As we approach the end of 2016, it’s naturally a time for reflection. This past year was filled with many highs and lows for me. The high point was going on a bucket list trip to South Africa on a photographic safari. Observing wildlife in their natural habitat was humbling and spiritual. This earth is full of so much species diversity that live and breathe and go about the business of surviving. Hunted by humans and by animals higher on the food chain, surviving and finding nourishment each day, this is no small task and involves luck and skill. Herds of animals and their young, munching on leaves and grass, bringing a kill back to the pride. We saw it all. Simple and yet not. Species following instincts until humans interfere and change the balance. But just being there watching the simplicity, being respectful to the wildlife while on this safari created a magical step into their world, far from the world of angry, hate-filled humans.
Speaking of which, now a low that goes straight to hell. The election. Anger at Hilary for losing it to a moron, a demagogue that has brought lowlifes into the spotlight. Filling his cabinet with billionaires whose only care is money, not saving the planet that is in their safekeeping and when it is destroyed so is the human race. Well, why would they do that? Aren’t they also human? Because great wealth insulates, makes you out of touch, makes you think you have a really good brain and you’re smarter than everyone(quoting the Orangutan) and if its good for you than its good for everyone. Because who cares about anyone else? Climate change? Well, if we have to stop drilling than it’s a hoax. Health care for everyone? Well who cares if the poor live or die. Who cares if the populace has coverage? We have coverage. And then there’s the adolescent moronic behavior of a president conducting foreign policy in twitter rants. How dumb is the electorate that they voted in a con man because they watched him on a reality show? He’s already reneging on his campaign promises just like a con man would do. You trumpeters got duped and now we the people and the rest of the world will pay for it. If you think ISIS and radicalized Muslims hate us now, think how mobilized they will be after the Orangutan gets finished with marginalizing ALL Muslims. We are a diverse world that can’t be painted with a broad brush. Generalization is the mother of racism. Good people are everywhere no matter what they look like. But saying that doesn’t get you elected in this country of ignoramuses. Hate trumps reason and Trump hates reasonableness. Extreme everything gives you 24/7 new coverage because the news media are whores to ratings. 1984 here we come. But think for a minute, what would the world look like now if Gore instead of Bush were our president? Really think. Perhaps the memo on Bin Laden would not have been ignored. No war with Iraq. Hussein perhaps brought down by his own people. No ISIS. Putin not playing with our election. The world has suffered because of the poor decisions we made in electing our leader. And here it comes again.
So here’s the in-between. Not high and not low. Tomorrow, I’m having surgery to replace my arthritic knee. My hope is that I’ll be able to enjoy the rest of my life doing what I used to do. Getting up from a chair without mind games of how to get up. Not having pain at night in bed and so on. Everyone tells me it will be much better. I will be much happier. No more cortisone shots. I just have to get through the next few weeks. Work through the pain with hefty pain pills and do my exercises. It will all be worth it. And so I’m hopeful.
At least while on the drugs I can free myself from the abject horror of a Trump presidency. A slimy con man who cheated everyone he could. His wives, his contractors, and now us.
