"You FAILED your perception roll?"

(forget the grammatical errors. I know they're here. A preposition is a bad thing to end a sentence with. And a conjunction should never start a sentence. But it's effective, because, for better or worse, it's how people talk. And dammit, there is BREW in February!!! PRONOUNCE THE DAMNED 'R'!

anyway...) Wow.

I had the fortune of connecting with not one, not two, but three people from my deep dark distant past (also known as "High School") in just the last week. Not bad!

One is now a sportswriter for a paper in Florida; one is a computer person somewhere in Sacramento (I need to pay him a visit before I move).

And one is an old ember. Could have said "flame" except that I didn't. In retrospect, she's probably one of the sweetest people I've ever met. In further retrospect, I was a compleat idiot.

Which brings us to the topic of my post.

Yes, I failed my perception roll. 24 years ago.

I'm not exactly in disbelief, here. Come on -- those of you who know me well enough, you know that I have a propensity for doing things the hard way, whether by accident or design.

This post is going to ramble for a bit, because upon reconnecting with said ember (read: friendly potential flame except I wasn't paying attention), I have found her mother has died recently and unexpectedly and has left her pretty well devastated (I'm sure she'll send me a correction if I happen to have this wrong, but I don't think I do).

(And yes, I expect she'll show up and read this whole silly archive -- hopefully she'll find some of it humorous, some insightful, and like that).

So I offered her the lame insight of someone who has not yet lost a close family member (thumps head); namely: Are you happy with where YOU are, in spite of recent circumstances? That's all that matters. (Okay, it was more drawn out, but that's the upshot of it.)

My mind has boggled. She sent me an invite to her wedding a long time ago, and I never responded. Not because I was ever bitter (never was), but because I couldn't keep myself organised enough to do anything about it. I still have to send out Thank Yous for the wedding I had almost nine months ago, and I haven't even posted the pictures from the event!

But I digress.

Time passed, and I lost her address, and couldn't find her on the web, and couldn't seem to find her ANYwhere for long until I visited one of those School Reunion sites and found her. I sent a mail, fully expecting it to drop into the ether.

Imagine my surprise when I got a response.

Now this is 23 years after the last time I remember seeing her in person -- she's happily married for 20 years now (found her sweetheart in college), and I'm finally in a fairly good spot in my life (after much wailing and moaning and gnashing of teeth, my 20-year roller coaster ride is coming to a spot where I can jump off without too much ado), so spending too much time on what could have been is a waste of time.

Still, when the light dawns, it's hard not to look at what was there and mutter to oneself, "Self, you are such an idiot."

The light kind of dawned for me when I went trolling through my box of memories and found a letter which had been included with the gift of Issue #13 of ElfQuest (don't. I stopped following ElfQuest pretty much when the first run of Black-And-Whites came to an end. I'm still waiting for the movie, but I'm not holding my breath at this point. A discussion of the effect it had on my life is reserved for a later discussion).

Such is life.

I take comfort in the fact that, 20 years ago, I was a hothead, prone to argument, debate and bursts of temper. This doesn't happen so much anymore, but really? I haven't changed much. I wonder if I would have turned out any differently with different influences in my life, or if I'm just doomed to be a victim of my own foolish will. So my solace is telling myself "there's no way it would have worked out anyway."

But the fact remains that I wasn't paying attention. I used to lament that nobody ever knew I existed for the longest time.

I cannot shake the gut feeling that, even then, I was wrong.

Missed opportunity, or alternate path? How do you tell? I would not have had the opportunities that I have now. I'd be someplace different. Where? I don't know. Do I have regrets? I'll just say, stoically, that it's difficult to truly regret what might have just been a different path to the same endpoint. If I could change up the journey altogether, maybe, but I think I'm here because I'm supposed to be here. I'm supposed to learn a lesson.

I think the lesson is to pay attentOOOOHHHH! SOMETHING SHINY!

The Wall - Political Edition

[Note: Original credit for music goes to Roger Waters, David Gilmour and Bob Ezrin, of course. The lyrics are somewhat mine.]

