Author: admin

“Wake up?” “Wake up and smell the roses!” “Wake up! You are sleeping your life away!” “Wake up! We could have been there by now if you had gotten up on time!” “Wake up! You are burning daylight.”

All of us at one time or another have heard the above especially when we were children. It always referred to time and the wasting of time. If someone used those expressions it was because they didn’t want us to miss something they thought was important. To be “woke” meant that your eyes were open and your brain was functioning and able to comprehend the obvious. I am afraid that today being “woke” means you are unable to comprehend the obvious.

Today being “woke” means that you have heard and accepted the radical, left wing ideas for this country.

For instance, we are only “woke” if we accept a man, who is wearing a woman’s bathing suit, competing in women’s swimming competitions. Then when “he” wins and claims that “he” was the fastest woman and thus won we are all supposed to cheer. The left doesn’t like when you point out the biological fact that men have a distinct advantage over women especially when it comes to upper arm strength and endurance. Men have larger lungs and hearts and thus they have a more effective oxygen delivery system throughout their bodies.

When a man who has decided he is a woman becomes the first four star admiral for the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corp we are once again supposed to cheer. We are not to think about the real biological women who worked hard in the medical field who were qualified to fill that position but didn’t get the position because we have a “woke” President.

If you are “woke” you will just shrug when a teenage boy claims he identifies as a female and is allowed to use the girl’s bathrooms at school and even shower in the girl’s shower. When we are at a store or restaurant and our little girl needs to use the restroom and a male walks in we are to just smile and accept this as our way of life.

“Woke” people ignore the female prisoners who are being raped in prison by the males that have been brought in because they identify as female.

We are supposed to be “woke” enough to accept President Biden’s threat to end the lunch program for students unless schools allow boys to use girls rest rooms and to affirm any student that decides they are trans. The schools are also to allow the teaching of sexual issues to children as young as kindergarten and the parents are to have no say in this matter. The fact that parents pay the taxes that keep these schools open does not matter. Parents need to say okay, cut off the program, and then they need to go buy some peanut butter and jelly and send their children to school. Millions of children were raised on peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches and turned out be contributing members of society.

When school boards decide that parents don’t need to know if their child is claiming they are confused about their gender, no matter their age, we are to just smile because any one who is “woke” knows that teachers should be making major decisions regarding our children not the parents. Those of us who are not “woke” are for school choice. It is obvious why “woke” people don’t want school choice. The left has made our public schools indoctrination centers for their radical ideas. In the meantime I suggest that parents talk to their children every day and ask them what their teacher talked about. Check out any papers they bring home and any assignments they are given.

There have always been people who are confused for whatever reason regarding their gender. Many Native American tribes called them Two-spirit people. They were limited in the jobs they could do in the tribe. This was probably because if you can’t decide if you are a man or a woman then maybe you shouldn’t be making big decisions that can affect the entire tribe. That makes sense to me.

Despite Roe v Wade being over turned and the decision being given to the states, which I fully agree with, there is still the “woke” issue of how far into the pregnancy can an abortion be performed. A couple of states have already stated that there will no limits on when the abortion can be performed. You are not “woke” if you don’t agree to abortion being an option up until the day the baby would be born. In my world that is called infanticide.

We are not “woke” if we get annoyed that every TV show and movie has to have the ubiquitous gay couple. We are supposed to be embarrassed if we consider marriage to be one man and one woman.

We are not “woke” if we don’t agree with the Climate Change extremists. You are only “woke” if you are willing to pay through your nose for gasoline. You are “woke” if you listen to the fools in Washington or even better the wealthy Hollywood elites, who fly private jets, when they say we need to pay exorbitant prices for gasoline to run our vehicles and to heat our homes. We are to suffer silently and go about our lives and smile while we are doing what they dictate as gospel. Then there is the “woke” belief that we should all listen to and bow to the ideas of a teenager, Greta Thunberg. Seriously, I didn’t give much credence to my own teenagers when they gave me their opinion on relevant issues so why would you think I would listen to a teenager who thinks she knows all there is to know about Climate Change. I find it hard to believe she knows much about life at all but I have a feeling somebody is using her and making some serious money doing just that.

We are “woke” if we believe that criminals are victims and the police are the evil men and women who want to abuse the electorate. We are “woke” if we excuse mobs of people destroying businesses and homes because they feel the police over stepped while doing their job. I guess I am not “woke” because I believe if a police officer does something illegal or over steps then he or she should be investigated, however, I believe that the vast majority of law enforcement personnel do their jobs with integrity. If you are “woke” you understand that liberal DA’s are what is best for this country. After all, what could be better for any community than allowing criminals who commit horrendous felonies to get out of jail without posting bail? We all know how these criminals are so grateful they immediately start to turn their lives around.

Now, I come to my favorite “woke” issue. A woman decides she wants to be a man and has a double mastectomy. She then gets pregnant. I am not going to speculate how this happened, but pregnant she is and when she has the baby the news is that a man had a baby. No, a human being with a uterus, thus a female gave birth. The fact that she dresses like a man does not change the fact that the person who gave birth was a biological female. This a given because only biological females can give birth.

So, I ask the following question: Am I the only person who feels like they live inside of the book, “The Emperor Has No Clothes” by Hans Christian Anderson? Is it going to take a child to point out the obvious? Will it take a child one day to yell out loud, “That’s not a woman, that’s a man!” In the meantime, until a child points out the obvious, we need to use the one tool that we have available to us and that is the ballot box. In November we need to vote for candidates that will uphold the premises of basic biology, help to make America energy independent once again, respect law enforcement, enforce laws, respect parental rights and not kowtow to the radical left.

