The perfect storm

Enough

Enough. 
Physically,  emotionally, and mentality reaching the point beyond having had enough. Everyday there's more piled on to the already relentless negatives of 2020. New years is not a turning point but simply more of the same. Most interaction via social media is a controversial battle ground of opinions and perspectives. The news media throws fuel to the fire of America society burning down. Politics and politicians are appalling in every aspect. Racial controversy rages. Everything is a controversy. Religious beliefs prejudiced on others not believing as they do. Police controversy... crime increasing.  It's all too much, for too long. 
New years resolution.... survive with some degree of sanity. 
And as social isolation consumes the desire or ability to be social,  isolation takes an emotional toll... as individually we try not to become socially invisible. We are loosing the human connection. And perhaps loosing ones own self, anscself worth. Growing old in a society where your value deminishes the older you get, and you feel you are lost in a sea useless souls discarded by society. 
Again, New Years resolution... Survive with some degree of sanity.

 

Uplifting

Christmas Morning 

Festive & heart warming. 
Listening to Christmas music.

Family opening presents.

Smell of fresh baked cookies.

Fireplace, ahhh.

Then, a surprise.  
It started to snow.

It's a White Christmas. 

Invisible

Invisible. 
The path in life that is relentless and inevitable...
I am becoming invisible.

When my blood family all passed away... 

I become invisible. 
Moving away from childhood friends...

I become invisible. 
When I retired from work...

I become invisible.

As everyone's life consumed their time...

I became invisible. 
As friends I grew up with pass away...

I become invisible. 
As friends in my adult life pass away...

I become invisible. 
When I stopped traveling in the social rv lifestyle...

I become invisible. 
Now living in the isolated countryside...

I became invisible. 
Getting older and older...

I became invisible. 
As the world passed me by...

I became invisible. 
When my life experiences no longer mattered...

I became invisible. 
When my advise was no longer valued...

I became invisible. 
When the desire to be social stopped...

I became invisible. 
When gathered in a group and no one hears me speak...

I became invisible. 
When social isolation (covid) became the new normal...

I became invisible. 
At family gatherings and no one hears what I have to say...

I became invisible. 
When children and grandchildren move on with their lives...

I became invisible. 
When almost everything I knew becomes out dated and useless...

I became invisible.

When the past holds more promise than the future...

I am invisible. 
When society sees no benefit from my life...

I became invisible. 
When my physical health concerns no one...

I am invisible. 
When the meaning of my life fades more and more...

I became invisible. 
When the future holds little or no promise...

I became invisible. 
When the few that still see me look away...

I will be completely invisible. 
When no one sees or hears me...

I am invisible. 
When hopes and dreams are only of the past...

I am invisible. 
When no one will remember me or my life...

I am invisible. 
When I am invisible... I am no more.

So what is left on this inevitable path?

How do people cope with life after 70? 80? Or even 90?

When everyone you knew is dead. 
When everything you knew has changed. 
When all you knew is gone.

When years of happiness fade.

When years of heartache pile up.

I am invisible and alone.

What is life anymore? 

Why do I still cling to life?

When what point does this finally happen? 
And what's left to do?

I am invisible. 
I am invisible. 

Christmas

And so this is Christmas...

Repeat

Repeat as necessary.

Politics

While the world is in the midst of the pandemic, politics and it's corruption, still reigns supreme. American politics is not only business as usual but has gotten ten times worse. 10 percent benefits where it's needed,  90 percent waste, special interest, and favoritism. 
While the whole world suffers, we all have our own problems. 
Why is congress throwing billions of dollars to foreign countries when the need here is so critical? It may be selfish, but we need to take care of our own first. No other country helps us in our need. Other countries take care if themselves not only first, but many exclusively. Congress is full of greedy self centered not only business as usual corruption,  but are taking full advantage of the aid bill.

This needs to stop. 
Hopefully the President will Veto the bill and congress revise the aid package to put help where its needed. American businesses and the people. 

Congress and the aid bill. Giving our financial future, and the future of our kids and grand kids to special interests and foreign countries, while playing political games. How do we have any faith in them? Answer... we don't. Take care of Americans FIRST!

Smiles

Smiles across the miles...

What's in your driveway?

Gifts

So, what do you get the person that has everything and be sure they don't already have it?... pretty sure, this is it! Have several to buy gifts for? Buy in bulk!

Yea... just kidding!

Christmas tyme

Reality

Perspectives... Opinions... Facts... Conjecture... 

No matter where you're at...

It has been enlightening to watch Greys Anatomy. All the tv shows including medical, kinda skirt the pandemic issue. Making less of a serious issue (again as per your perspective). Greys hits you right in the face with the virus issue, how the hospitals are really dealing with a stark reality and not sugar coating anything. You could say it  gives you a new perspective...  Maybe worth watching.

Waiting

Still waiting...

We polled one hundred people and got the same response...

we waited...and waited...and waited... still waiting.

Perspective

Happiness is a state of mind.

Some days are a challenge, some the same old same old, 

some are happy, and some are simply hopeful. 

