Awkward we

The Awkward Stage

(by R.P.Edwards)

The awkward stage

The in-between

From ugly duck

To beauty queen

From crawling bug

To butterfly

Betwixt the two

Unsettled...I

And so, thus burdened

To the store

To purchase bread

But home...with more

For there I heard

The grocery sage

"We're always in...

the awkward stage."

"How long did it take?" I asked.  The setting: the grocery store. I was on some menial gathering errand. A "we need one more item to complete it" recipe run.  And there before me--as I paused midst the sauces and salad dressings--in simple shorts and shirt, was a gent of similar age (I would say "older," but that so often is not the case these days) with long graying hair that he had simply tamed by pulling back and restraining with an elastic band. Simplicity itself. The low maintenance solution to which I aspire.  And so I asked, "How long did it take to grow your hair that long?"

"Oh, a year or two," said he.

And then I added (since my locks are far from the desired length), "It's only been about six months for me. I'm in that "awkward stage.""

He paused a moment, and, with a little knowing chuckle gently added, "We're always in that "awkward stage.""

I had to laugh at this bit of unexpected insight.  And, as we parted company I realized that philosophers are ever in our midst. Even in the grocery aisle.

____

Yes, much to my wife's chagrin, I have decided to rebel against the ever present and pressing "have to's" by simply doing...nothing. Maybe its middle-aged madness, or merely a wistful revisit to longer hair of forty years ago; whatever the psyche or psychosis, since my occupation cares little about our individual "package," and since mama has less interest in "molding" the old man...I let it grow.  But, the road to the tail...is a long one.  And before that blessed state, when hair doing consists of a pull and a twist...I am in the awkward stage.

____

Super Tuesday has come and gone. Romney leads, but his anointing is not certain.  We are indeed in an "awkward stage" in this choosing of a champion.  But, it is a necessary trip. An arduous journey that has no short cuts (pun intended).  And, I am believing, when all is said and done, when the next president (not the current one) is sworn in, that I will be watching the joyous event with my locks neatly locked...in a ponytail behind.  Or, if I find the style unsavory, perhaps I'll consider the "dome" look. Hmmm....

****

 

Christie says, "I don't!"

Marriage

(by R.P.Edwards)

It's not the same!

It's not the same!

Though some would fight

To claim the name

The marriage bond

By God ordained

All other "joins"

Are not the same!

What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

(Mark 10:9)

 "I am adhering to what I've said since this bill was first introduced -- an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide,"

Post-poem; the first quote comes from the incarnate Word; the Son of the Living God; the Way, the Truth, and the Life; the Light of the world; the Good Shepherd; the Redeemer; the Savior; the Advocate...Jesus Christ. The second quote comes from the Governor of New Jersey upon his decision to follow through with the promised veto of gay-marriage legislation.

Alas, once again the favored few have latched onto the new "right" (as in "right and wrong") and tried to cram down the throats of the many their value system that insists that "man plus man" is in all ways equal to "woman plus man." In other words, saying the God of the Bible; the one referenced four times in the Declaration of Independence...got it wrong again.

  

Thankfully the governor of said state put a stop to Representative madness and made, once again, the sane and sensible call for a state-wide referendum on such an important issue.

And, of course, I'm not anti-individual.  But I am very much desirous of reasons for God to continue to...Bless America.  And, dear reader, continually calling Him a liar...is not the way to get there.

****

The Verdict

Judging Judges

(by RPEdwards)

Wayward Judges

What to do

Amendment?

Heavens NO!

Have People's Reps

Take simple steps

And have the judge

de-robed

In the news: Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg thinks the new Egyptian government should "not" use the U.S. Constitution as their model when drafting a foundational document of their own. Alas.

