It's days like today when I 'Get it' - and times like this I can see why people just don't care

[The Straight Story]

Oh I still will read thomas.loc and govexec and my other gov sites to keep up on issues. And of course DU.

But there are times, as I experienced tonight that I feel like the 'old me' and how I think most of America feels 90% of the time.

I can hardly write through the tears.

I went next door to borrow an egg from dad. As usual, dad gave me more than I needed. Saved me a trip in the freezing cold to the store. I went downstairs to his office to see mom's urn and tell her goodbye, as I am moving to CA soon. And I lost it.

I'm leaving soon, in the hood I spent most of my life in. My wife is sicker than hell and can hardly make it down the steps. I probably won't see my old man ever again after I leave, so in a sense it is a goodbye to him, mom, and a huge chunk of my 41 years of my life.

Pity? Naw, I don't need that - won't help anyway really. But I do see in glimpses of it all why most people just don't care like we do about issues.

Too many things as it is in their personal life going on. Now that has intersected with bush and his war as more and more end up with personal issues involving the war - and people seem to care about that and not so much the other things.

It is easy to get distracted - and we don't need rove to engineer that. We have enough issues as it is to deal with. From friends and family to death and sickness, from kids in sports to work and volunteering.

Throw in sleep, eating, transportation times, etc - and people have but a small slither of their day to keep up on things like some of us are able to do.

I have too much on my plate as it is - but I make time for these things because I see it as an investment in my future. Learn more now, fight now, relax a little later and let the next generation take over the battle.

I don't think most of America is stupid - I just think we have to work too hard to survive, and then add in all the other things and spending time reading legislation our own leaders don't always read just does not seem like a priority. We hired folks to do all that for us so we could focus on other things.

And yet here we sit mired in it all - when we should be doing something we enjoy more. And we are not even getting paid for it with health insurance.

The unsung heroes who keep our politicians honest. Sometimes one just wants to pack it all in and ignore things blissfully and adapt as things change. Almost seems like we spin our wheels as we churn out the same candidates with different names.

2007 and we are still in wars, corporations still rule the roost, not much on health care, etc.

No - I don't need a break, I just need to vent :) I won't give up calling em on their crap, I pay em too much to do that. Just tonight I wished I was out of the loop like so many others and saw things as ok. For but a night of peace in a world sliding into hell.

[MadMaddie]

1. My friend continue to vent because that is why we are here...

Sometimes it's really hard not to get overwhelmed by the blatent crime committed in front of our very faces and our own daily struggles.

I know it will be hard to leave all that you know but sometimes change is not a bad thing. I see my folks twice a year, I wish I could see them more.

Good luck to you your family.:hug:

[illinoisprogressive]

2. Life can shit on you all at once. I know. If you need a shoulder you are

always welcome to write to me and I'll listen. That is what DUers do - right?

[The Straight Story]

3. I am calmed down

just hit me as I walked over there and came back.

Helps to cry once in awhile - which I have done a lot in the last week.

Seems silly really, I am excited about moving. But even my wife has done a lot of crying. Our first house was here, and we have lived here 9 years.

Happy and sad all at once. Weird.

[1620rock]

4. ...I feel your pain, the road is long. n/t

[knowbody0]

5. indeed

IMHO we can only blame our years of apathy for these conditions today. democracy held together by corrupt capitalists is no longer democracy. democracy demands vigilance and the watchtower is each and every one of us. we cannot lay down ever again, and must leave our children with these instructions to live by. I believe that Chavez is dealing with the corruption by becoming a dictator of sorts to banish the big (white) corporations that have ravaged his country's resources and enslaved its citizens. the solutions for our country are depressing as hell when corporate lobbyists have our elected representatives' balls and only very rich people can run for president.

The idea of never seeing your dad again must be overwhelmingly heartbreaking. Here's a hug and well wishes from me and my tribe.

[The Straight Story]

6. Thank you my friend, wise words indeed.

Been a hard two years for me on a lot of levels - thank the lord I have had DU as an outlet to vent :)

You folks have let me bitch and complain and cry and been there to hold me.

[havocmom]

7. Made some good points. We have limits. Some have higher thresholds

But sometimes the fates wallop ya with too much at once. Even the broadest shoulders need to shrug off some of the load from time to time.

Know many here care about you and send good energy. Know most of the pain is just 'growing pains' and you will come out the other side of it stronger and bigger.

In the meantime, be gentle and forgiving with yourself. Be at least as kind and attentive to yourself as you would be to a dear friend in similar straits.

Years ago, I lived day to day with so much heartbreak I didn't really want to live. Adopted lots of coping mechanisms to keep me going so I could grow into my new life. One trick was affirmations on 3x5 cards, placed around the flat where I would see them often. The one that helped most:
Change is not, in its self, painful. Resistance to necessary change, however, does hurt.

Just a little offering for a fellow traveler who is much respected and appreciated. Hope it helps. And go ahead and let the tears fall. It really is good for us all now and then.

You have more friends here than you could know. Draw strength from us.

And, have sweet dreams tonight.

hm