2016.....

     Well well well... It's almost over.  A couple more days and we
can start the new year.  None too soon I might add.  Although 2016
wasn't the worst year I've had it was. I think, the one with the most
changes for me.   This year saw me doing stuff I would have never
dreamed of doing in my life.   Maybe it was the combination of
retirement spare time and the realization of advancing age that sort
of sent me off kilter a bit.  I'll list a couple things that come to mind...

   I know as we get older we slow down a bit but it is a gradual process
that slips by unnoticed usually.  Not this year.  This year I found far too
many limitations sneaking into my everyday life.  I've always been
active and I find it so frustrating to not be able to do some of the things
I'm used to doing.  I'm not talking lifting logs or running up huge hills.
I'm talking small everyday tasks.  I blame everything from my meds to
global warming but the truth of the matter is .. that's life I guess.  It just
seems like this year had been particularly harsh on me.  Like they say..
Life is like a roll of toilet paper.. the closer it gets to the end.. the faster
it goes.

   Another big thing was politics.  I have never in my life concerned myself
with politics.  There were a couple times that I did go to Washington to
participate in protest rally's and I've stood a few picket lines in my day but
only for specific reasons.  Most times It fell on deaf ears anyway but I felt
strongly enough about our cause that I just felt the need to stand up.  For
some reason this year was different.  I got involved.. too involved.  I think
my biggest frustration was the fact that I had no candidate.  The only thing
I gained from this election was the ability to understand hate.   I can honestly
say that in my sixty five years I can't think of one person that I personally
hated.  I still don't feel hate but I understand how someone can now.   In a
few days the president elect will become 'Our President'   I know
a lot of my friends feel differently but I actually get physically sick when I
hear him talk.  I dislike every thing about the man from the way he runs his
businesses to his self centered ways to the way he treats people and the way
he intends to run this country.  I watch as he backs out of ever promise he
ever made to get elected.  I watch his cabinet picks "smart people to advise
him'  and all I see is a train wreck.  It's like reading a book knowing it has a
tragic ending but you bought the book so what choice do you have.  If I ever did
experience hate .. that's probably what it would feel like.  But.. I hold hope
Maybe just this once I'll be wrong.  I find it so hard to keep my mouth shut
on the subject but I'm getting better.   This post will be my only outlet and
that's only because there are only five people who know about this blog and
they pretty much know my feelings already.  So I apologize to the three I know
this will probably offend in advance.

     On a lighter note I always thought I was a fairly appreciative person.  I
could find something beautiful in just about everything.  Architecture, nature
wildlife, short shorts, halter tops.. (wait.. getting off course here)  and just
about anything else.  But it seems lately that  that love of beauty has been
intensified.  I find myself looking at things in a totally different light.  Birds
at the feeders are more colorful,  The forests are a lot more peaceful, The coffee
smells much richer and the stars are much brighter.  Now I know my recent
cataract surgery is responsible for some of it but not all of it.   I believe that
as our families grow smaller and our marriages seem to mellow a bit,  God
heightens our senses a bit to compensate.   For those of you with large families
and Teen-like romances.. God bless you .  But I'm grateful for what I've been
blessed with.  Starting in 2017 I'll  work on my low points and polish up the
highs.   In my present health it may smaller woods instead of forests, Decaf
instead of espresso and yoga pants instead of short shorts but I'll still be out
there enjoying life  That you can bet on.......

    So there you have it..  2016 brought me aches and pains, a quick temper, a
opinionated mouth, a new understanding of 'dislike' and sharper senses.  I'm
thinking retirement is catching up with me.  On a good note if the government
get's the cuts it wants I may be going back to work this year.  That should take
care of all that idle time.  I can see it now, I'll be the old Wal-Mart greeter sticking
smiley face stickers on the pretty ladies butts as they walk in.   That job should
last about 4 hrs...lol