Wishful Thinking

/ Ann Coleman

Ann's bday 2I’ve never wasted much time on making wishes.  Even at my childhood birthday parties, when it was time to make a wish before blowing out the candles on my cake, I usually couldn’t think of anything to wish for.  (Especially after the year I wished for my very own pony and discovered that what you wish for and what you get are often two very different things.)  But maybe it’s because I’ve gotten older, or maybe it’s the strange and often unpleasant times we’re living in, but these days, I actually do have things I wish for.  A whole list of them, as a matter of fact.

Every time I see a political ad on TV or a political meme on social media, I wish that politicians and their followers would remember that simple rule, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”  I want to hear what good a candidate hopes to accomplish rather than what a horrible person his or her opponent is.  The constant attacks and counter-attacks that pass for campaigning these days just make me want to go live somewhere more peaceful…..like a deserted island or distant planet.

I wish that I hadn’t tried to save money, all those years ago, by getting a landline without caller ID because the constant calls I get from telemarketers, etc., have made me forget some of my basic phone manners.  I not only hang up on the telemarketers who call constantly, but I’ve grown deeply suspicious of anyone who doesn’t immediately identify themselves when they call.  Which is how I’ve also hung up on my doctor, my husband’s old college roommate, and a dozen or so assorted relatives and friends.  I know I’m going to have to simply get rid of the landline one of these days, but it’s on so many of our records and accounts that I dread the difficulties that’s going to cause.  I can’t even work up the nerve to call the phone company and try to get caller ID installed, because my previous dealings with them have not been of a positive nature.

I wish I had the ability to remember people’s names as well as I do their faces.  It’s embarrassing when someone I recognize calls me by name, and I have to try to hide the fact that I have no idea what their name is.  And I still haven’t lived down the time I kept referring to a fellow volunteer as “Eldon” and no one could figure out who I was talking about.  It turned out that was because his real name was “Dalton.”

There is so much else I wish for, but I do like to keep my posts at around 500 words.  Sadly, these days I’m guessing what 500 words is, because my blogging format no longer tells me.  (So if anyone actually counts and discovers I failed my word count goal, I apologize in advance.)  I know wishing isn’t the same as doing, but I’ve also lived long enough to know that sometimes, life surprises us in a good way.  So who knows?  Maybe some of my wishes really will come true.  And if I’m really lucky, I might even finally get that pony……

95 thoughts on “Wishful Thinking”

  1. Well, I think I can grant one of your wishes, and give you a tip for another. I assume you’re using WordPress’s new block editor. If you are, look in the upper left of the toolbar in the editor. You’ll see an ‘i’ in a circle that says “details” when you hover over it. Click it, and there’s your word count, as well as a few other things.

    As for remember names, here’s my trick. I simply look the person right in the eye, and say, “I’m embarassed to say I don’t remember your name. But, it’s more important to me to know your name than to hide my embarassment, so…” You’d be surprised how well accepted that approach is, or what an ice-breaker it can be!

    Liked by 9 people

    • Thank you, for both tips! I always feel embarrassed when I forget a person’s name, because I’m afraid it comes across as if I didn’t think they were important enough to remember. But the truth is, I do remember faces, quite well. And often I remember exactly how I met someone. It’s just the names I’m bad at. You’re right, admitting it is so much smarter! (I did mentor a new volunteer once who looked very much like my cousin, Doug. So I just told him up front, “You know I’m going to call you Doug most of the time, so I hope you don’t take offense. He didn’t, and we were fine!)

      Liked by 2 people

  2. A lot of the time I like what you don’t write in your posts. It tells more about you than what you do write. The things you are concerned with define you as an individual that tries to be good to others. That is all that is important.

    Hope all is well. Names can be tricky. Me and a guy on my firetruck called a fella on the next firetruck over by the wrong name for over a year and no one around us ever said a word about it. That still makes me chuckle.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Ann, I am chuckling over you hanging up on doctors, old roommates, relatives & friends. Telemarketers & telescammers turn us into people with horrible phone manners! I feel your pain. As for that pony, you go girl!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Oh, so I’m not the only one … who forgets names and gets them mixed up, agrees that if there’s nothing good to say best keep your mouth shut and wonders what their post word count is! But I’ve just read a previous comment so I know at least one answer. Thanks, as always Ann, for writing such relatable posts. Wishing you a wonderful week, regardless of what’s going on outside.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Yes, I even had to contact Word Press’ help just to figure out where to find my draft when I was writing that post and somehow managed to kick myself off of Word Press! I’ll figure out this new system eventually, with much grumbling and dark thoughts….LOL! But the good thing is, I do know how to find the word count now. I actually think someone told me that before, but I couldn’t remember the instructions. This time, I will!

