Imagine a meeting of your neighborhood watch where the neighbor down the street bursts in, yelling “Help, my house is burning!” You survey the room and another neighbor is sitting there decked out in fire-fighting gear from head to toe.
In the southwest corner of our linoleum floored family room, rested a brown Naugahyde fabric Lazy Boy recliner. Overhead light was provided from a 70’s style swag lamp casting a “just bright enough to read” warmth. It was a comfortable throne for my Dad ( Bud Thomas) to do his crossword puzzles. Under that lamp, he would consistently read three full newspapers a day. Family court was presided over by him on current events or the latest ball games involving any of his three sons. Answers to questions were often uttered from behind that newspaper. The words, “No, that’s not necessary” were more commonly spoken than the alternative of: “Sure son, go ahead and take the car. And by the way, here’s a five-spot to spend. Have fun!”
In Idaho, our family traditions start outside.
The semi-annual Idaho Republican Party Central Committee will convene in Pocatello the weekend of June 20-21. Following a recent “trend,” the topic will not be “How to grow the Party.” Instead, it appears to be “How to whittle the Party down to only the purest compliers with Republican orthodoxy.”
While watching a youth recreation league baseball game (14 and under age group) a couple nights ago, my wife and I made several observations. The evening weather was perfect and we were comfortably seated along the third base line in my truck. In between gobbles of tater tots and spoonfuls of a fried ice cream shake (my new favorite flavor), I regaled her with stories of my baseball career that was played in this very same park, on this very same field. I commented how everything pretty much looked the same. The exception being how neatly the actual diamond is now manicured. Kudos to our city rec baseball director, Joel Webb.
America is a constitutional Republic. Or at least it usually is. Evidence is growing that, sometime between 2021 and 2025, nameless activists, never elected and completely unaccountable to “the People,” usurped the power of our nation’s chief executive.
It is a truism that one must travel or live elsewhere to learn about your home. Like many small-town farm boys, I could not wait to get away from home, whether it be to college or church mission service. I can still remember glancing up into the rearview mirror at the sight of my forlorn mother standing in the driveway, watching me squeal the tires escaping to start my college life in Provo, Utah. I had packed a suitcase with clothes lovingly stitched by her with my name on the labels. My saxophone, my stereo and my basketball were jammed into the back seat of my new Camaro and I beat a fast path out of town. This was after “borrowing” a tank full of gas from the farm tank out back!
Life imitates art. Where we find heroes and villains in the popular fiction of our day suggests the landscape of heroes and villains in our everyday lives.
Ben Franklin tells a story of his youth when he came upon a few extra pence in his pockets. Eager to spend it, he rushed to a local shop where a variety of goods, including toys, were on display. His eyes and ears were drawn to a whistle that, to him, made a delightful sound when brought to his lips. He gladly handed over all the coinage he carried and galloped off towards home, whistling with each stride. Throughout the house he roamed, showing off his newfound joy and toy. Explanation of his purchase to his family, including brothers, sisters and cousins brought the sad realization to Ben that he had grossly overpaid for the whistle due to his impulsive enthusiasm.
Transparency in government is essential. If exposure to public view is a disinfecting light, efforts to obscure and spin legislative votes are the tile beneath the urinal at a bus station.