Some people will be upset by my discussion of the Catholic Church. However, I want you to realize that all of my statements regarding the International Association of Exorcists are factual and not just from Wikipedia. I have conducted a bit of Q&A from a variety of sources in the U.S. and found that there are a LOT of Papal documents concerning the formation and funding of this association going back to 1990. Yes, I think that these guys are a bit out there. But they have the support of the Catholic Church in many countries, and such support can move a lot of emotion. And bury a lot of bodies.
this was not a smear. This was a portrayl of the actions of some groups in the 1990s.
Some people are a little worried about my portrayal of "real People" Others think what I am understating the kind of person I am introducing. I want to set a couple of things straight.
William Webster is a minor character in this story. But I am trying to do justice to the man whose career has spanned direct appointment from 4 different presidents from both parties.
He was appointed a federal judge by R.M Nixon in 1970 and elevated to the court of Appeals in 1973. He served there until appointed by Jimmy Carter to head up (Clean up?) the Central Intelligence agency in 1978. He served as driving head (and he was a True Driver) of that agency until he was asked by Ronald Reagan to fix the mess that existed in the FBI in 1987. He served there for four years (1987 to 1991), when he finally decided to leave government service (And government paychecks) and accept his place at Milborne. In 2005 he served a VERY short stint in return to federal service (PCAOB) under Barrack Obama, but left when he realized that 1. He was 80 years old. 2 His wife wanted him Home, 3 the mess of Public companies being forced to comply with federal law was a raging pile of Brown Sauce.
In 2005, Federal Service sucked him back into service on the Homeland Security Advisory board. Where his mantra has always been "Order protects Liberty, and Liberty Protects Order". This motto has stood the test of time in his entire career. Personal Responsibility is paramount with this man, within the order of society. And Organized Social Order should protect the liberty of the individual.
So, what does this have to do with this story? Hank has a lot of good reasons for wanting someone like this to be a conduit to our Federal Government. A "No BS, Straight Shooter" with respect (and some fear) of everyone in the Judicial and Defense and security circles of government is not someone you want to treat dismissively. And at 100, he is still sharp as a knife. He fears for the existence of the agencies he has headed because of the drive to "Fix" them. He is the voice of moderation, and not the voice of destruction. Like me, he fears the political divide that has seized the country, where Order overcomes Liberty, and where the libertarian drive seeks to break down the established Order. And he is somewhat right. There is a need for change, but to rebuild the structure, not tear it down to the foundation. The problem is that there is no compromise in this governance today.
Sounds like a complicated situation. And it is. But what do you expect from a Pisces born in the Middle of the Sign? And besides, we share that birthday. (March 6).
Well, I was. Until I got really lucky. Let me explain.
In 1968, I was an offered an "Alternative to Sentencing" for some rather bad behavior I had demonstrated. So I found myself (In August) in a place called "Parris Island, South Carolina". Such a wonderful resort to be in during August. When I graduated from that fine facility, I was offered (Told) that I was going to see another wonderful Spa called Camp Lejeune. From there I was sent to my first reporting location in California with (You guessed it) the 1st Marines. Specifically 2/5. Now that was a Very Interesting collection of people. And after 3 months, I was rotated to my first of 3 years of assignment in some place in South East Asia. I was not going to be Home For Christmas.
Before departure, I sent my footlocker home. And forgot about it. Got a new one "in Country". TO my parents. Who promptly preserved this wonderful piece of my personal history in the back of the basement.
This year, my sister called me and asked me "What do you want me to do with this old trunk that we inherited from Mom and Dad?"
It got here last week. In it was the collection of diaries and journals I kept as I was going through Basic, AIT, Sniper, and the other interesting "schools" I attended in 1968 to 1969. As well as my thoughts as a young man in a strange world.
It included my First Professional Career. That of a Deputy Sheriff. (Only job I could get when I got back in 1972). From there (2 years later) I shifted my career path to be a Telephone Man working for C&P Telephone. And life changed for me.
Now what does all this mean to you as readers? Simple. I was stuck with Hank, trying to be the 84 years old man in a 25 year old body. And I forgot the mindset of a Testosterone driven Young Man in the 1970s and 1980s. So I scrapped the work I had so far done on "Hank and Karen" and decided to revisit it with the temperament of the 25 year old with a slightly older woman living in Ga.
I hope you like the result.