Random Thoughts Part 4

     So many things are on my mind right now. I came to the realization the culture war has now waded into the waters that my three daughters wade in. What I mean is that my state is going to most likely completely outlaw abortion and I am so cynical about the world that my main fear for them going forward is sexual assault. This is of course a statistically unfounded fear, yet I worry about it often anyway. Mostly because of my time in the Army as a trainer of new Soldiers, it was something that happened at what would be a nationally disproportionate rate. Call me all the names you want, a fathers fear is often irrational. No they are not, nor will they ever join the military. Jaded is a jaded does. 

     Then I see the Pfizer dump. Then I realize I’m being distracted and playing into their hands. Then I go to the grocery store and spend way more for way less. I see the gas prices on the way back and I realize were fucked. I know the national ticket for the next presidential election will most likely be Biden and Trump the sequel. One is a babbling idiot who probably isn’t even in charge, and one will make our economic lives better maybe but not likely at this point as the damage is done. They both suck from a strictly liberty point of view. One is just less sucky. This is the world my daughters are going to have to navigate and suddenly the abortion debate seems to sink into the background of this realization. Doesn’t change how I feel about it, but I think priorities matter. I fell for the obvious feint. What can I say, I’m not perfect. 

     So I guess the question is “what now?” and I still don’t have an answer. I didn’t before all this, and I still don't. I normally say “buy land, grow food, make babies” which is a valid option. It seems like the easiest of all the possibilities. This weekend I will build a bigger coop to accommodate my new birds. I start sourcing materials for an aviary for quail after that. I make sure I talk with my kids and know what’s going on in their lives and I work them to make sure they know sweat won’t kill them. I never feel like it’s enough. My middle daughter is a crack shot, and an avowed pacifist. Not strange coming from a daughter of a man who has disavowed this previous life doing harm for a country that would happily sacrifice him for corporate profit. Raytheon and KBR got rich off of my friends' lives and my brother in law’s legs. I’ve gotten more messages from friends telling me so and so died, too often by their own hand. I spend nights talking with old Soldiers making sure they are doing ok and still trying to navigate my own life. 

     I don’t know if this cycle ever ends. But one thing is certain, carving out your own piece of heaven will soon no longer matter or even be possible. What that means is for each person to decide for themselves. 

In Liberty