HORROR FEAR ANGER BEWILDERMENT

      Thought I had seen it all. The clips of ranting automatons. The appearance and reappearances of 'guides' of the insurrection. But I had not seen it all, had I? I now saw the noose and the care for its ever so proper public debut. I saw the organization, the coordination, the preparation.

And I saw the mob mentality, the malleable clay of a mob. And I feared for my country. I saw the hatred in the chants, in the eyes, in the determination to get inside, to hunt down and kill - yes, kill - their chosen targets. I saw death.

Worst of all, is what was so obviously the lit match of Trump's paean to hatred, his ode to the Big Lie, the depth of madness within, and his obvious kindred with Hitler and indeed, all despots of history. I saw the impending death throes of my country. And I saw courage as the Police attempted to do their job against overwhelming odds.

What I saw was the fear of the legislators as they were removed from danger, and nary a one stood there, all pumped up to argue constitutionality or First Amendment as the GOP shoved their way out.

Now, once again, the cowardice, the confusion and incompetence, the hypocrisy of the GOP surged to the fore. Never mind the horror, the stink of poisonous rage, of mindless- or was it- mob behavior. Nope, now safe in the guarded halls of democracy, they revert to the cynical and callous behavior of before. Only the retention of power in their bloodstained and complicit hands was of any import.

Thus treason, strangulation of democracy, incitement to riot and rebel, and the ghastly behavior of Trump were swept aside and our country and its people were abandoned by the wayside.

No, do not use fallacious arguments, or use more incompetent attorneys, for we all know that the pathetic mind of the GOP could give a hoot, for power is the be all and end all. These are not Americans nor do they even care for America. The GOP has made its mind up and Trump will slip through on the slimy trails of cowardice and immorality laid down thick and heavy all around us. 

I hate that Trump is still with us but unless and until he is totally repudiated he will remain.

Yes, HORROR  FEAR  ANGER BEWILDERMENT

 

 

BIRDS AND BEES, IGUANAS AND FROGS

   Bet you didn't know that we live in a paradise of nature. Every day we step outside our doors, rushing hither or thither, yon and beyond, and it is a wonder if we even notice the trees and grass. As for the live members of this paradise, well, we just wish them away.

    Perhaps we all need what Gerry and I have had these past few days. My baby, my son, has always has a different perspective on life. With his binoculars he takes walks around the village and returns home aglow with the new birds he has spotted and the animal life that abounds here. 

    This my son, the athlete. A well regarded and sought after counselor, he has a deep and abiding faith in the Lord above. With his eyes and faith he is always open to the wonders around him, even as we see pests and annoyances. He and his baby, my youngest grandson, spend at least an hour a night reviewing the videos and sightings, the souvenirs and the excitement of discoveries. Proof of the pudding? I now have the mother of all snail shells sitting in my home. Yuck for me but light in the eyes of these two babies. 

    Perhaps that is the answer to our miserable situation these days. Instead of seeing all around us with a jaundiced eye, we need to refocus and replay our daily videos. We need to reframe our ladder of values. We need to stop admiring the "clever" people who are again 'getting away' with it. We need to unveil the truths of life rather than accept the Big Lie. We need to seek and find the glories and gifts of a world to which and of which we have become blind.

    In short, we all need to become "the babies" of this world. We need to look around and see the positive rather than the negative. We need to rejoice in the diversities of life rather than demanding a lockstep uniformity. Yet even as we enjoy the natural beauties of the world, we must also be aware of alligators and water moccasins. In other words, be open to gifts and beauty while at the same time be aware of the darker side that awaits the unaware.

    So step out of your door today with new eyes, hearts and minds, Let us for one day, if only that,  let down our shoulders, ease that stiff neck and perhaps, just maybe, we can take a step further along on the right path. Ribbit and all that. Enjoy the world.

SONIC HEDGEHOGS

     Well, and there it is. I have found a new classification slot - that of the human sonic hedgehog! I believe I am more wired up than any critter sent into space - and why? All to keep me in an upright position rather than one of being prone on the floor.

