Joe Biden, Likeable Man, Lost Forever

First, let me say that I have always liked Joe Biden. What??? My conservative friends are probably apoplectic by now, and my liberal friends think I have lost my mind, both not understanding the why I so bravely make this statement.

Let me explain.

In 1987 or 1988, when Mr. Biden was campaigning for President the first time, I was a registered Republican. Before I continue, I was a registered Republican until 2018, when I became a registered Libertarian. To paraphrase the Great Ronald Reagan, I did not leave the Republican Party, it left me. Anyway, I have always voted for the person, not the Party candidate. For example, I voted for Ed Koch for Mayor of New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan for US Senator, Bill Clinton for President in his second term. I am also voting for Senator Monica Martinez, a NY State Senator, who works for all the people in her district, even those of us who are not in her Party. I have always felt that the person who did something that merited my vote, would get my vote, which is my right.

To continue, I felt that Mr. Biden, while a Democrat, said things and had done things in the Senate that merited my vote. I had voted for Ronald Reagan twice, and I still feel he is one of my two favorite and best Presidents in my lifetime, the other being John F. Kennedy. Biden, at that time, seemed like the best candidate the Democrats could offer, as I did not Like Vice President Bush. In addition, I knew that while he was Reagan’s VP, I felt he would not follow in Reagan’s footsteps, should he be elected.

Biden, who was a moderate Blue Dog Democrat, seemed like the best alternative to Bush the Democrats could offer. When they nominated Dukakis, I had no choice but to vote for Bush.

Fast forward to 2007 and 2008. Biden decides to run again, and his opponents were Hillary and Obama. In my view, Biden, the moderate, was the best candidate, for me, that the Democrats could offer. So, when the Democrats nominated Obama, I could not vote for the Obama-Biden ticket, even though I liked Biden. So, while I voted for Mitt Romney in the NY Republican primary, I voted for John McCain against Obama. And in 2012, I voted for Romney.

Now here we are in 2020, and a much holder, by 33 years, Joe Biden is the presumptive nominee for the Democrats. But this is not the quirky, amusing, thoughtful Joe Biden from 1987. This is the angry, forgetful (at best), hijacked Biden who is being used by the Democrat Party as a placeholder until the nomination, or the election.

Sadly, he is not being protected by his wife or his children. This is a man who is suffering from some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is sad that his legacy will be that he was a sick, old man, who fought to achieve something he would not remember because he was used, misused and abused by a party who left him in the dust and did not give a $#!+ about him. For this, Mrs. Biden and his children should be ashamed of themselves. But they aren’t because they don’t give a $#!+ either, or they were bought off. Either way, they are a disgrace.

There are other negative things people say about Biden, but I prefer to attribute these things to the fact that he is not well. He was always a Democrat; he was always a man I would have loved to have had a beer with; he was always a likeable guy.

And, I still like him.

The Times Fails AGAIN!

As one who enjoys driving and talking with people, LYFT affords me the opportunity to do both.

Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo wanted to force a bill on the Legislature, buried within the budget, to have people like me, who are considered self-employed independent contractors, lose the benefits we enjoy as ICs to follow California Law AB5 which would make us W-2 employees. Thankfully, reason prevailed at the last minute in March, when Cuomo realized too many Legislators and Senators wanted more time to study this proposal.

Now, in the midst of ginning up the economy after the Great Shutdown due to Covid, the gray old lady, yes the New York Times, wants to have this matter resolved. Apparently, those people running the Times today don’t have the first idea of how free enterprise works.

 Did any reporter interview LYFT drivers, Amazon delivery people, or DASH drivers to see how they feel about this? Apparently not, because if they did, the answer to the question would have been a resounding NO!!

Perhaps, it is time for the executives who run the Times go back to Journalism School to find out how THEY should do THEIR jobs and leave the rest of us alone to do ours.

