President Pope

I am not speaking about Olivia Pope from the ABC series, Scandal.  I am referring to the one and only Pope Francis for President of the United States.  Now, I am being tongue and cheek, but over the 5 days that he was in our country, he spoke of global climate change, immigration rights, and, yes, against abortion, among many other hot button issues. He spoke of the golden rule to Congress.  Can you imagine?  In his beautiful, dulcet voice he asked the members of Congress to do unto others....A bit embarrassing, don't you think?  There were even members of Congress that dissed the Pope because they didn't like his perspective on topics.  Seriously?  He's the Pope.  To the Catholic Church isn't he the closest vessel to God?  He is a learned man.  He's no one's uneducated dupe.  He preaches the "real" words of Jesus.  Feed the poor, help the needy, give health insurance for all.  Wow, radical thoughts and beliefs.  How in the world can anyone object to his preaching on these topics?  Shouldn't all people in the role of leader and clergy be preaching the same things?  

I have to admit, I was absolutely smitten with Pope Francis.  I kind of love him.  We don't agree on all things, but we are more aligned than any Republican candidate for President.  He thinks income inequality is a disgrace. He thinks all of us are God's children and he means it.  He, as did St. Francis of Assisi, cherishes the earth and all its living things.  There are things in the Catholic doctrine that I will always disagree with but for the most part, this Pope has taken his oath and Bible seriously.  Every time he saw a child or a disabled person he was drawn to all of them.  He would have stopped for everyone if the security detail and time permitted.  

New Yorkers enjoyed the Pope whether Catholic or not.  Hard to argue with all the love he shared.  I have no idea how he had the energy for all the places he went, people he blessed, and masses he led.  I was tired just watching him on television.  Interesting that so many people from his past reported that he never used to smile, when on this journey he couldn't stop smiling.  

The Pope's visit spread much needed love and acceptance that we have long been missing.  How long will that feeling last?  His message was so potent that House Speaker Boehner decided that he had enough of the insanity.  That's Boehner.  He was at the center of the crazy for awhile and now he was out-crazied in Congress.  He's tired and is out.  Basta!  Enough!  Done! Over and out!.  So now what will happen with Congress?  Who will take over as Speaker?  Remember the devil you know is always better than the devil you don't.  I think it will only get worse.  Even watching some of the Congressional hearings today, the disrespect was flying high.  Is the bloom already off the rose?  Can it happen that fast?  

All I know for sure is that if there was just one Republican candidate that was anything like the Pope, I could listen.  I can't take any of these candidates seriously, but we need to, don't we?  I don't want to keep hearing that T***p won't make it, Carson won't be the nominee, Huckabee, etc. etc. etc.  There will be a Republican nominee at some point. I don't want anyone to underestimate what money can do.  Let's see how it plays out.

Sidebars:  The new Fall TV season is here.  They roll shows out more slowly than when I was a kid, but they are coming.  I've watched two episodes of Blindspot and it's still interesting.  I'm worried about The Blacklist, just from the promos.  It may have jumped the shark.  The Voice is going strong.  Still highly recommend it to watch and hear how many talented singers there are and how fun the judges are.  Amazing Race and Survivor began for season whatever.  Dancing With the Stars is a whole bunch of non-stars and no more Len Goodman judging. -- Baseball season is winding down. NY Mets made it to the division championship for the NL East.  I'm still holding out a bit of hope for the SF Giants and the Yankees.  It all will be decided Sunday.  Great decision that all Sunday games will play at the same time.  Let's see how that works out. -- Trying to get back on the writing horse, but it's difficult.  I appreciate writers more and more. -- Don't forget to be kind to yourself and others.

