Respect (Haiku)

When one knows the rules

Then follows and abides them

 It is called respect

Often the lack of it results in confrontation, especially in interpersonal matters.  The one being disrespectful may even be unaware of his transgression.

Time (Haiku)

 Time can be defined:

The passing of the present.

Measured as you will,

A terse definition is often more accurate than a treatise on the subject.  The vector of time is always pointing to the future.

The Force (Haiku)

 

Imagination

The source of human power

Ideas from it

Imagination

From inspiration to fact

The force be with you

The fundamental human characteristics are often glossed over and disregarded.  Replaced by volumes of psycho drivel.

The Decline of St. Louis

3-2-2026 The people of St Louis, and surrounding counties, need to realize that unless some form of metro government is brought about, the historic and culturally important city will continue to evaporate until it is gone, "leaving not a rack behind." The city needs the benefit of the thinking power of the rest of the area. The counties need to get over their petty selfishness and work for the greater good.

3-11-2026: Look around you people in St Louis and surrounds. You are standing at the back of the line. There is no one behind you. There is nothing for which to get in line. When you go, it's gone 

3-18-2026: It may be because there's no way up.  The ante to a US citizen in today's world is a car, car insurance, apt or house, and renter's or home insurance, cellphone, internet access, TV and streaming services, a college degree (and/or a trade if you're smart enough), and willing to sell yourself into slavery for health insurance.

There was a progression associated with St. Louis.  People from less fortunate circumstances came to St. Louis to get jobs.  These jobs were in manufacturing enterprises that were numerous there.  Whole families worked in the same company because the HR people knew that they were good workers.

They came from smaller towns in the region and even from foreign countries, because this was where the opportunities were.  As life progressed, some rose in the ranks of the company, or found better jobs in other companies.  They received higher wages and found a place in the newer developments, in the city at first and then in the county.  They left the older houses and neighborhoods behind as they were "movin' on up."

Their vacancies were filled by others who came to take the jobs that were opening because of promotions and turnover.  These newcomers came to reside in the houses that others left, and were more affordable, in the older neighborhoods.

Then they moved on, and a new wave came in.  This cycle was repeating continuously until the jobs went away.  It could have been "globalization" as in the NAFTA, where jobs went to Mexico, China, and other parts of the world.  Manufacturing moved away.  The waves of people stopped coming for work. Now they came for welfare.

Complicit in this scenario are the demands of the workers via their unions.  Higher wages and labor cost made the decision to relocate manufacturing easy to make. Why would I incur the higher cost of labor in St. Louis when I could relocate the work to areas that had significantly lower cost? 

The situation was obscured by the higher paying jobs that the better educated workforce could perform.  The bar was set too high for the entry-level manufacturers.  Older, lower rent houses and areas went without tenants, were not maintained, and became uninhabitable.

At first the void was filled by the welfare seekers, but eventually they, too, vacated the area.  So, now there are about 25,000 vacant lots and houses, and a large number of others on which structures nearing collapse are located.  The stream of new occupants dwindled away.

Could it be possible that the President's tariffs are a way of turning the tide back to where manufacturing will once again be a "draw" for people to come to St. Louis, build or rehabilitate houses that are affordable for working people to get started up the ladder. I say St. Louis but it could be true for all the rust-belt cities in the country, especially those North and East of St. Louis.

Blast from the Past

Just now, sitting here in my recliner, working the AM Sudoku puzzle, into my mind flooded a memory.  It was 8500 Oriole Avenue, Saint Louis, in the early summer. A motorcycle policeman was sitting on his cycle, in the street, off to the side in the shade of our sycamore tree.  

He was big, in uniform, with the addition of black shiny, leather leg protectors that covered his legs from the knees to the ankles.  They had silver buckles on adjusting straps at the top and bottom.

Several of us kids, we were all little, maybe 4 or 5 years old, gathered in a bunch around him.  We may have been asking him questions.  I think we must have been intrigued with this apparition, which none of us had seen before.

