Flaunting Self-Importance

During a recent coronavirus briefing, President Trump mused aloud that there might be some virus treatment benefits in injecting or ingesting chemical disinfectants. Shortly after the President's comments Maryland's Governor reported an increase in calls to the State's poison control office. Also health officials in Kansas said their poison control offices reported a 40% increase in calls regarding ingesting disinfectants. When a reporter  asked the President if he shouldered any responsibility for these increases, he said, "No." Given the facts, Trump's answer is either that of an irresponsible fool or an arrogant chesty ass.

Just today, Vice President Mike Pence visited Mayo Clinic where protocol pleads for all patients, healthcare providers and visitors to wear face masks for obvious reason. Pence did not follow protocol and explained away his light-minded and precocious attitude saying, "I get tested and thus don't need a mask." Really, Pence? You get tested frequently for all maladies know to mankind, which could compromise a very ill person you are visiting. Your logic suggests a bold and cocky disregard for others' welfare. 

I respect people's right to vote for and support Trump. Some do so because they believe Trump is a conservative. Some like Tax cuts and that 'trickle-down-theory.' Notice, I use the word theory. Some Trump believers picked up on Trump's code language and obvious racist attitudes and history. And of course my fellow Evangelicals buy the notion that Trump's Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade. Whereas I may disagree with Trump supporters on these issues, I would beg them for the sake of God's temple represented in their body to please honor it. For goodness sakes the last time dummies did something like this was in a place called Jonestown. 

You Remember...Sure You Do!

Several weeks after the nationwide grip of the coronavirus, President Trump began promoting the drug hydroxychloroquine as a miracle pill that would successfully counter the coronavirus. As expected, Fox News talking heads Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson got behind the President's unsubstantiated and non-scientific medical claim regarding hydroxycholoquine. A recent study clarifies the debate as a false narrative advanced by our President and ill-advised Propaganda television network, Fox News. We now know that the drug hydroxychloroquine does not fight this virus but can cause death.

About the same time Trump was advancing a false hope there was a claim that Americans need not wear a face mask but just wash hands frequently and maintain a six foot social distance. That advise has been debunked. Today, the 'experts' tell us that a face mask in public is a must.

More recently, Trump asked medical doctors at a televised coronavirus White House briefing if they could look into disinfectant injections into humans to kill the virus. The next day this psychologically delusional fool bare-face lied telling people that he was being sarcastic. It's bull crap because the video tells the truth.

Given the aforementioned, I believe America's cause would be well served if free masks were made available each month to all people. Secondly, folks would follow advice from doctors and finally, company-makers of disinfectants bring lawsuits, claiming fraudulent misrepresentation of products against Trump, Hannity, Ingraham and Carlson.

Takes Time For New To Become Normal

For many years, I have awakened each morning and whispered the same prayer: "Thank you Lord for the promise held in this new day. Thank you for the many blessings you've given me and may I be a blessing to somebody today. In your name, I pray. Amen." Just a short straightforward acknowledgment of my Lord's gifts and a plea for my awareness to touch another's life as a blessing.
I haven't prayed those words for several weeks. My first daily conversation with my Lord has changed.

The definition of 'new' is> 'introduced for the first time.'  Things for the moment are not normal. 'Normal' is> 'the expected, the usual.' This current virus (event) creates concerns, which consequently ask for a consideration to change and that change begs for a 'new,' which in time will become our 'normal,' but it's not going to happen overnight.

This journey towards the adoption of different folkways and norms must find its transition anchored in what is 'good for the order.' As a worldwide community, we must embrace changes that best serve physical, mental, spiritual, social and economic health. This arrival to a 'new normal' will be painfully slow and clouded with self-serving perspectives and motives, which must find  compromised based on science and factual evidence.

If there is a lesson to come from this pandemic it is the reality that 'selflessness' taught by Christ, other great prophets and religious leaders is a necessary, non-negotiable trait of a surviving civilization...thus my  new normal morning prayer: "Dear Lord, because of your great mercy I have hope this day that comforting grace will embrace those hurting, those clinging to hope and those who mourn. Guide your people through these dark and uncertain times and bring us together in a spirit of love. Let me be a blessing to another. In your name, I pray. Amen

Turtles, Aging and Other Fun Topics

Although I don't get to 'see' my family members frequently as was the norm, I do find these 'social distancing' days putting me in cell phone touch with kinfolks more often. That's all fine but I do need to be on my toes for answering more difficult questions presented by our married (soon-to-be) fifty-nine year old son. More on that in a bit but first this...

