Honestly

  After writing yesterday's blog I learned more about "StoryWorth" from a friend. That is the name of the company offering that service. I also found that in its' basic form it is reasonably priced. Exchanging a few comments and questions about that I decided I would have one reservation about doing that. That reservation is that the one that gives you the gift also can see the reply you write in the e-mail sent to StoryWorth. I guess if I just purchased it for myself that could be avoided. But then that sort of defeats the purpose of the book as they advertise it. I'm supposed to be answering questions that someone else asks. But I do have the option of picking from pre-prepared questions. Whatever the case is it raises a concern for me. I just wouldn't want anyone to read that until I was finished with the book, or I'm finished, if you get my drift. 

  I mentioned to my friend that I had written a blog about my maternal grandmother some years back. I thought it was pretty good and a heartwarming tale. I shared that with my mother. She seldom read any of my blogs because she didn't use a computer, smart phone or any of that electronic stuff. Her reaction came as a complete surprise to me. She was livid! I mean I thought she would blow a gasket. I heard a few words from her that I had never heard before. As I said, I was completely caught off guard and unprepared for that. On the one hand I felt bad because I had upset her and on the other hand, I hadn't said anything bad about her. It's been years now and I'm still perplexed about her reaction. 

  I've thought about it many times since. I asked my brother about it, and he offered no explanation. He seemed as baffled as I was. It makes me ask a question. Can you ever really be 100% honest with anyone? I mean just say what it is your thinking, tell your truth without hedging a thing? I'm thinking about everything, the little things as well as the major ones. Honesty is always the best policy but not always the best choice. Think, does this make me look fat, or look at this picture I drew. That's when we break out what we call a white lie. They are harmless lies told to save someone's feelings. Our opinions can certainly cause others to get upset. Our analysis of a situation can do the same. And that's where the issue comes in for me. If I were to write that story, I would tell it the way I see it, and some people might get upset. I wouldn't want to upset anyone with my stories and observations. As I discovered you just never know what the reaction may be. 

  The purpose of that book is to leave a record of sorts. It is the telling of your life through your eyes. If I'm not telling everything I saw for fear of hurting feelings the book is incomplete. I'm not talking about telling the dirt, exposing secrets and scandals, just the plain truth as I see it. I'm aware that comes at a risk. If what I write displeases others it may impact my legacy. That's a rather pompous statement, isn't it? My legacy.  

 It is more like my opinion, and opinions are like anus's, everyone has one. Sometimes they stink! I'm also aware that whatever I did write would certainly not make a large impact as it wouldn't affect many people. Still, I'm attempting to leave "me" behind. I want to leave the real me. That's the issue. How honest can you be? It's not about keeping secrets; it's about sharing insights. We don't all have the same understanding even when we share the same experience. How to decide which insight to share and which opinion to keep to yourself is the challenge. Things is, it shouldn't be a challenge at all. My insight is judged by you to be an opinion. In my opinion you are lacking insight. Just what is the truth? And just how much of that should you share? They say dead men tell no tales. Not if I write that book. I expect it is safer that way, at least a lot less drama. Death is a dramatic thing! Anything I would write won't trump that. Honestly, what's the worst that could happen?     

googling grandpa

  I saw an advertisement for a company that writes and prints your personal stories. From what I heard you will get an e-mail from the company each week to prompt you to write a memory or tale or whatever. They'll ask questions. You respond to that, and they write your story. After a year your book will be finished and published. There are options available for the cover and including pictures as well. That's as much as I know about it right now. It's an intriguing idea. The advertisement I saw urged you to purchase that for your aging parents/grandparents. They don't have a lot of time left so you had better get those stories while you can. Yes, that was implied, and it is simply the truth of the matter. Still, I think it is a wonderful idea. I saw no mention of cost so I'm guessing it is substantial. I expect it has to do with just how many and how long those stories are. I've been working on shortening my short stories somewhat, I tend to ramble on. More words don't always make for a better story. Tolstoy never got the message on that. Today some scholars say it doesn't qualify as a book, novel, poem or historical work.

  These blogs of mine currently number 4,783 not including this one. That's a lot of writing. How many of those I would want included in a book I can't say. In a way I guess I'm like Tolstoy, I'm just writing what I'm thinking about. Well okay, his works are far superior to anything I could compose but I'm thinking about the sheer volume of words. He included his personal philosophy in his works, along with bits of history. I have all of that. If I had to explain the context of a number of my blogs that would certainly add to the count. Many things I write about are contemporary and in a few years would need to be explained. I was reminded of that a few years back. I was talking with a young person and discovered he had no idea who Kennedy was, what Watergate was all about or what year the twin towers were attacked. It was all history to him. 

  I have never attempted to categorize my blogs in any way. I've thought about that though, you know, personal stories, historical events, philosophical and religious writings that sort of thing. I could apply the Dewey decimal system to them. Well, the truth is I'm not that familiar with the Dewey decimal system but I know it could be done. I looked it up and philosophy falls into the 100 bracket. I'm thinking I'll just let AI do that task for me one day. There is simply too much to read. 

  I have checked into having my blogs published in a book. In fact, I have done that, just once some years back. It was just a small volume. It contains eighty-five pages with pictures. Eighty two blogs beginning March 21 of 2011 and ending June 21, 2011. Bound in hard cover the cost was about a hundred dollars. It has been sitting on my bookshelf ever since. I've read it of course and I'd say it isn't all that interesting a read. My hope is that the grandchildren or great grandchildren will one day take an interest in reading those words. That's assuming reading text is still taught by then. But I'm sure there will be AI to translate text to sounds. Already have that in fact, I can push a button and the computer will read the text for me, although I'm not certain how that works. I find it a bit creepy to be honest about it.

  I do like the idea of that book though. I think it could become a treasured thing, having the words and thoughts of our ancestors. I've often wished I knew the thoughts of my parents, grandparents and other ancestors regarding everyday life for them. Why did great great grandfather join the union army and go to fight? Why did the family move from New Jersey to eastern long island? What was all that like? What did they think about current events and current legislation. 

 I also think it will take a few generations for that to become appreciated. That is especially true if you are just the common man. What I mean by that is, no one of importance. Someone like me. I enjoy no fame; no notoriety and my name will be forgotten rather quickly. My attempt at immortality is contained in the words I have written. When I was born there was no birth announcement in the local paper. It was free, but no one bothered to tell the paper. And today there will be no obituary in any paper when I'm gone. There may not be a paper. But it will probably be on Facebook. I'm told my blogs will remain on a server somewhere, presumably forever. All you have to do is find them. I like that idea too. Googling your 2nd great grandfather for historical perspective. What an amazing thing that could be. Or, just read the book.  

that's cool

  I saw a post about a gentleman that was a veteran of WW2 wearing his medals. It was mentioned how he had gone to the pub, and someone asked him about them. His reply was that seldom did anyone ask anymore and he thought that no one cared. That post, meme, or whatever you want to call it was designed to arouse an emotional response. As a retired military man, it drew my attention because that gentleman was in civilian clothing. The mention that he was going to a pub was a clue. He must be in Great Britian. He was. And that made me think about that. In the movies that seems to be a common enough thing to see in England. But, as I said, that's the movies and I'm not sure how accurate that would be. Google informs me that it is an authorized thing for certain holidays and occasions. The Royal British Legion, Britian's largest military charity publishes a guide. 

 Here in the United States that isn't a thing. I've read where it is permissible to do so for military holidays, events or occasions. There are no official guidelines, no instructions for doing that, however I  did find an "advisor" that says they should be worn just like they would be on your uniform. Either full sized or miniature is acceptable. I have never seen anyone do that. I wonder why that is, especially in today's world. It's a sore spot with me, the wearing of all the ribbons, badges or whatever to signal your support for every cause imaginable. Virtue signaling! It is something I was taught not to do. It wasn't called virtue signaling back in the day, it was called bragging, showing off, or being insincere. The sentiment being you are looking for recognition for your good deeds. You certainly didn't wave the flag about that! 

  It isn't illegal here in the United States to wear military insignia on civilian clothing. It has never been illegal but always considered in a very bad light. It's a form of stolen valor if you did not earn that insignia. Even if you did and are entitled to wear that it is in bad taste to do so. Even in our Hollywood movies the insignia was often incorrect. That was done purposely so as not to bring any disgrace to that insignia. In the fifties when I was little, we were told you could get arrested for wearing them! They were treated with almost the same respect as the Flag. By the mid-sixties most of that had changed and today I don't think many even think about any of that. 

  I didn't earn many ribbons or medals during my twenty years. Four medals, seven ribbons and one special insignia for being a navy recruiter. The truth is I can't remember what a few of the ribbons are for. All medals and ribbons aren't made the same. I got the good conduct medal for well, good conduct. I didn't get into any trouble. Another metal means I was in the service for at least ninety days during a time of war. The other two involve desert storm/desert shield and the liberation of Kuwait. No purple hearts, silver stars or Medal of Honor. 

