LIFE LENGTHENING
The other week I guess my subconscious mind attempted to
lengthen my life, if only by one day. I had checked my calendar on Sunday, as I
usually do, and was delighted to discover I had only one scheduled activity in
the week to come. I was thrilled as had
seemed every week, for I don’t know how long, there had been few, if any, days
free from some obligation. So, the days
that week went leisurely by.
Then, one afternoon, just as I leaned back in my recliner
for a few moments of post lunch shut-eye, I received a phone call. A voice I recognized said, “I guess you aren’t
coming?” “What?” I confidently replied, “This is just
Thursday, and we moved my appointment.”, recalling we had rescheduled to a day
different from my usual one. “No, this is Friday”, I was told. A few
minutes thought and I realized I was a day behind.
What had happened? I hadn’t consulted a calendar during the week,
remembering well I had that one appointment.
I chuckled to myself recalling
that a decade or so ago I had waltzed into the shop one day for my appointment to
the surprise of all, only to discover I was a day early – causing us all to have a good laugh for weeks to come.
I was also
reminded of years ago when my children were in school, my friends and I used to
laugh about getting our days mixed up whenever school day schedules sometimes cancelled
classes for a day mid-week. The day often
seemed like it must be a weekend -- Saturday or Sunday.
We clearly weren’t
experiencing typical memory loss, but when we reach a certain age and demonstrate such
behavior, others might be inclined to assume otherwise. We, sometimes, even wonder about ourselves which we probably didn't when we were younger.
Wisely, at any age, if we experience an
increased number of such mixed-up or forgetful instances, we should discuss the
matter with appropriate others, possibly trusted friends, family, our doctor or other
professionals.
DO NOT FORGET
Disaster effects from hurricanes, earthquakes, fire, rock
slides, continue to wreck havoc on the lives of many around the world including
many island peoples we should not forget.
Volcanoes are even erupting though no known victims at this
writing.
Our U.S. citizens in Gulf States and East Coast areas,
continue the hard part of cleanup and reforging their lives. Florida
Key’s officials announce they are able to accept visitors again -- probably in real need of income from tourists as will be many other islands, especially,
including Puerto Rico.
The island of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated U.S. territory,
received the force of two hurricanes, one after another -- a real double whammy. Unfortunately, the Territory has been in dire financial condition since before this disaster which likely handicaps their resources needed for recovery. Obviously, being an island surrounded by an ocean makes providing assistance from others more challenging, but alerts for emergency support planning were known well in advance.
Puerto Rico's residents have been United States citizens since 1917 following the conclusion of the Spanish-American War in 1898. Referendums have been held periodically with serious consideration by residents and U. S. Congress given to Puerto Rico becoming the 51st State in the Union.
Our nation’s leader continues to betray the ordinary citizens
of the United States of America as evidenced by the negligent manner in which slower-than-expected
assistance has been provided to Puerto Rico and the people there.
Likewise,
initial descriptions from our leader’s proposed tax reform plan consist of
smoke and mirrors hardly benefiting the typical American. Additionally,
more elements are surfacing from the cesspool this Administration continues
to create in the swamp he said he would replace.
OCTOBER SONG
An original blues, soul, pop composition by a talented but troubled young artist known for performing in various musical genres who died tragically much
too young several years ago.