By the time you reach my age you should have accumulated some wisdom. If you haven’t, well, I can’t help but wonder what you have been doing all these years.

The problem I find is that I am not always sure when I should share my, in my never to be humble opinion, awesome wisdom. My daughters have no problem telling me when to share it and it is usually NEVER in their opinion. But, I have so much. A lot of it gained at great expense to me. How can I not share it?

When to step in and ask a stranger if they need assistance is a delicate dance for those of us with wisdom to share. For instance, I was in the grocery store not to long ago and I saw an elderly man staring, with a bewildered look on his face, at all the different spaghetti sauces. I walked over and smiled and asked if he needed some help. His relief to my asking was palpable. He told me his wife had sent him to get some spaghetti sauce for dinner as she had forgotten to buy it. He didn’t understand how most of them didn’t say “spaghetti sauce” but “marinara sauce.” I ask him if she was actually making spaghetti or some other dish and he said yes she was making spaghetti. I asked him if he wanted plain sauce, sauce with garlic and mushrooms or sauce with meat in it. He said the garlic and mushrooms would be great. So, we zeroed in on Prego as it was on sale and I assured him it was a very good brand. He reached for a jar and then I asked how many people would there be and he said ten. I handed him two more jars. Now, had one of my daughters been there she would have said, “Mom” with a heavy sigh.

I remember the time a parent of one of my students said that it was a parents job to make sure their child was happy at all times. It is not often that I am speechless but I was for a few seconds at that time. I guess my silence gave her the impression I agreed as she said that she could see I understood where she was coming from. I quickly regained my senses and explained to her that I did not agree. I told her that her son is extremely disruptive in class and was rude to me which is why she is at this meeting with me now. I told her that I had five adult children and that my husband and I felt that our job was to do our best to make sure they become functioning, contributing members of society. They were raised to be kind, polite and generous. They knew early on that life can be hard and nobody is happy all the time. They were taught that there are consequences for their actions. I then told her that her son’s behavior will not be accepted in college and most certainly will not be accepted when he gets a job. She then told me that she hadn’t asked for my opinion. I had thought I was sharing wisdom but either way she demanded a meeting with our Administrator. Long story short – she got the same response from the Administrator. Yes, sometimes wisdom isn’t appreciated. Who would have thought?

Young people think they know everything they need to know but sadly that isn’t the case. However, we need to remember that in all probability we thought the same way. As I have gotten older I have deep appreciation for “gut instincts” and I tried to teach the proper response to them to my daughters. If I got a bad feeling off of someone they brought over their response was that I just didn’t like their friends. This is one area where trying to share your hard earned wisdom can fall on deaf ears and there isn’t much you can do about it.

New parents can be tricky. I remember with my first daughter how scared I was when I brought her home. I had never even changed a diaper up till that moment. I didn’t have any family nearby but I did read in the paper that the Red Cross back then would make home visits. So, I called and the woman they sent was a true blessing. She showed me how to bath my daughter and what to watch for feeding her etc. Now, fast forward to my last two daughters and boy does all that wisdom kick in fast. When my oldest daughter was little I was sure she would be damaged emotionally if I didn’t pick her up immediately after she started to cry. By the later ones a pound on the wall sufficed as I said I will be there in a few minutes. A few years ago one of my daughters and I were at a friend’s house and the friend’s son was there with his wife and their five year old son. When his child got in trouble for throwing something, his immediate response while crying was they hate him. He yelled how his friends have parents that love them. His parents began to hug him and reassure him how much they loved him blah, blah and more blah. I was ready to share my wisdom but the laser piercing look from my daughter convinced me not to but boy did I want to impart some wisdom!!

Where do I start when it comes to the way young women dress today? My wisdom over flows but they don’t want to listen. My goodness, nothing is left to the imagination any more and I do mean nothing. I was on a cruise recently and I saw some women who had to weigh close to 300 pounds wearing string bikinis by the pool. They would walk in and smile as everyone stared at them. I wanted to yell to them that they are staring because you look so awful not because they are impressed with you being comfortable in your own skin. Now, this was one occasion where I had no problem keeping my wisdom to myself as I would have feared for my physical safety. Girls think it is cool to wear shorts where the bottom of their butts show and tops where nearly all their breasts are hanging out. Girls! Listen! I might sound old-fashioned but trust me when I tell you that the kind of man who wants a family and a good life will not take you home to meet his mother. What really stuns me is the number of moms who think this is all cute and have no problem with their daughters dressing like this. Now, I am not saying I want girls to dress like they stepped out of filming for the Handmaid’s Tale, but get a little modesty back in the picture. Plus, I would like to share the wisdom that those bodies aren’t here to stay. At some point gravity will win so you had better not measure your self esteem and self worth on how your body looks.

As we acquire wisdom we also learn a big life lesson. Which hills are worth dying on and which are not. When we are young we are ready to throw down and fight for every little thing we feel is worth our wrath. Keeping a schedule and making sure everything is on time is crucial. Guess what? It isn’t. I used to go bonkers if I got off schedule as I was sure it was a sign I wasn’t a good mother. I want to share with young parents that it is okay if that load of laundry gets done tomorrow. It is okay to have peanut butter sandwiches and chips for dinner now and again when the day has been hectic and crazy. A spill is just that – a spill. God made us wash and wear and lets face it most of our clothes are too. It is okay to stop a project in the middle and take a few minutes and read a book with your child that is picking up on your stress. I remembering trying to protect my children from every evil known to man. You can’t. The best we can do is try to control when they find out about these evils. Sometimes I wish I could stand on a bench in a park loaded with parents and start sharing some of this wisdom but people look at you funny if you do that and then they call the police. I do have to smile as I picture the expression on my daughter’s face when she comes to bail me out.

