JANUARY 1, 2022 - NEW’S YEAR DAY FOR 2022!!!

 JANUARY 1, 2022 - NEW’S YEAR DAY FOR 2022!!!

Ah, yes!!  The promise of a New Year - a fresh start!!  As the illustration shows - Out with the Old, and in with the New!!

BUT … as much as we want to celebrate - humans don’t really want to change!!!  Over the years, various people have suggested making “New Year’s Resolutions”.  And, we sometimes do, and rarely keep them.

But, let’s have a story!!!!

*****

What a year it had been!!  Kelly had been reminded of the old county song “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.”

*****

Her husband, Rob caught COVID in February 2021.  And, he had it bad.  In the hospital, in a room with a ventilator.  ten weeks - ten terrible weeks - ten miserable weeks - until he died. At 37, Rob was much too young to die.  

Then came the bills.  As a contractor in the Austin Texas area, he had carried his own health insurance,  He had to, just in case he fell off a roof, stepped on a rusty nail, or caught pneumonia. 

COVID had not been on his agenda eight years ago when Rob started working construction.  The business was great.  He had learned so many skills - so when it was unmercifully hot, he could at least be out of the sun doing wiring or plumbing.  But, ten miserable weeks, ten weeks without a paycheck, ten weeks that Kelly had been working very few hours so she could be at the hospital.  

At first, it seemed so very nice for Rob’s ex-wife (and the mother of their two children) would take the kids so Kelly could go to the hospital.  When Rob died, Trudy had filed suit to have the kids permanently.  Kelly loved those kids, but the court decided that they should be with a biological parent, and Trudy was a reasonable mother most of the time except when she was smoking dope.  And, Trudy had a good job and money while Kelly was broke.

In the week after Rob’s death, Kelly lost her job with ten weeks of not working they had tried to understand, but the reality is reality - they needed the accounting analysis done NOW to satisfy the government and the businesses.  

The bank was next.  The loan Rob and Trudy had taken on their house was due after two months without a payment.  The bank understood - COVID was tough, it was hitting a lot of folks, and they were sorry, but they were on a paper-thin line between profitability and loss.  

*****

So, boom - lost a husband, lost her job, lost their family, lost their house.  

******

She lived with a friend for a few days - sorting out the options, paying the bills, understanding there wouldn’t be a funeral for Rob in the near future.

She thought about calling her parents.  It would have to be a last resort.  When she had married Rob - a second marriage for him and the first marriage for her; her parents largely had disowned her - and Kelly had said some things to them that she wished she could take back.  That door had slammed shut (and was nailed in place).  

Why was life so tough?  

*****

Kelly approached her last boss at McGladtree.  He was sorry that all had fallen apart for Kelly.  But, he did agree to write her a recommendation.  He warned her that with COVID not many firms were hiring.  There might be a small sympathy for her situation, but Kelly would have to step up her game.  

Kelly did receive some unemployment benefits.  That helped a little.  She was able to trade off Rob’s old car and her old car and got a really cheap small used car that got great gas mileage.  That helped a little.  

*****

Her friend Leah tried to help out as well and allowed Kelly to live with her 

Then, it somehow happened.  Leah’s job ended abruptly.  The company was losing money hand over fist, Leah was the last in - and thus the first out when they had to lay off people and fire them.  

Leah got a little severance pay over the next six weeks, both ladies were getting unemployment benefits but those would run out eventually.  They had to find a job.

*****

The two ladies soon were taking jobs - just because they were jobs and paid something.  As soon as the vaccines were out, both got on the list and got vaccinated.  A health occupation friend suggested working for either private patients as a nurse’s aide or for a hospital or home.  Kelly started with Senior Angels and soon was making enough money to start to pay off some of the bills.  As a private aide, she worked from 7:00 to 4:00 - five days a week.  She had the same patient, Dr. Samantha Prince. Dr. Prince had been a professor at the University of Houston, and then dean at Concordia University, and had retired as Provost for Southwestern University.  Now in her upper 80s, Samantha could not take care of herself.  She had never married but had saved and invested wisely.  

