Let today be over SOON!

Today is the election I am overseeing.

Without calling out the organization by name- if you know me you can figure it out- I am NOT looking forward to doing this.

The governing body made some decisions that, although they were their right and I have no idea of the backstory, were badly executed and WILDLY unpopular.  If they had handled the announcement  of the decision properly we would probably NOT be in this mess.   Maybe not, as I think some disgruntled then-employees were adding fuel to the fire for their own perceived gain.

In any case, part of the fallout dragged an organization we are affiliated with into the mix.  THEY insisted ( based on what MUST have been horrific stories of malfeasance) that we relocate the election to a neutral site and that they would observe.

Here is why I am so salty about it:

• The ballot counting is always held in an open forum and anyone may observe
• The ballots are counted by a third party organization and are NEVER interacted with by either  the Committee or the employees
• NONE of the people who are claiming that without all of this we can't hold a "fair and clean election" have ever BOTHERED to show up at the counting.
• I am upset that they would insinuate that my Committee is not strong and independent enough to withstand any pressure from the governing body or the employees ( who BTW all work for the members)
• Now, instead of counting in a place more central to our membership, we have to schlep about a half an hour OUTSIDE City limits just to make someone feel better.

Whatever.

The accusation makes me rethink my commitment to this organization.  Frankly, my time as a member IS winding down and maybe they just need new blood all the way around.  I will think about my committee commitments ( I have several) and the overall work that I do in support of this organization.

I am NOT political in the sense that I want one person or another to run THIS organization.  I just want what is best for it.  It has been through worse and maybe SOME clarifications of policy will be made as a result of all of this.  At this moment however, I am tired to my bones.  I have NOT been sleeping or eating and this has caused a serious flare in my PH.  Last night, I had chest pains that made me wonder if I should skip our anniversary celebration dinner and go straight to emergency.  I didn't want to pay $100 to have them tell me it wasn't a heart attack.  I know it wasn't because it's the same pain as  the LAST two times I wound up in emergency.  UGH.  Still I am looking forward the THIS chapter in the book of this organization to be OVER.  To continue the metaphor, tomorrow is a blank page and I will see what I will write as my final portion of the tale.

Birth and death and things in between.

My second grandson, Mason Edward, arrived earlier than expected.  Mommy and baby are doing fine and the family dynamic is changing to include the new little guy.

Over the past several months I have been to several "memorial services" or "celebrations of life"  The most recent was yesterday, a former co-worker,  Kathryn Carr who was almost 100 ( she was NOT as some claimed 101, having been born in 1920 and even THIS English major could do the math.)

Funerals and such ceremonies are for the living.  I have been to these services where it was apparent that the officiant did not know or care to know anything about the person that was being laid to rest.  They were just out trying to get people to join their congregation.

Yesterday's service was nice, some funny recollections of  Mrs Carr ( strangely no mention EVER of a MR. Carr)   and it was good to sit among old friends and catch up and reminisce.

So often we gather together at these things and say "we must get together" and often we try but never do.  Some of these folks I keep up with on Facebook, and I hope to have a long lunch with one of the retirees and will make an effort to do so.

Sometimes the ritual can be comforting.  I don't know if I came away with anything in particular.   I did find this coincidence interesting:

One of the passages read was the one from Ecclesiastes 3 ( to everything there is a season)  On the way HOME  I heard the Byrds song based on those verses.

Was God trying to hammer home something?

I am currently going through a difficult time with an organization I have been involved with.  A group of people , either accidentally or intentionally, have made accusations that  I feel have besmirched my character and impugned my good name.  I say accidentally, because it IS possible that in their desire to take control, they did not think of the implications of the implied accusation of wrongdoing on the part of a committee I chair.  I am upset, to say the least.  I try to be as honest as I possible can be and that may be my undoing. 

So I wonder and will talk to someone I trust, it it time for THIS season to end or is there still work I have promised that must be done.  In any case, my heart is heavy.