Monday Feb. 26,2024

 Old age is sort of like early adolescence in reverse. You pass mileposts of diminishing physical abilities. One may have accumulated knowledge but some of that seems to vanish permanently or cannot be recalled on demand. 

Activities that one relished are abandoned as weakness makes them untenable. So one relies on activities such as writing diary blogs to pass on to friends and kinfolks to read and ponder and relate to depending on their stage of life understanding. There is a slight sadness from realizing that there is no respite from a process that will continue until it ends abruptly or one just fades away as the legendary Cheshire Cat.

Yesterday, daughter Cathy visited us for her almost weekly Sunday. She brings a bright smile that lightens Lib's and my spirit. She is a skilled negotiator, had this talent from early childhood and sold us the idea that we should move here from Roanoke where she could keep an eye on us. SO GLAD SHE DID! Lib and I feel comfortable that she and her elder sister will do what is feasible when either Lib or I pass on.

I think about her situation, though. Jeff and Cathy only had one son, who just graduated from college and had moved 2 hours away. When she reaches our age who will take care of her? Children have the best of intentions but often cannot fulfill filial obligations. These duties often fall on females to accomplish. Time moves inexorably on with its opportunities or takes away. A new reality creeps into lives and we are swept along with the current. In my old age I feel fortunate to have had an unbelievable set of coincidences that allowed me to have a joyful and fulfilling life. My only wish is the disappointment that once again humanity has allowed its leaders to  war against their brother man. History and their own military annals show that once a world war gets going no one can truly project its course except death, misery, and degradation. We don't live in poverty and ignorance. The world's knowledge is available at our fingertips. We should be able to equitably share the benefits of this largess, yet we insist on the barbarism of war. Why?

Well enough of this ranting of an old man. Blessings to whoever may benefit.

BEGINNING 2024

 Here it is the middle of January and last year I only had one entry though it was an eventful year with the death of my younger brother John in March. We attended family reunions at Bridgewater and a funeral of a cousin on Lib's side. Also, attended a class reunion of Lib's at Harrisonburg. Our daughter Lisa and husband Mark treated us to a weekend with them at Wintergreen in October and we had a bevy of Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday, and anniversary (Lib and I) in late December and early January 2024 celebrations.

Now, some early comments for 2024: The Ukrainian/Russia war continues unabated into its second year and soldiers and civilians are dying needlessly to satisfy Putin's insatiable desire for empire building. Last Fall a Palestinian terrorist group attacked an Israeli celebration and killed over 1200  and took 200+ hostages. The Israeli army retaliated and 20,000 Gaza and environs Palestinians have perished in the bombing raids. Smaller proxy conflagrations continue over the Middle East and Asia.

As of this entry, the United States economy is bouncing back, yet many are not noticing that grocery and gasoline prices are dropping, that inflation is lowering, (my bank is offering 5% CD's for only 8 months out, and housing prices are beginning to descend. 

We have a severe "gun" problem in our country.In comparison with most other civilized nations we have a pandemic of gun deaths, way more than normal. I don't deny your right to self defense, but there have to be safeguards. The fences around car driving could be a start; (1) You have to have a license. (2)First time owners must pass a safety test and knowledge of the gun they intend to own. (3) The serial number of the gun, the license, and the address of the owner should all be registered with the State and be carried at all times on the person who owns the weapon. Persons who sell guns whether in a business or privately must use the same protocols that are observed for car sales. Miniaturization and technology make this all easily possible. Since smart phones and the nigh 100% of facial recognition systems, we scarcely 

This is the year AI came into a more common availability. May 2024 be the year humanity begins to return to normalcy rather than the frenetic and suspicious mode so many have allowed themselves to entertain. 

I will stop here.