When I went through the Police Academy, this grumpy old cop was fond of reminding us that you don’t get called because someone is having a good day. It took a couple of years to understand that deep down, but I got the message eventually. I didn’t expect anyone to be happy to see me when I pulled up.

I was working by myself on a Sunday morning on the east side of the district. That’s only remarkable, because I was senior enough that I had my own car and steady assignment on the west side. I never stopped moving. My record was 21 minutes from roll call to a felony arrest, aggravated assault with a weapon. Sunday is when you get a cup of coffee and park up to read the newspaper. So, to the relief of my squad, I had parked under a tree by a basketball court. I was starting to get bored when a call came in, “Meet complainant at 1100 Jefferson”.

I pulled up to a church parking lot, figured it would be a report of someone’s car being broken into. I was met by an attractive woman in a Sunday going to meeting hat, that would have made Dr Suess proud and Bartholemew Cubbins despair. I had seen her walking to church earlier, but that didn’t register just then. So, I go strolling up trying to put on a smile that doesn’t make me look crazy. “Good morning, Ma’am. Did you call for police?”

“Good morning officer. I told them it wasn’t important, but I’m glad you’re here. I just wanted you to know that. A lot of us are really glad you and the others are here.”

“Thank you. It’s nice to be appreciated.” It kind of threw me for a second. I almost had an emotion. “What can I do for you?”

“Nothing.” She flashed one of those smiles that means she got just what she wanted, big and bold. “I just wanted you to know we see you out there everyday. At least some of us appreciate you.”

She had called just because she was having a good day and wanted me to know. It wasn’t the first time or the last that someone thanked me. It was the only time that I was dispatched, just so someone could do it. So, I can’t complain anymore that we are never called because someone is having a good day.

Daily writing prompt

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

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It’s like stepping off of a cliff or jumping out of an airplane, one second you’re safe and secure in what you’re used to, the next you fall. It’s the exhilaration of falling, out of control and accelerating towards whatever destination is beyond. Relax into it. Let the wind rush past you, telling you how fast you are moving now. Arch your back, throw your arms wide, yell, laugh, live!

I’ve been tinkering with myself for a long time now, just trying to be a better person. It started when I was in my early 20’s and I let go of all the anger and resentment I had for my family and those I thought had neglected and abused me for most of my life. I felt lighter. Over the years, I’ve managed to trim a good bit of weight, mostly it was the pain of living a hard life and the loss of so many friends along the way.

That’s it. I’ve just let go.

Daily writing prompt

Describe one positive change you have made in your life.

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OK, so not really pets, but you have to admit they are pretty close to animals in the beginning. If you disagree, I have one word.

Boys! A horrible cross between intelligent primate and a force of destruction. They’re like having a Saint Bernard with ADD. Being the youngest of five brothers, I learned from the best. If you can keep them clean and fed, call it a success and pray for adulthood.

Girls are like cats. Cute, loveable and deceptively dangerous. All you know is that you did something wrong, and no one is going to tell you what. You want to pet them and love them, but don’t take it too far.

The warnings aside, they are the best. Watching a human evolve from the chaos is the greatest blessing I have ever had. Hopefully, someday, they will look back and appreciate how much effort went into raising them. And, they will probably end up picking my nursing home.

Daily writing prompt

What animals make the best/worst pets?

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There’s a story about Abraham Lincoln stopping on the side of the road to free a pig stuck in the mud. When his companion asked why he did it, he said he wasn’t being altruistic, he did it for himself. He didn’t want to hear the pig screaming for help all the way home.

There is always a price or payment. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, there are plenty of things that I’ve done, not for a paycheck, but personal satisfaction. To stop the sound of pigs squealing in my head. Probably because I think too much, always have. I realized that I have debts to the people who helped me along the way. So, I pay it forward. Helping where I can.

Some things just take money, either taking or paying. A paycheck is just part of the cost. What we are selling our time and effort for. I think I would rather invest in the future. Take my pay in kind. I’ll teach, mentor, give some kid a car for his first job. I guess the job I’ll do for free is just what was done for me. But like I said nothing is free. I’ll pass the cost on to the next generation; some lucky kid will pick up the tab. Maybe he’ll resent the cost.

I’ll just keep digging pigs out of the mud for free.

Daily writing prompt

What job would you do for free?

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I am a child of the 70’s. I remember watching Seattle Slew and Secretariat. The Apolo Launches. The Bi-centennial, Nixon, Ford, Carter and the mess our economy was in. The Cold War. Duck and cover air-raid drills. The OPEC oil crisis. I also remember the Olympics. Our best against the world’s best athletes. There was talk about boycotting the whole thing and crush the dreams of so many.

Then there was Nadia Comaneci. The first ever Olympic gymnast to receive perfect score at the Montreal Olympics. I watched those performances on a 13-inch black and white television. I remember that there were comments about the Russian judges pressuring the other judges to deliver those scores. I remember being excited by the way she seemed to bubble and glow, the joy on her face as she went through her routines. She was amazing. The music for her floor performance, Nadia’s theme.

