Carole Simpson

Gimme My Shot!

Feb 19, 2021 | Coronavirus, Health, Something. To. Say. | 0 comments

Gimme My Shot!

Hello everybody:

I have something to say about shots.

In the great musical, “Hamilton,” Alexander sings during the Revolution that he wants to have his shot. I’ve been singing about shots, too. My reason, not so bold. I just want a Covid-19 shot. Gimme my shot.

It took a few frustrating days of going to websites and making telephone calls, before I finally got an appointment at a local hospital.Look at me leaning away from the nurse’s imposing needle, but there was nothing to it. Scarcely felt a thing.

Afterwards I had to go to the waiting room for 15 minutes to make sure I didn’t have a bad reaction. So, I’m sitting there and I look around and I see all of these old people, really old people. And then It came to me, these people are my contemporaries, the over 75’s. I had just never appreciated until then how really old I must look.

But I have a question. Why are the states making it so hard for people to get Covid vaccinations, especially old people? They are short of vaccine and  have haphazard programs. The least they can do is get it together… and give us our shots.

Reflections on Becoming 80

Dec 6, 2020 | Health, Something. To. Say. | 0 comments

Reflections on Becoming 80

Hello Everybody:

    I never expected to live this long. I thought I would die in my 50’s.  All because, when I was 9-years-old my friend looked at my palm and said, “Oh, no. You have a short lifeline. You’re going to die young.”

   But the years kept passing. And here I am, 80 years old on Pearl Harbor Day. I don’t feel 80 and I sure work hard not to look 80.

    I asked my two grandsons, one 15, the other 13, what came to their minds when they thought of an 80-year-old. They both said, independently, that they thought of an old guy with gray hair, wearing glasses and hearing aids, and walking with a limp, hunched over on a cane.

     “Whoa, fellas, I’m 80.” They said I was different. I didn’t look or act like I was that old. ( Teaching moment.) “Right. Not everyone fits the stereotype. So, don’t just dismiss 80-year-olds as pretty much useless.”

      How did I live this long? I suppose genetics played a part.  But I believe it’s because of love. I married the love of my life. I did the work that I loved doing for fifty years. I had two loving children who made me proud.  And I love having a faith.

      I have also tried to do good and be a role model for young minority women and men. I enjoyed the company of good friends and family. I stay active—not exercising—but traveling, reading, and trying to keep my mind sharp by learning new things. Don’t get me wrong, I have my share of aches and pains, but I have been blessed.

      Now that I’m in the twilight of my life, I won’t be waiting around for dementia, debilitation and death. No, I’m going to keep on keeping on as long as I am able. And for any of you fearing old age, listen to this wise old woman:  what will be, will be…but like me, try to make the best of it…anyway you can.

Happy 80th birthday, Carole.

Too Many Dead Americans

Nov 21, 2020 | Coronavirus, Health, Something. To. Say. | 0 comments

Too Many Dead Americans

Hello Everybody:

I have something to say about the more than a quarter of a million Americans who have died after contracting Covid-19. Just think of that. More than 250-thousand people, who were alive in February, are dead and gone in November. Not only lives, but families and dreams and careers, destroyed.

This virus is no respecter of person or status.  It is an equal opportunity killer. Across the whole of the United States the virus has spread its deadly tentacles. The young and old, rich and poor, black and white, urban and rural, have all succumbed to the disease that literally steals your breath away until you die.

What has been the national response? Nothing. Trump hasn’t talked about the dead Americans, nor comforted their survivors. There’s been no flags flying at half-staff. No National Prayer Breakfast.  No day of remembrance. What are we waiting for? Half a million dead?

These folks were our fellow citizens. They were people like you and me. They were victims. They should be mourned by all of us. And most important, all of us should do everything we can to kill the virus and end the dying.

Until next time.

The Quarantine 15

Jul 25, 2020 | Coronavirus, Health, Something. To. Say.

The Quarantine 15

Hello Everybody. I have something to say about the Quarantine 15.

Have you stepped on the scale lately? I bet in the past four months you’ve been eating stuff you swore off years ago.

Like the so-called Freshman 15 pounds you gain in college, people are putting on the Quarantine 15.  Researchers say that a lot of Americans have packed on from 8 to 15 pounds while we’ve been shut in. I’ll own up to it. I’ve gained 8 pounds. Shameful.

