That's ridiculous

  I often look at my "memories" page on Facebook, it is a feature I do enjoy. I'll get a laugh or a smile about something I was saying a year or more ago. There is a recurring theme. I'm taking that as a good thing, as being stable. Stability is important in an ever changing world. I'm becoming convinced of it, the rest of the world is losing their minds. I have seen lots of things come to fruition that I would never have believed possible. I'm not thinking about technology, I'm thinking about social things. There has been a big swing in sensibilities, that much can't be denied. In my estimation there has been a regression in that department. There are many in positions of power that talk like a man with a paper a**hole, as my father often pointed out to me. I didn't see it at the time, but he was correct. 

  In recent years we have taken to renaming everything to make whatever more palatable. Yeah, the intention is to get you to swallow that. Abortion has become healthcare, as one example. Trans has become a mainstream term to describe what exactly? No one knows and many are having difficulty defining what a woman is. But none of that has changed for me, I'm stable. Pronouns aren't a bit confusing to me, I thank my 9th grade English teacher, Miss Bird for that. We don't get new taxes, we get fees these days. It's not welfare anymore, it is social assistance, an entitlement. The cards being issued, at least here in Maryland, are called an independence cards. A bit of a misnomer wouldn't you say, as those folks are dependent upon that. Services is a term applied to almost everything as well. Break the law, commit a heinous act and you will receive services. We don't call that punishment anymore, it is services.

  This morning that was brought to the front of my thoughts as I browsed that memories page. I watched once again an old television commercial that I had remembered. This advertisement concerned Aunt Jemima syrup and pancakes. We all know that had to be changed in order to establish justice in the world. It is a part of those "reparations" that we all should be paying for that what ended 159 years ago. I listened once again and was struck by a statement a little girl makes at the very end of that advertisement. She really hit the proverbial nail on the head! That may have been the last moment of truth in advertising. 

                                                                                     

   Lots of things today are just ridiculous. During covid churches were closed but not Casinos.

I need to provide numerous documents to obtain my real ID. Don't need a real ID to vote though. 

I can illegally enter the country and receive "services. " If I was born here, a citizen of this nation, I need to produce numerous documents once again before receiving anything. Currently Kamala Harris, presidential nominee, advocates for sex change operations for those in federal prisons. Now, that is ridiculous.  

depressing

  Have we lost all optimism? It really seems that way to me at times as I listen to the news. All I hear about are the injustices of the past. I hear how terrible everything was and how everyone suffered. No, it isn't just the minorities I'm hearing about, this applies to everyone. There is no hope for any of us. The climate itself is plotting against us, it is changing and will kill us all. We have to do something about that. That is, if we can manage to create enough vaccinations and immunizations to keep us going. But perhaps all that will be a mute point as our mental health is deteriorating rapidly. 

  Could it be that with the whole world now connected we are suffering from a sensory overload? Is that what is happening? There are simply too many influences for people to process properly. Everything we experience must be processed in context to the society in which we live. Cultural norms are the biggest influence on our thinking. What was normal in my house growing up may be alien to you. That was true even when we were in elementary school together. 

  In years past however, many of those differences were unknown. We didn't talk about that stuff, post it on social media channels or tweet any of that. We encountered all of that a little bit at a time, as we grew older. I remember well when I was first in the Navy. I heard about things I had never imagined before! Yes, I was called a "hick" and I wasn't "cool" as was the expression commonly in use then. It meant I didn't subscribe to the "progressive" way of thinking although that term wasn't yet in use. No, that was called being worldly. It implied that you had a lot of experience in the world. In short, you knew about all the bad stuff, the sketchy side of things, and things that you just should avoid. It was like a secret knowledge. The forbidden fruit.

  Today however a great deal of that is being taught in kindergarten. There are many insisting that we need to do that and any restriction on that is a ban. Nothing should be restricted from children! They should be indoctrinated into the ways of the world outside of their experience. Other cultures are different and every single one of them is correct. There is no such thing as morality, only legality. That's because if morality exist there has to be a religious component to establish that moral fabric. Science will determine what is real, and what is not real! Additionally, whatever you feel is real. You can identify as anything you like. No one can dispute that. Back in the sixties it was sex, drugs and rock and roll! Much has been added to that scene, man. 

  I'm thinking that we are becoming like children in the candy store, overwhelmed with choices. All this social media, the constant barrage of  information and misinformation and no real way to distinguish between the two. At least when I was a young child I would hear, because I said so, that's why. That answer was sufficient unto the day. I learned the reasoning behind that later on, when I was a bit older and could place things more into context. We knew there was more out there to explore, to learn, and it gave us all something to look forward too. You know anticipation is often more satisfying that the actual event. I have been disappointed more than once by what I thought something was going to be only to discover, it isn't. Like the proverbial child in that candy store, I got sick. 

  I remember being told about people that had made bad choices. I heard about those that became drunks, they weren't alcoholics back then, and how they ruined their lives and those of the ones around them. I didn't hear stories of recovery and how brave those people were. I wasn't told they should be admired and used as a source of inspiration. No, that was simply something you shouldn't do. The objective in life was to not make mistakes in the first place, not to recover from them. I was taught you did a job for the compensation you received for doing that job. If you were fortunate it was a job you enjoyed. You didn't do a job for the glory! Even if you did, you didn't let others know that. You certainly weren't demanding recognition! Recognition was earned, not an entitlement. 

  We have far too many people today demanding all of that. I was taught to expect nothing and you won't get disappointed. That's a problem today as most are expecting everything; no they are demanding everything. I should be getting more money, more vacation, more medical care, more education, more opportunity, and more recognition! I'm doing this job and that makes me a hero! Doesn't matter what the job is, I am a hero because I come to work, even when I'm working from home. Well if all you have to look forward to is others recognizing you, you will be disappointed. Doesn't leave a lot to look forward too, does it? That only leaves one place to look, to the past. Blaming the past for today. It's downright depressing. 

                                                                                  

Identity

  It's been a running joke that Kamala Harris claims she was raised in a middle class family. I confess to not having listened to her at any great length, I just can't do it. That nervous laughter and the nonsense she spews forth is just too much. Yes, I am a judgmental person, although I prefer calling it discretion and common sense. Everyone should be judgmental, it is only the sharing of the judgement that requires wisdom. My grandmother would say, if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all. She wasn't telling me I was wrong, just that I didn't need to tell others that they were. It's enough that you know it, that's the lesson in that adage. It is one of my shortcomings however, I feel compelled to share. That's the charity in me. 

  I did look to see what a middle class family is supposed to be. That designation is dependent upon income. Officially middle income is two thirds to double the median income. In 2022 that range was 56 thousand to one hundred and sixty nine thousand dollars. The median income was 77,540 dollars. My feeling is any family bringing in 169,000 a year are rich people to me. Now, I have no idea what income my parents made, not a clue. That was never discussed as it was none of my business. I heard "we can't afford that" quite often but I was never hungry, without a home, food, warmth and clothing. Where we middle class? Maybe I don't know. The middle class is supposed to be the backbone of the nation, that is what Harris is implying, the reason she is claiming that status. The smart people, but not too rich. It's not a good thing to be really wealthy unless you are giving millions away. 

