Roy’s Sunday Letter for March 17, 2024
** March is National Women’s Month. Opel Lee’s, now 97 and grandmother of Juneteenth, has her portrait placed in National Gallery of the Smithsonian. Her portrait was prepared by Cedrick Huckaby, a Texas and nationally acclaimed artist. A high honor for women and Opel Lee.
- At your age and background how would you gauge your interest in Biden and Trump over the next year? I am paying attention to the reported Gen X generation’s lack of interest, energy, or lack of belief these two, plus an aging white congress, can make a difference in their lives.
** In my 1960’s younger days a popular song said it well. “Sign Signs, Everywhere Signs.” Those seeking public office clutter and pollute our visual environment with their political signs. The messages are more about who to exclude, rather than include or bring together.
- The Texas Panhandle fires are now out. Rain has returned to hopefully renew the grass lands. A lifetime of hopes, planning, and the security of future days are now in ashes. So many families, in small Panhandle towns were consumed by fires driven by Texas winds. 10,000 cattle and the prairie wildlife died in the smoke and flames. Rebuilding and restoring will be slow for families and ranchers. Those who decide to remain will find they do not do so alone. Support and hands on assistance is a true part of the Panhandle spirit.
** Outtakes from several current morning titles and authors: 1) “Recognize small steps or achievements not waiting for only the big ones.” 2) “Readers who value bringing others together, not dividing or adding to our separateness.” 3) “Allow a mistake or two on the way to getting it right.” 4) “We show our humanity as we are part of the lives of others, as we are connected with others.” 5) “When we see people or groups as separate from ourselves they can become a threat or challenge and when we are a part of the lives of others there is no threat or challenge.” 6) “Together, we can face any threat or challenge.” 7) “Words that never lose their value…Humor, Acceptance, Compassion, Kindness.”
I have learned the medical term Sarcodina. Defined by the decline or loss and fatigue of muscle mass and leg strength. The cause is inactivity, lack of consistent movement. I am taking Sarcodina seriously. I have a Trainer. I will add protein, morning stretching/flexible, less recliner, use of hiking stick to add to my balance. In one way, this is part of aging, in another way I like reading and keyboard with Jazz together in the recliner. Working on it and I will keep you updated. Walk On!
Roy at 79.5
Good morning Roy, thanks for the letter. I am baffled by lack of new and younger candidates for this year’s presidential election.. Perhaps the poisonous , vicious political climate is too unattractive for newcomers…..
was riding a remote single track on mountain bike in Central Oregon, dropped down a hill and sweeping left hand curve and at the bottom were two signs for Bend city council upcoming election.. I almost wrecked with the shock of the intrusion of these political messages out in the countryside.. I admit, I turned back and placed the signs face down and a few feet back off the trail.. just couldn’t just pass them by
recognizing small steps and victories, finding common ground, embracing mistakes …. all good stuff Roy.. and hooray on the added movement.. maybe a little dab of cold water in some fashion.. just keeping the thought in the back of your mind!! Happy Sunday to all.
always good and helpful comments
the signs and TV ads represent, for me, the loosenning of individual ethic, respect for others.
trump salutes national and internation dictators…..his “supporters” say yeh, yeh.
article passed on to me about nazi like growing group in Utah and the Morman church.
like all bulliies, attracking Mormans who disagree there view
A mark of a mature society is allowing the points of view of others, listening, not agreeing, continuing on.d
hang in there on the trails…..lunch soon. Roy
I laughed when I saw your comment about signs; I see them everywhere and when I vote I make a concerted effort to avoid voting for a candidate that covers every flat space with signage. I realize there are several in a run off election but they are in May, pick up your signs.
I have some of the Gen X people in my family. They have suffered through so many years of poor leadership they have become jaded and unimpressed. They are busy with family, friends, work and day to day living. They don’t trust anyone in the government hierarchy.
My daughter says, “ motion is lotion” and she moves all the time….our generation should heed those words.
My heart doctor, with all of his education tells me the message is Keep Moving
The signs add to the endless tv ads of separating, putting down, blaming and shaming of others who live in our world, down the street.
My tshirt says Resist. Create your own healthy, productive reality. You and your daughter offer good words and wisdom. Roy
Go easy on yourself, you’re doing great
This is just really hard
Friend Nancy,,,,What I can say is I am still doing, think, wording
My tshirt would say “I am not through”
and neigther are you dear friend
We continue on together…..Roy
Roy, I have found the magic and healing in in the magic and exhaustion created by PT movement for both the body the mind and the soul in the birthing process of being at a better place and feeling better.
I have two cross country “walking”sticks. They look better than canes .
Rage, rage. Against the dying light!
Humor, Acceptance, Compassion, Kindness…what a great and welcome reminder. All are exceptionally challenging in the current environment.
I love the program called Left, Right, and Center—on radio Saturdays at 1 PM MT. Last conversation was about people’s delusion with “institutions” such as Congress, and other governance bodies. This leads to people rallying around Trump, who says he’ll get it done. This, of course, reflects many other world leaders who are autocrats and dictators—-and they do “get it done” many times at the peril of others who are part of the whole. They just decide. But here we have a Congress that took 17 votes to elect a Speaker that they ditched several months later. No wonder Generation X is disillusioned with government—who of us aren’t?Another point they made (both sides again), in the same discussion, was how nuance is missed and misunderstood by most people. Example: Biden could pounce on the fact that they had a bi-partisan solution to the Border situation and Trump unhinged it for his political gain. Here is the nuance part—these very smart journalists suggest that’s where the Democrats fail–is the conversation turns to, “Everyone deserves the change to be free. Their countries are riddled with economic problems and crime. Etc. etc.” The message: Trump derailed a bi-partisan bill to solve a problem. It was so interesting as you have brilliant people from the conservative and the liberal sides saying the same things.
I believe/think that if Biden would push forward as Peace,Bring Together laader would separate from the herd…..I also beelieve Biden is a product of the system that says “we can solve the gun and war problem with more guns and war.
Along with Gen X I turn away, no interested, these two + congress have no interest in anything beyond themselves.
And I regret writing so……Roy