New Time and Space - Xmas 2020

 

Wisner Family (et al) December 2020

As the 202^nd decade descends, we welcome its close.  After three consecutive years visiting ICU rooms, we look forward to the end of COVID-19 and the hope of NEW TIME and SPACE for the next decade – 01-01-2021.   

 

Ellen (NEW JOB) – Now holds the Cum Laude College GPA family record along with the shortest Graduation ceremony in history.  She can now Escape from college homework into calling Fidelity Investments her center of Serious(7) Studies.  Ellen fought like a Tiger for savings for a Jeep – I guess she will settle for the moon.

 

Jenna and Paul Robinson (NEW LIFE) – Making room for new life is not easy. Olfactory odors overwhelmed ownership.  But a new sunroom, bathroom, and emerging nursery, created the necessary diversion and it seems the future is in full swing.   SO FAr the Councilrock offsite storage solution is working. 

 

Susan – (NEW SKILLS) – Nothing to conceal in her dislike about the election results, Susan refused this year to carry any virus and scooted COVID-19 free this year.  Adding Drug Free clients to her business allowed a new view from her desk.  With the deep pockets of Sports Club investments and grocery errand expeditions, Alexa announced the “Best Mom in the World” – as one who provides daily nutritional meals on wheels. 

 

Garen – (NEW HEALTH) – His new COVID-10lb diet let Garen ZOOM down to his college weight.  Now that he is more than halfway to 70, he finally grew the TV size beyond his height and age.  Competing with Amazon, his Christian Man delivery route was supplemented with his own prime series.  Hiding in his own basement, the outdoor patio heater extends his Man Cave activities. 

 

It was a grave day when Cincinnati lost its Painters, but friendship is an absolute truth despite a Boston Illegal gathering.  Even with cancellations of the Rockies and Hilton Head, the family squeezed in travel to KS, NV, NY, and FL.  But ten months of shelter in place gave us full understanding of like inside invisible fences and COVID restricted Nursing Homes. 

 

Susan and I are blessed to have a parent each to honor and protect – DNA history of good physical and spiritual well-being.  Falls are hard but calls are heard.  The COVID-19 veil clouds our physical connections with family and friends.  Even so, the bonds of relationships are eternal regardless of time and space. 

 

  Merry Christmas and

       Happy New Year

“Time and Space are not conditions in which we live,

but modes by which we think.”      Albert Einstein

Boston Legal #21 - COVID or NOT

 Thursday Sept. 17 was another "mini" Boston Legal with just smokes and drinks imposed by the outside gathering constraints of COVID-19. Hosted at the Councilrock location, the days of Cincinnati gatherings may be limited as J.P. exits soon.   Zoom calls would be a weak substitute but predicting any future of 2021 is futile.  

No theme was even attempted for the evening other than to end in the frustrated feeling around our views of the threat of COVID-19.  Looking at the numbers daily, I can easily see (even in myself at that age) the college age attitudes of "get it  and get it over with".  As fall approaches our vigilance needs bolstering right at the time of weary fatigue.  

Today's news from United Kingdom predicting a fall growth in COVID-19 cases predates an October Halloween scare and created a market selloff.  Will a similar second wave occur like the 1918 Spanish Flu?  Even the hope of an early vaccine could be no different than the misguided belief that aspirin would control the Spanish Flu and may have contributed to deaths due to aspirin poisonings. The only sure thing we know is how much we don't know.

Weary not Worry is now my word for this crisis.  Lament not Laugh is the emotion.   What not Why is the thought exercise.  Hope not Helpless is the attitude.  

  

 

Boston Legal #20 - Fellowship of the Rings

Thursday June 25th was the 20th Boston Legal almost 7 years to the day when we first decided to create the tradition - https://garenwisner.blogspot.com/2013/06/cincinnati-legal.html.  K.C. hosted the during the original idea and so it was fitting we sat poolside for the 20th meeting talking about world affairs, philosophy, books, movies, and family. 