Now do not consider me ungrateful. Spending twenty minutes alone, incapable of moving, in real pain and fear, has definitely cured me of any prior refusal to wearing electronic get me help devices. For sure! But, gotta' admit that one pendant, one bracelet, one emergency phone gizmo, a base and a low wall button, plus my own phone and the tracking devices within these items ...well, I am now the human sonic hedgehog!

It for sure works. A test run had the kids calling back in seconds. So now why not use all this technology for other positive causes. Screaming, frightening faces in the Senate? Ping! Jazmine Sullivan's amazing rendition of our national anthem is triggered, reminding one and all that we are Americans, first, last, and always. 

Down in the dumps, totally discouraged by the situations of our lives? Well, sonics to the rescue. Simply have Miley Cyrus's version of that American iconic song, The Climb, played, and wow! For sure there will be several useful ideas coming out of that moment.

As with any inventions and ideas, there are positive and negative consequences and risks, but  surely, there is more to this whole idea. Surely there must be something, anything, and all our wiring must have more potential for the good, than only - though important - use of aid for some elderly or handicapped people. 

There must be something that will help us unravel the puzzles of the day. How is it that so many purported Americans wish to kill off fellow Americans? How is it possible that so many can desire, with frightening frenzy, to overthrow our national government? How is it that so many have gone way off track, creating a morass of existential proportions so large, so gooey, so dangerous that one can despair at the odds of salvation so strongly against hope?

Again, way above my pay grade, but there must be answers, for the alternative is simply not acceptable. Ever! Evidently we all need to rewire and find the saner pathway through this swamp of our own making, and soon. Most important is to show the nation and the world that law matters. That justice matters. That equality matters. That compassion matters. That no one and no body is above the law. That the law will not be allowed to pervert justice. So wire up, folks, for upright or prone, we all have a job to do. Plug in, turn on and tune in to the new America based on the improved version of what was, what was needed, what is so necessary. 

 

OF MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

     Is it really that time? Already? Thought there were at least a few more years left. Oh, well, guess the circle of life cannot be denied.

For years we took care of everyone, large and small, older and younger. We fell into our roles as our nature allowed and mostly adapted well. Or so we thought. Just wait for the first time. You will stop for a bit, think and then go on, convinced it really was not. But oh, yes, it was exactly that.

That darned cycle, circle, whatever name you wish, has struck. Yes, one is still needed, still a source of advice, but - a great big but -  how much you have forgotten. Suddenly there are new rules and regulations. Suddenly you had better dust off that cane, or better yet, the walker. Suddenly there is a new regime for getting dressed. And suddenly when you are standing there with a grabber in your hand shaking on your feet while getting instructions on how to use it - the most frightening thing is how true it is.

    It is a world changing event, quite confusing, when one's physical state goes slipping and sliding towards the refuse pile even as the mind slues back to the future as every single one of your youthful ideals return. Now what to do? 

    I have discovered my way through this new minefield. Deal with each child as befits that child's nature. Cut off the flow of instructions by sending yours right back at them. All the things  you want them to do when you are gone. All that you hope for them to continue. Watch the faces turn red and the topic quickly change to what's for dinner.

    Seriously though, having become physical child to your own child is demoralizing, frightening, and beautiful. These kids think nothing of helping you get dressed even as you cringe. They laugh at your silliness, and you know that whatever has gone on before, whatever childish laundry remains, you have done a good job. Dangnabbit and all, these kids have grown into beautiful adults. And now they run to do the dishes. How sweet it is.

    By the way, this holds true for sons as well.

 

THE SCHIZOPHRENIC NATION

      This is us. No, not the TV show, but the title itself. An observer from outer space would be scratching head - or heads - in puzzlement. What exactly drove the gears of these people? Why, when just about figured out, did they turn right around and lie their ugly little selves into a wall? Why, and for that matter - how - did they find it possible to lie so blatantly? More head scratching. No answers.

