decided

  Reading over some of the comments and commentary on my timeline/memories page or whatever I was struck by a recurring theme. I fully support this or that, but I fully support your opposition to this or that. I saw that over and over again. I heard my fathers voice saying, either shit or get off the pot! That is exactly how I feel about that. You can't fully support anything while supporting those working against that. An example is the whole gay marriage thing. You either need to say I believe it is wrong, or I believe it is right. I believe it is wrong. That's as plain and simple as I can make that. Do I think those folks should be physically harmed in any way for that? No, but it shouldn't be legally recognized as a marriage. At best, a civil union affording them the tax benefits that come with being married. Beyond that, nothing. Another is the desecration of the flag. You either need to believe that doing that is wrong or you don't. You can't say I love the flag and proclaim some deep love and devotion to it while saying, if you want to spit on it or burn it that's your right. No, for me it doesn't work like that. I would codify the sanctity of that flag and make it punishable by law for any violation of that law. You can't do that here! Simple, direct and no nonsense about it. A hate crime. 

  In more recent years there is becoming an increasing amount of dissention regarding the practice of a certain religion. I'm talking about Islam. I'm old enough to remember when Cassius Clay changed his name to Mohamed Ali because he converted to Islam. He also refused to be drafted. He cited religious beliefs for that. Well, in my opinion that was a line of crap because those Muslim folks have a long history of fighting wars, of defending their nations and their beliefs. Instructions for that are even included in their religious texts! It strikes me odd how so many "African Americans" now proclaim Islam as their religion. Guess they have forgotten how their ancestors were sold to Muslim traders that forced them to convert to Islam or be tortured, enslaved or killed. That's how Islam came to Africa! It was never any tribal religion. 

 Yes Christians have done the same, just as vigorously and ruthlessly as any other religious group in the world but that has nothing to do with anything. Today the issue is the implementation of Sharia law on American soil. Those laws are derived from the Quran and so that means a religious basis for that law. We don't have that in the United States of America. To allow that is to be in direct conflict with the constitution! You can't have it both ways. If you have any doubts about any of that ask a Democrat about the constitution! 

 They are all expert on what it contains. The separation of church and state tops their list. Strange though how it is the Democrats that insist Sharia law must be honored and respected! The Democrats are importing the practitioners of that by the hundreds of thousands. Another instance of, I believe this but you can do as you please and I will support that. As a Christian I of know of no commandments, no instructions to attack anyone, to lie, cheat or steal to advance the cause of Christianity. I know of no directives from any denomination of Christianity that is in direct opposition to the constitutional rights of any American citizen. That certainly can't be said about Sharia law. In some Muslim nations that is the principle guiding law. We can not allow that to gain a foothold here. 

  We often hear, this country will be destroyed from the inside and Lincoln is often used as the source of that. Well, he did say something similar, although it isn't a direct quote. This is a paragraph of what he actually said: "At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." I'd say it is indeed springing up amongst us as I'm writing this blog post. We are committing suicide by inaction! By the refusal to "take a stand" and enforce those core beliefs that were established by the constitution, by allowing that opposition, and supporting that, we are killing ourselves! 

   "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within.  (Ariel Durant)   In my opinion we are working on that, vigorously. We need to rid ourselves of the cancer eating at our very soul. You start that process by making a choice! Then you stand by that choice, unwavering in your belief that you are right. You can't be wishy-washy about that." Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed." Is that familiar to you? It should be and what is it saying? It's easier to just go along with things than to enforce or change them. In more modern parlance,  grow a set! 

                                                                                   

  

Tradition

  Saw a little thing on the evening news about black Friday. It began with the opening of the doors at some store and people literally running through the door. They look frenzied! That was the first thought I had about that. Racing and rushing to be the first to do what? Take advantage of a sale that will last all day, if it hasn't already been offered for the last week and will last until Christmas day itself. Then they spoke with one lady that explained that she just loved that, it was a family tradition! A family tradition of greed? That's what I thought about that. A family tradition that involves camping outside a store for hours and then attempting to push your way in. A tradition, really? 

  The news story went on to explain how it is expected that this holiday season consumers will spend more money than ever before! Well, they will charge more than ever before, another tradition I assume. With all the recent reporting on how so many need snap and ebt benefits, how the baristas need a union and a raise, how McDonalds cashiers should be earning $25.00 an hour I have to wonder where all that money is coming from for that shopping. They can't buy food but they can charge gifts? Over forty one million people are collecting snap. That's about 12% of the entire population so I guess the remaining 78% are doing all the buying, in such a tough economy, one that is oppressing the middle class, making it almost impossible to pay the bills. Luckily it hasn't hit the Christmas shopping market.

  So we have black Friday, small business Saturday and cyber Monday. All days devoted to consumerism. Get out there, or stay at home on your computer, and spend that money. The bargains are out there and you should be taking advantage of them. It doesn't matter if you need the items or not, just buy it if it is a deal. It is a make or break deal for a good number of businesses and that has been the case for many years now. Some how over the years Christmas has become defined by the number of gifts purchased. We have been busy removing Christ from Christmas for a good number of years now as well. Remember when you weren't supposed to call it a Christmas tree anymore, it's a holiday tree and seasons greetings! And now the grinch is replacing Santa Claus. Cindy Lou Who is more likely to be the hero of Christmas with the young children today than baby Jesus. More know that story.

  Black Friday traditionally was a term applied to days that were very bad days. It wasn't a positive thing at all. The first use of it in America was in 1869 when a few rich guys attempted to control the gold market. President U.S. Grant ordered the federal reserve to release a lot of gold which made the price drop by 18%. That ended the plan by those rich folks. One of them was related to Grant himself. Black Friday was associated with financial collapses and catastrophes. Today we think of it as the time businesses go into the black, referring to the black ink in ledger books. Some historians insist Black Friday was used earlier in the 18th century because slave auctions were typically held on Fridays. Some claiming that was especially true right after Thanksgiving. Never mind that Thanksgiving day wasn't a thing until 1863 when Lincoln proclaimed that. 