      Liked by 2 people

  6. I use my landline for folks to leave messages–and they rarely do. And I’ve had to turn the ringer off cuz of the 8:30 a.m. on the dot call, every weekday, that I’ve been getting for 2 months now. And they don’t leave a message either. We live in interesting times, as we try to be patient, and let go.
    But I’m still wishing for that pony for you! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’ve done the same thing, Liz! The ringer on the phone by our bed is turned off, and the one on the kitchen phone is turned down. I did that initially when I was babysitting daily for my grandson and I didn’t want the phone to startle him when I was putting him down for his nap. But then I liked it so well that I left it that way! I hope whoever is calling you at 8:30 in the morning (what an evil thing to do) finally gives up. Meanwhile, we’re both hoping that pony turns up some day!

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I struggle to finish the call when being called for telemarketing or duct cleaning. I don’t like to be rude but those on the line seems to be don’t get it the first time that I am not interested. To have a pony that would be so nice. I wish to have one too.

    Liked by 2 people

    • I know! I’ve tried to say politely, “thank you, but no” and yet they just keep talking. So I have no choice but to hang up. As for the pony, I did get a horse when I was twelve and we moved to a small town in Kansas, and that was nice. But the pony that I spent my early childhood dreaming about never did show up…..and I’d still love one!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I think we’re all sighing for another kind of life these days. For the old life where telemarketeers didn’t exist, perhaps. Or maybe the days when people were more courteous. When life and work wasn’t such a rush and crush.

    I’m not sure if we will ever go back to those days and ways. So, in case the rest of the world has no hankering for the more pleasant aspects of the past, I make the changes I can to keep the air around me more peaceful.

    For one, we have stopped answering calls coming through our landline – and even stopped taking cellphone calls from unknown numbers. If any unlisted person needs to get in touch with us desperately enough, they’d likely text us.

    We are kind to telemarketeers – we politely cut them off (and the line) the minute they introduce themselves. With insurance agents, we get busy and appear distracted and hope they get the message. For the not so easily deterred, we make a quick dash for the loo.

    Sometimes, the tricks we employ and the changes we make work; sometimes they don’t.

    But we can always wish for a better life. Who knows, as you said, we may as yet get that pony!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, there is hope for the pony! (I really think our yard is big enough, although I don’t think they’re allowed in our city.) I do try to be polite to telemarketers, just saying firmly, “No, thank you.” But I’ve learned to hang up right after I say it, or they just keep talking. The calls that drive me really nuts are the ones where I answer and there is no one there for at least thirty seconds. I’m told that they dial several numbers at once, electronically, and then just talk to whoever answers first. Those are the ones where I just hang up period, before a person even comes on the line. But seriously, I don’t like being rude to anyone so getting those “robo-calls” is annoying and upsetting. That’s why I like the human interaction so much….it teaches us to be polite and tolerant!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ha! The one good thing about forgetting names is that it makes us so much more tolerant of others with the same problem. I had friend who called me Anna for years, and I never corrected her. And apparently, I look like a “Mary” because I’m often called that as well. Unless I’m going to see that person again, I don’t correct them either. As for the landline, we’ll be brave enough one of these days. We just tied so many accounts to it back in the days before our cell phones, that it’s hard to remember which ones we’ll have to update.

      Like

  11. Well, we’d all look a little silly on ponies these days, especially if we all have the same Howdy Doody cowgirl outfit.. As for names, I found out why one co-worker called everyone “Skippy.” Lol! And, one of my last co-workers looked nothing like a Cheryl (her name!) & my mind would NOT cooperate, and I’d hesitate for so long. I explained and she was fine with me calling her “Grace.” 😁

    Liked by 1 person

    • Ha! You got it right! But you know, I did call one of my regular readers by the wrong name once. The writer of a blog I follow, and who follows my blog, once told me her real name was Rachel. I remembered that, but connected the name with the wrong blog, so I answered a comment with “Thanks for that comment, Rachel.” And she replied, “My name’s not Rachel.” That’s what I get for trying to show off that I could remember a name!