Kelly, did the main shift for Dr. Prince - getting her up, feeding her, bathing her, dressing her, taking her to doctor appointments, and on nice days, pushing Dr. Prince in a stroller around her neighborhood.  Kelly gave her morning medications, checked her vitals (mostly blood pressure and temperature), and was her constant companion.  It paid $450 a day or about $1800 a week, or about $72,000 a year.  

Leah went to work for Lutheran Social Services and did similar things as Kelly, but generally in one to two-hour blocks.  So at 7 a.m. Leah might be getting Marge up, bathed, dressed and fed, until 9:00; then at 9:30, took care of Aggie until 12:00 - which included making Aggie lunch.  At 12:30, she saw Nancy until 2:00 - and also made Nancy lunch; then Ned from 2:30 to 5:30 - including a bath, making him a meal, and cleaning his apartment.  The income wasn’t quite as great - about $425 a day, or $1675 for the week.  Sometimes there were extra shifts (like when Marge traveled to Atlanta for her niece’s weekend, and Leah accompanied her the whole time and got her airfare and all expenses paid and a nice bump in pay.

*****

It wasn’t awesome work.  Bathing an old person and changing their adult diapers and wiping down their bottoms was not what either Kelly or Leah majored in college.  But, with a joint income of over $120,000 a year (before taxes).  It helped out.  

Leah, the more spiritual one said “God will provide”, and He had.  

*****

Life does come at us pretty hard - and it can throw us for a loop.  Being able to roll with the punches had become a necessity for two women.  

Eventually, they learned to like working with these senior people and they became very close to their patients.  

*********************************

Postscript:

Little did they know that in 20 years, Kelly would be the COO - Chief Operating Officer for Senior Angels and doing business analytical work to improve the service, and safety of the angels.  She did reconcile with her parents and family. Leah would be a senior psychologist for Lutheran Social Sciences helping provide their clients with mental health support.

Or that in six years, Leah and Kelly would be married.

*****

Ah yes, another Pollyanna story - love wins, and faith and belief also win.

****

Happy New Year!!

Karen

January 1, 2022

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 - THE LAST DAY OF 2021

 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 - THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR

This week I’ve been reflecting on 2021.  Monday I wrote about COVID - and how it has lingered.  Tuesday was thoughts on how Hatred is flourishing.  Wednesday was more on my transition from male to female.  Yesterday I was taking stock in myself and I will finish that today.

I have a philosophy that I need to be physically active, keep challenging my brain, grow spiritually, have friends, be social, eat well, get sufficient sleep, meditate and reflect, and LOVE OTHERS since LOVE WINS!!  

*****

PHYSICAL

Not as good of a year as 2020.  Last year in the “Map my Walk” app, I was in the top 1% of all the users of that application.  This year, I’m in the top 4%.  Last year there was little going on.  With my friend AP, we walked four to six miles several times a week (and always had plenty to talk about).  This year, with my evenings busier, I am not walking as much.  (And, I have added pounds around my middle - ouch!!!)

Yes, Granny Basketball has been good for me physically and socially.  But there are times that I sit in my favorite recliner for six (eight?) hours a day.  My apartment has an exercise room that I used to use, but I haven’t been there for months.  

I have routes in my neighborhood to get a mile, two miles, three miles, and five-mile walks.  I can put on my headphones and listen to an audiobook or music - but inertia keeps me in that recliner.  

With my physical thoughts comes a parallel of nutrition.  Last spring I looked (in my blogs) about vegetables - and yet as I write today, I don’t eat enough vegetables.  (About the only good point is my Swiss Chard on my patio is going “great guns”.  Snip a few leaves, add some other things and I have a great salad for lunch.  

With my work this fall, I have been able to eat for $2 a meal and my facility has excellent meals (and desserts).  That has worked against me too.  I like food!! 

(I’ve also found that my diet has not had enough fiber, so my mainstay breakfast is oatmeal with raisins, ground clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and maybe other spices.)

And, something I’ve known for years - I love butter.  Bread (and related) are only delivery methods for butter.  And, as part of my heritage, ice cream at bedtime.  (Yup, I know, I’ve read, not a good nutritious thing to do!!!)

So, one of my New Year’sResolutions is to lose weight, walk and exercise more, and eat more veggies and cut down on bread and sweets.

