Songs That Speak to Us

In the past, when I was writing mostly about politics, I liked to link to various songs that seemed to fit into the theme of the post.  From the day I was young enough to hear it, I have loved music.  Like many people, the sounds of an old song take me back to a time and place in my life that becomes crystal clear with the words and music; a type of “time machine” groove.  It is not always a good memory, but it is always an authentic part of my life.  One of my eternal regrets is the fact that I never really pursued the effort to develop and utilize what musical ability I might possess.  We all are born with a bit of music in us, but the great mystery is that you don’t have to be able to “do it” to “appreciate” it.  Music is a wonderful element of our world and I would be remiss if I did not continue the effort to feature it in my posts. 

 

As a parent and a grandparent, I acknowledge that I remain unqualified to advise anyone on the correct way to raise children.  I made a lot of mistakes in parenting and I learned a few things the hard way.  One thing I do feel certain about is the value of providing an opportunity for our children to obtain the gift of music.  By giving them the chance to develop the music that is within them, we not only expand their world and universe…we can help them to obtain a gift that can never be taken away. 

 

I am dedicating this entire post to music.  Hopefully, over the holiday season, readers will find some time to explore and enjoy the tunes linked herein.  There are certain songs, from every musical genre you can imagine, that speak to us in ways that words cannot describe.  While it is so true that the same song can mean different things to different people, there are songs out there that are so empathetic and soulful that their message is universal and undeniable. 

 

I am going to feature a few of those songs in this post.  They are not selected for their record sales or their radio play time.  They are not selected because the artist singing them is successful or the flavor du jour.  They are selected because they are a wonderful blend of art and craft.  I am picking songs whose lyrics speak to us in a way that needs no explanation.  The words are so spot-on, so direct, so very real that the only explanation for their creation is that the author lived that song in a very human way. 

 

These songs provide a window to feelings that reside in our hearts and our minds and give us glimpses into those feelings that words alone simply cannot provide.  All of us have had times in our lives that brought us joy, pain, loneliness, regret, anger, frustration, a sense of loss, and most of all…the thoughts of what could have been.  The ups, downs, and all-arounds of living as a human being in this world.  Enjoy the mastery of some of the best songwriters I know of.  Take some time to listen…I am certain that at least some of these will bring back memories from your past, just like they do from mine.

 

Let’s start it off with a declaration of what music means:

 

Triumph  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoS0DGrovCs

 

Lost loves, the one that got away, regrets, guilt, the longing for what can never be, eternal devotion…my, my… how our past romances haunt us…these songs sure do pull at the heart strings.  Whatever your story(s) may be, I expect there will one or two of these that hit it head on:

 

Eric Clapton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnNC2Nb7vIk

 

George Strait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m36IN3QOGaE

 

Eva Cassidy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c

 

The Devlins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_J7yLUVUG8

 

Bonnie Raitt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

 

Kenny Loggins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7TCOmTyM2A

 

Keith Whitley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jUICUbKZoI

 

Chris Isaak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBJeL0qqrPQ

 

Keith Urban https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2NpTwVr968

 

The Allman Brothers Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfrSIUE3iAE

 

Lonestar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_1wMEERzMw

 

Whitney Houston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU

 

Enrique Iglesias https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gAJWGYRHVU

 

Waylon Jennings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=500KtCmJPV4

 

James Taylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh3EV9SeJvY

 

Don Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqP84bkhhSw

 

Foreigner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wln6NX0V4AQ

 

Toby Keith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqwI0Pvlb88

 

And Percy Sledge with that eternal truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZYBQt0ozM

 

Wynonna Judd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z00b1DOiCU4

 

Vince Gill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9N44jO6Dpc

 

Scorpions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYyarcp5LtU

 

Vern Gosdin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI9rQONedDY

 

Trisha Yearwood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvuyradfFGY

 

Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxjC1Pdih0s

 

Travis Tritt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_2-XrjBAFM

 

Allison Moorer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koLKKDENjj8

 

Coldplay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXq-14lV79s

 

Dealing with the consequences of the choices we make.  Seems that everything has a cost and weighing those costs is a heavy load; but sometimes…the price must be paid:

 

George Strait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJV0bu0xNEM

 

Steve Wariner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bgKNfBbyTU

 

Zac Brown Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x7Uszpj_0w

 

Diamond Rio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7RncVCLgkg

 

Eva Cassidy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD_RK7DCl1I

 

Earl Thomas Conley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbsqys04tUA

 

Neil Young https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo7L7c53WMQ

 

3 Doors Down https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtO43yB3Zh8

 

Lonestar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jm5gfuT9Z4

 

Kenny Chesney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvttmCvtQUc

 