  Watching that spectacle on television of people rushing into the stores, of all the excitement and anticipation of sales, and it being a tradition now, I do think the name is fitting. It is a black day in America. A day devoted to conspicuous consumerism! It's all about the sale, getting that bargain, and the devil take the hindmost. It's all about unrestrained emotion. Small children will typically rip into their Christmas gifts in that manner. Just grab them, rip them open and reach for the next one. As we age we typically learn to restrain ourselves just a bit, unwrapping our gifts slowly and admiring them a bit before going to the next one. In fact, that is what we are taught is the proper thing to do. Well except on black Friday that is, then you can act like a greedy, selfish, person intent on getting what you want! It's fine if you are buying! Why, acting that way is now a tradition! 

                                                                           

                                                                                       

                                                                                     

                                                                                                

                                                                                    

                                                                                           

Transference

  Christmas is a time to exchange gifts. That is what we hear quite often but that wasn't the original intent. For Christians it was God giving us the gift of his son. A man on earth that could relate directly to us mere mortals. Made in the image of God we are not flawed in any way, we are his perfect creation. Except, in that creation free will was part of the programming. You might call that, artificial intelligence. It has had unintended consequences, at least at one time requiring a do-over of sorts. All people except for a chosen few were wiped off the planet. Still, free will remained and has continued to be used in unexpected, unintended fashion. We were given a gift but have failed to recognize the significance of that gift. Nothing was asked in return for that gift, there was no exchange. 

  I was thinking about gifts this morning and this practice of exchanging them. I thought that many times we do not recognize the gift at the time we receive it, sometimes it takes years to see that. That happens when what you are trying to give to someone is sentiment not a physical object. It's the thought that counts expresses that thought. We hear that and think, that just means they didn't spend a lot of money on the gift. I suppose that is true to a degree, especially I think when we are younger. With age, hopefully comes a measure of wisdom, of understanding. That requires a distancing from yourself. The gift isn't about getting what you want, it is about intent. 

 How much thought did the person giving you that gift put into that? When someone puts a great deal of thought into that they are trying to give you a piece of themselves, or a piece of sentiment for you to hold as treasure. The everyday things, the gifts we exchange that hold little meaning are appreciated, it's the thought that counts, but how long will they remain with you? I do not have a single Christmas gift from my childhood or early adulthood. The gifts that satisfied the moment. Among those gifts I'm certain where those that were given with quite the opposite intent. If there is a fault in that, it is in my failure to recognize that sentiment. It is also the sentiment I hoped for when giving them a gift. Isn't that the the joy we wish to bring them? That is the intent. But we humans tend to want immediate gratification, instant happiness. We sometimes fail to see what is right before our eyes. 

 And that's the thing about gifts and gift giving. They should not require an explanation. But that explanation holds the sentiment you wish to express, to impart to the one you have chosen to receive that gift. You are attempting to give that person the thought. When you have to explain the significance of the gift the significance is often lost on the one receiving that gift. What you are trying to do is create a transference of sentiment. That is quite the difficult task in my opinion. It does fall within the confines of one mans trash is another mans treasure. It's the thought that counts. A true gift isn't getting what you want, but in getting something you may not know you need. The trick, if there is one, is in accepting that gift. That is what gratitude is all about. Gratitude draws the mind into closer touch with the source from which the blessings come( Wallace D Wattles) A gift requires no exchange, only gratitude.

                                                                                  

                                                       This is a card my father made for his grandmother

                                                        about 1930 or so. She held onto that until her death in 1956.

                                                        It was a gift and she was grateful for it. Is it thought or                                                                                sentiment?                         

obligation

  Feeling a bit sentimental this Thanksgiving morning, remembering what is was like when I was a child at home. I had my last thanksgiving at that home probably 55 years ago. I honestly can't say I remember that. Our thanksgivings weren't anything like the ones on the Hallmark channel. I do remember one year my Uncle Elwood, with his family, came to dinner. They had traveled all the way from Chicago. I remember that so well because it was so unusual, so different. It never happened again as far as I know. Thanksgiving dinner for us was always just immediate family, with that one exception. 

  Dinner would be about three in the afternoon. There was no football on the television then, at least none I was aware of. The television would be on for the parade. The highlight of that parade was seeing Santa Claus for the first time. You didn't see much of old St. Nick before that in those days. You knew it was a holiday because everyone had to stay close to home. My older brothers might go hunting in the morning but weren't allowed to stray very far. Dad was home, in the kitchen with Mom and that was unusual. Dad always made the gravy, that was his specialty. Looking back if cooking something involved lard, bacon grease and cast iron frying pans, that is what Dad did. 

 Our home was three bedrooms, two and half baths, a kitchen and the living room. There was no dining room. On thanksgiving though the living room became that dining room. We had to take the kitchen table and move into the living room. Mom explained to me, you can't have thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen! That just wasn't acceptable, as thanksgiving dinner is special, also the reason we said grace before that meal. We never said grace any other time at any other meal. Not only that, you had to get dressed up in your Sunday go to meetings. 

  Thanksgiving was a family thing, an immediate family thing. My mom had several sisters and brothers that lived in town but I don't recall any of them ever coming for dinner. I don't recall ever going anywhere else for that dinner either. I had a lot of cousins too, most I never knew even when I went to school with them. Thanksgiving was just a special day, always celebrated but no big deal either, if you get my meaning. We had the traditional turkey. It involved jellied cranberry sauce and rutabagas. Those were the two items that made it special for me and still do. It was also one of the few days when you had celery sticks with peanut butter or cream cheese. A cheese ball may be involved. Mixed nuts filled that bowl on the coffee table. And Dad, dad had figs and dates. Disgusting stuff those and long since left off the menu with me.

  Today will be the first thanksgiving for my great granddaughter. Her Mom, a nurse, has to work and so they won't be able to attend dinner at my sons house. They plan on celebrating this weekend. They live an hour and a half away. I'm quite aware of all of that. I will be sharing thanksgiving at my sons house. We are expecting about eight people to be in attendance, possibly a couple more. My son doesn't have a dining room either but he does have a large kitchen. Well, I say it is the kitchen, but you could call it the dining area of the kitchen. That's the more modern way, the modern layout of homes these days. You just don't see many formal dining rooms anymore. 

