OBITS

Common Sense
by Christen Hittie

Common Sense died today. She was preceded in death by her sister, Common Courtesy. Her brother, Common Decency, was with her to the bitter end.
"She just couldn't hold on any longer," sobbed a dispondent Decency. "She was so graceful, so alive and the 'POOF!' No more!"
Mitigating factors of Common Sense's death were the use of cell phones while driving, no yeilding in merge lanes and the unfortunate rise in politcal battles over the use of torture. Even her sacred relationship with Thomas Paine couldn't hold her anymore.
"Sensy used to quote Mr. Paine regularly," Common Decency responded, "Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one."
"She just didn't recover from Abu-grai. It sickens me! And now I have begun to whither away, too! When Courtesy died, we felt a huge jolt. Ever the optomist, my baby sister hung on. She kept saying, 'De, people will still wash their hands and some will even say please and thank you!' I had to believe her; it was a last ditch effort to keep her alive!"
Common Decency recalled the bitter battle between him and his baby sister over the Maplethorpe exhibition in the 80's.
"We knew we were becoming outdated, but I got the best life-boost from the Right Wingers back then. Heady with my own power, I turned my malice towards my sisters. How I regret that now. Courty and Sensy were right. 'To each his own,' they would say. And, 'Art is in the eye of the beholder.' I knew somewhere deep inside, those girls were right. It was my job to guide folks, not direct them. Courtesy died a few weeks later. I still carry the guilt over her death."
Common Cold, when notified of his cousin's death had only this to say, "Pussies! I told then back in the 1800's, ' You gotta keep up with the times. The only constant the human race isn't prepared for is change!' Dumbies! Look at me! I'm as strong as I ever had been. No cure, yet. Never will be! Change, that's the key!"
And so, the Common Cold may be right. For no one has really noticed the passing of his cousin. May she rest in peace!