Collin Raye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX74rp1xq6g

 

Linkin Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_d8DlZ-Jo

 

Martina McBride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VPpAZ9_qAw

 

The Mavericks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu8e01M6gwY

 

Keep pushing yourself, be the best you can be, do not give up trying.  Life is good.  When the human spirit is truly unleashed, there really is no limit to the possibilities:

 

Bob Marley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2W3aG8uizA

 

Gloria Gaynor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYWe1c3OyU

 

Survivor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEjgPh4SEmU

 

Kelly Clarkson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn676-fLq7I

 

Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8craCGpgs

 

Rachel Platten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc

 

Queen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5GkgVhFeZY

 

John Michael Montgomery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k4ujBGRGf8

 

Black Eyed Peas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FotCW5OIFZc

 

Simon and Garfunkel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYPJOCxSUFc

 

Pink https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BIye98Ryic

 

Never forget you are free…free to live and choose.  Enjoy your liberty, guard it zealously, fight for it, respect it…and never trust the government:

 

Don Henley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0m5jp6kRG4

 

Jackson Browne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3YcZ233MIs

 

Lynyrd Skynyrd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGopskR5jSM

 

Brooks and Dunn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN1iI-DaJNw

 

Katy Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwL1cohnHNE

 

Sam Cooke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4

 

Marvin Gaye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6jKE6YIxmc

 

The Who https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXrmQBPg2s0

 

Loneliness, growing old, dying, the simple passage of time, how we move through our lives and then deal with that ultimate final chapter:

 

Brad Paisley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iE1cnAt9GM

 

Rob Thomas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaSoq9FELF8

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiL9PrBA-Hg

 

Brooks and Dunn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5z-jjWyAJQ

 

Lifehouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU6AhH2a1cU

 

Evanescence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu7QvOQKcKk

 

Cat Stevens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMlWTOj8zNk

 

The Band Perry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqrYAfN0S2E

 

Circle of Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLFvthzy294

 

Steve Wariner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUU2HW8F8UE

                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK3H5cHfgzw

         

Blue Oyster Cult https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVn6b9QQZeM

 

Patty Loveless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBc09fKRDy0

 

Bruce Springsteen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf9sco0ObvE

 

Vince Gill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e60oUOsac9o

 

Sarah McLachlan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SiylvmFI_8

 

Neil Diamond https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5suIibcRfo

 

Lionel Richie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzOdR9Ms6pw

 

Faith…A belief in something larger than ourselves.  Knowing that there is a life beyond that which we know.  The peace that passes understanding: 

 

Randy Travis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTOtfaj9uuY

 

Kenny Chesney and Randy Travis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW_oBGbvROg

 

Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfVrpafcELI

 

Vern Gosdin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQVuZCVVDtI

 

Styx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlhMs4HZGU4

 

Blackhawk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtVMi6RkzZY

 

Alabama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONUVPD2S1Y

                    

Joan Osborne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRsjHjZyask

 

MercyMe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU0MwNpRq6M

 

Carrie Underwood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_OpRlUZQoI

 

The Staple Singers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhHBr7nMMio

 

The Byrds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zx6j4vI8lE

 

U2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZU8qQQV_QA

 

Chris Tomlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLQ1td3MbE

 

Judy Jacobs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUIa674GGCo

 

Carrie Underwood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCLeCBUY5Iw

 

And finally…to close out this musical post…Why not just feature some songs that celebrate life, explode with joy and excitement, or just make you want to stand up and shout.  This group features some great lyrics and some plain old “get up” songs.  Increased volume is recommended.  Life is beautiful; live it:

 

Lee Ann Womack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F44nrK0MxEQ

 

Steve Wariner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhJUFdWPmLY

 

The Beatles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKLV8GCrveQ

 

Bobby McFerrin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68vZX2uUKKA

 

The Isley Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpPbmIlBRJU

 

Hall and Oats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoFJgLmbYZE

 

Whitney Houston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5wPHxqgQH0

 

The Beach Boys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQbFsn95jSg

 

Rascal Flatts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGB7IWklW3s

 

Imagine Dragons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFhs7WVvuXk

 

OneRepublic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Bo4oWK22bk

 

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FyH4FTEF74

 

Boston https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjS7Egg49_k

 

Bryan Adams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgpcwYooLO0

 

Shakira https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpqV3dzYOgk

 

And of course…. Coldplay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZvsGmYKhcU

Are ya smilin'?  Are ya cryin'?  Are you hurtin' just a twinge inside?  Are ya happy?  Does the day seem darker or just a bit brighter?  Hey...that's good!  That means you are still human...you are still alive...and you can still FEEL. 