Social Media is one area where my wisdom truly over flows. Why do people think they need to publicize every single personal detail of their lives? Now, I know a lot of older people do this but it is the young people who have given new meaning to the belief that we need to share everything we think and do with the entire world. I want to tell them that one day they will be sorry because once out there it is there forever. They have no idea how their lives can change and that job opportunities or promotions may be lost to them because of what they said or shared on social media. I have seen young women discuss the abortions they had!! Some things that we do should be taken to the grave and not shared with the entire world. Pictures posted are there forever too and I guarantee that one day they will be sorry they are so accessible. They aren’t thinking about how they may find themselves answering the questions their children will have when those posts come popping in the future. I wish they would understand that the only reason these posts will come back to haunt them is because someone wants to hurt them on some level. Sadly, by the time these young people gain the wisdom to understand it will be too late and much of their lives will be fodder for those who don’t like them.

Now, as I said, I believe that most people acquire wisdom as they age. However, I have noticed one glaring exception – Politicians!! It is mindboggling how politicians seem to actually lose wisdom. Is it the fact that many get caught up in the power they wield? Is it because they like the money and don’t want to get a real job so they see which way the wind is blowing and then agree to anything ? Is this why prominent Republicans, who claim to be Conservative, now agree with allowing children under the age of 18 to have permanent gender altering surgery because being trans is now “in?” Young people are being taught that our Founding Father’s were evil men and that today’s Liberals are going to save our country. I find it ironic because our Founding Father’s may not have been perfect but they truly believed in using the wisdom they had attained to better the country not their personal lives. Much as I hate to admit it, there is no way that I can use my wisdom in this case. If I could I would but trying to instill wisdom into most of today’s politicians would be futile. That has to come from within and sadly most politicians today seem to be emotionally hollow and mentally vacant.

In the meantime I will continue to look for opportunities to share my wisdom, especially when my daughters aren’t around to interfere, or give unsolicited eye rolls.

When I was teaching I would tell my students that the best way to enrich your life is through two entities: Reading and Travel. I have always been a voracious reader. Even as a child I read about places that I hoped to see one day. For instance, I was about 11 or 12 when I read about Pompeii. Over the years I read every article I could get my hands on about the excavations going on at Pompeii. It took me a while but I got there this year. I would ask my students if they had read about a place that they would like to see and it was the readers who had their hands up quickly. The students who only read what they had to in order to get through their classes had to think about it. If it were possible I wish every senior in high school had to spend at least two weeks in a different country so they could see how everyone in the world does not live like we do.

People have asked me what I get out of spending money on travel when I could buy an object with it that I could have for years. I just blink because you can’t explain the awe of seeing things that were built hundreds or even thousands of years ago and learning how some of what you are seeing is reflected in what our country is today. For instance, when we were in Greece and learned about the dynamics of the first democracy and then read about how James Madison had studied this democracy in detail we are able to see the foundation of our Constitution. Or the emotions I felt when I stood on Utah Beach in Normandy, France and knew it was where my Father had landed during W.W.II. Trying to acknowledge the term “Man’s finest hour”, when discussing W.W.II, and then walking through Dachau, one of the Concentration Camps, I found myself wondering how such a dichotomy could exist. Walking the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which is the path that Jesus would have taken as he carried his cross, was a very emotional experience. So many moments that can’t be compared to any item that the same money might have bought.

1993 I was involved with a Sister City program. I lived in the Buffalo, New York area and the program was between Buffalo and Tver, Russia which is about 40 miles north of Moscow. My daughter, Sara, graduated that year so for her graduation gift she got a trip, one month long, to Russia. Surprise, surprise! She wanted a car. She mumbled and grumbled when we arrived but in days she was fine and seeing first hand the differences between young people in America and young people in Russia. She talked to people her age who were working jobs anywhere they could and giving the money to their parents to help guarantee there would be heat in their apartment in the winter. When she got home she told me it was hard to talk to some of her friends who now seemed a bit shallow in their thinking.

I love meeting new people. One of the things that jumps out at me when I talk about meeting people all over the world is that most people want the same things. They want a place to put their head at night, three meals a day and a better life for their children. I have found this to be universal among people, however, every place I have gone has had the roots of Christianity or Judaism. I have talked to people who spent time in Muslim countries and that isn’t always the case. I have no desire to go to a Muslim country. Those countries are not on my bucket list. There is a lot more I want to see and I am hoping in the next three or four years to be able to say that I have walked on all seven continents. I have walked on four so far.

I have been to countries where they use real gold to refurnish a palace and yet people are begging for food on the streets outside of the palace. To all you people who complain that the government here doesn’t give enough free stuff; trust me no other country in the world does what this one does for its citizens. Travel will open your eyes to what is really going on in the world.

A friend told me recently that she and her husband are thinking of taking a Mediterranean Cruise for their 40th wedding anniversary and did I have any tips for them. I sure did and if you are thinking of taking a trip out of the country I hope these tips help you too.

The most important tip – BUY Travel Insurance!!

For the most part it is not cheaper to travel to a country and then look for accommodations on your own. If you are 20 years old and want to back pack and sleep in rooms with ten other people then go for it; other wise it is better to be with a reliable travel group. They get the best prices and they will arrange the tickets for the main sites and usually that means you don’t have to wait in line. Plus, they have qualified and knowledgeable guides. If you are like me you will want to squeeze every bit you can out of the trip.