An interesting topic came to the surface about family heirlooms - the stuff that carries generational memories.  It caused me to document the history of a cosmetic costume jewelry ring that my Grandmother wanted her descendants to have.  It was a nugget ruby glass ring in a bezel setting  with a yellow gold ornamental filigree setting. 

It was given to my Grandmother by Vingie E. Roe (a cousin of my Grandfather).  Vingie E. Roe was the granddaughter of Cyrenus Frank Castanien and considered an accomplished American novelist and screenwriter (for B&W silent movies).  She wrote more than 30 novels, mostly Westerns "with a feminist twist".  I suspect Vingie (19 years older than Grandmother) was looked on as the "rich and famous" and connected to Hollywood.   When my Grandparents took a vacation and drove from Oklahoma to California (in the 40's) they stopped by to see Vingie Roe. Vingie gave the ring to Grandmother out of kindness and as a trip memory.

Susan like the design of the ring and I decided to have a copy made for her to wear.  Coincidentally the copied ring was given to Susan - Christmas 2001 which was the opening of the movie "The Fellowship of the Ring.

There are actually 4 more copies so that each granddaughter (should they like it also) could have a ring just like the original. Hence the family heirloom might pass through yet another generation.

Great ideas and discussions come from the fellowship of the Boston Legal trio.  This incented me to find the rings - document the story and research the history of the movement of the ring.

How interesting it would be if Rings could Sing their story.

Boston Illegal #19

Thursday evening May 14, 2020 was my 56th official day at home (Shelter in Place).  I have literally not left the house more than 4 times in my car  (Ellen & Susan have been my concierge for food and sundries).  I have physically seen only twelve people for these 56 days.   Since Ohio was opening up it was time for a socially physical distancing time - Boston Legal. #19.

Once the spouses heard about this they decided to have their Boston Illegal on the front patio.  The need for physical social interaction is clearly a mandatory emotional need.  The movie Castaway with Tom Hanks remains one of my favorite movies as it shows the willingness to risk death for relationship connectiveness.

It does not surprise me that the USA is opening up and emotions are riding high between the extroverts and introverts. Suddenly a new education about natural rights and freedoms become the day to day discussions about the shelter-in-place orders and pending orders about masks and gloves.

J.P. had sent me a link to Randy Barnett's discussion about Individual Liberty in a Pandemic.  Little did I understand the overriding weight of my freedom as defined by the Ohio Constitution (vs the Federal Constitution).  I have never read the Ohio Constitution!

No movie for this Boston Legal  -  however I decided to post facto watch one as the suggested homework -   Charlton Heston in "The Omega Man" (1971).   Little did I realize this was just a COVID-19 movie showing all the people that decided to ignore shelter in place and stay out late at night :)

Boston Legal #18

Physical distancing has always been a challenge for regular Boston Legal gatherings  (two of the participants were in Florida). But with the aid of Zoom Video Conferencing, KC, JP and I met this evening to reflect on the crisis and speculate on what the future may bring.

Of course I had to show off my new green screen virtual background skills recently acquired.  Posing as Captain Kirk in the Star Fleet Enterprise was a hoot.

A wonderful distraction during a very serious crisis.  It shows the importance of letting social connections continue despite the physical restrictions. 

No food, no movie this time.  Just good conversation and virtual drinks.

Boston Legal #17 - Proverbs 11:29

Last night I hosted the Boston Legal tradition #17.  A tradition that started the summer of 2013 of three guys just enjoying company, conversation and good dining. I imposed on the guys the showing of two simultaneous movies - "Inherit the Wind" produced in Black and White in 1960 with one of the three (yes three '65, '88, and '99) remakes - the MGM 1999 version.  What an all star cast - Spencer Tracy, Fredric March and Gene Kelly ('60) and Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott and Beau Bridges ('99).