Why is it that a person can lie, incite to riot, to invade in threatening manner - homicidal, actually - and be praised for it? How dare they, yet why not as there apparently is no befitting consequence in sight? How can there be any sense or order here, when the noise is so loud that nothing can be heard above it?

A crock of crap is presented and even as the olfactory sense is insulted, there are others waiting in line to further besmear themselves in this sewage. Why? So power can be retained. So crimes get denied even as people are tripping over their own noses and tongues. And hypocrisy is the virtue of the century in this schizophrenic nation.

A choice between "conservatism and madness". A very clear choice is more accurately laid out,   - The anger has always simply been about me not bending the knee to one guy, " even as the feet of the mob tread right over it. Once again, despite the glaring lights of the truth punching holes in the smothering stink and darkness of falsehood, on march the hypocrites. On come the moral cowards, the sleaze of society and on comes the living death of democracy, and the heaps and piles of denied hopes.

Folks, either we get all this ironed out - and soon - or we might just as well write ourselves off. Truths, consequential behavior, and guiding principles must be upheld or we just jump right in with all our schizophrenic traits overspilling the dam gates of a true, just and positive society. We are running out of time.

CONFUSION A LA KING

     There  long running large and ever growing gray areas wherein much is lost and in confusion. What are and where are the red lines any more? Too many have  faded into oblivion. Where is the legal and moral point of contact and who determines that? Do we obey laws if they are legal but immoral? Or is immorality to be the scissors of society? Yet again, whose scissors and who controls the handles?    

    So I am confused. These are questions that consume the air in college dorms and apparently all the usable breathable oxygen from the brains of politicians. Families and friends have been arguing these points at every gathering. More acerbic than ever. So I am confused. What then and how then can we fix these issues or are  we doomed to perpetual societal conflict?

    The answers to these questions are way above my pay grade. However, it seems so contradictory. There are so many good people who are quietly living their lives, doing good for others, raising decent families, and there are also the noise makers with a deadly combination of lethal stupidity, ignorance, and live ammunition. How  do we or can we  ever reconcile these polar opposites?

    Are words weapons? They appear to be so to me and to many others. I can say 'I hate you; but not if I follow it with 'so I will kill you or we will kill you'. You may not use words to incite violence and havoc. We must not be allowed to hide behind legal pettifoggery. When a supposed national leader engages in summoning, collecting, inciting and lighting  fuses of a hate filled mob then he must be indicted and convicted and punished via the laws of legality and morality, working in tandem for a just and moral society.

    Hence, I am confused. Far wiser and more cogent thinkers have written, argued, discussed these matters and yet we remain in the state of confusion ala king. G-d help us, for I see no more paths to clarity. No more paths for clear and pure morality and no clear path to a definition of moral and mitigating circumstances.

    Oof ! At this point we are all swimming our way through overwhelming clouds of dark and gray. I need some breakfast so I can think. Maybe we all need to go have some breakfast, But then again what if one has no food to eat breakfast? Oof  -more confusion.

    Come to me, my Rice Krispies.

FAMILIES - FREE CHOICE OR NOT?

     It has often been stated one way or another, that we can choose our friends, but not our families, as we are born into others. However, I beg to differ greatly with that. Yes, we are born into one family, but can, and do, choose many of the other families throughout the rest of our lives and how fortunate is that.

Moving to Florida all those many years ago, gave entry to so many new groups, some of which became new families, new stars in the firmaments of our new lives. Many have changed over the years as needs and realities changed, and many have deepened. I would like to briefly return to  one, the family of Florida Movement. This is the family into which I was accepted with open and loving arms, through one crisis after another.

Of late,  my life has found itself on some stormy seas. Wonderful friends have not just stood by, but have done what they felt necessary. They have pushed through, even as I pushed back.

Embarrassed by the downturn of life, of skills lost, of abilities, physical ones, gone, via injuries, one on the heels of another , and by pain, debilitating and constant pain, deep pain, I turned away, hiding. Conspiring with Gerry, I was shanghaied, returning to a family not born into, but surely as loving and caring a family as one could ever wish for - or deserve.

