Our Niece Passed on My Age "6" Birthday & Daily Life Continues (published 7-26-2020)

Introduction

Greetings, and good Sunday afternoon, dear reader. I hope that you are turnin’ right and goin’ straight in life!

This article, in sadness, comments on the passing of our niece. It also denotes the usual “life, such as it is,” of daily life. The conclusion encourages everyone to be ready, when it's our time to pass on.

Passing of Our Niece on My Age “6” Birthday

Since the most recent article from 7/12/2020, the profound shock was the unexpected passing of our niece, at age 36. She was the oldest daughter of my brother, who is three years younger than me.

Attaining the age of “6” on Friday, 7/17/2020, I took the day off from working at the office. My brother called that morning. As a side note, he wished me a happy birthday. His main reason to call was to tell me that his oldest daughter had died unexpectedly in her sleep, between 2 and 4 AM, on my birthday. At least I’d taken the day off from work.

Our niece had been healthy. She had no known health trouble. We still don’t know why she passed away. In time, we hope to learn the reason.

Her husband, his young adult daughter, and their three teenage daughters (ages 13, 15, and 17) must endure the reality of our niece’s passing. My prayer is that they will do so, as they draw closer to each other and even more closely to the Lord.

On Thursday, 7/23/2020, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I attended the funeral visitation and the graveside service, which followed. I was a pallbearer. My youngest brother was one of the two ministers. A storm, which we had seen coming, started, just after the graveside service ended and while folks were starting to leave.

For each of us, the Lord knows the date and time, when we will leave this world and transition to everlastingness. We don’t. Our niece left this world too early in life. Of course, we know that people can pass away early in life.

The main point is: be ready to go Home, whenever it's our turn! I’m ready. Are you? If you are not, dear reader, then please use the “Contact Form,” on this website, to send me a personal and private email. That will begin the process. I want to help you get ready, if you would like my assistance. I'm just one poor beggar, who found the Bread of Life, and I'm willing to share the Bread.

Daily Life Continues

The following are chronological notes, since the 7/12/2020 article, about life going on, such as it is, within the context of the passing of our niece.

Thursday, 7/16/2020: During a work week at the office, I left an hour early, to get a much-needed COVID-19 compliant haircut. My good barber has a second line of income. He focuses on it now, since his hair-cutting income has been taking a COVID-19-compliant “clipping” (pun intended). For now, he works on Thursdays only, by appointment. I had a fine haircut, as usual.

Friday, 7/17/2020: See my previous remarks, about the untimely passing of our niece. On that day, I also started the process that will result in the refinancing of our home mortgage. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I are close enough to owning our home. The refinancing will speed up the payoff. By the way, the loan officer, a fine man, and I share the same birth month and day. He’s twelve years younger than me. Maybe, one of these days, he will try to keep up with me, if we hike “My Mountain” together. We’ll see.

On that day, we also received a letter from our current president. It seems that he values our opinions greatly. He wants us to comment on his survey. He, by the way, needs our campaign contribution, of at least $15, to cover the cost of his letter to us. Hum. In a few days, I’ll have a bit of fun with my reply to him.

Saturday, 7/18/2020: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman attained the age of a ’57 Chevy. Her “semi-intelligent” phone developed a “white screen of death.” After some effort, on Saturday, 7/25/2020, with help from Cindy, at Straight Talk Wireless, I remembered how to reboot her phone! It works! I saved a document, to help me remember how to reboot her phone. (Several years ago, in my “pre-bionic” life, her phone or mine had the same problem. I’d forgotten how to fix the “white screen of death.” My excuse is that, on 3/29/2016, my one brain cell had a significant concussion!)

Monday, 7/20/2020: This was supposed to be my week to work at home. I had to drive to and from the office, on Monday only. (It was due to some type of work insanity.) Also, I received in the mail my Tennessee “Real ID!” It has a little yellow star on it. That makes it “real.” On Tuesday, 7/7/2020, during my work at home week, I took leave, from 8 to 9 AM, to go to the Knox County Clerk office (Halls location). I was the first in line, about 7:40 AM. Yes, I wore the required mask. After various others had formed a line behind me, at 8 AM on the dot, I walked in. (I've been able to walk since 6/16/2016.) I went through the hoops and paid the money to get me one of “them thar” newfangled “Real IDs!” I received a temporary one that day. On Monday, 7/20/2020, my plastic “Real ID” arrived in the mail!