  All of that is what is called identity politics. Nothing new about any of that. All politicians want one thing, your vote. They need your vote to succeed. You are their paycheck. That is something that we should all keep in mind while listening to their speeches. You know back in the old days a politician was expected to be a successful person. They were those that had already demonstrated the ability to conduct business. The purpose of business is to make money. Those with the education and training are generally the ones that will succeed. But there is an image problem with that, the losing touch with the common man. That is why today we see our politicians wearing blue jeans, sleeves roiled up and eating bar-be-cue. They are just like you. And the thing is, identity works. Just look at who has been elected to serve in the highest levels of government. Elected on identity not accomplishments. Much the way the class president was elected in grade school.

  We are going to elect a new president in November. We really should choose the person with the proven record of being successful in business. The United States shouldn't be in debt! Just the other day a bill was passed to keep the government open. Think about that, although it has become somewhat standard procedure. We all hear about inflation, the prime rate, interest rates and the stock market. We are all well aware of the prices in the grocery store. Business isn't booming! It is going bust. 

 There are those politicians that want to identify themselves as being just like you. They want that vote for personal gain. Granted we don't have much of a choice this time around but we do have a choice. Just like my parents said to me, "we can't afford that" there are priorities. Do you want the girl that worked at McDonalds or the rich guy that knows how to run a business? My parents weren't my "friends." No, they wanted what they felt was best for me. Hurt my feelings sometimes and I felt marginalized. They didn't identify with me, their objective was for me to establish my own identity. 

                                                                                 

   

    

ID

  When I first began writing and posting these blogs, although technically they aren't blogs because they do not focus on any one area of expertise, I thought a few might read and enjoy them. As it turns out, I was right. A few do. According to Google analytics I have twenty four followers, a mini cult I suppose. I never really expected to have followers and that places an obligation on me. I wouldn't want to disappoint anyone. Yes, it is a portion of what the professionals call our ID. Back in the old days when I read newspapers the Wizard of ID was one of my favorite comic strip. 

  I have posted exactly 5026 times, not including this one. On those 5026 posts I have received 636 comments. Statistically speaking that is 12.6% of the time. However stats can be misleading. I have had 411,108 page views. Apparently the computer can keep track of how many times someone clicks on the "link" to my blog. So, if I use that number of views and calculate the frequency of getting a comment that number is .15%. Another way of saying that is one tenth of one percent. And so there you have it, proof that I do indeed have a few readers. I'm thinking the numbers may be higher but I'm appealing to the silent majority, hence so few comments. That sounds reasonable enough to me. It is enough to satisfy my ID. 

  So what is the ID? Well Freud says it is one of the three divisions in our personality. I googled Id and this is what comes up first, "The ego is tasked with balancing reality with the demands of desire (id) and morality (superego)." Each component adds its own unique contribution to personality, and the three interact in ways that have a powerful influence on an individual. Each element of personality emerges at different points in life." So I'm guessing I have a desire to post my thoughts and in turn satisfy my ego. I have to say those stats aren't helping a whole lot in that regard. Fortunately I also have that "superego" which is the morality part. Having too large an ego is morally wrong. That's why I believe in the "humble" practice of religious belief, but all of that is another discussion. 

 I haven't studied Freud or any other teachings in psychology. In my way of thinking it is all fun to talk about, interesting to explore, but not an exact science. Your guess is as good as mine. Some people are just nuts and that's all there is to it. My feeling is your bartender, your best friend and your pastor/priest will be as useful as that 200 dollar a hour therapy session. But, I get it, it is legally recognized. They are the experts. My thought is you do have to have a rather large ego to believe yourself qualified to analyze others. Yes that opinion of yourself would have to be quite high. but maybe it is simply self confidence.

  Now that cartoon strip the Wizard of ID was designed to make you laugh, that is the purpose of cartoons after all, but it also was to make you think. In the kingdom there was a "golden rule." This is what that golden rule was,  "The golden rule means that, in any given situation, the ones with more financial leverage possess the power to set the terms and exert authority over others. Prospero proudly chimes the rule because he realizes he has more wealth and influence than any of his friends." That from Google of course, as that explanation is a lot clearer than any I could offer, I take no credit for the composition. It is also a good explanation of the "kingdom" we are all living in. 

  That is what the cartoonists wanted you to think about. A good number of those comic strips take a bit of thought to "get the joke." Todays strip is as follows. "In reviewing the budget, sire I find you have allocated billions to defense and not one cent for the poor. The King responds, "Right." What's the explanation? The King again responds, "When the rebellion comes I'll be ready." All credit goes to the authors of that comic strip, I copied it word for word because I couldn't copy the cartoon itself. 

  I'm not saying I'm the Wizard of ID, that isn't the purpose of my blogging. But if Freud is to be believed, that is the inspiration. I'll have to give that some more thought as I don't know a lot about Freud. What I do know isn't very complimentary of him. I understand in some circles he is the man, and in others not so much. Well I've always been a do it yourselfer. I'll just analyze all of that myself, maybe engage in a little therapy session, although I seldom engage in that anymore, was a time when it was a regular things on a Friday night. We had a different name for that though, it was called BS. Strangely it came in degrees proportionate to amount of therapeutic medicine ingested. Had nothing to do with being a bachelor or science.    

                                                                           

where it begins

  There is much discussion about the rise in juvenile crime in the city of Baltimore. I can't speak about what is happening in other cities across this nation but maybe they are experiencing the same thing. These juveniles are engaged in car jacking, robbery, smash and grabs and shootings. They are being protected from prosecution by their age. They commit these crimes over and over again without punishment. They are being released to their parents. A big part of the discussion is centering around what can the state can do to "provide the services" these children need. It is briefly mentioned that they should be held accountable for their actions. But it isn't their fault is quickly pointed out, they should get services to correct their behavior. Those services amount to rewards, not punishment. Those obeying the laws, not committing the crimes however are not eligible for those "services." It's akin to being hired for another program in the city of Baltimore called Safe Streets. They are being called violence interrupters, their job is to stop street violence. To be hired you have to be an ex con. Yes, that's right, you have to have a criminal past, that is what gives you that street cred, the experience to qualify for the position. 

  The question is why are some many juveniles involved in these criminals activities? Some say it is because they are bored, they don't have anything else to do. The city should be building recreational centers, dirt bike courses, providing entertainment to the children. They should be given money and empowered to pursue their dreams. Others insist it is solely because of systemic racism in America. These juvenile criminals are predominately black and brown children. It isn't their fault! A few, very few in fact, are placing the blame on the parents. They are saying it is the responsibility of the parents to monitor what there children are doing. That is mostly met with a shrug from government officials. What are you going to do? Can't punish the parents because the kids will then suffer. No, the only answer is to satiate the children and meet whatever demands they make. They should be given services.

