Not Much of a Post Today . . .

My brain is empty today. All the crap going on in our government just disgusts me and what really angers me is the stupidity that's being perpetrated on both sides so I simply can't allow myself to muster the anger/energy to raise my blood pressure which is a bad idea for me anyway as y'all well know.

I just heard yet another congressman mourn poor old ladies living on 19K a year. If I got 19K a year, I'd think I was rich. Sigh. I get less than half of that so when I say that I'm poor, I'm not lying or exaggerating.

My son called early this morning and told me that he was headed my way but may not have time to see me. His best friend's dad passed away and he's just coming in for the funeral and will be driving back to Kentucky post haste. This touched me, too, because I knew Tommy's dad. I spent 6 years living in the same neighborhood, attending school, and graduating from high school together in 1965. We weren't good friends but when I think of him, the words 'funny' and 'pretty nice' -- mostly because he didn't tease me a lot. His son and my son have been best friends since their freshmen year in high school (the same high school as his dad and I did) when they began playing high school soccer  22 years ago. Tom Jr. calls me 'Mom' and my daughter 'sis' because he was an only child so he counted our family as his. My son called his mom 'Mom'. We joke that they needed two mothers. I guess I have to go to calling hours as much as I hate them. Eric can't stay long -- Jen and his boys are now in Kentucky and school starts this week -- and his swimmers are back to begin training -- not to mention that he and Jen are getting settled in their new home. I don't know if I'll see him or not but I do understand if I don't get a visit. 


Hope y'all are having a great day!

Happy Blogging!!!!

Kay

Martin Luther King Day

Today is the day that we remember and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. -- the leader of the civil rights movement that was a at the forefront of omy growng up years. He was an extraordinary man in extraordinary times. Many of you who read this blog, like me, were just coming of age when he was killed by an assassin's bullet -- just a few years after we suffered the loss of President Kennedy the same way.

Much has been written about the effect those heinous acts had on us as individuals, as a generation and as a country. And here we are again after another tragic assault on another leader who only wanted to good for us and our country and today I wept for Gabrielle and all who were killed or injured in the Tuscon tragedy. The madness of the times of our youth is still very much with us and, if anything, has gotten worse and that saddens me deeply.

We, as a country, have obviously learned nothing from our past mistakes and hate is very much with us. At a time we should be coming together, we have finger-pointing and hate speech from those who purport to be our leaders at a level I've never seen in my nearly sixty-three years.

What is the answer? I don't know. However, I do think it would behoove us to muster the courage of of the late Dr. King to scourge those who feed hate and violence from the air waves and from our government and look into our own hearts to find the strength to restore honor and decency to our country. To do otherwise is disrespecting the legacy our Founding Fathers left us and the future of our grandchildren.

I know I've rambled a lot here and I hope at least some of it makes sense. I'm still pretty upset -- and will probably continue to be so. Please bear with me.

Here's a song that was popular in our youth that asks a pertinent question: When we ever learn? And Joan Baez is still asking it and still sounds and looks beautiful.



{To those who had trouble with my videos: I checked and they still run perfectly on my blog. Since I'm not a techie I can only guess that it's a problem with your settings or somesuch. If you wish, you can click on the YouTube logo and watch them at their site}.

Kay

Still Buried with Busy

Am maintaining the status quo but yesterday was and tomorrow is slower and I took the opportunity to get some rest. Walking the dog, running a couple errands and making some food for after the services was about all I've done other than sleep. I'm not feeling well at all and am trying to figure out what I'm going to do about it next week. Today I see my cute lil' dermatologist and I'm going to mention it to her. And I've told Jeff that he can handle the rest of the details on Friday. I'm going to get him and his dad this evening from the airport. What I hate about that is that I have to drive his dad's Lincoln Towne car -- it's the only way I can transport myself, Shaughnessy, two big men and luggage. I hate huge cars and haven't driven one in eons. The good news is I won't have to drive it back.

The services will be Saturday with calling hours before the mass and everyone and their brother at the house afterward (and then I'll be back in high gear). Alex decided that Bridget would have wanted things simple and I concur. She was a fun, lively, loving lady and believed we that we should celebrate life. I shall miss her as will all those whose lives she touched.

Bridget was born and raised in County Galway in the west of Ireland and emigrated to the U.S. at age sixteen. Here's a video of one of the songs that will be sung at her funeral. It was a favorite of hers and it's one of mine, too.




Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!

Update

I won't be around much the next few days. I am extremely busy and very sad. I got a call last night from one of my best and oldest friends on the planet. He had been in Cancun with friends and got a call from his dad in Florida: his mom (and one of the dearest ladies I've ever known and I truely love) had died peacefully at age eighty-six in her sleep on Tuesday. He asked me to please help.

I never say "no" when the "Jeffer Mack" calls so I've been running hither and yon, opening his house, stocking it with supplies, and getting my favorite Lab, Shaughnessy, from the kennel -- always an adventure as he is so enormous and doesn't fit well in Miss Ruby -- as well as talking with our priest to keep him updated on the plans. I'm staying at the house with Shaughn tonight and will be meeting Jeff at the airport in the morning. My cell phone has been getting a workout.

"The Fair Bridget" as her husband dubbed her was great lady who I absolutely adored. I'll write a proper memorial later when I'm more organized. In the meantime, here's a song that Jeff's dad always sang to him when he was small. It's time for Shaughn's walk.



Happy Blogging!!!!!!!!!!!

And When I Die . . .

Olive Riley of The Life of Riley died last Saturday at age 108. Mike, who helped her with her blog wrote a lovely eulogy at her blog. I'd like to think that she and my friends, Joycelyn (Maya's Granny) and Winston (Nobody Asked . . .) who also died recently are having a beverage and swapping blogging stories. The Blogosphere is diminished with their passing.

In my misspent youth there was a song on the charts that really helped me crystallize my philosophy on death and dying. It still touches my heart and remains one of my all time favorites so I'm sharing it with y'all in memory of three wonderfully special people who touched my heart as well. The good news is that David Clayton Thomas is still with us and performing at age sixty-eight, still sounds great, and has a great webpage here.



Happy (albeit a bit sad) Blogging!!!!!!

Kay