Let me just say that after reading Denis’s two pieces, I have quite a goal to achieve. I’m not even sure what to write about. Somehow, after those, I’m not even sure that political news would be appropriate. There is so much going on in our country and the world. How do you know what to use? I just wrote about my Pz anniversary. Do I have enough for another “all me” piece?
Outside of my anniversary here, it’s stunning how much has changed in the country for all the time I’ve been fortunate enough to have on our big blue marble. Friends have come and gone, and let me tell you, there are some that I still miss. But moving from Tennessee to NYC, and no cell phones at that time, made it hard to keep in touch. There are some people I’ve found again, and that means the world to me. There are others I have not. And there are new friends here in Georgia that I’ve slipped on, and I’m getting them back. Small favors? I’ll take it.
Here’s one of the big things that’s changed. When my sister and I were in high school, and my brother was in junior high, every so often we could ride our bikes to and from school. We didn’t have any worries about it. But now? Oh hell no. Really, really, really a BAD idea in these times. There’s no telling what might happen anymore. We used to go play in the pond and the playground and start at the reservoir (which has now been drained, dammit), then go all the way down through the shale falls and ponds to the road again, and then walk back home. We would be out for hours, and our parents wouldn’t worry, as long as we didn’t go alone. Safety, y’know, just in case.
Then there were all the different places I’ve lived, and things I got into by accident that I also miss. I used to perform choreographed combat at Renaissance Fairs. Swordfighting. Damn, but that was fun. You need to make the fights look like they were random instead of planned. Practice, practice, practice. I never got to have a Queen role, but that was okay, because I had some that were far more fun.
My ex told me he wanted a divorce out of the blue one day. Talk about blindsided! I’d moved my life up there, and to have that happen was a gut punch. I had NO clue. But! I ran down here to Georgia with my sister. That proved to be the best choice because I met my second husband. We‘ve been together nearly 19 years, with being married for 10 ½ years. For that, I can forgive almost everything. Almost.
The changes in my family. Good gods. So, so many changes, losing all my grandparents, and the worst being the last one, because my daddy died. It shouldn’t have happened. It was just basic surgery for a kidney issue, and 5 days later, he was gone. I was Daddy’s Girl. I’m still trying to cope with a lot from then, and I am still battling the worst one, which is guilt. I can’t say much more about this, so we’ll move along.
We all have a lot to be thankful for. We live in America. Yes, Trump sucks and not very well, but there are so many places that are much, MUCH worse. I’m mostly happy to be living here, although it’s tough when my overseas friends ask me what the hell is wrong with our president. How do you say he sucks and you don’t support him? How do you say I hope we survive him? Is there even a way to be diplomatic?
But y’know, we truly do have a lot to be thankful for. I have 2 families now, and that’s still amazing. I have a husband who understands me because not only can we talk, but we also have good conversations and can work out any troubles. I’ve been unemployed for years now (I guess I’m too old), but we’re still scraping by. I have my writing here. I’m sorting through all my stuff in the house so we can start pulling things out of storage. And I have you folks, the readers. You always make me think twice about things, and you do read my columns. That means more than I have the words to say.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Happy Thanksgiving Susan. You have the luck of a life well lived, including the adversities. Remember, no rain means a desert.