The End .. For Now

To readers and followers of this blog:

I appreciate everyone who took time to visit my blog this year. Although I seldom get a comment from anyone, I do appreciate knowing that the blog is read by people around the world. Even with a fairly low readership, this blog provides a creative outlet for me and it gives me a reason to write, something I have enjoyed since childhood. So I thank you for that.

This year saw visits by readers from several new countries. I am always amazed to see where my readers are located. 

Readers were from 36 countries around the world, the majority from the United States. Other readers were from Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States.

If you enjoy the blog, I invite you to sign up to receive an e-mail each time something new is posted. That is the only e-mail you will receive. You won't get spam, ads or any kind of spam. I won't sell your e-mail address to anyone. I would also appreciate your telling friends about the blog so they can check it out.

I wish each of you a safe, happy, gentle and prosperous New Year.

The Calendar

Every year as the year draws to a close, I look forward to getting new calendars.

As an avid photographer, I make two wall calendars for myself, with each page featuring a full color image that I have taken during my travels that year. I also order a desk calendar with a photo for each week. The desk calendar is purchased commercially. I use it to keep track of my walking and hiking.

So as I approach the end of each year, I start to wonder how I will fill in my calendar in the coming year. If I’m lucky, as I have been each year except for the horrible pandemic year of 2020, I will mark down all of my trips. I will also enter less exciting things such as doctor appointments, veterinary appointments, appointments to have the furnace checked out, etc. All in all, each calendar provides a snapshot of the highlights and, let’s face it, the lowlights of the year coming to a close.

It's always interesting to look back on the year's calendar and remember things I might have forgotten. As I grow older, I have become more aware of the passage of time and the fact that I have more years behind me than ahead of me. 

I have already started to fill in appointments and trips for 2022. And as always, I am hopeful that the year ahead will be filled with lots of good things and wonderful experiences.

The calendar starts out as a blank slate, and while I can record some upcoming events, the pages remain largely empty. The year has yet to reveal itself and what things and opportunities it will bring. Undoubtedly there will also be some unwanted events along the way.

We cannot control the passage of time, no matter how much we may wish to do so. We cannot control or foresee all the things that will happen to us and for us in the year ahead. 

But we can control our reaction to the events that will occur in our lives. 

My wish for you is that you will fill your calendar with good, with kindness, with positive opportunities. We can't know what we will be given each day, but we can determine to react in a positive way no matter what comes our way in 2002.

Wishing each of you a peaceful, prosperous, safe, fulfilling 2022.

Alone But Not Lonely

Another Christmas alone. 

And that's OK. My siblings and their families live in Oregon. My daughter lives in Kansas. I'm not feeling the so-called Christmas spirit again this year, so my dogs and I will spend a quiet, rainy day at home. I plan to cook some salmon and whatever else sounds good. 

The nice thing about spending time alone is the freedom it gives to eat whatever and whenever I want. If I want to crank up the music, I can. If a nap calls to me, I will nap. I am alone, but I am not lonely.

This time of year is the perfect opportunity to appreciate what I have in life, rather than dwelling on what is missing. I have financial resources that allow me to travel. I have a beautiful house. I have two dogs who love me beyond measure. My health is relatively good. I have plenty of food. I have friends around the world: England, Scotland, Kenya, Tanzania and Russia among them. I have a full travel schedule planned for 2022. I reconnected with family this year.

And best of all, I like being alone. I like my space and my privacy. I prefer to be alone or with a couple of people rather than being part of a large group. That has never made me comfortable. I have already started to think about my goals for next year. 

However you are spending today, take time to celebrate yourself and all you have achieved.

Random Memories of Christmas

 I was listening to Christmas music this morning, and something in one of the songs brought back a memory.

My parents used to make popcorn balls, peanut brittle and a white confection called 'divinity.' I never cared for divinity, and I preferred to save my calories for something I liked more than peanut brittle. But I have found memories of my parents in the kitchen, my dad making popcorn balls as my mom made peanut brittle and divinity.

I am not doing anything special for Christmas again this year. It isn't worth the effort, and I don't need to have a bunch of calorie-laden goodies in the house. 

I have some memories of Christmas when I was a young child. I was thrilled to receive a small record player and a copy of my favorite song on a 45 rpm record. My brother received a Lionel train set with an orange engine, various train cars and a track. I got a doll one year, something I never enjoyed. I much preferred stuffed animals over dolls. We went to church services every Christmas Eve. Of course, we always had a decorated tree in the living room, purchased from a lot somewhere in town that sold cut Christmas trees. My favorite lights were bubble lights that held some sort of colored liquid that 'bubbled' when the strand of lights was plugged in.

Those days are long gone, but it's nice to have the memories pop up from time to time.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

What Is Your Opinion?

Do you know what I think when I hear the word 'Facebook'?

Several things come to mind. Greed. Inconsistency.  Politics. Right-wing tendencies. Data mining. Lies.

Let's look at these things one at a time. Greed. Nothing personifies Zuckerberg and his minions more than greed. Facebook, it seems, will do anything to make a buck. Newsfeeds are so filled with ads -- most of them totally irrelevant -- that it often seems there are as many ads as posts. And whatever the Facebook algorithms are that determine ad placement, they suck. Why do I see ads for hardware stores in Indiana when I live in New Mexico? Or ads looking for an anesthesiologist? (And who advertises for a skilled medical professional on Facebook anyway?) But I guess the greedy at FB will take any ad as long as they get paid to blast the ad everywhere, right?

Inconsistency. The application of the so-called 'community standards' is a joke. Posts glorifying the slaughter of animals are OK, but I was warned that I had posted 'hate speech' because I had commented that I was sick of the ongoing actions by China to send numerous animal species to the brink of extinction. That was not hate speech. I never used hurtful language. I never used a racial slur. I never called for the extermination of everyone living in China. But the goons at Facebook apparently considered my comment to be hate speech. The so-called community standards are applied inconsistently, or not at all, depending on -- what? No one knows.

Politics and right-wing leanings. These became too obvious in the run-up to the 2020 federal elections. Independent studies have shown the right-wing tendencies and policies in play at the social media giant.

Data mining. Have you noticed how, if you do an Internet search for something -- say, a new printer -- all of a sudden your FB newsfeed is filled with ads for printers? 

Pressure to buy an ad to promote my tiny photography business. I used t6o hid these ads, but6 now Facebook has removed my ability to do that.

The bottom line is, I am sick of Facebook. The ads are endless, especially when it comes to the constant pressure for me to 'boost this post' or 'connect with customers with an ad', and pay for ads for my small photography business. 

And like other social media, Facebook brings out the worst in so many keyboard warriors. People seem to feel emboldened to post hate-filled, inflammatory garbage, knowing that nothing will be done to rein them in.

The only reason I keep a presence on Facebook is because it provides an easy way to promote the sale of custom photo wall calendars, something I do to raise funds for a charity. Even then, I question whether I will maintain my presence. I stopped using my Instagram and Twitter accounts many years ago. Social media needs to be known as asocial media. I believe it does more harm than good.

Social media has outlived its usefulness in nearly all arenas. Whether I continue to maintain a presence remains to be seen.

What are your thoughts about t his behemoth platform? Good or bad?

 

America Loves Its Guns More Than Its Children

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the slaughter of 26 people, among them 20 six- and seven-year-old school children. That horrendous event took place in Connecticut on December 14, 2012.

To the surprise of no one, there was yet another school shooting a week or so ago. This one resulted in the murder of four teenage students and the wounding of seven other people. The 'alleged' shooter? A 15-year-old whose parents bought him a gun as a Christmas gift. Despite evidence of their son's disturbed mind, the parents refused to respond to calls from school officials. They refused to withdraw him from school, and school officials let him return to class with a backpack, later believed to have held the gun used in the killings. The parents have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for their part in the killings. School officials who failed to suspend the teen from school, instead letting him return to class, also are facing possible charges.