The concept for this is that the current political climate lends itself rather well to the politics and reactions within The Wall as it was. The lyrics have been rearranged/rewritten to reflect the real world. The story is simple: We note the recent past and go from there. "In the Flesh?" and "The Thin Ice" might seem a touch out of order, but I think they carry pretty much the same flow as the original work on which this was based, i.e. _The Wall_, by Pink Floyd. As dark as it is, it's a true masterpiece -- either you'll love it or you will abhor it. Some people saw the original as a very whiny self-pitying act; I think it goes much broader and much MUCH deeper than that. _The Wall_ strikes me as catharsis as well as reflection, and if you've never dealt with a loss that messes up your head and tried to find your way out of it -- or you don't know of anyone who has dealt with this -- you may well not understand that point of view.

At the time of this writing, I am still marching on the stairway in hell -- whether it's up and out or just up, over and down, I don't know, but Churchill had the right idea: "If you find yourself going through hell, for heaven's sake, KEEP GOING!"

Without further ado, I present an adaptation meant to inflame emotions and rain fury as never before seen upon any branch or individual in government who intends to limit the freedoms of individuals in the name of their own private economy. This is The Wall - Political Edition.

...oh, and if anyone gets the bright idea that I mean physical harm, here, get a clue.

---

IN THE FLESH?

(Waters/Greywolf)

So ya   Thought ya
Might like to
Go to the polls

To feel that thrill of election
As they all poke their holes

Tell me, is something eluding you, sunshine?
Is this not how it's expected to be?
We're quite sure that you'll win the presidency
You just have to know the right people, you see...

RIGHTS!
DRAW UP THE PATRIOT ACT!
ACTION!
DROP IT ON 'EM....DROP IT ON 'EM!

THE THIN ICE

(Waters/Greywolf)

Mamma loves her baby
And daddy loves you, too
And we'll make sure you lead this nation
Though the states all look blue
But oooooooooooh, babe
Ooooooh, baby -- blue,
Ooooooooooooooooh, babe...

If you should take office
On the coattails of your old dad
Dragging behind you the riotous hatred
Of the people you've made mad
Don't be surprised when a crack in your ice
Sullies everything that you've done
You'll slip out of your depth
('cos you don't have a mind)
And no cares to what comes behind you
-- Let them claw the thin ice...

ANOTHER GLITCH IN THE POLL PART I

(Waters/Greywolf)

Dad's sent troops across the ocean
He's gone and tried to kill Saddam
His mission was a dismal failure
Daddy, what else did you leave to bomb?
Daddy, what'd you leave for me to bomb?

All in all it was just a glitch in the poll
All in all it's just another glitch in the poll

THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES

(Waters/Greywolf)

When we were young and running comp'nies
There were activist idjits
Who would try to hurt us any way they could
By sneering their derision as they watched us get shut down
Exposed all our agendas and rode us on a rail out of town

But in time, as they would celebrate and drink to victory,
We planned in private hives to wreak the perfect mis'ry on their lives

ANOTHER GLITCH IN THE POLL PART II

(Waters/Greywolf)

We'll make cuts to education
We'll step up our thought control
We'll disenfranchise all the voters
Congress, leave them votes alone...
Hey! Congress! Leave them votes alone!

All in all, it's just another glitch in the poll
All in all, it's just another glitch in the poll

DADDY (MOTHER)

(Waters/Greywolf)

Daddy, should I go and drop some bombs?
Daddy, should I go and get Saddam?
Daddy, will the people figure out the holes?
Ooooh, pa...
Daddy, should I rig the polls?

Daddy, will I stay the President?
Daddy, should I rig the Government?
Daddy, should I really favour Big Oil?
Ooooh, pa...
Daddy, am I really spoiled?

Hush, my Georgie, Georgie, don't you cry...
Daddy's gonna help all your opponents get screwed
Daddy's gonna make all of their nightmares come true
And though I can't keep you here under my wing
Daddy still knows how to pull a few strings
Daddy can make sure that nothing goes wrong
Ooooh, George
Ooooh, George
Ooh, George
Of course, Daddy's gonna help rig the polls

Daddy, what if there's no WMDs ... to see?
Daddy, are the blue states dangerous ... to me?
Daddy, will they blow your little boy apart?
Ooooh, pa...
Is it true I have no heart?

Hush my Georgie, Georgie, don't you cry...
The Fed's gonna help skyrocket interest rates
Cheney's gonna help join up the church with the state
Donnie's gonna 'splain that first Iraq war away
Condi's gonna tell the people that it's all okay
Karl's gonna help strip out the whole Bill of Rights
Ooooh, George
Ooooh, George
Ooh, George
-> When You Travel...JUST TURN OUT THE LIGHTS! <-

...Daddy, does this have to last so
Long?

