The 70s were cool

I'm going to set aside my rants for the next few posts and write a series on my childhood in the seventies.  From about 1963 to approximately 1977 my family lived in a small house on Pendleton Street in Harlingen Texas.  The neighborhood was basically all the same style homes, built in the late 1940's and 1950's.  Probably to sell to the world war II veterans.  I lived there with my two younger sisters and my parents.  The house was small, but I thought it was huge.  It was just a simple 3 bedroom, 2 bath, living room, kitchen and a den.  I thought my parents were rich and that we had it made.

I recently took the family down to Dallas, Texas to visit my dad and two sisters, Janet and Brenda, Janet is the youngest.  While there I took the time to transfer all of my dad's Super 8 film to digital files.  These videos are basically the only record of my childhood.  Here is the first video that I created.

This video was created on my 12th birthday in 1973.  What makes this film so memorable is that my mom used trick candles on the cake.  When you blew them out they would relight.  This film has been a source of fun and laughter with my family for years.  You will see me cry and actually start to get frustrated.  Check out the background and you will see some really cool 1970's fixtures.  The orange bike I am riding in this film was probably the best gift my parents ever game me as a kid.  I loved that bike and rode it everywhere.  You even get a glimpse of my mothers cool Ford XL and my dad's International Scout.  I left the comments that everyone made while I was doing the transfer.  The loudest of the crew is my sister Janet.  She is the one sitting in the high chair and standing next to me while I was on the bike.

Quiet Acceptance - A chicken little saga

I have resigned myself to quietly accept the election results.  I will quietly watch the next four years.  I will quietly watch as our leaders tell us on a regular basis that the sky is falling.  Chicken Little has spoken many times and will continue to scare us with the sky is falling routine.

"Oh no its the Fiscal Cliff, we are sure to dive into recession if nothing is compromised"
"Oh no its the Debt Ceiling, we will surely dive into recession if it is not raised."

Dear Chicken Little,

I will quietly watch your 'wagging the dog' saga, knowing that each time it occurs you have some master plan to bring higher taxes and more regulation to Americans.  You have the liberal media at your beck and call.  Even movies have begun to preach the liberal message.  I have quietly quit watching the tube.

Mr. Little, perhaps we will survive one more time.  Perhaps you will stop the blame game and actually lead this country.  I have quietly accepted the fact that I have no control over the sky and whether it is falling or not.  You will not hear me complain about any of the future issues that present themselves to us over the next four years.  I will quietly remind myself that you will continue to lead us down this path.  I will quietly follow.

I quietly follow because I know that given enough rope you will eventually hang yourself.  It happens all the time, it has happened to many Chickens.  So when you cry that the sky is falling again, I will quietly listen and watch but not react.  I will simply and quietly go about my business.

I quietly know that over the long term, the sky does not fall, the world will continue to turn and that eventually we will 'have change' that matters.  I quietly await that day.  

New America and the Final Truth

In this, our final article in the series about the New America.  I want to reveal the truth.  The truth of what I am trying to reveal in my New America posts.  If you haven't done so already take a few minutes and read the series.  Here are the links:





This is the New America
"...the rules of 5 years ago have faded away... "

Earning in the New America
"There are a million ways to earn cash that is unreported.  The idea here is to get paid in hard cold CASH."

Rebellion in New America
"....an America that has big brother monitoring our actions then punishing those actions based on an agenda. "

Paying the Bills in New America
"Making a living in the New America will be challenging over the next 4 years.  High unemployment is expected to continue." 

The New American Thanksgiving
"If you are like most Americans, Thanksgiving was a day of overabundance. "

New Years Resolutions in New America
"Here in New America we do not need New Years resolutions. "

The New American Christmas
"In New America, Christmas is about What can I get people to give me. "

The Truth

The truth here involves your reaction to the posts in this series.  If the information in these posts 'piss' you off.   You are the New American.  America wasn't built on the ideals that I have presented.  These are immoral and unethical.  If you were disgusted and actually are considering never reading my blog again.  You are the New American.  You are as disgusted and frustrated as I am.  Somewhere along the line, we lost our way.

Keep in mind that the things I wrote about are occurring right now.  I did not make any of these things up.  I may have changed details to protect the privacy of some people.  But the facts remain.  Is this in fact what America is becoming?  Are the good people the 'True Americans' unable to turn the tide?

I think that we can turn the tide.  Lets put this political bull to the side this year and work on getting down to business.  Since we are unable to control or even influence what happens in Washington DC.  Lets just get to work.  Work hard.  My whole life I have always believed that if I wanted something I could just work harder, sell more stuff, earn more money.  The more things change the more they stay the same.  Yes, we have four more years but then we always have 4 more years of the administration elected to lead us.

Someone once said "And this too shall pass".  I don't like the alternative so I will just work harder.  Will I reduce my income to hire more employees?  No.  I will continue to work harder.  This will change again, maybe for the better.