Thoughts of a Common Man

They were really hyping the storm. Blizzard! 25 below!! I woke up early, as usual, and looked out the window. Not much!! The wind was blowing and it looked cold, but there wasn’t a ton of snow.  Maybe they’d got it wrong. It happens. I put the television on and they were talking about how bad the conditions were... ...downtown and north of the city. Kathy leaves the house before 4:30. She was gone. I texted her: “Did you make it?” Took her while to answer. “Wasn’t too bad.” Before I was even out of bed the newscasters were saying: “STAY HOME!” Here’s the thing: I hate driving in the snow. I’m lousy at it. I go way too slow, and I can’t see. Everyone else is a maniac. I didn’t have to be told twice. By mid-morning we were getting snow and the wind was really whipping. A whole bunch of towns were declared to be in a state of emergency and driving was actually banned. There’s always plenty to do. I was on the computer all day. Took a few calls. One

That’s supposedly what it feels like in Chicago today. Buffalo is slated for about a 25 below zero wind chill with a chance for a blizzard that could rival the blizzard of ‘77. That was an epic one. ‘Cause I was only 12 and we were all stuck in the house. We had a blast. We played monopoly as a family, and if you know my family it ended the only way it could have... ...with someone throwing the board across the room, and everyone else laughing. There was so much money being stolen from the bank that everyone had piles of cash in front of them. I distinctly remember the police driving up on snowmobiles and asking if we needed anything. “Beer and cigarettes,” my Dad said. “We’re helping people who need the essentials,” the cop said. “I have six kids in here, those are the essentials!” It took awhile, but I also recall that the cops came back...with a carton and a 12-pack. The day after the big snow hit, I played hockey in the driveway with my brothers and all the ne

Read somewhere that pitchers and catchers are due to report in 17 days... ...that’s a little hard to believe... ...it’s gonna’ be 1 or 2 here the rest of the week. I can’t wait for baseball!!! Gives me something to do every night from April through the end of October. Best sport, by far! Yet, I’ve watched the NFL playoffs. Nearly turned the whole sordid mess off during the championship games because the refs were embarrassing. Just one horrific call after another, and replay didn’t really help. So, why have I been watching? I don’t really have a dog in the fight. The hometown team stunk again. Well, and this is a very unpopular thing for me to say: I enjoy watching the Patriots play. It’s not much of a secret anymore and I take a considerable amount of trouble for it, but they are always prepared and Brady plays with precision and passion. That’s how I’ve always seen it. This year, it was widely speculated that the Patriots weren’t very good and that Brady was

Having a hard time getting all excited. ‘Cause I’m freaking cold!!! I don’t even want to slide out from under the heated blanket! And then when you make your way out there there’s all the crap to deal with. Clean off the car and start it. Shovel the driveway enough to make it out. On Saturday, the dogs were ready to go... ...I left them in the house as I cleaned the show off the car. My feet were already cold. I opened the door and heard the cries. “What’s going on?” Kathy called. “Nothing!” I yelled back. “Well, Melky thought you left her. She’s wailing.” We made our ride to the corner to grab the paper. Melky was absolutely shivering. When we returned she went straight up the stairs and back to the heated blanket. It was all I could do to not join her. Wednesday and Thursday are looking like days where we won’t make it to double digits. Much of the country is a frozen tundra. Pitchers and catchers are about three weeks out. “Move over,” I told Melky.

Make no mistake: We’re in a precarious position. The Roger Stone arrest is following a script that everyone thinks Mueller will follow. According to that script, Junior is supposed to be next. That will not be taken sitting down. Worst than that, Drumpf looks weak. Everyone is saying that he caved on the wall and that Nancy cleaned his clock. That will work on his fragile ego. He will realize that there is zero chance that there will ever be a concrete wall, or steel slats, or so much as a tree that has a sign that says, “Go Home Rapists.” If he tries to declare it a national emergency it will go straight to court where it will be tied up for years. So, he lost. And the realization that he can’t just say something and people will jump will dawn on him... ...and will lead him to making even more brash, misguided, vile and idiotic decisions. Are we great yet? Still, in a perfect world, the realization of what is happening would lead to a true surrender. His next s

It’s all so tiresome. Just this week we heard Ross and Trump say that people who aren’t getting paid shouldn’t have to visit food banks to eat, or should prepare better by selling stocks or taking no interest loans... ...that dovetailed straight into the goofy Roger Stone being arrested... ...funny but most of the “Lock Her Up” cheerleaders are headed to the clink... ...and on Friday, the great deal maker... ...caved again. All of this was stupid. The wall was never an actual real thing. They all knew it. When he was chanting that Mexico was paying, he knew they weren’t. When they were chanting ‘lock her up’ they knew that it wasn’t gonna’ happen. But they fooled some of the people. Approval rating is now at the lowest ever for a president at this juncture. The arrests keep coming... ...and yet, he keeps saying, “No Collusion!” Why wouldn’t we believe him? (He’s so freaking credible). But... ...here we sit. At least those poor bastards will get paid.

