February blizzards are all but melted puddles today. Temperatures are rising. And while we look at pretty red hearts and share our love with candy and roses, signs of turmoil and unrest loom all around us.
I don't know about you, but this whole ordeal with Egypt sends goosebumps down my arms. Israel is quite skiddish over losing stability in their region. Egypt has kept peace with them for thirty years. Folks are afraid of who might take over; will they still want peace with Israel? Some folks are saying this is another sign of the times. The End-times. I don't know about that. I am hardly theologically ept enough to make such predictions. It seems all over the world folks are hungry to be free. Some folks say former President Bush had a greater desire to see democracy for the Middle-east than the present administration. It was really hard to tell what this administration wanted to see happen in Egypt. Was he for stability or revolution? Was he supportive of Mubarek or the people. In the end, he said, "The people have spoken." My question is which people? Who will be leading Egypt? Some say Egypt's uprising is just the catalyst for more in other countries. Even Cuba is concerned that this will encourage their people to rise up against the dictatorship they've lived under for so long. Rumors. Fears. Signs of unrest.
Here in America we face signs of economic deterioration if we do not get our own house in order. As Valentine's Day shoves giant chocolate-filled hearts in our faces wherever we go, pink and red balloons and roses jerk our heartstrings to spend money for our special loved ones. Very often, it's money folks don't have. In my house we can only spend what we have. I'm concerned about predictions and signs of inflation destroying the value of the dollar (remember me? I'm the one stocking up rice, beans and coffee in the garage).
We went to buy a car this week and most dealers wanted us to spend more than what Allstate gave us for our Malibu. Nope...no car payments for us. We wound up purchasing a 2005 Prius because it boasts great gas mileage. It had about 10,000 less miles on it than our Malibu and even though it was two years older than our car, Canadian and New York cabdrivers get over 200,000 miles on them with little problems. With prices soaring at the pump, and threatenings of what may happen in the Suez Canal because of the uncertainty and instability in Egypt, we're thrilled to find a car that gets up to 50-plus miles a gallon. I don't know if finding our Prius was a sure sign that prices will go higher at the pumps this summer as analysts predict. However, it is a sign I will be paying less for gas.
The second blizzard of February 2011 didn't pack as great a punch to Comanche County as forecasters predicted. I braved the frigid temps to keep my chiropractic appointment. On my way down Lee Boulevard I saw a beautiful sight. A gigantic V in the sky. A flock of geese was flying Northeast towards Ponca City. You may not know this, but Ponca City had temperatures registering minus 25 degrees. I have a friend there who said they got about 16 inches of snow atop the 12 they already had. So, when I saw those geese headed her way, I thought, this is a good sign--a very good sign. If geese are flying north in sub-zero weather, Spring must be right around the corner. My granddaughter is already talking about going to the waterpark. I think that is a bit premature. Geese flying north is one thing, 110-degree summer heat is another. When I see a robin, I'll truly believe. Until then, I'm hanging on to my mittens.
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