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@DianaPodolsky

I Lost My Joie

I Lost My Joie.  One of my favorite, favorite songs from William Finn, creator of all things Falsetto and I believe cut from the production of Falsettos.  I use it all the time.  It's fitting. It says it all. These days, it's true.  Politics have gotten me dazed and confused.  Depressed a bit.  Watching the Republicans talk stupid over two debates is depleting my spirit.  There isn't a Republican candidate that I could vote for once they start spewing about Planned Parenthood, Women's Rights, Pro-Life, Religion, etc.  The social issues take them out for me.  In today's paper there are Republicans that won't go hear the Pope because of his "leftist" views.  Come on, really?  The Pope??? Leftist???????  Maybe they all have to go back and read the Bible.  So many stand on it, by it, around it, but maybe they should listen to the actual words of Jesus.  Seriously, if they don't like to read...go see Stephen Schwartz' Godspell.  It will give you a great, easy snapshot of Christianity without all those many pages to read.  You can even hum along.  

Did you watch the debate?  I could only watch the first two hours of the primetime debate this week.  Ridiculously too long and fairly empty of any significant content.  Tr**p is a big immature bully on the playground and all the other kids are trying to rise above the fray.  Not much is said.  They all want war.  They all love Israel (of course, not because they love Jewish people, but whatever).  They all hate Obamacare but have never presented any other idea how to cover people with health insurance.  They all hate Hillary Clinton.  The Donald refers to everyone by their first name.  Fiorina refers to him as "Mr. Tr**p."  They try to hold their ground but say nothing.  For over three hours of primetime television, nothing of substance gets presented.  It's the Miss America pageant without the swimsuits.  Actually, I hate to even demean the Miss America pageant, at least they get scholarship money.  

These candidates are all unelectable.  They are caught between a rock and a hard place because to get to the general election, they have to spew so much BS that the party can never win the Presidency again.  The religious right, the NRA, the tea party, all have their claws right between each pair of legs of these candidates.  Hard to know what anyone really believes.  The only one on the primetime stage that has basically been the same year in and year out...Rand Paul.  Like him or hate him, he seems to be true to his beliefs.  Dr. Ben Carson believing in creationism over evolution is mind-boggling.  How is a man of science so ignorant?  He was a pediatric neurologist for goodness sake.  Carly Fiorina's over the top, incorrect plea about abortions and Planned Parenthood funding was disgusting.  The Donald's bullshit connection of vaccines and autism should take him out of the race right now.  After all the doctors have disproven the research from the fully flawed British study that got the "ultra scholar" Jenny McCarthy, turning her Playboy playmate career into a PT Barnum barker, Tr**p has perpetuated the BS again during the debate. Ugh!! Mike Huckabee fortunately didn't speak too much because I have had enough of him from the Kim Davis disgrace.

Let me make it clear again. I firmly believe in the separation of Church and State.  Our Republican candidates get that all confused.  They really think the Bible, Ten Commandments, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence should all be what guides our Country.  No, people.  Please take a civics course again from an atheist professor.  Let him/her set you straight.  You all continue to bastardize what it says that you can't possibly lead.  Mr. Huckabee, you brought civics into the debate, you can be the first to sign up for a crash course.  Of course, as each of you have to drop out of the race, you can spend more time on what our Forefathers so richly and thoughtfully created.  

And again, ladies and gentlemen, without upending the Citizens United decision, democracy is threatened.  The money in politics is destroying the Country that we all love.  Yes, Mr. Tr**p, if you want to make "America Great Again," it's not the immigrants tearing it down, it's the billionaires.

Sidebars: We get at least a month off before the next Republican debate.  The Democrats step up to the podiums mid-October. -- The Emmy's are on Sunday night.  Always makes me feel old and out of it. I haven't gotten into the flow of Netflix or any other off shoot.  I am still old school watching mostly network shows, lots of sports, and news.  Oh well, I'll still be there in front of the TV trying to figure out who all the people are. -- Baseball season is winding down.  The SF Giants aren't out yet, but looking pretty slim that they will be in the post season.  But hey, no one thought that they'd be this great this season, so it's been a great ride.  The NY Mets have been tearing it up.  The NY Yankees are still alive. Football season is fully underway.  Too much, too many games, too many days of the week.  Too much and it's just the beginning. --- If you haven't seen the hilarious video by Ann Pinto McCarney, google it.  For all the parents of college freshman, it will make you laugh.  

