This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and then we enter Holy Week.   It’s going to be so very different this year thanks to Coronavirus-19, and I can only imagine that pastors everywhere are scrambling, trying to come up with the best way to make it all meaningful.

My thoughts:

DO NOT GO INTO A CHURCH BUILDING.    I have seen on the news that the governor of Florida is allowing people to come together for worship.   Don’t do it.    You may think you will be fine but you may pass along CV-19 without knowing it.  God understands.   Worship him from home.

 

Will our pastor do a Palm Sunday parade of one?   Ha!      Our church, like many others, starts Palm Sunday worship with a parade outside, with the waving of palms.    It’s a re-enactment of the jubilance of those seeing Jesus coming into the city on the donkey.    Alleluia!!       The praise quickly turns tho.   Stay tuned.

 

I have seen on Facebook that since we can not wave palms together, we should instead put a palm, or a leafy sprig, or small branch, on our front door.    I like that idea.   For people who live in a neighborhood, or apartment or condo building, it will be a good visual.   I live out in a rural area and nobody can see my front door unless they pull into my driveway.   But,  maybe I will do it anyway.

 

Maundy Thursday focuses on the Last Supper, the first communion.   Jesus and his disciples sharing that meal together in the Upper room.   Jesus shares ‘himself’ through bread and wine. Picture Leonardo Di Vinci’s famous painting.  That’s the night.      So, okay.  I can do that at home.  I will watch our service on line and prepare my own communion.   I think it will work.

 

Good Friday –  It was the middle of the afternoon when Jesus died on the cross.  My church has a Tennebrae service in the evening, with the stripping of the altar.   Lights going down to darkness – but ONE candle lit, still shining bright in the darkness. It’s a very meaningful service.    How impactful for this year as we feel we are in dark times, and how we feel we are stripped down to basics.

By the way,  This seems like a good year to watch “Jesus Christ Superstar” on TV.    I love the music of it.

 

Then – Easter!    Will you do anything special at home?   I’d love to hear ideas on how you plan to make the day special.    I know there will be some awesome music available online all day.   All kinds of Easter services to watch too.      We have a local florist who is selling Easter lilies for charity…with drive-by pick up service.    We normally order one through our church and that’s not happening.  So, it’s a great idea to get the lilies out and into homes – and help a local charity.

 

So much will be missing this year:  the beautiful palms and flowers, the trumpets, the reading of the Passion story….   the egg dying and Egg hunts,   Little ones dressed in adorable Easter outfits.   Families together.  Full churches.

 

But, just maybe, it will bring a few new traditions, and new ways to celebrate.  One thing will never change:  Death is conquered.       The message of God overcoming death is an important message to hear especially this Easter as our hospitals deal with so much pain and death, and as so many families mourn.

Jesus is risen.  He is risen indeed.

 

 

Daily press conferences on the CV-19 crisis.  I watch them from our SC governor and I watch them from our US president just about every day.

My opinion:  I will never understand why states should have more control then the feds when we are in a pandemic.  And just now, watching the president’s press conference, the group at the podium said they were leaving it up to the state governors.     Seriously?     it makes no sense to me.   We need to work on this virus together – as a country – and really, as the world.   It is counter-productive to have states make varying decisions.   The idea that the state you live in may decide if you can go out, or if you have enough care at hospitals just seems wrong.   States need to come together and do this together.  We are ‘all in this together’!

So, I do not agree with much of what VP Pence believes in, but I give him kudos for handling his part of press conferences.  He speaks well, with authority, to the people.  He even looks into the camera and says he is sending sympathy to those who have lost love ones.    He looks in control.  Can I say presidential?      Ha    Oh, Trump would hate to hear me say that.

I admit I’m a bit PO’d about fellow citizens who are not self distancing.   Perhaps they do not watch the news and know the importance of it all.  I will give them the benefit of the doubt that they have been busy, and not ‘up’ on the fact that we ALL must change our behaviors to beat CV-19.   But…. hey!    Stop it!   Get home and stay home as much as possible.