Every doctor appointment my wife and I had this spring has been canceled due to the coronavirus. Those cancelations total eleven. Those were six months and annual appointments. Does that sound about right to all you other oldsters out there? Anyhow, Northgate Pet Clinic called the two days ago to remind us of James Wilkerson Yoder's annual checkup appointment. When I questioned their approach to social distancing, they said it's covered. Covered indeed. When my wife and I arrived wearing our masks, we were met in the parking lot by a mask wearing Pet Clinic associate who asked a few questions about Yodie then took the pup to the Vet's examining room. One hour and $419.00 later, Prince Dog and parents were on our way home. That's not expensive when considering all shots, blood work and meds addressing joints/heart/fleas & ticks.

Okay, back to our son. He is retiring from teaching this year. He plans to substitute periodically and continue to coach basketball. That's good news for kids and his wife. Perhaps the thought of retirement has him more in touch with old age because he is now asking me questions regarding aging. For example he recently asked, "Hey, have you noticed the older your get sometimes it's hard to sleep?" This boy has always asked goofy difficult to answer questions. At age eight, our family of five was traveling to the Lake of The Ozarks for a summer vacation when from the back seat the lad asked, "Hey can somebody tell me where Turtles go in the  winter time?" I also remember when the boy experienced his first flu bout as a youngster. A belly ache and regurgitation seemed to be an inconvenience for the kid and he asked his mother, "How long is this going to last?" His mother told him, "You've probably got a 24-hour flu bug" Would you believe the boy woke us at 1:30AM in the morning and said, "Mom, Mom it's been 25-hours, what's your next idea? I truly believe he knows the answer to 80% of the questions he asks me. I think it's a test of me to determine if I'm slipping in my old age. Next time our son telephones I'm going to ask him, "If you could live to be 100 by giving up all the things that make you want to live to100 would you do it?" That should keep him awake a few nights.

Come to think about it, I go to Miramar Beach, Florida in the winter time and I see signs warning Beach goers to watch out for Sea Turtles, perhaps all turtles go to Florida in the winter. I gotta stop  now and Google where to locate a face mask for Yodie. Don't laugh, I just heard two cats in New York have tested positive for the coronavirus.

If you're in Decatur in the near future, don't stop by for a visit and don't take it personally, I'm just looking out for you and Yodie.

Crazy Comments

My late maternal grandmother, Mammy Bennett, when caught in a whirledwind of family activities coupled with household duties might say, "Goodness, I need to sit a spell, my head's ah-swimmin."
Ever since Donald Trump took the oath of office, my head's been swimming. Often I find myself in a delirious, confused state of mind unable to void my head of the nonsensical and idiotic comments, which are made and seemingly acceptable by far too many of the upright walking species capable of thinking in the abstract, which is supposed to distinguish them from non-humans.

My first hint of this three and one-half years erosion of reason and logic, which has paralyzed truth was the introduction of a phrase used often by White House Presidential Advisor, Kellyanne Conway, who when debunking media  challenges said, "Well, we have alternate facts." I immediately wondered what the hell can alter FACTS? I soon discovered that facts can be altered and dismissed by lies. Simply tell an untruth often enough and a plethora of Americans who are more willing to embrace anger, intolerance of religion and racial bigotry will accept the lie rather than  painstakingly researching for truth.

Stupid is what stupid states and here are just a few stupid comments: "We need to go back to work. Parents are home 24/7 with their kids during this 'stay at home thing' and they just can't handle these kids no longer." "We need to have business people makin' the decision to reopen the economy not no virus doctors; what the hell do doctors know about business?" (Why not, insurance business men decide if I need surgery...not my doctor who ran tests). And then there's that Texas politician who said, "Something's are more important than living."

Amidst all this 'head-swimming' craziness a friend of mine just sent a frequently circulated internet message from a pastor supporting what many Evangelicals believe and this is Trump is The Chosen One...Chosen by God himself to lead America as President. Well, 'hot-damn,' finally something that makes sense to me! Why every time I I see a televised Trump the first thought that comes to me is how Trump's rhetoric reminds me of  Jesus-Christ's 'Sermon of The Mount.' I'm sure Robert Jeffress and Franklin Graham feel the same.

