Dogs

It has been far too long since my last blog. I can blame that on too much happening in the world. Women are still being treated like chattel in several countries; children are still starving; religions are still fighting against other religions; nature seems to hate us (can you blame her?); and politicians are still playing politics. It is very hard to pick out one injustice to write about, especially now when the days are short and the sun doesn't shine very often. This contributes to SAD, and makes it hard to even have the energy to get out of bed. So with all these enervating things going on, I have decided the only sensible thing to blog about is - dogs.

Dogs offer so much to us, and ask so little in return. They are always glad to see us; they never complain if the house isn't clean; they'll eat anything we put in front of them; and they let us know if there is someone or something around that shouldn't be. If we need to get out of the house, they are always ready to go for a walk. If we need to sound off about someone or something, they always listen but never talk back. And if we need to sit and cry, they are always there offering support and love.

Then there are the dogs who do more, not that the list above is not enough. But some dogs can smell out cancer, or tell if someone is going to have a seizure. These dogs are truly life saving.

Some dogs are now teaching children to read. Many libraries support the Paws to Read and similar programs to help someone learn reading skills. I know this works because an Airedale terrier taught me to read many years ago.

Dogs have been trained to sniff out drugs or bombs. They have learned to guide the sightless through the city streets. They go into the schools with children who would otherwise not be able to negotiate the school hallways or classrooms. They have proven invaluable in war, and have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This last is probably not quite right; I don't think dogs are willing to die for a country or a certain regime. But they are willing to die for their human, no matter what color or religion the person is.

As the saying goes, if you are lucky enough to have a dog, you are lucky enough. If you don't have a dog in your life, think carefully before acquiring one. Do NOT buy one from a pet store. Most of these dogs come from puppy mills, although a few stores are now working with animal shelters to place homeless dogs in good forever homes. And please remember that a dog will need food, shelter, love, and, sometimes, the care of a good veterinarian. If you are not able to make these commitments, in both time and dollars, please do not get a dog. You will do more good donating to a shelter.

Malala

Today's blog was intended to be a humorous look at fireworks, but I made the mistake of watching a video on CNN on my way to Blogspot.

The video I watched was of Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban because she dared to speak out for education for girls. In this video, she was addressing the United Nations, and showed a stunning sophistication and a conviction that what she had to say was crucial in helping the world's people to find peace. What an amazing young woman she is; if you get the chance, please try to watch and listen to her speech.

This video was an almost 17 minute long message to the world that women and girls need to unite against oppression and persecution. That we need education for all, equality for all, and there should be no fear of reprisal when working for this goal. We can only hope that the leaders of the world listen and learn from this young lady.

We also need to realize that Ms. Yousafzai was not talking about just the women in the third world. What she said, what she demanded, is very relevant even to the "enlightened" west, where women are still too often treated as second class citizens.

Another Book Review

It has been quite a while since I commented on a book, but I just finished one that needs to be talked about. Human Smoke: The Beginnings of World War II, the End of Civilization, by Nicholson Baker was written in 2008. I am not a big fan of war stories, except for the Civil War, and really did not want to read this book when I saw what it was about. But since the book was recommended to me by someone I respect, I decided to read it.

Everyone should read this book. It has no chapters, and no continuing war stories;  just 470 pages of disparate paragraphs, each drawing us closer and closer to the war. As we get farther in time away from the horror of WWII, it is important that we not forget what happened during that awful period.

There was very little regard for human life by the leaders of some of the greatest countries of the world. To read about the killing of children locked in a room is horribly revolting, and completely unbelievable, except that it really happened. It seemed as though everyone hated everyone else.

I don't believe we were any more civil before the war. Mr. Baker calls WWII the end of civilization, but I believe we humans have always hated and killed each other, probably going all the way back to the beginning of man. It's just that now we are so advanced that we can kill each other on a huge, world-wide scale, even more so than in WWII.  There are more people, a better means of communicating the atrocities committed, and better technology/weapons to commit these atrocities. We could be on the way to eliminating the human race from the earth if we do not learn that hatred and wars only hurt mankind, and no one is ever better off afterwards.

Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  This book will help us to remember. Maybe it will help to prevent an apocalypse.

