From Uber Drivers to Retired Teachers
All over the world, everybody's talking.
VOL. 3 ... No. 106. June 11, 2025.
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Howdy Humpsters,
How ya doing? Good, I hope.
Me? You ask.
I’m back home and mostly over that wicked cold I told you about last week — although my voice still sounds like a mating bullfrog — especially when I try to sing. This is me singing Froggy Went A’Courtin’.
I’m struggling for something to write this week, and I’ll tell you why . . . there’s a big old elephant in the (situation) room, and I’m tripping over it every time I try to think of anything non-political to write.
My goal for this newsletter is to take a light-hearted approach to life, and to emphasize our strengths and similarities whenever possible. But I am feeling such a sadness today for the day laborers picked up near the Home Depot in Los Angeles. Talk about sitting ducks! These are most likely poor, hard-working people trying to support their families. They wouldn’t be in this country if there weren’t employment for them.
When are the CEOs of organizations that employ undocumented workers going to be targeted and arrested? I think we all know the answer to that. Never.
Dystopia. It’s not just for fiction any more.
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From Bangladeshi uber drivers to locals to tourists . . .
When we were in Portugal, it took only a few minutes before people we met had something to say about our president. This usually took the form of “How about that Trump!” The most common reaction from everyone was a feeling of confusion or amusement by what has been happening here. I occasionally tried to say, “The American people are still the kind and generous folks they’ve always been. This is an anomaly in our history and will self-correct in time.”
But, my words rang hollow, even to me.
The volatility and crude behavior of our president and the current crop of elected officials is not what the world has come to expect of us. But that is rapidly changing.
Where has our national dignity gone?
We met a husband and wife from Canada. The husband rather sheepishly shared a joke. He emphasized that it was a joke meant for Canadians and had made the rounds shortly after our president tried to make Canada our 51st state.
God was talking to a group of Canadians and said, “I have given you so much. You have beautiful shorelines, magnificent mountains, great universities, abundant plants and animals for food, and a thriving population of polite, thoughtful people.”
One person said, “Why, God? Why do we deserve to have all this? It’s like heaven on earth.”
And God said, “Not quite. Wait until you meet your neighbors to the south.”
Funny, huh?
On a lighter note, enjoy this beautiful music from Portugal. The street musician is playing an Aerophone digital wind instrument by Roland in a plaza in Tavira. Stu and I loved the sound so much that we bought one for me when we returned home. I used to play saxophone (a little), so I can’t wait to try out my chops on this new instrument!
Until next time, my friends . . . get outside. Connect with nature and feel the warmth of the sun on your beautiful faces.
Janna
Quote Of The Week:
Authority that cannot be questioned is tyranny. — Terry Pratchett: A Slip of the Keyboard