ECHOES OF THE OPEC OIL EBARGO & MORE

 

The recent hacking of the Colonial Pipeline seemed at first an impossible nightmare, but also an unpleasant déjà vu feeling. I was hacked myself by a ransom virus last decade. I lost 2 books that I was working on, plus photos and other irreplaceable items.  Afterward I got Carbonite to prevent this from happening again.

I can't help but wonder why these huge corporations and companies don't already have such a measure in place, or at least a reasonable facsimile. 

Seeing long lines of cars snaking around corners brought memories of the OPEC Oil Embargo surging back. The year was 1973 and I was 22 years old. Only a couple years before my father purchased a flower shop with an attached wedding chapel. We lived in Stuart but our business was located in West Palm Beach an hour's drive away. We commuted back and forth.

Also we had delivery trucks that constantly needed refueling. Fortunately the man who owned the gas station across the street assured us we would always have gas even if others didn't because we were his bread & butter.

Then came talk of rationing, thankfully the embargo ended before it came to that.

However during the Covid pandemic & lockdown paper products should have been rationed!!!  For months it was downright impossible to buy Kleenex or paper towels, much less tissue paper.

As to the recent oil shortage, it really shouldn't have been a problem here in Florida, only a small percentage was derived from that particular pipeline. However our fool, Trump turd of a governor created a shortage and hording by declaring a state of emergency where there was none!

My father had always told me never to allow the gas tank to fall below 50 per cent. The week before the Colonial hacking was announced I was out grocery shopping. I knew I needed to fill up my tank; however I got a late start that day and was eager to return home. I told myself I'd take care of it when I was out the following week. Later I could have kicked myself for waiting!

Upon seeing the long lines at every station I kept driving. Instead, I bought enough groceries to last for several weeks to wait it out. Nothing I haven't done before thanks to the pandemic. I'd save my half tank of gas for emergencies.

I am grateful that I wasn't as inconvenienced as many others. I think of all the people who had urgent places to be with important business to attend who were stuck in that situation.

A snowbird couple, friends of mine was forced to spend 2020 in Florida year round due to the pandemic. By May they were eager to return home. However the trumped-up oil shortage here in Florida derailed that several weeks.

At least that issue is now over.

And there's more good news, I am fully vaccinated at last! Although it feels as if everything is changed. Life seems to have undergone a mutation and is almost unrecognizable in so many different ways now. Was there ever a time when life was normal, I wonder? Then I recall what someone told me in therapy, "Normal is just a setting on your dryer."

REMEMBERING A REMARKABLE WOMAN

 

This week Irene Bates Dunjohn would have turned 96 years old. Sadly, she passed earlier this year. Her ashes will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery later.

Born in London, England her life started out rocky. Shortly after birth Irene's father abandoned both her and her mother. Fortunately Irene's mom was a strong woman who cherished her and filled the void.

As a child Irene developed rheumatic fever. She endured seven hospital stays and five convalescent homes. It was inside a convalescent home that she listened to the abdication speech of King Edward VIII on the radio.

During World War II all London schools were closed due to the frequent air raids. At age 15 Irene went to work for a machinist company. Her nights at that time were spent in a corrugated iron air raid shelter inside a garden.

The house where Irene grew up took a direct hit from a German bomb and was razed to the ground.

At age 17 Irene was drafted into the army. By this time she had worked several jobs and was quite well rounded. Irene served in the Air Ministry at Whitewall. One of her military duties consisted of spotting fires from incendiary bombs as they rained down and rushing to put them out with a stirrup pump.

The Air Ministry office was close to St. James Park where Glen Miller & his band entertained before he went missing over the English Channel.

London during WWII was filled with military men from around the world. Naturally they were attracted to this young beauty with the jet black hair, dark eyes, peaches & cream complexion, and a slim hour glass figure. Irene enjoyed what she called a "Dating Paradise" amidst this dark period.

Later she was promoted to recruiting corporal in the Women's Army. After the war, Irene attended Army College at Welbeck Abby on the edge of Sherwood Forest. Welbeck Abby was also where Mary Queen of Scots was incarcerated.

And it was there Irene met the handsome Kenneth Dunjohn. The romance ended, but embers remained. He became her second husband 60 years later.

Early in the 1950's Irene visited New York City and fell in love with it. She immigrated and thrived there! Although Irene was pursued by many eager suitors she didn't marry until age 39. Air force pilot Glenn Bates, a man often mistaken for Bing Crosby by autograph seekers wooed and won her. Irene & Glenn were blissfully married for 30 years until his sudden death in 1993.

After Glen's death, Irene became a successful Realtor. During this period she met a plethora of celebrities in search of a new home; politicians, actors, authors, and the recently rich thanks to the internet.

Upon retirement Irene chose Florida and Vero Beach. This is where I met her! Here, she remained active and flourished.

A miracle of the internet reunited Irene with her long ago love, Kenneth Dunjohn. She recognized a photo he posted, one as a young man interviewing Winston Churchill. Immediately she sent off an email. In 2011, they married and Irene moved back to England.

