HURRY IF YOU LOVE AMARYLLIS

Has anyone ever sent you an Amaryllis plant for Christmas? If they did, you may have gotten hooked. There’s something miraculous about watching the leaves shooting up, inch by inch. After four to six weeks, a fresh bud emerges, and finally, after a few days, bursts into a glorious trumpet-shaped flower. The white, red or pink blossoms lift your spirits and help you through gloomy winter days. If you order the plants online, they’re fairly expensive. But during November and December, you can buy them for under $10 at grocery and home improvement stores. Hurry if you love magical amaryllis. Because by January they’re gone.

Amaryllis plants are sold as kits, complete with pot, bulb and soil. Once watered, they bloom within 6 to 8 weeks. They make wonderful gifts that the recipient can enjoy for weeks, and think of you.

Why would you want several? Because they give you hope on dreary days as you watch them grow, inch by inch. I have scads of the bulbs by now, and I plant them in stages , so that I always have one or two coming up all through the winter, and into early spring. It’s also fun to plant two or three in one pot, which makes a beautiful show when they finally flower.

HURRY IF YOU LOVE AMARYLLIS. rIGHT NOW THEY'RE INEXPENSIVE
Hurry if you love amaryllis. Right now, they’re very inexpensive.

Now, here’s the best part. Once the plant has bloomed, it will flower again next year if you store it correctly.  If you think that sounds like too much work, it really isn’t. Here’s what you do:

Snip off the flower after it blooms. After that, the leaves will keep growing in that same pot,  When it gets warm you can  move the plant outside for a few months. In early fall, cut off the leaves and remove the bulb from the pot, roots and all. Then,  wrap the bulbs in newspaper, put them in a brown paper bag, and leave them in a cool dark spot until the following winter. This is called the dormant period, and it’s important. I usually label them as to color and size, so I can plant more than one of the same type in one pot.

Around the middle of November, I start  by  planting the bulbs in fresh potting soil. You might want to trim the roots. Just plant them heads up, and when you want the process to begin and unfold, soak them with water and give them some bright sunlight during the day. Water lightly once a week. Then watch the magic begin.

Amaryllis started appearing in stores last week. Hurry if you love Amaryllis. These bargains won’t be around for long.

BLESSING BOX FULL OF BEANS

Blessing boxes are springing up all over the country, and are certainly a blessing for the homeless and other impoverished Americans.  When you see men and women trying on clothing in the street next to a box, you know that there are many people who lack the basics.  We have several boxes in our city, but I just saw my first one up close, in the local mall.  However, its contents were disappointing, because that Blessing Box was full of beans.

The last time I walked in the mall was late March, before the pandemic began to spiral out of control. But since then,  they’ve lost a major retailer. The hallways are practically deserted, especially at the far end, next to the depressingly empty store.   Therefore, it seems like a relatively safe place to walk on the cold windy days ahead.   All the walkers you see are wearing masks, and they keep their distance.  Many are elderly.  Anyway, sometime over the summer or fall, they’ve added a Blessing Box.

The problem could be that few people are aware that the mall has a box.  But for those who do, they seem to think that black beans, especially, would be a good filler.  Now, I’m all for black beans.  They’re a great source of protein.  They’re especially appealing to vegans and Hispanics.  But if 80% of the offerings are either red beans or black beans,   it seems rather bleak. I’m envisioning some hungry little kids staring at a bowl of black beans.   Most ordinary Hoosier’s aren’t too fond of them.

Blessing box full of beans doesn't offer much. Try adding some canned meat.
Try to add some variety. Don’t just leave a blessing box full of beans.

There are many items that are good for food banks. Today, I ‘m going to stock up on some canned meat, tuna,  and peanut butter. Maybe some evaporated milk.   I’ll bring in a small bag, and add to the collections a few cans at a time.  Maybe that will inspire others to do the same.   If an un needy person takes the good stuff, that’s their moral issue,  not mine.

Blessing boxes were started a few years ago, in the low country.  While they’re a great idea, it’s sad to think there are so many people who rely on them for food and clothing.  But let’s  leave some good stuff in the boxes, not assume that needy people.  have no taste for anything but beans.

 

FELON ELECTED AS COUNTY AUDITOR

Honestly, I’m not making this up.  It is not fake news.  It happened  here,  in  a bellwether county, which lost that status last week after going for Trump in a big way. A convicted felon was elected as county auditor.

The incumbent auditor, “Jim”,  had served for over 20  years as the county treasurer.  He has a degree in accounting, is a certified public accountant, and has nearly 40 years of experience in governmental accounting   Four years ago, he was elected county auditor.  Obviously, he’s a competent and experienced person.

“Rebecca”,  his Republican opponent, has no apparent experience in accounting.  She said she had some experiences as a business owner. (not sure what that business was.) She’s also a notary. She won the election by about 2500 votes.

How did a convicted felon get elected as county auditor?
Felon elected as County Auditor. Before she changed her name, she had a public record. 

