Took Max (Schnauzer) for a walk last night and we ended up on Lay Avenue by Judge James Lay’s former home. I remember Mr. Brady teaching us in Benton County history about Judge Lay. His son Henry was a Missouri Colonel and Warsaw attorney. In 1904 Governor Joe Folk and his Colonels, including Henry, hired a special train to take them from Jefferson City to the West Coast. Mr. Brady had copies of letters Colonel Lay wrote to his wife during the trip describing. He described it as a grand adventure. The title of Missouri Colonel was an honorary appointment and the uniforms made them look like Yugoslavian band directors. Gold braid, gold buttons and the works. Those were the days when political scandals didn’t erupt every hour of the day. There were no scandals or at least they were hushed. Life flowed along as serenely as the Missouri River.
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The word police have struck again. I actually heard a newscaster warning viewers before she said the word “Indians” when referring to the Cleveland Indians. They’re now known as the Guardians because saying Indian is disparaging to Native Americans. I grew up believing the name Indian meant strength and bravery. What can you say anymore? Nothing, that’s what. Anything else and you’ll be forced to make a public apology, right before losing your livelihood. Shouldn’t the Minnesota Vikings change their name too? After all, ancient Vikings raped, murdered, pillaged and plundered. Surely that’s offensive to someone. What’s next? At the rate we’re going, brown shirted guards will be entering our homes unannounced to censor our reading material.
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The next thing to get us is the Moon wobble. Scientists say in the next decade every US coast will see a rapid increase in high tide flooding caused by global warming and the moon’s pull on the tides. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see the results from historical research? Get someone to go over the figures and see if and where any previous flooding occurred during the Moon’s wobble. If it gets down to flooding by global warming or the moon, I bet its global warming. The moon isn’t taxable…..yet.
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The clock hands spin on and it’s time to bow off this keyboard. Hang in there and live in the present. There’s no point in regretting the past or dreading the future. Onward and upward.
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'Til Next Week: J.M.W.
