Ann's Blog

When I was growing up our heroes were found in comic books and the movies. We had Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman (my personal favorite) in comics and then we had cowboy heroes, such as The Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, among others. At no time did we transfer this hero worship to our real lives. We knew they were fantasy. Since I grew up without TV, there were really no super sports heroes, unlike today.

Today, young people are inundated with visual images of rock stars, sports figures and movie icons, all of whom are real people but not what I would describe as ‘True Heroes.’

Today there is a blurring of the line between the fictional and superficial (with ‘feet of clay’) and the real hero – firefighters, police, even an occasional mail carrier.

A recent story tells of a child’s dog dying and her writing to God to look for the dog in heaven and play with the dog. She included a picture of her with the dog, stamped the envelope (with a lot of stamps, since “Heaven is a long way away.”) and mailed it. Some time passed and then one day, on her front porch, was a package containing Mr. Roger’s book for children entitled, “When a Pet Dies.” ‘God’ said that he had received the picture and was taking care of her dog but that, since he did not have any pockets, he was sending the picture back to her. ‘God’ thanked her mother for helping her write the letter and said that he had sent her especially for the girl to be her mother.

Now THIS person is a REAL hero, but we have ‘muddied’ the use of the term until there is really no special word to describe the every day heroes who live among us. It is no wonder that young people do not know who to believe in, who to emulate, who to admire and wish to pattern their lives after.

The first heroes in our lives are our parents. They are the ones who teach us values, who protect us, who love and care for us. They are the ones we turn to for advice, counsel and support.

This also seemed to change as our families began to move far away from the parents and set up their ‘nuclear family’ making us – the parents of the adult children – extended family. The first time my son called me his extended family, I just about fell over. Where was the ‘Honor your father and mother’, that the Bible teaches. It is no wonder we do not have a close relationship with our son. He has forgotten what ‘Honor’ really means.

The real heroes in our lives can be found as close as a neighbor, who does an unexpected kindness; a person in society who sees a need and starts a charity; a soldier who puts his/her life on the line so that we may live in peace and joy and safety. These are the human Heroes of our lives.

But the real Hero of life is none other than Jesus Christ, the Savior. He is the one to admire, copy, strive to be like. His life – and death on the cross for our sins – is the only one to truly follow. Our salvation is a gift from God, through his son, Jesus. Only by our asking forgiveness of our sins and accepting the gift of Jesus as our Savior, can we be saved and expect a seat in heaven with our Lord.

All the rest of it is just ‘stuff’ – false beliefs, poor choices, selfish indulgences, shallow values, and the old Dr.Spock ‘Me First’ philosophy.

I would like to see us return to the REAL HEROES. Let’s call them ‘CHAMPIONS.’ Who is your Champion? I know who mine is…

There are many of us who are very concerned about the current resident of the White House attempting to shape the minds of our children/grandchildren by virtue of the fact that he is going to speak to ALL schools in America on September 8, 2009. Apparently instructions have gone out to schools with ‘suggested’ assignments for children to write about ‘How to Support the President’ and write about selected quotes of the president.

What business does he have to speak to the children about ANYTHING much less about supporting HIM. Why not ask for support for America in these troubles times, if he indeed needs to be saying anything at all.

Questions I would like to ask superintendents of our schools include: “Does this bother you at all that NO president EVER has done this? Is this O.K. with you that support materials have been sent to schools to have follow-up assignments after ‘the speech?’ How do you plan to respond to this intrusion into your running of your schools? If this had been Bush, would that have been O.K. with you, as well? Is it appropriate for the president…any president…to solicit support from CHILDREN directly to him..not generally to the country?”

It seems that every day there is something alarming about this president that should concern ALL AMERICANS. Why the general media has decided to take a nap and just ignore all the QUITE EVIDENT information being presented by such reliable sources as Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly is beyond my understanding.

Just today, it must be noted, that one of the most dangerous persons – Van Jones – who is close to the president, has finally resigned, thanks to the monumental efforts of Glenn Beck’s in depth investigation of him. Now I hope Glenn goes after the other ‘apparently unvetted CZARS’ who form the ‘shadow government.’

This march towards Socialism MUST be STOPPED!! The president should be impeached on grounds of treason because he took an oath to “Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America” and he is consistently defaulting on that oath!!

Every American Citizen MUST stay informed from reliable, verifiable sources as to the REAL intent of this ‘squatter’ in the White House.

This is the 67th year of my birth and, given the current situation in my country, it gives me pause to wonder where will my life be in 5 years..or ten years…or if I will even be allowed to live. The congress seems hell-bent on forcing a government-run health care system on us that would change the very fabric of our nation.