Cancel the Season

How many fans think that a 60 to 70 game season is going to be meaningful this year? Anybody? I will tell you as a long-time, long-suffering New York Mets fan, it will be an extended spring training season with a make believe, meaningless playoff season which could end in November. AGAIN.

Even if my Mets were to be a playoff team, win the pennant and then win the World Series against the New York Yankees, it would not mean the same. In fact, as a baseball purist who thinks that Maris still holds the single season home run record, Aaron is the all-time Home Run King and Johann Santana DID NOT throw the Mets’ first no-hitter in 2012 (due to an obvious blown call by the umpire), there is no way I could not think the winner would not be tainted.

In the strike season of 1981, when baseball canceled a total of 713 games or about 7 weeks of baseball, there were still enough games remaining from August 9 to the end of the season to have meaningful baseball that year. In fact, the All-Star Game was played on August 9, and the season resumed the next day. Then, there was a playoff between the first half winner and second half winner in each division and the winners then played for the pennant. The total games played for each team was anywhere from 102 to 111, with the average at around 106. Meaningful baseball.

Then in 1994, the players went on strike again on August 12, and did not return that year, causing the cancellation of the remainder of that season, the playoffs and the World Series. The average games played in 1994 was 113, while 144 games were played in 1995, along with the post-season and the World Series. Again, meaningful baseball.

So, how does MLB justify playing baseball this year with a maximum of 70 games and consider this a fair and meaningful season? After all, batting averages will certainly be blown out of proportion with the possibility that several players could potentially hit over .400 and that starting pitchers would only get around 12 or 13 starts when they average 35 in a typical 162 game season. How is that real and meaningful?

What about all the Season Awards, like Cy Young, MVP, and Rookie of the Year? How could one be judged on a season as lost as this one is?

In fact, for a league so fascinated by and hung up on metrics, what metrics would be considered valid? Would some metrics be ignored? It really would be unfair to pick and choose the metrics that counted, especially if a player were in a “walk year.” And if a player, like Yoenis Cespedes, who missed an entire season due to an injury and rehab, is eligible for free agency, what metrics does he bring to the table? His make believe season? Or his last “meaningful season”, you know, the one where he was injured and played 39 games?

Unlike basketball and hockey which were nearing the end of their seasons when their seasons were placed on hold and may come back to play a couple of games to get into shape before their playoffs, baseball isn’t going to come back for almost another month.

Maybe it is time to face the reality that baseball is done for 2020. I know, as a fan not only of my Mets, but of the game itself, the integrity of the season truly is on the line if they play it at all. Right now, the owners and the players are “negotiating” about money and games and all that this entails. But no one, not even the writers, have mentioned the integrity of the game.

I know fans are disappointed the games not played are lost forever. I am one of them. But, it would be more disappointing to sit down some day with your grandchild and explain the real history of the game you love and the records which are cherished, now, like Ted Williams hitting .401 in a 154 game season, or Bob Gibson with a 1.12 ERA in a 162 game season. How could you explain and justify Joey Bigelow hitting .430 or Frank Fredricks pitching a 0.98 ERA in a 60 or 70 game season? I know I could not. Nor do I want to.

Cancel the season and get ready for next year.

What One Bad Cop and One Bad Prosecutor Has Wrought

Any politician or Hollyweird celebrity who calls for defunding of police must immediately lead by example and give up their 24/7/365 protection. Otherwise sit down and STFU. We do not want to hear from you again unless you have the b@//$ to do to yourself what you want to do to the rest of us... leave us with inadequate protection.

By the way, anyone else in the private sector calling for the defunding of the police should be taken to a psych ward to have your heads examined because you have obviously lost your minds. Otherwise, don't call the police when you are in trouble and need assistance. Figure it out like you want the rest of us to do. 

Understand that I believe in equal rights for everyone, no matter your race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or preference. I also believe that every one of us has certain inalienable rights as citizens of this country which are defined in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, which includes the First Amendment.

