Vacuum week

Hi neighbors. I always call this week "Vacuum Week." Not because I clean carpets all week, but because it is the time when 2013 holds its breath knowing 2014 is lying in wait just around the corner.

People all seem to still be catching their wind from all the Christmas hubbub and none of us want to anticipate 2014 too soon.

We have all heard that the economy will face a big slump with the growing season. Hard to tell how that will slow the crop of optimism people were just beginning to think about planting.

We are all waiting to see if China decides to "repossess" their loans by taking over some land. I will have to admit I sat and cried when China reached the moon. Not really anything to do with prejudices against China, but with grief for where America finds herself now.

I read a headline the other day that American poultry producers are going to kill chickens raised in the U.S., and then ship them to China for butchering and processing. Wow, I hope we don't get them back with any of that "dog food' additive stirred in for flavoring.

I remember the leader of China back in the early '60s; boasting that America and the USSR could have a nuclear war, blow both countries to oblivion, and China would not care. China, he said with a smile, has a large population and could lose 90 percent of their people, and still survive to rule the earth. The 10 percent of "important people" could hide out in well-stocked underground bomb shelters (complete with gardens, water and other necessities) until the nuclear winter exhausted itself.

We can only hope today's China does not feel that same immunity to a worldwide nuclear war.

China isn't the only burr under my saddle blanket, or spear in the side of the U.S., however. Many of our most relentless problems are planet grown and shared with everyone.

Mother Nature doesn't play favorites with any country and for the last year or so she seems determined to give all of them a "what-for" kick in the pants. Storms, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, blizzards, floods, droughts, snow, ice, volcanoes and earthquakes are being thrown around the world to torment people of all countries.

We should all take note, there is no bunker big enough, strong enough, or well stocked enough to survive Mother Nature throwing a fit.

As if our own world's problems are not enough; many insist we have aliens from other planets planning to invade at any moment. Some even assume the aliens are busy "terra-forming" our dear Earth to make it more like their home planet.

I'll say one thing; if the weather and weather events we have been having all over the planet are like how the aliens' planet was -- no wonder they are shopping for a new one!

And then we have zombies in the forecast. I don't know about that scenario; but a storm shelter that can keep out zombies, can probably survive a tornado or two. Just remember, when your neighbors are talking about the zombie apocalypse and start stock piling supplies, machetes and fresh water -- stay on their good side. When the zombies start showing up -- or the skies go green and you hear a "sky train" coming -- go visit.

Often when I don't know what to think, what opinion is correct, which way to turn or who to trust -- I ask Flossie what she thinks.

Flossie is never at a loss for words, always has a firm opinion and never doubts her own path. I asked what she thought would be the way humanity met its end.

"Are you kidding?" she asked. "There will always be people. Many may die trying to adapt to a changing climate, but when the radioactive dust settles, there will still be people standing. Of course, most of them will be working for, or with, aliens trying to get help destroying all the zombies."

Oh, my. Until the next time friends, remember to use these next few days to think of all that has happened in 2013 and make at least a general plan of action for 2014.