Scared

I don't scare easily.

I have sat in an open safari vehicle as male lions walked quietly by just a few feet away. I have been in a similar vehicle as a large bull elephant charged my friends and me. I have peered through bushes at a rhinoceros and at an elephant during a walking safari. I have photographed mother grizzly bears with two one-year-old cubs just yards away in Alaska. 

I was, of course, aware that any of these animals could easily kill me. I followed instructions from our guides or group leader. I was attentive to the actions and moods of the animals at all times. But I wasn't scared. Rather, I was amazed and thrilled to be in the presence of these amazing animals. I trusted my guides to keep me safe.

But do you know what does scare me? A tiny virus, far too small to be seen without a very powerful microscope. What scares me is the coronavirus. And what scares me just as much is the ignorance, greed and self-centeredness of far too many Americans. And let us not forget the incompetence of the current administration that refused to prepare the country for the coming pandemic and in fact declared it to be a "hoax."

We in the US, and most of the world, are at war with this virus. This is a war for which, despite warnings that we would be attacked and face a viral pandemic, we did not prepare. This is a war that finds us without the equipment our front-line fighters, the doctors, nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists, need not only to save patients' live, but their own. Fighting this war without sufficient medical equipment is akin to sending our military off to war without adequate weapons and ammunition.

So yes, I am scared. I am scared for myself as part of a high-risk group. And I am scared for everyone else, because this virus attacks people in every age group, from infant to senior citizen. I am scared for people exposed to the virus on a daily basis as they stock grocery store shelves, bag our groceries, and tend to the sick. And I am scared for workers who are unable to work because their employers have had to close up shop temporarily. 

I also am scared because this is a new virus, so the epidemiologists and virologists don't know what it will do or how long the pandemic may last. Perhaps the greatest source of fear is of the unknown. And having no control over this virus, being unable to get vaccinated against it (yet), only adds to the fear. I have no control over others' behavior, which too often leaves innocent people at greater risk of contrasting this disease.

I am scared because far too many people refuse to take this pandemic seriously, refusing to stay at home and to avoid large groups of people. I wonder every time I venture into a grocery store whether I will bring the virus home with me. I wonder whether I should change clothes every time I come home from grocery shopping (and I don't go shopping very often). Perhaps the greatest source of fear is of the unknown. I have made arrangements with friends to care for my dogs should I become hospitalized. Just in case, you know. One less thing to worry about.

So I control as much of my life as I can. I do what I can to stay safe. I avoid going to public places unless really necessary. I order as much as possible online. I wash my hands frequently. I disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the house. I try to keep occupied with chores, with reading and sometimes, with watching television. I make sure to have sufficient food and other supplies without hoarding. I stick to my routine, and I exercise every day. I have been looking for interesting things to photograph in my neighborhood. And I write.

In the end, that's all I can do. I can't make this fear go away, but I can minimize its impact on me.

Making It Easier To Handle

You know what would make this pandemic easier to handle?

Here are a few things:

• Competent leadership of the federal response. 
• Leaders who aren't petty and hand out federal (not personal) medical supplies to states that most need them, regardless of the political affiliations of the governors. 
• Knowing that medical personnel have all the personal protective equipment they need to safely treat patients with Covid-19
• Knowing that hospitals have enough ventilators -- a number determined by physicians, not politicians -- to treat hospitalized patients
• Good weather to make it more conducive to spending time outside
• People following recommendations from medical experts  
• Politicians worrying more about people dying from Covid-19 and less about the stock market 
• So-called religious leaders not continuing to hold services despite recommendations and government decrees to avoid large gatherings 
• An end to hoarding 
• Most of all, everybody doing their part to bring this pandemic to an end.

I, like millions of others, are staying at home except when it's absolutely necessary to be in public, such as to buy groceries. I, like millions of others, wash my hands frequently. I sanitize things inside my house that I touch a lot, such as door handles, the doors of the refrigerator and microwave, etc. 

Yet people still congregate in large groups. Certain churches still hold services attended by large numbers of people. And to no one's surprise, the virus spreads through these groups.