TGIF.   So that's it for the Friday before my birthday. Enjoy!!!

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@DianaPodolsky

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

So, the kids are in college and the empty nest hasn't been empty yet.  My sister came for two weeks.  Helped bridge the gap between their new chapter and mine.  Now, she's gone and I think the reality is really going to sink in.  Everyone has asked how am I doing with the kids away.  I have felt steadfast that I'm good, pretending that they are simply at sleep away camp.  We will see them at Parents' weekend in October, so I can almost really get away with that.  

It's just crazy. The school that our children went to for 13 years started today and we're not there anymore. It's odd. Not wishing that I was still there with them, but it's a huge transition from all these past years.  I see the Facebook photos from friends proudly posting the first day of school photos of their kids marching off to school.  Those days are gone for me.  Don't get me wrong, I'm exceedingly proud, but those photos are in the past.  I remember the first day they went to kindergarten and I was sad that I forgot my camera to take that picture of them starting school.  All these other parents were snapping away and I was running between two different classrooms seeing them off.  I decided that it was an "oh, well."  Living in the moment and capturing the images in my head.  

Now, they are pursuing independent lives.  I am still struggling with my future.  It will be a jagged road.  Nothing linear and clear.  Two steps forward, 5 steps back, and so on.  I do not feel sorry for myself, so no one has to worry about me.  I am one of many parents that have to adjust to an empty nest.  I just wish I had found a passion in addition to my children to help smoothly move me into this new volume, but I didn't.  So, now I sit here, starting over again.  Feels everyone else is on their path.  Trying to stay connected to friends, but without the structure of school, we are scattering every which way.  It's life. It's how it goes.  

The Jewish holidays are almost here and that will be another reminder of having to re-create traditions again.  It will be different, it will be smaller.  It will be, que sera, sera.  In the middle of all that annually, the birthday. More different celebrations.  

Made a few superficial changes:  got a Nespresso machine, drinking a lot more coffee, and got another piercing in my lobe. Still must do more household organization. Say it year in and year out, but this year...I mean it.  :-) 

So until I figure things out, I will struggle and may keep writing. It is a great outlet for me.  So much to say and so much time.

Sidebars:  Had tickets for months to see Hamilton on Broadway.  We got there and found out the star and creator wasn't doing the performance, even though I had reconfirmed with the box office earlier in the week.  We left the theatre and somehow got our money back.  That was my lottery win.  They never give money back if an actor isn't in the show, unless they're "above the title" actors.  So the best laid plans.  Now, struggling to get tickets -- Had the big fun turning Bachelor in Paradise into family viewing.  Not all members participated, but much fun and caused many debates and conversations.  Also, enjoying America's Got Talent and American Ninja Warriors as family gatherings. -- Still rooting loudly and passionately for the San Francisco Giants but looking more and more improbable.  Need Hunter Pence in the lineup. -- US Open tennis is halfway through.  Upsets and victories abound.  Tonight Serena and Venus have to play each other.  Hate that. If it were the finals, fine, but otherwise....-- The new season of The View began today.  I tried it. Not sure I can stick with it, but without doubt, it's great to have Joy Behar back. Stephen Colbert premieres tonight!  Well worth DVRing and giving it a chance. -- Sweltering here, there, and everywhere. Global climate change is a fact. It's not a belief. Enjoy your heat wherever you are.  Shout out to my friend, Holly.  It's her birthday today and no adult I know loves birthdays more than Holly.  

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@DianaPodolsky

This Is It

The day that most parents both dread and look forward to is here.  After an incredible 18 years of raising two amazing young people, tomorrow is the day we let them go.  We are off to taking our children to college.  I really can't believe it.  This past week has been anything but easy, but also had some wonderful moments to cherish.  