GOOD BYE BLUE SKY

(Waters/Greywolf)

"...and the happy little goat sai--"
(whisper whisper whisper whisper)
"...and the happy little goat said, 'Thank You, Mama'"

[If someone can get me a quote from the book the idiot was reading when the towers went down, send it to me.]

Ooooooooooh
Ooooooooooh
Ooooooooooh

...Did did did did you see the towers fall?
...Did did did did you hear the lifeline calls?
...Did did did did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter
as the flag of the new Fourth Reich unfurled beneath the great blue sky?

Ooooooooooh
Ooooooooooh

...Flames are all gone, but the threat lingers on

Good bye, Blue Sky
Watch our rights die...
...goodbye, goodbye...

EMPTY SPACES

(Waters/Greywolf)

What shall we use to fill the empty spaces
That show the votes not for me?
How shall we rig the polling places?
How shall we corrupt the polls?

YOUNG LUST

(Gilmour/Greywolf)

I am just the new guy
The stranger to this land
Where's Mr. Bin Laden?
Has anybody seen him 'round?

Ooooh, I need a quick distraction...
Ooooh, to throw 'em off the trail

Well, I guess he isn't here
I'll go play off my people's fear
I'll show them all the truth is plain
-- IT WAS ALL DONE BY SADDAM HUSSEIN!

Oooooh, I need a quick distraction...
Oooooh, to throw 'em off the trail

    *dialing*
    *ringing*
    "Hello?"
    "hello, this is the American Civil Liberties Union calling for Mr. Bush -- will you accept the charges?"
    *ka-click!*
    ("Damn self righteous bastard hung up!" "Try him again.")
    *dialing*
    *ringing*
    "Hello?"
    "Hello, this is the ACLU...are we reaching--"
    *ka-click!*
    ("I can't get through -- he keeps hanging up!")

ONE OF MY TURNS

(Waters/Greywolf)

[ Oh, my GOD!
Look at this room!
Is all this your surveillance equipment?
That one's looking at my apartment!
I'm gonna get a brandy...you want one?
Oh my GOD, look at this DOUGH!
...wanna spend some caaaaaaaash?
Who you watchin'?
...HelLO?
You feelin' okay?]

Day after day
My hair turns gray
Like the matter my head don't contain
Night after night
They say it's all right
But I have grown older
And my moves just get bolder
And I think they're not all so blind anymore

And I...can...feel...one of my turns coming on
I...feel...
like they all make fun of me,
say I don't have a brain in me
-- should I just go and whip out my gun?

Come to my press speech!
In the press room on the right
You'll all be told what to ask!

Don't look so angry,
This is all just the way
I can control what we say!

Want to know about my War?
Or how I really beat Al Gore?
Contemplate your brand new silence,
Get My God delivered to your door?
So you want to see me lead?
Do we own you? Yes, indeed! WOOOOOHOOO!

Do you want to vote me in?
Do you think I'll win again?

...Why are you running away?

DON'T LEAVE ME NOW

(Waters/Greywolf)

Hey, guys,
Don't leave me now
Don't say it's the end of the road
Remember the tax cuts I made
I need you
To come put this country ahead of the Earth
Hey! Guys!
Don't leave me now
How could you turn
When you know how I need you
'cause Kerry and Dean are just arrogant stiffs
Uhhhhh, Guys?
How could you treat me this way
Running away...
I need you, guys!
Why are you running away?
Heeyyyyy, Guys?

ANOTHER GLITCH IN THE POLLS PART III

(Waters/Greywolf)

I don't need no House around me
I've got the Senate to uphold me
The Court's the only thing I don't control
...I wish O'Connor'd resign and leave a hole...
...yeah! Leave me a hole to fill and take control.

All in all it's just another glitch in the poll!
Here we come to take away all your control!

HELLO SECOND TERM

(Waters/Greywolf)

Hello, second term, I welcome you today
Hello, hello, hello.

The people who are not with me, THEY ARE IN MY WAY.
I'll have them taken out...hello.

