LINCOLN, FLAMINGOS, PECAN PIE, AND HOPKIRK

LINCOLN, FLAMINGOS, PECAN PIE, AND HOPKIRK

By Andy Weddington

14 July 2021

He didn't look like a soldier at all. He looked like a filthy flamingo. 

- Kurt Vonnegut 

We're all Tucker Carlson. 

So, "Top of the morning, NSA. 😊"

Abraham Lincoln's way, and he counseled, was to write when angry. 

Get it out, he practiced. And then he'd slip the longhand venom-laced draft (contrary to popular social media lore, Abe did not own a Mac) into his desk drawer and cool down. Later he'd polish into the gentlemanly prose necessary and deliver (with intended effect). 

President Lincoln's way mine (most times).

Friday last a nationally syndicated talk radio program played two clips of President Biden recently making scripted remarks (re: Afghanistan) from teleprompter. Each clip played several times. Jibberish. 

Joe Biden is President of the United States and cannot read. 

Why?

Because his brain no longer properly processes information.

Simple as that.

Write I did before today. 

But for being calm none of it will be published.

Bottom line: High stakes politics (and business) is void humanity and empathy. 

Many like Joe Biden reside under the ever watchful eye of family or in a memory care unit; enjoying ice cream as often as they like (while not remembering the last serving, if only minutes prior). Generally, they're happy. 

How much ice cream is being served in the White House family quarters? In the Oval Office?

Think about it. 

For months flamingos have been on mind. 

Someone interested in a painting showed me some poor photographs. Real poor. Distant view. There was not color. Resolution vague. In short, I'd likely not have guessed flamingos.

But comment, "There was flash of pink when our guide said, 'clap'," stuck with me. 

Since those words, with a handful of flamingos paintings done and most sold, I am still thinking about and how best to paint flamingos.

Unexpectedly, an odd thing happened. The three words 'flash of pink' haunting and made for idea.  

Can I paint 'flash of pink' and the only interpretation be flamingo flamboyance (a "flock" of flamingos)?

Simple but complex (the painting could be copied, never the idea).

Sold painting the answer.

Paint not bird but idea of birds (tip of the hat to Mr. Van Gogh and Mr. Diebenkorn - the latter a Marine).   

More to come.

Last week a retired Marine longtime pal posted comments about U. S. policy in Afghanistan on LinkedIn.

I don't do much on LinkedIn. Rarely comment unless something hammers a chord. But a short sentence comment on his posts.

The last: Try making pecan pie with pine nuts.

My wife has figured out how to make pecan pie without Karo syrup and sugar. Spectacular! 

She also enjoys roasted pine nuts.

Though pine nuts could be used instead of pecans they cannot be if expecting pecan pie.

That pretty much sums up U. S. policy in Afghanistan.

The consequence(s) of that (ignorant) policy a gift to Peter Hopkirk - author of the exceptional non-fiction tome 'The Great Game' (history of war in Afghanistan). Arguably not read. 

Mr. Hopkirk - not met nor know if scholar on Lincoln, Alzheimer's Disease, knows much about flamingos, or likes pecan pie or pine nuts - now has ample material not for another chapter of 'The Great Game' but a volume.

My time short for more important matters. 

So ...

Yeah, I'm angry.

You should be furious.

There's one reason, but only one reason, Joe Biden eats ice cream in our White House.

That reason unconscionable. 

Nuts. 

Pine on it awhile.

Courageous up.

There's flamingos to consider, sliver of pecan pie to complement third cup of coffee, and an ice cream run to make. 

Thus, concludes Lincolnesque polish; falling short, again, of his eloquence.