Life In A Bubble

It isn't possible, realistic or even responsible, but sometimes I wish I could live life in a "bubble."

In my bubble there wouldn't be any CNN, or FOX or any other news channel.  There wouldn't be a "right" or a "left", a "liberal" or a "conservative" in the bubble.  The bubble would have lots of positive expressions, great weather and no negativity!  The bubble would have lots of happy children respecting their parents, getting good grades in school and being "kids."

I know, there is no bubble, but that doesn't mean I can not wish for one.  The world has become ever so negative since the expansion of "social media."  I know that isn't the only problem, but the anonymity of talking "trash" to others who you don't have to see face to face, has definitely exacerbated the problem.  I am constantly shocked by the way people talk to one another on Facebook and other social sites.  I am also shocked by the mass disrespect of persons in authority; whether it be the President of the United States, or the local Police.  The recent assassinations of law enforcement officers has sickened me, and made me wonder just how much worse it can get.

One summer in 1984 I spent six weeks sailing the Bahamas on a 37 foot catamaran with a friend.  There was no TV, no regular radio (just weather warnings) and no newspaper.  It was an amazing time.  Living off the fish we caught and/or bought from locals and the groceries we brought along or bought at small islands was refreshing.  Cooking out on deck.  Not having refrigeration.  Catching a lot of our own food.  Wow!  I was ready to go home and sell my home and move aboard.  It was amazing.

I have gotten more and more likely to watch exclusively the Hallmark Channels, because of their G rated programming.  I am more and more careful what books I buy and movies I see.  I grew up in a small town in Maryland in a time where there was no social media, only a couple news channels, and neighbors actually talked to each other!  If you had laundry on the line and it began to rain, a neighbor would take your clothes in for you...because you didn't have to lock the doors.  You didn't hear about 15 murders, robberies and home invasions every time you turned on the TV.  The TV was actually about "entertainment."  There were shows which made you laugh and cry.  There was Ed Sullivan, Howdy Doody and Captain Kangaroo.

Two years ago, we moved to Ogden, Utah.  I must say it is much more like living in the sixties than where we moved from. There is a definite "small town" feel here.  People speak to one another on the street.  In the summer there are Monday movies shown in the local outdoor amphitheater.  There is a Saturday Farmer's Market in the downtown park.  Oh, there is some crime, but much less than most other places I have lived.  I am praying that doesn't change.

I can't actually live in a "bubble," but I can turn off the TV, read books, or when I listen to the TV choose not to watch those things which sew negativity and hate in my spirit.  Maybe we all need to watch a little less.  Oh, I know there are some who will say that you need to be "educated" to vote, but I don't believe that what the media is feeding us these days is actually "educating" us on what the politicians actually believe.  There is so much division and hate speak that no one really seems to be listening to what is actually important anymore.  I want to see politicians put their thoughts down in writing.  I want to stop the hate speak and negativity and have people share open, civil communication again.

Do you think it's possible? Or, have we gone so far over the edge that there is no turning back?
I certainly hope not.

PEACE, LOVE & JOY

When Flying Used to Be Fun

I used to love flying.  I loved it so much that in 1979 I took flying lessons. My first solo flight was on December 7, 1978! As the plane lifted off the ground in Florida I felt an exhilirating joy at being ALONE in the air, flying like a bird into the clouds.  I took my final check ride and completed all qualifications for my Single Engine Land Private Pilot's License on Friday, April 13, 1979!  Yep, Friday the 13th! I love memorable dates!

All that being said, I am no longer a big fan of flying. Let me explain that by saying that I no longer fly solo; having decided that my vision and age are somewhat restricting my ability to do so.  Now when I need to go somewhere I must fly commercial airlines.  I used to enjoy flying commercially too, but things have definitely changed since 1979!

I used to look forward to traveling by air from one destination to another.  The seats were fairly spacious, the people fairly gracious and most even well dressed.  That is not the case any more!  Now, the airports are crowded with people pushing and shoving and running their wheeled luggage over your feet without so much as an "oops, I'm sorry."  Then there is the TSA Security Check! OMG...most of the time i get the "pre-check" status and it isn't too bad.  But, on my last trip when I tried to check in online (I was traveling with an 88-year-old lady and an 86-year-old lady) I was notified that I couldn't check in online as "one" in our party needed to check in at the airport!  Ugh!
That meant that I had to arrive at the airport an hour earlier than I had anticipated.  Oh well.

