Goodbye Jimmy - You are Part of Us All Now

    My first memory of a presidential election. Almost half a century ago. He versus Gerald Ford, the peanut versus the football. I liked the football more, but the peanut won in my kindergarten. And he won nationwide. He chose the vice president from Minnesota, Walter Mondale, who would go on to lose more for the Democrats. The powerful Reagan from the West was on the way. I did not know that as a half day attendee at my brick elementary school, built before the Great Depression.

    I learned of Jimmy in the 1970s. He was a one term president, which precipitated the 1980s. A time I would grow, as the nation did as well.

    His services are running in Atlanta as I write this. Panning to the soon to leave one-term Joe Biden and his wife. The politics of our nation go on in rather stable circles.

    Georgia elected their guy. A man of faith, and heart. He hit a hard time in our nation. And, he admitted to cheating in his heart. "Why not the best", an IU professor had me read. It was communications, or political science. I was a returned missionary. I had lived out some of my dream.

    Jimmy's dreams, as a democrat was to help the help the people, help the disadvantaged.

    He served in the Navy, was a high ranking cadet in his class. His words and life challenged a few of us.

    He was evangelical, had a southern accent. A pleasant wife and a cute little daughter. She had at least one son; his grandson spoke of his grandfather's life and museum.

    This is America. Peaceful transitions of power, it is okay to lose. Even if you win a second term, as many have, we still move on and let the power pass along.

    This has been Jimmy Carter, number 39.

    Caught in the times of the late 70s malaise, he was a product of the oil crunches and the Irani Revolution. Hostages and failed Chinooks, looking for the next big wind of hope. Ronald was waiting in the wings, making America great again before there was an ubiquitous Donald Trump. Politics was cleaning up from the Vietnam War and a paranoid Tricky Dick. Jimmy ended the 70s with a whimper, especially pulling us out of the Moscow Games as the Soviets marched through Afghanistan.

    There were reasons we did not like him. He set up the Great Communicator. A bookend, if you will. As was Ford.

    What else happened at his helm? Begin and Sadat shook hands, we negotiated treaties with missiles...

    I provoked a young man, named Joe Carter in the hallway by ourselves. Too flippant with his name. He shoved me, I demurred. I was only poking fun. Not funny to him. Got it. I was not born to be a rough and tumbler. I like to make some jokes time and again. Having fun, kidding. But for this Joe Carter, his mother, or his last name was no laughing matter. 

    Fine. Lessons learned.

    Like my freshman year at Indiana University, reading about James Carter at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Why not the Best? Lessons trying to be learned.

    He lived a long, good life. He was a part of our national story, a good part, ever the peacemaker. The Soviets did not come to Los Angeles in 1984. Maybe they will in 2028, or 2032, or whenever they come next. The Russians are coming?

    Maybe the Ukraine War will simmer down by then. Dead of winter in Ukraine and Russia. They are not letting up.

    Maybe Israel and Palestine can have some peace by then. Maybe never. 

    President Carter tried really hard, but the Islamic extremists would not abide by their man Anwar who would settle with the Israelis. 

    Jimmy Carter, man of peace, of much success, of much heart.

    Man of faith. He admitted he committed adultery in his heart. Whoops.

    Quite a Christian, quite an example. Number 39.

    Brought us to where we are today, part of the ongoing cycle. 

    Thank you, Brother Jimmy.

    Oh, yeah! And the buffoon brother and Billy Beer!

    Country bumpkins.

    Ain't that America?

    Best wishes. God loves a good, wholesome American president.