Yesterday, in an hour of tears and laughter, of pain and progress, of promises and laughter, of threats - and counterthreats, my watch was reset.

I do not wish upon anyone what we have been dealing with, but should  you ever do, my families, natural and acquired, have been right there. And Florida Movement,  without splashing your names around, know of whom I write, upon whom I lean, who make me curse and push through  and do this for all of us.

Thank you is not enough, but the unspoken carries within it far more,

So, thank you and......................

  

OF BALANCE AND BEAMS AND SUCH

      These are the minutiae of life yet at the same time are the crucial factors in retaining balance in one's life. A little too much that way, a bit less the other way and of such and on such seemingly minor league level decisions is life balanced. Think it not so? Just take a retrospective tour of the landscapes of faces of the American people, top to bottom and back again. Now rate these same faces on a scale of sanity and balance.

And there you have it. There was no balance. Period. Exclamation point! What have you. No balance, no recognition of that out of control whirling and twirling, of that debilitating sense of nausea, as our ship of state was battered, shredded by the winds of war. Worse - no one cared. 

That lack of balance in national and international life was reflected right back at us by the distortion of unbalanced private lives. No where to; no there to; no any place to try to rebalance and reset ballasts. The ever growing frantic pace of scrambling feet ate away at any remaining possibilities of solution or sanity. Balance shrinking, control lessening and hope diminishing.

And nothing changed. The irrational partisanship, the nation disappearing under the homicidal crushing feet of the unthinking herd. Nothing changed. Only the names under the pictures. The unbalancing factors and motivations? The same.

We need to reexamine our equipment, its place of production, in fact, the entire underpinnings, the entire ship, from prow to stern. Without that thorough reevaluation, without major change- no balance and no survival.

Time for change. Time for hope, time to reboot and rebalance. Time. And no more time.

IT WAS THE ELEPHANT!

     Do we all remember the poltergeists living within the walls of our homes? Amazing it truly was to see how determined they were, moving homes with us, and the growing sophistication of their deeds. As for their physical manifestations, well they ranged from raging elephants to galloping giraffes to annoying brothers. Just amazing.

Well, have I got news for you. Seems that when we were not paying attention, they all picked up, lock, stock and barrel, and moved into the homes of the nation's leaders and what fun they had indeed. As for consequences, what was that? None, you say. Oh. Who can actually find a poltergeist, let alone find the reeking trail of its misdeeds?

Thus the miracle happened and how much damage have we caused and accepted? What have we taught our children? That it  is okay if one is not caught? That personal gain trumps the needs of that nation? That it is just fine if the very president who swore an oath to protect and defend that same nation becomes its  greatest traitor?

Folks, our national crisis is not over. IN FACT, IT HAS WORSENED BEYOND ALL EXPECTATIONS. So much for getting away with it all. And more to follow. Much, much more. See, consequences matter, be they visible or not. Ours are coming due.

 

THE LITTLEIST AND THE BIGGEST!

      Well, who woulda' thunk it? The smallest, yet also the largest ones, at one and the same time. There they are, living the high life, being carried about, being catered to left and right, and by golly, there they go again. Once safely on the floor, they insisted on getting up on all fours. Now they stand!

    Have you ever wondered how the perspective changes in those few movements? Suddenly nobody is carrying you around. Suddenly all and sundry are urging you to walk to them. Hell no! Life was easier the other way. But there you have it, for just when everything is lined up perfectly-Bam! And there goes that rear end again. 

    So who are the littlest heroes? Who are the biggest ones at the same time? They are the babies who set forth every day to conquer a new piece of it. The scrapes and scabs of yesterday are forgotten even as new ones arise. 

    The heroes are those who know that life is not going to change very much for them. The heroes are those who, knowing that, do not give up, not at least until that new inch is conquered.

    Life has been very tough lately. Perhaps we were all too spoiled before this mess. Perhaps there were too many easy answers. Whatever or which ever perhaps it was, it is, or will be, we all need to reimagine ourselves, get some new PPE and clear the way for those coming behind us.

