Tree House

I think I’m going to build a tree house.

When we had our house built it was constructed to fit both the family and the budget.  That meant a second den for noisy kids but no garage.  However, the wife wanted a garage, so last summer I built a garage.  The initial budget also meant no back porch which I wanted, so this summer I finished a back porch.  This fall, I’m shifting gears, I think I’ll build a tree house.

I’m not doing it because it’s all that’s left, there’s a horse shed that would keep Bossy and Bullet dry and an equipment shed to keep my lawn gear dry.  If I could convince the wife horses weren’t a necessity or the horses that lawn weeds were delicious, I could eliminate one of those chores, but I get the same blank stares when I try these conversations so I’ll leave both projects on the plan board.

But my daughter wants a tree house and tree houses are cool, and, though my wife reacts like the reasoning is irrational, as I mentioned…my daughter wants it.  She’s just a few weeks from starting sixth grade and I’ve taught middle and high school so I know what’s coming.  These are the waning days of childhood enthusiasm, soon to be replaced by teenage apathy.

With my family off for summer you’d think I’d have plenty of help on my projects, but then there’s church camp, camp counseling, sports camp, summer leagues, vacation, trainings, conferences and summer jobs.  Fortunately (for me, if not him) my dad is available to help.  I’ll be giving him the tree house project off.  I think this is one for me and the girls.  I’m going to recruit a mother/daughter team to help.

Sure, I know this means simple decisions become committee votes and my taste in tree house architecture will be perpetually second guessed, but I think it’ll be fun.  And it’ll be a chance to teach a few skills to a young lady that’s about to enter the world of make-up, boys and hormones before she decides Dad is neither cool nor wise.

It’ll also a nice chance before a dad’s next step in raising a child, driver’s education, to establish a cooperative environment, free of screaming, panicked ‘wish there were a passenger brake’ floor stomping and wide-eyed, white-knuckle ride alongs.  And maybe a place to go cool off when dad doesn’t do as good a job as he should keeping his composure when driving skills aren’t quite up to expectation.

It will also make a great place for future generations to play in the trees, making the Herndon grandparent’s place just a little bit cooler.  It’s not a competition to win grandkids’ favorite destination…it’s much more serious.

If I’m honest, I can see myself in the tree house, among the limbs and birds, reading or napping (it will need a hammock) or sipping a beer and staring at the stars.  It just makes sense so I think I’m going to build a tree house.

Non-Racist America

Just Thought I’d Mention

C G Herndon

Just because you never get rid of the Chickenpox virus doesn’t mean you don’t heal from the disease.

The recent George Zimmerman verdict has many people, both Black and White, proclaiming America is a racist nation.  While I agree that racism exists in America, I don’t believe America is racist. 

Paradoxically, without hearing all the evidence, many Americans feel they know the whole story.  And if they know the absolute truth there must be a reason the jury didn’t agree.  Quick, easy answer…racism.   After all, it happened in the past so it must be the case now.  I don’t agree.

In the last Presidential election over half of President Obama’s votes were cast by White voters.  No, that’s not that surprising considering the white population out numbers the Black population by about five-fold, but what might be surprising is how unusual the White vote was not.

Nearly the same ratio of White voters voted Republican versus Democrat in 2012 (59% vs. 39%) as did in 1980 (56% vs. 36%).  The difference in results (Dem vs. Rep) among those two elections was based almost entirely on the Black vote which is traditionally heavily Democratic in leaning but not so heavily attended in 1980 as it was in 2012.  This can’t help but speak volumes about racism, or the lack of, at least in electing our country’s most important political position.

I also believe the American Justice System is fundamentally devoid of racial bias.  Numbers attributed to such a bias need to be reexamined considering socioeconomic and educational factors.  Yes, there are flaws, a person can be sued for asinine reasons, justice and exoneration can be slow in coming and innocent people are convicted and the guilty set free, but both occurrences are rare.  Nowhere else in the world, nor throughout history, has an individual had as significant an opportunity for a fair trial.  It’s not the government, a special interest, nor an enemy that decides the fate of an individual.  The defendant’s jury is of peers, a group of citizens from all walks of life, normal people chosen by random selection and vetted by representatives from both sides of the case.  It’s those normal citizens that hear the evidence and make a judgment. 