  Thanksgiving is a formal dinner. That's the way I was raised anyway. You had to get dressed up for that occasion, say grace, and use your best table manners. There was plenty of food, a big variety and you were encouraged to try it all. I can also hear the admonishment to eat everything on my plate because there were starving children somewhere that didn't get thanksgiving dinner. I also remember Mom making a plate for a bachelor neighbor of ours. Donald was his name, a nice man who had one hand that was deformed. Mom said that is why he was alone, she knew him when they were in high school. My sister and I would take him thanksgiving dinner. It was the only day of the year we did anything like that. It wasn't that he needed that food, he had plenty, as Mom would say, but it was the thought that counted. Everyone should have thanksgiving dinner. 

  So those are some of my memories of thanksgiving at home. It's strange because I really don't remember many of them at all. The one when my Uncle came stands out because it was unique. Others I vaguely recall. I remember the preparation for that meal more than the actual meal. It is proof that anticipation is often better than the event itself. A great deal of that is being lost today in my opinion. I don't think thanksgiving is as anticipated today as it was back then. The holiday season has really turned into a season! You might see Santa Claus hanging out with the Easter bunny these days. Black Friday is more anticipated than Christmas day. I admit I was never real excited about thanksgiving. It is more of an "obligation" to tradition than anything else, somewhat of a chore really. But, I would be sad if I didn't celebrate it too. 

                                                                                

                                                             Elliotte, her first thanksgiving. 

                                                                                 

Discovered

  I'm big on homemade. I believe that stems from my childhood where a good deal of what we had was homemade. We built what we wanted, fixed what we had or went without. It wasn't anything special, we didn't give any of that much thought, isn't that what everyone else was doing? Well, except for the rich folks that is, and I wasn't friends with any rich folks. Getting brand new, store bought items was a treat when it came to the "fun" things. The fun things are those things you don't actually need, you just want them, for fun. I would collect bottles and get some change, sometimes buying candy or chips with that and at others saving them up for something larger. I'm not saying I didn't get store bought things like toys and clothes, I sure did. But I got far more practical things than I did trivial. 

 I do have a good number of things that are homemade, collected over the years. My mother did all those mom things, knitting, crochet, needlepoint, sewing and the like. Later in life she took up painting and I have a few of those. I have some of those items from my aunts as well. My wife has made tons of crocheted items over the years. Some of those items hold special memories and others are just relics. Every one holds some measure of importance to me personally. To others I realize it is just old stuff somebody made. Remnants of the past. As with all of my stuff I do think about what will happen to it after my time. It does bother me to think it would just be thrown away or donated to Good Will without any "provenance" accompanying them. 

  The "provenance" is what makes something valuable after the original creator/owner disposes of that object. You have to be someone of note for that provenance to add that value, either that, or the object itself has to hold historical significance in some fashion. The objects, possessions and creations of the ordinary folks holds no value beyond sentiment. Without sentiment those things become the sediment of a life. The stuff that sank to the bottom, usually considered worthless and in some instances not desirable at all. What I have are sentimental objects in jeopardy of becoming that sediment. I feel an obligation to somehow save then from that fate. I want to keep their stories alive. The only way that will happen is by association. Fact is, I'm not a person of note. No fame, no extreme wealth, I'm not even notorious. No one that ever had any of those things fall into that category. My ancestors, as near as I can tell, were always just the common everyday folks in society. No provenance. 

  I tell myself everything has a time. All the trappings of everyday life will one day disappear, be replaced or discarded. We build museums to hold our greatest treasures. Works of art, objects from the long ago and all manner of sentimental things. The best of the best! And all of that is subjective. There are works of art hanging in galleries around the world that I wouldn't give you a dollar for but they have been declared as masterpieces! The opposite is true as well. I recently read where a comic book sold at auction for 9.2 million dollars! It was Superman number 1. Is it worth it? It is to whoever bought it but not to me. But then I don't have 9.2 million dollars to play around with. Good for whoever does I'm not jealous or envious. 

  I remember going to my grandparents house. It was filled with all kinds of old stuff. Funny old things that Nana had or Gramp used at some time in the long ago past. There were coal scuttles, goose wings sweeps to clean out the stove, and gramp even had a genuine buffalo robe blanket. Their houses were a bit mysterious to me as I wasn't allowed to just roam freely throughout the house. I didn't go upstairs alone, only when they decided to give me a quick tour to satisfy my curiosity. Bedrooms with old beds and old pictures on the walls. I little creepy to a small child, the silence of those rooms. I wasn't aware of that at the time but those homes were a sort of museum of their lives. I look around my own home today and I'm starting to get those museum vibes. The old, but very familiar things to me, mostly overlooked, things are just there. Memories sitting on shelves, hidden in the corners, or hanging on the walls.

 Will any of these things be curated? To be curated it takes a professional, an expert in those things. Only those things of value get curated, everything else is relegated to trash. One mans treasure is another mans trash, is an old adage that describes what I'm thinking about. It's all treasure to me. The value lies in memories, connections to the past, to what was. I do have a few objects worthy of curating, I believe.  Great Grandfathers mantle clock, sold by Tiffany and Co. , Great Great Grandfathers civil war belt buckle and a few other things like that. By far, the majority will just wind up as trash, memories discarded. Makes me sad to think about that. 

 I've written all this several times before and most likely I will again. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have this card, home made by my mom. It was the last card she ever sent me. I rediscovered it a while back in my box of treasures and decided to frame that. I looked up at it this morning, noticing it once again. Memories of her flooded my mind and memories of Thanksgivings at home. Home is that sentimental place we all retreat to when we feel a little sad or down. The past is a comfort for the moment. That card now hangs next to a handkerchief embroidered by my great grandmother for my father while he served in WW2. It has the symbol of his unit on it. Those are treasures. Those are the things I think about. How long will they survive? As long as the memory lives. I think that memories aren't created, they are discovered. Usually it is accidental. Everything else is curated.    

                                                                              

Nuanced

  I made a posting concerning Pilgrims. It was pointed out to me that I had confused my pilgrims with puritans. Not much one can do about that but accept it. It is true that they are different groups. As a result of that I did a bit more reading regarding all of that. According to some pilgrims and puritans came from the same religious movement, separatist. The desire was to separate themselves from the catholic church. Inspired by Martin Luther and John Calvin products of the protestant reformation. The pilgrims ventured to America first and were followed by the puritans. They held many of the same views, the motivations were the same, it was just the manner in which they went about accomplishing that goal that differed.