How long will we who continue to tolerate the slaughter of our children?

How much longer will students be expected to take part in active shooter drills, to pass through metal detectors at school entrances, and to fear for their lives each day they go to school?

How long will we ignore the warning signs of dangerous mental illness? 

How long will we fail to hold the parents of these child murderers accountable? 

How long will parents have to wonder each day when they send their children off to school whether that will be the last time they get to see their kids alive?

How many children have to be killed after being caught in the crossfire of gun battles in the streets, or during drive-by shootings? 

How many children in their homes, doing homework or sleeping or watching television, have to die?

There is a fundamental problem in this country involving firearms, the Second Amendment be damned. No civilian needs to own a semi-automatic handgun or rifle for hunting or self-protection. No civilian. Something has to be done. But as we have seen time after time after time, there is lots of hand ringing and there are lots of ‘thoughts and prayers’ offered by government officials, but nothing changes. 

If the slaughter of 20 young children in 2012 didn’t result in any changes, I have to wonder what it will take.

The bottom line is this: America loves its guns more than it loves its children.

Of course, children are not the only victims of gun violence. Recent shootings in public places have included grocery stores, shopping malls, businesses and movie theaters. Nowhere, it seems, is safe from the threat of being killed by some crazed or vindictive person with a gun.

It is long past time to answer the question: Does America love its guns more than the lives of its children? If the answer is 'no,' what are we as a nation willing to do about the violence against our children?

Be A Spark

The world is a dark place.

Environmental disasters. Political and civic discord. Wars. Oppression. A burgeoning crime rate across America. A pandemic that still claims more than 1,000 American lives each day. Poverty. Homelessness. Hunger. Religious zealotry. Politicians who care only about holding on to their power and serving their corporate masters. Rampant gun violence. Overwhelmed health care workers and hospitals. Mass extinctions on the horizon. People in my part of town report having their outdoor Christmas decorations stolen.

It all seems very overwhelming. What can I as one person do? Truth be told, not much. I do what I can, which isn't much. I recycle everything that is recyclable in the city where I live. I drive a fuel-efficient car. I drive only a few thousand miles a year, far below the national average. I turn off unneeded lights. I keep my house at a comfortable temperature without having the furnace or air conditioner run constantly. I try to buy products only in recyclable containers. All of the junk mail gets recycled. But in the big scheme of things, when against up against corporate polluters and countries that don’t care about the environment, my efforts seem puny indeed.

But perhaps if each of us determines to be a spark of light in our daily, mundane lives, the world won't seem quite so dark. I alone cannot feed everyone who needs food. But I can donate food and funds to my local food bank. I can volunteer. I cannot save elephants from extinction, but I can symbolically adopt an elephant orphaned by drought or by human violence and help those who will raise it until it is ready to resume its place in the African savannah. At least I can offer a friendly word or a complement that just might brighten someone's day. Kindness and a smile cost nothing.

I know. This isn't much. But maybe that spark will ignite a spark in another person's life. Maybe that person will pass that tiny spark on to someone else. Just as a stone thrown into a pond creates ripples, so, too, can a small spark possibly be the beginning of something much bigger. Maybe all it takes is a small spark to brighten the world for someone else.

It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the darkness of this world, especially during the winter when daylight is in short supply and temperatures are uncomfortably cold. I know the feelings all too wall. I love the sun, and I bought a house with large windows and lots of skylights. So staying upbeat is a struggle during the winter. But I find solace in doing what I can, small as it may be, to help others. I like to think I am a spark in some small way. And that spark helps to brighten my world just a bit.

Be a spark.

I Despair

I have had this feeling for a few years, and it is getting stronger.

And indeed, world events combined with activity in the US are making this feeling even stronger.

I am in despair. I despair for the future of the United States as a democratic nation and as a nation of laws under which all are allegedly created, and treated, equally. 

I despair for the future of our planet because of our refusal to take the serious and immediate steps necessary to combat climate change. 

I despair for the future of wildlife as they struggle to survive as their habitat shrinks and as they are slaughtered to satisfy the greed of humans.

I despair for those who live their lives in abject poverty with no hope of escape. 

I despair for the place of women in our society as our rights continue to be stripped from us. 

I despair for the future of free elections, untainted by cheating, manipulation and voter suppression. 

I despair for the survival of a country so deeply divided not just over politics, but over a lack of respect for science and truth and compassion and equality and vaccinations and equal rights for women, and over everything necessary for the survival of a nation when there is no longer common ground.

I despair over politicians' willingness to ignore what is best for the nation in favor of their holding on to power.

I despair that Rethuglican politicians are working hard to disenfranchise communities that traditionally favor Democratic candidates, by closing neighborhood polling places, eliminating drive-up ballot drop-boxes, and taking similar steps that make it more difficult for the poor, for minorities and for the elderly to cast their ballots.

I despair that women still are treated by far too many as second-class citizens. It isn't only the Taliban in Afghanistan who treat women as 'less then.' 

We may lack the physical strength of some men, but we should be far removed from the days when brawn was more important than brains. We have the brains, the talent and the abilities of men. We can lead, often in a more compassionate manner, as well as men can. The daughter of a friend of mine has an extremely successful career as an officer in the US Navy. She has had command of a ship during the Gulf War. She didn't receive her command because of her muscles. Her ship wasn't painted pink. She earned her position. The next position above hers is rear admiral.

So why do we women, and our male supporters, continually have to fight for equal pay and for equal opportunities? 

I despair as this country moves ever closer to becoming an oligarchy, where wealth and power and control are in the grasp of only a few old, white men.

I am old, and frankly, I am glad that I won't have to live in a country that has fallen so very far from the ideals on which it was founded.

Tis the Season

Yep, it's that time of year again.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. The leftovers have been shoved into the refrigerator. 

Now it's time to start the annual tradition of rushing around. Time to create all sorts of stress for ourselves. Time to feel pressured and overwhelmed and not good enough. Time to spend ourselves into debt once more.  

It doesn't have to be that way. What if we take a step back and think about what we actually need to do versus what we think we have to do? What if we think about making some new traditions that won't destroy us physically, emotionally or financially?

What if we don't pile our plates high with fattening foods, no matter how tasty they are? What if we instead fill our hearts with love? Or if we fill our hearts with kindness? What if we try something different this year?

Don't spend all your money on frivolous Christmas gifts. Spend your innate gifts and talents to make the world a better place.

Don't fill your home with piles of  material things. Fill your life with memories and experiences and other things no money can buy.

Don't work so hard to accumulate more things. Instead, work to accumulate what I call karma points. We get karma points by doing good.

Don't get caught up in the madness of the season as you search for 'the perfect gift.' Instead of rushing around to buy more things you don't need, see how you can invest your time and energy to help others.

Don't try to show people you care by buying expensive and often unwanted or unneeded gifts. Instead, show the special people in your life that you care by planning a meaningful activity with them, or by helping them with a difficult chore, or by doing something else meaningful.

Make sure you take care of yourself. Take time to savor the simple things in life. Go for a walk. Play ball with your dog. Read a good book. Volunteer to help others. Develop your talents. 

I have drastically cut back on holiday activities. I no longer bake several kinds of cookies and make a 3-pound batch of fudge. Maybe I will make some shortbread this year, but that's it.

I don't rush around looking for 'the perfect gift.' If I find something I think someone would like, I buy it whenever I come across it. But there is no obligation, and I don't expect, or want, anything in return. 

I know that my daughter loves Hatch green chile and Dion's ranch dressing. So I mailed her three jars of green chile salsa and four bottles of her favorite ranch dressing, including one bottle with green chiles. She isn't expecting anything from me, but I knew these simple things will brighten her day. And they did. She messaged me to say how much the box of goodies means to her.

