Can You Prepare?

My old heart breaks for my fellow Texans back home. The loss and devastation is a ongoing nightmare. I have to admit that my inclination is to cover both my eyes and ears to the reports of sad loss. The loss of property is horrendous but the loss of lives is nearly unbearable to hear.

I've long had mixed feelings about the technology that allows people in their very last moments on our earth to communicate with important loved ones.  Is this a curse or an amazing blessing?  The reality of our world that allows folks to make those final desperate phone calls...passengers on the plane going to ground on nine-eleven or the young mother, who in horror tumbled with her husband and young children down the wild and vicious Texas river, their vacation house swept away. It is a painful scenario to envision. 

Is there any possible way to prepare for such disasters?  No question, there are some sudden and unexpected circumstances in life that no one could ever prevent or be prepared for.  I do know that when the order is given, when there is any advance warning of disaster, we need to have no hesitation in extreme caution.  When it is ordered or suggested that we take cover, move to high ground, evacuate, we must do those things.

My well worn old explanation to my children, when they thought their parents were being too strict, over careful, was..."You have to understand, if we over protect you, the worst that is going to happen is that you will whine that we were strict parents, perhaps even someday when you're an adult.  But, the alternative is just too frightening to consider.  The situation that we would allow or the rule that we wouldn't insist that you follow, that resulted in your harm, in our loss of you."  There is no real option. In other words, I'm a firm believer in to err on the side of caution.

The circumstances in Texas and in many other parts of our country have been sudden and catastrophic. There was very little that could be done to prepare for this.   Hopefully, the preparations and generosity of others will ease some of the tragic misery.  May we that have been spared,  all give thanks that we're not faced with the heartbreaking choices and events that our fellow citizens are besieged with today. May our prayers, our love and support be sent to the citizens of Texas and other disaster burdened states.

Is Simple Better?

Lately, I've been riding a sweeping learning curve. I've asked myself multiple times, Is simpler really better? The approximate 1,000 square foot cabin in the picture is now the hubby and I's largest dwelling. Our shelter when we go home to Texas, a less than 350 square foot travel trailer.  We do have a decent storage shed at the two acre location of our small summer home and we're currently building a large barn/garage.  The reality is that we have cut our living space in less than half. 

Does this work, is this a livable situation, especially if you're in the retirement years of your life?  Of course, only each individual can answer that question. I, personally, am saying that simplifying your life and downsizing is very do-able.  I wouldn't say that it has been easy to accomplish this.  We come from a time when a wife, a mother, a grand-mother just was expected to do certain things. We needed "things" to be the proper caretaker of our family and hostess to our friends.  I mean what self respecting lady didn't have a nice deviled egg plate...what if it was the big dinner? what if something had to be taken to church? what if someone died?  Since we were fortunate and able to, it didn't hurt to have more than one.

The thing is, over the years, those "things" grew.  We had our own egg plates, special dishes, etc. and then we began to have things passed down from our grandmother, our mother.  Then we added all the modern necessities and multiplied them...automobiles, televisions, telephones, kitchen appliances and now computers, gadgets and cell phones.  One day, you find yourself rattling around in a large house with lots of stuff...lots of stuff. You go to the cabinet to look for the egg plate and you find six or eight egg dishes. Why? Your life has become massive, expensive and excessive.

I read a good article about the myths and mistakes that we're making about our retirement years. Two things rang very true to me.  One was the mistaken belief (or just the plain acceptance) that you'll work until you die.  Really? you're going to just accept that.  What about health issues? What about that job disappearing, you're going to go job hunting at age 67?  Even if you haven't done a lot of planning and preparing for your "golden years", to continue to go to a job everyday in order to support an overblown life, seems very sad and unrealistic to me. 

The second thing was that people have a very hard time downsizing.  That's no surprise, it's not easy to go what we consider backwards, to pare down a lifestyle.  Many people could retire, could quit work, could even enjoy some travel or hobbies, if they just simplified their basic everyday life a bit.  The truth is, you don't need six egg plates, you don't need a four bedroom house.  The family gathering doesn't have to be at your house, there are parks, restaurants, hotels.  You don't have to give up your family or the everyday little luxuries that you enjoy in order to downsize.  You just have to trim away the excess and unnecessary. Not only can it be a removal of large burdens from your back, you might be surprised at how exciting the change can be. 

Get out of your big old box and think about the possibilities of a small, simpler one.  One of the nicest things that happened to me over the last few months was at the huge downsizing sale we held. One of my daughters came to me with tears in her eyes, a large old beat up speckled roaster pan in her hands, "You're selling this, Moma?! We cooked everything in this pan."

