Common Sense...Where Did It Go?

At least a dozen times a day I ask aloud, "Seriously?"

I don't know what happened to the world in the Land of Smart Phones and Stupid People, but I'm really sick of it.  Cashiers can't make change.  If your bill is $7.52, give them $10.02 and watch the confusion come over their face.  I often get, "It's SEVEN FIFTY-TWO..."

Yeah, speaking louder doesn't make you seem like less of an idiot and I don't want a pocket full of change when I can have two quarters instead.  Seriously?

When my son was born, I made it abundantly clear we would not talk in baby talk to him.  Why learn two languages when he can learn our native tongue of English?  By two he was building a ravine for his trains, by five he was playing along with Jeopardy, and beating me.

He was diagnosed as autistic when a neurologist (in baby-speak) asked, "Uh... can you touch your nose?  Can you?  Can you touch it?"  My son was a year and a half and looked at me like the doctor was a moron and we walked out.  Yes, he can touch his nose.  He can also speak normally and was doing basic math.  Seriously?

Parents don't parent any more.  Stop medicating your kids for ADD or ADHD!  They don't have problems, they're kids.  They have more energy than us, they learn by touching, doing, exploring.

And stop with the not-my-child attitude.  Yes, your child.  I love my kid, but if he does wrong, he pays the price, I don't buy him a new video game because "he must be feeling unloved".  Seriously?  He's testing me and he lost, so he'll pay the price.

How about the new labels on things?

Don't eat the new dishwasher tablets.
Don't use bleach containers as drink containers.
Don't climb over the fences in a zoo, because you may be eaten.
Never iron clothes while wearing them.
Viagra is not for newborns.  WHAT??
Microwave not to be used for drying pets.
Egg carton:  Allergy advice, contains egg.
Do not hold the wrong end of a chain saw.  (with photo in case you don't know which end is the wrong end)

My favorite:  Warning, these peanuts may contain peanuts or peanut by-products.  Seriously?

Sadly, some idiot had to have done these things to warrant a label.  What would possess a person to do these things?

I have to give myself pep talks before leaving the house, do a little meditating, then keep my head down and plow through the crowds so I don't hurt people.  I should come with a warning label.  

Warning:  I will slap you without prior notice if you lack common sense.

Oh and...

A Family In Need...Magnum's Lift To Freedom

As Christmas approaches I start getting a little cheap with things because I know I'll have to buy numerous gifts for others.  Not to mention the road trip prior that I'll have to make to my parents home for Thanksgiving...

Sometimes I my heart just breaks for those in need.

My son has quite a few friends that eat peanut butter & jelly, Chef Boyardee, or ramen noodles for dinner every night.  They have never travelled or seen anything outside of their county, much less their state.

Then you take into account we live in a world of social media.  People don't interact with each other or actually speak any more.  Texting is the norm. So how do we get people to care?

It's hard to imagine that someone you know might actually need something important.  I never pass a Salvation Army can at Christmas without dropping at least a dollar in it, I always give a few canned items during food drives, because I know every little bit helps.

I know this because I'm also a volunteer.  I also believe Karma is watching me and eventually I'll be rewarded for all of my efforts to help others.

We don't have a lot, but I know we have more than others and if we don't reach out, if it's possible, who will?

Thanks to Facebook, I reconnected with an old friend I've known since fifth grade.  She and I have shared many laughs and talks, but you wouldn't know she was burdened.  She has a son born with spina bifida, but it doesn't bring her down, she is as fierce as any mother and encourages her son to do all he can possibly do in life.

Unfortunately, her husband has lost his job and they are still trying to pay for the lift in their van that helps transport him around.  Maybe someone will see this, maybe someone will share, but my greatest hope is that someone will donate a little money and help them.

I've given up 20 Starbucks coffees or twelve trips through fast food restaurants, or three lunches with friends, or any other numbers of ways to justify the small amount I was able to give.

What can you give up to help someone truly in need?

The link to donate:

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/g6d3/magnum-s-lift-to-freedom?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_share_stream.share&utm_campaign=dashboard_overview_T1&og_action=hug&t=3&fb_ref=1521723