2006-The Death of James Brown

Quite an interesting end to 2006. Former President Gerald Ford dies and rates two minutes on local television. Saddam Hussein was hanged for some of the atrocious crimes he committed and rates a mention in the Chronicle. James Brown dies and Augusta goes overboard. Eight to fifteen minutes a night was spent on the news extolling his virtues, the Chronicle plasters the front pages and sends email alerts at the slightest provocation and Augusta gears up to make a buck. I have heard of wakes where mourners drink beer, celebrate the life of a friend, and loved one but I have never heard of selling popcorn and hotdogs at a public viewing. Just another way to cash in on all the people coming to town. The commissioners are probably chomping at the bit waiting to see just how much money was brought in by this. At least, so far, no one has publicly said that Augusta will benefit monetarily from all of this as they do when anything else comes to town. And, rumor has it that the great Michael Jackson was to in town. Fitting I suppose. James Brown, a convicted felon, being paid respect by an almost convicted child molester. Isn’t having money a wonderful thing?
There is a question that always lingers in my mind when someone dies. Why do people all of a sudden just remember the “good things”? Hardly a mention of drugs, police chases, shooting at officers, wife beatings and so much more, but extolling the virtues of giving away donated turkeys and toys. CNN spent time not only raving about the good Gerald Ford did but all the mishaps and bumblings as well. According to all the local television stations and the Augusta Chronicle James Brown was a saint. In the words of John Stossel, gimme a break.
New Year’s Eve passed with relative quiet in my neck of the woods. One of my neighbors started with the fireworks around 9:30PM and ended right at midnight with quite a show. I enjoyed it immensely, my cats, however, did not. They spent the time hiding or running around trying to find a way to escape it all.
The only resolution for the coming year for me is to divest myself of stuff. I have way too much stuff. At one point in my life the thought of selling antiques crossed my mind, therefore I purchased accordingly. But now it has to go, all of it. From purchased to inherited pieces, from roadside finds to gifts from friends, it is all going and hopefully will make a tidy sum in the process. Never have been a sentimental collector of things only a collector with an eye for future profits; now is the time. I am also toying with the idea of placing the Stephen King collection on the market. My best friend and I started this collection in the late 80’s. He has since died and I see no reason to continue and it may bring someone else joy as well as line my pockets.
Once again Public Safety was in my neighborhood. Five cars at one house. It was the same house that they visited on Christmas day and yet another domestic violence. From my vantage point it seemed to take a few of them to subdue the suspect. The suspect however, gifted all of us with protestations of his innocence along with other words that will not be printed here. Two times in a little over a week; I for one would not like to see him come back to the neighborhood.
One last mention of the James Brown saga. It has begun. The inevitable fighting over who gets what. In my humble opinion, his wife/companion has already spent a fortune with California plastic surgeons. I think the money could have been better spent on acting lessons because she isn’t too convincing in her grief; she can’t even squeeze out a tear.