it can happen

 Yesterday I wrote a satirical piece about this no contact agenda being pushed today. It really has become a marketing tool for some under the guise of science. That's because we are supposed to worship science these days, placing that above any Gods. I've seen memes on Facebook from Roman Catholic Cardinals promoting just that. Well, it is something I've noticed and written about in the past, we are leaning toward a more convenient faith. All forgiveness all the time and there is no judgement except the judgement of God and God forgives you for anything, anytime, whenever you ask for that. In fact those that believe should never, ever, tell someone they are wrong in their lifestyle choices, that isn't Christian. But I'm not going into all of that again here this morning. No this morning I'm thinking about a virus.

 Yesterdays blog was quite popular. I checked the stats and it received 93 page views. That's a lot for my stuff. I did feel like I went viral! That's what they call it when you post something on social media and a lot of people see it or comment on it. Gotta say, it feels good to give others a viral infection. Is there a science behind that? I've seen ads saying there is. For a small fee there are people/companies that will get your stuff out there, wherever there is. Now that would be important if you feel like you could make a difference or a profit. I harbor no illusion that I can do either one. Thing is, I'm just fine with that. It's nice to receive encouragement, well wishes, and all of that but I take that with a grain, as the saying goes. I'll keep writing and posting until I grow bored with it. There are days when I just ain't feeling it and others when I'm excited about it. I still find it a rather amazing thing. I can write something and post it to a world wide audience, all from my living room. Then I remind myself as far as any broadcasts go I'm like an infomercial, mostly ignored, laughed about, and sometimes viewed with a skeptical eye. That's alright, I'm out there, in more ways than one. 

 I think the secret to all of this stuff is to let it remain an amusement. That's true when it amuses yourself. Amusing others is a bonus. My wife recently read a little about the singer Ricky Van Shelton, do you remember him? I heard him on the radio and wondered what happened with him. Turns out he just retired. He said he had made enough money and fame wasn't important or necessary for him to be happy. So he retired, spends his time with his wife, doing whatever he wants to do. Now that I admire. He kept his singing as an amusement to himself. It's true he used that amusement to make money, not a bad thing to do, but retained that by retiring. I expect he still likes singing. I also expect he is happy.

 Science is all about proof. If you can't prove it, it doesn't exist. But my thinking is it is really more about explaining. If I can explain something clearly enough I can convince you. Einstein said:" if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough " There is much that science does not understand. Some advice from Einstein: " Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value." 

 The reason science and faith don't mix well is evident enough. Science requires proof and religion does not. Experience is the best teacher however and both faith and science can be experienced. In the past it was faith that we were taught would get us through. Didn't matter what it was we had to get through, faith would carry the day. Now it's science. Now we are being told to just follow the science, sure you can keep your religion as an amusement, but don't place any real faith in that saving you! As far as government goes, the United States established the separation of church and state. That was no whim, it was deliberate. Remember we were establishing a Republic. A government of the people, by the people, for the people. Religion was not to be used to drive government functions. 

 Today the government is using science to drive that. Interesting to note is what Karl Marx had to say about religion. He said, "Religion is the opium of the people. It is the task of the communist party to make this truth comprehensible to the widest possible circles of  laboring masses." How can you do that? Replace it with science. Make as many people as possible accept science as the only real truth, religion, faith, is just a drug. We are one nation under God, that is what the dream is, the vision, the ultimate goal. Shall we replace that with science? I'd say if you can frighten the population enough you can make it happen. Might take a generation or two, but it can happen. 

No contact

 I noticed it yesterday when I stopped to get gas, no it wasn't Taco Belle, it was the Exxon station. A new sign was on the pump touting contactless payment now available. Apparently you can install the app on your phone, isn't it something how we say app now and everyone immediately knows you mean application, and just pay that way. You can also use Alexa, that girl really gets around, and coming soon you will able to just tap the pump with that radio chip on your debit card! You won't have to touch a thing to pay for the gas, you will have to touch the handle of the pump and select the grade of fuel you want however. I hope you brought your disposable gloves with you. I used to see them earlier in the year, not so much today but I guess they will be provided at some places soon. I remember when you could get a free after dinner mint or a toothpick guess it'll be disposable gloves now. 

 Isn't it ironic that we have developed all this technology to stay in touch with one another and the push is for contactless exchanges? I'm thinking instead of having a first date kids in the future will be talking about first contact. It will be exciting and scary at the same time, you remember that feeling don't you? You know you had been looking, imagining, wondering, what will it feel like? It's forbidden but you just gotta find out. Even though the technology is there, we don't have to actually touch one another, risk the exchange of germs, viruses, and god only knows what else, the temptation is great. Tonight, tonight we make contact! 

 I've also seen the proliferation of a device on the bottom of the bathroom doors in public places.  Have you seen that? A little plate that sticks out that you are supposed to pace your foot on. You can then open the door without touching the handle. Being a curious person I just had to try it. In my experience I found I could only open it a small amount, not enough to actually get out, not enough to even dive into the opening and use my back to open it the rest of the way. I suppose it is possible but I found it ungainly, awkward and just plain silly. But I guess it is a lot cheaper than having those automatic doors with a light activated sensor. See them on a lot of toilets these days, been around for a while. So have those seat covers for toilets but does anyone really use them? In some foreign countries they solve that whole problem easy enough, there is no toilet at all, just a hole in the floor. Some have footprints in the floor to help you line it up. Completely contactless. It does require balance and flexibility however. 

 I saw a man on the news yesterday hawking his invention. It is a face mask. This one however looks like a scuba mask. It covers your whole face and the exhaust tube sweeps back over your head. He claims it never fogs up and provides the ultimate protection. It just concentrates any coronavirus droplets that you spit out at velocities capable of spanning a six foot distance right there on that clear face shield, the one right underneath your nose. Hey, if you have the virus you might as well get a more concentrated dose while you are at it. Isn't that what all these face masks do? Well, it's fine I suppose, build up your immune system a little faster that way. Sure you could just cover your mouth before you cough like we used to do but not this time, this time we need to concentrate that virus in front of ourselves as much as possible. After all, about .07% of people getting this virus die from it! 99.3% of people getting hit by a car die, maybe we should just park those vehicles of death! And yes, it is contact that kills them. Same thing happens when a bullet makes contact with you, strange isn't it? If only we could avoid contact.

 And then I saw a program on television about using our advanced technologies to make contact! Yes, we are trying to make contact with aliens. OMG, what can those scientists be thinking? The evidence is clear enough, contact causes problems. You come into contact with objects or people and the next thing you know, you are either dead or dying. It happens all the time and has done so for millennia. Guess there isn't enough contact here on earth already, now we are looking for it! Of course we are wearing suits so I'm guessing those scientists are counting on that. As long as we are wearing our PPE. Another acronym everyone is familiar with these days. Personal Protective Equipment. When I was in high school we didn't call them that but most guys carried one in his wallet, you know in case we made contact. It pays to be prepared, could save your life. 

 So, the objective now is to create a contactless society. I admit that would solve a lot of problems. If we reduce the transmission of germs, viruses, and other contaminates we will all be healthier. I can see that. Sure you will have little to no resistance to any that you do come into contact with but, we are avoiding all contact so it really won't be a problem. Pandemics would be contained to one family unit at a time. That would be the only time you would be without your PPE. Our houses will be self contained atmospheres with germ killing aerosols constantly injected into the air flow.  I'm thinking we could just test our teenage children and impose a two week waiting period before they make first contact, you know to protect them. We have to remain ever vigilant. 

 It's a miracle that any of us are here at all. I have to give credit to our Moms though. They were the ones that always told us, don't touch that, it's got germs on it! And when we did touch something, got those germs all over us, she would wet the corner of her handkerchief with some saliva and just wipe them away. Everyone knows Moms' saliva is a powerful disinfectant, saved me more than once. How we went around back then just touching everything and surviving that I just can't figure out. Maybe there was something in the fabric of our jeans. Wiped my hands on them often enough before eating a sandwich or whatever. Or maybe, just maybe  our bodies came into contact with those germs and viruses so often that they weren't considered foreign anymore. It's only foreign objects that the body wishes to reject, science tells us that. I wonder, if we start avoiding contact with each other won't the same thing happen? Well, we haven't gotten that far yet, we are just avoiding contact with objects right? People still want to come into contact with our money, they just don't want to touch it.       

earning it

  When I was a kid going to church we spent more time praying than praising. At least that is the way I remember it being. The preacher would explain to us what we were doing wrong, it was right there in the Bible plain enough for everyone to read. He would read the passages and tell us all what they meant, just in case there was any confusion about that. Things were certainly more definite back in the day. This was wrong, that was right. You could be forgiven but that wasn't a guarantee. That was the reason for all the praying. Sure we sang songs, to sort of fill in the gaps. Singing wasn't going to get you into heaven though, that took obedience. Obedience showed that you were serious about doing the right thing. Just throwing your hands up in the air and shouting praises wouldn't cut it, no sir, it took action. And I was taught it was like Santa Claus, God always knew what you were doing! He wouldn't stop you from doing it though, just mark it down in the book. The book of life! Your life. It was up to you to write that book but you didn't get to chose the ending, or even when the book ends for that matter. For that reason you had be writing good stuff every day. 

