For the record, the national elections were this last Tuesday, and with the surprising surge of Trump driving into the presidency, the nation and the world remains in shock today. Except for the Dow Jones Industrial, which has also surged this week after election night jitters. I’m amazed at some of the bizarro stuff that I’ve seen recorded on Facebook. The best response I can make when half the country says the world is going to end is… to volunteer somewhere. “Be the change you want to see.” As a dear friend has tried to teach me over the last few years, “You are the only one who can make yourself happy.” We each ultimately choose how we respond to life. And Jesus said love- don’t fear.

It’s a time of transitions. This last Sunday, my wonderful chile garden was destroyed by an early evening flash hail storm. And after that, it’s been cool all week, edging toward the winter.

Visiting the doctor early in the week, my body remains oddly off. Some questionable labs and physical symptoms continue to whisper to me that something insipid is happening within me, but there are no answers yet. And it could just because I eat lots of crap and do not exercise any more.

It’s also been a hard week due to the loss of a relationship that has been central in my life the last three years. I feel a little confused and lost right now.

And today, driving down by the Albuquerque Square Dance Center off Ellison by the frontage road to I-25, and then later by the Dion’s at Wyoming and Academy, I thought a lot about Robert, who I spent many hours with at both locations. I saw his truck (in my mind) in the pizza joint parking lot, and heard his familiar “Hey, buddy!” greeting. I’m surprised he’s gone.

And to top it off- there is no more Cubs baseball.

It’s been a weird week.