While the 1999 television version stayed true to the script,  there were some scenes changed that I would characterize as stronger feminism statements. After reading the Wikipedia "facts" about the
Scopes "Monkey" Trial,  I think the fictionalized movie did an adequate job of depicting the 1925 trial - even the "deliberately staged reason" for the small town of Hillsboro (really Dayton Tennessee).  However there were some radical inconsistencies with the actual facts - but that's what movies and revisionist history is all about.

I got "wind" of this movie during the Sunday sermon at ACUMC on belief and faith.  Also my breakfast book club with P.N. and R.M.2 on Ancient Faith and Modern Physics and my recent read of  "Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind" has spurred my thinking about apologetic arguments for Christianity.

The Fundamentalist-Modernist controversy about the inconsistency of evolution and religion continues to this day.  I haven't been to the Creation Museum (right here in Cincinnati) but have been to the Ark Encounter several times (Ky - but a short drive from Cincinnati). It becomes a tension (like the courtroom) of education and ideas.  Is the Bible the inerrant word of God?  the inspired word of God? or just another set of ancient texts to be read as mythological stories by unenlightened ancestors?

I prefer how C.S. Lewis would have answered the question above if he had been in the courtroom:

“We must not be ashamed of the mythical radiance resting on our theology. We must not be nervous about "parallels" and "pagan Christs": they ought to be there-it would be a stumbling block if they weren't. We must not, in false spirituality, withhold our imaginative welcome. If God chooses to be mythopoeic-and is not the sky itself a myth-shall we refuse to be mythopathic? For this is the marriage of heaven and earth: perfect myth and perfect fact: claiming not only our love and our obedience, but also our wonder and delight, addressed to the savage, the child, and the poet in each one of us no less than to the moralist, the scholar, and the philosopher.”

The yearning for knowledge points us to some ultimate source.  The tension of arguing about that ultimate source allows each individual to explore their faith and beliefs.  What better way to draw closer to God?

I loved the ending of this movie (watch the last 5 minutes):

Drummond:   I pity you.

Hornbeck:     Ha Ha You pity me.

Drummond:   Isn't there something...  What touches you?  Warms you?  Everyman has a dream. What do you dream about? What do you need?   You don't need anything do you? LOVE, and IDEA … maybe to just hold on to.

Drummond:  You're alone and when you go to the grave there will be nobody to pull the grass up over you.  Nobody to mourn you.  Nobody to give one damn.  You'll be what you've always been. ALONE

Hornbeck:  You're wrong Henry.         You'll be there.        You're the type.  Who else would defend my right to be lonely?

No Country for Old Men

It was Boston Legal #16 (or Cincinnati Legal) on Thursday May 23 hosted by J.P.  and serendipitously the movie picked was No Country for Old Men.  As K.C. pointed out we are just Old Men talking about politics when the Millennials are now a larger eligible voting block vs the Baby Boomers.  Of course the skeptic in me had to look it up:

Yes Millennials are now 32% vs 30% Baby Boomers.   Adding in Gen X and the younger generations are 57%  - THE MAJORITY.

SO …. this is NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN :)

Boston Legal #15

Last night was Boston Legal #15 - hosted by K.C. outside in 80 degree weather instead of a crisp fall evening.  Great discussion about current events, and memories of how each of us have changed over the 25 years.

Continuing in the DeNiro and Duvall tradition movie choices - the pick was "The Good Shepherd".  Rated 6.7 out of 10 on IMDB it was in the middle of the pack of 90 Spy and Cold War movies under consideration for the evening.

My favorite quote occurred early in the movie as a Poetry Professor at Yale said "Fine Poetry is the music of mathematics.  Numbers singing. You have to look behind the words to understand their meaning."

It was a complicated CIA movie about loyalty, betrayal, duty, temptation, decency and truth.  Full of mystery with Skull and Bones club, Mafia, KGB and others, the movie show how power can corrupt at every level.

