WHAT’S EUROPE GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Most politicians occasionally make gaffes or puzzling comments. But the latest quote from Vice President Kamala Harris was a real head scratcher. Here she is talking to Lester Holt on NBC news, who’s known to be pretty easy on liberals. So, she has nothing much to fear. He asks her a simple question, “Have you been to the border?” She evades the question by saying, “we’ve been to the border.” So, he pins her down and asks if she, personally has been, and this is what pops out of her mouth: “And, I haven’t been to Europe.” What’s Europe got to do with it? Honestly, I don’t see the connection , or the point she was trying to make.

Harris got roasted in the media for tweeting a picture of herself before Memorial Day which said “enjoy the long weekend.” I can see where she was coming from on that. Just trying to relate to the fact that everyone had a nice long weekend ahead. But the press thought it was tone deaf– trivializing the true meaning of Memorial Day. That was a bit of over reaction, in my opinion. But the Europe thing? Totally beyond comprehension.

The person in the current administration who seems to have a handle on things is the president’s wife, Jill Biden. Maybe all those years as a school teacher taught her how to relate to people. She seems relaxed, friendly, and genuine. And she was plenty smart to wear a jacket to with LOVE emblazoned on the back during their trip to Europe.. All you could remember was that horrible jacket Melania Trump wore on the trip to the migrant facility. “I really don’t care, do U?” in black letters on the back wasn’t a very empathetic message under the circumstances

Poor Melania never did get it. That stiff posture, smoldering look and pouty mouth didn’t exactly warm your heart. She was such an easy act to follow. Just about any woman who was born and raised in America could have done better. Think Betty Ford. Laura Bush, .Michelle Obama, Bess Truman.

Joe Biden is just…well…Joe. Most of the time he sounds fairly coherent, but sometimes he wanders off into strange territory. Like telling a little girl in the audience that she looked like she was 19. What was that all about?

Kamala’s husband is fairly invisible at this point. He’s in uncharted territory, as the first male married to a VP of the United States. Keeping his mouth shut is probably the smartest thing he could do. Anyway, I don’t think he’s quit his day job.

Fortunately, it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference what the current leaders of this country say and do. They come and go. The country is strong, diverse, and will survive the peculiarities of any elected official. We’ve been doing it for 244 years.

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021

YOU NEED A FRIEND IN YOUR PLUMBER

Of all the tradespeople you employ to help maintain your home, the plumber may be the most important. Plumbing emergencies are the most critical of any that occur . Yes, you need your lawn mowed, but it can wait a day or two if it rains. If your heat or air conditioning goes down, you can usually stay cool or warm for awhile until the repairman can get there. But a broken pipe or sewage back up can’t wait. That’s when you need a friend in your plumber. You want someone who will get there within the hour.

When I was a child growing up in the post depression years, men in our neighborhood didn’t call plumbers. They were expected to know how to fix a leaky faucet or pipe.. I’m sure I never saw a plumber in our house. But I do remember my poor father struggling with hardware and manuals in all day attempts to fix whatever plumbing emergency had occurred. Sometimes, he called on a neighbor or friend for advice, which was freely given. Men helped each other, and some knew more than others. .

Our country cousins didn’t worry at all about plumbing. They used an outhouse and a chamber pot for their toilet needs. There was a pump for water outside and one in the kitchen. Bathing didn’t include showers or bathtubs. One simply heated gallons of water for the weekly Saturday night bath in a metal tub. And when weather permitted, there was always the creek for bathing.

Now, in our 21st century homes, we have all sorts of plumbing emergencies. Flooding due to a failed sump pump, burst pipe, sewer back up, or water shut off valve failure, can cause significant damage and is a safety concern. Consequently, it’s important to cultivate a good relationship with a reliable plumber. If you’re juggling bills at the end of the month, pay him first. When he’s in your home, call him by name and treat him with respect. . If you’re a good customer, he’ll be there for you in a crisis. You really need a friend in your plumber.

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021

HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH WITH PICKLE JUICE

Swimming has many benefits. It eases arthritic pain, helps with constipation, and is a great form of exercise. But the best part about a regular swim program is the friendships you form with fellow swimmers. Typically, they’re in it for their health. And they may gather at the far end of the pool to talk about weight loss, nutrition, and other health related topics. The other day, a fellow swimmer told me that she always has a few sips of pickle juice after a swim. That was a new one for me, as a dietitian. As a result, I searched the internet, and found that it is, indeed, recommended as a way to prevent leg cramps and dehydration. It also contains probiotics that keep your gut bacteria in good balance. So, here’s to your health with pickle juice.

There are different types of pickles-sweet and dill. It seems that dill juice is best for enjoying the above benefits. But watch out! It is also loaded with sodium. So you don’t want to slosh down a whole glassful. The recommended dosage is 3 oz—the size of a shot glass.

Here's to your health with pickle juice. It's all the rage now. — Here’s to your health with pickle juice. It may reduce leg cramps and prevent dehydration.

Many adults suffer from high blood pressure, and must control their sodium intake. In our house, we use salt sparingly. I never cook with salt, whether it be mashed potatoes, pork chops, or homemade soup. If something needs a little salt, we can add to taste. After awhile, you get used to a reduced salt intake. In fact, there are fast food restaurants we avoid because their products taste of nothing but salt. Especially some of the seafood places.

One caveat: It’s recommended that adults have no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day. And if your doctor has you on a low sodium diet, you may only be allowed 1,000 mg. a day. Since 3 ounces of dill pickle juice contains 900 mg, it could not be right for you. But if you’re on a regular diet, pickle juice may be good for your health.

