What is in our future?

 I admit, these are some concerning times. Watching the news can be quite depressing sometimes. And so can going to the gas station or supermarket. Experts say things that make people panic and withdraw. Between rising gas prices, cost of groceries and lack of food on the shelves, it may seem pretty grim. But after talking to people who lived through the GREAT depression, we're doing well.

People don't like change and when it comes to paying a buck or more for a gallon of gas, that sucks. Just things like trying to find baby formula can be daunting. And all of this can make you depressed, especially if you throw into it the election commercials that bad mouth this candidate and that candidate... it is confusing to the voters. What does our future hold? Who knows. But what I do know is America always finds a way to pull out of times like this. It is not easy, and there will be some who have it rougher than others, but we ALWAYS come out of it.

Economists tell us to spend wisely, but don't stop spending because that causes other problems in the financial chain of events. It's a great time to sell your home, but a bad time to buy another because they cost more. It's great you want to save the earth by driving a green car, but the production of electric cars and hybrids is slow because of the shortage of parts caused by the Pandemic shutdown and the war in Ukraine. The world economy is like a tank rolling along at 100 MPH and then suddenly coming to a stoplight at the base of a mountain. It is going to take a lot to get that tank up the steep mountain, and it's not going to be fast for a while. That may not be the best example but it's true. Getting back to our old-self is not going to be easy.

So again, what is in our future? Nobody really knows for sure. Some think they know, but actually they don't. Even the expert economists don't know.They are as confused as we all are. The only good advice I have heard from them is: spend conservatively, but don't stop going out to dinner. Shop, but be frugal. Drive, but plan your trips. Eliminate anything in your spending that is not really necessary. Never spend more than you can afford. Cut down on credit cards purchases, and save as much as you can for the really hard times.

Any candidate who listens to the voters and has half a brain will be working for us. It's our job and duty to research each one to see if they want to do a good job, or just feed their ego and follow the lies. We have the power of vote to make that happen. Do the research, trust the facts, don't follow the lies, and use your vote wisely. We are strong and we WILL get through this together as Americans always do. Take care and stay safe.

Are you a winner, or a loser?

 In baseball, if you're the worst team, you'll probably lose 1/3 of the time. If you're a best team, you'll probably win about 1/3 of the time. So, the final factor is who wins the remaining 1/3.  You don't always win, and you don't always lose. It's kind of like that in life too. Democracy is like that also. 

In some countries, people think democracy is overrated. They may advocate Socialism or Marxism. I am not fond of either, and know what it's like to live in the United States today, you would not either. Think about this. If you were buy your daughter a dress, in some countries you would have to get the same color as everyone else. Bread would only be available on one day a week. You would be told where to live and where to work. If you were overheard speaking out against the government, you may never be seen again. Our freedom is golden.

Here in the USA, we can travel when and where we please. If we work hard, we can make lots of money. We can live and work where we please. We can speak our minds without being punished. We can send our children to mostly any school, and, they can be taught subjects that are forbidden in some countries. The United States in about as free as free can be. Yes, we have laws and restrictions on certain things. But without those laws and restrictions, it would be total chaos and more crime than you can imagine.

You have to admit, when our founding fathers wrote the Constitution and Bill of Rights, they knew what people needed and wanted. At least most people. And when they wrote those famous documents, we were just a colony of England, and under their rule, and forced to do what the King wanted to aid and support England, but not necessarily benefit us.

The democracy process is not easy to keep. And then you throw in Capitalism into the make and you get the United States of America. A country where so many thousands want to come because of our strength and wealth as a country. Where you can come from nothing and grow into much more than they had in their country.

Now, let's get this straight. I DON'T advocate rebellions. I DO NOT advocate assault rifles. I do advocate gun rights with restrictions. And I DO advocate a woman's rights to her own affairs in respect to HER body. That should be NO ONE'S business except hers. I advocate more research for diseases like cancer, cardiac, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health.

Democracy is NOT perfect by a long shot, but it's the best we have, and I don't want to lose it. many countries are trying to move that way. It makes me angry to heard someone say, "The election was stolen." When it was proven over and over and over again that it was not. They are nothing but sore losers. And then they try to undercut the election process by pressuring officials to overturn the election, or raising a riot on the Capital, while the leader DID NOTHING to stop it when he knew what was happening.

I have voted ever since I was 18, and in my 75 years, I admit I have voted for the wrong person a couple of times. But when I realized my mistake, I started doing more research and trusted the facts for my decisions. Not hear-say. We don't always have the greatest candidate, and candidates can not always give you all the things they promise, but candidate is always better than the other for the country, state, city or town. Think about that. Think hard!

I am asking you to be that winner, do your research, check the facts, vote in your primary (in Arizona it is August 2nd), and on November 8th vote in the midterm election for your choices, no matter what party. But do your part in one of the greatest gifts you have as a citizen. Take care and stay safe.

The age of LIES

I believe being honest is in the Ten Commandments somewhere, if you believe in that. I do.  but it seems that lying is  the most common action in our world, except the sun coming up everyday. Lying is seen in all types of things from political commercials, to friendships, and marriages. the problem with lying is (besides being wrong) is you have to tell another to cover for the first one. I have watched people standing on stages, in front of hundreds, thousands, and out 'n' out spin a lie. To win approval? maybe. Or to make their ego bigger? And when they get caught in that lie, they deny it. Lying doesn't hurt you but others too. I guess some people just can not tell the truth because the outcome is not what they want to achieve. A step in office, admiration, the special person they want to be with, or something. Sooner or later, the truth will show.

Lying takes the form in many different ways. Lie to your spouse, lie to friends, lie to the multitudes, or lying to yourself. the last one is a way to blanket over your inability to do or achieve something. Admit it and try to be better it the truthful thing to do.

