Rodent Prognosticator
And freedom, oh freedom, well that’s just some people talkin’
A lyric line from the song Desperado by Glenn Frey and Don Henley is how I feel right now. We worship at the Shrine of Freedom in this country. Lately I wonder if there is much behind the curtain. I happily accepted a invitation from friends to join a post card signing gathering at their home. This past Wednesday I wrote by hand, messages on post cards addressed to our elected officials. Some went to Vice President Pence, some to President Trump, and a few more to Senators from my State of Illinois. The Constitution grants me freedom of speech. I have the right to express my concern about Climate Change, Women’s Rights, LGBT rights. There is no legal right to be heard. Upon waking the next morning, I wondered if our effort might have been no more than tossing pieces of cardboard into a bonfire. It is always good to do the right thing whether or not it makes a difference.
On a positive note I read that Punxsutawney Phil, our groundhog prognosticator of weather for the near term is still on the job. Hauled out of his den on cue, I read that he saw his shadow indicating six more weeks of winter. I take that to be good news. Only six more weeks. That’s better than four more long, cold years. I understand that at Gobbler’s Knob thousands gathered in anticipation of Phil’s “prediction” enjoying folk music and fireworks. No question, a party is just what is needed in the dead of winter. And please return Phil to his bed.