THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A UNITED STATES CITIZEN

Growing up in this nation has never been taken for granted, but it became so natural that one never considered that we would ever lose our reverence for the gift. Granted that we have had moments of concern, e.g., wars, political antagonism, so many instances of abuse and corruption by our political leaders (magnified by ON CORRUPTION IN AMERICA (by Sarah Chayes), but there was always confidence that we would remain loyal to our constitution.

There has been a serious shift since the 2016 election. Our nation is minimally divided. Some have identified four categories caused by extreme liberalism by the Democrats and extreme conservatism that essentially identifies with views that appear alien to many, e.g., 2020 election was stolen!

I fear that the 2022 election will generate a Republican majority in Congress. Unfortunately, the views of those in leadership currently and the possibility that many politicians with extreme views will be elected suggest a possible disaster. And surely, there is concern that the 2024 election could result in Trump being re-elected, given how gerrymandering has distorted state elections.

If all my fears prove to be reality, it would not be hard to envision a break in our constitutional government. If Congress is essentially aborted and the President acts dictatorially, our constitution would be eroded.

Considering the history of nations throughout the world, we have been an exception. I know of no nation that has not had major changes in its constitution. Moreover, there are currently so many nations in major disarray. Even nations with a history of constitutional governments have been captured by dictatorial presidents, e.g., Hungary, Poland.

Being a citizen of the United States has been a privilege. I have often thought of this while reading what has happened in other nations. Now, I am fearful. 

LOVE OF OUR DOGS!

We have a long history with dogs. When death has taken a loving dog, we quickly pursued finding another. Living without a dog never seemed an option. To us, dogs were not just animals. They were dear members of our family.

Our first dog, Amy, was one of a litter being given away on the beach while we living in California. Given our experience of moving throughout the nation, it was remarkable at the time that we never considered how fortunate we were. California to Louisville, KY, and subsequent moves while climbing a ladder with the Veterans Administration. 

Charlie (Chang Super Sleuth) befriended our family for 14 years while we lived in Medfield. The experiences of his enthusiasm and energy were fantastic, recalling us running throughout the neighborhood, letting him loose in safe areas. When I saw an unexpected auto coming, my words of caution were embraced readily and, then, off we went.

No such time was more memorable than finding Franklin (Delano Roosevelt). I went to the local animal shelter and saw an elderly embracing the kennel where her dog was. She was no longer capable of handling the dog whose chin was bare due to her tugging so hard to keep some control. Franklin, at the time, became the epitome of all the dogs we had. He and I would swim in the ocean along that coast, even in the winter, side by side. I can image my looking at him as I raised by face to take a breath. I never took the experience for granted. At the time, we had a chair looking out to the ocean. His body was tucked into my side as when we slept at night. Unfortunately, our hopes of the future were thwarted when he collapsed near our door while getting set to go out for some exercise.  We carried him to the car and transported him to the veterinarian who indicated the ruptured spleen was not amenable to surgery. I still remember Joan and I remaining beside him during his final moments, His presence in our lives is symbolized by being the only pet, thus far, whose ashes are kept beside our bed in an urn. 

Patrick zeroed in on us totally! He was most unusual in his devotion to us and his fear of others, both humans and fellow canines. He surely was different from Franklin.He kept close to us physically when walking or running. He clearly was ours! We purchased a wireless fence which gave him some freedom, including sitting on our porch watching those walking by. But, to our chagrin, one day when taking him out, he collapsed. The veterinarian gave us the same diagnosis as Franklin had, a ruptured spleen. 

And now, we are gifted with Maggie Mae! We had to go to North  Berwick, ME three times to both look at the litter and be reviewed by the owner. It was a burden, but the prospect of owning one of them made the traveling reasonable. Of the six puppies, four were similar to the point that it was difficult to differentiate them. Our first choice was kept by the breeder. Our second choice turned out to be such a gift. Rod Stewart’s “Maggie Mae” was one of our favorite songs and, fortunately, it came to mind and allowed us to have Maggie Mae as our friend. This has been memorialized by a gift of a neighbor that framed the music disc for us that is now on our mantel. Given our age, the presence of Maggie in our lives could not be treasured. While she loves everyone, her love of us is priceless!