Medical personnel are getting sick and several have died due to lack of adequate protective equipment. The least we can do is stay home and stop the spread of this virus. The longer people ignore the recommendations of public health officials, the longer we all will have to deal with this pandemic.

This isn't fun for anybody. Not for businesses struggling to survive. Not for employees who aren't getting paid. Not for first responders and grocery store employees and truck drivers. Not for medical personnel who risk their lives, and the lives of their families, every day.

I know this is boring. There is no end in sight. But the least we can do is stay home, wash our hands, and help bring this pandemic to an end. Please. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

I Am Scared

I am scared.

I freely admit it. I am scared of the coronavirus. But I am more scared of the complete lack of leadership of the current administration, its sole focus on the economy and its obsession with getting reelected. The barely literate president now is talking about getting the economy moving again by having businesses reopen, despite the opinions of physicians, epidemiologists and public health officials that returning to business as usual will see a huge increase in cases of covid-19. This will completely overwhelm our ill-prepared and under-equipped health care system.

I am scared of this virus. I am in a high risk group because of my age, and I'm not ready to sacrifice my life just so a bunch of greedy Republicans are worried about their stock portfolios. The lieutenant governor of Texas, a Republican (of course), thinks older people should be willing to sacrifice their lives so their grandchildren can grow up in a booming economy. So much for the so-called pro-life crowd. I am disgusted. 

And Moscow Mitch and his fellow senators are upset because Democrats refuse to pass their version of legislation (written with no input from Democrats) to help people struggling due to companies shutting down. Moscow Mitch's idea of 'help' includes a $500 BILLION gift to corporations that he and the corrupt president will hand out in secret and with no oversight. The president refused to pledge that he wouldn't accept a handout for his struggling hotels. In the meantime, workers who were barely getting by before the pandemic would get crumbs.

I am staying at home except for an occasional quick trip to the grocery store and walks outside by myself or with my dogs. I have washed my hands so many times they are raw. I sanitize door handles and countertops. I steam mop my tile floors. I change hand towels frequently. I bought 6 pounds of mandarin oranges so I can get more vitamin C in my diet. So no, I am not willing to sacrifice my life so the rich can get even richer. 

I am scared. And although I don't easily get stressed, I am stressed. I have lost 3-4 pounds (which is OK as I need to drop a few pounds). I am eating less and exercising more. And I am really angry about the way this pandemic is being handled in the US. From the president and his team ignoring early warnings about the coming pandemic, to the shortage of ventilators and protective equipment for our medical personnel, to governors refusing to shut down beaches and large crowds despite the warnings (all because of the money), I am angry. Knowing that the response to the pandemic has largely been left to the governors (and many have really stepped up to the challenge) and that the federal government is doing little to help -- that makes the situation worse and even more stressful.

So yes, I am scared. But if for no other reason, I intend to live long enough to see this entire group of greedy, heartless, self-serving bastards voted out of office.

Finding Gratitude In A Time Of Fear

We in the United States, as in much of the world, are in a battle against a virus that already has altered our way of life, killed thousands of people worldwide and threatens our economy.

As restaurants, shops, bars, schools, libraries and pubs close, as people are told to approach others no more closely than 6 feet, as people panic and buy every roll of toilet paper they can find, and as I and others in the high risk group of senior citizens are told to self-isolate, I've been working to find things for which I am grateful.