 I did read a bit about all of that, enough to satisfy myself and gain a bigger understanding. What I quickly realized was in school I hadn't been taught the nuances, just a generalization of the history. It's true I only have a high school diploma, I never attended a college or university, never studied history in any real depth. I can only assume that those nuances are what is taught in furthering education. So yes, I did get my puritans and pilgrims confused. The pilgrims came to America to practice their faith without interference from government. They signed the Mayflower compact, a sort of precursor to our constitution. The puritans came a bit later with the same motivation, to practice faith unencumbered by government intervention. They were the group at Plymouth rock, a sort of second generation pilgrim. A bit stricter. 

 Both groups were motivated to migrate to a land were they felt they could be free to practice their beliefs. Each group also needed a means to get here. The pilgrims were financed by the Merchant Adventurers, a group seeing a potentional for profit in the fur trade, among other ventures. The puritans relied upon themselves and their patrons. There were individuals willing to provide cash and possibly a ship for the voyage anticipating a return on that as well. The main thing was to break free from the catholic church and the church of England. That is why they were called separatists. They did want to be a totally separate group. The church of England is a protestant group, but the pilgrims and puritans felt it retained too many trappings of Catholicism. 

 Since that time, the establishment of the many denominations has taken pace. Each denomination establishing its' own method of worship. That is to say, the practices, the nuances of motivation involved with all of that. Those of us raised in religious households are taught the nuances associated with the faith. I was raised in the Episcopal church and became quite familiar with the ceremonies and rituals. I did occasionally attend the churches of my friends and noticed the differences, And today it wouldn't be unusual for a church to have a stage instead of an altar and a band instead of an organ. Just some of the differences in practice. 

 I have lived long enough to see nuance turn to expression. In a religious context, nuance turned to piety. I'm certain if we could attend one of the services conducted by a puritan or a pilgrim we would be shocked. The motivations of the parishioners may indeed remain the same, salvation, eternal life, forgiveness of our sins, but the method of obtaining that varies widely. Many churches still requite the giving of tithes. 10%, a tenth, according to biblical tradition intended to support the church and its' work of saving your soul. That has become more nuanced over the years. The actual practice of worship has always varied greatly, from the solemn services associated with the Catholic church to the party atmosphere we may experience today. 

 The pilgrims were separatists, viewed as a nuisance. They did migrate to Holland for a while but became disillusioned in that land. There were far too many secular people there. For that reason, among other practical reasons, they sought a new land, a new place to make a start. They joined a group of others, not pilgrims, on the ship we know as the Mayflower. They received funding from the Merchant Adventurers, an investment group in England. The pilgrims were not religiously persecuted, just troublesome and viewed as a threat by some to the established order of things. The puritan separatists came a bit later and had become a real problem and so were persecuted, harshly. They pooled their resources and headed to the "new world" anticipating establishing a colony of their own, with their beliefs and practices. They also figured it could prove a very profitable adventure. 

 So there a subtle difference, a nuanced difference between a pilgrim and a puritan. I don't think we were taught that in grade school because of the complexities involved in all of that. It is far easier to simply teach the basics. You start learning to play an instrument one note at a time. We were just told the story and the two became intertwined. Sort of like talking about a chevy and ford, same thing really, but with some differences. The Pilgrims had the first thanksgiving, that part in true, but it isn't what we think of today. The natives provided the food and the pilgrims were thankful, grateful to them for that. That's where the Thanksgiving came from, giving thanks to them. There was no turkey. But don't let the details ruin a good story, the moral of the story is the same, be thankful, generous and giving to your fellow man. Let us give thanks! 

 I ask you this; is a kindness more; or less kind, if the one receiving the kindness knows the motivation? Is the real intent important? Do you need to know the why? Pilgrims and Puritans. Who followed them? The colonists. They were financed by the holder of charters from the Queen of England to control defined "plantations" in the new world. England was big on plantations. The colonists did come seeking freedom and the ability to make their own way and were financed by those anticipating a profit. That's the part we usually don't hear much about until we get to the, no taxation without representation part of the story. It's a nuance overlooked for the most part. We weren't told about that in grade school either. No the colonists just came here seeking freedom! Had to fight  the land, the Indians and the British! 

                                                                                 

 The Pilgrims are the group of Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1620, marking the establishment of the first permanent European settlement in New England. 

That is what Wikipedia says. Pilgrims or Puritans. Apparently they were both, Puritan Pilgrims or Pilgrim Puritans. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.   

shared memories

  Just about two years ago I built a physical representation of my memories of home. I was very fortunate that I had someone, a person that to the best of my knowledge never knew me personally or met me for that matter, went to the expense, the time and trouble to mail me a single red brick. This was no ordinary brick however, it was a brick taken from the fireplace my father had constructed in my childhood home. That house has been taken down, time having caught up to the structure. Still, I know and appreciate the fact that at least one piece remains. I, of course, have written about all that in the past. The story has been recorded should anyone care to read and research that. To research, to investigate that in a systematic fashion to determine the facts. A lot of folks doing just that these days. Personally, in most cases I just enjoy the story and do not concern myself with the research. 

  Now this replica fireplace I built was made to hold a tea candle in a recessed area. When it is lighted all you see is the flame. It is the flame we all watch when a fireplace is burning after all. There is just something primeval about watching a fire, any fire or flame. Something we inherently know is dangerous, that can destroy everything, but when contained becomes an ally. We stare into those flames and our thoughts wander the universe, rising with the heat. When I light my little fireplace my thoughts wander to home, the home I knew as a child. And that, that is always home no matter where you go in life. That is the beginning. My memories are contained in that tiny flame. I built that replica in an attempt to preserve all that, to share with future generations. The reality is, the best I can hope for is it becomes a curiosity. 