 Now I admit to not attending church services on a regular basis for a number of years now. I just sort of got out of the habit. It was a habit when I was young. Went every Sunday and have a Bible signed by the Reverend himself to prove that. I knew the service forward and backward. I was aware of the Christian year, season by season. I knew all the prayers, all the rituals, and they were a comfort. The truth of it all,  it was more of a lesson in how to live my life, than praising any God. Every Sunday I was reminded of my shortcomings, every Sunday I did examine the past week. Then I knew why I was praying. I'd say it was more encouragement than empowerment. And today I think that is what it is all about in many of these churches, the ones outside the old established denominations. Evangelical is often the term used for that. It's all about praising and singing and less about praying. Of course that is just my opinion based on little more than what I see on television, probably not the best source of information. 

 I have been thinking about that as it relates to society in general. Many are abandoning the church altogether as a form of social interaction. Others are doing the whole "praise" thing playing in a band and joining together in that. Is it praise or entertainment? I guess it is both and that's alright. But I do think it is the difference between encouragement and empowerment. I believe they really are different things altogether. Empowerment is permission given to someone to do something. In my way of thinking, what I was taught, I didn't need your permission to do a thing, that power resides within me. Certainly receiving encouragement is a beneficial thing, but it isn't a necessity. I can do it on my own. Independence, that is what I was taught. If you want something you have to get it by yourself. You can't get it just for the asking, nor can you force others to comply with your wishes. I do not require empowerment from anyone! 

 That isn't what I'm seeing these days. Now all I hear about are fundraisers, programs, and a means to have others "empower" you and your dreams. Your success is always contingent upon that. You want to be a doctor but you shouldn't have to pay for medical school. You want this or that, you should automatically receive that. If you can't pass the test, we will lower the standard. Every job should pay you all the money you want! It shouldn't be tied to what you know, what you accomplish, or any of that, it should provide you with the things you want. Need is not the primary consideration. Along with that the employer has no right to tell you when to work, how to work, and the manner in which you dress. If you don't like any of that, the employer needs to change their policies. If they don't, you sue them. That's what I see, everyone waiting to be empowered. Thinking they should just get what they want for the asking. Just like forgiveness. Well it don't work that way, you have to earn it. That's my thinking anyway.    

Nostalgic

  Thanksgiving 2020 will be remembered for the unusual. an unusual that may become the norm one day. My grandson was feeling a little under the weather, as the saying goes, and was unable to get a covid test. As a result he refused to come into contact with the rest of the family instead eating his Thanksgiving dinner on the front porch. We had set up a table facing the window so we could see each other. Using the modern technology available to us, Alexa was connected so we could converse with one another. All in all it was still a pleasant experience and I am grateful we got to spend time together, sorta. Well, the day went well the weather cooperated and everyone had a good time.

 I get up this morning and realize it is Black Friday. I'm guessing that is certainly going to be different than in years past. I'm certain the retailers aren't happy about the restrictions, or perhaps they are. I'm thinking there won't be the crowds, the pushing, the shoving and all that. That would be great if that returns to normal, you know, when we were young and people didn't try to kill each other over a sale item! Well it remains to be seen how this sale day will play out. Never one to participate in this odd ritual it won't be any different for me. I dislike crowds in the first place. As far as any big savings to take advantage of, I don't recall anything being on sale that I felt essential to have. Still I guess there are "essential" shoppers. Will there be protests today? 

 Following Black Friday cyber Monday emerged as a big event. I did take advantage of some sale I saw on cyber Monday. I don't remember what it was, but I remember feeling pretty modern doing so. I don't think cyber Monday has ever reached the heights of Black Friday though. Amazon appears to dominate in that market place. I saw where you can now just tell Alexa to buy what you want on Amazon, no keystrokes required. I saw my granddaughter do that yesterday, taking advantage on a sale item by doing so. 

 Of course none of this sale stuff is new. In 1878 a salesman was concerned about slow sales. This happened in January. The shoppers had purchased all their items for Christmas. Then he had a stroke of genius. He invented the White sale. In those days the only color sheets and linens came in was white. They had a big stockpile of those items. They weren't popular Christmas gifts I suppose. So, the white sale was born. I remember seeing those ads as a kid. After the Christmas decorations came down, the white sale signs went up. Living in New England I figured the white sale had something to do with snow. It didn't, it was just about selling linens and such. At some point over the decades white sales started popping up at any time of the year, not just January. Today, the stuff probably isn't white. 

 Now mattresses and cars are always on sale. Have you noticed that? They are always on sale, advertised at drastic savings, deep cuts, and special financing available. It really doesn't matter what your situation is, they will say yes, well until you ask anyway. I did purchase a new mattress several years ago, online though, not at the mattress store. I purchased a new car back in 1975, a Gremlin, haven't bought another new car since. I'm not surprised the government had to bail out the auto makers given the dealers are always selling them 10,000 dollars below invoice. I'm not a business major but I don't think you can make much profit doing that. Still, rarely have I seen a car dealership go out of business. Trying to solve that riddle is like answering the question, what do women want. 

 Christmas is next. I expect it to be a bit different as well, That will only be in the number people in attendance on Christmas morning. We haven't had any children at home with us in many years now, so many I can't remember when the last one was. We did have the grandchildren but somehow they got older. The grandson doesn't live at his parents house anymore having gone off to college. He now has an apartment of his own. The granddaughter is still at home but being 18, not an early riser. Christmas morning will be half over before she gets out of bed. Well, time marches on. As far as New Years, we haven't celebrated that event in many, many years now. I lost interest when Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadiens no longer attended. Still, there will be the white sales in January. I just wonder how long it will be before "cyber shopping" is the normal way and going to an actual store a novelty thing, a bit of nostalgia?  

    

tradition

  It being Thanksgiving I am reminded of tradition. Well it is a traditional holiday isn't it? Much has been made of the traditions associated with this. We still hear talk about the Pilgrims but the guests have changed into Native Americans, no longer Indians. The account of the whole affair has changed somewhat over the last four hundred years. That's to be expected. Now when we are told of the first Thanksgiving it is pointed out that they probably didn't eat Turkey and probably no pumpkin pie. The real story now tells of a week long visit by the Indians, er Native Americans, that involved many games, smoking peace pipes, and just eating everything in sight. When the Native Americans left, the Pilgrims were Thankful for that. But we mostly still cling to the tradition of having a Turkey with all the trimmings and our families gathered together. A national holiday of thanks. Just who are we thanking though? We are thanking what the founding fathers called, Divine Providence. Divine providence is the action taken on our behalf by a benevolent entity that goes by many names. God is the most common expression used. In our tradition, God refers to the God of the Bible, a Judeo-Christian God. The same God we are one nation under. hence the Thanksgiving tradition. It became official in 1789 when George Washington proclaimed it so. 

 This Thanksgiving will be celebrated a little differently due to the virus, and government restrictions. Our health care officials have warned us all of the dangers of congregating. The government has gone a step beyond that with the issuing of mandates. In the state of Maryland the State Police have been deployed to enforce those restrictions. I haven't heard of any penalties associated with a violation of those mandates but I expect a monetary fine would be it. After all, you can't be placed in custody because you would then to exposed to the virus! It's a catch 22 situation. All of that can be viewed in two ways, either it is prudent and proper to issue those mandates or it is an infringement on my freedom. Does the government have an obligation beyond providing all the pertinent information, warnings and advice to impose restrictions on my freedom to choose? It's a difficult question to answer. I wonder what the writers of the Constitution would have to say about that. 

 But in thinking about tradition this thought came to mind. How many of us allow tradition to dictate the holiday? What I mean is, if we can not celebrate the holiday the way we traditionally do, we allow it to ruin the holiday? This applies to all holidays, I'm not just thinking about Thanksgiving this year. What if you are unable to put up your Christmas tree or other holiday decorations? No parades or big New Years bash? Will the lack of any of that, ruin the holiday? I have experienced all of that at one time or another in my 67 years. Was the holiday ruined? No, it was not, at least for me it wasn't. It was just different. Perhaps not quite as festive, not as exciting, but in a way more meaningful. It does give you a chance to reflect, remember and review the past and all the blessings you have enjoyed. Yeah, it's not as exciting. Ruined? No I don't think so. I do think we have become a society of expectations though. Yes, we call them holidays, occasions to celebrate. We do expect certain things to happen depending on that tradition. When we fail to get what we expect, we will be disappointed. The only difference between us will be how we deal with disappointment. Do you sink into despair like sitting in your favorite easy chair? Or do you, make the best of it, and continue on. Today especially, should we be less thankful? Even when everything doesn't go the way we wish it had, or isn't going the way we would like it to, we should remain thankful. Just remember who you are thanking. The majority of us thank whatever God  we have learned to do so through tradition. The God of our parents and grandparents. Some of us will adopt a new tradition based on our personal needs, and some will abandon tradition altogether. It is the establishment of tradition that forms the soul of a nation. 

 The following is an excerpt from George Washington's proclamation:

   Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

As with all politicians he had a great deal more to say, mostly repeating what he already said.

Happy Thanksgiving.