I always learn how to say please, thank you, good morning, good day, where is the bathroom, excuse me and a few other words for any country I am going to be visiting. Yes, a lot of people speak English but they appreciate the fact that you are trying to communicate in their language and are not one of the arrogant Americans who assume they should speak English.

You will not need as much clothes as you think. As a woman I bring two long skirts of basic colors and two or three dressy tops to go with them. A dressy pair of shoes completes it. Trust me you don’t need three pairs of shoes. You will need more tops than bottoms but make sure you have a couple that you can wash in the shower and hang up to dry. Save underwear that gets frayed and use it for your trip and then throw it out each day.

I never pack my suitcase more than 2/3 full so I have plenty of room for souvenirs.

I always keep any medicine that I need to take with me at all times. I consider my make up to be just as important so it stays with me at all times too.

Pack disposable wash cloths as a lot of bathrooms in Europe do not provide them.

Be prepared that hotel rooms in Europe, even in five star hotels, are not as big as they are in the states. I usually stay at three star and they are equivalent to a Quality Inn or similar room here but just smaller.

Always check what the tipping policy is in each country. For instance in Italy it is illegal to put a tip on a credit card so they have to be given separately. For most countries it is 10% but check. Again, you don’t want to be looked at as an arrogant American.

Always know the number of the American Embassy or Consulate just in case you have a problem.

Make sure someone at home has your itinerary as well a a copy of your passport. I always carry a copy of my passport. Today you can take a picture of it on your phone. I also have the person I am traveling with have a copy of mine and I have one of theirs. It never hurts to be prepared.

Pack a basic first aid kit. I always have a small tube of triple antibiotic cream, anti itch cream (you never know with different plants etc. what might give you a rash.), a few band aids, anti-diarrhea pills (again you never know with different foods) a bottle of Aleve or what ever you use for muscle aches or headaches and anything else you might think of that you use on a regular basis.

Do not bring expensive jewelry. I have several sets of earrings that are cheap but cute as well as any rings etc. Fight the urge to show off your diamonds.

I always wear a pair of jeans, a tee shirt and a jacket or sweat shirt on the plane as well as my comfortable pair of walking shoes. One, it can be cold on the plane and two you have those items with you and don’t need to take up space packing them.

Make sure your back pack is a secure one that can’t be cut or swiped easily. They cost a few bucks more but they are worth it. The same advice goes for a fanny pack too.

Keep your passport with you at all times!

Check and make sure your credit card does not charge you for using it out of the country.

Check your mobile provider regarding using your phone in other countries. I am with AT&T and they charge $10 a day for full usage and only charge up to $100 a month. So, if you use it for 15 days you are still only paying $100.

Take a ton of pictures!! You can always go through and ditch the ones that didn’t come out right but the more the better.

Always keep some change on you as many toilets in Europe and other continents charge to use a public rest room. It is usual equivalent of 50 cents in U.S. dollars. You won’t mind because for the most part they are spotlessly clean.

Trust me when I say that your outlook on life will change if you keep an open mind. You will see how people perceive things differently than we American’s do and if you keep an open mind you will see where they are coming from even if you don’t agree.

Bon Voyage!!

I listened to people comment on how if it wasn’t for their mother or grandmother they wouldn’t be in the same room with a certain person or persons. It got me thinking about my youth and how we spent part or all of a holiday with my Grandmother Elizabeth. I remember my parents and others saying how the only time they had to “put up with so and so” was at Grandma’s house. Sadly, when she passed I saw how she had been the “glue” that kept the family together especially during holidays.

As the years have passed I have noticed that not just in families but in work places there is often the one person who is the “glue.” This is the person who remembers co-workers birthdays and organizes a Christmas get together. She, and I use the pronoun she because this job is filled by a woman 99.9% of the time, organizes a “Meal Train” if some has had a medical emergency or death in the family. She makes sure everyone knows where the funeral or memorial service will be or where food can be dropped off.

These people don’t complain because there is a real blessing in being the “glue.” If someone asks them why they do it they look confused because in their mind, why wouldn’t you do these things? They are a reminder of times past when being the “glue” wasn’t so rare. It was a time when neighborhoods were their own little communities and people knew if someone was sick, was suffering from the death of a loved one or some other negative event was impacting their life. Sadly, today, many people have lived on their street for years and don’t know their neighbor’s names let along what might be going on in their lives.

If you look at your family and your work place and don’t recognize anyone as being the “glue” then think about stepping up to the plate. Invite your family over for dinner on a regular weekend. When they seem shocked as it isn’t a holiday explain that family should be the core of our lives. Tell them how we have all been too busy and we need to prioritize what is important. How staying connected should be a priority. When they tell you how it is bad enough they have to tolerate so and so on the holidays explain that all families have issues but in the end family is what makes us who we are today.

In the work place start small. Ask if everyone minds making a list of everyone’s birthdays. Then see who might want to help making sure that there is a cake in the lunch room on those days. You will be surprised how many will want to be apart of this endeavor. I know this is not possible in all places of employment but if it is it can make a big difference in the spirit of those you work with day to day. When I was working I used to enter the break room by saying, “Hello, Work Family!” Some weeks we can easily spend more of our awake hours with our “work family” than with our real family.

In your neighborhood try organizing a “get to know your neighbor” type of event. When people ask why tell them how you would like to get to know your neighbors better. Explain how you want an event with food, music and games. It won’t be long before people will be offering to organize certain aspects of the get together. Before you know it people will be exchanging phone numbers and organizing play dates for their children. Men will be discussing who has what tool etc.

We need the “glue” in our lives because without it we are just a bunch of people wandering through the days haphazardly bumping into each other. God made us social creatures and we are healthier physically and mentally if we engage the social aspects of our lives.

