IS BIDEN A MODERN CHARLEMAGNE?

We usually think of early European kings as men who started wars, collected taxes and had people beheaded. Rarely do we think of them as venturing into healthcare. But Charlemagne was different. In the eighth century, he enacted a law requiring that all of his subjects must consume flaxseed. Considering he founded the Holy Roman Empire, that meant a whole lot of people were under his command. In the USA, the president of the United States is about as close you can get to a king. Trouble is, we’re a democracy. Presidents can’t make laws on their own. But sometimes, they come pretty close. Is Biden a modern Charlemagne?

Charlemagne may have been onto something. Many nutritionists call flaxseed one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.

But I suspect Charlemagne might have had the same problem as Biden. People don’t always do what’s best for them. They might have kept flaxseed in their homes, just to comply with the law, but that doesn’t mean that they always consumed it. It would have pretty easy to throw the seeds out the window on a windy day. And I’ll bet you that about 50% of his subjects did just that.

Biden is going pretty far with executive orders during this covid-19 crisis. He mandated last week that all federal employees and on-site contractors will have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be required to wear masks and undergo repeated testing. This order that will affect millions of workers and is designed to be a model for other employers.

Next, he asked the Pentagon to look at adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the military’s mandatory shots. That idea isn’t going over too well. A lot of the military don’t want to get vaccinated. They think the vaccine is unsafe and untested. But in the end, Biden will probably get what he wants.

Is Biden a modern Charlemagne?

January 20, 2021January 20, 2021

DREAMING OF FREEDOM

Yesterday, I read that 44% of Americans are afraid to get the Covid-19 vaccine. It’s not surprising, when the media publishes reports of all the seniors in Norway and USA who’ve died after getting their first shot. Nevertheless, when you consider all the side effects of prolonged lockdown, it seems that we really don’t have a choice. We got our first dose last week, and now we’re dreaming of freedom.

First of all, we’re finally free from fear of catching the virus. That’s a dark cloud that’s hung over our head after every trip to the grocery store, or visit from a loved one. It’s always lurking—every time you cough or sneeze, little prickles of anxiety arise. Am I coming down with covid-19? When you wake up the next day, feeling just fine, you begin to relax. That is–until the next time, when you have a headache, or maybe get a dizzy spell(caused by anxiety). You do a pretty good job of keeping your spirits up and staying busy—but the fear is always there, ready to resurface from the depths of your subconscious mind.

As one who’s often experienced side effects after flu shots, I can totally understand the fear of vaccines. My husband is one of the lucky ones who never has any reaction. But I usually had aches and pains, along with fatigue that lasted sometimes a week. Because of that, I skipped the flu shots for several years. But when I finally came down with a very bad case of the flu, I went back to getting the shots, bracing my self for the side effects. So yes, I was worried about what would happen after receiving the covid-19 vaccine.

I did have some mild side effects. I woke up the next day feeling very groggy. My back and arm ached. But it didn’t get any worse. In fact, within 24 hours, I felt better. I slept fairly well the next few nights but had some wild dreams, and still didn’t have much energy. Today, I’m feeling like my old self.

DREAMING OF FREEDOM. After getting the vaccine, you maybe able to get your old life back.

In another month or so, We’ll get pieces of our old life back. We can go to restaurants. I will start swimming again, which should greatly ease the arthritis pain in my knees and shoulders. Some things will not change. We won’t be able to visit with out-of-town relatives until they, too, have been vaccinated. But I’m dreaming of freedom in the days that lie ahead.

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020

7 New Year Hopes & Dreams

For the past 10 months, we’ve been treading water. Just trying to keep going, staying alive and well. It’s been a time of emotional ups and downs, as we adjust to the social isolation and other restrictions of the covid-19 pandemic . Now. there’s light at the end of the tunnel. We can allow ourselves to think of seven New Year hopes and dreams for 2021.

Vaccine: Not sure when it’s going to be available. We’re hoping to get it in the next month or so. My husband has agreed to go first. If he can handle it all right, I’ll get it too. Not looking forward to the side effects, but there really isn’t any choice.
Dinner at a fine restaurant. We’ve done a lot more take out this year, but sitting down with cardboard containers at your table doesn’t quite do the job. I want to get dressed up, go out for dinner, and enjoy the ambiance: Romantic lighting. Soft music. An appealing menu of delicious food. . Attentive wait staff. Afterwards, nothing to clean up or throw away in the kitchen.
7 new year hopes and dreams include dining at a fine restaurant.
Getting a Haircut.. Salons have been open, but I’ve not been willing to take that risk. I’ve done a pretty decent job of cutting my own hair, but a professional will do much better.
Talking to people when out in public. When wearing a stocking cap and mask, most people don’t recognize me. And even if I see someone I know, , I’m afraid to stop and chat. Didn’t realize how much I miss interacting with casual friends and acquaintences.
Swimming. Yes the pool at the YMCA has been open. And they’re following all the guidelines for social distancing, but it’s a little too high risk at my age. I was okay with it in the summer because I could leave without going into the locker room. But walking out in the cold with damp clothes is not my idea of fun. I just want to dive in the water, swim, do some exercises, get out, take a shower, dry my hair, get dressed, and walk out into the sunshine.
Senior center activities. Our local senior center is a haven for the retirement crowd. Miss the camaraderie of participating in tai chi and playing mahjong. Eager to once again see friendly faces, and having a good time.
Family get togethers. You can Skype and Zoom all you want, but it’s not the same as hearing the laughter of your grandchildren, seeing the light in their eyes. and the feel of a warm hug.

Happy New Year!

December 23, 2020December 23, 2020

DID TRUMP DODGE A BULLET?

Did you ever experience a broken engagement or get turned down for a job? It was upsetting at the time, and it took awhile to stop mourning your dashed hopes. But then later–maybe much later– the lost lover turned out to be a bummer, and the company that refused to hire you went bust. Or, with a more positive outcome, you found a better job, or met the love of your life. Looking back, you realize that the loss you mourned was actually a blessing in disguise. You dodged a bullet. Now, Trump supporters are grieving the Biden win during the 2020 election. But maybe it’s not a bad thing, after all. Did Trump dodge a bullet?

The stock market is climbing on good news of the vaccine. . But at least one financial advisor is predicting a once in a lifetime crash. During this pandemic, millions of jobs were eliminated in retail, restaurant and other business. Many of these jobs aren’t coming back. How long can the government keep on printing money before we have massive inflation and higher taxes?

Instead of the robust economy everyone is looking forward to, we could have stagflation–slow economic growth, high inflation and high unemployment. They say inflation is under control, but I’m not sure what indicators they’re using. Right now, the cost of food and housing is skyrocketing.

The cyber attack last March may lead to something disastrous for the country. Who knows what a hostile power is going to do with all the information they have now. We could experience massive power outages. Suddenly, you have no telephone, internet, heat, light or running water. Nothing works. Most large organizations have generators that tide them over until the power goes back on. But what if it doesn’t? Generators can’t run indefinitely. Imagine being the president of the United States during such a disaster.

Those are just two scenarios that the next President could face. We avoided foreign wars under Trump. But the luck may run out with Biden, with so many countries desperate after being ravaged by Covid-19. Only time will tell if Trump dodged a bullet.