    Many, like me, are tired. We have fought the good fight and are still fighting. So for all that is holy in this world can we all stop fighting each other, stop fighting the truth and fight the real enemies that are around us. Perhaps if we emulate the courage of the littlest heroes, we can become the biggest heroes of history.

    

TIT FOR TAT AND TAT FOR TOOT AND TOOT FOR ..... HAVE WE ALL BEEN LEFT BEHIND?

      Have we all been relegated to that ever so shameful society? Those left back? Waving tearfully as the bus for first grade rides off into the glowing light of day, even as the jalopy bus of kindergartners rolls into the stop with a screech of brakes and a huge puff of toxic smoke.

Well, be not afeared, my dense friends, for you are definitely not alone and ever more the shamed face we should be. We, the supposed adults in the room have fallen, swallowed whole, within the brown bag syndrome where the supposed wise teachers of society, our guides for the future, become the failures of society, left behind in public shame.

Perhaps it is the initials, with AOC vs MTG? But then again, maybe not for we have MG or TC and oh, so many more to choose from. Qualifications for admittance into this restricted club?  Be of a deep hatred. Be of  a bone deep stupidity. A tablespoon of irrationality can only help. And for sure hate your country, turn on it and accuse your enemies of your own misdeeds.

Sense the contempt for these people? Yet do not count them out. Even as their bodies of shame float to the surface, even as the reek of their misdeeds and crimes grows exponentially, their misplaced pride goads them on to lower and lower depths of baseness.

We have lost the ability to see the nakedness of the emperor. The naked asses of his rear guard are exactly that and us, we, the left behind are left alone and weaponless. Stupidity is both dangerous and difficult to defeat.

And - Ptui! It is still with us.

PSST! HEY YOU! SO WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY?

    Ever play that game anymore - you know the one. It's that annoying one that seems to magically create new situations that require new rules even as you are digging thru the couch cushions for the old rules.

    Not quite sure, if this fits life imitates art or art imitates life category but it sure as hell fits something. Most of us in today's world seems to be not quite sure of anything anymore. What a mess!

    Once there were rules. Once there was an inherent surety that if one played by the well known rules one could make book on it. But hey, that rule is down the toilet along with any remnants of civilized behavior. It is as if we don't seem to care anymore, we babble on about reputations but whose reputation? What reputations? As the song goes they are good for absolutely nothing. Not anymore.

    There used to be guard rails along the highway of life. At times we hit them; at times we went right through them but at least we knew why. Now it appears as if it is the luck of the draw.

    I think what is being heard in the echoing chambers of my mind are the disillusioned words and thoughts of an aged out idealist. I still ask why, I still ask why not. I still wonder why people seem to feel the need for nastiness and cruelty.

    Bad day today. Too many bad days lately. Worse, is that I see no end to them and that, my friends, is the worst thing to happen to the former rootin,' tootin', hollerin' idealist who still wishes to remain in the category of "fabrent"(on fire). So tell me good folks out there, if we imported Diogenes from the past with the same task we will get the same results? And so, and yet, we keep plodding on hoping against hope, fighting the cynicism of others as we try to resuscitate and reanimate. A big job, my friends a huge job.

    Join us in the fight against evil, against the worst visions and versions of humanity. Don't only be my neighbor as Mr. Rogers wants but be my activist neighbor, the one who still believes in the good of humanity, in the hope for and of humanity. We can turn this around.

IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE, HUH?

     It already is, ya dumb cluck!! Coulda, woulda, shoulda known better and sooner. With the ever growing roar of full throated howling at the moon of the crazed still delusional Trump supporters to the ever more open threats of murder and death to all who displease, denying this is so is simply accommodating those who neither  hear nor care.

    The Proud Boys stand at the ready, so instructed by their leader. Camp Auschwitz tee shirts abound at the insurrection and license plates officially approved by Alaska read Fuhrer and 3Reich. So now that the ball less wonders of the Senate GOP step back from their own words of truth about Trump's incitement to riot and insurrection we will have the travesty of justice of the second lack of conviction by the clearest traitor to the Constitution ever. Honey, Benedict Arnold was a mere pussycat compared to this dangerously demented man.