 To those that know what those ribbons and medals represent, it isn't much. You are not expected to know what they are. If I were to wear them it would certainly project an image. And that's the problem I have with that. I wouldn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I would feel very self-conscious about that. Not when wearing the uniform itself; but if I were to wear them on my civilian clothes. That's what I'm thinking about. It's a curious custom in Britian. I wonder just how prevalent it really is. I don't know anyone that is British and lives there to ask. I expect much like here in America attitudes change, traditions come and go. People are pretty much the same everywhere you go I know that from experience. Local customs are different that much is certain. I guess it is what you would call "social consciousness" the way people act. What we might say is, cool. It's important, being cool. Are you cool? I'm cool. It's not cool in America to wear your military decorations on your civilian clothing. In Britian? I guess so. 

it's fine

 What's happening in the Ukraine? Sure, don't hear a lot about that these days, do you? Oh, there is an occasional mention if you are really paying attention to the news, but it is far from the headlines. Are you distracted enough yet. The whole money, arms, and aid thing to Ukraine is being kept very low key. The only thing you really hear is that the temporary budget, the extension or whatever does not include funding for Ukraine. The war rages on however, just in the background. But what's happening in Ukraine? The Ukrainian forces have dug in close to a river and the Russians are using drones to attack. The Russians are also warning about a nuclear attack. It wouldn't be their fault, but they will respond to that! I didn't hear that on the news though, had to look it up through other sources. 

 Meanwhile over in the Gaza strip there has been a temporary ceasefire as Hamas gets its troops returned. Make no mistake about that. The real reason Hamas made any agreement was to get their fighters back and it had nothing to do with being humanitarian. The deal gives them three fighters in return for every woman or child they managed to kidnap, abduct or capture when they invaded Israel. Yes, when they attacked and killed innocent people and dragged some off into their holes in the Gaza strip. But they are willing to trade them back for their fighters, so they can rejoin the battle! It isn't a prisoner exchange, it's extortion. 

 I admit if it were someone from my family, I would make that deal without hesitation. Those people have done nothing to be involved in any of this. The issue is negotiating with criminals. That's what Hamas is, a group of thugs, criminals, and terrorists funded by Iran and other terror organizations from around the world. Their stated purpose is the elimination of the Jews. Hamas has been ruling the Gaza strip and has certainly done nothing of value for the people living there. Everything that has happened to the people in the Gaza strip is the direct result of Hamas. Israel didn't attack the Gaza strip, Israel didn't take any innocent Palestinians as hostages. Those calling themselves Palestinian are not all Muslims or members of Hamas. The Palestinians suffering as a result of this war have only Hamas to blame! 

  So far, the United States has given 75 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine. Biden is asking Congress for an additional 37.7 billion dollars in the latest budget request before December 16. We have also given 260 billion dollars in aid to Israel since the end of WW2. All of that is just a drop in the bucket when you look at the big picture. The United States taxpayers have been footing the bill for decades while our own infrastructure has been crumbling, our economy struggling and going into debt to the tune of over 31 trillion dollars. 

 Yes, over 31 trillion! 3.75 trillion of those dollars has been given away in foreign aid since WW2. Over ten percent of our national debt has been expended on charity. We are on the brink of defaulting on our debts. We have to borrow money. Where are we borrowing that money from. Japan owns the largest share at about 1.2 trillion dollars in United States securities. Following WW2, the United States gave 2.2 billion dollars to Japan for reconstruction. That's 18 billion in todays' money. We owe China over 967 billion. Great Britian we owe about 615 billion. Foreign governments hold about 30% of the United States public debt. 

 But we won't talk about any of that. We won't talk about Ukraine and what the Russians are doing. We are now focusing our attention on a relatively small group of terrorist thugs, making deals with them. A good number of our citizens are now protesting in the streets in support of those thugs! But we can't talk about that either. We are supposed to ignore the real threat of widespread warfare, including the use of tactical nuclear weapons, to avoid offending those supporting Hamas. We have members of Congress supporting them as well! 

 And why is that? The official line is the strategic importance of the area. Trade is controlled through that region of the world. It is also the area that supplies natural resources, especially oil that is vital to the United States. It is the focal point for the majority of the world's conflicts. There is fighting in Nigeria, Myanmar, Colombia and Syria going on right now. You don't hear much about that because it doesn't really affect us. They don't have a lot to offer us. 

 The United States did not support the two state solution proposed by the United Nations in 1947. We abstained from the vote. We abstained from that vote because we were afraid of offending the Arab nations. They have the oil remember. Then President Truman did recognize Israel as an independent state, however. We have supported Israel ever since. We just assumed the stance with the Arab nations, not our fault, we didn't vote for that. We surely didn't want to offend the Jewish community either. Playing the role of peacekeeper isn't an easy task. 

 It also leads to others believing you are weak. Name a war we have won since WW2. The list is short, zero. All we have done is send money, material and troops to engage in these battles. It begins with money, then advisors and materials. We should be paying attention to all of that, but we are being distracted. Our country is being invaded and we are being told they are just migrants. The economy is on the brink of collapse. The bill of rights is under constant attack. Our republic is in serious jeopardy, but we are being distracted. The bait is "free" stuff. Everything will be free for everyone. Free healthcare, free housing, free food. Just look the other way, everything will be fine. 

lists

   Is it alright to ask for a list? I'm all for little children writing their letters to Santa and making a wish list for Christmas. But I'm thinking about adults. Should I ask for a list? It does relieve me of the task of selecting an appropriate gift. I do think you should have to put some thought into whatever gifts you buy for others. Those gifts should reflect that you know them. What I mean is that you know their likes, dislikes and what may amuse them. It takes paying attention to them all the time not just sometimes. On the other hand, if you get them something from the list you know it is something that they want. I've always tried to get something that I feel they will like but not necessarily anything they want. The objective being to give you something you didn't know you wanted.

  I do ask my grandchildren, now all grown, for a list of things they would like to have. The cost of things being what they are there is little money to be wasted on guessing. I miss those days when they were little children. I could go to the dollar tree, dollar general or whatever and buy those big sets of toys. You know the kind, cheap plastic stuff but a lot of pieces. Sure, looked like a lot and little kids no nothing of quality. Quantity was the deal. Yes within a few months following Christmas the majority of that stuff was already broken or missing in action but that wasn't the point. It was the excitement of Christmas morning, opening all those gifts, paper flying and going to the next. 

  I have noticed in more recent times the proliferation of lists. I remember them being called gift registries. They were usually associated with someone getting married. The intent was to avoid getting fifteen blenders or hand mixers! The couple just made a list of household items they figured they would need to set up housekeeping. I'm thinking that is an old-fashioned concept these days as most couples have been living together for a good while beforehand. Nowadays Amazon will allow you to just make a list with all the appropriate links and add that to your shopping cart. Click and your shopping is over! Now you can get back to thinking about yourself. That list may include gift cards with the numerical value stated. You can say, I just want money.

  It's the thought that counts. I mentioned that the other day as I was writing about Black Friday and all the sales. It is what I was told as a kid by my mother. I was told that whatever you gave to someone whether it was homemade, bought in a store or just something you found somewhere, like an extra pretty flower or unusual rock, it was the thought behind the gift that mattered. The purpose was to show that person that you cared about them enough to take the time to think about them. The gift should be meaningful. Although I admit just what meaning it was supposed to convey was a bit of a grey area. Not all people mean the same, know what I mean? Also, it's my feeling that not everyone feels the same way about that. Some people just want what they want, and don't care if you thought about it or not. If it's on the list, that's good enough. 

 If asked my answer will always be the same. I don't want anything. I don't make any lists; I don't say I want this or that. When pressed I may offer a few suggestions but dislike doing that. Makes me uncomfortable. I'm not sure when the transition took place. It was long after I knew that Santa Claus didn't really bring those gifts. I still circled the items in the Sears catalogue and made my wants known to Mom and Dad. I don't remember ever making a list though, not a real list just lots of hints mentioning if I had "this or that" that would be great. I think maybe it was after I had joined the Navy. After that I was grown! At least I figured I was and grown folks don't make a list for Christmas or anything else. In fact, it's a little sketchy to even ask for one, except from a little kid that is. That is when the magic happens.   

help

  It's my thinking we are creating the mental health crisis in America by our own actions. It is being fueled by this whole, it's about me, attitude being fostered all the time. All this taking care of me first stuff. When we begin to instill that sense in a person that they are the center of things it really disturbs them to find out they are not. Being independent doesn't mean being in charge! What it means is accepting the circumstances of your existence and then affecting changes to those circumstances you don't like. It isn't expecting everyone else to change to suit you! Yet that is what is being taught today and called inclusiveness. Yeah, when you include others into your world based on them agreeing with you, they are included. Thing is that drives a wedge between you and those that don't agree with your narrative. 

