The Road to 65, Mile 337: Such Is Halloween

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 2, 2015 in Entertainment, Historical, Inspiration

October 31, 2015, Phoenix- This day was the first Halloween I have spent away from home, since 1991. The current generation of children are more likely to be confined to one narrow space, or another-either a prescribed street, populated by well-heeled folks, who put up elaborate decorations, or a carefully-arranged event, often (ironically) faith-based. The turnout on my street, last year, was exactly eight trick-or-treaters.

I had business here yesterday, and elected to stay down in the city, especially after getting invited to a large house party. The day proceeded as a drive around several Memory Lanes, starting with breakfast at a family restaurant, close to our old house. It was called Fast Eddie’s, for several years. Now, it goes by The Cracked Egg. The Irish Omelet was hot and well-prepared, and the servers congenial. I like the former name better, but everything else is just fine. I drove by our former home, finding it occupied by a family who seem to be doing well. Then, came a visit to Penny’s grave site, where I placed a dozen roses, and reflected on all that we managed to accomplish together, often in spite of ourselves.

After a couple of hours in Sunnyslope’s Acacia Branch Library, and a bit of shopping, I took a couple of strolls around Steele Indian School Park, named for the former Bureau of Indian Affairs residential school, whose vacant buildings are preserved at the site and for Horace C. Steele, a businessman, whose charitable foundation made the park possible. Several families were enjoying the bright late afternoon, including a few who were fishing the small pond.

After a second stroll, this one at Park Central Mall, which was once managed by my late friend, Mike. The place was mostly closed for the evening, lending an eerie, but not disconcerting, aura to my time. It reminded me of a similar walk, last year, at the huge, but silent Frankfurt Messe.

Upon arriving at the aforementioned party, I found myself being greeted by Gomez and Morticia Addams (aka my friends, Jens and Maggie). There were nearly a hundred people on site, but I seemed to be the only one with a plastic mask (Chewbacca, from “Star Wars”), which precipitated a lot of good-natured chuckles, from the older guests, and eye-rolls from the hipsters. The food was nice, though, and Maggie’s intense decorations were, as usual, phenomenal. Three small outbuildings, and the grounds in between, contained theme-park quality displays. After a few lengthy conversations with some old friends, and new acquaintances, it was time to watch, as Gomez and Morticia offered their signature tango. We were not disappointed.

I had to head back to Prescott, shortly after 10, but I will recall this much-needed time, reconnecting with old haunts (no pun intended) as a time for grounding. The coming, very busy two weeks will go much smoother, for the break that was taken.

The Road to 65, Mile 319: Conquistador

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 14, 2015 in Historical, impediments

October 12, 2015, Chino Valley-

A few thoughts about the day, as we might look at it.

The deer trails, drawing the interest of the hunters,

became the Kinship Trails, drawing the interest of the merchants,

the soldiers and the monks.

The Conquistador Trails, drawing the interest of the pioneers,

the entrepreneurs and the downtrodden,

became the railroads and macadam highways, drawing the

interest of the Lords of Commerce and the satisfied multitudes.

The Interstate Highways, drawing the interest of the masses,

fleeing oppression, become

closed, behind walls and fences.

The Road to 65, Mile 260: P.C.

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 16, 2015 in Historical, Social

August 15, 2015, Prescott- The Chaplain giving a benediction, at today’s “Spirit of 45” remembrance of World War II veterans, referenced political correctness as a threat to freedom, while noting how the GI Generation accomplished their goals without a systematic enforcement of unwritten social code.

That got me thinking about “P.C.” I was raised to look at people, strictly as individuals. Pejoratives were not allowed in our house, pure and simple. My parents were people of their time, and it took Mom years to accept the idea of “mixed marriages”. Yet, every person with whom we came in contact was to be respected.

Being unusual, in my own right, made it actually easier to accept and embrace differences. I have since had the bounty of having a wide variety of friends, from all backgrounds. Political correctness has had little or nothing to do with this.

I see how P.C.has had some great benefits, as it brought people out of their “business as usual” comfort zones. The Civil Rights movements, which have brought codified assurance of equality under the law, to women, people of colour and to the LGBT community, were a vital necessity in a society that was too immersed in a comfort level that thrived on separation.

I need to say this, though: The only thing that really will result in a truly inclusive society, which will not discriminate against ANY of its members, is a change of the human heart. We are reaching a saturation point, in terms of the amount of criticism being directed at those whose opinions or lifestyles might not mesh with those of the critics. The over-dependence on political correctness, as a guide to personal and community choices, will likely result in a confused generation, alienated from its legacy- as no historical figure could possibly clear the bar that overuse of political correctness is foisting upon our education system. Yes, it is good, and necessary, to know that several of the Founding Fathers owned slaves, hated Native Americans and were condescending towards women. It is good, and necessary, to know the truth about Abraham Lincoln’s view of people of colour, or Franklin D. Roosevelt’s anti-Semitism. That should not blind us to the good that those men did. It should only remind us that no one is perfect, save the Founders of the Great Faiths. It should show us where we were, as a people, at various points in time, and that we are making progress, steadily. WITHOUT EXCUSING the wrongheadedness of our forebears, let us remind ourselves that the march of history is forward, upward, towards enlightenment.

Consigning all historical figures to the dust bin is a mistake, for then we will, at some point, revert to the same practices we claim to abhor, albeit in a different form. Banning those of different, sometimes archaic, OPINIONS from speaking, will only lead to clandestine and terror-oriented groups, such as IS, the Rakhine Buddhists, the Ku Klux Klan and Opus Dei, to openly hostile congregations like Westboro Baptist Church, or, worst of all, to criminal cartels, which profit from the dregs of human suffering.

Only attention to one’s heart and soul can bring about the peace and inclusiveness that we all seek. How this is done, should be solely up to the individual, so long as it does not bring harm to another. Violence, intimidation, or codified pressure from without cannot work to our advantage, in the long run.

The only correctness that can bring lasting peace, is personal correctness. It is a huge responsibility, and it is given to each and every one of us. No government, or social medium, can tend to it in our stead.