The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Please welcome my Granddaughter!

They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means "The Ultimate Argument of Kings," and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. "We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it's about: You'll do as I say or I'll send my goons to kill you."

I thought about that for a long time. If there's an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I've got bullets - he's got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that's not going to happen. So if there's an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain't bullets.

It finally came to me - and that's when I left the city, abandoned a goodly percentage of my goods, and gave all that was behind me a good, stiff Randian Shrug.

The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Please welcome my Granddaughter!

Heeeeere's Kaelyn!

13 comments:

Austin said...: Congratulations! She's beautiful! May she be the source of many a "belly laugh" to come.; June 18, 2011 at 7:35 AM
Anonymous said...: AAAAWWWWW!; June 18, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Big Wooly said...: Welcome Kaelyn!
Keep an eye on your Grandpappy. He's crotchety, but he's got your back. Just be glad you won't have to bring your boyfriends home for his approval!; June 18, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Anonymous said...: What a sweetie! I love her name. Welcome, Kaelyn.

Sister L; June 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM
MamaLiberty said...: Beautiful. :) I love them especially when they do little but eat and sleep. Doesn't last long, of course. :) Enjoy her as much as you can when she's little. They grow up and go away so quickly.; June 18, 2011 at 3:40 PM
WolfSong said...: A hearty welcome to the young miss!
She's adorable!; June 18, 2011 at 4:56 PM
suek said...: What a sweetie.

But then...they all are.

Love the anonymous look!; June 18, 2011 at 7:20 PM
Anonymous said...: Awww...that's so cute. Look, she has grandpa's hair.
All of it!
Just in time for Ari's the daddy's first fathers day.

Buck.; June 18, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Guffaw in AZ said...: How does she keep that black rod on her nose? Amazing at that age!; June 19, 2011 at 9:45 AM
John Venlet said...: Congratulations, Joel.

I'm curious as to when I may receive the title of grandpa.; June 20, 2011 at 8:48 AM
Tam said...: Congrats!

(I, too, was born with a black strip across my eyes. ;) ); June 20, 2011 at 10:57 AM
Joel said...: Yes, the family resemblance is unmistakable. Makes it a little hard to get around a room, though.; June 20, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Anonymous said...: She's (strike out)short, pink and wrinkled(/strike out) er ... a real cutie but this cigar won't stay lit.

Like others have said the small and cute phase is much shorter than it seems when you are living through it. Enjoy what there is of it.

Congrats to the Mom and Dad.
I'd send a cigar to the Grandpa but I can't keep the danged thing lit when it is in the wrapping paper.

stay safe,

gooch; June 22, 2011 at 5:44 PM