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Post by kaijafon on Apr 25, 2023 16:07:05 GMT -6
I wonder where PBBrown got the idea for a partitioned garden from......hmmmm?
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Post by pbbrown0 on Apr 26, 2023 11:53:16 GMT -6
Post #10
Eyes To See?
Pete was managing to get some work done on the garden by working after he got off work and when he had a day off. He occasionally mused about the way most stores were only open five and a half days a week, way back when he was a kid, and almost all of them closed at five or five-thirty in the afternoon on week days. He had already planted or sown about a third of the garden before he and Joann had talked. She was getting more work done on the garden than he was, this week. She continued to talk like she was pleased with what he had done about her chicken coup and the fencing, but he still had a feeling there was more about those initiatives of his that she had decided to just not talk about. He did not bring it back up, but he could not shake off a niggling concern that it would be revisited, later. The had talked more about the garden and which seeds to plant where. Joann had used two of the bales to mulch the garden spaces. They also were more specific in communicating their plans to gradually plant more seeds through the spring and summer so the crops would not need to be harvested all at once. Joann had worked out some of those details of where to plant when so they could make their plan for migrating the foraging chickens to work, and had discussed them with Pete. They also made plans to wait until late summer, just before school restarted in the fall, before doing some of the planting so they could have a fall harvest for the more cold tolerant vegetables. The climate here had relatively mild winters with only periodic freezing spells, so they were hoping to stretch their growing season, at least for some vegetables. Joann bought some small cages for the hand full of chicks she had bought. She said she would keep them indoors until the weather was milder and they were stronger, since there were no mother hens to keep them warm. Pete was gradually getting around to working on how to control the ventilation in the coop during the hot summer as well as the colder winter weather that would come eventually. Joann had mentioned the possibility of drying some of the greens and produce, at least for the chickens, since wet canning was fairly labor intensive. She found some diagrams on the internet showing designs for sun powered dryers. Pete was quick to pick up on that after his experience with canning the previous fall. Within two weeks he had two solar dryers built and ready to use. After the break when Joann was not so focused on the garden, Pete began again to spend time on the internet at the library looking for land. The land for sale ads and listings were not very promising, but Ruben's suggestion was looking very interesting. At first it looked to Pete like it might be a big challenge to sift through all the properties listed for pending tax foreclosures. Eventually, with practice, he became more adept at deciphering the abbreviated listings and spotting more quickly which properties he could quickly eliminate from consideration. As his working list was shortened he also was able to eliminate whole counties as he learned more about how the county boundaries aligned with the the geography of this state. The real learning curve was learning how the Township, Range, and Section abbreviations in the legal descriptions of the rural lands translated to the actual location and boundaries of the land parcels. Then he had to narrow down his list to properties that looked interesting based on satellite maps, topographical maps, and tax information. For the next several months Pete was very busy trying to arrange some days off work, going to find and investigate sites, and checking at courthouses to look for any red flags about the properties that were interesting to him. Eventually he narrowed his list down to about half a dozen possibilities. Then he had to arrange more days off so he could attend the auctions where those properties were being processed. He was amazed at the minimum opening bids that were listed for most of the properties. There were some rural properties of twenty acres or more that were listed with opening bids of only a few hundred dollars. Apparently the state was only interested in getting the back taxes due, and any excess money received from the auction of a property would be given to the former landowner as compensation for taking the land from them. His natural curiosity drew his attention to other properties as well. Most were residential lots. Many of these residential lots were clustered close together with the same owner. Apparently some overly ambitious developers had out run themselves on financing their get-rich-quick schemes. Pete was both excited and anxious. He was going to his first tax auction after a careful examination of nine properties. He had bought a small truck with high mileage just a month ago and driven to check out several of the most promising ones. There would be more properties announced in additional counties later in the summer, but there seemed to be only a handful of parcels so far worth serious consideration. Only one piece of land in this county was on his bid list, but he had already decided it was a property he did not want. However, since he had never been to one of these auctions before, he wanted to at least see what the process was like. There were a number of negatives, about that one property, but that meant someone might be able to get it cheap. The bidding started at $300 and within two minutes it was over $20,000. Pete was shocked. That property was completely undeveloped and in a sparsely populated area. A number of people had apparently used it for dumping irreparable equipment. The trees were all too young to harvest for lumber, and it wasn't really large enough to consider for a homestead, in Pete's way of thinking. Making a working farm for profit out of it was ludicrous. Why would anyone pay that much? The next day in a neighboring county the story was almost the same. This time there was a property Pete liked, but with some reservations, the property went for $55,000. He was keeping track of each property in the auctions, even the parcels he that did not interest him, and how much was bid on them. About ten percent of the parcels for sale were sold for the minimum opening bid. Another a tenth of the properties were no-bid. Most of those no-bids actually had houses on them. On his drive back home he was mulling over what he had observed trying to make sense of it. After getting home he looked more carefully at his notes and the information posted online, but he still could not make sense of the bidding patterns. After the two days he had taken off work to go to the auctions, Pete got back into his work routines at his two jobs, his Bible study with Ruben, attending congregation meetings, and working the garden and chickens on Joann's lot. His Bible study was getting much more intriguing as Ruben was reading with him in the book of Daniel and the Revelation of John. Of course Ruben was familiar with many passages in the prophets and all through the New Testament that reiterated in snippets what was contained in these two books that focused on the course of history yet to come. As they studied together Pete was amazed at how clear it was becoming in his mind that the description of the events that prophesies said would happen “in the last days” sounded just like current times. Pete was no longer following the current news broadcasts as closely as he had in years past. He was beginning to see current events from a broader perspective now. Through the summer months Pete was continuing to periodically check out new properties scattered around the state that were being confiscated for long delinquent taxes. At the same time he was also working two jobs and tending the garden. Each auction he attended seemed to be the same yet different. Some were large with a couple of hundred bidders, while some only had barely over a dozen attending. No matter how many attended or how many properties were up for bid, the results always followed similar patterns. It was in one of the small auctions where he finally gained some insights into the process. It was mid-August near the end of the schedule of auctions for the year and this event was being held in an old courthouse basement. This county was sparsely populated and there were fewer properties listed for auction. Rather than the customary sections of chairs arranged in rows facing the podium in a large meeting room, this auction had about six folding tables arranged in a rectangle in a courthouse basement conference room. This allowed the bidders to see each others faces instead of seeing only the backs of each other's heads. This arrangement in a much smaller room with a low ceiling made it possible to overhear conversations that were going on while the few people present were waiting for the official process to begin. This was the last auction of the season that Pete planned to attend. Pete was not very hopeful about his prospects for success today, but he was still thinking this process held the best possibilities for affording the kind of property he would need. He was mulling over the old adage about nothing ventured—nothing gained, when he recognized the local county Tax Assessor-Collector from her picture on the county website. She sat down, with a man whose face seemed vaguely familiar, just around the corner of the table from Pete. The body language of these two was 'very loud' communicating their their familiarity with each other. Pete made a point of not staring at them with his eyes, but his ears were very focused. That is when he discovered the distinctions that set the land speculator/developers apart from those wanting to flip houses or an individual just wanting to find an inexpensive home. He also saw clearly that this difference was going to make it almost impossible to compete in the bidding against the speculator/developers. As he drove home this time he did not feel discouraged at having spent so much time and effort this year without success at the auctions. At the same time, he knew he needed to rethink his approach to buying some land. He was still a long way from being able to buy a patch of land with any reasonable acreage with so little money yet saved. Even with his frugal lifestyle, it would be several more years before he could buy enough acres in the current market. 'Maybe I need to rethink how I am going to reach my goal,' he thought. His thoughts drifted to the Bible study he had been doing with Ruben. During his studies he had felt a growing sense that he might have less time than he once thought to get himself set up in the right place. Then he remembered some other things Ruben had been saying about “the right place to be”. Pete took a deep breath and started praying; not pleading, just praying. Soon he found himself, once again, thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the earth around him as he drove down the narrow country roads. By the time he reached home some ideas were starting to form in his mind. That night he decided to leave the auction process. First he needed to decide exactly what he needed in a parcel of land, then He needed to “find that parcel”. He double checked that the chickens were in. Joann was already back to commuting to her teaching job since it was late August already. He knew she would be leaving by daybreak the next morning so he left a note on her door thanking her for tending to thechickens while he was gone and assuring her he would tend to them the rest of the week. He tried to get to bed early since he too was scheduled to work a shift and a half the next day. In the mean time there was much more that should be getting his diligent attention. He decided that he needed to start scanning the news on a couple of news websites twice a week, but with a critical eye. He also wanted to discuss some ideas about the chickens and the garden project with Joann. Finally he also wanted to talk some more with Ruben. On Saturday afternoon, Pete crossed paths with Joann out in the garden and started talking about some things he wanted to try with gathering seeds, and he wanted her thoughts about increasing the number of chickens they were raising. The garden was thriving and still producing more than Pete ever imagined it would. Pete's limited prior experiences with gardening in Texas had taught him that without constant watering vegetable gardens were spent and drying up by late August. Whether it was the result of the slightly cooler climate, the higher rainfall, the staggered planting, the mulching with straw, the controlled access they were allowing to the chickens, or the bunching of crops rather than planting in rows, Pete could not say. For what ever the reason, Pete and Joann were both very pleased with the results. Joann agreed to the idea of increasing the number of chickens they were raising. None of their chickens were broody, so she suggested that she could make a biology project out of it for her students and incubate a collection of eggs in her classroom at her school. At the Sunday meeting of the congregation, Pete had a discussion with Ruben about getting together for a Bible study more than once a week. Ruben was a little surprised at first. After talking with Pete for a minute or two, He understood that Pete was eager to learn more. Pete told him he was willing to study more on his own, but he also wanted to benefit from the perspective and insight of someone else who was also enthused about studying what the Bible really says. Pete had shared with Ruben some of his past Bible study experience with “credentialed” Bible Professors. Pete contrary to some of the teachings of Pete's professors, he had reached the same conclusions as Rubens “denomination” regarding several of their “unorthodox beliefs” before he had moved here from Texas. Pete expressed an eagerness to clarify his understanding about a number of other points of truth, or confusion, he had encountered in his past study of the Bible. “You know, Ruben, I'm starting to see that just knowing what the Bible says isn't any good unless that understanding is demonstrated in the way you try to live your life.” - - - - - Rob's and Bruce's families seemed to be getting together even more frequently than they had in previous years. The school year was now in full swing again, but neither Colleen nor Carl were as tied down by their extra curricular obligations. Carl was not in the football program, but was now working in a vocational program. He took classes half a day and worked at a construction company the rest of the day. That meant no more football practices before and after school. Colleen was no longer in band, which meant her school day was two hours shorter, and she had an extra hour at school for an elective course. It also meant Friday nights were free and there would not be any weekends committed to marching band contests this fall. Another development was that both Jenny's and Linda's employers had been gradually cutting back on employee hours to save on payroll expenses. With more time on their hands these two friends were putting their heads together on ways to save on expenses. One big way was that they were cooking at home more. Their families were spending more time together entertaining each other now and spending less time and money paying for the latest and greatest entertainment money could buy. “Rob, I have to hand it to your son, Carl. I am convinced his decision about sports last spring was the key for Colleen's decision to get out of the extracurricular competition obsession. She is so much more relaxed this year. I didn't realize how much she was affected by the pressure in the band program at school. It wasn't just the extra hours. Apparently the obsession with 'be perfect or be replaced' was unrelenting. It wasn't just the practice for the half-time shows. Those kids really had a lot of pressure put on them to carry on the tradition of the school to have a perfect, spectacular show at all the inter-school competitions. They were even competing for invitations to interstate competitions. I should have been paying more attention, but I wasn't. She already seems so much happier this year.” “Yeah, I was concerned at first, but Carl's decision makes a lot of sense now. Jenny doesn't worry anymore about Carl getting injured 'just playing a game'. He gets home from work earlier and he actually talks to us more now about how his day went. I really think this was a good decision for him.” “Speaking of getting home early – How are y'all doing with Jenny's shorter hours? You doing okay with the cutback in income?” “We're okay, Bruce. I'm sure you are a lot like us. It wasn't just the smaller paycheck. We took a hit on the health insurance for Jenny, too. I had to put here on my company's plan but the company doesn't cover any of the cost for her insurance like she was getting before.” “Well, that part wasn't so bad for us. Linda's employer had a lousy insurance plan for their employees, and we had been biting the bullet already carrying her on my company's plan. We've adjusted okay, though. My company is doing pretty well, so I'm still getting decent pay. As long as stores are still needing products to stock the shelves, we'll be okay.” “Sometimes I wonder, Bruce, about where our economy is going and how can we predict what industries are going to thrive and which ones are going to fade away. Dad use to talk about how Sears-Roebuck and A&P Foods after a hundred years in business were totally dominating the retail market. Kodak and Polaroid were so pervasive that they even shaped our language. Now, where are they? Remember when Nixon opened up the trade market to China. The talk was all about how it was opening the way for us to sell American made goods to two billion people. It's hard to find anything with a Made in America label on it now, and most of those are just because the final assembly is done here using parts that were made over there. Right now I don't know of any American company that is selling to China except Apple and McDonald's, and I'd bet that most of what they sell there is mostly made over there, not here. We never hear anything in the news about the balance in trade anymore, not even in the financial programs on cable.” “You've got a point there, Rob. It seems like there isn't anything being covered in the news except the latest gossip about entertainment personalities or politicians calling each other liars.” Rob chuckled. “Okay, so here is something my Dad taught me long ago. The primary tool of a magician is distraction and misdirection. He has to make sure that even those who are expecting the misdirection will still be looking for the wrong cues in the wrong direction. It makes me wonder if anyone knows what is really going on. Sometimes I wonder who the Wizard of Oz really is and what all the smoke and mirrors are meant to hide from us.”
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Post by solo on Apr 26, 2023 12:29:49 GMT -6
As in the first time around, I was intrigued with the view of extra curriculars like Band. I was in all things band in High School and College, drummer, percussionist. But I did not experience the same things Colleen did. Well, Maybe I did. There were competitions, Friday Nights, Saturday trips, parades, concerts and other performances. But I enjoyed that part. I embraced it. And, I think I benefitted from those. I found that my love of music was sated in ways I couldn't have imagined and banging on my instrument was a great stress relief. I was most happy when I was at band practice and performance. It was competitive, but that was the point. We didn't get participation trophies. You either worked on your craft and performed well as a team or you didn't. Hardwork and talent paid of, Talent by itself, didn't. Important life lessons there. A side benefit was that as I was a bit on the geeky side, I was singled out and picked on as it wasn't popular to do well in school and any non-sport focused exercise. I was left alone because my music focus and advanced classes removed me from what I call GenPop and the generic of my peer group. I was taking classes with Junior and Seniors as a Freshman. I said all of this to essentially put forth that not all extra curriculars are bad. I learned discipline, an appreciation for music, and had a great stress reliever. Years later, I learn how to play guitar and have been in quite a few church bands over the years, playing multiple instruments. It is a solid way to be able to express myself creatively... Just like the fine authors here. Thank you for allowing me to relieve those times 40 years ago. And since.
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Post by pbbrown0 on Apr 30, 2023 18:05:51 GMT -6
Post # 11 What's Going On Here?