A friend loves to try new kinds of coffee, so I recently got a deal on three bags of beans for her to enjoy. Another friend likes to cook with flavored olive oils, so I will get her a gift card to the local olive oil shop.

I'm not stressing over shopping, because I feel no obligation to buy anything for these people. I buy something I know they will enjoy. None of these things is expensive. 

Television commercials screaming about Black Friday deals, the 'lowest prices of the season' and other inducements to get people to spend drive me crazy. I record everything on television that interests me, then I fast-forward through the commercials. Or I mute them if I happen to be watching in real time.

Instead of wasting money on buying things friends and family may not appreciate, I donate a bit extra to my favorite charities. Last week I sent a check to the local Meals on Wheels office, which provides hot meals and a bit of companionship to homebound elderly in my area. I made a large donation to a charity in Kenya that rescues, raises and releases orphaned elephants. I have a list of five other charities that will receive a donation this month.

Rather than feeling stressed over holiday gift buying, I feel a sense of happiness that I am able to financially support causes that are dear to my heart. 

What I Am Missing

For some reason, I have been missing three things recently.

These three things are California, and being on an African safari. I also miss living in a city with a downtown area. I will explain.

I left California more than 11 years ago when I retired. I could have stayed in my little house in the area south of San Francisco, but I needed to take my daughter away from the toxic 'friends' that led her into trouble. And I didn't want to be tied to a mortgage for a couple of decades after retirement.

I really liked New Mexico, so we moved here a month after I retired. I bought a beautiful house roughly twice the size of my California house, with amazing mountain views and 1/2 acre of land. And it cost a whole lot less than my little house in California.

I still love my current house, but at the same time, I also miss California. I miss the temperate Mediterranean climate and the wonderful farmers' markets held weekly throughout the year. I miss the easy access to Trader Joe's. But I don't miss the high cost of living, the traffic, the houses crammed together, the high taxes and the high price of everything.

I also really miss going on safari in Africa, something I have done nine times in the past few years. I have been to Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. My most recent trip was in April of this year. Some trips were all about photography, while others were 'just' safaris. But as I told a couple of friends with whom I have traveled to Africa, I make every trip a photo safari simply by taking my cameras and lenses with me each time we leave on a game drive.

I can no longer afford to buy a house in California, so moving back there is not an option. The house I sold in 2010 is now more than twice as expensive. Even tiny 800-square-foot homes sell for just under $1 million. But with sub-freezing temperatures now upon us, I do greatly miss the moderate climate of California. But it's really nice not having a monthly mortgage payment.

i still longingly look at houses in the San Francisco area online, but not surprisingly, they are all out of reach unless I am willing to settle for an 800 square foot condominium that costs twice as much as my 2,300 square foot house. That is not how I want to spend my life, and I'm sure my dogs wouldn't like it, either. 

Finally, I miss living in a city with a downtown area. The city where I lived in California didn't have much of a downtown, but one city over did have a downtown that was just a block long. It was filled with restaurants and quirky shops, and it hosted the farmers' market each Saturday. And it was nicely decorated for the Christmas season, and just a block away from a mall.

I have a photography trip planned to California this winter, and a photography trip to Nzmibia next year, as well as a photography trip to Tanzania planned for 2023. In the meantime, I keep busy with travel to other interesting places, always accompanied by one or more cameras..

I know I can't have everything I want all the time, and I am truly fortunate to live the life I have in retirement. I just wish I could bring California's weather back with me when I finish my next visit to the Golden State!

I Have Found 'The Perfect Gift'

Recently while reviewing some of my posts from years past, I came across one from 2017 that struck a chord with me, regarding the search of so many people for 'the perfect gift.'

What is 'the perfect gift' about which commercials breathlessly -- and loudly -- babble endlessly? Why does the search for 'the perfect gift' cause people to rush to the malls in the dark, stand in the cold, and risk life and limb to buy things they can't afford?

After visiting Africa 10 or 11 times over the past few years, my perspective on what is important has changed considerably. Never one to engage in the mad dash to buy 'the perfect gift,' I am now even more aware of the crushing poverty that envelopes so much of the world. And having that knowledge has made me even more resolved to do something to help.

Prior to starting on a safari in South Africa, I visited the Soweto region of Johannesburg, a very impoverished area. I learned about the after-school program operated by the Kliptown Youth Program that offers tutoring and computer skills to students, as well as sports and arts. I also saw the one-room tin shack in which a mother and her children lived. The community was excited to have recently obtained access to running water -- not in each shack, but through a community pump. Details are available at: https://www.kliptownyouthprogram.org.za/

I visited Ethiopia, where starvation and poverty continue to afflict much of the population.

A few years ago a friend and I visited a school in rural Kenya that has no electricity or running water, only a few books, no computers or high-tech equipment. Each classroom has dirt floors, and the children, all neatly dressed in uniforms, walk miles to school every morning and home again in the afternoon. Another group I follow on Facebook posted about the shoes the children wear, made of old rubber tires. American children would be mortified to be seen wearing rubber shoes, but these kids are excited to have any kind of footwear. 

So pardon me if I don't get excited about America's annual shopping -- and spending -- frenzy. I prefer to put my Christmas spirit into worthwhile causes. I have a small family, and my siblings and I long ago gave up exchanging gifts. We all have everything we need, and if there is something we want, we buy it for ourselves. I may send them a box of cookies or candy, but nothing extravagant.

Instead, I am sponsoring a Kenyan girl from a rural area so she can finish high school. The first student I sponsored has finished her high school education. I will donate to the hospice that cared for my father at the end of his life, and to a couple of animal rescue groups. I also will donate food and money to the local food bank as I do every year. My check to Meals on Wheels is already on its way to help provide food to elderly shut-ins.

The older I get, the less I need things. And really, I don't want people to give me things. I value the feeling that comes from knowing I have helped those in need, especially given the overwhelming suffering and sadness in our world. So many in the US are struggling after the ravages of a pandemic that continues to rage across much of the country. Conditions in less developed countries are even worse, even without the added problems caused by the pandemic.

I value experiences gained from travel, and the friendships I have made during those travels. On Thanksgiving Day, I was thrilled to get an e-mail from a friend I met several years ago during a trip to Kenya. We have traveled together, along with a friend from Scotland, a few more times as well. That e-mail, updating me about what she has been doing and checking in with me, was more valuable than anything money can buy. I also got messages from two women I met during a trip to Tanzania earlier this year, wishing me a happy Thanksgiving. One of them mentioned how blessed she feels to have met me. THAT is 'the perfect gift' for me!

I don't need more clothes or more knicknacks to collect dust. Experiences, memories and digital images from my travels don't clutter the house or require dusting. 

Feeling more connected in some small way to people on the other side of the planet, being able to help people with whom I have little in common, and knowing that I can help those less fortunate in my own country, really is my 'perfect gift' during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Thanksgiving 2021

It's a few days before Thanksgiving, and a good time to pause and consider all for which I am thankful.

I

This year, like most, has been a mixed bag of good and bad. I got to resume travel after a year of staying home due to the pandemic. After being fully vaccinated, I traveled to Tanzania on a fabulous photo safari. I met two great women with whom I plan to return to Tanzania in a year or so. I am grateful for the warm and welcoming Tanzanian people who took such good care of us.

I wrapped up four surgeries to remove kidney stones in February, and I am so grateful for the new urologist who treated me and who continues to monitor my kidney health.

I am grateful for my friend who continues to provide transportation home after surgery and after trips to the retina specialist who monitors my vision. We were able to resume our traditional monthly lunches out, once the weather was good enough that we could eat outdoors. 