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Names are tricky. In the Midwest we can get away with calling everyone “honey”! I usually have a couple of techniques for telemarketers that won’t take no for an answer: put the phone down and go about your business. When you go back 15 minutes later no one is on the line and you can hang up. The other is to start singing. I prefer songs that I know well – Jingle Bells or Jesus Loves Me or Comin’ Thro’ the Rye. Usually they hang up on me. Maybe my singing is really bad or maybe they are just music haters….

    Liked by 1 person

    • Now that’s a unique approach! Especially with my singing voice, which is really, really bad. Thanks for sharing..I’m going to remember that. I’m polite at first, but when they refuse to take no for an answer, that’s when my manners go out the window.

      Like

    • I honestly think some of us are just wired that way. My husband can remember any number and do complex math instantly in his head. And I have another friend who also volunteers with me at the shelter, and she can remember the name of a dog who was adopted out three years ago. And then there’s me, who can’t remember the name of someone I was introduced to an hour ago. It’s good to know I have good company!

      Like

  16. I can relate to your wishing dilemmas. Out here our God with elephant head (because he was appointed guard by his mother who was having a bath and the poor kid-god refused entry to his ferocious father-god who promptly beheaded him but when the mother-god raised a storm the father-god found a napping elephant calf whose mother had pushed it toward her back which is why one should never turn one’s back towards the baby and so the father-god considered the circumstances good enough to decapitate the elephant calf and carried its crown to his headless son and weld the two and voila, we have an elephant god who is just about the most auspicious consciousness in the universe, praise be the father-god!) has a mouse as his favourite pet whom he tends to ride. There in an auspicious temple where of the deity where we have a brass mouse who is known to grant wishes whispered in its ear, but every time I go there and crouch to get my lips near the ear of the mouse a vacuum larger than the world descends upon my mind and all I am aware of is the wind talking to the temple’s peak and people waiting for their turn to unload their yearning in the ear of the mouse….

    Right now though, it is my fervent wish, other than vanishing of the Chinese maladies, that WordPress restore the normal editor to us. Incidentally, I never write my posts in a WP editor. I copy-paste the stuff written usually in MS Word.

    PS: I hope you don’t mind if I copy-paste this comment of mine as a new blog post at my desolate blog!

    Liked by 1 person

    • I absolutely think you should make that into a post! It’s not only interesting, but it speaks to the pathos of wishing because wishing requires the belief that someone has the ability to grant those wishes, and that there are others who have their very own needs that may be quite different from what we want. As for the Word Press normal editor’s return, there absolutely are those who could grant that wish, but I have a feeling that they won’t, sadly. Thank you for the comment!

      Like

  18. Ahhhh, politicians. I am with you, stop telling me why the other person is the wrong person, tell me why you are the right person. And when you get in power, stop undoing all the other party or person did. Evaluate all acts as good bad or indifferent. Keep the good, throw out the bad and assess the indifferent. Landlines are great, but only with caller ID. We never pick up a call we do not recognize. Most calls are simply sales, scams or phishing. Stay well, Ann. Allan

    Liked by 1 person

    • I know! By the time the election actually arrives, I honestly don’t want to vote for any of them because they all act so nasty and mean. Who wants a person like that in office? Just once, I’d like to hear someone admit that their opponent is probably a decent person, just with ideas we don’t agree with. And yes, why can’t we recognize that all parties have some good ideas and keep them, rather than being so loyal to our own party that anything the other one comes up with must be trashed, even if it worked. But that would take common sense, which seems to be lacking in the political arena. Thanks for the comment, Allan!

      Liked by 1 person

      • Politicians have forgotten that democracy means Government by the people, for the people. The people elect representatives who then act more for their own interests than those of the electors. The trouble is that many people do not take the time to explore all candidates from all angles before voting. If the guy is an idiot in his personal life, chances are he will be an idiot in government. If a guy is empathetic and compassionate in his personal life, chances are he will be empathetic and compassionate in government. People seldom change. Fingers crossed that some progress will be made one day. Maybe the first step is to take all the money out of the campaigns. Votes should not be purchased. Allan

        Liked by 1 person

        • I agree! The sad fact is that most of the politician are loyal to those who paid the money into their campaigns and got them elected in the first place. Without all that money, they couldn’t run or win, so…..the idea that they should do the best for all the people gets lost in the process. There has to be a way that opens the door for more people to run for office, without needing to raise millions of dollars first.