  There are two reactions that to scenario. The first one is anger. Anger towards the person or group that disagrees with your thinking. The second one allowing that anger to affect your mental health. Yeah, you start acting a little nuts! Oh, it happens to all of us, no one is exempt from that. In the past we were simply told to calm down, take a deep breath and get over it. It was pointed out that we were acting a little nuts. No need in crying over spilled milk. Today people are crying about what happened a couple hundred years ago. Let it go, it's history and there is no changing that. All you can change is the future and even that is debatable. It depends upon your view of destiny and/or fate. As Doris Day sang, Que Sera, Sera. 

  All I hear is a constant barrage of seek help, call the hotline, there is always someone willing to listen. Yeah, when they are getting paid to listen that is, even when it is called volunteering. And that is a portion of what is creating an entire generation of emotional cripples. A generation becoming dependent upon medications and conversations. A generation so busy trying to cure themselves, so busy attempting to achieve mental nirvana that it is driving them nuts. Life is hard, some people won't like you, you will be judged, criticized, and in general not embraced by society in general. You will not be held up as a shining example of humanity. No, you will be just whoever you are, and whoever you make yourself to be. If becoming yourself relies upon the approval of others, it is going to be a tough road. 

  The world isn't about you. It doesn't revolve around you. The world doesn't care if you are having fun. When you start to expect any of that from the world you have stepped upon a slippery path. You will fall! You need to get over that. You are not helpless to change whatever it is you wish to change. In fact, in this country you have far more freedom to effect change than possibly any other place in the world.     The United States is the melting pot. The deal is you have to be willing to melt into the society. The United States must remain an alloy, a combination of materials that form a new and better material. There was a time in America when that is what was happening. Today, not so much, as even those born here attempt to claim some other base material. That's what all the hyphenating is all about. Native American, African America, Italian American and on and on. Now we are even starting to proclaim our religious affiliation in conjunction with nationality. I heard on television about those calling themselves Muslim Americans. We don't do that here! Until just a few years back I never heard anyone identifying themselves as Christian Americans or Jewish Americans or any other religion anything. No, we were all Americans. Today we are all in conflict with each other.

  It is that conflict that is driving all this mental health awareness. People are angry and acting a little nuts. No other way to explain some of the public displays and attitudes I'm seeing right now. Men identifying as women and people supporting all of that as normal behavior? Abortion is simply a choice to be made by the mother, she decides life and death. So, women are Gods now! Can the father of that child demand she gets an abortion? I don't think so, the father will just be legally required to financially support that child for the next eighteen years, but the woman can just say, terminate. That's a legitimate choice? Sounds like you are saying it is all about the mother. All the other lives involved don't matter. And yes, there are at least two other lives involved in that choice. Of course, the man is just supposed to accept that choice, no problem, no mental anguish for him. That's a little nuts. It's as nuts as believing guns assault people and that by eliminating guns all the violence will stop. It's as nuts as believing criminals will obey the law. 

  You know what is even crazier? Expecting fifty or more various groups with different religious beliefs, different moral and ethical values and different traditions to co-exist in a society without conflict. Yes, it is a crazy idea. The founding fathers thought it may be possible however under certain conditions and circumstances. First there could no state sponsored religion. The laws of the land where never to be based on that. No religious test shall ever be applied to hold public office. The people were to rule. Now that was a crazy thought at the time. Prior to that there were only Kings, Czars, Emperors, Chiefs or whatever. There was always a ruling class. But the people ruling, incredible. Each vote was to carry equal weight. That's what the electoral college is all about. The only thing that can't be legislated however is morality. Ethics can be established, agreed upon and codified. Morality however is always an individual thing, a choice. 

  So how is morality established in a society. It is established by common belief. The purpose of religious texts is to define morality. Interestingly all the major religions of the world share common beliefs. The only difference being in the manner in which those beliefs are reenforced. What is the price of sin? That's what it comes down to. Remove sin from the equation and everything goes. Then it just becomes a free for all. Anger takes over. With anger comes rage. Rage leads to insanity! We all do some pretty stupid stuff when we get mad. We begin to embrace everything in an attempt to "make it alright." Far easier to simply ignore or excuse than to correct. The more people you get to join in, the easier it becomes. Soon few are saying, that's nuts. Soon the few saying that are being called nuts. They become "religious" nuts. Well because religion defines morality and we have now decided that religious belief dictates I accept everything without question, that's love. I can do whatever I like as long as I love it. Doesn't matter. 

  Here's the big question. In America today what is the common belief? Discover that and you will know what the morality of the nation truly is. Does it fit with your beliefs? I believe we all have an equal chance, an equal opportunity. We don't all enjoy equal circumstances. I believe in favoring the common good when making common decisions. I believe you cannot legislate morality or charity. I believe parents are responsible for the actions of their children. I believe it takes a village to raise a child. I believe saying no is just as important as saying yes. I believe in getting over it. I believe when you begin by believing you need help, you will need help. That's what I believe. 

It's the thought

  Now that Thanksgiving has passed it is time to think about Christmas. I try to resist Christmas beforehand but that is proving increasingly impossible. Go to Walmart in July and some reminder of Christmas will surely be there. Still, I try to cling to tradition as best I can. The last battle is when the tree makes its' appearance. My daughter in law, my granddaughter and granddaughter in law all have their trees up, decorated and ho-ho-hoing! When it becomes December, I may begin to decorate a bit, but that tree will not be around until mid-month. I plan on getting a live tree and want the needles on it Christmas morning! For some years I did go with a small artificial tree but even then, not too early.

  Today is Black Friday! That's a term that has come into use and immediately everyone thinks of shopping and getting the deal. Black Friday was originally the Friday the stock market crashed on September 24, 1869. Two financiers conspired to buy up all the gold in the country in an effort to raise the prices. The conspiracy was discovered, and the price of gold plunged causing financial markets to crash. Today most of us believe that Black Friday is called that because it is when businesses go into the "black" with their accounting. The day of deals! Well except like everything else that has been extended. Walmart, for example, has been having black Friday sales for the last two weeks. Then they added cyber-Monday so you could get the deal without leaving home. The reality is you can get the deal at any time and all this black Friday stuff is now more of a fad or tradition that anything else. I expect it will fade away at some point. It will be something talked about by the old people. This old person remembers when parents were physically assaulting each other over Cabbage Patch dolls! That was in 1983 and some say it helped create this black Friday craze. 

  Beyond all of the shopping, the excess of gift giving, and all the stress that goes with that, we now have to be more socially aware so as not to offend. I haven't forgotten when it was ruled that the Nativity scene or any suggestion of that was prohibited on public properties. The last vestige of any of that remains on our money, "In God we Trust" and there are those attempting to get that removed. That phrase, that declaration is offensive to some just not so offensive that they are giving up on money! No burning that or throwing it on the ground and stomping on that! It's not that offensive. I expect it will be removed one day however as we become more inclusive and progressive. Ideally there will be no actual bills or coins, the government will control all of that through your bank account, ensuring every penny is accounted for, taxes paid, and charity given. It won't matter if you want to give to charity or not, you will. Truth is, you already are.

  But I have begun to think about Christmas. I was thinking about mailing Christmas cards. I discovered it now costs sixty-six cents for a stamp. That is for a one ounce card and I've found many are over that. If you pick one out with any little ribbons or bows or other decorations it will cost extra. Each additional ounce or portion thereof will cost you another twenty cents. Not only does it need to weigh one ounce or less it can't be thicker than 1/4 inch. That's so it can go through the machine, costs extra to have a postal worker handle that. The average postal worker only makes $18.75 an hour. Surely, we can't expect them to handle the mail. 

  I did check on something though. Postcards. You don't hear about people sending postcards much. I can't remember the last time I sent or received one. I see them around, mostly in truck stops it seems, more as a souvenir item than a means of communication. People used to write short messages on them in the past. It didn't matter if anyone else read that message or not. One of my prized possessions is a postcard that my grandmother sent to her father. She was asking when he was coming home. I'm thinking maybe I could send Christmas postcards! Hey, the price to mail a postcard is fifty-one cents. I could save fifteen cents a card. Save three dollars if I mail twenty. Doesn't seem like much but I could start a new tradition, the Christmas postcard! I did check and they are available online or you can print your own. I say I'm being thrifty. Thift is a good thing right? My wife says, I'm cheap. I also say it's the thought that counts. I'm letting you all know right now; I'm thinking about you. Let the festivities begin, in December.     

Happy Thanksgiving

 I'll start by saying I have a lot to be thankful for. It is something I try to remember every day. But life has a way of interjecting things into the picture that I'm not thankful for as well. Such is the nature of life. Today we celebrate Thanksgiving Day by eating a lot of food. Everything that can be said about the holiday has been said a thousand times. The history of the actual event written, rewritten and written once again. There just isn't much I can add to that. Pilgrims and pies are always what comes to mind. That's the picture that was formed in my mind when I was growing up in the 1950's. The image has certainly changed over the decades. The innocence of that time has been replaced by "social awareness" and "sensitivity." 