I live in a rural area in South Carolina.   I can not even imagine the fear so many are feeling in very urban areas.   I pray for them.         After 9/11 I decided that I would be  a lot less stressed by living away from a heavily populated area.   I have posted about it before, but living close to NYC when 9/11 happened was agonizing to me.   I developed anxiety and went on medication shortly after it.   I realized that people living so close together was a scary thing…   back then I wasn’t really thinking about a pandemic.    I worried about more terrorist attacks.   I had trouble being in crowds for awhile.   I had to push myself to go to Broadway shows and to spend the day walking around the city.   I did not like being in the middle of a row in a theatre.  I needed a quick way to get out.     So – I was happy to move south.    I figured terrorists would not hit lesser populated areas.    Of course, as time has gone by, the threat of gun violence everywhere has become our reality.   We have heard of too many mass gun attacks in all types of areas in America.  No place is safe.

I digress.    I did not think of a pandemic.     But here we are.      I’m a ‘good citizen’ and a law follower.  Always have been.   So, I believe in doing what is asked of us.  I want to do my part to make everything better.

I believe in doing the right thing.

So, now I pray that everyone listens and realizes that we have to do the right thing together.   We need to make that curve go down and it can only happen by everyone doing their part.    Everyone is equally important.    Everywhere.

You ARE important.  You can make a difference.       You can save a life…. or many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Monday morning!   What day of hibernating is it for you?    I was thinking about how many days I have practicing self distancing.   I have also been wondering when the personal urge to stop it will really hit me.  In general I am pretty good about alone time.    Our president just extended a self distancing order to the end of April now.  So, we have weeks for sure, and really a couple of months, until we can think about returning to a normal life.    I know frustration is going to rear it’s ugly head for some people soon, and anger will show up.  I worry that a few people will seriously go crazy and lash out.   You know, there are all kinds of people out there and not everyone is able to remain calm, and to follow by the rules.

The effects of the virus are becoming more and more real.   Not only are hospitals filling up with people of all walks of life, and of all ages, but we are hearing of more celebrity types effected.   I’m so sad about the death of country singer Joe Diffie, and also the critical condition of John Prine.

As much as we are living this new reality of safe distancing, there are some not always making very wise decisions.  It’s tough. I get it.   The beaches are full.   It’s beautiful out, and it IS outdoors, and it seems okay to do.   But, is it??     When we are told to quarantine ourselves, how many of us do it?

Here’s the thing:  Americans love their freedoms.   They don’t like being told what to do or how to live.  It goes against everything this country stands for.  Our politics is divided often over how much freedom we should be allowed vs. how much needs to be run by the government – to keep us healthy, and financially okay.    It’s a fair debate.    And in times like this, we can’t just stop thinking about it, because this is a great learning lesson for a ‘next time.’   Closing our eyes and ears to injustices or problems during the pandemic is foolish.

Recently I have had some push back from a few of my FB friends about a couple of  posts I have put up about how our government is handling the pandemic.   I am told to stop talking about politics, and that it is a time to bring our country together.    Yesterday, out of maybe 20 posts I put up I had two posts that were about Trump.    I had positive feedback on them – but I also had negative ones.   I admit it, I was bothered by the negative comments.    Why?    1.  We should care about our country’s leadership all the time.   They are elected officials and took on jobs that put them under scrutiny – by the media and by citizens.    2.   I have a right (a freedom) to post whatever I choice unless it’s vicious and totally false.  I don’t think I ever put up any posts that are that way.   (And believe me, I see them from others.). From my perspective, and with confidence, I occasionally post about politics.  I have some people that agree with me.  Some that don’t.    3.  I have been told that I wear rose colored glasses because I too often see an unreal, or too hopeful, view.   Sometimes I think others wear blinders and prefer to live in another kind of la-la land.   Perhaps it is like the old adage of ‘ignorance is bliss.’  If they don’t hear the bad stuff then it doesn’t exist?   I hear it, but I process it by thinking of what good can comes from it.     4.  In times of disaster, or times like this – a deadly pandemic, or in war, we can see how those in authority handle it.   We see if they have true courage, and if they rely on specialists for advice.  We listen to see if they can be compassionate, and to use their office to inspire and to lift us up during the hard times.