Funny how that was part of the cigar and bourbon discussion prior to the viewing.

Choosing GOD - Boston Legal #14

Thursday evening (8/9/18) was yet another session of "solving world problems" with Boston Legal #14 hosted at my house.  Fresh off my research on Decision Making and wanting to hear the options of J.P. and K.C., I asked them what their advice would be to their grandchildren about making life decisions. 

It was unanimous that we agreed that values (staying true to one's principles) should be the constant filter for all choices in life.  Having a "war chest" of "mad money" can add additional courage in your convictions and choices that have economic consequences. 

The evening continued with watching "Saving Private Ryan".  How appropriate to decision making with the lens of duty, honor and courage.   Decisions in war, test the very core of human actions in the struggle of who knows God's truth.   I was reminded of the Columbia 1989 PBS series "Under Orders - Under Fire - Part 1" and the very personal conflicting ethics faced with split second decisions in War - all of which were reinforced in various scenes of Saving Private Ryan.

Even the comment of "Which God is True" set the stage for some interesting philosophical discussions on relativism and self authorship. My emerging view draws closer to providential pathways to my maker - the God I faithfully hold as Truth.

It's not my choice - it is in obedience to his choice.

Bucket List

It was Boston Legal #13 hosted by J.P. on Thursday evening and the theme was "What's on your Bucket List".  My suggestion to watch the movie was outvoted but at least I forced a viewing of my favorite scene (See Blog Joy in Life 3/1/2012).  YouTube prevents it from being copied and viewed so I guess you just have to get the DVD - it is the scene called Two Questions about 58 minutes into the movie.

There was much discussion about categories, outputs, and outcomes.  Outcomes were associated with joy, health and life fulfillment.   Outputs were the activities that might measure the outcome from an external viewpoint.  I actually did some internet research (naturally) to get some ideas.  Stumbled upon a person who creatively used the entire Bucket List format to publish a book and website:  1000 ideas for you Bucket List.

So -  I did a deep dive and came up with 20 items -  here is just a sampling:

(1) Fly in a Glider
(3) Crawl Inside a Pyramid
(7) Mission Trip
(12) Curling
(14) See a Whale
(19) Visit Stonehenge

The reality is that I have been blessed to experience most of what I have wanted in the last 63 years and it was actually a tough exercise to come up with "important" and meaningful outputs.  I too am focused more on the outcomes and let the activities be more defined by the outcomes.

Just proves again that it is the experience of the journey that counts not the destinations or the time.


PS - We were stuck watching Blade Runner 2049 that had a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 87.  At 2hrs and 44 minutes it was tough remembering the original Blade Runner and its plot and following the sequel.  Thank goodness for Wikipedia summaries.

Boston Legal #11

Last night was the eleventh "Boston Legal" evening hosted by KC.  Chops, Cigars and Cinema.  The movie choice was a 1993 Robert Duvall classic "Wrestling Ernest Hemingway".  It was the most appropriate choice given the past history of viewings about life, mission, character and the journey. 

Duvall's character, Walter, reminded me of my barber Fausto Ferrari (see Blog entry "Same" 4/6/10). I've missed getting my haircut from him for the past six months and pray that he is doing ok. 

The real message of the evening was what will the three of us be like as septuagenarians?  This movie was littered with great old guy quotes.  My favorite:

Walter:  "You have to pee too?

Frank: "I'm 75 years old.  I always have to pee."     -----   Feed the fish :) 

Boston Legal #8

It was my turn to host what has become a fun summer tradition that came about rather spontaneously. It was a GOLDEN SESSION.

There are just times the guys need to convene independently and without female supervision or oversight.  I justified this principal in two ways - first citing Brian Tome's recent book "Five Marks of a Man" and C.S. Lewis's excerpt from "Four Loves".