No harm, no foul

  Just the other day I was writing about choices. Yesterday I'm listening to the evening news and hear about a new plan. A new, young candidate has won the Mayoral election for Baltimore. His name is Brandon Scott and he was a former board member. I don't really pay close attention to the politics in Baltimore city. A democratically controlled city with a history of violence and corruption. The previous three Mayors all being corrupt  and spending time in prison. One of them, Shelia Dixon, had been released and was in the current race. Oh, she had her supporters, as unlikely as that would seem, she went to jail for using gift cards donated to the city to buy Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, to buy game systems for her own children. Ah, but she was forgiven for that and some cast their ballot for her to lead the city once again. So Brandon Scott prevailed and I thought perhaps that would be a good thing. I listened to some of his campaign and agreed with him. A young, black, Democrat that had seen three previous Mayors disgraced and jailed, I figured he may have learned from that. But after listening to him speak last evening on the news about a new program being proposed, and considered, I'm starting to have my doubts. If that is how he intends to govern, I can't support him. I don't live in Baltimore city and am not affected, but still, it is a matter of principle.

 He was on television talking about a new "harm reduction" plan. You know they have many overdoses in Baltimore. People are using illegal street drugs and killing themselves. They often don't seek help because, and this statement got my attention, we have criminalized that! Yes, that is what he said. My first thought was, well that's because it is a crime! Imagine, if you will, criminalizing an action because it is a crime, an illegal activity. Now we could reduce the harm being done by this by providing a "safe space" to perform that illegal activity. He didn't say they wanted to decriminalize the use and possession of illegal drugs, just reduce the harm caused by that. If the city were to provide a safe, clean, space fully staffed with medical professionals to administer those drugs, the harm would be reduced. By providing clean, sterile needles, medical experts to monitor the dosage, administer Narcan when necessary, and help them navigate their trips that will be an improvement. Hey no harm, no foul. The estimate is that it would only cost about 1.8 million a year. We could make this dangerous, illegal activity, into a safe recreational sport! It will reduce crime as well, beginning with not arresting anyone that shows up in the safe space with illegal street drugs. No plans yet for safe drug markets, but wouldn't that logically follow? Well, we are talking about Democrats and logic, often the two don't mix. 

 It was explained that this has been tried in over a hundred places around the world. I was aware of that having been in the Navy and traveled all over. You hear about all sorts of vice allowed in other nations. You have to remember the majority of service members are under thirty. Sailors didn't get their reputation for going to church or site seeing important historical areas around the world. Yes indeed, I have seen the seedy side of life in many countries. Thing is, this "harm reduction" plan doesn't really work. The reason is simple enough, it doesn't reduce the harm to those using the drugs, it just minimizes the harm to the community in general. With a few exceptions these "do your drug zones" do not prohibit the person who is now high to leave that facility. So, now you just have drug addicts walking the streets that probably won't die. That isn't to say they won't keep on doing what they have always done, whatever is necessary to afford the next fix. Is that really "harm reduction" to those people? Using that logic I want armed security with me when I rob the bank, you know, in case someone doesn't want to cooperate. It's still illegal to rob the bank, but I'm protected when doing so. Sounds like a fine plan. 

 Following that plan, one no decision has been made on, but one he at least gives tacit approval too, Brandon Scott pledges to get the homicide rate down below 300 a year. He didn't have a plan for that though. other than to have fewer people shooting each other. The homicide rate is connected to the illegal drug though, no denying that. Perhaps that is the plan. If they create a safe space to sell illegal drugs, that won't be illegal, and then the criminals won't feel criminalized and behave in a more civilized fashion. They will stop shooting each other. If the city controls the "territory" there is no need to fight for the streets. Heck, maybe they could just legally sell illegal drugs in a shop provided by the city and solve the whole problem. No harm, no foul. Seems like the way to govern is changing in a fundamental way. If we just legalize everything no one will break the law. Then all we need to do is provide a safe space, stocked with professionals to mitigate any issues. 

Grandma's house

 After posting a question regarding an object from the past, a coal scuttle. I did enjoy the responses. A small conversation was sparked, really smoldering because that's what coal does, without the smoke. That was a poor attempt at a metaphor. I was reminded once again of being at Grandmother Bennetts house as a child. Looking back I can honesty compare that to a Norman Rockwell illustration. I wasn't aware of that at the time, it was just Grandma's house. A childhood memory that has become a real treasure to hold. The sights, the sounds, and the smells are all vivid in my mind. An old familiarity, a comfort. 

 You know as a child you don't think about the realities of living. What I mean by that is paying the bills, or that indeed, it costs money to live. Children tend to think of money as something you need to buy the things you want, like potato chips and soda. My grandmother had bills to pay like everyone else and thinking back, I marvel that she was able to do so. She was a "laundress" that would have been the occupation recorded on her income tax form. Whether she received social security payments or not I couldn't say. I know very little about any of that. When I was a child, children weren't involved with the grown up stuff like bills. I was told whether we could afford something or not, simple as that. If you wanted something more, I was told to work for it, get a job. I never heard that it wasn't fair, I was told that was how the world works! Some have and some have not, not a matter of what is fair, a matter of fact.

 Grandmother Bennett always wore an apron with big pockets. Yes, her hair was in a bun on the back of her head. I don't recall ever seeing it any other way, but my Mother assured me it would reach to her waist. Nana, as I called her wore house dresses, stockings, and bedroom slippers. Surely she had a pair of regular shoes but I don't remember ever seeing them. But as a kid I never gave any of that a thought. In the pocket of that apron she carried a small change purse. There would be a few dollars folded up in there along with some change. Sometimes when the Dugan man came she would reach in there and buy me a bag of chips, and that was a real treat. Potato chips then weren't commonly found in the supermarket and it was special. But Grandma could and would on occasion bake the most wonderful cookies and pastries. It was an art she had gone to school for many years back, when she was still just a young woman. And she did so in that old coal burning stove. Adding just the right amount of coal and arranging those embers was an art in itself. She would wet her finger with her tongue and strike that stove. You could hear a sizzle when it was just right. The smell of that baking did fill the house and seemed to linger in the air. 

 Her house was a smaller wooden structure that had been added onto over the years. As a result you had to step up when leaving the kitchen, which was the original part of the house. That portion had been moved to its' location from down to Amagansett. It had served as a sort of stage stop in the past. It was a place were travelers to Montauk would stop, rest the horses, and get a drink or something to eat. I guess you could say an early convenience store. With the advent of automobiles it was longer being used, purchased and moved to the lot it sat on. Grandpa and Grandma had ten children! That's why it was added onto. The front portion of the house was two stories high and had three bedrooms. The downstairs portion was Grandma's bedroom, the parlor and the living room. The house was cedar shingled, roof and sides, as was common back then. Smaller double hung windows that rattled when the wind blew hard and a screen door with a spring to slam it shut. Yes, it was like a Norman Rockwell illustration. A much simpler time. 

 Today nothing remains of that home. I heard that it became a victim of arson at some point. I also heard that what remained of that structure after the fire was sold. The way I heard it someone wanted that wooden frame that had comprised that weigh station. It was made of oak timbers, pegged together, with mortise and tenon joints. The tale is, the wrecking ball of the crane hit those timers and just bounced off. Work was halted. The pegs had to be drilled out and the timbers disassembled. I never heard the final fate of those timbers but that they were going to be repurposed by someone, someone with a lot of money to spend. I've looked on Google earth and all that is there is a vacant lot, overgrow with brush, I think maybe preserved as a sanctuary from progress and the modern world. Still I remember that home that stood there and the memories made inside that home. My mother was the last born in that house and she celebrated her 91st birthday this past September. She still speaks of her own fond memories in that house filled with love. I do have a hand drawn sketch of that house on a Christmas card made by my Aunt Anna. A bit of nostalgia worthy of Norman Rockwell himself. I should get that card out, frame it, and display it. It may be that I'm the last to have memories of that house, one never knows. I do remember Grandmother Bennett keeping a goose wing under that stove. She used it as broom to clean out the ashes in the stove, or sometimes, rarely, she would grab that goose wing and threaten to use it on my bottom! Yes, Grandma could be fierce and I never challenged her authority. Really though, she was the quintessential Grandma.        

restoring order

  I did make a post on Facebook about this as it riled me up a bit. That's what my wife and some others call it when I am annoyed or bothered by something that really doesn't effect me, riled. Yes you could say that I should just let this stuff slide on by, but I find that I'm not much of a casual observer. I'm not an activist though, more of a commentator. I guess the old adage, if you can't play, coach applies. I think I would make a great life coach, I'm very good at knowing the right responses. But then again, I see a lot of that on social media as well so I'm assuming it's a common trait. It's self discipline that is lacking with most people, myself included. But whatever the case my be, I was watching the television and this advertisement comes on. It is some football player, I suppose he is supposed to be a celebrity endorser of sorts, his name is vaguely familiar to me but I can't recall. That shows you how impressed by that. Anyway, he is talking about recovery. You can recover, with help and therapies, from Substance Abuse Disorder. Wait, what? Substance Abuse Disorder, you mean what I call a bad habit? That's how I view that, and a habit is something you develop. It isn't a disorder, it is something you alone are responsible for. You are not born with Substance Abuse Disorder, well unless your Mother developed that habit while pregnant, but you develop the habit.

 You may ask why does this bother me, get me riled up? It bothers me because our children are being lied to. They are making this sound like it just something you can catch, like a cold. When, in my opinion, it is a choice. You can use that stuff, alcohol or drugs, in any form for good or bad. I'm tired of all this making excuses for our own shortcomings. If, I abuse those substances that is my fault, it isn't some inherent disorder. I can control that! Yes, yes there is such a a thing as a physical addition, one prescribed by a physician, and it's not your fault. Sorry, I'm not buying that either. You know when it becomes a problem very early on. Many want to feign ignorance later on, but they knew. They also chose not to do anything about it, preferring the "relief" over anything else. It's true the initial decision to take those substances may have been driven by a medical doctor, under that advice, but the continuation of the habit is yours! You may chose the prescription as the excuse, hey the doctor says I should take this, but you know the truth. 