June 7, 2021June 7, 2021

A BABY IS STARING AT YOU

Last week, I came face to face with a baby who was born during the pandemic. Couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 months. Sitting in a grocery cart, wearing nothing but a diaper. Was he/she scared or timid? Neither one. The baby was staring at me with wide open eyes. I stopped and smiled, afraid that would trigger some tears. But the child didn’t bat an eye or move a muscle. Just kept staring. I had never seen a baby look at me so intently before, and I’ve been around many grandkids. Then, it occurred to me. I was maskless, for the first time in 15 months. The baby wasn’t used to seeing naked faces at the grocery store. And since most of the other customers were wearing masks, he was fascinated. Now that masks are no longer mandatory in public, you may find that a baby is staring at you.

Baby is staring at you. He hasn't seen anyone without a mask since he was born. — Baby is staring at you because he hasn’t seen anyone without a mask out in public until now.

Most public places now have signs saying, “you need not wear a mask if you’ve been vaccinated.” About half the grownups in this town have received the vaccine, but a lot of them are still wearing masks. Which means that little kids won’t find them very interesting. I, for one, was happy to discard the mask the minute our governor said it was okay.

A couple of days later, I went to a meeting with a group that hadn’t met since March of 2020. Outside the private club, a little girl stood at the back door. Probably a child of one of the employees. She looked about eight or nine. . Once again, I was surprised at her friendliness. Kids that age don’t usually notices seniors. But when I got out of my car and smiled at her, she wanted to talk. She said she was with her aunt, who was working inside. That may seem strange, unless you’ve been to a country where it’s common for people to bring children to work. But the point is, she seemed hungry for some type of social interaction. Especially with a person whose face was visible.

You have to wonder how it’s been for kids during this pandemic. So isolated that the only faces they see are at home with family. But if they can see you smile, they may smile back. And there’s nothing so heartwarming as that. Be happy if a baby is staring at you.

June 4, 2021June 5, 2021

SCOTUS OK’D VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES

Politicians are always arguing about the pros and cons of gun control. Every time there’s a mass shooting, the pressure ramps up to increase legislation. I have to agree. Why in the world would any normal human being need an assault weapon in order to get through life? On the other hand, people have always had guns in this country. It’s how the West was won, as the saying goes. But we didn’t always have video games. In the year 2011, the United States Supreme Court ruled that any regulation of the content of video games violated freedom of speech. Consequently, in the past ten years, mass shootings have tripled in this country. It’s obvious: Scotus OK’d violent video games –and it was a bad decision.

This week, a 14 year old girl broke into a Florida home, and used the owners assault weapon to open fire on sheriff’s deputies. Her 12 year old accomplice later told investigators that the 14-year-old had said, “I’m gonna roll this down like GTA,” referring to the video game Grand Theft Auto.

An international study published in 2018 looked at more than 17,000 adolescents, ages nine to 14, over a period of 4 years.. They found that playing violent video games led to increased physical aggression over time. . High levels of violent video game exposure are linked to delinquency, fighting at school and during free play periods, and violent criminal behavior.

Scotus ok'd violent video games and it was a mistake — Scotus ok’d violent video games in 2011. Since then, mass shootings have tripled.

In 2017, the American Psychological Task Force on Violent Media found that violent video game exposure increases aggressive thought and behaviors. Such games can also desensitize people to violence. The longer that children watch these games. the more likely they are to have aggressive behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. In addition, they show less empathy and understanding of others.

The ruling made by the United States Supreme Court in regard to the regulation of Video Games was made in 2011. That was then, and this is now. It’s time for them to go back and look at the evidence. Their decision has resulted in a tripling of mass shootings in the United States. The court shouldn’t have ok’d unregulated, violent video games.

June 2, 2021June 2, 2021

WHO WILL VISIT YOUR GRAVE?

Graveyards have always fascinated me. Most of them will take you centuries back into history. My grandfather supervised the cemetery near his farm for many years, so it was a place I visited many times as a child. We even had picnics there. Positioned at the bottom of a hill, overlooked by towering trees, it was serene and fragrant with the smell of country grasses. Many of my ancestors were buried there, including a great great Uncle Ren White, who’d served in the Civil War. I still make the annual Memorial Day pilgrimage to put flowers on my family gravestones, but find it sad that so many graves appear to be forgotten. Who will visit your grave? Or will you even have one?

Most people who pass away in this century will not have a traditional burial. It’s estimated that by the year 2040, 80% of us will choose cremation. Most will not have a gravestone to visit, although some will chose to have their ashes buried in a cemetery next to their spouse or family members who preceded them in death.

But even if you do have a gravestone, it’s no guarantee anyone will come to visit it on Memorial Day. Many people are actually afraid of cemeteries, and will avoid them at all costs. That’s because cemeteries remind them of their own mortality.

Who will visit your grave? 80% of people are cremated now. — Who Wil Visit Your Grave? Cemeteries are a place of peace for some, and fear of mortality for others.

And yet, for me, as the only remaining member of my immediate family, a flood of memories stream into my consciousness at the gravesites: My oldest sister braiding my hair and reading Grimm’s fairy tales to me. Middle sister, blonde and giggly, yet kind enough to let me into her bed on the nights when I was scared. Her twin brother’s ashes are up in Michigan, but I remember him buying me shoes with his paper route money. My mother’s wonderful cooking, and Daddy taking us to the fireworks and the beach all summer long.

I feel the tears coming on, and try to distract myself. They no longer allow flower planting at the cemetery, but they let my Grandpa’s 100 year old peonies continue to bloom every year. To this day, I’m a sucker for peonies.

So yes, I’m one of those people who love to visit the cemetery. And I’m not alone. There’s always someone visiting a grave when we enter the driveway. And many graves have fresh decorations on Memorial Day. Driving away , out onto the crowded highway, I feel refreshed and restored. Just for a while, I’ve had my family back again—if only in my heart.