Life is a funny thing. It’s one thought back to when you were a kid. Another quick turn until you realize where you currently are in the grand scheme of things... ...and a passing glance at the future. In your mind, you can do all of that in about twenty minutes. We ate at an Italian restaurant and I watched an obviously Italian-American guy eating a big bowl of pasta. He twirled the pasta with the fork in his right hand, ate it, and then took a bite of the small piece of bread from the left hand that he was holding close to his face. I laughed because it was exactly how my Dad would eat pasta. (Thought back). Kathy and I talked about the boys, the book, and work. (The present). And then we considered the older couple, from Minnesota, who come down to this spot for 6 weeks every year. “That’s perfect!” And suddenly, we glimpsed the future. It’s not that far away, and the funny thing about the future is that it’s always perfect. “I could do this with a little

The wind whipped across the parking lot and I had a thought that my forehead might be frost bitten. Yet, we were on our way to the airport terminal in the less than 5 degree weather. We were getting the hell out of Dodge. Let’s take it back a couple of weeks. I was on a frozen job site, climbing a sturdy ladder to a roof. My phone vibrated. I retrieved it and glanced down... ...an Amex charge. For plane tickets and a room. “I’ve been hacked!” I ducked away and called Kathy to break the news. “That was me. You’re going to Florida. 3 days so you can still work 2 days that week. Get some sun!” “What if I have things scheduled?” “Change ‘em.” Cut to Tuesday. 70 degrees. The sun! I went from the jacuzzi to the cleanest pool I’ve ever been in and then back to the jacuzzi. One of my best buddies sent me a text before I left. “Be present,” he wrote. And that’s what I did. Laid on the chair with the sun on my face. Didn’t think of anything else, but the s

Melky’s on the verge of becoming a teenager. She’ll be thirteen in March. Paris is eight, but she’s also been battling Addison’s disease since she was about 2. She has a lot of grey in her beard already. When I’m home the entire evening goes like this: Dinner, boney time (with an official ceremony and everything), and then they stare at me. Melky will cry and Paris will jump up and give me kisses. Until Melky cries enough for me to get up and go to bed. She won’t go to bed without me, and it’s like she’s a clock. I go up at 9 on week days... ...she has no concept of Friday or Saturday so, in the middle of the movie on Saturday night she begins to sing. “Pause it! I gotta go to bed,” I’ll growl. “Did your girlfriend say it’s time for bed?” Kathy will ask. Anywhoha... ...it’s tough to leave them now. I know they won’t live forever and it saddens me. Of course, I sing to them and tell them I love them. They’ve cost me a fortune in bones. Melky and The Pair.

So, it’s Rams-Patriots for the Super Bowl. And if you’re from Kansas City or New Orleans you aren’t talking much about the overtime game you just lost... ...you’re talking about the refs. New Orleans has a real beef. They lost after having basically won the game. The refs butchered a clear pass interference, mugging with about a minute left. I watched. Half of the first game and all of the second one. The score was tied in the second one and I nearly shut off the game. “It’s a horrible sport,” I texted a buddy of mine. “The refs can’t keep up.” That has to be part of it. The players are big and strong and so fast. Watch a game from the sideline camera sometime. It’s actually scary! There are so many cameras now and replay slows it all down, and the refs are left exposed. In the second game they zoomed in on a ref under the hood, and I thought, “Damn, there’s a lot of pressure on this guy!” And he isn’t a trained athlete. He’s an old dude! Sweat pouring down hi

