Where we go next…

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The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.     John Dalberg-Acton

Often, I will rise to some occasion on current events and opine away, not giving a rat’s ass if anyone agrees, disagrees, or even bothers to read my post.  It’s cathartic, sort of.   My website, my space, my right to spout-out my feelings on a given subject.  Don’t like it?  Just move along!

Obviously, if you’re reading this, you know where I’m headed.  The endless memes fly by on social media and my favorite one involves this past week feeling like an entire year.  In fact, it’s felt like so much more than that, even somewhat surreal, much like a Twilight Zone episode.  In fact, I doubt if even Rod Serling could have made up any of the 2020 Election drama.

Up until a few years ago, make that more like 11, I was a staunch Democrat and, for what I felt were valid reasons, I changed my party affiliation.  Sue me.  Things change and it’s important not to follow any political ideology just because you are categorized on some election board or your family has “always” followed that party.  For me it was that uncomfortable gut feeling resonating from candidates who left more unsaid than what they professed they would do, just to garner votes.  For me…a big red flag in any election, local or national.

But here we all are.  Opposing sides, glaring at each other with one side already guilty of demonstrating months of chaos in our country and now likely guilty of major election fraud.  Why?  Know what the saddest part of this drama is?  There is no clear winner and, frankly, there may not have been a clear candidate choice for either side of the voting public whose votes were orchestrated more by emotion, not by pragmatic decisions.  Now, the twisted dynamics of the management policies which will come into play for our country will undoubtedly bring four years of unrest and turmoil for millions of citizens.  Here, in a year we welcomed months ago with hopeful anticipation, we’ve ended up becoming hostages of a virus pandemic and political unrest.

It is, however, what it is.  I share the following from my Facebook page.  My thoughts, my feelings… will not waver.

The darkness in our days started with the turning back of clocks.  That will change in a few months.

Sadly, the darkness that will overtake our lives for the next four years, will not change.

I weep not for myself, as my time on earth is limited. I weep for the future of my children and my grandchildren.  I weep for the unborn.   I weep for the misguided, the uninformed and those so very blind and unable to see the devastation that a radical, even socialist, agenda will bring to our country.

Certainly, your right to choose was a choice you felt necessary, as was mine, despite who was the proverbial lesser…of two evils.

And so it goes.

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…Write about a time you felt like you were in the Twilight Zone.

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Behind every image…

Sharing things from the utterly ridiculous (most which are political), to those more insightful, are pretty much the norm on various social media hangouts.

I come bearing guilt for doing all of the above.

Blame it on the pandemic,  on staying at home more in recent weeks than probably ever before in my lifetime.  Trust me on this.  I’ve had ample time to reflect over many years and never, ever, was I a relative home-hostage such as been the case for the past four months.

Well, except for my early days, and years, of life.  I broke free as soon as no one was looking.

The tone of what people share on sites such as Instagram reflect their opinions, a need to vent with some meme, for the most part.  Behind every image is a story which captures shared emotions and connects to others who may be feeling the same way.  Most images imply something or mean something.  Most are ripe to be swiped via a screen shot or a right-click of the mouse.

Guilty, guilty, guilty.  Again.

Hey, I’ve “stolen” some of the best!  You know the ones.  They pop up and you jump to grab them!  After all, the comment is exactly what you were thinking at that moment but, you weren’t clever enough to fabricate your own words and image.

Here are my two, most recent, and I’m behaving nicely here.  No political or other jabs at anyone who really deserves it.  Nothing…inappropriate.  Just a mix of silliness directed at the ongoing Coronavirus debacle and…a memory most can identify with.

And…I commandeered both from Facebook and drove, non-stop, to post on Instagram.

 

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workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s WorkshopShare the most recent image you published on Facebook or Instagram and give us the back story.

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Current state of mind…

In following the stay at home/stay safe guidelines, my emotions are much like a runaway train.  Up, down, sideways and, at times, in danger of a complete derailment.  Trying to find things that lighten my spirit as opposed to so much of what pisses me off.  Difficult, to say the very least.

Now and then, a segue happens.  A welcome distraction from this current pandemic-lifestyle. Somewhat of a benefit given by all this time on my hands and the ability to just waste that privilege whenever I damn feel like it!

