By: Tony W.

With Halloween only a week past and Thanksgiving fast approaching I thought I’d take a moment of your time to talk about real horror and thankfulness. Like many people I celebrate Halloween the entire month of October by reading and watching all forms of the horror genre. However, a few books, movies and critiques got me thinking beyond the genre. How is horror reflected in our daily lives? The environment, the disparities – food, housing, medicine, etc., along with the justices – racial, social, gender. I’m leaving a great deal off, but you get the gist of what I’m saying. Tomorrow is election day and more than likely because of gerrymandering and other factors the party that cares the least about democracy and the people of this country will win.  I have no quick fix answers or suggestions, it took years to dig this hole and it will take even longer to crawl out of it. The world has been a depressing cesspool – possibly always.

BUT

The horrors we face are not new, more of us are just paying attention. 

As for the thankful part. 

The past has shown us that no matter how dire the state of the world there is and will always be joy to be had. Why? How? Because joy comes from a place within us. It is the delight we feel when . . . fill in the blank. For me I could say, when I watch a giant panda video, or I see a happy human baby, a baby animal, a sunrise or sunset, spending time with family or friends, even laughing with coworkers. During the darkest periods of history humans found a reason to be joyful, to give thanks. I choose to give thanks and find joy where I can while in the mist of this nightmarish horror story that is the state of this country. That’s my choice. I’m confident that during a zombie apocalypse I would find something to laugh at and make fun of. 

It’s all shit but we keep going, truthfully, we have no choice, as the sun rises and sets no matter what’s happening.