May God bless you and your families during this Holiday Season.  Find the good in your hearts and share it with the world.

“Old School” is Not a Style; It is a Way to Live

I am a member of the “Boomer” demographic.  That term means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  One of the things a lot people associate with the term is an “old school” way of living and looking at life.  I want to talk a bit about old school…because I am a true believer in that segment of our population.  I am old school and proud of it.  I may be insufficiently self-aware, but I do realize that in this case, deniability is pointless.   I am what I am.  I would love for my children and grandchildren to continue that philosophy.  I think the world could use some more “old school”.

 

As I mentioned in the title, old school is not really just a descriptive term; it is a way of life.  It is a noun.  It defines not only how we think or emote.  When combined with our faith, it is set of principles that guides the way we live.  It is a code of behavior in which we feel comfortable and through our actions in careers and family, we try to live in a way that not only reflects that thinking, but actually honors that thinking.

 

If we are going to have this discussion, I suppose it is useful to try and define exactly what old school means.  Let me take a stab at that.

 

·        Old school demands that if you are able, you have a job and work for a living.  It demands that you show up for work on time; which is at least 5 to 10 minutes before your scheduled start time.  It means that you work until quitting time; not 30 minutes before quitting time where you take the last half hour to get ready to quit for the day.  It means that if you are paid for 8 or 10 hours of work for the day, then you deliver 8 or 10 hours of work.  Whatever your lunch break is, you factor that into the goal of delivering that full portion of work for the full portion of pay.  It simply means that you appreciate the opportunity that your job presents and you honor that opportunity by doing what you are being paid to do.  If you are not satisfied with your job, you look for another one.  You stay with what you have until you find another one and then, if you are moving on, you give your current employer a reasonable notice as consideration for having had you as an employee.  You do this because you need…and want…a paycheck.  You take pride in your self-sufficiency and your independence…and you celebrate your freedom.

·        Old school demands that you pay your debts.  If you are applying old school principles, you are as much concerned with equity as you are with cash flow.  You read the fine print, you research the terms of a loan, you realistically consider the wisdom of the debt, and then you make damn sure you are able and willing to make the payments.  If that repayment requires sacrifice, then you are ready to make the sacrifice.  Payment of debts is a matter of honor and character.  You balance the notions of wants and needs when you make the commitment and you understand the trade-off of giving up something today for the gains of the future.  Your retirement is something that you provide for yourself; not something that is gifted to you.  The old school goal is not to have a bunch of things at your disposal to use; it is to own a bunch of things that you need or desire.  The goal is to be a loaner; not a borrower.  The primary question you consider when facing the financial obligation of debt is not your ability to make the monthly payment; even though that is certainly part of the equation.  The larger question is “how long will it take me to pay this debt and what conditions will exist when the debt is satisfied”.  If I am committing to 5 years of car payments and the car is used up after 3…then how does that make sense?  If I am settled in a job and a location and I am making rent payments every month that are equal to or exceed a house payment plus home ownership costs…then why not buy and own a home rather than pay for someone else’s? 

·        Old school considers education as an obligation of the individual.  It is incumbent upon each of us to gain the ability to provide for ourselves and our families, and that requires a sound, fundamental education.  Where we go from there is up to the individual and their ambitions.  Some consider education a chore while others consider education a challenge and privilege.  Either way, it is a necessity for life and is an obligation of each individual citizen to accomplish for themselves.  The people who offer that education…academia and all it encompasses from kindergarten through advanced and specialized degrees…are in turn obligated to deliver the education for which they are paid.  In “K through 12” public schools, that means the obligation is to the student and the parents who finance that education through their tax dollars at the local level.  It means teaching the fundamental tenants of the skills needed to function as a successful citizen.  It does not mean advocating for certain ideas or philosophies.  It does not mean substituting teachers for parents.  It does not mean trying to shape a student’s view of the world in a social or personal sense based on the teacher’s beliefs.  It simply means doing the job you are paid to do in an open and sincere fashion; teaching the fundamental principles of reading, writing, and arithmetic while practically blending in the new and evolving technical skills and abilities necessary for young adults in today’s world.   It means telling the whole truth in an unvarnished fashion.  For “post high school education”, it means delivering what you promise.  It means being clear and transparent about how much it costs, what the education will consist of, and how that education might benefit the student.  Is the benefit practical in that it will deliver more in future earnings and employment opportunities than the cost of the education?  Is it simply an exercise in expanding the student’s knowledge and universe and will not really translate to future success in employment?  In other words, is it a “ways to a means” or is it simply “more education for the sake of education”?  Both of these purposes have value; but the essential element here is understanding the value before committing to the process.  Education beyond high school requires that you know who and what is doing the teaching, how that teaching will pay off in your future, and is that education worth what it will cost you.  And of course…can you afford it?

