This is Franklin and Applewhite, they are two rock guardians I met on one of my many photo journeys.  They were placed in the river by Mother Nature herself to watch the amount of human pollutants that have entered their ecosystem.  They have been very busy the last fifty years.  They witnessed when the railroads were built, when trains blasted through the forest spewing smoke and tossing sludge everywhere.  They feel the effects of the acid rain that slams into the earth penetrating the soft soil with its poisonous sting.  They have seen the landscape change, they have seen the world change, yet the effects of the pollution still remain.  The trains have ceased, the railroad tracks have been removed, yet the effects of 200 years of human ignorance have taken their toll on the land that Frank and Applewhite have been fastidiously observing for all that time.  I learned a few things from talking to them and surprisingly with all the death and destruction they have seen they still remain optimistic that everything will work out in the long run.  It’s hard not to think positively when I commune with them, but believe it or not this is not the main plot of my blog today, this was just a long winded intro to the main theme:

 

Last week I ranted about a certain township denying me a liquor license because of my “extensive” criminal record, form 10 years ago.  Well I sent a few more emails and I spoke to, or tried to speak to one of the individuals whom made the erroneous decision and nothing was getting accomplished.  All I could get was that even though they didn’t actually look at my record they were confident an evil doer like me would reek havoc on their peaceful township if I had access to a liquor license.  I then began to remind them that the same township and the same people approved me for the same license just four years prior, with the same record.  I asked them to explain how something like that could happen and the next thing I know I was sent an email by the town chairman saying to cease and desist and if I wanted my license I would have to bring my entire record with me and explain every charge I ever got, whether I was prosecuted or not, that is not legal and I promptly sent a reply telling him such.  I also figured that I had done enough to show that they made a mistake, I know as public officials they won’t admit they made a mistake, but the fact that the same people had given me the same license they are now denying me proved that they did in fact err.  I did something that I never thought I would do, especially since I had built a great case against them, I dropped my appeal and ceased Operation Restore My Name.  I realized that all the frustration and negative energy I was feeling over the whole matter wasn’t worth my time, or theirs.  I know they made a mistake and I knew since they were public officials they would deny any wrong doing and hide behind obscure laws or just downright ignore me.  Sun Tzu once said, “sometimes a defeat is actually a victory in disguise.”  I didn’t win, but I didn’t lose either, I may not ever get to serve alcohol in the Town of Eileen, who cares, I am a chef anyway, the point was they made a mistake and I wanted them to be aware of it.  They are well aware they made a mistake, I made certain of that.  The battle may have been lost but I feel like I took a giant step toward winning the war.  I know I have changed, I know I am a better person than I was ten years ago and why should I care what 4 or 5 ignorant hillbilly’s think about me or my past.   I am who my past made me and without it I wouldn’t be the man I am or the man I am hoping to become.  Last week was a big step for me in my battle for my emotions.  Although I was angry and frustrated over the incompetence of some rednecks who shovel manure for a living I learned to control those feelings and even to use them constructively.  Mace Windu, the Jedi Master, learned how to use the emotions of the dark side for the purposes of good and justice; I believe I am learning the same trick.  I have begun to use all the negative energy and emotions sent my way as fuel for my writing, and while I continue to climb the mountain to reach my dreams I will be happy to see those who doubted me happily chained to the bottom looking up at what I will eventually become.  It was weird feeling good about myself even after admitting defeat, I like it and I think this was a major breakthrough.  I am also not a moron, I know there will be many, many more obstacles to overcome in the future I believe I may have an idea as to how to deal with them.  Thank you to everyone of you who believe I me, it is because of you that I shouldn’t care what a few mis-informed individuals think of me or who I used to be.  I am humbled for having such great family and friends, thank you all and I promise I will make all of this worthwhile.  In the meantime I will enjoy this journey as much as possible no matter what may be thrown at me……..PEACE!!!!!!!!!!