Just keep swimming

I have heard several authors speak in the past few months, and they have generally said writers should write what they know. So here's what I know.

Calen McKinney

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Keep in mind that what I know is going to be simply a rambling of my thoughts at the moment ... Tuesday just before lunchtime.

First, I know that we were very lucky, considering others who weren't, during the flood two weekends ago. I didn't have any water in my basement (a bravo and mucho thanks to the previous owner for installing a sump pump) and my parents only had about an inch or so in theirs. And, from what I have been told, we all generally faired OK in Campbellsville, with only some soggy basements and drowned pride for not preparing better.

Isn't Kentucky weather funny? From downpours and near frost to high winds with black skies or a glimpse of sunshine, you never know what you're going to get. For those still cleaning up Mother Nature's latest gift, I say, to quote Dory from "Finding Nemo," "Just keep swimming."

Next, I know that Betty White was awesome on "Saturday Night Live" this past weekend, as I fully expected. As were Amy Poehler and Tina Fey, who are two of my favorite actresses and former SNL cast members. To Betty White ... if we beg, will you come back to SNL again? Please keep on swimming. Give us more of your comic geniusness to get through the days.

Third, I know that my cats Jake, Julie and Jennie are all relatively healthy at the moment. Apart from their typical "let's eat everything we can and then give it back to our human as a present" attitude, all three have been really loving and wonderful lately. Please keep on swimming.

Fourth, I know that I have felt lately that I'm getting older. Maybe it's just that my tastes are "maturing" or I'm becoming boring. Either way, I have just felt more of a divide than ever between myself and my Twitter- and Facebook-addicted teenage college students. Let's hope I don't drown trying to keep up with them.

And lastly, I know that Monday night's second community-wide Blessing of the Hands ceremony was both uplifting and moving. It seems we sometimes never appreciate those in the health care field until we need them for something. That could be said about a lot of occupations, I know, but especially for those we want to physically heal us.

Please, if you're willing, keep on swimming so we can enjoy the water, too.