• I am grateful that one recent afternoon I got to enjoy a walk outside on a fairly warm, sunny day. I can do this without endangering my health because of the area in which I live. Exercise and being outdoors are two things critical to both my mental and physical health. 
• I am grateful for the beauty of nature.
• I am grateful that I have a well-stocked pantry and a full freezer. I have picked up extras of a few items, and I bought an extra bag of food for my dogs, but I had no need to start hoarding things. 
• I am grateful that I remain healthy, with the only ongoing medical condition I have an issue with one eye. 
• I am grateful for the medical teams that are working tirelessly to assess and treat those afflicted with this virus. 
• I am grateful for the scientists feverishly working to find a vaccine to prevent future coronavirus pandemics. 
• I am grateful that I am mobile and able to go out for a walk, to walk my dogs each morning and to drive when I need to go out for groceries.
• I am grateful for friends and family who help keep isolation from becoming overwhelming through phone calls, e-mail messages and encounters outside at a safe distance.  
• I am grateful that I can check on friends overseas via e-mail and Facebook, who are facing the same threats as are we in America.  
• I am grateful for the truck drivers who deliver goods, food and supplies to grocery stores, hospitals and restaurants. 
• I am grateful for grocery store workers who show up for work each day despite their exposure to many people who may have the virus, and to people who complain about the lack of goods in the stores. 
• I am grateful to those who continue to prepare and distribute breakfast and lunch for students who can no longer get meals at schools (all of which are closed until further notice). 
• I am grateful to live in a beautiful, spacious house with a large yard where my dogs and I can spend outdoor time. 
• I am grateful for police officers, correctional officers and firefighters for whom 'social distancing' is not an option.
• I am grateful for local restaurant owners who are using their supplies and their kitchens to feed first responders and those in need.
• I am grateful for local bakeries that have increased production of bread, which is difficult to find in grocery stores.
• I am grateful for today's sunshine, which, despite the wind and cold temperatures, makes this situation a bit easier to handle.
• I am grateful that I can look out the window of my office and see mountains and the beautiful pink blossoms of one of my peach trees.

This pandemic has so many of us feeling sad, maybe even hopeless, and frightened. We don't trust that our government is prepared to help us weather this storm (it clearly isn't). We are not getting words of reassurance and hope from the president. Social isolation and job loss are taking a toll on many people. Small businesses are struggling to survive, and many will not. We fear being one of the many who will get sick from this virus. We worry about our families and friends. No one has any idea how long the shut-downs, shortages and isolation will last.

There are so many things we cannot control: Hoarding by others. How others behave. The lies our federal government continues to spread. What products are available at grocery stores. When we will be able to buy essential products. Whether there will be enough test kits, ICU beds and protective gear for medical staff.

But there are things we can control: Our own behavior. Whether we follow rigorous adherence to hand washing and social distance recommendations. Stepping away from the news, whether online or over the air. Limiting time on social media. Finding safe activities outdoors. Exercise to relieve stress. Maintaining a healthy diet. Staying in safe contact with others. Doing fun things or things we enjoy at home. Maintaining a positive attitude. If you're so inclined, relying on your higher power. Finding ways to safely help others (such as picking up supplies for an elderly or house-bound neighbor).

For me, fighting social isolation includes daily walks by myself and with my dogs. Weather permitting, spending time in the yard, even if it means raking the end of last year's leaves, or pulling weeds. Lots of reading. Spring cleaning a little each day. And once I find the motivation, continuing to learn Lightroom to edit my digital photos. I've also been checking in on my older friends who live alone.

Life as we knew it won't be back to normal for a long time, perhaps several months or longer. This pandemic will challenge each of us. It will challenge our nation, our medical services and our humanity. 

Until this pandemic is over, and beyond, it is up to each of us to be the best humans we can be.

Keeping On Keeping On

I'm trying really hard not to freak out about the coronavirus pandemic.

I really am. I don't freak out easily. Staying at home isn't difficult for me, as I live alone and I am retired. I spend a lot of time at home during normal times. But despite knowing that both my pantry and my freezer are full of food, going to the grocery store yesterday during shopping hours reserved for those age 60 and up stressed me out. I needed some dish washing soap and a couple of other non-food items. I was in and out quickly. But the realization that if something isn't done to stop the hoarding and to ensure that truck drivers don't stop delivering items to stores and restaurants made me realize that we could actually face real food shortages, especially if this pandemic continues for a long time.

Seeing video and photographs of college students crowding beaches in Florida, totally unconcerned about the very real possibility of spreading the disease to others, left me feeling nauseous. And state officials are more interested the money to be made from spring break revelers than in closing the beaches to protect people. Don't forget that Florida has a huge population of elderly who are at greater risk of Covid-19 than the general population.