I've been fighting a cold all week and losing.  My daughter has been sick for a week.  No antibiotic can fix what ails me.  I was told that a cold is your body ready to lose something.  Well, my body might be ready, but I'm not.  Don't get me wrong, I know that this is part of the evolution of child-rearing but the terror that I didn't teach them enough is nagging at me all the time.  It's not a rational thought. It's irrational fear.  It's a very exciting time and I also know that.  Please, don't worry about me. I'm not expressing this for pity or morale boost.  All the parents of college freshman are having many of the same conflicting feelings: nervous, happy, scared, excited.  It's my mantra right now.  

I hear the birds and their babies.  I know that this is mirroring the same cycle.  It is time to let go and pray that I have imparted all the knowledge and wisdom to help them maneuver through life.  This period of life seems much easier for birds.  They encourage them to fly. That's the Mommy bird's job, but oy, it's not easy.  Life is about to change forever.  No more knowing where they are and when they come home.  I have tried to practice that this summer.  It's amusing because our parents never knew where we were.  There were no cell phones.  We managed to grow up in one piece.  Maybe some better than others, but we figured it out.  

I am not the first parent to go through this.  I will not be the last either, but we all go through it both differently and the same. The only thing that may change my evolution is it's two at a time.  It's ripping a bandaid off really quickly.  One huge pain and recovery.  I've been joking that there will be a new river down 3rd Avenue in New York City.  I will be fine.  It will hurt.  It will be quiet.  It will be new.  It will be uncomfortable.  I will survive.  

To all the parents of college freshman, cherish every last second that you can, remember what's important, try to let go of all the small stuff.  How you say goodbye is what they will remember until Thanksgiving.  And freshman, be kind to your parents.  I've always said that it's much more exciting and easier for the ones leaving than the ones staying.  This time we are all going on new adventures.

Breathe. 

Retching!

Watched the entire Republican debate last night.  I am still shaking my head.  I actually needed the commercial breaks to be sick to my stomach.  The candidates stances on women, women's rights to choose, Planned Parenthood, immigration, taxation, Church and State, and so on is so terrifying and disconcerting that I can't see how anyone can support a Republican candidate.  They have gone so far right, including and if you believe him, Donald T***p.  I don't believe for one second that he went from pro-choice to pro-life.  Don't think he cares really either way at all. His saccharine and embarrassing anecdote about his friends that were going to get an abortion and chose not to and ended up raising a fine young person.  Okay, non-sequitur, really.  That's not the point of pro-choice.  I love the nun this week who's been trending with this insightful quote: 

 "I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is.". --- Sister Joan Chittister, Catholic Nun.  Yes, sister, you are so right! 

Look, it's not that all of these candidates have nothing valid to say, but the overall stance is so backwards.  They want to take us back to the 1950's where women knew their place, minorities knew their place, things seemed simple, God was added to the Pledge of Allegiance, and things were black and white. No gray.  No complicated thoughts.  Honestly, I'm sure it wasn't simple at all in the 50's but thanks to television and movies indelibly imprinted in our memories, it seemed positively pastoral.  

All of these men during the primetime Republican debate, threw out red meat to the base.  I resented the audience and applause and boos.  It made it a sporting match.  Maybe if there was no live audience, the candidates would have to delve more deeply and not throw out sound bites and quips.  The "esteemed" Fox News panel had their moments trying to get the candidates to actually answer the questions asked.  That was novel.  Even if they still didn't, it helped highlight to the audience at home how slippery they all are.  When Ben Carson said he wants to overhaul the tax system to tithing, I almost fell out of my club chair.  T***p hardly answered a direct question, though the panel did hold his feet to the fire when he wouldn't pledge not to run as an Independent.  That was the first question to the candidates.  He got boos.  

The final question the Fox panel asked was a Facebook question from Chase A. Norton, who wanted to know “if any of [the candidates] have received a word from God on what they should do and take care of first.” I had a visceral reaction to both the question and the answers by the candidates.  I can't bear that we are tearing down the separation between Church and State. That question has no business in government or politics.  That the Fox panel chose not only to use this question but end with it really made me uncomfortable.  