---

HEY YOU

(Waters/Greywolf)

Hey you, standing in the cold
Trying to get into the polls --
Will you pick me?
Hey you, with your child against your ... breast?
Geezus, lady! GO GET DRESSED!
Oh...would you pick me?
Hey you, don't help them to carry the light
Help me erode that big Bill of Rights

Hey you, With your prescription running out
I'm gonna get you guys some clout
Please elect me?
Hey you, paying taxes to your town
I'm going to bring your taxes down
If you elect me...
Hey you, average couples who manage a ho-o-ome
Why do you leave your kids home alone?

This was his deepest fantasy
To screw all the people -- you and me
No matter how we try, we cannot break free
And the worms went to search for his brain...

Hey you, over where the desert boils,
With your vast supplies of oil,
Would you help me?
Hey you, in the upper-class elite,
I'm trying to stand back on my feet --
Would you help me?
Hey you
Don't tell me there's no hope at all
Democratic, they stand;
Dictated, they fall...

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE

(Waters)

[Is there anybody OUT there?]

NOBODY HOME

(Waters/Greywolf)

I got a little black book with my code in,
Got a bag with a headset and a comb in,
If I'm a good boy, they might let me hear who you're phonin'

I got tax breaks keeping my moolah,
I got those falling poll blues,
I got five hundred paths of national treason to choose from

I got support from whites
And I'm killing civil rights
I've got amazing powers while ruling this nation

(And that is how we know
When we try to get through
In the voting polls to you
...there'll be no going home)

I got the obligatory white-bread sneer
And the inevitable contempt for the queers
All down the blue regions of each state

I got political blood-stains on my fingers
I got the power of command on a chain
I have a plane flying in with our soldiers' mortal remains

I've got shifty little eyes
And I've got a strong urge to fly
But I've got nowhere to fly to...

(Oooohhh!! GEORGE!! PLEASE PICK UP YOUR BRAIN!! We know you're completely insane.)

I got a pair of Hitler's boots
And I got...family roots...

ORWELL (VERA)

(Waters/Greywolf)

Does anyone remember "1984"?
Remember how we said that we would rule once more
Some blessed day...

Orwell, Orwell, we've made your book come true
Does anyone else in here feel the way I do...?

BRING THE BOYS BACK HOME

(Waters/Greywolf)

Bring the boys back home
Bring the boys back home
After we finish off this war, whoa, whoa, then we'll
Bring the boys back home

...is there anybody OUT there?

[From this point on is more or less very very wishful thinking.] EDIT: 2007.2.14: ...or have we finally come to our senses?

COMFORTABLY DUMB

(Gilmour/Waters/Greywolf)

(Hello...
is there anybody IN there?
Just nod if you can hear me...
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now,
I hear you're feeling down
Well, I can ease the pain
Get you on your feet again
Just relax
We'll give you our opinion first
Just the basic facts:
This administration is the worst!)

I have no brain -- I am defeated
A sinking ship's smoke is a-risin'
The protesters are coming through in waves
Their lips move, but I cannot hear what they're saying

When I was a child, I had a company
I ran it deep into the ground
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain -- you would not understand
Why this is who I am...

I have become comfortably dumb

(Okay
You're such a little dim prick
We'll have no more "AAAAAAAAAAAHH"
Of you we've gotten really sick
Can you still stand up?
I think we need to kick you -- good!
This'll keep you going for the show
Come on, it's time to go)

What is this pain, why am I bleeding?
What is that thick smoke on the horizon?
The angry mob is getting through in waves...
Their lips move, but I do not get what they're saying

When I was brought in, I had a fleeting glimpse
Of dollar signs up in the sky
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The polls have dropped, the dream is gone

I have become comfortably dumb...

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

(Waters/Greywolf) [extra verse adapted from the album IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?, the recording of a concert from their 1980-81 WALL tour.]

Oooooh, ma, Ooooh, pa
Must the show go on?

Oooooooooh, ma,
Take me home!
Oooooooooh, pa,
Let me go!

I don't want to stand up
Shifty eyed talking in a hot mike
My teleprompter's down!

Oooooooooh, ma,
Take me home!
Oooooooooh, pa,
Let me go!

There must be some mistake
I didn't mean to let them take away my brain
Am I too dumb?
Is it too late?

Ooooooooh, ma...
Where's my money gone?
Ooooooooh, pa...
What have I done that's so wrong?
Ooooooooh, ahhhhhhhhh....

THE DOLT MUST BEGONE!