Looking back through history our ancestors have struggled with plaques, with world wars, with famine, and much more.    They hurt, and some died.  They eventually made it through.   We will always have incredibly challenging events, be they natural or not.   We must learn each and every time how better to prepare for the next one.  We must watch – and listen.  We must ask ourselves if we are being told the truth.  We must wonder if our tax money is going to prepare as well as it could.  We must look to the heroes on the frontlines.    Praise them!  Give them what they need to do their work.    Supplies, fair wages, and more.

Don’t get me wrong. We are in a very scary time right now.  I realize it.   I pray constantly for healing, and for right decisions, and for caring, and for hope.   But I know we will get through…. because we are a world that sees a future.  We are people in a country that IS connected to other countries and we will help each other when needed.   We are NOT isolationists.   We never can be and never should do.    “We are all in this together” is being said a lot now…. and it’s true.

So, if you see what you consider negative comments from me it is because I differ from what our top leader says about living in this world.   He has used his political orations (and I use that term lightly) to divide, and to put people into categories.   He constantly uses his platform to separate and often will hurt whole groups of people – not to mention all the individuals he has belittled. he does not believe in ‘we are all in this together.’        So, I call him out.

As we move forward we must look at what is happening now.   We can learn from it. We can hopefully make better decisions in the future.  We can put our hearts and money into where it will help better.     One thing this pandemic has done is to show us that some times none of us can escape, and that we all must rely on each other.   Around the world.  And…yes, we see a heck of a lot of good in many, many people.      We ARE in this together.

 

 

How are you all faring so far?   I’m not sure what day this is of official quarantining but I’m guessing we have a ways to go with it.  I think it helps that I NOT keep track of the days like a countdown.  It’s easier on my mind to let one day flow into the next.   And, I do not hold any real belief that our president is right about getting business back going by Easter Sunday.

I’m finding it is such a delicate balance right now.  How much to go out?   What is acceptable?   Should I feel guilty going to nice places like the beach when others can’t?   How can I help those struggling with CV-19?   Will it even get bad here?   Am I overblowing my concern? OR, maybe I’m not.   So far, I only know of the horrors of it by watching TV.   And, I have to say that I have lots of emotions watching it, and seeing how New York is now really feeling the effects of CV-19.  The quick rise in those testing positive there, and some dying, and the exhaustion of the doctors and nurses, and the lack of proper safety clothing and masks, etc.   It is like watching a bad, scary movie on TV right now.

I sit on my screened porch here at the riva, and I am rocking, and reading, and  sipping wine, and I feel like I’m on vacation.   But, I’m also very aware that the ‘TV movie” is real and that it may very well get bad here soon, and at lots more places around our country, before we see it go away and we can get back to ‘normal’ life.

There is not much I can do – except ‘do nothing’ and heed the warnings.  There are not really many places to go, and I am supposed to stay home, and try not to touch anything on my short trips out.  Oh –   I’m getting pretty paranoid about what I touch…   the gas station makes me pretty nervous.  The grocery store too.   I clean off the pump and cart handles, and I sanitize my hands over and over.  I try not to touch my face, but it’s also pollen season.   My nose itches. I occasionally sneeze.   Oh no!!!

As we all have realized, and we see on social media constantly now, life can change very quickly – and we need to keep ourselves positive during tough times like these.   We need to booster each other and support each other when we get frustrated or run out of patience.   Thank God for social media because I’d feel a lot more cut off without it.

Thank God that we can go outside and enjoy Spring.   Thank God we can get into our cars (which are like closed off little safe zones) and we can go for a ride for a change of scenery.   Thank God our pets are giving us companionship more than ever.  Thank God we have binge watching and music and reading.