I am thankful for my retina specialist, who is a wonderful, skilled and kind man, and I am so grateful to have him in my corner.  And I am so thankful that my eyes are still good enough to allow me to follow my passion of wildlife and landscape photography.

I am grateful for my good health and for being able to walk 4 miles every day. When so many my age face serious and debilitating health problems, I am still active and healthy. I don't need a walker or a cane, and I don't need supplemental oxygen as do so many.

I am thankful that my daughter appears to be doing well in her job and as a new mother. I am grateful that her baby son is healthy and happy.

I am thankful for the many opportunities to travel this year -- to Yellowstone and Glacier national parks on photography tours, to Yosemite National Park on a photo tour, and to Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks for photography. I also visited my sister and brother in Oregon, for the first time in too many years. 

As the weather turns cold, I am grateful for my wonderful, warm house with its beautiful views of the mountains. I am grateful for my two dogs that keep me on my toes every day and love me beyond words. I am grateful to have adopted a puppy and for the opportunity to train her to become a wonderful, obedient companion as she grows up. 

Unlike so many, I have more than enough to eat, I have warm clothes, a reliable car and good health insurance. I have money to cover any emergencies that pop up.

I am grateful to live in a free country where people are allowed to vote without fear of repercussions, although the recent spate of laws designed to suppress the vote of millions of people concerns me greatly. I value our ability to peacefully protest. I am grateful for the members of our military who keep us safe and free, and for the first responders who daily risk their lives in service to others. I am particularly grateful for the nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians and other medical staff who daily risk their lives to care for Covid patients, most of whom are ill because they refused the sensible and safe step of being vaccinated against this terrible virus.

I will prepare a sort of Thanksgiving meal this year for the first time in a few years. I have bought a smoked turkey, and although I will dine alone, I will enjoy a somewhat traditional Thanksgiving meal. I won't make mashed potatoes or have dessert or cranberries, but the essence of the meal will be there.  

I will spend a quiet day at home, knowing I have plenty to eat and thinking about the many blessings in my life. Because in the end, regardless of our troubles, we in this country still do have much for which to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

We Have Enough

Gratitude turns what we have into enough.

I recently ran across this sentiment online somewhere. And I like it. The sentiment seems appropriate during this season of thanksgiving, when we are called to consider our blessings (if we can take a few moments from the ever-intensifying calls to spend, spend, spend on Christmas things) and to appreciate and share our blessings with those less fortunate among us.

I believe it is important not only to acknowledge all we have, both physically and emotionally, but to understand that what we have truly is enough. There certainly are those who do not have enough -- enough food, enough clothing, enough medical care, enough shelter, enough moral support and enough money to support them -- but most of us do have more than enough.

So please take a few moments and consider those among us who do not have enough. Too many of our elderly face a season of hunger and loneliness. Too many of our veterans struggle with PTSD and other mental health challenges. Too many of our citizens are homeless or hungry after losing jobs due to the pandemic and its toll on businesses.

I can't save the world. But I can buy an extra can or soup or a package of pasta when they are on sale and donate food to a local food bank, or donate a warm coat to a winter coat drive. The important thing is, I can, and I will, do something. I have enough to do those simple things.

I recall a story from years ago about an elderly parent saying goodbye to an adult child and parting with the words "I wish you enough." The mother wished her daughter enough good times to sustain her through life, enough pain to make her appreciate the good things in her life, and enough loss to appreciate all she has. You can find the entire brief story of the encounter online.

So as we approach Thanksgiving, I wish you all enough.

I Want Cozy.

Yes, I want cozy. I want beauty. I want peace. 

With cold overnight temperatures comes my desire for cozy.

I want cozy clothes, such as heavy socks, warm sweaters and sweatshirts, and I want hot soup and chili. I want to settle into my comfortable reading chair with my Kindle, perhaps with some soft music in the background and a steaming cup of tea on the chairside table.

I have a beautiful southwest style home, but I don't consider it cozy. Interior decorating isn't my thing, although I long for some cozy touches. The house is very comfortable, and I love it, but cozy it isn’t.

I want beauty. I recently returned from a photography trip to Yosemite National Park, a place of stunning beauty. So I have been enjoying reviewing and processing my hundreds of digital images. I will have some of them printed to replace a few of the images currently hanging in my house. 

I also want peace. This country continues to be anything but a peaceful nation. There is so much discord. There is disagreement over vaccine mandates, over mask mandates, and over vaccination of children age 5 to 11 years old. The climate battle continues. Businesses continue to struggle, and in some cases, close due to a shortage of people willing to work. Demands for free everything -- from health care to child care to college -- continue. We all know that nothing is free. Someone has to pay for all these free things, either the everyday citizen or the ultra wealthy, who so far pay little to no income taxes. 

I continue to decrease the time I waste on social media. Why do so many people feel they need to post negative comments about everything? I frequently see an ad for a vegetarian 'turkey' for Thanksgiving. There is a long list of derogatory comments, complete with a 'vomit' emoji. If these people don't want to eat a vegetarian alternative to turkey, fine. Just move on. Hide the ad if it offends them. They criticize the product for its artificial ingredients when there are, in fact, no artificial ingredients, something they would know if they bothered to read the ingredient list. Do these people not have better ways to spend their time than trolling social media posts? What joy do these people take from spreading their negativity and hate?

For me, I will enjoy my beautiful home, cozy or not. I will try to find joy, and to spread joy, by being kind to others and by sharing what I have with those who have nothing. That will create a sense of coziness in my heart. And I will find beauty in my images of Mother Nature's creations.

Begin with Yes

I saw something on line recently that started with ‘Begin with Yes.’

That would, I thought, be a perfect mantra by which to live my life. Begin with yes.  A website by this name talks about taking small steps every day in order to make changes in ourselves and in our lives. 

Each change we wish to make begins with a first, often small, step. First, before we take that first step, we have to begin by saying 'yes' to whatever we are seeking. Over time, small step by small step, we can begin to see the change for which we wish.

So why not begin with saying yes to life?

Say yes to new opportunities. Say yes to helping those less fortunate. Say yes to new experiences. Say yes to learning new things and new skills. Say yes to taking better care of oneself. Say yes to taking that nap! Say yes to learning a new language. Say yes to pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. Say yes to education. Say yes to trying new foods. Say yes to being honest with ourselves. Say yes to being humble. Say yes to being kind. Say yes to being patient. Say yes to starting to lose that unwanted extra weight.

I like this philosophy of life. The message itself is a positive one. Of course, saying yes to the wrong things can have serious consequences. Viewers of the 'Grace and Frankie' series on Netflix may remember what happened to the two friends when they had a 'say yes' night. So the point is to say yes only to positive things that will improve us and our lives.

To what will you say yes today?

Boycotting What Is Called Christmas

I am seriously boycotting all things Christmas this year.

I haven't celebrated the holiday since my daughter grew up and moved out. For a while after that I would set up a tree and decorate the house. I even sent out cards. But no more. The past few years I didn't do any of those things, but I did continue my tradition of holiday baking. I didn't even do that last year.

I have a collection of 40 to 50 Christmas CDs that I enjoy, but listening to them is my only acknowledgement of Christmas. I traditionally make extra donations to a few of my favorite charities during the holiday season.

That's it. I don't watch Christmas movies, and I never have. Hallmark Channel continues its sappy tradition of airing Christmas movies starting in July. A local FM radio station starts playing holiday tunes in October. Christmas commercials start in October, and local stores start putting up their holiday displays in August! And this all happened before the pandemic created hardships for businesses. The push to spend, spend, spend is worse than ever this year.

I am old-school. I remember the times when Thanksgiving was a real holiday and not just a precursor to Christmas. Retail employees were not required to work on Thanksgiving Day or evening. Then Black Friday with all its madness came along. People started lining up hours before stores opened so they could snag those 'must-have' items. Fist fights broke out, and  people were trampled, stabbed and shot as part of the season of peace and love.