  I have my own theory, my own ideas about all of that. My thinking is when you teach children adult themes, treat them like an adult, they will act like adults. The problem then becomes you have juvenile adults! What was called "knowing better" back in my day. If I did something wrong that is what I was told, you know better! I was then punished for that behavior. I wasn't given anything but a punishment! Thing was, I did know better and chose to do whatever it was anyway. I had to earn my "freedom" by demonstrating that I could behave in society. Whenever I failed in that I was "grounded." You hear about that today, about being grounded in reality. I can assure you it was real, and I was grounded! I soon learned to obey the rules. Punishment was expected, indeed guaranteed, if I didn't. That learning curve was called gaining maturity. 

  It is true, it takes a village to raise a child. The problem is now the village! The village itself is being excused, coddled and given a pass. The village is being told, it isn't your fault, you need services. The truth is, the village has been made dependent upon the state. As a result the village has now become like a spoiled child, making demands, throwing a tantrum and being disobedient. The village then gets rewarded for those behaviors. The blame is passed to another agency. The city of Baltimore is now insisting the federal government needs to provide services. What they are calling for is a socialist state! The plan is to replace "leaders" with administrators. Those on the city council, the mayor, the chief of police, the states attorney's office, all of that just run by administrators doing as they are directed by a higher authority. Mom and Dad have been replaced, now the village is being replaced as well. It is the children that are being used to facilitate all of this.

  Ever hear of Hitlerjugend? Known to Americans as Hitler Youth. It was a program that began in 1926 that produced the majority of the fighters for the German military. The sole purpose of that group was to indoctrinate, educate and empower the youth of Germany. It worked like a snake charmer. The kids turned on their parents and neighbors. They were so well indoctrinated that they did fight, believing in their just cause. What are we teaching the children today? Many are simply being indoctrinated into believing they are entitled. They are above the law, above societal expectations and immune from punishment. They should be rewarded for everything they do. What ideology are they being taught? If you don't know read Karl Marx and you will soon see exactly what that is. Saul Alinsky is another you should read.    

                                                                           

                                                

                                                   This is where it begins 

Right now

  We have to accept the past for what it was. I'm growing real tired of all the complaining and explaining. You can not change the past. It is really as simple as that. When I was a kid I heard no sense in crying over spilled milked often enough. There was nothing to be learned, no great life changing action to be taken, you spilled the milk. You already knew you didn't want to do that, but you had. It's done. All that is left is to clean up the mess. Cry all day if you like, but that milk isn't going back in the bottle. Want more milk, wait for the cow to be ready. That takes about 12 hours, give or take. 

  You know there isn't always something to learn from history. A great deal of the time we are quite aware of what we should or shouldn't be doing but ignore that. Sometimes we call that having an independent spirit and sometimes it is civil disobedience. At other times we simply call it being progressive or choice. We know the lesson already but for whatever reason choose to ignore that. We want to believe the outcome will somehow be different. The motivation to do so will vary over time but the outcome generally remains the same. We call that being righteous. To be right, particularly in a moral fashion, is to be righteous. And being righteous is the ultimate trump card. You can't argue with righteousness unless you are more righteous than the other people. Right makes might? 

  No, might doesn't make it right, but it does make it happen. You can't force people to behave in a moral fashion. It is something I have said repeatedly, you can't legislate morality. We attempt to legislate ethics. Ethics are what guide us to behave in a moral fashion. We all have our individual set of ethics existing within the framework of societal morality. That is why we see so many contradictions in all of that. Consider the church today. The Pope has given his blessing and the blessing of the church to gay marriages. The Catholic church will still not perform a gay marriage but they will bless it. Ethics and morality. Blessing a sin? Well, depends upon who you ask about that. That wasn't done in the past but it is now. 

  It's a tricky business this righteousness stuff. We associate that with religion. You are being righteous when you follow the teachings and doctrines of a specific religion. The only issue being each religion has a different set of standards, a different doctrine and a different lesson to learn. There are more than 45,000 denominations of Christianity alone! Whereas each may hold the same basic tenets each has a different view of what is right or righteous. It's the same with every other religion in the world as well. 

 As a result some individuals will reject all deities, all suggestion of a higher power, and establish their own ethics and morals. They reject the idea that there is reward or punishment after death. For them, it is one and done. That would certainly influence your ethics. As long as I can avoid any negative consequences while I'm here, I'm free to do as I please. The only restraint being civil law. 

 The government sets the ethical and moral standard I should adhere to. In short, if the government says it is okay, it's just fine, no matter what that is. Capital punishment, abortion, marriages, or even our choice on dying, (assisted suicide). Some are now calling that a medical procedure because suicide isn't condoned. But if you have a terminal illness and just don't want to deal with that reality, medical intervention is perfectly fine. Doctors in their righteousness can help you out! It's the right thing to do. 

  It is only through the acceptance of the past that we can move forward. Any attempts to change, rewrite or somehow modify the past is fruitless, a waste of time. The past isn't a secret. It is there for all of us to read and study. We can all determine what happened and why it happened. The motivations of man haven't changed over time. The only thing changing is our reaction to them. Even then we will repeat those actions given a few generations. We will try again. Yes history really does repeat itself. It isn't the intelligence of man that moves us forward, it is the spirit of man. Injustice and conflict will continue no matter how intelligent we become. We go forward in righteousness. And the thing is this, I'm right. That's what we all believe. Without an answer key, no one can argue with that. The answers aren't in the past, the answer is today, right now. 

                                                                                

Just a thought

  We think of home as the place were we grew up. It is certainly a bit different for everyone. It all depends upon the circumstances of your childhood. When I was in the Navy it was a common enough question, where are you from? The answer could be anything from a state to a small town. That reply was dependent upon how well know your city or town might be. For instance I could say East Hampton and only a few knew , but if I said New York, many immediately thought New York City. Today I could just say the Hamptons and most would have a general idea about that. A place where all the rich people live. Isn't that the perception.

  I saw on the news that the last largest K-Mart store is closing its' doors. That store is in Bridgehampton, Long Island, New York. Yes, it is in the Hamptons. Rather ironic that it would be there. But the thing is it is there because the local people (those that aren't filthy rich) need a place to shop  as well. That has always been somewhat of a problem, I'd say beginning in the 1970's or so. Mom and Pop could no longer afford the rent or the property taxes to maintain that small business. A lot more money to be made by selling the high end stuff to those rich folks vacationing in the Hamptons. The big companies could afford all of that overhead and so soon dominated the main street. Growing up in East Hampton in the 50's and sixties I was well aware of that change. There were only a few places I could shop. Boutiques, as they were called then, cropped up on Main and Newtown lane like wildflowers. High end stuff! 

