For various reasons I am changing – taking on a new attitude and have certainly did change my latitude. So, of course I googled it and found it was actually a song by Jimmy Buffet and here it goes.
I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year
All of the faces and all of the places
Wonderin’ where they all disappeared
I didn’t ponder the question too long
I was hungry and went out for a bite
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum
And we wound up drinkin all night
It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane
Reading departure signs in some big airport
Reminds me of the places I’ve been
Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure
Makes me want to go back again
If it suddenly ended tomorrow
I could somehow adjust to the fall
Good times and riches and son of a bitches
I’ve seen more than I can recall
It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
Through all of the islands and all of the highlands
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane
I think about Paris when I’m high on red wine
I wish I could jump on a plane
So many nights I just dream of the ocean
God I wish I was sailin’ again
Oh, yesterday’s over my shoulder
So I can’t look back for too long
There’s just too much to see waiting in front of me
And I know that I just can’t go wrong
With these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of my running and all of my cunning
If I couldn’t laugh I just would go insane
If we couldn’t laugh we just would go insane
If we weren’t all crazy we would go insane
You absolutely must go to YouTube and listen to the version by Jimmy Buffett – it is so totally upbeat. Beautifully so. It eerily reflects my life at the moment – fortunately I can and do laugh and so do most people that surround me.
There are other signs of change – changing my social media. The Marin Independent Journal holds no allure as I certainly am not going back there. I did in during my Abu Dhabi days follow The National, but it is also loosing its allure. The New York Times is just far too USA in its approach and even my precious The New Yorker is not grabbing me. The day before yesterday with the wonderful assistance of a young woman began to subscribe to The Economist as it is more global in scope (perhaps they might even mention Canada in an article or two. I was immediately rewarded with this: Meet Elizabeth Borne, France’s New Prime Minister. This is how it begins: In 2022 it ought to be unremarkable for a woman to be appointed to run a European government. Yet the nomination on May 16th of Elisabeth Borne as the next prime minister of France was anything but. It is the first time for 30 years that a woman has held the post in France, and only the second time ever. The previous one, Edith Cresson, appointed by François Mitterrand, did not last a year in the job. As Ms Borne took over from Jean Castex on the evening of her nomination, she dedicated her appointment to “all the little girls” in France, telling them to “follow your dreams”.
Such folksy utterances are atypical of Ms Borne. An engineer by training, and career technocrat, the 61-year-old is better known as a no-nonsense details person who gets on with the job. Ahead of France’s parliamentary elections on June 12th and 19th, her immediate task will be to win another majority for the centrist grouping led by President Emmanuel Macron, and to draw up targeted measures to ease the soaring cost of living. An even trickier challenge will be to negotiate the pension reform that Mr Macron has promised for his second term, including a controversial rise in the pension age from 62 years to 64 or 65.”
Now, of course I find that interesting as I am contemplating a run at being Canada’s second Prime Minister, the first being Kim Campbell
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“The Economist also makes me joyous that I left the USA never to return. An extremely sobering article about gun control – in a few words – it ain’t happening. Here is what the Economist is saying: “Despite making up just 4% of the world’s population, Americans hold an estimated half of all civilian firearms (393m of 857m). On Saturday one of those gun-owners walked into a grocery store in a predominantly black neighbourhood of Buffalo, New York with a semi-automatic assault rifle. He shot 13 people, 11 of them black, in what police say was a racially motivated crime. Ten died, making it the year’s deadliest gun incident (the deadliest shooting in 2021, in Boulder, Colorado also claimed 10 lives). The Buffalo attack was the 198th mass shooting in the country so far in 2022—a level of carnage that is unimaginable in other rich countries. Despite the increasing toll and frequency of such shootings, the most recent Gallup poll showed public support for stricter gun laws was at its lowest level since 2014. Gun ownership is diversifying: women and minorities are buying guns for self-defence.”
But I did peek at the Marin Independent Journal to discover two rather alarming facts. Inflation is now at 4.6% and there is now a rather uncontrollable Covid-19 surge. This is most difficult for me on several levels. One of the major reasons for the inflation is the price of gas – because of the Russians and their war but also because of the actions of the Middle East. The “powers that be” in the Middle East refused to increase production – that is the cause of inflation and is a major concern for the Democrats and Biden. The surge in covid rates also disturbing as Marin County, was second only to the UAE in its control of the virus as the vaccination rate was huge and everyone was wearing masks and social distancing and all of that. But they stopped paying attention and when the new mutation struck health workers and emergency responders were forced to work even if tested positive. That did not happen in the Middle East where democracy does not reign. It is fascinating to watch the National videos, heads of state going to express their condolences to the new President of the UAE. Everyone is wearing masks. I am now living in a province that does not require them.
I live in two different worlds for many reasons. The UAE is decidedly safer for me to live and nothing will prevent my return. My income streams in, I have two valid passports, the Premium Inn at the Abu Dhabi Airport would love to have me back. I could go to Mecca and Medina and Oman. But here’s the rub. The Oman Airport has the same name as EGG or $$ – was exploring going back there for a visit and was totally startled to learn this. What did I do? I sent an email to EGG telling him of my chagrin. What is chagrin? It is distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated. I am not sure why I am embarrassed – I could not help it and I suspect he cannot either.
Today is a happy day for me. I called 811 and was able to make an appointment to get my vaccination booster. It makes me most happy. Was unable to get one as I did not have an Emirati ID. Actually that was one reason that I decided to come back to Canada. For various reasons think I now have the connections to get one there now.
Another song was echoing in my mind. Two different worlds, we live in two different worlds – the romanic version of it. However, when I googled it got a Sesame Street version and it was absolutely fun, delightful and inspiring. The two different worlds are school and home different rules that apply. You should now go to Google, type in two different worlds and you shall find it, It is so much fun and also is most instructive and helpful as it explains to kids in a tactful way why rules are necessary in the outside world, but can be relaxed at home. I will keep looking for the romantic version of the song.
At the moment I am waiting for a promised call from EGG – so far this morning he has texted me, sent me one GIF and two stickers and liked a reel and two photos on Instagram. I have never been pursued so earnestly my entire life. Yikes. Photo is my breakfast outfit here at my Chateau. I was endlessly on hold waiting for an agent as I need my dry cleaning to be picked up and a canned message kept playing. This hotel has a Royal Suite. Hmmmm
