Candy or cash: candidates and causes trick-or-treat for donations

I don’t know about you but I am sure getting tired of all the appeals to send money. Send to this or that politician, some whom I’ve never heard of before, don’t live in my district and I don’t know whether I approve of them or not. The text of the message is that it will be a disaster if I ignore the request and sit on my hands.

It is not always politicians either because a large number of worthy projects are also presented and “the kids” or some other worthy cause will suffer if the appeal for money is ignored.

I’m reminded of what a learned friend pointed out lately and that it is my money and I don’t have to spend it unless it is my decision to do so. The old saw is that all is fair in love and war. Additionally, I remember that the only thing permanent is death and taxes.

No, I haven’t voted yet! My long-time preference is for Grannie Annie and me to be first in line to vote in person. We do appreciate the local volunteers, mostly ladies, that “man” the voting precincts and have no doubts that the count will be honest and accurate. That is just the way we do things in this area where we have chosen to live. And yes we did vote for years by mailing in our ballots while serving in the military. All was tightly controlled with a witness seeing you put the completed ballot in an envelope and seal it in the witness’s presence which he signed to testify to its accuracy. And also, yes I am happy to see that one has to prove one’s identification to vote. Voting local wasn’t much of a problem because the poll watchers were mostly your friends and neighbors but voting by mail or worse putting it into unattended drop boxes just makes it too easy to cheat.

I’ll be so glad when this election season is over and happy for what I hope are the results.

Mother Nature is being more gracious than what my memory tells me is usual. Just drive through McCook and the trees are about the most gorgeous that I’ve ever seen.

Especially attractive in its yellow to gold colors at the moment is an ash(?) tree across the street from our home. I also have to check out the largest oak tree in McCook and that in the backyard of a home we once lived in.

Not so attractive, in the eyes of this old couple, are some of the Halloween decorations in people’s front yards. Especially the large blow-up kind that are just gross. Maybe it is just my lack of a sense of humor.

Grannie and I enjoyed the Saturday parade up and down Norris Avenue. About all ages in costumes with the young ones having the most fun begging candy. Our granddaughter was of the opinion that it was“a lot of candy,” but wasn’t brave enough to take some of it away and reserve it for later. Grannie Annie reminds me that any extra Halloween candy is always welcome for her to forward to Linda Nielsen and crew at the Peace Lutheran to send on to the soldiers in their Adopt a Chaplain care packages.

That is how I saw it.