We looked around this morning at the usual morning Salty Coffee Klatch. There had been the consumption of the last dregs of Belmont Farms moonshine late on Three French Hens Days. There are supply chain issues about that matter. From here out, we will have to swoop over to Fort Myer to investigate provision of Federally-provided consumables, tobacco and aromatic beverages. So those are the sort of practical thoughts tht go in this strange week between religious and secular holidays.

Which is to say that the 31 days of December always concludes with a jolly evening with eyes peeled for the ticking of the clock, and the excitement of writing a different number at the top of our communications.

This morning? The SCOTUS folks have said they will hear discussions about the Title 42 provisions that permit exclusion of illegal immigrants on health emergency grounds. The High Court noted that they consider themselves an applicator of law, rather than a stop-gap emergency ultimate legislative body. Talk this morning is about 5.1 illegals arriving with intent to stay and harvest benefits. That seems to be an emergency, but not one of the preferred ones.

We are not opposed or in favor of this remarkable change in our demographics. We certainly did not vote for it, and the idea that we would fund border walls in Ukraine but not Texas or Arizona has left us bewildered. There have been some amazing changes in the way our Government functions. We don’t oppose it, of course, nor do we support it. We think it should have been discussed, costs examined and the welfare of current American citizens ought to have been considered.

This odd week is traditionally a little ambiguous in tone. We are swinging from the joy of season and family to the challenges that accompany the clicking of the clock face. We are determined to take a dose of optimism into the New Year, and would raise a glass except that will mean a trip to the store. We intend to discuss that matter at the production meeting.

In the meantime, we have a memorandum from management to sum up the sentiment of the 12 Days of the last holiday. This is the 4th of them on this Wednesday. Some call it the Day of Holy Innocents, since King Herod had been tipped off about the birth of the new King, and he sent out hard men to scoop up any male children born in the city of Bethlehem and remove them. The words describing the event can be found in the book of Matthew, 2:16.

We think we may be feeling better tomorrow as we prepare for this year to fall off the fantail. There is a new one to break on the proud bow. It is predicted to sweep down the decks in a flash of frothing white foamy excitement!

We think the odds are good, since none of us were knocked overboard in the last wild trip around the sun. That was unfortunately not universal. We can only hope the new one approaching will preserve the remaining innocents. We have a note on the agenda to see if there any of them left.

Copyright 2022 Vic Socotra
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