Category: consequences

A Share from a blogger that needs to be read

by worrylessjourney, posted in consequences, share, worry

This article came from a blogger that I love beautybeyondbones. Because of my funky relationship with Facebook I have had to copy and past rather than forward. I hope you find this article enlightening. It is from https://beautybeyondbones.com/2020/09/03/nyc-needs-the-police/

I don’t have to tell you about society’s current tidal wave of hatred and detest towards our men and women in blue. Battle cries to “defund the police;” publicly canceling anyone who even considers that “blue lives matter.” There is a quelling uprising against law and order, and while – sure, it may seem “woke” and a noble bandwagon to jump on, the fact of the matter is, there are serious consequences to alienating those who are there to protect and defend. And that is being seen in full scale in Manhattan, no matter how much the mainstream media may try to downplay it.

(And Mom and dad, I apologize ahead of time for the worry this post may ignite. Please know that I am being safe, taking precautions, and frankly…not doing anything stupid to get into a dangerous situation.)

My friends and I got back from Maine on Monday night at midnight. And the city was lights out. Dead. For a city that used to literally never sleep — where you could go out at any time, on any day, and see swaths of people milling around — it is alarming that Manhattan is so quiet. And why? Because half of New York has left, and those that have stayed behind are scared to go out past 10.

Outdoor restaurants close at 10 pm. Historically 24-hour CVS’s, bodegas, and diners — now all close at 10. Parks – which have never been gated up…now, locked with a chain and padlock at 10.

Why? Because it is no longer safe to be out after dark.

Perhaps you may be thinking I’m overreacting. Sure…just a typical overdramatic millennial who’s extra skiddish because she’s a young woman who lives alone. Please. I have never once felt scared in NYC. Ever. Until now.

It was such a shock to go from “Mayberry,” Maine back to Gotham. The night my friends and I got home, I got a text from one of my friends — that morning, there was an arrest made in her building. A homeless man had been living in her stairwell for MONTHS, and had been stealing packages. This was in a super nice building on the Upper West Side — arguably one of the nicest, most affluent neighborhoods in Manhattan.

A man. Living in her stairwell.

Which is particularly alarming and crazy, because she had been getting her packages delivered to my doorman building for quite some time now, because all of her packages were going missing.

Crime is up.

You may recall the incident I had just a few months ago: where a BLM radical YouTuber accosted me outside my building, and forced me to get on my knees and hail BLM while he livestreamed it. I was one of a string of young women he “vlogged” that day.

Graffiti tags are absolutely everywhere. The population of homeless people has soared, and so has their boldness. My friend was curtly confronted by a homeless man who pressured her into VENMOING HIM money, when she explained she didn’t have any cash.

My “neighborhood watch” Citizen Ap on my phone pings incessantly throughout the day and night, notifying me of crime in my current vicinity. Unsettling reminders for sure.

These are not just isolated incidents. Homicides. Robberies. Burglaries. All have skyrocketed recently. And why? Because cops are afraid to do their jobs anymore.

Why put your life on the line, when — if you act to defend yourself, it could be filmed and end up on national news where you’ll be labeled a racist, and prosecuted?

They’ve had enough. And so they’re walking off the job. In startlingly large numbers.

The NYPD has recently cited “ongoing challenges,” including an “increase in retirements” and “deep budget cuts.”

That is terrifying information. Terrifying.

In case you missed it, back in June, one billion dollars was cut from the NYC police budget. And the impact of that are now beginning to be felt.

What is going to happen to our country if law and order is not the backbone of society? Truly? What will our world become?

Now here’s the tough part. Because yes – we need to support our men and women of the badge – but it is also true that there are “bad apples” that are drawn to the allure of the police force, and the power and -sadly, weaponry- that goes along with it. But to completely throw the entire baby out with the bathwater, just because of a problematic bunch…it is wholeheartedly unwise.

Are the horrific and heartbreaking incidents of unjust police brutality that have happened in recent months absolutely unwarranted, unjust, and deserving prosecution? One hundred percent yes.

But those handful of terrible, terrible incidents do not color the vast majority of blue men and women who truly have dedicated their lives and their livelihoods to protecting and serving the community, and keeping people safe.

It is a job that I cannot imagine waking up and doing every day.

And it is a job that, yes, probably should have more training and vetting, and support, and accountability, than it currently does.

But we need to support law and order in this country. Without it, we are creating a scenario ripe for malice, and foul play, and all sorts of corruption. A scenario that we are beginning to see play out in Manhattan.

Just one more thing

by worrylessjourney, posted in aggravations, consequences, frustration

You would never think that water would be a problem but here we go again. We now have a huge water bill because apparently something happened in April that we were not aware of. At that time I was tending to my recently hospital discharged husband. (still not well) I was barely holding my own. Somewhere, unaware of us, water was left running and caused an enormous water usage. Now there is the problem of scraping up the money to pay all of this to include having plumbers come out to tell us there is no leak now.

HELP!

Just another one of life’s glitches. Just when you think the money is holding up well something hits. There are so many people hurting so much more than us. Many are out of work and have not yet received any unemployment compensation. Many businesses are having to close. Covid has brought us to our knees. I pray that things begin to improve…even if just a little and that those who need help can get what they need.

