And in my world of overthinking even the most trivial of thoughts, that can be a very good thing, or a very bad thing. It’s kind of like the old proverb about the two wolves; it depends on which one I feed.

In other words, this brain was made for rabbit holes and common sense. And what a battle of wits (although many would argue the opposite) it is going on inside my head.

What I’m saying is: Now that I’m not being daddy every day, the mind will play. Also, in yet another reference to the adage, the cat isn’t away. She’s still in the house, when not at the emergency vet like she was this past Sunday at midnight. At least it was a trip to an ER that wasn’t all about me or my daughters. And not nearly as expensive. But I digress.

Did I mention this column is about my mind wandering?

So now, even though my mind has always wandered from the moment I get up in the morning to the first few minutes of laying my head on the pillow when I go to bed at night, my mind is focused not on the worries and concerns about the kiddos (although those do exist, but now they’re out of sight, so …), but rather it’s meandering through the fertile meadows of my own thoughts. Just what’s growing remains to be seen.

Over the years, you’ve read hints about what’s going on in the old noggin as this column is usually written on whatever is on my mind when I wake up on deadline morning. More than a few times, it’s been a potpourri of random musings simply because nothing, or everything, in particular stole the spotlight. Kinda like where I am as I type today.

But today’s musings, at least to me, come from a different source. Well, at least my new way of living as an empty-nester. So instead of me worrying about much of the insanity and how it affects my kids (as I’m only sought out for advice as opposed to my old self-appointed role of advice giver whether my daughters wanted it or not) I’ll be spending my time thinking about how the insanity of the world affects the world.

And yes, I still believe most of it is forced via the government. Which to me will always be a bad, if not the worst, thing.

So here’s your caveat for all my future columns: I’m not saying you have to do as I say or think, nor will I ever use the government to force what I say or think upon you. This is a voluntary exchange of thoughts and ideas, and it’s your choice to partake, whether that’s in reading what I write or possibly adopting some of it into your life – after all, it could be of benefit because some very smart people are the source of what I write about – or, gasp, writing the paper with your take on my take. And yes, this includes you thinking I’m at my own, special level of insanity based on how you feel about what I write.

But the key aspect of every column I write is simple. It’s all up to you what you do with it.

Obviously, what I write has been rotating the ol’ hamster wheel in my noggin the past week. It’s because I’m even more aware my column has the ability to affect people. Remember, there’s no intent beyond hoping folks think about a topic, even if it’s only one of you folk. And with the growth and frequency of The Business Times since the beginning of the year, this means (to the dismay of some) more people than ever just might happen upon my column.

What’s on my mind today?

The Minneapolis shooting took it over above all else. It raises a lot of questions sure to never be raised in a serious conversation. The fact that most will never be offered is a huge problem itself. I mean, if I’m being told not to question gender status, it only brings one thing to mind: To ask how gender status influenced the shooter’s violent, evil behavior, because the person telling you not to ask knows it had a profound effect on the violent, evil behavior of the shooter. I think this is even more apparent when many in mainstream media appear more concerned about getting the declared gender of the shooter correct before looking into any other aspect of the shooting.

And yes, I think it’s because Minnesota has mandated and supported trans ideology into the mainstream of Minnesota law. Which also means we’ll never get the chance to talk about it in any meaningful manner for the worst possible reason: It’s a democrat voting bloc. Plus, it moves the conversation to attacking guns and gun owners. But that’s OK since that’s a Republican voting bloc that needs to be eliminated.

My thoughts? You should be free to be the person you believe you are and/or own as many guns as you’d like without any government interference, hurting others or violating their rights. Meaning, you’re not free to shoot up either constituency on a whim, fit of rage or because of your feelings. That’s evil and against the law. Maybe we start there.

In Truth and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com