I woke up this morning, two hours later than usual.  My dog is finally getting acclimated to the time change and I praise God for that.  I went to bed, wondering about the mid-term election.  What would the results be and how would I be affected by the outcome.  There were the “experts” with their gloom and doom predictions.  There were those who claimed the election was not for the candidates on the ballot, but for the current administration.  Big shots showed up to endorse the candidates of their choice prior to election day.  We were inundated with hateful advertising.  The president, ex-president and many more, took to the soap boxes defending and making promises for change.

I woke up this morning and there was snow on the ground.  It’s not too early for snow in my neck of the woods, but it was a pleasant surprise.  All the grunge underneath that snow will now turn to mulch and fertilizer for the next growing season.  The circle of life continues as it has for the last 76 years of my life.  There have been changes to the way we communicate, how we shop, the way we concentrate on our own needs rather than those of others, the way we live.  However patriotism remains in our land.  We have the ability to cast a ballot and be proud of it – hope that promises will be kept – and that our country will still maintain its checks and balances.

I woke up this morning thinking what’s the difference who wins an election?  I wondered why so much money as spent on ads that everyone hated.  I wondered if that money couldn’t have been better spent on solving some the problems with homelessness, care of our veterans, the safety of our children.  There really should be a cap on what people spend to buy their political office.

I woke up this morning – alive – having a good night’s rest – unconcerned about shoveling snow which will melt by afternoon – and unaffected by the noise of politics.  It’s over, but it will return again.  Maybe by then, I’ll be singing with the angels and anger won’t be a part of my vocabulary anymore.

I woke up this morning and so did you.  Each citizen of the United States must now go forward instead of taking any steps back.  The balance of power remains.  If we voted for the candidate of our choice and they did not win, we accept that with grace and move on.  If our candidate did win, we should be glad, but not prideful.  The anger that has overtaken many of our people today has put everyone in a bad mood.  Its really time to start working together again.  We are, after all, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.