He remained there a while, observing the intersection.  Then, probably due to a lack of action, he kick-started his motorcycle and left.  We were impressed.  That was 80 plus years later, never before recalled.

New Year's Eve Hero

 

It was New Year's Eve, some years ago, when Gene and his wife came over from next door to celebrate the coming of the new year.  They'd come over to let their daughter entertain her friends at their home with a party.

We were celebrating with a drink, telling stories, and jokes and generally passing the time in a quiet sort of way, when their daughter came to the back door.  She said, "Dad, can you come home, things are getting out of hand."

Gene got up immediately, didn't ask any questions, and left.  I went with him to back him up if necessary.  

We walked into bedlam; loud music, spilled drinks, knots of kids standing around talking and laughing.  There were many more than their daughter had invited.  I heard one inebriated young fellow say to his buddy, trying to be cool, "This sucks, let's go to Julie's house.  I heard they have lots of beer there."  His buddy said, "We're at Julie's."  To which the first fellow simply nodded.

Anyway, Gene was heroic in his action to save his house and belongings.  He simply walked through the crowd calmly saying, "The party's over." He kept repeating this and, in just a few minutes, the house was empty except for his daughter and us.  

Not one argument from anyone, the crowd got in their cars and left.  I was astounded.  And I was glad I wasn't out on the roads.

Silas Marner Character Sketch and Summary

It is early in the 19th century. My name is Silas Marner, I’m a weaver, and a devout member of a small Calvinist congregation in Lantern Yard, Northern England.

I was falsely accused of stealing the congregation's funds while watching over the very ill deacon. Two pieces of evidence implicated me: a pocket-knife, and the discovery of the bag formerly containing the money in my house. William Dane, framed me, I gave my pocket- knife to William shortly before the crime was committed.

The woman I was to marry broke our engagement and married William instead.  I left Lantern Yard and the city for a rural area where I was unknown and settled near the village of Raveloe, where I lived alone, choosing to have only minimal contact with the residents beyond my work as a linen weaver. I devoted myself to my craft and became addicted to the gold coins I earned and hoarded.

One foggy night, my two bags of gold were stolen by Dunstan ("Dunsey") Cass, a dissolute younger son of Squire Cass, the town's leading landowner. On discovering the theft, I became deeply depressed.  Dunsey immediately disappeared, but the community took little notice of this disappearance since he vanished several times before.

Godfrey Cass, Dunsey's elder brother, also harbors a secret past. He is married to, but estranged from, Molly Farren, an Opium addict, working-class woman living in another town. This secret prevents Godfrey from marrying Nancy Lammeter, a young middle-class woman.

On a winter's night, Molly tried to make her way to Squire Cass’s New Year's Eve party with her two-year-old girl to announce that she is Godfrey's wife. On the way, she collapsed in the snow and lost consciousness.

The child wandered to my house. I followed the child's tracks in the snow and discovered the woman, dead. I went to the party for help, Godfrey headed outdoors to the scene of the accident, but didn’t tell anyone that Molly was his wife. Molly's death was convenient for Godfrey and Nancy.

I kept the child and named her Eppie, after my deceased mother and sister, both were named Hephzibah. Eppie changed my life completely. I was robbed of my gold but think that it was returned to me symbolically in the form of the golden-haired child.

Godfrey Cass is now free to marry Nancy but continues to conceal the fact of his previous marriage—and child—from her. However, he aided me in caring for Eppie with occasional financial gifts. More practical help and support in bringing up the child was provided by Dolly Winthrop, my kindly neighbor.

Sixteen years passed, and Eppie grew up to be the pride of the village. She has a strong bond with me, I found a place in rural society and a purpose in life. Meanwhile, Godfrey and Nancy mourn their own childless state, after the death of their baby.

Eventually, the skeleton of Dunstan Cass—still clutching my gold—was found at the bottom of the stone quarry near my home, and the gold was duly returned to me.

Godfrey confessed to Nancy that Molly was his first wife and that Eppie is his child. They offered to raise her, but Eppie refused, saying, "I can't think o' no happiness without him."

(Credit a Web Sites for basic information)