Mass Shootings

It has been nearly nineteen years since the Columbine Massacre. That is what it was called, a massacre, it was so horrible, so shocking, that someone could go into a school and start shooting, and fifteen were dead. We were shocked! It was so unthinkable, it was hard to absorb that something so unthinkable could happen.

Well, nearly nineteen years later, and many shootings have taken place. The latest today, at a school in Florida. It is still horrible, and disturbing, and sad, but it is no longer unthinkable, we are no longer shocked. The fact that shootings are so commonplace that we are no longer shocked is a tragedy in itself.

Love, Marriage, and Divorce

When couples get married they expect to live happily together for the rest of their lives, when we get old, you take care of me, and I will take care of you.

Sadly, it doesn't always work out as expected, and may be harder to understand when the couple is older. When you are together for 35 years it is natural to assume it will last forever.

Late marriages involves blended families, with children, and grand children that you learn to love as your own.

If the situation can't be reconciled, then splitting up and learning to be happy apart, and happy for each other may be the answer.

Spending Our Money

A post on Facebook got my dander up this morning, which is not unusual. A woman, a friend of a friend, no acquaintance of mine, was complaining about kids getting free school lunch. As if it was coming out of her pocket, oh, yes it is, after all She pays taxes and she doesn't want her taxes going to feed a child of parents too lazy to get off their ass and take care of their kids. After all, if they can't take care of their kids, they shouldn't have had kids. Everyone thinks they know someone who sits around all day, living off the government, while they, themselves, have to go to work.

Seriously! Undoubtedly here are some people who could do better, who are lazy and don't try as hard as they should. Then there are those who just can't get their shit together, and it is a shame they had kids when they couldn't take care of them properly. But that is they way it is, and people need to mind their own business and get on with their life.

We pay taxes, and we elect people to run the government, and they hire people to work for us, to take care of things we need. Sometimes that need is feeding people who are hungry and can't seem to fend for themselves. As I see it, that should be the least of our worries. Good God people, bitching about feeding a hungry child, what could get any lower?

We all take from the government, from time to time,and that is they way it should be, we pay taxes and government provides services. Our tax money is good for something, other than paying Congress to work half the time.

Keys to Happiness

My title to this post is slightly misleading, however, that is what popped into my head.

 I think one of the roadblocks to happiness, or contentment, is the inability, or unwillingness, to accept something that you cannot change. I spend a great deal of time butting my head against a brick wall, metaphorically speaking, refusing to accept what is, as it is, instead I tell myself it should be different.

Why is another kink in the chain, why does he do this, why is this happening, why, why, why? More often than not, there is no way to know why someone behaves the way they do, or why something happens.

The only thing we can control or understand, without the cooperation of others involved, is ourselves, and our own actions. God give me the serenity.................

Christ in Christmas

Every year, and it has started, already, this year, people post that some are taking Christ out of Christmas. Good Lord! How is that even possible? It isn't. So what, if someone in a retail store says "Happy Holidays," instead of "Merry Christmas?"

There are many different religions, in the world, and in this country, There are many different religious holidays, many of which are around the same time as Christmas. As a former business owner, I understand greeting customers with "Happy Holidays" then you are covering any holiday they might be celebrating.

 Almost always, if you say Merry Christmas first, the store employee will respond with Merry Christmas. I admit, it is not always a sure thing, you may say "Merry Christmas," and get a "Happy Holidays" in return.

Personally, I don't, always, need to say "Merry Christmas" to every person I see. Seriously, do you really think that is taking Christ out of Christmas.

   

Trump

President Elect Trump, God, how I hate the sound of those words! But, he is our, soon to be, president. He ran such a hate filled campaign, insulting nearly everyone.

On Sixty Minutes tonight he was asked about his supporters attacking Muslims, and yelling insults at people. He acted concerned and said "That saddens me, that makes me sad." The man seems to forget that is how he ran his campaign. 

Well, time will tell what we are in for over the next four years. There is, already talk of impeachment, horrible thought, because the only thing I can think of worse than Trump being president, is Pence being president.

Oh, well, we shall see how we survive.

Politics

It seems this political season has lasted much longer than necessary. One problem is the way the primaries are held, and who can really understand the caucus. This country should simplify the process, have a day to vote in the primary, all states vote the same day, and then we know who the candidates are. In stead of this long, drawn out circus.

If I hear one more person say, and I have heard reporters say it, that Donald Trump has spent less money, and how does he do it? Stupid people, Trump gets media coverage all day, every day. He says something outrageous, or totally stupid, and then we talk about him constantly. Sorry to use the word, "stupid," so often, it seems the situation calls for it. It would be great if we all took one or two days, and no one talk about Donald Trump. It would be interesting, and maybe drive him mad, he seems to thrive on attention.