I can't. I simply cannot be part of this usurping of a religious holiday. Every year thieves break into storage units where holiday toys are stored for distribution to underprivileged children. Both the Salvation Army and the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots programs have been impacted by thieves. How low must one go to steal from little children?

I may bake some cookies (although my waistline doesn't need cookies), and I will probably listen to some Christmas music this year. I will donate again to the local food bank and to a couple of animal charities, as well as to the hospice that cared for my father at the end of his life.

There will be no Christmas cards. No special meal on December 25. No decorations. Nothing. 

Once again American greed has stripped a religious holiday of its meaning and turned it into a season of avarice. Well done.

Today There Is No Storm

Each of us faces a variety of storms as we go through life. Most of the storms are not the thunder, lightning, wind and rain kind of storm. Our storms are emotional or psychological, often stress-related. But regardless of what kind of storm we face, I think it is important to remember the words of a child comforting a classmate who was fearful of storms. "Today there is no storm."

Wise words from a young girl. I will try to remember these words the next time I am upset or frustrated or angry. Today there is no storm. And even if there is a storm, eventually the sun will shine again. This doesn't mean, of course, that we won't face difficulties in the course of our lives. But for most of us, the storms will pass.

I tried to remember these five words recently when I was getting angry about something. I admit, I failed. I remembered the words, but I failed at remaining calm. Practice. Practice. Practice. Today there is no storm.

I know that I am fortunate to have a very comfortable standard of living. I have a good education. I had a rewarding career (actually, two careers). I grew up in a loving, two-parent family. I have never lacked sufficient food or a safe place to live. So I know that I have led a life of privilege. 

Nonetheless, I, like everyone else, has faced storms. I am sure that I will face more storms in my future. I often deal with my personal storms on my own, without burdening others with the storm. But I can’t let the storms define me. I won’t let the storms limit my ability to enjoy my life.

As with other things in life, how I respond is up to me. How I react, what I do and what I say, are up to me alone. 

I simply must remember that today there is no storm.

What If

 What if ...

... I totally disconnected from social media? I have been steadily reducing my social media presence for a while. I haven't used my Twitter and Instagram accounts for years. I deleted my photo sharing account on one page. And I spend less and less time on Facebook every week. Do I miss these things? No, I don't.

... I canceled my satellite television subscription? Of the 150+ channels that are allegedly part of my programming package, I probably watch 10 or fewer on a regular basis. Many of the 'channels' are nothing more than infomercials. And I pay roughly $100 each month for this.

... I stopped watching the news all together? I have always prided myself on being up to date on world events, and perhaps I will continue to listen to BBC News. But US news is too depressing. I don't want to hear about the number of covid cases, the ever-growing list of shortages of everything from cereal to lumber, and I'm tired of hearing about the tens of thousands of people swarming our southern border and demanding entry into the US. I'm also tired of the obstructionist policies of the Rethuglican party and its never-ending attempts to destroy our democracy.

... one day soon I failed to get dressed and instead stayed in my comfy pajamas, wrapped up in my warm bathrobe, didn't take the dogs for their daily walk, and just stayed home? I could spend the day reading, watching Netflix, and drinking hot tea.

... I spent more time focused on my photography and improving my knowledge of a foreign language?

I won't make any drastic changes immediately, but thinking about the 'what ifs' certainly raises interesting possibilities.

Feeling Every Year

Today, and this entire week, I am feeling every year of my existence.

My left knee has been hurting as I try to sleep. My left shoulder aches for reasons unknown. My left wrist, which I broke and on which I had surgery in Kenya a few years ago, has been acting up from time to time. Fingers on my left hand are very achy with arthritis. That's curious, because I am right-handed. My left ankle, which I twisted a few weeks ago, still hurts. And my left heel is still aching from plantar fasciitis.

So in short, the left side of my body is falling apart. 

As a runner of some 33 years, pain in a knee isn't unexpected. And really, my knees are in remarkably good shape. I can still walk and hike with no problems. An orthopedic surgeon warned me to expect to develop arthritis in the broken wrist. I have had plantar fasciitis a couple of times in the distant past, although I don't remember which foot was involved. But the shoulder pain is something new.

I take Tylenol for the pain, and it does help. The shoulder and heel are most problematic. I'm not one to sit around all day, although I do read a great deal on my Kindle. But taking time off from walking for exercise so far is not in my plans.

I have an appointment with my primary care physician in a couple of weeks, and I will raise these issues with her. 

More than the pain, which is controlled by Tylenol, is the everyday reminder than I am an old lady. But all things considered, I can't really complain. Aches and pains are part of being older. Over all, I am in pretty good health. My heart is strong, my blood pressure is good, and I still exercise every day. Unlike so many of the people I see at my ophthalmologist's office, I don't require supplemental oxygen. I don't need to use a cane or a walker or a wheelchair.

So all things considered, my life is pretty good. I'm still able to travel. I still enjoy photography and reading and learning.

I just need to remember to put it all in perspective, and consider how very lucky I am to be as healthy and as active as I am.

And the Pandemic Drags On

By now, nearly 2 years into this endless pandemic, we are all, well, maybe not the idiotic subset of Americans who refuse  to except that this pandemic is serious, well aware of the impact the coronavirus has had on our society. 

But in addition to the hundreds of thousands of American lives lost, and the untold number of Americans whose lives have been forever changed by this virus, there are many other negative aspects caused by the pandemic.

Here are just a few of the things that are in short supply these days.

Truck drivers

Nurses

Doctors

Hourly workers

Paper 

Aluminum 

Pumpkins

Gasoline 

Lumber 

Coffee

Tacos

Cars

Computer chips

School supplies 

Tennis balls

Various foods

Auto parts

Appliances

Furniture 

Some medications

Toys

Consumer electronics 

Turkey

Chicken

Garlic

Solar panels

Air conditioners

Propane

Natural gas

Housing

Common sense

Kindness

That's quite a diverse list, isn't it? Many of these items are manufactured or produced in China, which has been hit very hard by the pandemic. Worker shortages can be attributed to retirements during the pandemic, fear of returning to work while the pandemic still poses a threat, and demands for higher wages.

There is a great shortage of truck drivers, critical to the delivery of 70 percent of the supplies needed in America, and of nurses. Even animal shelters and veterinary clinics are begging for workers. A major shortage of workers to unload giant cargo ships bringing all kinds of goods from foreign countries to the United States is causing huge delays in getting the goods unloaded and distributed to businesses and individuals.

What is not in short supply is ignorance, selfishness, fear and conspiracy theories. 

How sad that a minority of Americans is still able to hold hostage the majority of people who are doing, and have done, the right thing. Those of us who stayed home, got vaccinated and maintained an appropriate distance from others are held captive by the minority too ignorant or devoted to their cult to take a few simple steps that would benefit everyone.

I am saddened and embarrassed by my countrymen/women. And I don't expect things to improve any time soon.

Don't Be Willfully Ignorant

One in 500 Americans has died of Covid-19. 

Let that sink in for a minute. One in 500 Americans has died of Covid-19.

It’s one thing to read the total number of people infected by this virus, or the number of deaths in broad terms, or the number of new cases, or the number of hospitalizations. But for me, seeing this number – – one in every 500 American adults – – really brings home the magnitude of this pandemic.

And yet only 55 percent of American adults has received full vaccination status. That’s just more than half. The numbers for children between ages 12 and 17 are even lower.

Each and every one of the people who have died of COVID-19 has a name. Each one was a mother, a father, a brother, a sister, a grandparent, a friend. So far more than 700;000 Americans have died of this virus (as of Sept. 30). It’s really hard to wrap my head around a number of that size. That is more than one and a half times the number of Americans who died during World War II. That is more than the population of Albuquerque, NM, the nearest big city to where I live and the largest city in the state.