 It isn't just this one thing. There are so many things we are teaching our children that is just wrong. You know what? There are other kids that are smarter, better looking, and better athletes than you. There are other children whose parents have more money that yours. Not everyone gets the trophy in life! And most importantly, you are responsible for the choices you make, you and you alone. Your parents, your friends, your counselors, your therapist, social worker or other good seminarians can not assume that responsibility for you. At best they can delay accountability. In the end you will have to pay the price in either a financial or emotional way. Ultimately you cannot escape consequence. Yes, and choices have consequences both good and bad. When the consequence is bad, it isn't always someone else's fault. It's yours, choose wisely. The truth is, most times it is your fault!

 Substance Abuse Disorder? Really, a bad habit. And now we can cure that? That's what the advertisement says. It also says if we don't cure it the first time, we are open 24/7 and will try again. If you die in the meantime, it wasn't failure of treatment though, that's on you. A very convenient business model don't you think? The message is, it's not your fault and we can cure that, unless it kills you. You can't do it on your own, you need professional help! No, what you need is someone holding your hand and telling you it will be alright. You need mommy and daddy, love and compassion. Reassurance that it wasn't your fault. it was those bad drugs that crept into your system. It wasn't your fault. And if it happens again it isn't because treatment failed, you just need more treatment for it to work. Not your fault. Well I was taught early on. in order to cure disorder you need order. Order in your life, otherwise known as discipline. Maybe we should start teaching that again. Independence and self discipline.             

it's different

  It began when we took Sunday off the calendar. When we became more concerned with commerce than reflecting upon the week past. I think that is what many did when going to church. It wasn't so much about praising God and all that, but time for a review. We sat in those pews and listened to the preacher. We got on our knees and prayed. We prayed for the things we had done wrong, or prayed that God would help others in need. But sometime during the 1950's or 60's that change began. The stores remained open, business was booming. Families no longer went to church together for that social meeting, now they just went shopping. All the other distractions were available and we chose that. It was an avoidance really, no need to dwell on our mistakes, our shortcomings, or admit them to anyone, including our God. We could just continue on. Sunday became a day for entertainment, for entertaining ourselves. Saturday wasn't enough, we now wanted the whole weekend. By 1968 we had established the Uniform holiday act, ensuring three day weekends! No closing down businesses for Sunday or holidays anymore. Well, except for Federal employees anyway, and State employees if that state agreed. Government workers would receive full pay and the holiday off. Retail workers however, not so much. Service industries the same way, just keep working. 

 I think that change, the elimination of what was called blue laws, did fundamentally change American society in ways unimagined. It was like an official declaration that God wasn't a necessary piece in our lives. We could acknowledge that God, or not, whatever we wished. The pressure was off. Now we could say, I have to work as an excuse. Prior to that it was rather expected that you would go to church on Sunday. The only ones that weren't doing that were the Jewish folks, they went on Friday night. Some say it was their lobbying to be open on Sunday that precipitated that change. It could very well be but I don't know that for sure. But I do believe that parents sent their children to church even when they didn't necessarily attend on a regular basis themselves. As a result the children did receive moral instruction, often of a more strict nature than what they received at home. It was a time of, do as I tell you, not as I do. Not a bad thing in my opinion. 

 In my opinion that also changed the way the church operates. The church itself has to attract more business. There are more options these days, options fully accepted by society in general. I recall when the Catholic church first started with the Bingo games. It was quite controversial in its' day, gambling in the church, with the Priest calling the numbers? Yes it was change from the bazars of old as a fundraising device. The object was to attract revenue, not parishioners. Soon all the churches were doing that, then the fire companies took over. Then more "entertainment" was added to the services. Guitar playing and other forms of entertainment provided a more casual atmosphere. Today some churches have full rock and roll bands, I think they call it praise music though. Well whatever it is, it is entertaining. When I went to church as a young man I wasn't entertained, that wasn't the purpose. I went to reflect and repent as required. Heaven wasn't a guarantee, that had to be earned. 

 Now all of this is not to be construed as a bad thing. I am just telling what, in my view, has transpired, over the years. They are my observations. I've found as you grow older you can look to the past with an objective eye. I suppose that is for a very simple reason, you can't change the past. And for me, I feel no need to justify that past. It is what was and I do my best to explain my participation in it. That is what going to church was for me anyway. I did have to explain myself, to myself. Going to church sometimes felt like an exoneration for the past week. It was a new beginning of sorts. It's true that I don't attend church these days. It was a habit I got out of for a number of reasons. None of them are truly valid but excuses don't have that requirement anyway. The few times I have attended lately I found to be a strange experience. The people are just a little too chummy for me, turn to your neighbor and shake hands, embrace each other, no, I'm not comfortable with that. Standing with your hands in the air, no, not for me. I really don't go to church to praise so much as ask forgiveness. I enter the church with an attitude of contriteness. I am in his house! I'm on my best behavior. Contrite. It all seems a little too aggressive to me these days, the way they worship. It's just different. 

 The church is a reflection of the society. The business of establishing moral and ethical values is a difficult one. The business is suffering these days. A new business model is being established. It has always been so, nothing really new about it, but I've been around long enough to notice. It all seems a bit more aggressive, more forward. A new attitude. As I said, I'm not saying it is wrong, just different.                 

checks and balances

  How often do you write a check? I thought about that the other day when the occasion arose that I did need to write a check. The first problem was locating a checkbook. I've got several around and did locate one. Of course there was no ledger with it, I rarely wrote in that even when I wrote checks frequently, me being aware of that balance. It isn't like it was ever such a huge number I couldn't recall. So having located a check I did make sure the account number was correct. I filled that legal document out according to the form I was taught by my mother. Yes, Mom taught me how to do that. She was always a stickler for filing it out correctly, striking a line through areas where there was no writing. She frequently left notes in that lower left hand corner. Having filled it out  and signing it I inserted that into the envelope provided. I smiled thinking it would be a few days before the bank would even receive that. Remember when we all figured on that? Admit it, you wrote a "bad" check knowing you would make a deposit before that check hit the bank. We all did that. 

 I remember ordering checks from the bank. At one time I had then that looked like parchment paper and with an old fashioned font. You could get them in all styles, I imagine you still can. I used to think if I had a lot of money I would get one of those check ledgers like you saw on television. You know the ones, they look like a big book and have several checks per page with a column for recording the amount and payee. I was always impressed by that. I had done some upholstery work for a retreat of Nuns and it was time to get paid. I was directed to the Mother Superior office. I removed my hat and entered that sanctuary. It was rather dark and Mother Superior sure looked stern to me, She looked straight at me and I thought she could see my every wrongdoing since I was a child! On her desk was this large book. She opened it to reveal it was a checkbook, Gods checkbook! It was the only time I had complete confidence that the check would be good. It was. You know, I still think if I win the lottery I will get one of those checkbooks and a big desk.

 I wonder if checks will still be around in the future, as a financial instrument. Or will they eventually go the way of the house phone. I don't know many people that have a hard wired telephone on their kitchen wall anymore. Relics of the past now, rarely seen and an amusement of sorts. My sister had a pay phone in her laundry room that actually functioned. It was a joke. She said the kids had to use that. It may be there still, I can't say. But I do remember having a cordless phone when they first became available. I thought it was pretty cool that you could walk outside with that phone and it still worked, as long as you stayed in range anyway. One day my oldest brother shows up with a cell phone! Now that was an early one, came in a briefcase, and cost like ten bucks to make a call. The service was very limited but extremely cool, almost James Bond cool. Look at what we have now. We really do have the Dick Tracey technology. The majority of those using it have no idea who Dick Tracey is. 

 Well it was just something that I thought about, writing checks. Remember when they couldn't verify your check at the store? I do. Then they began checking them over the phone line in an amazing display of technology. Sometimes those checks would be refused! That stupid bank must have made a mistake, I have the money in the bank! Yeah, the bank never knows what you have or don't have. It's a scam! Of course we didn't call it a scam back then, we called it something else, depending upon our mood. I occasionally see someone writing a check at the grocery store. Usually it is a little old lady, hunched over that check, filling it out carefully like it is the Declaration of Independence or something. then filing in the ledger portion and making a note in the lower left hand corner. I just smile and remain patient, reminds me of my mother. Mom still refuses to have an ATM card, insisting it is a credit card and will have no part of it. It took my sister and I several years to convince her to get a cell phone. I still think she only did so when it became difficult for her to get out of the chair. Don't send her a text or a picture though, that will freak her out and frustrate her. Also do not send her a gift card. She will not use that thing. She is still good with a check though, no problem there. You should see her fill out a deposit slip. it's like a work of art. Checks and balances. Today I guess it is just about the balances, the checks not so much. Electronic transfer of funds is the way we do it. Not in my lifetime but one day, no cash at all. It will all be, in the cloud, somewhere, being electronically transferred. A check will be a novelty, like a subway token. 