The video of the Covington Catholic School kids surrounding the Native American, Vietnam Vet elder... ...and taunting and belittling him.... ...is so disturbing... ...but absolutely not surprising. The MAGA hats, the intimidating stares, the teenage white kids looking down their noses and chanting “Build the wall.” “We were all stupid teenagers,” one guy said. “It’s just that now everyone has a camera.” That’s not it. I had a catholic school upbringing. No way did we ever learn to treat someone like that, but that did happen when we were young. It just wasn’t filmed! And the elder kept doing what he was doing. It was a March for Life gathering. No matter who started it, the Catholic faith has one commandment above all others: “Treat others as you’d like them to treat you.” Very simple. Easy to understand. Somehow these kids lost their way. They may have also destroyed their own lives in the process because the video is being played over and over and over a

It’s been a lot of years since I was hungry and worried about what I had to eat. The most poverty stricken hunger I ever felt was when I was in college. If we were able to score a bag of Doritos and a tub of dip... ...man, we were high on the hog. I thought of not knowing what would be for dinner when I heard some stories about people who are at food banks because they aren’t getting paid for their work. 800,000 people have been out of work, or going to work for free! during the government shutdown. We used to make macaroni & cheese out of the box. Big moments happened when we could mix hamburger with it. I have never once made that concoction since college. The thought of it turns my stomach. There were some lean years after college too... ...especially when I lived alone in Connecticut. Yet, by then, I’d learned to make about 30 different sauces and would eat pasta every night if necessary. It’s a tragedy that men and women who are willing to work, or are ac

I have Apple Music. Which means any song I want can be ordered to my phone... ...just a push of a button. ... (And remembering the damn password!) I used to really love The Cars. When I was in 7th, 8th and 9th grades they put out one great record after another... ...I hadn’t listened to them much lately.... ...but coming back from Syracuse I got sick of listening to the “is it time to impeach him?” crap and I plugged in my phone. Here are some of my thoughts from the trip: 1). Natalie Maines singing ‘Landslide’ is a great thing. 2). I have ‘Borderline’ from Madonna on my phone and I had great memories of the girl it reminded me of. Back in 1983, girls dressed like her! I hope that girl has had a nice life! 3). I’ve always liked Aldo Nova - he made a bunch of good records - he should’ve been a bigger star. 4). Bruce always comes on every 3rd or 4th song. There are two kinds of music - Bruce and Not Bruce. 5). Tom Petty was awesome. ‘A W

So, Gillette ran a commercial about being nice and there was a lot of outrage. And the next morning news of a murder-suicide one town over caught my wife’s attention. “Let me guess,” I said. “Woman breaks up with a man...husband and wife...he stalks her...threatens her...she gets a restraining order...he gets to her anyway...shoots her because he has the right to own a gun...then he shoots himself.” She was reading through the 25-year-old woman’s Facebook account. “The only thing you got wrong was that they weren’t married. They dated for less than 6 months.” And I certainly didn’t want to be right, but that’s where we are. Kathy showed me a photo of the now-deceased man, posing with his gun. He looked like a real tough guy in the photo. A psychotic tough guy. Yet, we don’t even want to shine a light on that sort of rage??? It’s common practice to highlight every single instance of an illegal immigrant committing a crime (and there’s no downplaying any of that horri

The call comes in as a local number. “This is the IRS and a warrant has been issued for your arrest.” I immediately hang up and go to the ‘Block this caller’ option on my phone. A long-distance call comes in: “Your warranty is due on your vehicle.” Call after call after call. I’m on a no-call list... ...doesn’t matter. “We’re calling in reference to your request as to how to lose weight!” I have never once asked anyone about losing weight! On Saturday, my phone rang and I answered it. “I’m returning your call,” he said. “I didn’t call you,” I said. The guy figured out what I already knew... ...someone had used my number as a robo call number. We commiserated about the scam. It’s so damn annoying! Most people don’t even call anymore... ...texts and emails... ...Lord knows I don’t want to talk on the phone!!! And yet, I get 9 calls a day from a freaking telemarketer! Make it stop!