  Beyond all that I have to say it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving this year. In fact, the holiday season isn't looking too exciting in general. I have no specific reason for feeling that way but it is the way I feel. It's feeling more like an obligation or a chore than a celebration. You're expected to be all it's "turkey day" and holiday shopping. I'm just not feeling any of that. It isn't because I'm missing anything. I have my family, most of us will be together, plenty of food and shelter. A lot to be thankful for, and I am thankful, just not feeling celebratory. Instead of Ho-Ho I'm feeling ho-hum. 

  Well, time to start with the holiday cooking. I will be helping to prepare the feast. I will enjoy doing that. The big parade will be television and I'll be checking in on that. After that it's over the river and through the woods to my sons' house. I'll be bringing a portion of the meal and we will all be together for a while. The grandkids will be there with their significant others, first thanksgiving with my grandsons' wife, as my granddaughter in law that is. I'm thankful she is a woman. Something you have to check on these days. But I'm trying to remain thankful, so I apologize for that remark, sometimes the truth just leaks out. So, whatever your situation is I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.   

guaranteed

  I was doing some reading about our money and what guarantees it's worth. I still don't have a real grasp on the concept, but it was explained that the value of a dollar is really based on a promise. The promise is that our government will honor its' debts. The promise is based on goods and services. Promised goods and services. To put it another way, the things we want and need. 

  Now we all have heard about the gold stored in Fort Knox and a few other depositories around the country. Thing is, we haven't been on the gold standard since 1971. So, I wondered why we even have that gold stored up now. Well, the answer is in case our credit gets shaky and other nations lose confidence in us. That is what the economists I read said about that. Gold is the backup but not the standard. That's where the confusion for me comes in. We don't use the value of gold as a standard, but we use gold to back up the standard. Does that make sense? Seems to me gold is that measure of last resort. We don't have the money to satisfy our debts, but we have gold. 

  Another reason given was to stabilize the world economy. If the United States were to sell their gold it would wreak havoc with the world economy. Gold prices would drop, and investors would lose billions of dollars. Prices would also drop. It's of vital importance that we have gold bullion to back up our dollars, although the dollars aren't backed by gold. And once again I'm left trying to figure that out. There are other metals much more valuable than gold but not enough of them to not back the dollar with. It's what the dollars can buy that is important, and what determines the value of that dollar. In 1971 just before we abandoned the gold standard a big Mac cost 65 cents. Today a big Mac costs about $3.99 backed by a promise, not by gold. So, I have to ask, which is the more valuable? I'm going with the old adage, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I'll take the gold over the promise every time.

  I don't know. If you think about it the whole thing is kinda crazy. I mean what good is gold really. Yes, it makes pretty jewelry, it's a wonderful conductor of electricity and even has some medicinal properties but beyond that, what? Yet there was a time beginning in the twelfth century it became more than that, wealth was determined by how much of that stuff you could accumulate. Oh, it had always been desirable, even in ancient times, prized for its' beauty, ease of working, scarcity and magical powers but not currency. I'm talking about on a global scale. Before gold became a standard, tools, weapons and resources were the valuable items a civilization had to offer in trade. Gold made all that easier. Until it was decided that was all just nonsense and the gold standard abandoned. But we still keep that gold, just in case. 

  I suppose it all comes down to getting the things we need or want. Want, I believe, being the greater force in that equation. Man can live without a lot of things. We really only require a few things to survive. Shelter, food, and water. Man has always adapted to the land getting whatever they needed to survive from that land. People have lived in the jungles, deserts, mountains, plains, extremely hot locations and extremely cold. Some remained isolated from others for centuries and some still do. It is only when something from outside the environment creates a want in the population that things change. You see that and you want that. Next step is to figure out a way to get that. We decided to trade gold with one another. Then we decided gold isn't really worth it, a promise of goods and services is much better. If we break that promise, we can always give you gold. Make sense to you? Gold isn't the standard. it just backs up the standard. Gold can't get you what you want but can serve as an alternative when you don't get that. Like I said, I really don't have a firm grasp on the concept. But then again there are a lot of things like that in the world today. Don't get me started.   

  

Optimistic

  listening to the pundits on television talking about Biden being 81 and how that will factor into his campaign for reelection. Trump isn't far behind in age at 77. That will also play into his bid. According to a poll of younger voters they are shying away from either one based on that. There is talk of dementia, a lack of mental sharpness and the general notion that old people are just plain grumpy. There is also the question of stamina! Young people are concerned about stamina because when you're young that's how you feel about that. When you get older you realize that just like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race. But we live in an impatient world today, it's the digital age, the information age, the age of instant gratification. Out with the old and in with the new.

  I'm not really bothered by all of that as there is some validity to it. As with everything else there are no constants, just generalizations. Joe Biden doesn't appear to be the crispest cracker in the box. He walks with a bit of a shuffle and frequently loses his place on whatever train of thought he has. I get it, it happens to all of us sooner or later. Setting aside his politics, which everyone knows I don't agree with, I too have to question his mental fitness to run the show. I'm not convinced he is running the show, although he may believe he is. Now Trump is another matter altogether. He appears to be in pretty good shape both physically and mentally. His big issue being, he's pretty grumpy. Like a lot of us older men we have decided to just say what's on our mind. Tact and diplomacy take a back seat when it comes to what we believe. That's a big issue. No one is accusing Trump of having a weak constitution or lack of confidence. Many think he is just plain arrogant! Egotistical even. A danger to the whole free world! That's what I have heard about him. Trump is the biggest danger in the world today. Yup, I've heard that.

  Too old men battling for the presidency of the United States. But I am encouraged by hearing of a possible third candidate. This person hasn't officially declared his candidacy but already enjoys some popularity. Polls indicate that he would grab a significant portion of the votes. More so than any third-party candidate in recent years. Abraham Lincoln was a third-party candidate. That party was the Republicans. When he ran for reelection, he was once again a third-party candidate running under the National Union Party. But that was the last time any third-party candidate made any real impact on the political scene. This possible third-party candidate is none other than Robert F Kennedy, Jr. He is an independent. I'm encouraged because he is only 69. That means he is young enough! I'm just 70 so that makes me young too. I have another good decade or so before the young people will dismiss me. That's a relief.

  Robert F Kennedy Jr. is a bit of an enigma. He hasn't embraced the entire Democratic platform despite his family ties. He does have some left leaning tendencies, but he is anti-vaccine founding The Childrens Health Defense. I haven't read a lot about him but have heard this and that because of his famous family. He was expelled from a couple of boarding schools and arrested for smoking pot a few times. But that's about all I know about him. I do wonder how an independent would work as president. I mean without the support of either major party how would you get anything done? I'm thinking an outsider would surely upset the proverbial applecart. That is, if he is really an outsider. As I said I don't know a lot about him and whatever connections he may have in Washington. But he's young! That's great, only 69, I remember when I was 69, young and full of dreams. Sounds like a great choice to me. 

   

  

    

bundling

  Listening to the morning news the medical reporter is all excited. They may be near a combination shot. Yes, a shot that combines the seasonal flu shot and a covid vaccine all in one. My first thought was, I wonder if they talked to Jake from State Farm about bundling. But the story was they had been working on this since shortly after covid was found. Used to be called the coronavirus frequently back then but covid sounded more deadly. Not only that some products sold at the store claimed to kill coronavirus before most of us had ever heard about it. We were quickly warned though, that stuff won't work against this mutant form of coronavirus. Okay, they call them variants, but we all know that is code for mutant. And they keep mutating just like the seasonal flu virus does. That's why that formulation is changed every year based on the expert's best guess. So, I'm guessing it has been decided to just make it a combo meal and call it a day. People just aren't buying them separately anymore. The real importance is in getting compliance, not necessarily how effective the shots actually are. As long as they do no measurable harm it's all good. Some side effects are acceptable however, as long as you list those possibilities. 

  I am constantly amused or annoyed by all the medical advertisements on television these days. I'm amused when they begin to list all the conditions you may have that would preclude you from taking whatever medication they are hawking. I would have to have been previously diagnosed with those maladies or have a medical degree to know what they are talking about. Indocrenesia type 3 with markers? I can't pronounce it let alone spell it, whatever it is they are talking about. I'm also a bit puzzled when I'm informed to not take it if I'm allergic to it. How would I know I was if I don't? The ones that annoy me concern being over fifty. It isn't a death sentence or the end of your warranty! I don't need supplements to stay alive and live my best life. Contrary to what is often portrayed even though I'm seventy years old I don't need a walker, a cane, support stockings, brain supplements, more fiber or diapers! I can still manage to get around independently and feel perfectly safe without a life alert hanging around my neck. And don't get me started on the pills for sexual function! 

