Stoner Brain Isn’t A Bad Thing

Stoner Brain Isn’t A Bad Thing

Stoner Brain Isn’t A Bad Thing

Editor: New studies are shedding light on the effects of long time Cannabis use, and despite the images from pop culture of the lazy, foggy brained, and  unmotivated stoner, stuck someplace between his last hit and his next one, is being dispelled by new science. Yes, folks it seems the “stoner brain” is mere myth.

 

By D.S. Mitchell

Introduction

My first introduction to pot was when I was 16 years old. I was invited to stop by a friend’s house and when I arrived I was directed to the basement party room. When I got to the bottom of the stairs I could smell something in the air, but I wasn’t sure what the stinky smell was. So…still on my own, I wandered into the party room looking for my friend and found her and at least 12 of our little crowd sitting in a gigantic circle. A space was made for me in the circle, next to Suzie, and I quickly settled cross legged onto the carpeted floor, curious as to what was up. There was significant giggling and laughter amongst the group.

Thai Stick

Suzie leaned close and whispered, “It’s Thai Stick. John (her older brother) smuggled it back from Thailand.” My only response, was “oh-h-h-h,” as I watched the doobie move around the circle on its way to me. “Holy fuck,” I whispered, mostly to myself. What was I going to do I worried. My parents would be horrified if they ever found out I’d been smoking pot, but I couldn’t say no, everyone in my network was there, I’d look like a “pussy,” if I refused to smoke the iconic weed. I took my turn at the doobie, trying to look as cool as I could manage, before I started to cough and giggle. Nearly 60 years later I’m still smoking and giggling.

Jail Time

That day in 1962, possession of marijuana in Oregon was a big time offense under the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 2 t0 10 years for a first offense and a potential $20,000 fine. This was reflective of the intense War on Drugs policies of the era. Our little harmless party could have gotten us all in big trouble, not only with our parents but state law.

Times Change

By 1973, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis, making the possession of a small amount of weed  a violation rather than a crime. More like a traffic ticket. Governor Tom McCall signed legislation that abolished criminal penalties for possessing up to an ounce (28.3 grams) of cannabis, shifting penalties from jail time to fines of from $500 to $1,000. The intent was to divert minor marijuana offenses from crimes to simple violations. Growers, traffickers, and dealers still faced tough sentencing laws.
Medical Maryjane
As time passed and medical marijuana was legalized; the view of cannabis use changed and became much more acceptable. In fact, when my mother asked me about my pot use, I told her I had smoked it and would probably keep smoking it. She laughed and gave me a hug, “Please, whatever you do just stay away from alcohol. It’s the curse that destroys families.” I knew she was speaking from personal experience. My beloved father had a ‘sipping’ problem. I personally never drank much, because I too, had seen the damage done to my dad, my best friend’s parents, my half-brother, friends from school, and an ex-husband, and understood that for some people although alcohol is legal it is one of the most dangerous of drugs.

Continue reading

Things That Make Me Cry


Things That Make Me Cry

Things That Make Me Cry

D. S. Mitchell

No Smiles

My regular monthly post, “Things That Make Me Smile” has been replaced this month with the “Things That Make Me Cry.” The egregious activities of dictator Trump have brought me to tears more than once this last 10 months. “Trump’s egregious infractions range from unfair to the unconstitutional to the unconscionable,” according to Ruben Navarrette. Its not just Trump, but his cronies in congress who are allowing Trump to bulldoze our government. Navarrette continues that Trump has “defaced, defiled, and destroyed the institutions and traditions that make America great.”

Spot On

Sadly, Navarrette is spot on, and that’s why I can’t stop crying. I am watching the death of our democracy, one executive order at a time. How about you? Is this president breaking your heart too? We are together in this thing. Grab my hand and let’s commit to do everything within our power to elect a blue House and a blue Senate. Stop the oligarchs. Stop the madness. Protest and demonstrate. Donate as much as you can, as often as you can. It takes a lot of money and a lot of noise to defeat the billionaire boy’s club.