I am lucky in that I can still go outside for a walk. I can still walk my dogs. If I encounter a neighbor and stop to chat, we stay more than 6 feet apart. I wanted a pizza on Monday, so I ordered online from a local (non-chain) pizza place, paid for it online and picked it up at the drive-through window. I am constantly washing my hands, but then I realize that everything I touch may be contaminated. I use Lysol spray on door handles, on the refrigerator and microwave handles. I wipe down the kitchen counters with Lysol spray cleaner. But then I open the mailbox and pick up the mail. I unpack a box from Amazon and wonder how contaminated the box and the items are.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I am well-supplied with food. I can enjoy going outside on a nice day. I'm not homeless or low-income. I have a vehicle, I can drive and I am mobile. So all in all, I'm fortunate. If the weather improves, I plan to do some longer walks along the river, perhaps going to a national wildlife refuge for the day.

But let's be honest: this is scary. It's unlike anything we have ever lived through. And our government, especially on the federal level, is woefully unprepared for the coming tidal wave of sick people needing to be hospitalized. Medical personnel are running out of personal protective equipment such as gowns, gloves and masks. Some are being told to use a scarf or to reuse masks to protect themselves. There is a severe shortage of ventilators. There aren't enough beds in intensive care units. There aren't enough kits to test people for the virus. So in reality, we have no idea how many are infected by this virus.

I am not one to panic easily. But this situation is terrifying. An early morning trip to the grocery store yesterday (at 7 a.m., when the store opened for people age 60 and older) found empty shelves where there should have been bread, milk, butter, eggs and meat. Even the vanilla almond milk I drink was not available. And forget about paper goods. 

The situation is out of control. There is nothing I can do except to isolate myself, keep up with my normal exercise and eating routine, and try to stay calm. 

Oh, and keep washing my hands.

Stupid, Stupid People

You stupid, stupid people.

We are in the early stages of a pandemic in this country, people have died of this disease (217 in the US so far) and far too many people just don't get it. Thousands of college students are cramming Florida beaches, ignoring pleas to stay at least 6 feet from others. One ignorant student told a reporter "If I get coronavirus, oh well. Until then, I'm going to party." I guess this little shit doesn't care if he carries the virus to his parents, his grandparents, his aunts and uncles or other family members, or to other vulnerable people.

Americans continue to hoard toilet paper, water, bread and meat (?), while at the same time businesses are refusing to allow truck drivers to use their bathrooms or walk up to the take-out window. Truckers can't simply use the drive-through; their big trucks and trailers don't fit. So what happens when truckers get fed up and stop driving? Without regular deliveries of supplies, restaurants and coffee shops still open for drive-up service will close, as will grocery stores.

The bottom line is, DON'T BE STUPID! Don't hoard food, water and toilet paper. If you're a restaurant owner, think about what you will do when you run out of supplies for your business and no truckers are willing to bring more to you.

Stay home unless it's absolutely necessary to go somewhere. And to the state of Florida: CLOSE YOUR BEACHES AND SEND THE SPRING BREAK CROWD HOME! Their selfish insistence on being shoulder-to-shoulder on the beach and in parties is threatening thousands, if not millions, of people. You may be young and feel invincible. You're not. Even if you feel fine, you can spread the disease to others.

Those of us who are taking this pandemic seriously are staying home. If we must go out for groceries, we keep a safe distance from others. I know this is inconvenient. I know it can be boring. But you can go outside for a walk, a bike ride or a hike, but maintain at least 6 feet between you and everyone else. Catch up on reading or your hobbies. Start spring cleaning. Go through your closets and set aside items to donate once the pandemic passes.

We are all in this together, and working together is the only way we will get through it. I am in the high-risk group, and I'm not willing to end up on a ventilator or dead because some people think their spring break is more important than my life. This situation is stressful enough already. We don't need a bunch of self-centered partiers making things worse.

It's All About Me

That's right. It's all about me.

The coronavirus pandemic is all about me. It's a real inconvenience for me. I need to buy a truckload of supplies right now. Sadly, this seems to be a prevalent attitude among Americans as we stumble and bumble our way through the coronavirus pandemic.

