It is l05 degrees in Oklahoma today and as I lay nestled in pillows, with the air conditioner and the fan on, I was delightfully comfortable. The novel I was reading was about Oklahoma and was set in l9l4. It caused me to wonder about the American wilderness of 300 years ago.

In every time we have different anxieties and different discomforts. I have always wondered how our founding fathers coped with itchy wigs and woolen clothing when there was so little in the way of comfort or bathing facilities in Colonial America. I have suffered through a summer on the Potomic with no air conditioning and I recall it well.

What about the pioneers who ventured into the wilderness with all their possessions in a covered wagon. Usually, their animals were tied alongside them. They were prey to disease, hostile Indians and all kind of misadventures when they had to ford rivers. Often the very old and the very young perished before they reached their destination.

I was born in a more innocent time. People seldom locked their doors and on hot summer nights slept outdoors. A freezer of home made ice cream was all the entertainment that we needed. That is, until World War II came along with an unprecidented loss of life.

Now, we live in a time of global uncertainty and anxiety.
We have all the creature comforts and entertainment instantly available. Goods and services abound. The computer puts us in touch with people around the world. Are we better off? Or does each century bring us closer to peace and tranquility? What do you think?