  I hear all the warnings about practicing safe sex too. In my day the only safe sex you were having was called being married! Engaging in sex at any other time wasn't a safe thing to do for a variety of reasons. We heard you could get a disease from that, but the real danger was daddies. I'm not talking about baby daddies; I'm talking about baby's daddy. Brothers and cousins were also a real and present danger. Oh, back in my day we had the hippies, free love and all of that. I can assure you there was more talking about it than actually engaging in it. It was the popular thing at that time, today it's all about being in a community of some type. I suspect many claim to be members of those communities but are not actively engaged in that activity. It's more about experiments than lifestyle choices. I'm old enough to remember when if you were engaging in sex you only told that to the other guys impress them. Locker room stuff! Then if it was mentioned outside of that circle, you would deny everything. 

  The goal is one shot does it all. A sort of, one size fits all scenario. I think we all know that never really works out well. Why the experts would think they can establish that for the flu and viruses I don't understand. The experts haven't figured out a way to prevent the common cold, which is, a coronavirus. Yeah, it's all about spike proteins and mutations. The one size fits all thing just isn't going to work. I'm no scientist but can see that based on the past. If the seasonal flu shot has to be changed every year my thinking is the same will hold true for covid. In fact, it already has been shown to mutate, isn't that the problem? Well, we can keep on guessing I suppose. Over the past five years the flu shot has ranged from 29% to 50% effective. About the same odds as being a weather man. I guess fewer shots with more stuff in them is a good thing. Like a combo meal. Yeah, Jake from State Farm is making an impact. Bundling.  "Bundling is a traditional practice of wrapping a couple together in a bed while fully clothed, sometimes with a board between the two of them, usually as a part of courting behavior." I got that from the internet. The article explains how the belief is the couple will get to know each other better without the distraction of sexual behavior. Strange though, each individual is bundled separately. Well, I guess you are saving if you think about it. 

normal

  I've said it before, the hardest person to convince is yourself. I'm guessing that is what all this "mental health" awareness is all about. Seems to me it's a way to simply get others to assure you that you are alright. If I pay a professional and that professional says, you're just fine, I can believe that. Well of course that professional has to first prescribe some form of treatment. I mean its' like taking your car to the local dealership, they're not going to tell you everything is just fine, something needs done that much is certain. I think it is the same with any professional. I might convince you with a pill, that's for those that can't afford long term counseling (reassurance). But I think the real objective is simply to help you convince yourself. That's what all the self-help books are about. Do it yourself mental health care. What my generation called, getting over it.

  I admit it can be a struggle to get over it. I've had some problems with that myself. Could be that is why I consumed alcohol on certain occasions. It didn't make me an alcoholic, it made me not think too clearly, have a change in attitude you might say. The next day the leftovers from that also changed my attitude. But whatever the case was I was just feeling put out, or sorry for myself, it wasn't a treatable mental illness. Today however I'm thinking I may have been pushed toward seeking professional help rather than friends buying me another round. I use the term friends loosely here; they were usually others in the bar feeling the same way as I was. You could say they were just being empathic! We need more of that today. Best counseling I ever got was over a pool table and a long neck Budweiser. Or was that advice? Same thing, isn't it?

  There are two ways to convince yourself of anything. One is to simply follow the crowd. If everyone is doing it, it must be alright. In that way you can dismiss morality and ethics. It has to be alright if everyone is doing that. All of that changes over time and what was wrong is now right and vice-versa. I'm not being progressive if I don't acknowledge that. So, I can just set all that aside, go with the flow, and I'm alright. The other way to convince yourself is to simply believe you are correct. When you do that all you have to contend with is all the others telling you, you are wrong. You may be called names like arrogant, a know-it-all, or damn fool. You will be told to seek help! That's what you will hear from those that have decided to just go along with the crowd. It is a safer journey that way, no doubt about that. Gets even safer with "professional" guides. Pills, pity parties and professionals. 

  What disturbs me is this apparent push to convince us that we all need help. That's what I keep hearing from every corner. No matter what foolishness you believe, no matter what delusional thinking you may have, no matter what, your feelings need to be validated. If you are not feeling validated, you need help! That help will come from those that have convinced themselves that going along with the crowd is the best course of action. It is the path of least resistance. 

  And that is at the heart of all this, life is hard. I need help! Some people don't agree with my opinion. They don't accept my feelings as facts. If I feel this way, I must be right. Why isn't everyone else validating that, agreeing with me and empowering me? These are the things I have chosen and the whole world should accept that. My feelings, my wants and desires take precedence over everything else. You have to accept that! My life is so hard when you don't. I need help. And that is what we are teaching our children to believe. 

  That is exactly what they will believe if that is what they keep hearing. They need help! They need to be empowered by some outside force to assist them in being successful. They can't do that on their own! They can't get over it! It, whatever "it" is, it needs to be removed, silenced, or made illegal! You can't say or do that because it hurts my feelings! You can't insist I conform to any standard whatsoever! I have a right to do whatever I want. You have an obligation to support me! That's what is being taught. We are raising a generation of emotional Cripples! 

  Why? Because it is the easiest path to take that's why. In that way you don't have to say no. You don't have to "get over it" and act like a mature adult. You don't have to accept the consequences of your actions/choices. You can simply go with the flow, place the blame elsewhere. Not my fault. You can live with the assurance that someone will help you. They have to, it's the law! You can't operate independently; you can't do it on your own. you need help! The easiest way is just to get others to do it. And if you feel uncomfortable with that, seek help. Everyone is doing it. That's normal.   

  

what we believe

  What we believe. I have read that Muslims call God, Allah. As a Christian my God doesn't have a name. The Hebrews call God Jehovah or Yahweh. Apparently, the Same God, three religions. Now Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, along with some of his disciples. Muhammed was also a prophet. Christians believe Jesus is the son of God. Allah talked to the angel Gabriel and told him what to tell Muhammed. He didn't write any of that down as Muhammed didn't know how to write. So, the Quaran was written down by scribes under the employ of Muhammed. Muhammed told them what to write.   The same angel Gabriel as in the Bible. The same Gabriel that is also in the Torah. The Muslims do not assign any author to the Quaran. The Torah is said to have been written by Moses. The Christian Bible was written by over forty authors over a period of 1500 years. God inspired those authors over time. There are those that claim it was simply men that wrote the book. That is, without hearing the words from Yahweh or God or Allah. Well except for the tablets that contain the ten commandments that is, they were written by God but have been misplaced for centuries now. They are in the Ark of the Covenant. Actually, there are two sets in there, the original ones broken by Moses when he threw them down in anger after seeing his people worshipping a golden calf, and the replacement set God gave him afterwards.

 As I understand it most of what the Muslims believe align with biblical teachings with some very troubling exceptions. Often called the "sword" verses there 149 of those in the Quaran. Allah calls for the destruction of the infidels! Quite a stark difference than what the Christian god taught, although in all fairness God didn't mind engaging in battles! Lots of warfare in the Old Testament. I have to confess I'm not much of a Biblical scholar either. I believe I have the basics down though. My God doesn't require I kill anyone if they don't become a Christian. It doesn't say I can't defend myself and fight, when necessary, at least in the Old Testament I can. In fact, God tells me to but that was for the Jews not the Christians because there wasn't any Christians yet.  As I said I'm no scholar when it comes to the Bible but know of no passage in the New Testament saying anyone is my enemy with the exception of the devil. The devil is to be avoided at all costs. In Christianity he is Lucifer, in Islam he is Iblis. Different name same person. In Judaism Satan or the devil or lucifer whatever name you wish to apply isn't a person or a fallen angel. It is what they call Yetzer Hara, the innate ability and desire of man to do wrong.  

 The more I read the more I begin to understand just what is going on here. It is the struggle between the literal and the figurative. The Jewish people, the Christians and the Muslims are all struggling with that. This is what the book says, but what does it mean? Now the Jewish people traditionally proclaim that Jesus was not the Messiah. The arrival of the Messiah would have to be accompanied by a few other occurrences as prophesied in the Torah. Like the rebuilding of the temple and all the Jews returning to their homeland. Christians say Jesus arrived to give us a second chance. For God so loved the world, (his children) that he sent his son to show them the way to salvation. And also, to knock it off with all the wars and violence! The Muslims are saying Muhammed was instructed by Gabriel who told him to kill idolators. 

 That is one point of contention. The Quaran has a lot of verses about defending Islam against invaders and aggression. Muslims will tell you that the Quaran does not say to kill all those that are non-believers. Indeed, some of their scholars that I have read say, it says idolators, not non-believers. So, what is an idolator? One who worships an idol is the answer. What is an idol to a Muslim? Anything being worshipped that isn't Allah. That includes Christians, Jews and anyone or anything else that isn't Allah. But some scholars of Islam say the Quaran also says to give them all a chance to ask Allah for forgiveness and if they do that they are spared. 

 The Muslims "converted" those purchased in the slave trade from Africa to being Muslims. It was that or die for being an idolator. Christian missionaries attempted and still attempt to convert everyone to Christianity but not with the threat of death if they don't. It is just explained that they will burn in hell for all eternity if they don't believe in God. All of that revolves around semantics. This is what the book says, but this is what it means. To be fair about it all religions practice that to varying degrees. There are over two thousand denominations in Christianity. What you can and cannot do depends upon that. It is an ever-changing landscape. The Jewish people are waiting on the Messiah. The Messiah will establish a new world order of sorts. That is, the Messiah will be the King of the world, and everyone will bow to his/her commands and live in peace and harmony forever. Man can't do that on his own. 