• It's all about me, so I'm going to buy a 2-year supply of toilet paper. 
• It's all about me, so I'm going to buy all the hand sanitizer I can get my hands on. 
• It's all about me, so I'm going to continue going out in public even if I don't feel well. 
• It's all about me, so I will buy all the bottled water I can find. 
• It's all about me, so I will buy massive quantities of rubber gloves and masks. 
• It's all about me, so I will steal the hand sanitizer from the doctor's office or hospital. 
• It's all about me, and I don't need to wash my hands all the time. 
• It's all about me, so I'm not going to sneeze into my elbow. That's just gross.  
• It's all about me. I bought what I need, and others can do the same. 
• It's all about me. It's not my problem if stores run out of some items.
• It's all about me. I'm going to buy nearly 18,000 bottles of hand sanitizer and then sell them at exorbitant prices on Amazon and eBay. (Two brothers did this, but Amazon and eBay shut down their extortion and now they are stuck with thousands of bottles of hand sanitizer they can't sell).

No, it isn't all about you. It isn't all about me. It's about all of us. It's about the poor and the elderly and the sick. It's about the young and the strong and the healthy. It's about medical personnel struggling to care for the ill and running out of supplies from masks to ventilators.

We can defeat this pandemic and minimize the loss of life only if we all work together. There are enough supplies to go around if all of us act responsibly and don't hoard. (Do we really need to have police offers controlling access to toilet paper at WalMart?) Buy what you need, and have enough supplies on hand to last a couple of weeks should you need to be quarantined at home. Leave some for others!

Wash your hands frequently. Stay home as much as possible. And remember, this virus impacts everybody. Please act like a member of a community and not like a self-entitled diva. Be kind. Be helpful. Be compassionate. Be a better person.

Finding Joy, Revisited

More than 10 years ago, I wrote a blog post about finding joy.

I think now is a good time to revisit this topic, as the world definitely needs a dose of joy. I really need to focus on finding joy in a world that is chaotic and out of control. People are stressed. People feel they have no control. Kids are home from school for weeks. Businesses are closing. People are urged to stay home. Hospitals are overrun with real or suspected coronavirus patients.

As I have grown older, I have spent more time searching for, and doing, the things that bring me joy. Being happy, and doing the things that make me happy, are of great importance. A friend recently mentioned that I look happiest when I am on safari in Africa (or traveling elsewhere). That is completely accurate.

What is joy, anyway? One dictionary defines joy as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation." What brings us joy, of course, can vary considerably from person to person.

For me, joy isn't found in possessions, but in experiences and feelings. I like having nice possessions, but while they may provide comfort and a certain amount of pleasure, they don't bring me joy. I have never been someone who has to have the newest or fanciest car, or the latest camera or cell phone. I like the things I have, and I am content to keep them.

My idea of joy is:

• Being retired and without daily obligations, allowing me to set my own schedule. 
• Being able to stay in bed as long as I want (or until my dogs get up).
• Being able to take a nap if I feel like it.
• Putting on my robe, drinking a cup of hot tea and reading a book on my Kindle, and holding the world at a distance for even a short time.
• Traveling to new places, camera/s in hand.
• Spending time engrossed in a book 
• Revisiting some of the many digital photos I have taken during travel to so many amazing places
• Listening to a favorite piece of music over and over again because hearing it once just isn't enough.
• Studying a beautiful photograph and trying to learn how to improve my own photos.
• Listening to Leontyne Price or Charlotte Church hit those incredibly high notes in some of their songs and being in awe at the magnificence of their voices.
• Working on a piece of writing, manipulating the sentences and individual words until it's just right.
• Taking a photograph and seeing that I captured it just as I had envisioned it.
• Editing an image to make it even more beautiful.
• Watching dogs running and playing, ears flapping, tongues hanging out as they chase after each other.
• Hiking or walking in a beautiful area in total silence, the only sound being the crunch  of my boots on the dirt and leaves. 
• Listening to classical music on the radio

These are some of the things that bring me joy. And they cannot be bought for any amount of money. They are priceless.

I hope I can become more aware of the joyful possibilities around me, in simple activities, in the beauty of nature or in the creations of humans blessed with a magnificent voice or the skills to compose music or take an awe-inspiring photograph. I can learn from the actions of my dogs, who don't carry grudges, who are always happy to see me, who jump up each morning ready to greet a new day, and who get excited at the preparations for a walk, no matter we have walked that route hundreds of times already.

