Red's Wrap
Happiness. It's relative.
Big and Little Pictures Friday Round-Up
Today was made even nicer by the news that Iowa Senator Joni Ernst (of “We’re all going to die” fame) will opt out of running for a third term. Being a U.S. Senator is a very powerful and addictive position. People don’t just quit it because they want to raise chickens. Look at how many extremely old folks are still in the Senate. They’re addicted to constant deference, the click of their heels on the polished marble floors, the cameras. So, Joni? I think she saw the writing on the wall. She was gonna get beat. Humiliated. And she didn’t have the stomach for it. Bummer.
Speaking of national politics, we have to have a painful conversation about how some folks think having the National Guard in their city might be a good thing. They’re not thinking about Trump’s insane overreach or about the threat to free speech or even the threat to free elections. They’re thinking about reckless drivers, police pursuits that end up with innocent bystanders smashed into trees, guns going off at all hours, kids getting killed. And they think that if the National Guard can make them feel safe, well, okay. So, as much as we think that people ought to be looking at the bigger picture, for some folks, that is the bigger picture. I wouldn’t want to be a big city mayor or police chief right now.
The news that the County plan to finally move one of our senior centers out of the ‘temporary’ Army barracks built in the 1950’s to a new, spacious, and much larger place hit the papers this week. Reimagining senior centers has been a central focus of my time on the Commission on Aging, a lot of pushing a large rock up a big hill. Last Friday, there was a meeting of the current senior center’s users. My job was to give them the news about the move. And they booed. Now, I’ve been spit on, so the booing seemed tame by comparison. But I was taken aback, scolding them like they were teenagers rolling their eyes at me. I get it. People love their places and change is hard. It turned out alright in the end, sort of. No more booing. Some nice hugs. A tour of the new site set for these same participants for later in September. The beat goes on. Booed. Those old folks booed me!
We’re advancing the idea of “Cats in Laps.” Lonely older adults — cats in shelter, a match made in heaven. More on this later.
The shipment arrives Wednesday. Durant, our newest retired sled dog adoptee, will wing his way from Willow, Alaska, to sunny (well, mostly cloudy with rain possible) Milwaukee. And yes, we’ll unlatch the door to his crate and hope his tail will be wagging. Fingers crossed.
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Snow Door | wisconsinacademy.org
Listen to Jan read her essay “Billy” presented on WUWM’s Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “At the Breakfast Bar” on WUWM Lake Effect
Jan’s essay “The Parish Hall,” on WUWM Lake Effect
“Fury Cannot Touch Me,” Modern Love, NYT, 9/29/11
great news about Ernst, she saw the writing on the wall at this point, and also a great candidate running against Susan Collins, so we have that. the booing is crazy, but at least you’re making headway, baby steps. yes to cats in laps. can’ wait to meet durant.