  Now those practicing Judaism comprise about .2% of the world population, Christians about 31% and Muslims about 24%. Those numbers are estimates and are changing every year. According to some estimates by 2050 the Muslims will equal the number of Christians. I didn't see any estimates about the Jewish folks. It is interesting to note that since the arrival of Jesus Christianity grew to its' present size while the Jewish population has certainly grown smaller. It could be said that Muhammed made an even greater impact on religious beliefs as the Muslims grow in number and Muhammed didn't show up for another six hundred years after the birth of Jesus. Makes me wonder what the appeal is. What is different about Islam that increases its' popularity? Why adopt that belief system?

  I don't have an answer for that. I do have some thoughts though. It must be in the books we read. After oral tradition that is what we have, written words. Both portray an individual account, a statement of what is believed to be the truth. That's the case with religious documents. Are they biased depending upon the authors? To a degree, I'm certain they have to be, that is just part of human nature. Do all religious texts hide an ulterior motive? If so, what would that motive be? It would have to be control. All religions, by their very nature, attempt to instruct, to direct, and to impose control over the people in some fashion. They tell you how to live your life. It is all in what is promised.

  What is promised? That's the real question behind all of this. The Jewish believe they are promised a land of their own and to live on earth in peace. The Christians believe our reward comes after death, eternal life in heaven. Heaven is really like the Jewish concept of a land of our own and living in peace in that land. The Muslims are promised by Allah forgiveness and a great reward. I'm not sure what the reward is. But they are also promised inheritance of power, establishment of their religion in authority, and Allah's protection. That's what I read about that anyway. So, for me it seems the promise of power could be quite appealing. 

  I do think that all of that, whatever faith you have, whatever religious doctrine you subscribe to, is generally an inherited thing. In general, it is what you grew up with. The religion of your ancestors. That is something that held far more importance in years past. So important in fact that the founding fathers forbid the establishment of a state religion. Today many people reject the idea of any God, any order in the universe and think it is as simple as, things happen. I admit that would certainly free you up to do pretty much as you please. The only rules being civil law. Morality and ethics are quite fluid in that circumstance. The only problem with that being the establishment of order. Or should I say, who wields the power? Seems to me that is what we are all fighting over most of the time. My God can beat up your God. Yes, it is what we believe. 

 I don't profess to having any great knowledge or insight into any of this. I do think it is something to be discussed. It is a very difficult discussion to have with another person. As someone famously said, I've never learned anything from someone that agrees with me. I don't always agree with myself, so I talk to myself. Then I write it down and share it with anyone that cares to read it. In that way those folks can form their own opinion without having to express that to me. Some do anyway but that's alright too. Being a man, I do have selective hearing. Ask any wife about that if you don't understand. What I have written today I don't see as a questioning of faith, it's more of a questioning of what you believe. I know what I believe. But what do we believe? 

What

   How many generations does it take for our memories to become curiosities? It is a question I asked myself as I looked at some of the artifacts I have sitting on my shelves. Yes, I call them artifacts, those things left by a previous generation from another time. I consider myself fortunate to have several of those type of things. They have become curiosities and I attempt to provide the explanation. I began to write an explanation for each item in a notebook thinking that would help in the preservation of those things. I think we do tend to hold onto things more readily when we understand the significance of that item. You know, one man's junk and treasure, that mindset. 

  That ties in with what I was writing about yesterday, the idea of persistence. Reminders are always a good thing. Well okay, not always depending upon what you are being reminded of I suppose. But I'm thinking about good things, little objects that remind us of the past without stirring up any emotions beyond being curious. The everyday things we all have that we take for granted. We all know the history of that object, who gave it to us or where it came from. We know the purpose. But one day they will become a curiosity. You see that all the time on Facebook with the, what is this thing postings. Some are immediately recognizable as to what their purpose was, and others leave you scratching your heads.

  Our memories are tied to the objects we keep. The monetary value of the object isn't of great importance, it is the sentiment attached to that object. I think that is why we tend to collect so much junk over the years. It is more difficult for some than for others, of that I am certain, to part with those sentiments. I've read about a trend called Swedish cleaning where you examine everything you own and discard all but the most important objects to you. In that way you relieve your descendants of the burden of going through your memories. You only leave those things you want remembered. It is supposed to be very "freeing" in a Zen sort of way. Sounds like more modern thinking to me. In the old days you didn't throw anything away! And no, that wasn't just from the depression era. You never know what you might need. Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it. 

  I've always found it a bit curious that we attach so much monetary value to things that have no practical value. I mean things like paintings and other objects of art. Why is a Picasso worth millions of dollars? Beyond the fact that you may personally love the painting, think it is great or inspiring, of what value is it? You can't eat it, you can't wear it, you can't do much other than look at it. Yet we place tremendous value on it. The same could be said about gold. Strangely we based our whole monetary system on that stuff. Then we abandoned that system altogether. Our money is no longer backed by gold, rather it is backed by the faith in our government to pay its' debts. There is no physical commodity tied to the value of a dollar. Still gold is currently valued at $1974.40 per ounce! I wonder why that is? Guess it is like having a Picasso. It is pretty much worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I guess you could say it is that way with everything. You can't put a price on a memory though. As an aside, I wonder why if gold isn't tied to the value of a dollar what is the purpose of Fort Knox? What difference does it make? 

  I've wandered off a bit as I often do. I like to think it's because I'm open minded. Thoughts just wander in and out whenever. I try to remind myself to focus. But then I'm reminded of the Karate Kid movie and my mind wanders off in that direction. I wonder though, how long it will take for my memories to become curiosities, if they ever do. Some of them may already be so. I expect some folks are already asking, what is he talking about? 

  

Persistence

  “The idea of being forgotten is terrifying. I fear not just that I, personally, will be forgotten but that we are all doomed to being forgotten; that the sum of life is ultimately nothing; that we experience joy and disappointment and aches and delights and loss, make our little mark on the world, and then we vanish, and the mark is erased, and it is as if we never existed. If you gaze into that bleakness even for a moment, the sum of life becomes null and void, because if nothing lasts nothing matters. Everything we experience unfolds without a pattern, and life is just a baffling occurrence, a scattering of notes with no melody. But if something you learn or observe or imagine can be set down and saved, and if you can see your life reflected in previous lives, and can imagine it reflected in subsequent ones, you can begin to discover order and harmony. You know that you are a part of a larger story that has shape and purpose—a tangible, familiar past and a constantly refreshed future. We are all whispering in a tin can on a string, but we are heard, so we whisper the message into the next tin can and the next string. Writing a book is an act of sheer defiance. It is a declaration that you believe in the persistence of memory.”

― Susan Orlean

I ran across this passage from Susan Orlean, someone I'm not familiar with at all. I naturally did an internet search and read about her accomplishments. A staff writer for several prestigious magazines and an author of several books. I expect if I were more well-read I would have been aware of her. But like the majority of authors she hasn't achieved "fame" however you wish to define that. I haven't read a single JK Rowling book but know who she is and what she has written, at least a partial list. That's fame to me. The subject of her books, from the synopsis I did read, didn't interest me to pursue them further. I don't know the origin of the passage I posted, whether from a book, a magazine article or a simple response to an interview. That's not important to me, however. I read that passage and was struck by the honesty of those words. 

 I believe she is correct although I would have said it different. "The idea of being forgotten is terrifying." I'm not afraid of being forgotten but a sense of overwhelming sadness comes over me when I think about that happening. She describes it perfectly when she says being erased. Yes, that' it. I think we all want to believe we have left something behind, something memorable. That's what memorials are all about aren't they. I'm not saying I want a memorial erected in my memory but perhaps my picture on the wall or repeating a simple passage I have written. Something, anything to remind others that I was here.

 This time of year always inspires those thoughts in me. Perhaps it is because the end of another year is fast approaching. It's an end, albeit an artificial one created by man to mark the passage of time. Time a concept not understood by mortals at all for time itself is immortal. For Christians it is a time for birth, a new year, a new beginning, a promise made. I'm not alone in that as that is what Auld Lang Syne is also about. Auld Lang Syne means Old Long Since, or as we might phrase it, days gone by. In the song we are urged to drink our pints and remember those old days, old folks, and days long gone. Nothing like drinking alcohol and reminiscing about old friends and family members no longer with us. That'll cheer you up! It does speak to the frailty of life. 

