Pack Creek Ranch, San Juan County, Utah
Hot, windy, dry – red flag fire danger continues.
CONFESSION
This odd photo shows a trap for a packrat.
It is also evidence that I hold contradictory ideas in my mind.
For example, I am respectful of all living things – don’t squash bugs, think dandelions are flowers, carry spiders outside, etc. On the other hand, when a packrat invades my house, eats my Fritos and Oreo cookies . . . well . . . murder comes to mind.
(Methodology – first, I put out a buffet on a plate to determine the packrat’s taste – pecans, raisins, granola, and Fritos. Every night for three nights, the food was consumed Aha! Then I put a very small sample of the buffet, leading up to an electric rat zapper containing a full selection of goodies. ZAP! That packrat is no more. The magpies outside will gladly serve as morticians.)
I confess that I am pleased with the demise of the packrat.
Next. I subscribe to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. Had I been involved in its construction, I would have gladly signed it. The Divine Rights of Kings is a false idea. And I support the current NO KINGS movement.
Yet I contrarily watch all the videos of the pageantry of royalty – coronations, marching bands, uniformed parades, and ceremonial hoo-ha with pleasure.
I much admire Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children.
Furthermore, I admire Princess Leonore, the next queen of Spain. That she has learned to fly fighter jets, passed the qualifications for being a parachute jumper, and remained cool and lovely – well, I admit to watching all the evidence videos.
I confess that I am a secret monarchist at heart.
Next.
A Roman Catholic, I am definitely not. Yet I regularly follow the life and times of Bob Provost. (Also known as Pope Leo XIV) I admire and respect his strength of character and the courage to speak to the millions of Catholics about what is best in human values. He’s the real deal.
I confess that I am a secret follower.
More. I know that every human being is unique. There are no standard models. Yet I do not believe that all human beings are created equal, despite my commitments to democratic values.
I confess to holding many conflicting ideas at the same time and struggle to find a compromise and move on.
At poker, I always trust the dealer, but I always take the opportunity to cut the cards and shuffle the deck.
Walt Whitman’s great thought applies:
“Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes.”
Onward.