  I left there in 1971 and joined the Navy. I did return for two years following that but left once again, reenlisting in the Navy. I seldom had a chance to return and visit there. I did hear in 1983 that Caldor opened a store in Bridgehampton. Now that was big news. We never had anything like that when I was living there. I heard all about that and how big that store was. I also heard about the traffic and the crowds and the lack of personal service. Well, you might as well go to New York City! Years later I did hear that K-Mart had opened a store in Bridgehampton. I didn't know it was in the old Caldor building. I didn't know Caldor went bankrupt in 1999. Now twenty five years later K-Mart is closing the door. I wonder where the locals will shop now? Amazon seems the likely answer.

  When I was growing up in the Hamptons we did shop for some things locally, like groceries, you had no choice. We would get a pair of shoes or some work clothes local. But the vast majority of the shopping was done with the Sears and Roebuck catalogue, JC Penny or Spiegel's. It was sort of "on-line" shopping through the postal service. The difference now is we don't have to fill out those forms, mail them in and wait for the post office to deliver our packages to the local outlet. It's still the same process, just streamlined. I've heard even those filthy rich folks are using Amazon. 

  It just amused me when I heard about the closing of K-Mart. I knew they had merged with Sears about thirteen years ago. It's the end of the line. I was amused because they were making a thing about it being in the Hamptons. I grew up in East Hampton. It wasn't the "Hamptons" then. I never knew the Hamptons with a Caldor or a K-Mart. 

 A lot has changed since my departure almost fifty years ago. I've even seen where a fabulous vacation to the Hamptons is a prize on the Price is Right. Driving to Bridgehampton would have been an outing when I lived there. It is also where the drive in theater was. And the big "city" the shopping center for us would have been in Riverhead. Riverhead isn't the Hamptons but they had Billy Blakes! That was a department store. I read where they tore down that building about ten years ago. Billy Blake filed for bankruptcy in 1975. Well things change. The circle isn't completed just yet though, one day the Mom and Pop stores will reappear, places for the local people. The bubble will burst one day, it always does.

As a final thought I can't help but think if things keep on the way they are, Mom and Pop stores will return, just called Bodegas!  

                                                                                 

          With the resources of the internet I was able to get this image of  Billy Blakes store. 

           Seems a lot smaller than I remember it being. Today we have Verizon phone stores bigger than                 that building. 

it used to be

                                                   Pilgrims and Pies 

The tree line has been painted

The cornfields all laid bare

the wind holds a crispness

fall is in the air

Pumpkins peer from patches

gourds stand their ground

mums remain silent

severed corn stalks gathered 'round

Hale bales form a fortress

against the graying skies

the time is fast approaching

for pumpkins and for pies

Autumn comes in brightly

But soon the trees are bare

green and brown the only colors

left remaining there

So come on fall and lead us

we must follow where you go

onward to the winter

and the falling snow.  (A.B.Reichart) 

   Written some time back it is that time of year once again. The pumpkin has surely taken the lead in recent years. Pumpkin spice, pumpkin latte's , pumpkin and more pumpkin. The pilgrims are being relegated to the past, their deeds not spoken of. The stories I was told in my childhood mostly fiction, but held words of promise. They were tales of perseverance, hardship and faith. The struggle to live free. Visions of tall black hats, shiny buckles and witches too. The children of today being told quite a different account of all that, if they are told at all. 

  Fall is the lead up to Thanksgiving. That is how I have always thought about that. It was back to school, Halloween and Thanksgiving. That is fall. I would hear some folks calling it Autumn. I just figured that was a fancy way of saying fall, used by those that wanted you to believe they were somehow smarter than you. Turns out that is just what is more commonly said in merry old England. To the English, it is Autumn, to Americans, fall. Fall makes more sense as those leaves do fall and so it seems the obvious description for the season. 

  On Thanksgiving day we celebrated all things Pilgrim related. We had that traditional feast. But it was on Thanksgiving day, at the end of the Macy's parade that old St. Nick made his first appearance. At least that is the way it was when I was growing up on Long Island. I can't say what it was like for others in different parts of the country. I'm thinking about the late 50's early 60's. Yes, we had television, two channels as a matter of fact. It's true that we didn't have cable television, it was an antenna but our stations were just across the sound, in Connecticut. Did the kids in the mid-west see the Macy's parade? I just don't know. Well, when Santa Claus appeared, it was winter as far as I was concerned. Bring on the snow and Christmas.

  A lot has changed over the years in regard to history and the telling of it. Today we are insisting upon the stark truth, the reality of the situation. What I was told was all a lie. Today it isn't a time for celebrating, it is a time for apologizing. Oh, we can still celebrate by having our pumpkin spice but we have to "acknowledge" all the injustices of the past while doing so. The prayers are to be kept silent. Today the only thanks we should be giving are to the Native Americans that saved our bacon. Without their help, we would have all died. A different story indeed. Well, we all enjoy our memories, the traditions we embraced as children with our families. It will be no different for the current generation. Then they will write the stories of, what used to be. 

                                                                         

  

disappointing

  I keep hearing those talking about black and brown people. Now I realize I'm a white guy so that automatically makes me a racist and I'm good with that. I have to accept that as other peoples' reality. It doesn't mean I agree with that and feel any need to change. I'm not concerned with pandering to anyone, anything, or any narrative. I am wondering however what the difference between black and brown people could be. Well the obvious thing is other races, those not of African descent, would be the brown people. Hispanics, Asians and various Islanders perhaps. Are Africans the only black people? But the question for me is, why differentiate between the two? I wonder if that is to imply, in some fashion, that the brown people are being discriminated against as well. We all know that all black people are discriminated against in America. I'm told it is systemic! For many years I just figured it was because we went with the majority rules and the majority was always the European people, otherwise called white people. 

  In 2020 according to the census the United states is composed of 59.3% white, 18.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% black and 5.9% Asians. There are another 3.3% just not accounted for. They are others. Curiously there is no mention of brown people. If you added the Black, Hispanics, Latinos and Asians together it still only amounts to 37.4% of the population, so still not a majority. Yes, the United States is mostly white people. The census also says that you can be white (non-Hispanic). That implies I can be white and Hispanic if I chose to identify myself in that fashion. Well it is a growing trend this self identification stuff. I suppose in that way no one is being racist by labeling others according to their skin tone or place of birth or ethnicity. Only white people can be called white people by those that aren't white people. White people need to ask how everyone else wishes to be addressed. If they don't it is because they are racists. 

  I like cowboy movies and the whole romantic notion of the old west. It's a great fantasy. Clint Eastwood played a great cowboy. In his movie The Outlaw Josie Wales he meets up with an old Indian chief. They form a great friendship. Now this Indian chief talks to Josie about edges. There are all kinds of edges. If you are not familiar with the movie, those "edges" are in context to having an advantage over your opponent. The sun in their eyes, a surprise attack or having some secret that gives you that advantage. I understand all that. That is what I perceive all this black and brown stuff is all about, gaining an advantage. Well, because white people have always had that advantage. Black and brown people are in the minority in America, although those groups are growing quickly, especially Latinos. It is estimated white people will be in the minority in about twenty years. Then we lose our edge.