And, that in a nutshell is what I am doing.

How about you?

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t know how much I will write about this, but I feel like it is so important to stay up and to be supportive of each other right now.  In my lifetime there has been nothing before like the Coronavirus 19 pandemic – nothing that has effected each and every person across the planet one way another.  Okay, maybe there are some people on a remote island somewhere, or on the southern tip of Africa, who are free of concern.   But, almost all people on planet earth are consumed right now with staying healthy and trying to keep CV–19 at bay.

We are scared.  We are unsure of how bad it will get.  We are wondering how long we will have to ‘socially distance’ ourselves and to keep out of group experiences.    Life as we know it will be different for quite a while.

But, we are in it together.

For this period of time, however long it takes, we are in it together.   We have to be together to make Coronavirus-19 go away, or at least for the graph curve to go way down.    Each of us can play a part.

In this time of such division, especially here in the US, this virus is bringing us together.   Politics and game playing, and red & blue, and rural vs. urban, and south, north, east, west, ALL of it…  people everywhere are effected.   Every color, every sexual choice, every background, ethnicity, and even every age.   The elderly and those compromised health-wise are more subject to getting a severe case of it, but others can be carriers.    The poor, the hourly wage employees, And the small business owners are going to get hit hard.   Households are going to lose income and tempers are going to flare.   Children are going to miss out on important education.

But, remember: we are in this together.

This HAS to be a time of compassion and unity.   This has to be a time of prioritizing, and of learning patience.   This has to be a time to leave our selfish ways behind.

if we don’t, I worry.   In fact I don’t even want to go there.    I used to worry about another world war, and cyber attacks, and chemical warfare.   This didn’t really cross my mind as something to change us all.   A virus!

So, we must constantly lift each other up!  We must continue to care, and to laugh, and to ‘try’ to remain normal.  We need to get outdoors, and we need to share, and pray.

We are just at the very beginning of this pandemic.  It won’t get easier as days go by.  We will have more hardships and frustrations.   We will be testing ourselves in many ways in the coming days.    We will cry.  We will get mad.

But, remember, through time people have endured unbelievable horrible events and plagues.   They have persevered.  Today we have modern medicine and wonderful technology.  We have much to be thankful for as we go forward.

Never forget:    We are in this together.

 

 

Today is Friday  the 13th – a day some people think is a day of bad luck. It’s a day for the devil to take control.   It’s a day when bad things happen.

Well, with everything going on about the coronavirus 19  concerns, we could think the devil is working his way around the world.   I’ve heard so much about who and what is to blame for spreading CV 19.   The Chinese started it.  The European countries didn’t do enough early enough.   Our president ignored it.   Now, here we are with a serious flu like virus that has no cure.   It’s easily passed along and it will effect the elderly and those who are already compromised with other issues.    Lots of people can be blamed.   Everyone is talking about it.  The media is using almost all of its time discussing it.   The online memes and jokes are in full swing.

This post is not about the seriousness of the virus.   I think we all know it is now.  We all have to be careful.    At this point I do not know anyone personally who has been tested and confirmed with it, and I don’t know anyone with symptoms, or hibernating.     Do you?

In the coming weeks while we wait, and while we miss out on so many of our usual activities, let’s make a list of good things to do during this time.   Here are a few things I plan to do…

* Read!   I have a small stack of books to go through.      “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins, “A Good Neighborhood” by Therese Anne Fowler, and Elian Hilderbrand’s “Winter in Paradise.”

* Binge watch TV shows.  I want to watch “Love is Blind.”   Anyone else have good series to suggest? ?

* Walk and/exercise.     Thankfully here where I live the weather is lovely and it’s the perfect time to be outdoors.   I plan to garden, and I want to walk on the beach.

* Get my ‘spring cleaning’ done.   We are being told to clean extra well right now anyway, so might as well clean out junk drawers,  move furniture to vacuum under it, get the windows washed.

* Crank my music!  It can’t help but uplift me!

