The Day After

November 7, 2012

I have received a number of emails and posts on Facebook this morning either exulting victory or weeping in defeat. I, a Romney supporter, am not depressed. Our country will survive. Those who disagree with me can consider Canada, Mexico or Cuba, all bordering our country or close to it.

I do not view Barak Obama as an evil person. The country has held together during the last four years and all the other four year periods during which certain people thought it would fall apart. I know we are staring bankruptcy in the face, but I imagine our leaders will be able to pull together before we fall over the cliff. I read what people said about Abraham Lincoln when he was president. It is enough to make one's blood boil.

Our daughter Karen said it best: "I have a roof over my head, food, a car to drive. I'm okay." She's right, We live in a blessed country. We live lives of ease and comfort that kings 100 years ago would have killed for. We'll be alright.

I pray for our leaders and that they will be blessed with wisdom and strength. So may we.

A Kremlin Park

Some years ago, I sat in a large park in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. I watched men and women mow the grass (with American lawn mowers!) and peaceful people with their families enjoy the cool, sunny day. Without much thought, I could have been in London, Paris, New York or even Gilbert. As I watched the peaceful scene, I wondered how on earth leaders of two countries could have considered blowing each other up with atomic bombs. I realized where I sat would have been ground zero for the first American bomb. I gave a silent prayer in gratitude that the park and the people in it had been preserved as well as my homeland. As before and more intently afterwards, I pray for peace among the peoples of the world.

Of Chicken, Coffee, Computers and Kisses

Recently, the owner of Chic-Fil-A came out against gay marriage. The nation was thrown into a tizzy as several mayors of large cities, forgetting the right to free speech, said they would not allow Chic-Fil-A to come into their respective cities. In response, last Wednesday, August 1, was unofficially declared "Support Chic-Fil-A Day" across the country. Angered, the gay community decided to protest by having gay couple kiss at Chic-Fil-A stores across the country.

On the other hand, Starbucks, America's most popular coffee outlet has declared their support for gay marriage as has the Apple Computer Company.

On Monday, July 30, I had a nice chicken sandwich at Chic-Fil-A. A few days later, I visited the local Apple Store, a favorite place of mine to spend money. I am not a coffee drinker, but love Starbucks hot chocolate and some of their goodies which have caused my blood pressure to spike. I will likely visit my local Starbucks at my earliest opportunity.

I am a Mormon. Tom Hanks, one of my favorite actors, has made outrageous comments about my Church showing a complete lack of understanding of what we believe and practice. Will I stop going to Tom Hanks movies or discontinue my 28 year love affair with Apple products? Of course not!

We have become so sensitive and reactionary to anyone who disagrees with us that we can hardly function. Can't we have a rational conversation or just agree to disagree? I do not believe in boycotts or protests against certain institutions just because we oppose their beliefs. Many friends, family and people I love dearly have views diametrically opposed to my own. Does that mean I want to write them off? Does this mean I don't respect them? No and again no! This is a free country. We have the right to believe and orient our lives as we see fit and discuss and argue the same. I do believe these issues are important, but when discussions and arguments are over, let us take a deep breath, smile, keep loving each other and be grateful for the countless things we have in common. Otherwise, we may destroy ourselves.

History

History

One of the problems in crime cases is reconstructing the crime when a number of witnesses are involved. When a historian decides to write, he or she must draw from witnesses, usually dead, then decide which ones are reliable and which ones are not. Often, most historians have an agenda for writing their piece of history and will quote the witnesses  suiting that agenda. Years ago, Lerner and Loewe wrote a musical, "Gigi," in which a song, "I Remember It Well," illustrates this point. The song is a duet performed by former lovers, Honore and Mamita, who are now aged. If you'd prefer to see the song performed, just do a search using the title.

