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Carlisle Collins

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My dad, a retired United Nations' diplomat, entertained hopes for a 'bright future' for me. "An ambassador," he avowed; "a plenipotentiary, to make us all proud!" As my grades seemed to be plummeting in step with the higher levels of classes I was luckily promoted to, so also Dad's aspirations in Yours Truly! Within a span of ten years, I sunk from Emissary, to Physician, to Engineer, down to Lawyer, and as Dad got progressively pissed off at my inaptitude and rebelliousness, to Sanitation worker! So, as (bad?)luck would have it, I worked in California State Law Enforcement a number of years clearing the streets of trash until my retirement. So as not to dent the Old Man's pride (He had developed Alzheimer's by then), we led him to believe I was a "doctor of sorts"; a Proctologist, to be precise! Now THAT's a profession Dad wouldn't be discussing in polite company! Besides, it wasn't too far from truth 'cos, being a cop, I was dealing mostly with assholes all day and garbage!

Retirement brought on the capacity to withdraw into myself, analyze, and reassess this entity, 'Law Enforcement'. ... and to introspect. One thing's for certain: In the short span of just a couple of decades, it has changed so much as to be (almost) unrecognizable even to the old guard! Change is good. Change is necessary to stay ahead of progressively more sophisticated criminal skills. But the change I see is dilution of the human spirit in those who claim "To Protect and Serve" (See Link for "The Changing Face of Law Enforcement" at http://havepenwillwrite.wordpress.com/category/more-ball-busting-events/page/3/. )

Empathy, understanding, compassion, the Samaritan desire to help someone better his lot or standing in the community is replaced by insensateness, acrimony, arrogance, lack of discretion in citizen encounters; a subtle but decisive transformation from public servant to tyrant.

I keep pretty much to myself and my new family. I must have done something pleasing to Providence that I've been blessed with the most darling little daughter this time around also! My son from a former marriage recently returned back home to California from his stint with the US Army in Iraq. His sister, my eldest daughter, is a banker in Oakland. Their cerebrally vacuous kid sister, the prettiest of the lot, just turned 'adult'. She's an aerobics instructor, claims to be going to college ("Creative Pottery 101"?), and is a proud member of a religious cult in the Bay Area.

I write, meditate, day dream, and try to perfect my levitation skills when embarking on inter-dimensional travel (Cheaper alternative, y'know!). And when things get really depressing, I grab the guitar and sing.

(An "unabridged" narration about the author can be read at
http://havepenwillwrite.wordpress.com/category/mission-possible/about-me/ ). THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN ME.

https://havepenwillwrite.wordpress.com/

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