I think we are on a very slippery slope.  Many of the candidates mentioned religious liberty.  What about my religious liberty?  What about yours?  Why is your liberty infringing on mine?  It's unbearable.  It's scary.  If this is the path the Country wants to go down, we really will be in trouble.  It's not inclusive.  It's not liberty.  It's only their "Christian" way.  

Here's the upside to this experience, for two hours I got to forget that my children are going off to college.  

Sidebars:  Summer television has been a great distraction. I've chosen to watch trash and light fare over the much ballyhooed stressful summer series or binge watching those that have won multiple Emmys.  I'm okay with missing out.  The Bachelorette was a ball.  Bachelor in Paradise is filling the trash void perfectly though they are really milking it over two nights.  America's Got Talent and American Ninja Warrior are fun for the whole family.  Having purchased the MLB package, I can be tortured 6 days a week by the San Francisco Giants.  It's been a roller coaster.  Still a lot of season left.  The Yankees and the Mets are doing shockingly great.  Honestly, I can't complain.  No one thought that the Giants or the Yankees would be much of anything this season.  Both teams have given me a lot to root for daily.  On a serious note...I've been struggling with the Iran deal. Trying to figure out what the options are and no one has an answer to that.  If Congress votes it down and there's no deal at all, then what?  People may hate the deal, but without any deal isn't that worse?  I'm not saying I'm for it, but I just can't get the answer either way.  If you've got it, let me know.  It's Friday.  My kids are leaving in 8 days....Eight days a week, I lo-o-o-o-ove you!

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@DianaPodolsky

One Foot in Front of the Other

The writing is on the wall.  My kids are growing up and leaving the nest.  I can't believe it.  The emotions are flooding in and out by the second.  I'm proud. I'm sad. I'm happy. I'm lonely. I'm excited. I'm nervous. I'm numb.

I've been numb a lot. Since graduation day, I've not been wholly able to feel my feelings.  I'm putting one foot in front of the other.  I'm trying to cherish the minutes I get from my kids per day.  Not easy as they run out the door to work or to see their friends.  First summer that we didn't take a family vacation.  What the hell was I thinking?  The days are slipping by fast and the departure date is getting nearer and nearer.  I can now see it on the calendar on the same page.  We are 3 weeks out.  It's devastating.  It's exciting.  What am I supposed to feel?  Too many emotions all at once or none at all.

I've wanted to rant or ruminate for weeks, but every time I begin, I stop after a paragraph.  I want to ruminate about my graduation but I didn't get very far.  I refuse to rant about TR**p.  Just depresses me.  I have spent much of my time trying to find happy things to do or watch on TV.  Some are successful, some not so much.  I am trying to view my future by looking at my past.  I am trying to re-shape what I can do in this world and it ain't easy.  

I recently watched a four panel agent seminar I stumbled across on YouTube.  I knew all four agents from Los Angeles.  I listened as they discussed the state of the business and how impersonal it's become due to technology.  I knew listening to that, I could never go back to the business of show.  I made the right decision, maybe just a little earlier than I expected.  Not my business anymore.  BUT, I did reconnect with one of the agents that I had worked with for many years.  That was golden.

So, I nixed that for my future.  What now?  Well, I have loved little kids a lot.  Trying to find a way in somewhere to volunteer or something.  In NYC, it's not easy to get in to a lot of places.  It is certainly not the same as when I was a kid and I could walk in off the street and volunteer at many city organizations.  Not here. It's a process or you have to know someone.  I reached out to an old friend of mine from my kids' school that had since left and runs a pre-school.  A-ha.  Maybe that's it.  Maybe I can do something there.  She was very open about it and I went to see the school.  Watching all the little kids running around, gave me hope.  Maybe that's what the doctor ordered.  We shall see.  

Until my babies are all tucked away at their new chapter, I hold my breath, I breathe deeply, I hold it together.One foot in front of the other.  One day at a time.  I am not the first to go through this transition and I won't be the last, but it feels like the biggest thing I've experienced in my life.  Bigger than when I went to college.  The anticipation is too huge.  So, I keep reaching back and looking forward, trying desperately to stay in the moment. Breathe.