It all depends on your perspective. 

Enjoy the dawn of a new day.

Nature

The world seems to be in such a mess... It's relentless everyday. 

Nature is a comforting escape...

Covid

Many people speculate about the future. Some with concern and cautiousness... others, not so much. Another social division among many others. How will everyone react, and what is the future.

So, what's to come? 

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

(copied)

What is the END game with covid...especially with the new CDC reports? Supposedly an ER nurse wrote this... I did not write this but thought it was worth sharing.

“Please just take politics out of it and read this with an open mind using common sense. Anyone out there who can tell me what our end game is with the covid 19?

What is the magic formula that is going to allow us to sound the all clear?  Is it zero cases?  The only way that will happen is if we just stop testing and stop reporting.

Is it a vaccine? It took 25 years for a chicken pox vaccine to be developed.  The smallpox inoculation was discovered in 1796 the last known natural case was in 1977.

We have a flu vaccine that is only 40 to 60% effective and less than half of the US population choose to get one, and roughly 20,000 Americans will die of the flu or flu complications.

Oh, you'll mandate it, like other vaccines are mandated in order to attend school, travel to some foreign countries, etc.

We already have a growing number of anti vaxxers refusing proven, tested, well known vaccines that have been administered for decades but aren’t necessarily safe!

Do you really think people will flock to get a fast tracked, quickly tested vaccine, whose long term side effects and overall efficacy are anyone's best guess?

How long are we going to cancel and postpone and reconsider?

You aren't doing in person school until second quarter?

What if October's numbers are the same as August's?

You moved football to spring?

What if next March is worse than this one was?

When do we decide quality of life outweighs the risks?

I understand Covid can be deadly or very dangerous for SOME people, but so are strawberries and so is shellfish.

We take risks multiple times a day without a second thought.

We know driving a car can be dangerous, we don't leave it in the garage.

We know the dangers of smoking, drinking and eating fried foods, we do it anyway.

We speed, we don't buckle our seatbelts, we take more than directed.

Is hugging Grandma really more dangerous than rush hour on the freeway?

Is going out with friends after work more risky than 4 day old gas station sushi?

Or operating a chainsaw?

When and how did we so quickly lose our free will?

Is there a waiver somewhere I can sign that says, "I understand the risks, but I choose a life with Hugs and Smiles, and the State Fair and go to Church and go hug my Mom in her retirement home.

I understand that there is a minuscule possibility I could die, but I will most likely end up feeling like crap for a few days.

I understand I could possibly pass it to someone else, if I'm not careful, but I can pass any virus onto someone else.

I'm struggling to see where or how this ends.

We either get busy living or we get busy dying.

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

Something to consider. In reality, there's at risk. More to some, less to others. How will life proceed, everything is an unknown. Ones personal life... ruled by precautions verses possible risk. The new normal. Those at possible higher risk using more precautions longer. Those at lower risk taking less precautions... possibly promoting continued spread to those at risk. So, when will it end? Over time those at risk will die. Those stronger will survive and become immune. The virus will still be here but only affect the much smaller at risk diminishing population. Years from now virtually near forgotten, except for the few that die in obscurity. And the world will have bigger issues to deal with. 

The current issue is not only the virus itself, but the attitude and careless behavior of these at low risk that don't follow any of the guidelines... putting those at higher risk in peril. Not even caring that their reckless behavior has no regard for others. 

Pretesting

Pretesting. In an ongoing effort to ensure that Santa gets only the absolute best on that special night, pretesting ice cold milk and various cookies is officially currently underway. Clearly intensive testing is required. Judging will no doubt be exhausting, but someone has to be willing to make the ongoing sacrifice. I am one such person and up to the challenge. Will advise you later of the final results.

Great idea...

Great idea... ( yes,  I'm entirety being sarcastic)

And it continues... In the news... efforts to defund the police. 

To each his own perspective. Personally... I don't get it.

Wrong solution for a real problem. 

What to do: buy more ammunition.

But not to worry... If you are for defunding  police and banning guns...  I will respect your decision and NOT protect you from the criminal element that's heading your way.

Masks

I have been wearing a mask every time I leave home since early March. I’m not sure why being considerate to others for the common good is now being mocked by some who are calling it “living in fear”, but it needs to stop! When I wear a mask over my nose and mouth in public and in the stores/Supermarkets/Pharmacies/Offices - I want you to know the following:

I'm educated enough to know that I could be asymptomatic and still give you the virus.

😀 No, I don't "live in fear" of the virus; I just want to be part of the solution, not the problem.

😀 I don't feel like the "government controls me". I feel like I'm an adult contributing to the security in our society and I want to teach others the same.

😀 If we could all live with the consideration of others in mind, the whole world would be a much better place.

😀 Wearing a mask doesn't make me weak, scared, stupid, or even "controlled". It makes me caring and responsible.

😀 When you think about your appearance, discomfort, or other people's opinion of you, imagine a loved one - a child, father, mother, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or even a stranger - placed on a ventilator, alone without you or any family member allowed at their bedside.....Ask yourself if you could have helped them a little by wearing a mask.

