FROM HENCE, WHENCE?

 Americans are goal oriented. "Are we there yet?" is the most frequently asked - and perhaps never truly answered. A yes or no is definitely a wrong answer, for either one leads to further questions until finally, tongue trips one too many times and the storm bursts forth. Why? Why not? When? How long? Are we lost? Will we ever get there? A veritable storm of questions with no good answers. Nothing short of a grand arrival will settle the dust - but only till the next chapter's opening page.

What now? Where are we going to stay, sit, stand, roll over, play frisbee - whatever strikes one's interests and concerns and trust me, the supply of questions is endless, just as one can be assured that not one answer is/will be capable of damming the flow of questions asked with no satisfactory answer in sight.  Whatever question meets the concern of "from hence, whence? meets the criteria of acceptable questioning, especially any question which serves to further agitate the already frayed nerve endings of parents foolish enough to think they had the perfect day trip planned for their kids.

 Nope, give it up. Try, but understand that there are acts that are futile. From the get-go. Simply pack a good sense of humor and a barrelful of patience along with the food and money - plenty of that. Apparently, every hat and ridiculous overpriced item has a magnetic appeal to kids on day trips. That these items will be discarded as soon as the hence whence question is answered - at least for the moment. 

Nor should you count on the most frantically antsy   president to abjure his tariffs placed on these "essential" items flooding the stands of America. Pay through the nose you will, and you had better vocally term it a "great deal!". Yes, the spirit of America is upon us, like it or not. The mantra of selling and vending, of buying and trashing, the life blood of this nation is alive and well, at least in Trumpland. The place where magic takes place. Where the average American dad is content to bribe his whiny kids and for a split nanosecond, be the very best dad ever. 

The parents will nod and smirk, thinking how clever they were to have agreed on all the plans, from A to Z, and actually have a great day in the sun and bring home sleepy kids with smiles on their faces - for at least one whole minute. Treasure that moment, for at that point begins the question-and-answer session for the next fun day in the sun. Grin and bear it. It is the best time of parenting, the source of all shined up memories to be dragged out at just the right embarrassing moment.  Then you can smirk! 

Patience is always rewarded, is it not. How sweet it is. This scenario never ends, is played over and over and over again. In fact, it is the very epitome   of the school of thought which advances this fact. That revenge taken cold is the best revenge of all. Just think ahead. 10, 20 years down the road. When the not so little kids of yours will be involved as the adults. Similar scenario. See them sweat. See them roll their eyes. "We weren't that way. Were we?” 

They certainly were. They certainly are. And thusly we will continue. It is good that there are times in life when we know exactly what is going to happen. We can rest assured of that certainty. The problem is when the adults behave as children. Throw tantrums worthy of an Oscar. And then shrug their shoulders in confusion, unable to understand why their parents are upset even as their laughter is plentiful at the same time. Parents! Kids! Are we there yet?  

However, there are times when adults act as children with far greater impact than the standard scenario. It is when we go hence from whence and somewhere along the road forget the rules of the game. Or knowingly discard them. Then the game is no longer a game. Suddenly all involved are forced to assume grown up rules of thought and behavior and step up to save the day. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, is it? The hence from whence is obscured, each forward step reined in by confusion and uncertainty, with the elephant in the room question remaining unanswered. 

"Are we there yet?" 

"Nope."

"When?"  

" Do not know. Soon. Maybe."  

That 'maybe' is the answer to our questions, the ones adults ask of their leaders. Where are we headed? What is there? Do we have to? What about problems arising? Are we, you, prepared? The answer to that last question is generally an impatient yes, and a wave of the hand. Truthfully though the answer should be a resounding no, as unfortunately, most adults, wannabe leaders almost never follow the threads to the conclusion, and their plans are highly compromised and useless, or worse -dangerous in outcome. Hence the whence is imperiled. All the while the responsibility is sloughed off to another's shoulders. The buck was passed as were the demands, the decisions, as were the consequences.

Meanwhile, the truth is out there for all to see. The most arrogant leader can only keep those powers we grant to him, cede to him, via thoughtless acts or cowering in fear. If we do so, it results in a compromised White House whose dignity is trashed.  So, we have enabled, so we have done. Even as the most outrageous decisions and statements continue to emerge from the trashed White House.

 A bleary, disgraced fat man. With pursed prissy mouth. Hides unsuccessfully behind a column from reporters and tells them to shut up. Forced to answer. His answers have nothing to do with the questions asked. And he retreats. Calling out as usual, for the reporters to shut up. But it is we who have shut up. It is we who have given him free passes. And shame on us. 

     Bove?! Israel. Cowering Senate and House. Compromised Supreme Court and judiciary system. Militarizing the government.   Demeaning the dignity of the White House. Ripping out the Rose Garden. Placing in its stead an ugly cement patch. Just perfect for eating lunches if you are at an amusement park. Practitioner of the art of blackmail. Sexually questionable in behavior. 

And more, so much more. 

Will we ever wake up and understand what we have allowed?

Are we there yet?

Have we reached the whence from hence.  

Do we have enough of yesterday and today to fix tomorrow?

Hmmm