Goodbye 2017

Well, once again I sit in my living room on New Year's Eve (where I prefer to be) and contemplate the previous year's events.

2017 has been a mixed bag. Although, when you get right down to it, every year is a mixed bag. Here's my take on what 2017 was for me and my family - in no chronological order.

Big Jack's health spiraled downward with fainting spells that defied explanation, panic attacks that required two hospitalizations, uncontrolled blood sugar and mixing insulins that shouldn't be mixed. In the midst of all this, we managed to assemble a pretty good medical team this time and, hopefully, we can get him back on track. We discovered that he was eligible for a free Caption Call phone through Center for Hearing and Speech which made telephone conversations much easier for him. This was a true blessing. Now he has a way to call for help if he needs it. It's funny how I found out about it. If I hadn't walloped my ear while answering the telephone at work and worried over damaging my own hearing aid, I wouldn't have called to have it checked out. It's amazing how God works. By the way, my hearing aid is working just fine.

We lost my dear Aunt Dolores. She had just celebrated her 96th birthday. Dementia had taken over completely and I don't even know if she remembered who we were. I know she's in a better place and with the people she loved most, but we still miss her. We celebrated Christmas with a bit more energy than before and I believe she would have wanted it that way.

My daughter Sami started a new job at the local animal hospital. She's a receptionist but they are promising to train her to be a vet tech. We couldn't be more thrilled. I'm happy she isn't delivering pizzas anymore and she's in the field she loves.

I made a tiny foray into landscaping by plotting out a hosta garden in the back of the house. Hardly perfect and the weeds kept taking over, but it's still a good start. I was able to break up the large clumps of hosta bulbs and transplant them to other parts of the garden. I think it will look nice - eventually.

In April, I was transferred from the Jewelry Department to Active Wear on the second floor. This wasn't my decision and I was upset at first over being told I wasn't good enough for the new, redesigned Fine Jewelry Department. This also turned into a blessing. After a few months in my new department, I was hearing horror stories coming out of the jewelry department. The intense pressure, lack of organization, people quitting as fast as they got hired. I'm happy where I am now and have a great team of people. I also feel a bit safer.

We cut the cable cord and went with live streaming through Roku and DirectTV Now. We still aren't so sure about it since reception isn't consistent. I just need time to talk to AT&T and see what else we can do to get better reception. But the bill is a whole lot less and that makes me happy.

I managed to reconnect with some old classmates from way, way back. It's funny how much you learn about people you thought you already knew.

Well, this evening has a full moon shining down upon us with frigid temperatures that will continue into the coming week. We are blessed to have a warm home, food on the table, jobs (even if the pay stinks) and each other.

Wishing everyone blessings for 2018!

My Silence Has Not Been Golden

I have not been sleeping well. Not for quite a long time. What is keeping me up? Well, I'll share that with you.

• Racial tensions and violence. What is happening to us? Why are we attacking one another? I had hoped after all this time, we had progressed as a civilized society where we talk out our problems and law makers create laws that enforce civility and fair rule of law.

• Looming nuclear war with Korea. Someone really needs to grab that sawed-off runt by the scruff and take away his toys. And someone needs to do the same to Trump.

• Is our free press being fair and balanced? No publication is perfect, but could certain media outlets be stirring the pot? Who do we trust?

• Will we wake up one morning and find ourselves no longer Americans, but Russians?

On the personal side, I have had to deal with changes in my job, my husband's downward spiral health issues, finances that only seem to get worse each day, and an increasing sense of hopelessness. Hence, my silence.

Everyday, I try to keep up with the news. Our sitting President, whom I refuse to address as such, appears bent on destroying our democracy. He is in deep with Russian interests and has recently shown a mental alignment with far-right ideologies supported by white supremacists and neo-Nazi's. Turns out, these people are a big part of his voter base. This is extremely frightening to me. Everyday, I ask, "How did this monster get into our White House?"

Thanks to social media, hate and vitriol are vomited by the minute. The anonymity of the keyboard give voice to the most ugly, cruel, vicious commentary. Things we wouldn't or shouldn't say to another person's face, are expressed online. The results are often tragic and violent.

