I heart Ben Franklin...

As it relates to climate change reforms, banking reform, health care reform and industrial reforms, please carefully read on;

"The resentment of the people will, at times and on particular incidents, burst into outrages and violence upon such [elected officials], and this naturally draws down severity [of judgment] and acts of further oppression from hence.

The more the people are dissatisfied, the more rigor will be thought necessary; severe punishments will be inflicted to terrify; rights and privileges will be abolished; great force will then be required to secure execution and submission [to the will of the elected]; the expenses will become enormous; it will be then thought proper, by fresh exactions, to make the people to defray it; thence, the [elected officials] will become odious, and the subjections to them will be deemed no longer tolerable; [civil unrest] ensues and the [financially and socially] bloody struggle will end in absolute slavery [to the people], or ruin to the [elected officials] by the loss of [their people's faith]; the latter more probable, from the [peoples] growing strength and magnitude."

Excerpted from The Compleated Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin, pp. 66

Editorial additions by Jarret M. Sharp

Joe, you inspire me...

...now give me my book back. Party foul. You've had it long enough.

Sincerely,

Jarret

This just in...

Congress Blasts 'Outrageous' Security Breaches at Nation's Federal Buildings
The Government Accountability Office released a report detailing how investigators carried liquid bomb-making materials past security at 10 federal buildings in 10 cities. - Fox News Report

Seriously...

...yet as our children face pornography, immorality, gender blending, drugs, ethics violations and theft of tax payer dollars on a daily basis...

...Congress remains eerily silent on these matters.

I believe that if there's anyone even thinking of running for ANY office - NOW is the time! NOW!

Family Reunions...

UPDATE: My eldest Rachael attended the reunion - what a beauty! A rare and wonderful woman who calls herself my daughter and I glow like a magnesium phos trace round down range on a humid Afghan night, destined for a Taliban dome. My cousin Mike cooks a fine plethora of smörgåsbord, dry-rubbed/smoked meats, pies and the like. Terry can still throw a frozen rope. Dave likes to remind everyone about the time I pooped my pants and I love to tell his kids what a great and wonderful friend he was to me - I know, its a rather lop-sided affair that one, but I still love Dave very much...he saved my life more than once. He really did. James and Abby have the most wonderful children - I love them dearly. Will's kids are my boys. Wendy and Tim bring us to our knees with their children's smiles (sorry for mixing up the boys' names Wendy). And finally...trust your gut when the kids take off running in the gully - thanks for having my back Dad.

This weekend I am missing one to go to one (pregnant pause) I know you all well enough to know that you'll entertain an brief but all the same heartfelt explanation.

I recently returned from the Peoria Arizona Stake Youth Trek, where I was honored to be a Bosen, serving as a big brother to 15 amazing people. You may not know this, but Jessica Alba was a Bosen too. That's right. So was Moxxy Michaun and Mahvelous Miriam and Phather Phil.

I'm told we walked 17 miles, starting at 1:30 pm and ending at 1:30 am. No food. Some drink. At one point, the men were called to serve in the US Army and the women pulled .5 miles up hill. The Bosen girls took that hill like a storm unleashed on a dark night. Even loaning two of ours to another group to help them make the last little bit. Stunning.

I could write a book. I won't. The highlight for me...passing the Sacrament with the Bishops in our Stake. Thank you. Ma and Pa, brothers and sisters, thank you. I'll miss you this weekend, I'm headed north to reunite with the Smith's and Sharp's.

The sum total of who I took on that trek, includes all the people I will see this weekend. I was contemplating the totality of my life to this point and rekindling all those memories in preparation for The Gathering.

The Gathering consists of all the cousins over 40, in lawn chairs, gripping some legal beverage (root beer or lemonade that grandma made) and re-telling old tales with greater emphasis on their role in the story as victor or victim. As a relative outsider, my skills as a raconteur have to be Jordanesque or I could get trampled by larger families who have more influence.

You'll here about the Basalt vs. Aspen football legacy (concussions earned trying to sack my athletic cousin Terry), rappelling, bb gun wars, fires, eggs, pancake eating contests, milk drinking contests, missions, tubing and the occasional stake dance tale as well. Nieces and nephews will marvel at our escapades - legendary in our own minds - now ensconced in theirs.

We'll eat like kings, burn our balding heads, stay up all night playing card games and poking fun at each other. Our wives will snicker and our Mom's will grin when we stretch the tale a bit. When our bellies distend with too much meat and sauce and our breath carries the stench of too many pieces of pie, we'll retire, blessed with charmed lives, graced with youths that belong in the theaters.

When we part, as we did on the Trek, we will all be better for the experience. I reverently declare...

My Life is Brilliant.

Everyone should have one of these...

Last night I awoke (to be perfectly honest it was this morning, early, very very early - to me) to that sound that your kids make when you know they are going to throw up.

Different sounds for different kids - and typically they are still in denial about the actuality of the act - accompanied by a silent whine.

In Elle's case, she waveringly cries out, sniffs, yawns and cough-gags.

I am instantly sitting up - reminiscent of my days as a wrestler when my core responded on command. So I like to think that it is instant, but it probably takes me a few seconds - 10 - to get upright or up right as the case may be.

Jamie calls for The Bowl. A large red popcorn bowl that we use for catching the stomach leavings and depositing them in the main.

So I hurdle the laundry baskets, stacks of books, elliptical and other sundry items - down the hall through the kitchen, pantry (its still dark) fling open the door, snatch the wrong red bowl, put it back, grab the right one and make my way back to the room.

Elle has held her ground quite well, until she sees the bowl, and in a Pavlovian way - she lurches as I hoist her and the bowl away from the bed - and it happens.

So I am holding her, the bowl, her hair and trying to rub her back (she's asking for this in between episodes). The bowl gets a workout. And when she's finished with round three, I ask if she's okay.

"Maybe I can have some Sprite now Dad."

Get yourself a good puke bowl.

Life is brilliant.

When I think of Grandpa

I remember the time he pulled me aside and handed me a silver dollar - 1896 or thereabouts. I have 8 years on the planet at this point in my life. I still have it.

I turn it over in my hands, looking at lady liberty and the ridges on the outside - "Thank you Grandpa." as I heft the weight of it and wonder how much its worth.

Anyway, he says "I used to have stacks of these on my dresser." So I asked him what happened and he looks me in the eye and says, "My children never went hungry and they always had shoes."

I still don't know what the coin is worth - don't care. I'd trade it in for some more days or words.

Bon jour Mom.

Jamie
Mom, Wendy, Amy, Debi, Abby
Grandma Sharp
Myrna MEMom
Grandma Hazel
Grandma Smith
Aunt Cathy
Grannie
Grandma Sievers
Grandma Nancy
Aunt Barbara
Aunt MaryBeth
Aunt Lori
Aunt Marsha
Aunt Nancy
Aunt Suzie
Aunt 'Berta
Kelly
Jayme
Merc
Ms. Hood
Mrs. Artz
Mrs. Grant
Mrs. Wall
Mrs. Comroe...and all the rest...

Happy Mother's Day - May God Bless you and keep you forever.