New Years Challenge

A few years back and there you have it, I was in 'Nam, Cheltenham. It being New Year's Eve it seemed right to visit some friends, regimental tie and blazer no less. And there we were, "Happy New Year, fella," I offered some massive biker, "Is it, F***r?" came the electric synapse, ultra dopamine quick response.

I looked at the offensive mountain of oily denim, leather, hair and worse and said, "Devil take you and twice as fast." He didn't, fortunately, because the owners, ahem, of the house broke in, "Leave him alone, he's Adolf." And so he did.

Funny thing, I was the last man standing at that biker event, at 4++ in the morning. Lightweights, obviously.

Your Old Pal,

LSP

Vade Retro Satana

 

Inspired by WSF and on the eve of a New Year, I offer this, from the St. Benedict medal, whose initials signify:

CRUX SACRA SIT MIHI LUX! 

NUNQUAM DRACO SIT MIHI DUX!

VADE RETRO SATANA!

NUNQUAM SUADE MIHI VANA!

SUNT MALA QUAE LIBAS. 

IPSE VENENA BIBAS!

And roughly translated:

The holy Cross shall be my light!

The Dragon shall never be my leader!

Get behind me Satan!

Never tempt me with vain conceit!

What you offer is evil.

Drink your own poison!

There's great power in the Latin verse, which is more than verse, an exorcism. We're in need of that, right about now.

Vade Retro,

LSP