On a rant and I hate this time of year

The autumn, despite the beauty of the leaves turning colour, is a stressful time for me.  My parents died in October, my daughter died on December 1, my niece's son died of a fentanyl overdose a year ago in October, David (Cevyn's step brother) died on Nov 11, two years ago, Joe's parents and sister are gone, as are my sister and brother. It is hard to celebrate when so many are missing from the table!  

The older we get, the more losses we have.  I had a friend recently tell me to focus on the future.  I said it was hard since at this age, I have more past than future!

Having said that, we are as healthy as we can be expected.  

With all my moaning, I feel lucky and a bit guilty.  As I watch the news, I am horrified by the wars in Ukraine and the middle east.  It has sparked so much hatred.  I can't even imagine what it would be like to lose a whole family, to be in a hospital without the supplies and equipment to care for people, to be attacked and have my family kidnapped or  slaughtered in my own home. It is somehow unimaginable but is really happening!

I get upset watching the hatred on the news.  It looks as though the Israelis hate the Palaestinians and the Palestinians hate the Israeli people.  And they are bringing their hate here.  There are demonstrations in downtowm Calgary by both the Arab and Jewish peope, with the police in the middle!  Humanity seems to be forgotten.

I am on a rant these days. I am upset because our new Premier and government is determined to dismantle our social safety net.  She wants to reorganize our health care system - without input from those who know it best. She wants the government to decide on what action to take in case of outbreaks (eg Covid), instead of the people who understand the gravity of the situation.  I am unabashedly in favour of vaccines etc.  I am told that vaccines are bad for us,  Well, I know a lot more people died of Covid who were unvaccinated, than those who had the needle.  People without it have died, and a very few people who have been immunized have died.  I am horrified when i hear health care professionals who are antivaxers. When asked if she would have the vaccine, she said that she was healthy and besides, it was a matter between her and her doctor.  I suppose without vaccines, it might solve the overpopulation problem.  And with politicians making health care decisions, we will be doomed.

I am also upset because our new provincial government (premier) is constantly picking fights with the Feds.  She wants a provincial police force, and to opt out of the Canada Pension Plan.  We are a rich province (gas and oil) so end up paying more than some of the small provinces. I believe she wants Alberta to become its own country.  I am adamantly Canadian. I believe in sharing and helping those less fortunate.  There are people in Alberta who want to help the environment.  But our politicians decided to stop all new funding for renewble energy cI ompanies who were hoping to invest here!  Grrr

I fear for the future that we are leaving to our children and grandchildren. We choked on smoke most of the summer.   We have had little rain in the last couple of years, so the crops are not doing well.  We drove to the mountains a few weeks ago.  The glaciers are melting much faster.  The winters are warmer so it won't be long before they are gone.  Our Bow River is lower than it has been in many years.  If it was a one off, I wouldn't be worried, but the fires are worse every year, and you can't turn on the TV without hearing about unusual hurricanes, tornatos, flooding and 'natural' disasters around the world. When I hear people saying "Well China/India etc are not doing anything, I see red.  It sounds like a 6 year old "But Eddie's mom lets him do it".  Somebody has to take things seriously!  Our federal government is trying but they are blocked at every turn by a couple of the provincial governments.  

You might ask what we are doing.  Probably not as much as I'd like.  We drive much less than we used to and when our old beater is dead, we are not buying another vehicle.  We try as best we can to recycle, compost, buy only what we need and shop at thrift stores mostly.

When I watch American news, I am not encouraged!  I fear our kids are screwed!

Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I will try to go back to sleep.  I have been awake since 4 am!

Wishing all my American friends (I hope you are still my friends) a very Happy, Peaceful Thanksgiving. Despite my doom and glook we do have a lot to be thankfu for!