is anyway?  We never really act emotionally until an action occurs, at least that has been my experience....My little girl may become good at soccer or she may not - the lesson I want her to learn - even at 6, is that actions have consequences.  It will not matter if she quits or plays for years - in life you can quit or continue and it is not the immediate consequences that will cause you problems - the real issues will be how you handle it.  So my test with her is not whether she plays or doesn't - but how she handles the reactions - both hers and others. 

Some of you  reading this may say that is too harsh - too much pressure on one so little.  I say what pressure?  Watching the reactions and coaching "out" the emotions will be one of the best skills I can teach her.  Some of you reading this are getting emotional right now - wanting to tell me that emotions are natural, healthy and wise.  The more I disagree with you the redder you will become, the more passionate your pleas will become and your logical persuasions will get lost in the utter chatter of hyperbole and myopic viewpoints.  All the while I will merely sit back and wonder who could have taught you to be more action oriented and less emotional.

Of course, to many, affairs of the heart and soul are the only factors that matter in life and the hereafter - and I suppose they could be right.  Although, when it comes to accomplishment - rarely does achievement occur on faith alone.  In my almost 50 years of living I have found that  hoping, praying and waving the flag is really about wanting someone to do something.  Would it not just make more sense to just go straight to the action?  FIRST cause Actions rarely cause people disagreements  (although some do), but the emotional, passionate words - then the emotion filled,  ill advised, actions that follow the request or denial are the "things" that do the most harm.

This will get a terse response from some - but I will just smile - and say God Bless - like a good southern boy does and thinks for almost the past 50 years....Good night MVP - may you grow as you see fit (ok with a little help from me)....

Our Government "is" my Friends.....

As I was walking around American Village on a school field trip yesterday with my 11 year old, I felt a sense of change coming.  The characters portraying our Country's past were excellent actors, however,  as they carried out their points, I could not help but realize just how far we have come as a nation.  I also realized how much we are still the same.  Some of the same complaints those patriots had then - people of today still have: taxes, a voice in the decision , concern about commerce , etc.  All valid concerns, but with one main theme - in theory each wanted their points to be universal truths, in reality it was a lot of talk about how life happens to them.   Who really knows what was going on in the minds of those men in the late 1700's?

The change I felt coming was not really about the Country or government, it was about people.  I could see the cliques beginning to emerge.  I could see the bias coming.  I looked around during the discussion of the Stamp Act and saw the grown-ups nodding their heads - almost in unison - realizing that reaction would be imparted on their children soon - perhaps it should - I don't know.    It was almost like listening to the Rush Limbaugh Show - only these guys had hair - long hair.  I will admit I watch people - stare actually - or so I am told by my family.  I like to think of it as being acutely aware - but my three girls will disagree.  I will admit, there are far worse things than being critical of our government - the worse being critical of each other as humans.  Although, in my almost 50 years of "staring" at people, I have reached the conclusion that if I humanize people I am far less inclined to demonize them. 

Let's try an exercise, shall we?  I hear constantly that we need to get back to the Constitution and have smaller government.  My 11 year old and I got a copy of of the Constitution @ American Village yesterday - compliments of one inspiring lady - Mrs. Martha Lewis.  I read the words - once again.  I cannot count how many times I have actually read it over my adult life - but dozens would be close.  How about you?  How many times have read the ENTIRE masterpiece?  Or do you do what many do with the Bible - just read the parts you like?  Either way - the words do not change unless amended.  You know what I found?  Actually what I did not find?  The word SMALL - as in small government.  I did find the words WE though - as in WE The People.  So with that thought - I have a request for you - when you hear small government comments and you applaud - see these faces:

My friends Laurie, Adria (and cousin)  and Tammy - school teachers and government employees.

My friends Tony and Matt - former and current government employees.

My friend Linda - a wonderful, caring lady who is a lover of animals and is a government employee.

My friend Patti - whose father served the military proudly - as perhaps someone in your life did as well.

My cousin-in-law  Danny who retired from the Public Works - was a government employee

My friend John - who is a sheriff deputy and my brother-in-law  Terry who serves as a police officer - both working for our government. 

All of the teachers who help develop my children and perhaps your children too. 

My friend Craig - who does some high level math thingy -of which I cannot even begin to comprehend - gets at least some benefit from government procurement. 

The guys that check my water meter - government employees- albeit it local.    The lady who always is smiling (perhaps because I do also) when I renew my car tag. 

The list goes on - but you get the message.

Each of these folks - and I have mentioned only a few of those I know - all work in some facet for the government.  You want smaller government?  You fire them.  You wreck their lives and then understand that the invaluable services they provide will be gone.  Once you see people as people - ideology gets muddled - at least for me.  I know those kids I walked with yesterday will one day take on the thoughts of their parents and in many aspects I hope they do.  On idea though, which I hope each child keeps within them,  is the thought that government is "We the People"  (as in REAL people) and not just a phrase to say "they want to take over".  My thoughts today, as well as from  the past almost 50 years, are not emotional - they are logical.  People are who matter, everyone does some good and one can always find fault - if you look hard enough.  I know many of you will disagree with me - maybe because you do not know any government workers.  Just an FYI - they are people - good people - get to know them for it is "We the People" - not "Them the BAD"....or at least those are my thoughts from many (almost 50) years of "staring" and "building"....

The Woman - two girls call Mama....

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  Lots of events have occurred in the past week - and many lives have have been changed.  Yet, through it all,  people have taken the time to compliment and reflect on their lives with their mother.  I will admit at times I felt a little envious, no regrets, just a little envious.  I won't bore you with stories of my mother, nor pass accolades on about her.  Our life was what it was and life goes on. However,  I will tell you about the greatest mother I know.

I have heard mothers say they sacrifice for their children, the one I know does not think it is a sacrifice at all.  I know some mothers feel they failed their children, the one I know realizes that a mama cannot fail if she gives all she has -  all the time.  I know some mothers think that they should do more for their children or perhaps  - just do things better, I know one who thinks doing more is a honor - perhaps even her spiritual gift.  In a world filled with horror stories about bad mothers, in a country where motherhood is often mistaken for a right, rather than a privilege, few mothers achieve the medal for being mama.  I am certain that there are tremendous mothers out in this world - with many children so happy to call her mama....but I know of no better mother than the woman - two little girls I love the most - call mama. 

I could list all that she does - and she would just say - "well, you know - it is just what you do".  Really? Setting the example for career achievement  - setting the example for service to a profession - setting the example of girl development and fun by leading not 1,  but 2 Girl Scout Troops - demonstrating compassion by providing comfort and care to her 91 year old grandmother without reservation, and teaching Sunday School not out of obligation - but because someone should.  All of those are great attributes.  However, the one trait - two little girls will remember for their entire lives - is not a trait at all, but is the loving woman - who when the weight of her world is pushing on her - she never fails to provide comfort and a smile to two little girls.  Years from now - the toys will be a memory, the soccer games will just be a story, the Girl Scouts will be a reflection and the homework will have long sense past, but the time she spends laughing with them and the monsters she chases away from them will be what makes them want to do the same for their children.  Is their any greater gift a mother can pass on to her children?  So Carlee and MattiLynn, you should be proud to call your mother - Mama.  But all their Mama would say to that is "Now Chip, they are just little girls!"  I bet I still hear her say that went they bring over their grandkids one day...I wonder if one day our girls will reflect on their almost 50 years????? Oh well , just my thoughts on the greatest Mama I know....enjoy your day Mothers!!!