Looking to escape.

Today's Tids Issue 3,783

For Slowing Down:

There are some words that are just too much under used. Like “Swell”.  How great is that! People who were elegant were called “Swells”. It is word that makes an ocean grand. Or gentle rise in a comforting hillside. It is something swollen or a protuberance. It’s a device that makes music softer or louder on organs or harpsichords. It is that magnificent crescendo followed by a gradual diminuendo that sends chills though a body There is a swell.com, which is all about the beach and surf and boards. But I like best when it is used to just say excellent or wonderful in a gentle and thoughtful way. And then think, what could be better than the way a heart swells with that special feeling.

Teresa May delivered a strong speech at the Repubs conference in Philly yesterday. She sounds like a leader. But, now a leader who since Brexit heads a country that needs the US more than ever. Maybe she could speak for us, too.

I believe we are in an era of Anecdotal Journalism. Cases for change and protest are continually being extrapolated from a population of one. You know, on TV nightly news programs where a single story about single person or family told with passionate music in the background against smiling or weeping faces takes on far greater proportions than the whole, and serves as an emotional call to action. And there isn’t fact basis in sight.

The Question:

Why do you think today could be called “The day of enlightenment”?

The Headlines:

--Google Revenues Soar, But Bottom Lone Misses; Stocks Slipping Slightly, Hanging Around 0.00.

--California Secretary Of State Accepts Proposals To Have The Big State Secede From The USA.

--Right to Life Marchers Gathering In Washington; Feel Happy To Finally have Ally In White House.

--Democrats Moving Towards States Rights To Fight Trump Exec Orders.

--Gorbachev Says, “World Looks Like It is Planning for War”.

--LA Mayor Garcetti Says Working With Trump Is As Important As Resisting Him; Miami’s Mayor Complies With Trump’s EO Cracking Down On Sanctuary Cities; Providence Mayor Says, “Well, We Are Not Exactly A Sanctuary City”.

--Alibaba Buying US Money Transfer Giant “Ant”.

--Allman Brother’s Drummer Butch Truck Shoots Self In Front Of Wife.

Word selection, Department:

Up here it was announced that the Red Sox would retire the number of David Ortiz, who one member of the press called, “The greatest player in Red Sox History. “Player”? Maybe Ortiz approaches being the best “Hitter” in history but a player is a guy who gets out in the field with a glove and plays defense. I liked the clutch hitting of Ortiz, but I save my exultation for players.

BTW, I was happy to see the bust of Winston back in the oval office. It really galled me when 0-Man sent that into limbo, like he was changing the heritage of the country. Like it or not, the US grew in the beginning out of England, Holland, France and Spain. Forgetting heritage is dismissive of nation’s foundation.

Why do I find myself cheering the Dems for bringing up states rights? Because I have always believed in Sates Rights, first! Lots of things could be solved more amicably through state decisions. Intimidating Big Government edicts make me crazy.

Did Trump wimp out when he omitted three of the biggest terror breeding grounds and threats from his list of countries on a refugee moratorium – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Let’s see SA has lots of Oil, Afghan has lots of Opium and Pakistan has The Bomb.

Who sounds nuttier or more paranoid: 1. The person who said that 3,000,000 Illegal, fraudulent aliens all voted for Hillary. 2. The person who on national TV said “The sexual misconduct charges against my husband were the result of the vast right wing conspiracy.” Te winner gets a good cigar!

The ten Least tax friendly states for retirees are New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, California, Montana, Oregon, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Connecticut…and #1 is Vermont. But it is pretty in all of those states.

Reading Between the Lines Movie Reviews:

--A Dogs Purpose is just too cute for critics, but dog lovers will problem love the story that has one dog finding it’s own meaning in life as it is reincarnated into the lives of many humans. Will definitely tug at a heartstring or two.

--Gold is a new movie for Matthew McConaughey as a guy in gold prospecting company that just goes nowhere. It’s a waste of a good cast.

--Daughter is not the waste of a good cast. In New South Wales a long absent son returns home for his wealthy and bedrock of society father’s wedding and is reacquainted with an old pal and is drawn into that friends family, including is wife daughter and father-in-law. Probaly te best new film of the week.

