Truths as I know them...

 

After careful research and a lot of thought – the following are some truths as I have come to know them … and, as always ... a few questions. I am hoping that this will be my last super serious blog of a political nature for a while. That being said... 

There seems to be no end to government spending these days.  (How soon until taxpayers are footing bills in the quadrillions or maybe “zillions”?) Yet … no one seems to be tracking the money that is being spent or know from where it is coming. The small print is getting smaller and smaller. Reports of fraud, graft and misuse are fighting their way to the surface.  Perhaps 87,000 new IRS agents will help gather the necessary funds to support this current trend toward big government. (Are there 87,000 qualified people who want to work for the IRS? Will they wear uniforms?)

The reputations of the DOJ and the FBI have seen better days. It is a serious and well-earned image problem.  (Time to clean house there as well?)

Currently at a 40 year high, inflation is ever growing. Respect for law and order is not. Dependence on enemies for fuel – both gas and oil - is the new trend after a time of gas and oil independence. Homelessness is ever increasing especially along the western coast and in larger cities. (Does the clock need to be turned back to better days?)

Although denied and/or ignored by some … as of January 2021, there is an ever-growing border crisis of historic magnitude. We are witness to child trafficking, deadly drug smuggling, and literally millions of illegal entries -- all seemingly sanctioned by those in power and not reported by leftist media. Sanctuary cities are now regretting their stance when the reality of what that means sets in. (Can they hear themselves? Do they know that their complaints define hypocritical?)

The United States of America is no longer viewed as the strongest county in the world and the hasty and chaotic departure of troops from Afghanistan has brought shame to our country. The ill-planned withdrawal that included desertion of Americans and those who supported them is unconscionable and an ugly stain on our history. (Where is the weaponry that we also left behind in the mad dash to evacuate? Will that, too be used against us and our allies?)

The high price of gasoline, food and well .. everything essential and nonessential, rising crime as the result of the defund the police travesty, and help wanted signs have replaced weather and the upcoming winter as most popular topics for casual conversation …  and…  it now looks like the government thinks it is okay not to honor debt. (What lessons does this teach? Does fair and equitable matter?)

The FBI and leftist media colluded to block the Hunter Biden story. (Do people know that our current President is a self-confessed plagiarist and that he doesn't seem to think it is a big deal to steal the work of others? How does this relate to his honesty? Can you believe anything he says? Is there a parent in the entire world who does not discuss business/work with their adult children? How scary is it that out President denies ever discussing business with his son?)

It has been confirmed that elite Dems, somehow seemingly beyond the reach of the law, at least for now, were behind the whole Russia collusion hoax. They seem to be guilty of doing everything that they accuse the opposition of doing -- once again. I am not the only person who sees this these days now that the truth has come to the surface. (Why aren’t people talking about it more?)

Stay-at-home, mask, and vaccine mandates have now been proven to be harmful to people. Some continue to deny this.  It is sad what fear can do to good hearted and intelligent people. Fear is a tool to manipulate and to control.

Moronic is becoming part of the new definition of Woke Movement. People are waking up to the damage, narrow mindedness, and injustice of Woke philosophy. (Is Cancel Culture on the way out?) Remember: Freedom above Everything and that means freedom for everyone - even if you disagree with them. The American people need to stand together in this.

One of, if not, the most unfortunate and uncomfortable jobs these days is that of the White House Press Secretary. The American people know when a question is not answered or when a lie(s) is/are being told.  Duh. (How stupid to "they" think we are?)

At times the world seems to have turned upside down and is beginning to spin.  It is not the first time this has happened.  We will see light at the end of the tunnel even if it seems very dark along the way. (Are you able to find your voice?)

In addition to all the aforementioned concerns, decisions need to be made about saving babies, protecting the rights of children, improving  education, as well as about protection of constitutional rights and ways to put America first once again. The list goes on and on.  The future of all Americans depends on decisions that we can help make.   

So -- these are some truths as I know them and a few questions that I think are important.  I am hoping that you might think about them as the Midterm Elections get closer and closer. They are now just a few weeks away. Do your research. Please keep your truths in mind as you head to the polls. Pray that you can believe what politicians say they will work to accomplish.  Exercise your right to vote. Let your voice be heard. Remember... elected officials are supposed to be working for you. You are their boss. (Are they listening to you? If not -- don't vote for them.)