Maggie Mae has been a most special gift. Admittedly, we never cease to admire her beauty. Her coloring, beautiful hair and long, long eye lashes. Her intelligence is noted in so many ways, not the least of which is her ability to come to your feet and look into your eyes, indicating a need. It may take a moment to determine her wishes even though her needs are limited, e.g. playing with a toy in the house, her need to go outside for personal reasons or a need to run.

We never cease to treasure the gifts of our dogs. Our children have adopted the need for dogs which they have had the opportunity to treasure as well. We are aware of so many others who treasure their dogs. While we donate to ASPCA, we realize that there are dogs who have experienced suffering from their owners. The only way I am able to deal with this is that there are so many children who suffer at the hands of parent(s). Humans could learn so much from the general affection dogs have for others.

LIFE AS AN “INVALID”

 On November 30, I was riding my bicycle. It has been a daily part of my exercise routine. Yoga, run and play with MaggieMae, ride my bike, and swim. In between events, I would read the news in the Boston Globe, NY Times, Washington Post, Guardian, and other news outlets, e.g., the Hill. Tuesday was just a routine day until I tried to pull a tissue from my pocket to blow my nose while riding the bike. I got the tissue, but the procedure knocked me off balance and onto the street. After getting my bearings, I rode home and then went to the pool, but after three laps, it was apparent that I could not do well without two legs supporting my effort. On the next day, I noticed that my upper leg was worse. After eight hours at the South Shore Hospital on Dec 2 with X-rays and CT Scan, I got the diagnosis of a fractured hip that would not require surgery. Now, under the rubrics of Physical Therapy, using a walker, monitored closely by Joan, I am continuing to LIVE IN THE MOMENT! Thinking about the incident does no good to my well-being. Nor thinking about the uncertainty of how long this process will continue before I take Maggie out to walk and play or go to the gym to swim and use their stationary bike. It will be what it will be! I will Live in the Moment!

MaggieMae’s Visit with her New Friend

 We went away to New Orleans for Thanksgiving to be with our son, Sean, and family. We have never left Maggie with someone until now. One of Joan’s exercise friends takes pets in such situations. It became clear during our emails during our visit that Maggie was more than loved. When we returned, she responded with usual love and excitement but continued to show her love for her new foster parents. Joan’s friend shared the “depression” her husband has dealt with since MaggieMae left.

We will forever keep the memory. It now faces my Ipad.

I LAMENTED THE STATE OF THE WORLD IN 2012 and NOW IT WORSE

 I have written and voiced with whomever I felt comfortable talking with about the state of affairs in this nation and the world. I now fear that our constitutional government is threatened and the inability of nation and the world to deal with global warming. This world has so many problems and there seems to be  no ground for mobilized action.

It was interesting finding what I had written in 2012 that could have written today..

I want to share my feelings of guilt after reading Walt Whitman's poem, "I Sit and Look Out". I excuse myself from more involvement in addressing the problems I note in this world. I rationalize my inaction for all sorts of reasons and, yet, I persist in inaction. Here is the poem.                                             

Walt Whitman (1819–1892).  Leaves of Grass.  1900. 

I Sit and Look Out 

I SIT and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all oppression and shame;  

I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with themselves, remorseful after deeds done;  

I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying, neglected, gaunt, desperate;  

I see the wife misused by her husband—I see the treacherous seducer of young women;  

I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love, attempted to be hid—I see these sights on the earth;        

I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny—I see martyrs and prisoners;  

I observe a famine at sea—I observe the sailors casting lots who shall be kill’d, to preserve the lives of the rest;  

I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like;  

All these—All the meanness and agony without end, I sitting, look out upon,  

See, hear, and am silent.