My son is getting his house ready to market, on a fairly short timeline and there has been much to do to get it ready. I'm lucky he operates well on less sleep than I without falling apart mentally or physically. I'm also very lucky that he learned sheet-rocking from my brother-in-law, as I didn't really learn it from anyone and it's always turned into more of something along the lines of auto-body work for me!
His wife has been busy painting anything that stands still long enough; over the weekend my wife even got in on that part of things as we were fitting and hanging doors. Today has been an "off" day for me as he has my truck so he could pick up plywood to take to someone else to make cabinet doors for him. I voted this morning, then took a nap (I've come to look forward to those of late) then spent some time in my little gym.
Yesterday I saw my doctor and was told that I'm good for another twelvemonth and that he'll see me then, something he's picked on me about in the past. (Only seeing him when I'm healthy...)
Last night we all took a night off to go watch my youngest nephew get his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts. His older brother and their father having been Eagle Scouts makes it a very special rarity, from the way it was explained. Tomorrow he goes back to college, where along with working on his teaching degree he managed to adopt a Cub Scout troop last year and plans to continue with them this year as well. My oldest grandson is now in my nephew's "home" troop...I hope I'm around to see him get his Eagle award as well!
As I write it's 102F. (39C.) with a heat index of 110F. (43C.) on the shady side of my house. Our warmest day in 3 years according to the local weatherman. I'm glad I'm inside, listening to the window-unit air-conditioner cycle! When I think of the times I'd go fishing for 8-10 hours on afternoons like this I wonder what was wrong with me! I sure don't deal with it well now!
I've been spending minutes of my "slack time" as I find it reading a book of essays by Amy Tan...one that has really struck me discusses how our languages lock us into our viewpoints as well as our societies. I'd like to think us wise enough to see beyond that, but sadly know that has to be something we work at; something that doesn't come naturally.
It's primary day in Kansas and shark week on Discovery Channel...there's a correlation there that should be a warning to some of those with their names on the ballot! I've done the best I can for today and will have to wait for November now, with somewhat a sense of dread as our we haven't managed to elect a Democrat for a Senator since 1932...I'll be glad to see Sam Brownback go, but not sure I'll like his replacement any better!
On the national level I'm still astounded at the abundant hatred that finds its way into the rhetoric on every issue and on every level. It's as though it had been bottled up somewhere behind a dam for the last 40 years and now, given a chance to burst forth into the sunlight that should have made it wither in the light of understanding, it instead is being fueled by the bloodlust of intolerance.
A mongrel product of this nation and its melting pot; I can point out ancestors from most of Europe. I also know that others, from other places are mixed in as well, along with some who met their boats when they got here. I had ancestors on both sides of the "War Between the States", or as some would have called it "The War of Northern Aggression"; one of my grandfather's grandfathers died in his butternut wool (Confederate) uniform in the hills of Tennessee a very few years before a re-united Congress passed the 14th Amendment that seems to be the newest point of attack on the agenda of those who think that every person they hear speaking a foreign language is an illegal immigrant.
It's truly sad to see the "worst in us" encouraged instead of the best...
May the week be kind to each of you!
alan
8 comments:
Such a thoughtful post, alan. These are strange times. And yes, I do think some of this hatred has been bottled up for a long time. It is incredibly sad that these fires are being stoked rather than quelled. I don't know what it means for our country or for those of us who like to live in this multi-hued melting pot. I sincerely dread November.
I wish your son good luck on selling his house.
Thank you so much for the very kind comment you left on Dharma Bums. It is much appreciated.
Fabulous post, as always.
My feelings of helplessness grows daily.
Hopefully we will wake up before it's too late.
Peace to you Alan.
Damn, I'm missing shark week!
Glad you are doing well :)
Primary Day Kansas + Shark Week comment = Excellent.
I keep vowing to not read comments posted to news sites and blogs, but it's not working. There are some freaky people out there.
I think that your last paragraph seems to be true here too at the moment.
hey stranger,
as someone who watches the goings on south of the border, i share your despair at times at how so many fail to live up to our potential as human beings.
'hoping you are doing well mon ami.
j.
hey stranger,
as someone who watches the goings on south of the border, i share your despair at times at how so many fail to live up to our potential as human beings.
'hoping you are doing well mon ami.
j.
"I've done the best I can for today."
Great mantra for every day.
Wonderful reading you again.
I share your feelings.
I've also become immune to news. Rather than having the ability to focus on the issues, I just see moving lips screaming. Feel like I bought into the elevated form of communicating for too long, and now I'm revisiting old talents I didn't make time for (because I was so upset all the time).
One day it'll calm down.
And it has already cooled down around here, so I hope you're getting some fishing in. :)
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