 I think it is that way with personal checks anyway. Financial institutions still issue checks. I wonder how long that practice will continue. You know I remember getting a penny in the mail, a real penny. You could use that to buy ten records or tapes! I believe I even got a nickel one time as well. I haven't seen that in a while. Now the closest thing to that would be a coupon code. Just enter the code for a discount. What happened to Green stamps? Well, things change I suppose. Personal checks? It does require a degree of trust to accept one of those. Have we lost that trust? Or, is it just business? The big question? Will you take a check? LOl  

not like this

  We have to allow this to run the course no mater how upsetting it becomes. What I'm talking about is the results of the election, the counting of ballots, and the decision of the judges. It is becoming painfully obvious to me that the majority of the claims being made are being rejected by the courts. I hear there is a lack of evidence. The Democrats naturally insist that is because there was no wrongdoing. I have to point out they did have a different attitude during the hearings for Justice Kavanaugh and the impeachment proceedings for President Trump. With Kavanaugh an accusation made by a person that could neither remember when, or were, the supposed infraction took place was good enough. Witnesses from a high school yearbook was admissible evidence, indeed touted as concrete evidence. As far as the impeachment proceedings the "whistleblower" is still a secret. It's so secret that no one knows who that was, even today! It's as secret as the location of Jimmy Hoffa but that deposition, supposedly taken in the basement was enough to precipitate millions of dollars in investigation and countless man hours. In the end, nothing could be proven. The Democrats have cried foul ever since. The Republicans questioning the election count however are being called ridiculous and sore losers. They should just accept whatever results are put forth, like the whistleblower; unquestioned. 

 I have no doubt this will eventually be presented to the Supreme court. As to whether the court will listen or not, I really can't say. As much as I listen to the news, read things on social media and other news outlets, I am aware that I really don't know everything. All the cards have not been laid upon the table, yet. If there was any manipulation of the results, and I'm quite sure there was, those doing so will have thought about all the ways to cover that up. I'm not underestimating those people, I'm certain they know all that needs to be is a shadow of a doubt. We are, after all, talking about a national election. Nothing to trifle with. It was evident before the ballots were cast that violence would be the answer if the results aren't what was expected from certain factions. One of those factions is already demanding payment for their "participation" in all of that. The silence from those groups today is deafening. 

 Now we have to combine all of that tension, that apprehension with the threat of this virus. It is taking a great surge just before the holidays and before the court hears any arguments. Coincidence? I'm not convinced of that. Listened to the head of the CDC yesterday and got a mixed message. According to him the data says children don't spread the virus and there is no reason schools should be closed. On the other hand if you get families together, well that causes the spread of coronavirus. They have 100 million kits ready to administer the vaccine when it becomes available. First responders and medical people will get that first, you know, to keep them all alive. I can't help but think, who is wearing the most protective gear, has access to all methods of prevention? Who has been trained in all of that the most? It isn't the children that much is certain. Oh, that's right the children don't get covid. There are about 328 million people in America, we have 100 million kits available, eliminate the children and old people, we should enough kits for everyone that needs it. Of course we do need the vaccine which is almost ready but even after having developed a plan, since March, we can't distribute it to everyone until maybe next spring. The General in charge didn't say that though, he said we were ready the next day. Fauci says otherwise, I wonder who is telling the truth? 

 In the end it looks like Biden gets to be President, at least for a little while, until he is replaced by Harris. Harris then gets to nominate a vice-president. The 25th amendment explains how that works. The country will get locked down, despite all their claims to the contrary. This is a conditioning technique. Afterward any "freedom" allowed will be viewed differently. Almost gratefully. As long as the government continues to provide "stimulus" and a "vaccine" to save your life, a good many will just go along with all of this. Will all of this fundamentally change America? Well that depends upon the Congress. If changes to our Constitution are made, fundamental changes regarding our rights the answer has to be yes. The President whoever he or she may be can be replaced, either through another election or other mechanisms provided in that Constitution. What needs to be replaced, in my opinion, is the Congress. Far too many owing far too many others. Congressmen were supposed to be Citizen legislators, not career politicians. We need to go back to that! One term and done. No pay, no perks. That's how it was envisioned, not like this.          

skeptical

  As I listen to the news I do have to wonder about certain things. This morning they are talking about two vaccines that are over 90% effective but aren't approved yet. Even if they get approval it is being forecast that they won't be fully available for distribution until next year! And maybe not to some until the fall of next year. Now if we all signed onto this contact tracing program that might change. Well, because the government can't seem to locate people. They should just ask the car warranty salesman, they have your address and phone number. I fail to see the issue. They can get the new I phone in the store overnight but can't distribute a vaccine? No, I'm not buying that line. 

 It sure sounds to me like there is going to be a big push for everyone to be vaccinated. I'm not. I will not allow that to happen. Despite what the main stream news reports the infection rate isn't any where near that level and this virus isn't any where near that deadly. I'm not buying the whole "panic" mode thing. The actual numbers just don't support that narrative. Now I'm not saying their is some plan to place a chip in us all. The plan is to get us to allow the government to inject us at will through a campaign of fear. That just might come in handy later on. I wouldn't be surprised if these vaccines that are so effective are nothing but placebos in the first place. They say they are more than 90% effective. Well less than 10% of people are being infected already, so what's the gain? Think about that. The seasonal flu vaccine is, at best, 50% effective in any given year. Yeah I'd say you have about a 50/50 chance of catching the flu. 

 Yesterday the governor of Maryland explained that people get drunk after ten o'clock. When that happens they don't observe all the safety precautions. That's not a problem when they drive their cars, that's why the bars can stay open to 2 in the morning, but taking off their mask, now that's a real problem. They could breathe on you! Not a problem if they drive their cars though, they would be wearing seat belts and there are air bags too. Yeah, that makes perfect sense. He went on to explain how we shouldn't have anyone over for Thanksgiving either, he won't be, he'll just have a quiet Thanksgiving dinner in the governors mansion. Wonder how many servants he has? Are they allowed to be there? I'm certain they are, someone has to cook, clean, make the beds and do those menial chores. But I guess they all will be wearing a mask, so it's good. Just have to make sure the liquor cabinet is locked in case they work past ten.

 I heard that some states haven't spent all the money the government provided for PPE and other supplies. Now administrators are insisting that money get spent! The reason, because if they don't they have to give it back at the end of the year. We certainly wouldn't want to be accused of fiscal responsibility! Return the money? Are you crazy, spend it, spend it all and demand more. Spend until you are completely dependent upon the federal government, that way you can blame someone else for your failure to govern responsibly. Give the money back, really? 

 Did you know that votes are stored on flash drives? Yes, they are. I'm quite certain no one could switch those around, each one being so unique. It doesn't seem like it would take much of a crook to switch those things, they aren't very large. It really wouldn't take a slight of hand artist to pull that off. I read where they found a few of those in Georgia, ones that where accidently misplaced. But the story is there weren't that many votes on them anyway, it really wouldn't make a difference. That may be true but if they can be misplaced, they can also be altered rather quickly. I don't care which side you are on in this debate, this whole election is questionable. They are too many irregularities. Of course, the whole mail-in campaign was designed to facilitate just that in my opinion. My guess is, next election cycle you will hear, from the Democrats, to ensure a fair election mail in ballots will no longer be accepted! They still won't want ID though, or that you be a legal citizen, or a resident of the United States at all. 

 I don't know I listen to the news and can't help but think we have lost all common sense. Everyone hide in your bunkers! We have developed two vaccines in record time and they are super effective but we can't distribute them. Who gets them first? They aren't talking about that just yet. That's because they really haven't figured out just who is scared enough to jump on that wagon? Could be those vaccines really do require far more testing, you know, until the middle of next year. But, don't worry we have it under control. The numbers are dropping rapidly, it will only be a precaution by the time we distribute that placebo, er vaccine. 

 The worst part in all of this is the lack of trustworthiness. I, for one, have lost a great deal of trust in government. You just can't believe half of what you hear. There is so much double talk, so much straight up bull, that any sensible person is left questioning. Essential businesses remain open. Just who is essential? Any business that provides a means for someone to provide for their family is essential! Doesn't take a genius to understand that. I'm sick of hearing, we are in a war. Yeah well I was in a real war, didn't hide in my bunker waiting for it pass! Skeptical, yes I am very skeptical. I'm not easily scared, not easily manipulated. I also have common sense. Over 99% of the people contracting this virus make a full recovery. On the bright side, heart attacks and all other causes of death have dropped considerably. It's almost like all the other causes of death aren't being reported. 

the reward in wrong

 There is an old saying, it takes a village to raise a child. I'd say that was completely accurate, it does take a village. Listening to the news it seems that idea has changed somewhat. Now, the idea is it takes the federal government to correct what the village failed to do! That came to mind as Nora O'Donnel was doing some expose on sexual assault in the military! The question was why? Why, is this happening in the military were you should feel safe? Hey Nora, it's happening because there are boys and girl in close proximity to each other, away from home, lonely and under stress. Happens in college dormitories too! But you know why it happens Nora? It's because they weren't taught as children about morality, respect, boundaries and in general, how to act! That's the problem. Doesn't take a lot to figure that out. But that is just one issue in regard to this raising of children. That isn't the job of government! It has to begin at home. 