So, get out there and be the “glue”!!

Starting January 1, 2021 hindsight will truly be 2020. How often have we all used the expression: “Hindsight is 2020?” It is true that seeing things through a past lens often makes us see the error of our ways or teaches a life lesson. However, this year will surely put a new spin on the expression as we all have much to discern from 2020.

I have given some thought to this and although I can’t speak for others this is what I have learned from 2020. First, I learned that too many people are sheep that will listen to any nonsense that is told to them without doing any research on their own. Plus, too many people are afraid of their own shadows and will be led around by their noses. That makes me sad because this country was founded by people who took the bull by the horns and fought back from horrific problems and formed this incredible country that I hardly recognize. Now, I am not saying that Covid 19 isn’t a real virus but the fact that so many people stayed locked in their houses for months is just ridiculous. So many people still don’t understand that being isolated for so long is far more unhealthy than any virus. Don’t get me started on what this isolation does to children, seniors and the disabled.

I found that there are far too many people in government who enjoy their power way too much and they enjoy playing to the fears of their citizens. Sadly, it is mostly Democrat mayors and governors who ordered the most severe lockdowns. They just figure the bottomless federal bank will bail them out. It doesn’t matter to them that their economy is collapsing as long as they can wield power. I can’t help but question why the people in those jurisdictions voted for those people and then reelected them. Ben Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety.” He was so right but sadly our students don’t hear this quote but by golly they hear a lot of what Castro or other socialists like him had to say.

I have learned that it is okay to shoot police officers, rape, assault, loot and attack the infrastructure that makes this country run and function, including the vehicles of first responders, as long as you say words, such as the following, made you do it. These words include: hate speech, racism, systemic racism, #Metoo, I am pro choice or if someone has voiced words that hurt your feelings to name a few. It doesn’t matter that you have killed or injured people or destroyed the lively hood of fellow Americans as long as what you are doing makes you feel good. I have also learned that a lot of politicians agree with this philosophy and even protect the perpetrators and everyone with a brain should see how tragic this is proving to be.

I have learned that Abraham Lincoln was right when he said, “”Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.” We are seeing this everyday as more and more people just follow the dictates of elected officials, who do not have the best interests of this country or its citizens at the fore front, as sheep being led to the slaughter.

I have learned that our young people today and sadly many older people don’t know their history. This is proven by the number of statues being knocked down. I don’t believe in sanitizing history and we need to realize that even though slavery was a horrid stain on this country’s history it doesn’t mean that the Confederate leaders were evil, immoral men. The same for our Founding Fathers. I used to tell my students that it is wrong to look back on another time and try to superimpose what we know to be right and true now. Then I watch uneducated fools knocking down statues of people who helped free the slaves or, in the case of President Grant, who did more for the freed black people of this country than anyone until the Civil Rights Acts were passed. Our public school system is pathetic and people with children need to be aware of how their children are being taught. Our institutions of higher learning are truly a pathetic sight. A place where young people should be taught to learn and engage in other views have become, for the most part, a cesspool of liberal nonsense. Universities and colleges that once were revered are now a joke in my never to be humble opinion.

I have learned just how many politicians in this country don’t respect people’s right to worship. For many of these officials the first places they went after were the churches and synagogues. I don’t recall hearing about an order directed at mosques. This should have been a huge wake up call for people. Our Founding Fathers made freedom of religion a part of the first Bill of Rights. People of strong faith are less likely to fall for the claims of lying politicians and they know this. Thank God for people like Rick Renner, and Franklin Graham to name two men of God who are not afraid to bring up God’s word to refute what these left wing politicians are spewing. Thank God, also, for the Supreme Court demanding that municipalities rescind their unreasonable and unconstitutional controls on places of worship.

I have learned that is appears that a lot of palms are being greased by big companies like Amazon to ruin the small businesses and thus control commerce in this country. My family and I try as often as possible to buy from local businesses but it isn’t always possible. It makes me sad to see the vacant buildings that once held small but thriving businesses.

I have learned that there is no shame when it comes to saying and promoting anti-American sentiment especially by our professional athletes. Where do I start when Hollywood is brought into play. Most of the people in the entertainment business are so vacuous and empty in their statements that I cringe as I remember an industry that once loved this country and lined up to do tours to entertain our troops over seas.

I have also learned that a lot of people including supposedly intelligent people don’t understand the difference between a journalist and just some fool telling people what to think. A true journalist gathers information and then presents that information, in as unbiased a fashion as possible, to the citizens and lets them decide how to feel about that information.

I have also learned that there are still a lot of God fearing, caring people who will share what they have with those who need. The idiots that ran around buying hundreds of rolls of toilet paper and then tried to sell them were dwarfed by those who shared food and sundries with those who had little. The people who volunteered in hospitals, nursing homes and other places where people in need were found far surpassed the selfish, narcissistic people who tried to exploit those who had little.

I know the maxim, “Necessity is the mother of invention” is true but until this pandemic I never saw such a great example as what I have seen with the Covid 19 vaccine. My question is why can’t pharmacology labs do the same for so many other illnesses such as Parkinson’s, MS, and diabetes for example?

Lastly, if your head is spinning from all that has happened in the last year, I recommend a book called “How To Keep Your Head On Straight In A World Gone Crazy” by Rick Renner. It helps put in perspective what is happening in these later days.

