Walter Wednesday - November 9, 2022
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11-9-22 Comic - Adler Giordano
Dementia - Short story by Dylan Shamel
He laid out on his comfy blanket on a cool summer night out in the park looking up at the stars. As he looked up at the stars a heavy sense of dread began to choke him, impending doom grasped him by the collar and stared at his soul through his eyes. Why couldn’t he breathe, why couldn’t he think, why couldn’t he move, why couldn’t he breathe? Why couldn’t he breathe? Why couldn’t he think? Why couldn’t he move? Why couldn’t he think? Why couldn’t he move? Why couldn’t…..why couldn’t….why couldn’t he…? Why? Why couldn’t he remember his life? And as the anxiety, dread, and panic began to overtake him like the forest growing over a clearing until the woods are so thick not even the sunlight could pierce it, a star in the sky blinked. It blinked. And it blinked again. And it blinked again. And it blinked again. And why couldn’t he remember? And it blinked again? How did he get out here? How did…? And it blinked again. And it began to blink faster and faster and faster until eventually, it disappeared. In the vast night sky, there was now an empty spot where a star once shined. Then, another star blinked, and another, and another, and another. Until eventually the entire night sky was blinking faster and faster until eventually, the sky went black. Someone turned all the stars off, and he couldn’t even remember there were stars. Why couldn’t he move? Why did the sky…why did the sky…the sky…why did the sky think? No. No, that isn’t it. Why didn’t he blink? No. That’s not it. That’s not it. That’s not it. What is it? How did it go? He….right the sky…no it was the…the…why couldn’t he breathe?
He lost himself in the now voided sky. Vast and empty. He stared into the darkness until all of a sudden he was walking down the halls of a hospital. This wasn’t any hospital, he used to work here. No, not used to, he does work here. He is a doctor here. He walked down the hall entering various rooms and, no, that isn’t right. Is it? It can’t be. He couldn’t move. Why couldn’t he move? He walked by a room and on the door, the sign read, “Johnathan M. Smith”. But that- that isn’t possible. He is Johnathan M. Smith, a doctor at this very hospital, why would he have a patient's room? Why couldn’t he think? Why did he have no control over his mind? He walked into the room and opened the chart that was clipped to the end of the bed. “Johnathan M. Smith,” it read, “86 years of age. Diagnoses: Dementia.”
He fell to his knees. “God help me!” he cried out. He began to sob uncontrollably, louder and louder as his eyes failed to produce tears. Failed him like his mind. Why couldn’t he cry? Why couldn’t he think? Why couldn’t he think? All he could think was, “why can’t I think?” His mind screamed the question louder and louder at him into the void that once could cure disease and heal the sick. The void that could once have hours-long conversations but now couldn’t even think for itself. Who was asking why he couldn’t think? It wasn’t him. It was his mind but not him, his mind wasn’t him. Not anymore. And as he lay on the floor of his hospital room, sobbing, he lost the last little bit of himself. The puzzle that made up his brain had all of its pieces removed piece by piece over the years. Removed so slowly that everyone thought it was just the normal progression of age, simply getting old. No one knew how bad it was until it was too late. But it was always too late. Not even God could have saved him from this fate. Why couldn’t he die peacefully? Why couldn’t he just die? “I don’t want to live,” he cried out from the floor. He took a deep breath and looked up at the roof. He slowly shut his eyes and….he slowly shut his eyes and…? Why couldn’t he move? How did he get here? Where did this begin? Right, right, I remember. He laid out on his comfy blanket…….
Art Piece - Emberlynn Coltrane
Politics - 2022 Midterm Opinion
With a little less than a week to go until election day (at the time of writing), it is time for everyone to insert their best guesses. This year, all seats in the House and thirty-five of the seats in the Senate are being contested. Historically, especially with the last three presidents, we have seen their parties gain control during the presidential election and lose their majority in the midterms which is what I believe will happen again. According to Reuters, we have seen gerrymandering in Texas and Florida which will give Republicans an estimated three seats. This is smaller than what we have seen in previous elections however, three seats could mean all the difference as the senate is tied (with Kamala Harris being the tie-breaking vote) and Democrats have a very thin majority in the house. This election will be determined by candidates’ economic standpoint and policies as Reuters polls have shown that the top concern for voters this year is the economy especially as prices continue to rise. Given past elections and the policies, voters are worried about this year, I predict a republican win even if it may be a small one. Though, as we finish this on Wednesday morning votes are still being tallied with a republican lead in the house and senate. We may see more votes for democratic candidates as mail-in ballots arrive and are counted.
What’s Walter Thinking About?
Sushi. No that’s it, that’s what I’m thinking about. I love sushi. Actually, the best part about eating sushi is eating it with people who think sushi is gross because they watch in horror and fear as you eat it. It is simply amazing. Sushi and a bowl of miso soup are all I need in life.
WW 11-16-22
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“There are no shnacks in this god forsaken house” -Walter
Now I want unagi