Grrrrrrrr!!! The influences of dog-days summer are well upon us, transforming even the mildest of folks into irritable, feisty curmudgeons itching for a fight. You could blame summer solstice or weeds; either way it's something to take the mind off of whacking someone.

Such extremes of summer are necessary to ultimately reach equilibrium; it's true in astrophysics, it's most likely true in people. And, there is nothing that represents the character of this 'seasonal evil' better than weeds.

Buck McElroy knows about weeds, human and others. I learned from him that the essence of weeds is not about what shows on top of the ground, rather, weeds can give a good indication of what's going on below, within.

Weeds are just one of many things meant to test the endurance of all brave souls, no matter how easily they desire to be optimistic. I refer to these times as "Transitional Voids". It is a dangerous time.

Within that void, evil easily escapes whatever shackles previously secured it from innocent souls. August is escaped inmates from a maximum security prison having their way on an unsuspecting community; like Satan himself coming down from his lair in the tale of The Night of Bald Mountain, until he is forced back by the morning's Divine rays. That is the effect that summer (and winter) solstice has on us mere humans. It can make one crazy: That which is good is suspended and all that is evil flourishes in a free-for-all spree. Some might try to frame this portrait against modern politics, but not me.

As the earth sways to and fro on its' summer solstice journey, the human psych swings to similar extremes; from Cabin Fever and Summer Disillusion, the human mind and body cannot easily adjust.

It's like we are all riding on a speeding bus down the freeway and the driver realizes that he missed an exit somewhere, so he cranks hard on the steering wheel and spins the bus in a violent u-turn, now speeding in the opposite direction. As a result, all of the passengers are upside down, twisted, under the seats, hanging half out the windows, all in pretzel-like configurations, not to mention the half-empty, whiskey bottle that rattled down the aisle, which no one will claim.

That might be a way of explaining how we get twisted around every time the earth decides it wants to slam into reverse and go in another direction, preparing the way for weeds and other evils.

Sir Isaac Newton understood...so does Bull McElroy.

We were eating breakfast at The Creek Caf the other morning and Bull was there with the 'Group'. The place was full so they invited me to sit down with them at the 'long-table'. I refer to it as the Table of the Wise Elders; it is a privilege for someone like me to be asked to join. I've been there before and I know enough to shut my mouth most of the time and just listen. A mind can grow by parcels if they practice the Art of Shutting Up.

Bull got up to leave early, "Yea, I got to go and drop off some sweet corn over to Marge-Anne." Everyone's expression turned serious, of a genuine concern kind. "How's she doing?" Clancy inquired, but it could have been anyone who asked, "Is he gone?"

Bull just nodded. The expression on Bull's face said it all, "Oh, she'll be fine," implying that it might take her a long time. Then Bull said something that struck me as a powerful idea which I have ever since pondered. He said that Marge-Anne's problem was the men that she was attracted to were all 'weeds'.

"She always figures that she can turn them into something else," Bull said, "I dunno, like what? A tomato plant, a grape vine, or a rose bush, I dunno? Until she understands that those guys are all just weeds, and will always be weeds, things will never change for her." Then he left. It took awhile for the conversation to return to the regular topics.

During time spent in other parts of the world, I was always amused that most countries take off the entire month of August for holiday. "All civilized people take August off," I heard repeatedly. The sentiment was if they did not get away in August they would end up killing each other-not a very civilized proposition, I guess.

Throughout history, some of the greatest leaps in civilization occurred in the midst of such transitional voids- getting out of your mind's way so that it can do its' work. As everyone knows, but always forgets, it is the adversarial pressures where most great ideas emerge.

But, it is so hard in August to think creatively when you are melting. It would be like telling the Bad Witch of the West as she is screaming, "I'm melting, I'm melting" to suggest, "Excuse me, bad Western Witch, but did you know that now is a very good time for you to consider being creative?" I don't think so. She would just give you that annoyed look, with her one remaining, partially melted eye.

I figure that August is just a good month to recharge your batteries and wait for weeds and other evils to once again be put back in check. o