I believe that too much violence for young people or adults isn’t healthy but as I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived as a “fairly” sane person. There are a ton of studies regarding violent video games and movies today. Yes, the movies today are far too graphic for my taste. I don’t like or appreciate gratuitous violence in a movie and I don’t play video games. However, the bottom line as far as I am concerned, is that it is the parents job to make sure that their children eat the right food for their physical growth and watch and listen to the right entertainment for their mental growth. It is also up to parents to teach empathy and the correct values to their children in order for their children to become a part of a thriving community. Our generation grew up with a lot of “cowboys and Indians” games or soldier games. Every boy I knew had a gun and holster and I am happy to say that no one I know turned out to be a serial killer or mass shooter.

So, regarding my childhood, lets look at Fairy Tales for a moment. Most of them came from around the year 1100. I don’t understand why somebody didn’t think about updating or altering them a bit. Here are a few examples that popped into my head.

How about Jack and the Bean Stalk and the Giant’s quote? “Fee Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of an English man, be he alive or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread”. Are you kidding me? What were the adults thinking? However, I am happy to report that I haven’t heard of anyone in my generation grinding up anybody’s bones to make bread.

A favorite of many adults when someone sneezed was the following: “God Bless you and may you be in Heaven 15 minutes before the Devil knows you’re dead.” I had nightmares where I was frantically skidding into the Pearly Gates just before the Devil grabbed me and stopped me from getting in to Heaven. I am thrilled that most people today settle with the basic, “God Bless You.”

We all know people who have suffered childhood trauma. It can affect the rest of the person’s life especially when it comes to having positive relationships. So, what do the grownups of our time do? They have us grow up reading about Hansel and Gretel who were supposedly two lovely young children who are constantly being taken into the woods by their parents in hopes they would not find their way home. They eventually find an old lady who proves to be evil too and they finally push the women into a hot oven. They couldn’t just run out the door and find help or just work their way back home again? Okay, maybe push her down or something but into a hot oven? Again, as far as I know no one in my generation has pushed any old ladies, even mean ones, into a hot oven.

Can you imagine telling children today about a dwarf like man who will help a young women in return for favors including giving him a baby. Take a moment and read Rumpelstiltskin. Why didn’t parents warn their daughters about guys who are good at conning women? Now, you would think after reading Rumpelstiltskin that all of us women from that generation would have NEVER gotten played by any guy but sadly that is not the case.

We all know how women suffer who have been sexually assaulted. Incest is such a horror that it is still whispered about in polite company. Yet, “The King That Wanted To Marry His daughter” was a big tale in its day. The Princess gets away but ends up on an island where she works as a maid. I am happy to say that I don’t know anyone whose father wanted to marry her. However, sadly, when I was working in the social work field I had cases involving incest and they were heartbreaking. Yet, someone thought making a fairy tale about it was a good idea.

When the Stockholm Syndrome is mentioned most people will think of Patty Hurst but when I was young it was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Think about it. Belle is captured by a hideous beast and held against her will. She of course falls for him despite him being really scary and mean. He eventually changes and of course the spell is broken and he becomes a handsome, kind and loving prince. How many times were we women told through stories that it is okay to be mistreated by a guy because he will eventually change or worse that we can change him. Sadly, many women would learn the hard way that it doesn’t work that way in the real world.

Now, let us take a look at what you should say to someone who has been drinking alcoholic beverages at your house. When I was young I can’t tell you how many times I heard the following when someone was getting ready to leave. “No, don’t leave with out one more for the road!” Did people back then really think that cars could find their way home? It wouldn’t be until 1980 when Candace Lightener founded MADD that drunk driving laws changed. Now, designated drivers are common, as they should be, if there is going to be drinking.

How many of us said the following prayer? Now I lay me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. Seriously?? How many of us worried as we closed our eyes? You got to wonder who came up with that prayer. The new version is much better. Now I lay me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep; angels watch me through the night and wake me with the morning light.

To tie this up I have my “never to be humble” opinion. It seems that every generation from about year 1100 has wanted to scare the pee pee out of young people. Perhaps, we can continue to do so but in a more muted fashion so that we don’t have another generation of adults who are still looking under their beds or worrying about out running the Devil one day.

I have learned that as I get older I suffer fools even less than when I was young. I understand John Milton when he said that he does not “suffer fools gladly.”

I think the most important thing that I have learned is the importance of my faith. It is through my faith that I have weathered some awful storms. Now, that said, my faith wasn’t always at the fore front of my life and as I look back I see how I made things harder on myself by it not being in the fore front. My faith is based on Jesus Christ. I recommend getting to know Him if you don’t already. I will also add that I have met many atheists and agnostics in my life but I have never personally met a joyful one. I am not saying that there aren’t any but I have never met one.

I have learned to put a rectangular laundry basket in my trunk or hatch area to put grocery bags into so they don’t fly around. I don’t like those nets you can put in your trunk because they squish the bags.

I have learned that love and long term commitment is definitely a two way street. When I was young, women were taught that keeping the marriage and home happy and running smoothly were the woman’s duty. Keeping the man happy at all times was the core of a woman’s existence. If you want a happy home it is necessary for both to share the load especially today when so many woman work outside the home.

I have learned that there is not a good substitute for real butter. I don’t care what the ads say, anyone with working taste buds knows real butter from the fake stuff they pedal on TV.

I have learned that most hills are not worth dying on. When we are young we tend to think that anything that happens in our life that didn’t go as planned was a hill worth dying over. Social media has exasperated this problem. Young people put any drama, big or small, on social media and then they feed off of the responses. As we get older we see that the hills worth dying over are issues regarding people you love, the moral decay of this wonderful country, attempts to sanitize history, the dumbing down of our schools and issues such as human trafficking, to name a few.

I have learned that democracy as we know it will not collapse if we have fast food or breakfast for dinner.

