My Cloud By Preston

My cloud is a drifty sort of cloud. A kicked back, go-where-the-wind-blows, kind of cloud. It’s an easy-going, shoes-off, feet-on-the-table, kind of a place. If there were a door, it would be a revolving door. First, because those are fun to play on, but also, because they’re always open: come and go as you please. That seems fitting for a place like my cloud. Different ideas and perspectives are welcome. On my cloud we debate for fun, and laugh together afterward. My cloud has room for diverse perspectives and strongly held ideologies alike. Don’t be afraid to disagree with me on my cloud. But you need to know that on my cloud, I make the rules. So let me lay them out for you: You don’t get to come at me with false accusations. You don’t get to impugn my integrity and tell me I’ve been dishonest. You don’t get to make assumptions born of cynicism or insecurity. I won’t tolerate THAT tone…you know the one. The one that denotes absolutes and leaves no room for anything else. The one that says, “guilty until proven innocent… with no chance to argue innocence.” Don’t forget yourself, this is my cloud. And these are the rules. My cloud is a drifty sort of cloud. A kicked back, go-where-the-wind-blows, kind of place. But violate the rules and come after me on my own cloud, and it will be a storm cloud: a looming, block-out-the-sun, end-of-days, sort of place. When my cloud darkens, you will not be invited to leave. There will be no, “Hey you, get off my cloud.” You will simply be thrown off without decorum. It will be a hard shove, head-first through a revolving door. It will be a much longer fall from my cloud than from the saddle of your own holy high-horse. But here's the silver-lining: when you splatter below there will be torrents of rain to cleanse my world of your stain. You will be invisible in the blinding lightning and mute in the deafening thunder. You will be nothing. So if you’re too weak to tolerate discussion, if your only move is ad-hominem, then take this advice: find a different cloud. This is my cloud. 06/05/15