Despite the ugly weather, I’d decided to go out for a walk. I was hoping the fresh air would clear my head of the thoughts that were leading me down a path darkened by black clouds and despair.
The walk didn’t do much to help my mood, and when I returned to The House on the Hill, I discovered that a very important god was waiting for me on my porch.
“I was getting ready to hurl some lightning bolts to see if that would send you scampering back home,” Zeus said with a huge smile on his face as he stood up to embrace me.
“I had no idea you were waiting,” I apologized as best I could to the Father of the Greek Gods. “Why didn’t you just go inside?”
“Because unlike your other guests, I was raised on Mount Olympus, not in a barn,” he countered with a mighty laugh.
I was thrilled to see Zeus, who hadn’t been around much such the disappointment of Election Day.
If you recall, Modern Philosophers, Zeus had been Mayor McCheese’s campaign manager. After Governor LePage won reelection, both the candidate and his campaign manager had vanished.
“How have you been?” I asked my guest as I handed him a Snapple and we settled in on the couch.
“Still trying to get the bitter taste of defeat out of my mouth,” Zeus admitted as he took a huge sip of his Snapple to help with that process. “I haven’t seen McCheese in months. I hear he’s in Tibet.”
Mayor McCheese’s whereabouts would be a blog post for another day. I had a sense that Zeus wasn’t here just to shoot the breeze.
“So what brings you back to Maine?” I inquired, hoping the answer wouldn’t be painful.
“As much as I want to catch up with you, I am here on official business,” Zeus informed me with a half smile. “I had lunch with your pal Pope Francis yesterday, and he asked me to have a chat with you.”
That information left me perplexed. Pope Francis and I Skyped often, so I wondered what he could possibly want to convey to me that he couldn’t tell me himself.
“Is the Pope’s computer broken? Did one of the Cardinals download a virus again while trying to watch the soccer matches?” I hoped my attempt at humor would counter the effect of whatever bad news Zeus was about to dump on me.
“Frankie wanted to tell you this himself, but he thought it would be more powerful if this message from God was given to you by another god,” Zeus explained with a shrug.
I gulped. “A message from God? Those are never good. Is it about why Winter won’t end? Is this really the Snowpocalypse? Has End of Days arrived?”
Zeus rested a mighty hand on my shoulder to settle me, and he motioned for me to take a drink of my Snapple. I complied by chugging half the bottle.
“The thing of it is, buddy, God is pissed. And He’s pissed specifically at you.”
I almost dropped my Snapple. Something churned in my stomach. I immediately felt extremely lightheaded.
The Catholic Guilt was kicking in. Big time.
“God is pissed at me?” I asked as my entire body trembled. “Is this about all the Sunday blog posts with The Devil? Those are really popular with my readers, so I’ve just kept writing them. I can stop them immediately if that’s what God wants!”
Zeus shook his head. “The way Frankie put it, God has chosen you to spread His message via your blog. Whenever He needs you to post something, He sends an Archangel as a courier. Does this all sound familiar?”
Of course it did. God had sent the Archangel Rachel, the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, as His intermediary. Somewhere along the line, which I estimate to be the moment I first laid eyes upon Rachel, I’d fallen madly in love with her.
“This Angel has been unable to approach you with God’s word because you have banished her from The House on the Hill?” Zeus asked. “I told Frankie that didn’t sound at all like you because, aside from Zombies, you are warm and inviting to all Otherworldly Beings.”
Which was true. Except for the ones that had broken my heart.
“I might have made it clear to the Archangel that I was pissed at her, and she might be afraid to show her face around here,” I managed to get out between the dry heaves.
Zeus looked at me in an extremely puzzled manner. “I’m not sure what’s going on, Austin, but you need to clear the air with this Archangel if she is being sent to you with messages from your God. What’s the Angel’s name again?”
“Rachel,” I whispered since merely saying her name hurt so much.
“You need to fix things with Rachel,” Zeus advised. “Frankie made it clear that the Big Guy was not pleased with you, and that this never ending Winter was just one way He was punishing you for your actions.”
I knew this horrible Winter wasn’t an accident!
But how was I going to make this right? Rachel wasn’t exactly my favorite being right now. She was supposed to be my Guardian Angel, but I’d entrusted her with my heart, and she’d crushed it.
Of course, if I didn’t fix this, God was going to crush me under an avalanche of snow. What do I do???
Wasn’t able to jump start my brain today. As an example, I read this post and my first thought was, “How does Rachel fight anyone while she’s wearing that dress? “
I purposely skipped the Jump Start post today because I’ve been told I write too many posts. 😦
I wonder who the @$$ was who told you that. 🙂
Good one!
