'The Times They Are a-Changin''

I was in my den the other night with a cup of blueberry coffee listening to some of my favorite oldies.

And coming from my computer’s speakers was the classic Bob Dylan tune "The Times They Are a-Changin'."

Remember?

“Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pen; And keep your eyes wide, the chance won’t come again.”

I thought for a few moments, "the times, they really are a-changin’”; too many senior gatekeepers are leaving the neighborhood and the next generation is meandering down the road.

We are in the midst of many changes:

Consider the COVID situation. Our country is trying its best to deal with this plague. Vaccines have been produced but the virus’s effect on our nation has been devastating in both deaths and economic turmoil.

Manufacturers have even developed a mail delivery pill for the treatment of COVID-19 in "high risk" people when other treatments are not available to keep them alive.

Every effort is being made to keep folks vertical instead of going to sleep horizontally in a pine box.

Humanity: A lost cause or is there hope?

This deserves attention: Anyone concerned about our debt?

But the times they are a-changin'.

The Food and Drug Administration has lifted restrictions on pills developed to assist in abortions, according to an article by Pam Belluck of The New York Times, “The F.D.A.’s action means that medication abortion, an increasingly common method authorized in the United States for pregnancies up to 10 weeks' gestation, will become more available."

The pills can be sent to women by mail after a telemedicine appointment.

Seemingly, no pine boxes are required here, but maybe some grief counseling will be necessary to cope.

The controversial issue of abortion is once again under review by the Supreme Court.

And as I sat in my den listening to Dylan’s popular song, I almost wanted to sing along:

"Come senators, congressmen; Please heed the call; Don’t stand in the doorway; Don’t block the hall."

But it wasn’t congressional leaders who prompted the urge to sing along. It was Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state.

Inslee is calling on all politicians to stop lying and has introduced a bill to require the same in his state.

Specifically, in an article written by Austin Jenkins of the Northwest News Network, Inslee warned of "threats to democracy."

“It should not be legal in the state of Washington for elected officials or candidates for office to willfully lie about these election results, and unfortunately they are doing that,” Inslee said. “This needs to be made illegal.”

He wants to make it a gross misdemeanor.

Now I’m not sure what you think, but a law to prevent lying by politicians; well, I’m all in on this one.

I am wondering, however, just who will police the truth and apprehend all those mendacious (apt to tell a lie) characters.

And perhaps I’ve saved the most creative change of all for last.

Imagine as an old-timer filled with so many aches and pains you no longer have any quality of life. As a matter of fact, your tomorrow will always be worse than today in regard to your suffering, pain, anguish and despair.

You have lived a good life, but living is just no fun anymore as your body has been ravaged by incurable disease and/or calamity.

In Switzerland, they have just legalized a new way to die by assisted suicide. I hope our Maryland political friends are listening.

This portable Suicide Pod capsule looks like a miniature spaceship from "Star Trek" with windows and can be transported to one's chosen place of tranquility for one’s final moments.

It certainly is creative.

The individual will get into the capsule and lie down. “It’s very comfortable,” the manufacturer says.

Once inside the pod, the person intending to end their life will have to answer pre-recorded questions and press a button that will start the process of flooding the interior with nitrogen, which will quickly reduce the oxygen level inside from 21% to 1%.

Death will occur in about 30 seconds once the button is pressed.

And the "chosen place" is the best part yet. You pick!

Place my pod at the Antietam National Battlefield for one last sunset just beyond the Dunker church when my time is up.

With a final toast, I will lift my glass of homemade shine heavenly to all those people I love the most, for a beautiful sunset, and to offer thanks for my life’s journey as a Dargan Boy.

And my farewell remarks?

Cheers to you, friends! The times they are a-changin’.

Amen.

Lloyd "Pete" Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Pete Waters: Gatekeepers are departing and the next generation is here