    For the sour cherry on top of this rancid cake please note that David Israel could not be bothered to write on his personal blog of the official Holocaust Remembrance Day of the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Russians.

    Today is the first day of the rest of our lives or maybe just that first day ever closer to reliving a filthy part of history that we never get straight.  

THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT ALL

     And so here it begins but where does it end? Hoping to hear that a simple short surgery would kill the pain, I was told otherwise, wit it can heal - to a certain degree, the pain relief coming from meds. Not a happy camper, but if break stays normal it will be okay. One hopes.

Off to old rehab again. Off to old pain again. Lord help me, for it sure ain't comin' from anywhere else, not that I can see.

Folks, these postings will be short, no other way but there are remaining questions. If the federal government can get up to speed then so can UCO.

DAVID? 

TEA AND SYMPATHY

     The next few blog postings will almost certainly be short. Not so much sweet as brief as I peck out literally one finger additions. Furthermore, the tea and sympathy are useless, paper tigers in the face of rip roaring attackers at the gate.

Pain has visited. I have had broken bones and big surgeries. But this is a pain that just won't quit and hence the sympathy. Too often too many of us have patted ourselves on the back as we resisted the siren song of pain relief, Oh, how brave we are, were, take your choice. But not really.

Here I sit since Friday morning. To breathe is to hurt. To talk is to feel that pain. Just to take pictures is pain. And knowing that relief in a more reasonable manner must wait till tomorrow - if then - is not the news one wants to hear. FOR WHO KNOWS THE SHAPE OF THAT RELIEF! I do not want more pills. I do not want more temporary relief, but rather a more permanent one.

So, my friends, the next time you or yours has deadly pain, do not be so smug and self congratulatory. It is so easy to slip into that blessed state, that peace the cessation of the roar of pain will bring. There has got to be a better way. THERE MUST.

 

MIRACLES AND NOT

     Part of Parkinson is truly frightening. It is when suddenly, no prior alarm, one finds oneself in the act of falling. Despite all training, it will happen. Over one goes like a toppled tree, with all the consequences. Suddenly you are on the floor, the breath knocked out of you, then, the pain.

You cannot move. Body parts do not respond to commands. You are consigned to the floor, nobody around, and there you lie, shouting for help. No one hears. No one passes by. The panic grows, as does the pain, as does the complete sense of anger, of disappointment and of despair.

One lies there almost in a stupor of despair and hopelessness - at least until enters the cavalry in the form of EMTs   and Paras. G-d bless them and their knowledge and patience. Finally you are off the floor. Finally you are taken for help. And finally, you realize that this was the big one, not shaken off so easily. Life has changed. To what extent and for how long? No answer available right now.

And so one cries. One rages. One rails at the miserable fate handed to you and the why of that is never answered. And one hates oneself for becoming the burden to others, for crashing the plans for retirement.

        Oh, there are some silver linings here. The dedicated therapists, the new family they become. The amazement at the ability to find new paths and new interests. Best of all, is the devotion of husband, children, grandchildren and friends.

 You indeed are loved. You indeed are valued. And on Tuesday, when we finally know the full extent of the damage done and the path to recovery, we will lean on those to whom we remain loved and valued.

  

RHETORICAL PRETZELS AND TANGO DANCERS

       I must confess that I did not make up the term of rhetorical pretzels, but happily adopted it once heard. It was on a CNN interview which analyzed the responses and verbiage of various Republican so called leaders. Such leaders we can do without. The term refers to their almost insane turns on a dime, contradicting themselves, re-contradicting themselves, turning around yet again, until even they cannot remember what they last misspoke!

That wonderful young poet spoke yesterday morning with Anderson Cooper, and in answer to a question asked, gave an answer that pleases me greatly, so much do I agree with it. For years, as a   mother, educator, as a person, I have been telling one and all that words matter. They can indeed lead to broken bones, so the nursery rhyme is so dangerously wrong!

