LOVE IN ITS PUREST FORM

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Thanksgiving in the air. Mentioned everywhere.

O. Henry was a famous short story writer from long ago. A giant. He said re Thanksgiving…..There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely American.

O. Henry’s name brought to mind one of his short stories. One dealing with man’s most sensitive emotion: Love. “The Gift of the Magi.”

I had not thought of the Magi gift story for at least 50 years. Till yesterday. A love story involving Christmas.

The Gift of the Magi involves a young couple very much in love. Della and Jim. Christmas was at hand. Neither had enough money to buy the other a gift.

Each sold their most prized possession.

Della had beautiful hair. She loved it. People commented her on it. She had her hair cut and sold in order to purchase a platinum FOB chain for Jim’s watch.

Unbeknownst, Jim sold his valuable watch in order to buy Della jeweled combs for her hair.

Love in its purest form.

I have only so much blood to give. My orange blood.

I spent yesterday afternoon watching Notre Dame beat Syracuse in football 36-3. Total destruction. Did not expect it. Thought Syracuse might win.

Basketball season has begun. Football and basketball overlap this time of the year. Syracuse played 2 basketball games in the past few days. Lost both. Not even close.

Depression does not accurately describe how I felt. So low, I had to look up to see bottom. Ugh!

Following the game, showered, dressed and was out to meet friends for dinner. Almost decided not to go because of how I felt. Glad I did go, however.

Dinner was with Donna and Terri and Andrea and Joe at Conch Republic. A couple of drinks, good food, excellent company and I felt better.

Oysters and stone crabs! The oysters large and delicious. The stone crabs…..Oh, so good.

On the way home, I made a brief stop at the Chart Room. Not many people. Sat and chatted with John a while. He had just made fresh popcorn. The smell got to be. Enjoyed a small bowel.

Elections still in the air. Reminds me of a Key West election 29 years ago. Captain Tony Tarraceno was running for Mayor. His fourth try. Lost in his previous 3 attempts.

His platform simple: Save as much of the old days and ways as possible.

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal endorsed him. Would you believe!

Captain Tony was of the opinion that it took him so long to win because of 2 factors. One, he kissed mothers instead of babies. Second, he used a certain 4 letter word too often.

The Washington Post interviewed him about his use of the word, its effect on his running, etc. The Captain’s response: “I just hope everybody in Key West who uses that word votes for me. If they do, I’ll win in a landslide.”

Apparently enough did. He won the fourth time.

Anti-Semitism is history’s oldest hatred. A creeping sickness. Like cancer.

It is on the rise world wide. Dramatically in Europe and the United States.

A huge problem in France. France has the largest population of Jews than any European country.

Anti-Semitism’s ugly head evidencing itself in the United States in recent years. Incidents of anti-Semitism up 57 percent in 2017. The new-Nazi party has come out of the darkness. Fearlessly open about their hatred. Reveal it in demonstrations.

A form of neo-Nazism has developed in Israel. Not Israelis against Israelis. Rather, Israelis against Palestinians. Israel’s tendencies against the Palestinians described as “Judeo-Nazi tendencies.”

Netanyahu bears the major responsibility. Molded in the same form as Trump. Authoritarian. Nationalistic. A despot in the making. A war monger. He wants to destroy the Palestinians and engage in a war against Iran.

Netanyahu under investigation in his country as Trump in his.

Netanyahu continues to be reelected so I am not sure how his people feel about him. I wonder how Jews outside Israel feel about his Palestinian and Iranian moves.

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

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My notes are piling up. Things I want to discuss. The reason for the over abundance is that too much is going on. Too much news.

I am going to briefly run through my notes today. Less they become stale. Most not even a week old.

Before so doing, permit me to share some Key West and personal items.

Never left the house yesterday. It was tuesday. My podcast at 9 in the evening. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. I spend the day preparing and fine tuning the show.

Today, busy. A manicure at noon with Tammy. A visit with Dr. Norris at 2. Sons and Daughters of Italy dinner meeting this evening. Hopefully, a visit to Blue Macaw afterwards.

Recall I lunched with Robert and Ally monday. Robert a freshman in high school, Ally in the 8th grade. I was curious as to what they were reading. I assumed they were reading the same books in school that I read when their age. No way!

I asked them what they thought of Ivanhoe, House of Seven Gables, and Moby Dick. They did not know what I was talking about. Never heard of the books. They told me the titles of books they were required to read. I never heard of any of them.

Called as the world turns.

Guy de Boer the past year has a monthly party at his home. Tuesday nights. I can never attend because I have my podcast show to do. Guy labeled the event Boys Night Out.

The name a copy of an event Mary Lou Hoover started 10 or more years ago. First in Key West. Now, State wide. Girls Night Out.

I must make one of Guy’s parties. He invites ladies also. Mary Lou does not invite men.

Tom Luna is one the most loved persons in Key West. A bear of a man. Always ready to throw his arms around you with a big hug.

Tom has been performing Dueling Bartenders at Aqua monday nights for many years. I understand he is taking 6 months off. Why, I do not know. The past year, he has had some illnesses. Nothing of consequence. Hope all is well with him.

The notes.

Melania not just a pretty face. She appears to be exerting more influence in the White House and over her husband than previously thought.

We are told she does not like John Kelly. Has been pushing her husband to get rid of him. She may finally have succeeded.

More importantly, Melania is not  enamoured with the Deputy  National Security Adviser, Mira Ricardel. Mira a friend of John Bolton. Melania wants Mira fired. Claims she “no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.”

Someone close to Melania said “she can be a knife fighter.”

Mira claims she has never met Melania.

The Daily Beast recently ran 2 interesting articles. One had to do with the immigration problem. The article reported “Trump’s own team knows his caravan claims are bullshit.”

The other article had to do with people of color seeking permission to enter the U.S. The article suggests the blue wave be forgotten. There is a brown wave. Trump says the brown people are coming!

The article claims Trump has been riling up his base by stoking fear of a brown wave descending on Brownsville, Texas. At the same time accusing the Democrats and George Soros of making it all happen.

The election results and Mueller investigation appear to be taking their toll on Trump. He is losing it. Spending more time in his White House apartment, avoiding Presidential duties, etc. An example one of his tweets recently re French President Macron.

Criticized Macron for the Paris Armistice commemoration event. Criticized Macron for suggesting Europe had to set up its own joint military force to protect itself. Macron suggesting Europe could no longer depend on the U.S. He asked in effect how France could walk hand in hand with Germany. Germany caused World Wars I and II.

The Communist scare in the 1950’s and 1960’s was far worse than any war scares we are presently experiencing with nations such as Iran, China, North Korea and Russia. The Red Scare was everywhere. War was imminent.

A Mrs. White was a member of the Indiana Textbook Committee. She insisted that all references to Robin Hood be removed from school books. She was concerned because Robin Hood believed in stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. The Communist line at the time was the same. Take from the rich and give to the poor.

Still have 5 topics remaining. Enough for today, however. Will get to them tomorrow.

I close with a George Sands quote: “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”

Enjoy your day!