So, Gillette ran a commercial that basically told people to be kind... ...and all hell broke loose because... ...I don’t know why!!! There were men and women all over social media bashing them for stealing the masculinity away from the kids... ...I guess!!! I guess I don’t know much about anything anymore. I just couldn’t see the other side of the argument! The commercial seemed to say: “Treat women with respect. Be the best guy you can be. Don’t bully people. Try not to get into fights.” What’s the other side of that coin? “Be disrespectful? Be a bad guy? Bully everyone? Fight someone every day?” In case no one has been paying attention we have something of a rage problem in our society. What could possibly be wrong about spreading a nice message? I saw a woman! A woman!!! Who said: “I’m all done with this company and their p***y sh*t! That’s enough with this garbage!!” Yeah!!! How dare they???? Tell someone to try and be nice! I think back to my Dad te

Always looking for something to watch... ...Kathy picked a good one. The movie “Thank You For Your Service”. It was horribly depressing however... ...to know that it’s a tragic, true story about young men who suffered in Iraq and then really suffered when they returned. An all-too-familiar scenario. They return to PTSD, no jobs, poor healthcare. The money is not there for them. The politicians use them during the run up to an election... ...and then deny them benefits once the election is over. As for the movie, the acting was great, the story will make your heart ache. Made me wonder why men are sent off to fight, and sometimes die. All these years, and this is all we’ve learned about living. The movie ended with Springsteen singing the Freedom Cadence. Soft, rhythmic and haunting. When people talk about war and fighting... ....when they cheer about the start of a war... ...they should consider the boys in the uniform... ...and the men they are forc

I’ve been having a number of discussions with my boys, and their friends, about “old as dirt athletes.” “Yeah, Wilt scored 100 points in a game because he was the only one over 7’ tall and the guys he played against looked like mailmen.” “Oh, like Jabbar?” I’ll ask. “Because the last I looked he was the all-time leading scorer and he was taller than Wilt.” They hit me with all of them. “Larry Bird was slow and white. He’d be a bench player now.” Or “Mickey Mantle hit homers off of guys who were throwing 75 mph.” “Gretzky would never score 50 in today’s NHL,” one kid said!!!! So, now I’m on the other side of the generational debate... ...yet it got real ugly this week. “Tom Brady is overrated,” is the new garbage going through the young people community now. “He’s not an athlete!” My kids argued. “He’s slow!” I argued back all week. My beautiful wife rolled her eyes every time we were all in the same room. And the game started yesterday. By halftime, I was

The FBI has been investigating the president of the United States for treason. That statement should be read, over and over again by every American until the gravity of the situation becomes reality. Because what have we seen over the last two years? There are people (maybe people even reading this) who believe that the media is fake, and the justice system is corrupt but that the guy in the chair (with divorces, porn stars, bankruptcies and hate, hate, hate) is the good guy. I did read the New York Times headline a couple of times thinking: “I never doubted that he was on Russia’s side from day one.” I also knew what he would say: Failing New York Times Lyin’ Jim Comey Crooked Hillary. 13 Angry Dems. Thing is: That’s enough!!! He’s a criminal! Worse than Benedict Arnold. He sold us to enrich himself. The government is shut down. Tariffs are eating us alive. He belongs in jail. Always has. He’s a conman. Fraud. Benedict Donald. Put him in a

When I was a freshman in college there was a resident pastor at the boys dorm at Gannon University. We were all drinking, having fun, and most of us were more than a little homesick. Having a pastor around was kind of a comfort.... ...and the pastor was cool. He let us watch the big television in his room. He had Doritos and pop... ...we were college kids... ...we had nothing. And he’d talk to us if we struggled at all. Decent guy, I always thought. Well, one of my old college roommates sent me a news story. The priest was sentenced to 14 years for molesting children... ...before! And after!! We knew him. It made me sick to my stomach. I zoomed in on the photo of him... ...35 years since I last saw him. He looked like an old man. He belongs in a cage. They spoke to a couple of his victims. Middle-aged men who were just kids when he ripped their lives from them. I’ve struggled mightily with the church over the last few years. I don’t go anymore. A

I told you earlier this week about the dark, cold and ice. Rough time of the year in the northeast. Additionally, the national news has all been dire. It’s weird, but it’s the first time in my life (other than 9/11) when it’s actually sickening to listen in. Personally, I’ve heard a lot of bad news about the health of some good friends or spouses of friends or guys I used to work with... ... a few weeks back I went to a wake, a funeral and visited a buddy in the hospital in a 2-day period. There’s a real temptation to let it all just eat you alive, and it certainly can. Is this it? That’s the rallying cry of people at their wits end. Easy to wonder in the early months... ...in the darkness and cold when the old body aches. Yet, there’s a toughness.... ...a reservoir of strength deep inside all of us that has to be tapped in times of struggle and doubt. I’ve always been the bringer of sunshine... ...I live by one line: “Suck it up and tough it out and do the

Are you freaking kidding me??? Last night there was a two hour special on Clinton-Lewinsky. Seriously? He’s an old man. He was impeached, and his legacy is forever tainted... ...and he deserved it. He brought it on himself. She was a young girl. Her life was destroyed by the media. She was called every name in the book... ...received death threats. We know all about every aspect of the case. We’ve all seen the dress. Who cares anymore? Talk about beating a dead horse... ...but it sells, right? Does anyone ever think about the toll it takes on Lewinsky? She was a kid for cripes sake. Made stupid decisions and was manipulated by a master at his craft. Does she need to be dragged through the mud? Who’s nostalgic about the good old days? Damn. What passes for entertainment! I’m guessing that millions will tune in.