And then there is blame when someone did nothing wrong. People love the point fingers and blame the other guy for his or her own mistake. Like when you are driving the posted speed limit and someone passes you and then flips you off. You're doing nothing wrong, obeying the law, but the other guy is lying about what is right and wrong.

Some people lie about the facts and say the facts are wrong, and unfortunately the convince other their lie is right. Facts DON'T LIE! That misinformation we hear a lot about these days is really discouraging to me. And for people to believe it is scary. "This COVID thing will pass and it won't affect you." So, was that true? No, it affected us all.

I actually think sometimes I am the only one who can see through these lies and agrue to other, 'check the facts for the truth'.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth from the lie. But you are smarter than that. We all know right from wrong, truth from a lie, but sometime we don't want to believe the truth. 

It almost seems like yesterday

 First, I want to thank you, the reader, for reading to my 'babbles' about everything up the sun. I may not be a great writer, just one that writes from the heart. Thanks.

Have you ever been somewhere as a couple and someone asks, "How did you two meet?" Well, Nancy and I get that too. I guess it is a natural curiosity thing. So here is the story. 

We both worked in the grocery business, she was the lead cashier at night, and I was the Assistant Manager.  We had both gone through a divorce and felt we needed a change. I said, "I am going to go west (from Cincinnati) and I could use a friend to be my co-pilot." Nancy said, "OK". To make the story short, we eventually landed in Phoenix Arizona in 1976. Phoenix was booming (and still is) with a lot of job opportunities. In a few months of staying here, I interviewed for the Phoenix Fire Department and got a position as a recruit firefighter at 30 years old. Oldest guy in the class. Money was tight so I filed for On The Job Training (OJT pay) through the VA. Since I was still unmarried and single pay was less than married status, I asked Nancy if she wanted to get married and she said "Sure." Things had evolved since we left Cincy. We tell people she married me for money. So in the middle of the fire training academy, over a weekend, we drove to Las Vegas and got married. Within 24 hours we tied that proverbial knot. That Monday morning, getting ready for our 2 1/2 mile run and hot drills, someone asked, "What did you do over the weekend?" I replied , "Got married " His jaw dropped. "What the hell for?" "Because I enjoy being with her and I think she feels the same."  Yes, we've had our ups and downs over the years because one of us is stubborn (or both of us) and don't want to give in, but I believe that is a marriage thing. I know she has my back and for sure have hers.

And now we have 7 grandkids total. All GREAT kids. Smart, healthy, charming and a 'hoot' to be around. Neither of us have living parents, so we became the grandparents for both sides of the family. We have self-adopted friends of our kids as ours, because they hung around our house a lot, and they call us MOM and DAD now. Some did not have a great home environment  so they came to a more inviting home. Of course our grocery bill went up, but that was OK. Sometimes I'd come home from the fire station and there would kids sleeping on our living room floor.  Those were such great times. Most of those kids still call or visit us. Their all grown and have kids of their own now.

This may sound a little weird but, I relate my life as roll of toilet paper. It always starts slow unrolling, but as I age, it goes faster and faster, until it runs out. Thankfully, my roll is still unrolling, faster and faster.

I leave you this Sunday morning with our one and only wedding picture taken at 5 AM Sunday morning outside the chapel in Las Vegas on April 24th, 1977. And at 45 years and counting that bond is still there. I believe we were blessed and hopefully you are too. Take care and stay safe.

 

Independence Day

Tomorrow is the 4th of July, as the day we celebrate the release or at least the resistance from British rule any longer. 246 years ago, a group of men came together to write the first draft of the Declaration of Independence. (yes there was more than one. Thomas Jefferson composed most of it. John Hancock was the first to sign it, and signed it BIG, so King George the III would know he was part of this giant movement. 

The D of I was actually started to be signed on July 2nd, not the 4th, and all of the delegates did not finish signing it until August 2, 1776.

John Adams wrote to his wife, "This day should be celebrated with parades, fireworks and bonfires." Sound familiar? And we still do it today.

At the time in 1776, there were about 2.5 million people living in the USA, compare to today with nearly 332,916, 000 people. But even then, the word about independence spread like wildfire through all the backwoods settlements, towns and big cities. "We are tired of being taxed without representation." They were fed-up with being under King George III's thumb. But the battle was just about to begin. The colonists had to fight for that freedom they wished for. And at the time, the British was one of the strongest armies in the world. Many would die on both sides. A couple of my ancestors fought in those battles, and fortunately survived.

Sadly enough, the composers and signers of the D of I only saw a  short history of how their actions created one of the most powerful and influential countries. Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th 1826, and John Adams  both passed away on July 4th 1826. Oddly, James Monroe also passed away on July 4th, 1831. It's like the sculptors died on the day we now celebrate. Independence Day did not become a federal holiday until 1870.

Independence is not an easy thing to obtain in many parts of the world. Eventho we have independence, some believe some of our rights have been depressed or taken away. Governments are NOT perfect, nor are the leaders in government. A government is a necessary evil to maintain order and peace. But unlike 1776, we have a say to how and what our government does for us the citizens. They're called a vote, city/town meetings, and supporting your picks for office, bill or referendum. Don't waste yours.

Mark Twain once stated, "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." I think those words ring true today too. Our country is split and we have a lot of bad candidates and a few good ones. They may not be perfect, but they are better than the alternative. 

Tomorrow I and my family will be celebrating our youngest grandson on his 4th of July 11th birthday.  Have a great day to ponder your freedom and all the people who sacrificed their lives to give us that wonderful gift. God bless you all, take care and stay safe.