KEEPING FREEDOM -- AGEING OVER 90

 Republic -- "If you can keep it."  [Democracy]

      Accountability for Jan. 6 insurrection.

U.S. Select House Committee on Jan 6th Hearings

 Subpoena issued to Donald John Trump to testify.

QUESTION:  Will DJT follow law and order in which he says he believes to tell the truth under oath to the U.S. Select House Committee on Jan. 6th Hearings?

FWIW I've been blogging on other sites less frequently recently, if you've noticed.  This is due to personal issues but I want you to know I still care about each of you.

DEMOCRACY

A nation of freedom-loving people we have plenty about which to be concerned though in my eighty-plus years this is one of the most dangerous ones.   I feel compelled to continue expressing my thoughts since critical U.S. midterm elections are still in process, so be forewarned.   Should you prefer to avoid reading more about these issues, you may prefer to skip directly to AGING PERCEPTIONS below.

Democracy preservation for the United States is of the utmost priority when selecting candidates for whom to vote in this midterm election IMHO.  Given the gravity of the situation I cannot avoid continuing to focus some attention on what is at stake for the survival of our nation as the constitutional republic and democracy with the freedoms our forefathers gave to us, "if you can keep it."

I wanted this blog to be politically nonpartisan when I began in 2006, but am dedicated to upholding our constitutional republic's democracy I have observed being under attack since 2016.  I cannot remain silent since a once respectable political party became subverted into undermining our government by any means possible with lies regarding the results of our election process, even inciting violence in an effort to establish an autocratic system with a one-man ruler. 

Obviously, by the actions of those aligned with the violent instigating political party and even the words of the leader they claim to follow, law and order is not observed or respected and won't be in the future for anyone whose views differ from theirs.

Individual rights and freedoms are being seriously threatened by that party.  Unfortunately, many citizens have and still do take our rights and freedoms for granted, assuming we'll always have them or can easily regain them if taken from us no matter what we do or don't do.  Nothing could be further from the truth as they can be whittled away little by little by various politicized government branches by far too many of that party's candidates such as those recent women's rights were taken away.  

Government office appointments in the future and Congressional action by that party will jeopardize many citizen rights including healthcare, Medicare and Social Security in our richest of all nations -- our U.S. nation that already falls well below the offerings reported in the rankings of other nations in the democratic western world.  

Federal, state, local elections, judges and appointees matter and we the people with our votes can determine what kind of country in which we and future generations live.

I know some of my words resonate with many in the U.S. and some others elsewhere in the world.   I don't presume to know what if any meaningful impact occurs on any U.S. voter with what I write, but I must make the effort on my limited platform.   

AGEING PERCEPTIONS OVER 90

We're fortunate whatever our older age to have individuals who have enriched our lives.   The reality is that the older we become the fewer remain who are still living.   That's certainly been true in my life as I've previously shared here.  Celebrating my recent birthday many memories cross my mind.

I recall with loving thoughts the year my young teen son asked me to stay in the other room because he was going to undertake his first solo baking effort without supervision.  He baked me a birthday cake from scratch which was quite successful when all was said and done -- probably the best cake, commercial or otherwise, I ever had made for me!

There have certainly been other significant family birthday occasions and some with co-workers as well as personal friends.  Often lovely flowers my husband brought with memorable gifts, including unexpectedly unique ones from my daughter.  Across the miles now I am not forgotten as grandchildren join my celebration.   Far too many other family members and friends exist only in my memory.   

This year, I unexpectedly was delighted to share some of my much younger neighbors delicious chocolaty chocolate October birthday cake.  

Author, blogger, Katherine Esty recently celebrated her 88th birthday which caused her to think about what life might be like at 90 or older as she edges closer to that decade.   She shares "What It's Like To Be Over 90" HERE in interviews with some she knows that age.  

Wellness and disability issues are discussed coupled with a view revealing whatever one's physical condition an attitude exists of believing we're "Lucky To Be Alive" as younger old folks have said, too.

A probably 95 year old woman now I know is continuing to thrive living independently in her single family home following her husband's death some years ago.  "C" as I'll refer to her continued her career as a hairdresser after she left the aerospace industry in an earlier decade until Covid caused the hair salon to close when she was age 93.  Even then she often continued helping clients where they lived including shopping for them.  

"C" had begun experiencing some challenges standing for long periods and began using a walker in some situations outside the beauty salon.  She has some medical problems but continues to cope.  She's always been in an upbeat mood in our occasional phone conversations to catch up on our lives, or when she stopped by the house a year or so ago.   

Most recently, "C" speaks of selling her home and moving as one of her daughters may from her state to northern California where more of their immediate family is now living.  

I appreciate learning about other individuals lives as they travel along the ageing highway, especially those living independently in their homes without benefit of community care facilities offerings.   My situation presents challenges quite different from that provided in long term care even at the independent living level. 

Having no family or even immediate close friends nearby can present additional complications as I experience which doesn't lessen the older one becomes.  I have characterized my decision to choose this way of living my sunset years as "The Grand Experiment".  Experiments outcomes can become unpredictable.  

Perhaps you'll find Katherine Esty's blog at the link provided above of interest as she writes from her long term continuing care community.  Certainly the views and attitudes of her fellow residents reflect the lives they lead and their experiences.   I wonder if or how they might differ from those living in other than in long term continuing care settings?  

Everyone living who survives many years with the obstacles they may have encountered in their path sprinkled among the joy and happiness they've had can consider themselves fortunate.  Some of those obstacles may be of the person's own making caused by words said or unsaid, actions taken or lack of action.  Then there are other complications that occur beyond the person's influence or control.  Somehow the individual has bypassed the obstacle in some fashion, overcome, or found a way to live with the result.    

Whatever the situation celebrating each birthday is well-deserved the older we become, especially when we consider the alternative.

"HERE'S TO LIFE" -- Shirley Horn with John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra, 1993