“Carl, I have to admit this is turning out to be a pretty good year. I don't have a job like you do, but I feel like I am having more fun this year. Not party fun or fun hanging out with friends at school, but... I feel like I am learning more about interesting things I want to know about. Does that make any sense to you?” “I'm not sure, Colleen. Like what interesting things?” Carl was trying to look serious, but he wasn't completely successful at suppressing a grin. “Believe it or not, like the things Mom and Dad are having to deal with since the cut backs at her job. I was always so busy with my activities schedule that I never noticed all the things adults had to consider and work through just to take care of the family, which includes you and me. While I am spending more time at home, I overhear a lot more of their discussions about budgets and plans for the future, and how much they think about having the money to get me through college, and even their wondering about what career I'm going to pursue.” “Wait. So you're telling me you are having more fun eaves dropping on your parents than you were having at school?” Carl gave her a mock shocked look. “Very funny.” Colleen made a mock punch at his arm “No, Carl. I know you're not that dense. What I mean is I'm having more fun NOT being totally wrapped up in the minute details that are “soooo important” at school but are not going to matter at all the minute I get out of High School. It just feels better knowing that I am using more brain cells considering the choices I have that are going to matter, hopefully, in the long term. It feels like, well, like I am starting to grow up a little, maybe.” Colleen was keeping a very serious look on her face “Okay, I might have described it in different terms, but yeah, I can relate to that. Like with my working at a job while still in school, I am thinking a lot more about where I might go with this after I get out of school rather than not seeing past the end of the season and whether or not we get to the play offs. So where do you think you might go with a career?” “I don't know yet, this is still a bit new to me. A lot of stuff is spinning through my head. I just hope I figure out something that will last. Something I can still feel good about doing after years of sticking with it. Of course you know if this turns out to be a big mistake, I get to blame it on you.” “Wait,what ? I'm not the one who decided to drop out of band and throw away a brilliant career as a Flautist. That's on you, girl. I never told you to do that.” Colleen was laughing out loud now. “See that's exactly what I mean. What am I going to do after I graduate from high school with all that stress and effort to hold on to my position as first chair in the flute section. I mean a flute is a lousy instrument to use for playing along with a group of people singing, unless you are just trying to show off. I don't want to be a show-off. That's just not me. You know that Carl. But if you hadn't talked to me about why you quit football I never would have stopped to think 'why am I trying so hard to be good at something that I don't want to keep doing ?' So it really is your fault, Carl.” Colleen was grinning at him now. - - - - - “Jenny, what is with the so called leaders of our country? All we heard about for months and months endless arguing about did he or did he not do something that should be investigated, or complaints about double standards regarding who should be investigated. Then they are arguing about who needs help or who is being discriminated against, or who is being discriminated against more. Nobody trusts the other guys, and everyone is angry that everyone is not on their side, and no one can get anything good done without making it bad for someone else! Why do they spend so much effort trying to get elected if they can't do anything useful once they get elected?” “Well if you ask me, Linda, they are all deluded into thinking they can make a difference if they do get elected. I think there are forces greater than they realize that are influencing even the rich and powerful without their even realizing it.” “What do you mean, Jenny?” “Well, sometimes Rob and I get to talking about his Dad. His Dad has some interesting ideas about history and societies. Some of the things he has to say make you stop and rethink what you learned in school about why countries interact the way they do and what is really going on in politics.” “Are you talking about the so called 'shadow government'?” “Well, sort of, but not exactly. There are all kinds of perceptions and agendas at work. The rich and powerful have various views and preferences for how things should progress to make things better in their not so humble opinions. They have influence, sometimes more and sometimes less, on politicians. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is just the way things work in all societies. Of course from time to time a group of people get their heads together behind a common agenda.” “So, it is kind of like social cliques among the powerful, and the in-crowd has more influence than us peons, right? Oooooh, I hate to say this but it reminds me of the stuff that went on with the cliques in high school trying to control opinions about who was 'IN' and popular and who was 'OUT' and didn't count for anything. Girl if it's anything like those were there could be some really nasty things going on.” “You got it At least that's what he use to think. Rob has been talking with me about some of his Dad's letters since he moved, and now his Dad looks at it from a … much higher perspective.” “You mean he thinks there are cliques at an international level?” “No, Linda; much higher. Rob says since he moved away his Dad has been involved in some serious Bible study and thinks, well that there are higher powers influencing those cliques and leaders without their even realizing it.” “Okay, I can see that doing a lot of Bible study he would start to see it from the perspective that God controls everything. But if God is directing everything, why are there so many bad things needing to be fixed?” “That is the strange part, Linda. Rob says his Dad is now thinking he had been mistaken about some of the concepts he had always been taught. You know the story in the Bible about Adam and Eve and the Serpent? How he tricked Eve and Adam into turning away from God's warning. So now, according to Rob's Dad, God is watching carefully while the Liar is misleading men in to following their own wisdom or foolishness without listening to God. The Bible apparently predicts that things will get really bad, until God finally has to step in 'big time' to set things straight again.” “Wait a minute, Jenny. I was always taught in Sunday School, that we need to be nice to each other and tell others to be nice, too. That way eventually everyone would be nice and the world would be like God meant it to be.” “Me too, Linda. But then I started thinking about what I have seen happening around me. It reminded me of the quip used by that T.V. psychologist who likes to prod people with, 'So, how's that workin' for ya?' Think about it, Linda. In the places where you have worked has it been the helpful and caring people who get promoted to the top positions, or is it the aggressive ones looking out for their own advancement in the power structure? ” Linda's response was almost a whisper as if she were in a daze, “Nice guys finish last. That's not how it's supposed to be, is it.” She and Jenny looked at each other and the strain was suddenly showing in their eyes. Whatcha Gunna Do?
“Peter, I know it's none of my business, but I'll admit I'm simply curious. These days when you tell me you won't be able to check on the chickens and then disappear; do you mind telling me where you go? You did this a number of times last summer, and this is the second time this spring. Do you mind my asking? I'm not complaining. You are certainly doing your share with the garden and all. You can keep it private if you want. It just seems a bit random and it is never more than a day. I know you can't get back to Texas and return in just one day. It's just that it started last spring and went through the summer, then suddenly stopped, and now it's starting again. Oh, never mind. Forget I asked. I just get a little caught up in trying to work out puzzles sometimes.” Peter was keeping a straight face and doing a passable job of suppressing a smirk. He took a moment to assure he could keep his composure before delivering a reply. “I thought I was doing a better job of covering my tracks, but you saw through it. Look, I really need to ask you to do the right thing and keep this to yourself. I'm working for a government agency; I can't tell you which one. All of this that you have seen of me is my cover. Just forget this conversation ever happened, and we can leave it at that.” Pete stared intently at Joann with a stern look. Joann paused for only a moment before she rolled her eyes and groaned. “You got me. That was a good one. I deserved that, Peter. Like I said, it is none of my business.” “It's okay, Joann. No harm done. I've become a very private person in the last few years, so I just don't talk with others about what I'm doing. I don't see you as a gossip so I don't mind you knowing. The long and short of it is that I am looking for a piece of land and I am on a shoestring budget. I can't afford land being marketed by real estate agents so I have been hunting for land on my own.” “What kind of land are you looking for? What are you planning to do with it? How, exactly, have you been looking without a real estate agent?” Pete chuckled. “Wait a minute. What happened to 'It's none of my business.'?” Now Joann giggled. “I told you I was curious. You don't have to answer.” “Come to think of it, I might be interested in your take on some of what I want to do. I want to find a place in the woods where I can grow my own food without disrupting the forest environment. Of course I also want to build a place to live on the land, but without all the techno-obsessions our society is pushing. I mean even the farmers today are being pushed hard to …” Pete caught himself and stopped mid-sentence. “Oh, don't get me started. I could lecture for hours on ...” This time Joann stopped mid sentence and started laughing. “That's what this garden and your interest in the chickens is about, isn't it? You're trying out your ideas and using this as a practice lab, aren't you?” “Guilty.” Pete grinned. - - - - - “Dad, this … all this stuff just doesn't make sense. There is so much information out there in the news that I can't ignore as unimportant, but I can't make sense out of what we are being told we must do, or what the government is doing, either. It just feels like a thunderstorm inside my head with the wind swirling around this way and that.” Rob had been listening to a press conference when Carl interrupted his thoughts. After a moment Rob turned off the television and turned to his son. “I know that there are a lot of new and unexpected developments in the last few months, and that can be confusing. I don't claim to know everything, but let's see if we can start to make some sense of this. Let's start with the idea that we can't sort out everything at once. So we need to take things in manageable bites. Pick just one question that is troubling you and we will look at that one first.” Carl took a deep breath and tried to calm down. “Dad, that is exactly why I am so . . . frustrated. What I really want to know is 'What should I be doing?', but I'm getting so much conflicting information, I don't know what information I should trust for making that decision. Actually it's a whole set of decisions that fold into the bigger question. The big question is ...well it's what path am I going to follow and how do I go about finding and staying on that path? ” Now Rob started feeling an uneasiness in his gut. He too was beginning to question more and more of what he was hearing. He had found himself troubled with more and more doubts about what the recent events were doing to the future landscape on his map. Now his son was sensing this and Rob felt responsible for guiding and protecting his family. He shook off his self doubts and uncertainty and focused on his son's question. “Carl your question is too big and vague at the moment, so let's break it down into smaller pieces. You are working in a construction company. When you need to put a wall up, you don't go looking for a piece called a wall to fasten to another wall. First you have to decide what materials you are going to use to build that wall. Then you decide how you are going to fit and fasten those materials together.” Rob knew his analogy was flawed, but he had to get Carl to focus on a narrower scope of issues in order to begin thinking through his uncertainties. “So, first lets define what your real concerns are about 'What should I be doing?' Before we look at the obstacles, let's look at your goal. Where are you going with that question?” Now it was Carl's turn to pause and think. It took several seconds of silence before he connected the dots among all the ideas swirling in his head. “Dad, you remember last year when we started talking about my priorities? Then, it wasn't long before I changed the path I was taking in my high school courses and activities. I have been feeling really good about those decisions, especially about where I saw things moving toward what I decided was really important to me. What I decided was really important to me was what you and Mom have showed me. Making a family that I can take care of and enjoy and support. Sharing a life with a real partner and carving out a haven of satisfaction, safety, and happiness in the middle of a world that is sometimes a bit crazy and hard. The problem, what is unsettling, is that this crazy world seems like it's rapidly taking significant turns for the worse. I don't know what I need to do to be able to reach that goal now. It's like I was just starting to learn the rules of the game and suddenly the Game-master invoked a 'kings-ex' and changed all the rules in the middle of the game. Only the Game-master is revealing the new rules a little at a time depending on how the game progresses.” Rob was now in a daze. His son was still in High School, sort of, and he had just stated clearly the very root of what had been troubling Rob and millions of others across the country. No wonder there was so much arguing and uncertainty about what was happening across the country. Everyone's plans, expectations, and hopes were suddenly in question because of the State of Emergency that had been declared. “Carl, I'm impressed that you are able to distill this down to the essential issue. That is the issue for not just you, son. It is an issue that all of us are facing right now whether or not we see it as clearly as you do. We need to get our heads together and figure out what we need to be doing. We know a little about the temporary rules, but we really don't know what is coming next. I honestly don't have a good feeling about the next rule changes, and it seriously concerns me that those changes may be more harmful than helpful to my family. Carl we are kind of getting into a spin here. Let's work this together. It may take some time, but let's do it like they use to teach me in school about how to get organized for writing a major paper or getting prepared for a debate. Let's get all our ideas and information from various sources written down on index cards. Then we can lay the cards out and organize our thoughts. That way we can compare and see what information makes sense and what doesn't hold up to scrutiny. This may take some time, but we are talking about what is really important to you, Aren't we?” “Yeah, Dad, this really is important to me. Let's do this! And, Dad, Thank you.” - - - - - “Joann, you and I have worked together on this garden and with the flock of chickens for a while now. I want to talk with you about something that is a little 'out there'. I'm not looking for you to advise me, so much as I just need to talk through this out loud with a friend who is not going to look at me like I have three heads when they hear me tell them what I'm thinking about.” Joann seemed a bit confused. “So what you're saying is that I need to control my reaction and limit it to the 'You must have two heads' look?” Pete threw back his head and laughed. His somber mood was broken, as was his uncertainty about choosing Joann for a friend to test out his thinking. “Yes, Joann, I am depending on you to not exceed the 'two aliens heads' level of ridicule,” he stated with mock seriousness. “Here is the deal. I told you a month or so back that I am looking for some land. That's only a part of the story. Another part of the story involves the bible study I've been doing with Ruben for over a year. The truth is that bible study has made me re-examine my thinking about getting a piece of land, and why I need to. My understanding of that need to find a place in the forest has radically changed, and yet that new understanding has intensified my sense of needing to move forward with that plan. At the same time some other things I have learned in my bible study might seem to raise questions about that plan being the right thing to...” “Wait ! Please stop, Peter. I'm not understanding what you are saying. I need the particulars in order for the concepts or principles to make sense to me. Give me specifics. Without that how can I be sure I'm understanding your meaning? Like I tell my students, clear concise bullet points are the way to communicate. Keep It Specific and Simple” “I'm sorry, Joann. I... okay., but remember you can only look at me like I'm an alien with two heads, not three heads. 1. “We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” 2. “But know this, that in the last days critical times difficult to deal with will be here.” 3. “The wise man sees the danger and conceals himself.” 4. “And let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.” 5. “You will not need to fight this battle. Take your position, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah in your behalf.” 6. “Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth who have carried out His commands; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Jehovah's anger.” “Obviously there are many more scriptures on those same subjects and of course there are many subjects covered in the Bible, but those are representative of what is on my mind lately. I want to talk to a couple of the elders, because I'm ready to make a commitment. I've been baptized more than once, already, but each time it was a commitment of faith based on what I understood at that time. The second time I understood a lot more about what baptism means, but that was based on another denomination's explanation of it's meaning. Right now I think my understanding is a lot more accurate as to what the Bible says about baptism than it was back then. Its similar to what Luke said in the book of Acts about Apollos preaching accurately about Jesus, but he only knew the baptism that John spoke of; until Priscilla and Aquila were able to spend some time explaining some of the teachings of Jesus he did not yet know about. There are so many denominations that think they have the best grasp of the truth. I had studied a lot of them and what they taught about the Bible, but there were things they taught that I just couldn't square with what I read in the Bible. Studying with y'all has been a breath of fresh air. I had reached some of the same “unorthodox” conclusions you have about the truth in the Bible, and I haven't found anything you believe or more importantly practice that I can argue with. It's all there in the Bible. You just have to put aside your assumptions and search for how it all fits together. ” Joann was standing still but smiling until Pete finished. “Pete, I am really happy to hear that. But, why are you telling me before you talk to the elders? Have you told Ruben this already?” “Well, we were talking, and your being one of the … one of our sisters, I thought you would understand, I just thought you would like to know. It's just been on my mind a lot, and it just came rolling out.” “Okay, Peter. There is more here than you are saying. I mean there are key elements that you are actually saying. You didn't quote those scriptures just because they sounded good. I think you are planning to do something in a different way now that your understanding is different. Our religion, which you say you are going to make a commitment to, is really keen on making the effort to change your actions, not just your thoughts. You remember The book of James states over and over that if your life doesn't reflect what you believe, what good is it that you say you believe something. In one verse James even mocks those who say it is enough that they believe in one God, because even the demons can claim that. So, Peter, what exactly are you planning to do because of what you believe, beyond getting baptized, again?” Pete felt like Joann was looking right through him. It was almost like she could see right past his normal smoke screen and deflection habits. “Joann, I want to get into the woods because when I'm there this world that Satan controls is less distracting. I feel like I can talk to and listen better to our Grand Creator without hearing so many lies, and experiencing the dominating influence of this twisted world pressing in on me so hard. I can see the work of our Grand Creator's hands in the forest rather than the work of Satan devouring the hearts and minds of people in the world. I am certain that the great tribulation is going to be harder for most Christians than they realize because they are much more “in the world” than they realize. Satan hates any and every little thread of faith in God that they have. But, I am concerned that if I am hiding out too effectively, then I will be neglecting the great commandment from Christ to preach the good news and make disciples, before it is too late.” “So I guess I plan to move to the forest, because I believe that is what Jehovah has been leading me to, but I also want to keep telling others about Him and inviting those I can to find out what an amazingly loving God he really is to those who truly love Him. I guess I'm telling you as a friend, Joann, because I'm looking for some feedback on this concern before I talk with the elders about making this commitment.”
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Post by pbbrown0 on Apr 30, 2023 18:14:35 GMT -6
Okay, old friends. It may take a short bit before my next addition to this story. I want to make sure about how this story line develops and stays on the rails of what I intend. I also have to get some more research done so it stays plausable, too. I want to make this story to be entertaining as well as sticking to a believable PAW fiction scenario.
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Post by pbbrown0 on Apr 30, 2023 18:31:59 GMT -6
Solo, I too had some very good experiences in high school band, many years ago. By the time my children were that age it seemed that the intensity of the competition was on a whole different plane. With the current generation of high school students, at least in some school systems, I have seen a level of intensity in certain extraciricular activities that seems insane compared to the efforts of those school systems to provide basic academic foundations for the students. Remember, however, this is a fictional story meant to provoke thinking as well as provide an entertaining story. I very much appreciate your comments. Please keep them coming, even if they challenge what is presented in the story.
