SELFISH THINKING

     There comes a time when one needs to stop thinking globally or even locally or nationally and instead, concentrate on oneself! I am at this point right now but do not expect it to last for long. And why am I here? Simply because or mainly because I came home with a whopper of a cold that will not allow me to breathe lying down and I cannot sleep sitting up. Conundrum indeed! So instead, I sit all night sneezing and coughing, using tissues by the boxful, wipe a watery eye that could clear a drought and just feeling oh so miserable. So I cannot even begin to concentrate on the problems of our nation and the world. Oh well, that will have to wait for another day.
     I can, though, weigh in on some local area questions. Some of it seems just so absurd it must be mentioned, especially on a sleepless night. When that little boy slipped over the fence and through all precautions, he was luckily rescued. Yes, a gorilla was killed but when one weighs gorilla vs. little boy, I think we all know the right choice. But then know it alls who probably never had any kids or who never spent time with them if they did, beat the drums to go after the mom for being a bad one!!! Truly!!!Kids of that age are as quick as anything on this earth and take barely a second to get into the most dangerous or ridiculous situations. Having had one little boy who was always going off on exploratory treks, I know how fast they can be.
     But now, in an even more horrendous situation, and may all of us never know the grief these parents must feel, their hearts and souls broken, in a tide of sympathy, we are overlooking some truths. If a sign says no swimming then that is clearly an indication that to allow a child into a foot of water is also a no-no. Never mind the reason why, just obey the sign and believe that there is a reason behind it. Anyone living in Florida, or indeed any state with a large population of alligators and other such critters know to NEVER allow small children to go near the lake or pond. Too dangerous, and an alligator being an alligator will see that little child as a just right size morsel. It is also crazy for an adult to go too close. Throw that fishing line from a bit farther back! So perhaps we need to educate parents about Florida waterways. Perhaps Disney and other resorts and parks need to send  out brochures or have them available at hotels and even in the parks where there are many canals and waterways as well.
     In any case, this was indeed a horror, but we need to accept responsibility as well for our own actions and also however, this is not the time to berate a couple of parents They have done that already to themselves. What must be done is to increase the awareness of the problem and others that might arise. We can never fully insulate ourselves from terrible accidents for that would require one to sit in one room forever, wrapped in layers of cotton and never move lest one trip or get dizzy or catch a cold (ha!!)
     Life can be very good and life can slam one down. No one expects to be gunned down at a nightclub or stabbed at a bus stop or in a marketplace - unless one is the perpetrator of such actions. It is a world in which we must be far more aware and alert and yes, that means even if one's children call their worried parent a worrywart. So give them the warnings after every event. Give them the lectures about what might or could happen. And as one gets older one indeed feels that "might be" more strongly. A little extra ounce of care and caution never hurt anyone as long as one continues to live, to take joy in life, to look forward to a future ripe with possibilities and yes, some not so good possibilities, but also look back on what life has given you in the plus column.
     So off I am to try to at least doze while sitting up. Already folded the laundry, unpacked, wrote this posting for later on, need to get out another box of tissues, and stare meanly at Gerry as he sleeps away ever so peacefully while I am not!! Maybe I will go finish that good book I started to read on the plane but could not get through - read the blog just prior to this one for the answers as to why. Then I need to cancel a much needed massage for it would not be right to take this ever so nasty city of germs with me to infect others! Now that is the cruelest cut of all today! No massage. Life is good, folks, Enjoy it and remember to leaven it with humor. Feel good out there, all of you.
     This is what went thru my mind this morning. Let's see if my mood changes by end of day when I post this.