While it is always possible discrimination exists in a decision, it is unlikely.  It would only take one dissenting vote among many to hang a verdict.  Assuming we have a racist judicial system ranks right up there with the faked Moon landing and sightings of Elvis at the mall.

I understand President Obama’s statement, “The African-American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away.”  But, because those things have happened, doesn’t mean they continue to happen.  People change and society changes and those refusing to recognize that change are as responsible for fostering racism as those who still practice it. 

That said, racism on an individual basis still exists.  It existed in the 60s, it existed in early America and it existed before the United States was even a glimmer on the horizon.  It has and does exist in all races and in all countries.  But, as a nation the United States has made great strides toward eliminating it on a societal, governmental and judicial level.  Just because you never get rid of the Chickenpox virus doesn’t mean you don’t heal from the disease.

I Don't Believe in Atheism

Just Thought I’d Mention

C G Herndon

I don’t believe in atheism.

This isn’t a religious rant.  I’m not trying to convert anyone.  And I’m not concerned about your eternal soul.  Your decisions are your decisions.  That said, I may throw out a few personal opinions here; you’re invited to agree with, disregard or ignore them.  You won’t hurt my feelings.

If you’re a church goer, good for you.  If you’re not, good enough.  Do I go to church?  Upon occasion.  The last time I attended I was received like the Prodigal Son, so maybe not all that often.  I enjoy sleeping in, watching CBS Sunday morning and sipping coffee on the second day of the weekend.  I don’t feel guilty about it and still live a blessed life.

Before I go into why I don’t believe in atheism (the belief there is no higher being, conciseness or spirit), I do respect agnosticism (no belief at all, the basic “I don’t know” approach).  I’m not agnostic, but the belief has merit.

Ironically, my reasoning for the disavowing of atheism is based on my faith in science.  An overriding theme in science is, you can prove many things but you can’t disprove anything.  Scientific options for the existence of a higher being are ‘yes’ and ‘maybe’; ‘no’ isn’t available.

Does Bigfoot exist? I haven’t seen any direct evidence but there’s always that chance.  Does Chupacabra exist?  Not sure, but if he does I think he might be hanging out with Bigfoot.

A giant 6 feet long turtle (Cu Rua) in two meter deep, thirty acre, Vietnamese, Hoan Kiem Lake, had been a creature of myth since he supposedly stole the emperor’s sword in the fifteenth century.  In 1998 the turtle was filmed and a couple of years ago, physically captured. 

Nordic legend told of a Colossal Squid, but until 2003 there was no physical evidence, now we have actual specimens to examine.   We see the occasional physical myth proven true.  And certainly, proving the existence of a physical being is easier than a spiritual being.

I don’t wish to insult, or even convert atheists (if there is a heaven and they don’t go…more room for me) but it’s presumptuous to discredit the spiritual experiences of millions because a person hasn’t had one themselves.  I have only hearsay evidence of the female orgasm, but I’m not willing to say it doesn’t exist.  I can’t say unequivocally that Al Gore used environmental issues to remain socially relevant, but his home uses more energy in a month than mine does in a year.  I also can’t say Rush Limbaugh is more interested in ratings than honest, comprehensive reporting…well…

My point is this, if you haven’t walked a mile in someone’s Birkenstocks, have your opinions but be humble enough to realize you could be wrong.  Those who ‘believe’ may have a lifetime of experience backing that faith.  Those that don’t ‘believe’ may as well, but lack of evidence doesn’t scientifically exclude in the same way that evidence includes.  Regardless, because I am a scientist at heart (and in training), I don’t believe in atheism.

I'm Just Middle-Aged

Just Thought I’d Mention

C G Herndon

I’m just middle-aged.

Something happened eighteen years ago leading to this day…the birth of my first child.  I was young and the future was vast and promising, free of intangible concepts like mortality and change.  Yet both have been an intricate part of life.  Since then I’ve lost all but one grandparent, a father-in-law and a brother-in-law but gained three beautiful children and several nieces.  I’ve changed careers and changed back.  I’ve moved and moved again.  And though I’m not where I thought I’d be, I am where I want to be.

And I’ve made a few discoveries.

