Hold On Tight
The first Presidential debate I watched was on September 23, 1976. It was held at the Walnut Street Theatre in my hometown of Philadelphia, which made it more exciting. It was the first debate in 16 years and the first for me to witness. I sat on my living room floor in front of the family TV with a blank cassette tape, recorder, and enthusiasm. If you know, you know.
I was in seventh grade at the time and had a very liberal, out-of-the-box lay teacher at my catholic school who recognized the importance of this moment. I still wonder how she was hired.
She went by Ms., drove a yellow Porche convertible, and taught Social Studies in a way that had all of us sitting wide-eyed and interested while welcoming questions and opinions. She was literally an alien in comparison to the nuns.
Our assignment was to watch this crucial presidential debate, and we would discuss it in class. I remember this time clearly in our home. My mother was obsessed with Jimmy Carter, while my father walked around making comments like “he’ll be eaten alive.” My mother went on to attend his inauguration, and my father kept his mouth shut.
If you have a minute to watch this debate on YouTube, you’ll be surprised—not by the content but by the respect. Two grown men could once stand side by side on a stage and present the American people with clear and concise information. I swear it’s true.
Fast forward to the “debate” last night. If I had to narrow it down to one word, that word would be sad.
If nothing else, last night gave us permission to reflect on how we got where we are and whether we want to continue on that trajectory. I do not. Unless we have a 78-year-old candidate with the same vitality and zest for life as Cher or an 80-year-old candidate jumping Jack flashing all over the United States while still fathering babies like Mick Jagger, it’s a no for me. Age is not the issue; mindset is.
All the talking heads following up with their narrative this morning was equivalent to pouring a bucket of salt into an open wound. We deserve more than blah, blah, blah. He’s old. He lied. They’re old, and they lied. We can handle the truth; we really can.
At this point, I’m torn between exercising my constitutional right, fought for by the best of the best women in history, to cast a vote or following my moral compass, which is screaming otherwise. The lesser of two evils card has been played too many times.
I’m not angry by our choice of candidates; none of us can be. Why? They reflect who we’ve become as a nation. They represent our fears, anger, complacency, disconnect, and majority. They are all of us, and that, folks, is discouraging. If the US was a mirror, that stage was the reflection.
A testament to my disappointment is my inability to laugh at the influx of memes that have surfaced this morning. Trust me, I can find humor in some dark situations, but witnessing our democracy in hospice is not one of them.
I shouldn’t be in this position, nor should anyone else in the land of the free and home of the brave. We should have done better; no, we should have demanded better for future generations. But that requires doing the work; frankly, from where I stand, that ship has sailed. Our excitement has been replaced with division.
After 8 years of these two, my optimism feels like that last balloon holding on for dear life weeks after the party. I do not have another 4 years to give to either of these Gentlemen. They don’t deserve it, and they haven’t earned it.
My parents will no doubt be turning in their graves hearing me say this, but is there an alternative? When do we stop bowing down to this nonsense? The answer is now. It’s today. The day after, we witnessed two men who have divided our families, damaged our country, and embarrassed us around the globe, fumbling like fools on a world stage. I want a President who unites us using full meaningful sentences for 90 minutes.
No matter what, I am confident that whatever does happen will be for the greater good. However, it’s not going to be easy.
Buckle up, lock the doors, and hold tight; this ride might be rough, but it will be worth the effort.
Enjoy the Ride! Helmets required.
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Blue In The Blood
Election Day is upon us, and it’s more important than ever to exercise our civic duty and cast a vote. Below is only ONE reason it’s essential!
This is a section of the new patient registration form required by our office, and this is what someone chose to claim as an allergy. Seriously now …
Now, at first, I did laugh thinking that this guy is pretty ballsy to believe that this would go unnoticed by the two LIBERALS working the front office.
However, in hindsight, I need to remember that people are actually crazy and maybe next time I will refrain from calling to remind him to double up on his Benadryl before his appointment. Oh yes, I did!
It has never been a question for me whether or not I would vote, but in light of the current atmosphere in this country or even in our local communities, the bar has risen to light a fire under our friends, family, neighbors, and anyone with ears. It’s in my blood, my blue blood to be exact.
I was raised by two dedicated democratic servants of the community. The polling place was in our home for god sakes. No excuses.
My mother would stay up the night before making homemade meatballs with gravy for the women on the board, while my sister and I rolled lunchmeats into fancy schmancy cylinders to be displayed on a platter, and my father would go to the neighborhood deli first thing in the morning for fresh rolls. My parents fed both sides of the aisle because they were NORMAL!