 Another story in the news was about kids ( juveniles) committing crimes, being arrested and, I know it's hard to believe, sent to juvenile detention centers! Yes, the kids are being sent to places where they lock up kids! Well, something needs to be done about that because that isn't right. The problem? The kids are being held accountable for their choices. But they shouldn't be held accountable for their choices because they are just kids. And kids don't have fully developed brains, so it isn't their fault. The brain, as science will tell you, isn't fully developed until the age of 25! Sure kids can join the military, vote, drive cars, operate heavy machinery, get married, take out student loans and all that, but shouldn't be held accountable for breaking the law. Well, it is just not fair. The government needs to provide training, counseling, therapies and professional services for these children, not lock them up. The government should be empowering these children not punishing them.  

 Still another larger issue is people robbing, looting, and generally breaking the law to obtain what they want. Thing is, they are doing so because of income inequality! Yes, they can't afford to buy that car, so they steal it. Well, it's not their fault, it's income inequality that is driving all of that. If only those people had a college education and were CEO's of corporations they wouldn't have to do that. It's a lack of opportunity! Not fair that everyone isn't born into the same socio-economic strata. Not fair that there are different races! And we all know that if you are a certain race you can't succeed on your own, at least that is the mantra I hear every single day. The deck is stacked against you, And you know that because your parents told you so, the neighbors all say so, and the government designs programs specifically to make it "fair" for you. This is so ingrained into society that we can't even mention otherwise, there will be no discussion about personal accountability, no, it's systemic! 

 Now all of this is generalities, and that isn't a good topic for discussion. There are exceptions. Still, in general, the raising of our children requires everyone's cooperation. It does take a village. Thing is the village has to agree on what is right, and what is wrong. And therein lies the problem we are facing today. Everyone believes they are the exception. Sometimes called the victim mentality it is becoming pervasive. Everyone has an excuse, a reason why the law doesn't apply to them. Even when they agree the law is valid, they should be exempted for some reason. I just heard the Governor of Maryland explaining why the bars and restaurants must close at ten. The reason, after ten people get drunk and won't follow the rules. Strange DWI's have been occurring at a fairly regular rate for years, maybe we should have closed the bars at ten all these years, saved all those lives. Nah, that's a stupid idea.

 I guess I'm just old. I still believe that we learn more from punishment than we do reward. At least that is what I feel modifies our attitude. Sure I enjoyed the praise and accolades when I did something good. Thing is I remembered the punishments a lot longer. I did learn that celebrations are brief, but mistakes stay with you a lot longer. Learn from those mistakes! Being rewarded for making a mistake doesn't work very well in my experience because I want that reward again. I don't really care how I get it. That's why children seeking attention will act out the way they do. Just seems to me the village these days just does everything they can to satisfy that one child at the expense of the others. The spoiled brats are getting their way. It's just easier isn't it? 

 You know, when I was a child the church taught more about punishment than they did reward. The reward came afterward. First you had to learn to be obedient. You were taught to follow the law, indeed to respect the law. You didn't get to heaven by praising his name, deeds opened those gates. Yes forgiveness was a possibility but it wasn't a guarantee! You have to learn from your mistakes. When Jesus spoke to the adulterer the instruction was to go and sin no more, it wasn't sin some more and I'll keep on forgiving you. It wasn't I will provide counseling, therapy, and place you in a program! No, the instruction was clear, don't do that again. The "or else" was implied.  

In the mist

  Every now and again I will revisit a story I have previously written. I remember the tale, for the most part, and sometimes think everyone else will. Then I think isn't that foolish, why should anyone remember what I posted years ago? Now that's arrogance. But this morning I will tell the tale once again and hope no one is bored. I'm telling it again because I discovered another ending yesterday. I spent a little time searching for more details but didn't find anything else. Anyway, here goes.

 It was a Monday the 23 of August in the year 1851. Just off the coast of eastern Long Island, off the hamlet of Amagansett, a ship floundered in the surf. This was the good ship Catherine, sailing out of Dram, Norway she was bound for New York City with cargo and 300 anxious immigrants. The Captain had made an error in navigation, possibly due to heavy fog, and run her around. All 300 passengers were saved and there was no direct loss of life. The Captain and his wife stayed in Amagansett for several days, his wife taken ill, passing away during that time. Where the Captain went and what happened to him later I do not know. One immigrant, a name named Patrick Lynch was heading for the gold mines in California but decided to remain ashore. He lived the rest of his life out on Long Island. In my earlier story the ship was lost, breaking up in the surf. Yesterday I found evidence that wasn't the case. Instead the Catherine was refloated on the 16th of September and towed to a shipyard in New York city. As to the fate of the Catherine, I haven't discovered any further information. 

 The big interest in all of that to me is one of my ancestors was an immigrant on that ship. She was traveling to New York with her brother. Just who, if any guardians at all, were with them is unknown. No one claimed either child. It was recorded that the brother was sent to a foundling home in the City. His sister, her name was Catherine, was adopted by a local family. Her maiden name may have been Minturn but that isn't verified by any concrete evidence. Catherine would go on to marry Lyman M Bennett. My mother is a Bennett. It is through her side of the family that I am a direct relative of that little shipwrecked girl Catherine. She is my great grand Aunt. It was Lyman M Bennetts' sister Mary Ann that would become my great grandmother. Mary Ann being the mom to my grandfather. And that's about all I know of her.

 I may make that a project this winter, to see if I can fill in the gaps any better. My great grand aunt Catherine, a survivor of a shipwreck, separated from her brother, adopted and goes on to marry. Did her brother ever return, to find his sister? Catherine had two daughters, Ada and Antoinette. I wonder what became of them. There is much to learn, a curiosity to satisfy. Surely there are family tales to tell handed down over the generations. It's such an interesting story how could it not be spoken of? What her age was when that ship wrecked I do not know, nor her brothers age. I don't know the date of her death either. Many questions to be answered. I can't help but wonder, what of her parents? If they weren't on that ship and the records indicate that they were not. surely someone in the new world was waiting for them to arrive. Where was that person(s)? Why did they never claim those children? 

 Somewhere in the surf, with the fog and the mist, there are answers. I wonder why I had contradicting stories about the fate of the ship Catherine. I did a quick search but found no newspaper article about that wreck. It was just a quick search though and I will continue down that avenue. There must be stories somewhere, in the mist of time, if only I can find them.    

defining

 There are mornings when I wonder what I am doing. This is one of them. Being retired I don't have any obligation to an employer, no set task to perform. In a strange way life is easier that way, requiring little thought. Yes you have to be there, do this or that, but you know what you're doing, or at least what you're supposed to do. It's not that way when you are retired. The only obligation is to yourself. You have to choose to do the right thing, today. Sure there are always chores to do the things of everyday life. Fix this, clean that, doing whatever. The hard part is defining your job. That's why I sometimes ask, what am I doing? 

 There is the struggle between doing for others, and doing for yourself. That struggle can be defined as work ethic. What is your work ethic? Is it different when doing something for others, than it is when doing for yourself? What are the expectations? The inner knowledge of what you feel you are capable of, compared to the actual effort you are putting forth. Do you take shortcuts with yourself? I find myself saying, that's good enough, but never meaning that. Usually when I say that it is more of a resolution, than fact. Seldom am I satisfied with the outcome. I always feel it could have been better, but am unwilling to continue, a sort of paradox. I'm interested in so many things, I don't have time for just one. But is that because I don't feel expert in any one thing? What I mean to say is, I feel competent in a number of trades/interests/hobbies or whatever, but not expert. Nothing outstanding.

 This morning I am wondering, what am I doing? The real question to be answered though is, do I need to be doing anything? We are programmed to believe that we should be productive in some fashion. My grandmother would say, idle hands are the Devils workshop and there is truth in that old proverb. You can get involved in mischief when you have too much idle time on your hands. I have lots of "projects"  that occupy my time. I do enjoy working on those little projects and when they help others I feel good about doing them. But there are days, times, when I want to just do things for me. Problem being, I also tend to feel guilty about doing that. If I'm doing something for myself but receive no support for that endeavor, whatever it is, a sense of guilt creeps in. But maybe it isn't guilt, maybe it is really just seeking validation. We all require that from time to time is my thinking. Some people are much better at self validation than others is my guess. 

 I write the majority of these thoughts in the first person because I am that person. I don't necessarily mean them as a self examination but as a question to others. I wonder if others feel the same way? I realize that sometimes these pieces read as a bit of philosophy or as some form of instruction, but that isn't the intent. The intent is having a discussion. Yeah, I like to talk to myself whenever I need expert advice, no one knows me better than me. I sat down to write something this morning and that's when I thought, what am I doing? Yesterday I posted this statement: " We all have a part to play, but only we can define the character. " I'm thinking it is that thought that has been simmering overnight and why I woke up wondering, what am I doing? What is my part and what character am I playing? I have to define that character, no one else can do that for me. Something to think about.     

changes

 When you allow change, things become different. Then, over time that difference may come back to haunt you. I'm guessing that is what happens when you get old. Me, I'm not old yet, but I'm beginning to notice that. Not the getting old, the differences. The thing is I never adopted a number of changes, although having tried them. Those changes I now view as the foolishness of youth. And I've certainly participated in my share of foolishness over the years. Thing is I haven't allowed that foolishness to change me. I'm still the same old me. And in that, I think, we all find happiness and contentment. When you regret the foolish things you did in the past that leads to melancholy and despair. You can't change the past, but you can do a rewrite. It is the struggle between the truth and what we remember. I struggle with  the truth, while "forgetting" certain minor details. But it isn't actions that I'm talking about changing, I'm talking about our character, the thing that makes us who we are. The person we are, when we aren't playing a part. That is the person our true friends know and our spouses love. 

