Naughty Boy
Back at the Trough
I write standing at some counter or tall table at a place where I can view outside weather and neighborhood events. I can see out. Sun can make my day magic. Rain can throw spray enough to make drools down the window glass. Morning ground fog makes me thoughtful about the mystery, wonder, and trepidation of known things losing their place of reference and use.
Laughter has a natural home in a new puppy sighting. The little devil is taking full advantage of limited freedom. It is learning that its lead in no way hampers its joy in its strong young body and happy curiosity.
Thieves can peek at me and household goods in my vicinity.
Case Study
The police responded quickly. The 911 dispatcher told me to leave the back door unlocked and to shelter near it. Two squad cars arrived with light bars flashing red and blue. But sirens off. “Smart,” I thought. “Clear a way through traffic without giving the thief warning of approach.”
The young man came through the door first. Fast, in a low crouch, his eyes and gun swinging from side to side. Just like actors do in cop shows. “Step outside, ma’am,” he growled.
I did. Just as his lady partner slid past me to give him back-up.
“There’s no one in there,” I warbled uselessly as they went about their business of securing the scene and assessing the situation. Damage done. Veracity of my claim of unlawful intrusion and theft of personal goods.
When they were satisfied that I was reporting accurately and was in no immediate danger, the tall, lanky, handsome, and personable “My name is Todd, ma’am” man admired the Great Danes (caged for everyone’s peace of mind and safety) and left. I was sorry to watch his nice buns depart. I just love a guy in uniform.
That left Stella, a short and clearly physically fit young white officer to close the incident report and give counsel. She wore her russet hair in a tidy bun beneath her dandy beaked cap. Her eyes were as blue as her starched uniform. I found her inspiring and said so. “They’ll be back,” she warned. “They know your routine and the layout of the house.”
When I pointed out that the thieves had taken only my laptop computer, she was kind enough not to mention my television equipment was so dated (bedroom) and small (living room) that there was no profit margin. The risk was greater than the reward.
“You don’t know that,” she warned. “You may have jewelry or cash which require more time to access than this first easy grab.” She could tell by my face that she had struck home. I did indeed harbor treasures not yet plundered.
“You leave the dogs caged when you are away?” she asked. As she fingered the ribbons on the refrigerator celebrating their show ring wins.
Another true blow to my heart and habits.
“They know not to fear them now. Plus, they are very fine and worth money for ring fighting or animal sacrifice.”
I leaned into the nearest counter to avoid falling to my knees and keening.
Lessons Learned
1. Honor and Protect Those Who Serve Faithfully. Todd and Stella indeed did serve and protect me that odd day. It is very important to keep officers of the law true to righteous duty under the rule of law. We the People must resist at every level and opportunity efforts to convert them into a tool of corruption and force of intimidation and repression.
2. Good Neighbors Are Not for Sale. Julie was the wife and Derek was the husband of a 3-child family living across the street. Julie reoriented her surveillance equipment to cover the front and side yards of my property. Derek had his levee assessment officers drive by the house every day on their way to reporting stations. Loving others has big returns on the investment.
3. Criminals Have Predictable Patterns of Misconduct. Donald John Trump escaped punishment for the first of the two Articles of Impeachment submitted by the House to the Senate on 16-31 Jan 2020. In that Article, the House accused Trump of soliciting foreign interference in his bid for re-election. In a “perfect phone call”, he “withheld military aid[a] and an invitation to the White House from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to influence Ukraine to announce an investigation into Trump's political opponent Joe Biden, and to promote a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine–not Russia–was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_impeachment_of_Donald_Trump
In 2018, Trump met privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan. And shocked the listening world with his decision to trust Putin’s word about Russian aspirations and actions over the best global intelligence assessments to the contrary.
An Inquiring Mind Wants to Know
How can the current gambit to seize rare earth and other assets from Ukraine, to the immediate benefit of Putin and Trump, surprise anyone?
Stop the Bleeding
We the People do not have to condone the illegal actions of a weak and troubled, avaricious old man masquerading as our will.
We can, we must, with our persons and our purses every day in every legal way use the Power of One to delay, deny, destroy implementation of Project 2025.
To insist that criminal charges be brought against Elon Musk.
And a third set of Articles of Impeachment against Trump.
To require creation of a Shadow Cabinet.
In short, to exercise our firm intention that government of the people, by the people and for the people does not perish from the earth on our watch.
I love the Lessons Learned list. Applicable to many situations. Yes, to smart and kind women cops, and helpful neighbors.
Or wolves?