·        Old school means that while being true to yourself and what you believe, you do not make a spectacle of those beliefs through your actions and behavior.  Rather, you understand that your actions and your behavior are the true test of your character and worth.  Quiet strength is admired; public displays are abhorred.  You acknowledge the fact that there is a greater authority than that of government and law and that some things are best left to that consideration.  You be who you are, but you don’t shove it in everyone’s face.  You may believe that life is precious, even in the womb, but you appreciate that there are conditions such as rape or incest that demand a greater understanding of the choices we make.  You might believe that the commission of certain crimes justifiably requires the forfeiture of one’s life on this earth; but you also factor in the reality that our justice system is imperfect and that true justice is not always the end result of the process.  It means that you live your life according to the rules of God, the rules of the government, and the rules of common decency and consideration.  And while you are living under those rules, you leave room for the fact that there is a reasonable space within those rules that must allow other people to have different ideas about how they should be interpreted.  It means…that while being ourselves, we leave plenty of room for others to be themselves.  Like the plaque in our kitchen reads… “God, Family, Country”.

·        Old school demands that you keep score and you keep score for a reason.  Any process that breeds mediocrity and submission to the norm is one that suppresses individual accomplishment and ambition…and that is wrong.  We should not hold some folks back for the benefit of those who strive for less.  While reaching down to help bring up those among us who face challenges beyond their control, we must embrace and encourage those among us who choose to pursue greater accomplishment and greater goals.  It means excellence and achievement should be recognized and rewards should be commensurate with that accomplishment.  It means we are accountable for our actions and that we have the integrity to admit mistakes that we make.  It means that we accept the consequences of our actions and realize that others too will make mistakes and those mistakes must be forgiven. At the end of the day…it means that living right is hard to do, we are all going to stumble along the way, and that we must forgive if we expect to be forgiven.  We should all be very cautious in our certitude.

·        Old school means that you understand the true vastness and wonder of the universe; that we are each but a speck of dust in that never-ending expanse.  It means that the nature around us is far too wondrous to write down to happenstance; that there is a source and a reason to this world.  You can call it whatever you wish, but an honest look around you is a clear reminder of your insignificance and should be an anchor for your humility.  Whether you stand on an empty beach and stare out over the ocean; walk through an old-growth forest and look all around you…including up; pause in the wide-open spaces of the west and marvel at the fantastic landscapes; or just be still for a moment and consider how much you have received versus how much you have given…. all of these things tell you that the world around us is far too perfect to be accidental.  Look into the face of a new child.  Look deeply into the eyes of a horse.  Watch you grandchildren playing with abandon and laughter.  Feel the rain fall from the sky and the earth between your fingers.  Life is a gift…a precious gift.  It is not ours to take, nor to give…but to cherish and honor with our lives.  As with life, this world is also a gift and we are but stewards upon it.  Our arrogance might lead us to think that we somehow control this earth with our actions, but that is not right.  Of course, we impact the environment with our behavior and have every reason to respect it and maintain it.  But we are not the sole proprietors of our environment and we must understand that there are forces far greater than us at work.  They were here long before us and they will be here long after us.

·        Old school demands that every individual has God-given rights to freedom and dignity.  Each person should be presented with equal opportunity to achieve and improve their quality of life.  Having said that, the amount of respect that a person receives is commensurate with the amount of respect a person earns.  Simple decency requires equal treatment for all; whether it be justice, employment, education, or simple social interaction.  But respect is not a commodity to be equitably distributed.  What each of us does with our own equal opportunity and treatment is entirely up to us.  We reap what we sow.  Old school recognizes that while some past transgressions might be corrected, there are some wrongs that just cannot be righted.  There are times when we must simply acknowledge guilt and error, change things in hopes of preventing those same mistakes from reoccurring, and move on to the future.  It is tricky business determining what can and cannot be fixed…and perhaps even trickier determining exactly how to fix it.  But people of good faith and character can come together and understand that the future is far more important than the past.

·        Old school is wary of government.  This nation has a blueprint for government and it is our Constitution.  It is a brilliant and eternal document whose relevance is timeless.  It makes provision for itself to be amended and allows for a type of evolution to accommodate the inevitable changes in nation and people.  It does not provide a pencil and eraser to be used in the deletion of chosen passages and the alteration of existing language.  It’s evolution capacity lies in the amendment process; not in some expansive, cherry-picking interpretation of its content.  Government was meant to do the things for us that we somehow cannot do for ourselves; a vehicle to make us greater as a nation than we are as individuals.  It was never intended to supplant us as parents or to tell us how to think.  It was never intended to take more of our earnings than we can keep for ourselves.  While requiring us to maintain civil behavior within the law, it was never intended to tell us how to behave.  We are citizens; we are not sheep.  Our lives and the joys therein belong to us; not to our elected officials.  The explosive expansion of government is an abomination of our Constitution and it is way past time that it should be reined in. 

