Death Takes A Holiday

If Congress really wants to put forward some meaningful legislation they need to ban the use of cell phones while driving. Full stop. Few things in the world can't wait until a driver gets from point A to point B.

Friday night we had a surprise as we pulled out of the garage on our way to the art walk. It was snowing. There was none in the forecast but never-the-less it was snowing. Just hard enough to muck up the streets to a fare-thee-well. By the time we reached town my smooth soled shoes made walking a challenge. No one was prepared. We couldn't help but notice as we waited for the walk signals how many people passing by in cars that were on their phones. The same was the case as we headed home, being extra vigil at stoplights as cars were tending to slide through them. Too many drivers were on their phones.

It's not unexpected around here because Idaho has no penalty for talking or texting while driving. But we were lucky. We got home without incident.

A sixteen year old in Washington, from which we are maybe 15 miles away, wasn't so lucky. Having her license for a mere three weeks, she didn't have the experience to handle the icy conditions. She lost control and crashed. While talking on her cell phone with her boy friend. He heard it all. She died. On December 5th, 2009. No Christmas for that family. Or the boy friend!

To make matters worse, Washington does have a cell phone while driving ban. Especially for novice drivers . I'd consider a sixteen year old licensed for three weeks a novice, wouldn't you?

The law is often broken in Washington because there are no teeth in it. It's a secondary offense making it nearly impossible to enforce. Would a stronger law have spared this young lady? It's hard to say, but if part of driver education is the knowledge of a stiff penalty if caught, it might at least be a deterrence.

People resisted seat belts at first too. I can remember back that far. People would also get used to turning off their cell phones.

I'd bet my life on it. Congress?

Can You Hear The Bell?

I love holiday movies, as schmaltzy as they are. They are pure escapism and I sink into them with tissues at the ready. I cry so easily.

To my surprise sometimes Hub even quits his infernal channel surfing to watch one for more than 10 seconds at a time. I don't know if he was really interested or he was burned out on all the Christmas Carol wannabes last night. Back to back we had Susan Lucci in in Ebbe and Vanessa Williams in A Diva's Christmas , both following the original, which is worth watching! We were tiring of the theme.

Then came one of my annual favorites, The Polar Express, asking the age old question, "Do you believe?" I got to thinking about that when the ghost asked the question. Even more so at the end when the boy and his sister could hear the sleigh bell yet their parent's couldn't. You know what? I can. I refuse to let it go.

It's about all there is left. There is so much I do not believe in, I find a degree of comfort in being able to believe in the magic of Christmas. Even with all the commercialization and the minimizing of the religious aspects of the season, it remains the most happy time of the year. There is a nip in the air, people tend to be more cheery. The sights and smells of the season are warm and inviting from roaring fireplaces to the twinkling lights that adorn just about everything.

Have you ever gone into a Christmas shop in the middle of summer? Doesn't it take you right back to the season? No wonder the 4th of July has barely passed when we start to see the beginnings. It's far too soon, there are other holidays to enjoy, but I understand it. Nothing else is as festive for adults and children alike.

For this one Friday I'll set aside all that I don't believe in any more. Beliefs that have been tarnished by age and experience. Today I'll get ready for the December Art Walk where people will be meeting and greeting and carolers will be singing. Wine will be sipped and surely in these temperatures our noses will be nipped.

Too soon this holiday season will be tucked away for another year. The year itself will be summed up for New Years. Highlights and lowlights. List upon list naming those who have left us. When you come right down to it, I don't find New Year's all that festive any more. Maybe that's why we no longer stay up until midnight to welcome it.

But that bell. I hear it. I need to hear it.

Catch A Falling Star

My take on Obama's speech at West Point isn't very different from what the press is reporting today. Blame Bush, generalities, blame Bush, campaign mode. What took around forty minutes could have wrapped up in ten.

Several things caught Hub's and my attention. The obviousness of the secret service. One would think they might be a little less apparent at the U.S. Military Academy. Forget about party crashers.

The number of cadets dozing off during the speech. We begged the cameramen to quit panning the audience fearing the cadets would get in trouble. But then officers present were also having trouble keeping their eyes open. As did Hillary. We were so riveted, we both noticed the gray showing in the brushed back locks over her ears.

What really lacked was fire. There was none. There was a sense of detachment in his delivery and certainly a lack of specifics. Of course it's hard to be specific when there is little of substance.

So where are we? General McCrystal gets far fewer than the number of troops he deemed necessary. The likelihood of NATO countries ponying up the shortfall is slim to none. The talk of training the Afghans to stand on their own sounds vaguely familiar. After disbanding the Iraqi army we tried the same there and they still aren't up to snuff. We're starting with far less in Afghanistan.

