Opinion

Dear Annie: I’ve been in a nursing home since I was 60. I would love to find someone to fall in love with, but I have a problem socializing. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m in a nursing home. I’m depressed and see myself not having much time to live with my several health issues. I can’t walk and I’m wheelchairbound. I’ve tried spending time with other residents, but they hardly talk to me. I feel like they don’t like me. As a result, I stay in my room except to go to physical therapy.

The title of my 2003 book, “Useful Idiots,” was a reference to a perhaps apocryphal quote sometimes attributed to Lenin to the effect that gullible liberals in the West would prove useful idiots for the Soviet Union. I wrote about Democrats. Twentyone years later, the epithet belongs wholeheartedly to the GOP. Their choice to support Trump -- Putin’s biddable spaniel -- for the party’s nomination; their decision to sabotage aid to Ukraine; and Tucker Carlson’s ring-kissing visit to the dictator’s lair cements the status of Republicans as the useful idiots of the 21st century.

What happens when a political party becomes demotic? Before answering the question, note that the word in question is not demonic, from the Greek word daimon, meaning a deity (remember that the Greek gods were notoriously jealous and greedy), but demotic, from the Greek word demos, meaning the people -- the same root as democratic.

It is truly amazing that the small community of Burbank OK has been able to survive the ebb and flow of people moving in and out of the community over the many years of its existence. The school closed many years ago. Many thought that would be the demise the Burbank. The old high school building has been occupied by a couple of different families since it’s closing. The current owner is remodeling it for something that will be announced in the future. The local hotel has been abandoned for many years. However, someone recently purchased it and is in the process of renovating it. So, it is great to realize that it’s still a viable community. There are roughly 35 families that take advantage of the opportunity to survive in this small community. The church is blessed with approximately 15 families attending as opportunity avails. I have come to realize that God places people in communities to help one another enjoy the great times and work through the bad times. I have been blessed to have received the call to minister in Burbank for 15 ½ years. That calling has led to many friendships. The community recognizes that First Baptist Church is there to assist them when needed. The church has been blessed to minister not only to the church families that regularly attend but also to those in the community that need prayer for their families through sickness and the passing of a loved one. The church has resources for the community to utilize for special events. Our Fellowship Hall has been used many times for special events for anyone who needs it. I am thankful that the members of First Baptist Church will always welcome anyone regardless of denomination to attend services. May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ always a blessing in the lives of those that seek to worship Him.

On Saturday, January 6, the Ponca City News reported that the Oklahoma Historical Society, “may soon be changing the name of the Pioneer Woman Museum in the near future.” Rumors had been circulating for months and when a friend mentioned it to me; I immediately dismissed this rumor as not true. You can imagine my shock when I read our newspaper’s headline, “Potential Change for Pioneer Woman Museum.”

Dear Annie: For three years, my husband and I got really close with another couple. But in the last year, our friend’s marriage hit a rough patch. She’s been acting different -- bragging, being arrogant and talking a lot about meeting other guys.

There’s always some pregame Superbowl story. This year the MAGA Republicans have provided it. And they’ve gone way beyond their lunatic call of duty by accusing America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift, of diabolical cunning for urging her fans to vote. And for extra measure, they are attacking the National League Football, as well, for something to do with the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce, being her guy.

When I was a freshman and sophomore in high school before I was old enough to drive -- every weekday after football or track practice I would take a San Francisco municipal transit bus from my high school in the Sunset District to the corner of Haight and Stanyan streets.