Bits and Pieces

Political Campaigns: the season is upon us. Every two years we suffer through political campaigns as state legislatures, town councils, and federal offices are refilling their elected offices. The on and off cycles give some variation of themes and rank of power, but elections they remain. Each to be weathered and survived.

The voter is presented with much information. Most of that information is nonsense flummery. It means nothing. It is for appearances. It is an attempt to attract your emotions, to lure you into supporting one candidate over another. This presentation, however, is fabricated nonsense. It is mostly downright false. It seems to get worse each cycle. Because the con works. For others it sickens and discourages their participation in the process. In that the con continues to do its job.

In spite of all this, we voters hold the power to change the nation, state or town. It is up to us to know the issues, research the truth so we can also recognize the false blather. It is up to us to maintain the honor of each election. Each office. Each candidate. Who wins office reflects how well we did our job. Will the most honest person win office? Will the person with the best sense of the future and talent to make it happen win?

That’s up to each of us. It is a solemn duty. It is a sacred role to keep our democracy working well. Are we up to the task? Are you?

Spring: the joy of the seasons for me is Spring. The warming of the air from the stark misery of winter’s cold. The sunshine with birds compared with the grey skies of winter and few if any birds. The greening of trees and shrubs as opposed to the black twigs of winter. Yes, spring is special. It is the reawakening of the nature we love. Warmer weather, softer air, plant life returning. Proof that life is still with us.

Winter is so bleak. Its promise is bleak as well. We know we will have weather of snow, cold, ice and wind. But especially, we will have darkness and seemingly lifeless plants. In contrast, spring is joy. And it promises warmer weather still, and even more verdant plant growth of summer. We know too, that fall will follow with its cooling, but still evidence of plant life and warm temps. Anything but winter. Anything.

Ah! Spring!

Food: it is everywhere we turn. Food is on the plate, on the napkin, in a wobbly takeout box, on the TV and even the radio. Billboards present us with food to eat. And we respond. We buy, cook and eat the food. Most of us gain weight. Not all, but most. Our blossoming bodies grow disproportionate and we shudder on the scale or in the mirror. We vow to lose weight. We eat less food until we feel deprived. We return to the food. We gain weight. We exercise, walk, take on any activity that we hope burns the calories we do not need. This works. A little. The gaining of weight is halted or slowed. But it makes little difference in appearance. The weight is there.

Soon, we yield. We accept the new body. And we eat. Yet again. This time with less anxiety. The taste wins!

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