  There is an advantage to being a black or brown person in America. Oh, I know many will be up in arms that I would suggest such a thing. That advantage is what us white folks call the race card. The perception being that it will be played anytime a black or brown person feels like it. Whenever anything doesn't go the way they would like it to go, play the race card. And the thing is, white people are not allowed to question that, ever. No, it is the trump card. Now it's true it doesn't always work and it certainly doesn't increase anyone's wealth, status in the community, or position in life. Still it does provide a bit of an edge in a lot of situations. A white person has no such card to play. We all have the privilege card. Truth is, it is just about as valuable as the race card. Both are losing their edge. Makes everyone nervous when they lose their edge. 

  So I'm guessing all this talk of black and brown people is a thinly veiled call to unite. It's the black and brown people against the white people. By joining together the hope is to gain an edge. The concept of America, and the republic was to unite all men. All men are created equal, remember that. There was never any mention of slavery in the constitution. The founding fathers, those that composed that document were embarrassed by that and believed it was an institution that would die out on its own. They all agreed it was morally wrong. But morality and business often are not good bedfellows. And make no mistake about it, slavery was about business, solely about business. You know it made no difference to those holding slaves what color they were, what nation they came from, what religion they practiced, or anything else. That was true in every place in the world where slavery was practiced and in fact still is!

  Your life is your business. Everyone wants to gain an edge in life. We call that providing for our families. Whether it was just a small clan or a nation, the idea is to unite to gain an edge. Together we can defeat the enemy. Doesn't matter if that enemy is a wooly mammoth or another nation, unity is the answer. What are you willing to do to gain an edge in your life, to preserve that life? Who are you willing to work with? Equality is what we are talking about. I've written and said this time and time again but it is worth mentioning once again, " everyone wants to be treated equally, until they are" Then we begin to look for that edge. Yes you are equal to me, but I am just a little bit better than you. And that's because I allow you to be equal. That's how it works in the real world. I know it's disappointing isn't it.  

                                                                          

it's business

  In what is a surprising move the teamsters union had decided to not endorse a candidate. It's been a while since they haven't backed the Democratic nominee, 1996 to be exact. The reason is obvious enough, the democrats are really pro-union and always have been. Biden saved the teamsters union with them receiving billions of dollars to rescue their retirement plan. Biden even walked a picket line! Still, the union will not endorse anyone at all. The official statement is that they could reach no clear majority among their members. The reality is, it is an endorsement for Trump. It has to be a real blow to the democrats. I'm certain Trump is surprised as well, or maybe not. 

  It's an interesting twist in this campaign. First you had Biden just drop out. After proclaiming, I'm not going anywhere, he went there. Then you have the democratic party leadership declare Harris is the candidate. No primary election, no voting by the people, none of that. If you are a Democrat you were given no choice, you will just vote for Harris and like it! My thought is there are a number of Democrats that simply don't like that. The teamsters are the evidence of that. It begs the question, how many more feel the same way? How many votes will be drained off to a third party or to no party at all? I get it, if you have spent the last three plus years hating Trump there is no way you can vote for him. Your only options are to vote for that third party or not vote at all. 

  It's my feeling that we are finally reaching a point where reality is setting in. That reality is in the bottom of our pockets. Everyone is feeling the effects of inflation. People are starting to come to the realization that the "rich" people really can't just pay for everything. This idea of taxing the wealthy to pay for everything just won't work! That pipe dream is fading fast. They are also coming to realize that we can't just throw the doors open and absorb millions of people into our country without that affecting us. Border control really is a necessity. Charity is a personal thing, not a governmental program! We need to handle business first! That is what the teamsters are saying by their silence. They can't come right out and say Trump is our man without almost half of their members going into a meltdown. But they can't bring themselves to endorse Harris, really Harris wouldn't be running anything, like Biden but an extension of Obama. Those policies just aren't working, the evidence is clear enough.

  The pendulum of politics has started to swing the opposite way. Time to go back to a more conservative approach. All these liberal policies have caused a huge deficit and divided the nation. Many of the same issues that were present in 1861 are being felt today. There is a big difference in ideology between the republicans and democrats. Each party calling the other "radicals" and out of touch. 

  That was the feeling back then too. It was a struggle on morality and ethics but based in commerce. The reason for the conflict was financial concern. That is the reason for that conflict today. Yeah it would be great if everything were free, if everyone were inclusive, understanding and empowering of others. They're not. The time has come for Uncle Sam to say, no. Yeah I know, he's just mean. So was mommy and daddy when they said no. It's just business.     

                                                                             

  

Social sales

  It appears to me that Facebook has gone from social to sales. There is far more advertising urging you to purchase something than there is social interaction. I'm guessing folks just got tired of all the negativity, fighting and name calling. All of those hiding in their keyboard castles slinging arrows at others have finally begun to remain silent. That is the result of a lack of reaction. People have become hardened to that and are allowing it to just go by.  That's a good thing, but rather sad in a way as well. Sad that we can't interact with each other is a more civil fashion and have to resort to silence. I have noticed the proliferation of groups. The majority of these groups require you to fill out a questionnaire and electronically sign an agreement. A terms of usage agreement. Violate the rules and you will be removed and blocked from commenting. 

  I have my own group. I have had that established for quite a while now. I am the sole administrator. There are no questions to answer, no agreements to be made in order to comment or join the group. I don't have any rules. I have blocked two people since I began the group and have refused entry to a number of others. It's my group and my decision, simple as that. I don't owe an explanation to anyone. I wouldn't say that group is very active but it is cordial most of the time. I haven't seen any big issues pop up. I have no need to "moderate" anything. Well, I am the administrator, not the moderator. My group doesn't have that. 

  All things run their course. Facebook is certainly no exception to that. I have seen it change over the years. I remember when everyone was farming. That has all but disappeared from the conversation. I used to see a larger number of photos and videos. Yes, it was mostly what people were eating for dinner or something cute the kids were doing. Even that has died down somewhat. Today there is little discussion, little social interaction, mostly just somebody selling something. A lot of posts about injustices of the past and every marginalized ethnic group in the country. A lot of postings about history being wrong. A lot of apologizing for America. 

  I still scroll down my timeline or page, whatever they call that, and leave my comments. I receive lots of comments about my education, my race, my age and my overall personality. Amazing how so many people know me that much from a single post. I'm guessing those folks must be checking my profile page, something I very rarely do with anyone. I have this theory about that. I place as much trust in the validity of those profiles as I do CNN. I have thought to change mine to say I have a PhD and several other degrees. I could also "identify" as any number of ethnic groups or "communities" for that matter. Maybe the fact checkers should fact check profile pages. But they are too busy fact checking your opinion. If it doesn't agree with theirs, it's not true. The best you can hope for is "partially true" but lacking context. 