Scary thoughts

by worrylessjourney, posted in consequences, darkness, listen

I ordered new music song books to play on the piano. This morning I was playing “The Sound of Silence” and reading the words. It was eerie. It was as if those words were written for today’s world. I am including the words here for you and also the song. Frightening how much it fits.

This explanation comes from Google:

What is the meaning behind Sound of Silence by disturbed?The song makes an allusion to the extreme capitalism and consumerism that is suffocating society – “the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made” (neon represents the signs of commercial stores), and further expresses a discontent for humans who do not care to pay attention to anything and anyone‘

The Sound of Silence

Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

“Fools, ” said I, “You do not know
Silence, like a cancer, grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells, of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls”
And whispered in the sounds of silence

The one from my era was done by Simon and Garfunkel but I think that this one by Pentatonix hits the mark.

A view of our world

by worrylessjourney, posted in comparisons, consequences, mistakes, misunderstanding

My granddaughter led me to this musical tht has been on Broadway. The music reminded me so much of the late fifties and sixties that It resonated with me. It speaks so clearly about the things that are happening in our world. We do have to remember when we build walls what we are walling in and what we are walling out. The “call and response” in this piece also echoes the way that many respond to what they hear without really thinking about it. Listen to the lyrics of this piece and see what you think.

Choose

by worrylessjourney, posted in accountable, choices, consequences

Life is moving on. My husband is due to come home on Monday. At least that part of life may return to some sort of normal. Even covid is becoming familiar and there is beginning to be a pattern to life. Yes, we are wearing masks (at least some of us), yes things are different…no big gathering of people, careful distancing….but moving on. Maybe things will never be the same but we will find a way to accept what is.

As humans we have the strength to change if we are willing. Each of us will have to make choices that will affect each day but it is up to us.

The Box Lady

by worrylessjourney, posted in appearance, consequences, coping, declutter

My home has become a storage area for boxes. All sizes and shapes. Boxes from Amazon, Hello Fresh, Chewy, and wherever else I need to order to keep our house going in this distancing time.

boxes being brought to my house

The boxes are piling up because my husband was the one who broke them down and took them to the recycling place. I have not done that. There are boxes in the back stairs, on the front porch, in the garage and in the house. I am starting to feel like a hoarder.

I know, I know, I just have to get them broken down and removed but somehow it has not been something that floated to the top of need to do things. Now it is beyond that. Does anyone need boxes? I have about any size you need. Small ones, big ones, square ones, flat ones, some with filler so things don’t bounce around inside. Maybe I could go into business selling them. Probably not since I imagine many people have been ordering also and may have their own supply.

what if there is a fire?

Oh well, I guess I will have to bite the bullet and get on with cutting them down and getting them out. If not soon they will be popping out of windows and lifting the roof.

More advanced, more complicated, more wrong.

by worrylessjourney, posted in aggravations, consequences, control, coping, persistence, perspective, problems, wrong

There has been a gremlin in my house. I am sure of it. We now have TV remotes mixed up and they don’t seem to work totally anywhere. One will change channels and do volume, the other will turn on and off. We need two remotes for my husband to work his TV. My daughter sent a new remote for him and I can’t get it programmed. The instructions work but you have to search for the codes for the TV and the cable box and the numbers that may work reach out to infinity. If I had a week I’m sure I could get it programmed. So for now he is using two remotes.

Why do things have to be so complicated? My daughter say the more things they add to each electronic piece the more likely it is to go wrong. I’m finding that to be true. Somehow I have got to get something working. I contacted the cable company and they are not allowing anyone to come into the house at this time. Since there are many issue involved with this having someone here is the only way to solve it. Oh well….sighhhhhhhh.

Life is complicated enough without having to fight with electronic devices. I wonder what it will be like when robots do everything? I think I am glad that I will not be here to see it.

Violence is never the answer

by worrylessjourney, posted in accountable, consequences, decisions, fail, wisdom

The other night I caught the edge of some news. They were talking about somewhere that a protest was being held. Not us, another country. The protesters came out into the street and just stood. No words, no movement, nothing. Apparently people were stunned and paying attention. It was novel. It was different. It was non-violent. It piqued curiosity and questions and notice. It reminded me of the protests of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

All this violence, robbery and chaos does not do the same thing. I was reminded of these quotes.

When will we ever learn?

Pariahs

by worrylessjourney, posted in aging, appearance, community, consequences, coping, decisions, kindness, unkindness

Yesterday I had the oddest thought. As people begin going out as they want, many without wearing masks, it will be us elderly and the sick who will stand out. We will become the stigmatized group. We will stand out like a sore thumb. I doubt that we will be able to feel the slightest bit safe until there is a vaccine and that will be quite a while coming.

There will be a point where we have to continue to live our lives and know that there is a risk. That has been true for those in war torn countries forever. Going out of the door in the morning does not guarantee that they will be safe. It’s just that we have never suffered that experience since the long past flu epidemic.

Shunned

So if you see us out with our masks until next year and see us obsessively washing our hands and safe distancing from people please don’t see us as lepers. We are just trying to survive.