Louis Roney: Our changing universe

• “The more things change, the more they remain the same ” is credited to Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Karr. Of course, even the least observant of us has certainly noticed that we live in a changing universe – time goes by and so does everything else. Molecules, the very building blocks of all matter are in continual submicroscopic movement – change, that is. Is it impossible for us to remain the same in a world where our bodies are aging and the world itself is the locale of myriad evolutions?

We see obvious evolution all around us, and astronomers tell us that the stars and planets as far as can be seen telescopically are moving according to orderly laws of gravity. We know that these astronomers have been unable to discover anything within sight that is like the Earth, and that it would be in vain to think that we shall someday, somehow, travel to outer spaces where mankind’s cousins will be awaiting us. The speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, and is believed by many to be the ultimate speed possible in our universe. So, kiddos, we are pretty much doomed to one place to make our lives in one little corner of a universe, which we shall never have the power to escape.

If you are going to be stuck somewhere in our solar system you could do a lot worse than to make your life in Florida. Millions of people up north work all their lives hoping to retire where we spend everyday.

Humanity must live with a wandering soul and not get upset to accept the fact that the dream of wandering may stop somewhere. Is change always for the better?

• As to things that hit the fan – serious thinking doesn’t always bring serious results. Hoping puts a little grease on the cerebral gears.

Visiting friends may sometimes helpfully opine, either directly or obliquely, as to what I should be doing to make our property most pleasing to the rest of the world. If I did everything suggested, I would find myself up to my neck in debt!

• The time comes in our lives when active verbs muscle their way onto the mind’s center stage. My early education seemed to be volleying me back and forth between striving to reach a noble potential, and evolving into nothing but the existence of a shallow show-off with a voice.

• Cartoonist Chuck Jones uses George Santayana’s description of fanaticism: “redoubling your effort after you’ve forgotten your aim” to describe his cartoons staring Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner – you might even put me in that group!

• It’s November and today it is 85 degrees outside! We lucky Winter Parkers smile as we hear in the evening TV weather reports “a cold wind” up north.

• It was with a little tug of regret that I had to refuse the following invitation from Harvard: “You are invited to a reception in the Eliot House dining room immediately after the Harvard/Yale game.” I would surely enjoy this event as I have in many past years....

I’m watching TV right now and the temperature at the game is 72 degrees with the sun blazing –very warm for Massachusetts. Today is THE GAME for these schools in many Ivy League hearts. The teams can lose every other football game all year, but this one is a sole “must win.” Harvard just made the first score.

Happiness!

The first game played between these two colleges was in Nov. 13, 1875!

Oops, Yale won! First time in nine years. Oh well! It’s only a game! (21 to 14 – painful!)

• I’m very puzzled at words uttered by lawyers directly having heard a problem laid before them by potential clients. My puzzlement concerns the accurate meaning of a lawyer who says, “I am honored to take your case and will do my best in your behalf.” Are these august mouthpieces implying that they are not working for a fee, but for the honor of protecting the client?

• “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine

Donald J. Trump has an awesome job ahead – the hardest in the world. We wish him Godspeed.