Day 255 - just another Tuesday

 Today is the 3rd day of the 37th week, the 12th day of the 9th month, the 255th day of 2023, and:

• Defenders Day - a Maryland holiday celebrating the successful defense of Baltimore from British attack by Fort McHenry, which inspired Frances Scott Keys to write the poem which became the national anthem 
• International Day for South-South Cooperation
• National Ants on a Log Day - it's not what you think
• National Chocolate Milkshake Day
• National Day of Encouragement
• National Hug and High Five Day
• National Just One Human Family Day
• National Police Woman Day
• National Report Medicare Fraud Day
• National School Picture Day
• Saragarhi Day
• Video Games Day - can't find why today though
• and Voyager1 is 22h 19m 41s of light travel time from Earth

Quote of the day:
"Television is a medium because anything well done is rare."

~ Fred Allen, American comedian who was prominent during the Golden Age of American Radio

One could very easily substitute "social media" for television and the saying would still be true.  

The problem that we as a group never sit down and listen to one source of information that is required to present both sides of any issue, has made it possible for us to actually fracture, splitting our perceptions of reality, until it is difficult to see how we will bridge the yawning fissures.  One need only to compare the stories that are covered and they way in which they are presented to become aware of the divide.  The question of why so many are firmly committed to a "strongman", the very antithesis of democracy about which we have been warned so many times, baffles me as it has many historical scholars.    While on the one hand, I am growing personally weary [and I am sure I am not the only one] of every election since 2016 being about the defense of democracy, I do feel our very way of life is on the line.  

One of the questions asked of me when I go to any doctor for any reason is "are you experiencing anxiety or depression in your everyday life?"  I usually state rather emphatically that of course I do!

1. I haven't felt well since the Ozempic issue a year ago, which has kept me from being as much help to my family and friends as I would like to be
2. My daughter is all but totally disabled and in continual pain from the treatments for stage 3C breast cancer six years ago as well as the ongoing medication she must take.   My son-in-law is a saint, juggling long COVID, working full time, being a care giver, and raising my granddaughters.   And I am not helping them.  
3. My son is struggling with the harsh chemo treatments and limited life expectancy from stage 4C colon cancer that could've been avoided if the VA would've approved a colonoscopy before his 48th birthday.  He lives in a different state and I am not helping him.  
4. One of my friends is blind, in ill health, and struggling to live on her own and the only thing I can do for her regularly is talk to her every day on the phone
5. I am 73 and still working full time with no prospect of retirement because I do not have a pension but a 401K plan
6. My country is going to hell in a handbasket and there doesn't seem to be a thing I can do about it.
7. and to top it all off?  Climate change is here, and there doesn't seem to be much I can do about that either.  

So yes, I have both anxiety and I get depressed because too many things are beyond the realm of my control and the sphere of my influence.  And I think both of those things are a thoroughly normal reaction in these times, neh?

But one copes.   I count my blessings.  I live a 2nd life, staying active in world and in games, I read, I cultivate other interests, and I blog.   But I will admit, that I am getting very weary of living in interesting times...

At least it isn't Monday!