Just Musing: A time change and the time to vote
If you arrived at church this morning just as the pastor was pronouncing the benediction, you obviously forgot to turn back your clocks before you went to bed last night. Daylight Saving Time ended at 2 a.m. today.
I don’t know if this one hour time change affects your body rhythm, but I have noticed the older I get, the more it affects me — especially my sleep patterns.
That also means the kiddos will not want to go to bed at 8 p.m. and up at 7 a.m. until their bodies adjust. I know for some their bus pickup is shortly after 6 a.m. so even more adjustments there. I just can’t fathom having my first class at school at 7:20 in the morning and being dismissed at 2:10 in the afternoon. My era school times were 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The midterm elections are Tuesday of this week. There are many hotly-contested races on the ballot. I hope each of you have done your homework and have already cast your ballot or will be doing so on Tuesday. I used to be a diehard vote only on Election Day person but switched to early voting about six years ago. I tried various times to vote — early in the morning, mid-morning, noon, mid-afternoon and usually had wait time and felt rushed when I got to the voting booth because of the lines. Since that time, I have exercised absentee voting and in-person early voting. I cast my ballot three weeks ago. I don’t care what your politics are — do your patriotic duty and vote. And yes, one vote can — and has — made a difference.
Fall is such a beautiful season with all the trees turning to various hues of red, gold and orange. It just seemed so short to me this fall. The leaves were near peak color and boom — here comes the wind and blows them off the trees. The lawn caretaker was here Monday and blew all mine to the street for pickup by the leaf sweeper.
In the late 1960s, I discovered an orange drink my son and daughter would drink. We were living down south at the time and, although they would eat the oranges, they would not drink the juice. This drink was called Sunny D. I have had a glass of it every morning since I discovered it. However, it suddenly has joined the family of empty spaces on the grocery shelf. I don’t like being a hoarder, but I have a feeling since the hurricane it will become even more scarce so I will buy two jugs when I find it. I’m sure the price will go through the roof, but it is my way of getting a good dose of vitamin C and good taste every morning.
A subject I know many of us get tired hearing about is COVID-19. According to health officials, numbers are on the rise again as well as hospitalizations — even among those of us who have been immunized and boosted. I have a friend currently hospitalized with it and needing a CPAP to breathe and they were vaccinate and boosted. This virus is not going away folks. Please practice good hygiene and practice safety when out and about in crowds. I’m back to wearing a mask for the smallest of errands when I know I will meet or be near people. Stay safe.
Let me leave you with this quotation by anonymous: “It’s therefore, surprising that many people choose to stay away from the ballot, even though they could determine the future of the country.”
Until next week, please exercise your patriotic duty and vote.
Brenda Donegan is a former Marion Star staffer. She may be reached at brendadonegan55@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Time to turn back your clock and cast your vote
