HEAR YE HEAR YE

HENCEFORWARD, I, Pops, will be issuing an occasional "Executive Order". Why? Apparently we septuagenarians can be someTHING vibrant and virile by casting out a wordy, and often silly and irrational edict with all kinds of magisterial pomp, adding the flourish of a giant signature written with a Magic Marker, as if the marker and the mark it makes are somehow magically magical.

WHAT GOES IN TO A GOOD EXECUTIVE ORDER? Based on my own biased and baseless research: it needs to sound bold and brash. Sometimes it moves things forward with some expediency. Sometimes it shines a light on a need, or a problem needing a solution. Sometimes it offers a "solution" looking for a problem. Sometimes the Order is demagogic--stirring the pot and firing folks up for popularity's sake whether the idea serves any virtuous, just or moral purpose or not. Sometimes though, the Order can set in motion steps necessary to right the ship; or sink it--intentionally or not, maybe in hopes of setting a new one, a gaudy and golder one to sail across the waters in the Gulf of Whatever.

As I was thinking through what my first few Executive Orders would be, it dawned on me; I'm not an executive. I don't have a merry band of minions to execute any order. I don't have supporters, loyalists, an electorate, or a population of citizens: legal or not, whose lives might be improved or unsettled and altered--consequences be damned. I do wield some authoritarian sway over our GrandKids--wait, ignore that! It's actually the other way around.

So maybe "executive order" isn't what I'm looking for. How about this idea: I will issue DECREES! Sound the bugles! Unfurl the banners.

Maybe that's too regal. Maybe you have to have loyal subjects. [Shhh] (Don't mention this word to the current executive-orderer-in-chief. I have a feeling he might like the sound of handing down a Royal Decree or 200.)

Well, if not an EO, or a Decree, what's left for me. Surely at seventy-something I should be able to make a ceremonial something, something official if only because I've written it down and signed and sealed it and put it out there. Afterall I’ve been writing posts for this silly blog for more than ten years. At least it should be something that other like-minded beings could say: "Right On Pops!" "I'm with you." "Let's do this."

Then, I found it. From time to time I will be proclaiming A DECLARATION--an official announcement from POPS-DOM, a humble, peaceful, happy, funny little kingdom without a king, just a silly old man with enough time on his hands to actually ponder stuff like this.

Soon now I will be doing my first official Declaring ceremony, presenting the Declaration, signing the document and offering to any and all (for a small token to cover shipping and handling), a signed copy of the Declaration in a lovely presentation folder, along with the pen I use to sign it . But wait! That's not all. For a limited time, while supplies last, I will include a copy of my award-winning chili recipe which will come in handy when I Declare that any frigid frosty, cloudy, drizzly day with "feels-like" temps below zero(f) to be a good day for Chili, Tulsa style of course, with spaghetti noodles and saltines. Verily, Ye Verily.

I may not be Declaring for a few days. On this day after President’s Day 2025, our little village is iced over. I can’t get to the office supply store to get official pens and Declaring paper until The Thaw, because I do declare: that 70-somethings and frozen sidewalks are a hazardous combo. Stay safe and warm my friends.