Politically Correct

Last night we went to the Blue Ridge Mountain Jeepers Christmas party. The club has the rule of no talk of religion or politics. It  makes for a more pleasant get together for the group. Our meeting consisted of discussing what our club would do for Christmas giving. We have chosen a local nursing home to give presents to. There are sixteen residents, fourteen female and two male. One male resident doesn't have a single relative. He has greater needs than the other residents so we're concentrating on him but all will get gifts from us. We also had a gift exchange at the party with a ten dollar limit where you draw numbers and can take another person's gift. It was a lot of fun.

Over the last several years I found myself saying happy holidays. But I was raised with the word Christmas and I think I'll go back to the word. I looked back to see if the jeep club email said holiday or Christmas and it says Christmas. I don't think I should have to change my upbringing or my vocabulary for anyone and I don't think anyone should have to change for me.

If I say Merry Christmas I mean it in the most loving and respectful of ways. I might slip up and say Happy Holidays. Then again I might wonder should I say anything at all. Perhaps I don't know what your persuasion is. Maybe Atheist, maybe Agnostic, maybe Jewish, maybe Buddhist, maybe Muslim, maybe a religion I don't even know of. I might feel bad because I used the wrong word. Then I might not say anything for fear of saying the wrong thing. Being shy this makes it even more difficult for me. Most times I might not say anything at all because I'm tongue tied. But now I have to worry about what I should or shouldn't say?

I just remembered something from the past. One day we had some friends over for dinner. The woman is Filipino and the man is Iranian. Some time in the conversation I said the word Oriental. I don't even recall what I was referring to, perhaps a spice or a location in Asia I don't know. But she turned to me and said Asian. So I corrected myself. I knew the word Asian but I must have fallen back on an earlier time in my mind. Sometimes the wrong word or phrase just slips out but I don't mean anything by it. Where did I learn the word Oriental. Probably from reading novels. Much of what I've learned probably came from books and not from interaction with people. I guess I've led a sheltered life. I never thought so but looking back mostly I did.

No matter what you think of the recent political rhetoric, it has served to bring many a topic to the table for discussion in our country. There is so much to talk about and discuss. Should we ban guns; should we carry guns, do we need even more laws banning more things; should there be safe zones on campus, should we have open or closed borders, should we limit immigration; should we be fracking, can we have a Christmas tree, can we pray, can we say God, should we fly on an airplane, should we go to a football game, should we go to work today. So much to worry about in today's world. Yet my daily living has more pressing needs than any of these. Sometimes it's all too much.

I want to stick my head in the sand. No that wouldn't be very pleasant or comfortable. Let's see, ah yes, I wish I was floating in some warm water off of a tropical island without a care in the world. If I close my eyes I can almost feel the water lapping over my body. Oh so gentle and warm and kind.

Now I'm feeling guilty because there are so many other's in the world with more pressing needs than mine. The homeless, the elderly, the veterans, the unemployed, those without families, those without countries, those without hope. Oh I do so wish everyone was floating in some warm water off of a tropical island without a care in the world. But wait, maybe they don't like warm water or floating, maybe they don't like the tropics, maybe, maybe ... See what I mean.

Horse Trough Falls

 

The Blue Ridge Mountain Jeepers recently took a trip to Horse Trough Falls near Helen, Georgia.

 

It was 95 F in the sun and 77 F in the shade by the falls. What a great location for a summer home, don't you think?

Everyone enjoyed the cool mist drifting from the falls.

The trail to the falls is quite shady and is less than four-tenths of a mile from the campground parking lot.

A few of the jeeps stopped to take in the view on the way back from the falls. One more day of this heat wave and then we're supposed to get some relief. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Appalachian Azure and Meadow Fritillary

The forest is alive with azure butterflies, probably Appalachian azures. Their flight is erratic and rapid so I haven't been able to capture one with my camera as yet. Gary went on a jeep run with the Blue Ridge Mountain Jeepers and he said the forest was full of these small blue butterflies.

The Appalachian azure catapillar feeds only on black cohosh leaves.

In the clearings the meadow fritillary has appeared infrequently. I saw one in my flower garden twice this week but alas my camera was in the house and when I went to retrieve it the orange beauty was gone. So I have borrowed the above images from the net to show you.

The host plant for the fritillary is the violet. Remember last year when I showed you the violets growing here and how to make violet jelly? The image above I took last year. Now whenever I see the violets at the corner of our road I'll think of the meadow fritillary soon to appear. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Baby Praying Mantis for Memorial Day

Something small as a reminder of those who gave all. To me a baby praying mantis is a perfect reminder of what Memorial Day is all about.

Memorial Day is the day we remember those who have fallen fighting for liberty and justice for all. Gary's jeep club was in the Memorial Day Parade which was held on Saturday in Blairsville. Today we go to a BBQ at one of the member's homes. I made a large bowl of potato salad to take with sour cream dill dressing.

Gary and I were sitting at our outdoor table a few days ago and a less than one inch baby praying mantis crawled out of an empty pot of some plants we just planted. We got him to crawl onto a stick and put him on the Japanese maple tree. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.