IN THE FLESH

(Waters/Greywolf)

So ya Thought ya
Might like to
Go to the polls
To feel the unending confusion
As your stomach rolls

I've got       Some bad
News for you, Sunshine:
Bush isn't well, he's sent us all to Hell
And he sent us along as a replacement regime
We're gonna find out how it sounds when you scream

Are there any idiots in your government tonight
Vote 'em up against the wall...
That one -- in the White House -- He don't look too bright to me!
Vote 'im up against the wall...

And that one looks Stupid! And that one's a GOON!
...who voted all of this riff-raff into the room?
There's one tapping my phone, and another watching my thoughts
If I had my way, they'd all be drawn, quartered and SHOT!

RUN LIKE HELL

(Waters/Gilmour/Greywolf)

Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!
Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!

You better paint your face up in your favourite disguise
        With your oil-filled lips and your dollar-sign eyes
With your hungry wallet and your clueless heart
        Feel your bile rise from your horrid past
And the bombs a-blasting and the windows smashing
        And the PEOPLE bashing down your door

YOU BETTER RUN!

Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!
Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!

You better run all day and run all night
        Keep any real feelings deep inside
And if you're visiting troops late tonight
        Keep your true lack of thought well out of sight
'Cause if we catch you unaware -- here OR IN IRAQ

WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU BACK TO DADDY IN A CARDBOARD BOX YOU'D BETTER RUN!

WAITING FOR THE TROOPS

(WAITING FOR THE WORMS) (Waters/Greywolf)

"...burn 'em! Burn 'em! BURN 'em! BURN 'Em! BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM!"
[EINS...ZWEI...DREI...ALLE!]

We will not save you now
No matter how you cry
Get out of power, you morons,
Choke and die.

Sitting in your deskchairs
There behind your wall
Waiting for the troops to win

In perfect isolation
There behind your wall
Waiting for the troops
To win

"We can hear you now
We can see you now
Stand back to back -- do not touch
We are watching and we will be

Waiting...to put on a black shirt
Waiting...to rally for justice
Waiting...to follow them home

Waiting...to bring home the soldiers
Waiting...to weed out the fascists
            to smash in their windows and kick in their doors
Waiting...for the final solution to your inferior brain
Waiting...to follow them home

Waiting...to stone all the fat cats and religious fanatics
Waiting...for the idiots, the morons, the zealots and the goons
Waiting...to follow them home"

Would you like to see peace and freedom reign again, my friend?
(Would you like to see peace reign again, my friend?)
All we have to do is VOTE OUT THE WORMS!

Would you like to send your white-bread leaders home again, my friend?
(Would you like to send them home again, my friend?)
All we need to do is VOTE OUT THE WORMS!

"...BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM! BURN 'EM! "

"We are tired of everything you, the leaders, have done.
It has become the right and the duty of the citizens of this country
To abolish its government and start anew.
We have the right to due representation.
You have taken this country and turned it into the very enemy we feared.
You have destroyed 1,500 years of history in the course of three years!
In the last five years, you have taken us backwards by fifty five!
You have helped to plunder the planet of its natural wonders and beauty!
You have sold this nation down the river!
YOU HAVE SOLD THE SOULS OF OUR FOUNDING FOREFATHERS FOR THIRTY SILVER PIECES!
YOU HAVE EARNED THIS COUNTRY -- ONCE A SHINING BEACON OF TRUTH, JUSTICE AND FREEDOM -- THE ENMITY OF MOST OF THE REST OF THE WORLD!
YOU HAVE MADE THE SAME MISTAKES AS EVERY EMPEROR BEFORE YOU AND YOU HAVE BUNGLED EVERYTHING IN A MORE SPECTACULAR FASHION THAN THE EMPEROR NERO!
YOUR LACK OF COMPASSION, FORETHOUGHT, AND TRUE UNDERSTANDING AND YOUR EFFORTS TO MANDATE DOCTRINES OF A SPECIFIC RELIGION MAKE YOU MORE OF A DEMON THAN ANY OTHER FREE WORLD LEADER--"

STOP

(Waters/(Greywolf))

STOP!

...I want to go home,
Take off this uniform and leave the show.
I'm waiting in this cell because I have to know: (have to know... (have to know...)
Have I been stupid all this time? (no...time, no...time, no...time...time)

THE TRIAL

(Ezrin/Waters/Greywolf)

Good morning, WORM, your honour
The crowd will plainly show the morons who now stand before you
Were caught red handed doing dealings
Doing dealings of a quite immoral nature
This will not do!