  Well in a few years, maybe sooner, we can just create a virtual presence. This AI is remarkable stuff. I can have my avatar, one that is actually me, but talks using AI. Imagine how smart I could appear to be. With the entire web at my fingertips through this AI I could cite references all day long to support whatever I wanted to. I could fact check the fact checkers! Will it be me? Without some program, some other intelligence to inform you of that, you won't know. Facebook may become the place for virtual conversations between artificial intelligence. Computers arguing with computers. My avatar can beat up your avatar. Yes, it's a brave new world. Facebook as a social network will no longer exist, it will remain as a sales network perhaps.  

      

                                                                          

Discernment

  I touched on this subject yesterday and heard some more on the news concerning that this morning. You can call it influencing, deep fakes, or outright lies but the most popular is misinformation. It is the posting of videos or other mediums that distort the truth or just outright spread a lie. The news was reporting that Governor Newsome, of California, is proposing three new bills making all of that illegal. Yes, it would be against the law to lie! Well, imagine that. His proposal would leave the telling of the truth to the government. That is exactly what it would be. The government will decide upon the truth. His bills leave that open. The government decides what is a parody, what is just making fun, and what is not. If that "fun" is aimed at your political opponent, that's illegal. It really would just be an arbitrary thing. It all depends.

  This is an attack on freedom of speech as we understand it today. The new threat being this artificial intelligence that is capable of mimicking individuals. It's true that it is getting very difficult to tell reality from fiction. That has been the objective of Hollywood for quite a while now but that's just entertainment, right? I'd suggest Hollywood has been influencing their audiences from the very beginning. Those entertainers are certainly active in influencing political debates today. How many people forget that their job, their occupation is making people believe fiction. But when they state their political position that is simply exercising their freedom of speech. That is what we are supposed to believe, take as the gospel. To even suggest otherwise is unamerican. And now Newsome is introducing legislation that would leave that assessment up to the government. This is true, this isn't true. Might even create a whole new Secretary of Truth office. A cabinet position! 

  This has been brought to the forefront as a result of videos being shown on social media sites. There are those that are parodies and those that are deep fakes. How can you tell the difference? The same way you can tell the difference when someone says to you, trust me, or the ever popular that isn't what I meant. You have to discern the truth for yourself. To discern is to judge well. Oh, but we are told not to judge. This proposal leaves all the judgement up to the government. Sounds like a political system we hear a lot about, one called socialism. The government decides what is right, what is wrong, what you can and can not have, do or say. But, it is always for your own good. The government is taking care of you.

  Yes, the government has placed some restrictions of free speech. We all know you can't holler fire in a crowded theater. You can't use your free speech to create an immediate danger to the public. It's a rather fine line but one that most understand well enough. For the most part however if someone is telling lies about you, spreading false information or disparaging you in some fashion your recourse is the court. Defamation of character has to proven to have caused damages. Those damages are almost always financial in nature. Remember Kathy Griffin? That was free speech that effectively ended her career. It wasn't the government though, it was the discernment of the people. The notion that the government can make a law to define the truth is ridiculous. 

  One of those laws The law makes it illegal to create and publish false materials related to elections 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. It also allows courts to stop the distribution of the materials, and violators could face civil penalties. The law exempts parody and satire. And yes, the government will decide what is or isn't parody or satire. Discernment is influenced by what? What is best for the individual is the short answer. If you are making fun of my Mother, that's false, if it your Mother, it's just funny. That's how that works. Expecting integrity from government? Well, use your own judgement on that.  

A constitutional right

  There has been proposals made to rejuvenate or renovate the area called the inner harbor in the city of Baltimore. This area has been the main tourist attraction in Charm city for many years. But, over the years crime has slowly crept in, businesses has moved and the area has gone into decline. So, as with everything else in the world an opportunity has presented itself to those "developers" to save the city. That's what developers do you know, they rescue local economies and provide the people with necessities such as "affordable" housing, stores and restaurants. Their plan is to revive the tourist industry and in turn save the city! 

  But, this plan has been met with some opposition. There are those that don't feel like the plan is such a great idea. Their opposition stems from the fact that it will not do a thing for the average person living in the city. Yes, the tourists may return, spend that money at the harbor and businesses will thrive once again. Thing is, the average person doesn't own that business and it will be of little help to them. You see that's the reality of tourism, the local people, those that live in the area, wind up being relegated to no more than park employees. They are only there to care for the tourists. You are there to cater to that. You are not to be seen or heard from, just do your job and entertain me. 

  In response to this opposition the developer has filed a petition to the court. This opposition, this stopping of the plan, why it's unconstitutional! That is what caught my attention this morning on the news. Yet another claim that something is unconstitutional. I'm amazed at how many people are reading the constitution these days and finding all these rights. The constitution has just 7,591 words, including the 27 amendments. Originally it was just 4,543 words. Quite brief compared to states constitutions which average 20,000 words. Still, in those few words somewhere, according to the attorney for the developer, they have a constitutional right to develop the inner harbor in the way they see fit. They are taking that to court, to the supreme court if necessary. Freedom is at stake here. 

  I haven't done an extensive research project into exactly what they are proposing. I will not attempt to make anyone believe I have done so and became some expert on that. All I have to do is read Facebook posts to get all that expertise. Facebook is flooded with constitutional scholars, attorneys and activists of all descriptions. What I do know is those developers are proposing that because they believe they will profit from doing so. And that, my friend, is the bottom line make no mistake about that. Their interest lies solely in that. That is the constitutional right they are alluding to, the pursuit of happiness. Making money, makes them happy. 

  It isn't anything new, I realize that, but today there are those reading things into that constitution that surely have nothing to do with the original intent. You know Roe V Wade wasn't a constitutional right. Yet, there are many "learned" people proclaiming that it was, and that it should be. Takes a lot of reading between the lines to come up with that one. There are those that would rewrite that document given the chance. What would be their motive to do so? Personal profit or gain of some kind is the only answer to that. You know that is why the document was written in the first place, right. It was explained with these famous lines, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." There are those that find that too limiting for the modern world, those old guys just couldn't understand. I really should be allowed to build whatever I want, wherever I want. That is a right! 

  The law is built upon precedent. That is what is used when litigating cases in court. The constitution itself is the ultimate precedent. That is the reason it is so frequently cited. Precedent is the guide, it tells us what course of action was taken before. We should learn from that. Yes, it is history. There were very good reason for each of those 4,543 words in the original constitution. But then, after having made certain concessions to get that document ratified in 1788 George Washington sent twelve amendments to the individual states for ratification. As we all know, ten got ratified in 1791 and became the bill of rights. 

