Those Strange Little Moments in Life

There are the little moments in life that leave us scratching our heads in wonder.  The bubble over our heads are saying, "Huh?  What just happened there?"  I've been collecting some of these in my brain just in the interest of trying to connect the dots to a clearer picture.  Interestingly, the process of writing them out usually just proves that they make no sense at all!  These are not in any particular order:

1.  Until recently, it was illegal to purchase package liquors in Indiana on Sunday.  I don't think the ban on Sunday alcohol sales was about morality.  It was more about the fact that liquor lobbyists wanted the businesses they supported to have a day off but didn't want grocery stores to get a leg up on alcohol sales.  One could still have beer and liquor on Sunday if one ate at an establishment that did so-many-dollars-worth of food sales.  And the biggest draw of the year for Indiana/Indianapolis-- the Indy 500 race (which always occurs on Memorial Day Sunday)--sells liquor and beer inside the track...OR...spectators can bring their own as long as it isn't in glass containers.  We are talking 300,000-500,000 people in one two-mile oval who come two days before the event to pump their money into the local economy, and arrive early in the morning of the race already drunk from the alcohol they had purchased the day(s) before. (I worked the race for my radio club for three or four years.  Saw it first-hand.)  While the ban on Sunday alcohol sales made Indiana look like a totally pious, Bible-thumping state, the reality is that all it did was create generations of good ol' boy drinkers who were trained, like monkeys, to stock up on Saturday.

2.  On the topic of alcohol, I relate this story.  Awhile ago, I went to Walmart for the express purpose of purchasing a gallon-sized jug of wine.  (I buy it because it's cheap and goes far.  Walmart is the only place I frequent that carries it these days.)  On my way in, I was welcomed by the disabled greeter whose relief-worker had just shown up.  We all three exchanged short pleasantries, and I went on to shop.  I came out through the self-service lanes, which requires a cashier to by-pass the restrictions on alcohol sales.  The big bottle, complete with a handle on the neck, was the only thing in my cart.  I didn't bother to bag it because of the handle, plus I hate those blasted bags.  I came out of the self-serve area right next to the greeter's area, where--just to make nice-nice--I asked the gal who had replaced the last greeter if she was tired yet.  Her response was to ask me if I had a receipt for my bottle of wine.  Uh...yeah...I did.  I wasn't offended.  She was just doing her job, right?  It did occur to me, however, that if I were someone trying to steal a big jug of wine, I wouldn't have stopped to say anything to her.  I would have headed for the door trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.  Oh well.

3.  Once upon a time, the admin at my school decided, in their infinite wisdom, that soft drinks would no longer be allowed in class.  Okay with me as a teacher.  So how to enforce this?  Some teachers let it happen under the radar but took administrative heat if it came out.  Some followed the rules.  The admin decided that they needed to unplug the vending machines to make them unavailable during school hours....but, somehow, that never seemed to happen.  Why?  Funny you should ask!  It seemed that the pop/vending machines generated $35,000/year for the athletic department.  Anything for sports, right?  Meanwhile, the band works tirelessly to come up with funds for their activities.  No vending machines for them!  And so it is....

4.  We are all encouraged, as citizens, to conserve resources.  Water, electricity, gas.  But if we conserve too much, we are charged less, and the utilities are under a crunch.  Way back in the 70's, there was an ice storm that put Indiana in a world of hurt.  (I lived in Illinois at the time.  We didn't have the same problem, but my in-laws in Greencastle, IN, did.)  People were asked to do their part to conserve.  My parents-in-law took it to heart--so much so that they were actually reading by candlelight whenever possible for awhile.  For what it's worth, the Helens and Arties of the Indiana world did such a good job conserving energy that their utility rates were raised.  Huh??   What's the point??

5.  Indiana prides itself as supposedly being on the cutting edge of political decisions.  Question: according to whom??  While the rest of the concerned world is talking about banning plastic grocery bags that seem to breed and produce more in my pantry, Indiana --under now-Vice President Mike Pence, who came to you from being the Governor of Indiana--signed a law saying that no community in Indiana could ban the use of those horribly polluting plastic bags.  If there is anyone in the nation that thinks Mike Pence would be better than Donald Trump should Trump somehow be gone, think again.  Talk to an Indiana resident!!

6.  I know how lives of crime develop!  Once upon a time, maybe about ten years ago or slightly more, I bought a car and used my own credit union for the loan.  Because my credit score was bad--a result of some idiocy on my part, now fixed--I was charged 13% interest on the loan.  Wait...what?  So...uh...if you don't have any money, you get charged MORE money to have what you need?  That was the last loan I ever floated.  I paid cash for my last (used) vehicle, which is already 11 years old but will likely be the last buggy I ever own.

7.  It occurs to me that late in life, when people are aged and need more assistance just to function, there should be more reasonable services for us old folks.  I never had the luxury of a spouse who actually cared how I came out in life.  He had himself to care for, regardless of what he did to me.  I realized that long ago and took over my own life.  Still, I once looked at skanky-looking people walking hand-in-hand in public and wondered why I wasn't worthy of that.  I WAS worthy of that, but my standard had been raised.  I was no longer willing to accept attention, or even affection, just because.  It actually is somewhat of a blessing that I have no spare money.  No one can ask me for anything--or rather, they can ask, but there is nothing in the bank to help.  Thankfully, my only child is doing quite well, thanks to her husband and her own frugality.  My sister, however, is still somewhat controlled by her family's needs.  (Sorry, Shari...but it's true.)

If I think of more "moments", I will write them.  In the meantime, I'm managing to hang on by my fingernails!