As we travel on, love's what we'll remember.

SMH*

Friends and readers have asked why haven't I written about the tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina.  Well, what more can I say?  I've said that the NRA is distinctly and specifically silent or says clearly crazy things when gun tragedies occur.  They are this time, too.  The Republicans can't really say too much of value either.  They can't piss off the NRA or the people of the South.  They stand up and declare it was a crime against Christianity not racism.  Are you kidding me?  That supports their theory that there is a war on Christians.  Yeah, well, you ain't seen nothing yet if you think this is against Christians.  I've said that the covert racism around this country went apeshit crazy when Obama was elected President.  It's everywhere, it's constant, and getting worse.  Even after hearing or reading this racist's manifesto, they still can't change their tune. It blows my mind.  

Thousands of members of the NRA still silent and standing by their leaders, they are no better.  Don't tell me this was the fault of mental illness.  There are many people that have mental or emotional problems in this country, but they don't all have guns.  Those people shouldn't be allowed to own guns, borrow guns, get their hands on any weapon whatsoever.  The perverse twisting of the 2nd Amendment has been turned every which way to protect what has clearly been distorted by gun loving people.  They have the money to control many elections.  Where the hell are the Democrats?  They are spineless crickets that only are concerned about their re-elections.  It's unconscionable that we are having this discussion again.  Fourteen times since President Obama took office!! Fourteen!!!  He didn't even know what to say anymore.  He has said it all, and yet, nothing changes.  

People, again I will say, stand up.  If you are a law-abiding gun owner, why are you so fearful of being heard and being counted?  Your silence is deafening.  You allow the Ted Nugent's and the Wayne LaPierre's be your megaphones for crazy.  I have to believe that there are more "normal" members of the NRA than crazy, but you wouldn't know it.  

I'm tired of this same discussion over and over and over again.  We can't say we are the greatest country in the world anymore. We are supposed to be the leaders and models for democracy.  If the mouthpieces for the gun lobby and the Republican party's answer is more guns, we are going to destroy ourselves.  Churches, movie theatres, schools, parks, museums, army bases, and so forth should be safe and gun-free. The more guns, the more death.  Don't tell me "guns don't kill people, people kill people" anymore.  That tagline is over.  

Moving on...seriously?  Jack Lew decided on replacing Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill?  One of our Forefathers, the man that helped create our entire currency system, the first Secretary of the Treasury?  Missed the basis of that decision.  Certainly, there is a ground swell and pushback on this decision.  Yes, it's time to honor a woman on our currency, but why replace Hamilton? Andrew Jackson, former President of the United States, has a very checkered history.  Not that he couldn't be honored too, but if making a choice, let the women have the $20 bill.  It is the one that's spewed out of ATM's all over.  Let's see if anyone's mind's can be changed.  It's not too late because no decision of whom will get the honor has been made and the new bills won't be in circulation until 2020. Keep Hamilton, dump Jackson!

Sidebars:  I truly admire Taylor Swift.  I have been a fan for a long time, but her recent stances have made me stand up and cheer.  She stands by women and girls and feminism publicly.  Her recent diss of Spotify was classic and most importantly, her public letter to Apple about their new Apple Music streaming app was stunning.  Taylor Swift stood up against the behemoth company in the most polite, strong, and clear open letter that Apple executives re-assessed saw the errors of their ways (in a weekend!). Heard no other artist back her up or stand on their own two feet.  Only she had the cajones to call them out.  I stand up and cheer for her!  Tonight, is The Bachelorette.  Hard to imagine that it can live up to its own hype and promos, but I can't wait.  American Ninja Warrior is a fantastic alternative for family viewing.  The athleticism and back stories are great.  Also, note that the women and men do the exact same course.  It's the only place I know that it is truly even in events.  Worth a look see.  It's a new week.  Hopefully, quiet and peaceful.  Enjoy everyone.  

*SMH=Shaking My Head

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