Rushing's Ramblings

Nelson Mandela is always at the top of my list when asked whom I'd like to meet. I was fortunate to have lived in South Africa while he was President, although I only lived there for one year of his presidency. I never had the opportunity to meet him, but I remember trying to get a glimpse of him when I passed his compound in Johannesburg. I'm currently reading  The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela . I had recommended the book to my book club because of my admiration for Nelson Mandela and the many fond memories of living in South Africa. When I suggested it, I didn't realize how tedious the book would be. The book, over 600 pages, not only contains his letters for 27 years of imprisonment, but almost every page has a quarter of footnotes in the tiniest font imaginable.   When I first started reading the book, it was apparent that each letter he wrote was with the censors in mind. Many of his letters never reached the recipient because they were deemed subversiv

I didn't know what I would be doing after I retired. I imagined some volunteering, writing, consulting, and meeting new friends. I wanted to live close to my daughter and grandson, so I drove from Florida to Seattle with my dog and brother.   A year in Seattle was enough for me to abhor spending nine months out of the year in drizzly weather with very little sunshine and daylight that lasted for about four hours. Three months of beautiful sunshine, hiking in the splendor of the Cascades, and being surrounded by like-minded folks were not going to keep me in Seattle. My grandchildren were still a priority, so I made plans to move to the Texas Hill Country for the more significant part of the year while flying back frequently to spend time with the grandbabies.   The drive across the country from Seattle to Texas in the latter part of October two years ago was eye-opening. While polls and news sources predicted a Hillary landslide, you wouldn't know it by the thousan

They go to their lily-white churches in their Sunday-finest clothes where they can see and be seen.  They listen to their whitewashed sermons filled with platitudes and non-controversy.  They say prayers for their daughter's "A" or a new car or the approvals of financing on a new house. They continue to support the most amoral man ever sitting in the White House.  A man filled with hate, racism, misogyny, and an admitted sexual predator.  A man makes fun of a disabled reporter, women who don't meet his definition of attractive, women who have been sexually assaulted, and the list goes on.  A man runs his hands all over his daughter and claims he would date her if she weren't his daughter.  A man who lies to energize his base--most going to church every Sunday.  A man who celebrates because a man like him was recently confirmed as the newest Supreme Court Justice. When Jesus hears so-called Christians support politicians who lie, cheat, and steal, he prays