We can explain our religious and political differences, talk about those who come and go over the years, lament over the yearly loss of the quaintness of a place feeling the times, losing its timelessness, but we are so involved, as the rest of the world is, in playing the role we have assigned ourselves, that we grow insecure in the fear of damaging that image.

In coming to know many of you over a 24 year span here, Butler has become, in my heart, my home town. Though I graduated from Belton High school in 1978 I consider this home.

When I came to town I was very different man, and just looking at my manner of dress at the time and my behavior was enough to prove this point. I didn't like the worry and fear I saw in people's eyes that I caused, by my clothing and hairstyle, so I tried hard to understand my new world and be a part of it, A real part of it!

Over the years I made so many friends among you, the ones I could call by name, and those friendly faces who always recognized mine, and waved or smiled, with never an introduction between us. Whatever our lives amount to, in titles and responsibilities, it's still the value of these social interactions that means everything.

So before ever even considering the reality of what I'm about to talk about, I weighed the lose heavily in my mind. The loss? Of respect, of associations, of friendships....and credibility. We can fear embarrassment due to pride, but the loss of credibility, at least to me, is the worse wound a man or woman could receive. Credibility is what allows a physician to trust us, and properly treat us. It is the necessary basis to effect a positive outcome to police reports, doctors visits, and just about any business transaction or at least it should be.

So as I relate this to you. Remember one thing, in your conversations with me over the years, whether you like me or not, whether, you liked the point I was trying to make, or my manner of speech, remember I wasn't lying to you. My father told me in one of his moments of wisdom, that you could be a preacher, or a teacher, or even a bank robber, and as long as your word meant something there was a place for you. But he told me no one has any use for a liar. With this having been said, I leave it to your belief, your skepticism, or your personal knowledge of who I am as a man.

Lori and I have enjoyed this part of our lives, living in this town, our families all with families of their own. Our beliefs much the same. I give time to read the bible in the quietness of the morning and we have our crafts and interests, a much different schedule from any of mine the past. But we decided to take up photography because of its cheapness, a digital camera, a onetime purchase, and a card or series of them. We like the quietness of the countryside, and started taking pictures of interesting trees, bushes, any fixture or fixtures of nature, set in a attractive scheme.

Old barns, bridges, etc. Well I thought why not take pictures at night. Shoot into blind areas in the dark of breaks in a forest wall, into a hollow, across fields, and hills, hoping to catch a deer or other animal in its nightly comings and goings. But as I looked at the new pictures acquired nightly hoping to find a few good shots, out of 80 or 90 pictures I started finding abnormal settings, and activity of other things in them than animals. Odd lights and shapes. Now there was more, and here's where the rub occurs. There appeared in the center of a hundred picture shoot, over a 45 minute route, images we did not remember ever taking. You see, we would come home feeling we'd had one more peaceful, uneventful evening, just to find strange images around our vehicle, things in the sky, with lights and windows, a figure in front of the car in a ( space suit?), or something very close.

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