And yet, millions of Americans, including numerous health care workers, refuse to be vaccinated. Sadly, a very good friend and my daughter are among those willfully ignorant who refuse to get vaccinated. So until they are fully vaccinated, I will not visit either of them, or allow them to visit me.

I know a woman, a mother of five young children, who is unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons. She is now battling covid and covid-induced pneumonia. She really wants to be vaccinated, and she can't be. She isn't hospitalized .. yet.

Please do your part to bring this pandemic under control. Please don't be one of those willfully ignorant, selfish people who puts their loyalty to a political cult over their health and the health of those around them.

What Have We Become?

I often ask myself this question when I read about things such as the following. 

Middle school and high school students vandalize their schools, record the vandalism, and then post the videos on TikTok. This apparently is the latest fun activity for students.

Fist fights among parents and coaches at youth football games in New Mexico sent one player to the hospital.

Arguments, shouting and threats have become commonplace at school board meetings by parents opposed to mask mandates designed to keep their children safe while in school.

Nurses, who should know better, are refusing to be vaccinated against the coronavirus. Many have been fired for their refusal.

The September 18 rally in Washington, DC, in support of the group of thugs and domestic terrorists that attempted to overthrow the US government because it did not like the results of the 2020 presidential election, was a bust. Only a couple hundred people showed up. But the fact that people are gathering in support of those who wanted to hang the vice-president of the United States and the speaker of the House, should concern all of us. Some 600 people have been charged to date. However, the ringleader of this attempted insurrection, the former orange-skinned president, has never been charged with anything.

We, as a nation, have become nasty, selfish, hateful and afraid. We are afraid of those from other countries. We are afraid of those who follow any religion other than our brand of Christianity. We are afraid of facts and science. We distrust the educated among us. We would rather get our information from uninformed talk show hosts than from experienced and knowledgeable scientists. We distrust the government. We distrust anybody whose beliefs do not align with ours.

We have closed our minds to the truth and to anything that doesn't align with what we believe. We no longer are able to have rational, calm discussions, about politics, about science, about the pandemic, about climate change.

Lacking any rational rebuttal based on facts -- real facts, not those from "my friend's third cousins' grandfathers' uncle" -- we resort to name-calling and threats.

Republican members of Congress -- who of course got vaccinated against the coronavirus before most other Americans -- refuse to actually lead by example and encourage people to be vaccinated. They refuse to condemn the antics of the governors of Florida and Texas who impose penalties on school districts that want to require their students to wear masks. And the ultra-crazy members of Congress march in protest over mask mandates within the US Capitol.

Welcome to America 2021.

Childhood Flashback

I just had a flashback.

I know that flashbacks are generally negative. They are common among military members with  on at PTSD and those who suffer from traumatic incidents in their lives. But this was a good flashback. Or perhaps I should more accurately call it a memory.

This flashback happened as I walked into my bedroom to close the window that I had left open overnight. I love to sleep with an open window when the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. Living in the high desert, I don’t get to enjoy a lot of nights like this. Last night was one of those good nights. But as the temperature began to rise toward an anticipated high of 89°, I needed to close the window. All of a sudden I was transported back to my childhood. I suddenly recalled, and eve even felt, the experience of being a child sleeping in my bed in my small bedroom in my parents’ house in northern Illinois.

We didn’t have air conditioning back then, and in fact my parents had only a couple of window air-conditioning units many years later. So every summer night we slept with the windows wide open. Usually a small fan was running in each bedroom as well to circulate the air. 

What I experienced this morning was the memory of waking up in my bed to a beautiful, sunny day, with crisp, cool air pouring through the windows.  

That feeling was as real as if I were once again in my parents house. My parents are no longer alive, and their house was sold several years ago. But what a delightful, if brief, memory this was.

An Abundance of Experts

I am truly amazed, no, I am stunned, by the dramatic increase in the number of people in this country who suddenly are experts in all things Covid.

These people must be closet epidemiologists, virologists, physicians and public health experts. After all, they know for a fact that masks don't work to slow the spread of the virus that causes Covid-19. One woman on NextDoor proclaimed that wearing masks actually causes the virus to mutate. Another person claims, without proof or sources cited of course, that millions of people have died as a result of being vaccinated against the virus.

Still others exclaim that the vaccination changes one's DNA, or makes women infertile (that wouldn't be such a bad thing if it kept these science deniers from procreating). And what about those who say they won't get vaccinated because they don't know what is in the vaccines? Would they know even if they were told? For those interested, you can get more information about 'ingredients' in the approved Covid vaccines at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/clinical-considerations/covid-19-vaccines-us.html#Appendix-C  Some anti-vaxxers said they wouldn't take an 'experimental' vaccine. Now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full FDA approval, with the Moderna vaccine expected to receive full approval soon, what lame excuse will these people come up with?

Do these doubters know what is in the hot dogs they eat, or the Twinkies or corn dogs or other fake foods they enjoy? Do they never question why they believe a politician rather than someone with years of study and experience in public health or medicine?

There is disagreement even among public health and medical experts about this virus and how best to control it. The experts are still learning about the virus. There is a reason it is called the novel coronavirus. It is a new virus, and out knowledge of this virus is evolving as the virus itself mutates.

Let's face it: We aren't going to eliminate the virus that causes covid-19, any more than we have eliminated the myriad of viruses that cause the flu or the common cold. So the best we can hope for is to control it. With so many armchair experts weighing in on the pandemic, I wonder why we haven't been able to get it under control yet?

There is a general consensus among most real experts (not those who heard from the third cousin of a friend's uncle) about how best to respond to this massive, worldwide threat to life and public health. 

So how about we stop listening to the armchair experts who think the pandemic is fake and covid is no worse than the seasonal  flu? Perhaps we all need to listen to the experts and do what they recommend.

Looking for Peace in a World Filled With Pain

Yesterday, the very sad anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks on the United States, I found myself avoiding news coverage and retrospectives about the horrors of that day.

CNN aired a series of programs about the death and destruction of that horrible day. I refused to watch any of them. I know too well what happened. I have heard about the nearly 3,000 innocent lives taken that day, and about the first responders who have died from exposure to substances unleashed in the buildings' collapse. I am familiar with the tales of heroism by the passengers of United Airlines flight 93 as they broke into the cockpit and brought the plane down in a field in Pennsylvania, likely sparing the US Capitol building in Washington, DC. 

Instead, I decided to focus on beauty by looking at some of the photographs I have taken over the years of amazing landscape scenes around the world. I also investigated future photography trips for 2022. 

Sometimes, when the weight of the world seems too much to bear, when the grief and sorrow and painful memories threaten to overwhelm us, the best thing to do is to acknowledge the grief and sadness, and then to do something that brings us peace and beauty. This does not mean we don't care, or that we have forgotten that day. It means simply that we acknowledge the pain and accept that for us, the pain is too much to bear.

For me, peace comes from escape through reading, writing and looking at beautiful pictures. Going outside for a walk is another comforting activity.

Especially during this time of deep political divisions and a never-ending pandemic that threatens all of us, it is more important than ever to take care of each other and ourselves.

A Day That Changed America

In two days, we will mark the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on America by a group of radical Muslims.

And how things have changed since September 11, 2001. Suddenly terms and organizations unknown to most Americans became commonplace. The names of Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden peppered our conversations. 

The United States went from a country united in grief, anger and despair to a country that finds people making citizen arrests of school principals for enforcing a government mask mandate. We are a country in which just more than half of Americans have been fully vaccinated against a deadly virus, with the other half refusing to be vaccinated and to wear masks out of some misguided sense of 'patriotism' and loyalty to a disgraced former president.

