Monday morning thoughts

Good morning all!  It’s the start of a new week – and it’s also President’s Day.

President’s Day.  A national day to honor ALL presidents.   Does anybody do this?   Do schools still use this day to teach children about our past presidents and about democracy?     Wondering.

Of course, this year I have an icky feeling as I think about our current president.  I ask again “ how can anyone still like him?”  How can anyone overlook ALL the horrible things he has said and tweeted?   He’s been president long enough for us all to see and know who he really is…  and it ain’t pretty.    I’m still waiting for someone I know who voted  for him to be bold enough to say they made a mistake.   Come on.  Speak it. Get it off your chest!     I will forgive you.   I will be happy that you saw the truth (something he knows nothing about. )   Tell me:  enough with his lies, lies, lies.  Enough.

The county Democrats are using today to have a small protest against him.  A march starts in Georgetown at 11:00am.  I considered going, but wow – just reading some Facebook comments on the party’s post, it scares me! People say such mean things.  (Just like the president.)

So, on to another subject:  a bit related.   Yesterday I started watching the documentary about Lorena Bobbitt.   For those who are too young to remember, she was the young woman in Manassess, VA who was physically and mentally abused by her husband  over and over.  She  ‘snapped’ one night and grabbed a kitchen knife and cut off his penis.   I remember the news story – and I remember ALL the jokes about it.   But, watching this documentary (I watched all the episodes in one sitting) I realized how much more there was going on.  It was an obvious case of spousal abuse at a time when there were no laws to protect her.   Both Lorena and her husband John went to court over their actions.   It was BIG news at a time when  all the court cases on TV started.   Add in the type of crime it was, and the fact she was young, an immigrant, and he was a good-looking athletic guy…    lots of issues!   It’s a well done documentary.  Watch it.  I’m happy that we have advocates and laws now in place  to protect abused women.  We have safe centers for them.  We have help.   A lot has changed – and this case had a lot to do with it.

This weekend I also binged a book.  I could not put it down.   “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens.  I picked it up because it is my book club’s book to read for February.   So different than last month’s book which I could not even get through.   The beauty of book clubs!    Anyway, I highly recommend “Where the Crawdads Sing” for a beautiful written book about the nature in the lowcountry of NC, with a “who dun it” murder mystery, along with a sweet love story, happening in a time of class and racial differences.

I live in the lowcountry of SC, and it has been a mild winter.  My fingers are crossed that we don’t get a cold snap – because everything is already starting to bloom!   It seems very early, but I’m not complaining!    It’s such a beautiful place in our country.  We have camellias that bloom all winter in various colors of pink, white and red.  But, now the spring trees are budding.  Forsythia is blooming.  Daffodils are up!

Personal shout-outs:  I was happy to see Jim & Lois back in church yesterday, sitting in their usual spots!   Yesterday was Muffie’s last time to ring handbells with our group.  She and her husband are moving to NC to be closer to their  daughter as she deals with serious medical problems.   Muffie plays ‘four in hand’…  she holds two handbells in each hand all the time – and that is a hard thing to do!   It was very bittersweet for all of us ringers yesterday.  Thank goodness we played an upbeat happy piece.  She will be greatly missed.

So, hubby and I are starting a process.  We are making plans to change and add on to our riva cabin to make it our prime residence.   I knew we would eventually end up there.   I’m not always ready for changes, but hopefully this process will get me there.   The pluses:  hubby & I will live there together, we will be down to one home to take care of and pay for, the property and view is beautiful.   Neighbors are great.  It’s lowcountry living at its best.     The challenges:  I will have a longer drive to and from places I go to all the time – to my rehearsal spots, to church, to shopping that I am used to.  I will be farther from the ocean – but, yes, right on the river.   I want to get into boating more.    We have used the riva home as our gathering place for special events for years now.  That will not change.         As I said… it’s a process.   We will have to let go of many things because we just won’t have the room.   We downsized once a few years ago, and now we are going to downsize again.   I know life is not about things.  So, it’s a positive test of my faith, and my belief in what in it is really important.

One small thing about moving out of PI to the riva:   I get pretty annoyed by the amount of trash thrown out along the country roads.  PI has a group that organized some years ago to become a beautification committee.  Time and money now goes into making the area trash-free and pretty.     Sometimes when I drive out to the riva I get sickened by the amount of litter I see.   So, I think I will work on making it a priority once I spend more time there.  I will clean up – and will organize others to do so also.   (PS:   I used to pick up litter on my own in PI – but had to stop when I stepped in a ditch the wrong way and hurt my foot.)  I’m ready to get back at it.  Want to join me?

As I finish up this post,  I pause to think who might read this.   Sometimes I never know.  I only know of  those who take a second to hit “like” or write a comment.  Wordpress tells me how many people have gone here.  But Facebook doesn’t.  I appreciate you whether you say something or not.     Have a great week!!