WOODSOCK… GENERATIONS...

WOODSTOCK… 

I came across the video of Woodstock..  saw some of it on PBS a bit back…

As I watched it.. made me think..   One of the things that was mention, time and time again..  was how over 500,000 people showed up for what was it 3 days or 4?  And no fighting.. even though it rain thru most of it.. low food source .. small amount of port a potty’s… No lodging, unless you brought it with you.. in a form of van or such.  No one stole those people’s things.. if you lost your stuff, it was because you got lost and couldn’t find where you were sitting before.. Cars all over… down the road, no one was going anywhere..   the down side of that.. was the medical couldn’t get in.   And even though 99% were anti Vietnam protesters, they loved the guys who were in the Army. Which was lucky for them as the Army helicoptered food and medical supplies to them.. 

There were actually 3 WOODSTOCKS…. Of course nothing matches the first one..  but the one  in 1994 was close to it..  Just more mud, and commercialism …  but it was like the first one.. no fighting.. being kind to each other,   helping those who needed help, even if it was the last thing you had..   No riots, no destructions…  other than the fence that went to the wayside, like it did in the first one..  The first one was 1969… Love and peace…  25 years later… the 1994…. Same LOVE AND PEACE..

 

So what the heck happen in 1999?  5 & 30 years later? Where peace candles were passed out for everyone in the area..  which was used to set things on fire? The fighting..  the sexual abuse? The stealing of things.. 30 years later, after the first one..  a much more violent group..  

 

I wondered… how did those two types of groups change the nation later..  20 years after their groups were at the farm?  

 

The 1969 group, turn 40ish by the time  the second group gathered. And 50 by the times the third group  gathered..  So where was our nation at when each matured to older generation?

 

The first group turn 40 in 1989…So 1989 into the 1990’s was their ruling power.  Their time to make a difference in our nation..    so I googled those years..   Says that the 1990’s is a time of when the economy was getting stronger.. more jobs.. lower inflation.. ending the pre 1989 lowest of all years. Even 1994 was hanging in there..

Even with 2008, where we were close to crashing economy.. it came back in 2015…lower unemployment and the start of regaining.

 

The Woodstock  1999 group turn 40’s in 2019.. so those years were their generation ruling power…2019 into now…   what is the difference in theirs?

Well, we have them bring in anger.. riots in the city streets… Protest of destruction.. The economy grew but by 2020 to no fault of the President, we got the COVID era…  which took the economy down the tubes with it..  

But then we got anger, the splitting of the country.. hatred is on the rampage.

MAJOR DIVIDE in our country.  Judgmental of all things..   I want to say that the baby boomers.. (the first Woodstock generation) still are a milder group… and are blown away with the  angry generation of now.

 

The Woodstock I brought in internet…  Woodstock III brought in Facebook.

The financial side has widen the THOSE AGAINST  US.. gap of years..  While the entitlement has come up the side lines.. The corp. has gain leaps and bounds..  and even with the worker getting higher wages, it was not taken out of corp..CEO’s or Congressperson’s wages.. but had increase theirs as well..  further widen up the gap.

Even the world has open up to more unrest..  with China wanting to reclaim Taiwan…. Russian wanting to grab land from Ukraine.. and the usual from North Korea, still strutting around trying to show the bigger countries they are the little country that could blow them up.

And we still have a big divide in our own country of, to Trump or not to Trump..  Who stands for everything evil … making fun of the handicap, no respect for women… running his life like he was raised by the MOB .. and rumors are his father was a friend of the mob..  but that would be judgmental of me..  as I wasn’t there..  But I was raised in a state that was very MOB orientated.  So I am aware of the type of rules they have. 

 

Too bad there wasn’t a WOODSTOCK 4… be interesting to see how that group would have fared..

Saying good bye to a sweet friend….

Saying good bye to a sweet friend…. 

We have all said it .. one time or another… way too many times…..

“we got to get together for lunch…  or coffee.. or in this case tea.”

I did go see my friend a couple of times.. One time before her husband passed.. A couple times after …. But definitely not enough times. I know the road goes both ways.. but still.  

I met Toni by the way of social media.. we both wrote blogs and we were involved with a blog run by Spokane Review with Dave Oliveria head of it.

She wrote a blog about cats.. Called something about Calico Cats..  She also had a side of an old blog she did before.. which was about Idaho. All kinds of pictures and she even did poems. 

I wrote a blog of off beat humor about myself and life. And sometimes a soapbox. 