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Post by CountryGuy on May 1, 2023 19:50:40 GMT -6
As in the first time around, I was intrigued with the view of extra curriculars like Band. I was in all things band in High School and College, drummer, percussionist. But I did not experience the same things Colleen did. Well, Maybe I did. There were competitions, Friday Nights, Saturday trips, parades, concerts and other performances. But I enjoyed that part. I embraced it. And, I think I benefitted from those. I found that my love of music was sated in ways I couldn't have imagined and banging on my instrument was a great stress relief. I was most happy when I was at band practice and performance. It was competitive, but that was the point. We didn't get participation trophies. You either worked on your craft and performed well as a team or you didn't. Hardwork and talent paid of, Talent by itself, didn't. Important life lessons there. A side benefit was that as I was a bit on the geeky side, I was singled out and picked on as it wasn't popular to do well in school and any non-sport focused exercise. I was left alone because my music focus and advanced classes removed me from what I call GenPop and the generic of my peer group. I was taking classes with Junior and Seniors as a Freshman. I said all of this to essentially put forth that not all extra curriculars are bad. I learned discipline, an appreciation for music, and had a great stress reliever. Years later, I learn how to play guitar and have been in quite a few church bands over the years, playing multiple instruments. It is a solid way to be able to express myself creatively... Just like the fine authors here. Thank you for allowing me to relieve those times 40 years ago. And since. Solo, I was right there with you and enjoyed most of it. I think real life for me was somewhat like the story in the do your best or be replaced, at least for that week. I played trumpet and if you didn't hit it in practices, good chance you'd loose the solo to one of the others so it pushed you to do your best. I think it helped teach us all to strive for our best. I too was a geek in the college prep courses and I was in Scouts. I didn't do any sports, other than backyard football or baseball with the kids that lived in the area. we'd ride our bikes a mile or more to one of the groups houses to play. I was a country kid so there was always work to be done but also always things like hunting, fishing and camping. That's something city kids loose out on. I didn't get picked on much and what I did I didn't care, I was 6'2" and about the same size as the starters on the football team. My school wasn't huge and the classes were around 200, give or take 25 I'd say. My Senior year the band and front had like 215 people, 12 of us were guys. When I'd get ribbed about being a "band fag" I'd always say, I'm changing clothes with 200+ girls, you shower with guys, who's gay? That little reminder usually shut them up. One place I think band, and not sure if choir is the same, helps and studies have shown is that kids that play instruments tend to do much better in school and tend to have higher IQ's (not sure about the percussionists ) than those not in band. I also think it tends to build kids up rather than tear them down like many school sport programs seem to do.
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 9, 2023 16:31:33 GMT -6
Post # 12
Sense and Sensibility
The virus pandemic had been going on for what seemed like a long time, now. At least it was long enough to cause a lot of collateral impacts beyond curfews, confusion, and changes in peoples daily routines. Temporary and sporadic shortages of various foods and other products were becoming almost routine. The prices of almost everything was creeping up, people were not noticing that as much as they were distracted when the items on their shopping list were simply not available. Even people shopping online, which had suddenly become VERY popular, were stymied by the products they were trying to order being randomly showing as unavailable. The old concept of something being “back ordered” or delivery being delayed do to high demand or short supply had been replaced with an indeterminate designation of 'Yes that is one of our products, but we are not going to let you place a order for that product.' No one, well almost no one, seemed to grasp that the change in terminology was having a much more profound psychological effect on the temperament of people using those online ordering services. Even when the intensity of the pandemic waned, these random supply chain shortages continued. What wasn't being reported, except in vague, imprecise terms was how many people were loosing their jobs or having to close their small businesses. The return to normal was gradual, but it never got back to what had been normal of before the pandemic. People, probably parroting the media spin masters, were talking about getting back to a 'new normal'. Fortunately there were far fewer deaths than had been predicted by most experts. Of course it was considered disrespectful to those who had suffered losses to talk about that as well. Unfortunately the scars on societies around the world went far deeper than grief over the lives lost. To many people it seemed that the worst scars were more like skips and knots in the treads making up the fabric of their society. The political arguments for and against measures that had been taken and enforced and during the crisis were still being passionately pursued. The economic hardships from the crisis did not land equally on all people, and resentments about that were evident. The stress and frustration of people in countries around the world was causing serious tensions everywhere. Rob and Bruce were managing better than most for their families, but they still had taken a step back requiring some belt tightening. The two of them had conversations about the whole scenario being a bit like riding out an earthquake. The initial big shock caused both visible damage and hidden damage. The visible damage got the immediate attention with efforts to repair, replace, and rebuild as best you can at the moment. The hidden damage is harder to address, but you remain concerned because there may be an after shock. The hidden damage may have weakened a structure making it more vulnerable to a later shock, even if the later shock is weaker than the first. That uneasiness was like extra baggage weighing you down even if you don't get another shock. Jenny and Linda had grown even closer during this time. Both of them had lost their employment in the troubled economy and they decided to work together to run their households with less expense and more efficiency. That covered everything from their cooking meals together “from scratch” to reducing their transportation expenses. Neither of them had to go to and from work every day and their kids, Carl and Colleen were not needing to be shuttled back and forth for extracurricular school activities. Carl had an after school job with a construction company, so they planned ahead and took him to and from his job some days so they could pool their errands. Other days, he drove himself when they did not need to use a car that day. They even looked into public transportation, but that public service was woefully lacking in their area. With Jenny and Linda planning, shopping cooking and cleaning together, most nights their families ate together as well. Colleen would finish her school work and help get supper ready most nights. After supper both families would simply relax together and wind down at the end of the day. Carl sometimes had to finish up his school work in the evening since he worked every afternoon. Jenny would often just hang out with him after he finished. “Colleen, I've been thinking. You know the school work we had at the beginning of the virus outbreak was a joke. They shut all the schools so the virus wouldn't spread, but the schools weren't prepared for teaching everything by remote learning. Then they were scrambling to provide lessons that could be handled on line for some but in the classroom for others. The problem was that was a totally new approach for most schools that they had not prepared for. The School administrators were also uncertain what they could require of the students who had not done school this way before. Basically they had to scale back until they figured it all out. Now I get the feeling we missed a lot in the last two years. I'm not sure, but I think the bar has been lowered and not gotten back to its previous height. Dad and I have been talking about this some. So much is changing so fast it's like trying to play a football game when the referee keeps calling rule changes as the game is in progress.” “I kind of see what you're saying, Carl. My situation is a little different. I don't have a job after school like you do, so I have more time. I'm trying to use the time to study more about the subjects than what they give us at school. Okay, so I really study more about the subjects I think are more interesting, like Biology. To me its odd that the basic curriculum has only one class for only one year about biology. Biology is all around us and in us, and it's about the fact that we are alive. It covers the food we eat and how that food comes to be. Its about living and breathing and how we interact with each other, and, well – you get the idea. Now with you having a job you could just be doing your job and getting paid, but I know better than that. We've talked about why you are doing school and the job the way you are. You are doing your own independent study outside of your school assignments, aren't you?” “So did I understand you right that you're putting extra time into studying Biology just so you can avoid helping your mom around the house too much?” Carl was trying very hard to sound mockingly serious, which earned him a mock punch in the arm followed by a grin and rolling of Colleen's eyes. “Just kidding, Colleen. I think its cool that you are really into that subject. I have to admit its a really big subject. You're right though. I'm trying to learn as much as I can in my job. Sure there are gopher task I get assigned, but I'm paying a lot of attention to how things actually get done in a varied group of people trying to do a job that takes a lot of coordinated efforts. But I'm also trying to learn some skills that just may come in handy in the near future.” “So, Carl, I was looking around your room while you were finishing up that assignment a minute ago. Do you mind my asking about all those index cards with rubber bands around them? I'm not trying to pry, if it's something private. They just caught my eye and I am a bit curious.” “Oh those, well I don't mind telling you, Colleen. It's kind of another special study like you were talking about. I had a bunch of confusing questions about how to get answers to big questions when I was hitting a lot of conflicting information and opposing opinions. My Dad suggested a way to start organizing and comparing sources to make sense out of it.” Colleen looked a little confused and Carl saw her expression, so he watched carefully as her expressions morphed over several seconds. “Let me try to say this better. There seem to be a lot of changes going on right now in our country and in our society. I started out wanting to make a good decision about a career path. But, as I thought about that there were other big questions that came up. Why should I pick one career over another? Because I can make more money? Because it's more fun? Because I'm more likely to be successful if I pick this path over that path? What would be important to me that I would consider 'being successful'? Then I started thinking about our families and what is really important to us. Is it about living the American Dream? What is that really and with everything that is changing, how likely is it that I can achieve that dream, or do I want something different for my dream?” Colleen was watching Carl first with a little interest, but then she saw him get more and more serious. By the time he stopped, she was really caught up in the questions he was pondering. After a pause she asked with a genuine interest. “Those are really big questions, aren't they. I can see you've been thinking a lot about this. What DO you want Carl?” Carl was a bit tight lipped and pensive as he looked down avoiding eye contact for a few seconds. Then he eased his eyes up and faced her. “Colleen, this may sound old fashioned or lame or, at least, unfashionable to a lot of people. And please, as a friend, don't take this as some comic book kind of fanciful hero daydreaming. I want to be a good man.” Colleen did not move or give any indication of a changed expression. Carl decide to press on. “I want to have a family and be a good husband and a good father. I want to be able to provide for their needs, in spite of the social and political storms that are coming. I don't mean that I want tons of money so they'll never have to worry. I mean I want to make sure we – that is my family – will never doubt that I love them. They will have no doubt that I will be honest with them and will make sure that we are together, we will have a roof over our heads and food on the table. I want to make wise choices so I can actually achieve that. When I'm old I Want to be able to look back and not regret my choices and be able to say we, that is me and my family, had a good life. Okay, Colleen you can't tell anyone else this, because then you know they would think you have a real nerd for a friend.” “Carl, I know sometimes we joke around to avoid sounding too serious, but I know this is a big de – no – this is very important. This is about finding who you really are. Please don't be embarrassed with talking to me about this. You're right. I am your friend, Carl. We're good.” - - - - - “Joann, I think I have found just the place. The taxes on the property are past due in spite of being very low. I checked the tax payment records and tried to contact the current owner, but got a returned certified letter indicating he was deceased. Long story short I think I can buy it from the previous owners son for a really good price because he is wanting to get rid of it as not worth his trouble. It's going to take a lot of work to get to it and make it livable, but I think it's perfect. I want to check myself and bounce my ideas off someone else before I commit to it, but my family already thinks I'm crazy. Could I talk you into letting me buy you dinner at the Linglebach's cafe So we can sit down for a while together to look at the situation. I know it might appear inappropriate to some people for us to be alone behind closed doors like in your house or my apartment. I thought that if we were out in the open where everyone could see us at the cafe, no one could gossip about what we “might be doing.” “You haven't lived in a small town very long, have you?” Joann smirked at Pete. “You've been here, what, two years? If you and I go to the diner and eat together and only two other people show up, it will be all over town before you wake up tomorrow. Do you have any idea how closely we are being watched, just working the same garden and living under the same roof. It doesn't matter to some people's imaginations that there is a solid wall separating us under that roof.” “Oh, my gosh, Joann. You don't mean people are thinking... I'm so sorry. I never would have dreamed that...People aren't actually talking about us, are they?” “Take a breath, Pete. Of course some people are, but fortunately there are some good people here in town that won't tolerate gossip like that. And they aren't afraid to say so when they hear it.” Pete took a few moments before the frown on his face relaxed. “Joann, I'm really sorry if my bumbling through small town culture has caused you any embarrassment. As you said before, my working with you on this garden and with the chickens has been an experiment with a purpose. I'm at a point now where I want to accelerate putting those lessons learned into a practical application. That application is very important to me. My success in applying what I – we – have learned is something that is complicated, and I can't afford to mess it up. I do want your input and feedback on my thinking, and that may take some time to discuss. If you don't mind, I would like for you to join me for dinner, my treat, at Rudy and Gladys' diner. ” Pete and Joann agreed to walk to the diner rather than drive together. They got there a bit early, before the dinner crowd began showing up. As Joann stepped through the door Gladys' eyes and smile lit up until she saw Pete just a short step behind her? Gladys' face started to shift to a look of surprised shock but froze in place before she could greet them. “Hi, Gladys. Joann and I need a table maybe in a corner. We have a bit of private talking to do over dinner. We'll probably be here a while, too, if that isn't too much of a problem,” “Uhm, Sure. Of course. That won't be a problem. Good to see you, Joann...Pete.” Pete and Joann were seated and placed their orders. Gladys place a pitcher of iced tea on their table before going to greet more incoming customers. “Pete, Thank you for inviting me here, but you really don't have to pay for my meal.” “Joann, I know you can afford to pay for a meal, but I'm the one who invited you. Please allow me to do something nice for you, since you are helping me think through some concerns I have.” “Okay, Pete. This is your meeting, and I don't want to try to direct the agenda, but I have to admit I am curious about this perfect piece of land that is not yet livable.” Joann's look was showing a skeptical curiosity. “Joann, I will try to keep in mind your preference for bullet points.” “Number 1. I have a growing concern about running out of time to search for the perfect place, so I am considering a place that will require some work before it is livable. You already understand much of what I mean about the time running out. However, I have been praying a lot about that concern, and rather than gaining some peace about it, like I expected, the sense of urgency has grown within me.” Pete paused and looked straight at Joann to try and read her reaction. Joann was waiting for him to continue, but he just stared at her. “Pete, please don't stare at me. It makes me uncomfortable. If you have a question, ask it. If not, please go on. Oh, by the way,” she half grinned and half smirked, “that was worth at least three bullet points if not more. “I'm sorry, Joann. I was trying to read your reaction. I'll keep going. If you want to ask a question, feel free to interrupt. Number 2. “Livable means different things to different people and what may seem livable for a short time may not work for a long time. So, four questions must be addressed: What is my definition of short term livable? What is my definition of long term livable? What is my definition of short term? And finally, how does that definition of short term compare to how long will it take to progress from short term livable to long term livable. Sorry, Joann. My thinking tends to be organized more like a starburst decision tree rather than a single stack of check points.” “Pete, there is a factor that may make your very organized logic moot. This is something I learn from biology. You may have to adapt, and not stick to your well laid, complex plans if your instincts about a growing urgency are correct. A bird or mammal can make a nest or den in the forest intending to produce and raise offspring. But, if a flood or fire or even an overpowering predator comes unexpectedly, they must quickly adapt to the unusual circumstances.” Pete once again was staring at Joann and holding it even longer. This time it was more of a thousand mile stare rather than him watching to read her expressions. “I'm sorry, Pete. I really didn't mean to derail your presentation. That just popped into my head, and you had said I could interrupt. And now I've made you stare at me again. I'm sorry.” “No, Joann, I'm sorry. I did not mean to stare. I was just thinking hard about what you said. Don't apologize for derailing what I was saying. You are exactly right. That was a very discerning and wise observation. It's a principle built into creation that applies to life, and I was forgetting it. If this property is the right place, and this is the right time, then I just need to go ahead and do it, now, before it is too late.” “I still want to hear about this perfect property that is unlivable, Pete. What makes it so perfect?” “Okay, one of the things that makes it perfect is its isolation. There are no public roads to it and you would have to cross ten different private, unoccupied, undeveloped parcels of land owned by different individuals, who all live elsewhere, to get to it. Before you even start that trek, you have to drive to the end of a gravel road maintained by the county that appears to be going no where for several miles. There is no utility service, no water or sewer service, no electric service, no gas lines, no gas tank refill service that delivers out there, and no trash pick up. So, there will be no utility crews showing up randomly to see what's going on there. County regulations enforcers, can't come snooping around, because they can't even get there. It is all on the north slope of a forested mountain, so even satellite views like you find on most mapping apps, have trouble getting a clear picture of what is there. All they see is a sea of trees. That is a major reason I can afford it, just barely. The price of raw undeveloped land in this area has more than doubled since I moved here. But, with this parcel people looking for land can't tell enough about it to be sure what they would be getting unless they make the effort to trek there on foot. To do that they risk being confronted by someone enforcing the no trespassing laws. The surrounding land is forested small mountains for miles around. To reach the nearest town of 10,000 people or more is more than a sixty mile trip. So the attraction for city dwellers wanting an escape or a get away place is dampened by its being so far from modern conveniences.” “Now for the good stuff. It is forested, all hardwood, and it has been a while since it was harvested. It is not overgrown with brambles like a lot of previously harvested forest land is. The slope is not bad, and it is naturally semi-terraced. There is plenty of running surface water without any streams being big enough to show up on maps or aerial photos. There is plenty of natural wildlife around. I saw lots of fresh tracks. With just a few minor adjustments I can get there with my truck instead of having to walk in. Oh, I also found out that the oldest title deed had a provision for an access easement across the land between it and the nearest public road.” “The soil is not ideal for a garden, yet, but I can use my truck to carry in supplies to build raised beds and a green house. I'm also thinking I can build a chicken coop and work it like we have here to enrich the garden as well as feed the chickens.” “Pete, are you planning to carry water by bucket from the stream up the mountain to your house? Oh, and what kind of house are you going to build? Those questions fall under the 'how long to make it livable' issue.” For the next two hours Pete and Joann went back and forth with questions and answers about the land and how Pete was planning to use it and make it work as an off-grid home. They had long since finished their meal and were having some after dinner coffee. Their conversation was going strong when Pete suddenly stopped and looked down at his plate. Joann saw the sudden change in his mood, and she stopped without finishing her sentence. “What? Did I say something wrong, Pete?” Pete was subdued in his response. “No, Joann. You didn't say anything wrong. You've been very helpful. It's just that, well, you remember when we started talking and you referred to my instincts?” “Yes, of course. I think instincts are gifts from our creator. Animals depend on them to keep them alive. I think Jehovah gives those gifts to us for the same reason. If we are tuned in and listening to Him, they can be critically important.” “Well I may be wrong, but it feels like I just got hit hard with an instinct that is like you said, 'critical'.” Just then, Gladys stepped up to their table. “Pete, Joann, you two seem to be really talking up a storm tonight. What? Did I interrupt at a bad time? Something just cha... I'm sorry. I need to butt out. Just about everyone's left for the evening, but if you two need a few more minutes go ahead and take your time. We still have cleaning up to do.” Now Joann was staring at Pete, who was still staring down at the table. She waited another minute in silence until Pete finally looked up and spoke. “Joann, please don't think you said anything wrong. It's just that, like I said, something very important hit me and I need to sort through this and make sure about it before I say anything more. Thank you for all your help this evening. I need to get you home, and I need to do some praying and serious thinking about all of that we've talked about.”