 I've seen a lot of changes take place so far. Things that shouldn't have been changed, but the majority has yet to realize that. It is the majority that control changes. It begins with youth. Young people just naturally want to try a different method, a new technique, make changes. Some try to live up to the past and some try to forge a new future. Others, like myself, just kind of take it day by day. In the past I was a bit more, shall we adventurous, quicker to act, than I am today. Time has tempered reason to a certain degree. Yes, I did act in a foolish and irresponsible manner on occasion. It is those occasions that I remember and laugh about most of all. Those occasions have formed my character and indeed, created what we sometimes call our reputation. Our reputation does one thing, create expectations. When our reputation precedes us that is what happens. But for me, because I have traveled around a good deal, I've had many chances to make changes. And yes those changes have made me different, but not really. I'm still the same old me, I just don't act upon those old impulses like I used to. But it is there, bubbling below the surface, and given the right set of circumstances it will erupt.

 As far as changes, I often mention some in these writing and ramblings of mine. One is the use of profane and crude language. It has become far too common a thing, an accepted thing in polite society. I'm not saying that language is ever good but I'm aware it is used in certain social situations. In the old days it was among sailors, bikers, and the rougher side of town. It wasn't used by ladies, nor spoken in the presence of ladies. Then along with the suffragette attitude, the ladies joined in, they felt equal to somehow, and today I hear that language in commercials on television. I see it often expressed in  comments on social media. It is a change, it is different. That language fosters an anger, that's the intent in that. To add emphasis! By cussing I am conveying my sincerity. The underlying message being, I'm willing to fight for this statement! And now, now many wonder how our society became so aggressive. That was the beginning, in my opinion. 

 When we begin redefining roles we create confusion. That has always been the case and will continue into the future, my guess being until mankind is extinct. Today we are at a place where we insist there are no roles. That's why the insistence that gender isn't assigned at birth, that you somehow get a choice about that. Now, that's a change! A drastic change in my opinion and one I categorize as foolishness. You may indeed be born with feelings that you are somehow different, but the way you respond to those feelings is a choice. Yes it is a choice! That isn't to say you should condemn others for their choices, just that a choice was made. That is unless you believe in destiny being a predetermined thing. In that case you don't have a choice, about anything. Then wouldn't we all be just going through the motions? Seems to me you can't have it both ways. Well, that's a change for sure. 

 My thinking is we can't stop changes, only adopt or reject them. Each generation makes some changes that they subsequently adopt as they age. Now some changes are necessary and right. That is true in society as well as in our personal lives. The societal changes reflect the personal changes. What is acceptable behavior? In my youth I engaged in a lot of foolishness. That behavior wasn't acceptable but tolerated to a degree. It was amusing to others, caused little lasting harm and as I said, tolerable. I'd say now forty years or more past my youth, that's subject to interpretation and debate, the things that bother me are the changes I do not accept. Whether or not I let others know that is dependent upon my honesty. I'm aware of my ever changing role. Today I'm grandpa to those I wish to influence the most. I'm not trying to impress the ladies, make new friends, advance my career, or anything like that. Today I'm grandpa, that crazy old man with strange ideas. Always warning others about making changes and adopting new attitudes. In their mind I've never been anything else, so what would I know about change. I need to get with it! I got with it though, years ago, and found out it wasn't always the best thing in the long run. Makes for wonderful memories though, when you can say, if only to yourself, remember that time? What was I thinking? You know older folks don't like changes much and there is a good reason for that. We're comfortable with ourselves. It's that simple. We are comfortable with the choices we have made, comfortable with the conclusions. When that happens changes stop, the decision has been made. Yeah, I know all the answers. Even when I don't like the answer, I don't try and change it. I just ask a different question.      

popular

  I've always been a little confused  by something. To be new and original is lauded as a great thing. What's confusing is that in order to be new and original you have to have training. Think about it. Want to be an artist, you have to go to art school, want to be a writer, take journalism classes. If you don't have that training and you submit your work it will be picked apart as being unprofessional. It won't be called new, original or inventive, it will be rejected. Well at least most of the time it will be. In todays world we do have the possibility of going viral. Going viral, so called because it is like a virus, you get it whether you want to or not, is a game changer. Well, you may not really get it, but it is the popular thing, so you say you like it. That's what happened with that abstract, impressionist art stuff in my opinion. Some rich and influential people said it was wonderful and just like that, it's a thing. Andy Warhol was a genius. He painted a Campbell soup can and sold that for millions. I believe he laughed his way all the way to the bank. Me, I 'm just confused. I'm a very poor artist, by that I mean I can't paint, draw, or do pencil sketches of anything. But I know several people that are quite capable of painting a Campbell soup can. And as far as Starry night goes, the man was in a mental hospital when he painted that! But, yeah, okay if you say so.

 I do understand a little of this though. It is all about establishing a standard. In order to judge something we have to compare it to something else, perceived to be the standard. Then a standard having been established we measure the other products against that. It is really all about defining the standard. That's what all that jibber jabber is about from the "experts." They are so intellectual they can explain reality even when it isn't real. They can talk to me all day long but Jackson Pollock did little more than throw paint around on a canvas, give it a name and a huge price tag. Yes, I know, I'm uneducated and don't appreciate fine art. Yeah, if you say so. 

 I do have a theory though. If just one of your creations, whatever it may be, is accepted, perceived as great, for the most part whatever you do after that will be too. That theory falls apart with the one hit wonders in the fifties and sixties but that's another discussion. Hey Stephen King has made a career out of basically writing the same story over and over. I know, I've read a good number of them, also the reason I stopped reading them. Louis L'amour did the same thing with his western novels and I enjoyed reading all of them. That was because there is no thought required, just a simple story without a pretense of being anything else. In both of those cases the standard being the book before the newest release. Write the same story and you will remain popular. Anyway, it's just a theory. I do think that should just one of my blogs go viral I would then become "famous." I would have followers and all that. It may even be said I was insightful, entertaining and informed. My writing may be described as folksy and undisciplined. And all that would be said to create a new perception. It wouldn't change the reality however. I'm just an old guy with a keyboard that likes to write stuff. I do think that if Rap is going to be considered music, I have a shot at fame. After all it is all a matter of judgement isn't it? What is judgement based upon? A standard. Today we are told there is no standard, therefore we shouldn't judge. But if we don't judge how can we determine reality from fantasy? 

 Popularity is a strange thing. Here one minute, gone the next. It is constantly redefined. Who really determines what is popular? I've always wondered about that. Just who thought Disco was a good thing? And who convinced some guys to walk around with their pants sagging? How can that be popular? And why do so many seek popularity when popularity can't really be defined. That's some shaky ground to build on. It's all very confusing. Some establish popularity that never changes, think Elvis, while others are a flash in the pan. 

 What does all of this have to do with anything? I don't know, I'm just writing down my thoughts. They say everyone gets fifteen minutes of fame. I'd say I've had mine, although only for a few minutes at any one time. Yes it was Andy Warhol that said, " in the future everyone will be world famous for fifteen minutes." He's not too far from wrong. That was in 1968. The world has changed since then. Would he have had the success he enjoyed then in todays world? Maybe, now there is an artist whose work shreds itself, very amusing, genius. Some guy named Banksy pulled that stunt. Someone had paid 1.4 million for that painting. Don't know about that person but I sure would feel stupid! I'm guessing that person never actually paid the money, I sure wouldn't. But the world said what a genius Banksy is. Yeah, okay. I can honestly say I have no idea what kind of painting Banksy does, haven't seen a single one.         

a new tradition

  Old names and faces. Strange how that happens isn't it? One day they are all familiar and the next, not so much. I was reminded of that yesterday on several occasions. I went to retrieve the Flag off the graves of those veterans, I hate it when people just leave them there to get dirty, ragged, blown over, and eventually picked up by cemetery workers that throw them in a trash bag! As I picked those flags up I read the name and dates on those stones. Three of the four I knew personally. Two have been gone for over twenty years already and the third seven. I remember them well. I know the name and the face. The fourth flag I place on the grave of one Col. Comegy, civil war veteran and a former prominent citizen of Greensboro, Md. His name is one that appears in the history of Greensboro frequently. 

 As I walked slowly from one grave to the other I noticed how many more stones there are these days. I've lived here for about 25 or 26 years and have noticed the population of that real estate increase. There is the old section with those strange looking stones made of some white colored material, marble perhaps, that is now covered with dirt, moss, and grime. Some of those are barely legible. Odd shapes and unusual carvings are on those stones, but new and modern when they were placed. Many say, never forgotten, but the stones belie that promise. The newer stones are mostly granite. It is harder to tell the age of those stones without reading the dates. They are much more durable and I expect that is the reason the switch to granite was made. That, combined with the fact of modern cutting tools to engrave that stone, the white marble, if that is what it is, being much softer. Many of those appear to be unvisited in some time as well. 

 A new trend in grave markers includes an image of the persons face. Personally I find that a bit unsettling for reasons I don't really know. Perhaps it is merely because it is new and different. I'm not much for changing the traditional. In the past we didn't associate a name with a face in the cemetery. That was left to those that knew the individual. But now, an image will be there for, I assume, forever. I don't know but I would rather not have my picture on my headstone. The question there for me is, what picture. Do I get to pick that picture? If so, which one should I pick? I mean it is a picture that will one day wind up being one of a very few. How many pictures of you do you realistically believe will be around in a hundred years or so? How many would even go looking for it? If someone else is choosing that picture what would they pick? Well, guess it really doesn't matter, after all, I am dead. 