*****

FINANCES:

While not directly one of my main philosophy points, but a necessary part of life.

My retirement income got divided when my wife and I divorced.  I moved (was moved) to an apartment.  I have fretted about money most of my life.  

Last winter/spring I substitute taught at the local school district.  Not a good choice and I was asked to leave and not come back (not quite “fired” but almost).  That was savings that went for my surgery and recovery expenses.

In the summer, I brooded and (without all the other things that go on), decided I needed a job to keep me occupied.  So, I took a part-time job at a local senior/retirement independent living facility.  This is an upscale facility.  The meals are superb (another reason I have added weight).  My clients are in their 90s (except for one).  I have been reminded of a French play (that I have not seen or even read) “Waiting for Godot”, where seemingly the characters are on the side of a road waiting for God to take them.  

Before she died, my mother told me she was praying for “God to take her” (aka - to die).  I’ve heard that wish from several of the people I visit.  

I don’t have a television (and I should have been walking more), and there is only so much you can do in a small apartment.  My rent was up about $40 a month, my cable bill was up about $30 a month.  

But, in between, I was meditating on “God will provide for you”.  Was I trusting him to take care of me?  So, I am working three evenings a week - about 3:30 to 8:30  Just about right.  And, I have used the money wisely (at least in my human view).  I have supported groups, organizations, and people (like I should have been).  I feel that I am blessing these seniors, and contributing to society.  (It seems like there are oodles of jobs in a similar vein that are going unfilled).  

I love this job, and I hate this job.  At 74, I like my freedom, but at 74 it seems wise to help others.  

I have helped a friend with some major financial hurdles.  

*****

MENTAL ACTIVITY

I can’t leave these personal reflections without a comment on writing a daily blog.  I have found that this is a “labor of love”.  I hope thousands of people would read it (and on the other hand, I’m not sure it makes any difference who reads it -I “need”/”must” get my ideas out of my head).  I have no idea if my daily blog is relevant or not.  (Can you give me a quick ‘yea/nay”).  I think it is hard to give feedback.  

I also think my writing has gotten more personal - is that good or not?  

I am not (quite) a philosopher.  (But, I think I could be one!!!)

*****

ENOUGH FOR THE LAST DAY OF 2021

Tomorrow will be a New Year’s theme, and then on to New Year’s Resolutions and what knows what my mind will tackle next.  I’m guessing some old themes will reoccur (and, yes, I like the idea of having Friday as “Love Wins” day; Saturday will have a story; and Sunday will be a Funday (shhh - Sunday Funday is frequently a rehash of my Thursday Bridge Brat Bulletin blog!!!).

*****

LOVE WON in 2021 and LOVE WILL CONTINUE TO WIN IN 2022!!!

Karen

December 31, 2021

 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2021 - REFLECTIONS IV

So, what else happened this year, Karen?

I have a philosophy about dementia that I need to be physically active, keep challenging my brain, grow spiritually, have friends, be social, eat well, get sufficient sleep, meditate and reflect, and LOVE OTHERS since LOVE WINS!!  

Today and tomorrow, I’ll be looking at my year 2021 in terms of those factors.

*****

MUSIC - active, social, mentally challenging

Well, let’s see.  COVID eased enough with vaccinations that a form of normality returned.  With that, I started playing tuba again.  

Actually, in spring 2020, I started playing with the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra. When we moved to the Austin area in 2013, I looked at the Williamson County Symphony - but they had two tuba players (and for sure didn’t need a third one (me)!!)  I played with the Band of the Hills but had loved my symphonic music from Connecticut.  A friend from the WCSO told me they were looking for a tuba player - and I jumped into the group.

That abruptly stopped in March 2020 as COVID trashed almost all activities.  A winter version started in January 2021 with limited instrumentation, but a full concert occurred outside in May 2021.  (Unfortunately, I was on the sidelines after my surgery).  Over the summer, some internal issues developed, and by fall 2021 I played in two symphony orchestras - the WCSO and a new group, the Central Texas Musical Arts Symphony.  This second group also did a brass quintet over the summer with some interesting music and some fun people.  Alas, the quintet only played once for a neighborhood party - so our interesting and intrinsic pieces went away for lighter things (like Rubber Duckie with tuba lead).  Walburg Mayfest and Oktoberfest returned.  