Within the First Amendment, there are additional defined rights, including the Freedom of Speech, Freedom OF Religion, Freedom of the Press (Media), the Right to PEACEABLY Assemble, and the Right to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.

Nowhere does ANYONE have the right to destroy someone’s property because we do not like them OR disagree with them. Nor, does ANYONE have the right to terrorize or harass another. Nor, does ANYONE have the right to disobey laws which are enacted for ALL of us to follow by our elected representatives, whether those laws are local, state or Federal.

Essentially, we are ALL expected by social norms which should have been the way we were raised, to behave respectfully to each other, even when we feel we were disrespected. In other words, we are ALL expected to act like HUMAN BEINGS and not some wild, untamed, undomesticated animals.

Which leads me back to the reason we have police. In a civilized society, which we are supposed to be, the police are there to make sure EVERYONE is protected, that nobody’s rights are denied, that laws are faithfully executed. And, at no time is a police officer supposed to act unlawfully, especially when he KNOWS what the laws are. In the case of George Floyd, I agree that this cop, Derek Chauvin, acted unlawfully, as well as the other three who stood there and did nothing to stop Chauvin. And presently, they have all been fired and are facing maximum charges for what they did.

It has been revealed during the investigation that this cop has had a history of various degrees of brutality, but the prosecutor in several cases looked the other way. That prosecutor was Amy Klobuchar who chose not to criminally charge any fatalities involving law enforcement. Instead she routinely put the decision to a grand jury, a process widely criticized for its secrecy and for mostly allowing the police version of events. Klobuchar also didn't take on any of the misconduct claims. Essentially, she failed her responsibilities to the people of Minneapolis and to the United States.

Had Klobuchar done the right thing the very first time Derek Chauvin was brought up on charges while she was the County Attorney, this latest series of riots and destruction across this country never would have happened because George Floyd would have still been alive.

So, to sum up: If the loonies get their way to defund the police throughout the country, it will be a knee-jerk reaction which will endanger us all, taking away more of our rights to live freely, believing we are safe from harm because one bad cop was never prosecuted by one bad prosecutor who is presently a Senator from Minnesota, who recently was first running for President and now is under consideration for Vice President.

Maybe EVERYONE needs to take a step back, take a breath and rethink the stupidity of the calls for defunding or disbanding the police. Otherwise, the few bad apples will be able to take away ALL our freedoms, all because of one bad COP and one bad PROSECUTOR.

The Consequences of Having a Big Mouth

It amazes me how politicians think they can say whatever they want like, you know, they think their words (or actions) are sacred or blessed by God… or Something.

Every time a politician opens his or her mouth, they have the propensity to insert foot and bite down hard. That was the case this week when the lovely Mayor of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot assumed (ah yes, the Odd Couple routine of making an ass (of) u (and) me) she could spout off her anti-church, anti-white, anti-cop, anti-business, anti-American mouth and spew whatever venom came out all over everyone within shouting distance, or even those with a pencil and paper who could write it all down.

She figured, I guess, she could say all the crap she did and be cheered on by the zany leftists in her city and all throughout the country.

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Here is a bulletin for you, Mayor Lightfoot… The next time you want to say something racist, bigoted and mean-spirited, remember that you were forced to beg Walmart and other businesses not to leave your city. 

 By them leaving, they are listening to your hate and decided that by staying, their brand would be perceived to be silently supporting what you said.

By them leaving, they are taking their brands away from your citizens to be able to conveniently shop locally like the rest of Americans, Black, Brown, White, Green, and every other race, color and creed who just want to get along with everyone else.

By them leaving, these big boxes and other retail entities are depriving your citizens, your VOTERS of something we and they all need, a job to be able to earn the money they and all of us need so they can buy the food to put on the table to feed THEIR families.

