Is this what it feels like to have alzheimer's

Is this what it feels like to have alzheimer's

Right this minute, as I write this post, I am suffering from memory loss.  Hopefully, it's fleeting.

One sentence into this post, I've already changed what I wanted to say, because the words to express what I'm really feeling elude me.  I was in the middle of reading an online news story on the Canadian Jewish News website about a Water-themed art exhibit in my home town.  The photo accompanying the story showed many members of the community - virtually all who are familiar to me.

And I couldn't remember a single person's name.  I have this memory trick for remembering names.  I close my eyes, and go through the entire alphabet, visualizing people's names as if they appeared in a Rolodex.  It never fails to work - if I don't remember someone's name (assuming I was familiar with them - not just a casual acquaintance) this method always works.

Indeed, it worked today as well.  But working your way through the alphabet is only useful if you're trying to remember one or two names.  This photo featured nearly 20 people, most of whom I should know, and the names just weren't popping into my head.

In the time it has taken me to get this far in the post, my memory has returned.  Even though I'm not looking at the photo, the images are now coming to me, including everyone's name.

That was scary.

Trumped up charges

Trumped up charges

Before I begin, let me confess I am a right-leaning Liberal.  What does that mean, exactly?  It means I agree with elements of both Liberal and Conservative political agendas.  I want a government that will not let me go wanting for the necessities of life (and I include government paid healthcare in that definition).  While I personally don't agree with a woman choosing to have an abortion, I do believe it's her right to decide that for herself.

I believe in the American's constitutional right to bear arms, but don't think that should include all classes of arms.

So, you get the idea.

When Donald Trump announced he was running as a Republican candidate, I chuckled.  Like so many others, I felt he didn't have the experience, grace and wisdom to be successful.  And like so many others, I was proven wrong.

After eight years of milktoast Democratic leadership, I wanted the Republicans to win the election.  And as I saw Trump defeating all other comers one-by-one, I hoped he would regain his sanity and unite the Republican party going foward toward the election.

You may remember, earlier in the primary season, when Trump declared he might run as an independent if he didn't win the Republican nomination.  And then he signed a pledge stating he would not run as an independent after all.  Despite winning the Republican nomination, it could be said that Trump has decided to run as an independent regardless.  How else do you explain his audacious behaviour and total lack of concern at the embarrassment he is causing within his own party?

We are at a point in history where the US needs a "crazy man" at the helm - much like the tough-talking Ronald Reagan who saved the US from the humiliation of the Carter presidency.  I just don't know if Donald Trump is too crazy for the role as commander in chief of the deadliest army on the planet.

Believe it or not, I still want Trump to win - that's just how disillusioned I am with the prospect of Hillary Clinton in the Whitehouse.  Still, although history is mostly against the probability of a democratic presidential hopeful succeeding a two-term democratic incumbent, having Donald Trump as the alternative tends to cancel that improbability.

This will certainly be the strangest and most entertaining election of my lifetime.  God help us all - no matter who wins!