Question: If my driver’s license, which I’ve had since age 16, has not been a “real ID” for all those years, then how have I been getting along? Were they fake IDs? Well, I have a “Real ID” now! Folks, it’s just a way that “govrmint” scams more money from us! Oh well, at least I did not pay extra for my “Real ID!” I paid the normal cost to renew my previous and apparently fake ID!

Note: The County Clerk’s office was “allowed,” by COVID-19 regulations, to open again on 7/6/2020. I’d known that for several weeks. I waited. I was patient. I beat the bureaucracy, by paying the same price to renew my “fake” driver’s license to get a “Real ID!”

Wednesday, 7/22/2020: Our contractor and his associate arrived here, after my work at home day was over. Both are fine men, about my age but a little younger. We talked about various details. The contractor and I signed, on the tailgate of my new ol' truck, the agreement, which we had already made, verbally, eye-to-eye, and with a handshake. His work and eventual full payment start on Monday, 7/27/2020. His crew and he will do a fine job on our deck and the other work. (I may publish a few photographs, once the job is done.) After they left, the storm hit! We have had storms or rain every day until today (Sunday, 7/26/2020). We had been needing that rain.

Our contractor is the only one of four contractors, whom I’d contacted, who seemed to want to make some money! It’s his win. It's a loss for the other three contractors!

Conclusion

The time is 5:15 PM, as I type this sentence. I’ll finish and publish this article, before Mrs. Appalachian Irishman comes into my home office, to say that supper is ready.

On Friday, 7/17/2020, the day that I attained age “6,” our niece, at age 36, left this boot camp world, unexpectedly and far too early in life. I hope that she was ready to meet her Maker. Life, such as it is, has to and does continue on. We endure, by God's grace.

I’m still standing here. I ain’t breathin’ hard. I’ve taken up the Good Lord’s free-gift offer. I’ve tried to live in appreciation of His free gift. I’ve been a full-time evangelist and missionary. I’m still a missionary, under the maxim that “you’re either a missionary or a mission area.” Unfortunately, I don’t have the option to be supported in full-time ministry.

So, for all readers out there, if you have not taken up the Good Lord’s free-gift offer, please do! To readers, who have already taken up His free-gift offer, y’all keep turnin’ right and goin’ straight out there, living in appreciation of His gift! The Lord knows the date and time, when each of us will leave this world. We don't. We must be ready.

It's now 5:58 PM. I’m hungry! When’s supper, dear?

Independence Day, Call from My Sister, Myopic Insanity, and Haircuts (published 7-12-2020)

Introduction 

This brief article focuses on the purchase of this website's domain name (on Independence Day), a call from my adoptive sister and her mother, myopic insanity, and recent haircuts. It was in the context of “life, such as it was.” No, this article does not include any photographs of food.

Independence Day

“Saturday, in the park, I think it was the Fourth of July.” That’s a good song. Due to my “cowardice,” I didn’t spend yesterday, Saturday, in the park hiking. I’ve hiked in hot and humid weather many times, before and after acquiring three “bionic” joints. Yesterday, I didn’t feel the need to soak a tee shirt in sweat and change into a dry one after such a hike. Next time? Well, look for a future article!

On Independence Day, however, I did buy the rights to my website to demonstrate my independence! This initial website, https://www.appalachianirishman.blogspot.com/, is a backup link now. My website is now https://appalachianirishman.com/! I own the domain name for the next ten years! Of course, if I’m still here at “boot camp” in ten years, I’ll renew my ownership for another ten years and so forth. The Lord knows how many decades I have left before he calls me to my everlasting home.