Words are what led to Jan. 6, our internal Day of Infamy, when American attacked American. It was a day when we stood on the doorstep of the annihilation of democracy in this country. At the head of it all, the traitor di tutti traitor, Donald Trump, who encouraged, spurred on, his rabid mobs, perhaps even colluded with them beforehand, and off to attack the Capitol they went, with malice aforethought, with havoc and murder on their most limited minds. Words matter.

At the same time, words were flying around the inner chambers of the Capitol, as the GOP stood by, or under, their demented leader and insisted on yet another twisted plan of denying the truth of the election, a last ditch effort before, it seems, the storm of the attack. And the words flew and the lies grew and one could, in retrospect, hear the ominous pounding of the drums of alarm, the high pitched atonal music that would accompany this scene in a movie. Only this was not a movie; this was a possible death scene of our country.

So where do rhetorical pretzels enter? That very day, even after the attack, after the murders, after the set up of nooses, after the pictures of people with weapons, of a police officer being squooshed in a door, as chants of death to various people were heard, even then, the words ran on, insanely, with no sense, replete with malice  and viciousness.

There were some GOP members who at least had the courtesy and sense and honesty at that point to condemn the attack. They accurately blamed the cause on words, but attributed all the blame for these words on Trump. Hmmmm. What about the GOP members of Congress who were there at the Trump rally, the starting point of the raging mob? What about the words, the crazy rhetoric of the election campaign, of the demonization of all Trump opponents? Of the powerful rancor of the words? What about the collusion of McConnell? Of McCarthy? Of Thune? Of Cruz? Of Rubio? Of Mast? Of Scott? Of Goetz? Of Scalise? The list goes on, a roll call of the almost entire roster of the GOP.

Now, these practitioners of rhetorical pretzeling twist themselves into that shape as they retake their words, as they  refuse to include themselves in the causative mess, as their words refute their words of Jan. 6, as they still march to the beat of that defeated man, the man who plays "Macho Man" as a theme song as he leaves in defeat.

For heaven's sake! Words matter, be it the words of Marc Antony in Julius Caesar or the words of Lincoln at Gettysburg or the words of FDR after Pearl Harbor was attacked or the words of JFK at his Inauguration or the words of Trump or the words of GOP members who casually tossed out all words other than those that mirrored Trump, that defended their power, that left behind honor, that once, ONCE! told the truth and then reneged, pretzeled again!

Their rhetorical pretzeling does not serve them well, nor the people of the country. Their apparent growing refusal to dance the tango with Biden, a man who expresses his disappointment with a mild, "give me a break, man", is disappointing, never mind dangerous. With this situation, cooperation is necessary. Rather than rhetorical pretzels, rather than non dancers, we do so need partners. Biden has reached out to them. If they refuse, the man is strong, a fighter in his own way, and he will make his way forward, serving the people, leaving the pretzels and the non dancers behind in the dust of rejected history.

Here are three statements,  from the speech of Biden, from an analyst and a spokesperson. Read them and understand the importance, the dire need for cooperation, for truth, for forward movement rather than fighting a lost fight, a destructive, senseless fight, one that will continue to tear the country apart beyond all chance of revival and healing. No more pretzels. No more lies. No more wallflowers of deadly disguise and plans. No more. We need to become the Americans who are the ones that Biden praised when he said, "We are good people." We need to chant that as our mantra.

"Lincoln had the Civil War, Wilson had the pandemic, Roosevelt had the Depression, Kennedy had the height of the Cold War, and Johnson had unprecedented civil and social strife,” ..... “Biden has D, all of the above.”

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path,” Biden said. “Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war, and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.”

 "...their goal was to “bring transparency and truth back to government.”

COLLECTIONS

      Walk into most people's homes and there will be a collection of one sort or another. Asked why, or how it began, most will say they really don't remember or it began on a whim and grew from there. Many collections take up lots and lots of room, growing without end, until the collector is forced to revamp somehow. Parting with pieces of a collection is painful, very much so, at times, and yet, sometimes we are forced to let go, simply let go.

