"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
— Arthur Conan Doyle

Well, hello, good morning, good evening, good whenever you find these words. I’m up a little early; my pup got into some treats last night with her buddy Griffy and had a sour stomach; she had to go out to use the bathroom. I think she’s better; she’s heading back up to get in bed with mom.

I just got a text that warmed my heart. Before we were married, I lived with my partner in her Carmel house for a few years. We had neighbors, the Greens, who had three young men and a great family; I follow them on Facebook, it’s fun to watch them grow.

I just got this from the mother of the kids:

Hello,- Caryn Green here. I hope you and fam are well! I had to reach out to tell you that Matthew is enjoying your book. We’ve been trying to get him to read for like eight years now (absolutely hates it, like pulling teeth literally)! Anyhow, I had the bright idea to find a few of your books that we had; I thought it might pique his interest since he knows you. He came home from school yesterday and said, “I was mad because I forgot to bring Anson’s book to school with me to read during SRT. It’s the first book that I like to read.” Hallelujah, we’ve been telling him for years how reading expands your mind and makes you bright. We are thrilled, so thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts 😊!! If you have any more book recommendations, please send them our way. “Hi” to Jenny, I hope CO is treating you well!

So why do I write? First, I write for Matthew Green and other kids who don’t like to read. Second, I write for people who might find short snippets about an aging man of color sharing his life experiences, trying to understand the whips and whaps of today. Third, I write for people confused about why pronouns are essential or maybe not necessary. Fourth, I write to ask questions about the changing state of science and what today is misinformation, but tomorrow can be held up as factual information. Finally, I write because I need to register questions for others to ask, “does that make sense?”

We live in a world that does not make sense. When looking through one’s prism are bent right, tomorrow, left, threemorrow up, and fourmorrow, down. We just encountered two unique years of my life. Very few asked questions; most used a herd mentality to follow the rules, never asking why. And if they dared request, they were deemed selfish and didn’t care about killing grandma.

The last two years will be looked upon as a mad reach for control, a quest to reset our society, a test of how far people will go to allow others to control their lives. I followed the rules for two months, I didn’t know better, but as things became clear, we went back to living as usual. We complied if a mask was required, although we gritted our teeth when masking. Still, today, when boarding a plane, I scoff at the idea that my face must be covered. If you are over the age of 70 or have some condition that might lead to a greater chance of transmission or catching a cold, wear your mask if you like.

But making a child, one that has a better chance of getting hit by lightning than dying from COVID, wear a mask, have social distance, and eat outside during lunch in the cold is child abuse. So again, the future will judge the leaders of the past two years as authoritarian barbarians pushing their will on the people that unfortunately believed the changing narrative.

I’m personally calling the pandemic over on February 1st, 2022. I’m not alone, but here’s my deal with you. I’ll meet you where you are with your understanding and comfort with your knowledge of our world. If you want me to mask to enter your store, I’ll find another store. If you want me to follow rules that make no sense knowing what we know, I’ll find an alternative. That is my choice and I respect your choice to believe in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and that all dogs go to heaven.

You’ve been given a directive to comply with people that know less than you do. Listen to your parents, listen to your doctor, use your mind to use critical thinking skills and ask “does this make sense?” Do not let the herd, the little boy or girl that screams “where is your mask” detur you from living your best life.

Some people read my work and think “man, he does not like masks.” For the record, I don’t mind the masks but I see the masks for what they really represent. You can change out the word mask for control, a mask is just a feature of the control epidemic that has swept our world the last two years. Stay inside, do not get within six feet of another, do not see your family, scare the old and vulnerable so they might pass on a chance to see a loved one. A reminder, our time here is short, you will be sad one day you passed on family, friend, and social times due to fear-mongering.

So this word soup is dedicated to my friend Matthew Green and all the other kids who hate to read but might be willing to read a few hundred words a day to help expand their minds. Reading is a gift as is common sense and the right to question authority that makes no sense when comparing the facts. Do not let others bully you into submission, be ready to clap back with facts, comply for harmony but do not comply with

a false narrative that many are now waking up and realizing, “oh my God, they were lying for control.”

"When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
— Arthur Conan Doyle

Word Soup

Why I Write, Dedictated to Matthew Green…