The Pendulum Swings Part II
Obamacare and PLOM-ing
I tune in late this morning to hear that Obamacare has been upheld again by the Supreme Court . This is the second time. Will it be the last challenge to Obamacare at the Supreme Court? Many think so since the first decision resulted in a 5-4 win and the second, a 6-3 win. But there is no way to share joy in my town tonight.
Living in a small town within a red state means that, as a progressive, I celebrate these major victories alone. In fact, to some extent, I have felt under siege. It has resulted in another one of those PLOM times (Poor Little Ole Me). Most of my transactions today have been colored by that fact and I'm feeling stifled, under-appreciated, and dare I say, on the right side for a change. My celebration, however, is a silent cheer, a muffled yell, a beating on my chest -- behind closed doors.
I awake at 6 a.m. energized and determined to observe the final stages of pouring a new concrete sidewalk at the Catholic Church across the alley. A 3-man team has been digging up dirt and old concrete, building wood forms, all to prepare for the concrete to be delivered today. I observe, ask names of each tool they use, and take notes on each step. At my own pace, it's likely this can be done; my project is much simpler. However, I'm told by a worker I couldn't do it because it's too hard, I shouldn't do it, and he advised me not to do it.
Around noon, I visit a meeting in which the community group is developing ways and means to (1) get reps from different groups in town to work together, (2) improve attractiveness of downtown, and (3) develop our economy as a result. Comments from several people lead me to believe that (1) my organization is already being represented inferring there is no need for me to attend here, (2) care needs to be taken that those who might disrupt the group should not be able to attend, present company excepted of course, and (3) "Does everybody know Edith?" used as my welcome to the group.
Later, I keep an appointment to have some work done. Although there's never been a problem in the past discussing political/religious viewpoints (since neither of us has brought it up), there seems to be some conversational pushback concerning one conservative program in which this person believes and brings up in our discussion (Why now? I ask myself). Eventually, the conversation gets shifted to a more non-threatening topic.
The hives that began this morning have blossomed considerably. I purchase pills and cream from our pharmacy. Tomorrow I see a P.A. at the local clinic.
My answers to the situations above are: Investigate further in trying my hand at a relatively new skill despite others' misgivings (I've done some patching), stop attending the meeting at which there already seems to be a rep, and steer clear sooner from a political discussion with someone whose views have been made clear.
PLOM-ing is no fun. There is a need to become more proactive. Take control of my own life recognizing that I am not a victim. For now, celebrating the success of Obamacare is done through writing, a more viable outlet in this time, in this place. I commit to writing more often.
Friday, June 26, 2015
The Pendulum Swings Part I
A Letter
It's been almost a year since my last entry on this blog. What has happened in the interim? I received about 435 votes in the election, the same amount that every other Democrat received in their 2014 state races. In other words, it wasn't what any of us did nor did not do; it was pretty much a party-line vote. My Republican competitor was closer to about 1200 votes.
Spring, 2015, I was elected as President of the Board for our Musselshell Valley Historical Museum and Vice-chair of our UUA Fellowship in Billing, 50 miles distant. I ran for, and lost, election to our local school board. So I win a few, lose a few. Winning, on the other hand, is not always something to celebrate. Conducting two Museum fundraisers within two months, standing on my feet for seven hours at one of them, is extremely tiring. Planning for and creating future Museum exhibits is challenging and time-consuming. And driving 50 miles to a Fellowship Board meeting must be squeezed into a long list of other errands in order to conserve on gas. Even losing an election can be a good learning experience when unexpected comments from individuals in town show they've been listening and they're admiring of my throwing my hat into the ring (no Democrat has done it in a long while -- for good reason evidently).
Nowadays? This is the first week sunlight begins to shorten. I will hardly notice until something happens, my early mornings won't be as bright as they are now; I won't be able to sit out on my deck and write quite as early. The cycle begins anew.
My getting is older is just the same. I do O.K. Walking, riding my bike are several ways I exercise. It just takes me longer to do almost everything -- and that's good. The secret for me is to pace myself (except when I'm serving at a Pancake Breakfast for seven hours!). Pacing is good but it's also helpful to persist in all of my exercising. Listening to my body is the other requirement for maintaining good health.
For example, there are several choices I can make when taking my almost-daily bike ride. I can go north on my street and south down the next street, about one mile from one end of town to the other. This can happen for four streets until the pavement runs out (several newer streets are unpaved). Going north is sloping up while south is the opposite. Or I can cross Highway 89 our main street, go east several blocks before turning north. Several more blocks take me across Highway 12, where I circle the town park with its play area, tennis courts and pool I peddle by the pasture where the new elementary school will be constructed (this will be the last school year in the original 1911 sandstone building located 1/2 block from my house).