  I have written, " we are ultimately what we leave behind, not in physical things, but in memory" and I haven't changed my mind about that. Still, I don't think it can hurt anything to leave a few reminders around either. Like small children circling things in the Sears wish book, it's a reminder. We all like to tell tales and share stories. We especially enjoy telling others about things they don't know but we do. That is the basis for all "news" telling the story of who, what, where, when and why. It's our story. I'm attempting to explain the why portion of my life in many of these blogs. It's a biased opinion however and the research is flawed. For that reason I'm presenting a physical representation of my memory. We often here about memories being created, but in my experience, memories are discovered. You won't know the value of that memory until years later. And often that is all that is left, the memory. 

  What happens to our memories when we are gone? Do they live on with our spirit? Is that where our intuition, our instinct, that inner voice inside all of us comes from? Are they old memories? All stories are just memories repeated. Some are repeated for many generations, and others quickly fade. I do believe our memory is all we can really leave behind. The physical things will disappear given time enough. The pyramids are memories that have lasted a very long time, the stories are still being told. We do hear tales of lost and forgotten cities, of civilizations lost to time. We want to know the why of it. 

 Why did I build that little fireplace upon that brick? I did that because it makes me smile, I get a good feeling when I light that tiny tea candle. My thoughts turn to my father, the man that designed and built the original. I remember the stories associated with that construction. I remember "helping" by mixing the mortar for him and hauling bricks and mortar up to him on the scaffold. I can hear his voice calling to me, don't make it too soupy! Mortar has to be the correct consistency to work properly. I remember lighting a fire in that fireplace at Christmas time, our stockings carefully placed by the hearth. Only in the movies do you hang them from the mantle unless you want them to burst into flames that is.

  Life lessons learned in all of that are remembered, my little fireplace a reminder. Comfort comes in shared memories, even when someone hasn't shared the memory with you. That's why I built that. The intent being to share those memories to present and future generations. Future generations can use their imagination to fill in the details, unless, they choose to do their research that is. I have written several times about this, the story recorded. Sometimes though, the story we write for ourselves holds the most comfort, the greatest pleasure. It's the way I remember it anyway.   

                                                                                       

                                             There was a large hearth in front of that fireplace, 

                                                                 the brick represents that                                 

                                                                                               

the system

  It seems to me that an awful lot of people are just looking for ways to ruin the holidays. Well, to ruin just about everything really. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I'm hearing all the stories of how terrible the pilgrims were. How white people brought all the disease and stole the land, killed the natives and all in all were just awful folks. They persecuted their own people on religious beliefs and everything. Some folks are certain they were all ancestors of Trump! 

  Yes much of what we were told about thanksgiving was just wrong. It has to be remembered that the stories being told are being told by those that survived. You could say the victors but that isn't really accurate, survivors is the closer definition. After all, if we are going to report the "news" in contemporary fashion the pilgrims were just migrants. I wonder why though in this contemporary reporting we don't recognize all of that as custom and traditions. Isn't that what the contemporary folks say in regard to our current migrants and the imposition of their customs and traditions. You are not supposed to tell the historical facts regarding any of those customs and traditions, just respect them. Fact is, Mohamed was no saint! That's just a historical reality given his life story. His story is quite a bit different from Jesus. But, that does depend upon who is telling the story.

  It looks like the grinch is replacing Santa Claus. That's the feeling I've been getting the last few years. The grinch is being celebrated for what? His recovery. Yeah, that's the story isn't it, he is a terrible guy that steals Christmas, cruel and mean, he's ruthless. But, he makes a recovery, he's a survivor and should be celebrated for that. Santa Claus is just some old fat guy using elves for slave labor and only works one day of the year. He's just in it for the glory. Not the grinch though, he has a compassionate heart, empathic and caring, all in all a great guy. Sure he stole Christmas, but he gave it back and that is all that matters.

  Many of our Christmas traditions and customs have been banned from government property. It's in the constitution! It's the first amendment, the separation of church and state. You can't be showing your customs or traditions on government property! That may offend someone that has a different custom or tradition. We certainly don't want to offend anyone. I don't know how Madison, Jefferson and Monroe overlooked that. Shouldn't that have been the first amendment, You can not offend anyone! You know, the ten commandments do not explicitly say that either, in fact the ninth commandment says you shouldn't lie or bear false witness, which if followed, may indeed offend someone. The truth hurts! Could it be that is the real intent, the reason for that omission? As far as I'm concerned I would use the defense, we've got it like that. This is America and those are our traditions and customs, we got it like that. 

  Beyond all of that it just seems to me like that is the general theme these days. Try to take the wind of everyone's sails, so to speak. Were your ancestors confederate soldiers? Well, they shouldn't be celebrated or remembered, they were all terrible people. Every single one of them fought to keep their slaves. Down with the statues and monuments. They should be replaced with those that were criminals but either turned their life around, or were killed by the police. Those people are the real heroes. Rebel flags and nooses! OMG how offensive is all that, triggering an entire demographic. It all needs to be banned. Columbus, a global terrorist really, and he didn't even discover America. A terrible person, just terrible. Thomas Jefferson, slave holder, terrible person. George Washington, same thing and he had the largest distillery in the country. 

 And we must never forget about the systemic racism in this country. If your ancestors were white Europeans, you are a racist. It was taught to you in school. You are privileged. You can't help that and you can never ever recover from that. Your only hope is to keep providing everything for the oppressed and asking for forgiveness. That's only right because you are the one that oppressed them! Never mind it was their countrymen that were selling them to traders as a commodity. Those folks aren't to blame, only those doing the buying. It's like being a drug dealer in the back alley, when they get arrested it isn't their fault, they are just trying to survive. It's the systems fault! And that means it is you, you are the system. You have nothing to be proud of.    

                                                                                 

Sounds good

  Just a little something to consider. I'm not much of a conspiracy guy and I really don't think many people think long term, like decades ahead, although I would argue that some do. Here in Maryland the democrats are pushing for a twenty five dollar minimum wage. Sounds great doesn't it? It does until you think about the effect it will have. How many small businesses will have to close their doors? It's either that or increase their prices over 65% to maintain the same profit margin they are currently operating with. You know that's how a business works don't you? The owner sets their profit margin and adjusts the prices of goods and services accordingly. When it cost them more to operate, they charge more. Pretty basic concept isn't it.