Call from My Sister

Did y’all know that I have a sister? Yes, I do! She has about eight years on me. No, my parents didn’t have a daughter. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I lived in Missouri from 1986 to 1994, before we moved to Russia (1994 to 1999). My sister and I adopted each other back then! I am her brother. She is my sister. We are not related biologically. We are related in spirit! Her family and she are of predominant Irish stock. I am too.

My sister called in the early evening on 7/7/2020. We talked from 6:52 PM to 8:33 PM, an hour and 41 minutes! Her mother and I even talked for a while. Her mother, my adoptive mother, is 90 years of age. My sister and I hadn’t talked in a while. We had a great conversation! The miles are distant (about an eight-hour drive one way), but our spirits are side-by-side!

My adoptive sister and mother have endured a great deal of trouble in this boot camp world. I have also. We endure by God’s grace and our stubborn and strong Irish wills!

One topic of our conversation was about the racial tension in this country. I will not address the minutiae on the topic. Anyone raised correctly by godly parents and who follows the Bible correctly should know the answer to the tension. My sister and I agreed, of course.

My sister and I continued our conversation by email. On 7/8/2020, she emailed a reference to an article, which is linked here. (That’s one place where I found it.) Some details from the article do not appear to be correct, as I figured out. One link is here.

The Irish, however, were slaves. The difference between “indentured servants” and “slaves” is nothing more than a quibble, used euphemistically. The proof from two articles, among several, is here and here; I ordered the book.

As I’ve written before, black, white, red, and yellow have all been slaves. We must all follow God’s law! Only then will everyone get along properly. Do not be enslaved in your mind.

As an important aside, a free couple in a once-free nation has the right, according to law (God’s law as enshrined in the Second Amendment), to defend themselves against a threat. I am glad that some are standing with them! I stand with them.

Sister, let’s see when our families can meet around the Nashville area soon! Until then, you are my sister. I am your brother. We stay connected in spirit and by phone calls and emails!

Myopic Insanity

I have written my thoughts about the new cold virus in the Corona Myopia topic section. I have moved on. Furthermore, I wish our once-great nation would do likewise.

Mrs. Appalachian Irishman took her father to a medical appointment on 7/9/2020. She does not wear a mask when she is with her father every day at his home. Those idiots made her wait in the hot car. (She said several others, including the very elderly, were doing the same for the same reason.) Those idiots would not allow her to stay in the building with her father for his appointment, even when she was wearing a mask, which she came in wearing. By the way, my father-in-law was wearing a mask. It was a clear example of myopic insanity!

Haircuts

Yesterday, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was finally able to get a high-dollar “haircut” at her “barber.” Her last “haircut,” delayed by the new cold virus, was on 11/23/2019. As far as I could tell, about an inch of hair was gone. That little gray area was colored. The cost was, well, I’d better not say. Her usual “haircut” would have been last February, but her “barber” was not allowed to be in business. Later, her “barber” was allowed to reopen with the restrictions, but the appointments were booked until yesterday. That was another example of myopic insanity.

Oh, I’m into week six, instead of the usual four, for my haircut. My barber seems to be focusing more on his other income stream. He still cuts hair, but his hair-cutting business is taking a clipping. I might get a haircut on Thursday. We will see.

Conclusion

I still haven’t understood why folks post photographs of food on social media websites. I eat food.

Speaking of which, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman just came into my home office and cleared her throat. Okay, dear! I’ll stop for supper without first taking a photograph of it!

Y’all turn right and go straight out there, please, unless you’re doing so already! If you are, then good! Keep going!

Postscript: This sentence is my after-supper digest entry as I digest my supper. (I love a good play on words!)

INDEPENDENCE DAY EVE MUSINGS (published 7/3/2020)

Well, good evening, y’all! Today is Independence Day Eve. Well, we used to have freedom and independence, based on the Constitution, which is derived from a person’s God-given rights. I’m not feeling very independent this evening. Are you? Strike that! I am a free man in my soul by the freedom God gave me as a man created in his image. We all are, male and female. I stand, therefore, as a free man in a once-free nation.