 Is success in life measured by how long you are remembered? Now that is a terrifying thought. For that reason, to have to reject that notion. I think Susan Orlean rejected that idea as well by her subsequent remarks. We are all a part of something much larger, more complex and meaningful than we can imagine. The sum of the whole is the one. That's the promise of life and death. It's the promise of eternity. Names change but actions do not. The past does not remain in the past but continues into the future. It is carried there by each of us, in our own way and in our own time. "The persistence of memory."       

changes in attitude

  I wonder why we have taken to celebrating and admiring those that have recovered more than those that haven't needed to be recovered. Know what I mean? I hear it all the time. This person was this or that, an alcoholic or a drug abuser but has recovered. Then that person is being held up as an example of success, a role model. Well, what about those that have never screwed up? Those are the ones I was taught to emulate. That was the goal. It wasn't to recover from your mistakes, the objective was to not make the mistake in the first place! Recovery wasn't an accomplishment, something to be proud of, recovery was an admission of wrongdoing. Ideally, others never knew I needed to recover from anything. You could say it was the same mindset regarding my sexual preferences. If you didn't have a need to know, I wasn't telling. You were free to make your own assumptions. 

  It appears to me this mindset has crept its' way into the criminal justice system as well. Sure, you robbed a store, hijacked someone's car, shot others, and committed a multitude of other offenses but you shouldn't be held accountable for that. We should provide services instead! It we can help you recover; you will go on to be a model citizen. All we really need to do is point out the error of your ways and I'm certain remorse will do the rest. Some cities and states are now giving hiring preferences to ex-cons. Yes, that's a positive on the list, along with gender fluidity, race, and religious beliefs. We have to be sure to check all the blocks, for inclusivity you know. Well, we need that "experience" to be effective. 

  I understand that those that do the right thing, stay on the straight and narrow, aren't newsworthy. That sort of thing doesn't attract attention. I understand that. A part of human nature is looking at a car wreck, you just can't help it. Also, by holding up those that have recovered it improves our position. It does give us that superior feeling that we aren't supposed to acknowledge. That's why we celebrate those that have recovered, to show them just how great we really are. As for me, I already know about my shortcomings, and I hope you don't find out what they are. That's why I'm not telling or bragging about any recoveries I have made. Recovery should be a personal thing. 

  I guess I just want to make mistakes for myself. I really don't like to be preached at. That doesn't mean I don't like to preach, don't confuse the two. Whatever mistakes you have made in life are yours. I'm not on board with all this sharing. Seems to me the majority of the time this sharing is meant to make the one sharing feel better about themselves, rather than helping anyone else. That's how I see it anyway. I'll take an example from your success, not your failure. For that reason, I don't need to hear about your failures. I won't be celebrating that. And please, don't get me started on survivors! 

"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." ( Plutarch ) 

Tradition

   How soon do you put up the Christmas tree? I enjoy a live tree so for that reason it goes up about a week in advance, not much more. I've kept that tradition even when I used an artificial one. It all just seems too much too soon to do otherwise. For me, it's a drain on the festivities. It isn't very special if it is every day! A lot of things are getting that way in my estimation. Placing the flag at half-staff is one of them. It just doesn't have the same significance as it did in years past. Everyone is a hero, a survivor, and special these days. That just makes you normal in my way of looking at it. But I digress a bit I was talking about the Christmas tree. 

  When I was growing up Dad went somewhere and got the tree. I don't recall ever going with him. I don't know whether he purchased it from a vendor or simply went out in the woods and cut one down. Looking at old pictures I suspect some of those trees were cut down as they don't look like anything someone would be selling. That isn't to say they weren't magical; all Christmas trees are magical. Well, fake ones not so much magic as convenient. Still, they do have a bit of extra sparkle Christmas eve and Christmas morning. Growing up we never had an artificial tree, not ever. And all the Christmas greens were the real deal, collected by us kids. We made wreaths and runners, Yule logs and what Mom called sprigs of green. That was just some greens tied to the railing in the staircase with a ribbon on them. All very festive. 

  My grandson's wife, man that makes me feel old to say that has already put up their tree. She definitely starts very early. I have other friends and family members that put up multiple trees. I understand that is getting to be a thing with a lot of folks. Excess in my opinion. I'm not certain how that began. My wife tells me her parents put the tree up on Christmas eve after she went to bed. It was Santa magic, although she knew the tree had been sitting in a bucket of water by the back door for a few days. Well, Santa doesn't have room in the sleigh for all those trees, so the elves drop them off early. But she tells me the excitement was real on Christmas morning. I imagine that it was, especially if you were a small child. All that anticipation leading up to Christmas morning. I already knew what the tree looked like, had helped decorate it and was only waiting for the presents. 

  All of that does depend upon your childhood memories I suppose. That's what traditional is all about, traditions. We often talk of starting a new tradition when we choose to do something differently. Some of those things will stick and others fade away. It is a personal responsibility to keep a tradition alive. That's how that works. Today much ado is made about the family all wearing PJ's and watching holiday movies. The tradition may be going to pick out the tree or eating out at a certain place. I would say my family didn't have a family tradition regarding Christmas, the tree or any of that. Oh, there were certain ornaments and the Angel topper that we admired every year. Whatever happened to them all I simply can't say. 

  But there is one thing my mother taught me that I do practice every year, call that a tradition, it is listening to the Christmas tree. Christmas eve just before retiring for the night I turn out all the lights except for the tree. Everything is turned off, no noise in the house, no tv, radio or any of that.  Yes, silent night. Then I just sit in the quiet and look at the tree and listen to what it has to say. I can hear the voices of the past, hear the laughter, and sometimes a whisper. A time of reflection and contemplation. It may last a few minutes or just a few moments. I'll know when. I'm the only one doing that and suspect that tradition will end with me. And that's fine. You can't impose tradition upon anyone. 

  "Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around." Gilbert K. Chesterton

what Hamilton said

 This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event. Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good. But this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously to be expected. The plan offered to our deliberations affects too many particular interests, innovates upon too many local institutions, not to involve in its discussion a variety of objects foreign to its merits, and of views, passions and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of truth.

This is a paragraph from the Federalist papers. Federalist number one to be exact. It was written by Hamilton to explain the importance of ratifying the new constitution of the United States. What idea was he talking about? He was talking about the establishment of a government from reflection and choice. Or are governments forever to depend upon accident and force. In this paragraph Hamilton is concerned with the paying of political favors. That is the inducement of philanthropy that is referenced. It is also what we are witnessing today in government. Hamilton has been proven to be correct when he wrote, "but this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously expected."

Hamilton goes on to talk about the obstacles to be overcome to gain acceptance of the constitution. Among those obstacles are the individual states, and their political power, being unwilling to relinquish any of that power. States rights is what we call that today and what we fought a civil war over. Reflection and choice would certainly have chosen to free all peoples from bondage but there was the inducement of patriotism. A patriotism still felt by certain classes of men, as Hamilton described the various demographics involved in forming a new nation. There was a fear of big government. That fear remains today among various groups. The true fear is the loss of individual power not that the government becomes too powerful. Our Constitution was written and designed to prevent that from happening. That's why we established a Republic! A government of the people. A government based on choice and reflection.

"Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with the public good." What is Hamilton saying there? Simply stated, making the best choice for America. Think securing the border as a contemporary example of that. What is best for America if we dismiss philanthropy intermingled with patriotism? Obviously, the uncontrolled influx of unvetted, undocumented and unknown peoples is not a good thing for the public. Consider the philanthropy of providing billions of dollars in goods, services and cash to all these foreign nations. Is all of that in the best interest of the public? Looking at the state of our economy, our infrastructure, our homeless population, and the inner cities of America I feel those items would better serve Americans. By a "judicious estimate" of our resources.

It's my thinking that we need to start teaching civics once again. It is apparent to me that many have not read or discussed any of the topics discussed in the Federalist papers. Hamilton, Madison and John Jay are the authors of those papers under the name Publius. The purpose was to explain the document being proposed and gain support for its' ratification. It is a lesson in civics to be sure. I haven't watched the musical Hamilton and so cannot comment on that. Whether Hamilton was presented in a positive light or in a more negative fashion I can't say. Reviews I have read say that he was shown to be heroic in his actions. Anything that brings Hamiltons intellect to the public interest is certainly a good thing. There were all some pretty smart guys! Educated men that attempted to present a document, a constitution, that benefitted the people not the ruling class. The ruling class is the people! But apparently as Hamilton thought, something more ardently to be more wished than seriously expected.

There are some that insist that document is just old and outdated. The Constitution is a living document and therefore should grow and change as the years pass. I agree that the Constitution is a living document. I don't believe it should change, however. It was composed by some of the greatest thinkers in history. A document carefully crafted to protect, to guarantee the rights of the people. A document designed to preserve the union of the various states into a new nation. The very reason there are three branches in government today. A system of checks and balances designed to ensure the best choices for America are made.

Indeed, the first ten amendments, the bill of rights, were added to protect the people from government! Those amendments codified human rights, those items that apply to all, unbiased and unperplexed by personal considerations. Other amendments gave more power to the government, something I'm certain Hamilton, Madison and John Jay would have been opposed to. Congressional pay is among those amendments. The twenty-seventh amendment was first proposed in 1789 but not ratified until 1992. Hamilton was the Secretary of the Treasury when that amendment was first introduced.