 So, you raise the minimum wage to twenty five bucks and doors begin closing. The reason is solely because they can not afford to pay those wages and maintain the profit margin required to stay in business. There are two options, raise the prices, or not hire employees. Well, if it is a family owned business receiving government subsidies and tax benefits you just might be alright. You know like the so called affordable care act. It only remains viable when the government contributes to it. So, consider this. What demographics in America primarily operates family run businesses with special tax exemptions? Here's an interesting fact. There are about 1.2 million minority owned businesses in America. And consider this, what groups are predominately democratic voters, what base do the democrats represent? It isn't the other small business owners in America, that much is certain. No tax breaks, exemptions or exception for those businesses.

 In years past, back when I was young, there were many mom and pop stores. Family owned and operated they served the neighborhoods. The prices were a bit higher because they couldn't buy items in bulk. The wholesalers controlled that, the more you bought the cheaper the price, for a variety of logistical and practical reasons. The main thing was these family owned businesses didn't have to pay anyone wages or any of the other expenses associated with employees. That really helps with the bottom line. True, the variety was limited but the service was generally very good. Today Mom and Pop are being put out of business by those big box stores. The consumers want a great deal more than Mom and Pop could ever hope to offer in the way of goods. The government isn't rushing to their aid, that much is certain. In fact, government just keeps implementing more policies and procedures increasing the cost of business. The government is here to help!  

 What if the government could control all of that. I mean subsidize Mom and Pop? Would they not then be far more likely to vote for that party? Wouldn't that then allow Mom and Pops' to recreate the neighborhoods they came from? Make America feel more like home, so to speak. We'll call it contributing to the economy, fulfilling the American dream, and proclaim how it was immigrants that built America in the first place! We'll leave out the part about those immigrants assimilating into American society, learning our language and customs and respecting them. We'll leave out the part where those immigrants were not subsidized by the taxpayers, instead having to make it on their own efforts. We won't mention how immigrants were vetted and refused entry when they were not up to standards. We didn't take in criminals, those with communicable diseases, no means of support, and had no sponsors. We won't tell how it was immigrants, those meeting the legal standard, not migrants, illegal aliens or undocumented persons that came to the great melting pot of America and contributed instead of drained.  

 As I said I'm not much on conspiracy theories or long range planning but that's one way to control the economy isn't it? Think of it more like the company store. When your choices are limited, controlled by the corporation, you really don't have much of a choice. Remember the basis for the democratic platform is control. Democrats favor a strong central government, ultimately the objective is to control the means of production. Control that and you control the people. It begins by putting them out of business. Get the people to buy into that plan with the promise of reward. It's been working for the democrats since 1865. At first they would just allow you you to "share" in the land. But over the decades they have had to concede more and more to keep people convinced. You will make twenty five dollars an hour! Sounds great doesn't it? 

                                                                      

    This is a bodega. According to Google, the heart of every neighborhood in NYC. Coming soon to a neighborhood near you. Just a prediction. Who is Mom and Pop today? Papa y Mama and in Hindi, think 7-11, माँमाँ और पिताजी और It sure isn't these two

Catharsis

 Yesterday I decided to give myself a PhD in life. This morning I've decided to present another small segment of my dissertation. This involves grandchildren. Now the premise has been that parents are the driving influences on their children. The parents get the credit for their children's' successes. Society gets blamed when they fail, but that's another segment for another day. My thesis is that the grandparents are the ones' responsible for the success of the grandchildren. 

 That is my thesis statement. Now I'm supposed to defend that thesis, prove it through the presentation of facts. That's the long academic thesis paper presented to that board of experts. Everyone reading this that is a grandparent are those experts. I present these facts. The first and most important fact is that you created those parents. If it weren't for them, the grandchildren wouldn't even exist. Yes, grandparents are the creators! Grandparents are the holder of life itself. It all starts with us.

 Having created those children (parents) grandparents spend years teaching and training them. Those children are learning the foundational methods in raising children. You may think they are learning their ABC's or whatever, but they are being taught how to be parents themselves. That's what raising children is all about. The objective being to raise productive members of society. How do you accomplish that? By introducing them and teaching them the very lessons you learned from your own parents! Yes, from the grandparents! Anyone can make babies, making good citizens, good people is a skill, a skill learned by emulating your parents. 

 Children and grandchildren will rebel. That's a given and one you need to be prepared for. That rebellion comes from the need to experiment. There are things you just have to learn for yourself. Usually that occurs during those tumultuous teenage years when those hormones are raging. Most will learn to contain all of that after a bit. It is that experimentation that is the beginning of the research that will one day lead to their own Phd. 

 Parents often turn into grandparents long before any actual children are born, they begin that transition with the rebellious years of their own children. That's when you hear yourself and realize, I sound like my parents. Who are those people? The grandparents to your children and they are raising them, you're just the vehicle being used. Grandparents are too old to deal 24/7 with aspiring adults. That's because grandparents are still struggling with their own children, namely, you! It's something you learn, the job is never over, I'll be a parent, a grandparent and a great grandparent until I die. I'll keep  spreading the knowledge, the expertise that I have gained over the decades. A life long dissertation.  

 My life experiences have proven that theory out. I have a grandson in his final year of law school, a granddaughter soon to graduate from radiology school and another granddaughter attending college. They were all members of the National Honor Society, both Jr and Senior. They have never been in trouble with the law, no unwanted children, and all hold jobs. All in all they are wonderful human beings and citizens of this great nation of ours. And all of that was made possible by grandparents. If we hadn't raised our children right the outcome would certainly have been different. Grandparents are the ones responsible. It was grandparents that imparted the knowledge enabling the parents to perform their job. Grandchildren should be taught that. 

 Sadly, I think it is a lesson that has fallen through the cracks in more recent generations. The reality is this isn't a new lesson, a unique concept or discovery. It's just that many have failed to get their Phd in life. Did that begin with the boomers that " tuned on, tuned in and dropped out" as Timothy Leary encouraged them to do? Not as well remembered as Woodstock was The Human Be-In. It was groovy man. An experiment gone wrong. That whole culture collapsed under the reality of life. I'm thinking the Japanese got it right, they venerate their elders, the grandparents. Yeah, that's what we should all be doing, venerating the grandparents. I present history as the proof of that.   

                                                                            

                                     

                                          Timothy Leary held a Phd. His was issued from Harvard.