(Call the Speaker of the House!)
I always said he'd bring us to no good
In the end your honour
If we'd got to have our way, we could have
Kept his hand in check
But our hands were tied -- the corrupted House and Senate
let him GET AWAY WITH MURDER!
May we hammer him today?

Crazy -- toys in the attic!
I am crazy to take this position
They must have taken my wiretaps away!

(Crazy, void of compassion, he is crazy!)

(CALL THE SENATE WHIP!)
You little SHIT, you're in it now
I hope they throw away the key
You should have worked WITH us more often than you did
BUT NO!
You had to have your own way
Have you blown up any countries lately?
Just five minutes, worm, your honour
-- him and me, ALONE!

...Geo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-orge!
Come to daddy, Georgie, let me hold you in my arms
M'lord, I never meant for him to cause us so much trouble
(Why'd I ever have to have him?)
Worm, your honour, let me take him home...

Crazy -- over the rainbow!
I am crazy -- why's there bars on my windows?
There must have been a mole there in the polls!
Why can't I leave?

(Stuuuuupid, cursor's not blinking -- he is stuuuuuupid)

"THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COURT IS
INCONTROVERTIBLE! THERE'S
NO NEED FOR THE LYNCH MOB TO RETIRE...

IN ALL MY YEARS OF LIVING, I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE ONE SO DESERVING TO BE TRIED AS A CRIMINAL OF WAR

THE WAY YOU'VE MADE US SUFFER, YOU STUPID LITTLE MOTHER,
FILLS ME WITH THE URGE TO DEFECATE!

AND SINCE, MY FRIEND, YOU HAVE REVEALED YOUR DEEPEST FEARS
I SENTENCE YOU TO BE STRUNG UP --

BY YOUR EARS!

and....

TEAR UP THE POLLS!!!

AFTER THE POLL

(Waters/Greywolf) All alone or in twos
The ones who couldn't stand you
Voted against you at the polls

Some hand in hand
Some gathered together in bands
The good decent people made a stand

And while we waited for you to fall
We'd stagger and fall -- after all it's not easy
Having your rights clobbered by some mad bugger's wall.

(...isn't this where

Democracy to Empire (While-U-Wait)

I look around at the ascent and misuse of power which has dominated the progress -- or regress -- of this country. It frightens me. We are daring to wander down the slippery slope and become the Imperial Yankee Dogs the other countries feared we already were. And it's a venture on the part of this country's elite -- whom I did not elect, by the way -- which is dooming those of us who had nothing to do with the advancing of them.

In my lifetime, I fear I will see this country become the equivalent of the Russian Empire, followed by its fall into socialism (those of you thinking of voting for Hillary Clinton better do your research. She's bad news for this country.), followed by its fall into abject ruin, followed by its imminent takeover, plundering and rending asunder by any other countries or factions that can get their hands on it. Mexico will take over California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas ("Screw Louisiana -- they flooded!"), and Cuba will reappropriate Florida. Canada, if they're smart, will grab the states on their southern borders. Everything else will become "No man's land" (or the Middle East will move in. Won't THAT be fun?).

But of all of this, I'm fortunate at the moment: I'm a forty-something whose parents are still alive. Yes, both of them. No, they're not married anymore, but so what? They're still alive and we're still in contact.

I dread the day they leave. Do you know why?

Because you'll be sad and you'll miss them.

Sure. Who wouldn't feel that way? But no.

It's because I feel somehow safer, somehow more secure knowing that they are alive and well and still here and I can still talk to them. I can call them and talk to them about nigh anything truly important, and somehow knowing that they're just there is more helpful than almost anything else in my life.

And with the world in the state it's in right now, I'm still kind of afraid of the future.

I'm not dependent upon Mom and Dad the way I used to be. I'm not looking to them to solve my problems. But their insights, even from older times, are just nice. They're not a security blanket, per se, but they are something of a comfort.

Mom, Dad, you've been wonderful. I can honestly say I have no nightmares or fears or issues with the way either of you treated me as you raised me.

The rest of the world could take some lessons and not be so uptight.

I'll leave the rest of my comments regarding legislation of morality for another post.