Maybe it’s a hangover from the 1976 Olympics. I still love watching the gymnasts do the impossible. Simone flying through the air, defying gravity. Mary Lou bouncing along with a smile that barely fit her face. It’s the gymnastics that catch the eye.

Daily writing prompt

What Olympic sports do you enjoy watching the most?

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Yup. I said it. Give everyone a gun. I understand that there are people who don’t want them; will never use one. There are even people who think guns are evil, that there is no reason to take a life, nothing is worth someone’s life. I disagree. My family is worth it, so is yours. I’m not advocating wild gunfights in the streets or rampaging violence. I just think everyone should have the means and opportunity to protect themselves.

I was a cop. I know how long it takes for the police to respond. I also know that there are times when you don’t have time to call 911. You do have time to protect yourself. You can say things aren’t that bad but, the news doesn’t report all the crimes that occur every day. Five hundred homicides a year is bad, but it doesn’t talk about the thousands of aggravated assaults, people shot, stabbed, beaten, raped and left where they fell.

Criminals, by definition don’t care about the law or you, your family, that you work hard to provide for your family. The legal system is being degraded to the point of uselessness. Murderers are being released without bail and often commit more aggravated assaults or murders before they go to trial for the first offense. Soros District Attorneys are offering plea deals, reduced sentence for offenders so they can be released back into society sooner. It doesn’t matter how many times the police arrest a suspect, if the DA doesn’t prosecute and the jails don’t hold them, it’s wasted effort.

So, arm everyone. Defend yourselves and your families. If you don’t think it is worth a human life to defend what you’ve worked for, don’t. But if criminals knew that every adult had a way to defend themselves and their families, they would be a lot more circumspect in their actions. Look it up on Youtube, people pissed off that someone shot and killed an armed robber or car-jacker. Look up the interviews with inmates about how they choose their victims. An armed society is a polite society.

Daily writing prompt

How would you improve your community?

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“All you need is the Columbian sun. and rich Columbian coffee…”

The first hour of my day probably isn’t pretty. I’m bald, so bedhead makes me look like I have corduroy for skin. I stumble into the kitchen and make strong coffee by instinct because thought is beyond me. If you encounter the uncaffeinated me in the wild, do not approach. While my anti-murder juice is brewing, I’ll stumble around confused and scratching myself. After the first cup I can usually manage more than a grunt and clothing if I haven’t done so yet. By the third, I’m human again. By the end of the first pot, I’ll be able to face the world.

I like to blame a lot of things on growing up in a Cajun house. I started drinking coffee at about 3 years old, cafe au’ late. Now, it’s strong and black with a touch of sugar. Now it’s a habit of almost 60 years. That’s what my morning looks like a cup of coffee. Well, a lot of cups of coffee.

Daily writing prompt

What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?

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Hearing a 20-something tell me how they have it all figured out. I remember saying the same thing. It’s the irony of it. Points for enthusiasm you poor, dumb kid.

Daily writing prompt

What makes you laugh?

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My dream was to be a soldier, policeman and firefighter. The first two were kinda easy, but we never think of the scary part of dreams when we are planning our glorious, successful lives. What good is a dream if reality has to sneak in and ruin it. In my dreams I never woke up wondering what the hell just happened. It was a dream, silly. Of course, I never got hurt. People were always glad to see me. I was the liberator and peacekeeper. There were pretty girls who wanted to kiss me. It was great.

The fireman, that was a tough one. See, I didn’t know it but I didn’t realize how terrifying a burning building is when you think about running into it. Stand back and wave a hose? No problem. Run into a building? Don’t know about that. I did a couple times, smoke inhalation is a booger, took weeks until I felt like I could breathe again. I’ll leave firefighting to the heroes that everyone really are glad to see.

So, I lived my childhood dreams or learned enough to know that I wasn’t the one to run into burning buildings.

Now what?

Daily writing prompt

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

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It’s not about you, it’s about me.

We are self-centered creatures. Everything is about “Me” even if it isn’t. That helps explain why people you don’t know insist on explaining their pronouns, sexual preference, and victimhood affiliation. It’s not hate or fear that makes people avoid people they don’t like or trust, they just don’t care.

The sad truth is we don’t matter enough to most people to be hated or feared. The riots and protest on television aren’t about you. They may peripherally touch you in a small way, but not much more than that. All the shouting and protest just seems like a way for small people to make themselves feel more important; waving their arms and shouting “see how important I am”. It’s like survivor’s guilt, stolen from the victim and coddled to draw the attention it can bring.

That’s my rant. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. We are not responsible for the past, only ourselves and the future we try to make. If we could take all the energy wasted on screaming victimhood slogans and hating people who have never hurt them, and turn it into productive effort, like self-improvement, things could change. Maybe for the better.

Daily writing prompt

What’s something most people don’t understand?

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