Changing Times

In my personal aging journey, I have intentionally reminded myself frequently not to grow into one of those oldsers I recall (back in the day) who constantly found fault with the current times as he referenced, "The good old days." I truly believe that I am living in good days at this moment.

I have benefitted from today's modern medicines and surgical advancements. Had those meds and treatments not been available, I would be dead. How can one be unhappy or critical of times that produce such life saving factors? The technology that has advanced our medical world has also placed at our finger-tips an endless educational exploration, which affords us untold knowledge, unlimited interaction and shameful comforts. How wonderful are these times?! That said and appreciated, I too at in moments do feel a void or perhaps better identified...a longing.

Gladys Knight, in the song 'Midnight Train to Georgia' sings, "He said he's goin' back to a simpler place in time..." I likewise know of a 'simpler place in time.' I also long for it. It was that simpler time when we took time to visit with neighbors and knew everybody on our street by their first name. Families ate ninety percent of their meals together at home. Our wardrobe consisted of work clothes, casual/play outfits and dress attire because we made the activity distinction and respected some traditional norms as opposed to finding some anti-establishment joy in pushing back.

That simpler place-in-time found people respecting others because it was fashionable. Men opened doors for ladies, the entertainment world was not blatant with sexual innuendos and we didn't need movie ratings because it was generally agreed what was vulgar and unacceptable in general society.  We knew others worshiped differently but we didn't manufacture fears about their beliefs. We understood political views differed but most arguments were about board game competition and who was the best shortstop, Marty Marion of the 'Cardinals' or the 'Browns' Vern Stephens.

That simpler place in time found kid's riding their bikes all over town unchaparoned. The family doctor would make a house call to attend a sick child. A teen newspaper boy called out the headlines as he walked your evening street. He was soon followed by a Hot Tamale Push-Cart vendor shouting out, "Red HOT...Get Your Red Hot!!!" There was only one telephone in the house and when it rang it was either family or friend, nobody was pestering you about unheard of credit cards, donating to some charitable association or asking if you were interested in a home security system...heavens, we didn't even lock our doors at night, we had a dog that served as an alert system.

Today, I find myself living in a high technological era yet the times are most challenging and unprecedented. In the midst of an incredible virus, which has exploded into a world wide pandemic claiming thousands of lives, we are told to 'social distance' from one another...that should come easy; we've been practicing that for years...it helped us transition to sophisticated times from those simpler times.

Gee, Things Seemed Almost Normal

Yesterday, Sunday almost felt like an normal Sunday past except I didn't attend church but I was 'in' church. In fact, I was 'in' church twice yesterday as I tuned into the Charles Stanley's television service and later checked-out my home church, Grace United Methodist. I believe organized religion supported by physical attendance is important for personal spiritual growth but I've always known it's not the end-all with regards to a close walk with Jesus-Christ.

After lunch, I embraced the gift of a beautiful day that presented temperatures in the upper sixties and a wonderful blue sky complimented by a light breeze. My thirty minute walk felt terrific and the sights and sounds appeared normal. The noise of multiple lawn-mowers and the smell of freshly cut grass foretold the promise of warmer summer days to come. I saw numerous walkers and joggers all paying homage to the social distancing plea. Upon returning to my house, I began some yard chores, which included bush and small tree trimming and some weeding.

It takes about 90-minutes of yard work after a brisk walk to cause this oldtimer to seek a cushioned patio chair and cold beverage...I was successful in that attempt.  While looking out across my freshly mowed backyard I spotted a young father with his son of perhaps seven. They were tossing a frisbee for a spell but soon their activity changed. Dad dropped about a dozen baseballs at his side and the young boy picked up a baseball bat.  After taking some warmup swings the lad assumed his stance and the father began repeating an overhand toss to the boy. The kid was pretty good at tracking the ball. The boy made contact more often that not. You could immediately note that like most young boys learning to hit a baseball, the kid often slowed and stopped the swing follow-through upon  making bat-to-ball contact. Not uncommon with young players. The dad would make comments and demonstrate the follow through frequently.

I suspect after about four rounds of  tossing the dozen baseballs it suddenly happened. The kid swung the bat in a manner continuing his bat-swing 'through' the ball and the crack of the bat reverberated  across the sandlot.  Spontaneously and without forethought I yelled out, "Atta Boy!!!" Oh my God, those were exactly the words my father yelled so many times some 73-years ago; "Atta Boy!" I was quiet for the next several minutes...alone and immersed in deep reflective thought.  Seems that moment occurs often lately. Wonder why?