JIMMY CARTER (October 1, 1924 – December 29, 2024)

"The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens."

"I’ve never won an argument with her; and the only times I thought I had I found out the argument wasn’t over yet."

"I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. I’m free to choose that something … my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can."

"The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices," said Jimmy Carter, upon accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

"I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over. The test of a government is not how popular it is with the powerful and privileged few, but how honestly and fairly it deals with the many who must depend upon it."

President Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a National Day of Mourning for former President Carter. He will receive a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral. Prior to that day, he will lie in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta on January 4-5. He will lie in state in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. President Biden has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, in accordance with federal law. The former president will be interred at his home in Plains, Georgia. 

Eulogies will be delivered by President Biden; Jason Carter, Carter's grandson and a family spokesperson; Steven Ford, on behalf of his father, the late former President Gerald Ford; and Ted Mondale, on behalf of his father, the late former Vice President Walter Mondale.

"Our great nation now teeters on the brink of a widening abyss. Without immediate action, we are at genuine risk of civil conflict and losing our precious democracy. Americans must set aside differences and work together before it is too late."

• Jimmy Carter was the 39th president of the United States (1977-1981).
• He was the first president born in a hospital.
• He chose to take the presidential oath of office using the name "Jimmy" rather than James.
• Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter were married for 77 years––longer than any other presidential couple. They had four children.
• President Carter was ahead of his time in planning to use solar power and installed solar panels on the White House. They were removed during the Reagan administration. 
• He nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the U.S. Court of Appeals.
• He appointed the first Black woman to serve in a presidential cabinet.
• "I believe that Jesus would approve same-sex marriage," Carter told an interviewer in 2015.
• He taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
• As a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, he assisted in dismantling the partially melted core of a nuclear reactor in Canada.
• He and Rosalynn lived simply. After his term in the White House, they returned to their small ranch house in Plains. Their business had accumulated significant debts during his presidency. Carter began writing books to resolve the debt, and wrote more than 30, but resolved not to profit from being a former president.
• He returned control of the Panama Canal to Panama; he pardoned Vietnam war draft dodgers.
• When the Southern Baptist Convention said it wouldn't allow women to become pastors, he ended his membership.
• He had three younger siblings, all of whom died of pancreatic cancer in their 50s or 60s.
• Carter holds the record for the longest presidential retirement; he was the first president to live to age 100.

BOXING DAY LARSON

WE WISH YOU

 

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS LARSONY

 

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

Pardon my absence. I've been exhausted by my work. J (my new, albeit temporary, supervisor) said, There's no such thing as a slow season anymore. A little more than a year ago the company fired 2,000 employees, many of whom had worked there 20 years or more. A lot of people found other jobs after learning we have no job security, or they were fed up for other reasons. The loss of so many worker bees keeps the rest of us hopping, even though we're seated at desks. 

At my advanced age, I don't want to apply for another job. Perhaps I'm less likely to be fired because I'm fairly cheap labor. I didn't get a raise this year. The late B gave me a negative job review, and I did not move up to a higher classification. But I keep toiling away, keeping the girls in kibble and myself in healthcare benefits and a 401K.

I went through a rough patch recently, shedding a lot of tears when I learned Sweet Cheeks, the man whose bottom graced my blog in the past, has cancer. I offered to take him to appointments and care for him in any way necessary, including inviting him to recuperate in my home following surgery. It was hard for me to accept when he turned down my offer, and even harder to accept that he's so ill. We were together for about 10 years. I loved him, and I still care for him. 

I miss my kids a lot at this time of year. We used to have such fun during the holidays. A lot of parents hated it when their kids were out of school. I loved it. I loved every holiday that closed the schools. Snow days in Maryland were the best!

But I'm dealing with all those feelings. I'm okay now. Maureen took me out to lunch recently, and Rebekah took me out for Taco Tuesday on Saturday night. Both meals were fun treats and time spent with beloved friends.

