Opinion, Out and About

Out and About

December 6, 2018 | Sandi Kemp

I think it was a nice gesture for Trump to give Federal and Government workers the day off as a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush – but now we have set a precedent and there will be more impromptu closings in the future. Pragmatically – it won’t happen very often, but when it does happen it will not be predictable. Take for instance, this week it falls on a Wednesday and it wasn’t announced until Monday afternoon. Since we mail our papers, we have to have them to the Post Office on Wednesday to be delivered on Thursday. We work around known holidays – like Thanksgiving and get them done early. However, we could not do that this week because it was not predictable. Our post office is under a lot of scrutiny and stress to make sure you receive your mail in a timely manner. We recently wrote an article about the addition of entire routes due to the growth of Navarre. I spoke with a representative at the Post Office regarding our Thursday delivery dilemma and found out that HBTS receives 500-600 packages a day. That is a lot of packages – and that doesn’t include the regular mail. They have had carriers out until after 7 p.m. trying to get all the mail delivered and now they will have twice as much mail on Thursday – during the holiday rush. We are just one example – I’m sure they are many more. One team member here wanted to know if they got the day off and I said, “if you want to take a day off to mourn President George H.W. Bush” that is your prerogative, but it will be on your own time. Apparently, that was funny because it got a lot of laughs. Bottomline, please be patient with our postal service. They have a job to do…rain, sleet, snow….except during the day we thought Michael was coming this way, or that time we had ice on the roads, and now, when a former president dies.

Former President George H.W. Bush was an awesome man and had the most extensive resume to prepare him for the office of president of any president before him or since. He had his priorities straight and he was always very gracious. A lot could be learned by looking at his life and how he handled success, crises and disappointment. He raised some awesome children as well and his wife was a very strong woman. I love the story about how Jim Baker came in the room and Bush asked where they were going – and Jim Baker said, “We are going to heaven!” and that his last words were “I love you too.” It doesn’t get any better than that. As I have also told my team here at Navarre Press and my family – none of us get out of here alive. Therefore – let’s make a difference, let’s be the difference, and live our lives not to bring honor to ourselves but to do and be something much bigger than ourselves. It is in service to others that brings the most joy – at least in my life. It definitely isn’t the things – but my relationships with my family, friends and God. That is where it is at – at least for me.

A great place to bond with your family and friends is at ZooLights at the Gulf Breeze Zoo. ZooLights has started and the dates for December are 7-9 and 14-29 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets are $12.95 each or $6.50 for members. And as a bonus, if you go to the Zoo and buy a regular admission ticket, stay and visit the animals, your same-day ZooLights ticket is free. If you have never been, you don’t want to miss it. You can see the animals and thousands of twinkling lights with free hot cocoa.

Saturday morning from 7 a.m. – until at least 10 a.m. – you can have a pancake breakfast for $5 at Holley Navarre Senior Center There will also be a holiday sale of Christmas items and I heard that some community members that are running for the Holley Navarre Water System board will be there to answer any questions you might have.

Quote of the Week: It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. Marcus Aurelius (26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was a Stoic philosopher, and Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180 at the age of 59

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