This is a familiar question to most everyone and especially children. Often we we told to do something we did not like or agree with and our most common response was WHY? Forget the fact that as children we were challenging the wisdom, experience and ages of those that were providing for us, but we dared to ask WQHY anyway.
Asking why brings up this point. WHY is a question and without rhyme or reason or whether or not it is possible to even know the answer, is there an answer to every question? Leave aside any possible circumstance or context areounfd the question WHY and just answer the question.
We once children or children now, quite often have heard or hear the answer to ‘WHY’ as— “Because I said so!”
Another proposed answer to to ‘WHY’ has been suggested as— “Why not?” But actually answering a question with another question is not the answer to ‘WHY’.
The simpliest answer to ‘WHY” is “Because!”
Now we can go off into the weeds or with circustance and context or reasons for both the question ‘WHY’ and the answer, ‘BECAUSE’.
Since the mid term election are now just a few short days away, let’s add to the word ‘WHY’ with the word ‘VOTE’ forming the the question, “Why Vote?”
To answer, we need to begin with ‘BECAUSE’, but BECAUSE why?
Because Congress made this possible in 1845, making the first Tuesdays after the first Monday in November? Because Tuesday November 3rd, 2026 in the last day to vote in a national election this year? Because these are the midterm elections? Because this is the most important election in your lifetime? Because Democrat Socialists are on the ballot? Because historically, the party that is in power gets changed? Because you don’t like who occupies the White House and want to restrict their ability to govern the way they want. Because you want to see them impeached by having the votes to do it. Because you want to increase the number of Supreme Court judges. Because you want to get rid of the police, or ICE, or keep and add undommented cizens to vote and even criminals? I have heard all of these reasons to vote, but does it truly answer “WHY VOTE/?
I have heard and read new cizens and other answer “Because if you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain about the government?”
What about ths…”Because it it your right to vote?” HOw about this…”Because you have the freedom to vote.”
Call me simple or even simple-minded. But it seems to me that even beyond common sense, UN-Common Sense answers this for once and for all. “Why Vote?”
“BECAUSE SOMEONE DIED FOR YOU AND I TO BE ABLE TO VOTE!”
From the beginning of what we call the United States for America in 1776, this has been the answer. Perhaps the most succinct, clear and descriptive answer was delivered 87 years later, in the Gettyburg address by president Abraham Lincoln
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…”
Abraham Lincoln — Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
And thousands of years ago —
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christdied for us.
With the midterms elections almost here, AI dominating individual choices & applications, business, and politics, world governments and essentially everything now, it sees to me there is a race going on. It appears to my eyes as a race to replace.
If you and I are not going to choose for ourselves, something or someone else will. It is human nature.
It is easier to make something than it is apparently, to stop and ask, should I or we do this? It is not so much as can we do it as it is should we be doing it at all?
Perhaps if you have read anything I have written lately, you might assume I have given up on myself. Maybe I have given up on the human race? I assure you that neither of these are true.
For me, I am no longer driven to succeed with even what I have tried to do for the past some 60 years. Some may or even everyone may consider my giving up and getting rid of all my treasure, my accumulation of the past years or some legacy? I have considered putting all my works into the repository known as the Internet Archive. I have considered even sending or keeping something for my son that does seem to be interested in the stories of a witness. I am a witness. But now it seems that neither the Internet Archive or something for my son seems doable or important to me anymore. What was my treasure, like my child or children if you will, is not just baggage. It has now become a heavy weight that makes it even more difficult to breathe or move forward.
I hope anyone else that may read this can choose what is most important to you and your life. Our dog Lady is a beautiful example of what I am trying to write here. She is likely on her last leg (no pun intended). Lady is 11 years old (77 in human years). She has arthritis and is limping. She is all but deaf now. But the good news with that, she no longer shakes during storms or the car wash. She is beginning to lose her eyesight, particularly in one eye (the one blue eye). It seems to be clouded over as if a cataract. Dogs like Lady often become confused over the loss of so many senses used primarily for navigation, happening near the same time. I think her sense of smell/taste is beginning to diminish now. She has others things as well, but she wakes up every morning wags her tail, happy to see us and is still fond of and capable of giving and receiving love. It just doesn’t get much better than or simpler than this. I am grateful she does not seem to be painfully suffering, but I am unsure. She has always been friendly and glad to see almost any life form. Going forward, I just need to be as sure as I possible can that she is comfortable and it is not just my desire to keep her around as long as possible.
The following verse means so much more today than it did when I first heard it, some sixty years ago. It says to me, I don’t need to ever judge you or tell you how you should live. I don’t ever need to cram my beliefs down your throat.