You have proven that you have no idea how to govern (yes, mayors govern) your city effectively, as you allow black on black crime continue every single weekend, at the rate of 70 cases on average, and say nothing of it, while you have no problem shooting your mouth off on issues not directly affecting the management of your city. Perhaps, you should worry about your own backyard and not so much someone else’s.  

I agree that black lives matter, but then, so do white lives, Hispanic lives, cops’ lives, soldiers’ lives, your life and my life. All our lives matter. The last time I looked, I bleed red. So does my friend, Jamal, my friend Jose’ and so does everyone else I know. I also know that all of us bleed American, without regard to race, color, creed, gender, sexual preference or even national origin.

You have the chance to resolve this huge mistake, but now leading by example, rather than thinking you lead by the dumb things you say. You should have learned by now, that while executives of huge retail companies may support the ideals we should all support, in the end, they WILL NOT allow anyone damage their brands. If they did, soon enough they would be hoofing the streets looking for employment. They won’t let THAT happen, either.

One other thing, Mayor Lightfoot. This is still America and this is still the land of the free because of the brave. This includes our military, and our many decent and honorable state and local police forces. Because of your police force, your city isn’t in a condition of mayhem and anarchy. Keep insulting them, though, and they WILL desert you.

You should remember these two major political axioms going forward: money talks and bull$#!+ walks. No one wants to listen to your bull$#!+ anymore. 

Or you will be walking at the next election.

Cuomo, De Blasio and the NYPD

I am a law-abiding man and have worked in non-union jobs all my life. I consider myself to be a moderately conservative individual who supports the Constitution, AS WRITTEN, not interpreted. I am a registered Libertarian because, to paraphrase the GREAT Ronald Reagan, I didn’t leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me.

I really don’t care what people think of me because I am a person who stands for what I BELIEVE, without consideration how others may react to my opinions.

I am pro-Trump and proud of it. If you don’t like me for that and will unfriend me for my beliefs, frankly, I really don’t care. Your choice. Your loss.

So having given you a foundation of how I tick, I am now proposing this:

I want to see what De Blasio and Cuomo would do if the entire NYPD and, in support, other rank-and-file police in the New York metropolitan and NYS areas decided to suddenly go on strike TONIGHT because these two @$$wipes don’t support the tireless, and overly tired, police officers they claim to supervise.

Would they arrest them all, all 38,000 plus, and throw them into jail? Well, under current, anti-law law (forgive the malaprop) they would be out in 15 minutes. In the meantime, the rioters, the criminals these jerks admit to support, would overrun the Greatest City In the World.

And then in solidarity, what if the other city unions, like the FDNY, DSNY, MTA and other uniformed and non-uniformed UNION workers refused to cross any real or imagined picket lines? What would these two stooges do then? Would they condemn ALL these UNION workers, showing themselves to be who they really are? Using unions and their members for their own political benefit? What about THAT, Mr and Mrs Frontporch?

This disaster would be Cuomo and De Blasio’s fault alone. Not yours. Not mine. Not President Trump. Just theirs and theirs ALONE.

Maybe, these idiots should consider the consequences of their words and actions (or is it INACTIONS?). Or lack thereof. Maybe, and I am spit-balling here, Cuomo should support the NYPD and other police forces throughout the state under his command by mobilizing the ENTIRE NYS National Guard of which HE is the Commander-In-Chief.

Maybe, here is an idea, he should stop talking about his mother’s Sunday meatballs and instead grow a pair of his own. Maybe HE should stop pontificating about nonsense and criticizing others.

Maybe, he should get around to doing HIS fecking job.

The Effects of a Quarantine on a Local Business

For me, this is now Day 28 of my self-imposed Shelter-In-Place ordeal in my one bedroom apartment in Suffolk County on Long Island. Yes, I have taken the liberty, as other people have, to escape my self-confinement by going out to the grocery store to do my own shopping, to my favorite 7-Eleven to get a cup of coffee and see some friends, and of course, go to my doctor appointments, as scheduled. But most of the time, I am on the couch, watching old Mets games, movies on TV or in my DVD Library, or figuring out what to eat for lunch and dinner.

