So, it was the Weekly Forecast meeting at the Fire Ring. It was a delicate one, since we are committed to good order and a certain amount of discipline while under the watchful eye of our attorney. Her role is keeping us out of trouble. Our commitment is to avoid all the partisan fury swirling in the onset of what JP Morgan Banker Jaime Dimon termed the “Coming Hurricane.”

It should have been a relaxed group on a pleasant Piedmont morning. Everyone in the circle has achieved what used to be the enviable status of partial retirement. We would be much more at ease if contributions from Socotra House were not a welcome- and necessary- suppliment to the fixed income stipends provided by Government, ex-Spouses and the loose change deposited in the tin cup Splash uses for alms when he sits out by the mailbox on the gravel lane that serves Refuge Farm.

That last category of variable income has diminished. Apparently the cost of fuel is reducing traffic on the lane, and harvest season is still months away. As a simple declaration of fact, we thought Amanda would let it slide, like mentioning the brilliant colorful tinge to the Full Moon that swirled gracefully over the pastures last night. There was discussion about whether it was appropriate to use the traditional word for it, which was a fruit species with a romantic coloration, but she frowned and directed us to just call it “The Moon.” Her admonition was that associating it with any species of earthbound life could potentially be associated with the views of those who cultivate the plants, which is a separate and problematic issue all its own.

So, despite the etherial beauty of the cosmos, we dropped the Moon as a topic. It was a little sad, since that decision coincided with the last strawberry tinge of the morning sky as it dropped out of sight.

If we were nudged away from celestial topics due to sensitivity, we knew that commentary on public policy would probably get stifled as well. A suitable alternative to approach the matters on the slide had to be found, since at least some of them have the potential to result in an atomic exchange. We do not support that, at least here. Hopefully, if it happens, it will be in some other part of the world not involved in massive lithium mining operations to support the batteries in all those electric cars. Which is another issue, since there appears to be no plan to provide coal-fired electricity to charge in our driveways. If we had more than one of them. Driveways, that is.

The list of things to gloss over is formidable. A glance was enough to frame discussion. They include a Chinese declaration that the Formosa Strait is somehow an internal waterway. Having passed that way long ago without notification or issue, that was perplexing. Apparently, use by any other power could result in a colorful event like the sinking of Russia’s Black Sea flagship several weeks ago. The potential Recession that might happen next year is actually happening now, based on a quick check of the collective 401K accounts. And then all the rest of the little things that seem to add up to problems arriving now.

DeMille knew he had to take control of the discussion and provide a product suitable for distribution not subject to legal penalty. “Here is an approach that seems to be favored of late. We can use the video from recent press opportunities and project them on a mirror. That will bring everything together in a happier and upbeat manner while still seeming to report the actual events. Except all the “up” stuff will seem to be coming “down,” and people’s lives are changing for the better.”

“Come on,” laughed Rocket, his hand reaching for an imaginary throttle to a pair of powerful jet engines and power the conversation back to something resembling reality. “Why don’t we just say that change is happening, and we hope it is for the better. That worked for the Secretary of the Treasury.”

Amanda gave him a penetrating look. He put his hand back on his thigh where his kneeboard safety cards would have been if he was wearing a NOMEX flight suit not susceptible to bursting suddenly into flames. “That idea about the mirrors has real possibility,” he said. There was some uneasy nodding around the circle, and then a discussion about whether it was possible to position the mirror so that it reflected things with all the little arrows pointed down except for the good things that would point up.

“Remember,” said Amanda firmly. “They didn’t characterize whether the change is pleasant. It is just necessary. So get with the program, and we will attempt to find a mirror of sufficient size for next week’s presentation.”

The nods of agreement were perfect, since they went side to side, and the mirror would reveal nothing at all about what direction they were moving.

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