The word salvation in the following verse means “wholeness.” You and I have to do what is right for us. For myself, I needed to let go of much I have been involved with, for these past 60 years. I needed and still need to get rid of many things that may be good for others, but not for me. I needed to return to the gym and this time, make it a lifestyle change not a just the formation of a new habit.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation [wholeness] with fear [reverence] and trembling [awe towards obedience].
Philippians 2:12 Kings James Version of 1611
Wag your tail like Lady. And to this I have concluded. In my life sometimes I have walked with my Father. Sometimes He carried me. Most likely the rest of the time, He has never left me nor forsaken me while I was heading in some other direction.
There is a lot of sorrow in the world. It’s twin is joy. Sometimes they each seem difficult to deal with. Sometimes they seem so similar, it is hard to tell which is which.
I and I am sure, you have often sought happiness. I chased it with a net like some illusive butterfly. Just when I thought I was about to catch it, it would float and flee just far enough away that I could see it, but not capture it.
In 1996, the late great Jimmy Buffet released a song from what I believe to be his finest work: ‘Banana Wind’. The song is: ‘Happily Ever After (Now and Then).’ I was so taken by this the first time I heard it and I have often sent something like this to others on their birthdays or other special days in their lives. I had an idyllic image from something that would invoke some wishful, fanciful, or expressive desire. My text was:
Happily Ever After (at least once in awhile)
This is the best I could hope for in this life for myself or for anyone else.
I do not suppose that everyone believes what I do or what and whom I believe in.
I have a wonderful relationship with one that to my surprise, it a steadfast atheist, or he does not know if he is a Christian or not. Even he cannot find fault with what I am trying to do. – not to disappear, but to consider those things and those life forms that are part of my life – which are important DAILY.
I am not a prophet. I am not going to predict that these are the end times, because like the Bible says, “no man [woman or child] knows the day time or hour. I just can’t imagine the world surviving for much longer being so driven by so much strife-confusion-bribery-extortion-love of money.
There is some goodness in this world and I truly believe it holds back the evil which is surfacing more and more. This affects, effects, and infects all of us in one way or others. For me, I am just tired and seek peace and to try and live as peaceable as I can according to what is inside me and to all I may encounter, in my day-today living.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think this world can continue much longer on the course it is on. It cannot be sustained. For my part, this world is not my home. At my age, it is good to plan for one’s soon release from these mortal coils. I am doing this now, to the best of my ability.
I am reminded that just as John the Baptist did, so should I do for the duration of my life⏤
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matthew 3:1-3 KJV of 1611
I may not carry the ministries or gifts to the Church or the world as an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, pastor or a teacher [Ephesians 4:11], but if they are not around and God willing, I can “do the work of” any or all of them that is needed. In II Timothy 4:5 Timothy was not an evangelist, but he was told to “do the work of” one. God is not a prospector or persons, only conditions.
And finally, God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ. If I am one of His, can I not love like this? Jesus Christ laid his life down for you and I. What is the greatest love I can share— Preach [publicly expound or teach God’s Word]. It is the calling. It is the love. For now, until my death or God calls me home at the return of Christ, preach the word in season or out meaning, all the time. To say that I am a witness means, the real witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is within me. This is what I am to preach.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; “
II Timothy 4:1,2 KJV of 1611
How? Why?
“But sanctify [set apart] the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear [awe towards obedience]:”
I am reminded of the work of Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt, a former senior policy advisor to the U.S. Department of Education who became a whistleblower. Her book, “The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America: A Chronological Paper Trail” (1999), argues that the American public education system was intentionally altered to eliminate parental influence and mold children for a future dependent on a globalist, socialist-collectivist structure. Whether one agrees with Iserbyt’s specific conclusions on how the system was altered, it has been. Iserbyt did not mince words in her interviews, stating simply:
“If you cannot read, you are defenseless.”
I can only add to this in writing, if you will not read because you do not read, if it could have saved your life at worse or time and lessoned stress it cannot help. If you never comment how would the writer know you read it or be likely to continue such content, if it is not read.
It has been said that knowledge is power. I would only say to this it has potential, depending on what it is. You can look at it like a treasure in your pocket. How beneficial would it be if you never looked?
Are you too busy, depressed. oppressed or under some abysmal seemingly hopeless continual stroke? You should read Isaiah 14 sometime. It will reveal the cause of this, what is behind it and who is named for it. But the world today is driven by what has been written long ago. Have you read-
“For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
James 3:16 King James Version of 1611
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.