 I don't know I guess a lot of that came to me while walking through that cemetery. It was a light rain, grey skies, and I was alone. Because of the virus there was even an absence of flags for the veterans. It all just seemed so forlorn. The cemetery is never a place filled with happiness but sometimes, as strange as it may seem, filled with hope. It is, after all, were we will all eventually reside, metaphorically speaking anyway. I intend to be cremated but do want a marker, with my name and dates upon it. I just feel like every man should have a marker, a milestone on the journey. This earth is just one stop on that journey is my feeling. 

 I did read a lot of old names, some familiar. They are the familiar names, the ones that you hear everyday. I expect these folks are family members of the living. There are family names, names associated with towns, and other names that are of national prominence. I can only speculate. Being interested in history I have read some of that about Greensboro and the surrounding area. The old names are there, etched in marble and granite. Many of those names you do not hear today, the descendants of those folks either moved away or simply lost to time. The old names, the old money, and the founders of the town. Names that shaped the history, now silent. Old names, and soon there will be old faces on some stones. A new tradition?           

buying the product

 Facebook went public in 2012. That's a mere 8 years ago. The initial stock price was 38 dollars a share but quickly dropped below 18. Today that share is about 217.00 dollars. It is estimated that 2.2 billion people use Facebook every day. To say it is an influential platform is an understatement. Lots of money to be made! That is accomplished of course through the use of advertising. Advertisings' purpose is obvious enough, to sell something. We tend to think of that as a material thing or a service but advertising can also sell an idea. It is the ideas that generate the biggest income stream, in my opinion. There are those willing to invest heavily in the hope of a return, not necessarily in dollars and cents, but in power and influence. It is those that we are calling the censors so many are upset about. Yes, your content is being censored, either allowed , disallowed, fact checked, opinion checked, or you are silenced altogether for a period of time. Facebook jail it has been called. All of that is in response to the investors wishes, what they are spending their money for. I get it, I'm not upset by it for a simple reason, it doesn't cost me a cent. 

 It has been suggested by some that I leave Facebook and join another social networking platform. I won't be doing that for a simple reason, I have invested at least ten years of my time in Facebook. I have established friends, acquaintances, and simply grown used to using the platform. I still enjoy sharing my pictures, poems, and writings. I do engage in the political discussions going on. I certainly don't agree with everything everyone says. As of yet, I don't feel like I'm being censored. As long as I post my opinion in a civil manner, I have been reprimanded for not doing so a few times, nothing I have tried to post wasn't allowed. I seldom share any videos of conspiracy. I post enough theories of my own in that regard. I don't feel like I have any "right" to post anything I feel like. That is because I'm not paying! Should you begin to charge me a users fee or whatever that attitude would change 180 degrees. It is a pay to play world after all. I fail to see why anyone should have any expectation to able to use a platform, one that does cost in the millions of dollars to sustain, for free and at the same time dictate what should be allowed. You're not paying for that system! 

 Tomorrow at 6Pm a mass exodus is supposed to occur. The intent is to tank the stock value of Facebook and send a clear message that users aren't happy with perceived censorship. I get it, I understand that. I don't agree with that. I hope my friends don't desert me and I lose touch with them. I suppose I could just open another account on the suggested platform but with no intention of deleting Facebook altogether, I see no point in that. The only purpose would, or will be, to reconnect with those folks. That action will certainly do no harm to Facebook. I'll just have to wait and see I suppose. 

 Facebook is a social network. I began posting a Good Morning everyday in that spirit. I just like being social. Unfortunately in order to form a society you require members. The larger the number of members, the more diverse that society becomes. With diversity comes conflict. That is inevitable. You can see that played out over and over again throughout your life. If you abandon the society each time conflict arises, you will wind up a lonely person. Consider what content is really being censored. What is it that you wish to say that isn't being allowed? So far, for me anyway, it isn't much. I'm fully aware that Facebook is a liberal leaning platform, it was, after all started by a Harvard student. And what's interesting about that is, it's first intended purpose was to compare peoples faces. You were supposed to post a picture of your face and then others would vote on who was the hottest! The administration at Harvard reprimanded Zuckerberg over that. Well, that's not nice and so he was censored! Today he is making millions of dollars selling advertisement on Facebook. The advertisers are insisting upon getting what they pay for, whatever that "product" may be. Until you are an advertiser you really have no say other than to not to buy the product. I'll be staying on Facebook but not buying the product, at least for now. 

Glory past

  Today being Veterans day I normally write something concerning that. To be honest I can't think of much to say that hasn't already been said by someone. I often feel my words are inadequate to the task but remind myself that I am an amateur at this. Nonetheless I still put fingers to the keyboard and give it a shot. Where I to put pen to paper I'm not certain anyone could read it, including myself, my penmanship is sorely lacking I'm afraid. Once again I will try to express my sentiments and thoughts about our veterans.

 My father served in WW2. He was drafted into service and answered that call without hesitation or complaint. The country needed him. Eventually assigned to an air crew flying B-24 Bombers over the hump and into Germany. His service completed he returned to his childhood home and just resumed his life. Not one to join any Veterans organizations for reasons unknown to me, his uniform and his memories packed away in the attic. He didn't enjoy talking about any of it, he did enjoy talking about the planes though. When he came home, along with all the others, there were parades and such. Those GI's were greeted as conquering heroes. Their victories were celebrated. Souvenirs were displayed, the stories of battles told, and a righteous justice celebrated! There was no remorse for the enemy, no sympathy extended. No, the enemy had been met, and just as Oliver Hazard Perry proclaimed after defeating the British on Lake Erie, "We have met the enemy and they are ours!" The greeting those GI's received would be the last of its' kind in America. In all the conflicts and wars that have followed our GI's have not received that gratitude, that welcoming, the loving embrace of the nation they fought for. 

 I can't help but wonder if WW2 was the last "glorious" war of this nation. Have we become so self-righteous, so smug in our Freedom, that we no longer support such a notion, such an ideal as a glorious war. The fight of the righteous, justified in our fury and anger, a time to fight! Does not Ecclesiastes say there is a time to fight? It certainly does and I agree wholeheartedly. The glory of war is enjoyed by the victors having fought for a noble cause. It has been said many different ways by many different personalities. Patton, the great general of WW2 was brash, outspoken, and some say insubordinate. But Patton spoke the truth when he said, " The object is not to die for your country, but to have some other poor bastard die for his." I understand that sentiment exactly. You must have the willingness to put your life out there, to live, to fight, to take the risk in the hope of that gain. The gain that is Freedom! 

 There was a brief time following the attack on the Towers that America once again felt that spirit. It was a justified anger, a reason to fight. No quarter was to be given, but the enemy was elusive. With no where to turn, people forgot. There was even a period of preaching tolerance and forgiveness for this act. We should embrace our enemies in the spirit of peace. And now, 9/11 is just a catchphrase. An incident in history that is observed, more of a holiday than anything else. It has only been twenty years since that happened. A memorial has been erected to honor the lives lost. Lives lost not in battle however, lives taken. Like the attack at Pearl Harbor, an aerial  attack, by surprise, without any warning. The nation was left stunned with no one to attack. 

 Sadly an entire generation now knows little of that, it is just a fact of history. It's not their fault, they weren't alive to live that history. What does the history book say about that? The narrative is it was just a few terrorists, acting on their own, striking out against capitalist America. Yes they were followers of Islam, but they were "extremists" in that regard. They weren't the "peaceful" Muslims that love America as much as Americans. Strangely it wasn't extremist Japanese that attacked Pearl, that isn't what history records. We extracted our revenge upon the Japanese and the Germans. We celebrate that. Today we send our troops to many lands where they fight and die. They are fighting against whom? No one seems to know or care. These veterans just do their duty and return home to what? At best a Thank You on Veterans day or a discount at Home Depot. The deeds they had to perform to survive are often maligned in the news, They are berated by those that refuse to go, refuse to serve. 

 When I returned home I expected nothing, I wanted nothing. I had enjoyed a mutual exchange of service with my nation. This is my country and I am proud to call it so. It's an honor to be called Veteran! Yes, I had to earn that honor and that is as it should be. There is little more despicable behavior than stolen valor. Maybe I am becoming a dinosaur with the views I hold dear. Those basic values and tenets that I will not surrender or compromise on. This land is my land! I took an oath to defend her against all enemies foreign and domestic. I have not been relieved of that duty, only death will do that! I have been honored to serve alongside my fellow Americans, to carry that torch forward. 

 What torch you may ask? Consider the last verse of the poem, In Flanders Field:

" Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The Torch be yours to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

we shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Field"

To defend our nation is the highest honor, a sacred trust. My nation trusted me to do the job, I can do no less than trust my nation. Glory belongs to the victor! A victory noble and right is to be celebrated and remembered forever. Heroes? Name a hero from any way or conflict past WW2. There have certainly been many heroic men and woman that have served since, no denying that. Naming them is difficult however and why is that? Was the "greatest generation" to be the last to understand the glory of victory? How few of those Veterans walk among us today. I will keep them alive as long as I live myself.