Lesson 449: If You're Reading This

Welcome weekend.

You couldn't have come soon enough this week.
Eloise is very, very tired from one too many late nights this week.

This blog fell on Veteran's Day this year.

Thank you for your service, Dad!

For those of you still reading this blog, 

another big thank you is extended to all of you who turned out to vote on Tuesday.

Rumor has it that many have given up the screen for awhile

due to political posting against their own personal opinions.

So, if you are still hanging in,

here is what I've been up to this week,

and some of my observations regarding the 2016 Presidential Election.

Last Saturday, 

when the fall in Erie was pretty

and people were hopeful for the country in which we live,

I headed out to a west side park for a morning workout.

I spied with my little eye,

beauty all around me that day.

From the leaves,

to the lake,

to the lamppost.

My heart soared with gladness like a gull in flight.

And then came Tuesday.

If you're reading this,

you'll agree from past reading experience

 that Eloise is pretty open minded about most things.

Sometimes it's tough for this old girl to choose a side

when you sit atop the fence and can clearly see for miles in either direction.

Some broken things need fixed in this country.

From displays of human behavior

and public remarks both spoken and written this past week,

we are furthering our divide.

How can we keep from destroying ourselves?

President Obama,

President-Elect Trump,

and Hillary Clinton 

all reminded us on Wednesday that we are all Americans

and that we all need to work together to unite a divided nation.

Ellen DeGeneres reminded her viewers 

that we are more alike than we are different.

See Ellen's monologue CLICK HERE

It's hard to find the "sameness" in people if we are constantly labeling ourselves

and adhering so tightly to a certain group.

The Exit polls have defined us.

How do you measure up?

For an interesting look at how voters responded immediately after exiting the voting booths,

click the link below

Exit Polls NY Times

If you're reading this,

here is your weekend homework:

go outside for a walk.  

Just a simple walk.

Clear your heads and refocus.

Enjoy the now,

and spend a little time planning what YOU can do next.

Set a goal.

Set a standard.

Help someone.

Help yourself.

Be the neighbor you want to live next to.

Do unto others.

Be the AmerICan we can all be proud of.

If you're reading this,

listen to If You're Reading This, by my favorite,
Tim McGraw.

It was recorded back in his thicker days,

with a few less years on his timeline

and a few more pounds on his frame.

I consider this to be one of his top 5 songs of all times.

Perfect for this Veteran's Day blog post.

Enjoy the song,

if you're still reading this, that is.

ELOISE

Proud and Hopeful AmerICan