Self-Interest Above All

Trump will go down in history as a morally corrupt conman, carnival barker, bigot, and 35 count convicted felon who only asked what the presidency could do for him, not what he could do for the presidency or the country.

15 Things That Trump Has Done That Made Me Cry 

No. 1: The bulldozing And Complete Destruction Of The Historic East Wing Of The White House: A woman on the tellie called it a “gut punch,” and I feel the same. When I saw the pictures of the demolished East Wing on the Rachael Maddow show it took my breath away. Literally. I was gasping for air, it ‘effin looked like we’d just been bombed. And I guess we were, but it was a domestic terrorist, and his name is  Donald Trump. No one asked the American people if they wanted a gaudy skid road carney show at the White House. How in the ‘eff is Trump getting away with this. Private donations? Ahhh….nothing about this is sounding okay.

No. 2: Trump’s Illegal Dumb-Ass Tariffs: Weaponizing trade policy by imposing punitively high tariffs on imports from more than 180 countries, even on an island inhabited only by penguins. Boy, DJT, you look so stupid and ignorant, you leave us in breathless shock. Trump has recklessly added more fucking taxes on the already overwhelmed  U.S. citizenry. Great messaging. Another gold toilet for Trump. I think George III was sent the message, “No Kings Here,” back in 1776, now it appears you, Mr. Trump need a history lesson. Making matters worse he’s paused the tariffs, schizophrenically changed the tariff rate multiple times to the same country, then for no reasonable rationale restarted them, before in some panicked moment paused them again.

No. 4: Intentional Suppression Of The Epstein Files: Trump has used the power of his lawless government to stop the release of the Epstein files and distract from that suppression in every imaginable way. Trump and the most infamous sex trafficker of the 20th century was according to Trump, “his best buddy” for over a decade. My mom always said, “you’ll be judged by those you associate with.”  So, using that old time truism, you are who you run with. Trump like former Prince Andrew was running around with a sex trafficker extraordinaire Jeffrey Epstein which says to me, he was participating in the abuses right along with dozens of other rich and powerful men. How many trips to Epstein Island, Donald? I say, release the files and let the American people judge how involved Trump was in Epstein’s crimes.

No. 5: Abandoning Ukraine: Who could forget that February meeting at the WH between Trump and Zelenskyy that ended in an ugly rant by Trump. Zelenskyy was invited back to the White House a week ago when Trump dangled the possibility of providing Ukraine with long range Tomahawk  missiles, giving Ukraine the ability to launch offensive attacks on Russia. After luring him to the WH with false promises Trump told Z just to give Putin the land and it would all be over. Unimaginable. Since when does a president of the United States humiliate and demonize an ally and hook their panties to a dictator.

No. 6: War Against Birthright Citizenship: Trump’s on going assault against the Constitution is on full display on this one. The 14th Amendment  spelled out by the Founding Fathers, states unequivocally if you are born in the United States you are entitled to full citizenship, by right of being born here, no questions asked.  Trump wants to turn 250 years of law on its head without going through the amendment process, just do it because Trump tells us to. The argument being that only children of citizens born here are entitled to US citizenship the-children of undocumented immigrants would not be given such privilege.

No. 7:  The Loss Of Due Process: Unleashing, without due process, a flurry of legally dubious deportations, not just of the undocumented but also green card holders, legal residents, AND even U.S. citizens. Blowing up boats in the open ocean without arrest or warning, based on some “belief” the targeted craft could be smuggling drugs is unbelievable. Here’s that pesky Constitution again, The 5th Amendment to the Constitution explicitly states “no person shall … be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.”  Quite simply, due process guarantees that no one will be arbitrarily fined, arrested, deported or killed by the state-unless they are told the accusations against them, and then be allowed to contest those allegations before a judge (neutral 3rd party).The loss of due process is a scary prospect.