2015 Kenneth died of a heart attack. Though heartbroken, Irene was grateful for the brief time they shared together.

After Kenneth's death, Irene moved back to Vero Beach and resumed her amazing life here.

It should be mentioned that in addition to her many talents Irene possessed a beautiful singing voice and played the piano. She sang onstage with the George Mason University Choral Society at Carnegie Hall sharing the bill with Ella Fitzgerald and Marvin Hamlisch; and performed at the Kennedy Center, plus the National Press Club, and on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.

Irene, along with the Choral Society was invited to tea at the White House and personally met President Nixon and the First Lady, Pat.

Shortly before her death, Irene wrote her memoir for friends only, unavailable to the public; a shame. Everyone would enjoy this book! Irene's life story would also make a marvelous movie! I am so sick of superhero silliness; it would be refreshing to watch a film about a real person who led an extraordinary and interesting life!

Sadly Irene is gone, but she will be remembered and missed. Irene was a self-made woman of class and culture who elevated the lives of everyone around her.

THE ROBE

 

Its fabric is plush and the color a majestic royal blue. It feels as if being embraced by a benevolent spirit sheltering me with its warmth. For nearly 40 years it brought me comfort on those rare chilly Florida days and nights.

Unfortunately last winter its age was beginning to show badly, many times I had been forced to grab a needle & thread to repair seams & hems. My once beautiful garment after many years was looking ratty. -- However it still felt as wonderful against my flesh as ever!

In the back of my bedroom closet is a brand new pink one. It's been hanging there unused for several years now. I just couldn't bring myself to part with the old one! We have been thru so much together; my old life, my new one, and now my current one. I just couldn't let go!

They say a possession can't love you back, but my robe didn't need to, it gave me such glorious comfort.

The turning point came early in spring during a cool front. A neighbor showed up at my door uninvited. Suddenly I was embarrassed standing there garbed like a beggar.

As soon as the weather warmed, with much regret I rolled up my faithful old robe and threw it in the garbage bin.

However the day before garbage pick-up the temperature turned chilly again. I hurried out to the bin and retrieved my robe. It smelled of rotting fruit & vegetables, so I threw it in the wash. When I pulled it from the dryer it still felt just as heavenly as ever.

I've decided to wait until June before performing the dreaded disposal. Then, I'll have all summer and fall to prepare myself for the pink one hanging in my closet.

Parting will be difficult; not only will I be disposing of an article of clothing, but memories. Yes, some recalling miserable times, but also my triumphs and victories as well. But I will be making new memories swathed in pink. I must remember that!

HALF VACCINATED & IN LIMBO

 

I won't be fully vaccinated until the end of this month. I read that I must wait 2 weeks after that to be fully safe. As a senior I'm in the high risk category and a hospital stay would ruin me financially. So I'm going that extra mile and doing everything possible to stay Covid free.

 I enjoy my home, but I must admit the lack of diversion is starting to get to me.

Most of my friends have either died (not from Covid) or scattered. My entire social life is now limited to Facebook which I've come to enjoy despite less than positive experiences with some people, to put it mildly.

Even if I was able to get out, movie theatres remain closed and many restaurants I love have gone out of business. The ones that haven't now have shortened menus and higher prices due to diminished capacity.

I wish that when life regains some semblance of normalcy I could afford an exotic vacation somewhere. Unfortunately my dentist and the eye clinic have used up nearly all of my disposable income. 

It seems the price of everything has gone up since the pandemic. And the malls are all dying.

I can't fathom why shopping online is all that! For one thing, it's a lot more expensive! In addition to the price of the item & tax, you must pay postage & handling which in many cases adds at least another $10 plus there's a replacement fee should the item go missing in transit. And if the item turns out to be a disappointment you're forced to pay the return postage & insurance.  Plus some online places charge a restocking fee. -- Gadzooks! I'll take a brick and mortar store any day!

The poison cherry on top was when I was forced to give up my Starz/Showtime package again due to a sudden $60 increase to my bill. Just 2 months before I was told by a lady that my price was good for another year!!! But then I was informed by ATT that my special promotion had ended already!!!  GRRRR!

I can't stream because I'm told it's done thru the computer. Mine is old and I keep losing my connection. I'm currently not in a good position to buy a new one.

So I'm going back to renting DVDs from Redbox and recording commercial free films off TCM. The latter serves up little known gems like Native Son in addition to some over-rated turkeys.

Recently I wasted 2 hours of my life watching The Pumpkin Eater! This was a 3 star movie released in 1964 plus Anne Bancroft won an award for her performance as the wealthy, long suffering, mentally deranged wife & mother. It was one of the most boring, depressing, pointless pictures I have ever seen!  -- And that's the LAST thing I need right now!

I keep telling myself that I have no right to gripe since so many are worse off. And when I recall my life 30 years ago and everything that was going on then, (even with all the above) my life should feel like paradise now!