Squall’s out on the gulf stream
Big storm’s comin’ soon
I passed out in my hammock
God I slept ’till way past noon
Stood up and tried to focus
I hoped I wouldn’t have to look far
I knew I could use a bloody Mary
So I stumbled next door to the bar

And now I must confess
I could use some rest
I can’t run at this pace very long
Yes it’s quite insane
I think it hurts my brain
But it cleans me out then I can go on

And so opens Jimmy’s song, the title of which I “borrowed” for this exercise…

I originally was going to title this piece “I’m Tired” but it was not enough so this song rang truer to my thoughts, given that we are just a short bit out from Helene and are now hoping that Uncle Miltie (#iykyk) turns out to be more comedic than tragic.

I am worn down by the current massive divide. I’ve been around since “I Like Ike”, Camelot and Dallas, The War on Poverty, Vietnam, Watergate, Iran Hostage, Just Say No, Read My Lips: No New Taxes, Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow, 9/11, Yes We Can, The Golden Escalator. At no point during those transitions was there anything greater than disagreements, no matter how vocal, the best interests of the US, democracy, choice, international relations was always paramount and in the forefront of policies on both sides. Each Jan 20th was a joyful spectacle, one incoming and one exiting, shaking hands, leaving messages for each other and vowing to support the person coming in.

Then comes January 6th, 2021. While the cracks in the always divided nation became wider and more apparent, while acrimony, insults, and fear replaced discourse, negotiation and policy. The events unfolding in front of our eyes on that day marked a dramatic change of course. There was not peaceful transition, there was no handshaking, notes, well wishes, only lies (subsequently proven to be exactly that, lies) and to this very day the inability to accept the results, and ongoing threats.

I am tired and I am totally dismayed by the fact that even in my very small circle, people who I know to have been warm, friendly, kind, and incredibly helpful have taken the “difference of opinion” to levels approaching worrisome. Sue and I are a couple of small “blue dots” in our new, chosen state, something we knew ahead of time, but what we didn’t know was the vitriol and the concern. The atmosphere has become such that we think two or three (hundred) times about the possibility of putting a Harris-Walz sign up on our lawn, something we never would have worried about pre Jan 6th. There are frequent stories on social media about people who have had tires slashed, lawn signs stolen and untoward comments made when they show or express their “difference of opinion” throughout this one town alone.

The “loudest voices” seem to have so many folks ignoring the facts of just who does control prices, climate, etc. One example is the gas prices that rose quickly (and for the record, have now come back to reasonable) happened not because of anything the govt. did, they happened because big oil colluded with the Middle East suppliers to cut production so they could raise their prices after they fell dramatically during the very little use during the pandemic. Grocery prices are set by the corporations and the distributors who are making record profits, think about that…prices go up on necessities, the companies make record profits and, btw, are taxed less because of the prior tax changes.

I am tired, I am tired of the noise that has no substance, name calling and lies that are given more air time than facts and policy and results. I am tired of being afraid for my 4 granddaughters that the world they will live in will put them in positions to have less control of their own well being that my grandmothers had. I am tired and aghast that so many organizations that have had such positive effects on our great nation are in jeopardy should certain things go wrong. I am tired and more than afraid that even if the vote goes the way I hope, that the events of Jan 6th, 2021 will look tame by comparison to what could becoming. I am old, I am Caucasian, I am male, yet I am tired and concerned.

Take us out Jimmy….

Well the wind is blowin’ harder now
50 knots or there about
There’s white caps on the ocean
And I am watchin for water spouts
It’s time to close the shutters
It’s time to go inside…

And now I must confess
I could use some rest
I can’t run at this pace very long
Yes it’s quite insane
I think it hurts my brain
But it cleans me out then I can go on
Yes it cleans me out then I can go on
Yeah, it cleans me out then I can go on