I have learned that this is not a dress rehearsal. This is your life. When we are young we don’t always think of the consequences of our actions. We just figure we have time to fix things if we make a mistake. We make choices every day and most have little or no long term effects. It is as we get older that we come to acknowledge that some choices have long term consequences and that we will carry the burden of those consequences until we die.

I have learned that not everything that is put in our hands is for our use.

I have learned that being a grandparent is much different than being a parent. This is true on numerous levels. First you don’t have the financial burden of raising these children and second you can actually laugh when they act like complete fools in public because your wish has come true. Your children’s children are acting just like they did!! More importantly you know that those hills, that I talked about earlier, really are not that important and you can share this knowledge with your children. You can try to smooth out the moments when your children look bewildered. You get to have fun with the grandchildren and not worry about all the clean up afterward. A note to all you grandparents who are raising your grandchildren – You rock and your grandchildren are blessed to have you in their lives.

I have learned that few things in life beat the joy of spending time with a friend.

I have learned that nothing shows you care like food. I always taught my girls that if someone is having a hard time or facing a problem then a visit with food is always a good thing. Maybe the person just needs to vent but it sure helps if there is a fresh coffee cake to go with the coffee. If the person is facing a more significant event such as being seriously ill, the hospitalization of a loved one or worse the loss of a loved one then a meal is what is called for at this time. I have been a part of numerous meal trains and offering to organize one can be a real blessing to the person in need as well as the person organizing it as well as those who take part. A woman once told me that nothing annoyed her more than paying for food as she could use that money for other things. She spent as little as possible on food and she and her husband often lived on PB&J. I reminded her that if God didn’t want us to enjoy food he wouldn’t have given us taste buds. Plus, most of Jesus’s gatherings involved food so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that food and how it is offered can provide comfort.

I have learned to never leave home without lipstick. No matter how bad a day may be a touch of lipstick can help.

I have learned that Grandma was right and there is always room for one more at the table especially during the Holidays.

I have learned to never go anywhere without a book.

I have learned that as pretty as heels may look; comfortable shoes, especially sneakers and sandals, rock!

These are a few of the things I have learned. I hope that most of you my age or getting there can relate to them.

A few weeks ago as I and two of my daughters were chatting at the kitchen table the two grandsons, Jedi five and Ryker four were running around the table and screaming and laughing. I stopped them and said, “This is a 4500 sq. ft. house so I am sure you can find another room to play in now.” Within a few seconds they started again and I, without thinking about it, yelled, “Enough!” Everyone stopped talking and the boys froze in place and then Jedi said, “Ok.” and off they ran. Sara started to laugh and said, “Wow, ‘Mom Circa 1982’ stopped by to visit. Gina, also laughing, said, “Now, that’s the mother I remember.”

I have talked to a lot of grandmas and they will all tell you the same thing. Their children accuse them of being a different person as a grandmother compared to the mother they were. Well, good grief, I would hope that I am a different person now than I was thirty or forty years ago. I was sure, when my girls were young, that democracy as we know it would collapse if they didn’t eat their green beans. I remind myself that at the time I was going to college part time, baby sitting during the day to help defray the college costs as well as maintaining a home. A schedule and consistency were vital to keeping things moving smoothly. Add to that the fact that as a young parent you are learning on the fly. Obviously being the mother of a 15 year older is easier the fourth time than it was the first time. Plus, as parents you aren’t just feeding and caring for your children’s physical health and well being and teaching them good citizenship but you are also helping to form their moral compass.

As a grandmother I don’t have to worry about any of those things where my grandchildren are concerned. Their parents take care of that and I might add they are doing an incredible job. I just back them up. Generally grandparents don’t have the stress of worrying about meeting the physical needs of their grandchildren. We get to buy the fun stuff. We get to give them a wink and a hug as we give them a piece of candy before dinner. As they get older we get to be the calm voice when Mom and Dad are freaking over some issues. We know that ‘this too shall pass.’

Things change when the country is facing a pandemic. When the schools were closed I immediately kicked in to watch the boys. During the day I am now filling more of the “mother’ role as they have to do some school work using ABC Mouse and papers Sara picked up for them. I laugh when people say that this should be easy for me as I taught for 15 years. I taught high school and my students knew their alphabet. So this is new territory for me as it has been many years since my girls were at this stage. I forgot the questions such as; “Why is A before B?”

They help me ( I use the word help loosely) cook and bake as well as helping with folding clothes etc. Baking is always a fun time as they both want to crack the eggs. Jedi is getting pretty good at it but Ryker is like a bull in a china shop as he just kind of grabs it and squeezes. Time is well spent as I pick out any pieces of shell that aren’t stuck to his hand. I try to explain that shells are never part of a recipe.

“Can we play in the bath tub?” “Sure”, I figure this can be some down time. I foolishly get my book thinking that as they play I can read a few pages. About half a page in I hear. “He peed on me!!” in a hysterical voice. I jump up and get the youngest to the toilet so he can finish and then make sure the oldest is rinsed off. He is acting, of course, like he had been hit with hot lava. So, bath time is over and, well, I did get half a page read.

Big surprise: they don’t always play together without a squabble. Or when they are playing together it might not be with their toys but with items they aren’t supposed to play with such as all the plastic ware in the cupboards for example. When they are doing their school work and Jedi is working on his letters, well, this might be the time the spirit moves Ryker to take a crayon and make a big, fat line on Jedi’s page. Yes, a fun time is had by all.

It is at those moments that “Mom Circa 1982” stops by to visit. Her voice is different from a grandma voice. I am sure her expression is different too as she is pointing them to their room after they pick up the mess or say, “sorry” as they hug me or each other. It isn’t long before Grandma with her patience and calm tone is back but “Mom Circa 1982” isn’t far because some times she is needed to keep everyone on track.