The Answer:

On Today in 1880, Thomas Edison received his patent for the Electric Light Bulb.

I don’t know about you but I’m spending my time dreaming a about the Pats Falcons Superbowl match-up, and when I need something else to derail my mind from Washington, I go to the latest golf match on TV. I think I’m going to be doing a lot of dreaming.

Have a really “Swell” weekend, E-v-e-r-y-b-o-d-y!

The Parking Lot:

I have two short excerpts from the novel, First – After the King Phillip war and Jeremiahs now father-in-law Joseph rising to power among all Indian nations, the new battle for the Hicks family was the Howland family in the town. The Howlands, or at least the leaders of the clan did, disposed the Hicks because of their ownership of most if the productive lands, and because Jeremiah had married an Indian woman, producing half Indian children in the community. The Hicks needed Howlands for access to shipping. “Big” Howland was the main problem, as most of the Howlands were as hardworking God fearing as were the Hicks. After a meeting between farms and towns people where Jeremiah was unfairly attacked by Big and brutally injured, “Elizabeth” (Musatta) took action that changed everything:

Excerpt Number 1:

The crowd’s heads turned as Elizabeth helped her injured husband Jeremiah to his seat. After quick glances, people immediately returned their focus to Richard who was still convincing some who became concerned when Big Howland in a rage left the room with his family.

   Elizabeth stood and noticed that the majority of the families were gathered at various places around the big tables signing agreements as proposed by Richard. She touched Jeremiah’s hand and slipped out of the back, unnoticed.

   She felt exhilarated as she ran gracefully down the paths leading to the waterside. After about a half a hour she began to hear the noise of the village, mainly the boisterous laughter at the public house. She walked carful now, down the street past the Howland cluster of homes. The water lapping on the rocks by the nearby shore soothed her nerves as her plan came into focus.

   She was exactly at the spot she remembered from earlier visits, when she heard voices coming from the opposite direction. She quietly scampered up the hill to her right opposite the bay. It was several of Howland’s sons and two women, laughing playfully squeezing each other. She was still and alert, wondering how people so friendly to each other could be so ugly to others. After the walkers passed by within just six feet of her, she waited a few moments and scooted down and went to the shoreline where she picked up five or six rocks about the size of a big man’s two fists.

   It was a quiet night as she sat on her haunches on a small ledge about 4 feet above the path, fingering and sorting the rocks. The air off the sea created chills as it ran up her legs to her body beneath the flowing dress. She pushed her mind into darkness and comfort, but could not stop her pounding heart. Then she heard it, the heavy footsteps of a big man walking unsteadily along the path.

   The moon began to emerge from behind a cloud just as the large figure walking unsteadily made the turn to that would take him in front of Mulatta. She shrank back as she saw the moonlight hit the rocky hillside below her feet. She thought she saw the big man stop and she tensed, but it was just an uncontrolled movement from a man diminished by rum.

   Mulatta felt the muscles in her legs and thighs tighten. She reached down with her right hand to grasp firmly a large rock with a jagged edge from those collected earlier. The fingers of her left hand wrapped around a larger rounder stone.

   The giant took one more step, then Mulatta’s muscular tension released like a catapult, and she flew silently through the air, as she brought the right hand forward.

 The man’s eyes were focused on the path he was trying to navigate. He heard nothing until the sharp edge of the rock crashed into the soft spot I his temple above his ear. He went down and as the darkness blotted his awareness, he felt a body hitting his left side pushing him down faster.

   He fell and rolled towards the water’s edge. His eyes opened to see a small figure springing up and moving like a fleeting deer towards his head. He tried to put an arm, but it wasn’t obeying his brain. His eyes widened has he saw the second stone came crashing into his nose bridge. A vision of a familiar face faded into lifeless darkness.   A small wave trickled up, then ebbed away red with blood. Howland didn’t feel the cooling water.