No. 8: Taking A Big Jet From Qatar: What the hell? Since when do we take used equipment, I’m talking about the the Boeing 747 Trump wants to use as Air Force One, that requires billions of dollars to refit? Just B.S. We’ve got airplane manufacturers here in the United States. How about building something that the government gets to keep, not one that Trump plans on using until his death when supposedly his estate will turn it over to the Trump Library. Some say that Qatar bankrolls Hamas terrorists, but oh, well, fearless leader wants it- so-of course the Congress said, “yes, sir, yes, sir, yes, sir.”

No. 9: Trump Demanding $230 Million Dollars From DOJ: Trump himself said it seemed ridiculous that he had the ability to okay the transfer of $230 million dollars from the DOJ to himself. Why would the DOJ pay this con man anything, I ask. Trump claims wrongful prosecution by Jack Smith and others. Oh, really. According to the emoluments clause Trump has no such ability. He cannot pay himself more than his salary. The corruption is so blatant and so in your face I a left speechless. Every day something new, and more corrupt. Take for instance the Trump family crypto scam.

No. 10: Cyrpto Contest Shenanigan’s: Back in May Trump offered to the highest paying customers of his personal cryptocurrency a dinner and tour of the WH by Trump himself. Sounded like Trump was selling access to himself and the White House for personal profit. Seems like a logical conclusion. Trump began selling his new tokens three days before his inauguration. The coin, which has zero intrinsic value, soared to $75 each, allowing  60 of the earliest buyers to profit over $10 million each before the $TRUMP coins plummeted in value. When Trump announced his contest in late April to award a “gala” dinner at his golf resort in Sterling, Virginia, to the top 220 Trump coin purchasers, based on how much they held on average from Jan. 17, 2024 through May 15, 2025. At that time the coin was a depressed $8 each. The top 25 coin holders would also be invited to a “VIP” reception with Trump before the dinner and then a tour the following day. The contest website originally had said a White House tour was part of the package, but subsequently changed the webpage to delete the White House reference. Sometimes when it looks like in your face corruption, it is. As part of the crypto corruption Trump just pardoned Changpeng Zhao, commonly called CZ, for admitted money laundering. Mr Zhao just happens to be in the crypto business with the Trump family. Nothing to see here folks, just move along.

No. 11: Trump Claims Immunity From Judicial Review: The Supreme Court under  John Robert’s is a sickening collection of outlaws and revisionists. Historically this court will be viewed as a shameful period for the law. It seems that this pathetic court has underwritten just about anything Trump dreams up. Recently the Mango Mussolini claimed there could be no judicial review of his administration’s actions. Trump stated the president didn’t have to answer to the federal courts, and even threatened sitting judges that strike down his policies as unlawful and need to be impeached and replaced with those that are blind MAGA supporters.

No. 12: The Weaponization Of The Department of Justice: The takeover of the DOJ and the FBI, by Donnie Dearest is becoming increasingly alarming. Daddy Trump is now directing who should be indicted and prosecuted. Revenge and retribution for anyone who stepped on the fat one’s swollen toes or someone who may have angered him, or got ahead of him at the buffet line is in danger of having their lives turned upside down. John Bolton, Leticia James, James Comey are just the beginning of a boatload of politically targeted prosecutions. Watch out Chris Wray, Miles Taylor, Chris Krebs, John Brennan, Chris Christie, Adam Schiff, and even special prosecutor, Jack Smith.

No. 13: Pardoning The January 6th Rioters:  Trump on his second Inauguration Day distinguished himself by pardoning nearly 1600 people who participated in the January 6th, 2020 riot. Many of these offenders beat up cops, damaged, defaced, or stole government property, and threatened the lives of legislators. Since the pardon at least a dozen of these folks have been rearrested for new crimes.  Recently, a 1/6 pardon recipient was subsequently arrested for threatening to kill Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader of the House.

