Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
2016
Just a few thoughts at the close of 2016. Some big changes in the world and here at home. First, the election campaign. We did the best we could to avoid any information about what was going on. We avoided TV news, newspaper coverage and discussions with others and we didn’t watch election night coverage. We didn’t support either candidate and so had no stake in the outcome. The way I get it is that it was a contest between Sleazy and Grumpy and Grumpy won. We have no emotion about that.
We have great compassion for those of you who are devastated by the result. We truly do. But we don’t applaud those who riot and attack lawful authority because they didn’t get their way, calling it protest. In my day, when we didn’t get our way, we went to a silent place and wept – like we did four years ago.
As for expectations under the new administration, we have none. The reaction of many – encouraged by the press – convinces me that, as stated in Groesch’s Law, “Things can get worse, indefinitely”. Our politicians will continue to avoid solving our many serious ills and instead put their effort on advancing their political ideology – whether it is liberal or conservative – and put most of their energy into getting reelected.
A serious problem is that Washington has become an extension of the university with its political correctness and identity politics emphasis. PC is so rampant that the words “adults only” have been banned from descriptions of movies because it may offend school children (and people like me). And we are forced to say that on December 25th we will be celebrating the birth of “the holiday infant”.
In other news a new earthquake fault was discovered in CA and the President was quick to give it a name: “George Bush’s Fault.” Donald Trump rants about illegal immigration, but that works both ways with the discovery of an American who snuck into Mexico and was found working as an undocumented CEO.
There were also big changes for Sylvia and me. We sold our home of 45 years and moved to a retirement community. Downsizing means letting some things go. It was tough.
For us, everyone in the family is healthy and had a good year although there were employment disruptions. Sylvia and I continue to enjoy our golf and travel.
At 84 I am as happy as I’ve ever been. Perhaps one must wait until the last few holes to see how splendid the round (life) has been.
Michael
As always your Christmas messages are incredibly entertaining, informative and insightful. You are an amazing friend and role model, my friend. I’m sure you are aware of the numbers of people you have guided and inspired over the years.
I’m sure I am but one of the legions of admirers you have.
All the best, muchacho!!!
Tom Blondi
Outstanding as always!!! So glad to read some wit and intellect in this sea of anger and ignorance (see Justin’s epic media rant). With that, I attack your “infants” label. These are “Pre speech humans”! . You took Latin so I know this was a deliberate focus on their in ability to speak :-).
Mike:
I’m still not sure what a blog is but I’m having fun figuring it out. I just posted a piece about Astronaut Gene Cernan who passed away the other day. You may recall I met him in Houston in 1966.
As for your comment on the sea of anger and ignorance, I am preparing a post on that which should be on the blog in a couple of days. I think you will agree with it.
Love,
Dad
Donna:
Thanks for your words. You know I love to write and a blog turns out to be perfect for me. I am full of thought s all of the time. Now I’ll just post them and not really care if anyone else reads them.
I did post something on Astronaut Gene Cernan’s passing. I talk about meeting him in Houston in 1966.
Regards to Steve.
Ole:
Good to hear from you. I recall Churchill’s quote. However, ours is not a democracy, it is a Federal Constitutional republic. If it were a democracy, a majority of people could decide to take our house from us.
Besides, our form of government is a lot worse than it was when Churchill made his statement and we are much less united.
Michael