Bits and Pieces

Memories: the dog snuggled close. She reassured herself of my presence. My lap was a favorite of hers. So too, the bed, wedged against my side. Walking along the sidewalk, leading the way, she would often glance over her left shoulder to check I was keeping up with her pace. The grit of the sidewalk seemed more real then. Her little paws tread the grains of grit with more feeling than our shod feet. She – Willow – was a constant companion. No wonder she gave us odd looks when we left her for an errand. Why didn’t we take her with? Or why was she left in the car. Such forlorn looks as we walked away to a store.

Inflation: self-feeding behavior. Consumers do this to themselves. Change pattern of use for those consumables with inflated prices. Reduce consumption enough and prices will fall. We make inflation with our purchasing decisions. If we catch the fear of shortage or inflation, we spike demand and cause inflation. Discipline is needed. Self-awareness helps, too.

Remember that we have lived through two years of falling prices and demand for many goods. With a resurgence in lifestyles post-COVID, prices will return to a more normal pattern. That level is much higher than what it has been. Producers and retailers are doing the natural thing in pushing up their prices. This will subside soon enough. Meanwhile, change what you buy and how you use it.

Pendulums: like fashion fads, tastes swing in various directions and then swing back. Not always in a straight-line arc. What is hot one day is cool the next. The only variable is how long the day, or swing of the arc!

Bouffant hair dos of the 1960’s was out pretty quick. Long, straight hair styles became the rage by the late 60’s. Skirt lengths have stretched and shrunk as well. So too, men’s suit jacket lapels, length of suitcoats, and similar items. How about width of men’s’ ties? Current suitcoats now show the crotch and the butt curves. Not long ago those features were well hidden.

Trust in government – or the lack of it – will adjust itself in time. Low trust levels in government are self-defeating. We have to trust the people and procedures of our government or chaos will reign. If you don’t like something, work to change it. Get involved in the process itself. Think about running for office. You will soon learn that the people, systems and processes are sound and honest. Some bad people, of course; but far from all.

Besides, in a democracy, the government belongs to us, not we to it. Think about it. Change what you don’t like; build that which you do.

December 17, 2021

 

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