Sunshine Patriots

 I was emailing  a blog friend this morning

 and shared some thoughts:

These are the times… I’ve been thinking a lot about those words lately.

"summer soldiers and sunshine patriots”

It could have been written about Americans today not just in 1776

“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated” 

Thomas Paine

My soul feels like it is being nibbled on by forces out of my control. 

I don’t enjoy the sensation. Not one damn bit. 

But I’m still here. I still care about the world I am leaving-

still believe there is enough goodness in humanity to make it all work. 

Teetering at times toward hopelessness 

but that is borne out of frustration more than a loss of faith.

I refuse to be a sunshine patriot- 

Only fighting when it is easy, only sacrificing when it is easy.

Freedom is hard won, hard kept - 

Not trying, is denying all those who lost everything

 for the freedoms we have now; 

still not enough for many, but within reach. 

If we only just try, care, reach, give,

 just a little more, for a little longer.

Z

Everything Changes Nothing Changes

 Yesterday Walter spotted his old bed in the garage,

 and I dragged it out for him. After a few sad attempts,

 he finally figured out a way to almost fit.

 

Picked up about 20 books from the library.

Some things never change.

Walter last week

I love books, my canines love me.

It makes for creative reading positions.

Howie last year

Just seeing his sweet face tears at my heart.

I miss him so much every damn day.

I'm hiding away here in my own little world

hoping you are all staying well and safe.

Z

It's A Balancing Act

Walter frequently uses my foot 

as a step to get down from the couch.

It's a balancing act for him

which mimics what I feel these days.

Staying isolated-staying alive/versus not

Figuring out the new blogger/chucking it all-why bother

Taking time to prepare good meals/eat a peanut butter sandwich

Be furious at the government/not internalize retain sanity

Clean the house/ no one sees it but me, screw it

Keep abreast of the news/take another nap and hide

Despise the human idiots/well, there is no alternative

Idiots choose to remain ignorant, while uninformed folk

can be educated; but idiots believe 

what they want, regardless of truths.

Wash my hair/choosing not to more often than naught

Try to save plants/they're half fried in 111 degree heat anyway

I am constantly struggling to maintain normalcy,

balancing what I should do, think or feel

against an overwhelming sense of

isolation and sadness.

I'm a tough ole mare, but lord, some days are rough.

Z