No. 14: Tax Cuts For Oligarchs, Insurance Cuts For Americans: On July 4, 2025, Trump signed “The Big Ugly Bill” leading to the largest cuts to health care into law. The entirely Republicans back reckless legislation cuts more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, destabilizing the health care system and making health care more expensive and harder to access for all Americans. The latest estimates from the nonpartisan, independent congressional Budget Office (CBO), Republicans’ health care cuts will terminate health insurance for roughly 15 million Americans. Some reports mistakenly suggest that Americans will not feel the harms of this legislation in the near term. Republicans are saying that select cuts could be stopped or delayed, while others are lying and saying there are no cuts to Medicaid. Month by month, hospitals are shutting down, clinics are closing, staff are being laid off, services are being cancelled, and families are paying more out of pocket, unable to access the care they need.

No. 15: Targeting Marginalized Groups: Trump and associates have instituted a campaign of anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Human rights groups note that Trump has stripped legal protections for transgender people and restricted access to gender affirming care. Trump has been openly hostile to the LGBTQ community and vehemently opposed the Equality Act, which would have ensured that existing civil rights protections cover sexual orientation and gender identity in the way that they already do for race, disability, veteran status, and more. The Dumpster also blocked basic job protections for LGBTQ people, insisting that employers should be free to fire workers for their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration also eliminated nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people established under the Affordable Care Act.

 

The Ice-Men Cometh…

The ICE-Men Cometh…

The ICE-Men Cometh…

Editor: The activities of ICE agents in the Chicago area is disturbing, just as it is across the country. Cate’s article highlights what’s happening in Illinois and how to respond. Take a look, the ICE-Men Cometh…

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

 

Reporting Guidelines

ICE Sightings: When reporting ICE sightings, REMEMBER S.A.L.U.T.Ε. Provide as much information as possible when reporting threats to our communities:

S as in Size/ Strength How many agents? How many vehicles? WRITE DOWN LICENSE PLATES

A as in Activity What you are seeing. Raid at a workplace, traffic stop? Is violence involved?

L as in Location What is the precise address? Intersections? Nearby landmarks?

U as in Uniform/Clothing What are they wearing? Do they have masks, vests, or badges?

T as in Time and Date Precise time and date of the sighting.

E as in Equipment/Weapons What equipment/weapons? Are they using them?

Continue reading

Make Your House Smell Amazing

Make Your House Smell Amazing

14 Easy DIY Ideas:

To Make Your House Smell Amazing

By D.S. Mitchell 

Scouring the Internet

I scoured the internet and found some simple, inexpensive DIY solutions to  rid your house of offensive odors. There are no expensive systems included, just common sense, cheap, easy, and proven solutions. Well, I found out it’s not just about flowers and candles. According to the experts, a great smelling home is achieved by targeting problem areas and using a multistep approach to take care of the issue. Some places in your home, like the trash can or litter box, are obvious sources of putrid and foul odors, so paying special attention to such sources is key. In other cases, the path to a sweet-smelling home is a simple addition here and there to your normal cleaning routine.

1.) Deodorizing Your fridge:  My mom taught me to stick a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda in the fridge every 30 days or so to absorb funky smells. It’s worked well for me for the last 50 years but one expert suggested a change up. So, give it a try; the next pot of coffee you make save the grounds and let them dry out. The expert says we should “swap that A & H soda box for a bowl of used, dried out coffee.” Hold on here. I can go with switching out soda for coffee but an open bowl in my fridge is asking for a real mess. The boys in my house just reach and grab, and push and shove to close the door. If you want to give it a try, I suggest you dump your used soda in the trash, save the box and put the dried out grounds in the box and then put it in the fridge. Just a thought.

2.) From Ho-hum to Hmmmmm: The recommendation here is to transform your shower to a spa-like experience. Buy a bundle of fresh  eucalyptus from your local florist or grocer, tie the stems together in a bunch and then with a piece of twine hang it from the shower nozzle. With a quick internet search the cost in my geographic area could be anywhere from $15.00-$50.00 per eucalyptus bunch. So, you might want to call around for the best price in your neck of the woods. Reportedly, if you crush the leaves for a stronger smell you will have a shorter effective use time. If you choose not to crush the leaves the expected fragrance life is 2-3 weeks. The steam from the hot shower activates the plants soothing fragrance. Sounds like a great way to end a hard day at the keyboard. Enjoy!