Hiking in the woods.

A walk in the woods... The trails of Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah National park stretches 105 miles, as the road winds, from north to the south along skyline drive. Traveling the mountain crest through the park is the Appalachian Trail. But there are 500 miles of internal hiking trails to enjoy nature. Everything you'd expect from nature and more. Plus added elements of human inhabitance from long ago. Stone structures, some estimated to date back to the  early 1700s and 1800s. Some perhaps earlier. All with a story to tell... most with unanswered questions. The people that lived here and what their life was like. All in all, still interesting.

Good morning

Getting up early... or sleeping in.  Miss some sleep... or miss the sunrise. 

A new day dawns... Nature's announcement of new hope.  

Spectacular.

Good morning y'all... Enjoy a bright big beautiful morning.

Drama less

When you're there you know it... It's called being happier. Meanwhile you watch everyone else getting upset and creating drama over dumb ass shit that means nothing. Then it's a state of confusion... Why would people want to live that way? 

Y'all have a great day and a better tomorrow.

Reflections

December, a time of reflection... One year coming to an end with new hopes for a new year.

Relationships

Relationships... finding the right person.

The Red Flags...

Red flags. Sad to say,  but by thirty - forty something, too many people have twenty years of less appealing situational and emotional baggage that they are still dealing with. Stress and  drama. Red Flags to someone in a better healthier emotional and stable life. There's probably an over abundance of people that come with more red flags than those with fewer. It's tough finding a good match. Chasing someone with too many red flags either never works out or means too many compromises. The right person comes along when both are in the right place in life at the same time.  I do believe that Confucius said all this in his writings.... kinda. While chasing the red flag, it usually means you miss out on finding the blue ribbon. But that's a personal decision.

This comes under the heading of good advise that you just can't take.  

Ps: Red flags as warnings... know where they originated? 

The beach... Red Flag Warnings of danger. Disreguard the red flags at your own peril. Go all in and your will probably die.  Some applies to people... Red flags... all in... Your gonna get hurt. 

Perspective

Perspective:

Socially acceptable... Hundreds of thousands die from drinking, smoking, drugs, and being overweight... which they do to themselves. They didn't catch it nor can they spread it to others.

Yet people rationalize that Covid kills far less people (so it shouldn't be taken serious?), but its not a personal choice that you do to yourself, you can unknowingly catch it, and unknowingly spread it to others. Infecting others, making them sick or dead. 

Not the same as drinking, smoking, or drugs.... It's not a personal choice that only affects them. Covid kills others. There's no comparison. Perspective.

Pandemic

Watched a news interview this morning.  Basically this person indicated that the Covid virus (despite its origins) is nothing more than nature's way to make the population as a whole stronger & healthier. The young, the old, and the weak will perish, as in nature,  and the heard will be stronger for it.
WHAT A CONCEPT FOR THE HUMAN RACE. 

No matter how anyone rationalizes it, dismisses it, or think it's not real... The virus is deadly to some (apparently those not worth saving). Wow... It's a fact ( probably ) that most are not at risk of dying, but  being careless to get infected and spread it to those at higher risk, well, it says a lot about the kind of person you are.  

The  "it's all about me generation" (and the hell with anyone else).

WHAT A WORLD WE LIVE IN TODAY.

Seems to be the same story everywhere.  

Relaxing of government restrictions ( leaving precautions up to individuals)...

Complacency, not being as careful as time wears on...

Psychologically tired of it all and the desire for a normal daily life...

Giving up, giving in, wanting a normal life despite the risks...

Attitude that the risk is very low or not real despite statistics...

Rationalizing that it won't happen to me...

And those that simply don't worry about themselves or anyone else. 

Nine months later... Look where we are at. 

(just in this one county... Mostly isolated in the country)

Rationalize it any way you want... Choices.

Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. 

Stay safe if traveling and enjoy family.

For us... A Quiet holiday at home...

Food, Macy's, Football, and Movies.

Life...

Life with the Covid Virus...
Seems to be the same story everywhere.  

Relaxing of government restrictions ( leaving precautions up to individuals)...

Complacency, not being as careful as time wears on...

Psychologically tired of it all and the desire for a normal daily life...

Giving up, giving in, wanting a normal life despite the risks...

Attitude that the risk is very low or not real despite statistics...

Rationalizing that it won't happen to me...

And those that simply don't worry about themselves or anyone else. 

Nine months later... Look where we are at. 

(just in this one county... Mostly isolated in the country).

Watching the new TV shows and how they convey the the new American normal with Covid. Some play it up a little,  many show it middle to high... scary. A few like the medical / hospital shows and emergency response shows portray the virus precautions high to extreme. It's nice to see the shows not playing the virus down. Play it down any way you like, that's your choice. As for me, I prefer to pay it safe with precautions. I bet no one in the hospital, or those that died, thought it would happen to them. Maryland, DC, and Virginia just reported a significant increase over the past two weeks. Complacency can get you or your family sick or worse.

Side effect... Maintaining emotional wellbeing and stability.