          Liked by 1 person

    • I know! The new block editor is not at all designed for writers. They took most of what we need off the “post writing page” and hid it elsewhere or simply got rid of it, and then added a ton of stuff we don’t need or even want. It’s very annoying and I suspect that if another, more writing friendly blog host comes along, most of us will make the switch. The pony was just a childhood dream that never materialized, although when I was twelve, we moved to the country and I did get an actual horse. That was wonderful, but he died when I was 28 and living in the city again. There are boarding stables around, but they are way too expensive, so I haven’t had a horse since. But I bet I could keep a pony in my back yard……LOL!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. well if you really are as kind and thoughtful as I think you would sacrifice all those wishes for one decent leader … or at the very least, not your current one!

    I tell anyone whose number isn’t in my phone that unless they identify themselves immediately I will not only hang up on them but then block any future calls .. they get that! As for names, it’s never been my strong point but they usually forgive me as I remember their life history well 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Honestly, I think it’s more important to remember a person’s life story and personality than it is their names, so I can see why your friends are okay with that. I also remember issues much better than details; it’s just the way my brain works. I now give my cell phone out to doctors and anyone I deal with, and put them in my contact list so their name comes up when they call. The problem is that our landline number is still out there, and about 10% of the calls we get on it are legitimate!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. This made me smile. I can remember the feeling I had as a girl when I first heard about fairy godmothers granting wishes.

    As for telephone caller ID – if I don’t recognize the name and/or number, I don’t answer. If the caller is legit, they’ll leave a message. It works most of the time – one friends told me that she called on her cell and DIDN’T leave a message, so there is that…

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, that’s what I do on my cell, let it go to voice mail if I don’t recognize the caller. And I’ve been letting almost all my landline calls go unanswered as well, figuring they’ll leave a message if it’s important. But I have missed a few important calls that way, so sometimes I do pick up. I like having a landline (they work forever, even when the power is out) but I really need to suck it up and get caller ID on it.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Though, my daughter and I saw an ad the other day. The opening was the opposing candidate and the music was non committal. It took us twenty second to realize who the ad was actually for. That’s not a good ad by any stretch of the imagination. And it really made me wonder about that particular candidate…

        Liked by 1 person

  23. So relatable.
    My list of friends is reducing drastically due to forwarded messages on social media. How could someone stop using brain? I am really worried about how the reasoning power is reducing day by day.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I totally agree! Even on the news, they just “skim the surface” and don’t explain anything or give the reasons behind anything. People really are losing the ability to discern and reason, and that’s not a good thing at all. Thanks for the comment!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. I think many of us are in the same boat. I am still waiting for the pony, but I found it cheaper and less work to ride at a stable. Now, of course, I have to worry about breaking a hip. When I taught school, I saw nearly 700 different students a week. Knowing names was difficult, but thankfully I did recognize all the faces. I wish I could even come up with 500 words to write.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Dang, even recognizing faces with that many students is impressive! I think so many of us wanted a pony as a child, but found other ways to be in contact with horses and to ride as we got older. I never got the pony, but I did have a horse while I was a teen and young adult, because we moved to the country where having one was so much cheaper. Now I live in the city again and only ride, very occasionally, at a stable. And also worry about falling off and breaking something!

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Call, Make A Wish Foundation and get that pony! As for not wanting to change phone numbers, or disconnect the landline, I get it. I still have my old NY cell# after 12 years back in Dallas. The area code is upsetting to some around these parts, but like you, it would be far more difficult to change my number for all my records, doctors, friends & such. I say…wish away like you’re 6 years old.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Good post Ann! You were an adorable little girl. Personally, I think it is good to make wishes…especially the important ones that we want to make come true! (I know you would love a pony, as much as you love all the dogs you have cared for. You have a big heart with plenty of room for lots of people and animals to love. I do wish for peace in the world, and in our nation. And I guess that begins with me…bringing as much restorative peace as I can to the people in my life, and praying for God’s help and support.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Linda! I so wish for peace and understanding in our world, and in our country, too. And an end to the Covid situation, which is not exactly bringing out the best in too many people. I think it’s time to start thinking more reasonably and not let fear or ignorance guide us, and remind ourselves that this will end and we will get through it. I need that hope! And thanks for your prayers, we all need those too!

