Looking back at 2013.

Ready or not this year of 2013 will end at midnight and you can decide for your self whether it has been bad or good (Santa has made his decision and retired for a year.) I looked at last December on my blog and could not find one thing that has improved.

We have a sick economy with high unemployment, more money going in welfare pay and increasing numbers drawing food stamps, companies being forced to lay off workers -- last year all over again.

In national affairs, Benghazi is still remembered ; the Mideast is in flames; we made a cowardly deal with Iran-- where is there improvement?

On the homefront Obamacare dominates the news.  What will it do to us?   That's for the new year to say.    

First -- Don't fall

That's the cardinal rule for the elderly (I hate that word.)  I admonish myself when I get up to avoid falling, but Monday I tripped and fell hard on my right knee.  I had to call for help to get up again.  This was  my first fall in more than a year when I fell and injured my left shoulder.

Seriousness of a fall depends upon the severity of the resulting injury, if any.  A friend was visiting a relative and had arrived at the front door when he stepped on a piece of concrete and fell hard.  He suffered a lot of pain and later found that he had broken his neck.  He is recovering but he has had a rough time.

The fall that breaks a hip is the one we mature people fear the most; it seems to lead to death often although miracles of treatment are now possible.

A chocolate pie memory

It started with thoughts of chocolate pie fresh from the oven  topped with vanilla ice cream and somehow went to Homer and its troubles.  Or maybe it was the other way  -- first came pleasant memories of Homer, which included chocolate pie.

There was a time when after a Homer High basketball game at home, many of us would head to the Purple Cow for a hamburger.  I can remember entering the restaurant to pleasant aromas and see fresh baked pies cooling in a window.    I asked for pie and Mrs. Broughton refused -- "I'm not cutting a pie while it is still hot.  You can wait until they cool."

After some discussion it was "I'm not cutting the pie while it is still hot.  If you want the pie, buy the whole pie." So we would and did.  On my share was vanilla ice cream.

A pleasant memory, one of many I have of Homer.

We"ll survive (Grandkids leave)

Wow; it's quiet this afternoon. Something's missing.  The grand kids, Lily and Oliver, left this morning to visit other relatives before  returning to North Carolina. We have enjoyed they and parents, Mark and Julie, spending the Christmas holidays with us.  They also  got to spend time with their cousins Tia and Kyle.

Daughter Jessica will be with us a few more days before returning to continue her education at Duke Seminary.  She received her grades for the semester -- all A's.  (Please - I'm not boasting.)

We need jobs, not job benefits

Drawing job benefits longer than six months becomes welfare.  Too many people are happy drawing benefits instead of working.   However, the bigger problem is the lack of available jobs for workers without skills for the jobs that exist..  This country has let itself become non-competitive in many types of manufacturing, and that, along with agriculture and mining, is the route to create jobs.

Obama's policies were wrong from the beginning.  His way is to over-regulate private industry which if left alone would create jobs>  Obama would have government provide jobs. That will only lead to more debt and fewer good jobs.

Let me give one example.  The oil and gas industry is responsible for 9.8 million jobs.  Doubling production would  make us self-sufficient in  energy,save 500 billion dollars that goes overseas,  and create millions of jobs.  Obama wants to punish the fossil fuels industry but instead give money to so-called green energy.

An early look back

Within a few days self-styled experts will tell us what went right and what was badly wrong during this year coming to a close.  Beyond that, we will  be given predictions of what we can expect, good and bad, in the coming year.

We do not have to wait for the experts; we have our own opinions; we've lived the year, too.

People are most concerned about domestic matters as they hit close to home, but foreign affairs may affect  us more than we are aware.  Our cowardly sell-out to Iran leaves us helpless as this nation continues to advance nuclear power.  The Mideast is a tinderbox that could explode at any time. Christians are being murdered by the dozens and the United States, supposedly a Christian nation, does nothing.

Obamacare will be the top domestic concern as it was this past year.  High costs of health care premiums will be a financial blow to millions, stirring anger.  The worst blow  Obamacare will deliver will be to the economy and the standard of living for many Americans.   The United States is becoming a nation of unemployed and  part-time workers.  

Tis the day after Christmas

It's the day after Christmas; for many it's the most depressing day of the year.  New toys have lost their newness, some even broken,  and,  worst of all,  Christmas is 364 days away, but school vacation will be over in a few days.

Adults are thinking "I spent too much," and dreading  the day when the mail brings bills from stores and  credit card companies.   Cheer up, New Year's is coming; there's time for one more party.