Happy Wednesday Digital Neighbors & Fiends! Good Morning Phamily, Refugees, Early Birds, Dawn Patrol, Supporters, Members and Visitors to these little havens of sanity, laughter and liberty.

We aren't all on the same page, but we respect wherever life may have lead you, the experiences that shaped you, the ideals you strive for, the questions that still churn in you. We may even disagree about some fundamentals, we may want different futures for ourselves or our children, but we are here because we are tired or the maligning of persons of differing opinions, attitudes, cultural or political nuances. We are here because we believe in discussion, nothing is beyond scrutiny, above question or beyond being held up to the test of humor and potential mockery. Ideas can be hammered ruthlessly if you can keep from the attacking of persons and the smearing of individuals.

It isn't easy, the default programming of current culture is to attack the moment our ideal suddenly comes into the question, or the curtain is drawn back and the wizard is exposed. Join the tribe or be the sacrifice! Giant caldron not included. 😉

Enlightenment and growth are not easy stepping stones, especially as we age, the weight of personal investment to long held ideals does not expand or contract easily. The reality that there may be multiple approaches to a given topic, multiple solutions to problems or multiple perspectives is less likely the more absolutely certain you believe you are. It doesn't mean we are all jaded skeptics here for the last stand of stand of liberty, but we all know the current climate on the streets, in the schools, at work and pervading culture is not one to make for a future any of us want. This is place to discuss, to debate, to often eavesdrop on meaningful conversations or ideas that we may not otherwise hear/read out there. Above all it is a place to meet people capable of humanity, accepting of reality, willing to return to what was once a given in society. It was never perfect, it never will be perfect, but there is a better way to live among the actual neighbors, there are better ways to maintain, sustain and grow culture. Enough Tom - on to some prose and vintage Thanksgiving Artwork!

A Conquest

It is a conquest when we can lift ourselves above the annoyances of circumstances over which we have no control; but is a greater victory when we can make those circumstances our helpers, when we appreciate the good there is in them. It has often seemed to me as if Life stood beside me, looking me in the face, and saying, "Child, you must learn to like me in the form in which you see me, before I can offer myself to you in any other aspect." - Lucy Larcom

And some Normal Rockwell - so easy to confuse with Joseph Leyendecker, similar styles and themes of American life.