Month: August 2018

 

Decluttering can be heartbreaking when you see those old photos from happier times.

Your first wedding (which ended in divorce).

Happy family pictures before the divorce changed everything.

The last holiday gathering with all of your children before the family feud

Your parents 50^th wedding anniversary when your siblings were still alive.

The last time your children and stepchildren were all together.

The last time you were with your grandchildren before their parents divorced or  moved far away.

The last Christmas you spent with your first cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

You and your best friend, before she died of cancer.

I can think of many other pictures  that would bring even more tears.   A  beloved family member who later died a tragic death.  A loved one before she was diagnosed with dementia.  That list could go on and on.  The gut wrenching  thing about those before and after pictures, is that you had no idea  this would be the “last time,” when those photographs were taken.

After about an hour, we had to stop.  There was way too much  joy, love, heartbreak  and nostalgia  packed into those old albums.  Photographs that catch those last moments  of happiness before things went South take a lot out of  you.  Right now, I’m going for a walk in the park.  And yes, we saved all of those photos.

When I attend my entertainment venues of choice —theater, movies, or concerts– I don’t expect to see the entire orchestra or cast come out before the show and put their hands on their hearts while listening to the national anthem.  It would seem absurd to mix politics with entertainment.   And, in defense or those players who chose to kneel—I can’t say I blame them for taking advantage of this unique opportunity to express their support for their less fortunate brother, uncles, cousins, and fathers.

My opinion will not affect attendance at the football games whatsoever, because my husband and I will never attend one in person.  He may watch a few games on television, but it won’t matter whether the players stand or kneel. Would I refuse to watch  a play or movie starring George Clooney or Clint Eastwood just because I disagree with their political viewpoints? No way!  Why would we expect an entire team to have the same political opinions?  You can go into any workplace or neighborhood, and you will seldom find everyone in agreement about Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. 

So, I would suggest that we discontinue playing the national anthem at football games.   After all, it’s just a game, not a political rally.