First World Problems and Alabama

March 14, 2015.

I just have to write something on Friday the thirteenth mindful of the "Ides of March" just around the corner, especially since the 15 of March will fall on a Sunday which of course lines up with my day of rest, and I know I have had many days of rest that were not Sundays, but I have indulged myself!
(Please read my blog - which started on January 1 2015, so that you understand where I am coming from).

 After telling my 'Tale' I lost interest in regurgitating the horror of being falsely accused of a crime, while trapped for a full year in the legal system that exists in the United States, but today, it is odd that the most amazing stories in the news continue to come out of Alabama.  Is it possible that others are not hearing what I am paying attention to?  Today, the Alabama Supreme Court struck down Federal law regarding same sex legislation.  Juxtaposed is the Apple CEO who outed himself,  in Alabama.  Apple introduced the Apple time piece this week.  Huntsville, Alabama: a Judge decreed same sex divorce, legally.

In all sincerity I want my blog to be a source of comedy and humour, but since I am living first world problems, as is everyone in the 'first world' - I want to put to rest this stupid viewpoint, summarized in three words.   "First World Problems"
In my opinion, and I speak for no one else, and I do not reflect the opinions of any business or any institution or any person connected to either, what the hell does that mean?  "First World Problems".

It is tough to be in a society where we 'think' about how to make life better.  It is tough to run an economy that is based on 'profit' which easily transforms into greed.  Just try and get union folks to back off from their piece of the pie, and try to get shareholders of public companies to back off from their return on investment, and try to get the bosses to back off from their perks and salaries.  Those are first world problems.  Gay rights and equality for women and visible minorities, those are first world problems.  I am so sick of conversations of real substance that are dismissed with this phrase "First World problems".

What should we be talking about?  First world problems are not third world problems.  Third world problems continue, but please don't dismiss the validity and serious aspects of "First WORLD".  Is it really that horrid to stress over equal pay?  Is it horrible to debate education standards and the value of a University degree?  Is it bad to talk about who can afford an education?  Is that silly? Have the accomplishments of the inventions and progress in the first world not worthy or continual debate?  Is democracy not worth talking about?

So, while I was in Florence Alabama, one night, Greg and I were in our new home, getting to enjoy our new nest, and we were cooking on our new grill and preparing a home cooked meal. (always a challenge).  We had bought an 'infra-red' grill and I had positioned it under a roof on our deck.  The house had two doors off of the kitchen to access the grill which was out on the deck.  Greg was busy, I was busy, and living with the stress of the tracer bracelet,  and fearful that the boogey man would come out and murder us at any given moment, we were on edge about unlocked doors.  I don't want to blame anyone, but somehow.....
One of those doors ended up being locked.  Then, the second door somehow, also ended up locked.   Here we were, locked out of our house, new in the neighbourhood, (of course every one must know about the criminals next door) and we had no hidden key, no cell phone, no back up plan.   I was in my pyjamas,  Greg was wearing shorts and a Ralph Lauren undershirt, ankle jewels in full view -  certainly not our 'Sunday best' outfits!  The only person who had a key to the place was our contractor - but we had no phone and no cell phone, and alas, no keys to the car to use On Star! (or use the car, for that matter).

We were in a panic, and obviously we had to think up a plan.  We looked around the back yard to see if any of our neighbours' lights were on.   I spotted some movement directly next door.  Our only option was for Greg to go next door.  In bare feet, he walked up the street and around the corner and knocked on the neighbour's door.  "Hey, I am your neighbour, I just locked myself out of my house, I don't know anyone, but I saw your light on, can I borrow your car to drive to my contactor's house, since he has a key?"
Can you believe it - Greg immediately got a key to his truck!!!  Greg taxed his memory, barefoot pressed his foot on the gas pedal, and guessed in the dark of night where the contractor drove that one time!  Now that's a plan.  I stood outside peering over the fence.   About a half hour later, the neighbours wandered over to see who I was and how I was.

About an hour later the contractor arrived with a key, thanks to our neighbours who had called his number and left him a message.  Then we all waited to see if Greg would make it back.  He was driving with an electronic monitor on his leg, no ID and barefoot in a borrowed truck, with that indictment out there.   Can you imagine???? Holy SHitters, what could have happened if he had been pulled over by a cop?

Greg did come back, he returned the neighbour's truck, and he asked him, "Why on earth did you give a complete stranger keys to your car?"
"Well", he replied " I don't really know, but I thought your story was too crazy not to believe you".
"Twenty minutes later, after I gave you the keys to the truck, I started to wonder if I would see my truck again, and then I though I should go and meet your wife."

We all laughed.

And that is why I think there are a lot of good people out there, and that is how I learned it is important to believe in the good.