Presto Change-o

If I look, I can see the change. Because of course it is always happening even when it seems imperceptible. Time can't be bottled and it waits for no one. Even standing in a long, seemingly endless line. People often ask "Is this where the line ends?" And my usual reply is - "For you, this is where it starts."

The other day a friend commented, "when you are hit by the train, it's not the caboose that kills you." I'm not exactly sure what it means, but I've been thinking about it. And looking out.

How is it exactly, that we can change from this:

To this:

The answer: Transmogrification. It doesn't happen overnight. But we've all probably had a shopping-cart ride (or two).

As I've spent a lot of time in railroading, I have often marveled that shopping carts seem to go to the right-of-way to die. They start with trying to run away at the local supermarket.

Perhaps they seek a higher calling - to be transformed into the chariot of your dreams. But is that the ride you really want? Because if you don't get out in time, the ride ends here:

And it can happen right in front of your eyes. Look out.

The Shadow Knows

The other day I turned the XM dial to Classical Radio Broadcasts and listened to several episodes of The Shadow. As the hero, Lamont Cranston, foiled the plans of Murder, Inc. wholesome lessons of life, work ethic and moral code were dispensed in a folksy, Andy of Mayberry kind of way. But one never forgets the opening line:
[diabolical echoing tone]:
"Who knows...what EVIL...lurks...in the hearts of men?    The Shadow Knows! bahahahaha".

As I rode my bike through the filtered light from the canopy above, an idea occurred to me. We all have secrets, things we've done that we'd rather not share. They live in our shadows.

When I expose these secrets to the light of day, examine them and make amends where I can, the chains I have forged in life are lightened, and I feel like my shadow is less dark.

And the more I follow the right path, the less evil lurks in my shadow. For I can't outrun it, yet I cast a new one each day.