During my childhood, I witnessed my parents taking on local government to ensure that our newly built, but quickly growing community, was safe with the installation of much-needed stop signs, rescue wagons, and larger street signs to make it easier for police and fire to respond. My mother walked up and down endless steps to have petitions signed, sometimes going back more than once to catch the man of the house after work.
It was definitely a family affair, whether you wanted to be involved or not, you rallied your friends to stuff envelopes and canvas the neighborhood like a chain gang. This was in the 70’s when kids had enough critical thinking skills to make things like this fun.
Fast forward to 2018. My father is long gone, but my mother will be turning 92 this month. Her goal has been to live to cast her vote in this election … oh yeah … this is what I’ve heard for months.
She has been following this election like a hawk. Well, a legally blind bird, with a sharp mind who is outraged at the behavior in Washington. When a 92-year-old tells you they’ve NEVER seen anything like it, be alarmed.
I will be voting before I go to work. I’m leaving on my lunch break to assist my mother in the voting booth, and I will be sending my children unlimited text messages until they get over to the polls. Threats are not off the table to the children.
Now, if you haven’t already done so, log off and get your ass to the polls and V O T E!
Enjoy The Ride!
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Every Day Is Opposite Day
Well, well, well look who is celebrating their 5th anniversary with WordPress. Ah, it feels like yesterday.
Last year, in celebration of this glorious milestone, I posted an essay that is sadly more relevant today Weapons of Mass Destruction Have a Face. A big orange face to be exact.
So, here we are, one year later, with the shit literally hitting the fan. Oh, happy day … not.
In just 365 days we went from watching this country’s biggest hit reality show to actually being contestants. I’m just sitting here desperately waiting for this show to be cancelled.
2017: Every day is Opposite Day
The show, as I like to call it, is “The Opposite.” That’s right folks, we are all participating in a new reality where our host is the opposite of being honest, treating women or anyone else who isn’t white like people, speaking openly, confronting situations directly, having patience, and basically just being a good solid citizen. The Opposite is now leading our path. Where we’re heading has yet to be determined.
In just a little over 30 days our host has brought several teams to the surface.
First, we have Team Merica. The bible thumping flag waving team who wouldn’t know the constitution if it were narrowed down to a bumper sticker, who take pride in naming at least two of the seven dwarfs, yet cannot muster up the name of a single Supreme Court Judge. They believe every alternative fact presented, including, but not limited to, our former president being a member of Isis.
The White Team is a sub group to Team Merica that includes well-intentioned educated folks who for whatever reason cast their vote. Some say it’s because he’s a businessman, others believed that he would “clean the swamp”, but most, in my opinion, did it because they were tired of a Democrat “giving away” everything they earned.
Next, we have Team Resistance. Not hired actors or paid by a 3rd party to participate. They are a feisty group made up of men, women, children, babies & dogs. They are taking to the streets to have their voices heard bearing signs, pussy hats, and passion for all that is good for the greater good. Their voices are speaking out for common human rights for all people. They are demanding answers from their elected officials regarding our planet, our healthcare, our animals, our freedoms, our sanity and OUR COUNTRY.
Who knew different could be this bad?
Then we have Team Oh Fuck. This group really, really, really thought they were doing the right thing when they went to the voting booth to cast a vote for “something different” and now they sit quietly pondering the definition of “different.”
Next up, Hollywood. This crew brings money, glitter, glitz, glamor, a microphone and a stage to spread a message they feel should be heard. This group has members on all of the above teams.
Last but not least we have Wall Street. They bring money, mo’ money and of course, mo’ money, which can easily allow them to rule the world … literally. Just remember folks the lack of a moral compass, a soul, and their cloven hooves will eventually lead to their demise. Hopefully.
So, in just over 30 days since the season premiere of “The Opposite” we’ve certainly been kept on our toes with the daily cliffhangers. What’s next? never sounded more terrifying.
Our new host likes to keep the teams confused. As they wander around questioning whether facts are truth or if lies are now alternative facts, which in our old world were just lies, he is vigorously flushing 
their tax dollars down the drain on his weekend getaways, our satellite First Lady, and my favorite, the 2017 Feed My Ego Tour a/k/a 2020 campaign rally. What just happened?
While the teams scramble to fact check like Ninjas, desperately trying to determine which news is real, fake or somewhere in between, Executive Orders are being signed sealed and delivered faster than a middle of the night Tweet. Diversion at its finest.
Thing have been tense between the teams. While each team frantically attacks each other via social media outlets, the wool is pulled further over their once bright hopeful eyes. Next stop, slaughterhouse.
Let’s just hope that this show will be cancelled long before the Season Finale scheduled to air November, 2020. Until then, crank up the music and Enjoy the Ride!
Life With The Top Down 
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