* Work on a jigsaw puzzle and play a board game.

* Don’t stay glued to the news.  It will drive me crazy.

* Use social media to stay in touch.

 

I hope the virus runs it’s course quickly, and we can get through much of it in a matter of weeks.   I’m so disappointed about all that has  been cancelled!!  Not just for my amusement, but the fact that so many people are put out of work, and our economy is taking a plunge by it all.

I guess it sure puts things in perspective – and it brings up  lots of questions about readiness too.    Health is always our number 1 concern.    Before anything else.  shouldn’t more money be put into  ‘care for all’?  And for research?       This is not a political time – but you can’t separate it out totally.

We live in a world where what happens around on the other side of the globe effects us all.  We no longer live in a time where countries can be independent and where oceans separate us from harm.   We need a leader  who understands that.  We need one that puts health issues first, and will work with scientists and leaders of other countries together for ‘world solutions.’      The Coronavirus 19 is a prime example  why.

I don’t worry about the reality of bad luck on Friday, the 13th.  I am concerned about every day in our future.   Gosh, I didn’t mean for this to turn  into a political commentary, but somehow it did.   Sorry.

A global concern can bring us together, and can make us realize we are all alike.  It can help us pool resources.   The virus doesn’t care about skin color, or financial status, or where you live.  It bonds us.

Stay healthy.  Stay positive.   Follow the rules out there to keep yourself from getting sick or spreading the virus.    Keep busy.     Care for each other.

 

 

Fear…  what is it good for?   Absolutely nothing.    A twist on some song lyrics… but it’s my way of saying we all seem to live with fear these days…     and we need  to put faith over fear.

What is going on with the stock market today??   What is going on with the Russian connection on oil prices?  Why are stock values dropping so fast?

How bad is the coronavirus really?    Who can I believe?   Will more and more sports events and concerts be cancelled?  Will schools close?     Can the big cruise industry recover from this?    How long can cruise lines and airlines lose money before going under?    What other American businesses will feel the effect?   How long will it go on?  How can we keep calm during this time until it ends?

Another fear for many:  Will we have to live through 4 more years of the president we have?  Who, by the way, called the coronavirus tests ‘beautiful’?   What?    Ha       How out of touch is he to reality?   Who else will he fire?    What crazy thing will he tweet today?   What will happen as the presidential candidates move forward?    What new information will come out?   November seems so far away.

The current situation with coronavirus and all the effects from it happening, and the fear we have from it, is a big example of how we are ‘global’ and we can not live without care and concern for other countries.  A fast moving, highly contagious ‘flu’ knows no borders.  In these times especially.  Plagues and epidemics of the past were horrible, but easier to contain.  In today’s world we all travel much more, and we live and work with people from all over the globe.  An “America only” mentality is impossible.  “Make America Great Again” says it subtly….but, yes, it says to fear what America is today.   It also paints a false ‘beautiful’ picture about what it used to be.   The good old days always had troubles too.

We live at a time where our president likes to play on our fears, scaring us about illegals, and foreign countries out to get us.  He tells us we are being wronged. He speaks of injustice, especially to him.   He uses words to purposely make us nervous (and in need of our own defense) instead of speaking of coming together to get through tough times.

So, yes,  it Is a fearful time.   We are worried about our own health and our money.   We are worried that both will fail us.   We worry about our country’s economics.

These times are a reminder that we live in a world that will continue to have scary things happen, and often they are things beyond our control.  We live on a big planet that has natural and man-made catastrophes.

We need to turn to each other, not away from each other, when fear starts to make us nervous.   God said to love your neighbor.  Take care of each other. Pray for  each other.    In good times and bad.   God never said ‘every man for himself’ or arm yourself and fear others.