      Liked by 1 person

  27. Good morning, Ann! I would like to add to what ‘shoreacres’ had to say regarding the word count. In my computer when I am in the WordPress editor, I see on the upper left a circle with an i in it, which presumably stands for information. There you find your word count and a few other useful things. Have a great day and may all wishes come true!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Peter! That helps to know. I honestly don’t know why the made so many features we need to write our posts hard to find now. Remember when you used to work on a post, then save it as a draft and then come back to it later? They were easy to find if you clicked on the “write” symbol. So sometimes when I was having a hard time thinking of a new topic to write about, I’d look back through old drafts. Now you have to go to “posts” under WP admin to find them…what’s that all about? I’m not really afraid of change, but I honestly liked old WP editor SO much better.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. You wanted a pony, too?? Both my sis and I did (and we never got one either!) Gee, I wonder just who got all the ponies because nearly every little kid I knew wished for one every birthday and Christmas! I can totally relate to your desire to hole up on an island somewhere, far away from the madness and meanness that seems all too prevalent these days!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, retreat seems to be the best answer sometimes! If I didn’t have friends and family nearby I might actually look into a cabin in the middle of the woods somewhere… And isn’t it funny how many of us wanted a pony when we were young? I love horses to this day, and I still think my childhood would have been a lot more fun if I’d had a pony! LOL!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. I would be lost when asked to make a wish. It was also hard to pick one out of the list I would have made. But this year, i know what is on top of that list.
    I do wish you get that pony, Ann. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  30. I can’t get rid of our landline because it’s in a bundle with our tv and broadband. If you take the phone out it actually costs more! I have never had a problem hanging up on spam calls, but until I retired I had no idea how many there were. We replaced our handsets with ones with a filter: unknown callers now have to agree to announce themselves, and only then does the phone ring. Hardly any of them bother. A wish come true!

    Liked by 2 people

  31. I have trouble with names too (and I love Shoreacres’ suggestion… if I can only remember it). While we don’t have a landline, we do have an internet-based phone (just about $5 a month) that we use for people we don’t want to give our cell numbers to. Our solution? we just don’t answer it. If it’s someone important (or, at least they think they are important), they’ll leave a message. Nine times out of ten, they just hang up.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Janis! Yes, I often let our landline go unanswered, and then just check messages afterwards. I usually only have a few, and most of them are silence. But every once in a while, I am rude to a legitimate caller. Yesterday, my dentist called, simply saying, “Is Ann there?” And I said, rudely, “No, she’s not, can I take a message?” There was a moment of dead silence, and then he said, “This is Dr. So-and -so and I have to change your appointment. It was SO embarrassing to say that I really am Ann, just thought he was a telemarketer. I’m going to have to ask them to completely remove my landline number from their records. I’ve told them to make the cell phone the priority, but clearly, that doesn’t always happen!

      Liked by 1 person

  32. As is so often the case, what you write is so relatable.
    I see Peter has already answered the word count point. (I didn’t know that either)
    I made it 540 words on this one so you weren’t far off the target 😉
    On the point of telemarketers, we had a home phone once which had a feature where any “private numbers” which called were diverted straight to the voicemail – the phone didn’t ring at all.
    I so agree with your point about politicians who spend more time pulling down their opponent than actually telling you what they stand for. Not attractive at all.
    Hope you’re managing to keep safe and sane as the pandemic continues to control our way of life.
    I’ve decided I’m not adding to my age this birthday as I haven’t really used this year much.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Mike! And yes, this year has been basically a waste. If it wasn’t for the birth of my granddaughter, I would have been perfectly happy just skipping the whole thing.
      I’m going to look into those filters for landlines, as you’re the second person who’s mentioned that option. It would solve so many problems for us! And thanks for letting me know the word count….what was Word Press thinking to make it hard to find that? That little number at the bottom of my draft was what let me know when it was time to wrap up a post!

      Like

  33. I love that black & white photo!

    As for remembering names, I’m pretty poor with that too but I think I’m actually worse with faces, and the harder I try to picture a face the further away the image gets.

    I’m a bit of a downer here as I think I prefer non-wishful thinking because then we get the nice surprise if things turn out well, like you said about how life can surprise us in a good way sometimes. That said, there are plenty of people that believe in the whole vibe theory, so sending out vibes and wishes and thinking something is going to happen will help make it happen. So you either have to forget about that pony and maybe one day you’ll have a nice surprise, opening the front door to find one with a gift bow atop its head just for you, or think about getting one incessantly and it’ll magically appear! xx

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, that’s kind of why I’m not big on wishing either, at least in a literal way. Sure there are things that I wish would happen, but I’ve never been able to believe that wishing would make it so. It’s so much easier to accept what is, work for something better, and be pleasantly surprised if it actually happens! Take care, Caz!

