Serendipity, Luck, or Something Else?

I’ve refrained from blogging since the assassination attempt because who am I to compete with the fair-minded & astute analyses from the likes of Joe Scarborough, Chris Wallace and George Stephanopoulos?  Nonetheless, I can’t hold my tongue forever, so here are a few random thoughts about the happenings of the last week.

• The fact that MSNBC preempted “Morning Joe,’ the station’s flagship program two days after the assassination attempt should tell us all we need to know about where so much of the inflammatory rhetoric in the public square originates.
• Could you imagine the media spin if the recent assassination attempt were reversed, i.e., if the identical circumstances occurred to Joe Biden (or God forbid, Barack Obama) and Donald Trump was the president?
• Kimberly Cheatle’s response or lack thereof is a microcosm of the Biden administration – incompetence and failure to accept responsibility is the predictable outgrowth of DEI.
• The democrats refer to Project 2025 as a threat to democracy; but a far better ideological analogy would be that Karl Marx’ Communist Manifesto is the predicate for the Democrat platform – don’t believe that, Google both and check ’em out for yourselves.
• As of this publication I have no idea if Joe Biden is in or out. although I believe he’s making plans to leave the race while Kamala vets potential running mates.  But regardless of what Mr. Biden does, the question remains, does the democrat faithful feel Mr. Biden shouldn’t be on the ticket because A) he’s incapable of leading the country or B) because the party elites feel he’ll lose to Donald Trump?  And if Joe does exit the race, which I believe he will, I wish someone would help me understand why he needed to exit the race due to his frailty but could continue in the Oval Office until January 20^th?   Is there some type of dementia that will only manifest itself on January 20^th, 2025?

~ Serendipity, Luck or Something Else ~

Were the events of July 13th a matter of serendipity, luck or something else?  Serendipity is a narrow term that refers to finding something pleasant or valuable that you weren’t looking for.  It’s a multifaceted process that can involve chance encounters, sagacity, and tenacity. Serendipity is also often associated with positive outcomes and is a common occurrence in scientific discovery and product invention, such as Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin.

Meanwhile, luck is broader term that can refer to a force that causes good or bad fortune, success, or events that work for or against someone.  Luck can also happen by chance, but it’s not necessarily influenced by someone’s actions.  But perhaps the shot that narrowly missed killing Donald Trump was something else.  Using a term like Divine Intervention is above my pay grade, but many consider that near miss nothing short of miraculous.

~ Closer to Home ~

My wife Bobbi and I have a dear friend living in Vail who related a heartbreaking story about a friend of hers “Tom”  (not his real name) who resides here in Tucson.  “Tom” is suffering from a malignant tumor that prohibits him from swallowing and the situation is dire.  Meanwhile, shortly after moving to Tucson, Bobbi met a delightful neighbor who she walks with on many mornings, and whose husband just happens to be the premier oncologist in Tucson.

Tom’s medical conditions is far more complicated than what I described, and I will not go into the detail, but the situation is critical.  At the same time  through phone calls, texts and emails Bobbi was able to get the parties together; and now Tucson’s premier oncologist, who’s almost impossible to get into see without waiting weeks or even months, has agreed to take the case.

While we pray for a positive outcome, the situation begs a question.  If we hadn’t moved to Tucson, and if Bobbi hadn’t met her walking friend who has an oncologist husband, and if our friend in Vail hadn’t told Bobbi about “Tom’s” illness on the evening before Bobbi would be walking with our neighbor, “Tom” would not have one of the finest oncologists in the country administering to him.  So, was this a matter of serendipity, luck, or something else?

Quote of the day:  “You can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” – Yiddish proverb