EXISTENCE

Climate Change, Thermogeddon, Mad Hat leaders, terrorists, angst and anxiety – not a pretty picture.

Change the channel.

Who would believe? Finches have arrived for cookie crumbs. There you have it. Scientists might speculate in multiverses, or poets in verses. But in the mind's eye, beauty is everywhere. The end is near or far, and one thing is certain.

What to believe? Your freedom to swing your fist ends at my nose, through the night our flag was still there, workers of the world -- unite! The truth will set you free. Cookie crumbs. Beliefs are the bugaboos of small minds.

Yeah, there is no conclusion. The train of logic has gone astray. This is meant as either entertainment or edification, or neither. Defectors are encouraged. But no refunds.

Out here in the backyard, as the weather goes from record breaking heat to 'normal,' momentarily, I hear tiny cheeps nearby. Both finches are running a food train, rapidly hauling off crumbs, one after another. And naturally I ponder our earthly situation. So far as we know, we're alone in the universe.

The crumbs are disappearing fast. A piece of walnut that was too big has been removed to a nearby stepping stone. Pecking has failed to crack it, and now it's swarmed with ants.

Mrs. Finch lands by my elbow on the arm rest of my chair. Mr. Finch lands on my hat.

OK! There's another cookie in the kitchen.

For the time being, I know why I exist.