Masonic Reflections

Dog Days Approaching

Time to update the chronicles of the journey. The summer has gone by fast with only a few really hot days. I am getting by better; chronic pain is interesting to live with. As the day wears on, the pain like a persistent tooth ache continues to zap at your very strength and will. I decided to try going to a Naturopathic doctor to see if they are very any alternatives to the ineffective toxic pain treatments that I my other doctor prescribes. Pleasantly surprised to find that she concurs with the nutritive therapy approach and that a combination of plant sterols, herbs and patented glyconutrients (http://sweetparadise.goldenkeys.net/ ) which compliment allopathic medicine. After a “loading” period of delicious plant sterols, I am pleased to say that I have had three days without the pain. Yahoo! (and I don’t mean the search engine) I am hoping this continues so that I will have the energy and inclination to do a little traveling. I haven’t been able to do as much visiting this summer, with work during the day and teaching Biology at Vincennes University in the evening.

Last month was the parking lot BBQ hosted by William Upton, Naval & Military Lodge. I felt very relaxed after a grueling day in the quarries. It seems so often that our own lodge is hosting these dinners, that it was gratifying to see the other brethren and their ladies having planned a nice dinner out. What a great time! All the basics of were there, including the new fangled relish dispenser that soaked my bun in juice but not relish. I do not do relish juice. Lucky me, several people stepped up for assistance and we got the relish worked out. But finally having labored to lovingly constructed and leveled my hamburger tower, I devoured it in a matter of minutes.

The Kitsap County Shrine Club was organizing their circus that weekend, and many of the younguns were running around planning their outings and events. I kicked back with Brother Tim. After the meeting, the WM and I toasted each others health sharing a blackberry flavored soda. The natural wholesome taste of berries corrupted in a can. We enjoyed a good laugh and a few nose tingling NutraSweet bubbles.

The meeting went off well. This lodge recently had a coffee shop that they manned for a time and raised several thousand dollars which they planned on giving to the Masonic Youth groups. VWB John Watson was his cheerful self, and seems to amicably follow along finding a pun, an opening somewhere to appropriately interject a humorous comment or observation. His presence always lights up the room, especially when he can make people laugh. I enjoy seeing him laugh because the laughter is so natural and honest. I remember wondering if John just loves to laugh or just has the desire to make other people laugh. Perhaps the only motivation is really love of his brethren and the desire to fulfill the promise of each moment in Friendship and Brotherly Love.