      Liked by 1 person

  34. Well, it’s probably too late for that pony, but it’s never a bad thing to wish for good things. sounds a little martha stewarty. I’ve never actually been good with names, so I can’t blame that on age. But now, i seem to have no face recognition skills as well, so I just stay away from groups, which has been a good habit in 2020!

    Liked by 1 person

  35. “The constant attacks and counter-attacks that pass for campaigning” is ridiculous, I wish they would just stick to the issues and what they are GOING to DO I have said this pretty much the entire time I have been able to vote!!!

    Often times when you are ADDING a service to one that you have the experience is different – so you may want to try calling the phone company or maybe you can even do it online and not actually have to talk to anyone?

    After I hem and haw a bit, I usually just end up asking the person their name. It is a bummer, but I hate not knowing and having to pretend.

    I try to keep my post short, too and today I failed MISERABLY AND I had to put it into two parts. Too wordy, I guess. If you have MS Word on your computer you can copy the post into it and it will tell you how many words you have . . . .just an idea.

    I hope you manage to make some of your wishes come true. Some of them you can actually have come true . . . if really want. :-).

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Terre! And that’s a good point that I could probably add caller ID rather easily. It’s when we try to cancel something that phone companies suddenly become very, very uncooperative. It took us four tries to cancel my Mom’s phone when she moved last year.
      Like you, I’ve begun to just be honest about the fact that “I recognize you, but can’t quite remember your name,” and found that people usually don’t take offense. I know I never get offended if someone forgets mine. As I’m always telling people, “I answer to ‘hey, you!’ just fine!”

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Pony!!!! Yes! That’s something to wish for, but I don’t think it’s very successful though.

    I so agree with on the politics. It’s not just US, it’s in UK, and, unfortunately, many other countries. Instead of saying how stupid the opponent is, why not say what you would have done differently or plan to do in the future. The whole us vs them attitude is not great for the political parties and even for the people. If someone votes differently than me that doesn’t mean that they are my enemy.

    As for the marketing, I am very annoyed too and I don’t even have a landline! I receive calls on my mobile.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yes, the “us verses them” mentality is going very strong in the US right now, on almost all possible levels. And the results aren’t good, because they can’t possibly be good when we pit one group of people against another. Real progress only comes when we can recognize the basic humanity and worth of everyone, even those who look/think/worship/vote differently from us!

      Like

  37. That wish to live on a distant planet sounds very appealing to me (if sadly more unrealistic than getting a pony)!
    I think I only hear a small percentage of what political campaigns in the US are like and it’s enough already! Can’t imagine how it must be for you!
    As to the landline – I was tempted to give it up as well but then a friend convinced me it was a good thing to keep because cell phones depend on satellites etc and you never know what might happen to them!

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Poor Eldon lol
    I think adding caller ID may be easier (and nicer) than hanging up on folks. This post was very entertaining…and like you, I’m not quite sure why they deleted the word count feature. If writers need anything, it’s a word count :-/

    Liked by 1 person

    • Do we ever! I don’t know about you, but the main thing I do when I’m editing is “delete, delete, delete!” The fewer unnecessary words, the better, is my theory. I’m going to look into Caller ID, as I agree it would save me a lot of hassle…and improve my phone manners at the same time!

      Liked by 1 person

  39. Ann,
    I relate to your sentiments about political ads. I too am not interested in the dirt about someone. I want to hear what the candidate plans to do after the win and examples of what he/she has already accomplished in life.
    Life continues to change and I guess that is the only constant. The advantage I see in this is I will never get bored.
    Take care of yourself.
    PS Say what you want no matter how many words you use.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. What a sweet black and white photo! I certainly like that saying. My mom often said that to me in a household with five siblings growing up. “If you can’t say something nice…” I’m with you about hiding away on a deserted island, especially if I had a few loved ones with me. I enjoy the water, and people not so much at the moment. (haha) Take care, Ann!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks, Brenda! And boy, do I get what you mean about not always enjoying people…election years can be so challenging, and then add Covid to the mix and no wonder we’re all feeling a bit overwhelmed and in need of a deserted island at the moment!

      Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.