Oh Really?

Greetings Fellow Travelers...

I was trying to make a point with a co-worker the other day when I asked him this question. If you had been alive during the years prior to the American Revolution what would you be doing? He responded by first laughing, then saying, "I have no idea." I told him I think I would be running my horse hard, pulling a wagon loaded with my printing press and enough supplies to publish a couple of more issues of a rebellious press.

I would like to think that my family and I would be heavily involved with the transporting of slaves to freedom. I can imagine myself at the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and vehemently demanding that all slaves be freed before the words "all men are created equal" could be considered for inclusion.

The reality would likely be closer to that of Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Young Goodman Brown." He was drawn to a gathering in the woods during Puritan times, thinking his Faith would sustain him through the harrowing ordeal. It didn't, or, should I say, she didn't. Everything he knew as solid and beyond reproach was destroyed by the revelation of its true nature. I could really relate to his plight. After his return to his reality he found it to be permanently and horribly altered. Evil was everywhere and in everyone.

I first read this story in college, so, it was not what destroyed my innocence. My ability to look on the bright side was stripped away from me at an early age and my need for an on-demand alternate reality took over. Not such a bad thing, really, but it sure can earn me a prize for sarcastic skepticism.

God bless those who can so clearly see the good in every situation- you know who you are. Needless to say I tend to look at something in it's most natural state, that is, with no embellishment of the real condition. I actually remove some of the outer wrapping, mentally, to get a look at what is, in my opinion, the real story. At times I find myself having to look away from someone because of the way they make me feel. More often than not, it is the opposite. My father used to chide me to "stop making people feel uncomfortable." That was never my goal. I look at people through lenses designed to remove any facade. But what can I do with this? How can I benefit humanity? I could be a super hero!

I could be "Reality Man!" My super power that I used the most would be similar to the one used by "Ghost Rider-" the "Penance Stare." Except my power would be called, "Oh Really?"

"Help! Help! My baby is trapped in that car that's being swept away by flood water!"

"Oh Really? Is that really your baby, or are you just suffering from Munchausen by Proxy? Why are you so needful of attention that you would sacrifice your child so?"

"I'm not... but... I... It's true! Oh, Thank you, Reality Man! You've saved me! Now I can live my life to the fullest and never cheat on my taxes!"

I would then assume a Superman pose as the fire department rescued the child.

"Reality Man! Reality Man! Help! That man is trying to rob that lady!"

"Oh Really? Is he really robbing her or is he only trying to extract more super delegate votes so he can effect positive change?"

"Oh, I see! Thank you, Reality Man!"

"You're Welcome, Senator."

"I, umm... uh... I'm the next President; actually."

"Oh Really?"