Playing with fire!

My parents were strict with my two brothers and me growing up. My mother had a way of simply looking at you that sent shivers down your spine. You never wanted to disappoint her.

She tended to keep her rules short and to the point. We were taught to be kind, respectful and helpful to others. Since they were older, my brothers knew they had to look out for me, their baby brother, and I had to look out for them. Simple stuff, right?

Actions have consequences

My mother also taught us, that “if you play stupid games, you win stupid prizes.” Now she used different phrasing. She was definitely more comfortable stealing from the Bible, specifically Galatians, lecturing us that “you reap what you sow.”

I was young, but I still got the gist of the message. Play games and we would have to live with the outcome. If I was disrespectful to my brother or teased or poked him too much, when he reached his breaking point and retaliated, well, she just may decide to look the other way, letting him “beat the stuffing” out of me.

She would eventually step in, but not until I learned my lesson.

Thanks Mom … I think!

Live by the sword, die by the sword

With those two ideas fresh in my head, I’ve noticed a stead stream of “stupid news” lately:

—During a recent appearance on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show, New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers recklessly claimed that late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel had a connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. McAfee giggled and spurred the conversation along, giving no thought to the damage the two might be causing. Of course, Kimmel denied the allegations the next day and threatened legal action against Rodgers.

“Your reckless words put my family in danger,” Kimmel said. “Keep it up and we will debate the facts further in court.”

Star quarterbacks tend to get a free pass in life, but life has a way of catching up to you. Pick your cliche — dance with the devil, and you’ll get burned; when you play with fire, you get burned; or a dozen of others — but they all seem to apply to Rodgers. Play silly games, defame someone, and get the appropriate reward.

—It’s not just sports. The headline jumped out at me “She rioted on January 6. Now she’s headed to prison.”

My reaction, yea, that’s what happens when you’re videotaped breaking into the United States Capitol. You’re given a five year sentence. Sounds about right.

If you’ve got a problem with the election, take to the street, no problem. Protest on the corner, knock yourself out. Break a window, rush the Capitol police former, um, that’s a no-no. Most kids would considered that a no-brainer!

In the short snip-it that I saw, the woman sounded disappointed in herself. Good for her for seeing the error of her ways, but that’s what happens when you break the law. It’s hard for me to feel sorry for her. Go away, do your punishment, and I’ll wish you well in five years time.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

—Oh there are other things too. I was driving to Washington, DC before Christmas. The traffic was busy, but generally moving at a good pace. Unfortunately, the driver in front of me in a dark blue BMW wanted to drive faster. I pulled back a bit on the gas because he looked to be too close to the car in front of him and wanted to give myself time to respond in case something happened.

I need not to have worried. The guy quickly zig zagged through traffic and was soon out of eyesight. I forgot all about him until I saw the lights of two police cars and “my BMW friend” along the side of the road.

Karma at its best. Play with fire, you get burned.