Perhaps it is time for a change – a swing back to better times for the American people.  A swing back can be a step forward.  Fingers crossed. (Have we learned what voting from hatred can do to a country?)   Let us pull together. There are no second-class citizens.  As well as divisive, it is just plain wrong to label people as deplorable or semi-fascist in order to denigrate and to rally opposition. Such behavior is divisive and just plain nasty. It is the propagation of scapegoating, fear and hatred and that is never a good thing for anyone.  Never. Ever. No matter what your point of view.

Not my sweater...

 The words you choose are powerful. So are the words of others.

When describing things that are happening to you, I think you need to be careful of "owning" whatever it is. How many times have you heard others refer to "my" cancer, "my" arthritis, "my" divorce ....? Using these words limits who a person is. Any person is more than their most current challenge(s). Any person is way more than their relationships or lack thereof. To go a step further.. any person is way more than an affiliation with a political party or what church they may or may not attend.  Any person is so much more than a bunch of labels. As the days go by, I remind myself not to "own" these heavy things when I catch myself doing so. I am more than my age, what I do, where I live or even whether or not I line my garbage cans or steam my bathroom floors. 

When you link something to you, it is like that something becomes a sweater that you put on sleeve by sleeve and wrap around you. Or perhaps, something that you carefully stow away in the zipper compartment of your purse or wallet and then carry around with you - always - forever. It becomes then a part of who you are and is so much more difficult to push away or at least off to the side -- or even to put on the shelf temporarily. The label limits and defines ... maybe not in good or helpful ways. The label becomes too heavy.

Choose words wisely ... before they define and limit who you are/how you see yourself.  People are more than their problems and labels  ... so much more.  People are also more than the labels that others hang on them for whatever purpose including the divisive, hateful, and/or vindictive. Case in point ...  I have yet to meet a deplorable or semi-fascist and I have encountered and interacted with a lot of people in my day. Those are labels that I refuse to put on myself or anyone ... not my sweater; not yours either.  

Play it Again #10: "There's an App for That..."

First posted in February 2015  ...and so ends the Play it Again posts....

                               "There's An App for That"

Have trouble making friends or organizing your closet?

Want to learn how to play the sitar or to follow police scanners? 
Need to find info on nearby ghost hunting possibilities or perhaps want to check the McDonald's menu?

It seems that no matter what the desire, interest, or need, there's an app for that.  What interesting times we live in. The words "There's an app for that" are now as familiar or even more so than "Where's the beef?" 

Now that I have figured out what an app is, here are a few questions I have. Who designs apps?  Do you have to go to school for that?  Can you make your own app?  Is there money in doing so? As with so many "techy" things, I am at almost a total loss here.  I sit back and watch. The whole process is amazing.  For example -- in answer to one of my questions -- I saw on TV that one of those, who some might call a workout hunk, hired an app designer to create his own app to demonstrate his muscle building prowess. That he is also showing off his heavily tattooed upper torso and abs, of which he seems to be most fond, is beside the point.  Wear a shirt for crying out loud. (Uh oh  - "I'm sorry.  Did I type that out loud?") -- Apps aside for a moment --- I wish him well with his fifteen minutes of fame.  He is young and doesn't realize that not all men can be Jack LaLanne. He doesn't see "it" (the ab to flab progression) coming.  I think we need to give him some room. It's only kind.  I mean -- what happens to tattoos on a body as a person "matures"? Wait a minute -- Is there an app for tattoo removal?  Probably. Never mind -- problem solved. 

.... I cannot imagine what else new will happen in the field of apps - probably in the next nanosecond. It seems like just yesterday that I was wondering what .com meant or how the Internet could function without wiring. Hang on everybody... this new app phenomenon is opening up new worlds that we never imagined. 

Note... my daughter ran across an app that she suggested I consider for this blog entry.  It is called "Ghost in your photos - Prank" and is described as a "Funny joke to insert ghosts in your photos and cause fear and terror". Sounds like fun to me.  It's free, so of course I had to try it.  My local grandson and granddaughter, delightful imps that they are, relished the thought of participating and of being the subjects of the photo. My daughter handled all the technology -- of course. Okay -- here's the deal.  We had so much fun.... The thinking was that we would send this haunted photo to my son and to my sister and let them discover, with appropriate horror, that there was a creepy shadowy figure lurking about the children. That's exactly what we did. Then we waited with bated breath for their response. No response from either of them. They just commented on how cute the kids are.  Neither my son nor my sister even noticed the long-haired, spooky apparition.  What a disappointment! Huge.... We had to give hints.  Once he "got it", my son was going to see what kind of reaction he could get from my daughter-in-law and other grandson.  I haven't heard back on that as yet. Not easily fooled -- ever, my sister agreed that cabin fever had set in and suggested that we need to get out more. She's right of course. Is there an app for that?