·        Our country was born not solely of itself, but through the support of other nations that aided and abetted our revolution.  It behooves us as a people to keep that fact in mind.  There are many in the world who are suffering under the same conditions that led our founders to their declaration of independence.  While there are certainly circumstances where the reckless ambitions and cruelty of some merit the intrusion of American resources…even our precious youth, those times are few and far between and must be approached with resolute clarity, transparency, reluctance, and obvious majority support.  Barring an attack of extreme barbarity or craven heinousness, we cannot fight their fights.  What we can do is help to enable them to fight for themselves.  We can supply the same support that made our nation possible.  Far too often in our history, the precious blood of our young men and women has been shed on foreign lands for reasons that were never clearly understood.  Our elected officials have been far too cavalier in their rush to foreign conflicts.    Also, while reflecting on our birth as a country, we must never forget that we are a nation of immigrants and we should never deny that gift to others who seek asylum within our borders.  However, borders exist for a reason and those who join America should do so legally, responsibly, and with a sincere willingness to live as other American citizens do.

·        And while this piece will certainly not address all the aspects of old school thinking, I would be remiss in leaving this one out.  Old school demands that we appreciate, acknowledge, and respect those men and women who do the work that is necessary for everyone else to live their lives in peace, safety, and fulfillment.  I’m talking about the builders…the carpenters, the electricians, the plumbers, the masons, the steel-workers, the railroaders, the heavy equipment operators, the truckers…the ones who we take for granted just as we take for granted the mechanisms they maintain.  I’m talking about the front-line defenders of law and freedom…the police, the fire departments, emergency personnel of all types.  These folks literally put their lives on the line every day so that we can go about our daily routines.  I’m talking about all the military veterans, both past and present…the men and women who have given all they had (and have) and made the ultimate sacrifice so that our nation might continue and we might enjoy the liberties we now possess.  I’m talking about the quiet heroes…the single mothers and fathers, the resource-limited, the elderly living alone, the people living in the shadows…the ones who fight every single day simply to survive until the next.  I’m talking about this nation’s farmers…the men and women who feed this country and many others across the planet.  The ones who go to work before sunrise and quit after dark; who borrow money on the wings and a prayer of a good season and reasonable weather; who go into crippling debt on the hope of a good yield and good prices; who live a life of underappreciated hard work, brutal physical demands, and overwhelming emotional challenges…mainly because they love what they are doing and know that someone, somehow must step into that breach.  All of these folks…from every fundamental vocation and walk of life…provide for others the opportunities to prosper and thrive.  They create the space for the bureaucrats, the bankers, the tech industry, the factories, and the administrators to work and produce.  The fruits of their labor make it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the fruits of our labor.  There is honor to be found in every profession.  We are, each and every one of us, a thread in the great American fabric.  We are woven together in a tapestry that binds us as one. 

·        Speaking of the farmers, there is no one on this planet “greener” than they are.  When your very survival and subsistence depends on the land, you cherish it, nurture it, and respect it.  People need to realize that there are far more insecticides and pesticides flowing into our ground waters from urban America than there are from rural America.  Old school folks sometimes border on a hoarder philosophy, because old school folks believe in using something up until it is worn out.  We have become a disposable society and culture, but old school values the common-sense philosophy of maintenance and repair.  Old school folks are the original recyclers.   We take care of what we’ve got and if at all possible, we fix it when it breaks down.  We don’t throw it away because it develops a minor glitch or is no longer the “flavor du jour”.  In fact, most old school folks will have a closet, garage, shed, barn, or shop full of worn-out stuff that might…just might…have a piece or two that could come in handy down the road.   Old school folks are uncommonly aggravated by today’s manufacturing tendency to create products that are designed to be thrown away when they stop working.  We like to seek out those items that are quality-made, supported by a reputable manufacturer, have replacement parts available, and can be readily repaired. And…we don’t mind a paying a bit extra for them.

·        Old school treasures family.  Blood is stronger than any rope, chain, or legal obligation.  We may fall out with our kin.  We may battle with our kin.  We may even walk away from our kin.  But at the end of the line…they remain our kin.  We are not always the fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters that we should be; but we inwardly realize when we are falling short and bear the shame of that failure.  Old school knows that a child has a father and a mother and both have an obligation to that child that exceeds even their obligation to each other.  Old school acknowledges that walking away from that obligation is one of the most despicable acts of humanity.  Old school requires that all parents should strive to leave more to their children than they had left to them.  And most of all….old school mandates that no matter how far astray their child my wander, a parent will always forgive.