Today, on Independence Day Eve, the Knox County Board of Health, effective 7/3/2020, requires face masks. I was one of the violators today while hauling off trash and getting gas. I was in the majority. In fact, I did not see even one person wearing a mask. I saw many at both locations, especially going in and out of the gas station convenience store. To be “fair and balanced,” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, who did the grocery shopping, stated that the majority wore masks, including her.

I will take a sidetrack now. I hear the slippery slope argument from the minds of readers who do not agree with me. They have rebuttals, such as, “The government requires vehicle child restraints, seat belts, hands-free use of phones, speed limits, firearm carry permits, zoning regulations, permits of many types, etc.” I would add, “Etc., etc., ad nauseam.”

That is a slippery slope argument, as readers who agree with me understand. Shall we slide further down the slope?

Many Americans are not taking care of their health. Many do not exercise much or at all. Many overeat. The slippery slope logic concludes that government, to protect us “poor idiots,” must mandate exercise and proper diets with monetary penalty and/or confinement in a diet and exercise facility for violators.

Why not? Slip down that slope all the way! Many laws and regulations exist, because folks do not have enough common sense to do what’s right. No, wearing or not wearing a mask is neither right nor wrong morally. It is a subjective choice. Don’t try that “protect others” argument to try to bully me. I can rebut it very easily. Many in this once great nation are losing their common sense at an astonishing rate, if they ever had it. Worse yet, many are losing their sense of morality, if they ever had it.

I will not debate the so-called science that argues with itself on the benefit or lack thereof regarding wearing a mask in public. Yes, medical folks wear masks for many reasons. I’m glad that the skilled surgeon who repaired my three smashed joints wore a mask when he pieced me back together. Science has merged with politics, however. I read so-called scientific “experts” on both sides of the mask who “reason from science” that masks benefit or don’t benefit in the context of this new cold virus.

Even Dr. Fauci has spoken out of both sides of his mouth on the subject. I mentioned this in my article from 5/15/2020. That article references “Tucker Carlson: We Didn't Appoint Fauci Dictator During This Crisis,” RealClear Politics, by Tim Hains, 5/13/2020. In that transcribed audiovisual episode, Tucker Carlson presented two segments. In the first, Dr. Fauci encouraged mask wearing (at 4:59 into the episode). Two months beforehand, Dr. Fauci discouraged mask wearing (at 5:40 in the segment). Of course, the propaganda machine is winning the mask-wearing war.

Also, I will not comment further on Corona Myopia. I’ve moved on. Most of my articles from 4/19/2020 to 5/24/2020 were on the topic. I, however, can’t help but take a parting shot! Tennessee's total 2020 COVID-19 deaths to this 7/3/2020 entry are 620. Tennessee's total 2020 traffic deaths to this same entry date are 507. The numbers are from the TN COVID-19 Dashboard as of this date. I know it is apples to oranges, but it still makes a point. Where is the daily obsession from the politicians and the media about daily traffic accident numbers, number of traffic accident recoveries, and number of traffic fatalities? I have moved on, as well as I can, from this Corona Myopia Obsession, which is the laser focus of politicians and the media (including social media).

Let us track back to the main point. There are nine Knox County Board of Health members. The Knox County Board of Health members are not elected officials. The Knox County District Advisory Council (DAC), whatever that is, appoints six members. The Mount Vernon City Council, of which I’ve never heard until today, appoints the other three members. Board members have five-year terms. They have no term limits.

Taxation (i.e., the 7/3/2020 mask-wearing law by unelected bureaucrats) without representation (i.e., our ability to elect those bureaucrats) is tyranny. Do you remember any similar history? I will not allow unelected bureaucrats to impose their tyranny on me! Don't tread on me!

It is suppertime, as per my wife. Let’s eat healthy with proper portions! I plan to do my usual stretching and muscle exercises after supper.

Postscript: I finished this article just before suppertime. My youngest brother, his wife, and their two daughters made a short-notice, surprise visit after supper. Well, that was a pleasant surprise! So, approaching bedtime, I am publishing this article now. Good night, y’all!