I was watching TV last week and saw that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority had decided to sort of back off doing much of anything for the time being. This was obviously a result of the “hornets’ nest” the authority stirred up with their proposed expansion of the Kickapoo. The Kickapoo was to connect I-40 down to I-35 in the Norman area bypassing the congested Metro of downtown OKC. A popular idea for some of those who try to get through Oklahoma City to Norman or south to Dallas. Not so popular for the people who live in the path of the proposed toll road.

I was also sort of disappointed in the announcement pertaining to the sixlaning of the rest of the Turner Turnpike between Tulsa and Oklahoma City. I see this stretch of road as an important link between our State’s only major metros. Although I don’t often drive on this road, I know the four-lane in place now is very inadequate to serve these two cities in the economy it helped grow. I hope they go ahead and finish this job and don’t just let it lay there and fester. As far as the little two-lane turnpike just south of Ada, I have no comment. Its further development is sort of like Governor Stitt’s promise to make all of our little two lanes such as SH-48 into safer highways with the addition of paved shoulders. Wow! That sounded good too.

Of course, nowadays when I pass a highway construction sign and it gives a date on when it is expected to be completed, I try to contemplate how nice it will be. Then, I remind myself that thanks to the march of time I may never get to enjoy all this myself. In fact, I get to adding the number of years needed to complete the project to my present age (88) and often come up with some dismal expectations. While progress and construction projects march on, it’s for sure human life does have its time limits but such are the vicissitudes of life.

Another bit of future news concerns our President Biden. He is sort of stuck with a less than popular Vice-President, Camella Harris. Ms. Harris hasn’t exactly endeared herself to her boss nor many others. But he seems to be stuck with her? Will our President have to take her onboard again for the upcoming election? I don’t know but one other lady, Presidential candidate Nikki Haley pointing out Mr. Biden’s poor memory (among his many faults in her eyes) and otherwise aging brain, loves to mention Camella’s shortcomings frequently. Nikki is pretty sure she has a timeline on President Biden’s lifespan too. She flatly predicts our forgetful president will not live more than 5 more years. While this may just be more of Nikki Haley’s campaign rhetoric, I wonder to myself how she came up with 5 years. Is she just trying to jolt party democrats into reality and not to let Biden bring in Camella? They may have figured out on their own the aging leader might just conk out and there you have it: President Camella Harris. Oh me. Do I dare ask Nikki Haley how many more years I have left too or should I just forget that.

Trump has similar problems too. He isn’t exactly on speaking terms with former VP Pence. It may give me just the incentive to live long enough to see how this exciting version of an American style Greek Tragedy works out. We have it tough in the USA. At any rate, we have all lived through a cool and wet April wondering what ever happened to Spring. But I think it did come on anyway. Best way to be grateful and to make yourself live a long time—even forever is to be faithful to your God and go to Church Sunday. And by the way, thanks to those who have dropped me a line or two. Enjoy your letters.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com