I don’t agree with that advice, but I’m giving it a shot.
You’re looking at the most popular topics and going with those?
There’s no such thing as too many posts, other than exhausting yourself. Although, you’re in between Snow and a Heart place with Rachel…
Write as many posts as you want! And, maybe try to clear the air with Rachel so winter will end for you! Who knows, maybe a lot of things will improve? Worth a shot! Whoever told you to reduce the writing can just not read if they don’t like it!!
That’s what I thought about the number of posts, but more than one person said it, so I didn’t so the Jump Start post today…
wow, not sure what to say. 😦 Some blogs I follow do a LOT more posts. Some people think they have to police everyone, I guess. So sorry
I have a lot to write about, and I assumed my blog was the perfect outlet for that. I’ll see how this weekend goes and decide what to do…
“They” do not understand “your” needs.Write!
Amen1
You should write as many posts as you want. Other people aren’t the ones in charge of your blog. I totally know how you feel though. It can be frustrating when people have negative opinions about the way you write or have something to criticize. They’re just lame. 🙂
They were saying that my views have gone down because they can’t keep up with all I write. That doesn’t make sense to me, though.
Hm, that doesn’t make sense to me, either. I mean I understand that not everyone will be able to read everything if there are frequent posts, but you definitely shouldn’t have to work around their schedules. People who want to read will read, and people who think they “can’t keep up” just won’t keep up.
You’d think that having more post would increase traffic, right?
Yes, you would definitely think so!
Well, I addressed this in tonight’s post. I look forward to your thoughts on it. 🙂
That’s good you did.
Sometimes, you just have to share your Deep Thoughts with your fellow Modern Philosophers, Becky. It’s very therapeutic. 🙂
That’s very true. It’s a great form of therapy. 🙂
Talking to you is an even better form of therapy. I keep waiting for you to bill me. 🙂
I’m glad it’s good therapy. Hey, I never thought of that. 🙂
If you’re going to bill me, you will have to present that bill in person, my dear. 🙂
Uh oh!
It’s Becky! She’s back. Or is this Becky’s Ghost?
It’s me!
That’s exactly what Becky’s Ghost would say! Zoinks!!!
Scary, huh? 🙂
Yes, more than a little. 🙂
🙂
Whoever thought you write too many post does not necessarily have to read them. Write what you want, when you want Austin, your blog, your post. They need only read what they want. ;o)
I’m starting to think that this is true. I try to listen to my readers, but that feedback just seemed odd. Thank you. 🙂
No problem. :O)
No one gets to be the blogger police – write what you want!! As far as Rachel – it is known that if you love someone set them free. . .
Its okay, let her go and make it right.
Who ended up paying?
Thanks for the input. I’ve been confused by this “you write too much and we can’t keep up with you” feedback.
I never did ask you picked up the bill, but I assume the Pope did since he invited Zeus and asked him a favor…
Send my regards to Zeus and tell him he’ll have better luck next time as a campaign manager…as long as it isn’t Mayor McCheese.
McCheese was leading in the polls for months, and there was some controversy in the end. Zeus ran a great campaign, though!
Now I’m craving a cheeseburger. I echo all the folks who encouraged you to write as many posts as you like. Not for nothing, but what kind of angel breaks your heart and isn’t nice about it? I’ve had my heart broken lots of times. The ones worth breaking it over are the ones you can stay friends with, and I would think an angel of all beings would find a way to let you down gently.
A cheeseburger does sound good. And I’ll keep writing!
I completely understand the feeling of being crushed by someone. It’s not a great feeling at all.
Well, she is my Guardian Angel and an Archangel at that. She should be looking out for me, not upsetting me. Zeus tried to help, but I don’t think he gets what’s wrong. Maybe I need to talk to Gwen about this…
Yes, you’re right that she should be helping you and not making you upset. Maybe you do need to talk to Gwen. 🙂
I’ve had this urge to call Gwen and just talk, but I don’t know how she’d feel about it…
Hm, yeah I don’t know what she thinks about it right now, either.
I wonder why she isn’t sure about it. Is it that big of a step?
That could be.
Thanks for the tip. I won’t press Gwen on it now. I really like her and don’t want to rock the boat. Especially since I can’t swim…
You’re welcome. Aw, Gwen will help you out, don’t worry!
I hope Gwen would help me. I really like her…
She would help you for sure.
I hope so. She seems pretty awesome, and I think she likes me. 😉
🙂
There’s that smile I’ve missed so much since your last blog comment 2 years ago… 😛
Haha. 🙂
Now you’re laughing. This is a very good sign.
Yes, it’s definitely a good sign. 🙂
Keep smiling and laughing. A happy Becky makes the world a better place. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
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