REALITY AS A CRAP SHOOT

IF YOU DOUBT THAT LIFE IS A CRAP SHOOT, THINK ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN OF HISTORICAL EVIDENCE SUPPORTED BY DAY TO DAY DETAILS. FATE OFTEN DOES NOT GAME WITH WHAT ONE REVIEWER OF A HOMOSEXUAL'S MEMOIR CALLED, "FRANKNESS BUT ADMIRABLE RESERVE." FATE OPENLY PLAYS WITH UNINTELLIGIBLE AND QUESTIONABLE DESIGNS. SOME POOR SOULS ARE BORN INTO IMMORAL OR AMORAL HOMES; OTHERS INTO MORAL ENVIRONMENTS. POVERTY CURSES MANY; WEALTH REWARDS THE SELECTED FEW. BAD ROLLS OF THE DICE COME EARLY FOR SOME, LATER FOR OTHERS. I AM REMINDED OF MR. AND MRS. CHRISTOPHER REEVE WHO NEVER SAW WHAT WAS COMING FOR THEM, BUT THEY BRAVELY AND WITH DIGNITY FACED THEIR SEPARATE GOINGS. I NOTE AN UNSUSPECTING FATHER, PROTECTING HIS COWS, WHOSE FACE IS RIPPED OFF BY A BEAR AND DRUNK DRIVERS AND DRUGGIES WHO CREAM INNOCENT VICTIMS WITH REGULARITY. RANDOM MURDERS VIE WITH RANDOM HUNGER AND DISEASE CENTURY AFTER CENTURY. THE DIE IS CAST INDIVIDUALLY ON A TECTONIC PLATE IN A DICTATORSHIP OR A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY.

LUCKY PEOPLE OFTEN PEOPLE AMERICA. A WOMAN WHO THOUGHT IT WOULD BE "FUN TO DO ANDY TAYLOR'S HOME," DID SO WITH $250,00 AND A PASSION. SHE ERECTED A BED AND BREAKFAST REPLICATING THE HOME OF ANDY GRIFFITH'S CHARACTER IN MAYBERRY, USA. PAYING CUSTOMERS JUST REINFORCE THE FULFILLMENT OF HER DREAM. ANOTHER LUCKY PERSON, AND THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS ESSAY, IS A HARNESS RACER, LEO BURNS. AT 91 YEARS YOUNG, HE RIPS UP THE TRACKS WITH HIS 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY, WINSOME WYOMING. HE HAS EVEN SET A TRACK RECORD. HIS LIFE HAS REVOLVED AROUND HIS HORSES. HE TAKES HIS SUCCESSES IN STRIDE. FATE, HAS PROTECTED LEO BURNS IN HIS SULKY AND PROVIDED FOR HIS GOOD HEALTH. DID FATE ALSO INSTILL IN HIM HIS INNER DRIVE, HIS POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND THE FOCUS FOR HIS LIFETIME OF SATISFACTION?

SOPHOCLES, A PHILOSOPHER OF THE 5TH CENTURY B.C. REMINDS US THAT "A WISE GAMESTER OUGHT TO TAKE THE DICE EVEN AS THEY FALL, AND PAY DOWN QUIETLY, RATHER THAT GRUMBLE AT HIS LUCK." IGNORING SAGE ADVICE PUTS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HAPPINESS IN PERIL.