Edjumakashun

Song Lyrics:
1973-
"Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way.

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun."

2010- "And I was like baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine, mine
Baby, baby, baby, oh
Like baby, baby, baby, no
Like baby, baby, baby, oh
I thought you'd always be mine."

  Movies:
1985- "Back to the Future" is number one in the box office.
2009-2012- More sequels and remakes released than ever before. Films like "Piranha 3DD," "Transformers," and "Battleship" take up space in theaters across the nation.

Books:
1970-1979- The top twenty books of the decade include The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Princess Bride, The Stand, The Exorcist, Interview with the Vampire, Sophie's Choice, and Carrie.
2005- Twilight is the most read book of the year, and tops most of the charts, even though it has plenty of grammatical errors and features a relationship that hints at abuse.

Social:
1990s and before- People wrote letters, went to gatherings, knew their neighbors, and spent a lot of time with others. People knew basic grammar and spelling, and could do simple math in their head with no problem.
2000s- People do most of their socializing online. More than 39% of people say they prefer socializing digitally rather than face to face. It is estimated that 24% of unborn babies have their own FaceBook profile. People type statuses that look like this: "i cant wait 2 go 2 da beach tomarow its gonna b so much fun your gonna b so jelly that u didnt come w/ us!!!!!!!!!!"

Political:
1970s- Most people were able to correctly identify the president, vice president, secretary of state, their congress representative, and knew the majority of issues on the ballots. The majority of voting-age Americans could also explain (even if just basically) how the voting process works, what "veto" means, and what role the electoral college plays in elections.
2012- It was recently found that 34% of Americans of voting age don't know who Joe Biden is (he's the vice president); 60% have no clue who the current secretary of state is (Hillary Rodham Clinton). However, 92% could give the correct answer as to who Angelina Jolie's partner is (Brad Pitt).


1950s-1990s- Education funding and standards higher than ever, and more people are getting educated than the generations before them.
2011- More states cut education and art funding than ever before. Higher education is harder to afford, and student debt for current generations is estimated to last longer than any previous generation; some student loans will take decades to pay off.

 Haha, and they say that cutting funding to education and the arts makes no difference to society! Education is crucial to the future of our world and the betterment of humankind. Arts are very important- through art comes innovation, and through innovation comes new invention and advancement. Education and art both bring better understanding of our world, our roles and purpose, and what the human experience is really like.

It hurts my heart when I hear about more cuts to education and the arts. They are critical to the advancement of our species, what sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom, and yet they're discarded as completely disposable. One of the most disturbing things I came across while doing research for this post was the political section. To learn that so few people have even the basic understanding of politics and who is running our country is disheartening- how can we improve if we don't first understand? How can people expect to make the best decision when they go into the polls if they have no idea who they are voting for or how the issues affect them?

Take your education into your own hands. Learn, study, evolve, explore, and never stop doing so.

Self-education is a powerful thing, and can make a huge difference. I know there is an infinite amount of information out there that I don't know, but I always want to learn. The more I learn, the more I want to learn. One question answered often breds three more unanswered questions. We are the future. What we know and what we do with that knowledge will influence our own wellbeing and the generations that come after us.

We can thrive; just don't let go of learning, passion, and the thirst for self-improvement.

"Tonight we are young, so let's set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun."

Yesterday I spent the entire day in Labor and Delivery, but my nephew still has not yet made his grand appearance into the world.  He'll be here soon, though, and I can't wait to meet him!  I'm so excited because I'm also expecting a niece this month, too!  She should be here within a week, and I am incredibly anxious to meet her, too!  It'll bring the count up to five nieces and two nephews, and I love being an aunt.  <3

Yesterday, Davy Jones died.  I was saddened, but pleasantly surprised that so many people my age knew who he was.  But while sitting in L&D and hearing about Jones's passing, it got me thinking about the circle of life (cue Lion King theme, please).

 Go ahead, turn your volume all the way up because I KNOW you're going to sing along.

Anyway, now that we've watched that video, back on topic...  No matter what happens, life goes on.  We are born, get older, we grow, we change, we experience, and eventually, our time runs out.  There's a Garth Brooks song with some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.  It goes:

"There's two dates in time that they'll carve on your stone

And everyone knows what they mean,

But what's more important is the time that is known

As that little dash there in between."

I've said it before, but time goes quickly.  Things happened before we were born, and after we die, things will continue to happen.  The world will go on- we're really just here to visit.  Our job is to make the best of the time we have, to live in each day as though it were a grand adventure, because in truth, life really is the greatest adventure there is.  There's no script, no set outcome, nothing written in stone, no way to predict what will happen.  Life is what you make it: good or bad, blissful or miserable.  I know that when I die, the sun will rise again; laughter will continue, joy will continue, and people will keep growing and experiencing.  My children and grandchildren (if I'm blessed enough to have them) will carry on, as it's supposed to be.

I don't want this post to sound morbid, because it isn't.  Life is a glorious and gorgeous thing, precious in every way, and positively astounding.  We shouldn't live in fear of death, because there are things far worse than death- like an unlived life.

Think about what people wish for when they're on their deathbeds- it's not more money, more things, a better job, or fame; they wish for more time, more memories, more opportunities to tell those in their lives how much they love them.  What are the most valuable things in life?  They're the things that can't be bought or sold, thing that no price tag will ever fit on.  For me, the most beautiful things are the unadulterated sand on the beach coupled with the cool feeling of the frigid waves on my bare feet, sharing a joke with friends, my one-year-old niece's laughter, the smiles on my family's faces, hearing a good song for the first time (or the millionth time), Christmas breakfast where we're all still in our pajamas and enjoying one another's company, playing board games, running around with the dogs, and so many other little thing you'd never be able to put in a store window.  Those are the most amazing things in life, and I know when I'm old and senile and can't remember whether or not I'm wearing underwear, those "little" things are the ones that will shine biggest in my memory and in my heart.

So thanks for reading, but now, I think you should get off the computer for a little bit- go and enjoy something special about life.  Take a deep breath outside and enjoy the fresh air (offer void in the cities of Los Angeles and New York) and take in a little wonder.

Love the song, but I don't know how I feel about the video- is it supposed to be a bar fight or just goofing around?

P.S.- I'm loving how my zombie novel   

is coming out.  I can't wait for everyone 

to be able to read it! I hope you'll like it!