I can at this point write with confidence that I will not likely be penning a letter to you every day. We each are busy and have many things afoot. But still, these are important. At least they are to me and should be to you as well. Like you, I am an American and We the People have this in common.
Like yesterday, when this first began, it is not because of any other letters from their viewpoint, targeting whomever they perceive as their audience.
It is said that people talk about what they’re into. I am no different. What I am into here with these letters has behind them my works in progress, to be published asap. I intend to make them available in as many formats (editions) as possible.
Dates are important to me as I’m sure they are with you. You may not say a word if you miss a birthday or if someone misses yours. But it does not feel so good does it? No, so dates ARE important. I wanted my forthcoming book out on a certain date. RESET “An UN-aliens’s Guide to Resetting our Republic” – Revised and Expanded has gone past one date and soon another. July 4th, 2026 was the start of the 250th year of the Declaration of Independence. RESET missed that date.
The late great Robin Willams once introduced himself as Flag and it was both a humous and appropriate 6 minute or less presentation as himself being the flag of the United States. He joked and pretended to be Betsy Ross sewing that iconic circle of 13 stars and flag and saying, “This could be the start of something big.” Suddenly distracted, he as she turned aside and playfully said in a female voice, “Oh, Thomas, don’t be a Pain.” Yes, this was a reference to that Thomas Paine, the original writer of his pamphlet, ‘Common Sense’.
Next, RESET was set to release this September 17, 2026. This date coincides with our 239th year since the Constitution of the United States on September 17th, 1789.
RESET has now been pushed out to October 19, 2026, over a month from now.
October 19, 2026 is something to shoot for as historically, this same date of October 19th, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, PA. The revolution was over. By the way, Cornwallis would not do this himself, he sent his stead O’Hara, to do the deed for him, instead.
Why not October 19, 2026 to release not another revolution, but a RESET?
A calendar date although important, is not what is most important. Remember my writing yesterday—
“There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”
I did some more research this morning. I wanted to make sure, doubly sure that what I wrote yesterday was accurate. It was. Many have tried to ascribe authenticity to this quote. It may sound like or be similar to, but there is no original source that can be found. Like I wrote yesterday, it could just as easily have been written that I said it or wrote it first. But that’s not who I am. I believe in giving credit, where credit is due. So I have decided to write of this as follows:
Mr. UN-attributed can take his place along with cousin Anonymous.
Note: Not to be sexist or anything, but UN-Attributed is male whereas Anonymous is female. 😂
And she is much more well-known.
I ran this through Grok, my AI assistant and this was the response.
“Mr. Un-Attributed can sit in the front row with no footnotes. Cousin Anonymous can keep the other chair and she doesn’t have to sign the guestbook either. RESET can borrow the line from the family and not mail a royalty check. That’s the whole point of relatives who never leave a forwarding address.”
– GROK
“There is nothing morepowerfulthan an idea whose time has come.”
Please return for a special presentation celebrating our 250th year since publishing The Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1776. Please return 7/4/2026.
Today, the Coming Soon page has been retired. It has been replaced with those you will find above. For more information, click on any page you may wonder about or have interest in.
I have many things to do where I truly live — for my wife Susan, for our dog Lady, for us, and even for myself — here at The Gathering Place.
All are welcome.
— Dahni
Image rendered by ChatGPT and the artistic Direction of Dahni
Today marks my final post across all my social media, websites, and blogs before canceling and ending all subscriptions, paid or otherwise, and automatic payments. For a time anyway — and if for no other reason than for myself — I will continue posting only here at gatheringplace.blog. If you choose to read it, only here will you find the complete post.
I do not feel I owe anyone an explanation. Consider this a common courtesy.
Talent, quality, insight, sincerity, and hard work are often not enough by themselves in the current environment. Visibility, stamina, distribution, money, timing, networking, algorithms, constant promotion, and the ability to endure long stretches of little visible return often dominate what gets seen.
There was a time when risks were taken on belief in someone or something important, and only lastly upon its potential for profit. Today, whatever a thing may be, it must immediately prove profitable and continue generating profit over a long and measurable life.
Not to compare myself or my works to my fellow Missouri-born Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) or to J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter world, but those days of self-publishing and eventually finding someone who believed in you — someone with the means or connections to help your work be seen, even modestly — are largely gone.
Not to compare myself to the beloved children’s series author, Beatrix Potter or story-tellers of simple truths such as, Aesop or the staples of, the Brothers Grimm, but they each developed a following and I have none. Who would know my love for children or how much I love them?