But, the two symphony groups managed to schedule their December concerts on the same night, so I only played with the Central Texas Musical Arts group in December.  (Only one night was just about right for me).

GRANNY BASKETBALL - active, social, challenging

I was officially sanctioned in March 2020 to play on the Georgetown Fire Ants granny basketball team - BOOM - COVID took that away.  But, in fall 2021, we started up again.  In my second game, I scored 22 points (my high point).  I traveled to a tournament in Norman Oklahoma (where we lost three times), and now have about ten games of experience.  At age 74, I’m not fit and trim - but I enjoy the activity.  I call it my aerobics class.  We have a lot to learn as we’ve won twice and lost eight times in those ten games.  

But we have a new coach (as of last week), who seems to want to be competitive and I think we will be.  (The two games from two weeks ago, we lost by six (and we were ahead by six after three quarters; and lost by 10, although we had been ahead in the third quarter).  

BRIDGE - mentally stimulating, social

In 2019, a new social bridge group started in Georgetown.  I wasn’t a bridge player.  From watching my parents (and reading the bridge column in the newspaper), I knew a little about the game.  I probably am not much farther along in my knowledge and skills.

In March 2020 with COVID, I started a weekly “Bridge Brat Bulletin”.  This e-newsletter has continued since then and has almost totally moved away from bridge to just fun.  (Send me your email if you’d like to get on my list).  I’ve used the National Day list and the This Day in History list.  I’ve researched the top records corresponding to the date.  I’ve added pictures, jokes, and light commentary as well.

The actual playing of bridge is every Thursday at a local senior center.  We have fun, we laugh, we keep our brains challenged and busy, and we sometimes win or sometimes lose.  We generally have four tables and after four hands we add up the points - and the losers make the “Walk of Shame” to go to the next table. 

SPIRITUAL - mental, spiritual growth

This year, 2021, has been a time of spiritual growth. Like years before I did a “Through the Bible in a Year” daily study.  I use the YouVersion on my iPhone.  A great friend, NP, sends me a daily meditation.  I have a streak of 516 days (not quite two years), but 147 weeks (almost three years).  I missed a day 517 days ago - actually a Sunday where I was in church - but I didn’t use the YouVersion app!!!  (I don’t think that matters much to anybody except me)

I attend two Sunday services (the second I haven’t talked about much - a small (about 20 people) “open and affirming” group - with straight, gays, lesbians, transgender, and anybody.  (A bridge friend invited me).  My traditional group also gives me deep spiritual insights.  (I take notes at both services).  I attend two weekly scripture studies - one where the leader told me to my face that I am “going to hell” - but we’ve been good friends.  (After all, I’m to love and not hate, and not judge!!  Besides, that is on Saturday morning and another attendee brings apple fritters!!).  The second is a traditional Wednesday evening study.  These challenge me and help my spiritual thinking.  

With trying to go deeper in LOVE WINS I find a spiritual basis for the universe from an infinite being who loves me.  (As the God figure in “The Shack” says “I’m particularly fond of that one”, (and meaning “I’m particularly fond of Karen White - who was Bruce White”.  That infinite creator/being KNOWS me by name - knows everything I do.  I am not a puppet that he/she/it/the force can manipulate - He gave me free will.  I can overuse my free will and do stupid things.  Psalm 139 says it to me: “Where can I go from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

About a month ago, I started to doubt my spiritual commitment.  I was like 70% committed.  I liked living in the world. Can I get to 100% commitment to this infinite higher power (and not lose any love)? 

There is a joke about seniors and what comes next.  Senior 1:  “I’ve been thinking about the “here after” a lot lately”.  Senior 2: “How so?”; Senior 1: “I go into a room, and I ask myself “What am I here after?” 

In my case, at age 74, yes, I am interested in the “here after” - I will die at some point.  Is there a heaven? (I firmly believe so).  

**********************

My friends - I have an unwritten rule (until now anyway), that my blog should take up no more than two physical pages at default font and default margins).  I am on page three and still have personal reflections to talk about.  Thus, this will be continued tomorrow - on the last day of the year 2021!!!

So, even as boring as this might be, I’m going to continue it tomorrow.

