No offense, please

Today is November 30, 2024, and I had a full day of doing very little because we had a whole lot of snow this morning. It was the first snow and a "winter advisory." I gess they had a whole lot of traffic on I-35 and I-70 around Kansas City and were warning everybody to avoid it.Everybody was putting their videos of the snow on Facebook. It was beautiful. I even put one on but I took it out of my phone afterwards because I have to keep the number of pictures down. It was below freezing during that time (29).It warmed up to 36. I did get cabin fever and had to get out. I have to go somewhere and see people if I'm in my apartment all day. It's not that I am bored; I always have something to do. I just don't always feel like doing whatever it is I could be doing at home--whether it's reading or watching something on TV or eating or whatever. I haven't painted since I finished the portrait of Charlotte holding the duck. I am not sure why. Sometimes I think looking at the people inviting me to their free art workshops makes me feel like not painting, which is weird. But I see the great work that they're doing and I feel intimidated. I know I shouldn't, but I do. So, I went to God's Storehouse. I didn't want to go to Wanamaker or the Mall because I don't want to get out in traffic if I don't have to. It's easy to get to God's Storehouse, so I don't feel like I'm thrown into the middle of the Indy 500 or something, or have some speed demon riding up on my tail on my street. I wanted to go before dark, and I barely made it. Standard Time is really depressing. It starts getting dark at 4:30. That just doesn't work for me, but, of course, there is nothing I can do about it. Well, Thanksgiving break is over. Saturday's over and all that's left is Sunday, then back to work. Then in a few weeks Christmas vacation. They call it "winter break." I'm so tired of that crap. It's Christmas vacation. It always has been and it always will be. I'm so tired of all the tip-toeing around everything so as not to "offend" anyone. I can't believe some college students got offended because they gave them food from the Christian chicken place. I can't remember the name of it right now (I always thought it was kind of a silly name); I've only been there once several years ago. But that is so dumb. I can't believe how ridiculous people have gotten with that stuff. Advertisers don't want to say Christmas trees, Christmas cards or Christmas presents so they don't "offend" anyone. But have you ever heard anyone say, "I have to go buy a 'holiday tree' today," or "I'm not sending any 'Holiday cards' this year," or I have to to go "holiday shopping" for my "holiday gifts." Give me a break. When I was a kid, my mom had some Jewish friends. They didn't have a problem at all with saying "Merry Christmas" or celebrating it or anything. What has happened to people anymore? I'm glad I grew up when I did and not nowadays. I feel sorry for anyone having to grow up in this crazy world the way it is now. Seriously. So I went to God's Storehouse just to see some people and look around. The music was kind of annoying, as usual. K-Love or whatever it is. I know. You probably like it, but I don't. I got a little Fiesta dessert-size plate for $4.00, and then I got a $3.00 book, and then a $2.00 book, so with tax and everything I spent under $10. I love that. They also let me into two groups on Facebook:Bookworms Unlimited (I think that's it) and a group for people who went to Gage Elementary School. That should be fun. I asked my second grade best friend who our teacher was and she told me Mrs. (or Miss) Carlson. That rang a bell. I asked her if she knew any first grade teachers,and she said "Mrs. Peterson," and that rang a bell too. I think my kindergarten teacher was Miss or Mrs. Bond. I know all who all my teachers were at Crestview now too. Miss Lineback for 3rd, Miss McGinley for 4th (I always thought she was my fifth grade teacher but the picture says Mrs. Campbell was my 5th grade teacher), and Miss Steele for 6th. Must have been Miss and not Mrs. She was real mean and would grab me and squeeze the inside of my upper arm for walking too fast or running in the hall. Ow. I always remember that. So I must conclude now so I can get ready for bed because I have too set the alarm to get up for church. I worried that the Bookworms Unlimited group would not let me in if I sent them a picture of my books with any religious books on it, or political. So I deleted it. They let me in anyway. I guess they weren't pending on the picture but just on the request to join. I didn't think I'd hear from them again. Anyway, I will just call this piece "No offense, please," because every day you run into this in one form or another. Restaurants, Facebook, relatives, people at work, in advertising around the holidays, everybody taking offense at everything. That's a topic we could explore a little more, I think, so, meanwhile, no offense, please. Let's just try being real, and see what happens.