Trouble is, Rebecca used to have another last name.  Somewhere along the way, she reinvented herself. Apparently, no one in the Republican party thought to check Indiana’s public records website . By keying in her original name, you see that 20 years ago she did jail time for committing a robbery.  She had been arrested for another robbery two years before that.

 When she filed for candidacy in the primary, it included a paragraph with the sentence, “I am not ineligible to be a candidate due to a criminal conviction that would prohibit me from serving in this office.” I guess Rebecca forgot she  was convicted of robbery resulting in bodily injury back in 1996. Or maybe she thought it didn’t matter.

It boggles the mind.  How in the world did Rebecca  worm her way into the upper echelons of the Republican party?  Since I’m not a political activist, I’m not privy to the facts.  Undoubtedly, there’s a story to be told.

Fortunately, her past has finally caught up with her.  She’ll have to go before a judge, who will hopefully decide that a felon convicted of robbery cannot hold the office of county auditor. Consequently, the person who came in second will retain his old job, after all.

I think I know what happened here.  This is Trump country.  He carried our county with 57% of the vote.  And 41 % of voters in this county vote straight ticket.  Which means they don’t care in the least about the qualifications of the person they’re voting for. Why would anyone vote straight ticket?  There’s no excuse for that in a small city where we are familiar with  the candidates.

Here’s the moral of this story: .  Don’t vote straight ticket.  Vote for the individual, not the party. Otherwise, a convicted felon could become your county auditor.

MAXING OUT AT THE DOLLAR STORE

Dollar Stores are everywhere—out in the country, and all over town. During this pandemic  they’ve become a good place to shop for basics while getting in and out quickly.  Some are classier than others, although none of them really fit that description.  I’m most apt to stop at the one near the public library on my way home. Compared to other Dollar Stores,  It’s pretty much down to the nitty gritty.   Because of  shoplifting,  many products are either locked up or in short supply.  They have a steady stream of customers in this low income neighborhood.  Yesterday, I noticed more people maxing out at the Dollar Store.

It didn’t seem very crowded at first.  But after I’d picked up my vitamins, I noticed the checkout line was backed up, and moving slower than usual.  The bottle neck was a woman  who couldn’t seem to get her credit card to work.  She made several attempts to key in various numbers, with no luck. The clerk was kindly, trying to help.  I contemplated offering to pay her bill, until I noticed her cart was filled with soda pop and salty snacks.  The dietitian in me just couldn’t deal with that.  If you’re almost broke, shouldn’t you buy something healthy?  Not for me to judge. She finally found a card that worked, so that ended my moral dilemma.

It’s not unusual to see someone on the edge at that Dollar Store.  But it didn’t used to happen very often.  However, the next person in line had a similar problem.  Since her credit card seemed to be maxed out, her companion pulled some coins and  a few wrinkled bills  from his pocket, and they made it through.  I looked at the customers lined up behind me.  They seemed tired and worried.  One woman took some items from her cart and put them back on the shelf. The parking lot was full of dented cars and rusty trucks.

Maxing Out at the Dollar Store is a sign of the times.
More folks are maxing out at the Dollar Store, which is a bad sign for the economy.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I felt something  coming on;  restless as a hurricane.  Is this  a portent of things to come?   I would guess that many of the customers in that store are unskilled folks who work in restaurants or other places where  more educated  people don’t want to work..  Because of the covid’19 pandemic,  their  low paying jobs have dried up.  They went through their unemployment pay and stimulus money in July.  What will happen next?  Are we headed for a deeper recession?

When people are maxing out at the dollar store, you have to worry.

DID YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST?

Remember the 2016 Presidential Election?  No one could understand why Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump.  Especially since she won the popular vote.  Most political pundits conduct a post mortem after all is said and done.  And, the consensus was that a lot of people didn’t like Hillary.  They didn’t  vote for Trump so much as they voted against Hillary.  So what happened in the 2020 Election?  I suspect it wasn’t  that voters liked Biden so much as they disliked Trump.  Did you vote for or against?

What wasn’t to like about Hillary?  She was smart, personable, and extremely experienced.  Having been married to a two term President, and served as Secretary of State, her credentials far out-classed Trump in every way imaginable. And yet, many people remembered how she defended Clinton in his numerous  peccadilloes and affairs.  She dismissed all his ex’s and accusers as liars and trashy women.  A lot of women, especially, found that annoying.  And then, she called the half of Americans who supported Trump, a basket of deplorables.  At times, she could sound strident and shrill.

Did you vote for Biden or against Trump. Many Americans probably voted against.
Did Americans vote for Biden or against Trump in the 2020 election?  In 2016, they voted against Hillary as opposed to Trump.

I saw Hillary Clinton  when she came to our city to campaign.  In person, she was charismatic and radiant.   That didn’t’ come across on the big screen.  And so, she lost by a very thin margin.

