Tonight I’ll indulge my grumpy old man impulse…

As I travel, or go out to public places, I am often reminded of my maternal grandfather.  He was a grand and dignified man.  He served in the Navy through both world wars, raised five children on nothing more than the salary of a postal carrier in tiny Stratton, Nebraska, and was kind, generous and strong.  He told long, funny stories, not cheap jokes.  He was gentle with children and animals.

But I think of him these days because of the way he dressed.  Though money was tight, he lived his life without air conditioning, and he spent much of his life outside (he taught me to fish and to catch frogs) he clothed himself like a grown man: white button-down shirt, pressed khaki pants, bow tie, and, when outside, a modest fedora.  Even on casual outings on summer days, he dressed like this, like a man who respected himself.  Below are two photos of him with my brothers and I, on a June afternoon in Texas, in the yard of the house where I grew up.  That was my Popo, handsome and mature.

So when I see grown men dressed in baggy gym shorts, tank tops and flip-flops, in airports and grocery stores, I think of Popo.  They are juveniles with five-o’clock shadows, tacky and sloppy. They cannot hold a candle to my grandfather.  He was a man.  I miss him.  I am glad there is some of him in me.

As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, those 14 states which forbid gay marriage must now allow it.  I support this, since I want no government to hold the power to tell me or any other citizen who we may or may not marry.

All well and good.  But another 14 states (listed below) refuse to recognize my right, emphasized by a license issued by the state of Texas, to carry a handgun.  The Constitution neither names nor addresses marriage; the right to marry had to be gleaned by the court by intent.  The right to bear arms, however, could not be more explicitly recognized by the Constitution: the second amendment added to it declares that right in the clearest of terms.

From those who supported the court’s decision on gay marriage, I look forward to equally energetic support for the riddance of those laws which deny the right granted to me and all citizens by the Second Amendment.  Unfortunately, the 14 states are largely governed by the left, and I have no faith that those on the left will honor or even recognize such fairness.

In the meantime, I will not comply with the laws of these states, city and territory which deny this right:

California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington, District of Columbia.

Though a Christian, with right-leaning political views, I do not oppose gay marriage.  I have given it much thought, but cannot form any opposition that withstands the scrutiny I apply to any other political or social issue.  Namely: does it harm me?  No.  Does it lessen my liberties?  None that I can see.  Does it impose burdens or costs on me?  No, it does not.  I see no actual harm that it does to any citizen, nor can I detect any cost that it lays on any citizen.  Thus, it only works to expand liberty.

These are the most important criteria that I apply to any issue.  They are my touchstones, not the dictates or opinions of any political party, group or creed.  Words or actions that fail these criteria, I will oppose, whether they come from the left or the right.  Words or actions which pass these criteria, I will, at the least, not oppose, thought I may also not lend active support.

Furthermore, I can find no word or deed of Jesus Christ that even implies that we treat homosexuals in any way other than how we treat all others.  Paul may have made such statements, but I am a Christian, not a Paulian.  Christ said that His two most important instructions to us were to love God, and to love others.  He placed no qualifications on either.

Furthermore yet, I would like to see government, at all levels, withdraw itself from all regulation and oversight of marriage.  Government has no business there, and we should oppose its presence in such personal areas of our lives.

My three-legged cat continues to amaze me.  She has learned how to climb to the kitchen island counter, and from there to the top of the aquarium, where she dip a paw into the water.  I’ve grown very fond of this little cat.  Though she’s an adult cat, a friend says she still has the face of a kitten.

Now that we are beyond the summer solstice, the hours of daylight begin to slowly wane.  I am glad.  I enjoyed winter this year, and was sad to see it go.

The dummy being…me. This is a test of the WordPress app for iPhone… And whether I’m smart enough to use it.

“On top of Texas,” as hikers to the top of Guadalupe mountain like to say.  At the moment this photo was taken (Sunday morning), I was higher than anyone else in the Lone Star state (even the group of young people who arrived soon after I did), at 8749 feet.  The hike to the top climbs 3000 feet in just over four miles.  Surroundings, and views of other peaks and the salt flats beyond, change frequently, but all are magnificent.  After hiking many miles of trails in other national parks, I’m glad I finally made my way to this glorious part of Texas.