Long before history began we men have got together apart from the women and done things. We had to.  And to like doing what must be done is a characteristic that has survival value.  We not only had to do the things, we had to talk about them.  We had to  plan the hunt and the battle.  When they were over we had to hold a post mortem and draw conclusions for future use.  We liked this even better.  We ridiculed or punished the cowards and bunglers, we praised the star-performers.  We reveled in technicalities.  In fact, we talked shop.  We enjoyed one another's society greatly: we Braves, we hunters, all bound together by shared skill, shared dangers and hardships, esoteric jokes ---away from the women and children.

What were the women doing meanwhile?  How should I know?  I am a man and never spied on the mysteries of the Bona Dea.  They certainly often had rituals from which men were excluded. ......

This pleasure in co-operation, in talking shop, in mutual respect and understanding of men who daily see one another tested, is biologically valuable.  You may, if you like, regard it as a product of the gregarious instinct... something which is going on at this moment in dozens of ward-rooms, bar-rooms, common-rooms, messes and golf clubs.  I prefer to call it Companionship --- or Clubbableness.

In a perfect Friendship.... each member of the circle feels, in his secret heart, humbled before the rest.  Sometimes he wonders what he is doing there among his betters.  He is lucky beyond desert to be in such company.  Especially when the whole group is together, each bringing out all that is best, wisest, or funniest in all the others.  THOSE ARE THE GOLDEN SESSIONS; when four or five of us after a hard day's walking have come to our inn; when our slippers are on, our feet spread out towards the blaze and our drinks at our elbows; when the whole world, and something beyond the world, opens itself to our minds as we talk; and no one has any claim on or any responsibility for another, but all are Freemen and Equals as if we had first met an hour ago,  while at the same time an Affection mellowed by the years enfolds us.  Life ---- natural life --- has no better gift to give.  Who could have deserved it?

 

Whether it's Wednesday Guys Tennis, SVP Cincinnati Guys Appendix club, AC Alumni Partner, Friday Morning Men's Bible Study, or Men's Movie night (e.g. War Movies), Vistage (mainly the guys), we Braves can mark ourselves as MEN not BOYS!

 

Boston Legal #7

It was a fun evening hosted by K.C. for the seventh meeting of the guys (of course with spousal consent),  This meeting was suspiciously void of politics and world affairs (aside from some technology impacts of social networking).  

I was particularly interested in getting advice on "daughter" weddings since both have had that experience.  It is clear to me that attitudes about weddings can be a volatile as politics.  Merging two family cultures is not a trivial task.   As I mentioned to Jenna a month ago - that there are four family values and cultures that are merging (My family, Susan;s family,  and Paul's parents families).   A.M. subsequently corrected my math saying that there are  SIX cultures merging not four.   The remaining two are Jenna's upbringing (a merger of me and Susan) and Paul's upbringing.

K.C. mentioned that weddings are a mysterious family merging event (and maybe the only time other than funerals) and sets the tone for future cultural integration.   The wedding ceremony and reception afterwards will naturally create a mixture of relationships that are unpredictable.  What theme is Jenna's wedding playing out?

The evening ended with watching "Mad Max Fury Road".   Hmmmm.....  I hope this is not  a apocalyptic foretelling of events on May 27, 2017.

5C + B

Tonight was an evening of helping Ellen in World History and Math.  She is studying the history of the Middle East from 1100 to 2015 - almost 1000 years of conflict.  However the bulk of the facts she is required to learn 1948 - 2015 I have lived through (and studied as current events when I was a junior).  How humbling to know history - because you lived it!

Then pulling the Pre-Calc memories out of my faded Math degree, I attempted to show my prowess at story problems using algebraic expressions (e.g. 5C + B = f(x) ). Actually Ellen had to correct me several times. 

Thankfully, last night was good preparation for both Middle East  history and  basic algebra.  It was an evening  with J.P. and K.C. which we have labeled Boston Legal #6. The title came to be based on the humor, philosophy and friendship of the closing scenes of the old Boston Legal TV series. 