One time another blogger and a friend, met Toni and I at a restaurant and we follow her down the back roads to her house. She told us to follow her, she knew a shortcut…  which was funny as we got half way there, and there was a huge road construction going on.. so we idled by.. She apologize profusely when we got at her house.  What a beautiful home. In tune with wildlife surrounding.  She and her husband had built it. By a creek.

After that Toni and I did most of our conversations on line, by emails. It was before Facebook.  And later we kept in touch by Facebook..mostly by Facebook Messenger. 

We had many sometimes, late night conversations.  Especially when Ron got sick. It was a trying time for Toni.  One only had to visit their home one time and could feel the love the two of them had for each other.  They did a lot in life besides raise 3 great kids.  I had met one of her son’s as he visit one of our neighbors.   Toni use to help Ron build home is Bonner County. She was his right hand man. They camped a lot and she went hunting with Ron. So his health issues were hard times. Ron worried about Toni, as much as she worried about him.  It was really hard when he passed 

She also had wild cats that she watched over. Building boxes with blankets for winter time..  Toni was a CAT LADY….. I think even she would admit and be proud of such a name.  She loved them so much she volunteered at the animal shelter.  Taking care of the cats, Photographing them for newspaper articles and ads for the Animal Shelter.   Adding some tidbits about the cars and dogs.  It was hard on her when there were some major changes at the shelter. Some that she thought were not right for the animals.. cats..  But she hung in there .. and then her health went sour again.

She fought it out with cancer several times.   She was a tough lady.  But if you ever saw her… you would see a tiny woman. With a huge smile.

Going to miss you my friend… and kick myself, for not doing a better job of being a friend who stopped by for tea.   God Bless.. I know you are surrounded by all your fur babies.. and in the arms of your Ron..  A great place to be, especially as the world is turning now..   A conversation you and I had many times..  Wish I could have hugged you one more time...

UPDATE..  if you like the looks of the blog decor...  I have to tell you..  Toni helped me do this many years ago..  after hours..  of emailing back and forth.. (no facebook messenger at that time) and I am thinking a lot of frustration on Toni's part as she tried to get thru her thick headed friend.. (me) but we did get it done..  THANK YOU TONI..

I HAVE SLEPT SINCE THEN…

I have slept since then.... 

As my good friend..  gal pal Lorraine use to say…” I have slept since then.”.  it is a saying I borrowed.. oh, heck … I stole from her..  it works great when I can’t remember stuff.. 

A few years ago, I gave up the ship on remembering names..  I use to do pretty well with word associating.. meaning if your name sounded like another word or even a name of another person, that I knew pretty well.. I found a way to remember it with the person’s name.   Like one woman who I met at church.. her name was Marilyn….  So my brain went into the association mode…  like in Marilyn Monroe…  but shorter.. and that is how I remember her name after that..  I told her that many years later and we laughed.   But a lot of times my memory chamber goes..  “I won’t see this person again, so no need to remember the name”.  but the worse of that is.. I don’t even remember it long enough to the end of the conversation..  Meaning I can not say….  So nice to met you Joanne… because the memory bank is empty..  and don’t remember what her name is…   Now I just admit it..   “I’m sorry, but my memory is not as good as it use to be..  could you refresh my memory..  with your name…  And 99% will do so..  One of the great things about being old..  no one expects a lot of  you.. lol.. 

I use to be pretty good at it.. I could meet you 20 years later after meeting you one time.. and have your first name correct, and where and when and what we talked about 20 years ago.. Now I can’t remember 20 seconds ago.

I am guess it is because at the age of 83.. my brain is so full, of so much stuff and crap.. there isn’t any room really left.. So can’t put anymore data in there.

Hope you are doing better than me..  but try the association bit in the meantime..  it works.. while you still have some room here.  After that, bit the bullet and admit, you aren’t good at names. 

BACK TO THE CAVE.. BATMAN

BACK TO THE CAVE.. BATMAN

Well, here we are back to playing musical chairs

With the curtains and shades..

Starting out with curtains and shades about 11am.

Getting the feeling of being in a cave.. with no light.

Then going around the house.. as the sun goes around..

 Open up curtains and shades at about 4.. on the eastern side.

I hate this.. as I LOVE WINDOWS..  I love windows for the view,

I love windows for the sunlight..  I love windows for the light itself.

 We went down to 83 then then back up to the mid 90’s with promise of

High 90’s come Sunday… AGAIN..  

