Impose a tax

Walker County Press-Page 12

Lifestyle

Thursday February 10, 2022

But, Baby, it got cold last week! And it carried over into this week. It got almost as cold as the one in February 2021, but it didn’t last as long. We didn’t have as much ice and snow, and the sun helped by coming out more. We recently cut down a big, dead limb on our mulberry tree and added it to our woodpile which already had a pickup full of fresh firewood in it from our January foray, so our furniture was never in danger of becoming fuel this year. And our electricity kept working throughout the current freeze! Water was another matter. The City of Austin had assured us that they had everything under control … but they didn’t. We’re presently under a “boil water” order. What I don’t know at this point is whether the Texas coast suffered enough to inflict more damage to an already diminished speckled trout population from last year’s fish-killing freeze. You’ll recall that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission took emergency action on March

24, 2021, temporarily altering spotted seatrout regulations in response to the significant fish kill that resulted from February 2021’s severe freeze. Some Yesterday as Mom 3.8 million fish were and I were coming killed in that extendhome from the ed freeze, including grocery store, I had 61 species. Spotted a truck following so sea trout, commonclosely I thought he ly known as speckwas trying to hitch a led trout -- or just ride in my back seat. as “specks” -- were Mom mentioned how significantly hambad the drivers seem mered. today, and I said, A species doesn’t reit’s lack of respect. cover overnight from Across the board. On that type of carnage. everything. To assist in a speedy I don’t care what the recovery, TPWD reissue is, what problem duced the daily limit we are facing, if you for speckled trout in simply respect your the Upper and Lowfellow man, you can er Laguna Madre to improve the situation. three and the slot I didn’t say like them. I said respect. Seriously, we could improve our world ten fold by doing that one thing. Did you know when you tailgate, and drive aggressively you show no respect for someone else’s life? I commonly say, hey you want to kill yourself get after it, but don’t take me with you! Did you know when you rush a store and take more product than you need, you have no respect for others? That maybe

Sunday Observations by Christy Wait….. that’s the origin of the problem. taking what you need Because if your allows others to get toddler hears you what they need? constantly telling Did you know when others how stupid you try to force your they are, or belittling personal opinion someone, talking on those who differ trash behind their from you, you have backs….. guess what no respect for others? you just taught your Their right to their toddler??? THAT own thoughts and DISRESPECT IS beliefs? The list is endless, but I promise you, increased respect for others, will only help our society. I challenge you, look at any situation, and if a little respect for a fellow human beings thoughts, beliefs, and lives was added, 9/10 of the time the outcome would be better. I don’t understand how we have reached this point. That our thoughts are the only ones that are right. That we are the smartest, most worthy, human being. That no one else has a thought that might have relevance. That everyone that doesn’t believe and act as we do, must be stupid. Who made you the know all of all? It all makes a huge circle, back to respect. Are parents even teaching respect for others anymore? ACCEPTABLE. So don’t be shocked when your teen is a hot mess of a smart mouth. Whew!!! Happy Sunday peeps. Can we reinstate respect? Teach tolerance? Maybe have a class on “if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing”? Maybe

an ap that shuts our phone off if we are rude online? Name a problem….. I promise respect will either solve it….. or lessen the blow. You are not superior to me, nor am I to you. I just respect you enough to allow you to live your life. Now, can I live mine?

WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE FEBRUARY FREEZE AND TROUT

By John Jefferson