BY MICHAEL SCHENK

I have what I call a cyclops eye. In other words, my right eye always looks swollen, droopy and makes any picture of me rather strange. When I smile, I look sinister, and, I hate to say it, like an old man. This is a recent, within-the-last-three-years look that seems now to be permanent. Oh, well. At 68, what am I to say?

Recently, we did the key purge of sorts. Through three homes and two apartments, all on Catawba, and so many cars, etc., we had quite a collection, and, yes, we kept moving them from living quarters to living quarters. So, finally and randomly, we said, “Alright, what is next?”

So, we did the “What is this for?” game. We purged 20 or more keys and many key chains. I am certain these keys were important in one decade or the other, but we did our best. I am by nature a hoarder or a believer in the saying “You never know when this might come in handy.” Just look at my garage. This was quite a day and really a “Is it just me?” moment.

Next, I wonder, ‘Is the term election cycle really a cycle or just a classic misnomer?’ It seems to me we are always in the bull’s eye of an election storm, mostly nationally, but never given any relief. I get texted, emailed and called fairly regularly, so maybe it would be nice to put a limit on this?

So, the rolodex of songs this time is many. How about the “Sound of Music” and “Climb Every Mountain”? Wow – not sure how this happened. Next was Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Love the One You’re With,” a blast back to the 70’s. Finally, I got my grandkids hooked on “Down by the Riverside” by not sure whom. This was fun, as it drove my spouse crazy, with the three of us bantering this refrain over and over again.

So much right here in Ottawa County!!