The Great American Cheese Debacle

One of our younger bakers had dropped a tub of grated American cheese onto the kitchen floor in the cafe. Though inconvenient, she went about the task of dutifully cleaning it up - albeit with a disgruntled face.
I responded by explaining, jokingly, "Hey. It's not New Orleans."
"The federal government really screwed that one up, huh?"
"No, they didn't. Look at Memphis. Different and overly loved president, and the looting, though not as publicized, has been even greater."
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"Heck, in the Trib, they interviewed a person living there who said that while people were screaming for help, within earshot were looters who were not only disinterested in them, but were probably stealing their crap in the meantime. And then you look at Northern Japan - who knows how many people killed and places destroyed, and you don't see them looting! It's not a federal government's fault... it's a people fault. I mean the hurricane happened nearly a decade ago, and people can't get their act together?"
People blame others when they can not get their lazy hind ends together. Not only that, but these same people who bitch and moan about their situations, and how that "George Bush" is responsible, not only cheer on the demise of others, but because misery loves company,are willing to aid in that destruction. If they don't get that handout on time or in continuation, again it is not their fault, but someone else's.
The common arguments:
1. I'm fat.
2. I'm addicted to _____.
3. I'm unemployed.
4. I'm unemployable.
5. I'm stupid.
6. I'm poor.
7. I've done everything that I could, but i just can't______.
8. My credit sucks.
9. I can't because I'm (pick a race, sex, persuasion, marital status, faith orientation...).
10. I suck.
The excuse:
1. Pick a politician (or party).
2. Pick a neighbor.
3. Pick a race, sex, persuasion, marital status, faith orientation...
4. Whatever you do - do not pick yourself.
When things are great, we typically find ourselves only to blame in our successes, and when they are bad, the unenlightened masses find others. There is no disputing that our situations are sometimes dictated to us by circumstances, and some circumstances are indeed very difficult to weather; however, we, in adverse conditions, must seek to define our compass and go forward - from a terrible situation to a better one.
And there are some who will argue that bad things happen to them all the time and that getting "out of the mud" is impossible (heck, I even felt that way); with that in mind one must remember again that misery loves company; this does not just include hangers-on - it includes the magnetic attraction that misery has on circumstances.
Remember the old adage: "Out of the frying pan, and into the fire."
Idea: Stay away from the stove!

Now, like a good ol' talking head, who knows nothing, I could blather on about this and complain about the ills of society, leaving my spotlessness to myself; however, I have gone through bouts of depression, misguidedness, misery, jobloss (which seems to have become a single word), heart issues, broken bones, trips to the hospital - all of this leading me to ask, "Why me?"
Which begs, "Why not me?"
The fact is that I am blessed. I am by no means rich and at times we struggle; however, we can pay our mortgage and feed ourselves. I am no Charles Atlas, yet I can walk, run, jump, and pick up my daughter. And in spite of a lot of bashing to my faith, I can worship the way I need to - for which I am immensely grateful.
I guess I am tired of people, including myself, complaining (period).
It rains. Get an umbrella. Don't wait for the rain to stop.
It shines. Wear sunglasses.
You hungry. Eat something, and remember that there are people in this world who may never ever read this crappy essay, and will never know how tasty that oily, orange-mustard colored government-issue American "cheese" really is.