As my government continues to self-destruct, dragging the rest of us with them, I can only imagine what my life, and that of all my friends my age group, will be like if they succeed. Do my adult children even conceive of a world that will dictate how and IF their parents will be allowed to live, should their health inevitably fail? Do they even imagine THEIR lives when they are our age being dictated to in this manner?

When I start to lose hope, I watch Glenn Beck on Fox News, who brings us the truth, and I again believe in the undying spirit of my fellow True Americans who do not want to see our country dragged to Hell by that person squatting in MY White House.

I shudder to think what our fore-fathers would think of the wonderful Republic they created over 200 years ago. They DID warn us that “It is your Republic…if you can keep it.”

Well, I and many others, are prepared to fight the socialism that is rapidly changing the very face of our nation. People are demanding a voice at the town hall meetings in their various congressional districts across the land. We WILL be heard! We will NOT be silenced, intimidated, shouted down, ridiculed or forced down a path that so clearly will end the Republic of the United States of America.

As my daughter and her husband celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this week, I hope they give thought to what their lives will be like on their 40th wedding anniversary, should the current crazy person in My White House succeed in breaking the back of our nation and reducing us to a socialistic society. That is NOT the country I grew up in. It is NOT the patriotism I was taught in school and at home. It is NOT the moral upbringing I had in church and at home.

I weep for my grandchildren and can only imagine the country in chaos they will be inheriting if we do not stop this march to socialism and a national debt that can only be described as shameful! Our responsibility is to provide a future that they can thrive in, grow and develop, excel, reach beyond the mundane and ordinary, make a difference in their future. How can we do this if our own children do not fight this battle for them? If we do not, as grandparents fight it for them? The very generation in charge right now is the one of my own childrens age group – those raised by that despicable person, Benjamin Spock!! He single-handedly created this group of self-interested, self-serving, ‘me above everyone’ mindset that is in power today. I threw that book in the trash when it was given to me when I was raising my children. Of course, college had a hand in how they turned out. Only they can answer for where they fall in the current political struggle.

I pray every day for my family, my friends, and especially for my country. We WILL prevail! We WILL succeed in returning our country to its TRUE nature. I believe in my heart that the occupant of MY White house will not fulfill his demonic goal of creating The UNITED SOCIALIST STATES OF AMERICA. We WILL Prevail! GOD BLESS AMERICA!! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANN.

This is the saddest day in the history of America. The ONLY saving grace is that there was not a super majority achieved in Congress. That gives a glimmer of hope to our future. We have such a far left-leaning president for the next four years and he can do a lot of damage, driving our country into a deep recession, if not outright depression.

My fear goes deeper than that in that we are now more vulnerable than ever to outside threats to our safety, at the most, and our way of life at the least. This man, who will be living in our White House, thinks he can ‘persuade’ our enemies to ‘like us.’ He can not seem to grasp the concept that they want us ALL DEAD!!

This election result, of the stupidity of the American people, makes me glad that we are living down in Mexico for the winter where I can choose to not be exposed to the news and instead concentrate on the community and the needs of the people here. All efforts to help them WANT to stay in their own country helps relieve the burden placed on American assets and stop the flow of illegal entry into the USA.

If it were not for our children and grandchildren living in California, we would sell out and find a better place to live, far from that ultra-liberal state. As our kids lives are so busy and already do not include us very much, maybe it is time to consider that option. We travel and are not available much either, making a long-distance relationship about all we have anyway.

As I wrote in a previous entry, I am sharply aware of the day my mother called me after a Republican won the White House and she said, “I hope you are happy now. Your side won.” I did not understand the sadness in her voice but now I feel the very same sadness – from a different result – and a sense of hopelessness.

Four years is not that long for that man to drive our country into the worst left-leaning existence it probably has ever known. A socialistic country is NOT the America where I grew up nor is it the one in which I wish to see my grandchildren grow up. What a sad, sad day this is. My heart cries for our beautiful country and I fear it is on a downward spiral to loss of greatness…

Bob and I arrived in San Carlos last Wednesday after a ‘smooth crossing’ at the border. Our little PT Crusier was packed to ‘the rafters’ with our ‘stuff’ so I am glad we were not stopped and asked to justify our belongings.

We found the house in good order, having survived the hurricane that came through here in late summer. We did have one leak in the small dome in the living room, as reported to us from our neighbor, but no damage.

All the plumbing, electric, and water is fully functional. After two days of cleaning, laundry, unpacking and putting things back in order, we are ‘moved in .’