Why the junk food eating? We’re stressed out, worried and frightened about Covid-19, and so we turn to comfort food to relieve the tension. Specifically, we want food that is sweet, salty, fatty and chocolate. The four new food groups for a pandemic. Oh yes, and then there’s the alcohol.

Sales have skyrocketed for pizza, hot dogs, fried chicken, snack foods and…Tequila.

Americans don’t need to get more overweight than we are. So, when those coronavirus curves start flattening out, we need to make our curves flatten out, too.

See you next time.

Americans Unmasked, Americans Die

Jun 29, 2020 | Bad Behavior, Coronavirus, Dumb Americans, Health, Something. To. Say.

Americans Unmasked, Americans Die

Hello everybody. I have something to say about the masking of America.

I watched the most recent news coverage of the pandemic. And that virus is just going crazy right now, especially in the south and southeast. Half the states are seeing big spikes in infections and hospitalizations.

Medical scientists all say the best way to control the virus is for everybody to wear masks. But everybody is not. I have my own unofficial reporters throughout the country, and they say a lot of people aren’t wearing them. And you know we haven’t seen President Trump and Vice President Pence covering their faces. Why not? Is it some kind of machismo? They’re so strong and manly they don’t need masks? Give me a break.

They say we’re in for a rough six months. Where is the leadership? If the universal wearing of a mask can help control coronavirus, shouldn’t the president be promoting the practice every chance he can. Maybe there should be a fine of at least $100 for people caught in public spaces without a mask. We have to wear seatbelts.

I know, the face coverings are ugly, uncomfortable and hot. But that’s gotta be better than getting sick or dying.  Let’s beat this virus. Come on America. Mask up.

Until next time.

The Pandemic Makes Some People Act Crazy

May 29, 2020 | Coronavirus, Dumb Americans, Health, Something. To. Say.

The Pandemic Makes Some People Act Crazy

Hello Everybody:

I have something to say about the pandemic’s effect on many Americans.

I’m in my third month of isolation and I’ve been doing okay. I watch way too much news but that’s the business I was in. So, I feel stressed out and anxious, because nobody knows what’s going to happen, or what the new normal will be. I don’t think I’m going to like it.

But Memorial Day Weekend sent me into a tailspin. I was so angry. Did you watch the news? Who were all those people who went to crowded bars, who huddled up together on beaches and touched each other’s bodies everywhere at parties? No masks. No social distance. What were they thinking?

More than 100-thousand dead Americans since February.  40 million Americans out of work. And here we had these lunatics throwing caution to the wind, as one woman said on camera, “Cuz, I gotta get my party on.” Well, party on, idiot. You and all the other idiots, willing to endanger themselves and the rest of us. I have to say they looked like 20 and 30-somethings.

How are we ever going to control Covid-19, if younger people ignore the restrictions and requirements? They’re crazy, just like Donald Trump, who does the same thing.

I thought the pandemic would make Americans band together and fight with all our might to destroy this killer. But no, we have too many people, who think they have a constitutional right to be stupid.

Until next time.

The Pandemic Is Setting Us Back

Apr 18, 2020 | Coronavirus, Health, Something. To. Say.

The Pandemic Is Setting Us Back

Hello Everybody:

I have something to say about the coronavirus quarantine.

Over the past five weeks, I’ve had plenty of time to wallow in the daily statistics of sickness and death. That got to be too much.  Instead I decided to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive. What good could COVID-19 have on America? I struggled. And struggled. It’s killing too many people before their time; it’s straining our health care system; it’s imposing impossible demands on doctors, nurses, health workers and first responders; it’s wrecked the economy leaving millions with no jobs and no income. And we don’t have as much fun.

I was looking for something positive.  Maybe there will be new technology and new medicines, but that will take awhile.  And then I thought maybe going through this horrible ordeal will bring our country together, brother to brother and sister to sister, a new happy family.  But then I realized who’s president. He’s divisive.  And folks, divided we will fall.

See you next time.

Can The Coronavirus Be Funny?

Mar 27, 2020 | Health, Mental Health, Something. To. Say.

Can The Coronavirus Be Funny?

Hello Everybody. I have something to say about the amazing capacity of Americans to find humor in the face of adversity. I ‘m in the third week of my self-imposed quarantine from the coronavirus. I have been feeling depressed and isolated. But recently, I happened upon some You Tube videos that finally gave me a smile. Take a look:

[Music Medley]

“Don’t let the corona get on ya.” Love that. Go to You Tube to see the entire videos and some I couldn’t include. We deserve a little laughter.

See you next time.