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Post by feralferret on May 9, 2023 21:21:58 GMT -6
Excellent chapter. Thanks!
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 18, 2023 8:34:46 GMT -6
Post #13 Release The Kraken ?
“Rob, I'm worried. I've been working for my company for a long time. We, actually I mean my employer, has been able to weather a lot of ups and downs in the economy, because they have people that were good at looking ahead and seeing trends. They always had solid data they could use to explain what was coming, and their explanations made sense. Over and over they were always really close on their projections to what actually came down the pike. That let the company prepare for the minor and major changes in the marketplace and the supply chain. The company always came out of down turns in okay shape.” “That sounds pretty good, if you ask me, Bruce. So what's the problem?” “That team of analysts hasn't changed much in twenty years, but they're throwing in the towel.” “What do you mean, Bruce? They're retiring?” “No, I mean they told management that they can't make sense of the data. This bunch of Spock like analysts are stressed out saying they can't make sense of anything that is going on in the supply chains. The manufacturer's production numbers, the distribution channel data, and the market consumption numbers just do not add up. They keep saying 'garbage in – garbage out' and stuff like that and they refuse to give management any guidance about what is coming.” “So they're telling the management that with all the changes implemented because of this epidemic they don't have a clear enough picture yet of where and when things are heading.” “No, Rob, that is not it. It is like they are ranting and raving about the data being all wrong. The information they are getting is not 'insufficient'. They are saying it is just plain wrong. They claim someone is messing with the data, in a big way. Garbage in – garbage out.” Rob was quiet for a while. It seemed like a lot of things were not making sense anymore. This was just one more thing added to the issues he and Jenny and Carl had been struggling with over the past few weeks. However things changed and progressed, they would stay strong together and somehow find a way through it. It was about the time of evening when either the Smiths or the Coopers, depending on which family were the guests or hosts for the evening, gathered themselves to go home, next door, for the night. As they were gathering Carl came over to Robert. “Dad I have to go to my job tomorrow morning, since tomorrow is Saturday. I was wondering if you would be up in time for me to talk with you a little before I go about that project I'm working on about making the big decisions with everything changing.” Rob stopped and tilted his head. “Sure son. I'd be glad to. Strange timing though. Mr. Cooper was just telling me that the strategic forecasters at his company are suddenly struggling to sort out their decision making process, too.” “Huh. I guess I'm not surprised, even though I doubt their consideration are anything like what I'm looking at. So, things are a bit crazy in the business world, Mr. Cooper?” “Well Carl, I thought I'd seen crazy already, but apparently it's going to get crazier.” The next morning it was barely daylight when Carl came down to the kitchen. His Mom and Dad were sitting at the kitchen island drinking coffee and looked to be in a serious conversation. Carl notice the coffee maker sounds indicating a new pot was brewing, yet his parents were already drinking their coffee. His dad was holding a what looked like a letter filling a number of pages. They didn't even seem to notice when he came in until he spoke. “Good morning. What's going on. It looks like y'all have been up a while. Is everything okay?” “Yes, son. It's okay. We got a letter from Grandpa yesterday, and I just got up early to read it.” “It looks like a long one. How's he doing?” “Well, son, that is a very interesting question. I mean no disrespect at all toward him when I say this, but your Grandpa doesn't see or even look at the world the way most people do. I don't know if you are aware, but long ago when I was a young kid your Grandpa was a preacher. He stopped doing that and started providing for our family doing “secular work”. But, his perspective has always been influenced very persistently by his faith. I'm saying all of this because his letter is talking about him making a commitment to some significant changes in his lifestyle and direction based on his faith and his understanding and interpretation of the Bible.” “Okay, I knew a little about that, but what does this have to do with how Grandpa is doing? He's not sick or depressed, is he?” “Oh, no son. It's nothing like that.” “Is he fixin' to do something crazy that puts him at risk?” “No not exactly. A lot of people might think he's being foolish or living in La La land, but then again he is probably thinking the same about them. The thing is, he thinks things are going to get a lot worse than they have been. He thinks this was all predicted in the Bible. He is planning to move into the forest and live off the land so he can avoid as much of the trouble as possible. And...” Carl waited for his Dad to collect himself and finish telling what his Grandpa had written in the letter. But that didn't happen. His dad was just gazing off into space – saying nothing. “Dad, was there something else?” “Yeah, son, there was. He was actually asking us to seriously consider letting go of everything here and come join him.” Rob dropped his gaze and stared at the top of the island slowly waving his head back and forth. “Whoa ! That is heavy duty stuff. He really said he decided this based on what he has read in the Bible?” “Well, sort of. He talked about a lot of things he has been watching in the world around us and how he has observed changes in the world. He says when he reads what the Bible says about what to expect and then looks at things going on in the world today, to him there are obvious match ups. So then he looks at what the Bible says is yet to come, or in his understanding is supposed to follow soon afterward. To him it seems blatantly obvious that some very serious things are about to happen soon.” “Uhm, Dad. I said I was wanting to bounce some ideas off of you this morning about my project, but now I'm wondering if I need to think through my conclusions a little more carefully.” “Carl, just because your Grandpa is having trouble adjusting to rapid changes in our world, after he had spent a lifetime sorting out what he thought was the schema of things, doesn't mean you need to give up on your project.” “I'm not giving up on it, Dad. It's really important to me. But don't you see that is the point. It's important, and I want to be sure I get it right. The crazy thing is... don't get me wrong. I'm not thinking at all about becoming a hermit in the woods... but, well... I've been following the logic, like you were telling me. I chased the logic a long way down a lot of real crazy rabbit holes. The long and the short of it is ... it's starting to look like... either it doesn't really matter whether you make good choices because life is nothing but a game of Craps, OR the most logical and reasonable place to look for a guiding authority in your life is in the Bible. It sounds like Grandpa kind of followed that notion starting a long time ago. I'm just not so sure how he got to interpreting it the way he has lately. I wasn't expecting that. But Grandpa has been studying it for a long time, hasn't he?” - - - - - Pete had spent a considerable amount of time pondering what lay ahead. He was feeling a different kind of fatigue from the mental and emotional energy of the past three days. He had negotiated a deal with the owner of the land he had chosen and all that was left was paying the money and filing the papers with the county. Pete had planned his his drive back to his apartment so he would arrive about four-thirty in the afternoon. His first step was to get a shower and put on some clean clothes. Having done that, he walked around to the front door and gave it three gentle knocks. “Hi, Joann. I haven't talked with you in several days. I thought I might invite you to join me for dinner at Rudy's, again” Joann had this dear-in-the-headlights look for a moment. “I didn't know you were back. I assumed you had gone to your new place already. When did you get back?” “I was there for the last few days, and I just got back a half hour ago. You haven't started cooking yet, have you.?” “I was just getting some things out, but nothing is started yet.” “Good, so no harm done, yet. There are some things I got clear in my mind and I wanted to explain them to you. It wasn't really fair to you how I left things the other night. I want to make that right. Besides, you shouldn't pass up a free meal. Come on. It's my treat, again.” “I'm not dressed for going to dinner.” “Oh, come on, Joann. It's just Rudy's; not Ruth's Chris.” “Right now?” “Well, I don't sleep well when I eat a heavy meal late, just before I go to bed. If you want to eat later, I suppose I could make do with just pie and coffee. Mostly I want to talk with you about some things I think you ought to know about. I promise not to run out on you in the middle of a conversation, again.” “Okay, Pete, just give me a second.” When Pete and Joann stepped into Rudy's, there were already six other people in the dining area. Gladys came over to greet them. “So, you decided to try again. I sure hope it wasn't our cooking that ran you off last time.” “No, Gladys. We wouldn't have come back if that were the case, now would we? That was all on me. I suddenly remembered that I needed to take care of some urgent business. I thought I owed it to Joann to finish that conversation I interrupted.” “Well I'm glad you are back. Go ahead and take that same table while I fetch you two some iced tea.” They had barely gotten in their seats when Gladys brought their tea. “Now what can I get for you tonight?” “Gladys, if Joann doesn't object we'll take your special, whatever that is, including dessert.” “Peter, this is so nice of you to bring me here again, but you don't have to pay for my meal again.” “Okay, Joann. If it matters that much to you, when it comes time to pay the bill tonight I'll let you decide who gets to pay for it.” Joann was all primed for Pete to give his rationale for why he should pay for the meal and his response surprised her in several ways. He didn't insist on paying for it himself, but neither did he concede that it was her turn. The way he addressed it was totally unexpected. “Joann, I am really grateful for the help and insight you provided while we were talking about my plans earlier this week. You were really a huge help to me getting my thoughts in order and putting together pieces I had missed. Speaking of the pieces I had missed. The insight you showed about my gut instinct and the urgency I was feeling: That was just huge. Thank you.” “We also talked about so many details and options to consider in order to make my plan work. That was so encouraging. But here's the thing; there are so many efforts and projects and hurdles inherent in the success or failure of my plan. I am not at all doubting that this is something I believe I should actually be pursuing, but at the end of the evening I realized it is too much. And then the light in my head came on and I could see the path I need to take. That is when I suddenly stopped our conversation. The path was like a picture that suddenly had a spotlight, or should I say a flood light showing more details than I could fully take in at that moment. That's why I had to stop and back off until I could process all the critical pieces.” Peter had been speaking calmly and quietly, but Joann sensed that there was an intensity behind his words that was not reflected in his voice. “So this is not just a time to chat over a meal to you, is it, Peter?” Pete sighed quietly. “I wish it was, Joann, but we have worked together and talked together, and I count you as a friend. There are things about to happen that concern me and as a friend I want to warn you about them. You haven't known me long So you may take what I am about to say with a pound of salt, but I hope you will make wise choices.” Just then, Gladys came to their table with their meals. “You two enjoy your meal, and relax a bit. You both look too serious. Don't be worrying about all the stuff going on around us. Things are going to work out, soon enough.” Pete and Joann both smiled to Gladys and thanked her for the delicious smelling meal. The conversation was paused as they dived into their meal. “Okay, Peter. I guess you might as well lay it out for me. I can't very well salt it down until I hear what you are serving.” Pete chuckled at Joann's play on expressions. “Okay Joann. I doubt that I need to explain to you anything about what is coming except to say even those who see the apocalypse coming probable cannot grasp emotionally how devastating it is going to be. Another part is that sense of urgency that I keep mentioning is still growing” Joann sat there eating her meal and not talking. She keep eye contact with Peter letting him know she was still listening. Joann's eyes were narrowing and her brow was furrowing between her eyes. “So, you think it really is starting?” “Yes, I do. Of course we don't know precise time tables...but that brings me to the next part I want to tell you about. You remember what you warned me about when I told you my idea about acquiring that land that wasn't livable yet?” “You mean about instincts to adapt when overpowering danger forces a change?” “Actually it was what you implied about my plans to make the unlivable place livable if the overpowering danger is as close as I believe it is. Then after I recognized the validity of that warning, we spent the next two hours impressing upon me how long it would take me to make it truly livable.” Once again Pete had totally forgotten Joann's principle of bullet points, and how she had to remind her students to Keep It Simple and Specific. He did notice that Joann's expression was communication clearly that she was not following his reasoning. “Joann, I'm sorry. I've done it again. I forgot your K.I.S.S. Principle. “Peter, try this. First tell me what you have concluded. Then if I have questions, I'll ask and you can fill in the gaps for me.” Peter's eyes got big for a moment before he took a deep breath and composed himself. “Joann, I have concluded that I do not want to do this alone. I want to do this with a partner. I want to partner with you in this endeavor. When I move to that property I don't want to leave you here by yourself. Would you please think about whether you can see yourself being as crazy as I am and joining me in the forest to get through the very troubled times that I believe are just beginning. I have concluded that personally, I cannot see me doing this without you and I being together in this.” Joann looked completely shocked for a few seconds before she returned to eating her dinner. She kept her head down for several minutes, with only an occasion glance across the table to see that Pete was still watching her for a response. When she had finished her meal, while Pete had barely eaten a quarter of his, she tried to look around the room at the few other diners rather than look at her dinner-mate. Meanwhile, Pete was waiting patiently and anxiously for her to react, question, or respond to his 'conclusion'. Finally, Joann realized that Peter was not going to break into her silence. Instead, he was holding precisely to the recommendation she had given him for how much to explain of what he wanted to talk about. Joann took a deep breath and looked up at Pete. “I guess I asked for that. I just wasn't expecting a conclusion that … encompassing. This is a lot to take in, Peter. You have not talked about this with me at all before now. Actually you have talked a little about the context with your looking for a place in the woods, all the ominous developments, and how they fit with what has been foretold. But this is the first time you have said anything about … us. I know we have talked about what we have been doing with the garden and raising chickens together, but … You haven't said anything about any of the feelings we are having. Of course I'm not faulting you on that. I haven't said anything to you, either.” “Are you saying that you have at least been entertaining some ideas about us without expressing your feelings to me?” Pete was surprised, to say the least. “It would be a little crazy to tell someone what you are feeling about them, before you are clear yourself about what you are feeling, don't you think? Especially when you have no expectations that your feelings might be anything more than idle daydreaming that would probably never come to anything of substance.” Pete took a deep breath and let it all out. “Joann, if I'm not mistaken, and I hope I'm not reading too much into this, It sounds like you and I have been thinking and struggling with the same feelings and uncertainties. You just described exactly why I was stumbling over trying to decide just how to tell you what I was wanting to say this evening. I've been praying about this; wanting to make the right choices and decisions; wondering if I was trying to impose my own desires and hopes ahead of what Jehovah wanted me to be doing. As I was praying deep in the forest this past week, it suddenly came to me. Psalm 37:3-5 popped into my mind and I knew I had to come back here and tell you what I am feeling … about you, Joann.” “I really like you, Joann. I honestly think I am beginning to love you and might eventually consider asking you to marry me. The problem is, I am convinced that the troubled times at the end of this order of things is starting – now. That means I don't have a lot of time to hang back and see how things progress between us before I make a commitment. There are a lot of other things I was hoping to do before talking seriously about this with you, but time is getting short. When I moved up here, I wasn't looking for a life partner, I was just looking for a place where I could take care of myself if and when things started getting bad. Long story short, Joann, it is getting harder and harder for me to picture myself on that piece of land and going through what I am now certain is coming without sharing it with you. I want you there. I want you with me. I want to share it with you. I want to be there for you when things get really bad. I don't want you to be alone when all that happens. I want to be a husband to you. I don't think there is time for me to gradually develop a stronger relationship with you and hope you will eventually get comfortable with this idea. I have to ask you right now. Will you let me marry you?” Joann's eyes got wide and her jaw dropped. “Do you know what you just said? You didn't ask if I would marry you. You asked if I would let you marry me.” “That's right. I see being your husband as a privilege and responsibility that I want to take on so I can give to you, because I love you. I didn't want you to see this as my asking you to take on obligations to me just for my benefit. I know this is a lot to take in and this is coming at you way too...” “Yes.” “What?” “I said yes. This IS way too fast. This IS crazy, I never really thought you would think of asking me this. I even prayed about some almost impossible tests so I wouldn't make the mistake of jumping into a wrong decision if you ever did ask, but you passed, so yes.” “I'm not sure I understand.” Pete was startled at her interruption and looked quite confused. “Peter. At one point I never thought anyone would ever ask me this. Then when the unlikely thought occurred to me that you might someday, possibly consider asking me this on a wild hare impulse, I didn't want to respond 'yes', just because someone unexpectedly asked me. So, I prayed that if you actually asked, and it was really what Jehovah wanted me to do that certain specific things or cues would happen so I would know for sure. You know, like Gideon when he put out the fleece several times when he wanted to make sure that what he thought he understood was really coming from Jehovah and wasn't just something he dreamed up in his own head. You passed all the crazy tests I came up with, so, yes. You can be my husband, – but only on two conditions. One is that I can be your wife, and two is that you don't even dare think of including in our wedding covenant that crazy caveat about 'til death do us part'. ”
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Post by solo on May 18, 2023 11:57:26 GMT -6
I was right there with you and enjoyed most of it. I think real life for me was somewhat like the story in the do your best or be replaced, at least for that week. I played trumpet and if you didn't hit it in practices, good chance you'd loose the solo to one of the others so it pushed you to do your best. I think it helped teach us all to strive for our best. I too was a geek in the college prep courses and I was in Scouts. I didn't do any sports, other than backyard football or baseball with the kids that lived in the area. we'd ride our bikes a mile or more to one of the groups houses to play. I was a country kid so there was always work to be done but also always things like hunting, fishing and camping. That's something city kids loose out on. I didn't get picked on much and what I did I didn't care, I was 6'2" and about the same size as the starters on the football team. My school wasn't huge and the classes were around 200, give or take 25 I'd say. My Senior year the band and front had like 215 people, 12 of us were guys. When I'd get ribbed about being a "band fag" I'd always say, I'm changing clothes with 200+ girls, you shower with guys, who's gay? That little reminder usually shut them up. One place I think band, and not sure if choir is the same, helps and studies have shown is that kids that play instruments tend to do much better in school and tend to have higher IQ's (not sure about the percussionists ) than those not in band. I also think it tends to build kids up rather than tear them down like many school sport programs seem to do. Good one! I was an early bloomer, 6 foot tall in 7th grade. Helped me excel in Football in middle school, but by 9th grade, everyone else caught up. When I went to do Band stuff, I would get the "Faggot" and "gay" treatment as well, but would always point out who was actually rolled around on the ground with whom, patting each other on the butt... That usually shut them up. Still you mentioned the intangibles. Our times growing up, rurally, I think set us up for our successes now. We had a small farm and I had daily chore that could never be missed. Cows, pigs and chickens all had to be fed before school and that fell to me. They don't eat, you don't eat... It is that simple. As a teenager, my dad mostly tended the garden and me the animals. Then we all helped mom with the harvesting and putting by stuff. The band just gave me a focus to stay in the classroom and yes, it is proven in peer reviewed articles that Band helps with academic achievement. PPBrown; I am really enjoying this story. I don't remember Pete being a former pastor, but it certainly adds a unique layer to things. I like the wording of the proposal too. I consider my marriage to my wife as a privilege too.
