The 4th

“When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation!” – Unknown

A friend tells me I should write a serious blog and stop being the court jester. I do not think I can do that. This is about as serious as I ever want to get. Life is too short to make too much of it.

After the 107-degree day Saturday, we had resigned ourselves. The “Dog Days” of summer arrived with an attitude.

The new 15,000 BTU A/C unit proved its worth. That unit alone managed to keep our inside temps comfortable but combined with the portable A/C the inside temp stayed a comfortable 26 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature.

Wow. We can live with that.

The next day proved to be a reprieve. High of 87. Still, the Dog Days are here for the next several months.

As we approach our third anniversary of gate guarding, I have paused to consider the experience. This lifestyle is unique and not for everybody. While there are negatives, there are also many positives.

For me, the people we meet every day, coming and going through the gate, are the most positive aspect of guarding a gate. Mostly they are hardworking young men and women and they come from places like Louisiana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and every county in Texas. Many of them drive over 500 miles for a two-week shift.

I love to meet these people and converse with them. They are polite, motivated, and eager to get the job done. They inspire me and remind me of the good in our culture. Mostly they are conservative and have no tolerance for slackers.

Many have worked in far-flung places like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Indonesia, South America, and off shore. Imagine the experiences and knowledge they have accumulated.

If the current state of this country concerns you, come join us on a gate. At least some of your faith will be restored.

“They lived in different worlds, Philzie and Charles. Charles lived in a world of liberal arts mumbo jumbo, where the idea was an end in itself. The accomplishment was having it. Considerations of execution were often dismissed with scorn.” From “Spare Change” by Robert B. Parker.