Walter the Tree

 

We are now the proud owners of a Christmas tree named Walter.

We named him after the nice gent who helped us by cutting a couple of inches from Walter’s base so he’d have good posture. That sounds more drastic than it is; Walter the Tree never complained. Walter the Tree, standing 4 feet tall prior to the operation and now 3’ 10”, cost us $70. We brought him home and decorated him in the traditional way with lights and various colored ornaments.

This morning, while drinking my first cup of coffee, I asked Walter the Tree: “At $70, should I consider you an economic indicator?”

Standing upright with perfect posture on the dining table, looking utterly transformed in the role some would say he was born to play, Walter the Tree offered no answer.

I then began to study the ornaments the House Stage Designer had chosen for Walter’s costume. Walter the Tree had gone from a simple yet splendid, all-natural and eco-friendly forest green coat, and was now adorned with ornaments and lights representing many different themes: nature (birds), sports (team logos), high fashion (small glittery high heel shoes), the universe (stars), fantasy (mermaids), and the heavens (angels) to name a few. Given the numerous possibilities of wardrobes, I wondered if this is what Walter the Tree spent his life dreaming he would look like when he finally reached the big stage. Was he now feeling underdressed, overdressed, or was his true nature being misrepresented? It was early morning, and it looked to me as if he was still attempting to get into character, so I didn't bother to ask him.

Walter the Tree played the first night of his two week run here, which was technically a dress rehearsal, by practicing the acceptance of his fate with a stoic and regal repose which I found quite admirable. Walter the Tree, it seems, is a consummate professional. At $70 for all 3’ 10” of him, I’d expect nothing less.

Ken Owen December 2025

Van Niddy Press

Notes on ‘The American Revolution’ by Ken Burns

 

I have encountered a growing number of people viewing the latest Ken Burns documentary, The American Revolution, who share a common realization: at many points, we find ourselves saying, “I didn't know that!”

Though personally disappointed by the extent of my historical ignorance, I quickly reflected on my own days in public schools. I realized exposing young junior high or high school students to anything but the most cursory detail on historical events would amount to an exercise in futility with a captive but uninterested audience. We fought England for our independence; Paul Revere; the Tea Party; we won. End of lesson.

Yet, as we begin to understand the gravity of the current administration’s efforts to suppress facts about our nation’s history that do not meet their political agenda, I hope we are collectively ready to learn the important lessons we were not told—at a time when we would not have listened or cared.

Mr. Burns’ wonderful work not only gives us the opportunity to realize and value the great efforts it took to codify our rights and freedoms, but comes at a time when these foundational achievements are being systematically ignored and eroded, alongside the Rule of Law and our constitutional checks on authority.

Learning our history will make us better citizens, which is the only path left to helping us “to form a more perfect union.”

– Civis 

December 2025

Evening Journal: December 2025

 

I felt no cause to mourn

the death of the American penny

after carrying the same $5 bill in my wallet 

for the last 3 months

but I worry what the street musician 

without a QR code on his tip jar

will do when paper currency

finally becomes extinct

12/03/2025

* Open House *

It is said that 

The White House currently holds

no books of poetry, no family pets, no roses in the garden

only excessive gildings in every room

It is also said

that you can tell a great deal

about the current occupant of a property

by their choices in decor and remodeling

12/04/2025

Nothing elicits instant panic 

like inadvertently clicking 

on a random Facebook advertisement 

now destined to deliver you unwanted ads 

for the foreseeable future

12/14/2025