Opinion

Things are happening around our neighborhood. What with the Coronavirus numbers rising, we are staying indoors, mostly. We are managing to keep the grass mowed, the mail distributed, and the pizza delivery people on the road. I did miss the trash pickup this morning, and when I saw the truck picking up my neighbor’s bin, I ran mine across the street, so it could get it on the way back. It seems the “way back” was done first, so my full trash bin is still across the street. I’ll have to go get it after I finish here. My neighbor Leonard is nice, but he’s not in a good mood this afternoon, and he may not like the fact that my over-flowing bin is just to the right of his driveway.

Give me a break. There are pitfalls when one is in tall weeds trying to determine the origin of expressions.

If it is true that bad things come in threes, then I am in for a very expensive few weeks. I’ve spent the last few months ignoring things. The clothes dryer started making a thumping noise back in March, but it quit doing that in April. That’s when it started squealing. Now, the refrigerator is in need of a little attention. I’m pretty sure it’s nothing I’ve done, so I need a scape goat.

Uncle Mort isn’t his usual self. His 108th birthday is at hand, and he’s hung up on whether to have a “real” party, or join the growing list of folks who are “computer Zooming” to celebrate special occasions. (Printers are shaking their heads, turning out fancy invitations with the word “virtual” in big type.)

There is not much originality in this column because it has been said so many times before for the last 244 years. It is what makes America stand alone as the greatest nation in the world. Yet, there are those who want to continually tear down our country, destroy its very fabric and come up with a new form of government.

AUSTIN — While COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, case counts, hospitalizations and deaths increased last week, more and more Texans ventured out of their homes with the deadly coronavirus showing no sign of abatement.

Will our pride be the end of us? It may come in the form of the Coronavirus or mob mentality, racism, or brutality. It may be our desire as patriotic Americans to show the world that “we are in control … nobody can boss us around”. Whatever form, I’m afraid that our pride is going to get us.

The expression was well worn before the pandemic came along. Lately, creative juices have been milked dry for new ways to conduct commencements, weddings and funerals.