Personally, I like the nation of 20 years ago a lot better. As NBC News anchor Lester Holt asked at the end of a story about the differences between America in the aftermath of 9/11 and America today: :What has happened to us?"

September 11 is one of those days when everyone remembers where they were when they heard news of the attacks. 

I was on my way to work around 7:15 a.m. PDT when my car radio carried a report that an airplane had hit one of New York City's Twin Towers. It must have been a terrible accident, I thought. Then came news that a second airplane had hit the other tower. This was no accident. I was numb and in disbelief. And I was worried, as I worked for a federal agency in the San Francisco Bay area.

My agency shared property with the military. Traffic on the highway was at a standstill. I soon learned why. Immediately after the attacks, all the access gates were closed, with only the main gate remaining open. Every vehicle was searched inside and out and underneath for explosives as it approached the gate, and our IDs were carefully checked. We also were quizzed about where we were going. Which building was I going to?

As I waited in my car to be cleared to enter the property, I called my parents in Illinois so they wouldn't worry about me. They weren't home, and as I later learned, they hadn't yet heard the news. But I left a message on their answering machine.

Nearly all employees were sent home, but I was among a few employees designated as essential personnel who stayed at work to handle the deluge of requests from local news media wanting to interview our senior managers for their thoughts and 'reactions.' I still wonder exactly what kind of 'reaction' reporters were expecting. So I and a couple of other people in my office arranged interviews, coordinated our efforts with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and developed talking points for our senior managers tapped to do interviews. 

This went on for several days, with little time to mourn the horrendous loss of life. I worked long days and was exhausted when I got home. Finally, on a day off work, I had time to process what had happened. As I sat in my favorite chair in the living room, watching the endless replays of the airplanes striking the Twin Towers, and listening to the non-stop news media coverage, the tears started. And they would not stop.

I went for a walk every day during my lunch hour. One day, as I walked near a fence that separated my agency's property from the military side, I heard an airplane approaching. This sound filled me with fear, as all flights over the US were still grounded. It was a US Air Force plane bringing a high-ranking person to the military base. But my nerves were so on edge that just the sound of an airplane sent my heart racing. Luckily, I was near the runway and saw the plane as it landed.

Life has changed in so many ways since that day, when cowards perverted their Muslim faith and used it as justification to kill innocent people. Now we must remove our shoes, coats, belts and sometimes our watches before we can board an airplane. We go through multiple document checks and are subject to patdowns, scanning and swabs for explosives. We are advised that if we "See something, say something." Security has been drastically increased at federal buildings, airports, stadiums and other places where large numbers of people gather.

The would-be terrorists continue to change their approaches to killing innocent people. They have hit 'soft' targets such as airports, subways, restaurants and other unprotected facilities. They kidnap, torture and murder innocent people. But American and other intelligence agencies and police departments, along with private citizens who are quick to report anything or anyone suspicious, continue to fight back. Terror leaders have been captured or killed, terror cells and plots have been interrupted, and people are willing to get involved in the fight against terrorism on land and in the skies. Passengers on airplanes quickly jump into action if another passenger appears to pose a threat to the plane, crew or other passengers.

I believe that Sept. 11 should be a national holiday. It should join other days of remembrance such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Cancel Columbus Day, which is a minor holiday celebrated by the federal government, but not by anyone else. And it is a growing source of irritation to Native Americans who resent having to honor a man who enslaved and killed so many of their ancestors.

Let us honor the nearly 3,000 innocent people who died on that beautiful autumn day in 2001. Let us also honor those first responders -- police, firefighters and paramedics -- who rushed in to help the victims. Let us honor the survivors who will forever carry the physical and emotional scars of that day. Let us honor all who were forever scarred by the memories of Sept. 11, 2001. 

And now, with our country horribly divided when we should be pulling together to defeat the virus that is our common enemy, let us work to regain the sense of a common humanity, a nation united, that we experienced in the aftermath of this horrible day. In 2001, people around the world joined in a common sorrow for a country with which other governments were sometimes, even often, at odds. Those differences were set aside in grief. People lined up at US embassies in countries around the world to sign condolence books.

That sense of fellowship and support was two decades ago. National tragedies should bring us together. They should drive us to set aside our differences. Instead, we are a nation divided over nearly everything, from voting rights to abortion rights to getting vaccinated to protect us and everyone else against a disease the does not discriminate by age, gender, race or political affiliation.

Let us never forget the tragic events of that September 11. And let us never forget that above all else, we are all Americans. We share a common pride in our country. We have a proud history of pulling together when times get tough. 

It's time to set our petty differences aside and work to find common ground once again.

I Am Strong, But I Am Tired

I saw a meme with these words the other day. 

And this simple sentence struck a chord. I have been feeling tired mentally if not physically for quite some time. Then I realized that I really am strong, but I also am tired.

Life these days is tiring as well as tiresome. Until a new president took office, I was so tired of waking up every morning, fearful of what the orange tinted occupant of the White House had done to put our country at risk overnight. 

Now I’m tired of oh so many things. This administration is trying its best to undo some of the damage inflicted on the United States during the previous 4 years. The effort to get a majority of Americans vaccinated has slowed, but the appearance of the Delta variant of the virus seems to at last have opened the eyes of people to the threat this virus poses. I also hope that the recent granting of full approval by the FDA to the Pfizer Covid vaccine will encourage more hold-outs to be vaccinated. Vaccination rates are up, especially in southern states with the lowest percentage of the population vaccinated.

But I am tired of listening to the whines and the threats and the general distrust of science, and the excuses and the refusal of so many to do the one thing that can make a huge difference in the fight against this coronavirus. Parents are protesting mask mandates in schools. At least one Republican governor is threatening to withhold funding from school districts that mandate the wearing of masks. Who could possibly oppose anything designed to  protect children, especially those too young to be vaccinated, from a potentially deadly virus?

We could get this pandemic under control if only the anti-vaxxers and the anti-maskers would stop their mindless rhetoric about their 'freedumbs' being violated. Apparently these clowns feel it's OK to spread a potentially deadly virus to those with chronic illnesses and other medical conditions that preclude them from being vaccinated for legitimate reasons. The hypocrisy of these people going on about 'My body. My choice' is so blatant. They don't/won't/can't see the hypocrisy of demanding rights for themselves that they refuse to give to women regarding birth control and abortion.

I am tired of watching what should have been a medical and public health issue (wearing a mask, getting vaccinated) be turned into a political issue. This virus doesn't respect party lines. It is an equal opportunity threat to life. 

I am tired of watching helplessly as the women and girls of Afghanistan once again fall under the repressive Taliban regime, which says it will give females 'some' rights. Will women and girls be precluded from attending school, working outside the home and even leaving home without an approved male relative accompanying them?

I am tired of the divisiveness and finger-pointing that are so rampant in this country. I am tired of the Republikkkans' efforts to weaken Americans' right to vote. And I wonder whether America will be able to survive as a constitutional republic, or whether we will become a fascist nation led by a small group of oligarchs.

We certainly seem to be heading in that direction at breakneck speed. And the Democrats in Congress seem incapable of doing anything to stop this runaway train.

It's the Little Things

 It may be a cliche, but it's the little things in life that can bring the most enjoyment.

This morning, for the first time in several months, I treated myself to a cup of my favorite tea, Good Earth Sweet and Spicy. I have loved this tea for many, many years. It was a long-standing tradition to have a cup every morning.

Then I developed kidney stones that required four surgeries to break them up with a laser, and I learned that black tea contains a high level of oxalates, the substance that is a major contributor to the formation of most kidney stones.