  Those rights were intended to protect the people, not empower the government. Why was that necessary? Because, just like today there were those saying, it doesn't say that but that is what it means. No where in the constitution did anyone have a right to hold slaves, but some said slaves were merely property. I have a constitutional right to have property. Yeah and today a development corporation is insisting they have a constitutional right to construct property. Things haven't changed nearly as much as you might think. The same reason for the precedent setting document we call the constitution exist today as they did in 1776.  

                                                                         

It isn't normal

  Are we going to say that anytime someone commits a crime that they are suffering from a mental disorder? It seems to me that is exactly what I keep hearing. The defense is always, my client has a disorder. Now if it can be established that you have a disorder you can't be held accountable for your actions. In fact, it becomes incumbent upon society to empathize, counsel and empower that individual to recovery. So is antisocial behavior a disorder? Is civil disobedience a disorder? Is every thief a kleptomaniac? Sounds silly doesn't it. Yet, that's is what I hear all the time these days and I'm expected to accept all of that. I shouldn't judge! Well, then why do we have judges at the core of the judicial system? 

  What is sanity? "the ability to think and behave in a normal and rational manner; sound mental health." That's what the dictionary says. So what is normal and rational? Well that has to be judged according to the society in which you are living. Who gets to judge? Those that are trained to recognize that inability to behave in a normal and rational way? Yes, that is the only thing we have. Is it a disorder when we choose to disobey civil authority? I'd say it was normal enough to do so, we have all chosen that in one way or another. Was it a rational choice? It very well could have been considering our situation or circumstance at the time. Normal is what people do and it varies by the individual. What is normal to you may not be to me. We are left with rational. What is rational?  "based on or in accordance with reason or logic." That's what the dictionary says. Who decides what is rational? Those trained to recognize that? Reasoning is certainly a very subjective thing. Logic is dependent upon reason. The reason could make a bad choice logical. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one." (Star Trek) 

  Having a disorder is having a mental illness. Strangely that isn't the perception today though. You can suffer from a disorder but that doesn't mean you have a mental illness; not really. Isn't that the thinking? Yes it is just a temporary thing, not your fault and you shouldn't be held accountable for that. Well, as long as you have some outside influences you shouldn't be. Influences like drugs, alcohol, or you are feeling marginalized, neglected or being picked on. Then, it isn't your fault at all. All your bad choices were rational and logical given your circumstance. And we all know we are all victims these days. No one is free from that! If you are fortunate you are a survivor. You survived despite all the obstacles before you. Whew, it's been a battle. 

  Well the truth of the matter is this, what is normal changes with every generation. The rational choice is based upon what is normal. Our reasoning is affected by all of that. When I was a young man if I went and applied for a job with very long hair, wearing shorts and sandals with tattoos on my neck or face I couldn't reasonably expect to be hired unless it was a job in a side show. That's certainly not true today, those attributes would increase your odds today, the employer fearing litigation should they refuse. As a man if I showed up to work in a dress and heels back then it would have been perfectly normal to be fired on the spot. It would have been reasonable and rational to suggest I have a mental illness, a disorder! The "book" used by the experts back then would have confirmed that. But, we have rewritten the book on all of that. It's perfectly normal today.

  I have learned that aging is really nothing more than adjusting to the norms. It can be a very uncomfortable thing. With age comes infirmary, we all know and expect that to happen. For some it happens sooner and others much later. It is the mental acceptance of what is normal, what is rational and logical that cause the most discomfort however. There are those that don't commit to ideas, ideals or ideologies as readily as others. We sometimes call those folks, eccentric, well in the old days we did anyway. Today we call them progressives or liberals. Those folks just go with the flow, with whatever the latest trend happens to be. They will grasp the new normal readily enough and attempt to justify that. Age is just a number and normality a state. And today, in my opinion, things just aren't normal. I miss that.  

                                                                                  

Telling secrets

  A ban on freedom of speech? That seems to be what I'm hearing may occur. I confess I haven't been listening that closely but I did hear that Toc-Tok may be banned in America. All I've heard is that Tic-Tok has filed an appeal. I don't use Tic-Tok, I'm not familiar with that outlet, or social media, whatever they are calling that. It does bother me to think that our government may just decide you can't read that, use that, or have access to that. This is the land of the free the last I knew. With this they aren't talking about restricting access, they are talking about banning it altogether. That is what concerns me.

  As I said I haven't been paying close attention to Tic-Tok and what the problem is. I'll have to do some research on that. It's difficult though to get the straight of it as I really can't trust the media to report anything fairly. I have heard something about China being accused of gathering sensitive data and sharing that with the communist government of China. Without doing any research at all into that accusation all I can say is, yeah they probably are. Why wouldn't they? Seems like a no brainer.

 Thing is, they can't gather any information that isn't shared on that platform. So are they to blame? Listen, I'm not defending any Chinese communists but I will defend freedom. It was a little before my time but I remember hearing about a slogan, "loose lips, sink ships" as a method to tell people to not talk about sensitive things. I'm quite certain there were others as well. The message was plain enough, keep your mouth shut. But that was in the 1940's and communications weren't as advanced as they are today. There was radio to transmit messages secretly. Those spies had other means as well. Microfilm comes to mind. Today, all you have to do is get on social media and you can find out all kinds of stuff, secret stuff. Edward Snowden exposed the existence of global surveillance activities. I wasn't a bit surprised and all he did was confirm my suspicions. Don't misunderstand me, he is a traitor to our country, I understand he got his Soviet citizenship. 

  So I'm forced to play the devil's advocate in this situation. Whatever information China is gathering is being put there by the users of the platform. The same can be said of every social media platform or outlet of any kind. The same applies to newspapers, magazines, and the local bulletin board. Are we to ban all of those as well? It is alright to ban that platform because it is owned by the Chinese? We certainly purchase enough products from them. If we are going to say you can't "buy" Tic-Tok we would have to say, you can't buy anything Chinese. The responsibility for what is shared on that is the responsibility of the user. The outlet itself has control of that, they can block you or whatever just like Facebook does, but why would they? If you started putting money in my bank account, I'm not going to stop you. 

  The Biden administration signed a bill to ban Tic-Tok. That should be concerning to everyone. If the government is willing to ban Toc-Tok you could be next. Control of the media is essential. By controlling that, you can control the people. This from the same administration that insists every book should be in every library, available to everyone to read at any time. There should be no restrictions placed on that. Their position being, any restriction on that would effectively be a ban. You can't ban books! But you can ban Tic-Tok. So all bans aren't created equal, is that the message? I'll decide what will be banned, not you. 

  Listen up, the deal is this. The Chinese are spying on us, so are the North Koreans and every other nation in the world that has any technology capable of doing so. We, the United States of America, are doing the same thing. It has always been that way and it will continue in that fashion. The bottom line is always the same as as I have said many times, the only way to keep a secret is by not telling anyone! Most people just won't do that. Having a secret is power. Having power without the ability to exercise that power isn't very satisfying. That's why people tell secrets.