Joy can be found all around us. We just need to look for it and open ourselves to its presence. My joyful place is found outside, while taking photographs, enjoying a hike or just walking on a beautiful day.

What brings you joy?

Welcome to Trumpistan

Welcome to Trumpistan 2020!

The United States, once the greatest country on planet Earth, is now behaving like a third-world country. We are being 'led,' and I use that term loosely, by an incompetent, uneducated man-child who considers the worldwide coronavirus pandemic to be a hoax perpetrated by the Democratic Party to ensure his defeat in the 2020 election.

He has told lie after lie about the availability of coronavirus test kits (There aren't enough available). He has compared the virus to the flu. He refuses to listen to medical experts who actually know what they are talking about, and he appointed his clueless vice president to head the government's response. His spokesperson has declared that the orange buffoon won't get sick from the coronavirus because he sleeps very little. 

The stock market has dropped several thousand points, something he blames on either former President Obama or on the Democrats. The Republican-led Senate has refused to pass legislation designed to help Americans most affected by the virus by providing free coronavirus testing and paid sick leave (something many American workers don't have), but the party seems very willing to pass legislation to help bail out Wall Street. People are in a panic. They are hoarding bottled water and toilet paper. It is impossible to buy hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol. Airlines are slashing flights. Cruise ships are canceling cruises.

I went grocery early yesterday morning, as I often do as I usually get up very early. I was shocked by how crowded the parking lot was. The store was filled with people pushing carts loaded to the brim. Everybody, it seemed, had packages of toilet paper and paper towels. Sections of the meat and cheese cases were totally empty. Canned soups and crackers were available, but there were many empty spaces on the shelves. Cold and flu medications, as well as pain relievers such as Tylenol, were in short supply. Gallon jugs of water were nearly gone. I was able to buy a gallon of distilled water for my CPAP machine, however, although there weren't many gallons on the shelf.

Schools and colleges in several states, including mine, are closed for two or three weeks, or more. People are advised to stay at home. Church services, sporting events and community gatherings have been canceled. Restaurants are barely staying afloat.

People are in full-blown panic mode. They are hoarding everything. The panic is contagious. One of the cashiers commented that she hadn't planned to stock up on groceries, but now that she sees everybody else stockpiling food, she wants to do the same thing. too. I completely understand her feeling. What if I don't hoard groceries and toilet paper, and then when I need these items, there aren't any available because everybody is hoarding them? When people see others hoarding groceries or toilet paper, they follow suit. Herd mentality takes over, and it becomes every man/woman for him/herself. People are stealing masks from hospitals, where they are needed by the medical staff. People are stealing hand sanitizer,or buying huge quantities and then selling it (or trying to) at vastly inflated prices on eBay.

Some psychologists believe that hoarding gives people a sense of control during times, such as the coronavirus outbreak, when they have no control. And the bigger the item -- large packages of toilet paper, for instance -- gives a great sense of control.

What this country needs -- and what it clearly will not get -- is calm reassurance from the government that everything possible is being done to contain the pandemic. What we need to hear is a call to pull together, to watch out for each other, to care about each other. We should not need a reminder, but we need to do whatever we can to help the elderly and those with chronic health problems. We should be offering to pick up groceries for those for whom a simple trip to the grocery store may be a life-threatening event. We need to heed the advice of the professionals to stay home if we feel sick, to keep a proper distance from others if we must go out in public, to wash our hands frequently, and to not panic and hoard food and other items. Just remember that the 72 rolls of toilet paper you are hoarding may well mean that people who want to buy one package many not be able to find even a single roll.

But instead of calm reassurance and a call to work together -- along with medical professionals and governments at all levels -- we get more lies, conflicting information, and blame-Obama-and-the Democrats statements. And let us not forget the plans to slash the CDC's budget and cut food benefits to about 700,000 Americans. In the meantime, our so-called leader gloats about a big jump in the stock markets.

The GOP seems to be working to get rid of as many elderly, poor and ill people as possible. Without these people being a 'drain' on society, there should be more money for the Republicans to send to their favorite corporations and lobbyists.

