Today I am thankful that wishes come true.
My Grandmother would talk about uncle Ulysses S. Grant. My grandmother's grandmother took care of him.
She was his niece.
Her daughter became a minister in Dayton, Ohio.
I found a picture of my great-grandmother online.
We wear the same kind of clothes, right down to the little cotton flower pin on the lapel.
Maybe I'll post it later.
She spent her life trying to make up what we did to former slaves. My great aunts (her daughters) would complain that they had nothing because everything they had went to other people in the community. If they had nice cotton cloth, they had to sew suits and dresses for the children of the former slaves.
I think my great grandmother felt guilty.
Grant is not the hero we think he is. He was a slave owner. My family doesn't talk about that.
There are days I wish they were lying about the relation. When I find my distant cousins online, I hear the same stories.
They're probably telling the truth.
Maybe fighting and politics is in my blood. Perhaps that is why I never feared jumping into the fray.
Politics is just another circus. I collect hats. I don't mind throwing one or two away in the ring.
*****
My mother, aunts and uncles would talk about their uncle, Clark Ringling. He married into the family and brought with him a love of animals so strong that he hated what his relatives did to them.
This is why my family likes to save animals.
This is why I am ticked at the Aurora and Denver dictate to murder pit bulls. Aurora officers, for the life of them, can't tell the difference between a pit bull or a bulldog (the link will only lead to one story....for there are several). They shoot just about any canine willy nilly. It's disgusting.
When I ran for Mayor.....countless children....this is no exaggeration for I surely lost count....children told me of the city killing their pets at the shelter. The cops took their loved ones away from them never to be seen again.
That is NOT a good way to build trust with the youth. For the youth shall surely become voters.
Politicians are incredibly short sighted. If they want stuff, they need to build trust within the community, not destroy it. Geesh!
Stupid is as stupid does.
The Aurora Animal shelter is a disgusting sight. The last time I was there, there was blood on the painted brick walls indicating where the animals were wagging their tails. The staff didn't care.
When I visited the shelter, the guy with the office by the front door threatened me. He wanted to know my name, where I worked and what I did. I'm glad he forgot me. I'll never forget him. I hope he's not there if they abuse another animal in my presence or if I decide to start another activist group.
Still.....Uncle Clark lives on even though he died before I was born.
I'm told that he loved horses. He hated the way the circus treated them. I grew up in a room filled with pictures of Clark with his beloved horses.
He'd probably be disgusted at how Denver allows their officers to treat the horses on the mounted patrol.
Uncle Clark wanted the abuse to stop.
Most of us wanted to run off with the circus.
He ran away from it.
For some reason, this morning, I awoke pulled to go visit his grave.
He's buried at the Arvada Cemetery, just a few blocks from where I grew up.
It's snowing now. I live so very far away. When I do get to Arvada, I usually spend my time talking to homeless people.
I'm not sure I'll make it today. By the time I get there....I'm not sure I could come back.
Maybe I'll go another day.
I just saw the news. I need to share it.
Now, I need to buy a newspaper and laminate the story to leave on his gravestone.
I have good news for him.
It's ending.
You can read it here:
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/14/ringling-bros-circus-to-close/
Wishes do come true.
Love ya,
S.