Next week I will be talking about New Year’s Resolutions!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen

December 30, 2021

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021, REFLECTIONS III

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021 MORE REFLECTIONS ON 2021 - PART III

(Note - this is going to be personal - you can skip if you want)

***** 

In my last year of teaching, God smacked me with a giant two-by-four board.  Yes, he got my attention.  Sometimes when you get in “the groove”, you don’t realize that it is really “the rut”.  I was in my last year of teaching.  It had been a great career.  I have the blessing of working with so many great students and colleagues.  But, that can also bring some unintended consequences.  I had a big ego.  (I lost some of that moving from being a full professor with a national reputation to a “lowly” Senior Lecturer at the University of Texas).  And, I had become judgemental.  (I hate to write that).

“SMACK”.

“Bruce, I made all humans in my likeness.  Who are you to judge?” seemed to be the message from God.

Then, the gender issue hit me.  Yes, I was a very privileged white, American, male professor.  (I was superior to the women around me.  If there were women in leadership at universities, it was because somebody had determined that they “had” to have women to diversify academia. 

Could the infinite God (about which I had no doubts - He/She/It/The Force was so far above me), who “spoke” worlds into existence, not accept a Muslim woman (or others) as a worthy disciple.

“But God,” I complained, “How can it be?  No one comes to the Father except through Jesus.”

“And, what is your point, Bruce” seemed to be the reply.  

“But they are all wrong.  They don’t even acknowledge Jesus!”.  

“Do you know their heart?  Do you know of their love for me?  Do you not believe that I can ‘breath’ into any person at any time?  Have you walked a mile in their shoes?  You only see the exterior, I see their heart”.

SMACK

**

That started me on a journey I would never have imagined.  

I retired in May 2016; (and worked at Kohls for Christmas)

In spring 2017 I had my major health issue (aorta) and surgery (“You are lucky to be alive”); 

In 2017/2018 I/we did a lot of counseling; 

In October 2018 I was moved out from Leander Texas to Georgetown Texas (about 15 miles)

In May 2019, I started taking hormones to relieve my gender dysphoria and to help make me a female and I started living as a female full-time. 

In October 2019, I spent four days in a mental hospital (see below)
In February 2020, I legally changed my name and gender with the State of Texas; and 

In May 2021 I had “Gender Reconstruction Surgery”.  (And, my gender dysphoria has disappeared. I like who I am I have to like who I am - if I am to love my neighbor as myself)

Change is tough!!!  I wrote a fictitious story in the last two weekends of Afghanistan natives being refugees in the United States.  (Can you imagine the reverse, what if you were relocated to Afghanistan - not knowing the language and culture).  My brain had accepted that I was a female.  That would have been inconceivable six years ago.

And, I lost the most precious aspect of my life - my family.  I was wrong in their eyes.  My wife maybe said it best “You’re not the man I married”.  Biblically the concept is being “shunned”.  I pray for reconciliation every day, and I believe it will happen.

Maybe more than missing our son and our daughter, I miss my five grandchildren.  How are they doing in school?  Do they look different than they did at age five?  What activities do they do?  (Do they remember and miss me?) It has been over three years since I have seen them.  “Abby, Leah - I love you; Asher, Ada, and Genesis - I love you!!!  And, Becky/Matt, Steve/Sara, Connie - I love you unconditionally -<PERIOD>.

**

Despair won for a time in 2019.  I seriously considered suicide.  I spent four days in a local mental hospital.  It still shows up from time to time in depression (I am on anti-depressant medications) 

**

Slowly - maybe like the caterpillar who wraps herself in a cocoon, my body was changing and my mind was changing.  How do you adapt when things are going wrong.  Maybe like Anakin Skywalker - I could turn to the ‘dark’ side.  I could let the despair conquer me.

Was this a lesson God was taking me on?  How could I love others if my family had locked me out?  (I do not say my family didn’t love me.  I sense they thought I was so wrong that the only way to help me was to shun me.  Matthew 18:15-17 says “If your brother wrongs you, go and take up the matter with him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every detail may be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, report it to the Church. And if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.”)

As I emerged from the cocoon, the overwhelming love of a supreme being (God) has been my guide, and the assertion “LOVE WINS” began to grow.  I am not allowed to hate.  I have quoted Dorothy Day “I can only love God as much as the person I love the least”.  