I gave away several boxes of Good Earth tea and other varieties of black tea last year. I started trying a variety of herbal teas, which don't contain oxalates. Some are not bad, but I missed my special tea. I still have two boxes of Good Earth tea, and this morning I treated myself to a cup. I don't let the tea get too strong (to minimize the amount of oxalate I consume), and I added a packet of Litholyte crystals, which bind with the oxalate and decrease its ability to form new kidney stones. I also enjoy the morning kick of caffeine, which herbal teas lack.

What a treat it was to enjoy a cup of this wonderful tea this morning! I have never liked coffee, so tea has always been my morning hot drink. After not enjoying this tea for several months, this was a special treat. 

Another little thing greatly enjoyed this morning was a cool start to the day. Afternoons still reach into the 90s here, but overnight temperatures are very pleasant. This is not to say that i am looking forward to cold weather, but a cool morning is welcome indeed.

Last evening we were treated to a heavy rain storm, which brought much-needed rain to this drought stricken area. Unfortunately, the heavy rain brought the realization that the roof over my patio has a leak, so rainwater got into the house around one of the living room windows. Time to call the roofing company. Luckily we don't get heavy rains like that very often.

So those are the little surprises I have enjoyed recently. What little things are your favorites?

I Have Stopped Caring

 I have stopped caring. 

That's right. I have stopped caring about people too obtuse or too brainwashed or too selfish tor too stubborn to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. 

I refuse to feel sorry for them. I am out of sympathy for the willfully ignorant or those too devoted to their cult or their evangelical beliefs to take the simple, safe step of getting vaccinated against the covid virus.

The Delta variant is racing through this country’s unvaccinated population, which is close to 50 percent of Americans. Some 95 percent or more of those hospitalized or dying from Covid-19 now are unvaccinated. ICU beds are nearly nonexistent in some areas. Medical personnel who are forced to care for these people are at the breaking point once again. Now there’s talk about shipping infected people to states, including my state of New Mexico, which have available ICU beds.

Under normal circumstances, I would welcome the opportunity for my state to help those in need, regardless of where they live. But I am out of sympathy for those who, despite scientific evidence proving that the vaccines are safe and effective, refuse to be vaccinated and who refuse to wear masks. 

And not only do these people refuse to do whatever they can to protect themselves and those with whom they come in contact, but too many are actively protesting against reinstatement of mask mandates and vaccination orders. The US military must be vaccinated against the coronavirus, as must all employees of United Airlines and other businesses. Nurses at a Houston hospital -- who should know better the dangers of this virus -- were fired for refusing to be vaccinated. 

Evangelicals claim they don't need to be vaccinated because God will protect them. God has already sent vaccines to protect them. What more do they want?

'My body My choice' proclaim the protesters' signs. Funny how they don't feel that way when it comes to women's reproductive choices, which these same protesters want regulated by the government. 

It astounds me that parents are willing to risk the lives of their children -- many of which are too young to be vaccinated -- by opposing school mask mandates. Aren't parents supposed to do whatever is necessary to protect their children?

I told my daughter just a few days ago that she needs to get vaccinated and insist that anybody who comes into contact with her newborn son be fully vaccinated.

At this point into year two of the pandemic, I don't wish people ill. I don't hope they contract the virus and get sick or die. But I also don't care. If they make a stupid decision and pay the price, so be it. But I do worry about those who are unable to be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons. I do worry about the very young and the old who are at greater risk. I do worry about medical personnel who risk their lives to care for people who don't care about themselves or about others.

I have a lot of sympathy for the innocent victims, be they children or animals or the elderly who are unable to protect themselves. 

But I am fresh out of sympathy for those who refuse to follow simple steps to protect themselves and those around them.

As the saying goes, "Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes."

Being Content in a Crazy, Upside Down World

I read a comment recently in a post about finding and identifying people and organizations that are working hard to make this insane world we live in a better place.

Someone noted that she knows a person who lives a very contented life. She loves her garden. She loves her books, and she loves having a quiet, cozy place in which to read. She is content with her life. 

That started me thinking.

How many of us in today’s topsy-turvy, divided, antagonistic, hate-filled world, can say we are genuinely content? I’d like to think I am, but in reality, I’m not, at least not all of the time.

Perhaps, rather than getting on the I-should-be-happy treadmill, or the I-would-be happy-if-only treadmill, we should work instead on being content, or finding what one blogger defines as 'peaceful satisfaction.' 

Although our modern world pushes us to earn more, own more, do more, what if we started to appreciate what we have rather than worrying about what we do not have. Enjoy your life as it is now. Don't stress about what you want it to be. Focus on your talents, not on the things you aren't good at. Try to develop and improve your skills and strengths. I continually work on being a better photographer and a better writer. This doesn't mean we shouldn't work on our weaknesses, but accept them and try to do better. .

Focus on the positives in your life, rather than on the negatives. Spending too much energy on the negatives -- and our world certainly is full of them -- can pull us into a downward spiral. Many people find it useful to keep a gratitude journal, or to jot down five things each day for which they are grateful. (Five is not a magic number; you can pick any number you choose. The important thing is stopping to think about the things/people/pets/opportunities for which you are grateful each day).

It seems we are in for a rough road again, as the coronavirus and its deadly mutations come roaring back. So this might be a good time to work on being content with what we have, rather than on the challenges ahead.

According to some whose writings I have read, we can cultivate a sense of contentedness. Some of the suggested ways to do this are to practice mindfulness (much has been written about this). Accept all your emotions without judging. Accept them, then let them go. And finally, recognize the mental contingencies in your life. "I would be really happy if I get that big promotion."

I am going to focus on being content with my life. It will be challenging, but I like challenges, so I will give it a try. How about you?

Has America Passed the Point of No Return?

 To answer the question in the title of this post, I believe the answer is Yes.

It saddens me to believe that, but reality strongly indicates that we as a nation are irreparably divided. Left and right ... Democrats and Republicans ... liberals and conservatives ... all have seemingly insurmountable chasms separating them. 

Conservatives, evangelicals and Republicans at large care only about holding on to their power and accumulating even more wealth. They don't care about the poor, the struggling, the immigrants, the elderly, the children, the environment -- in short, they care only about themselves and others like them. They care only about other white folks, especially male white folks. Yes, there is a handful of black and Hispanic Republicans, but they are rare indeed. The bottom line for these people is maintaining things are they were in the 1950s and earlier. Women knew their place and stayed home raising kids, keeping house and having a hot meal ready when their lord and master returned from work. Minorities were content to work in the shadows, seemingly grateful for whatever crumbs were tossed their way.

Trump didn't create this divide, but he certainly gave it a voice and exacerbated it. He made it acceptable, even fashionable, among tens of millions of Americans to freely act on their racism, misogyny, greed and unfounded fears.

Now we are reaping what he has sown. Responding to the pandemic was turned into a partisan issue. With more than 650,000 Americans dead of coronavirus so far, we now are facing an even more easily transmitted and infectious variant of the virus. And millions of Americans still refuse to get vaccinated, for any number of frivolous reasons.

Fortunately, calls for the unvaccinated -- not the vaccinated -- to stay home and away from others are growing. The problem, of course, is that it is impossible to determine who has been vaccinated and who is merely pretending to be. I have no problem with being forced to present my vaccination card, with counterfeit cards already being produced.

The country is deeply divided over many issues: Racism. Voting rights. Gay marriage. Guns. Climate change and the environment. Abortion rights. Women's rights. Access to affordable medical care. Mask mandates and vaccination requirements. What to teach and how to teach it. Social issues. Taxation. The economy. Police and the policed. The role of religion (read, Christianity) in America. Immigration. The definition of patriotism. Science.

Given these deep divides over nearly every aspect of 21st century American society, can this country survive? Can we survive as a nation when governors of Republican-dominated states are actively working to prohibit mask mandates? Can people, including political leaders, come together to find common ground and work together for the greater good? 

As things now stand, I fear the answer is 'no.'