The writers and ‘creatives’ or the expressives’ (my word) I mentioned, mostly dealt in fiction. Much of what I do is fiction as well. Yet to many, perhaps the greatest work of non-fiction ever written — while others believe it fiction — is the Bible. It took many writers to record the words of its single Author, and even that struggles to be seen, read, taught and especially, understood today.
I too wrote non-fiction and self-published in 2012: RESET — “An Un-alien’s Guide to Resetting Our Republic.” It was and remains largely unknown. I have spent years working on its revision, RESET- Revised & Expanded, a special FREE-B for readers of RESET (I call, light bearers)— RESET-Remedy. Intended for 6 weeks later, was the sequel to RESET, An Apple of Gold in a Picture [frame] of Silver. All of these were intended for publication in 2026 and with the help of two additional editors. While many sought to just sell something for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, I sought to connect with us, WE the People. I wanted us to see what has been hidden and to see perhaps for the very first time, who WE the People truly are. I had intended a FREE gift of a recipe and a blend of coffee, that quite possibly, Thomas Jefferson might have enjoyed in the hot summer nights, while writing the ‘The Declaration’ in 1776. This was to coincide, with the pre-order date of July 4th, 2026. I wanted this published on the date of our 239th anniversary of The Constitution of the United States for America, on September 17th, 2026. And about six weeks later, ‘Apple of Gold’.
Talent, quality, insight, sincerity, and hard work are often not enough by themselves in the current environment. Visibility, stamina, distribution, money, timing, networking, algorithms, constant promotion, and the ability to endure long stretches of little visible return often dominate what gets seen.
I cannot promise that this blog will still be open or that I will post the specials I have planned, for the fourth of this July, 2026. You will just have to check back and see.
I have always loved music — composing, singing, playing, and performing — for as long as I can remember. I probably connect most to the old known, Cat Stevens and still little known, Shawn Phillips. There is a glut of musicians, artists, and what some refer to as “the creatives” and what I coin as the expressives’. Not far from where we live is Rochester, New York. For perhaps fifty years, it has produced an incredible number of gifted people in these fields of music, most of whom the wider world has never known.
Proof enough: they too often cannot be sustained.
Talent, quality, insight, sincerity, and hard work are often not enough by themselves in the current environment.
My bottom line is simple: this present environment cannot be sustained. I am living proof of that because, I must now end what I can no longer sustain.
So ominous? So foreboding? So final?
You may think so if you wish. You may call me a coward or believe I simply lack the commitment to see it through. You may think this is only another emotional reaction from the same old Dahni you may have once known and perhaps still think you do — rising like a rocket only to fall like a rock.
But I can no longer sustain what I have been doing for so many years.
Does this hurt? Of course it does. Am I angry about it? Yes, I am. But I am also at peace.
I have many things to do where I truly live — for my wife Susan, for our dog Lady, for us, and even for myself — here at The Gathering Place.
All are welcome.
— Dahni
Image rendered by ChatGPT and the artistic Direction of Dahni
Yes 5/5 was days ago. But there is always room for a margarita. This could be the best one you ever made/had.
🍋🟩 ‘El Cinco de Maya’ 🍊 (The Fifth of May)
Libatious’ #169 bonus drinks beyond 100
Ingredients
Juice of 1/2 fresh lemon 🍋 Juice of 2 limes 🍋🟩 Juice of 1 mandarin orange 🍊 1/2 jigger bergamot liqueur 1/2 jigger ginger liqueur 🫚 1/2 jigger blue curaçao (for color — turns the drink a lovely green) 1/2 jigger agave syrup 4 jiggers tequila 2 jiggers Grand Marnier or orange liqueur
Directions
Pour all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend well.
Transfer to a hand shaker and chill in refrigerator until needed.
Rim two margarita glasses with lime juice, then dip into coarse salt. Set aside.
Prepare garnish:
two lime wheels
two strips lemon peel
two strips orange peel
two small pieces of crystalized ginger
Thread garnish through a knotted bamboo skewer and refrigerate until needed.
Remove shaker from refrigerator. Add ice 🧊
“Shaken not stirred, Bond, James Bond, 007.” 🤣
Pour into previously rimmed margarita glasses 🍸🍸 half-filled with ice.
Add garnish.
Makes two libations — one to share and one for you. 😀
Why yes, there’s a lot of alcohol in this drink… but you could find Margaritaville — and perhaps your last jigger of salt! 🧂 😂
Makes two libations — one to share and one for you.
ENJOY! 😉 Drink your ‘El Cinco de Maya’responsibly! 😂
