Every morning, I walk my little pup at 5:30 am [View all]

[Javaman]

I do this because, here in Texas, we are entering into the "face of the sun" season of heat.

it's reasonable cool. between 72 and 75. but the humidity is such that those "cool" temps don't really feel all that cool.

but it's my dog I worry about. He's a mystery mutt rescue. He found me. but he's on in years. 14 1/2. he takes his time now. He "moseying" more.

but for his age he's in pretty good shape. but I know, in a few years, he will be gone from mine and Mrs Javaman's life. the thought of that breaks my hearts.

Why am I writing this?

I work primarily from home. And my little pup has this amazing ability to know when I'm very stressed out. At his advanced age, he sleeps a lot now, but when I'm particularly stressed out by work, he gets up and nuzzles my hand. I pet him and that calms me right down.

he's such a good boy.

lately, I've been more stressed. I'm sure we all have been. I try to stay hopeful, but as one gets on in years, I get more cautious, not fearful necessarily, but worried about the people I love. Worried about my granddaughter and the future she's facing. worry about friends and family, worry about bills, worry about climate change, worry about people that now have to do without, worry about so much that we all should not have to ordinarily have to worry about.

and here comes my pup to help me.

when I walk alone in the mornings with him, I tend, I guess, like most people in quiet moments, to ponder the mysteries of the universe. Our place in this world and those that count on us. Will that get done? can I still do that? will there be time?

I look to the sky. what stars and planets I can still see that aren't choked by pollution helps me center. we are so very small. so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but yet, I worry. While we are teeny tiny in the large sense, we are still here and still have things that concern us all.

will our nation still be here a year from now? will we have another election? how many people will be rounded up? how will our rights be further degraded to the point of diminishing returns? What will the heat be like this year? will there be water or power shortages?

I like to joke about people, who aren't from Texas, complaining about how the orange asshole fucking us over, and I say, "welcome to Texas" LOL Meaning, living in Texas and if you are a Dem, you have always been fucked over.

I used to live in blues states. Life was so much better by a factor of 1000. So when I hear conservatives complaining about how bad they have it in a blue state, I tell them, move to a red state and see how it is. some get it and shut their trap, most don't. I just give them my pity at their ignorance. I also like to say that Texas is the state that tells all the others to "hold my beer".

But now, it's so much worse and it ain't getting better anytime soon. and this is what is coming to the rest of the nation if something is not done.

you see, Texas is the coming attractions.

so I walk my pup, I look at the empty street and listen to the quiet. and I think, "fuck, we're on our own now".

cheers to all here.

hug those you love a little extra tight.

never pass up a moment to tell those around them how much they mean to you.

to all those on DU that have read my ramblings over the years, thank you so much for being there for me. This is one of those times.