If they find out

Dear Friend,

Sometimes I find that, while I absolutely love one side of a person, when they step into another arena, I'm not a fan. Take Ben Franklin, for instance. As an inventor, he' credited for everything from swim fins to the flexible catheter.  Let that sink in, friends who've had one in place. They didn't used to be flexible. Furthermore, Franklin was the founder of America's first volunteer fire department, had a hand in founding America's first public hospital, and created America's first traveling library. I can almost forgive him for the U.S. Post office. Franklin is better known to us, however, as a writer. I'm not sure here I'm always a fan. At best, in most instances, he's a collector. A lot of material may be charitably considered "borrowed and slightly improved". But his quote "three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead" is spot on. "Two may keep a secret if one of them is dead." is later attributed to Mark Twain, and becomes popularized by the Hell's Angels. So.. Before you go popping that out, you might want to realize it's a part of their code.

Why this thing about secrets. Oh. You didn't remember. I know. You were in a hurry. But it made my morning. Maybe it made my week. And quite possibly know more. You were a part of a large group my wife was entertaining. When I walked in, you fired what you thought was an innocuous dinner party conversation, because you'd been using it for most of your working life, which I'm guessing was nearly fifty years. "So what do you do at your job?"

"Oh man, I said. It's great. Every day I show up. And they pay me to love people."

The look on your face immediately turned to one of absolute horror and concern. 'Do they know that?" You asked, more quietly now, as your brain was beginning to process how and what this might look like and how it could ever occur.

"No." I said, leaning in further, both to you and the conversation, now in a conspiratorial whisper.

"What are you going to do if they find out."

"Sir, I have no idea."

And then you were off to eat breakfast. Because you knew, at some point, they were, indeed, going to find out that while they were busy writing checks, I was busy loving people, and then stuff was going to hit a fan and there was going to be poop everywhere.

Why this open about secret keeping. I wanted you to know. You don't have to worry. I told on myself. The boss says for now, I can keep on loving people. But to remember we're in a down economy, and if things don't turn soon, he may have to add some other duties, like sweeping floors or scrubbing urinals. Which we agreed would be just fine. But, and I probably shouldn't tell you this secret. I may have a broom in one hand, and a toilet brush in the other. but I'm still going to show up and love people. It's the only thing that makes the job eternal.

thus spake,

me