 

To me, this is some of what old school is all about.  Some might call it old-fashioned.  Some might call it backward and regressive.   Some might call it outdated and small-minded.  We’ve been told we are deplorables and that we cling to our guns or religion.  Heck…some might even call it red-neck.  But here are the things people must understand about old school folks:  We don’t really care what you think about us.  We respect your right to think that way…it just doesn’t really matter too much to us.  As long as you stay out of our face, respect our rights, judge us on our actions, and understand that government is by the people and for the people…well, we can be the best friends you ever had.  And trust me on this…if you ever have to crawl into a foxhole during a conflict, you want to be in one occupied by an old school individual.

 

Where Did Autumn Go?

This has been a strange year indeed in central Kentucky.  Spring was quite moderate by historical standards and furnished everyone with a long and accommodating period to plant crops and gardens.  Then, after all the seeds went into the ground and managed to sprout, the faucet got turned off.  We went into a dry spell that was exacerbated by some lengthy periods of hot weather.  If the hot and dry periods hit your growing crops at pollination, it was lights out for production.

 

Unfortunately, a few row crops and gardens fell into this category.  Fortunately, most crops and gardens did not.  It all came down to the sync between the maturity and weather.  As late summer bled over into early fall, it appeared that there would be no second cutting of hay, the ponds were all down to extremely low levels, and the ground water table had taken a beating.  Then, lo and behold, we hit a wet spell and that precious rain fell in most areas.  Hayfields and pasture bounced back with an incredible recovery and we headed into a moderate season that permitted almost everyone to harvest their crops uninterrupted.  A decent second cutting of hay was realized by most everyone.  And even though there was the good news of high yields and good markets for the field crops, the low water lines in creeks and ponds conveyed the undeniable fact that the ground water table remained at extremely low levels.

 

Then, somewhere right about the first day of November, the unseasonably-warm temps gave way to grayer days, cooler nights, and steady winds.  It seemed that the switch had been flipped from late summer to winter and our fall got somewhat abbreviated.  Where it had been not uncommon to have good grass and even some hay up into December, we are now in the middle of November and wondering if maybe the hay needs to go into the rings.  The combination of early low temperatures with high energy prices is not a good omen at all.

 

It has been a strange year for nature in many ways.  On our farm, we had no pears or apples, the buckeye tree yielded less than half a crop, and there were hardly any peaches or plums whatsoever.  The hickory nuts were pretty sparse and the acorns were rare, but we had the best grape crop in years.  The garden gave us a good yield of green beans, onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes; but the squash production was disappointing.  The sunflowers grew to extraordinary heights and their sunshine flowers were huge and heavy.  There were no cherries this year; the cherry blooms must have gotten bit by a late frost.  And although there were bunches of red berries on the briars, the dry and hot weather dried the blackberries up before they could ripen fully. 

 

We had a handful of good, old country thunderstorms, but nothing that was too severe.  The wind kicked up a bit here and there and dropped some limbs and old trees on the fences, but again…it wasn’t that bad and certainly could have been worse.   There was enough wood that hit the ground for the firewood ricks to be replenished.

 

In the dryer parts of Kentucky, the usually brilliant colors of fall were dulled somewhat by the dry weather.  The leaves seemed to hang onto the trees a bit longer than usual, but for many areas, there was simply insufficient moisture to create the kaleidoscope of color that we usually experience.   As for my part of the state, we had a glorious landscape with rich and varied color galore.  When that cool and cold weather hit us in November, followed by a fairly heavy rain or two, the leaves came tumbling down in torrents and covered the ground in a thick, crunchy blanket.

 

Something…somehow…seemed amiss with this year.  Mother nature and the weather patterns just always felt a bit disjointed and out of sorts.  It almost leads one to believe that this coming winter will have an episode or two that will not play out quite according to script.  Perhaps a deep, deep snow or an extended freeze.  Heaven forbid we experience another ice storm like we did a few years back!  One of those in my lifetime is quite sufficient, thank you.  I will eternally marvel at the ability of the land and woods to recover from adverse weather and somehow restore a sense of order to what we too quickly perceive as crisis.  My son has been down from the city this week to deer hunt and has taken a buck and a doe for the freezer; both appeared to be sound and healthy.