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Post by kaijafon on May 18, 2023 17:02:16 GMT -6
wonderful chapter!!!!
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Post by feralferret on May 18, 2023 21:13:27 GMT -6
wonderful chapter!!!! I wholeheartedly concur!
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 19, 2023 5:31:57 GMT -6
I really appreciate all the comments. I remember reading some advice from long ago about writing fiction. It went something like , "Write about what you know." I find that advice quite amusing. If I wrote only about what I know from experience, this could get really dull and tedious. I don't want to impose that curse on my readers. However, there was a kernel of wisdom in that advice, because if I write about things I know nothing about, I risk filling the story with ludicrous ignorance. I do include many tidbits of things I have personally experienced, more elements about what I have given considerable time studying, and finally enough about things created in my imagination to assure that I am writing a fictional story.
It is my hope that my readers will most importantly enjoy the tale I am spinning. I also hope they will identify from time to time with the experiences of the characters, and finally perhaps find some interesting notions to prompt thoughtful contemplation.
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 22, 2023 9:28:03 GMT -6
Post #14 The Balloon Festival
Carl had left early to go to work after talking with his parents about his mentally sorting through al that had been going on and about his Grandpa's letter. It was Saturday and the Smiths and Coopers were planning to barbecue and spend the day together at the Smith's house. Colleen had helped with getting things ready in the kitchen for both lunch and supper later on, but she had gone off by herself while the “adults” had chatted most of the day among themselves. That afternoon the wind was supposed to be from the northwest and that meant the balloons from the nearby hot air balloon festival would be flying right over their neighborhood. Rob had said with the planned launch time the balloons should be coming over just as they were eating dinner. He and Jenny agreed it would be fun to eat outside so every one could see the colorful sight. After lunch was cleared away, Jenny and Linda mixed up a batch of dough for fresh rolls at dinnertime. Then they sat down at the kitchen Island for some cold iced tea. “Jenny talk to me. You have been thinking up a storm while only talking about the rolls. What's on your mind, girl?” “Oh, Linda, it's nothing, really. I'm just over thinking things. Nothing to worry about, really.” “I know you too well for that, girl. A double nothing means you are worried. What is it, Jenny?” “Rob got another letter from his Dad, and it was a Doozy. He got to discussing it with Carl and things got a little too interesting.” Linda knew Jenny well enough to wait until she was ready to say more. “You know how men are, Linda they get to talking and sound like they are saying a lot, but that's a smoke screen to mask what they are not saying. Rob has told me about what his Dad is doing, and acts like it doesn't affect him, I can see he's thinking about what his Dad is saying. Then Carl was trying to tell Rob that he has been thinking about his Grandpa and what he's been talking about as being unexpected but on the right track. They are both talking like it's a crazy idea, but Linda they are thinking about packing up and moving up there with Rob's Dad.” Linda was stunned and said nothing for a minute. “Jenny I don't know what to say. Maybe you'd better take me back to the beginning.” - - - - - “Rob, you remember me telling you about those wizards at my company that were so good at calling the game before it happens?” “Yeah, Bruce. The ones who were suddenly stumped by information that is bad data?” “That's right, Rob. Well, I got a chance to talk to one of them and he is really bummed about where this is going. The truth is they are starting to agree thet there is really bad news coming. Seriously bad news.” “Bruce, level with me. Cut to the chase. What does he think is coming at us?” “I didn't have that long to talk with him before we were interrupted and he had to leave. He said our currency is going to collapse, right after the government gets measures in place to monitor digitally every transaction in every bank and on every credit and debit card and line of credit for businesses all across the country. They want to data-mine what everyone is doing and how everyone is responding to measures the government is just talking about before they actually take steps. They also want the power to freeze assets instantly for anyone they decide is involved in illegal or “terrorist like” pursuits. In some countries in Europe there are already fines being imposed on cash transactions to pressure people into using only digital transactions that can be tracked. Then he started talking about government officials in supposed “adversarial” states, and even some countries claiming to be at war with each other who are coordinating their efforts on these measures. That's when we got interrupted and he had to leave. Rob, I don't like the sound of this. This has got me really worried.” Rob had been busy getting his grill ready. He still used an old fashion wood or charcoal burning grill rather than one with a gas tank and electric spark igniter. His prefered fuel was Mesquite wood, when he could get some. Today he was settling for a vented metal chimney device filled with a stack of charcoal to get the coals started well. When Bruce stopped talking Rob stood up straight and turned to his best friend. “Bruce, how well do you know this guy?” “Rob, I don't count him as a good friend, but I've known him for decades. He is the kind of guy the character Spock was patterned after. Not a loose circuit anywhere in his head.” “So what are you going to do?” “The first thing I'm going to do Rob, is what I am doing right now; I'm going to talk to my most trusted friend, other than Linda, and try to come up with some way to keep my family safe. This isn't just about the money, Rob. It is way bigger than that. My wife and daughter mean the world to me, Rob. And your family comes in a close second. We know a lot of stuff is getting badly messed up really fast, lately. But this word I got from Zolton is to me like a really powerful wake up signal.” Jenny just then stuck her head out the back door. “Pete, are you going to have that fire going soon? I want everything finished, on the table and ready with us sitting down before the balloons fly over. Okay?” “We're going to be ready before the ballons go up, Jenny. Don't you worry. Bruce and I are getting it done. I love you, Sweetie.” Rob turned back to Bruce. “Bruce let me tell you what my Dad has been writing to me about.” - - - - - Carl had gotten home from work and after cleaning up he found Colleen in the den reading. When she saw Carl she immediately put down her book and started talkingto him. “Carl, I am so glad we decided to change our ways of doing High School. The last couple of years have been crazy, and even stupid. First there was that virus thing,” Colleen rolled her eyes, “and it was like a Grand Pause with everyone holding their breath waiting for the conductor to move his baton signaling the next note. But, the minute things started up again It's like no one could remember how to read the music or play their instruments. Some of my friends at school were so stressed out it was like 'who are you and where did you hide the person I use to know?' All the stores had suddenly changed their way of doing business. We'd go into a store and never know if they'd randomly be out of stock for something we went there to buy. Even well after the elections, all the news was all about politics, politics, politics. Sometimes I wanted to just crawl under a rock and hide until things get back to normal and people were no longer hollering and hating on each other. I am so glad I had started getting interested in studying on my own, but most of all, I'm glad I still have you as a friend I can count on being here and understanding the changes I've made.” Carl had been rather pensive while listening to Colleen, but he came alert at her last few words. “That's really nice of you to say that, Colleen. I know what you mean about our old friends. Some of they guys I thought were my best friends in football barely mumble a 'hey' or even make a nod in my direction anymore. I really like talking to you because you get me. By the way, I hope I am getting you, too. I think your thing with biology and the way you are so into that is really cool.” “Speaking of biology, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my Grandpa. I haven't seen him since he left a couple of years ago. He's sort of stayed in touch with Dad writing letters, but his last letter, well, it was kind of way out there.” “What do you mean, Carl?” “Well, part of it was that He thinks all the changes going on lately are just the forerunners of some really serious sh... really bad stuff that it going to happen. He thinks this was all warned about in the Bible. And he thinks the Bible warns us it is going to get much worse.” “What? You mean like the end of the world?” “No, well sort of, but not exactly. It's not like the earth is going to be destroyed. It's complicated but it's more like the world as we see it is going to get really, really messed up. So messed up that God is going to have to intervene in a huge way, again, to straighten out the total mess we've made of everything.” “Well, if you ask me that's not so far out there. I mean look how fast thing have gotten crazy just since one little virus got loose. And don't get me started about how badly we have messed up our environment. Even the environmentalists seem to have a special skill at messing up what they're trying to fix.” “Really? You may have to explain that one to me, Colleen, but that isn't where I was going with him being out there.” “Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to get you off track. What was the part you were wanting to tell me about?” “Okay, imagine this. He found a place in a forest that is way away from any large towns. He wants to move out there and live off the land in the forest to avoid as much of the coming troubles as he can, AND he actually asked us to join him there. Can you believe that?” Colleen was staring but not staring at Carl. She was looking right at him but not exactly seeing him. “Whoa... That would be so cool. It would be like a biology dream come true.” Her eyes came back into focus. “Wait, are y'all going to do that? That means you would be moving away.” “So you don't think that idea is so far out there at all. Do you?” “Oh, I for one would love to live in a forest. It is such a biologically rich environment. Especially if it is far from a modern town or major agricultural farming operations. But, Carl, we were just talking a minute ago about how good it is to be friends and understand each other. If y'all move I don't...” Colleen never finished her sentence. “Hey, Colleen. Don't get ahead of yourself. I was just talking about a letter from my Grandpa. I don't think my parents are anywhere near looking at moving away from here. Have you noticed how close our parents have gotten in the last few years? The truth is that I thought it was kinda cool thinking about living in the forest and building a home there. I was actually afraid you were going to think it was a crazy idea. I just wanted to find out how you would see it.” Colleen's Mom just stepped to the doorway of the den before Colleen could reply to Carl. “Kids it's time to eat. We want to be all in place before the balloons go up. Let's go.” Colleen rolled her eyes again as her Mom left the room. “We're graduating from High School in two weeks, we'll both be turning eighteen this summer, and she still calls us kids!” The Smiths and the Coopers had a delightful meal of barbecued ribs, potato salad, coleslaw, pinto beans, and hot soft rolls. They also hac fresh pecan pie for desert. Everyone was having a delightful time watching the colorful and unique hot air balloons go overhead close enough for them to wave and shout greetings to the balloonists in their baskets. By the time the parade of about a hundred hot air balloons had all passed the sun was near setting and the evening was cooling somewhat. They were all in a happy mood when Rob made the comment, “That was a beautiful sight, but Bruce and I have been talking and we're pretty certain there is another balloon that is going up.” Jenny and Linda suddenly looked very tense. Rob, Bruce, and Carl looked like some unseen hand had flipped the switch in all three of their heads from happy to very serious. Colleen was instantly alert but confused. “Uhm, would somebody explain what just happened? What do you mean another balloon is going up?” Bruce spoke up. “First, Colleen, preppers who plan for a disaster, or worse, have an expression 'when the balloon goes up' to indicate that there is a clear sign or signal that a potential disaster is now a sure thing, and you need to get away from the effects of it before it's too late. If you wait until it is obvious to everyone, it may be too late to get to a safe place. Katrina made that clear to many of us.” “Who is Katrina?” Colleen was still confused. “Katrina was a very devastating hurricane that hit New Orleans when you were just an infant, Colleen. Over a hundred thousand people who were displaced never returned. The hurricane looked like it was heading for New Orleans but then it slowed its movement for a couple of days. Many people thought they could stay and ride it out like some authorities recommended at first. During that pause it gained in force before continuing on its predicted path. By the time the mayor of New Orleans told everyone to evacuate, it was too late. Literally thousands were trapped, unable to get out because the highways out of town simply could not handle the volume of vehicles.” “Oh, so is this about that letter Carl's Grandpa wrote about the end of the world as we know it?” Bruce was again speaking to his daughter. “I'm assuming Carl talked to you about that letter. Mr. Smith told me some things about that, too. There are also things I learned from work that were not in that letter, but that letter has some very interesting ideas for us to consider. Why don't you share with all of us what Carl told you then maybe we can work from there on getting everyone up to speed and answer questions we all need to be together on. Go ahead, Colleen.” “Let me see if I can summarize. Carl's Grandpa believes that according to the Bible people, influenced of course by sin and the Satan, will eventually mess things up so badly that God will have to intervene in a big way to put an end to all the evil in the world. The scary part is how bad things are going to get just before God steps in to put a stop to all of that. The other part of the letter is that his Grandpa has found a place in the forest that is very isolated where he hopes to be out of harm's way, so to speak, and avoid the worst of the bad stuff that he thinks men are going to create. The last part is that he wants us, I mean, he wants Carl's family to come and join him because he doesn't want all the the bad stuff to make our lives, I mean their lives, unbearable.” During the last part of Colleen's relating what was in the letter, she had her head down and was obviously very unhappy. “Does he really think God is fixing to destroy the world?” Linda was incredulous. “Well, yes, but no, Linda.” Rob was talking now. “Dad doesn't buy in to what a lot of people envision or describe in stories as how the end of the world will be. The end of the world as we know it? Without a doubt. The destruction of the world in a nuclear holocaust or planetary cataclysm leaving the planet as a wasteland? No. What he does expect is a rapid downward spiral in the wisdom and ability of governments trying to maintain control of problems. Those problems include, war, widespread disease, famine, severe hardships, growing immorality, corruption, etc. The diverse governments in the world will be consolidated into a single world government, in order to establish peace. This government will suddenly turn on religious organizations around the world.” “Wait, where does he get those last two ideas?” This was a new information for Bruce. “Trust me, Bruce. You don't want to debate that part with him. He could swamp you with a pile of scriptures about it.” “No, really, Rob. Those ideas about one world government and government turning against religions. I've read about that as a prediction, and even as a goal, but I had no idea that the Bible predicted that.” “Oh Yeah, Bruce. Dad has told me that back in the fifties when he was a youngster there were a lot of radio evangelists proclaiming that the elements in Karl Marx's manifesto had been predicted in the Bible. That's why there were so many efforts back then to black ball people with communist connections. The problem, according to my dad, was that neither those evangelist nor most of the people listening to them knew enough about what the Bible said to really understand what it was predicting. The message got all tangled up and distorted until they ran down rabbit holes with their ideas. Then people got tired of the “witch hunts” and it became unpopular to keep harping on communists as the boogeymen. “Daddy, What were you saying about the things you learned at work? Was that about this attack on religion thing?” Colleen was clearly getting worried and looking to her Dad for reassurance. “No, Sweetie. The things I heard were about economic issues that are complicated but very serious. I just want to make sure I can take care of you and your precious mother. That is my primary responsibility.” “But, Daddy what about the Smiths? They are almost like our family. Is this economic stuff going to affect them?” “Colleen, Mister Smith is a very capable father and husband. He and Mrs. Smith have responsibilities for their family just like your Mother and I have for our family. But, you are absolutely right that they are very