Those architects, framers, or authors of the constitution, however you wish to refer to them included an article to cover the very situation we are facing today. It is an article five convention of the states. That is the means to change the amendments to the constitution. I do not believe it was envisioned as a means to change the constitution. It is a vehicle to control the government! That is the sole purpose of that convention, to reign in government should it become necessary to do so. That speaks to the heart of the very first federalist paper. The philanthropy of patriotism! Congress needs to be reined in!

I view the "amendments" to the constitution more as an addendum. I'm certainly no constitutional scholar but I don't see where any "amendments" actually changed the original document. They just added to it, an addendum. But that is something for legal minds to argue and they have done so since 1791. Madison himself said they were additions to the constitution. He didn't say alterations. Their purpose was to protect individual rights and limit the power of government. It took congress two hundred and three years to get it done, but they got an amendment passed to ensure their pay and allowances as a matter of government control, not public interest. Time to "amend" that, revert back to the original premise. We the people control the checkbook! Philanthropy is not a function of good governance.  "This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which all considerate and good men must feel for the event." Yeah, what Hamilton said.

Not too bad

  I was scrolling Facebook, although some accused me of trolling, when I saw a photograph of Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane from the old Superman television show. I mean the original show, with George Reeves as Superman. I have a vague memory of seeing that show but wouldn't call myself a fan. It's one of those memories that is more like a shadow. I seem to be having a lot more of those lately. But anyway, I was scrolling through and one of the comments was, Lois aged well. I realize that is supposed to be a compliment, an offhand compliment my mom would have called it. Lois has grown older what we would call matured today. Thing is, she's an old lady. She has aged well, meaning what? She doesn't look bad. That's the implication. Made me wonder if I have aged well. 

  We have to examine the standard to determine that I suppose. Just what is that standard? I have grey hair that is thinning on the top. Well okay, it is disappearing on the top. My smile isn't as white as it used to be, and my chest has moved south a bit like a lot of retired folks do. I have wrinkles, folds, and my skin has spots on it now. But I'm still walking without any assistance, know who and where I am most of the time and only take a few daily medications. Does all that mean I have aged well? If Facebook is to be believed I'm quite attractive to a number of others! I get friend requests almost daily. Some of them are in languages I don't even speak! 

  I asked this artificial intelligence we have today what is aging well. I was informed that aging well means having good physical and mental health, adapting to change and living your best life! It doesn't have anything to do with your appearance. I did smile as I read that, living your best life. It's something I hear a lot these days as the pharmaceutical companies hawk their products. You can live your best life if you use their products responsibly. Well, as prescribed anyway. Strange I've always felt aging well meant you didn't need to take any of those things. Of course, that was before I learned about my best life. I asked that AI about that as well. Turns out my best life is all about me. That's what I read from the experts on the subject. That's how you lead your best life, you focus on you! 

  I liked the answer that AI had about aging well. I feel like I have adapted well to changes, embracing new technology and all and enjoying reasonably good health. I feel like my mental health is just fine, I'm okay, others not so much, so I'm counting that as a win. But this notion that my best life is about focusing on me I'm not quite on board with. Sounds a bit selfish and self-centered to me. Compromise is the only way to really get along in this world. But leading your best life, according to AI and the experts, is about focusing on your goals. I think they are really saying in order to please others, you have to please yourself. I'm most pleased when others find me pleasing. But that isn't my goal in life. I reckon I don't have a goal when it comes right down to it. The experts say I should. 

  Is the goal to age well? Others seem to encourage that, applaud you for that. Lois aged well. She still looked good anyway, I mean, for her age and all. We have to make allowance for time don't we. Maybe Lois has been living her best life. I imagine being a star, having fame, recognition and money helps with all that. I wouldn't know though, I have none of that. But my children have grown up to be productive adults, good citizens, and good parents. The grandchildren are flourishing. I will have been married, to the same woman, for thirty-nine years in just a few days. I'm living my best life by focusing on others. I take pleasure in their happiness and accomplishments. You might say I've aged well. Others will tell you I'm just old though. Usually that is the ones I'm not focused on. Funny how that works isn't it? 

Awareness

  Looking beyond the news. It's something that has become apparent to me that few people are doing. It's the only explanation I can provide for ignorance. Ignorance, by definition, is the lack of knowledge. Oh, you can be passionately ignorant, no doubt about that, the evidence of that is on many of our college and universities campuses. That's the reason we are seeing the protests that we do. The sentiment is real, but the facts are conflated. I'm thinking of course of this notion that all Palestinians are just innocent bystanders in this war. And yes, the powers that be may call it a conflict, or any number of other generic names, but it is a war. Those fighting and those losing their loved ones in the fighting will tell you that it is a war. I'm old enough to remember when Korea was called a conflict, later a war. Vietnam was a police action, a conflict, and later a war. The truth is all of them were wars from day one. But that isn't what the media was reporting. 

 You have to look beyond the news to learn the reality of the situation and indeed, the motives behind that reality. In Korea it was the fear of the spread of communism. The possibility of China, Russia and Korea uniting to form an even larger communist block was something that could not be allowed to take place. North Korea invaded South Korea. Their objective was to take control of the land. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? That's what happened in Vietnam as well. The United States and others had signed a pact to "help" that nation in the event of attack. The attack happened and we were obligated to respond. Initially we sent advisors. Does that sound familiar? It should we have been actively engaged in sending advisors to just about every spot in the world. Currently we have close to 200,000 military personal serving abroad. Two hundred thousand! And what are they doing? Protecting our freedom is what the media will tell you. Serving as a deterrent to aggression. Supporting our allies. Protecting our interests abroad. All noble sounding causes. Is that the reality? 

  On the news, on campuses and in the streets of America there are many protesting the loss of life in Palestine. But where is Palestine? That is a question the experts stumble to answer. Google it if you have doubts and you will quickly see what I mean. There is no way someone like me can begin to get a grasp on that. It would take years of study just to arrive at an informed disagreement. So okay, we are talking about the Gaza strip. Is that Palestine? Well, it is, and it isn't. Technically it is a Palestinian territory, the west bank being another Palestinian territory. Gaza, now controlled by Hamas attacked Israel. Depending upon whom you listen to Hamas is either a terrorist organization or a bunch of freedom fighters. Does any of that sound familiar? It should, it's the same old story. Somewhat like a Stephen King horror novel, same story different characters. 

  The issue being protested is the loss of innocent lives. Israel is being accused of war crimes. Those making the accusations seem to have forgotten it was Hamas that attacked Isael, took over two hundred hostages, maimed an unknown number of civilians and killed fourteen hundred people! But that isn't a war crime? Well, it comes down to "who started it?" The blockade of the Gaza strip by Israel in defense of their nation is sometimes cited as the root cause. The Palestinians in the Gaza strip are justified in attacking and killing Israeli citizens. The taking of innocent lives was necessary. That's what the "freedom fighters" would have you believe. Those not directly involved in the battle are the ones protesting, proclaiming what a crime that is. My question to those protestors is what would you have the Israelis do? Should they ask for ID from those in Gaza to identify the combatants. 

  It's a problem as old as war itself. It's still debated today. Was the United States justified in the bombing of those Japanese cities? It certainly brought a speedy end to the war and saved thousands of lives in the big picture. It also killed somewhere between 129,000 to 239,000 people; most were civilians. It did bring an end to the Imperial Japanese military organization and government. What other choice could have been made? Would a prolonged fight possibly lasting for years have been better? 

  There were no signs the Japanese were ever going to surrender. Are there signs that Hamas intends to surrender? Are the Israelis to simply set back and wait patiently for Hamas to negotiate a truce? Why would they do that if they still possess the ability to fight, to cause harm? Do the strong surrender? No, the answer is no. They may retreat, seek a safe shelter but they won't quit. They will just rebuild, regain their strength and repeat. Evil takes no holiday! The fight is against Hamas, not Palestine. Know what you are protesting! Hamas must be defeated at any cost. That's the reality.

  All wars have been protested. There were those protesting the American revolution. There were those protesting the draft in the civil war. There were those protesting our entry into WW1. We only entered WW2 because the Japanese attacked Pearl. We would have gotten involved at any rate is my thinking but the Japanese provided the incentive. They did that by attacking us, taking innocent lives. They needed to be defeated! Sound familiar? It should. 

  It would be great if we could fight a war without the loss of life, either by the combatants or non-combatants. If those in combat simply asked for permission to harm the other person first, you know, be polite about it all. Maybe we should just require the combatants to wear a ribbon, you know a signal to others. What color should it be? Currently there are sixty-five recognized "awareness" ribbons being displayed, although not everyone knows what they are. We would need to select a color or combination of colors to signify I'm a combatant and will kill you if I can. It would also mean you are free to kill me first, if you can. No ribbon and you are safe! Until that happens how are we know? We don't and that, that is a war.