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HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN

Sunday, Apr. 12, 2020
 
Waiting for life as we know it to change used to take decades – it morphed over generations.
 
Now, it only takes a few days, a few weeks, and our world is transformed into something different – but recognizable, altered in so many ways, but looking remarkably unchanged physically. Still, we’ve had our guts kicked in, our heads spun ‘round, our lives upended …
 
But are we changed, are we transformed?
 
For most people, the change is not physical – they’ve not been altered at all, but psychologically, the difference runs deeper. Widely varied, to be sure, because stable people will be impacted differently than unstable ones. As for the ‘completely crazy ones,’ that poses other questions …
 
Most of us are stable, sane sentient beings – we are citizens first, individuals second, committed to loved ones always … so we perceive, methinks, that we will be stable and that we MUST be stable. Why? We held the sense of responsibility before the pandemic-epoch began, we must hold tight to that position no matter how strong the wind of change blows. Like a parent protecting their young, staying put when fleeing might be smarter.
 
But where do we go?
 
Unless you’ve got a one-way ticket to Mars for departure soon, or a round-trip ticket to the international space station, you are here.
 
So what do we do?
 
Are we free thinkers, or just members of the herd being sent from pasture to pasture to wait – expecting governments to plan for us, provide for us, and be wise for us.
 
I’ve been skeptical about what our governments are doing to us, or for us, all my life and have yet to feel they have my interests first. Never have. This is not to suggest I’ve been lost, forgotten, or left out – but I’ve always believed I am the best judge of what is right for me. I’ve many times made poor judgments, which saw me fail to succeed, but I’ve never doubted or regretted my personal freedom, my right to choose unwisely.
 
We live in a society predicated upon choosing for ourselves.
 
While it is true that wealthy and powerful people often have more options available to them, I don’t know if there is evidence that their decisions prove better or contribute to greater happiness.
 
 
 
Waiting for the weather to change here, this time of year, can sometimes be a few hours to go from harsh winter to balmy spring breeze. Snowstorms on Easter weekend are not uncommon here – and while snow may dampen our spring-urges, a coat of white over winter’s dirty grime is welcome.
 
This will be the strangest coming-of-spring in my life.
 
I do want warm weather, I do wish for the drizzle of spring, the fresh air and pleasure of being outside – but mostly I want to see the unexpected …
 
It will arrive, but like spring weather conditions, we don’t know when it will show up or have any idea what it will look like, or feel like, when it gets here.
 
It’s spring, blanketed white.
 
Happy days are here again – as first recorded three weeks after the great stock market crash of 1929.
 
There has always been a clear sky and sunshine after we weather this storm.
 

Reader feedback:
 
THE FUTURE, SEEN FROM PLANET COVID-19
As you’ve said Mark, how do we identify the truth in this day and age, especially when certain people are speaking. I’ve watched the TED talk by Bill Gates from 2015 telling us this is the most likely cause of the death of over 1 million people in our future, I’ve watched Barack Obama telling us he agreed and he started an agency to track this and be as prepared as possible, considering budget, to fight “it” and I’ve read that Donald Trump dismantled this agency, probably for budget reasons. For the supporters of Mr. Trump, this was not unforeseen and he chose money over your and your loved ones health or life. LH – Lethbridge, AB




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Mark Kolke, Realtor, MaxWell South Star Realty


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