important to us. That's why Rob, Mr. Smith, and I want all of us to talk together about our concerns. Our two families are different but we see a lot of things in similar ways. You know we have been working together more and more dealing with the difficulties of the past few years.” “Daddy, I love you and Mom so much, and I appreciate all you do for me, and I, well, we have gotten really close to the Smiths in the last couple of years. I just hope that if things are going to get – even worse – I think it would help us all if we can stick together to get through this.” “Thank you Colleen that is so sweet of you to say about your Daddy and me. It is especially dear of you to say that in the open in front of others. These have been difficult times for all of us, but it has been much nicer having dear friends like the Smiths making this troublesome time more tolerable.” Linda reached over and squeezed Jenny's hand. “Like your Daddy said, Colleen, he and I have started talking about how to deal with this growing situation. Fortunately both our families see a lot of things in similar ways. I also think you were speaking for everyone here in wanting us to make a plan that keeps our two families working together on this. We may not all agree on my own fathers interpretation of Bible prophesies, but based on what we are seeing your Daddy and I are thinking there may be some real merit to the idea of getting out of the way of as much trouble for our families as we can manage.” Rob glanced around the table and checked the expressions on everyone's face. “What Bruce and I have been batting around is that We may need to consider some rather radical changes in our life style.” He gently took hold of Jenny's other hand. “Of course there is also the chance, which seems to us is becoming more likely, that if we do not choose to make those changes, then radical changes may be imposed on us without our having a choice in the matter.” Jenny looked to Rob. “Are you saying the economic changes that Bruce is hearing about may force us to move if we don't decide to move into the forest with your Dad?” “Jenny, if I may,” Bruce interrupted even though Jenny was speaking to Rob. “What I was trying to explain to Rob – and Linda, I haven't told you about this either. Honestly, I am still trying to wrap my head around it. There are some real Brainiac types at my company that have dug up evidence that is pointing to some game changing moves in the works cooperatively among multiple governments. This is not about economic ups and downs, but rather about governments positioning to take control of private funds and controlling how that money is available and spent. If we don't do something before that happens, we may be powerless once we find out these plans are already in place. Resources we thought we had to weather the ups and downs of the economy and to help us in the future, may not be ours to use anymore.” “Daddy, are you and Carl's Dad talking about moving to the woods like his Grandpa suggested? I know you think I'm young and immature, but if you are thinking about doing that I want you to know I really like that idea.” The four parents were stunned at Colleen's latest comment, but Rob's brief glance toward his son, noticed; a knowing smile as Carl was also watching Colleen, though from a different perspective. “Colleen, It's nice to know that you would be willing to make that kind of radical change, if we decide it is the right move. I will need to talk with your mother, however, before we make such a big change. Not to mention,” Bruce continued, “The letter from Carl's Grandpa was not addressed to us so we were not invited to join him.” Suddenly Colleen's face was distressed, again, and everyone saw it. Their conversation was interrupted by a phone in Rob's pocket playing a clip from the William Tell Overture. - - - - -
Gladys was bringing two slices of pie with ice cream on top to Pete and Joann, but she stopped abut six feet short of the table when she realized they were both grinning from ear to ear. “Did I come at a bad time, or did you two just get some really good news?” Pete started chuckling and Joann grinned. “Funny, you should ask that, Gladys.” Joann said. “Wait. Did Pete order that pie and ice cream without my knowing it?” “No, Joann. I remembered how things abruptly stopped last time you were here, and I just thought, well I thought this might be an incentive for you two ease back and enjoy each others company a little longer.” “Well, Gladys, your timing is good. I think Joann and I will be enjoying each other's company a lot longer, now. I just proposed to her.” “And I said, 'Yes!' ” Gladys nearly dropped the plates of pie before she got them down to the table. “Well, congratulations. I had not heard you two were talking seriously about this. How long has this been in the works, if you don't mind my asking?” This time Joann giggled. “Gladys I think this has been in the works for a while, but Pete didn't realize that until we left abruptly a few nights ago, and I had not heard a word about it from him until after you served us dinner tonight.” “Well this is very happy news, and I'm honored to be the first to hear it. Do you want me to keep this under my hat, or is it okay to spread this joy around a little?” “Gladys, we're not about to make a grand announcement. That's not our style. But we don't mind your sharing it with the brothers and sisters, do we, Pete?” “Of course. That is exactly what I was thinking. Speaking of that, I ought to call my son, Rob, and let him know there is an adjustment I'm making in my plans up here.” Pete grinned and pulled a phone out of his pocket. He then put a call through to his son.
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Post by solo on May 26, 2023 8:41:04 GMT -6
I shudder to think what would have happened to New Orleans if Katrina had actually hit is head on, or, worse, just to the west. The Northeast quadrant..... My family's home in Pascagoula was swamped, the storm surge was estimated at 30 feet there. Having that Kind of storm surge in New Orleans in addition to the rains they got when the storm camped out over South Mississippi; I just returned from a trip there and am still sad that many of the mom-and-pop stores and restaurants are no longer in existence after that storm. Indeed, it has been a long recovery.
Loving this story!!
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 26, 2023 9:49:30 GMT -6
My son had lived there for a time, but moved away one year before it hit. Afterwards the apartments where he had lived were nothing but a concrete slab. A Hospital where he had been a patient was totally destroyed and was never reopened.
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 26, 2023 10:14:52 GMT -6
Post #15 A Course Correction
When Rob stopped to answer his phone, Carl leaned over and whispered to his Mom, “While Dad is on the phone I'll go get another pitcher of iced tea for us. As he was standing up he tipped his head and got Colleen's attention. Colleen quietly told her mother, Linda, “Mom, y'all stay here and figure out what were going to do. I'll go help Carl get the tea made.” The two teens were in the kitchen and could see their parents on the patio through the kitchen windows. Carl had to turn the lights on inside since the sun was just about down. He started working on a fresh brew of iced tea as he began talking quietly. “Colleen, I can see you are really worried about what is happening and I think I understand the point that is really worrying you about all of this. You can relax and let go of that specific fear. Please trust ME on this. I'm completely certain that was my Grandpa calling, and I'm beginning to understand him more than I did before. Our two families are not going separate ways, Colleen. Do you understand me. Forget the rhetoric about what is your family going to do, and what is my family going to do, Okay? The real questions going forward right now are about what are WE going to do together as a big family.” “Are you sure, Carl? This is some really scary stuff they are talking about.” “Look at me Colleen.” Carl waited until he held her eye contact. “I get you, Colleen. I know what is really scaring you. What you are really worrying about is not going to be a problem.” Colleen studied Carl's face for a moment. “Okay, Carl. Thank you.” Carl could see a wave of relief wash over her, and seeing that, he relaxed, too. “We need to get this tea out there. We all have a lot of planning and hard work ahead of us and we can talk more about this part of your anxiety later. That phone Dad had was not his regular phone. It was a special one Grandpa gave him before he left. Let's go find out what Grandpa had to say. I have a feeling it is important” When they got back outside to the picnic table there was a lively conversation going. Carl leaned over to set the pitcher down and turned to his Dad. “So, what prompted Grandpa to use the special phone at that particular moment?” Rob gave him a curious look and then replied, “Well, son, I guess there aren't that many things that slip past you, are there? But I'm thinking this one did. He decided it was important to inform us about a significant change he made in his plans.” Colleen was close behind Carl and squeezed his arm in a moment of panic. “Well, Dad, maybe we need to sit down and hear about these changes.” Carl smoothly helped Colleen step over the picnic table bench then sat down himself. “Okay, Dad, What is Grandpa up to now?” As he said that he gently rested his hand on Colleen's which was tightly gripping the bench seat between the two of them. “Carl, your Grandpa is getting married, so he won't be alone in the woods, after all.” Carl gently patted Colleen's hand before he replied. Still looking toward his Dad, he nodded his head with a slight grin. “You're right Dad. That one slipped past me, but I guess I should have just studied the play book a little better. Good for him. That makes perfect sense. I really should have seen that coming. I kind of wonder if he saw it coming." Carl chuckled. " So, did y'all get everything worked out with him about how the six of us are going fit in up there too?” Again, he gave Colleen's hand a gentle squeeze. Rob tilted his head quizzically again looking at his son. “Actually we did discuss that and talked a little about some steps Bruce and I were considering to try to make that workable. It isn't as simple a thing as you seem to think, son. You talk like it is a fore gone conclusion.” “Dad, Mom, Mr. and Mrs Cooper, please don't take me wrong on this. I understand, though probably not fully, yet, that this will be complicated and take hard work hard to make it happen. At the same time we all want this very much. We want our families to stay together, and we want our families to be safe and secure. Even Grandpa was making that clear in his letters, wasn't he? So we are all going to do everything in our power to make it happen, aren't we? Not one of us here is going to give up and say it's not worth it; are we?” “No, son, you are right there. I guess I just wasn't realizing how well you were grasping all of this. I need to talk more with you about that, but later. Right now, though, we need to go over our game plan for how we are getting from point A to Point B. Bruce grabbed the virtual gavel of the meeting at this point. “Okay, listen very carefully, everyone. Rob's Dad is being genuinely accommodating and hospitable about this and we owe it to him to respect his concerns. At first I thought he was a respectable old man, who kind of took off on a whim a couple of years ago thinking he had little left to loose. Looking at his circumstances and life experiences that was a reasonable conclusion for any one taking the time to look into his actions from the outside. However my respect for him has taken a leap tonight on several fronts. That was exactly what he wanted it to look like, even though he had put a lot of thought into his move, or should I say his moves, and how to execute them.” “Considering the information I have learned recently from my work sources, I think it is important to follow his lead on this and protect the security effort he has already begun.” “Bruce, my darling, I love you, and trust you, and admire you, but what in hell's bell's are you talking about?” Linda's sweet little inquiry was enough to get a laugh out of everyone. Bruce leaned over and put his arm around Linda before kissing her gently. “Thank you, Linda. I really do love the way you can tell me I'm being a hopeless nerd with out it sounding like an insult. Let me try again. First: The scary part about the information I got at work was that the government is going to try to track everything we do with our money including our savings. Second: Rob's Dad somehow anticipated this way before we had a clue about this problem and he began his own effort to minimize the effects of that on him. Third: I believe it wold be VERY WISE for us to carefully follow his example of finding ways to dodge the effects of their plans for tracking our money activities in any reasonable ways we can find. Fourth: I intend to get help with the details of how we might dodge their snares and share that information confidentially among our two families. I just wanted to emphasize the importance of this at the very start.” “Thank you, Bruce. I know there is a real compost pile of particulars in what you are planning that I wouldn't understand no matter how patiently you might try to explain them to me. I just want to make sure I understand this the best way I can. So, the rich and powerful are planning yet another strategic campaign to make themselves more rich and way more powerful. This plan is designed to benefit THEM by taking away the nest eggs, and protections for that matter, that regular folks like US have worked all our lives to provide for our families. SO, if we are going to keep the Robber Barons from robbing us blind, we've got to find ways of slipping out of their net, without tipping them off as to how we are going to do that. If that's the game you think we should play, then ante up and deal me in.”
- - - - -
“Joann, I can barely believe this. I told you before that my son and his family thought I was crazy and they would never leave their home and follow me up here. Well, things must be getting weird faster than I thought down there. Not only do they want to come up here; They and their best friends, who live next door to them, want to come up here to stay, and they want to talk with me about how they can help make it work. If I'm not mistaken, they even want me to guide them in choosing the right path and dodging the pitfalls they haven't anticipated. Those weren't their exact words, but that was the bottom line.” “Pete, all I heard was your side of the conversation. You started out talking about us deciding to get married, and then you talked a little about what we've been doing together and how that fits with Working the land you found. But then there was a very long spell where you said very little. Please don't leave me to only imagine what your son said in reaction to me suddenly appearing in your plans.” “Joann, it was surreal, in a good way. He was cautious without being skeptical at first. His questions were worded in ways that really were verifying that this decision about us was anchored in the things I have been writing to him about my spiritual journey since moving here. In the last couple of years, he has been questioning me and respectfully challenging some of the new understanding I have gained here. I thought that was because he just wasn't buying it. But, it seems that at least parts of those letters have been discussed among his whole family and with their best friends living next door to them. He basically sounds happy about our decision and they are only anxious about our 'letting them', all six of them, come to join us on or near our land.” “Okay, I guess that explains some of the conversation toward the end where you cautioned about the trail of breadcrumbs getting wider and needing to be swept out of sight. I'm a bit concerned, though, Pete, about the possibility that they are cherry picking the ideas from your letters about your spiritual journey. You know how that becomes a real issue so often when people get excited about the reliability of the prophesies on the Bible, but then they want to make up their own rules for how to live a good life, like Adam and Eve did, instead of following the guidance given by the Creator whose reliability got them excited.” “I know what you are saying, Joann, but there is hope there. Rob mentioned that Carl, my grandson, actually says that he has started thinking that the Bible is the most rational place to look if you want to find out how to live a good life. – Look at the time! I need to get you home, My Darling, then I need to – No. I want you and I to go together to talk with Brother Ruben. Are you up for that?” “Pete, I finished my pie “al a mode” while you were on the phone. I need a cup of coffee while you finish your “pie in a puddle”. I am fine with going to see Brother Ruben with you tonight. I don't think I would be able to drift off to sleep at my normal time tonight, anyway. With all the new considerations you've handed me tonight my mind may be a little busier than usual, so we don't need to rush right over to Brother Ruben's house and then get me back home too early tonight. – What? You keep staring at me. What is wrong?” “Nothing is wrong, Joann. I'm just taking in how blessed I am.” “Well, try not to stare at me so much. It's embarrassing.” “Joann, my dear, I will try to be careful with my staring, but you need to understand that you will need to adjust to me gazing at my precious wife for a long time to come.” “Well, go ahead and finish your pie so we can talk with Brother Ruben. I have to admit, Pete, I told you that you needed to find someone as crazy as you to help you with all the work on that place. So, call me crazy, but I'm excited about this; all of this. ”
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Post by feralferret on May 26, 2023 21:04:46 GMT -6
Outstanding chapter. The puzzle pieces are starting to come together for the two families.
