The idea of progress is a modern Western one. Prior to a few centuries ago, no one had the notion that over time things naturally improve. In Hindu cosmology, for example the world is born fully formed in a state of perfection and as time goes on things naturally degenerate and run down until everything falls into utter chaos whereupon the world is then reborn.  The Western view until modern times was that the world would continue along as it is and as it always has been, with the tug-of-war between good and evil. And things would not really improve until after its destruction in the end times after which the world would be brought under divine rule.

But to be a modern mainstream American is to have the basic optimistic assumption that things get better and better with time.  Just look at our TVs, computers, houses, cars, for christsakes, just about everything. How could people in the past not had seen it?

With these thoughts in my mind I headed down I-95 towards Central Florida in June 2007 for a look at the old place after being gone for over 30 years. I am not one who is always so wild about change. I tend to like things pretty much the way they are now. And do doubt there are going to be huge changes to the way things were the last time I was here. So I better get my head screwed on right. Its all in perception. You've got to think about progress. Remember how people used to say you can't stand in the way of progress. Well they were right. Right? Aren't we all glad we are not working 12 hour days on some dirt farm with a stick for a plow. Sure things will be different. But different can be good, and good is better. You just have to have the right attitude, that's all. This is going to be great. That sinister looking dead tree can't mean anything. Honest, this is going to be great.