Maybe like Joseph in the Old Testament whose brothers sold him into slavery and he ended up in Egypt, I’ve been exiled. Did Joseph miss his family every day?  I think so.  In Genesis 42:24 in his first meeting after years separated from his family, “He (Joseph) walked away from them and cried.”

I have known many tears - both happy and profoundly sad.

*****

Love one another, love covers a multitude of sins, “Love is patient; love is charitable. Love is not envious; it does not have an inflated opinion of itself; it is not filled with its own importance.”

*****

So, as I reflect on 2021, I keep learning, I had surgery, and I am trying to love unconditionally!!

LOVE WINS!!

Karen - pronouns - She / Her

December 29, 2021

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021, YEAR-END REFLECTIONS - PART II

 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2021 YEAR-END REFLECTIONS

HATRED

If Hate was a stock (and if I had money to invest), I’d be putting all my money into it.  Hate seems to be on the rise.  

The year started with a riot on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.  It seems as if the riot/attack was to overthrow the government.  To me - that still sounds impossible.  Are we (United States) some backward third world country where a coup d'état would throw the existing government out and set up another government favored by the rioters?

Wikipedia says:

“On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump attacked the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. They sought to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election by disrupting the joint session of Congress assembled to count electoral votes that would formalize then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The Capitol Complex was locked down and lawmakers and staff were evacuated, while rioters assaulted law enforcement officers, vandalized property, and occupied the building for several hours. Five people died either shortly before, during, or following the event: one was shot by Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes. Many people were injured, including 138 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months.”

That isn’t the United States I know and grew up with.  Yes, elections can be long and bitter.  Mudslinging, innuendo, charges, and outright lies (or “fake news”) happen (unfortunately).  I tend to be non-political - and really want cooperation, honesty, and effective government.  I found the framers of the Constitution to have been astute, with three separate units, executive, legislative, and judicial branches - with appropriate checks and balances.  

Yes, we can be upset over elections, we can be upset when our favorite football team loses on a bad referee call.  Stuff happens folks.  Stuff that we don’t agree with.  While it might seem “forever”, wait two years for a new congress, wait four years for a new Presidential election.  (Or we can be like the Detroit Lions who have never played in a Super Bowl - “someday this will change - maybe in 200 years???)

We have allowed ourselves to become polarized.  We listen to political broadcasts (technically ‘entertainment’) that lambasts one side and blesses the other side.  (One such media once used the terms “fair and balanced”).  

Go ahead and hate your neighbor

Go ahead and cheat a friend

Do it in the name of Heaven

You can justify it in the end

(Part of the refrain from “One Tin Soldier” song from the 1960s)

*****

Of course, that wasn’t the only hatred in 2021, but it sure set the tone.  

The following is from 2019, but I think the data is sound.

“More than half of 2019 US hate crimes were motivated by race, ethnicity, or ancestry

In 2019, the FBI received reports of 7,314 hate crime incidents. The vast majority of hate crimes reported to the FBI are dubbed “single-bias” incidents which are believed to involve one bias. Of those, in 2019, 57.6 percent were motivated by race/ethnicity/ancestry bias. 20.1 percent were motivated by religion, 16.7 percent by sexual orientation, 2.7 percent by gender identity, 2 percent by disability, and 0.9 percent by gender.”

The same article suggests that there might really be close to 200,000 hate crimes.  It seems that a lot of hate crimes are not reported.  

*****

For Hate is Strong and Mocks the Song of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

****

Well, with all the hatred, hate crimes, maybe we need a cheer-up:

******

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.  As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of a little boy “Mister,” he said, “I want to buy one of your puppies.”

“Well,” said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, “These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.”

The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. “I’ve got 89 cents. Is that enough at least to take a look?”

“Sure,” said the farmer. And with that, he let out a whistle. “Here, Dolly!” he called.

Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain-link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.

Slowly another little fur ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp, it slid. Then the little pup began awkwardly wobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up. “I want that one,” the little boy said, quickly pointing to the runt.

The farmer knelt down at the boy’s side and said, “Son, you don’t want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you as these other dogs would.”