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 27, 2023 16:42:12 GMT -6
Post #16 A New Beginning
The next morning Jenny was making coffee and Linda came in to help get some breakfast together. They had all been up very late mulling over the rapid change of direction their families were apparently turning to. Rob finally suggested the Coopers just crash there for the night rather than trek across their yards in the middle of the night only to trek back in just a few hours. The smell of brewing coffee helped to stir everyone awake, while Jenny and Linda put a breakfast together. Once everyone was settled in to eating, Rob cleared his throat. “Bruce, Linda, Jenny, I think... hold on. Carl, Colleen, I apologize. This affects both of you as well. Neither of you are independent adults yet, but even without having the experience of your parents, you two are smart enough to consider the options and offer a measure of input for your families' decisions. Anyway, I think there are enough touch-points between what my Dad had to say and what we are seeing with our own eyes, that we need to take all of his suggestions seriously.” “Rob, you know I have a lot of respect for your Dad, I'm just not sure about much of anything right now. A decision to up and move is just huge. Bruce and I talked a bit about that last night. That would mean leaving our home, our jobs, well Bruce's job at least, and this area we are so familiar with. We know it like the back of our hands. If we are going to have to adapt to big changes all around, you know it's going to be a lot tougher in a totally unfamiliar place.” After sleeping and resting some, Linda was not feeling as confident as the night before when she boast, “ante up and deal.” “That's exactly what I was thinking, Linda,” put in Bruce. "Another part of that is I'm afraid if we were to cut and run to – I'm not exactly sure yet where your Dad is, Rob. Where was I? Oh, yes, I don't want your Dad to get the impression that were were joining him in all his religious beliefs and expected him to dictate what everyone there can and can't do like in some cult commune.” “Guys, guys,” Rob was holding out his hands with his palms forward. “Slow down. I'm not committing to jumping in the car tonight with my go-bag and running for the hills yet either.” “Uh, Dad. That's weird. I was just reading in the bible last night in one of the passages where Jesus was warning of the dangers to come and He told his followers to flee to the mountains when they saw certain events take place. – Oh, I'm sorry, that just popped out without my thinking about it. I apologize for interrupting, Dad. I'm waking up a bit slowly this morning. Maybe I need to learn to like coffee, too.” “Mister Smith, what is a go-bag?” Colleen sounded clueless on this expression. “Okay, Colleen that's a term I guess I picked up from my Dad's letters. The religious organization he is part of uses that term for a bag or back pack that is always ready with a change of clothes, water bottles, a little food, some cash, medications, and legal identifications papers, and such in case they have to flee their home for a safer location with almost no warning. The have members scattered all around the world and they have seen their own people caught in many kinds of extreme circumstances before. So, they periodically remind their members to be ready in case they have to literally run from their home for safety at a moment's notice.” “Now back to my point. I'm just saying that maybe we need to carefully rethink what is happening and what might be coming. We aren't preppers, but when there is a hail storm forecast and the clouds roll in followed by some serious wind gusts, it makes sense to get the car in the garage, pick up the lawn furniture, and maybe even put a blanket over the windows on the storm side of the house. I'm just talking about thinking through what we are deciding rather than rushing so fast that we trip over our own feet.” “Dad, How much worse are you thinking it's going to get? For that matter, what kind of worse are you thinking?” “That's a great question, Carl. That is exactly what I meant when I said we need to talk.” “Rob, well everyone, I mentioned the information I picked up at work. I mentioned only to you Rob, about my primary source being so Spock-like. He is very analytical and unemotional, and he has this uncanny track record for accurately projecting social and economic trends. What I did not mention is that ability appears to run deep in his family history, like a couple of centuries at least. The other day for the first time I saw fearful resignation in his eyes. I don't want my family caught by being too cautious before we take action, any more that I want us to trip over our own feet and cause more problems than we already face. I didn't sleep well last night because my mind was getting a grip on the pros and cons. I want to visit a lawyer I know today and work out a confidential strategy of rearranging my assets to make them more mobile and less visible. I'd like you to come with me, Rob so you can understand how that might help you, as well.” “Aside from the technical masking steps, I'm talking about masking our trail to avoid being caught in the hunter's net, here is what I'm thinking on a level we can all grasp and discuss openly. The strategy your Dad followed, Rob, is a sound one, and the way he described the land he found sounds really well suited for our goals. It is isolated in multiple ways yet it has some strong natural advantages for becoming self sustaining there. Rather than crowding all of us into the space he is acquiring, I think our two families can acquire very similar property close at hand and hopefully adjacent to his property. The value of our assets and the homes we hold here can be used to buy cheaper land there and still have enough resources to rebuild and establish a self sustaining operation in that safer location.” “Daddy, Those self sustaining resources were what I was thinking about when I made my comments last night about moving to the woods. Of course the place Carl's Grandpa has picked sounds more like a real forest than I was thinking. The self sustaining possibilities in a place like that are amazing.” “Bruce, sweetheart. I thought we were concerned about getting ahead of the crowd before the net is dropped on us. It takes time to build a house especially if the materials we need have to be transported over non-existing roads. If we are 'gettin' the out the heck out of Dodge', where are we going to live until the Ponderosa Lodge is completed?” “I'm just starting here, Linda. I haven't worked it all out yet. I said before that we can all discuss the plan at this point.” “Mister Cooper, I am concerned about hiring out too much of the work. You were the one who emphasized not leaving a trail. Hiring out the construction work is going to leave a trail five miles wide leading straight to us. I think with you, me, my Dad, all of us here, even my Grandpa, maybe his new wife: If we all work together, we can build our own homes, but that will take longer to get it done. If we are very careful about the help we hire we might speed it up and reduce the trail, because I also see the point Mrs. Cooper was making about getting out of harm's way as quickly as possible. We just need to be careful to watch our backs as well as our fronts.” “Rob, help me out here. I have just a germ of an idea forming. If there are no real roads going to the sight the cars we have right now are not going to work very well for us. What would it take, and what would it cost, to replace our cars with something that could pull a camper to the site. That way we could have some quick, temporary shelter, that is way better than a tent to live in while we are building something more suitable for the long term.” “Jenny, what a great idea. We could make it look like we are going on a vacation, and then just stay gone a little longer than people might have expected. I'm sure we would have to deal with tight quarters in campers, but we would still be able to shower, cook, and sleep in a bed until we could build more permanent housing. We could make that work, don't you think?” Linda was showing a hopeful kind of excitement now. “I'm not clear on exactly how soon we are talking about, um, leaving on vacation,” Colleen interrupted. “but we need to make some realistic planning about food. Daddy is talking about some serious economic changes and that will affect our ability to buy even basic supplies like what is more basic than food? Even if we left this week, we would miss a fair part of the growing season for summer vegetables. As for long term food issues we have a lot to learn about growing harvesting storing and preparing our own food. No offense to you or Mrs. Smith, Mom, but our idea of making things from scratch is going to the store and buying fine milled flour, refined sugar, fresh cellophane wrapped vegetables, packaged ground beef, butter packaged and cut in four ounce sticks and wrapped with paper showing exactly where to cut the stick to get the recipe measurements right, oh and don't forget the pre-washed, sanitized, and refrigerated eggs...are you starting to get my drift I'm sorry. I don't mean to be out of line. I'm just starting to grasp how serious all of this is. I've been thinking about our ides of being self sustaining and, well, that's really about survival, isn't it?” Colleen was starting to grasp how wide a chasm had developed in modern civilized culture between the consumers understanding of food sources and producers efforts to provide the basics of what we eat. - - - - -
Pete was sitting on the front stoop outside Joann's side of the house when she opened the door the next morning. Joann could not miss how his face lit up the moment he saw her. It really gave her pause to see him looking at her that way and she did not know what to say. So, she just stood there like a deer caught in the headlights, even though it was a bright sunny morning. “Good morning, darling woman. I hope you slept well. I thought we ought to get an early... well early as reasonable under the circumstance, start this morning. I think we have an awesome amount of work to do, and I am even more eager to get started.” He held out his hand and let her step down from the stoop. “With this being the weekend, there are some urgent thing that must wait until next week, but I would like for us to get them lined up mentally for both of us so we don't waste time fumbling around on what order to do things. I thought we could take a drive so you can see the place I've found. You haven't even seen it and I'm sure it will help you to think about how we get it ready if you have a clearer picture of the place. On the way there and back we can talk about plans and how to get things going. Does that work for you?” “I think that's a good starting point. I would like that. Please understand I am still trying to get my head around all that is happening.” Pete stepped closer and wrapped his arms around Joann. He just held her like that for a moment. “Sweetheart, be both are trying to get our heads and hearts around all of this. Just remember to breathe, and know that we will be still be wrapping ourselves around this for a long, long, long time to come.” Joann cooked up some fresh eggs and sausage for breakfast, while Pete packed up some things to take in a cooler for lunch. Soon they were on the road in Pete's little pickup heading deeper into the forest. “Joann, first of all, I want to say this new relationship we are going to have is not just a partnership convenience for me. The feelings I have for you, well I realized I was holding them back like the moat and walls around a fortress. From the very beginning I was attracted to you, but I was unwilling to let myself be tripped by that. I have seen too many people attracted to this or that characteristic of another person. Then they are so taken by that attraction that they lose their heads and ignore or deny the things that are going create problems for both of them. There are still plenty of things I don't know about you, but the better I know you, the better I like you. It came to a point where it went far beyond just liking you to a deep appreciation and comfort and caring about you. I finally had to admit to myself that I love you Joann. I am all in on this and there is nothing I am holding in reserve.” “Pete, I can relate to what you are saying. Really, I DO relate to what you are saying, It's just that I have a lot of baggage about trusting people who have said the right things, and then later I find they were good at saying and acting the role at first, but false in their integrity. The other parts of your analogies about the moat and fortress walls – in the real world the moat and walls don't disappear with the wave of a magic fairy wand.” Pete chuckled. “Analogies are more entertaining the way you express them, dear girl. I know you are right about all that. I'm not going to rush you. But, I am going to show trust in you rather than waiting for you to trust me. There are some legal steps to be taken, like our marriage license, but much more than that. I am putting all my assets, including the land WE still have to purchase, in a trust that allows you full access and authority with or without my presence or approval. When I said I am all in on this I meant I am fully committed to you and to us as husband and wife.” “Pete, I...I told you I have to work through some things still. I need time to think about dividing or joining our money. I've been scorched, not just burned, on that issue before. Please...” “Joann, I am not asking you to copycat what I do with my adjustments. I am making this commitment. I am not asking you to do the same. I'm not even asking you to consider doing the same 'when you are ready'. Saying I trust you is just words. I can only trust you if I am exercising trust in you. Its kind of like James talked about faith in the scriptures. Saying you have faith is just words, unless you are acting on that faith. And exercising that faith is what helps that faith grow stronger.” “Pete, you're already showing me more of the person I thought you might be than I really expected. If this is the way it's going to be with us...well, let's just work to keep things getting better and better.” By the time they arrived at the site, Pete and Joann had listed out a number of tasks and details to tend to soon. Joann stopped in the middle of a question when Pete slowed and eased off the gravel road onto a faint two-track weaving among the trees. He was going slowly now but it was still a bouncy ride and Joann was bracing a bit inside the truck cab. The ground was starting to slope more with the slope running upward on Pete's side of the truck. They were gradually working their way uphill and the two-track would sometimes disappear only to briefly reappear from time to time. Joann was looking all around and finally asked, “How much farther?” “It's not far, but it may be twenty or thirty minutes at this speed.” Eventually Pete slowed to a stop on a small level spot where a very small creek was flowing just a few yard ahead. “ I guess this will do as well as any place.” He climbed out and came around to Joann's door. “Come on, darlin'. Climb out and have a look around.” “So this is it? How much of the forest here is within the property? I mean where are the boundaries?” “The corners are, or were, marked years ago. We'll have to look carefully to find the markers. We came about a hundred yards into the plot before we stopped. It isn't really that big a plot but the boundaries are a couple o' hundred yards further on ahead and to the right, but four or five hundred yards to the left on up to the crest of the hill. There are no fences or houses for at least a couple of miles in any direction as far as I can find. Nothing but forest, hills, and streams with a few small clearings scattered around.” Joann was gazing around in a three-sixty degree sweep as Pete gently took her hand. She closed her eyes and stood very still for a long time. “Did you hear that, Pete?” she finally whispered. “At first it was so quiet except for the slight breeze in the trees. Then ever so timidly the birds and little creatures started moving. Now you can hear them chattering and chirping once in a while. Their fear is leaving. So is mine.” She turned and gently hugged Pete, resting her head on his chest. Pete wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head. “So, what do you think? D'you think we can make this work?” “I think I've found – no, I think someone very wise and powerful has helped us find our home. I am sure that with His help, we will make this work.” Pete and Joann spent the next three hours walking the property and talking about possible placement of a house. Garden plots, chicken coops, whether to include other livestock, water and sanitation efforts, Pete's family coming, timing of all the tasks ahead. As they were heading back to Beaver Creek, they still had plenty to talk about. They were both more confident than before that they were making the right choices. They had discussed with Brother Ruben the night before that they wanted to get married and wanted him to perform the ceremony. Pete and Joann were thinking to get this done right away, but Ruben pointed out two issues. The first was that the brothers and sisters in the congregation all cared about them and would want a chance to support them in this decision. Trying to rush it and get it over before telling anyone else would be a disappointment to them like they were being excluded from showing their love for Pete and Joann. The second consideration was that they needed a marriage license, and the county clerk's office would not be open until Monday. He had suggested the possibility of announcing their plans to the congregation at their Sunday meeting this weekend and having the actual ceremony following the Sunday meeting one week later. Pete wanted to get their ducks lined up as quickly as possible for a growing number of reasons. He discussed with Joann some of what he knew already about making the legal arrangements about his assets that he had mentioned before. He also wanted to close the deal quickly on the property with Joann's rights clearly established as soon as possible. He decided there were details he needed to work out with a discrete old school attorney he had found. He suggested they go to the attorney first, then line up the legal documents and names on those documents in a chronology that made the most sense, given his concerns about narrowing the trail of bread crumbs. While Joann knew little of the particulars and strategies Pete was discussing, she was clear that he was focusing pragmatically on the admonitions and warnings of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-13. When they arrived “back home” Pete sat down to compose a letter to his son. Dear Rob,
I have missed you and your family so much. It was a hard decision to go exploring, but it is turning out better than I thought it would. It is some distance from where I've been living for a many years, but I finally found that dream retreat I was looking for and it is a real bargain according to the realtors working this area. You may find this hard to believe, son, but I also found an amazing partner to share it with. The retreat is everything I hoped for. My new partner is even more than I hoped for.
I would love for you all to come up for a short visit. I know things have been crazy and stressful where you and your family are living. I just think this would be a perfect place for you all to get away from some of that stress for a while and spend some quality time as a family. I am taking bids from construction contractors to start the building, but that may take some time, so for a little while longer it will still be like camping out in nature. You know how I feel about how relaxing and rejuvenating the pristine creation can be . Please, come if you can in anyway manage to get away for a time. I think it would help all of you to recharge your batteries with a little relief from the pressures of the city. You know my prayers include you and those dearest to you, Rob.
If you decide you can take a break, let me tell you how to get here. Do you remember the family stories about your great-great-great grandma who had to go before a judge with two “professional” men willing to attest to her character and competency since she was a mere woman? If you go where she went before that judge, you can head out of town, as the crow flies, for 100 miles to the east. Then take a sharp turn north for 30 miles. That will put you on the property. Of course if you were in a wagon train you'd have to find a more meandering route over plains, crossing streams, and dodging mountains. I'm sure you can manage that.
I am looking forward to meeting some new neighbors here soon, but that may take a few weeks. I just hope that won't take too long.
You will be welcome anytime, but please remember that I don't want this to become a tourist trap. It is too hard to keep it pristine if that happens. I think you understand that. Please, come for a visit before you get tangled up again on the treadmill you all have been on. Once school starts in the fall you won't be able to come until next summer. Listen to your old man. That would be a tragedy for you to wait that long.