Family Vacation

What a wonderful time we had! At least, I had; and the others all said they enjoyed it, too. We went on a true family vacation to Sanibel Island, Florida. There were Den and me, our son Adam and daughter-in-law Beth, their daughter Heather (our granddaughter) and her husband Nick, our grandson Cody (Adam's and Beth's son) and his girlfriend Caitlyn, and Heather's and Nick's two boys, Peyton (three years old) and Landon (one-and-a- half years old). We stayed at Sandalfoot Condominiums in two side-by-side units, but could often all be found in one unit.

 Of course, the week centered mostly around the two boys. Landon may have been a bit too young to understand all that was happening, but Peyton was well aware that this week was special. He seemed to be everywhere at once. Trying to keep up with him, even between condo units, was quite a challenge. His favorite places were either playing in the sand on the beach, or swimming in the complex's pool. Both boys were really well-behaved. There was never an unpleasant meal, and with "nine people and a high chair" there could have been some real disasters.

We didn't try to do everything together, except to eat dinner. Sometimes the women would go shopping; at other times a few of us would go sightseeing. Sunning by the pool or on the beach was very popular, as was walking the beach. And we didn't always eat out. We frequented Bailey's and Jerry's for groceries and snacks, and cooked at "home." And I managed to read three books!

This trip took some planning; Beth is very good at that. We had to get it in after the college students were home for the summer, but before summer jobs and trips started. Adam, Beth, Heather, and Nick had to get time off from their jobs, condo units had to be rented, and plane connections made. But it was all worth it. We had a simply great time.

Mom and Me

Someone recently said to me that I was just like my mother, and the comment wasn't meant as a compliment. Thinking about that remark, I realize that the older I get, the less I really knew or understood my mother. I find myself becoming more closed in to myself, trying not to let anyone know what is going on inside my head, or even my heart. Some things are too painful to think about, much less talk about with someone else. Still, I do not consider myself a cold and uncaring person.

Do others see me the way I see myself? Probably not. Do they see me the way I would like to be seen? Probably not. I don't even know what that is, but I know it can change almost every day.

I am coming to have new respect for my mother, although I don't think I will ever forget some of the things she said that could have been said better. I, too, have a tendency to be too blunt in my conversation, not thinking how what I say will come across to someone else. I also have a tendency to not talk to friends often enough, thinking that if they want to talk to me, they will call. I can remember telling my mother, when she complained that I didn't call her very often, that the phone worked both ways. Now I have to remember that. The problem is that I am by nature a quiet person who usually doesn't have a lot to say that anyone else would be interested in. Was my mother that way, too?

Take this blog–why would anyone else want to read it? It amazes me when someone comments on what I have to say, or is even interested enough to read it. I know why I write it–because I have to. And I do let my FB friends know when I post a new one, even though it seems a bit presumptuous. Still, here's another one.

And I think I am more like my mother every day.

How does it happen that an innocent picture sparks a firestorm of sorts? All I did was post a picture of a deer on my Facebook page, and Wham! It's knockout time! The picture was a little out of focus because it had been taken through the window of my living room. A young buck was standing in my front yard, head up, as if he had posed just for me. He was facing another young buck out on the road, although that one is not visible in the picture. Before I could get a picture of the other buck, they both turned and left. No conflict, no disagreement, not even any posturing or pawing the ground. A total contrast to what happened when my friends saw the picture.

At any rate, when I uploaded the picture to my computer, I thought it was just different enough that some of my FB friends would enjoy it; so I posted it. Big mistake. That a picture of a deer can provoke political name calling, hate mongering, and cursing is beyond my understanding, but that is what happened.

My friends are not, and never have been, limited to one particular group, be it political, religious, relatives, or neighbors. I like them all; some I love, and I never use that word lightly. I enjoy the different points of view that my friends offer, even if I don't always agree. But I do not stop liking someone just because we disagree in our politics. Sometimes, I even listen to the "other side." Although most of my friends would call me a liberal, I try to choose what's right. That's right as in correct, not right as in politically on the right.

Maybe that's why it's so hard to understand what has happened. I guess I should be thankful that not much of the invective was aimed directly at me. And thank you to those whose comments focused on the picture itself.