Well, it seems a light year turns out to be a lot longer than we thought. When we 'ALL' voted to go on this trip to the 'closest' star to earth we were aware of the relativity of time and space and that we would indeed be saying a great big 'SAYONARA' to our generations, all three of them. My good wife is twenty years my younger (there's two) and the twins are barely eleven. At best, we'll all be 18 yrs. to the plus when we return, and the earth will have aged somewheres around 38 to 58 years, according to who's theory proves to be correct. Perhaps the gent from Italy is right when he says, " Fine wine and the glass holder care only for each other." Whatever the calendars we meet upon, I'll raise a toast to myself for having loved the best.
About the vote, if you please. It is alarming more than a little when you're made aware that you can be above the law with certain choices we tell ourselves we can make. Although everything can be made to appear 'right', we have the reality of absolutes to deal with no matter how far one may venture out... in the name of science or politics or love or hate. My hometown, the earth, has me thinking the strangest thoughts. I fight off tears over the slightest little bit of hurt feelings I imagine someone might be experiencing somewhere, either justly or unjustly. I left behind file cabinets full of genuine sorrow for others to care about, believing only that that's what had to be done. Because of time and space, everything and everyone will change and no matter how fast we run away from this truth or that lie...there is only my family that matters to me now. Big shot dad set up the election and the voters were like putty in my hands.
"It may appear I'm being selfish," I admitted to them, but I really wasn't saying any such thing. And now they're in their deep sleep and I can't sleep. I'm a guilty dad and husband, and the stars and the emptiness know it. And all of the good people back on good ol' earth.. well they know what's been done I suppose. What could I have done to help them? Why me to help them at all? What can I do now, for I don't have an un-godly clue where any of them are at or even what time it is. Here's the funny thing; When I get back, and we all bow and exchange stories with one another, I'll be thinking in the back of my mind, "Nothing has changed." Everyone will have a story to tell, a lie or two to play with, and an election that they will say was really nothing. But in truth, we'll be thinking of these little elections we tricked ourselves in to accepting. We'll all compare notes and defend what is indefensible.