I am reading the book “Grace will Lead us Home” by Jennifer Berry Howes right now.  She was a Charleston Post & Currier newswriter when the horrific event happened at the Emmanuel AMC Church.   The book goes through the days and months after that shooting that took 9 lives as a Bible Study was ending.    The title says it all… about the gift of grace that the survivors and families found.  The book  also speaks of the sins of so many….first Dylan Roof, but then also those who tried to take donation money and misuse it for personal benefit.   Some left the church over it, and some had major divisions happen within families.   Fear seeped in.   Personal, individual worries took over.

So – we need to remember:   Grace over fear.    President Obama spoke of it at Reverend and State Sen. Pickney’s televised funeral, one of the Emanuel 9.   In fact, the president then started singing “Amazing Grace” and everyone in the arena joined in.   It was a moment of unity, and a belief that fear will never make us better.   God’s grace and love will conquer fear.

So, as we go through what is happening now with the coronavirus and the stock market, we can remember that grace will take away our fear.   Faith is stronger than fear.    What will happen in the coming months?   We don’t know.  We can be fearful about it, or we can look forward with hope… and with faith that we will get through. It might be a rough ride for a little while, but we can hold on together.

Don’t live in fear.   Don’t let fear control your actions.

Fear…. what is it good for?  Absolutely nothing.

 

 

 

 

Happy hump day!  There’s lots to talk about this morning.   Take a deep breath…

So, we are into March and I start getting really itchy for consistent days of Spring. They are not here yet.  We get a day or two in a row of beautiful sun and warmth, and then the temps fall again.  I ordered some small plants from an online plant & flower company and I am waiting for them to be delivered.  They don’t ship until it’s time in my area to get them in the ground.   They haven’t arrived yet.  So, it isn’t time.  But, I keep looking for them every.single.day.

This is also the time of year when the roadsides are disgustingly full of trash.  I know the county and state crews are not out working yet to mow.  And, so it’s been months of people throwing trash out car windows, and it just looks awful.   I just don’t get how people can intentionally toss garbage out like they do.  But, it’s obvious that they do.   Yesterday I went up one side of the road I live on, and then down the other, picking up trash…  and I was only able to cover maybe even a quarter of a mile. Each side.  I filled a big black garage bag.  Most of what I found were fast food wrappers, styrofoam containers, and cups – and beer cans.  I also found small plastic bags, and candy wrappers, and cigarette packages.   I even found some truck tire pieces – we have logging trucks run (fast) past our home, and I picked up a Chevrolet hubcap.    As I picked it all up I thought to myself how 1. Lazy people are, 2. Insensitive to the beauty of our environment, and 3. Need a lesson in being more conscientious.  Were they never told not to litter?  Did they grow up not hearing about the concerns of plastic and styrofoam?   We have a garbage and recycle center not even 2 miles  away, yet people throw trash out their windows – la Dee dah – without a care.   Humanity sometimes is difficult.

As I mentioned in my post before this one, I finished up with volunteering for Mayor Pete Buttigeig this past Saturday.    Wouldn’t you know that on Sunday he announced he was suspending his campaign?  Just like that.    All the months of work so many people put into it, and the money, and the hopes and dreams.    I know it was the right thing to do.  But, I was rather sad about it for the first day after learning he left the race.  But, thankfully, I believe we will be hearing much more from Pete in the future.      Since then Amy left, and just now I heard that Bloomberg has also stopped campaigning.   One can not think about ALL the money (especially Bloomberg’s) that went towards the run for president.   Could it have been better spent?    My hubby likes to remind me that thousands of individuals were hired to work on campaigns, and printing companies, and media outlets, and more all made money from it.   It’s capitalism at work.

So now, for Democrats it comes down to Biden vs. Sanders.   I will vote for Biden, but as usual I will do it picking the least of them to stop our country from going down  the wrong path and into trouble.  As I have stated before, I think Joe Biden is too old (but they all are too old), and I do notice he has trouble with quick thinking.  Hey – so do I.   It’s an aging thing.   I also think Biden will not be charismatic vs. Trump.     And, really, I don’t want that loud speaking, tweeting, off the cuff remarks style anymore.  Trump thinks he is a comedian now. Did you see his last rally making fun of Bloomberg?       Biden WiLL, though, represent our country well around the world.  He knows how government runs, and he respects our 3 branches of government.   I think he will bring stability back to the White House, and lord knows, we need that.