I REMEMBER IT WELL
From "Gigi" (1958)
(Lyrics : Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe)


Honore & Mamita 

H: We met at nine
M: We met at eight
H: I was on time
M: No, you were late
H: Ah, yes, I remember it well
We dined with friends
M: We dined alone
H: A tenor sang
M: A baritone
H: Ah, yes, I remember it well
That dazzling April moon!
M: There was none that night
And the month was June
H: That's right. That's right.
M: It warms my heart to know that you
remember still the way you do
H: Ah, yes, I remember it well

H: How often I've thought of that Friday
M: Monday
H: night when we had our last rendezvous
And somehow I foolishly wondered if you might
By some chance be thinking of it too?
That carriage ride 
M: You walked me home
H: You lost a glove
M: I lost a comb
H: Ah, yes, I remember it well
That brilliant sky
M: We had some rain
H: Those Russian songs
M: From sunny Spain
H: You wore a gown of gold
M: I was all in blue
H: Am I getting old?
M: Oh, no, not you
How strong you were
How young and gay
A prince of love
In every way
H: Ah, yes, I remember it well

When my family gathers, although none of us is an historian, we go through that process. One begins to tell a story and soon is interrupted by a family member who gives the "more accurate" version of the story. As in the song, the consequences of accuracy or inaccuracy are usually small, as in the time I prayed the cat away. Our cat, Shakey by name, ate holes in each of our waterbeds. She climbed the curtains and tore them to shreds (my first exaggeration). I grew to hate the cat. 


One Friday evening, I came home exhausted and tired. No one else was home. Shakey started to whine and rub up against my leg. I finally looked out the window, up to the heavens and said in my mind "Dear God, will you please get rid of this cat for me?" I let Shakey out the back door and no one in the family has seen her since. To me it was a very spiritual experience and saved me from replacing countless waterbed mattresses.


In our family, Shakey's disappearance was a mystery. The kids were sad and I didn't say anything... for ten years. I finally told my children what had happened that Friday afternoon. They were irate and upset that I would tell them a story like that. They were convinced that I had killed the cat or taken her to animal control. Their version of that family historical event might go something like this:


     "Dad hated Shakey. One afternoon when no one else was around
     he either dropped Shakey off in the country or took her to the 
     pound. Then he tried to tell us this story about how he had prayed
     her away to cover his tracks."


What is the truth? The kids are right that I did not like the cat. Actually, I don't like any cats. The evidence is stacked against me. But I swear and promise my version is true. I am not the type of person to leave an animal in the country or to take one to the pound without consulting with the family.


If a tasteful reader, like me, does not care for cats, the wise reader will likely believe my story. However, a sympathetic cat lover, with cat hair throughout the couch and between the sheets of the bed would likely side with my children. Those who are religiously oriented might come down on my side. Those who are not believers likely will accept my children's' story.


History is like this. It is full of prejudice, supposition and fabrication. It is fun to read, but one shouldn't put too much stock in it.

Pixar Brave

I suppose it is my desire for quality, but I have always enjoyed the Pixar movies. Today I went with all of my grandchildren, except two, and saw "Brave," Pixar's latest effort. I'm supposing again that it may be my Scottish heritage, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. "Brave" captured the spirit of the land, the people and touched something deep in my DNA. Although scary for the young ones, it was a fantastic film and I recommend it highly. Of course, having an independent red-headed daughter and granddaughter (and grandson!) was a definite influence too. Pixar has scored again!

The Worst Thing That Can Happen in This Life.

I love cookies, all kinds of cookies. But the worst thing that can happen to an individual in this life is to bite into a delicious chocolate chip cookie and find that it is really a raisin cookie. Biting into a raisin cookie is great. I love 'em, but don't mix them with chocolate chip cookies! I'd rather experience Chinese water torture.

Two Things a Fat Old Person Needs

One of the worst things that can happen to a fat senior citizen is to have a slender doctor who does not understand the vicissitudes of trying to drop poundage. I advise two things for over weight old people: a fat doctor and a fat cardiologist!