About Trump:  He started off on the wrong foot the day of the inauguration by complaining about his news coverage.  Who cared about how many lined the streets or  if a small crowd attended. Why did he have to make an issue of it? Trump had his moments, and he did a lot for the economy and working class people.  But in the end, many voters  got tired of his name calling, tweeting, and firing his advisors. His unpredictable behavior and handling of the coronavirus was the last straw.

Now, if the Democrats had considered Joe Biden a strong candidate in 2016, why didn’t they nominate him to run? Biden was seen by many as simply a party hack, with nothing very outstanding to appeal to the voters.  That’s why a lot of people didn’t think he could win this time around.   When all’s said and done,  I suspect people didn’t vote for Biden  as much as they voted against Trump.  There were some amazingly smart, talented presidential candidates  vying for the nomination during the DNC convention.  Even though Biden turned out to be their safe bet, I believe any one of those candidates could have beat Trump.  He had made so many enemies, it’s a wonder the election was even close.

Did Americans vote for Biden or against Trump.?

THESE PLACES MAY GIVE YOU FEVER

What do bars and churches have in common?  In our city this week,  they’ve been hotbeds for spread of the coronavirus.   I think I reported a similar situation some time back, when  the Department of Health issued an alert about those who went to a particular gentlemen’s club on the same weekend  others went to a certain church.  Saints and sinners alert!   These places may give you fever.

Why do people go to church?  Most importantly, because they feel closer to God.  But that’s not the only reason.  They love the sense of community, singing,   finding comfort in troubled times, and relieving stress.

Few people who go to bars are alcoholics.  They’re going to meet,  see  people, relax,  wind down, and break the monotony of life.  Due to the relaxed atmosphere, they’re  more apt  to share ideas and talk about their problems.

These places may give you fiver
Whether you’re singing in a bar or a church, these places can give you fever.

In  both venues, they’re  doing what humans like to do.  Getting close to people,  finding comfort, sharing ideas, talking, singing, maybe even dancing.

Now, look at how long we’ve been in lockdown due to the pandemic. Almost nine months.  It’s no wonder people decide to attend  church and go to bars.   Covid-19 cases are spiking  because of coronavirus fatigue.  You get to the point where you just can’t take it anymore.

As seniors, we’re feeling that same fatigue.   We’re lucky enough to have sons nearby,  but they’re afraid to stay very long for fear of infecting us. We really can’t afford to take any greater risks than going to the grocery store..   At least there, we have a little interaction with another human being at the check out counter.

We’ve even started missing the pizza delivery man..  They now have a no-contact policy.  You order online, pay with a credit card, and include a tip.  They guy runs on your porch, and leaves a pizza on the swing.   It would be nice to at least exchange a few pleasantries, and hand him a cash tip.

I don’t know how long this can go on.  Eventually,  people will go to  places that may give them fever.

 

7 THINGS WON’T CHANGE NOV. 4th

There’s going to be a whole lot of unhappy people on Wednesday.  It may not be clear who won the election.  Remember the hanging chads during the 2000 presidential election?  It took 2 months for the Supreme Court   to determine that Bush had beat Gore.  And a lot of people were mad.    If you’re feeling gloomy  because your candidate isn’t winning, cheer up!  7  things won’t change  Nov. 4th.

  1.   Sunrises and sunsets. Remember the  musical based on the “Little Orphan Annie.”  comic strip?   The top song was, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” 

7 things won't change Nov. 4tth. Sunrises, oceans, loved ones, talents, abilities, libraries and churches will still be there.
SEVEN THINGS WON’T CHANGE NOV 4TH. As Little Orphan Annie said, The Sun Will Come Up Tomorrow.

The sun will come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There’ll be sun…

2.  Rivers, oceans, lakes, creeks, and streams  .Living near the ocean can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how many hurricanes  sweep in. But even with all the devastation , there’s always that big blue ocean, and  the timeless waves undulating in and out with the predictable tides.  In flyover country,  wide rivers bend and curves across the continent,  giving us that same sense of peace and continuity..

3.  Family, friends, and other loved ones. Children and young adults have the comfort of knowing their parents, grandparents, cousins and siblings will still be there for them, no matter who is elected . For seniors, the faces of our grandchildren and all the fine young people provide reassurance that this nation will survive and prosper.

4.  Your mind. Rudyard Kipling said, ” They can copy my ideas, but they can’t copy my mind.” You will always have your innate intelligence and creativity.

5.   Skills, abilities. And talents. This is a big one.  I’ve always envied people who can paint pictures, write songs, score touchdowns, and discover new vaccines.  In times of war and peace, or eras of droughts and disasters, those talents will survive to enrich our lives.

6.  Libraries haven’t been here for ever, but I think they’re here to stay. Books take us places we’ve never been, and teach us things we need too know.

    7. Worship services provide a beacon of light.  Even if you don’t attend church, the seven virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity. Fortitude, Justice, Prudence and Temperance will not change.

We seniors will probably go on with our lives. Younger people may see changes in laws and policies that affect them and their children.  But after all is said and done, you will still be the same old you. And there are seven things that won’t change Nov. 4th.