Bullying, in my Opinion...

I started this blog yesterday, but got all bogged down trying hard not to offend, being politically correct and well...sensitive.  It was not going well.  In fact, it was so much like all the phony baloney "correct" crap we encounter today.  So...

I said, "Forget it!"  I am going to state my truth, my opinion about bullying today.  Although it's not my intention to upset anyone, if I do...oh well.  Sorry.

Bullying...

Didja know that suicide rates for kids have tripled since 1960?  That's only 53 years ago so, about every 17 years the rate goes up another notch.  The big question is why?  Why...

are so many kids today killing themselves over bullying?  Are we right putting the onus on the school system as so many do?  I'm not pretending to be an expert, but I do know bullying has been around since Cain and Abel.  You gotta know Cain didn't just one day decide to off Abel...there had to be many "issues" between them and...I can guarantee there was some big brother bullying going down.

I know most bullies don't "murder" their victims physically, but they do attempt to kill their spirit and...

it seems by the suicide statistics these days, the bullies are winning much more than they did even a generation ago.  Again why?  How is it we're failing the victims of this onslaught?

I was bullied.  Lots of kids get bullied.  The assaults were generally words; mean, cruel, intentional slander.  Sometimes tripping or pushing occurred, but mostly I just remember sneering insults and mocking laughter. 

Did it hurt?  You betcha!  But...

never, ever did I entertain the notion to kill myself!  Kill the bullies, maybe...(just kiddin' really...no really)  

I was taught by my parents how to handle the "real" world and the school system reinforced it.  Here is some of the lessons I learned.

• you are not special to anyone except your loved ones
• this world is a "dog eat dog" world and if you don't protect yourself, someone will take advantage of you
• trust no one until you've lived with them 6 months
• everyone will fail you at some time about something
• never bow down to your enemies, never let them see your fear, hurt, whatever
• if you are able, put as much distance between you and the enemy as possible, if not, fight back

These lessons served my generation well.  Most of us overcame the obstacles in our life, including bullies.  Are we teaching today's children how to survive the "real" world or are we spoiling, mollycoddling, catering, protecting, pampering and indulging our kids too much?  Are we failing to equip them to the harsh realities so, they can't withstand the storms of life?  Like dealing with bullies...

Bullying isn't right, but it's a fact.  There have always been and will continue to be bullies everywhere; at school, the workplace, socially, etc.  We are not, NOT going to change this fact!  People seeking solutions need to get this through their heads!  Join reality!  While we preach the anti-bullying message, the bullies are laughing their asses off!  The only kids that might be reached are the uncommitted ones; the ones who were probably bullied themselves and just reacting to it.

The hardcore bullies don't care!

We need to toughen up our kids. We need to equip them to handle the stings of bullying and blow it off.  They need to have the strength to fight back by ignoring the verbal or texted abuse even when it hurts deeply.  They need to deal with the reality that there are mean, vicious people in this world and...

the bullying doesn't end in High School!

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One final thought...

Why, oh why, are the kids today subjecting themselves to texting or online abuse??  Jeez!  Have they never heard of shutting things off?  The bullies won't keep sending if there is no one receiving. 

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Toodle Loo Kangeroo!

Losing Track of Time...

I feel badly, deficient, defective, terrible...

that I have not blogged for over 2 weeks!  At least I think it's been that long more or less, less or more...  But the point is...I have failed in my duty, my obligation, my commitment to myself that I...

would not...

no way...

won't fail...

uh uh...

But, heh guys, I've been soooo busy!!!  Egads!  There's that word!  And I'm using it after all we've been through together!

Well, perhaps I'm being a wee bit over dramatic...maybe...ya think!!

I have been very "productive" the past 2 weeks, but honestly, I could have found an hour here and there to write my blog.  If I really wanted to!

Which.. don't get me wrong, I really "wanted to", but...well, I guess I didn't "want to" enough.

Listen to me!  I blog like I talk when I don't have a good excuse (like being seriously ill or camping in the bush of Africa) for losing track of time!  And..

there it is; the point of this rambling blog!  Losing track of time...

Even when we're young we can't afford to lose track of time; let alone when we get older.  Time is a valuable commodity and it should never, ever be tossed away willy-nilly.  Yet, that's exactly what I did.

The truth is I didn't realize so much time had passed without blogging, reading fave blogs or writing anything at all.  It isn't the end of the world (I don't tthink) but, losing track of time means I haven't been present and not being present means I've been thinking, stressing, being somewhere else other than the present moment which means...deep breath...