On to another subject:

We are in Lent.  if you recall I said I was adding to each day by purposely sending a positive message out to someone.    I missed one day already.  Oops.  But, I’m trying to make the effort – not just for the receiver – but for me to work on living in a more positive life. To see the good in people, and to let them know.    If you get a message from me, yes, it fulfills my Lenten challenge, but please know it is also from the heart.

I took the pugs in for their annual checkups yesterday – and $600 dollars later – they got some shots, and ears cleaned, and eye drops for Honeybee.  We got flea and tick medicine.  And we talked about aging pugs. Both have a bit of arthritis.  Daisy is holding up better than Bee.   Honeybee gained a pound (probably from less activity) and has infected ears and a bad eye.  We knew she could not hear & see us as well as she used to…    man, it’s just like people aging.    Poor baby.    I know Just how she feels.

The kitchen cabinets have been ordered (finally) for our kitchen redo.  They will be delivered April 8th.  Before that the tear out will begin.   I’m keeping my fingers crossed that by May 1st we will have a beautiful new kitchen.  New floors, walls, cabinets,  and appliances.

I’m looking forward to seeing my grandboys Friday.  They are now 2 1/2 and have I said they are the most adorable little boys ever??   Lol.    My heart melts every time i hear them say “Mimi” over the phone… and when they give me hugs and want to always sit on my lap.   I know this time goes by too quickly so I’m soaking it in as much as possible.       Oh – can we say a prayer for my daughter and SIL?  They have decided to start the boys on potty training this weekend.    Two could be twice as difficult, but hopefully one of them will ‘show the way’ and the other will follow.   As I remind my daughter, ALL children at some point learn how to use the potty.  It will happen.   Don’t stress!

And, on that interesting subject I will end this musing…

Have a wonderful rest of your day – and week!

 

 

Today my experience with working for a political campaign has ended.   Today is the Democratic primary day here in South Carolina.  It’s voting day!  About a month or so ago I started doing some volunteer work for the Pete Buttigieg for President campaign.   This is some of what I learned:

When you believe in something (a person, or idea, or need for change) you can’t just sit back and let someone else do the work.    You can’t be talk without any action.  When you want to see things get better you have to put in some effort.

Political campaigns take a lot of money and a massive amount of coordination.   I always knew that big money was involved but when you are on the ‘inside’ you realize campaigns become so very much like a business, selling the product (the person, or idea, and the change). I volunteered on the local level but I was tied in through a computer app to the national office, the headquarters for “Pete for President.”    Everything happening out of our office had to be entered in to the app called Minivan.  I worked as a canvasser and then as a canvassing captain.   Lists of names and addresses of area Democrats were printed out, put into folders, then packaged with Pete materials – for canvassers to take out to ‘knock on doors.’  Everyone was quickly trained on how to start up conversations about ‘get out the vote’ and especially about Pete.    When they came back in every result was entered into the data bank.     How many doors were knocked on? How many answered?  Who considered Pete in their top three?  Who was still undecided?

Political campaigns run on these numbers. They also survive by donation numbers, and poll numbers.  15% is an important cut off.  Below it and it’s a big worry.

For Pete, here in South Carolina, he may not make that percentage.   It’s only the second true primary and the state is southern, heavily conservative, poor, and with a large ethnic community.  Pete is still trying to tell people who he is.  He is new, and young, and has a difficult name.   By the way,  you say it like this:  Boot-edge-edge.  Or you can say Boot-a-judge.      Pete will continue after today’s primary, and he will  move on to Super Tuesday, and that will be a big day for him, and for some of the other candidates.

But my work is done.

I did learn that volunteering for a person, idea, or change that you believe in will help you meet some really wonderful, like-minded people.  I think that has been my favorite part of it all!   I met some lovely new friends.   It’s good to know that others think the way you do, and they too are trying to make a difference.

