Dateline Normal: "The Legacy Thang"-or; "Unfinished Projects Reviewed"----Fiction

Well it's summertime again. Time to review the list of projects around the home. Time to review the budget for all the repairs. And get the time to begin....and finish...all of them.

I have been giving a considerable amount of time reflecting on completion. It seems that our President Bush has been doing the same. It's the legacy thing. Must git R done. Complete the mission. See the meaning of our supreme accomplishment.

In fact, in the heat of last week, there was some heated discussion here regarding getting some of the projects done. In fact, just some progress would be good. What was the problem?

I decided to just pick up the phone and discuss this with my old friend Herman, the countryboy lawyer in Normal, Mn. ---also served on the Normal School Board. I always counted on his wisdom for a little balance to the frenzied life in these here parts.

"Herman how do you handle the pressure to complete projects and such. You seem so relaxed all the time. Are you NOT worried about the Legacy thang?"

"Shucks, Wolfman. (That's what he always called me.) You just need some fishing time. It would make things perfectly clear.

"Up here, we leave the project thang-- the vision thang--- at the edge of town. It is important to ask for the right things. You know not what you ask for......"

"Huh?---I asked.

"You think you want to know. All the good. All the perfect pictures of your legacy. You forget....If you got that....and it would be much more good than you think.....you would by law....have to get all the bad too.....all the evil.....a lot larger than you think too......"

"So what is it when President Bush wants his legacy," I asked.

"It's not about that at all. He wants to survive to the end of his term. He does not want to see at all. Can't bear to face it. Take personal responsibility for it. "

"And besides," Herman went on, " Since when did you become the creator of the universe, that you should know the supreme meaning of things. Up here in Normal, we just fish. Mostly just catch and release. That's best. We leave the fame and esteem to others. "

I was just shocked.

I got off the phone in dismay. Thank goodness I am back home in our fair city. Where we can quest for fame. For projects with our name on them. Whether they make sense or not. Whether they benefit anyone. As long as they are on our watch.

Alleluia.