   Mulatta stood, and took a deep breath. She looked both ways. There was nobody. She looked at the unmoving body, and finally released the two rocks, moving her fingers back and forth to regain circulation. She took the rounded rock and laid it near the water. The reached down and pushed the heavy body over until the face lay next to the rock. She moved the other, jagged rock towards the water just off the path.

   The moon was now out completely, reflecting calm across the gentle harbor waters.

Back in modern times Nancy, who had inherited Mulatta’s guile and Beauty, and Jared along with many other colorful characters including a wishy washy easily manipulate Head of the town councils fought off several ugly thugs and huge organizations, and created enough havoc that produced many bodies to the point where authorities through there was a mob war arising in Fall River and New Bedford. Meanwhile, Jared had fallen in love with the beautiful and resourceful Nancy. They worked together to reach the State Attorney General. Nancy finally got him to agree to a meeting where she could lay out her pans for the lands. The next excerpt changed the progress of those plans and began the rush to an exciting ending.

Excerpt 2:

About 7 miles away, as the crow flies from Nancy’s lake island, was the center of Bristol RI where the crowds were gathering. After all, it was July 4th, and this was Bristol, home of the oldest parade in America.

   The hordes were huge, and Nancy and Jared expected to be among the throng until the minor emergency arose. Rows of people 8 deep along a 2 and a half mile stretch of red, white and blue decorated small town roads awaited the gigantic parade with bands galore and all kinds of civic and people organizations; the waving and laughing between marchers and neighbors along the way. Among the heartiest smilers and wavers of course were all of the State’s politicians, including Nancy’s new ally Attorney General Gerry McGuire.

   McGuire was talking with the Governor and local US congressman, when he heard the police car siren and beating drums of the band that would lead the way. The parade was about to begin and even these politicians felt the fervor of the big day. Gerry had only walked the route once before, but, he expected to be down this way many more times in the next month, if what Nancy told him was true. AG’s always used words like “if” even though he now believed Nancy totally. He knew he was right when Margaret had agreed, saying she didn’t seem so bad.

   His body started to adapt to the mood and rhythm of the music, and his hand waved to crowds who today were adoring, even politicians. His eyes began scanning the crowd for a glimpse of Nancy. She was quite the woman he had been thinking since their meeting, and maybe one of the most powerful people, in the state right now. And, nobody knew her.

    The enthusiasm of the crowd was now at full speed as the marchers toed the red, white and blue center line of Hope Street. The morning sun was glistening off the harbor that had been the birth place of many a classic sailing vessel. No one, though, saw the glint of the sun on the barrel of the rifle held in steady hands atop the newly renovated small hotel about half way down the street.

   AG McGuire was thinking about next year, as he experienced the rush of USA patriotism. As he thought of Nancy and the contributions her old family had made to the area, his head turned towards another sound.

   The crack of the rifle sounded like any other firework of the day. The crowds didn’t notice anything unusual at all until somebody screamed and all eyes looked at the red blotch growing on Gerry McGuire’s white shirt, just before he collapsed upon the patriotic center line.

   The parade went black for Gerry McGuire. The cell phone in his breast pocket vibrated over an unfeeling heart.

  

The first to arrive at the side of McGuire was a obscure appearing man who had been walking in the parade behind the US congressman. The panic covered his entry and blocked police from getting there fast. The man quickly slipped a cell phone out of the inside breast pocket and left, shouting, “We need help here, Get help….!”

     The bands ahead kept playing and marched on while the spectators at the scene stood silently, eyes wide. The man slipped through now loosened crowd and up a side street to is car. He sat in the front seat and pulled out the phone. The last call was about five minutes ago, and there was a message: “We are delayed.” The man knew why they were delayed, but was it at the island or some other hiding place.

  He took out his phone and texted, “Search the island carefully.”

   He received an instant reply. “The island was a bust. We’re heading home.

   “Go back.”. Then he stopped before sending and dialed a number. “Hello, came an almost immediate response.

   “Listen,” said the man, “turn off the engine, first let it slow down gradually and then turn it off.” Throw over an anchor and watch the island for about a half hour.

   “I’m hungry.”

   “Eat me,” said the man.

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