1. I am tired of the question, "Will you still wear a mask?" on social media. How is this anyone's business and what difference does it make? Do what you need to do to be safe. If that means leaving a store because you're uncomfortable with or without masks, just leave. Why must people fuss over a piece of cloth?
2. While social media is much quieter with the former guy off of it, I find that I am moving further away from it anyway. I have nothing I want to say there. I will say it here, where it isn't in your face unless you've come here to read my words. Many people on social media are simply rude, crude, and abusive. I don't need that in my life.
3. Yesterday, my doctor informed me that I am retired. I kind of knew that, but the confirmation was nice. I didn't retire on my terms. I retired on my body's terms, when it said, "I'm done."
4. Someone I know recently had gastric sleeve surgery. I'm not quite sure what that is, except it is to force you to lose weight by making your stomach small so you can't eat. This person is now on a "500 calories a day" liquid diet. So of course the weight will fall off. I would never consider doing this to myself and people I do know who've taken this action have all eventually gained the weight back. However, I wish this person much luck and success in this endeavor.
5. I wonder if it wouldn't have been easier to simply go on a liquid diet of 1000 calories a day. I know dieting is hard, but if it's fast weight loss I'm after, then I'd give that a go before I'd let some doctor cut me open again. But that's just me.
6. Let's bring back the word "nice." As in, be nice to your neighbor, your friend, your lover, your spouse, your cousin. Let's be nice to one another because we're all fighting some battle, unknown to others, and we all need a certain amount of love and kindness. If all it ever says on my tombstone is, "She was nice," I think I will consider that a win.
7. Some call that political correctness. I call it being mannerly and polite. Nice people are mannerly and polite. They have empathy and offer sympathy. Why is that so bad?
8. I am more than a little appalled that a certain segment of the population does not believe January 6, 2021, was an insurrection. Or that it shouldn't be investigated thoroughly. How does one distort reality to that extent?
9. This pandemic has changed me. It has made me more introverted and less tolerant in some ways, and more tolerant in others. I am ok with being home. I don't need trips inside stores. I know I will never see the Egyptian pyramids. But I can read about them.
10. If more people would simply mind their own business, and leave others to do what they will so long as what they're doing doesn't harm anyone, what kind of world would this be?
11. Yesterday, I was told I am tough. I don't feel tough. Do you feel tough?
12. I have a friend who in an unreliable narrator. I find this disconcerting. I don't like books with unreliable narrators. I like this person but I am cautious around them.
13. New journeys are on the horizon for many folks as the times are a-changin'. Some of them aren't going to like the trip. Others will embrace it. Which will I do, I wonder?
*This is my 707th TT, but it doesn't feel like a jet engine. More like a tired jalopy!
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 707th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.