Full disclosure: I didn’t listen to Trump’s speech last night as I’m so tired of hearing his voice, watching him insult people, hearing his lies, and watching him verbally stumble through a speech. I don’t need to put myself through that, since he has long passed the point of saying anything about helping the general public through any of the difficulties we face because of actions he has taken.
The tarriffs.
The alienation of other countries that used to be our allies.
The war in Iran.
The gutting of government agencies that were there to help people with all kinds of needs, from food support, to subsidies for clean energy use, to help with the rising cost of health care.
His latest attack on the media: Calling for revoking the licenses of CBS and NBC because they didn’t air his speech. Last Friday he had Kash Patel investigate a team of journalists at the New York Times because of their reporting the safety issues with the new Air Force One. Patel was called in to the White House, where he spent “roughly eight hours running the investigation from there rather than FBI headquarters,” according to a report in the Times newspaper. All the reporters who worked on the story about the safety issues were served subpoenas last Friday evening, to compel them to testify before a Grand Jury. They will be asked to name the person who gave them the information, which is in direct violation of the First Amendment rights that journalists have to protect the identity of people who act in the role of a whistleblower.
Beyond the attack on media and misuse of the FBI, the other real concern that we Americans should have is how Trump’s ranting about the 2020 election and his push for federal control of election processes will affect future elections. And what will happen when GOP candidates for many offices are defeated in 2028? Change is coming and not the kind that will make Trump or Stephen Miller happy.
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Now to brighten this space, I once again turn to my friend, Slim Randles. He has a sweet story about dancing and community that has a great message of kindness at it’s core. Enjoy!
Over in the corner, smiling and tapping his foot, was Pop Walker. Pop and several other residents of the Rest of Your Life retirement home were there to enjoy the dance and celebrate the arrival of summer. Pop has a hard time with his memory, these days, but always forgets things with a smile.
“Pop,” said Mrs. Doc, “how about a dance?”
“Why sure … uh?”
“Mrs. Doc.”
“Right. Mrs. Doc.”
There are some who say Mrs. Doc has an actual first name, but you know how rumors are spread.
Now Pop had learned to waltz back when more people did it, and the decades had smoothed his dance steps with the fine sanding of time. It was a pleasure for Mrs. Doc to go around the floor with him.
She smiled and winked at her husband as she and Pop danced by, and Doc grinned and swirled a fancy di-do with Ardis, just to show off. Then she and Pop got closer to the bandstand and there was Dud Campbell playing his accordion. He looked happy and surrealistic in the muted reddish lights on the stage. Next to him sat Carla Martinez, playing rhythm guitar and smiling out on her town and her life. Jim Albertson was up there, too, playing the waltz’s melody on the harmonica, and trading the lead with Jasper Blankenship on his fiddle.
As she and Pop Walker danced away, the bandstand receded in a blur of light and sound. Passing like ships in the night were Dewey Decker with Mavis from the Mule Barn truck stop. Mavis’s hair is growing back in since the treatments, giving everyone in the valley just one more reason to be thankful. Randy Jones and Katie Burchell sailed by on wings of love.
The waltz ended and Pop walked Mrs. Doc to her seat.
“Thanks for the dance, er … Honey,” he said.
“Thank you, Pop.”
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Brought to you by Chilkoot Charlie’s Saloon in Spenard, Alaska. Tell them hi for me, will you?
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Before you go, I have a question. I’m considering publishing a short story collection and am curious if people are still reading short stories. I’m not seeing great sales numbers for the collections I already have published, or many others either. So, do you read them? Would you want to see more collections available? I’d love your feedback.