But as I complain, I think about Arizona.. on the news ..18 DAYS STRAIGHT of over 100..  THANK YOU VERY MUCH.. BUT NO…

Glad I live in Idaho.

And of course it is just a mere 4 months before we get to complain about

how cold it is getting..   maybe I should get my January pictures out and

look at them..   You know… to kind of put it in perspective. 

 

AND to my oldest son...  HAPPY 60^TH BIRTHDAY …. WILL…  I remember the day well.

 

Conversation with a 7 year old

Conversation with a 7 year old

Actually,  he was 6 and 2 days lacking of being 7.. but calling it  7 is close enough.. 

Of lately, I have been watching my two great grandson’s on Thursdays.

And last Thursday there was quite an exchange of conversation with the oldest one.   The youngest turn 4 yesterday.

It seems with him, the new deal is a thing called  MINECRAFT… Now those of you with children probably know exactly what that is.. but when you are an extra generation away.. you don’t.. At least I did not.  This thing called MINECRAFT has come up several times and he had done several drawings of them.   The main thing in drawing one, it has to be squares or rectangles .. and maybe.. triangles.. I think those are in weapons though.. Not sure..  But do know the guy (haven’t seen any gals or maybe there is not genders in this..  This has nothing to do with the latest of adults interfering in children’s games..) it is just that my summation is that it is a monster? Or robot or what ever..

Anyway, in my attempt and his great joy, last week I attempted to learn MINECRAFT.  So the first thing I have to do is draw one.   But first he had me cut out his.. which he drew other things..  swords I think…   So I was cutting out his MINECRAFT guy (for lack of a better word)  And he said .. Nana, you should draw one for you..   So figured what the heck.. I can do this.. That was my first mistake.

I found out that CIRCLES WERE NO NO… NEVER EVER CIRCES  So I drew one which he watched over to see if I was doing it correctly, so he could get me lined out if I varied too far  I gave mine to the little guy so he could play while, but the AUTHORITY GUY… told him that it was incorrect.  So the little  crumble it..  to my horror..  after all I worked on this MINECRAFT. I drew it..  cut it out and I color it…  you can color it.   

So then I drew 3 of them..  was informed only needed one.. And then a little giggled as he said.. that one looks like a cowboy..  So I made it a cowboy of squares and rectangles..   then made a red, white and blue one. And the last one I made was a black and white plaid..  Don’t ask me why… it just was a thought at the time.   Gave the  American guy and the cowboy to little guy… and when the AUTHORITY GUY told him they were not the proper type..  they too got crumbled.  So as I am finishing up the black and white guy,  It is MY MINECRAFT… and that started THE CONVERSATION..  of rules and how to play this..  Which I think is a game.. not really sure.  Maybe I should google it..

Now you got to understand.. when a 7 year old explains the rules and regs to a great grandmother.. it gets frustrating to the 7 years old.  As the Nana ask way too many questions. And also she question the AUTHORITY GUY… as the Nana said something about .. how she thought he might be making up the rules as he went along..   that didn’t go over well..   He told me the rules are the rules..  not one can make them up as you go along.  Then he proceed to tell me more..  And when I did some things and made my own weapons.. he was getting frustrated..  Then he asked me if I was a creator or a survival MINE CRAFT..  which to me being a survival one would be a good option. He then claim he was a creator.. AND THAT HE COULD CREATE ANYTHING… if he was beaten down, he could create anything to get out of it.  And is telling me about an UNDER DRAGON which can kill anything.. but the CREATOR..  I told him that the UNDER DRAGON could not kill the survivalist either..  He said oh, yes he can..  I said.. no.. the survivalist never dies because he survives…  So he gives me a long speech of how the creator can and the survival can’t and when he is done.. I said. But THE SURVIVILIST is a SURVIVOR… and can get out of anything.. he glares at me and says…   YOU JUST DON’T GET IT.. YOU JUST DON’T GET IT..  Well, I did something that is not cool with 7 years olds.. I laughed.. and I laughed. And I laughed..  it was so cute how he was so frustrated with me.. and telling me .. I just didn’t get it..   NOT a good thing.. but he was right..   I  was not getting it.. lol.   He was so frustrated with me.. and getting close to tears..  I had to explain to him.. I was not making fun of him.. and that he was right..  I don’t get it..  And I was sorry for laughing with him.. He reminded me that I was not laughing with him..  because HE was not laughing..  there was more, but not as bad..  as he tried to reach across 3 generations to explain to the  dumb Nana…  but it was FUN.. I had a great time.. and he mellowed out on being the AUTHORITY GUY… 

Taking time off...

