The Community Word

Well, I, along with millions of others watched the debate last night, and I find it so interesting how we each are able to support the views of one because of our own background and involvement. I, of course, strongly support Obama, not just because I’m a Democrat, but I also really truly feel that he has the character and integrity that I think has been lacking in the Bush Administration. McCain scares me. His military experience, rather than making him more humble and compassionate, seems to have made him more militant and ready to go to war. He has supported Iraq and has said “Bomb, bomb Iran.” We need some very strong diplomatic skills to get out of the hole in the Middle East, and I think Obama can look at it with fresh eyes. So many politicians say we can’t even talk to other nations without pre-conditions, and I think that is crazy. Maybe that’s why the world is such a mess. Many carry strong prejudices from the past and can’t think outside the political, sanctions-only box.

I believe we have brilliant think tanks and scholars who know the background and history of many nations and can suggest new alternatives and paths that those who are stuck in a way of thinking simply can’t envision. I also think Obama, because he isn’t caught up in all of the old garbage can look at a situation with a more open and transparent way. Just like we get caught up in our own little prejudices and can’t change or maybe don’t want to change. I do believe that we, as nations, are just as prone to judge other nations from past contacts and not be open to new and better possibilities of interacting with others around the world.

I, too, as many do believe that McCain is too old and I am even more scared that if he were elected and died in office, Sarah Palin would become president. She obviously doesn’t have the experience or qualifications at all to be the president. I have tried to be fair and have read a great deal about her and listened to many different opinions of her, but she is scarier even than McCain. She is anti -environmental, she shoots bears from helicopters, she is pro life which means she will not support her sisters in getting abortions. She is everything that I am not. She is not a feminist in any sense of the word, and could take women’s rights back to the middle ages. When Republicans talk about Obama’s lack of experience on the world stage, how can they think Palin is qualified? Obama has been in Congress, is brilliant, has written books about his ideas and is articulate about his qualifications. I can’t see anything in Palin’s background or in her present life that would qualify her for this office.

I have been particularly busy this past week and am late as usual getting my column to Debbie. I seem to have such ups and downs in life. Either I don’t have much on my plate or it is too full. I can’t seem to strike a happy medium. I love the coolness that comes with fall, but it allows me to let go of the yard a little too much. I still must get out and weed and plant bulbs before the really cold weather comes, and right now I just don’t have time. I continue part time work with Home Instead and The Center for The Prevention of Abuse. I enjoy doing both kinds of work, but this week I’ve been at the Center a little more working with the children which I love. They are so sweet and such fun to work with. I come home feeling so good after being with them, so I can’t possibly give that up. And I enjoy the people I work with at Home Instead. I guess I’m a little selfish wanting to enjoy too much.

My Water Class and I are so anxious to get back to the Bradley Pool. The Wellness Center is just about finished, and there will be an Open House in October, but the water has to be in the pool for a while and the Health Department has to okay it before we can return. It will be great to be in a big, big pool again, and we will just be grateful and comfortable to be at Bradley again. I have been teaching this class since 1989, and I love it too. I feel so lucky that I have so many options of doing the things I love doing, and to also get paid for doing them. I am fortunate!

My grandson, Kaid turned seventeen the 27th of August, and Jason, my son, and I took him out to dinner in early September. Our practice for birthdays is to let the birthday person choose where he would like to go, and we went to the Longhorn Steak House at Grand Prairie. It is the first time I’ve been there for a very long time, because I don’t have the time or money to shop, which is okay. We all enjoyed it immensely and now on the thirteenth of October, Jason will also have a birthday, and we’ll get to go out again. My birthday is also in late October, so we will get to eat out more than usual.

With the prices going up so much on everything because of the lack of any checks by the Bush Administration, it gets more difficult to enjoy eating out or doing many usual things. I heard Nancy Pelosi on ‘All Things Considered’ on NPR a couple days ago, and she lambasted Bush for just ignoring all the economic issues until now when it became a crisis situation. I do worry a great deal about the world that we are leaving our grandchildren, and that is why I want to see a fresh new Administration and a whole new perspective on how we can solve many of the issues this administration has totally ignored. I’m afraid that things may get worse before they hopefully turn around, and that’s why I’m really afraid of the Republicans getting back in.

My reading has declined this month because of my work. I picked up a book on my bookshelf that I have meant to read for a long time, and it’s going to be a slow one. It is called The Seekers by Daniel Boorstin, who was the Library of Congress’ Librarian. It is very scholarly and filled with facts, so it’s going to take a while to read. I’ve read a few lighter books. A book of short stories by Alexander McCall Smith called Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations. It was a fun read. Valentine Legacy by Catherine Coulter was another light read and I read a children’s book called Shivers by M.D. Spenser. I read the latter to see if is was suitable to read to the children at The Center. When I taught Children’s Literature I truly enjoyed reading children’s books because the good ones are written more simply, have believable plots, great characters and are not so pedantic.

Remember to slow down and watch the leaves fall!