Does anyone wonder?

To the Editor:

When I talk to some of the older folks in northeast Iowa at least as old as I am, they always say things like, “Don’t you ever wonder whatever happened to the (blank) around here?”

Some of those blanks have been filled in with things like “sand burrs”, “blue gills and crappies”, “milk weed”, “garter snakes”, “trail rides”, “soda grills”, “shoe stores”, etc.

When I think about how much life has changed during my over 60 years of dancing on the skin of this Earth, it is frightening. I’m “just saying,” maybe we need to take at least two steps back before trying to go what we think is three steps forward.

I was talking to a mental health professional the other day that reported there are studies showing that technology has affected the frontal lobe development of this upcoming generation. The frontal lobe is all about common sense and impulse control.  Just think about that, folks.

So, maybe I do know what has happened to nightmares around here. No more simply falling off the bridge or being chased by snakes slithering out from under the bed. We’ve got the real deal going on here now. Unfortunately, our legislators are determined to make sure everyone has full access to all technologically available information and any firearms they want from toddler age on, even though they may not be capable of making good decisions.

Do you know what the really sad part is of losing what we had (even the sand burrs)?  We will end up getting exactly what we have paid for so dearly.

Thank you,

Ann Gallagher
“Catfish Annie”
Lansing