realist

Note to Self:

When you call yourself a realist, it is simply a nice way of saying "pessimist" which is a nice way of guarding who you really are - the perpetual optimist.  Yes, you know the world is ugly.  Yes, things have gotten bad in your home state.  But you believe in hope, John.  And as you hold a sleeping Brenna and she breaths quietly on the secure shoulder of her daddy, all is well in your universe.

Sincerely:
John