Musings of a Senior Scribe
Falling for the Mirror Image
By Mona Lease 

Hi all!! Mirror, mirror on the wall - Who's the fairest (brokest?) of them all? In my last column, I wrote to Sharon Hopper about how we got to where we are, as a people, in what is supposed to be the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, our USA. Now, we'll look at what I believe to be the underlying cause. I mean no disrespect to anyone. 

It probably started with the surgery to remove excess eye skin on those stricken with Down Syndrome - the missing gene stuff we looked at, back a few columns. They do the same with the over-sized tongue. - it's amazing! I've watched these surgeries. It is truly remarkable - and a fantastic thing in that case. 

Somewhere along the way, someone spoke with a psychiatrist - "I just feel so inadequate with my tiny, little chest."  (This really happened. I promise.) The Psychiatrist said, "Yes, that would make you feel inferior when you look at others." (See what happens when we compare ourselves to others?). He writes a letter, the insurance company agrees, a surgeon is paid and VOILA - no more "straight highway!"  And, like a drug - she went for nails, hair, tanning, clothes, car, etc. Just like Michael Jackson, in the end, she did not look like herself. And straight out of Bobby Bare's song "Marie Laveau" - remember? - Marie Levaue was a witch. Handsome Jack got her to give him a million dollars. He told her he would marry her. She gave him the money. And in his words - "You're too damned ugly for a rich man like me." And he left her. In that same vein - the above woman left her husband. 

See? "Someone" held up a mirror - image. Everyone can look like this. "All you gotta do is" - this Dr., that Surgeon, this hospital, those pills, this insurance company, that psychiatrist, etc. But, no matter how much of this stuff we beg, borrow, or steal - we will never stop the aging process. We will never cheat Death. The very best we can do is to leave a legacy of truth and morals - "As for me and my family" - we will not buy into the pomp and circumstance of media, Hollywood, etc. 

In Whoville, the Grinch stole Christmas. Or so he thought. He thought Christmas was presents, trees, lights, food, etc. but, when the "big morning" came - the Whos sang anyway. There they stood - the skinny ones, the fat ones, and the blonde ones. The kiddies and the adults stood beside the old ones and the babies. Some wore glasses. Some had gray hair. 

All of the "outward" hallmarks of Christmas were gone. But the whole "idea", the thing that kept Christmas going year after year was - it lived in the physical heart. So, with all the "fluff and stuff" gone, all they had left was what always had been - the heart. The only way left to show what was in the body was to let it out in the form of a song. And they opened their mouths and sang out the love, hope, and promise that was Christmas. 

Sadly - Michael Jackson looked good before all the surgery. But, he died not believing that. He fell for the "Mirror Image." While we, as a people, have been looking in the "mirror", preening, and making Dr. appointments, someone snuck in among us. Someone removed our National Flag from the President's Office. Someone removed "In God We Trust" from our "new money."  Who held up the "Mirror?" 

And, welcome aboard CNO to Paul Ackley!! I had Art Class with you at GHS. Had I continued with art, I would be submitting drawings to illustrate my point. Instead, English and Grammar were a better "fit" for me. May you have a long and prosperous "career" with CNO!! 

Remember the kiddies and our service people. Take good care of the furry and feathered ones out there. Be safe and healthy. See ya next time. Ever Toodles!! MONA