This Time, Last Year

Last May before Memorial Day, I spent a week in Madeira, Portugal and had a great time. This May, before Memorial Day, I went nowhere and I don't plan on leaving the country this year either. I'm really glad I decided to go to Portugal last year because I highly doubt I would have traveled to Europe this year. There's so much anti-Americanism overseas due to the reign of Donny T. that I wouldn't feel comfortable traveling outside of the country right now. A lot of overseas travelers don't feel comfortable visiting the United States either and I totally understand their discomfort. Aside from Donny as POTUS, I'm sure many fear having to deal with immigration over here. What if you're denied entry? What if immigration officials decide to put you into some kind of "holding" facility while they determine if you're worthy enough to enter the country? Who needs that kind of stress for a vacation? And the US is losing international travel dollars each day. No more floods of neighboring Canadians coming to town to enjoy the sights and spend some cash. And the immigration fear doesn't start and stop with non-US citizens. American citizens also are having to deal with surly immigration officials if they leave the country and try to reenter. Immigration staff can demand that you unlock your cell phone or just confiscate it entirely. Things are really scary and uncertain right now, so I'm choosing to play it safe and just stay home this year. 

But, I'll always have the memories of my trip to Portugal (and the pictures too)!

Random Observations

Congratulations to the new Pope Leo XIV who hails from my current home state of Illinois. I'm not Catholic, but I was on Pope-watch last week like many others waiting to see who would be chosen. I was shocked to see that an American was selected and a guy from Chicago at that. Huh! Good for him. I hope he follows in Pope Francis's footsteps and keeps fighting the good fight for those less fortunate in the world.

In less inspiring news, the US is bringing in white South African Afrikaner "refugees" now. Ugh. Just what we need in this country: more racists. As if we didn't have enough already, right? Give me a break. Just when you think this government can't go any lower, it does. Pathetic.

Yesterday was Mother's Day and this is always a hard holiday for me because my own mother is no longer living. My mother died nearly 30 years ago, but I still miss her. One year on Mother's Day, I was out and some poor guy wished me a happy Mother's Day and I told him, "Thanks, but I don't have any kids and my mother's dead." He looked at me, startled, and hurried away. I should have just said "thank you" and that's what I say now if someone wishes me a happy Mother's Day. I don't feel sad about not having kids (because I would have been a terrible mother, I believe), but I do feel bad because my own mother isn't around. To everyone who was able to enjoy another Mother's Day with mom, good for you and cherish that time with her.