I lost 2 weeks of my life being oblivious!! 

And at my age I can't afford it!  Remember time is rarer and more valuable than money! 

I shall leave you with that thought for today; "Time is rarer and more valuable than money" and I will follow up on my next blog and...

No!  It won't be 2 weeks from now!

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Ta Ta!

William Henry Davies 1871-1940

What is this life if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare. 

This and That...

This blog is about a little bit of this and a little bit of that because...

I seem to be drawing a blank for a subject to write about.  Egads!!  Me without an opinion about something!  That cannot be...

Feel my forehead...I must be sick!  Surely, in a world so big and full of all kinds of idiotic things, I must have one or two opinions...yes.

Okay, okay...maybe one or two...

Ahhh...that's the Barbara we all know and love (???).

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Supposedly Kanye West won't be holding poor Kim Kardashian's hand while she delivers her baby.  Now I did say "supposedly" cos who knows what to believe with these two fools. (This also, proves how desperate I must be for a blogging topic! )  Hmmmm....

Anyway, the tabloids are exploding with "Kim ALONE in delivery room!!" which is ludicrous.  For one thing, won't her doctor and attending nurses be there??  But seriously!  So what if Kanye isn't in the room with her?  It wasn't many years ago most husbands opted to wait in the waiting room (thus why it is called "waiting room").

Honestly, I had 2 babies naturally (meaning no drugs, freezing, happy gas or whatever) and I seriously didn't care who was in the room except the doctor!!  Channel Five news could have been there as long has the Doc got the !&00% baby outa me!!

Not every guy wants to be in the delivery room and he should have the right to wait outside.  Although, I don't really understand why any guy wouldn't want to be there while his wife blames and curses him out?  Or why he wouldn't wanna see all the blood, gore and yuppers, poop that come along with baby.  Gosh, darnit, I don't blame Kimmy for having a meltdown because Kanye doesn't want the experience of a lifetime!

What is wrong with today's young women?  For Pete's sake I didn't even wanna be in the delivery room, let alone hubby!  Come on Kim, grow up, as long has Kanye doesn't sneak off to the bar or something (meaning sneak off to be with some tootsie roll), he'll be right by your side the instant babe is delivered sans all the gore!

SOME GUYS JUST CAN'T STOMACH IT!  Besides there have been numerous reports that husbands often have difficulty viewing their wife in the same romantical way after seeing the birth up close.  Now we wouldn't want that to happen would we?

But seriously...

Young women today should be more concerned if hubby will be by her side at 3 o'clock in the morning when she is exhausted from walking the floor for hours with a colicky baby.  Not so much where he will be during delivery!!

Just saying...

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Tha...Tha...That's it Folks!

Memory Lane...

I'm not a seasoned traveller, but of all the places in the world that I do love to go is a little tourist attraction called "Memory Lane".  It is a fascinating place and the older I get the richer and more meaningful my visits become.  Also, another interesting thing about Memory Lane as I age is that it somehow  keeps getting sweeter and more pleasant.

But there is a hidden danger...one I must guard against...

The more I go back to Memory Lane the more I want to live there!  It is a great place to visit and wonderful to talk about with family and friends, but it's not meant to live in. 

Memory Lane appears so appealing because it's filled with children of all ages, back yard BBQ's, fun family baseball games, swimming parties, gatherings of all kinds and endless laughter.  During the Christmas season there are delightful shopping trips to the mall, yuletide greetings, singing choirs, sweet smelling Christmas trees, joyful congregating at church and endless laughter. 

In fact, any season at Memory Lane can be filled with blissful and carefree moments...

and endless laughter.

However, like any tourist town, Memory Lane tries to deceive the average visitor and hides the other side of it.  The side you'll never see unless you purposely make a point of it. 

Where the young mother of four comforts her children because their daddy walked away for the last time, the aging widow who can't make ends meet must go to the food bank, the middle aged man that gets laid off his job after 20 years of loyal service or someones teenage daughter comes home pregnant the same day their young son gets expelled from school. 

These are some of the things Memory Lane doesn't want you to see so, it tempts you with the gregarious, glowing and ageless attractions.

Memory Lane's greatest desire is to lure you back and back and back...

It doesn't want you to even consider going anywhere else like; "Present Day" or "Future Plans".  So, beware of Memory Lane...

It is a great place to visit once in awhile, but...

don't get stuck there!