I am sick to death of listening to people on social media or TV blaming all their problems on Baby Boomers. The majority of these people are from Generation Z (born 1996 to present) or Millennials also known as Generation Y ( born 1977 to 1995.)

Were we a perfect generation? Of course not but I assure you the results of our generation are composed of more positive factors and accomplishments than negative ones.

Let me start by saying I am always amused when I hear Gen Y and Gen Z members go on and on about how minorities are mistreated in this country. I chuckle because I remember true discrimination. It was my generation that fought, protested and sometimes died fighting for the Civil Rights Acts of 1963 and 1964. Yes, a lot of white people took part and sometimes died fighting for that Act to pass. Please note that the majority of Democrats in power at the time voted against the Act. Does this mean that there is no one left in the United States with racist tendencies? Of course not but things are a whole lot better thanks to my generation.

Before W.W.II only 1% of industrial jobs were performed by women. During the War 65% were performed by women. When the War ended and women were told to go home and be wives and mothers many were thrilled. Others were not and it is those women who planted the seeds in their children, the Baby Boomers, to fight for the rights of women in the work place. Those rights started with the Women’s Right’s Act of 1963. Today no woman has to worry about being asked if she is planning to get pregnant or does she use birth control when she goes to a job interview. Again, you may thank my generation.

Now, let’s talk about protesting. You members of Gen Y and Gen Z think you invented protesting? Well, think again. My generation put the P in protesting from the Viet Nam War to Civil and Women’s Rights. Only time and maturity will give you the wisdom to know when protesting is an effective tool and when it isn’t. Oh, we didn’t cover our faces and destroy property and attack people. We were out there with our tie dyed shirts and long hair.

As for the climate most of us smile when we listen to your generations tell us how dire things are today. In 1975 we were told that the Earth was cooling so rapidly that by 2000 there would be mass deaths from starvation even in the United States. Check out the 1973 film Soylent Green which claimed we would be eating each other in 2022! We were warned that the populations of cities like New York City would be so high that when the tsunami hit because of climate change millions would be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Yes, this was confusing because some scientists said we were getting colder and some said we were getting warmer. Bottom line – none of that happened. Our generation believed in caring for our Earth. It was our generation that dropped the car emissions that had been spewing into our air. We passed the littering laws. It was our generation that got the Environmental Protection Agency passed in 1970. Are things perfect? No, but things are okay. We need fossil fuel but where possible wind and solar should be used but it is ridiculous to say we need to obliterate fossil fuels. Oh, we had those extremists too but unfortunately, thanks to social media, they get too much attention today.

If you can’t get a loan today quit blaming us. Most banks wanted 20% down in order to buy a house when be bought our first homes. We saved and then bought. The housing crisis today is because of the government saying that buying a house is a right and then WHAM people proved them wrong. We were raised by a generation that didn’t believe in credit and we were taught that good credit was a character issue. No one I knew started out with new furniture and new cars. Don’t even get me started on student loans. It took me ten years to pay mine off. Your loans are not my problem nor should anyone else’s loans be your problem. This is called basic responsibility 101. Don’t go to a $40,000 a year school to get a degree in Feminine Studies and then be surprised when you can’t get a job.

I realize that the members of Gen Y and Gen Z think they invented sexuality but believe me you didn’t. Our generation didn’t care if you were gay or straight but we did appreciate it if you kept your private life private. We also believed and most of us still do, as does most of the country, that there are only two genders. Just two; you have boy parts or girl parts and what you do with those parts is your business but Gen Y and Gen Z want to shove their silly 50 genders and counting nonsense into our faces. We however, helped gay people stop needing to register with the local police department if they wanted to go to a local park. This was the case in many municipalities. It was our generation that fought to protect people diagnosed with AIDS from horrible discrimination that including forcing people out of their homes and jobs and that got children kicked out of schools, play grounds etc. It was the women of my generation that fought for better and more effective choices of birth control. As for abortion a lot of women in my generation were all for Roe but then Gen Y and Gen Z had to push the envelope and want to make abortion acceptable further and further along in the pregnancy. A lot of this conversation should not even be an issue because of all the effective birth control that is now available.

Yes, our generation started the living together movement. However, most of realize the importance of family and that marriage is the core. Sadly, that fact is something that as a Baby Boomer I am not so proud of because we have seen the decline in family structure and sadly the government has helped that by creating more and more government agencies to help support those who decide to bypass the foundation of family and marriage. We understood the roles of fathers and mothers but today Gen Y and Gen Z are often pontificating on how fathers aren’t necessary. We are seeing the cultural degeneration that is occurring because of this mindset.

Our generation fought for what we believed in and Gen Y and Gen Z are reaping the rewards. That is not a bad thing as we benefited from the efforts of the Greatest Generation. However, there is one thing that Gen Y and Gen Z can take full credit for, and believe me when I write that I don’t know anyone in my generation that would want to take credit for it and that is making “It’s not fair” their mantra. Our generation understood that life wasn’t fair. Most of us worked for what we wanted. We respected the flag and those that served us. Oh, there were exceptions of course but across the board we were patriotic. Republican or Democrat we agreed with President Kennedy when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” We didn’t expect nor did we want the government to be our mommy and daddy. We did not believe in a government based on a ‘cradle to grave’ mentality.

I believe that with time Gen Y and Gen Z will mellow out just has our generation and others before did regarding extremest views. Youth has energy but wisdom only comes with time. It is a shame we can’t combine the two.