With that, the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.  Looking back up at the farmer, he said, “You see, sir, I don’t run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.”

With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy.

“How much?” asked the little boy.  “No charge,” answered the farmer, “There’s no charge for love and understanding.”

Like that special puppy, the world is full of people who need someone who understands.  

*****

More tomorrow!!!

LOVE WINS!!!

*****

Karen

MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021 YEAR-END ANALYSIS

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021 YEAR-END ANALYSIS

Musing at the end of 2021

*****

Here we are in the last week of 2021.  I think this has been better than last year (2020) as we did have vaccines against COVID and we did get out and do things.  But, COVID still is rampant and even growing with a new variant. 

The Texas Tribune says: (December 22nd edition):

“The new COVID-19 variant omicron is bitterly reminding Texans and Americans that the pandemic isn’t over. 

“In a state where only 55.9% of people are fully vaccinated — and just 14.2% have received a booster shot — people are scrambling to get tested while weighing the risks involved with gathering for the holidays. Meanwhile, hospitals are preparing already burned-out staffs for possibly yet another surge.”

“The number of hospitals reporting full ICU units has started to increase again after dropping since August. Meanwhile, the rate at which COVID-19 tests come back positive has passed into territory that qualifies as concerning to federal officials."

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My comment - here we go again.  

For many reasons, Americans have adapted the concept of extreme independence.  We have accepted the concept that we can choose or not choose to get the vaccine.  In the paragraph above - 55.9% are fully vaccinated - that is with two injections of Moderna or Pfizer or one Johnson and Johnson.  Meaning that about 44% of the Texas residents are NOT vaccinated!!  So, 44% of the population is more at risk of COVID or one of the COVID variants (like Omicron).  And, that 44% can catch the new variants and share them with their friends, family, co-workers, and people they come into contact with.  

Last week, I saw a man going into the grocery store as I was leaving.  His body was full of tattoos, but he wore a shirt that say “No vaccines for me”.  

I’m taking March 2020 as the start of the pandemic - so now 21 months later, we have a solution (vaccines, masks, social distancing, washing hands, etc.) but the pandemic continues and warps into new variants.  

We are all in this together, let’s work together to move on.

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Okay, (quoting Franklin D. Roosevelt) - The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!!

“Autonomous weapon systems – commonly known as killer robots – may have killed human beings for the first time ever last year, according to a recent United Nations Security Council report on the Libyan civil war. History could well identify this as the starting point of the next major arms race, one that has the potential to be humanity’s final one.”

“Autonomous weapon systems are robots with lethal weapons that can operate independently, selecting and attacking targets without a human weighing in on those decisions. Militaries around the world are investing heavily in autonomous weapons research and development. The U.S. alone budgeted US$18 billion for autonomous weapons between 2016 and 2020.”

(From Killer robots, military technology | Homeland Security Newswire).

So, a pandemic that isn’t stopping, to killer robots - that may not quite be the message of “Peace on Earth, Good will to men” that we heard last week!!!

So, in the next war, robots on both sides (or ‘all’ sides), can be programmed with face recognition to shoot and kill their ‘enemies’).  Doesn’t that make you feel warm and fuzzy all over?

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A phone call in the future from Ron.

“Hi Ron, how are you doing?  How’s Connecticut?”

Ron answers, “Doing great, Karen.  How about you?”

“Also great!!  What’s up?”

Ron replies, “Do you remember that Boy Scout I mentioned who is setting up his own holiday music station?  Well, he is just $500 short of getting all the licenses, the equipment, and features to make it work.  I’m hoping you can help on this.”

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Also from Homeland Security - “Artificial intelligence can imitate people’s voices. Scammers are already taking advantage of this on the phone”.  These “deep fakes” sound like a friend’s voice, and with imaging can look like a friend.  Would I know that I’m being scammed?  Probably not, other than Ron has never asked for money before.  But knowing I am partial to ambitious Boy Scouts, the Artificial Intelligence application puts it all together to make “Ron” (or an AI version of Ron), ask me for money.  And, Ron would not scam me!!  (But Ron’s AI counterpart can and will scam me!!!)  

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Ah yes, the world does continue.  Christmas comes and goes, but hatred goes on.  

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen