I’m trying to let go of whatever disappointment I’ve been feeling for nearly a week now. Disappointment in the election, in the decision that a majority of Americans made at the polls, and just what seems like a general lack of giving a shit for others that will certainly suffer for the next four years. I’m all about being fiscally conservative and I’m also all about the very serious immigration problem we have been dealing with the past several years(not just under the most recent guy.) I’m for lowering taxes for all, not just the ultra wealthy but ALL Americans. And yeah, I don’t feel we should be funding any wars. Aid? Sure. But how we choose to help those with aid seems to be one of the core problems here.
But I digress.
What I’m concerned with is a far right conservative groups like The Heritage Foundation pulling the President’s strings to pass laws that would punish people in the LGBTQ community, slash Women’s Rights, or even Non-Profit groups that the Govt deems unworthy of tax-free status because they’re helping war-torn countries or that push environmental concerns. Or just fact that hard right Christians have ANY say in government. That I’m vehemently against. The federal government should not be passing laws based on what the Bible says. If we’re taking advice from Christians, then you’re opening the door for the other religions to start demanding things of the government. I’m of the mind that all religions are just well organized cults, built on the idea of controlling the masses and having them do their deeds for them through mind control and manipulation.
But…I digress.
So I’m officially checking out politically. It’s all a shell game anyway, this idea of democracy. Maybe it’s always been like this, but possibly they just hid it better 40 years ago. The system is rigged it seems, and I’m just now coming to that conclusion. So I’ll vote for what I think is right when it’s time to hit the polls, but I know that it’s just going through the motions. I’ve watched zero news in almost a week and I feel much, much better for it. I filled my week with music, long walks, books, movies, and just enjoying the company of my wife, kids, parents, and ideas of creating art.
The weekend was pretty great. Despite my wife having issues with her plantar fasciitis we had a wonderful 4 1/2 mile walk Sunday in town. Every time we go into town for an afternoon walk I’m always reminded of how much I enjoy walking among the tree-lined streets and admiring the 20th century designs of the homes. And making it down to Center Lake Park and getting lost in the view of the town’s main body of water is always a pleasure. I’m blown away by how different the town has become in the nearly half a century since I first began making memories here. Restaurants that have come and gone, businesses long lost to time, and even the park and how it’s grown is kind of amazing.
There are things that I feel we are missing that we used to have when I was a kid, like more grocery stores and even two or three different meat markets. Or having a movie theater downtown in the great but gone Lake Theater. That’s where I saw Star Wars at barely 4 years old. Many weekends were spent at the Lake Theater watching everything from Pete’s Dragon to Cloak and Dagger to Fright Night, Silver Bullet, and Nightmare On Elm Street 3 : Dream Warriors. I think the last movie I saw at the Lake Theater was Punch-Drunk Love.
There was Celebrations Party Store that had party supplies and all the dirty birthday cards you could hope for. The Humpty Dumpty diner, The Flagpole Custard stand, Dig’s Diner, and the Village Inn for your pizza and pitchers of beer needs. We also had a great bookstore in Reader’s World. I’d go with my dad on Sunday mornings to Reader’s World so he could get the Sunday edition of the South Bend Tribune and he’d get me either a Mad Magazine or a Fangoria. We’d stop at Tom’s Donuts before heading home. There was Breadings Cigar Store where their motto was “Where the customer is always wrong.”
With progress I do think we lose a little bit of personality, as the landscape gets duller and duller.
Sunday we also replaced our old garbage disposal that took a crap about a month or so ago. My buddy at work said it was an easy job, as you basically loosen it from the piece that’s attached to the sink and put the new one right back where the old one was. And he was right, except when we got home I realized I bought a non-corded garbage disposal. Which meant a trip back to Menards to buy a cord and then hard wire it into the bottom of the new disposal. After that, no problem. My wife did most of the work anyways. I just hovered and kept asking if she needed help. “Nope.” Alrighty then.
Saturday I got in an amazing 5 1/2 mile walk in the early afternoon. I didn’t start out with the intention of walking 5 1/2 miles, but it just sort of happened. I had my long walk mix playing and just let my feet take me where they may. I also shot some short videos for what will end up being my next music video project. Just now getting into making videos, but I’m excited to see where I can go with it.
Saturday was also a great day because my daughter had a ‘Gotcha Day’ party for her doggo Celeste. It’s been a year since our kiddo adopted Celeste from the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter and brought her home. It was a tough go for awhile as Celeste had been at the shelter for 9 months and gave birth to a litter of pups while she was there. Before her life at the shelter I can only imagine what that dog went through as she was nearly emaciated and with scars and scabs on her little elbows(a sign a dog lived mostly in a cage.)
But a year of showing her love -as well as some serious K-9 training- has turned that pensive, scared dog into a loving, beautiful, and highly intelligent pooch. And we all came together to celebrate her and our daughter. Our daughter has had an equal year of growth and learning, coming out of an awful relationship and then several months of extremely long, draining days between work in the mornings and school at night. In July she came out of that phase with her degree and a job cutting hair at a chain store. And as of last week she put in her two-week notice as she’s been hired at a independent hair salon with an owner that sees real potential in her. She’ll start her apprenticeship on November 19th.
The festivities were small, but very meaningful. After the week we had a meaningful gathering of loved ones was exactly what my frayed psyche needed. Our daughter was able to get the party room at her apartment building the entire day. She worked till 2pm then headed straight to the store for party decorations(if only Celebrations was still opened) and immediately got down to decorating. We picked up my parents and drove to her building where we saw the room decorated in pink table covers, plates, and cups. She ordered pizzas from Little Caesars and bought bottles of soda. We brought Miss Celeste a Kong tug-of-war toy and a waterproof jacket for those rainy poop walks. I also made a pan of brownies in a new cake pan my wife bought for the kiddo, as well as a loaf pan. My mom gave $20 to our daughter to spend on what she wanted.
After while two of our daughters best friends arrived for the festivities. They had this karaoke machine in the party room that was Bluetooth, so I hooked it up to my phone and played a mix of 80s alternative music that fit the mood well. And miss Celeste? She was in heaven with a room full of people there to celebrate her. She wore her pink tutu and pink crown nearly the whole night.
Our son worked till 4:30 but he and his girlfriend showed up eventually for some pizza and to play with Celeste. It was mental and emotional salve my head and heart needed.
So yes, there’s more to life than living in dread about who’s going to be president. I’m still not looking forward to these next four years, but knowing that having a party for a dog can make your head and heart feel that much better gives me hope. And being with those we truly love and get such healing vibes from is also something to hold onto in a sea of so many unknowns.
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