With a big smile and a hug, I said, "No, honey....not selling it, it's all yours." She added it to her huge box with the egg plate and the Christmas dishes and the prom dress that had been carefully stored through years and moves. When my tiny grand-daughter saw it, she put her hands to her pretty face and said, "Oh-h-h, I love it!"  Simple isn't bad, less for me and more for them. 

Are You Smarter Than a Neanderthal?

More than occasionally I rant and rave about the offerings on TV. Of course, I do know that the power button is the cure for my displeasure.  It seems more fun to watch and gripe.  Now, there's lots of television programming that I purely detest, but I usually have to admit that it is just a matter of taste and preference as to what a person views. After all, if we all were the same, the stores would only carry chocolate and wine.  I have always loved dancing, but watching so-called celebrities, under dressed and overly cheesy, dance in an exaggerated competition of who can be the corniest, just doesn't appeal to me.  Watching people fish, or chop down huge trees or drive big rigs on icy roads to their great peril just bores the teeth right out of my mouth! I can't think of a single human being that I'm so in awe of that I want to observe the everyday mundane details of their lives...no matter how trashy it is. 

In general, even though I don't enjoy so much of TV, I understand that some folks do. However, I'm sure that I've found something that on a scale of stupid from 1-10, must be a minimum of a 12. The most disheartening thing is that this program is offered for your pleasure by the Discovery Channel. The Discovery Channel, folks. Doesn't the very name imply that you will find something wonderful, learn something from watching their programming?  The only thing that I've learned from Naked and Afraid is that the people that produce television programming and the people who conduct the rating polls are among the high population of genetic idiots that are increasing in our society. 

Look at the depiction of the Neanderthal man, note that he is wearing a fur cloak to protect his body.  Not for modesty, not for style. Even a caveman knew that he needed to cover his body. It takes no genius to figure this out.  One walk in the snow or bite on the butt makes even a small brain seek out a solution to bareness. So what would be the point of throwing a modern man and woman out into a harsh wilderness, bare-ass naked and following them around with a camera? If I know you and you think that makes sense, please don't tell me. Please spare me that piece of personal insight into your psyche. Is it sex? Again...if a dirty, bitten and beat up nude survivalist turns you on, please don't share your little fetishes with me.  Unless the lesson here is Never try to survive in the wilderness with a naked idiot, I just don't get it.

Never a smarter thing said than "You can't fix stupid."  Whether you strip it bare or dress it up in sequins, stupid is, as stupid does.  I'm afraid and I've got all my clothes on (talk about scary, strip me down and put me in front of a camera) of a culture that finds this entertaining.  Maybe for fame, maybe for money...what-ever...the folks that broadcast this crap and the "stars" of it are pegging out the stupid scale.

Should We Worry?

Jade Helm 15, US training drills in five states, involving 1,200 troops.  Shouldn't that be a comfort?  Shouldn't we be glad that our troops are getting good training? There is this question...training for what purpose?  The Military insists that these are just typical training maneuvers and admit that "Martial Law" enforcement is part of the training. 

The governor of Texas, Greg Abbot is concerned enough to say to the military, "I've ordered the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 to safeguard Texans' constitutional rights, private property & civil liberties." WE will be watching YOU.  Unfortunately, the world is a pretty chaotic place these days and America isn't immune. Those (and I include myself in that group) who believe that bad things can certainly occur, man made or from nature, do not have total faith that our own military will be looking after the citizen's own best interest.  There  is a very high mistrust in our government and a true belief that we must prepare for catastrophe and plan to take care of ourselves.

One thing is certain, a free people must not be complacent and take liberty for granted. One of the most disturbing things I've read over the last few years was the story from a European woman who lived in a city when Hitler and his armies came marching in. The people cheered, one of the most intelligent and evil leaders in history was welcomed and it was believed that he had come to make their lives . It was too late when her neighbors of Jewish origins began to disappear, one by one.  Vigilance is not paranoia.  We do need to pay attention.  A blind faith that any amassing power, whether from our own government or a foreign entity, will not be a threat to our freedom is just plain foolish. Where there is great power, there is always a danger of corruption. 

I, in no way, am degrading the soldiers that have signed on to protect us and our liberties. There are no braver and noble citizens than those that join our armies. It's wise to note though, the very same heroic folks that believe they are protecting us, can be the last to realize they are being used as weapons against us.  I applaud our governor for letting it be known that you will not come to our state and train or drill without some civilian over site. 

Another Texas governor and a president that I respected, said "Either you are with us or you're against us."   This is fact and Texas will be looking closely to see which side of that line your feet fall on.