Our check in went okay except for the fact that in spite of the fact I had ordered TWO wheelchairs, NONE were waiting for us.  The agent informed me that the gate was only about 200 "meters" away, so we decided to go for it.  Well, it was waaaaaaay more than 200 meters away.  Then the Security people rifled through each and every one of our bags...really?    Oh well, we made it through and finally arrived at the gate.  Wouldn't you think that if the twenty something and thirty something healthy people were sitting and the eighty somethings were standing SOMEONE would volunteer to give up their seat? Not!  Courtesy and respect for elders is also GONE!

Once we boarded the plane, I was on an aisle seat again..hmmmmm.  I am going to have to rethink that choice in the future, because I still have a huge bruise on my left arm where a careless person boarding the plane after I was seated clobbered me with their oversized carryon!  Again, no oops or gee I'm sorry.  Ugh.

Then there are the tight seats...wow, we are all crammed in like sardines, with barely room to put our legs between the seats.  But, even worse are those people who are traveling with impossibly ill-behaved children!  Oh My God! Whatever happened to discipline?  If any child of mine had screamed and thrown fits in public when they were two plus years of age, there would have been SOME kind of repercussion! Not any more!  People, if you can't control your child, you don't belong on an airplane full of people!  On one three hour leg of our flight home, there was a two-year-old child who screamed at the top of his lungs every minute or two about who knows what! When we were disembarking the plane, the carnage of crackers, cookies and other food and drinks around the area where this child had been was horrendous! The Flight Attendant said she had never seen worse! Please people, I have raised four children, I have eight grandchildren...none of whom would have been allowed to show such disrespect for others.

Then when we had to clear customs coming back into the USA, our luggage was searched by TSA.  I really wouldn't have been upset, except that my medications had the tops removed and not put back on before putting them back into the suitcase and the pills were EVERYWHERE when I opened my suitcase upon arriving at home.  This is unacceptable.  The suitcase inside looked like a gorilla had rifled through it!

By the time I arrived home, I was sick of inconsiderate people, rowdy kids and the TSA!  Flying is no longer FUN!  It is actually a chore.  What a shame.  I really do wish we could go back to the time when flying and traveling were exciting events.  I really do wish people would understand that discipline and respect are important.  Well, maybe I'm just OLD! But, somehow I do believe things have gotten out of hand, and we need to back up and take a look at consideration, respect and discipline.  We need to speak up and tell the airlines and the TSA what is acceptable and what is NOT!!  I'm thinking about doing a lot more driving and a lot less flying whenever I can!

What Ever Happened To Respect?

From the time of earliest memory, I can always recall being told to "respect my elders" and respect my parents and my teachers and all those in authority.  The Bible teaches to "honor thy Father and thy Mother" and Jesus said "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God"..respect authority.

What has happened in the last twenty years?  I find it horrifying that not only are children not being to taught to respect their parents, teachers and elders, but most adults are not respecting authority of ANY kind.  They talk in front of their children and denigrate anyone who does not share their personal belief or desires.  They call police "pigs" and say terrible things about elected officials.

The way our President is being treated is a perfect example of the lack of respect for authority that is rampant in this Country today.  I don't know of any other Country in the world that would allow the rhetoric and vilification that occurs on a daily basis agains the man who was rightfully elected to serve as the Commander in Chief of our Nation.  I'm not saying you have to agree with what any President or elected official says, but you must be willing to respect their right to say or do what they were elected to do. When you don't agree, then you have a chance to VOTE to change what you do or don't agree with.

That seems to be only the tip of the ice berg.  This disrespect for authority seems to be across the board in the current climate of this Country.  There is a frightening disrespect for any authority including police and teachers.  Children are being raised with little to no respect for their parents or anyone else.  There is no respect for God and it seems that nothing is sacred any more.  Nothing in this world is safe from the disrespect that seems to be running completely rampant.

I don't know what, if anything,  can be done to change the course of events that is taking place currently in this Country.  The divide is wide and deep and ever present.  I fear that if we do not find a way to remedy this situation, it will mean the demise of not only our Country, but of all forms of Democracy throughout the world.

No matter what your belief system, you must all realize that respect MUST become a part of our lives.  That we must become a kinder, gentler world and learn to once again show respect for authority.  That we must bring up our children to respect their parents and grandparents and all adults who are in authority over them.  Respect doesn't mean that we always have to completely agree with one another, but it does mean that we must be willing to submit to authority and teach our children to do so.

PEACE, LOVE & JOY

Linda

Health, Wealth and Retirement

Wow, this picture was taken about this time last year! It has been quite a year to say the least!  We were living in an Apartment in Layton, Utah when this was taken. I am NOT an apartment dweller...so, shortly after this was taken I made the decision to sell my condo on Okaloosa Island (my originally planned retirement destination) and buy a home here in Ogden.

