Things are coming to my mind that should have been lost to memory in the far distant past and I find myself mentioning them. I am not sure but, after reflecting on the subject, I believe I have the answer. Intuitively older people are prone to believe that times are changing and not for the better? They feel there is little they can do to change it. Their thoughts are reverting back to what they perceived to be far better times. They are more comfortable talking about more mundane subjects than current events. Maybe that’s why I unconsciously and impulsively bring up such subjects lately?
Cottage cheese was one of the items gracing our table the other night and I blurted out to my wife about the first time I was introduced to it at my grandmother’s. I not only remember the cheese but the setting as well. I could not have been over five years old at the time and that’s a long time to remember something so unimportant when you’re eighty-four. It may be all right to turn such over in your mind but why introduce it into a conversation? Worse yet, it’s not the first time I have mentioned such inane subjects to my wife’s or others’ annoyance.
Foods are, to my way of thinking, one of the best topics to bring into a conversation for several reasons. First of all because it is something everyone likes or dislikes. You can bring it up without fear of exhibiting any biases that someone else might resent. Maybe that’s why I began on this tract in the first place? I still don’t know?
In any event the main topic of this missive is still trivial pursuits and why people seem to dwell on them more as they age. How many times has anyone reading this tossed and turned half the night agonizing about something small in comparison to their real dilemmas? Many times I have found myself in such a predicament in spite of knowing full well my fears are unfounded and are for naught. Many of my problems stem from how to deal with construction problems or how to get the bugs out of something new, such as a computer or woodworking problem. I know full well that one my grandkids can solve it or I will work out by myself once I get the project in hand.
Getting back to the reason oldsters seen to dwell on inconsequential matters—I still believe it’s because we are giving up coping with real circuses. Every generation of elderly have had the perception that their children and grandchildren are headed into impending doom. Their present conception of the culture is that it is in decline and we are on the precipice of a very great crisis and are helpless to solve it. I heard it from my parents and them from theirs. There is an old but irrefutable truism that people usually get the kind of government they deserve. I hate to believe that any of my family members present or future would inherit anything but government providing the greater good.
The only advice I can leave my children with is that they may or may not inherit a government they do not deserve, but they will unless they do not do everything they can to avoid it anyway they can. Before they vote for anyone or anything look at history and what it proves. Look at the candidate’s history, not their words. Look at the history of what they are purposing. There is nothing new in this world in the form of government, culture or all manner of living. History only repeats itself and if something has failed in an earlier time its chances of ever succeeding in another are slim to none.
I will leave you with a thought to ponder in a quote from George Orwell, you may want to consider in determining what type of government people want and deserve.
“When the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but if government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.”
It’s my thought for the week and what I think people should consider when choosing their form of government.