My Grandfather used to collect Hess Trucks. Each year a unique but oil-related version, all branded with Hess green and white would be available and sometimes hard to get just after Thanksgiving. In 1988 they changed up the design and made a truck that carried a race car. This annoyed my Grandfather. This one was off-script. He said it was against tradition. they were supposed to be Oil trucks, gas carriers, even a barge, but it was always a vehicle that was in the Hess fleet over time. Not a race car. I remember the conversation, and I asked why he still got a couple for himself and one for my brother and me if he did not like it? He said he had to keep the collection complete. We continued getting them for Christmas until he passed ten years later. It turned out that the new design was one of the most popular versions and set into motion similar designs that were not Oil-related—space shuttles, campers, helicopters, motorcycles, plenty of “non-traditional” versions.

Now every year I avoid complaining about a year on the way out of it, the alternative is not getting one. So if I am still here then it was a good year. Simple rules. 2020 complicates that. Not my favorite year – hard to think of one I dislike more, but going by my rule I am here, so… this is the year I accept to complete and continue my collection. Everyone who collects something, in an effort to get the whole set has to have that one or more “widget” in the series that is not the favorite – maybe it even annoys you like that race car did my Grandfather, but without it the set is not complete. Hess Trucks, Beanie Babies, Teaspoons, Comic-books, Smurfs, and even years. Not sure if my point is clear, so to wrap this up, my grandfather would have hated this year – it sucked. Here is to a simple oil truck in 2021.

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A different Christmas, but it was the one we got. A quiet day with the family. Hope you all had a great day too.

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I want to take this chance to tell you all about who I am backing. Want to know my deep down thoughts and why?

NOPE.

Above are just jokes, not the figures, I mean in the first two sentences. I am not going to bore you with any political talk. I care very much who wins, all I will say is I am kind of down that it is one of these two. But I like action figures, had the Trump one since before he was President, the Biden one is new, seems fair and balanced to have both. I try to always remain neutral. Unlike the company that produced the figures. Slight message received by the fact Trump is waving a middle finger, with a scowl and smiling Biden has his fingers in his patented finger gun position (pew, pew).

I will wish neither good luck tomorrow, I wish us all the luck. In the end, there are two names (I know there are more) but it is us that have the most at stake. And no matter the way I feel, we will be fine, but again, no one asked me. I have so many friends passionate about each man, with very fine talking points, explanations at length, charts, graphs, memes, and deep thoughts, many of them kindly share them with me, even when I never asked.

The ultimate irony though, zoom in on the asses above, again not the men, I really mean the buttock of each. Stamped into each of them is “Made in China”.

See you on the other side.

Oh one more note: There is a question in the title, I mean with this all the respect in the world. I am not looking for an answer, that is between you and your ballot.

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Continuing my photos of Medway graduates and their families. Due to 2020 being what it is, we are making the best of it with these photos, and having fun doing it. In the process of today’s session, the 2020 fell off Danny’s tassel – a very ‘2020 thing’ to do, so we improvise.

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Another event in the days of COVID. The Medway Middle School, 8th-grade class, had a parade in front of the school to celebrate the students moving on to High School. So many smiling kids and happy teachers greeting them. Congratulations class of 2024.

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