Upside Down

by

Leo Crocker Rogers

To the very same house is delivered two bundles. One bundle is from E-Bay banded together with a NetFlix box and the other bundle is a group of certified letters demanding payment on bad debts. Upside is down.

"Upside Down" is when Owl flies inverted and says, "It is not money that causes problems any more than water causes problems. But mismanagement or inane management of money, like mismanagement of water, will cause floods of problems." And that was from an owl who earns nowhere near $40,000,000.00 a year.

Now this is a bit out there, but maybe it will resonate with some. When dating, a woman is impressed with the amount of money a boy or man spends on the girl or woman. In some cultures, the more extravagant the evening, the more the girl or woman looks forward to the next date saying, "This guy, boy, man, gentleman really likes, maybe loves, me." "How can you tell?, asks Tigger. She replies, "He spends a lot of money on me." "Really? Money means love?" asks Owl, the feathers on his neck raised.

I know businessmen and business women who live by the mantra, "Look rich, and the rich will look to you." And of course that does hold some water, that is until the businessman/woman over spends, and the mask of wealth drops to the floor and the over-spender is standing in his/her own puddle.

Why is it that the appearance of wealth or even wealth itself speaks of goodness? The boy spends his week’s earning in one night to impress his date. And she is impressed. Impressed with what – his inability to sustain his relationship based on his over spending? Or does she care about his extravagance as long as she has a good time that evening? The same goes for the boy. Money = love?

"Upside Down that’s what that is." says Owl.

Tigger, not wishing to be left out of the conversation, intones "Credit makes for a sound economic society.", as he stomps his feet and repeats, what he heard in the barn, ‘Four legs good.’"

"Upside Down.", says Owl, as he soars off saying "Two legs good." Then swooping down to make a low level pass, Owl lands on a branch to hoot, "Earn it before you spend it. Write it in stone."

Tigger underneath the branch, whips, "Then I’ll never have enough." "Then you do not deserve it.", says Owl.

"I certainly do." says Tigger. "Others have it, so I deserve it too, whatever it is."

Mr. Sanders, sitting beside Pooh Bear on the stoop of the house, with rain clouds hovering near by, and hearing Owl and Tigger, whispers to Pooh, "When we borrow to buy, we are feeding the serpent of interest – an entity that has no value other than being a parasite on the tree that is trying to grow." Pooh tilts his head to the side, smiles, waves at Tigger who is now standing on his head while trying to figure out how upside down makes sense. Pooh holds Mr. Sander’s hand and looks him nose to nose, and with a very serious stare, which is unusual for a Pooh Bear, says, "I pay cash for my honey and starve the serpent." "Good for you Pooh." says Mr. Sanders, as he gives Pooh’s paw a squeeze.

Tigger, being alert to the conversation, and seeing that it is about to rain, flips to his feet, snaps his heals together to stand at attention. And like a professor, he proudly states he has grasped the entire issue of upside down. "It is," says Tigger, "that we are smarter if we do not feed the serpent."

Right Side Up

Where there are woods, green with the leaves of trees and the softness of grass, dogs go to die. My Skipper went to our back yard, found a desert bush and laid down to continue to be with God. He was still, but he could see me, and I know he could hear me. So I brought him into the house and lay with him until he passed. I lay beside him as I did my own father as he passed. I know they knew they were loved, but it helped me to be able to say so. Giving is more than about the other person. Often it is about us well. That is interest as it should be.