Love, Dad
Pete read the letter over again. He doubted the coded messages and deflections were really necessary, but he also knew the capabilities and devilish corruption in high places were sometimes well beyond the expectations of reasonable people. Joann was going to meet Pete at Rudy and Gladys' Café for supper again, but Pete made a quick run to drop the letter at the post office in the county seat before meeting her for supper. The next morning after the congregation meeting Brother Linglebach stood up to announce the engagement of Brother Smith and Sister Blankenship. Pete and Joann were completely surprised and overwhelmed at the enthusiastic response from the whole congregation. The response went far beyond polite congratulations. They were suddenly surrounded by well wishers hugging them and telling them how happy they were for them getting together and making a commitment like that. While everyone was still celebrating, Rudy spoke up and got their attention again. “These two are, as most of you know, two very humble and unassuming people. I know they would never even consider making a big announcement about this. Brother Ruben had to convince them to let us announce this to the congregation. They would even think it presumptive on their part to invite a large group to celebrate their personal decision with them. I think they should know just how much we love them both as our brother and sister. Gladys and I would like to invite all of you to our place for supper tonight so we can give these two an engagement dinner. You are all invited. It is our treat to help us all to show our hopes and joy for the both of them to have a long and happy life together.”
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Post by feralferret on May 27, 2023 17:40:51 GMT -6
Another wonderful chapter. Thanks!
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Post by kaijafon on May 27, 2023 17:59:19 GMT -6
did good there!!
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Post by solo on May 28, 2023 8:34:39 GMT -6
It is very good to see the interaction between two different families with differing life goals get together with like mindedness to discuss and plan survival contingencies.
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Post by pbbrown0 on May 30, 2023 13:17:04 GMT -6
Post #17 Bread Crumbs
Bruce had taken Rob with him for a Saturday visit to a lawyer he knew. Jenny and Linda were busy chatting and brainstorming about all that they needed to think through. Carl and Colleen were also brainstorming about changes they too were facing soon. “Colleen, I was impressed with your insight about being truly self sustaining in the forest. I honestly had not thought that through on many points. I had been thinking our Mom's had made such great strides in old fashion cooking with our families trying to adjust to lower incomes after the epidemic.” “I just hope I didn't come across as disrespectful. I really didn't mean to sound that way.” “Oh, no. You were properly deferential, considering both our Mom's were struck speechless by your insight. I'm the one who really stepped in it when my Dad said he wasn't ready to head for the hills. Talk about wishing you could take back what you just said. So tell me, Ms. Biologist. Just what are you envisioning when we get settled into a new life style in the forest. What does that really look like in your mind?” “Speaking of deferential, I think it's your turn to risk sharing your thoughts for me to evaluate. That was pretty sneaky the other day. You had to test the water about my attitude toward living in a forest before you would be honest about what you really thought of the idea.” “Hey, let's be fair. That was a big deal, and I wanted your honest reaction.” “Right. That's why you overstated the opposite of what you hoped I would say to paradox me into pushing back on your basically calling your Grandpa crazy?” “Okay, Okay. You're right. I was... chicken. Yes, I was hoping you would say something like you did, but I was afraid you might go the opposite way. I did tell you that I thought it was really cool, what you were thinking about living in a forest. There were some things about Grandpa's ideas that I thought were important. I was surprised at how much alike we were thinking.” “So, like I said. What is it that you picture in your mind when you think about living in the forest? Somehow I don't see you living in a travel trailer for very long.” Colleen raised her eyebrows inquisitively. “You're right about that, Colleen. I know this kind sounds like a fantasy, but I imagine living in a log cabin that is genuinely off-grid, not just isolated from some modern conveniences. No utilities; just raw, primitive, whatever I can make with hand tools and the materials I can find there in the forest.” “Are you talking about having no electricity, no internet, and no solar power?” Colleen's eyes were narrowing. “Honestly, I don't know yet. I told you it is kind of a fantasy.” “So do you really think you can build a log cabin? Without power tools?” “Wait a minute, Colleen. You asked me what the image in my head was; not every detail I haven't worked out yet. Now you. What do you see?” Colleen looked at Carl searching for a tell of what else he might be hiding before answering. “ I do like the log cabin idea with vegetable gardens and a green house. I want chickens and goats, too. I also want fruit and nut trees.” Colleen had a far away look in her eyes. Then she glance over at Carl and ducked her head in embarrassment. “I don't know really. I'm just starting to imagine it. I don't know what it will really be like anymore than you do.”
- - - - -
Rob and Bruce were back home well before supper. They found their wives and started explaining the plan for hiding the trail of bread crumbs. “Bruce why don't you explain the basic plan. Try to keep it not too technical. Just hit the highlights.” “Okay. There is a legal option for holding family assets that has been around for many, many years called a trust. Because it has been around so long there are many variations that can be used to accomplish various purposes. Our primary purpose right now is to hide our trail without the crooks tracking us down with their technology. Basically, with a lawyer's help we, that is each of our families separately, can shift all of our properties into a trust. The trust owns the property, but we, as trustees, control how that property and money are used. Think of it as a family company, where we are both the executives and the board members. The documents creating the trust, in many states, do not have to be filed with any government entity unless certain actions are taken that would require being reported or legally recorded. This means that the only record of that trust is in the lawyer's files and in the files of the family. For example if we buy a piece of land using the trust a record of the ownership is recorded with the county of that property being owned now by the trust. But there is no recorded in any government entity files or computer database that states who or where, or how that trust came into existence. We don't have to report the transfer of money into the trust. The only – okay, let me make this simple. Let's say I have twenty thousand dollars in the bank. I can create a trust called the XYZ Trust of December 7, 2025. That date indicates the date the trust document was signed and notarized creating the trust. Yes there is a notary somewhere that records in a ledger that the document was signed. But with so little information someone searching for more information would have a hard time finding that one notary who witnessed the signatures. It could be almost any Notary in any state. Now I can take that twenty thousand dollars out of my bank and and 'give' it to the trust, and I do not have to report to anybody I gave that money to the trust. The trust is not required to record where the money came from, either. Now the trust, under my direction, can buy something with that money, and let me use what it bought without reporting that it is letting me, as long as I am careful not to step outside certain legal lines.”
Both Jenny and Linda had been trying hard to follow wht Bruce was saying. They knew he was trying to explain a complicated package of legal concepts in an understandable way,but even with his best effort their minds were numbing over. The whole arena of an organization being a virtual legal individual was to them like talking about the physiology of a space alien.
Rob stepped in here. “The original intent for trusts was to provide wise management of wealth for perhaps unwise descendants in a family for their own protection. It was also in most instances designed to protect the privacy of the family about how much wealth they had and how they were choosing to use it. Over the centuries trust have been used in more and more clever ways to keep that privacy while establishing legal precedents sanctioning those practices. If we are careful we can do perfectly legal things with our money that make it very hard for someone to digitally track what we are doing or even that it is our family that is actually initiating those actions. The key is to minimize activities that require reporting to the government.” Jenny and Linda looked at their husbands and then at each other. “Are you sure this is legal?” Jenny asked. “I promise you, Jenny, we will not do anything illegal unless they suddenly change the laws without telling us. The chances are good that that will not happen because these are the same kinds of laws that keep the activities of the rich and powerful out of sight.” Rob was very solemn. “Is this going to let us slip through their net?” Linda looked at Bruce. “This is our very best chance, sweetheart.” Bruce was nodding his head. “That's all we need to know,” Linda declared. “What about the travel trailer idea?” Jenny asked. “We first have to look at all our savings, retirement funds, equity in our home, and such. Then we'll have to look at what kind of deal we might get on land near Dad. He should be sending us some location information real soon. Then we need to look at how much is left for a travel trailer and truck to pull it. There are a wide range of prices, sizes and levels of simple used to super luxury new combinations. So it's just a matter of what we can afford and what makes sense once we have all the parameters.” Pete was reassuring, but cautious about making commitments. “We shouldn't have any problem working things out,” said Bruce. “We just don't want to rush out and buy a huge rig that sits out in front of the house drawing attention until it is time to leave. We could probably start shopping for travel rigs this week so we already have our choices lined up as soon as we get our assets lined up. I'm eager to get word from Rob's Dad about the location to look for land now that we have a plan taking shape. We have to be ready soon to beat the balloon remember. I also don't want to miss work until time to leave so we don't tip our hand to anyone, accidentally.” “While you men are at work this week, Linda and I need to do some serious research and budgeting regarding food supplies, storage, shifting in our clothing styles, and so much more. I'm really wanting to pick Colleen's brain about this self sustaining concept. She seems to be ahead of the rest of us about that. If we're going to make this work, it's going to take a lot more than just moving quickly to a new location without leaving a trail behind.” The following week was long and busy for everyone. Bruce and Rob, in addition to their regular work days were busy examining the rules and penalties about their retirement plans where they worked to make sure of the rules for closing them and liquidating the assets if they left their jobs, or wanted to consider borrowing from them. They had decided to sell their houses through their attorney after the ownership was transferred into a trust. That way he could execute their intentions to sell the property quickly and discretely in their absence after they had disappeared. The attorney fees would be significant but attorney client privilege laws would also protect them from a loose tongue disclosing their plans to others. He could also act as their agent to get the proceeds of the sale converted to cash and delivered to them with the process and records of that delivery obscured from some of the normal money transaction reporting requirements already in place in the banking and financial systems. One thing they discovered was that all these transactions and liquidation steps were going to take a little time, and minimizing the trail of bread crumbs would be a challenge. Bruce had brought Rob along for several conferences with his attorney so Rob could understand his options without paying more attorney fees than necessary While Rob was not trying to eaves drop, he was able to discern that his buddy, Bruce, had more investment and retirement fund assets squirreled away than he did. Untangling Rob's savings and retirement money would be simpler and less involved, but until their house was sold it would be more meager as well. Rob and Jenny had been trying to pay down their mortgage early so they could reduce the outrageous interest effect. Once their ownership of their home was secure, they had planned to focus more on saving for retirement without the burden of the monthly mortgage payments. The net effect for them was that until they sold their house, they would have much more limited funds to apply to buying land and temporary living arrangements than the Cooper family would. Without discussing the actual dollar amounts, both families had agreed that it was important to beat the balloon going up, so they needed to 'go on vacation' before the sale of their homes was completed. That might mean they would have to piggy back on Pete's land in their travel trailer rigs until they could complete the purchase of their own nearby plots. Because of the particulars, as well as subtle differences in tastes and priorities, the Smith's were looking at a more modest travel trailer and truck rig than Bruce and Linda were. Meanwhile, Linda, Jenny, and Colleen were working hard to think through the plans for day to day needs and the impact on lifestyles that would be required to begin and continue living off the land rather than living off the retail supply chain they were accustomed to using. Carl was continuing to work at the construction firm during the day and adding his contributions to the planning processes in the evenings. One very difficult part of this process was the mental and emotional effort required to let go of the plethora of things that they had accumulated which might not be so useful or practical in their new circumstances. The space in the travel trailers and pick-ups would be very limited. What were they going to do with all their furniture, appliances, and furnishings? Would it even be possible to put things into storage and then hire movers to deliver it to the forest once they finished building new houses? - - - - -
Pete and Joann had a very busy week. School was almost out so she was still having to go to work but the regular schedule of classes was being juggled for final exams and getting the school ready to shut down for the year. Pete had managed to meet her in Clear Water at the courthouse just after school let out one day to get their Marriage License. He also arranged an appointment with an attorney after school another day for them to work out the details of a trust and wills in light of their pending marriage. Pete also had the attorney put together a final contract for the purchase of the land. Later that week they met again to sign and finalize all the documents and agreements. Meanwhile, Pete was busy building temporary cages to transport their chickens to the land. He was also building modular segments of a chicken coop to assemble once they had transported it to their new home. During this week, Pete received a letter from his son telling about a newer generation of CB type radios that were a strange mix of short distance and medium distance radios with over lapping frequency ranges. The oddities of how these had developed allowed people with small hand held radios to communicate with each other over short distances. Without additions or modifications to the handheld units they could also communicate with longer range base stations nearby or listen in on messages being sent from a base stations much farther away. Pete looked into this and considered what might be ahead. He decided to buy a few units and went to have a serious talk with Brother Ruben. “Brother Ruben, you know Sister Blankenship and I are going to be married after the meeting Sunday afternoon. There are some other things I want to talk with you about before that happens. Joann and I are going to be moving. There are two different passages in the Proverbs that are almost but not quite identical in their wording. They tell us that the shrewd one or shrewd person recognizes the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced one continues on and suffers the consequences. It always struck me as odd that those two were so much alike and yet they were so close together in the same book. I finally concluded that it was a very important warning for the wise, since it was important enough to be repeated so soon after being stated the first time. We all know there are lots of warnings about troubles that are coming and signs that those troubles are getting closer. I know our organization is not giving a signal yet to grab your bag and hide, but Joann and I are trying to choose wisely the steps we take.” “One of the challenges of concealing oneself is the danger of being discovered if too may people know where you are. I also know it is important for us to stay connected to our congregation. SO, here is what I want you to know.” Pete proceeded to explain the essentials of what he and Joann were about to do. He also explained that he wanted the personal details that Ruben shared with others be kept to a minimum. Then he explained to Brother Ruben about these radios and how he though they might prove useful. Finally Pete handed over a box with several radio units and booklets about their operation to Brother Ruben. “Brother Ruben I trust you will be discrete with this information. We intend to keep in touch. If you think it has merit you might share these ideas with the circuit overseer and those taking the lead in our organization. They may find even more ways to use this technology to support our brothers and sisters elsewhere through whatever troubles are coming soon. I love you, Brother Ruben. Joann and I love all the brothers and sisters. No matter what happens, we will cling to our love for you and our Creator.” Sunday afternoon Pete and Joan were married. Monday morning Pete and Joann fed the chickens and loaded the modular chicken coop into the back of Pete's truck. By late morning they were once again walking around exploring their new piece of land. The rest of the day was spent walking over the land together and mapping out, literally mapping out, where they wanted to place things like a small water reservoir, the leach field, where they wanted to build a house, barn(s) for the goats, chicken coops, chicken runs, compost piles, a water line from the reservoir, and much more. By the end of the day they were excited but seriously overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they were starting. They were talking through how to stage their work so they could properly prioritize what to do first. They were going to need to set up for feeding themselves off the land at the same time they were building a permanent place to live. Those plans must include the necessary requirements of shelter, water, sanitation, comfort, and the like. As they got into the afternoon The two of them had managed to assemble the chicken coop in the place they had chosen. More than a few times Pete caught himself pausing to look again at his new wife and saying a silent prayer of gratitude to his Creator for bringing him to such a fine woman. He also silently prayed that he could prove to be a good husband to her. As they finished the chicken coop they both sat on a fallen log to rest. “Pete, you are not fooling anybody. I know very well you have been staring at me all day long. It's a wonder you managed to get any work done all day. She noted that Peter was taken aback by her comment and continued. “Don't you give me that innocent 'What ever do you mean?' look. I've seen the way you have been ogling at me all day. It's a wonder you haven't accidentally busted your thumb or worse trying to nail this coop together. You've been stealing glances at me when you thought I wasn't looking.” Pete's look shifted to a sly grin. “Tell me something, my dear sweet bride. How would you have known I was stealing so many glances at you, unless you had been doing the same?” Now it was Joann's turn to feign her innocence. “Why, Mister Smith! Are you trying to impugn my innocence?” Pete threw his head back and laughed. “Mrs. Smith, I think it's about time for the two of us to pursue some more exploration of the the more intimate aspects of our new relationship. What do you think?” “Mr. Smith, I think that suggestion holds some delightful possibilities.” - - - - -
“I think these handheld radios our Dads got are cool. I know we can't text or share videos on them, but it's kind of like we have a private link that no one else has. We can even set up a private sub group so you and I can talk without our parents listening in when you are at your house and I'm over here.” “Yeah. We can still talk with our friends using our phones, but this is neat having a unique link just for us. Of course we seem to be losing touch with some old friends. Now that school is out and with our taking a vacation that's going to change even more.” Carl's tone had become quieter and more somber as he spoke. “Colleen, do you mind If I talk with you privately for a bit?” “Well that's the point I was making, Carl. This is really private with these radios Daddy got.” “Colleen, I mean not just private. I mean like serious and private. Like face to face private. I've been thinking a lot about what's fixin' to happen and I want to talk with you about some of it that I've be keeping quiet about so far. As much as we've been talking and planning and such, there are some things we've – I've been avoiding talking about. I know its hot outside, but can you meet me in the back yard at our picnic table?” “This does sound serious. Well, okay, Carl. Sure” Colleen was trying to keep her voice light and under control, but she had an uneasy queasy feeling in her stomach anticipating what new issue or revelation Carl might be wanting to talk about.
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Post by feralferret on May 30, 2023 16:05:55 GMT -6
There was a lot of ground covered in this chapter, with a lot of useful information. Thanks.
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