New York's Population

I have to say I thoroughly agree with Froma Harrop in a recent editorial. The loss of population in the state of New York is a very good thing. Since most of us complain mightily about too many people everywhere we look, it seems only fitting that we should receive that news favorably.

I haven’t done any research to determine what kinds of people have left the state, but it seems like a win-win situation no matter how you look at it. If, by chance, the people moving out are welfare recipients, then all the better. If they are gainfully employed, then that leaves openings for more who remain, or those who would like to move back.

There really are some good things about fewer people. Things like more parking spaces; the ease of getting a doctor’s appointment without waiting 4 months; less traffic at rush hour; shorter lines at the grocery store; etc.

While I am sure that not all leave because of the job market, there is no doubt that the job market around here is tricky. Many of our family members and friends have experienced the gamut of frustration. Good jobs have been lost, health insurance has been non-existent, and times have been lean. However, if you work at it, these things can be overcome. Some have found low-paying jobs to tide them over for a bit, which is not always a bad thing. Character-building and all that. Some have lowered their expectations for being wealthy, and settled for being content. Some have gone back to school to make themselves marketable in a completely different field. Some have moved away, and yes, it’s sad when those who move away are your own kids, but if they really wanted to stay, they would find a way to do it. Maybe they’ll come back.

I suspect a lot of people use the job issues as a stepping-stone to the fact that they don’t like the weather. While I am not a huge fan of cold weather, I much prefer the occasional snowstorm to hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, volcanoes, 100 degree temperatures, and floods. With snow, we know what to expect.
As to the political backlash concerning the red vs blue states, let’s stop caring about that so much. Maybe if we do, we’ll get to the point where we worry more about what political candidates say and do than what party they belong to.

Holidays

11/25/10

I’m not really a huge fan of holidays. I’m not sure why. I don’t have any deep dark, childhood agonies that creep out of the woodwork to haunt me; I don’t suspect government conspiracies or secretive raids on my psyche, I just don’t really love them. I can think of reasons why each holiday annoys me to some extent, but there is nothing huge about any of them that makes me want to crawl into my bed and sleep until they are over. I just want to crawl in bed and sleep until each one is over.

One reason I’m sure, is that I like things to go along in an orderly and predictable way for the most part. Holidays mess that up. Mail doesn’t arrive, stores are closed (as they should be), and having extra time off to make appointments that need to be made doesn’t happen, because, of course, the things you need to make appointments for are also closed.

I’m annoyed about shopping on holidays, because if it is important enough to be celebrated, why do so many people have to work? I get food stores being open, but department stores? Maybe if people didn’t want to shop, then others COULD enjoy the holidays. A conundrum for sure.

Materialism comes into play certainly. Gifts such as ties and perfume used to be the norm for many holidays; now, according to the ads on TV, unless you are buying everyone on your list a car, plasma TV, or a computer, you are not the kind of person you should be. Each holiday has its own special sale. We celebrate Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day now, not by honoring those who fought or died for us, but by purchasing large quantities of everything.

My family is no help. They like, or at least tolerate them, and drag me along on the wave of “doing things”. My husband is almost intolerant of my disdain for holidays, so I have to behave as if I love them, or at least don’t mind them, which in fact makes it worse.

According to everything I read and hear each and every family in the United States celebrates every holiday with huge gatherings of people who all love each and every one of their family members. All contribute equally to the festiveness of the occasion, all are openly thankful for what they have, nobody feels any despair, unhappiness, or aloneness, and nobody is left out of a group celebration. I happen to know this isn’t true, and I think that I am probably not alone in this feeling.

So, for all those who may not be living the picture-perfect life, and may not be able to identify why they just aren’t bubbling over with enthusiasm about every holiday celebration, here’s to you.

Parenting

Yesterday Lynn went up to Lowe's to get something we really didn't need. In the parking lot, there was a kid of about 4 who was directly in the path of an oncoming truck, and Lynn grabbed his arm and pulled him to safety. I forgot to ask if this was after his shopping trip, or on the way into the store, but I think it was afterward, because he had heard the kid's name a number of times in the store. As in "Parker this and Parker that". Parker's mother thanked him, and when Lynn said that it seemed like Parker needed some intervention, she said, "Oh no, we don't belive in that".

Really? They don't believe in teaching a child safety rules? Interesting.

Shades of Green

I am not a hot-weather person, and have no desire to live in the south as so many people I know say they would like to do. While I do not LOVE the cold winter weather, I generally find it bearable, and in recent years have reacquainted myself with skiing so as to have something to do and to look forward to about winter. I am not too fond of air-conditioning, and since I don't have a pool, the weather around here suits me perfectly.

Summers in Western New York are just gorgeous. Greenery abounds, and even in urban areas, there are trees all over the place. Today, as I turned on Main St. after a trip to Tops, I was struck by the varying shades of verdant colors all grouped together, and I just had to take a picture.

Another School Year Ends

Today was the last of school for the year. It is bittersweet, this day, while I love these kids, and will miss them, it is beyond true that we all really need a break from school. The last few days are always difficult. We're trying to finish up things, trying to clean up things, and trying to say goodbye without really saying goodbye. I have to pretend not to notice all the whisperings and furtiveness as students pass things around to be signed by everybody. Then, when they are finished, a designated student or two bring me a note saying how much they love me, or that I am their best teacher ever, signed by everybody.

Today also ends my era of teaching fourth grade. I am moving to third grade in the fall, and while I don't mind really, I am anxious about the challenge. There are things that I really will miss, most of all working with Phil and Eric. We have been partners and friends for many years, and I just always sort of assumed that we would be forever. But times change, and this time has ended. i realized the other day that the students who just finished 4th grade will graduate the year I will retire. So... Onward for 8 more years.

Ramblings

I should be working on report cards. It is Monday night, and they go home on Friday, I have barely started them, so I not only have to finish them, but also print them out, fold them, and put them into the envelopes.

I'm not working on them though, obviously. I am sitting watching House, after having gone out to dinner with some friends, taken the dog for a walk, and talked to my daughter on the phone. I'm thinking about getting ready for bed, because I'll get up early and go to work early so I can work on report cards.

This is not my favorite time of year.