A free press is vital to a free people. Too much power in too few hands is a recipe for disaster and our founding fathers knew this. They set up a government with three independent branches and created a Constitution that would not only protect our freedoms but grow as our country grows. Yes, there have been many stumbles and mistakes, but we should learn from these mistakes and correct them. Our press is no different. However, I want to beg our journalistic community to please report the news and the truth. I wonder if some of the divide is because the American people don't know who to believe anymore. I wonder if some of these media outlets, which are now corporate owned, are wishing for their independence back. How do we fix this? How do we report issues and events without personal or Big Boss influence? Not only is a free press our window to the world, a free press is supposed to get us talking about issues at hand. Difficult to do when someone is shouting you down.

How close are we to losing our country to a foreign enemy? Will it be a nuclear war where there are no winners or a political coup where the winner speaks Russian? Is everything our military fought and sacrificed for going out the window? Are we at the mercy of elite billionaires who only answer to greed?

I beg you, my friends, to pray and to voice your concerns to elected officials. We may be able to rescue our great country from the hands of those who wish to destroy it. But we must work together - all races, all creeds, all religions. Remember, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." (The Gospel of St. Mark, and borrowed by the late President Abraham Lincoln)

Joseph Stiglitz and the Future of Our Country

Earlier this month, I stumbled across a book in the library, "The Price of Inequality - How Today's Divided Society Endangers our Future" by Joseph E. Stiglitz. His book addresses the political and economic inequalities that are present in our society. A fascinating and eye-opening book, to say the least and highly recommended.

Mr. Stiglitz writes on a much higher level than most of us are accustomed to reading. Think Wall Street Journal level of reading. This only makes sense when you realize that he is a Nobel prize winning economist and former chief economist of the World Bank. I found that I had to read his book in short spurts and sometimes reread certain paragraphs to better understand what he was saying. Not that I'm a moron, but because economics and government policy have never been a strong suit for me. However, I was surprised that Mr. Stiglitz pointed out the very things that I have experienced and witnessed myself. I was relieved to find that I'm not crazy nor a whiny crybaby. The bulk of his book carefully points out how our democracy has gradually become a country for the 1 percent and not for all the rest.

Here's the scary part - the book was published in 2012. He accurately predicted the 2016 election. I have only gotten about halfway through the book, but I had to put it down. Twice today, I broke down and cried. The hopelessness and despair just took over and my husband insisted that I stop reading.

Skipping the rest, I went to the last chapter where Mr. Stiglitz offers a path to hope. Much of these ideas are being bandied about in Congress as we speak, but with a predominately Republican Congress and a wealthy Republican President, there isn't much hope of change.

Last week we witnessed the failure to vote on a bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. While I was among the many who praised this failure, I am fearful of what will come next. Our Republican leaders have shown their hand. They do not care about the 99 percent. They only care about themselves and their wealthy friends. Any policy they dream up will not help our country in the least. As American citizens, it is incumbent upon us to rally, just as we did these last few weeks, and remind these "leaders" of who they truly work for.

Public policy, governance, and economics can be about as exciting as watching grass grow. However, we have all grown lazy and have handed over our voices to the few who aren't the least bit interested in what's good for everyone else.

Many have started a "resistance" and the numbers are growing. A few news reports have come out stating how some Trump supporters are now being hurt by the policies they voted for. "Told ya, moron," doesn't invite open discussion of ideas. Finding common ground now is more difficult than ever.

We must reach out to one another. We must find that common ground and talk as civilized adults. We must listen to each other and come up with ideas that may bring about the change we need to save our country. We are on the precipice and our future is in peril.

I am imploring you, my readers, and your friends, to please contact your government leaders - local and national - regarding any concerns you have. You don't like the proposed tax reform? Speak up! You don't like the municipal codes regarding doggie do-do? Speak up! Please, please, please don't sit back and do nothing. It's hard work getting involved in your community, state, or federal government, but we must take action. Wall Street walked off with my $20,000 401K retirement fund and I'll never see that again. I know for certain that I'm not alone and neither are you.

