2019

Based on today's prevailing and profound negativity, guess one is supposed to see nothing good, either in daily life or on the horizon.  Most certainly all forms of mainstream media relish in "reporting" the negative, particularly since journalism has yielded to blatant opinion mongering.  It has reached a point that many a friend, from both sides of the political spectrum, report no longer reading newspapers and online "news" or watching the broadcast news.  Who in their right mind wants to be inundated with the negative?

Pundits, commentators, opinion mongers, and politicians spent the end of the year bemoaning 2018 and predicting nothing but horrible for all of 2019.  OK.  If desiring to wallow in the negative, 2018 can provide plenty of ingredients for a pity party stew.  Choose your poison: politics, economics, social, legal, national, international, and on and on.  Wallow if you want, but doing so misses the uplifting.  The positive.

In my life, strong faith and family love begin every single day on a positive note.  Contact with friends, near and far, is reinforcing.  Blessed with great health and fitness, the energy derived from a rigorous physical morning workout is uplifting.  As a military veteran, having served our nation is a constant source of pride.  And giving back to the community is so very, very satisfying.

The most enjoyable times are those spent with family.  From the very simple act of sharing coffee with my bride in the morning, to a full on family get together, and everything in between, these times produce that unique form of happiness that fills and warms the heart.

Close to the joy of family time is that spent with close friends.  At an age now that includes individuals with decades of friendship, it really is wonderful to share times, simple laughs, and memories.

In the broader community, I deliberately chose to participate with the Patriot Guard Riders.  The missions provide three crucial functions: supporting the family of a fellow veteran or active duty service member who is being laid to rest; standing with the like minded to honor someone's military service; and reinforcing the brotherhood and camaraderie that were so important during those days in uniform.  And we do it all under flag of our great nation.  (That I get to ride the Harley-Davidson motorcycle at the missions is a side benefit.) 

If you want to wallow in negativity, go for it.  More's the pity, however.

Choose instead to enjoy the positives in 2019.   

Not everything is negative

Not everything is negative, although perusing (supposed) news Internet sites would have you conclude otherwise.

Apart from punditry replacing journalism, one should not let the so-called news set the tone for the day, because there really is a lot of good happening each and every day all across our fantastic nation.

An example of the good are the missions conducted by the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR).  Known primarily for supporting the funerals of active duty military members or veterans, these missions exemplify good.

Take this morning for example.  Eight folks, seven on motorcycles (including one married couple) came out to honor the passing of a veteran. His military resume was unique, by any standard.  He'd served in the U. S. Navy in WWII and the U. S. Army in Korea.  On this breezy, chilly (by San Diego standards) Monday morning, the PGR gathered to honor this veteran.  In the group of eight members of the all volunteer PGR were a retired Marine, Marine Corps veteran, Army veteran, three Navy veterans, the wife of a Navy veteran, and one gent who never served in the military.  

Each gave of their time this morning to stand for one who stood for us.  No public recognition would be forthcoming.  None of the PGR knew the veteran they were honoring, nor did any of them know any members of the veteran's family.  Yet they gave of their time to ensure he was honored.

At the cemetery, they stood a flag line as his coffin was moved from the hearse to the grave site.  They extended the flag line, standing behind the grave site, with flags flying as the final farewell was offered by a family member.  It was telling, as the two soldier Army Honor Guard presented the folder American Flag to the son of the deceased veteran, that the PGR presented arms, holding aloft the American flags.

This is an example of the good that happens all across our nation each and every day.  But you'd never know it, because the erstwhile media don't care.

That's OK, because the PGR doesn't support these missions several times per week in SoCal for media attention.  We do it because it is the right thing to do.

Not everything is negative.

It's official

If a UCLA scientific study says it's so, then it must be.

Coming as no surprise to us bikers, a UCLA study declares riding a motorcycle is actually good for us.  

Say what you may about motorcycling, and it's not for everyone, it is absolutely liberating.  With the good fortune of living in Southern California (it costs a good fortune to live here), we enjoy nearly year around weather conducive to riding.  Consequently, I get many miles in most weeks and can attest to the benefits of riding.