5 positive (sometimes instant) mood-lifters.

Music Old music.  Doowop.  As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to listen to anything in this genre, having it deemed “pure crap” by my father.   He never realized that his description made the music even more enticing. Late at night, I’d hide under the covers, armed with my trusty transistor radio, earphone plugged-in, and tune into the one or two New York radio stations that would come in with several wiggles on the dial.  Static or not, the music was great.

The artists could actually sing, and most were damn good at it.  The lyrics always touched a tender spot.  Love, heartbreak, mixed with a dash of hope, all in a two-minute recording.  I’ve been playing several songs, over and over, doing some chair-dancing and loving all the memories of much simpler times.

Purging.  Something that most of us have been doing.  Pretty soon I’ll have an abundance of room for what…I have no idea.  A good feeling, overall.

Talking on the phone. How much nicer to hear someone’s voice and share expressions that don’t take the form of a text, accented with some asinine emoji.  ?

Cooking. Well, honestly, I pride myself on being a cook but…with my pre-unemployment work schedule, dinners previously involved my mad rush in the front door around 6 or 7 p.m.  The Husband would be waiting, noticeably weak from hunger, and I’d hurriedly get his meal prepared.  Now, in the past month, I have time to present gourmet quality dinners, served at the much more reasonable time of 5 p.m.  Great, right?  Well, not so much when he frequently informs me that he’s had a late lunch and really isn’t all that hungry.  Note to self:  Encourage him to have more late lunches when my job resumes.

Sleeping. Mind you, not a lot of it but far beyond what my manic stress level usually allows.  It’s been lights-out by 10 p.m. and I awaken now, usually by 4 or 5 a.m.  That…is pretty much a full night’s sleep for me.  I’ll take it, for as long as this unwanted vacation lasts.

 

5 instant mood-downers.

Trash. Used gloves and masks thrown down in the parking lot at a market.  Shame on everyone who does this, and you KNOW who you are.  Stop it!

Television. Mainly, the news. Stop the network-to-network sniping and keep your personal opinions out of the mix.  We are embroiled in a national/worldwide crisis and not interested in your personal agendas or your like/dislike of government, or other, officials.  Shut UP!

Pets. Okay, this is promising to become a major issue.  When this pandemic started, the rush was on for people to hit animal shelters and adopt, adopt, adopt.  What’s next?  What happens when everyone emerges from hunkering down or returns to the workplace?  What will happen when the new furry family members no longer receive the undying attention they’ve been used to?  Think about that!

And now that the media is reporting a few cats and dogs who have become infected with COVID-19, might this start a pet-dumping wave of insanity?  Think about that, too!

Toilet Paper, and other necessities. It’s been over one month and what appears in the markets (at least here) are a few rolls of toilet tissue (single ply/no name brand) and a sign…”One to a customer”.  Is society experiencing some major intestinal disorder?  How much toilet paper do people really need?

Frozen food aisles?  No pizza, taquitos, egg rolls, french fries, potato skins…the basic noshes…next to nothing available.  Pasta and rice?  Mostly gone.  Carbohydrate overload anyone?  But there is… ice cream…and lima beans.  Plenty of lima beans folks.  And they’re so much better for you than all the above junk!  Each flat little bean includes manganese, potassium. copper, magnesium, and phosphorus, and iron.  Two words of advice:  Buy Beans!

Line jumpers. Trust me, they’re out there in the supermarkets, cutting in front of shoppers who dutifully wait behind the taped lines at the checkout, markers in place to maintain a six-foot space between customers.  Along comes some wise ass who wheels in between the lines of that aisle.  And then gets yelled at.  Loudly.  And retreats.  He won’t soon forget me.

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop: Write a list of 5 things that put you in an instant better mood.  Write a list of 5 things that put you in an instant bad mood.

                            
Obviously, I combined both writing prompts.  I’m more than certain there will be plenty of opportunities for, sometimes erratic, mood swings before this current pandemic ends.  If it ever ends.  The emotional roller coaster ride will take its toll as we all wait, and wait, to move forward again.  And we will.  With much caution.  We will…get through this!

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