I often think about the 1976 presidential election and how I stayed up late to watch the returns. I remember the discussion between my parents because my Mom thought I should go to bed. Dad thought letting me watch was important. I have spent my life paying attention to the politics of the country. Never in my life did I ever dream that I’d see what we are now seeing. So, I didn’t see it. When the Oval Office primetime talk about the Wall was taking place, I was hanging with my dogs, and getting ready for bed. Rather than turning on the television, I read ‘Elevation’ the new Stephen King book. I was shocked that all the networks that have taken a couple of years of abuse... ...under the heading ‘Fake News’.... ...was intent on giving up air time for a “crisis” that was a “crisis” in just one diseased mind. And mostly, I thought of what I missed about leadership. The comfort of knowing that we were in good hands. (There was always a healthy give and take...not an

This is a tough stretch for a 54-year-old man. It’s cold. Extra pair of socks, thermal underwear, a hoodie and a Carhartt. Gloves and hat too. It’s dark. You wake up and its dark. The sky is grey. It’s dark when you get home. It’s icy. I walk like a penguin so I don’t fall down. I have to start the car and warm it up before I go. And I watch the weather. “Snow showers.” “Winter weather advisories.” And so far so good, actually. Here in Buffalo-freaking-New York we’ve had very little snow so far. I mentioned that to the convenient store clerk. “You do realize that there isn’t so much as an ice cube in the lake right now?” Which means that we’re gonna’ get blasted! So, how does one pick up their mood in the middle of dark, cold and icy season? Last night we had meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Comfort food! Then a blanket and four episodes of Law & Order. From the couch to the bed where the warm blankie is. That’s how you do it! But there are alway

There are a lot of people attacking the new politician of the moment, Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez. I’ve seen a bunch of memes that show her as dumb. (That’s kind of rich given the top of the pyramid). Yet. This isn’t political! It’s about the fact that she was demeaned for a video of her dancing on a rooftop when she was in high school. I don’t get it! If it were me dancing I might understand the ridicule, but it’s a great clip! I’ve been forever fascinated by people who love dancing. I’m way too self-conscious to be good at dancing. I can stand up in a room with a thousand people and talk... ...but to move to the beat of the music and not absolutely embarrass myself? Can’t do it at this stage in life! Look at people who are dancing with reckless abandon... ...know what they have in common? Yeah. The smiles. Check her video... ...she was a kid, moving and smiling. What is she supposed to be ashamed about??? Yet, there are people treating it like the Acc

Years ago, my brother-in-law announced his candidacy for leader of the free world. “What’s your platform?” I asked. “There are no more laws!” He declared. We were swilling a few beers back in those days, and my brother-in-law being president was actually a great comedy theme for the day. “What about schools?” One of my kids asked. “Go if you want!” “Driving laws?” “Go 125 mph if you want!” As a Safety man I was a tad concerned. “A whole bunch of people will die,” I said. “Survival of the fittest!” I thought of that day as I considered that the government shutdown might stretch and stretch and stretch as the inane banter keeps going. “There are no taxes. No money either! Take what you want!” So, maybe my brother-in-law’s plan had a few flaws, but there were definitely a lot of laughs. “Seriously, though,” someone said. “It’s not a bad idea. We need to scrap the system and start over. Write new laws.” “No!” My brother-in-law exclaimed. “No laws!” We polled

I know exactly where I was when the Wall came down. Reagan had firmly declared: “Tear down that wall.” I was in the back of a pickup truck on the way to a party. The sky was filled with stars. Roger Waters was on the sound system doing: The Wall. A wall is an old technology that speaks of isolation and other intolerant type words. It’s a problem. Now to control the borders is another thing. The southern border has long been a scar, and it’s a complicated subject. Yet, here’s the thing: We are at a near 50-Year low on the amount of illegals entering. The lie that it’s a sudden national emergency is a lie. A huge, Beautiful, 10-foot concrete wall that Mexico will pay for is a fantasy. Always has been. Even the people calling for it knew that it was a way to bring attention and hatred to the issue. There certainly needs a solution to the problem of illegal immigration but from day one I have believed that Trump was elected because: He offered simplistic solut