Yesterday, for example, a few hours on a mixture of side roads and freeways helped to create a positive mood and feeling.  It is as if the speed of the wind washing across my body cleans the spirit of all the negativity that surround us.  I swear drivers, mostly but not exclusively male, look longingly at me as we travel down the road.

Of course, riding a Harley-Davidson also provides no small amount of cache.  The iconic look, including my leathers, and distinctive sound are universally recognized, even if not universally admired.  The running of the big V-twin motor can actually be felt, adding tremendously to the experience.  

Maybe that look from the gent in the cage (biker-speak for a car or truck) adds to the therapeutic value.

Whatever, as UCLA now declares, riding a motorcycle is good for you.       

 

Here we go

Here we go, with 2019 two weeks old.  It will be a terrific and rewarding year.

Already in the planning stages for multiple vacations, with my bride, family, and friends.  Excitement and purpose for each are invigorating.  A baseball watching trip, road trip on the new Harley-Davidson, family get together for a grand daughter's birthday, and other adventures await.  Even considering Death Valley (during the cool months).

Keeping the spirits up is well aided by deciding not to watch the news.  I'd rather spend time listening to country music with my bride than watch supposed journalists simply offer their opinions.  Leaves one in a much better frame of mind too.  

Joining with fellow veterans supporting Patriot Guard Rider missions continues the valued camaraderie from the years on active duty.  Also maintains the essence of patriotism.

More time cycling and hitting the weights in order to continue a healthy life style are favored portions of the daily routine, as is eating a more balanced and nutritious diet.

Saluting our American flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance each morning reinforces my citizenship.

Regular video chats with my brother are uplifting.

Employing old school letter writing to maintain contract with the grand kids helps fulfill the joy of grand parenting.

Yeah, 2019 is starting out very positively.  

I am determined that it will be a grand year, with new adventures creating enduring memories, along with reinforcing core values and beliefs.  

  

The next two years

After the 2016 election, the GOP controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House.  Expectation was high on the right.  After two years and the disastrous midterm, what can be pointed to as major accomplishments?

Not much.

And now the Dems have the lower chamber, with media expectations running high for the left.  Sad to say, apart from all the ballyhoo, in two years' time the nation will most likely be no better off.

Politicians on both side make wide sweeping promises, then regularly fail to fulfill them.  All the claptrap uttered during campaigns plays to the party bases, drumming up excitement and expectations.  But no single member of the House or senator can wave a magic wand and make the campaign promises reality.  And collectively the members of Congress have but one common goal: reelection.  

As long as reelection is the primary goal of members of Congress, the country will suffer.

The elected use public monies as a slush fund, handing out benefits in order to buy votes.  So increases the unimaginable national debt.

State and local officials rig districts and voting to benefit the reelection frenzy.  So increases the division within the country.

Political party entities manipulate social media to skew self-serving messages and narratives for the perpetual election cycles.  So increases segments of our population that are inflamed by false stories.

The politically aligned media aid and abet the perpetual election cycles, pumping out opinion masquerading as journalism.  So increases the misinformation and disinformation bombarding the electorate.

Colleges and universities, pursuing naked political reelection objectives, indoctrinate young, new voters, camouflaging it as higher education.  So increases ignorance within the electorate.

Ignorant social activists, fueled by false stories, indoctrination, misinformation, disinformation, and inflamed and divided by manipulated social media and the general media, ardently push to reelect candidates, based solely on physical characteristics, ethnicity, or heritage.  So increases the number of wholly unqualified elected officials.

So increases, to levels of near certainty, that the next two years will be no more productive than the previous two.

An approach: change the Constitution so that every single member of Congress terms out at the end of his/her current term of office.  Include in the change foolproof, unassailable term limits for all future member of Congress.

It will be a start.

Maybe then the following two year will see major problems in our country attacked and resolved for the good of ALL of the people.