Desecrating A Cemetery - Not Funny

This past weekend, a group of unknown individuals entered the Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery and knocked over roughly 200 headstones. This beautiful cemetery, located at the corner of Hanley and Olive, has been around since the late 1890's.While the police are not yet calling this a hate crime, I have a hard time believing it is the act of a bunch of bored punks. I've heard of kids pulling this kind of thing on a few headstones, but not this many. The Jewish community is outraged. We should all be outraged.

Within hours of the breaking news, the local Muslim community reached out to their Jewish neighbors and offered help. In a span of three hours, the Muslim community raised over $25,000 to help with repair and clean up costs. Local volunteers of all faiths gathered at the cemetery today to offer help with the clean up.

Now, I hope everyone is listening to this: 

THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT!!!

My co-worker and friend, Mrs. H, told me she has family buried in that cemetery. She doesn't yet know if their stones are damaged. Up until today, no one but cemetery employees were allowed in the cemetery to review the damage. Local rabbis are notifying families as soon as they know anything.

Neighbors helping one another through kindness and sharing. Why are we so engulfed in mistrust and vitriol? Bury the hate and come together as a community. This is not a difficult concept.

Mrs. H and I discussed this heinous act at length today. She wondered out loud if she should continue to wear her religious medals in public. I was stunned that she felt fearful for her safety. I told her to continue to wear them - they help define who she is. She is proud of her Jewish heritage and I believe it's disgraceful that some ignorant &*$%* would make her consider hiding the very thing that makes her who she is. So, in solidarity with my Jewish brothers and sisters, I have put on my crucifix and St. Gabriel medal. I haven't worn them lately because the chain broke. However, I found another chain (it doesn't match the pendants) and I'm wearing my own religious medals proudly.

I hope the police catch the people responsible for this and I truly hope the punishment fits the crime. Clean up the mess without mechanical help. What? You can't lift a 1,000 pound headstone? Too bad that didn't occur to you when you knocked it over!

The President's tepid and delayed response was and is inexcusable. It was nice that the Vice President stopped by since he was in town for something else anyway. He and our Governor rolled up their sleeves, put on gloves and helped with some of the clean up. 

However, it will eventually be up to all of us to send the strong message that hate crimes will not be tolerated by anyone. Here or anywhere.

May God Bless us all.

You Go, Girl!

I am so proud of all my sisters (and brothers) today. No, I don't have any biological siblings. I'm referring to my fellow women who marched in cities all over the country to protest our newly sworn-in President, Donald J. Trump.

Yes, This is how democracy works.

The protests were peaceful and massive. The crowds in Chicago and Washington DC were so large that the parades/marches had to be cancelled. But the protests went on without the marching.

Signs proclaiming the many issues we are all fighting, songs, and chants filled the TV and computer screens all day. The sight was glorious. I wish I could have been there. I had to work today, but I was with my sisters in spirit.

Even if I had today off from work, I'm not sure if I could have endured the crowds of people in downtown St. Louis or, especially, Washington DC. According to news sources, roughly 20,000 people showed up to march in St. Louis and about 500,000 people descended on Washington DC. Not sure of the numbers for Chicago. However, I will add my voice to the many. I will do this with my writing - really the only way I know how.

• I will do my best to address issues of discrimination. Some I know better than others, so I will look to my readers to guide me in painting an accurate picture of discrimination where I lack knowledge or experience.
• I will do my best to raise awareness of social issues. Education, health, crime, homelessness, and anything else that may cross my path in the next four years. 
• A free and independent press is the cornerstone of our democracy and this should be cherished, protected, and held to a very high standard. I will do my best, when I am reporting on anything, to do so from an ethical journalistic standpoint. 
• I want to encourage conversation. This blog is called Kitchen Table Talk because I enjoy talking over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. Please join me and we can learn from each other. A plus - I don't have to wash dishes!

There is no telling what our future holds. But, together, we can make tomorrow better than today.

God Bless America.