Playing in the Shambles

I went to Pensacola Beach yesterday, right about lunch time. I spent about an hour there, just goofing off, mostly on my big beach towel. I did have to chase down a plastic bag the wind took away from me. Once it hit the water it stopped like a rock, or really more like a soggy, sandy plastic bag. The waves played a game with me, threatening to snatch it out into the gulf, and making me wade in and get my new flip-flops wet (which really needs to be done as soon as possible, anyway), only to then show me that I could have just waited.

As I sat and looked out over the water, it struck me what is going on out there, and who knows what this beach will look like in a few days’ or weeks’ time? Today, it looks like this area might yet be spared, but that’s an awful lot of oil out there. I understand that people who like shrimp are being hit already. I’m sure it’s no picnic for the shrimpers, either.

The President is not foreign-born. He is not a “secret Muslim”, and he is not some sort of enemy of the people. He is an American who loves his country–our country–and wants to help make it a better place; a stronger place; a safer place.

Most of all, he is our President, and he deserves our support. It is fine to disagree with him, in fact that is to be encouraged. It is not fine to despise him, or to consider him an enemy. He has done nothing, in the seven months he has been in office, to deserve this.

Republicans and Democrats can, will, and should disagree. We must also always remember that we are first Americans, and our efforts, our conversation, and even our disagreements must serve the common good. Anything else serves only our common enemies. We are not each other’s enemies. It can only delight the hearts of our true adversaries when we fail to remember this.

Our adversaries, whoever and whatever they may be, often seek to use fear against us. Fear clouds our minds and confuses our thoughts. Fear leads us to lash out blindly without proper consideration of the consequences.

Whatever one may think of the Bible, heed this: perfect love casts out fear. Who among us knows perfect love? Yet we can hardly do better than to regard each other, and, yes, ourselves, with love rather than fear, or hate born of fear. Even when we disagree, however strongly, we must always remember the ties that bind us together, our fraternity, our kinship as Americans. When love is at the root of our thoughts and our actions, we begin to possess the greatest antidote to the errors of fear, hate, and malice. We must practice daily extending our love to one another.

We must include our President in this, as well.

A quick update, just to let everybody know where I am:

Weigh-in today, 225; two more pounds than last week. About what I expected, really; I weighed the same Thursday, when I took Mr. Mix to his doctor’s appointment. Weight can be a little up and down, and I think that 223 was really on the low side; plus I did splurge a little this past week. We’ll see what happens next time.

I did take a nice, long walk today; walked yesterday, and the day before that, and I think the day before that; it was Monday and Tuesday, I guess, that I was a lazy ass, while gorging myself on brownies and whole milk.

(I don’t even mind skim milk; it’s the milk I normally drink. Why did I think I needed whole milk to “complete the experience”? What a boob I can be.)

I also, finally, after months, set up the rowing machine I bought from Mr. Mix and began using it. I think I like it.

I cleaned my (double) kitchen sink and washed a whole load of dishes for the first time since Mr. Mix went to the hospital. That was the evening of February 7th, so it’s been over six weeks since I’ve done more than just wash a thing or two for the current meal and maybe the next one. The bottoms of the sink were, er, really ripe. Some hot water, bleach, and soap fixed all that, though. Gotta love stainless steel.

My clutter is still horrible but I am working through it, slowly. I just have to accept that it’s going to be with me a long time. Two or three years ago (I’m forgetting already), I did major spring-cleaning and got everything. You couldn’t tell it now (actually, you could, as it was super-horrible before; it’s just horrible now). I know that it isn’t so much “do it and get it done” as it is being consistent. Doing it and getting it done is fine, but only if the habits are in place. Learning good habits, establishing them and being consistent, seems to be what’s working for me these days.

It’s been 81 days through yesterday since I have used a tobacco product. I’m still chewing the gum, though I’m now (just) beginning the process of slowing down on that. I hope I can break free of nicotine sometime this year. I am eyeing my birthday, but that’s only a little over a month away now.

Mr. Mix, speaking of 81, turned that age on Feb. 12, the day he was discharged from Sacred Heart Hospital (and went to stay at Bayside Manor for a month). I work for him (FWIW, I am technically a contractor), and it’s been rough at times. I started out seven, going on eight years ago working with his computers, keeping his books, and doing general offfice work. While I still do that, mostly his “job” now is taking care of himself, so my job is mainly to help him with that. Well, I don’t want to blog too much about his business, but I will say that his health is not all he wants it to be.

I did stop by his house today long enough to set up his medication for the week (my sister, Sharon, who is a nurse, happened to be down when he got to go back home last week. She got him one of those seven-day pill boxes, and also kept an eye on him the first couple of days. She is great.) Some of his family took him out for dinner this evening, happily.

I got a little recycling done today, and visited with Linda and the landlord (the owner, actually; the “landlord”, I guess, is the property manager he employs). I’ve eaten light, so far. I’ve drawn a little (mostly erased; I happened to stop by the art supply store and I bought three or four different erasers. An “artist” like me needs about ten times as many erasers as pencils). I’ve worked on some songs a litte, but not nearly enough. Maybe later. I also have some ads to schedule (long story; another of my things-I-do-to-make-money), and so many other things that they’re colliding into each other in my mind as I try to think of them. So never mind. There’s a lot.

Tomorrow is Easter. I’m going to Mom and Dad’s for a little while; beyond that, I don’t know. Easter, I think, is a good time for reflection. I consider myself a Christian and a follower of Jesus, that is to say I try to practice the Golden Rule and all that “love thy neighbor” stuff. I’m not claiming I get it right very often, but again, it’s building new habits, and persistance, that matter. These things pay off in the long run, I firmly believe it.

Just try to imagine how the world would be if every single one of us would just treat others the way we would want to be treated, if we were in their shoes. What if everone tried to be honest, and loving, and cared for each other? I know I’m a dreamer, but seriously, sit for a minute and imagine that world. I’m not trying to steal from John Lennon; I don’t even ask you to drop your religion. Just don’t let it get in the way of what’s really important. I may be wrong, but I really believe that’s all Jesus was saying to the Pharisees.

What if we each just did our part? For myself, I believe I don’t have to get it right, right away; I don’t even have to get it completely right ever in my whole life (as if I ever could). I just have to keep trying, keep improving, and throw myself whole-heartedly into the art of becoming a better human.

I don’t know if I’m right, but this is what I believe. All I can really do is do my part, and encourage you, my brothers and sisters, to think about doing the same. Of course, I’m an empty kettle if I have nothing but words, so for the most part I intend to keep my mouth shut and just get to work. Still, I felt like writing this, so here it is. Use it in good health, anyone who may happen to read it; and remember, love comes before anything else.

It’s probably been mentioned elsewhere, but it amuses me that George W. Bush forcibly deposed a man named Hussein, only to (possibly) be succeeded in office by a man named Hussein.

I’m straight, just so you know. Having said that, I’m totally behind Big Al here:

(Thanks to Ice Station Tango via Crooks and Liars.)