Just like all of you.

On Friday, I had to pick up my insulin, since refrigerated items cannot be delivered. As I was driving to my local CVS, I took notice how many businesses were closed at 3 PM. It was actually very shocking. Only the gas stations, Mickey D’s and other fast foods, Dunkin, the 7-Eleven and the drug store were opened. On a Friday. In April. On a sunny afternoon.

I live in a lower middle class, predominately Hispanic community of hard-working, family-oriented people, who own the businesses in the area. Even in good times, these businesses struggle with the competition they face, especially as they have to deal with Big Box competitors who offer more product than these wonderful businesses do.

There are many restaurants along Suffolk Avenue, which offer delicious variations of the home country cuisine from where the owners came and they all maintain their prices at an affordable level that the community at large can spend without impacting their own budgets. But several of these restaurants are closed, or if they can afford to, are offering limited takeout service.

Keep in mind, that all these business owners either have to pay rent, or if they were lucky enough to own the building, the mortgage payment, which seems to come faster and faster each month. And they have to pay salaries and benefits to whatever remaining staff employees are lucky enough to still have jobs.

These are the same people in your own communities who thought they finally made it to own a business, no matter what the business was. You, as I do, generally shop in your community if for nothing else but the convenience and location of the store. And now, those business people are struggling in your neighborhoods as they are in mine.

So you are wondering, I am sure, what is the purpose of this commentary? Well, perhaps, you could find the time to write to your State legislators, Congressional delegations and Senators to look past their individual pet projects which have NOTHING to do with the impact of what the Coronavirus has done to small business and the working stiff, and instead, figure how to save these hard-working men and women, who are your neighbors and friends, from closing down their businesses for good, and declaring bankruptcy in the process.

THAT would also impact YOU, since the business would be boarded up, bringing down the value of the community at-large and the value of your home. The rolling effect would be devastating to your neighborhood, your town and ultimately, to us all.

I wonder if Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell and others in our Federal government really understand the impact of their intransigence is having on the American economy? I also wonder if they also understand the oath they took to uphold the Constitution and the real meaning of its Preamble?

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

I wonder if they really understand the meaning of the words I bolded and the real impact their pointless politicking is having NOW on our country and to our children and grandchildren?

I saw yesterday as I travelled through my community and realized how much is really needed to save the driving force of the American economy. SMALL BUSINESS.

I did. Do you?

The Mask vs Bail, or The King Abuses His Power

When the Governor of New York appears on television for those outside New York to see, he comes across as Presidential, for Democrats to override Barack Obama’s endorsement of presumptive nominee Joe Biden, as the sane voice of the coronavirus solution. As a New Yorker, I can tell that he is not any of these.

Instead, he is a shrill voice demanding that the New York legislature name the new Tappan Zee Bridge for his father in the dead of night, threatening ALL Americans to take away their rights under the Second Amendment, emptying New York jails indiscriminately and instructing police officers to NOT arrest anyone for any crime short of murder. And now, King Cuomo, the tax robbing Robin Hood of hard-working New Yorkers, has written and proclaimed an Executive Order DEMANDING that New Yorkers and anyone who come into New York MUST wear a mask when they are out in public beginning this Saturday.

Local governments would enforce the order, but no fines would be assessed at the present time, probably because if there were fines, the first challenge would throw the order out because it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Essentially, he wants to instill the fear of God and hope for voluntary compliance.

He also could have vetoed the No Jail No Bail law the legislature foolishly passed, and if his veto were overridden, he could have issued an executive order forestalling the implementation, while allowing his order to make its way through the lawsuit and appeals process in New York.