 

There is one thing for certain…we were truly blessed to witness our beautiful and bountiful world in all of its glory and wonder this year and no matter what the winter months might bring, there has been ample opportunity to lay by in store and prepare for the days that lie ahead.  As calendar year 2022 winds down to a close with Christmas Season inexplicably commencing before Halloween even arrived, we once again thank the Good Lord for another year of life and privilege to live where we live in a wonderful nation full of good people. 

 

This weekend, we will gather around the table with our children and grandchildren and enjoy a feast of a meal.  We will have the freedom and right to discuss anything and everything that is on our minds and any form of censorship will be way off limits.  On Sunday, we will attend our church and worship according to our faith with no concern whatsoever about anything but our God Almighty.  Life is good.  It is “Thanksgiving” indeed.

Is the Train Wreck Large Enough?

I am a true believer in our Constitution and the government it has stood up for our nation.  In spite of our faults and mistakes, I am proud of our citizenry and what it has accomplished over the life span of our country.  However, it seems like the ambitions of the two national parties have increased geometrically and when given the opportunity, have led them to excesses in autocratic rule.  Based on this trend, the stage might be set up not for a swing back towards the center of political philosophy; but rather a harsh pivot to the right where we might see radical excess of a different flavor.  Is there some type of braking mechanism in place that might slow down the cultural momentum as it gravitates back to the middle from the far left?  Is there sufficient moderate presence in WDC to help the swiveling equilibrium of the right and the left to settle comfortably and solidly in the expansive zone that has grown to separate them?

 

Perhaps a more pertinent question is this: Has the radical liberal element that is currently ruling the Democrat Party and its many societal allies in America today over-reached to the point where voters will repudiate the woke madness and fiscal insanity that has been foisted upon our nation?  Has the disgust that many people have for the liberal coarsening of our everyday lives reached a sufficient level so that life-long Democrats will reject their party’s candidates that are promoting this regime of lunacy?  Is there a sufficient number of Independents and Democrats out there who are worn out by the constant demands of the liberal elites and will choose to flip the House and Senate to Republican control? 

 

How far back to the right do we want to swing?  How far past the middle are we willing to go in an attempt to remedy the excesses of the liberal Democrats’ scourge on our nation?  Will our memories be sufficient to warn us that absolute power vested with either of our two major parties results in corruption and decay?  Or, in an effort to rid ourselves of this woke fever, will we trade in a liberal left madness for an extreme conservative right mandate? 

 

Has the train wreck that the United States has become since the inauguration of Joe Biden been large enough…damaging enough…irresponsible enough…irrational enough…bad enough to convince voters that a big change in government direction is required?  Is our tolerance of decadence strong enough that we will only push back a little bit… just enough to pause the spinning or bring it to a relatively stable halt?  Will we try to “band-aid” a gaping wound?  Or, will we have the good civic sense to hit a mark somewhere to the right side of center that might provide a balance of political belief and can function according to the blueprint of our founders? 

 

It is not a simple task and it will not be easy.  There is much disagreement about exactly where that center-right sweet spot is located.  Even once it is targeted, settling the mammoth mechanism of U.S. government on that mark will be a gargantuan challenge.  History has taught us that once established, government programs and habits become ingrained and are all but impossible to eradicate.  But whether we swing back too far, swing back too modestly, or come close to striking that supreme balance… there should be little doubt that the time has come to swing back.  This coming Tuesday, November 8, will answer the question: Has the train wreck been large enough?  Take a look at the world around you and then decide for yourselves.  Actual, fundamental change in our country initially begins with our elected officials; but it gets its momentum and strength from the people that our elected officials put in charge…into positions of authority.

 

In the last election cycle, two special Senate elections in Georgia empowered the Democrat Party to accomplish what they have over the last two years.  A handful of votes in a few selected states put Joe Biden in the White House.  The narrowest of Senate majorities allowed Biden to seed our government from top to bottom with incompetent, partisan, radical ideologues.  Every… single…political…race in this mid-term cycle is important and potentially critical.  If you are willing to vote like sheep and blithely accept the consequences of your civic appeasement, then you had best be willing to accept the policies that will ultimately flow from those choices and learn to remain silent.  The time for change has come.  The arguments for change are obvious.  The agents of change are apparent.  How much change do you want?

 

The State of America’s Education System IS NOT GOOD.  The Future is in the Hands of Our Children and They Are Being Ill-Prepared for the Challenges They Will Face.