I absolutely love Ogden.  It is very family friendly, and the scenery is incomparable.  It doesn't seem to matter what season it is, there is always something beautiful to look at here.  I hadn't worked since coming to Utah in June of 2013, and was enjoying my retirement.  However,  several incidents led me to look for a job here.  What an education.  It is very difficult for a 67-year-old woman to find a job in Utah!  Anywhere in Utah!  One of the quirks about Utah is that it isn't particularly job friendly for women...kinda behind the times on that.

The first job I managed to land was with a telemarketing group ...aauugghh! I'm definitely not designed for that!  In addition, most of the people working there were very young and very, very involved in Comic Con...  I really didn't know much about that until my experience there...geesh, these people are downright cultish about that stuff.  Needless to say, that didn't last long.

Then, there was a job fair for a large grocery chain here.  They were opening a new Marketplace type of store and the concept impressed me.  Soooo, I went and applied for a job in the Deli (since I have had quite a bit of food experience in the past).  I got the job.  Well, in the beginning I was quite excited about my new position.  We were schooled extensively in food handling, I even had to get a Utah Foodhandlers License..that was easy.  But, I didn't have any idea what I was in for.  The store actually opened on November 17th, a week before Thanksgiving! 

Now, if you can imagine a huge, absolutely fantastic (biggest in the area) grocery store opening one week before Thanksgiving, and the crowds that USUALLY shop for that - multiply it by about four to five times and you may have some idea of exactly how SLAMMED we were! OMG! I have never seen so many people in a grocery store in my life.  It was totally crazy.  The Deli not only cuts meat and cheeses, but has a huge display of cold salads, Pizza, Sandwiches, a Salad Bar and tons of shelves of prepared foods to keep "faced."  This was insane!  My "part time" job was going to kill me for sure!  For one thing, two weeks in a row I worked over 50 hours!  My feet, legs, and body in general were definitely not prepared for the abuse they were taking.  Standing on concrete floors for eight to ten hours a day, loading and unloading six wheeled carts of heavy meats and salads.  Stooping, bending and reaching..washing dishes...cutting chickens...aauugghh.

Then, there was the interesting problem that occurs when you have a few older people like me working with a bunch of younger people who have never worked in their lives.  I am hoping there are some youngsters out there a lot more ambitious than the ones I was working with.  They seemed to think that getting paid for standing around and talking was acceptable; and they were terribly disrespectful to those of us who thought otherwise.

Is this what I really wanted for retirement?  I found myself driving home late at night totally exhausted.  I began to wonder exactly now long I could keep up this pace.  I also began to wonder if life was any fun at all if this is what I had to do?  Did I really have to work? Would my hubby be disappointed in me if I didn't?  Was the small amount of hourly wage I was earning actually worth the pain, disappointment and exhaustion I was suffering from.  I began to feel like I had no life!  I certainly didn't have much joy!  Whew, this was not only physically taxing, but mentally.  One day I was so completely exhausted after a ten hour day that I couldn't even remember how to sign out on the time clock! Then to my horror, I couldn't remember my own house number...oh, I knew which one it was and how to get there (thank goodness), but not the number.  I realized shortly after that I couldn't remember ANYTHING with a number.  I called my daughter and she took me to the doctor.  My blood pressure was normal, so at least I knew I wasn't stroking out!  She took me home and put me to bed.  I immediately fell asleep, and after a good rest everything was normal again. Scary stuff!

Well, since then, I have spent a lot of time thinking about life after retirement and what I really want out of it.  I want to be able to enjoy my grandchildren...they give me such joy.  I want to live long enough to do that (and I'm afraid that if I kept up that ridiculous pace I wasn't going to be around long).  I would still like to travel whenever the opportunity presents itself (part of the reason I thought it might be nice to have a few extra dollars to spend).  I want to be able to participate in my Church, snowshoe on sunny days on the side of the mountain, cook dinner for my husband at night, and actually have the ENERGY to spend time with my hubby without falling asleep sitting on the couch!

Okay, end of job!

End of Story!

I have decided to work on my health, both physical and mental and actually take time to enjoy retirement.  No, I may not have a lot of extra money in the bank because of my decision, but if I am tired, sick and run down, the money won't do me any good anyway!

Hope this helps someone else in my position come to the right decision for them...I know this is the right one for me!  Hmmmm, smells like the roast may be done!  I love being a housewife again!

PEACE, LOVE & JOY

Linda