what you will find going through old pictures. Stuck in amongst all the photos of people I don’t have any recollection of and no way of finding their identity, was a letter dated July 7, 1895. Yes, 1895. It was from my great-grandfather Ira Smith to his true love, future wife and my great-grandma Lula Holland. Hannah has said she will try to get me a transcription today.
Well I finally made it to Colorado after spending the better part of two days in various airports. It was WILD.
Day One: Sunday June 13 it was just not meant to be. Got to the airport around noon – 12:30. Got on the plane on time. Taxied out to take off. With the first revving of the engines, everything shut off. Apparently, alarms sounded but I had my earbuds in and missed that. Thankfully. After 6pm and many delays and false starts I decided to rebook for the next day and happy I did. That plane actually did leave Shreveport – and arrived 9 hours later than first scheduled.
Day Two: Monday June 14 got off to a great start. Got to stopover in Houston on time and headed for the departure gate. Got on the plane on time. Woot! But wait. Deplaned again. And waited and waited and waited. Sent to another terminal only to be told to go back to the original terminal. FINALLY on our way 3+ hours late. Lovely, quick flight over to Denver. Landed safe and sound. On to the gate and then an announcement. They can’t open the door of this plane. Not kidding and not amused. But happy and thankful to be there. It wasn’t too long of a wait – 20 minutes maybe and the door was opened and we were allowed off.
Got to Sully’s house and to bed about midnight. It was a long, crazy couple of days.
The next day Hannah texted me and asked if I had seen the news reports about several glitches with several airlines. I had not but evidently, the issues affected flights and carriers over the country: Southwest, Delta, Alaska, United.
Happy to be here and we head out on the drive back to Louisiana before dawn or close to it Saturday.
What has happened to common sense? It’s not taught – it’s innate. You can teach science but then stronger voices tell you ignore it. Or scare you with their religion. Never trust a zealot of any kind. Religious or otherwise. Or that’s my philosophy.
Facts are no longer facts? And lies are alternative facts? No they are lies. Untruths. Bullshit. At first people were just dying from an unknown virus but then the leader of the free world stepped up to the podium and started spewing absolute unadulterated bullshit and the brainwashed refused science. Refused medical advice. Masks don’t work. Are they 100%? No. Did they and do they help? Yes. Good hygiene works. Otherwise you would see doctors walk in to a surgery in street clothes, wipe their hands on their clothes, rinse off the scalpel under some running water and get to it. No gloves or surgical mask required. Got to sneeze? Turn your head. No need to protect that person with an open abdomen. People aren’t dying of Covid 19 so much as they are dying of stupidity. Willful ignorance. Fear.
How did people get to be so stupid? Was it the dumbing down we watch unfold? When did socialism get to be a dirty word? My introduction to history in high school was making a notebook Communism VS Capitalism. It left a few key points out to say the least. But here’s a truth: we live in a SOCIETY as broken as it may be. Socialism is your house being on fire calling a fire truck and not having to pay the firemen before they will put the fire out. Capitalism is the exact opposite of that. That’s fine for the 1%. They can afford to pay the firemen. You and I cannot. I know that is a very elementary, simplified example and my opinion. People much smarter than and more educated than me can and have explained it better and continue to try and explain it but people don’t want to hear it.
I am just sitting here thinking, looking at the pictures of the dumbasses with bags of gasoline in the trunk of their cars (if that is a legit picture of course). See if they had any science education, they would know better. And if they only blew themselves up, that would just be poetic justice. If they burned down a whole block of homes or got in a car accident and blew up numerous people, that’s criminal. If it is a “fake” picture, hoarding during a crisis is still immoral at the very least.
The past year and 4 months or so has really changed me. I no longer have the capacity to feel sorry for the ignorant. They are privy to the same scientific and medical advice as everyone else. They wear their “rights” like a badge of courage, yet have no idea the actual meaning of those rights are. I no longer like people before I get to know them and they change my mind. I dislike people in general. I distrust people in general. We are literally the worst of the animals. Ooops sorry if that last sentence implies we are part of the animal kingdom and it offends your religious beliefs. I choose science.
I am beginning to feel more like my old self after having been very ill. But my attitude is not any better. Worse if anything. At first, I was grieved at losing friends and family over the past couple of years and not to death, but by choice, mine or theirs. Now I accept it is just how things have evolved. I am a human being and I am judgmental as hell. You are the company you keep. You are your beliefs. And it is nothing to be ashamed of if I can’t abide it. We all make choices. We all pick sides. Do I wish those I have lost ill? Of course not. Will I ever trust their judgment again? Not hardly. It should never take a catastrophe to open someone’s eyes. IMO that shows a lack of character. Or insight. Or humanity.
Okay, I am finished for now. I just feel really overwhelmed by what I see. And sometimes it just helps to say (write) it.