The partial government shutdown is stretching into a 3rd week. The man who I know longer mention says that it might go on for months or even years. There are an estimated 800,000 people who’ve now missed a paycheck. Some are still going to work! I once asked a buddy of mine: “How’s work?” He answered: “If they weren’t paying me I wouldn’t go.” How inspired can you possibly be if you’re working for free? Moral must be bad! Now, I’m sure these people are expecting to someday be paid for the hours they’re putting in... ...but the stress levels have to be through the roof. “What should people say to their landlord?” That question was actually asked at the press conference. “Hopefully the landlord will understand. Just have to talk to them nicely.” Yeah. ‘Cause bill collectors are so understanding and compassionate. The kicker? The people at the high levels of the current administration are scheduled to receive a raise! This coming week!! Some of the people

A couple of people from the past have already died in 2019. That was quick! The captain from Captain & Tennille went on Wednesday as did Super Dave Osborne. I didn’t actually know either of their real names. Super Dave Osborne made me laugh to tears with his comedy. He appeared as that character for a lot of years and was, hands and away, the worst super hero ever, but he was strictly classic. I remember sitting in the living room at my parents home, sometime back in the 70’s, just laughing our asses off. Find some of the old clips. Funny, funny man and he was Albert Brooks’ brother. (Another funny dude. I felt badly for Albert. Shouldn’t lose a brother!) And the captain? We all pretended that we didn’t like them. But how could you not sing those songs? They were on television all the time back in the 70’s as well. So, just like that... ...2019 is taking people already. A guy on twitter posted: “55.3 million people will die this year.” Depressing b

I’ve been way out of sorts with the lack of routine, but I also had a book come out on December 21... ...and I had a whole bunch of anxiety waiting for the first reach out about it. What was weird was that this time I actually picked it up and read through some of it... ...and I kept thinking, “It’s good!” But Christmas and New Years and I hadn’t heard from anyone... ...until yesterday. A great review! A longtime friend, Mary, reached out to tell me that she loved it. Another old dog, Sam, sent me a few texts about parts of it that he enjoyed, and as much as I like to say, “I write what I want to solve things in my own mind,”... ...I was thrilled that my friends got it. “Everything I Know” was a book that I started writing in early 2016... ...I used some of the pieces from this blog and wrote the story around it... ...and then Prince died... ...and “The Big D” took charge. I actually worked on two books at once, but decided, even though “Everything I Know” w

“I’d like to lose seven pounds.” “I want to be more organized at work.” “I’m going to be better with money in 2019.” Slowly I read through all the resolutions. “I’m definitely going to the gym.” “I want to drink less.” “I’m going to church every week.” Most of those resolutions won’t make it to January 10th. Yet, it’s important to try, right? And one person after another wished love and peace and acceptance for their fellow man, except one dude who wrote: “HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE HATERS IN FAKE NEWS!” I’m not listening to that particular voice anymore. That’s my resolution, but will be a tough one to keep. But my first day of 2019 was spent mostly off my feet. I made dinner for the family. We watched a couple of movies. The dogs took a nap. I slipped off for a little while. Rest, relax, eat. It’s all so simple. Someone once asked John Mellencamp about what inspired him to be rich and famous: “I just wanted to make enough so I could get a nap ever

My wish for the coming year is that we rediscover compassion. Sounds easy enough, right? Kind of like the beauty pageant contestant who’s rooting for world peace, right? But I miss compassion. I think that we aren’t that far off either... ...but sometimes we get a little messed up when we overthink things. Do we want people to suffer? I’d think that the overwhelming answer to that question would be no, but we’re messed up on what to do with them when they make a four-thousand mile trip to escape gangs and poverty. Do we want to take children away from parents and put them in a cage? I feel guilty leaving my dog in a cage! Do we want our children to go to school and not be shot in the face? Of course we all want them safe! Yet, we can’t even tolerate hearing someone else’s opinion on a solution. 2018 seemed like it was all about division. 2019 needs to be about inclusion... ...and compassion. Years ago, I used to make lists of things I wanted to accomplis