Inherited Survival Skills

Could you build a fire with rocks and sticks? I couldn’t.

Could you fend off a hungry bear?

Build a shelter? Dig out a canoe?

Could you make your own clothes, or shoes?

Could you kill a deer with a hand-fashioned bow and arrow?

Me neither.

I am Chuck.

I have a mate (soul and heart) whom I call Pooky-Bear.

We have raised a family in a comfortable home that shelters us from the elements, both natural and criminal.

We live in a thriving city, with clean water, ready power, access to exceptional education and medical care, in a conservative, God-fearing, agriculturally based state, in a resource rich, strong and influential democratic, capitalistic country which happens to also be the most racially and religiously diverse country in the world.

All of the comfort and protections my wife and I (as well as others in our city, state, and country) enjoy are the results of centuries upon centuries of civically applied experimentations which have been systematically and scientifically integrated or abandoned (as warranted) for the greater and common good.

All we need do is study hard, work hard, and follow the established laws and mores of this civilization (be a good and beneficial citizen) to benefit from the result of eons of struggle and learning.

So sleep in peace. All is well here. Feel free to play on your tablets in your thermostatically controlled environments with a snack close at hand. We are fortunate enough to live in the easiest and best of times; times built upon the blood, sweat and backs of millions who actually had to suffer and toil to establish these comforts for us.

Lighten up a little, and enjoy.

And stay away from the news!