Friday, March 22, 2013

First Day of Spring



Vernal equinox.
Comforting words to the ear.
First day of spring.

Time of renewal,
new life, new growth and new hope.
Vernal equinox.

Today, it is spring.
At least astronomically.
Vernal equinox.

Shortly after seven am on Wednesday, the sun, in its annual journey, crossed the equator and it became spring.  It happens every year.  We call it the vernal equinox and use it to mark the end of winter.

Unfortunately, this year spring denoted by the position of the sun on the horizon is not the same thing as spring experienced in the body. Given the weather around the nation, warmth seems weeks away.

Light has returned. Heat has not.

The groundhog who said winter was over six weeks ago lied.

Country comedienne Minnie Pearl probably said it best.  Cousin Minnie, with a big smile, is quoted as saying "My feller told me I look like the first breath of spring!"

"Really, Cousin Minnie?" the interviewer would ask. "Those were his exact words?"

"Well", says Cousin Minnie, looking down, "What he said was 'You look like the end of a hard winter." (pause, big smile) "But they mean the same thing!"

Today, I'm not so sure of Cousin Minnie's conclusion. Rather, I find myself at the end of a hard winter while continuing to anticipate the first breath of spring.

How about you?

Is today the end of a hard winter or the first breath of spring?

Only you can say.


Thursday, March 21, 2013

I Could be a Writer!

In a press conference marking the third anniversary of Obamacare’s passage, former House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the health care law "fulfills the promises of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" because it allows people to leave jobs that include health insurance as a benefit. "Just think", she stated "... you could be a photographer or writer, start your own business, be self-employed, as well as change jobs or start a business and not have to be constrained by whether you had affordable and accessible quality health care."
 
I can be a photographer or a writer, Ms. Pelosi? 

Really?

I’m already a writer, dammit! My decision to become one had nothing to do with health care.

I write because I like to write and am under the possibly misguided assumption that I have something to say -- something other people might actually like or otherwise profit from reading. 

Healthcare availability had nothing to do with it.

It probably never will.

I hate to rain on your parade, Ms. Congressperson, but very few people go to work for the purpose of obtaining health care. Most of us work to put food on the table and a roof overhead. Some lucky few of us actually work because we really like doing what we do, and when you like doing what you do and it's putting food on the table life is very fulfilling.

The availability of government sponsored health care has nothing to do with it.

How about you, dear reader. 

Why do you work at what you do?

Do you work for the health care?

Will government sponsored health care make your life that much better?