It Just Never Gets Old...
There are certain times in our lives when something occurs, doesn't matter what...and it's a really good thing.
And no matter HOW many times we are privy to that "good thing", the feeling we have from knowing the truth behind it doesn't subside one darn bit. Take being "right" about something.
I mean there are those immutable things like 2+2=4. We KNOW that to be right, no matter how many times someone wants to rehash it and perhaps state otherwise.
They can even have a convincing argument to the contrary, but we KNOW we are correct in our beliefs, and can back it up with PROOF.
We also have a little something called COMMON SENSE and the TRUTH on our side.
And, it's nice to know that.
So, imagine my surprise when I turn on FOX news this morning, and the hosts are speaking about the EXACT SAME THING I mentioned in yesterday's post, about DEEP-WATER DRILLING!
They went on to say that it was environmentalists' concerns that drove oil companies further outbound from our coasts to pursue such drilling for crude, knowing the potential dangers and risks. Hell, some aspects to this method of drilling haven't EVEN been explored, and that's one of the MAIN reasons that capping off this undersea "gusher" has been so damn problematic.
Yeah, being right about something never gets old, does it?
('ya think they're reading this blog???)
It's good to know that in your life, you're usually a lot more CORRECT than you are in error...that at least says something about your thought processes, how you disseminate information, and how well you can form cogent hypotheses and conclusions.
Think of it as a basic form of knowing "The wheat from the chaff".
When my wife and I moved to this part of Ft. Wayne more than TWELVE years ago, I pretty much sized up the area right from the get-go.
Even though I lived in a much different neighborhood in Philly, I STILL have been to MORE than my share of "other" neighborhoods in a LOT of cities to know the differences inherent in all of them.
That's why, when I began contacting our FWPD deputy chief well over SIX years ago, I stated specifically how this area would be changing, and not for the better. Again, I have been proven correct...and in THIS case, I wish to hell I had been wrong.
You see, being right so often DOES have it's down side, and this isn't blowing my own trumpet in any way, shape, or form.
Those of you that have had similar experiences know EXACTLY what I mean.
This doesn't mean we have ALL the answers to ALL the questions that exist today.
Cripes, I don't even know what I'll be planning for dinner later.
Many times, the answer to some problem will come to us in pieces, and it's up to us to put them together as they were meant to be.
Other times, it will come upon us like a lightning strike.
And, in still other instances, an elusive answer might be waiting to come from the mouth from another person who shed that little bit of light that was needed to help us.
Those thought processes we were born with kick into action, and we suffer what I love to call "that moment of clarity", when the veil gets lifted, the mote removed from our eye, as it were...and we can see what we needed to see.
I stated that crime was coming to OUR neighborhood like a rising tide...and, unfortunately, I've "knocked one out of the park" with that assessment.
I've tried to do what I know to be right, in order to preserve what's left OF this neighborhood.
As far as our particular parcel of land goes...I feel I've succeeded.
The rest of the area? Not so much.
All the good neighbors have left for sundry reasons.
I suppose some people just aren't cut out for fighting for what they believe in...OR their homesteads.
They find it easier to up and leave, basically conceding defeat, when all that might have been required, was a little bit of EFFORT on their part to hold onto that which they have worked their asses off to obtain.
My Dad always said: "What's worth having is worth hanging onto."
Amazing how apropos that is, even TODAY.
Granted, there will come a time when we become too old, or too infirm to carry on "the good fight", and must pass the torch to the next generation, so they can carry on.
Trouble with that, is that this "next group of torch bearers" is M.I.A.
(for the moment, anyway)
Case in point...our two "lovebirds" (aka the "slap and tickle" duo from one of our ever-growing number of problem houses) decide to once again meander about the streets, slapping and tickling (raging hormone syndrome, no doubt), and yesterday, they decide to park UNDER our tree ON our property (these pics were prior to that, and not the tree in question) and do a hug-fest.
I can see where this is going, and with people with no ethics or morality to speak of, that leads to potential rape, teen baby-mamas, more welfare, and continued rewards for bad behavior. Sorry, but this isn't in MY "playbook"...never was.
I go outside and say to them "You guys need to stop hanging out here and doing that stuff." To which I got some NASTY looks...like WHY would I be such a prick and ask them to leave MY property in the first place - how DARE I do that. Sorry, no entitlements given away free HERE, kids!
They began to move on as slowly as possible, staring, to which I stared right back at them and said: "You know, I don't WANT to have to call the police, so I'm cutting you some slack here, understand?" Again...more staring, as if the mere thought of conversation of ANY kind with a "mean old white man here to oppress them" was tantamount to being sent back to a cotton field in shackles.
I just don't think a PUBLIC STREET (around rush hour) is a good place to make out, or as many refer to it - "dry-humping".
That's what basements are for (or used to be), not that I condone this, but I fully understand the concepts.
There is no "courting" these days...just "hooking up". That's pretty damn sad.
Hopefully, they learned SOME lesson here (not gonna hold my breath on this one, knowing people as I do).
But there is NO parental involvement in ANY way, and that must be the reason this black girl copped some victicratic "blacktitude" instead of saying "we're sorry, Mister", and move on. THIS (mentality) is what you have to deal with these days in areas like this...and you're alone in doing so.
No one is there to assist, or aid in the effort to keep a once nice area nice once again.
What rides in the wake of such abhorrent behavior are much of the dregs of our society, seeking only to fulfill whatever immediate desire strikes their fancy. And if you allow them an INCH - they WILL indeed take your YARD (if they can).
Well, you can't hold ANY neighborhood together in ANY form of unity by using spit and a prayer, can you?
You have to have willing participants...people that VALUE not only the property they work hard to own and maintain, but also value the principles of being a good steward of that which they have been entrusted with.
That doesn't have to apply to a house, but can be carried all the way up the food chain to our nation, itself!
And here's another case where I am going to be right, so please pay attention...
It ALWAYS comes down to being a RESPONSIBLE individual.
YOU are responsible for YOUR actions...no one else's.
YOU are the one who should be held accountable for whatever you do in life.
I mean, someone MUST be keeping a tally sheet, right?
We can't be allowed to keep doing what we're doing and NOT have someone checking the proper column for the proper reason.
Now (a LONG time ago) I took an accounting class in the one year I attended college, and I can tell you that it's ALWAYS preferable to have a lot more items in the CREDIT column than in the DEBIT one.
Trouble with today's society, is that way too many have overextended their "line of credit" for participating in the human race.
One might say that (to paraphrase a line from the movie TOP GUN): "Their behaviors are writing checks their intellect can't cash".
( "Your ego is writing checks your body can't cash" was the original line)
We need people to take a stand...to step up to the plate and at least TRY to hit the damn ball.
It might not be a home run, but at least make the damn effort.
Sitting one's ass on the team bench, "collecting wood" is NOT the way America prospers...or evolves.
We need leaders willing to make CORRECT decisions, instead of the easy ones.
I've said it here before that the road less traveled, although tough to traverse, and tiring to navigate, will always lead to a better destination.
Besides, isn't that what gel insoles were invented for in the first place...to make the rough going a bit easier?
We may make light of it, but it's something we NEED to consider, and something many NEED to act upon, before it's too late.
And THAT...should NEVER get old either.
Be well, make a difference to someone today, and...
Stay safe out there, America.