I Write letters...

 I was a teenager. There was no internet or anything like that and in East Texas about the only was to fid out what was going on in the world was to read and buy record albums. Judging from the thrift store bins the 60s and 70s was a golden age for vinyl production and from the the time my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Walker instilled a love for reading and I read more books in her class than everybody except for one girl I've kept my self busy with these things. If you read a lot it's only a short step to write a lot and one of the first things I can remember writing for someone else besides a teacher is a complaint letter. 

It must have been the early 70s. I was regularly buying records and 8 track tapes to play on my little home stereo that had a turn table, a radio and 8 track tape player built in and two external speakers attached by runs of wire to optimum places in my bedroom for maximum effect. I guess I have always had a thing for positioning speakers and I've run wire around the edge of the house, through the trees and attic and nowadays I even use Bluetooth even though I have two 4' high 1980s vintage speakers on standby just in cast there are any system failures. 

Back in the day though when I had that first set of speakers I spotted an ad in a magazine. It was one of those record club offers that used to be popular that if you bought this pair of speakers you could get 6 eight track tapes for free. Sound like a good deal and I don't remember the cost but I had money from yard mowing and no where to go but to my room for records at this time in my life so I ordered. The tapes came in the mail but the speakers never did. I was outraged. I wrote a scathing letter that I wanted my money back. I did not mention anything about the free tapes. Eventually the money came. I don't recall how long it took but as a teen I was basically in my room waiting for something to happen and it was nice when this did. When the the refund came it didn't mention the tapes and I never did either. 

I wrote a letter this week. It was to the Gov. of Texas. I was disappointed in his decision to go against national tradition of flying the U.S. flag half staff in honor of ex President Jimmy Carter Jimmy Carter who passed on Dec. 29, 2024 in favor or flying it full staff to celebrate the inauguration of President Trump. Carter certainty has his critics but he was a man who worked hard to show us how to live a good life and his legacy is favorably viewed in the 20/20 vision of hindsight. Trump takes office as a convicted felon and even after serving one term still has things to prove and seems poised to bring unpredictable chaos which encourages Gov. Abbot and others to jump on the bandwagon to see what might be there for them to scoop up. Here's my letter: 

"I was disappointed in the decision to disregard the traditional half-staff flag to show respect for a great man, Jimmy Carter in favor of celebrating Trump's inauguration. Given your record of support for MAGA policy it seems a very junior high response in emotion to ignore the traditional protocols and show of respect that has made our country great. The office of the governor should be an impeccable demonstration of manners and ceremony to make the people of Texas proud."     

I don't often write our public officials. They have their opinion and I have mine and we are entitled to it that but in this case when something goes against the way we do things in the USA I feel it's time to have our say. I say set the tone for the way to behave and stress what's important from the top down. It's what Mrs. Walker did. It's what Jimmy Carter did. It's what Abbot and Trump should do. 

I have received no response to the letter, not even an automated, thanks for writing.