So. We're supposed to crush the Taliban, dismantle al Qaeda, cure Karzai's corruption, rebuild the Afghan army plus the country and withdraw all in 18 months! This is the stuff of Obama campaign rhetoric. While still a campaign, it is of a different sort. This is the real world. The world of war.

The Republicans don't like the time line. The Democrats don't like war period. Neither do our allies who we'll be looking to for support. There is no money. What if the Chinese decide they don't want to lend us any more? There is health care, talk of another stimulus, jobs and, of course, war. It may be a war within if this keeps up!

I leave the most important observation until the end. How others in the world viewed the speech. From Spiegel Online's Gabor Steingart. He in essence has said, none to kindly, the Obama magic no longer works.

Remember how people around the world gathered to see him in tremendous throngs during his campaign? They were curious as to who this bright rising star from America was. No more. They've figured it out. The problem is the longer it takes for us to follow on, the worse off we'll be.

My Heart Is Broken ~ Again

As publicity seekers of the female persuasion are beginning to sleaze their way out of the woodwork to claim an affair with Tiger, I'm saddened. Not because I believe a single one of them, but because where there is smoke their is usually something smoldering. If any of it is true, my heart is broken. If not, the damage has been done by false claims. The salacious will win out no matter what.

It makes one ponder if men of power or celebrity will ever learn that they can't have their cake and eat it too. Even if innocent of anything, there are those waiting in the wings who will jump on the band wagon for their fifteen minutes. It's the bane of being famous.

What troubles me, though, is how often I get duped. Most recently it was Andre Agassi's admission he used meth. As the extremely talented wild boy of tennis, such news shouldn't have surprised me even though I hadn't ever heard the rumors. Is it really cathartic to these people to expose their warts to fans who would rather not see them?

John Edwards. I had seen the rumor of his affair several weeks before it broke and hoping it wasn't true, ignored it. Oh well.

Now it's Tiger Woods. A golfer no less. Who ever hears about a golfer in other than in sports reports? Oh, occasionally, sure. But never, ever, on a daily basis. Am I missing that too?

So now the Florida Highway Patrol has issued their statement. Woods will be issued a citation and their investigation is finished.

I've become jaded, I'll admit. Nothing surprises me anymore. Yet still I hope.

It is just the beginning for the tabloids. They won't be satisfied until Tiger's tanked. I agree he does need to face them and say something, even if it's no more than, 'Yes, I hit a tree and a fire hydrant at 2 in the morning. I will have no further comment on the matter.' Period.

Neither will I.

Being Black In America ~ Or Not So

I admit I missed the flap on the Huffington Post about Sammy Sosa appearing at a fund raiser shades lighter than he was remembered as a baseball player. A skin softening regimen he told those who questioned him.

Leonard Pitts wasn't buying it. Pitts, a columnist for the Miami Herald, is one of my favorites. He tells it like it is. He also minces no words about what it's like being black in America. In a column that appeared mid-November he took Sosa to task for having changed his skin tone. In fact he excoriated him for attempting to flee his heritage.

Letters afterwards took Pitts to task, excusing Sosa much the same way Michael Jackson was excused for the same action. To date Sosa hasn't had his features altered. I'm sure Mr. Pitts is wondering if that's far behind and if so will no doubt have much more to say.

In today's column he answers one of those letters and references the video below. It is as revealing as anything I have seen as to how far we have not come regarding how blacks feel about themselves.

Here we sit smug with the fact we've elected our first black President. He has an attractive wife and children. Blacks are well represented throughout his administration. How many of them, especially the women, have not paid some homage to white style. Especially with their hair. Listen to the young girls in the video. Be aware of the age range. Prepare to have your heart broken.

It could be said we have failed them but I think not. I think their own have failed them. Their lack of being comfortable in their own skin, with who they are, is distressing. What a way to grow up. Wanting to be something you cannot. Is it any different than a chubby youngster wanting to be, say, a ballerina while knowing deep inside it would never be? No. I think not. It goes much deeper.

How, at such a young age, does this happen? It isn't generational problem. It is a people's problem. That lack of self esteem runs so deep a child feels it from the elders who surround her. Some outgrow it. Don't they? I don't know. Michael Jackson didn't. Sammy Sosa perhaps didn't. How many others, who haven't gone to quite such lengths, didn't?

It gives race relations a new layer. New to me anyway. What will it take to teach children such as these that they can be anything to which they aspire, regardless of the color of their skin or the texture of their hair! Those shouldn't even be considered hurdles.

They have a very public role model now. The President of the United States. Perhaps that will help. One can certainly hope.