  

Play it Again #9: "Sticks and Stones"

 

First posted March 2021  Still important today....

                                     "Sticks and Stones..."

Please bear with me....  I wrote a couple of weeks ago about aspects of language not to be ignored.  Since then, a few more examples have become popular, and I want to mention them.  There is power in word choice.  There is potential danger in that power. Remember that old adage: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?  We all know that that is not true.  Words do hurt. Perhaps more realistic is: "Stones and sticks break only skin, while words are ghosts that haunt me." Personally, I would capitalize the H in haunt.

Consider the difference between your mental and emotional responses to the following...  "kids in cages" vs "unaccompanied minors in soft-sided structures", or “crisis” vs “challenge”.  Also, noticeably popular in past weeks -- "illegal aliens" vs "noncitizens" or “crybaby” vs “crybully”.  I am thinking that you definitely see and feel the differences. Why is this important? It is important because... word choices make a difference. Words may be and are used to manipulate thinking. One more serious example that piques curiosity ... why is something called a "Covid Relief Bill" when only 9% or so of the “relief” actually goes toward the “damncovid” situation?  It's a thought-provoking example of word choice as a smoke screen; isn't it?

Remember everyone -- we are not "lemmings to the sea".  (By the way -- that is a myth.  Lemmings are not stupid. These little hamster-like creatures do not rush together and hurl themselves off cliffs in waves of furriness.)  Neither, by the way, are we "unable to see the forest for the trees" as some seem to enjoy believing as they look down and smirk from where they perch above. 

Sometimes I think we get so caught up in trying to adapt and survive that we let things slide or don't pay close enough attention. Plus the fact – most of us are exhausted on some level from living during a pandemic in combination with political upheaval. Now is not the time to let things slide though.  Actually, there is never a time to do that. Keep your eye on Amazon and its new "silent but deadly" book banning. It smells bad to me. 

This mentality is seemingly spreading everywhere.  Just think about Mr. Potato Head and Dr. Seuss if you think I am overreacting.  Play-Doh could be the next target. 

No matter on what side of an issue you are -- no matter to whom you listen or what you believe, it is wise to listen carefully and to "see" the power of language.  Cherish your freedom of speech and that of others. Cherish your independence of thought and uniqueness as an individual. Respect that independence and uniqueness in others. Be word wise.

A closed and small-minded "cancel culture" of any sort is evil. Stand strong. Be mindful. Listen to others. Think. See. Push back. We are all in this together, even though, at times, it may not seem like it. Never forget ... your individual thoughts matter… and so do those of others with whom you may not always agree. Exchange ideas. Talk with others.

You know all of this, I know, but… I just had to write about it.  You are important; so am I. Everyone is. The ideas of an individual are important… so is the voice of each individual. Don’t let these freedoms be taken away from you.

"The smallest minority on earth is the individual.  Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities." (Rand)

Enough now....  

Play It Again #8: "Things in Common"

First posted in November of 2014

                                 Things in Common

It is wonderful to find a connection with other generations, but it is not quite the same as having a conversation with someone who remembers a Buster Brown X-ray machine or Bucky Bucky Beaver and at least part of the words to the IPANA toothpaste song that starts with "Brusha Brusha Brusha... with the new IPANA. It's dandy for your teeth."  Or ... remember Farfel's "OH... N-E-S-T-L-E-S, Nestles make the very best --- chocolate"?  (Bet when you read that you were singing it in your head. I know my sister would be.)  Anyway -- when you have things like that in common, it is no wonder that you can communicate with others of your vintage by facial expression or a roll of the eyes. Perhaps each generation has its bonds that tie.  Boomers have a lot more serious bonds than those mentioned above, but today I am thinking about the "you get it" look.

The other day I was talking with an classmate of mine from the high school class of 1967. He is a good guy. We were chatting away and suddenly in mid sentence, I totally forgot what I was saying or where I was going with the idea if I could have remembered what it was.  We just looked at each other and said nothing. I knew that he knew. We both "got it". I am thinking that you may get the drift as well.  After a short silence, we both smiled, and he said quietly, "Yep..."  It's nice when other people understand, when you don't have to explain.   Yep....  
I have convinced myself that the forget in mid-sentence thing is totally not age related. Rather it has to do with running on overload -- so many things to think about -- too much information bombarding at once. I read somewhere that it is called "benign forgetfulness."  I am hanging onto that thought. I love my age...well.. most aspects of it. (It is interesting to step outside of yourself and take a good look at the "aging" process, but that is a discussion for another day.)  What I really like is having a connection with old friends where no explanation is necessary.  It's comforting in a world where a part of the younger generations are beginning to look at you like you are some kind of a dinosaur with wrinkles and white hair.  If they only knew.... They will...before they know it.  There is that.