 

Deceit

  Turned on my computer this morning as usual. After posting my morning salutation and checking that memories page I go to Blogger. That's the platform I'm using. Like every other program or platform whatever the proper term is they are constantly changing things. In general I find it annoying as I have just gotten comfortable with the way things were working. In the last few months they are pushing AI features. A new one popped up this morning regarding adding images. I haven't tried it out yet. There is a button to automatically add "links" in here. I don't use that feature. There is also the feature that AI will rewrite my sentences, correcting any issues and suggesting different words or phrases. I really don't like that. What I write is what I write and I want others to read it that way. It seems deceitful should I begin using AI to "improve" my writing. That's what they proclaim its' purpose is.

  I am aware that I write things differently than I speak them. The choice of vocabulary and phrasing is a bit different. I guess it is a subconscious thing, an attempt to sound more educated or something like that. I don't know, it isn't my conversational speech pattern. I would never say to to anyone, as it sounds rather pompous when spoken out loud but seems fine when written. I can't explain that. Ten dollar words we used to call that, using words that the common man simply wouldn't understand the meaning of. Confident that the person listening won't ask you about that so they don't appear uneducated. Today it is all about acronyms. It's a pet peeve of mine this use of acronyms. Have we really become that lazy, we can't even speak the words, we have to abbreviate our speech? My thinking is that really took off with the advent of social media, acronyms being used as typing shortcuts. It's becoming a sort of language all its' own. 

 When I saw that change this morning, that invitation to improve my blog using AI generated images I did think it would be deceitful to use any of that. I freely admit to using spell checker. It sure is a lot easier that using the dictionary. Yes, I'm that old, we had a big old Websters dictionary and a set of encyclopedias on the shelf when I was a kid. The dictionary was often used for spelling and the encyclopedias mostly to settle an argument of some type. I'm drawing a line of using AI to generate my blogs, pictures or whatever else. If I want to include a reference I will do that. These blogs aren't term papers or a dissertation, they are simply my thoughts, my memories and my opinion. I feel no need to prove anything. According to the dictionary a dissertation is a long form piece of academic writing based on original research. So, I guess you could say these blogs are my dissertation on life based on my original research. Who will issue me a PhD?  I realize I have to defend this research against a panel of experts. I'm the only expert on my life. I'm self identifying as a Doctor of Philosophy.  Yup, I have a PhD.   

                                                                                 

                       Is it live, or is it Memorex? If you know, you know. Is it me or is it AI? 

Drawing a line

  There is much discussion about congressional redistricting in the news. I admit it is a bit of civics I may have skipped the class on when in high school. I get the gest of the thing, it is an attempt to have fair representation in the house. The boundaries are adjusted every ten years in alignment with the census. When those lines are drawn to favor one political party over another it is called gerrymandering. The objective being to give that party an edge by including their supporters inside the lines. The census does not ask your political affiliation or religious beliefs. So just what determines how the lines may be drawn and redrawn? 

  Each state has rules about obtaining the information necessary. Some prohibit the use of election data or party registration, while others do not. But knowing the political affiliation of the population is the single most important thing in the process. It does rely on facts, and the best guess by those that study such things. And yes, there is a great deal of stereotyping involved with that. Those demographics relying upon government safety nets, aids and programs are likely democratic voters. The republicans are more likely white, older, middle and upper class people. As the population shifts so does those lines. When the population shifts rapidly, under that ten year period, the lines may be redrawn.  Remember this is supposed to be all about being fair. Maryland has eight congressional districts, one of them is republican. Sounds fair enough doesn't it. Maryland is considering redrawing the lines, and that from a democratic governor. My guess is they want to shut out the republicans altogether.

 The whole thing is based upon a simple premise, birds of a feather flock together. It's an old adage and holds a great deal of truth. With the tremendous influx of "migrants" what political party stands to gain the most? The answer is obvious, but one that will be heavily debated and denied. You do have to think long term when dealing with political strategies. The vast majority of those "migrants" aren't voting in our elections but they will one day. What political party is enabling them, supporting them and providing all the promise of a rosy future to them? They are forming "communities" that's what we call that. Politicians view them as districts. It's a policy of appeasement, and we see it playing out before our very eyes all across the country. 

 In the big picture when all the birds of a feather flock together eventually the other birds start making demands for change and equality. It really doesn't matter what the birds are. What does matter is perception. Not so long ago the "flock" was encouraging self reliance and independence. The objective was to leave the nest, to fly on your own and prosper through your own efforts. That isn't the case today. Now the flock is saying, you can't do that on your own, you need the "flock" to protect you, to feed you and give you security. The "old" people, those rural people that live in the sticks working every day for meager wages are struggling to get by. You don't want to be like that, do you? No, you deserve so much more, you're entitled to that by virtue of being a human being! 

 Gerrymandering, gathering the flock inside the lines benefits whom? It's you if you comply with the flocks rules and submit to being dependent upon that flock. Thing is, there is always a hierarchy, a leadership role and those that enforce that. Once that control is established the rules can swiftly change. You are fenced in! When the flock controls the means of production, you are fully dependent upon that flock. That is the goal of all socialist policies, controlling the means of production. It soon gets crowded inside those lines, the people get restless, get angry and confused, but they have lost their means of production. The result is always violence and disorder. 

                                                                                     

                                                             Waiting for feeding time

what's being sold

  I have been on Facebook for fifteen years now. It's a rather amazing thing really, a habit formed, one could say an addiction. Like all addictions it can take over your life. Fortunately that isn't the case with me, what I have is a habit. Whether that habit is good or bad is certainly subjective. Each morning when I open up my account, I usually go check that memories page to see what I was talking about last year. I'm reminded of certain topics that were of concern back then. Like everyone else I do tend to forget about those hot button issues. Some of those issues did cause a great deal of concern, even anger at times, but now I've forgotten. Tells me that stuff wasn't all that important and gives me a different perspective before starting to write for the day. 

 Yes, I did look today and decided to post a bit of poetry I had written for my brother. It was on that memories page from eight years ago. As I recall my brother requested that I write something for him. He carves decoys as a hobby and I used that for the theme of the poem. I don't remember if he ever acknowledged receipt of that or if he liked it. For reasons unknown to me he has chosen to not communicate with me anymore, it's just the drama of life I suppose. I will not be spending much time worrying about that. It did serve as a reminder though, how things change over the years and how quickly those years pass.