We tried to solve world problems (which focused primarily on the Middle East) and even did some math:

Company, Conversation, Communing, Cinema ..... and Cigars   +   Bourbon =  F(un)

What is Truth?

It was a full compliment in the Sunday evening Bible Study group as we start a new series "The Truth Project".  The famous question of Pilate to Jesus was "What is Truth?" and that question can be quite different based on the inflection of the words.

http://www.thetruthproject.org/

How coincidental since tonight is Cincinnati Legal #6 (renamed from Boston Legal) and J.P. and I have debated this question for the last 10 years (the first Blog documentation was The Real Story 12/18/2009).

A quick search on the word Truth in my blog found a litany of posts:
5/24/15   "Grace and Truth"
5/20/15  "Truth or Consequences"
6/10/14  "Truth Loyalty and Respect"
5/29/14   Truth in Spending
7/7/13   Seeking Truth
6/2/13  Who is Right
5/1/12  Lie or Truth
4/27/12 Faith provides answer to Truth
4/25/12  Actions tied to Truth
4/12/12  Human Condition - the quest for Truth
4/5/12   There is ABSOLUTE TRUTH
2/6/12   Listen to the Truth
3/14/11  Tougher to Remember a Lie than the Truth
9/7/10  Can you handle the Truth?
5/16/10  Coincidence or Truth
2/26/10 The Raw Truth of Reality
12/18/09  "The Real Story"

So add another to the list ......  What is Truth?  My answer........

A philosophical question that will be debated until you see the face of GOD.

Boston Legal #5 - Bronx Tale

I forgot to post Boston Legal #4  (hosted at my house in January 14).  The last three meetings have been supplemented with a TV or Movie (#3 was actually a Boston Legal episode - "Finding Nimmo" - Episode 20 Season 2 #3).   J.P. stayed late and we watched "Seven Days in Utopia".  But on to Boston Legal #5

Boston Legal #5 - Hosted by K.C. with full BBQ and refreshments 6/21/15 the day after Father's Day. I was tasked with bringing some alternative viewing choices to Boston Legal #5 (three choices were offered up).

I was biased and since it was so close to Father's Day the group humored me with the selection of "A Bronx Tale".   Chosen strategically after listening to Peter Kreeft's  Ethics lectures, this movie is very entertaining and thought provoking (Warning - it is rated R because of the language and violence). 

"I can't believe after all this time you don't trust me."  says Calogero to Sonny his surrogate Italian Mafia dad.
"Listen, It's not that I don't trust you.  It's .......  Sonny trails off with no explanation.

"No, I'm not gonna listen"  as Calogero continues to tell Sonny that he should have not jumped to judgment.   "You never thought of that [the alternate possibility] .... did you?"

"No"  as Sonny stares stoically forward.

"Don't you trust anybody?  Calogero inquires

"No"  Sonny replies

"It's a horrible way to live"  Calogero rebuts.

"For me ..... it's the only way"  Sonny declares.

"Not for me .........  Not for me"  Calogero whispers.

This movie has a great sound track and worthy acting with a named star Robert DiNero.  I highly recommend this movie! 

Boston Legal 3 - Loyalty

Last Thursday (6/5/14), the guys got together for "Boston Legal 3" - possibly a tradition in the making.  J.P. hosted number three event which included reports from each of us on Global Trends and investments.  I decided to invest a small amount in each area (EPI and DDD) to track for the next 30 years :)

On the "lighter side", I brought a movie that I discovered researching the poem by Edgar Allan Poe - Eldorado (see blog 11/18/2010). We watched (in its entirety)  "Mountains of the Moon" a 1990 movie about the search for the source of the Nile.  It is amazing how well true stories and their drama can translate into a great movie experience.  I was "sparring" with J.P. in our ongoing debate about morality (and in particular Loyalty) when a scene in this movie created an "ethical debate between the two explorers.