We went to church this morning and were surprised by the appearance of a new minister recruited from Minnesota. We do not know his full story yet but were told he left a lucrative ministry to come to humble San Carlos. This was his first sermon and we were impressed!

We were pleased to find that he preaches the word of the Bible, much like Pastor Matt from our home church in Temecula, CA. Pastor Rich Hubert has a flamboyant style and a booming voice (no naps during HIS sermons). I am looking forward to being more involved with the church this season, especially finding ways to either have a small choir or work up special music with Becky Burr, the lay leader directing music.

It was nice to see old friends and renew warm friendships. This is a thriving community and the San Carlos Community Church is the heart of it.

My daughter recently had to make the always difficult decision to have her 19 year old Burmese cat put to sleep. He had been in failing health for some time but was not suffering and managed to eat and find his way around in spite of his loss of sight.

However, the day came when he was clearly near the end of his long life. Preparations were made with our young grandchildren, who had been made aware of his impending demise for some time, and they were included in the procedure at the vets.

Whenever we have to make these kinds of decisions, I always remember what my mother taught me. She said, “It is our responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of our pets as a condition of our having them in our lives.” I have always honored that wisdom in my own life with pets but, it is always a hard choice.

The first time I really faced this terrible loss was when I was away at nursing school in Salt Lake City. I received a letter from home informing me that my beloved pet cat of ten years had died. I was devastated and could hardly make it through my shift at the hospital. This was the first time I had personally felt the pain of loss. I still had both my grandparents, who i was very close to, and my parents. I had never experienced personal loss until my cat died.

We had other pets through the years but they were always closer to my brothers or were the ‘family pet.’ This cat, Willy, was a cat I found when I was in 4th grade. One day, while walking home from school, I spotted a litter of cats under the front porch of a house. I saw this particular cat – a black and white with markings that made it look like he was wearing a baseball cap backwards (fashionable before his time)

I dashed home and asked my mother if I could have that cat. She told me to ask the people in the house so, the next day after school, I timidly walked up to the door, rang the bell and bravely asked the lady if she would let me have one of the kittens under her porch. She was very friendly and asked if I had permission from my parents. I assured her that I did so she said, “Pick out the one you want.” I, of course, had already made that decision so it was a matter of crawling under the porch and grabbing my pet-to-be.

I was thrilled to have my very own pet. He was a sweet cat and we loved each other very much. He was my companion, confidant, sleep buddy. I guess I believed He would always be there for me so that is why it was such a shock to read in the letter that he had died.

Another piece of wisdom my mother taught me was, “Always love your pets, take care of them, make the right choices for them and when they die, grieve their loss and then find another pet to love.” She was right about that and I have lost a few pets along the way.

Given the longevity of Burmese Cats, my current pet, Zachi – a beautiful Blue Burmese male – could quite possibly outlive me! Wow! wouldn’t that be something. (Maybe I should adjust my will?)

Pets do enrich our lives and whether we are cat lovers or dog lovers it matters not. Having them in our lives enriches our existence immeasurably.

When I was a kid, we visited our grandparents maybe once a year but the visits always seemed to end in shouting matches between my father and his mother. You see, my dad was a ‘union man’ and therefore, a staunch Democrat whereas my grandparents were staunch Republicans.

I had no awareness as a child of the political aspects of life, I just remember feeling very uncomfortable and baffled by all this shouting. Therefore, I never felt a closeness to my grandparents – and not just because of the long distance between our homes – but because there did not seem to be much love between them.

It was not until I grew up, had a child, and became a Republican that I began to understand my granmother. She visited my parents when my daughter was just a year old and I happened to be there as well. I had a lovely conversation with her and left feeling a warmth and love that was never there before. I treasure that visit because it was the only one we had before she died.

I now find myself in the very same situation with my own firstborn – being of different political persuations – but, unlike my grandmother and father, I choose NOT to have political discussions with her. In fact, I have to restrain my husband from making any ‘comments.’ I do not want to end up with no relationship with my grandchildren until they are grown women.

My grandmother had many other grandchildren – some who lived close – so I am sure it never occured to her to try to keep a relationship with my father to protect a relationship with her grandkids. In any case, I do not want my grandchildren to have ANY memories of a ‘heated discussion’ between their parents and their grandparents. Kids do not need that. They need nurture, support, unconditonal love and goodies…(I added this last part for me.)

Being a grandmother makes me miss my own mother and helps me understand her a little better as well. She and I never developed a ‘grown-up’ relationship, having lived apart all of my adult life, and then it was too late to develop one. She died much too young, by today’s standards – she was just 76. I am 66 and know that 76 is still very young.