 I decided to take a week off.. and maybe two.    I will be back,    just a few things that need to be taken care of....   and with a slow brain   of lack of fun things to write about... this is a good time to do it..    May explain more later.. 

So enjoy the summer weather..  Hope where ever you are at..  you are not in the flooding and tornado area's.. and get to enjoy the flower gardens of beautiful flowers.. and hope your veggie garden is producing well..   So until the next time we meet..   enjoy life to the fullest. 

WHY DO HUMANS SEARCH FOR BAD…

WHY DO HUMANS SEARCH FOR BAD…

It seems like we, as humans, love the down side of things.. look for the bad side of things..   Some even wallow in it..

It is amazing how fast others believe bad things.. speak bad negative things.. pass on the negative.   Just leap to it like a magnet..

Work a little harder to find good in life.   Some times if you actually look for good, you will see good.  I have for over a year..  wasn’t that I was passing around bad… but I was doing nothing.  Then I started to smile more at strangers. Say something nice about someone. Actually felt good, even when it wasn’t returned..  I felt better. 

God knows there is enough bad.. Bad will find you…. so work harder to find good and pass it on to others..  Just a smile as you pass a stranger can do just a second or two of good.  Make that person’s day .....just for a minute and who knows, maybe a day.

So make up your mind to do good at least once a day.. and maybe add to it every other day… have at least 8 a day by the end of the week?   A smile,  a positive remark to someone..  after all what do we have to lose?   Just because the other is a downer, doesn’t mean you have to join it. Can’t make it any worse than it is now.

 

HAPPY 

4th

of 

JULY

May your day be full of laughter.. 

may it be of great memories with friends and family

AND

remember this is... 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICAN

AND WE ARE AMERICANS..  

Covid or the Times?

Covid or the Times?

Here it is.. tomorrow.  The 4^th of July…  MY all time favorite holiday.. better than any other…

Mornings are parades which I love  .. especially if it has a marching band… and love the floats…  the joy of it  all. 

Second is the afternoon ..   bar b que’s .. potato salad, macaroni salad, devil eggs,   chicken , ribs .. hot dogs, hamburgers… what’s not to love about that kind of food.. to share with friends and family..

Third is fireworks..  all the kid in us .. love fireworks.. I have taken my kids to fireworks since they were babies..  They all love fireworks..  Some of my son’s have had great fireworks.. and the oldest one.. for years has had the best of all..  where his neighbors have challenged him …  the fire works going off  back and forth over the streets ..    until one ran out and would join the winner.. which 99% of the time it has been my oldest son.  Last year he took it to the river.. because of fire hazards…  after he said it was the last one he was doing..  just wasn’t as much fun as it use to be.

But town fireworks have come to be a shell of what it was..   Now most last 10 or 15 minutes. Waiting for two hours to see 10 minutes..  Have gone to the highest hill in the area so we could see the sky ones.  But not anymore..  who wants to wait for hours for minutes worth..

This year, my heart just isn’t into it..  My legs are not what they use to be..  I use to park outside of the parade area by 6 blocks.. Walk back to where they started the parade.  I had a place I could stand on a porch of a closed up building. And take pictures without other people’s head in them.    And when the last four or five ones came down the road, I headed out.. taking pictures as I passed the last of the parade..  by the time I got close to where my car was.. the first of the parade was coming by.. and I was in my car headed for home.. before the parade had ended..  One year the King and I were in it.. in his red car..   One year he and our grandson was in it with his 47 Ford pickup..  

But I can’t walk that far anymore.. 

I use to go to Clark Fork every other year..  it is a small town with a great small town parade like we use to go to as kids..  But the last time we went.. the people were rude. We would place our chairs at the edge of the curb.. Which gave me plenty of room to take pictures.. but the last two times people sit in front of us . on the street..  and the last time.. it was horrible..  People would not only sit in front of us.. but a lot of them. Would stand in front of me..  Excuse me.. SENIOR CITIZEN  here..  I got ugly stares when I say, excuse me.. but I can’t see.   Couple said..  oh well, too bad.  Stand up too.   Well, for one thing I am short.. so that doesn’t do me a lot of good.  Just guts the fun out of it.

So I didn’t go last year.

I don’t know if it is the covid theme or just the way people are and the times anymore..  but I just don’t feel up to it..  Not fun anymore.