Hello world, I'm still here though it's been a long time. A lot of life has happened in that span of time. A lot of head aches, and what the hell moments. But a lot of other moments that make everything worth it, and more than worth it. To hear a child tell you that they love you for the first time, when you are not their father but are going to marry their mother, that's a big deal. It creates a giddy, light, happy feeling in the soul. It's lightening like. I've seen the kids grow, and mature.
2016 is quite possibly going to go down as the year from hell. So many greats have died, so many societal and political changes have happened. The united stats has elected a bigot, and a liar as president. His whole campaign was one of fear, and inciting racism, sexism, and xenophobia. The fearful and the gullible ate it up. This election is going to mark the final nail into the coffin of the American dream. Donald Trump is not what we needed as a country, or the world. We needed some one that would realize that global warming is happening, and that it is wreaking havoc. We needed to chose a leader that would support green initiatives, renewable energy. Not the same old same old. Economically, anyone that is not a white collar worker is going to suffer during his presidency. He chose billionaires for his cabinet. They don't care about the worker. Congress will probably pass most anything that Donald Trump will propose. Socially, this election threw us back at least 30 years. Women's rights, LGBTQ rights are under threat, pretty much anything that the evangelical right don't approve of, is in danger. Religious and Social freedoms could be in danger, this is something that we can not have happen.
The Smokey Mountains were on fire, in December of all months, where they should be worrying about snow fall. It was dry, it was warm and two boys set a fire that killed several, and destroyed many homes and businesses. It turned lives upside down through out the region. Appalachia is a poor area, in fact it might be the poorest area in the United states. It is an area that is often ignored, and made fun of. The whole Appalachian mountain chain, including the Great Smokey Mountains is the forgotten land. Some of the most beautiful scenery is in this region of the country. So many trees burned, iconic sights in the mountains are not there anymore. Ash, and burned timbers might be all that is left. It's a tragedy and a major loss. A way of life was endangered by that fire. I hope that the Smokey Mountain people retain their charm, and their kind nature. I hope that they rebuild, and rebuild in a better way. One that will move the region forward.
