How do you measure success?
Some of us measure it by our bank balance. Others, by the amount of expensive items such as jewelry, paintings, collectables, and cars that we own.
Then there are those who will tell you about the size and location of their homes, paintings on the walls and collectables. And success is often measured by the love and respect one receives from his family and community.
Me?
I measure it by all of the above plus something I like to call “lifestyle.”
To me, lifestyle includes the seats to entertainment venues, wonderful restaurants and, of course, vacations.
Regular readers of this column know that my roommate and I have taken many journeys and cruises. We have been all over numerous parts of the world and have sailed on 105 cruises. (Yes! I said “105”). Even though there were cruisers aboard who have sailed on twice that many, the captain of our last ship was very impressed with my total. When I told him that I met someone aboard with at least three times that amount, he asked me a one word question. “Who?”
I responded with “You!” He was still laughing when I ran into him that evening.
• • •
Including the many ports of call plus the numerous flights to America’s southern neighbor, Carol and I have visited Mexico at least 30 or 40 times. But never again.
When we travel to any country and spend five bucks there we will have added five bucks to its economy. Mexicans and the Mexican government are not good neighbors and they will never again see five dollars of mine. We seemed to always know about the illegals crossing into the United States. We always knew about anchor babies. We know about the illegal sneaky coyotes who are paid to escort Mexicans across our borders. A corrupt government? Yes! Google how many Americans are kidnapped in Mexico and the authorities there seem to do very little about all of our complaints.
Sargent Tahmooressi was the last straw. An accidental wrong turn with a gun in his car landed the marine in a Mexican prison where he was held and treated poorly for seven months. I won’t waste your time with explanations. You can Google the name “Tahmooressi” yourself and learn all of the disgusting details. Put the facts together and you will understand why Mexico is off my travel list.
And now we are supposed to be impressed with the recent statements by the current president of Mexico, the former president of Mexico, and many of the current Mexican elected officials who are attempting to influence Americans to not vote for Donald Trump.
After hearing what The Donald had to say about Mexico, even if only half of it becomes true, President Trump will be applying a great big hurt to our southern neighbors. It is no wonder they do not want him in the Oval Office, and the more they shout, the more I’m a listenin’.
They are doing a pretty good job of influencing me to change my vote. At this very moment I am considering a change of mind and I just might be voting for Trump. I am StanG
