“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the POSITIVE!”                                                       

A friend once described a good night’s sleep as you age. “It’s a series of naps!” Last night’s trilogy inspired my 2022 New Year’s Resolution. In the final episode, I dreamed I was seated at the bar of Condon’s, a great Jazz bar, in New York City, listening to the band playing, “You-Gotta-Ac- Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.” I woke up, and began reflecting.

With WWII raging in 1944, Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen wrote the award-winning hit. On the homefront, we grieved our losses and cheered our victories. Victory gardens, shortages at the store, and gasoline rationing were the order of the day. Volunteering at home became routine. Inspired leadership in our Military and in Washington, set the tone. We were together as a country and damned proud to be Americans! Never forget and always honor our Military.

Before dinner this week I was surfing the news channels for the latest stories: Chaos at the border, more confusion on Covid, and statistics on teenage deaths from fentanyl. The bloviated newscasters were berating and dueling political points of view, interviews with whining politicians, and wannabees, some of whom had difficulty putting two sentences together, an omelet with rotten eggs. Self-absorption was rampant, a far cry from America in the 1940’s.

Back to sleep and my New Year’s Resolution took shape! SNAP OUT OF IT! We’re still a great country despite the current interlude!! WE “Gotta Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the POSITIVE!! A quote that had its origins as far back as 1859 and earlier modified by Dolly Parton, came to mind. “We Can Not Direct the Wind, But We Can Adjust the Sails.” Thank God we are Americans! Change the tone! Be Positive! Savor your friends and family! Make a difference!                                                

George S.K. Rider