 As I read those memories and browse the comments left there I do see changes. It is a microcosm of the last fifteen years. I see "friends" that have come and gone. I see the different interactions and inactions that caused some events. I've connected and reconnected, and in a few cases disconnected. Yes, it is just like real life in some ways and quite different in others. I don't see where I have changed much, but realize I'm looking in the mirror. I'm saying the same things, just in different ways. I have seen those comments that I made received in vastly different ways by the same people! What I mean is, agreement went to disagreement, when my comments became uncomfortable. In my view, the truth wasn't being well received.

 I think the most surprising thing for me is the political divide. I'm amazed at how vile and vicious people have become in defending their political positions. The name calling, the accusations and just outright aggression is startling. Growing up I was told, don't talk about politics or religion. That is sound advice for casual conversations, for those scenarios I call, polite company. Politics is certainly on full display on Facebook. I shouldn't complain as I frequently join in with all of that. Religion is occasionally mentioned but generally avoided and I wonder why that is? Is religion to be the last bastion of civil discourse? There are those that attack that, but they are in the minority at the moment. 

 Facebook is another world. You are safe from physical attack, safely fortified behind that keyboard or keypad. You can change your "profile" to suit your purpose, at least to those that don't know you. You can deceive others quite easily. As for me, I take all of that with a grain, as the saying goes. Just call me skeptical. I have that same attitude when it comes to politics and politicians, I am skeptical of their motivations. And like everyone else, I want to hear what I'm saying to myself from those folks. I'm not really much on promises, I want to see action. You make a promise, you have to keep that promise and I'm not taking excuses when you don't! Don't make a promise you can't keep, it's as simple as that. 

 Social media can cause a lot of damage as well. Not so much for me as I'm retired, not seeking any position or in search of followers and fame. I certainly hope they are teaching our children about the harm in social media, the harm to their futures. It is exposing our children to more adult themes than I care to even think about. It is also presenting new "ideas" to them that aren't always such a great idea. It's a strong influence, a bad influence in my opinion. There's an old saying that holds true, " the road to hell is paved with good intentions" and social media doesn't have the best of intentions in the first place. It's a business like all others and profit is the driving factor. It's all about views and participation. 

 Did you know that Meta, the digital platform that operates Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and a few others makes 165 billion dollars in profits. The vast majority of that is through advertising. People certainly must be buying a lot of what is being sold. The big question here being, just what are they selling? Here's a hint, it isn't a physical product. The physical products are being offered as a diversion, a distraction, and in some cases a psychological release from those platforms. You need to buy something to make yourself feel better. Maybe you need to buy a flag or a banner or button to display your support for whatever it is you are currently involved with on social media. Show your support! Showing your support is important, it's your duty, it's an obligation to society. If you are not showing support, you are a part of the problem. So, I'll ask again, what is being sold? 

                                                                                 

                                                                   Believe it and it works. 

   

  

  

From philanthropy to pirates

 When I was growing up we had a saying, "let's go home and see what the neighbor brought in" It was just one of those things that was said without much thought given to it. Just a casual remark. Those things we say to fill a void, make conversation. It did have a real meaning though as it was a custom in my town that the neighbor may leave something on your porch, like some fish or maybe corn, beans or potatoes. It all depended upon the season and how bountiful the harvest or catch was. It was something done more for practicality than any sentiments of charity. I had more fish than I could eat, share them. But yes, everyone knew everyone else and was aware of need as well. You just didn't mention any of that, just left whatever it was and move on. Most of the time you had no idea who left whatever it was. It was just the neighbor. 

 I remember my mother saying that as we would leave the beach or finish visiting with her sister. It just meant, time to go home in that context. I can't honestly say I recall ever finding anything on the porch steps left there by the neighbor.  I was told however that it was quite a common thing in years past. I wouldn't describe our community as people that lived off the land but they certainly made a living fishing and farming. My parents were often given some of the excess. It was "what the neighbors bought in" in the literal sense of that. Sharing the bounty of the land and sea. An old custom. Today I expect anything left like that would be viewed with suspicion and discarded immediately. There would also be a big concern about "food safety" if it wasn't wrapped and packaged. All we did was smell it and look for rot. If that fish wasn't stinking, it was most likely alright to eat. Clams had to be still alive and that was easy enough to tell, just open it. Crabs and lobsters the same way, had to be alive. 

 Now when I ride down the street and see all those Amazon packages on the porches I am reminded of that saying. Let's go home and see what Amazon has brought in. It's no surprise though as we can track those packages in real time. We also generally know exactly what is in those boxes. Surprise packages? I might get one for the holidays but it would be very unusual if I got one at any other time of the year. And any package has to be identified as to who sent it. Mystery packages, mystery foodstuffs left on the porch would cause concern. Those are not to be trusted! 

 We also have the problem of porch pirates. That isn't much of a problem here in Greensboro where I live but I see it on the news a good deal. I'm not saying it doesn't happen here but I'm not overly concerned about it, I don't take any precautions regarding that. I get a laugh out of those videos you see on social media of porch pirates getting caught in the act. I think most of them are fake, set up things but amusing nonetheless. You do have to laugh about things like that when you know there isn't much you can do about it. It's fun to dream about trapping them anyway. Of course, with many of the things I have seen you could be sued, by the porch pirate if they were injured. That's America. 

 It appears to me that we have gone from philanthropy to pirates. No one was leaving large sums of money on any porches but leaving those foodstuffs was still a form of philanthropy. No one was stealing that stuff off your porch either. It is just a pleasant memory now, something that makes me smile. I have said it to my wife a few times, let's go home and see what the neighbor brought in. She didn't grow up there and I had to explain all that to her. You could call it culture. Culture is a big topic these days, celebrating your culture, defending your culture, preserving your culture and even people appropriating your culture. With that expression I am trying to preserve my cultural roots! That is what some may say. I don't believe that, I'm just enjoying a memory of a time and place gone by. It isn't a cultural thing, it's just a memory. Those old folks had a lot of funny sayings. Very amusing. 

                                                                                       

                                                                 It's what's for supper