“Where do you get ideas for your columns?” According to today’s computer language, that qualifies as an FAQ –– a frequently asked question. And like most FAQs, it has many and varied answers. And also like most FAQs, it raises the question: “Was this helpful?” The question itself is helpful –– it forces me to remember to find new ideas when I’m stuck for one. A favorite source is the Lexington Herald-Leader, which I read this morning. My political harangues are prompted by what I read in the paper, and my comments about what’s going on in town come from my reactions to what I read in the paper.
This morning, and for several days, I have been meaning to state how proud I am of the clarity with which Dr. Capilouto stated the position of the University of Kentucky, my alma mater, on Rupp Arena. I have been proud of our new president for a number of stands he has taken, and while I have told a lot of people what I think of him, I think this is the first time I have written about him.
I also read all the “want ads” this morning. They include the estate sales and garage sales, some of which I used to amuse myself by attending. Since I no longer drive, I can count up all the money I save by not shopping at them. That’s in addition to car insurance and repairs of telltale scars I never reported to the insurance company and all the impulse buying I did when I was free to impulse drive. You all realize that I am just rationalizing –– I hate not driving and would take it up again in a minute if my son and the insurance company would let me!
Then there was an interesting article about the loss of the sense of smell. Certainly mine is not as acute as it used to be. My second husband and I came in one night and when we hit the back door, I said, “Something smells bad in here.” He couldn’t smell it, but we searched anyway and found a dead mouse that had come into the cabinet of canned food, been unable to get out and starved to death. My husband said, “Boy, you have some smeller!” I know age has taken away some of it, but I know when someone is baking, and when I open the perfume bottle, and when a leftover should be tossed. That article was a good reminder to keep checking.
I continue to be horrified by the number of murders reported in the paper and the local news. Someone commented that crimes reported continue to decline and that we don’t need to hire more policemen. I can only assume she doesn’t read. Lexington is no longer the safe city I used to go out in. People kill other people they don’t even know and for no apparent reason. We haven’t had one of the mass killings yet, but we have gun and knife sales all the time, and I presume it’s only a matter of time until our turn comes.
I sometimes have written about my family, but they have instructed me to write just about myself. I will, and the number of dead people I have known will provide some more subjects –– and they can’t object!