I’ve discovered intelligence, like strength, speed and height, varies from person to person.  But that there are many types of intelligence: analytical, emotional, spatial and more…and though I’m strong in some, I’m lacking in others.  I’ve also discovered a high I. Q. is not a prerequisite to wisdom but an open mind is.

I’ve discovered ignorance is a decision.  And I’m not referring to a lack of formal education, but to an uninformed opinion on a topic.  I’ve also discovered it’s tempting to give an opinion on any topic with only limited knowledge…very tempting.

I’ve discovered Mark Twain was right, “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

I’ve discovered opposing opinions aren’t necessarily a case of right vs. wrong.  They’re often a case of differing backgrounds and experiences.  

I’ve discovered the same dynamic is present within a marriage and it sucks to know you’re right but your spouse isn’t wrong…so you have to compromise.  And I’ve realize compromising is like exercising; it might not be fun initially but leaves you better off in the long run.

I’ve discovered exercise makes you feel better physically, mentally and emotionally, yet I often avoid it anyway.  And that it is better to be fat and humble than fit and preachy.

I’ve discovered the single best thing I can do for myself is get a full night’s sleep.  But quality of life seems to be inversely proportional to hours available for sleep.

I’ve discovered money doesn’t buy happiness but the lack of it can make a person miserable.  And, in a pinch it masks unhappiness nicely.

I discovered that anticipation is often better than reward.  And that not knowing is often harder than any possible outcome.

I’ve discovered time with family and friends and time alone, like rain and sunshine, make the world a wonderful place…in the proper ratios.

I’ve discovered that if I could go back and change things I might, but probably shouldn’t, because as corny and preachy as it sounds, I’m a result of my own actions and decisions and I’m very happy to be who and where I am.

And finally, I’ve discovered that all of this could all be wrong.  My opinions have changed drastically since the birth of my oldest and it only makes sense they’ll continue to change.  After all, the saying is, ‘older and wiser’ and I’m just middle-aged.

Life in the Middle

Just Thought I’d Mention

C G Herndon

I prefer life in the middle.

I spent last week on the way to, in, and on the way home from Washington DC.  I had a workshop scheduled there so we decided to turn it into a family vacation.  It took a couple of days to drive out, stopping at Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello and then spending an afternoon in Herndon, VA (founded by an ancestor of mine…supposedly).   And after over forty hours of car time I’m proud to report the family is still on speaking terms.

There’s a lot to see in our nation’s capitol.  I only spent a day and a half touring but the rest of the family spent several additional days at the museums, memorials and attractions.  Even with most of a week to take it all in, my wife said she’d like to go back to see the rest.  I can’t say the same.

I’ll admit DC is amazing.  There’s so much science and history to be absorbed a person could spend weeks taking it all in.  If you’re not interested in science and history it’s worth a couple days just for people watching.  If Wal-Mart is a play ground for people-watchers, Washington DC is Disney Land.

The Capital is a tourist destination for folks from around the globe.  A plethora of languages can be heard walking down the street as well as quite a collection of clothes.  There wasn’t much off the table, from Islamic Burqas on Middle Eastern women to Daisy Dukes on European men.  

And then there’s quantity.  DC was thick with people.  Not just at the tourist attractions but everywhere.  The roads were filled with cars even during off hours.  My Drivers’ Tourette’s was in full bloom at 9 AM on a Sunday.  Driving DC in rush-hour traffic would have me hanging out the window with a bullhorn and handgun…or curled up in a fetal position, convulsing in the floorboard.

I experienced similar traffic several years ago on a trip to the other coast.  Los Angeles freeways were just as crowded, although Californians were more courteous than DC drivers.  Maybe it was because there are just ruder people in the Nation’s Capitol…or maybe it was because in LA I was driving an old Suburban, proudly displaying Texas tags (people are chivalrous if they think you might snap).

I love people watching but I hate crowds.  And by the last day agoraphobia was starting to creep in.  I was ready to drive down a wide open highway without constant braking and shifting lanes, walk down a sidewalk without ducking and dodging cheesple (people that constipate the flow of crowds) and buy a meal without endangering my financial future (I’m assuming increased demand is the reason for the high price of food).

I understand millions and millions…and millions of people find life great on the coasts.  I’m just not one of them.  I prefer a little space between bumpers, a leisurely stroll and meals priced like supper is a daily event.  They can keep the left and right coasts, I prefer life in the middle.