Why I don't worry

     We have a new president, and even though it has only been a few days since it was declared many people are seeing doom and gloom in every shadow. I can understand. This is a candidate who has said and done hurtful things without any seeming regard  for people's feelings. He seems to be closed minded when presented with opposition. I worry about his seeming lack of compassion. His values don't seem to align with mine on too many points. He is not the candidate which I would have chosen. However, I'm not sure how much more Hillary would have appreciated my viewpoint. I can understand why there was a push against Hillary. Trump spoke to an audience that Hillary spoke at. While Trump never experienced many plights of the average person, but he at least was believable when he claimed to understand them. Hillary seemed to be the sort that only noticed those that were in her way.
     Trump is frightening to me for many reasons, but I have faith. I have faith in the American people. It doesn't matter much who you voted for what matters is that you are willing to voice your heart.  I know that the rate of violent crime in the united states continues to drop yearly in spite of what we see on the news. There seems to be more outcry against injustice every year, not necessarily because the injustices are increasing, but because the voices have found support and understanding. As a member of society, our role never changes. We are to support those in power but also to listen to each other and to speak for those who can't or won't. There is an ever increasing audience for every person who needs to be heard whether they whisper or yell. Rulers have never found it wise not to listen to their constituents. Today is no different. I hope President-elect Trump will find a way to combine his agendas with those of his people because I do not believe one person can reverse the progress that we have made a consistency in America, no matter what their title is.

Oliver Sacks

     I know of no one who speaks more eloquently on the deficits of the human mind than Oliver Sacks.  After owning the book for many many years I finally got around to reading "The Man Who Mistook his Wife for a Hat," and I am hooked.
      "'He is, as it were,' I wrote in my notes, ' isolated in a single moment of being, with a moat or lacuna of forgetting all around him... He is a man without a past (or future), stuck in a constantly changing , meaningless moment.'" Wow! This is in reference to a man whose memories stopped in 1945. He honestly believed he was living in 1945 even though the year was actually 1975. It was almost cruel of Sack that he showed the man a mirror and demonstrated to the man that he was thirty years older than he realized. The man stared in utter horror of grey hair and a visage that did not belong on a man who knew himself to be little more than thirty. Mr. Sacks lamented that this poor man was lost without recent memories, whose every day was robbed from hum hour by hour until you no longer recognized the people or even the life around him. It does seem a dim existence to have every new moment an exploration in a world that was simply confusing. The poor man did not change his ability to remember, but as Mr. Sack observed there is a beauty that can be achieved in living in the moment. He watched the man in church and his very mindful devotion was moving. He watched the man tend a garden with care over each and every plant.
     I find so many valuable things in this moving story. We are our memories. Our shared and separate past defines us and makes us who we are. It is not enough to be strong, we need to connect. It is those connections that add reality to our world. However, our lives are richer when we remember to stop and pay attention to small things. It is a child's laughter or a rose in bloom can add significant amounts to our lives. We need to pay attention because when we do our lives are so much richer.
      When questioned the man in this study seemed indifferent to life. It wasn't good or bad. He couldn't say that he enjoyed it or if it was difficult. It just was. With Alzheimer's in everyone's mind, this is little comfort, but I love the idea that joys can be found in every moment and maybe the moment is meant to enhance connections. I always wondered if those who couldn't remember would be better off without those who are forgotten. I think starting over may not be possible but building upon that which exists can enhance lives.

Election night

      It is about 10:00 on election night and I confess I am surprised by the results reported. It looks like Donald Trump will be our new president. I generally vote democrat but I like to think I vote issues over party every time. I am not a fan of Hillary and I did not vote. Before you tell me that I can not complain, I am overly positive that my area's electoral voters would not be influenced by my vote. I should have voted for locals but I generally dislike politics and the general election made me so ill that I had no desire to follow the local stuff. So if you have something that didn't get voted by one then you can blame me.
      I am comforted by a few facts. There was a very large voter turnout. This means that a larger number of people than normal care and voted what they believe to be right.If so many people care today they will also speak up when things go wrong. Also, no government is run by one individual. I fear one man doing the wrong thing and saying screw all of his advisers. One man rarely gets that opportunity.
    My hope is that with such a close election and the thought that more votes are negative than positive (voting to keep out of office instead of into) there will be more listening to counterpoints. I also hopee that Trump will rely upon those with more experience.
      America made a choice, there can be no doubt. I am standing behind it if somewhat skeptically.