It’s been entirely too long since I’ve blogged and for that I apologize.  End of school was hectic because I moved.  Granted it was ONLY a mile down the road, but packing up 14 years of your life and moving it is not an easy task.  I purged so much stuff I think the trash men were not happy with me for months.  But the worst part was when I moved here, I had to purge even more because it didn’t fit, it wasn’t necessary or I just really didn’t need it.  I’ve donated mountains of items to friends and others that were in need.  Helped give a friend more items for her garage sale and the rest will be donated to a church sale later next month. 

I’m still unpacking and going through things, but at least now the interior of the house is pretty much done and the garage is all I have left to sort through.  I have spent countless hours going through things so that I can be done by the time I go back to work later in August.  Blogging was the last thing on my mind the last two months.  But it seems that something has inspired me to write and I just couldn’t keep it inside my mind any longer. 

I may not be Dearborn “born and bred” but I feel so strongly about this community that I live in, that it’s as if I were.  I have fallen in love with Dearborn from the moment I moved here.  As I’ve grown in the community so has my appreciation for it.  I know I will be living here for the rest of my life and I truly feel this is the only community for me. I realize that there are things that will change over time and quite honestly I’m ok with changes.  However, the changes I am finding difficult to understand is why we still have so many vacant buildings and empty business lots.  I know that some things are due to the economy however I believe that we need to really look into ways to bring in new businesses that WILL survive.   We need to take back our neighborhoods as well.  So many people are losing their homes and they are left vacant.  It’s really sad to see my old street that was one block long with about 5-6 vacant houses.  That’s just one street in my old neighborhood.  That doesn’t count the other streets that are dealing with the same thing. 

Well, while I was moving and unpacking and getting settled in, I’ve noticed that a lot of our citizens are becoming restless.  Restless with the way some things are being handled by our local city government that is.  Keep in mind that I’ve been witnessing people complain about this for a while now, but for some reason, this year just feels different.  Maybe it’s the fact that a lot of people are willing to step up to make changes.  Maybe it’s the fact that people want to learn about how things work so that they can try to make it better.  Maybe it’s the fact that they are just finally fed up enough to find ways to change it!  Whatever the reason, I feel that if you are NOT satisfied with how things have been going lately and how the decisions being made aren’t in the best interest of the city and its citizens, than it’s time to do some research and bring about a true, honest to goodness grass roots effort to vote in those that will put the city first and foremost.  IF you feel the current elected officials are doing their job, than great.  Next year when the Mayoral and Council elections are taking place, it’ll be an easy vote for you.  BUT if you feel that they are not doing their job that they were elected to do, it’s time to do some research.  It’s time for you to decide what you want for the city and for you.  People complain all the time about what they don’t like but rarely step up and find ways to change it.  Dare to be the person that CHANGES it. Dare to be the person to ask the questions you want the answers to.  Dare to go against the norm.  It is our right to vote.  Therefore, it is our right and our duty to educate ourselves about what will impact us in our future.  BE EMPOWERED to stand up and look for ways to make things better instead of just talk about it.  BE the doer.  Be the one that will take the steps to move forward.  Being complacent is no longer the way to live.  We have too much to lose now.   

In one year we will be dealing with primary elections for our city government.  Will you know who you are voting for?  What does your ideal candidate look like?  What are their assets?  What can they bring to the city?  Once you’ve answered those questions, imagine that person.  Do you know someone like that?  Is that person currently an elected official?  Or is this person someone else?  Whoever it may be, it’s time to stop talking and start doing! 

Whoever you end up voting for in this year’s election or next, you have to live with the majority vote.  One person can truly make a difference.  If everyone felt that way, we might be better off now.  So, take that stand!  Make that educated decision and move forward.  Your future depends on it!  You have everything to lose if you don’t!!!