Ice cream hill is the point as which I turn west. (It used to look like the top of an ice cream cone but since city trucks have begun to remove much of the soil, it's lost its shape.) I cross 89 once more heading four blocks to the last paved street on that side of town. I turn south. This is the street we look forward to (when Lori rides with me) because we get to coast almost all the way to the last street. It takes only three more blocks east before starting back north for several blocks and turning into my alley.
Whichever path I choose depends on how I feel. If my knee is giving me pain (tripped up a high curb last week), a shorter route makes more sense. If, however, I've spent time during the morning on my exercise routines (stretching, physical therapy, and shoulder strengthening), I'm ready to circumvent the town. (Is there an exercise for almost every malady?! Like lying on my back on the floor, napping sometimes, to straighten/ease my back.)
What a life! Rarely boring, well-paced much of the time, with persistence-in-all-things as a favorite motto (after two years, still have to build a porch rail and cement some sidewalk!). Along the way I remind myself to be thankful for my challenges here, like having too much to do and even having those PLOM-ing times that inevitably appear (see next entry). Those challenges force me to use my own creativity and skills. Yes, life is slower (may take a while to get my sea legs after sitting too long) but it matches where I am -- and that ain't bad!
A Letter
It's been almost a year since my last entry on this blog. What has happened in the interim? I received about 435 votes in the election, the same amount that every other Democrat received in their 2014 state races. In other words, it wasn't what any of us did nor did not do; it was pretty much a party-line vote. My Republican competitor was closer to about 1200 votes.
Spring, 2015, I was elected as President of the Board for our Musselshell Valley Historical Museum and Vice-chair of our UUA Fellowship in Billing, 50 miles distant. I ran for, and lost, election to our local school board. So I win a few, lose a few. Winning, on the other hand, is not always something to celebrate. Conducting two Museum fundraisers within two months, standing on my feet for seven hours at one of them, is extremely tiring. Planning for and creating future Museum exhibits is challenging and time-consuming. And driving 50 miles to a Fellowship Board meeting must be squeezed into a long list of other errands in order to conserve on gas. Even losing an election can be a good learning experience when unexpected comments from individuals in town show they've been listening and they're admiring of my throwing my hat into the ring (no Democrat has done it in a long while -- for good reason evidently).
Nowadays? This is the first week sunlight begins to shorten. I will hardly notice until something happens, my early mornings won't be as bright as they are now; I won't be able to sit out on my deck and write quite as early. The cycle begins anew.
My getting is older is just the same. I do O.K. Walking, riding my bike are several ways I exercise. It just takes me longer to do almost everything -- and that's good. The secret for me is to pace myself (except when I'm serving at a Pancake Breakfast for seven hours!). Pacing is good but it's also helpful to persist in all of my exercising. Listening to my body is the other requirement for maintaining good health.
For example, there are several choices I can make when taking my almost-daily bike ride. I can go north on my street and south down the next street, about one mile from one end of town to the other. This can happen for four streets until the pavement runs out (several newer streets are unpaved). Going north is sloping up while south is the opposite. Or I can cross Highway 89 our main street, go east several blocks before turning north. Several more blocks take me across Highway 12, where I circle the town park with its play area, tennis courts and pool I peddle by the pasture where the new elementary school will be constructed (this will be the last school year in the original 1911 sandstone building located 1/2 block from my house).
Ice cream hill is the point as which I turn west. (It used to look like the top of an ice cream cone but since city trucks have begun to remove much of the soil, it's lost its shape.) I cross 89 once more heading four blocks to the last paved street on that side of town. I turn south. This is the street we look forward to (when Lori rides with me) because we get to coast almost all the way to the last street. It takes only three more blocks east before starting back north for several blocks and turning into my alley.
Whichever path I choose depends on how I feel. If my knee is giving me pain (tripped up a high curb last week), a shorter route makes more sense. If, however, I've spent time during the morning on my exercise routines (stretching, physical therapy, and shoulder strengthening), I'm ready to circumvent the town. (Is there an exercise for almost every malady?! Like lying on my back on the floor, napping sometimes, to straighten/ease my back.)
What a life! Rarely boring, well-paced much of the time, with persistence-in-all-things as a favorite motto (after two years, still have to build a porch rail and cement some sidewalk!). Along the way I remind myself to be thankful for my challenges here, like having too much to do and even having those PLOM-ing times that inevitably appear (see next entry). Those challenges force me to use my own creativity and skills. Yes, life is slower (may take a while to get my sea legs after sitting too long) but it matches where I am -- and that ain't bad!
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