America, we are better than this. We are better than hoarders and opportunists. Yes, this pandemic is inconvenient for everybody. But together, we can, and we will, get through it. Let's show the world, and each other, than we really are better than so many of us are now acting. Let's be better than the president who, despite shaking hands with a diplomat who tested positive for the coronavirus and who continued to shake hands with many others, refuses to be tested or to self-quarantine. He refuses to lead by example. We must lead by example and do the right thing.

Why Not A Woman?

Senator Elizabeth Warren has suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination to be president.

And now, once again, we are left to choose between two old white men as the Democratic nominee. Will it be 77-year-old Joe Biden, or will it be 78-year-old Bernie Sanders?

i was happy to see the diversity in the original field of potential nominees. There was Kamala Harris, of Black and Indian descent. Pete Buttigieg is gay. Julian Castro is Hispanic. Andrew Yang is Asian-American. Corey Booker is African-American. Tulsi Gabbard is Samoan and Caucasian. This was by far the most diverse field of candidates I have seen. 

But look what we are left with: two old white men. After Warren suspended her campaign, I read several comments along the lines of "America isn't ready for a female president." Why not? When will we be ready ? What will make us ready? Will we ever be ready? We sure as hell are not ready for an illiterate, dumb-as-a-box-of-rocks, lying, cheating reality show host and grifter as president.

Apparently we're also not ready for a gay president, or a biracial president. Again I ask, why not? Why is this country, after 244 years, not ready for a president who isn't white, straight and male? Countries from Israel to the United Kingdom and Ukraine, from Ireland to Norway, New Zealand and Germany, from Pakistan to Bulgaria, Lithuania and Iceland, have been led by women. And this is just a sample of the countries that have been -- or are -- led by women. Once again, as with universal health care and college education, the US lags woefully behind.

Women are just as intelligent as men. Women can be as well educated as men. We may not have the same physical strength as some men, but physical strength is not a requirement of the presidency. If it were, the current obese blob occupying the White House wouldn't be there. 

One comment I saw recently stated that Warren didn't seem compassionate. Yet the current occupant of the White House has not a molecule of compassion in his bloated body. If any of the female contenders appear 'too compassionate,' they are accused of being 'soft' or 'too emotional.' If they temper their public displays of emotion, they are accused of being 'too hard.' 'Likeability' and 'electability' appear to be more important factors than actual policies. But if this is the case, how did Chump -- who is not likeable on any scale -- get elected.

Women now serve as fighter pilots, as helicopter pilots, as commercial airline pilots. They are skilled physicians and surgeons, attorneys, engineers and scientists. Women are soldiers and sailors and Marines. They are generals and admirals, police officers and fire fighters. Women are astronauts who command space ships and complete space walks.  

So why can't an American woman be president? Why are so many Americans, both male and female, opposed to the idea of a woman holding the highest job in the land? Half of American men don't want a female president. Why is that?

I would love to see a woman elected to the presidency, but I won't vote for a woman simply because of her gender. All things being equal, however, -- intelligence, experience, thoughtfulness, integrity -- I will vote for a woman rather than a man. Old white men have had their turn at governing America for close to 250 years. The exception -- Barack Obama -- is still being blamed for things that did not happen during his tenure. He is a highly educated, intelligent, compassionate man -- all the things the current president is not.

And how about this, from a story on cnn.com "Almost 90 percent of men hold some form of bias against women, according to a new global UN report.

Surprisingly, 90% of women do, too.

The Gender Social Norms Index, which measures how social beliefs affect gender equality, was released by the United Nations Development Programme on Thursday.

Despite the progress that has occurred in closing the equality gap, researchers found that people's beliefs still negatively impact women's rights and equality.

For instance, the GSNI revealed that nearly half of the world's population believes that men make better political leaders, and more than 40 percent believe men make better business executives.

It also found that 28 percent of men and women believe that men are justified to beat their wives."

Why can't a person who isn't a straight white male be president? It shouldn't matter if the person is gay, or black, or biracial, or female. Why are these external trappings given more consideration than the person's intellect, abilities and character? When will Americans join the ranks of other countries and decide that someone's abilities are more important than the color of the person's skin, gender or sexual preferences? Given the statistics in the article above, I'd bet we won't see a female president in my lifetime.

So folks, get out and vote for the old white male of your choice!

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