14 YEARS AGO

14 YEARS AGO




 
There is no one way to do this.  But you do need to be focused and follow through.  For me it begins with morning, and the computer and fake-news-headline banners.  The key for me is to realize we are being forced to change our ways, become a lot like our forefathers at the turn of the century.  Not 1999, but rather think back.  1900 and where I live now, had just achieved statehood.  Prior to that, it was the Oregon Territory.  And Prior to that, 1848 and the California Gold Rush and of course, the add-on:  Alaska.   And little by little it all comes into focus and the history books.  Alaska.  Seattle.  San Francisco.  And we have heard about it, but most of us have never been there.  And that’s ok.  We have blogs now and people like me who write and post and others read.  Free and Available, if you have a computer or phone-app or how-to-say-it:   modern technology.  And now we do.  Many of us.  Most of us.  Some of us.  Let’s say, "10% have it all."  But really we know:  we are not where we want to be.  Just 14 Years  Ago.  That’s it.  Perfect.  Where I wanted to be.




 
From the Google and headline banners, I see a good example of what I want to talk about, but maybe you realize like I have recently, our government is everywhere and we have to be careful not to get tagged.  Tagged.  On The List.  You know.  That 10 % of the people that look so good, it can’t be real, so we need to look at them closer, tap their phones, read their e-mail and generally scrutinize.  Just to make sure, they are what they appear to be.  Using other people’s words, I proceed.  From a blog posted september 17, 2013 by shemelts (thoughts.com ) she says it all when she says, "  A little history for you."  And so I will follow that model.  Not exactly a history lesson, but going back 14 years and then going back some more to 1980-something, I will try to make my point, in a focused and brief way.  Blog style.




 
Starts out with headline:  Georgia Kidnappers Seek 10 K for Ransomed Teen.  And now an hour or so, I see it being reported that, these same Kidnappers up ransom for Ga. Teen to $100 K.  And I smile.  "Its The Economy Stupid."  Meaning why get yourself killed for a measly $10,000 dollars.  Not sure its a question or just the realization that the price of living is going up.  And of course, over the years, we expect things to cost more.  But did you know, we are now asking for higher wages and a living-wage.  Can’t live on $10 or $15 an-hour.   And so it goes.  Helps me focus on some basic things.  Baseball and Military Conflict and The-Way-It-Is.  And its just a  Blog Style way of finding a different way to do what we did in 1980, only back then more of us were married and had jobs, and taking care of our family in a different way.  Not saying it was better.  Even in 1999, it was good.  But was it the way we wanted and were we happy back then.  Case by Case, we have to listen to the stories from back then, to really know.  But as we know, Technology was almost non-existent then, compared to now.




So I want to talk about it, but I really can’t.  Freedom on the Internet might only be for the top 10% of the people.  Haven’t decided yet if this is true.  But just having to consider it all in terms of past history, even just 14 years ago, and it means we have to be careful now.  So I really want to write a blog about the cost of doing business.  Even something simple like Ransom and the proper price to ask or pay.  Bin Laden.  Ask for $10-million.  A teen in Georgia.  Ask for 10k.  But then you realize, not enough.  You need more.   And that’s when it becomes apparent, we need to look at things more closely.  And is what I really want to talk about.  Baseball and its becoming apparent the fans are not coming out to the ballpark like they once did.  And of course, we can read in the USA Today why some say its depressing, but they can’t really talk about it.  



 

Why Baseball is not as popular as it once was.  And I smile.  Is a conversation for another day.  As is the article I just finished reading about divorce for military women on combat assignments in Iraq or Afghanistan longer than 12 months and ever more frequent.  And so it goes.  14 years ago.  Not sure its clear what this blog is really about.  But if you look at it back then.  Say, before the bombing of the World Trade Center in 2001, it would be obvious.  Things looked better then.  Including me.  Looked good.  Felt good.  Had a job.  Just:  14 Years Ago.  And I want to talk about it, but I really can’t.