Watching the Sun Rise

I don't normally quote from the Bible, but as I wrote today's post, this part of a verse came to mind: "Inashmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me" - Matthew 25:40

I sit here watching the sky turn from dark to light, wondering what I am doing up so early on a Sunday morning. The stress of waiting to see what Congress is going to do with the budget (among other things) has me wiped out by early evening. At least I’ve been sleeping through the night the last couple of nights, instead of waking up halfway through and tossing and turning the rest of the night.

The last time we had a furlough, I was the lone admin person (out of five) that was left working. And all of us got paid. This time, if a furlough had been implemented, all the employees graded GS-9 or below (non-excepted employees) would have been sent home, and there was no guarantee of back-pay.

Last time, I was the one raising three children on a GS-4 salary. This time, I watched our support staff, many of them raising children, some of them single parents, get the news late Friday afternoon that they would be the ones not coming into work beyond a few hours on Monday. Remembering how tight money was when I was there, my heart broke for them.

I was also watching most folks take either the ostrich sticking its head in the sand approach or the Pollyanna approach, neither way really believing that Congress would allow the Government to shut down. As the eleventh hour approached – as Wednesday, then Thursday, then the end of the work day Friday passed – and watching the rhetoric being thrown about and the verbiage of the bills being introduced, it became clear that this was a clear and present threat to the financial well-being of nearly 800,000 Federal workers across the country.

A clear and present threat cause by men and women in the ivory tower called Capitol Hill back in Washington DC. People who either have never lived on the razor’s edge financially, or who have been away from it so long they have truly forgotten the hollow feeling when you cannot pay your bills or feed your children.

And no, the working stiffs in these financially precarious positions do no choose to be there – these economic times have made it very difficult for folks to find work, plain and simple.

Congressmen and women and Senators, I beseech you – do your job, pass the budget, but do so with care and thoughtfulness on how your actions affect the least of us in this once great nation – the children, the poor, the elderly – those with less of a voice than others.

The elders are our past, the children our future – would you jeopardize either for the fleeting glory of the present?

Sun after Storms - 20 Feb 11

Or perhaps more storms to come? With the budget woes not abating in Washington, I and many of my fellow Federal civilian employees may be furloughed - which will not help the economy, since we will not have funds to spend if we are furloughed. And it disturbs me to see the programs that the gentlemen and women of Congress are looking to cut - mainly domestic programs that help the poor and underprivileged, particularly women and children. Make no mistake - this is still very much a man's world, as evidenced by these proposed cuts.

I say this to Congress - I have voted every election since 1982, and I strong encourage everyone to vote - particularly those who say their vote doesn't count. This is my country too, dagnabit, and my children's and my grandchildren's! I say Nay to the Tea Partiers, Nay to the Birthers, Nay to those who will not take care of their brothers and sisters here in the United States of America first before extending the hand to others!

If we allow our internal infrastructure - both people and things - to decay, crumble and fail - we will no longer be able to return to the First World Country status we have enjoyed in the past. In fact, we will fall to Third World Country status in short order.

Do not balance the budget and pay down the National Debt on the backs and lives of those who live here and pay the taxes that pay the bills of our Nation. Take care of us first, or we will not be able to afford to pay these bills much longer!

Okay, off the soap box now...back to normal life - my life. This past week was stressful at work, not so much due to the budget as yet, but due to other things.

I did get to the gym once, did the trainer twice, and did yoga thrice. Perhaps I'll go for a walk or a bike ride today, f the weather holds - right now it's sunny with no wind - perfect for me!

I have done the Daily Pages - not always in the Morning, but at least daily...

And, I found pictures of the critters in How the Elephant Got It's Trunk (and determined that the Limpopo River does exist - and is located in what is now South Africa), so I can hopefully finish that project before my grandson's birthday next month!

Unfortunately, due to the weather, I was not able to have an Artist's Date - unless you wish to count (and I suppose I could) the pictures I took of the Oregon Juncos flitting to and fro in my backyard earlier this week in the rain - silly birds!

And now, laundry beckons...so adieu until next week...