Welcome to January 2024 everybody. We’re just a few days into the New Year and I wonder how many resolutions have already been broken? According to the Washington Post, the most popular New Year's resolutions are to lose weight, eat right, get fit, pay off debts, save money, get a better job, drink less alcohol, get a better education, quit smoking, take a trip, reduce stress, volunteer to help others and be less grumpy. To be less grumpy is one that we don’t often hear. But if there is a grumpy month, January it is. The holidays are over and the Christmas bills are pouring in. I’ve been a bit grumpy too, but I did run across (on the internet) a medieval prayer from England which dealt with the horrible carnage the Vikings hurled at them. “Oh Lord, protect us from the Fury of the Norseman”. How about a new version, “Oh Lord, protect us from grumpy people”.
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Ran across a documentary on presidential funerals and part of the footage was from President Reagan’s service at Washington National Cathedral. I started thinking about how long it will be until someone objects to this magnificent structure being called “The National Cathedral” and want to add Mosque or something else to the name? Or call it “A place for BIG funerals”? Wouldn’t surprise most of us….would it? The ACLU used to be an organization that helped the little guy who was being abused; seems they’ve gone nuts. It's like saying the tiny cross in California’s state seal should be obliterated, as it’s a “Religious symbol”. What in the hell will they come up with next! Just as Westminster Abbey, there are notable people interred at the National Cathedral, including President Woodrow Wilson. His daughter Jessie was the wife of Frances Sayre, former dean (Head Honcho) of the church. Ah well, it’s a beautiful place and I hope a few people don’t ruin it for the rest of us.
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Speaking of Presidents, Joe Biden’s New Year’s interview was something. When asked what some of his favorite foods are, the First Lady had to remind him that he likes ice cream. How can he forget he loves ice cream? It’s a big part of Uncle Joe’s brand. This was one the damndest Presidential interviews I’ve ever seen…..since the last one where he stopped taking questions early. Something was going wrong with the teleprompter, or maybe he didn’t have his ear piece in correctly. A voice from somewhere (I don’t think it was God) was telling him what line to say next. I wonder how Abe Lincoln and William Jennings Bryan ever got along without a teleprompter. For that matter, how did they get along without television and the internet? Answer: Just fine.
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It’s so quiet in the office today that I’m going to ask the next person who walks in to “Please sign the guest book.” Hang in there Old Buddy and I’ll do the same.
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'Til Next Week:
J.M.W.