The two friends and explorers Captain Richard Francis Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke each have different personal reasons for searching for the Nile but agree to share the glory.  However there emerges both a dispute (about the true source) and a falling out by Lt. Speke presenting his view prematurely without a joint presentation. 

Rwenzori Mountains  Uganda

Scene:  Chapter 23    T: 2:00:36      LOYALTY
Lt. John Speke walking in the hallway leaving the Royal Geographical Society.  Isabel Arundell (Captain Richard
Burton's wife) confronts Lt. Speke in hallway.

Isabel:  Do you really  want this debate?

John:  Why Not?

Isabel: It's the last thing that Richard wants

John: Yes ...  I suppose he dreads the outcome.

Isabel: No...He knows you are incapable of assembling the proofs of your arguments
and that you will lose.

John:  I'm sorry.  I can't discuss this.  (putting her off as unworthy to discuss this further)

Isabel (emphatically):  No one - not even myself knows what you went through together. 
Those people [Royal Geographical Society] in there, they don't know and they don't care.
They need you as adversaries now and Richard doesn't.

John (visibly irritated): Then why is he here!

Isabel: He would cancel tomorrow. He knows no truth will emerge and in the absence of
truth he respects only one thing   ......   He respects LOYALTY.  

Isabel (as John walks away):  ....... John .....  he respects you.

I won't give away the ending but you are welcome to read the entire story on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hanning_Speke

 

Truth, Loyalty and Respect  -  A fitting trio :)

Boston Legal 2

Tuesday night was Boston Legal 2 with J.P. and K.C.   Much of the conversation revolved around the American Dream and the book "Coming Apart" by Charles Murray.  I have not read the book, but it postulates a New Lower Class where religiosity, work ethic, industriousness, and family values are nearly nonexistent.  At lunch today  H.B. felt like  the American Dream is fading. 

I'm not quite that pessimistic.  I believe the American Dream is still available to all who have persistent hope and relentless energy when facing huge economic, political, and societal hurdles.  Granted, it may take several generations to fully achieve certain economic outcomes, but our system is not so closed as to prevent a person from bettering themselves and family.  It may take ingenuity, sacrifice, and even an angel for assistance (or as some would say a lucky break), but there is plenty of evidence and stories of people raising themselves up from seemingly dire circumstances.

If the American Dream was dying, immigrants would not be beating a path to our Country.  Our system would not be the envy of other countries.  The standard of living for even the American poor would not be the dream of a majority of the worlds population. 

However I am in the minority when I discuss the positive view of the American Dream with others.  So what, I ask, is the cause of this perceived decline?  There is never a single answer - education, inequality of income and wealth, declining freedoms, nonexistent values, anemic economic conditions, .... the list is endless.  But in the form of self fulfilling prophesies, I view the overriding problem is pessimism.

We need leaders to lift up the narrative and generate hope and optimism.  We need the uplifting stories of those who are achieving thier Dreams.

It's time to change the attitudes of gloom and doom to delight in sight.

Cincinnati Legal

It was like the Boston Legal balcony scene (with some variation).  Instead we were sitting by the pool while the sun set talking about the past, present and future.  The friendship (now over 20 years) of the three guys was brought together by our tennis wives. 

The discussion was as philosophical and funny as the balcony scenes of Season 2 of Boston Legal.  Each of our lives and backgrounds are unique, yet random circumstances created a connection that has endured.  I have read that "perfect friendship exists between good men who are alike in virtuousness". 

I posed the question to the group - What are the values that make up your being?  What values did you try to pass on to your kids?  Each of us had quite different answers (and hence philosophical views) -  Respect for others, Courage, Honesty, Responsibility, Work Ethic, and Love.  There were comments about life lessons learned and the wisdom gained from mistakes.

Three good men - alike in virtuousness.  And to bed by 10:30pm  :)