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/22/the-unamazing-randi/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/stealth-crt-in-bidens-budget/

 

https://www.city-journal.org/the-real-story-behind-drag-queen-story-hour

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/post-pandemic-math-scores-plummet/

 

https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-vs-red-2022-test-scores-show-devastating-toll-of-school-shutdowns

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/who-wants-the-president-to-subsidize-some-vacations-with-our-money/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/28/the-fate-of-the-nation-rests-on-fixing-public-k-12/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/29/voting-for-the-kids/

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/equality-not-elitism/racial-discrimination-has-no-place-in-higher-education

 

https://thefederalist.com/2022/10/31/dear-scotus-theres-no-equal-protection-if-universities-can-rate-skin-color-in-admissions/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2022/10/31/bakke-to-the-future-supreme-court-reconsiders-affirmative-action-with-a-conservative-majority/#more-195928

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/bench-memos/did-todays-oral-argument-foretell-the-endpoint-of-racial-discrimination-in-campus-admissions/

 

America is Headed Down a Foolish “Green” Path with Irrational Emphasis on Climate Change and Downright Ignorant Energy Policies.

 

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/19008/green-energy-profiteering

 

https://cnsnews.com/article/international/patrick-goodenough/saudi-minister-using-emergency-oil-reserves-may-become

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/strategic-petroleum-reserve-releases-could-damage-storage-facilities/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/27/biden-tells-an-absurd-whopper-claims-average-price-of-gas-was-5-00-when-he-took-office/

 

 

What Type of Policies Are Joe Biden Appointees Actually Administering?  Democrat Incompetence and Corruption is Rampant All Across Our Government.

 

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/immigration-border-crossings/2022/10/22/id/1093001/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/exclusive-hispanics-more-likely-than-white-democrats-to-say-border-not-secure-by-double-digit-margins/

 

https://cnsnews.com/article/national/terence-p-jeffrey/border-patrol-encountered-98-terrorist-watchlist-crossing-us

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/23/crime-and-the-border/

 

https://www.dailywire.com/news/state-dept-doubles-down-on-spending-20k-of-taxpayer-money-to-fund-drag-shows-in-ecuador

 

https://justthenews.com/accountability/why-did-census-undercount-some-red-states-over-count-blue-one-lawmaker-demands

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/24/republicans-in-congress-pile-on-j6-defendants/

 

https://reason.com/2022/10/26/biden-is-pushing-equity-and-environmental-justice-into-every-corner-of-the-regulatory-state/

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2022/10/27/air-force-reportedly-admits-the-improper-release-of-confidential-sexual-assault-records-of-indiana-gop-candidate-jennifer-ruth-green/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/31/scandal-ridden-san-francisco-fbi-field-office-involved-in-pelosi-investigation/

 

Do You Want a Nanny State that Thinks for You…or… Do You Want Equal Opportunity to Earn a Better Life for You and Your Family? 

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/22/a-next-president/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/25/americas-brilliant-political-orphans/

 

https://thefederalist.com/2022/10/25/democrats-the-only-way-to-save-democracy-is-one-party-rule/

 

https://reason.com/2022/10/26/americans-oppose-big-government-unless-their-party-is-in-power/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/28/hard-work-an-appreciation/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/23/will-democracy-die-in-darkness-after-november/

 

Have the Tax and Spend Policies of Democrats Made “Your” Life Better?  Joe Biden and the Democrats OWN This Economy.

 

https://www.newsmax.com/finance/streettalk/30-year-mortgages-7-16-interest-rates-federal-reserve/2022/10/26/id/1093449/

 

https://reason.com/2022/10/27/the-experts-were-never-going-to-fix-inflation/

 

https://reason.com/2022/10/27/latest-gdp-numbers-arent-calming-recession-fears/

 

https://reason.com/2022/10/31/dont-bet-on-inflation-going-away-soon/

 

The Liberal Democrats are Working with the Mainstream Media and Big Tech in An Unholy Alliance That Threatens the Very Existence of Ethical Journalism and Social Media Platforms.

 

https://thefederalist.com/2022/10/23/americans-identify-media-as-democracys-biggest-threat-and-the-response-proves-them-right/

 

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-media-trains-journalists-lie-leighton-woodhouse

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/the-medias-delusional-midterm-coverage/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/the-fetterman-charade-ends/

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/networks-87-gop-coverage-is-negative-100-for-kari-lake

 

https://jonathanturley.org/2022/10/28/the-gates-of-hell-opened-a-media-panic-ensues-as-musk-takes-over-twitter-and-fires-chief-censors/

 

Consider “This” Election; the Upcoming Presidential Election; and the Consequences of Those Choices.   It Matters “Who” Our Leaders Are.

 

 http://electionbettingodds.com/

 

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/10/who-is-our-president.php

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/dear-gop-dont-let-trump-destroy-2024-chance-transformation

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/in-colorado-senate-race-trump-chooses-pettiness-desantis-supports-joe-odea/

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/10/28/america-world-war-iii-and-space-based-missile-defense/