Continue reading

NO KINGS #2 STREET LEVEL REPORT

No Kings #2: Street Level Report

No Kings #2: Street Level Report

 

D. S. Mitchell, author, editor, and (good) trouble maker

 

What I Saw

We had T-Rex times two, we had clowns too many to count, we had singers and dancers too, I heard there was even a unicorn. There were a couple “hate the Dems” characters roaming through the crowd, and making insulting comments, and being confrontive, one even had a gun secured to his hip. My, my. What’s he afraid of at high noon in downtown Grants Pass, Oregon, I wonder. Oh-h-h-h-h, I get it-he’s not afraid of us, he’s trying to intimidate and terrorize us.

Tools of Tyrants

But we’re not afraid. Fear and bigotry are the tools of tyrants, and we understand that. The U.S. Constitution guarantees all of us the right to protest injustice, to raise our voices against tyranny and resist a corrupt government. And I will do just that until my dying day. I love this country, I am resolute….I will resist….those like me will not be silenced; we will show our outrage and our disgust at the this convicted felon, this Mob Boss president.

Old Friends

“Lock him up” was a phrase I heard repeated many times. I sincerely doubt Trump will ever go to jail but that’s not because he doesn’t deserve 20 years plus, or a firing squad, but rather, we could never have a former president jailed. Just imagine the shame of it all. I’m convinced he’ll be allowed to “escape” to a new home in Moscow or Riyadh, where he can live out his dotage. Or he’ll die, probably in the next couple years, my God, he’s a fat old white man and the average age at death for that demographic is 74.8 years. So, the old guy is basically 4.5 years past the average. So in June he’ll be 80. Hmmm.

Sunny Days

The weather was sunny and 70 degrees for the No Kings Protest; sweet. I was ecstatic, the crowd was sizeable, my best guess was that close to 2,000 people lined both sides of 6th Street in our little Southern Oregon town. For red-assed Southern Oregon that could be called a damn “righteous” turn out.  In today’s vernacular, “perfect.” The age range represented was quite incredibly baby carriage to walker/wheelchair.

Vote Policy NOT Prejudice

It was really exciting, seeing such a wide range of citizens recognizing the danger this narcissistic psychopathic president represents, but are ready and willing, just the same, to come out and demand Trump do the right thing and end his corruption….to immediately stop the tariffs game…support fair taxation, in other words tax the billionaires….protection of due process…..a fair immigration policy….restoration of abortion rights…. LGBTQ+protections….environmental protection….universal health care….Social Security….and thousands of other issues that affect millions upon millions of every day Americans; I’m talking about you, me, our families, our friends and neighbors. In my opinion, people better start voting on a candidates policies and character not some hot button fuckin’ culture war issue.

Back Then

There were some smart people back in 1776 who told George III that we’d had enough of high taxes to put gold bathrooms in the palace. Now it looks like this generation of smart people needs to tell Donald Dumpster that we are done with gold bathrooms and gold ballrooms for kings and tyrants; and have been for more than 250 years. Maybe, Don the Con skipped American History, along with Economics, Chemistry, and English, because he doesn’t seem to know shit about any of those basic studies.

And Those Signs

The protesters signs were GREAT, they were funny, they were imaginative, they were spot on; many were new and many were previously-used in past Trump protests. Signs and flags waved in the air, creating quite a vibrant display. There was an audio system playing out of the back of a van and the spirit was positive. Many passing cars honked their support, and of course there were some that did not-and they rejoiced in calling us ‘effin commies.

When It Effects You

Oh, well wait until Trump’s next executive order effects them, or their grandma is denied her Medicaid, or their son’s Affordable Care Plan quadruples in cost. When policies and actions negatively hit an individual’s bank balance there’s liable to be a fight. And that’s why more than 7 million American citizens came out on Saturday, October 18, 2025, to reject Trump and his agenda. RESIST-it’s the American thing to do.

