By Anessa V. Cohen

 The year 2016 is definitely going on the books as the year of extremes. For whatever reason, this year has had a host of extreme events that have changed the way we are dealing with even mundane daily happenings.

The presidential primaries open the book as one of the most bizarre experiences that any of us have witnessed. On the Republican side, so many wannabe candidates lined up to try their luck at winning the ticket to run as the Republican presidential candidate that the early debates could not even fit all of them in one camera shot; a camera sweeping back and forth was necessary to fit all of them into the shot.

Tuning in at night to see the latest saga of the Republican primaries was almost like tuning in for a favorite soap opera to see what the next melodrama would be, with Donald Trump basically racking them all up on the pool table and then hitting them all with the eight ball.

As we all know, Donald Trump has now won the designation of Republican presidential candidate for the coming election, but the entertainment and accusations disseminated throughout the country like a never-ending ping-pong tournament plays on.

On the Democratic channel, there were only three prospective candidates jostling for the Democratic candidacy spot. The entertainment on the Democratic side reminded me somewhat of a Laurel and Hardy routine–at least at the start, with the three prospective Democratic candidates trying to take the high road for proper etiquette, not wanting to emulate what was happening on the Republican side of the room. The routine was something like this: as the door is opened, one bows and says “after you,” and then the other one bows and says, “No, please, after you,” and then they all try to get through the door at the same time and get stuck.

As we all realize, this could only go on for so long before the candidates took off the gloves and went at each other, “no holds barred,” till the end. But is it the end? You have Bernie followers who insist the game is still on full throttle, and they are not giving up even though the Democratic convention is over and the designated candidate is Hillary! Bernie himself did not throw in the towel to back Hillary until he was put on a torture rack. And in appreciation for his graciousness in finally crying “uncle,” he was presented with two seats–for him and his wife–and a speech slot at the Democratic convention; you could tell by his face this was just what he always hoped for!

I can continue talking about Hillary and Donald, but the mosquitoes in town have become a more important topic of conversation, basically putting all thought of whom to vote for on the back burner.

I have discovered, to my surprise, that even when it comes to the issue of mosquitoes, there are hawks and pacifists! The hawks, like me, want the mosquitoes obliterated and are hounding the town to get the trucks, helicopters, and whatever else is necessary out here to spray them out of existence.

Then there are those who are coming out against the spraying because of possible health risks. Looking into those health risks of which they speak, it appears they are referring to a slight possible decline to plant health that any chemical spraying has, but at the same time I do not hear from them of the health risks due to massive mosquito bites that children and pregnant women, not to mention allergic people, are exposed to if the authorities don’t spray to get rid of the mosquitoes and their nests.

So I guess this shows us that no matter the issue at hand that comes up, there are always two sides–and sometimes even three or four–as to how to deal with a problem. I think I will now go back to the torturous continuation of election coverage. v

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker with over 20 years of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and mortgaging services (FM Home Loans) in the Five Towns and throughout the tri-state area. She can be reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are encouraged to send questions or comments to anessa@AVCrealty.com.

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