Optimism and Hope

 If there is a day that people look to the future with optimism and hope, it's January 1st of every year.  No matter how the previous year turned out, most of us look to the future with optimism and hope.  And why not?  2020 has brought more challenges to the entire planet than perhaps any year in recent history.  I say recent because there have been a lot worse years than 2020 in human history, but this year has been fundamentally challenging to most.  I don't need to detail all those challenges, but I bet every person has felt a sense of despair at one time or another .  But the arrival of a new year brings with it a natural desire for a fresh start.  And no matter what your circumstances, looking forward with hope, optimism, and a determination that things will be better in the future is only good for your soul...and your psyche,

As for me, I'm walking into 2021 with a clear heart and mind.  If you owe me, don't worry about it.  If you wronged me, it's all good, lesson learned.  If you're angry with me you won.  I've let it go.  If you feel I've wronged you, I apologize.  It wasn't intentional.  I'm grateful for every experience that I've received.  Life is too short for pent-up anger, holding of grudges and extra stress or pain.  Here's to 2021 and remember, forgiving someone is for you so you don't block your blessings.  Make 2021 a year of positivity and a season of forgiveness.  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Loser

 I was generally a supporter of Trump and his policies over the past 4 years.  Sometimes it was very difficult as his arrogant personality and gigantic ego frequently blurred the good that he was doing. And not only was there good, the other side was bad.  As in Socialist bad.  So I hoped he would would be reelected.  But at some point as the election drew near, it became obvious that he had alienated too many people and was in great danger.  People just grew tired of his abrasiveness, his focus on himself, and his chaotic administration.  When he lost, I wasn't surprised.  A good example is the Philadelphia area.  He lost the city last time but won the suburbs.  This time he lost the city by even more and lost the suburbs.  Normal, middle of the road people, especially women, were just fed up and wanted a change.  

I'm sure he has people around him and in the Republican Party that provided this analysis, but he wasn't listening.  I guess it's not a big surprise that he has acted the way he has.  He has denied reality, surrounded himself with sycophants and village idiots, and resisted any notion that he lost.  His "team" has filed untold lawsuits and they've all been thrown out for lack of evidence.  And these are sometimes judges he appointed.  So it's over.

I thought at some point he would act like a President and concede graciously.  But I don't think that is to be.  He will pout and blame and threaten to the end.  It's a sad day and like nothing I've ever seen.  And it is exhausting.  Three weeks to go.  It will get worse as Jan 20 gets closer.  

Masks and Social Distancing

 If you've read at all you know I live in Southern California.  And if you're breathing and even partially aware of what's going on in the world, you know that California is an epicenter for the COVID19 pandemic.  The infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are pretty eye opening.  People are frightened and the ICU's are filling up.  People with small businesses like restaurants and other service businesses are getting killed by being shut down by the governmental lockdown.  The State government in my opinion hasn't responded very well to the problem because they've adopted a "one size fits all" solution. And that solution is to close everything down.  But that is a whole other story,

Since my wife and I are of...ahem...a certain age, we've been very careful about our activities outside our home.  We've worn masks and kept a social distance when going out to stores, restaurants (when we could), stayed outside when possible, and limiting our interactions with others.  We've spent most of our time walking our two precious Labs, reading, playing games, doing chores around the house, and really just watching everything we do.  I continue to play golf, ride my new eBike, and partake of Rotary via Zoom but personal experiences are few and far between.  The exception is our interactions with our daughter, her husband and our three granddaughters.  They have been very careful and I think they are conducting their lives somewhat so that they can interact with us, which is so appreciated.  Seeing them really gives us a boost.  And seeing our son and his family on the East coast is just out of the question.  Thank goodness for Zoom and FaceTime.  Like everyone, we look forward to the day when we can be vaccinated and life can start to return to normal.  But I think that will be a while, so in the meantime we continue to do what we need to do to protect ourselves and others.  

When the pandemic was gaining momentum, the conventional wisdom was that only the elderly with co-morbidities were in danger.  Those in senior centers and older people with other health problems were doomed if they got the virus.  But as time has evolved, the stories of the virus killing people of all ages seems to be more common.  So now we know that the virus can be deadly for anyone and it isn't really very predictable how someone will be affected.  One person may not even know they have it, the next person will get mildly ill, the next will struggle and the next will die.  And it's difficult to predict how it will impact each individual.  

Having said all that, I continue to be amazed by number of idiots surrounding me.  I continue to be amazed at people discounting the wearing of masks and social distancing.  I've heard people say that wearing a mask takes away our freedoms.  WHAT?!?  Once again that is just idiotic.  If it does nothing else, it offers some basic protection.  You can read just one of a million articles on why to wear a mask here.  That someone would object to wearing a mask and practicing social distancing is just disrespectful to everyone around them.  It's infuriating and idiotic.  But don't get me started! :)  So please...when you go out, wear a fucking mask and practice social distancing.  It's not that hard.  It's not an abridge to your freedoms.  Have some respect for others.  Don't be an idiot.