The collections reflect the ranking of values in the collector's life. Are they whimsical or serious? Are they eclectic or tightly focused? Is it obsessive or enjoyable? Are the various collections shared or hoarded to oneself? Are there plans for their ending, their growth and their place after the collector is gone. For too many, their fate is often relegated to swap meets, Ebay or Craig's list as the heirs do not want nor understand their importance. So out goes an important piece of a loved one's life. Sad.

During retirement we have both built up and pruned our collections. Nothing very grand and certainly limited by limited pockets and space, but they reflect our interests, our values, and we are heartened when a child or grandchild expresses interest in something. As for our latest collection, well, it has taken over!! We have exotic woods in the second bedroom, the lanai, and waiting for use in pieces standing in the living room, whilst the dining room table becomes a worktable during the week!! But it is fun and as with all that we collected, we value it and we pass much of what we complete onto the family member that requests it, either before or after its completion or even beginning. Wacky! Never thought we would be doing this, but there it is. And when it stops being fun, well, we will have gained knowledge, a newly grown and improved appreciation of the inner beauty of trees, often hidden under their barks - kind of like many people - and an appreciation for what we were able to do, and a knowing within us that one is truly never too old to learn and do new things.

Life itself is a bunch of collections whether we realize it or not. Yesterday, while speaking to someone re the Inauguration and its inspiration, its return of hope to America, she mentioned, or cautioned, that we must remember that we have a big job ahead in clearing the collection of trash out of the WH and DC as quickly as possible. It is in the way of progress and desperately needed change.

This collection grew through purposeful action by some and through apathy and powerlessness on the part of others. Its 'values', if we can call them that, were hatred, disunity, anger, divisiveness, selfishness and greed. It was based on corruption, built on flimsy foundations that would collapse under pressure, as they did. 

But here is a small collection of words spoken yesterday. Words of hope, words of light, words of determination, words that will sweep clear the trash piled up lo these past four years. Words accompanied by actions - sweeping Executive Orders to cancel destructive Executive Orders signed by Trump that endangered us. So we return to the Paris Accord. We return to safety regulations, and a safer environment. We return to being America. Thank G-d!

As you read the collection of words and phrases that follow, understand that this collection requires constant work and attention. Constant efforts and watchfulness. Constant understanding that violent demonstrations by anyone are wrong, the wrong path. Talking, thinking, listening and hearing. Understanding. Reaching out. Hope. Faith in America and the best qualities of the meaning of being an American. In any case, welcome to the New America, a better version, we hope, of the Old America. Feel the words and feel the joy, their import, and the return of fresh air. Deep breath all.

The wordless gesture of standing watch over the grave of Beau Biden during the Inauguration.

"I think some of the things we’re going to be doing are going to be bold and vital,” he said in brief remarks. “And there’s no time to start like today.”

"...we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility,” Biden said in his inaugural address. “Few periods in our nation’s history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we’re in now.”

"We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile," he said. "And at this hour, my friend, democracy has prevailed."

"Every disagreement doesn't have to be the cause for a total war,"

"We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy," she read. "And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, It can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith, we trust. For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us."

Lady Gaga's powerful rendition of the national anthem.

“Inauguration Day is about much more than the swearing in of our next national leaders. This day is about witnessing the permanence of our American ideal. Every four years we hear the words that will empower us all on the journey ahead, the message that can unite us, as we begin a new passage from where we are to where we can be. A trek to a common goal, to the promise of our promised land.”

“Even in dark times, we not only dream, we do,”...“to do what is hard,” she said, “to do what is good, to unite, to believe in ourselves, believe in our country — believe in what we can do together.”

The moment that Sonia Sotomayor administered the oath of office to Kamala Harris. WOW!!

"We will be back in some form," - oh no you will not!! We are done with Trumpism and sanity must return to stay.

And I sang the anthem and pledged my allegiance - for the first time in four years!