Mondays can have weird effects at times. Such was the most recent Monday, yesterday. It was day that was emotionally traumatic. My psyche was filled with memories and pains of an incident from over 20 years ago that scarred me and haunts me. The details will remain within my gray matter unspoken and unwritten. Suffice to say that the event came crashing into my mind resulting in a Monday which left me drained, churning and hurting.

Usually on Monday evenings I make a trek to the Sullivan American Legion to enjoy an evening of karaoke. This Monday, I could not bring myself to join in the frivolity. This Monday, even picking Iohn up from work was a strain.

Now it is Tuesday. The trauma of the past has passed. The nearly perfect morning in the cornfield has brought a certain soothing nuance and ambiance to my mental acuity. I sit typing, although my eyes are heavy still feeling the effects of Monday. Deep inside I can feel the artesian spring of wellness building and bubbling. It has not risen to the surface yet...but I can sense the impending gusher of wellness.

The intense, severe cluster pain has passed. The depression phase that always follows is easing. There is a slight shimmer of light emerging out of the darkened corners.

Today marks the last day not only of June, but also marks the end of the first half of 2009. The year is starting its descent down the other side of the mountain already! Has time begun to pedal much faster or is it that as I age stretching of the minutes, the moments, the hours merged into a blurring frenzy?

At least the emotionally traumatic Monday has past.

Sunday, the traditional day of rest in the US of A and most of the western world...so it is here in the cornfield. But of course when you are medically retired as I am every day in the Den is a day of rest.

Rest...an interesting term...but just what does it really mean to rest? According to the creation account in Genesis, God complete His work in six days (either literal or figurative) and "rested" on the seventh day. Doctors quite often prescribe "rest" to their patients. Military personnel go on leave for "rest" and recreation (R&R). We "rest" up before strenuous activity or a sports competition. Jesus stated, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Is "rest" merely a cessation of work activity or is the implication deeper, more encompassing? Does "rest" imply physical relaxation or recuperation or does it imply more a mental impact? Perhaps it is a combination of both.

It would appear that "rest" is more associated with one being set free for a specified time period from responsibility, from worry, from stress. The impact of "rest" would then be a period of recuperation, a time to regroup and recoup.

A mind that cannot find "rest" is one that is tortured. A body that goes without "rest" soon ceases to function. A nation caught up in struggles, confrontations, wars and has no respite or "rest" from military action soon becomes weary and falters.

"Rest" is a necessary action or should I say non-action vital to the continuation of existence. "Rest" is a main ingredient of heaven. The inability of "rest" is one of the factors that makes hell, hell.

So on this Sunday, I wish you all rest. May you find your piece of heaven here on Earth. Rest...

It's been a few days since my last entry. Not really much to tell. The scorching heat continues to plague the cornfield. Inside the Den, it is cool and comfortable.

Iohn is in hopes of increased hours at work. He is doing all he can to try and bolster our economy.

Frankie and Tigger romp and play. Eat from each others dish. Drink from each others bowl.

Friends drop by to visit. Often those visitors take advantage of the couch.

Fathers Day was spent at Mom's. She prepared a great meal including barbecued ribs that were moist and tender.

My appointment with the IU School of Dentistry is ever closer. The date for the initial meet is July 8. A visit to see my oldest son David and granddaughter Dylan is also on the agenda that day.

Time to get back to fanning myself and enjoying my morning coffee. Don't want a sweet peach like me sweltering now do we?

The annual homage to those who made our entry into the world possible is once again upon us. As I stated last year, a more appropriate day would be one honoring dads and not fathers.

Any male of reproductive age can be a father, which is only a sperm donor. It takes a special man to be a dad. A dad is someone who is more than just a mother's means of obtaining a child. A dad is an active, involved part of a child's life from birth to grave.

Fortunate or unfortunately, depending on perspective, often those men who have the role of dad are not the ones who provide the biological ingredient that resulted in our creation. As the song notes and should be played many times today, "I hope I'm half the man, he didn't have to be." The song of course is about a man who took on the responsibility of a young boy from another man. He didn't just marry the mother, but made a family for the boy and the mother.

But again for all those men who have remained supportive and a part of their child's life, a tip of the hat. It takes a real man to hang in there when the easy thing would be to disappear.

So to all the men out there who are "DADS" have a great and happy Fathers Day!

An early morning storm ravished the cornfield yesterday morning. All things electrical were dead for nearly 10 hours in the Den yesterday. The mercury rose to 86 while the humidity made the air difficult to breathe.

Email was inaccessible. Air conditioning was non-existent. Coffee made the overnight was cold.

Sometime around 7 a.m. yesterday, winds and rain pelted the cornfield. Power losses were reported throughout the Wabash Valley. For us denizens of Dugger in the middle of the cornfield power was off from around 8 a.m. until nearly 6 p.m.

We made sure our "kids" Frankie and Tigger (the new official name of our newest family member the stray kitten) had plenty of water. The kids seemed to fare much better than we did.

Thankfully, power has been restored. Thankfully the air conditioning unit is functioning. The temperature is expected to rise to s suffocating 96 today. The heat in itself would be tolerable, but coupled with a heavy moisture ladened atmosphere it is nearly impossible to not suffer.

Fortunately, we survived our day in the dark without 'puter withdrawals. Fortunately, nothing of import transpired online that required our attention.

And how is your summer going?