 It's not hard to understand. When your government begins to ban your freedom to speak you have started down a very slippery path. This proposal to ban Tic-Tok will not protect us from anything. Tic-Tok is only doing what every other social network is doing, gathering information. Those using it are the problem, same as always. 

 “Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved,” (Benjamin Franklin) The government doesn't get to tell me what I can say. That is a personal responsibility. The government can however hold me accountable for that speech. It isn't the tobacco companies fault if I start smoking, it isn't the liquor company's fault if I drink too much, it isn't the pharmaceutical company's fault if I abuse drugs and it isn't Tic-Tok's fault if I talk too much! All of that is on me.  

                                                                      

Online

  I was riding down to my local Walmart, going down a country road, when I see this lady hanging clothes. It brought a smile to me face I was taken back in time. There was a light breeze and those clothes were waving hello. I saw sheets, tee shirts, shirts and pants. And yes, a few unmentionables were also out getting some fresh air. A long pole was propping up the line. For just a moment it was 1968.

  Today we hear the experts talking about spending quality time with our children, that activity was a portion of my quality time with mother. I wasn't aware of that at the time and neither was she. The clothes had been washed and needed to be hung out, that was the reason for that activity. Often when she had sheets to hang I was summoned to help. Two people make that chore a lot easier. I would help carry that wicker basket loaded with those clothes out to the clothes yard. The clothes yard was just a place in the backyard where, you guessed, the clothesline was. We lived on the edge of Northwest woods and the clothesline was strung between trees. We didn't have poles in the ground. A broken limb or an old piece of lumber was used for a prop stick. The clothespin were in that little cloth bag swinging from the line.

  I remember well the procedure for hanging the different pieces of clothing. Pants are hung by the waist but shirts are always hung by their tails, you don't want to put creases in the shoulders, those little peaks could be hard to iron out. It's been well over fifty years since I hung any clothes on the line but I remember. I remember doing that when it was freezing cold and you hurried because your hands were so cold. I remember doing that on hot summer days when you took your time just enjoying the breeze. It's starting to rain! You would rush out and take in those clothes as fast as possible. When I was little I would tag along with mom and she would tell me stories. Quality time of the highest quality indeed. A simple time, a simple chore and a million memories.

  I remember when Mom got a clothes dryer. It was an electric one and the latest thing. No more hanging out the clothes! Well, that didn't last long as soon as Dad got the electric bill that dryer didn't seem so great after all. Mom agreed and said she didn't like the way the clothes smelled either. Those clothes needed fresh air. And so that dryer was only used occasionally. I left for the Navy and when I returned Dad had sold our house and was moved into the new place. There was no clothesline there, just a washer and dryer. With just the two of them Mom figured it would be alright, no clothesline. I guess she got used to the smell. 

  I have never had a home of my own where I could have a clothesline. Well, that's not exactly true, I could have, but didn't. Even living here in Caroline county Maryland, a rural farming area, you don't see many clotheslines. I expect they are out there though, perhaps hidden behind those white plastic fences, six foot high that surround back yards. Not many people "airing their laundry" at all, we just didn't air our "dirty" laundry. Today all that dirty laundry is on Facebook or Tic-Tok! I'm thinking clothes lines have gone the way of front porches, just not many being used anymore. It's a shame too, we really should be using both of them a lot more. You know, it's good for the environment. I'm not talking about climate change, I'm talking about quality time and people getting along with each other. Those front porches sure were good for that. Hanging out the clothes with Mom, that was good for my environment too, even when I didn't know it. I guess you could say we were "online."  

                                                                                     

A soldiers heart

  My 2nd great grandfather was James Buckley Terry. That name has been known to me since I was very young. He was a man that had served in the civil war and was remembered for that. That became his legacy. When he was nineteen years old, in 1862 he was mustered into the 127th regiment of the New York Volunteers. He rose to the rank of corporeal while in Company G. In my research I can find where he was in no famous battles. He did spend a good portion of his time in hospital, being afflicted with the disease and sickness so associated with that time. A man small in stature and ill health. While in hospital he did learn practical nursing, something he would practice the rest of his life. I can recall seeing a black leather bag, a doctors bag, at his home and being told that had been his. I have a belt and buckle that belonged to him, worn I suspect to his meetings with the Grand Army of the Republic. It is a civil war buckle and belt, whether it was worn by him while on active duty I just don't know. 

  While going through some papers I rediscovered his obituary. It is quite a lengthy one and speaks to how much the community will miss him. It's obvious he was held in high regard. That obituary was a gold mine for researching the family tree. His children spread out across the country. His son Fred living in Florida, another son Gilbert in Oregon and Samuel living in East Hampton, Ct. He had a brother Thaddeus living in New Jersey and another named Caleb living in Colorado. There were daughters as well, Sarah who would marry and move to California. Lucy who became my great grandmother and would pass away in 1956. That obituary also told of his various occupations and residences over the years. 

  The story closes with the telling of his last years. It is here that I discovered he passed away from what was described as, a nervous breakdown. It was reported that he often over exerted himself in taking care of his fellow man. His duties as a practical nurse surely took a toll on him. I was told that he often spent days beside the bed of a patient, nursing them ,caring for them. They say he suffered his first breakdown while attending to someone. Over a period of five years his health declined, his nervous state became worse. His obituary ends with the telling of his compassion for his fellow man, how beloved he was by the community, and how much his loss will mean to everyone.

  He passed away in 1916. At that time having a nervous breakdown, or any mental health issues carried a bit of stigma. You didn't talk about that. I was surprised to see that mentioned in that obituary. But reading that I couldn't help but wonder if what he really suffered from wasn't what we call PTSD today. I can only imagine the horrors he witnessed while in that war, maybe not so much on the battlefield as in the hospital. That he became a practical nurse and continued in that profession speaks to that. It certainly seems reasonable enough to me. He lived for another fifty years after the war. He was active in the Grand Army of the Republic and attended reunions and meetings. He was active in securing benefits for the veterans of that war and their widows. How many must he have attended to over those years that had lost arms, legs, eyes and suffered horrible wounds. 

  Back in those days, during the civil war, it wasn't called PTSD or battle fatigue. Doctors knew little about any of that and simply called it, "soldiers heart" or "irritable heart"  and sometimes nostalgia, depending upon the symptoms exhibited. I suspect that he suffered from that his whole adult life. I suspect that many did and nothing was ever said about that. It was often viewed as a weakness. I'm thinking he suffered from "soldiers heart." It's a term that strikes a chord in me as it seem so appropriate. Seeing the things that he did, having lived through that hell, it surely would have an effect on your heart. So I'm saying that the civil war did cause his death. He was a casualty of that conflict. He was a soldier. 

                                                                                   

                                                          James, his wife Agnes and granddaughter, Sarah.