This is the man the lame stream media keeps shining its limelight on, the man who talks big and hides behind others when the going gets tough. He claims his hands were tied when he allowed criminals, some of them rapists, drug pushers and murderers, to be released from prison under a law which endangers the general population. BUT, because he is a glory-hound, he threatens the same law-abiding citizens with a proclamation (abuse of power) that they would be breaking a law (with no real sense of enforcement) if they don’t wear a mask, trying to talk tough and making non-New Yorkers think that he is decisive.

Ah, yes, the King has proclaimed a new law, which New Yorkers know is bull$#!+ and will be thrown out in court. In the meantime, the rest of America is watching this and will be interested to see how hard the wannabe Emperor will try to push against the United States and this President when the rest of the country begins to re-open for business in May.

It will, for sure, be an interesting and entertaining show which will engage all Americans in the coming weeks. STAY TUNED.

Liberal Elitists and Their Cowardice

How many of you are tired of wealthy, liberal/socialist elitists telling us that they are angry/annoyed/disappointed, etc., in those in government who want to save taxpayer money by stopping the US fund every single anti-American entity in the world? I KNOW I am.

The latest is Bill Gates, who is reported in Yahoo News  to have slammed President Trump for his decision to halt payment to the World Health Organization (WHO) until an investigation is completed for its handling in the CoViD-19 crisis and its Pro-China action at the beginning of said crisis. All I will say is this: If you are so concerned, Billy-Boy, write a check and shut your trap. No one cares what you think.

This is the same man who wants to inject us with some sort of monitor to show we are not going to infect others with this terrible disease. Hey Bill, you go first.

In fact, all you people who support this idiot and his causes can certainly take your place in front of me. I am not ready to submit my independence and freedom to a cranky elitist or his beliefs because he is so “smart”. If you wish to do so, that is your affair. If you want “Big Brother” to keep tabs on you, by all means that is your right… until it isn’t.

When I read 1984 back in the 1960s, I took it as a cautionary tale, not as something to which we should aspire. Even if George Orwell were a “democrat socialist” (where have I heard that before?), his writings are characterized by lucid prose, biting social criticism and opposition to totalitarianism. Apparently, Billy and his elitist friends have taken this book as a guidebook to voice their mantra in support of the New World Order.

So, what will it be, Billy? Is your mouth really as big as your wallet? Or, instead, are you just a big mouthed, rich bully, who has no intention of putting his name to a check to support his cause? Honestly, I think you are the latter. Most bullies are just cowards at heart. I DARE you to shut your mouth and write a check to support “your current cause.”

In fact, Bill, I “TRIPLE DOG DARE” you to do what I know you really don’t have the guts to do.

The Evolving Benefits of Banking

When I went to the Bank this weekend, it was a bit shocking to see the branch closed on a Saturday. I will share that I am a retired Banker who began my career in May, 1972. That first week was the week Saturday banking made its entrance into our business psyche.

Now, there have been times during my career the Banks I worked for would close on a Saturday: Christmas, Independence Day, any other floating Federal holiday, a Bank acquisition. Short of these occurrences, no Bank I worked for was closed on Saturday.

Through the 70s and 80s, and into the 90s, Banks spent millions of dollars developing the services we enjoy today, like ATMs, Telephone and Internet Banking, and in the 2000s, Mobile banking. The concept was to become more efficient, providing real services which benefited customers and reduce the need for inefficient and unproductive activities.

The premise was to reduce branch hours and manpower while providing access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But in the late 90s, Banks like Commerce Bank, TD Bank and others decided that MORE hours actually would provide BETTER customer services, which evidence showed, it did not.

Fast forward to current day. I looked up the Bank’s web page and saw that it cut all branch hours from eight hours to five hours per day. In addition, supermarket branches are opened only for three days a week, five hours only. Any location which is opened on Saturday is only opened until Noon. Hence, the branch I went to at 2PM was already closed.

Perhaps, CV-19 has forced executive management to take a sober look at the inefficiency of long hours which clients have proven over time are not needed. We are, after all, a social being, able to adjust to any situation and actually not complain, especially since we are not being denied access to our money.