Princess and I have gone for some great walks to see decorations in the neighborhood.

I hope I don't worry the people who live here when I stop to 
admire their house. The landscaping is pretty. Nutcrackers
stand guard at the door. Through the window I can see their
beautiful Christmas tree, along with the wonderfully kitschy
leg lamp from A Christmas Story.

I hope this Godzilla reindeer doesn't attack
the neighborhood. He's a bit much.

I've done some decorating of my own. I began with the mantel.

Princess has stayed cozy in her hoodie that says Mama's Little Bear.

Penelope's red sweater keeps her warm while she naps.

I'll work every day this week except Wednesday. My hours on Tuesday will be different so I'm done earlier. My Christmas plans are the same as my Thanksgiving plans. I don't want to talk to anyone except the dogs. I hope Princess and I will be able to take a long walk.

Some years it's uncomfortably warm as Christmas approaches, but this year it's chilly  enough that I might be able to have a fire in the fireplace on Wednesday, so I need to bring in some wood. I'm reading Cher's memoir. I can curl up in a recliner to read for hours. 

I hope you can relax and enjoy the holiday. 

Infinities of love,

Janie Junebug

OUCH!

 Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,

I hurt my back again yesterday (Sunday). It happened the same way as the last time. I lift something a little bit heavy. A few minutes later I bend down to pick up something on the ground. My lower back says, Oh, no you don't!

So now I'm in pain and not doing much of anything. 

I decorated the living room, especially the mantel. I only put up one tree this year. It's in the dining room so I can see it from my desk while I'm working. It has lights on it and a few ornaments. I don't know if placing more ornaments will proceed. My back is in charge. 

I've already decided I'm not baking cookies this year. I don't feel up to it. I usually fill cute bags with cookies to give to my team, the IT guys (I love them), and the security guards. This year we are on J's team. I can't possibly make enough cookies to fill bags for 13 people, plus the 2 IT guys, plus the 2 security guards. So rather than wear myself out, I'm just not doing it. I have some little bags of Cheryl's cookies to share.

People will probably like Cheryl's better anyway. I don't think my homemade things are as popular as they used to be when we lived in Maryland. I've spent hours embroidering quilts for babies or decorative lap quilts for adults. People used to say, This is beautiful! This is amazing! Now they don't know what I'm giving to them and act as if it's a burden. Things have sure changed.

At least the dogs like everything I give to them.

Pardon me. I'll go now. I feel pretty whiny and unloved today.

Maybe some love,

Janie Junebug

ROYAL CHINWAG: SAW FRITZ ATE TURKEY PLAYED WITH PENNY HAD FUN RUN RUN RUN

 It's meeeeeee priiiiiinceeeesssss meeeeeeeeee priiiiinceeessssss

me princess   auntie rebekuh brought fritz and thanksgiving food kiss auntie rebekuh face every time she bent down

kiss fritz all over   play with him   took him outside 3 times with penny i poop in yard fritz smells my poop funny stinky stinky stinky  fritz sniffs my butt tickles

ate some turkey clean mommy plate after she ate bitsaturkeysmashedtatoesgreenbeansyumyumyum delicious 

snuggled fritz 

i am princess i roar when i bark i am big i patrol house and yard and garage sniff sniff sniff with my nose look for mr rat will kill him if he comes back

i know where auntie maureen lives right across road with cars must look for cars if auntie maureen needs me she must say help princess and i will run run run to help her and will roar because i am princeeeesssss princess do not go out door alone must wear leash hurry mommy if auntie maureen needs me

run in yard with penny fastfastfast it's chilly no more hot feel good chilly run fasterest when chilly zoom zoom zoom penny arthuritis don't hurt no limp zoom zoom zoom

run in and out in and out in and out fun fun fun feel good sooooo goooood

gottagogottagogottago got lots to do will patrol kitchen maybe findapieceaturkeyyumyumyum

LATERGATER me princeessssssss kiss you