Now, I don't think such comments by the honorable jurist warrant "resignation," but it does remind me of Supreme Court decisions past that would have the founders, at the very least, scratching their wigs.  Abortion, Gay marriage, prayerless schools, eminent domain gone a muck, to name a few.  Yes, when high judges get it wrong...it's hard to fix. That's why, rather than the tedious Amendment route, impeachment needs to be seriously considered. Better yet...let's keep presidents in the White House that don't want to rewrite...what was written.

For your amusement; The American Kings...  

****

Santorum

At Stake

(by R.P.Edwards)

Freedom at stake

The sacred thread

From barely born

To patriots...dead

Precious cargo

Ship of state

But how few know

That

Freedom's...at stake

"Freedom's at stake." Words from former Senator, Rick Santorum, upon his victories in the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses, as well as the non-binding Missouri contest.  Just caught a little of his speech...and it was stirring.

You know, I've always liked the Senator, but, like many, I figured he didn't have a chance...so I didn't want to invest too much emotion or attention on his candidacy.  But now...well, perhaps these recent victories will cause others...to consider.

I'll not belabor his conservative positions, but there is something about the man--in this day when "character matters" is too often a slogan, and not a practice--there's something about this man that grabs at that part of my being that yearns; no, cries out! for examples of honor.  And though I'm a firm believer in repentance, and the second and third chance, oh, for those who never stray too far.  For those who wrestle into submission those wayward thoughts and drives (and we all have them)...before they become attitudes...and actions.

So, congratulations to the Senator.  I hope he goes far and, without question, if his is the name on the ballot this coming November, my personal portion will go...to him.

In the little research I did for this piece I ran across the following youtube video where Mr Santorum speaks of his precious daughter, Isabella. If you have a few moments...please watch.

Worthless Words

(by R.P.Edwards)

Words that woo

Are wonderful things

They draw the lover...near

But with time, and lies

Now "words" despise

Save these

"Get out of here!"

My thoughts on the President's State of the Union address? Didn't listen to it.  Didn't care to. Didn't want to. Sure, I was at work--that would have been a good excuse to excuse ("Excuse" [noun and verb] is an example of a "Heteronym," words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings. Did I know that? No. I just looked it up) but, with a little effort I could have garnered a line or two but, frankly, honestly, after over three years of "deeds"...I cared not a whit what silky sentences were uttered by our chief executive.

Again, I have no personal animosity towards President Obama.  And yes, I acknowledge his skill in the media's measure of worth...speech.  But, alas, his actions are as the overpowering industrial noise of my job; they drown out all but the most deliberate utterances.

On second thought, did I listen to the State of the Union address? Yes...I, over the last three years have listened to it; seen it; felt it; travailed over it.  And, the State of the Union is, unquestionably...dire.  I only hope that the majority of Americans, this coming November, are not so, AGAIN, enthralled by the rapturous wrapping paper...that they forget to look into the empty box.

****

Our betters (Not!)

Who owe we?

(by R.P.Edwards)

Tell me, Sir

Who owe we?

The lofty

or

The less

Those who speak with eloquence 

Or those who beat...the breast

Those from Ivory towers

Or those who bend the knee

Tell me, Sir

For freedom's sake!

To whom

The debtors

We?

Now, some would say

The former

Who rule the words

And waves

Who view themselves

As masters

All others

Merely

Slaves

But I contend the latter

Who grasp the ancient thread

That ties them to Creator

Whose power

Raised...the dead

The question, sent by a viewer, carefully coddled and displayed affectionately before the Republican candidates for President at a debate last week. Thus: 

"Given that you oppose gay marriage, what do you want gay people to do who want to form loving, committed, long-term relationships? What is your solution?"

After going down the line--each "debater" gently offering a palatable defense of the sacred institution of traditional marriage--former speaker, Newt Gingrich, offered this addendum:

"Since we're spending this much time on these issues; I just want to raise a point about the news media bias. You don't hear the opposite question asked [he then listed difficulties that certain Catholic institutions had and have encountered because of their stand on traditional marriage, and then he concluded with]...the bigotry goes both ways, and there's a lot more anti-christian bigotry today than there is concerning the other side; and none of it gets covered by the news media."