Certainly, when this is over, the current hours should be reviewed and each branch’s staffing and hours should be adjusted accordingly, based on overall activity. In addition, NO ONE should be terminated outright. Instead, through attrition, staffing levels would be adjusted to meet the needs of the branch and the specific neighborhood where the branch resides. Similar concepts should be considered for supermarket branches.

Now, I admit I am an old-time, retired Banker. But I was deeply involved in the development and advancement of many of the technologies we all enjoy today for the Banks I worked for, especially in the 80s and 90s. So, during this crisis, I can point to the reasons why people were able to stay in touch 24/7/365 with their accounts.

Finally, we have discovered in our lives that the only thing constant is change. We have seen many changes during this crisis and we have adapted accordingly. Maybe, we have learned that there are so many efficiencies across our lives that we were not aware of before. This awareness has shown us that in this fast-paced life we lived up until this quarantine, the ability to enjoy our “free time” needs to be cherished and enjoyed to live a truly fulfilling life.

And the best part is that you can still be in touch with your accounts if you need to. Thank goodness for the technologies of Banking.

Hope SPRINGS Eternal

There is so much I could write about that would be negative: Nancy Pelosi, the Coronavirus, the Media (again), the overwhelming unemployment numbers. But instead, as we are in the midst of another Passover and Easter upon us this weekend, I decided I could only look at what inspires hope and rebirth this second Friday in April: Spring.

With Spring, we say good-bye to Winter, its cold and biting wind, its sometimes overwhelming ice and snowstorms. We begin to look forward to Summer, although once Christmas is done, I want 80* temperatures (at least) and I care not a wit about how high the humidity might be.

With Spring, we see the first signs of rebirth in that first crocus flower making its way through the mud, leaves or snow in the front garden. We see the buds on the poplar and dogwood trees, and on the azaleas and rhododendrons. As an aside, it has been said that Jesus was crucified on a Dogwood, hence the red bloodstains on the tip of each corner of each flower. Then, we see that first ray of hope, as the daffodil makes its way to the surface. Soon after, the tulips, carnations and roses decorate the garden, too.

With Spring, we can hear the sounds of children playing, in their yards or in the street. That sound is refreshing to your soul, knowing that the kids are riding bikes, playing some sort of ball game, and are no longer cooped up in their rooms or basements. Instead, they are showing us, again, how to enjoy the new life which the calendar has given us.

With Spring, we can also hear the sounds of the ice cream truck, as the driver rings the bells or replays that annoying little song that even parents run with dollars clutched in their fists to be first on line to get that pop or cone. It is that little reward we deserve after listening to the sounds of the power mower all day.

With Spring, we can hear the birds singing at 5:30 in the morning, as they welcome the early signs of daylight. The Canadian Geese, which began laying eggs along the Meadowbrook, or Northern State, or on most grassy areas near your home in December, are now seen standing guard around their hatchlings, protecting them from man and beast alike.

With Spring, we can feel the last vestiges of Winter have finally gone away, replaced with windy days and rain, rather than with howling winds and snow, but also with temperatures increasingly climbing toward that 80* I mentioned before. For now, the mid 60s and 70* feel wonderful.

With Spring, the evidence of longer days with more hours of sunlight begin to make its mark, as there are more grills being fired up, as the “chef of the house” makes his or her favorite meals outside with a cold brew in hand, rather than in the kitchen with the kids screaming and the TV blaring.

With Spring, the possibility of a walk around the block is greater, since the sun is setting well after 7 PM rather that at 5. You even enjoy walking the dog or pulling the wagon filled with kids because you tell yourself you are “getting in shape” after sitting in the house all Winter long.

And, finally, with Spring, you know that time is on your side, you are not just twisting the night away, and it’s getting better all the time. Now that you are singing each song, are you hooked on a feeling?

I AM!