Campaigning can be grueling.   Obviously the candidates themselves keep unbelievable schedules and have to be ‘on’ all the time.   But, also the ones who are paid employees of a campaign put in some extremely long hours and have to start something up from scratch and make it work.   Chris, our Grand Strand boss, was putting hours in for Pete from early morning to night, seven days a week.  When he wasn’t teaching us, he was working the phones, and he daily went out and canvassed (knocked on doors) himself.   He had to work with mostly volunteers and that created a need for a lot of patience, and for putting on a smile when sometimes he was disappointed.

I did some phone canvassing too.   What I learned?  I’m not the only one who never picks up a telephone call anymore!  Ha     Out of a group of ten calls, maybe 2 were  picked up.   Of those 2 maybe one of them allowed me a brief minute or two to explain why I was calling.    My opinion:  telephone canvassing should be a thing of the past!

I have never been a fan of campaign signs stuck out along the roads.   Thankfully for this primary few were seen around the area.  We had one woman from our group go out and place some on a few busy corners.    I have always thought they looked more like litter and not anything to help sway someone to vote for a candidate.

So….     As I have said before in earlier posts, we are living through some strange times, and therefore I felt pushed internally to get involved. I could not sit back and complain (and there has been a lot to complain about lately) and not take some action to improve who we have in elected positions.   I wanted to do my part to bring back good, kind leaders who are respectful, and who raise us all up, and keep Working to keep us safe and live in peace together. I wanted to bring back a good representative of the United States.  Someone intelligent, fair, even-keeled, young and hopeful.      Have I made a difference?  Did I help?     I don’t know.    But, at least I have tried.   I certainly have a better understanding of the political campaign system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Mardi Gras today!  It’s Shrove Tuesday.  It’s the day before  Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Today is a good day to think about how you will participate in the Lenten season, leading up to Easter.   Historically, many people ‘give up’ something that they really  like during the 40 days of Lent, as a reminder of Jesus’s sacrifice of his own life.   Often you will hear that people give up swearing, or chocolate, or alcohol.    I get that.  Yes,  by giving up something it causes you to stop, pause, and think “I will not have that today… and I will remember what God did for us instead.”

In recent years there has been a movement for another way to mark the Lenten days.  Instead of purposely giving up something, people purposely ADD to their lives.   Whatever it is can then become a good habit during the 40 days.    Maybe it’s adding a time for reflection each day, or reading the Bible daily, or going out and volunteering at a charity in your area.   Perhaps it’s writing thank you notes each day, or donating money, or food,  each day.

I have been thinking about it, and I know right now I need help staying positive during this time of year.  Winter is cold, and I tend to hibernate indoors too much.   This time of year is the ‘lull’ in the calendar year between celebrations.   I tend to be a bit more blah, watching and waiting for warmth, spring, and special events that come later in the year.

So, during Lent I will use each day to send out a positive post or text message to people I know.  It’s a doable, and a simple “add on” to my life, BUT it means taking time each day to think about others… to reach out. It means directing my thinking to seeing the good in people.    Perhaps it is just to say “hello! I’m thinking about you”.   Perhaps it will be to let them know we can never get through this life alone, and that God is our hope.  Perhaps  you will hear from me about something more personal about our relationship.     Ha – maybe this is a warning to you.   (I’ll try not to scare you.)

Lent is the journey  we go along to hear about Jesus’s last days of teaching, and his path to the cross.   It’s a humble time.   We know the outcome after Lent, but those in Jesus’s time did not understand what was happening, and they were confused. The disciples were sad – and mad.  They didn’t get why Jesus ‘allowed’ all the pain that was put on him.      We are here on earth a limited amount of time and we all feel pain at times.  As it is always said at church Ash Wednesday services “from dust we come and as dust we will go.”   It’s scary.  It seems unsure.

But, it’s not our end.

Thank God.   Death is not final.        Lent brings us to the Good News of Easter!