Play it Again #7 "Beware if Goblins..."

First posted in October of 2021

Still a valid concern to think about today....  

                                      Beware of Goblins...

Remember Chicken Little?  As I recall -- Chicken Little is strutting and pecking around the barnyard when an acorn falls and hits her on the head.  Quick to react, as chickens tend to be, she naturally assumes that the sky is falling and although she has no idea where to go, she runs off to find Lion, who, she is certain, will be able to save them all.  First, she runs into Henny Penny and then Ducky Lucky, and after frantic explanation on her part, they quickly join her in her quest – no questions asked. All three, trusting souls that they are, run blindly off together having no idea where they are going, and are, as such, most relieved to encounter Foxey Loxey along the way. Because he “knows” the way to Lion – or so he says – they trustingly follow him.  Now we all know that they come to a bad end.  The story concludes, “They all go in, but they never, never come out again.”  And so it goes – yet another terribly frightening children’s story -- like “Hansel and Gretel”, or “Little Red Riding Hood”. Then also -- there is the old James Whitcomb Riley poem “Little Orphant Annie”.  Ah… the ever-strong, repetitive line: “An’ the Gobble-uns ‘ll git you ef you Don’t Watch Out! (And … Yes … that is the way that Riley spelled those words. Somehow annoying, isn’t it?)  Anyway – scary stories for children -- cautionary tales all. Anything we could we learn from them? Hmmm…

The thing is ... all of this makes me think of how nice, well-intentioned people are taken advantage of in our current world by much of the print media, visual media and politicians – on every side of an issue.  There is no escape. Like Foxey Loxey, these villains know exactly what they are doing when they focus on the negative and lure people into dens “… from which they never, never come out again.” Journalists and politicians use fear as the grand motivator … fear sells more articles, increases the ever-desirable ratings and gets more votes. Pause and think for a minute of the times you have observed this. Plus, there is the added bonus (especially for politicians) that fearful people are easily controlled and lured into a kind of group think situation. But beware…  and as you may have observed lately and throughout your entire life … groups tend to make more extreme decisions than an individual would ever make. The mob mentality that leads to vandalism and to cities burning is just one such example. Scapegoating the unvaccinated is another.  Group think in the extreme is not a good thing -- ever. It may be because of the safety in numbers “thing”, but group think decisions tend to be not only more extreme, but also more illogical and irrational than those made by independent thinking of individuals. In group think people get swept away – caught up in things. They sometimes regret it later. Their fear, stoked by the Foxey Loxeys of the world, gets the best of them.  They ignore the mutability of Science ...  We all need to beware of Goblins of all sorts ….

The optimist side of me hangs onto the thread that perhaps there is hope that people will learn -- even if it is from a children’s story.  I mean – think of it – isn’t teaching one of the goals of a children’s story like these -- cautionary tales that they are? No one wants to be Chicken Little. No one wants a goblin to get them.  Hopefully it is a small number who want to be Foxey Loxey.  Right?

Play it Again #6: Heart Hugs

First posted in October of 2015

                            Heart Hugs

I had a wonderful friend who gave what he called heart hugs.  They were the kind of hugs where you wrapped your arms around each other and pressed your hearts together.  They were indescribably wonderful. He being much taller than I sometimes made these hugs hard to manage, but if I could find a step to stand on, they were perfect.  I miss him.

Recently on Facebook someone shared a copyrighted "photo" that made me remember these hugs.  It was a scene of Charlie Brown and Snoopy hugging. The words? "I love the kind of hugs where you can physically feel the sadness leaving."  I think the source was something like "You are My O2" It was sort of hard to see.  Anyway -- that is the best definition of a heart hug that I could ever imagine.  Perfect....

A wise woman once shared with me that she never passes up a hug. She is one smart lady as she is definitely a hugger and thrives on them. Not all people are huggers though. I think hugging may be a learned behavior and some families are just not into it.   I am from a hugging family and sometimes I am not into it.  I get it. 

Hugs are healthy in general. Not all may be heart hugs, but all hugs are a good thing...even the ones that send your glasses flying. I have taught my grandchildren the heart hug.  Some things are worth passing on from generation to generation.  I consider it a gift from my friend to them. They never had a chance to meet him. I think, as he did, that it is important to share the good things, the best things about people who have passed through your life, whose lives have been a blessing. It's a poignant kind of immortality -- if the best that was them continues on. 

Heart hugs all around.