 

 

Goodbye, Jane

Goodbye, Jane Goodall

Goodbye, Jane Goodall

4/3/1934-10/1/2025

By D.S. Mitchell

The world has lost a guiding light. Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall has died at the age of 91. Ms Goodall was still speaking, touring, and offering hope for not only the animals of the world, but humanity when she died of natural causes, October 1st, 2025, while in Los Angeles, CA, on a speaking tour.

Her discoveries while living with the chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania transformed how the world perceived not only human’s closest living biological relatives, but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling Ms. Goodall into the public consciousness.

Goodall was an English primatologist and anthropologist. She was a recognized pioneer in primate research. She was best known for more than six decades of field research on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. Jane Goodall documented her observations, describing their use of tools and their distinct personalities. Goodall observed and reported them doing activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans.

Goodall was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of the natural world. The soft spoken intellectual and conservationist transcended generations  with her appearances beginning in the 1960’s in documentaries, books, magazines, and public appearances before packed auditoriums until the day she died.

***A few books by Jane Goodall available on Amazon:
Through a Window, The Book of Hope, Hope for Animals and Their World, My Life with the Chimpanzees, 50 Years at Gombe

Put Zing In Your Step

Put Zing In Your Step

Put Zing In Your Step

 

By D.S. Mitchell                                                                       

Hamster on a Wheel

I know somedays are harder than others, but if you’re feeling like that hamster on a wheel and your energy has gotten up and gone-here are a few strategies to put a smile back on your face and the zing in your step.

Start Laughing

In case you didn’t know, laughing increases your body’s intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles. Laughing also triggers the release of endorphins, which boost your energy level and mood. A University of Nebraska at Lincoln study, found that people who watched a funny 10 minute long video, such as a cat riding a rumba vacuum around the living room felt energized by the experience. So, look for funny, and laugh loud, and hard.

Small Talk

Brief, pleasant exchanges with people you don’t know or barely know can enhance happiness, mood, energy, and overall satisfaction with life.  A willingness to meet new people (no matter how briefly) and engage in some small conversation is guaranteed to improve both your physical and mental health. So, go ahead, I give you permission to initiate a conversation in the check out line at Walmart. As an older adult female I suggest that you initiate conversations with women with small dogs or small children. I’m not suggesting anything other than you don’t want to give a strange guy the wrong idea. Other than that grandmotherly caution; socialize away.

Get Moving

Exercise fires up the autonomic nervous system. Exercise gets your heart pumping and raises your blood pressure all the while improving blood flow through the brain. You don’t need to hit the gym; a brisk walk around the neighborhood, 20 minutes of light exercise in your living room; a couple sets of wall push ups, a few jumping jacks, some standing crunches. I know when you are tired and feeling fatigued all the time, exercise may be the last thing you think you need, but as is frequently the case, exercise is probably just what you need.

Change It Up

The nucleus accumbens is the part of your brain that is associated with motivation and pleasure, but if it is not stimulated it likes to go to sleep. So, if you’re feeling bored, you are probably feeling tired. Alice Boyes, PhD., author of The Healthy Mind Toolkit, suggests to stimulate the nucleus accumbens, we need to mix things up, rearrange the furniture, buy a new comforter for your bed, pour the milk into the bowl before the cereal. Get the idea?

How About Karaoke?

There is a study for everyone they say; according to one such study at Sam Houston State University, singing and tapping your foot to the music causes an endorphin rush. So if you want to enhance music’s energizing effect start singing and dancing. Sing in the shower, sing in your car, join the local bar crowd for some Karaoke fun, and keep tapping that foot.

