Fridays are Golden

What an interesting week this has been.  The unsettled weather has brought us sunny days and stormy days, highs above normal and highs below normal.  Tornadoes in some parts of the state.  Today is bright and cold and the dogs just love it!  They do not like rain and especially do not like being dried off when they come in.

We can always depend on our Lucy for comedic relief from our concerns about almost anything.  She has such a well-developed sense of humor that we often end up laughing at her antics.  Ellie is typically more reserved although she has been known to crack us up.  She often carries tennis balls around with her.  She brings them upstairs and I immediately throw them back down.  She knows full well that balls are for the den and when she brings them up she acts as if she doesn't even have one (or two in many cases).  The other day she appeared with a tennis ball and a chew toy in her mouth.  Her expression seemed to say, "What tennis ball?  I don't see a chew toy!"

Goofy Ellie pretending she has not broken any rules.

 Mom, why are you looking at me like that?
Because, dear Ellie, I have a feeling you will be drooling soon.  That was one reason for getting Golden Retrievers...they aren't supposed to drool.

Goodness knows we need a little comedy now and then.  We are fortunate enough to receive two networks on television stations that are in South Carolina.  We are unfortunate enough to receive two network stations from SC.  You see?  SC is having a Republican Presidential Primary on Saturday.  There is no air time available for purchase on either of these stations.  Not one minute!  The air time has been bought up by candidates and PACs and the ads are negative and non-stop.

We don't watch much network television, but we do like to check the noon "news" to get the weather conditions.  Of course, every advertisement during the "news" is related to the Saturday primary.  I can only hope the "MUTE" button survives this election.  It surely is used quite a lot.

Presidential election years are always important, and never more so than this year.  There are times when I think the problems of our country are so huge and complex that we will never be able to solve them.  Times when I want to throw up my hands in disgust and draw into my own little community.  After all, our retirement is secure...why worry about all the rest of the people in this country and around the world?  Because like it or not, we are a part of the larger community.  We must continue to do our part to preserve that which is important to us.  Even when we are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems, we must do our own part.  This was never more true than exercising our civic right (and responsibility) to become involved in politics.

Martin Luther King, Jr., once said words to the effect that faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.  And that is what we as Americans must do.  Take a step even if you cannot see the top.  Educate yourself on the issues and the candidates and go ahead and take a step.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND, EVERYONE!