Afterwards

When we first moved into our five-and-a-third acres of heavily wooded wilderness, I planned to tame it, to make the grounds charming and accesible, but as the years passed by, I grew to love the land as it was. I'd like to stay here forever but know that one day I will have to move to more appropriate lodgings. Not that my absence will be forever--when I die, my spirit will return to this acreage to wander around in the woods, talk to the rocks and the trees, and keep guard over any children who are drawn to explore the wonderful, beautiful wilderness I love so much.

Pondering Capital Punishment

The Manchester massacre has stirred the tendrils of Fiorella's brain, and she's thinking about fitting puishments. Death, of course, and not one of those painless ones. How about locking the perp into stocks and letting him starve to death? Or stretching him till he breaks on the wrack? Or setting him up for a long, slow hanging? Shouldn't someone who has caused so much pain and sorrow be required to experience some for himself? Personally?

But, Fiorella, you protest--you are a liberal and a Christian. Yes, Fio is slanted left, but she's never been opposed to capitol punishment. Not everyone should have a second chance. In fact, far too many second-chancers murder again. There are some people whom this world is best rid of, and it isn't as if death is the end of the road. Fiorella, as you know, believes in an afterlife in which all will be cleansed and exist in harmony, even the worst of us.

Retread

Maybe eternal life consists of innumerable variations of each person's life.  Maybe we are all reborn as before, but with different opportunities, and we make different choices.  Maybe Fiorella's parents would have stayed in Ohio rather than move to Texas.  Maybe she would have chosen to attend Rice rather than University of Texas, or maybe she would have stayed in Waco and gone to Baylor, despite required attendance at Baptist chapel.  Maybe her art career would have taken off and she would never have tried her hand at writing novels.  Maybe she would have learned Spanish or some other language well enough to really use it.    The maybe's are endless--thus, eternal life.