Now, the reason for this simple piece--as the primaries amble on--is that there really is an adversarial force to be recognized and reckoned with. It's a body of believers, if you will, that preach a gospel quite foreign to the faith of the founders; quite distant from the traditionalists whose long ago contributions in blood in treasure secured the ease and idleness of this present age that has spawned, from godless institutions (whose beginnings were not so), the reprehensible persuasion that those with the "media microphone"--whose appearance is appealing, and words wooing--that these somehow "know" right from wrong; good from evil; truth from error.  Truly, they often do not.  But, since they "own" much of the communication venues...theirs is the filter through which sympathetic "choices" are often given preference.  And so...we decline a bit faster.

Now, I'm not offering a solution.  Just a hope that we be a bit wiser in the future and, since much that has been "championed" by the chosen is now proving to be without foundation; perhaps more than just we conservative types will be less apt to ascribe wisdom to the polished prose and purrings that gush from the biased media.

I recall writing a poem a couple years back concerning the influence of the media.  For your enjoyment:

4 + 5 = 0
(by R.P.Edwards)

The fourth estate
The column…five
A champion…that takes a dive
Depending on objective words
Instead…a swooning sound is heard
And we, the bearers of their lack
May never have our nation back
For Murrow’s children
Gone astray
Espouse “their” whims
Their preference…say
The heralds voice
A barkers jive
The fourth estate
Now…column five

Here's a link to hear Newt's remarks:  Media Bias

Iowa Caucus Coffee

Caucus anyone?
(by RP Edwards)

Through the grinder

Through the mill

Through the gauntlet

Through the still

Through the fire

Through the blade

Iowa Caucus

Sausage

Made

Their names were Kopi and Luwak and, aside from residing on the island of Sumatra in the mid nineteenth century, these two teenagers were much the same as the modern versions; curious, mischievous, seeking--by nature--to bend the established rules and push, whenever they could, past the line of "don't do it!"  However, unlike the nearly know-nothings of today, these strapping young lads had no electronic gizmos to occupy their "not mature by a long shot" brains and, thankfully, no illicit drugs to skew their path towards normal, boring, adulthood.  However, just because there were no "mind-bending chemicals" readily available (indeed, only the nearby Dutch plantation had any "spirits" of consequence [heavily guarded]), these, never-the-less, were not beyond popping something in their mouths to see if a "buzz" was possible.  And this, dear reader, is the real story of how partially digested coffee beans were harvested from Civet droppings and transformed into one of the most expensive, and exquisite, coffees of the planet.

_______

Yes, of course the above story is a fiction (or is it?) But, the "Civit coffee" (also known as 'Kopi luwak') does indeed exist and, as a notable novelty, one of my sons bought me 2 ounces of the stuff as a Christmas gift.  The price? Thirty five dollars!  And, although I cringe at the thought of it's pre-roasted journey, I will, someday soon, carefully brew the treasure and offer a sip to all present.


By now many of you remember that this very same coffee had a prominent place in the not-too-long-ago movie titled, The Bucket List.  Staring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two death-bound cancer patients, these two polar opposites constructed a list of "must-dos" before they each...kicked the bucket.  One item on the list was "Laugh till I cry."  This was achieved when Freeman's character pointed out to millionaire Jack that the coffee he insisted on...came from a jungle cat's butt.

So, today is the day of the much anticipated Iowa Caucuses.  And, dear reader, the whole process; the terrible, inhumane, sometimes brutal and downright nasty process where one goes from candidate to office holder, well, it reminded me of the exotic coffee with the rude beginnings.  I dearly hope, when all is said and done, that the final "product" is as refined and revered as the coffee from Sumatra.


Ever wonder what possessed someone to "try" the coffee-beans in the first place?  Wiki knows


That amusing clip from the movie "The Bucket List." Just one nasty word to deal with.