I want so much to have a close relationship with my adult children but, somehow, it seems almost insurmountable at times. We do not seem to be a high priorty with them, which continues to baffle me since we are not near them very often – only in the spring and early fall. The rest of the time we travel. It puzzles me that they do not seem to want to make efforts to include us in their lives during the time we are near.

I reach back to my own relationship with my grandparents and realize that we did not live close and therefore there were not the opportunities to create a bond – more with my mother’s parents but still…not close.

This was the roll model I had. My own children did not live close to their grandparents so also did not form close bonds. I did not see this coming for me. My mother always said, “Your children learn from you.” I wish I had listened and tried harder to include grandparents in my children’s lives.

I am at a loss to know how to reverse this trend and make them understand that THEIR children will learn from THEM as well.

I am becoming more and more concerned about the character of this radical, liberal person known as Obama.  I cannot for the life of me understand why people are not questioning his associations and their influence on his belief system. He seems bent on confusing people and side-stepping every time he is called on it.

Further, he scares me with his desire to ‘re-distribute’ the wealth and ‘take from the rich, and give to the poor.’ Why should I do things to better myself and increase my status in life if, under his administration, he is going to take it and give it to the lazy, worthless, do-nothings in this country.

Why cannot people see that his “give a tax break to 95% of Americans” actually includes about 40% of people who DO NOT EVEN PAY ANY TAXES. This whole thing is just UNBELIEVABLE!!

As I sit here less than a month away from the election, I fear for the future of our great nation. Sadly, the people of this country will get the president they deserve. Buyer beware!! No one knows diddly about that guy, Obama, yet they are willing to bet their futures on him. I have faith in the ultimate greatness of our nation so the four years he has to royally screw things up can be undone – eventually. In the meantime, he can do irrepreable harm in terms of our national security. Sitting down with ‘nutcases’ and asking, “Please don’t hurt us. Please be our friends” is just insanity!!

Say what you will about Bush, but he has kept our nation safe from ANY terrorist attack for over seven years!! I do not have faith that Obama Hussein will do the same for us. Watch your backs, people…

As we prepare to go to our house in Mexico for the winter, I wonder how things will evolve over the next few months. It sure makes me want to find ways to hide my assets before Obama takes them. (Why does no one challenge him when he says he will ‘cut taxes for 95% of Americans’ A high percentage of those DO NOT PAY TAXES and therefore will receive a gift of MY MONEY that we worked hard for to enjoy our retirement years.

It’s a good thing we told our kids there will be no inheritance. Little did we know when we said that it was not going to be us spending it for our joy and care but, instead the gov. TAKING IT, as Biden says. Can you imagine? When did this country become one of voluntary compliance with taxes and one of the gov. TAKING it?

Wow! What an interesting little town! We arrived in the RV park yesterday afternoon and drove into the town this morning. First we visited the Visitor’s Center and bought a little book with a walking tour around the town. The town is famous for the Copper mining and smelting plant but all that is left since 1981 is the giant brick smokestack. It looms above the town like a silent sentry guarding what’s left of this little town.

We went into the city hall building – one of the buildings on the walking tour – and went downstairs to the museum. It appeared as a chaotic mismesh of just old stuff, scattered everywhere, only part of which had any semblance to an actual museum.

Out of a back room an old man appeared and asked if we had questions. Well, and hour and a half later we left the place with our ears ringing with the “true story of the demise of the town.” BTW, he really, really HATES Butte, Montana and personally blames them for ‘fixing’ the vote that lost the state capital decision between Anaconda and Helena. There were other issues that came to light as we talked and then he started on the ‘city government’ that was responsible for destroying most of the historic buildings in the town. Only a few remain, such as the city hall, post office, county court house, old theater…

As we left the building, I remarked to Bob that when he dies, most, if not all, of the accumulated ‘stuff’ in that ‘museum’ would probably be lost or packed away and forgotten. He said he receives no help at all to deal with it.

Earlier, while on the walking tour, we peered into the glass door of the theater just as two young men were coming into the lobby. They saw me and opened the door and asked if we would like to see the inside. We cheerfully accepted and were amazed by the beauty of the ceilings and walls and stage. They only receive second run movies and were just showing ‘Walle.’ The prices for drinks and popcorn were vintage – $1.00 for a small popcorn and $.90 for a small drink!! They were fun to talk to and seemed to enjoy our interest in their little town.

Just outside of town is the ‘Nation’s Smallest State Park. It is a replica of the base and the top of the smoke stack. That is to say, they built a replica of the top three feet of the stack onto a concrete walkway the size of the base of the smoke stake. Quite impressive.

We plan to stay in this area for a week but may find enough of interest to stay two weeks. we will see…