Use Imagination

Numerous studies indicate that being out in nature makes us feel more alive and energetic. Getting on that forest trail may be too hard for many of us city dwellers, however some of those same studies indicate that just imagining that you are out in nature delivers a similar effect. You can add a poster of a mountain, a river, or a creek to your office wall. How about a gorgeous photo of the outdoors as your screensaver on your PC? Or, install a beautiful forest scene as your phone’s home screen. Studies have proven this is a great technique to release energy boosting endorphins.

Cold Showers and Big Drinks

Change your usual hot morning shower to a cold shower and you will increase your circulation, heart rate, and oxygen intake, and you will feel more alert and energetic. To keep that refreshed feeling throughout the day all you have to do is head into the bathroom for a cold water face splash. The second part of the water story is a reminder to stay hydrated. When our body is low on fluids one of the first signs of the deficit is fatigue. For the average healthy adult 64 oz or 8 cups of water is a reasonable starting point, but it’s not enough for everyone. Fluid needs vary based on age, sex, activity level, climate, and health status. Official guidelines from the National Academy of Medicine suggest higher daily fluid intakes, including fluid from all sources like food and other beverages. To know if 64 ounces is enough, monitor your body’s signals, such as thirst and urine color (pale yellow indicates good hydration). 

Keep It Up

Hope these tips help to keep you active and engaged in life. Don’t let fatigue and lack of energy rob you of fun filled days.

OPINION: Time For The 25th Amendment

OPINION:

Time For The 25th Amendment

 

OPINION:

Time For The 25th Amendment

By D.S.  Mitchell

Back Then

In my younger years, way back in college, my first year, for a term or two, I was a Psychology/Sociology major. I’ve always been interested in what makes people behave the way they do. I later switched to nursing and it was a lot of the same, trying to figure out what made people tick.  As an RN I worked 1NW OHSU Crisis Psychiatry Unit, Portland, OR,  for many years before retraining for Cardiac ICU about 20 years into my 45 year long nursing career. I ‘ve left that life behind, and I am now retired from nursing and currently writing and editing full time. So, as a writer I’m still interested in what makes people behave the way they do.

36%

Right now Trump has a 37% approval rating in the national polls. I get that 1% of that 37% are billionaires, and are happy as hell, but what about the remaining 36%? Do these Trump supporters really feel good about 15 million people losing health care, hundreds of hospitals and clinics closing across the country, health care premiums going through the roof, the end of science in this country, the end of cancer research, DOGE plowing through all our private information, the destruction of “due process,” the rise of the oligarchs, the federal government shut down, or the firing of 100’s of 1,000’s of government workers?

Be Happy…Until

Well, all I can say to the Trumper crowd, is, be happy….until it’s your grandma’s nursing home closes and she has nowhere to go except home with a family member, or till your dad’s social security check is held up because DOGE decided he was really dead, or my God, your daughter’s new husband who spent a weekend in the sun doing yard work and was now suspiciously dark, and aroused the interest of prowling ICE agents, who arrested him, and sent him someplace-they can’t remember, or refuse to tell the judge.

Continue reading

Something I Learned Today

Something I learned today

Something I Learned Today

My wonderful neighbor came over this morning and gave me two free car wash coupons. I thought how sweet-then after he left, I realized I hadn’t washed my car since last Christmas when I was designated to haul the carolers around town-aaaahhhhhhh, such a gentle way 0f saying, pleeeeeze wash your car. Love thy neighbor.

D.S. Mitchell

The Bud and the Rose

The Bud and the Rose

The Bud and the Rose

By Wolfgang Nebmaier via Vajra Ma

(Vajra Ma weeps for all they did not do together. Wolfgang tells her….)

 

when we loved

we knew what was to come

but hid it from ourselves

so that our love could surprise us

Life is like that:

surprises

that open like flowers

We knew what the bud will be:

a rose

but we love the bud as it is

knowing where it will go

We came here to be with each other this way

like buds who hold the secrets of the rose

we slowly unfold to each other

day by day

moment by moment

heartbreak by loving gesture

holding time between us

like a precious bud

unfolding

flowering

blossoming

until the petals curl back

and fall to earth.

This is how we love

and another bud grows