There was a time not too long ago I began my mornings with some six cigarettes and two cups of coffee. In a sense, the routine steeled me for the day ahead. It is a challenge to daily face narcistic and lead from behind leadership.

Fortunately, I retired and did not have to work for Jefferson County Schools any longer. Still, at the behest of friends. I sought a seat on the school board. That worked out pretty good, not. The public participation in the process was non-existent. I was asked at one forum whether I supported the teaching of Shari Law in public schools. My lame answer was students should understand the history and evolution of all world cultures, but my heart told me, our county and nation are at risk.

The county “kingmakers” were strutting their preferences for kith and kin. The key narcissist and her “step and fetch” Board majority made promises that they could not or never intended to keep. One of the teachers’ unions leadership, as Mom would have said, had their head so far up the rear end of the incumbents and superintendent that a canary in a coal mine would have died. I began each day of the campaign with cigarettes and coffee, worrying on alternative days that I would lose or worse I would win.

Just breathe. I gave up smokes this past Lent. I currently begin each day with a cup of coffee, protein shake, and, instead of 6 cigarettes, I cover 6.5 miles each morning to mark my upcoming 65^th birthday (4 miles on the elliptical and 2.5 on the track). I have learned how to breathe and how to sort things out, particularly when assholes want to occupy your space. I find the breath I need finds me if I let it.