Nostrapotamus: 2050

North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana each lose one senator. Florida, Texas, and California are now with three each.

Vladimir Putin is dead.

All Starbucks locations around the world are staffed by robots. Except in Greenland.

Benjamin Netanyahu is dead. 

The Seoul Stingers win the International American Football League's Super Bowl.

The last public library in US shuts down in Concord, Massachusetts.

Sixty-four hurricanes strike the Gulf Coast. Florida moves its state capital northward to Macon. Macon, Georgia. Georgia files for an injunction against the move with the US Supreme Court.

Joe Biden is dead.

Shiloh Jolie-Pitt declares run for President of the United States.  

Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas are the semi-finalists for college football championship.

Ebrahim Raisi is dead.

Walmart locates all of its warehouses to Nebraska. 

The average plumber makes $225,000 annually. The average teacher, $42,000.

Tourists returning from Mars bemoan 30-minute storm delay before liftoff.

Kim Jong Un is dead. However, he is still supreme leader of North Korea.

Taylor Swift releases a whispered version of her debut album from 2006. Sales will be brisk.

Jeff Bezos applies for UN recognition of his 1,600' yacht, Lucy as a nation-state. Also claims he has the body of a 13-year-old.

Donald Trump is dead.

All Italian men under 45 live at home with their mothers.

Xi Jinping is dead.

Amazon now employs 34% of the world's workforce.

Nearly 86% of first year college students are female.  

China will build only 6 coal-fired power plants this year.

Unemployment in Louisiana hits 47%. Governor declares state a natural disaster area.

Ronnie Wood is dead, and I might not be feeling so hot myself.

Lorrie and Corrie (F)

I slip my foot into Lorrie's right golf shoe. A perfect fit. Another disease I didn't come down with. I look around the room. Golfing, I mean. The upstairs t.v. room she calls it. Called it. Her trophies. The photos.

Jack told me he couldn't come up yet. Just not ready. "It's okay. I understand," I told him. "I'll do it."

Two consecutive junior state-am golf championships. Three senior state-am championships.

Three junior club championships in tennis, two in golf. Two senior club championships in tennis.

The doubles tournament we won our junior year. "Come on," she said. "It will be fun." "Just this time." "It will be fun, promise." It was sort of fun. And we won. Of course we won. Lorrie lose? Please.

"Be sweet to your baby sister," Mom said. "Mom, it was only 28 minutes." "I don't care, young lady, be sweet."

And the swimming. Meet after meet, summer after summer, until she got bored. Ten, no eleven. At least I had that for another three years. 

Maid of honor at her wedding. Those photos are downstairs in the den.

"Your sister is what she is, you are what you are," Mom said. "But you two have a different kind of bond. You don't have to like it, but you two do. Be kind to your baby sister." 

I slip off the shoe. "Help Jack as much as you can. He's going to be a mess. Please." She patted my hand as she spoke.

Yes, Jack's a mess. I don't think Diane really understands. Little D I call her. Aunt C she calls me. She sat on my lap during the service. I brought her back here to spare her the burial. 

I sigh. Oh, Lorrie, what now? 

Bill calls up the stairs. "Honey, are you all right?" "Yes! Yes, I'm okay." 

I'm okay? Okay. Not okay. Numb maybe. I don't know what to think. Like I am here and not here. 

"He's a nice man. A really good guy," Lorrie said. "You guys getting married? What is going on with you?" I don't know what is going on. 

"He is obviously sweet and kind."

Yes, sweet and kind. Sweet and kind. Sweet. Kind. Sweet. Kind. Sweet and kind. Sweet and kind. Sweet and kind. The whole damn world is sweet and kind.

Yes, Lorrie was sweet.

Lorrie was kind.

Lyman 2023

An Index (20)

Country                     US Immigrant Visas Issued (2021)

Mexico                              40,597

China                                18,501 

Dominican Republic            17,941

Philippines                         15,862

Afghanistan                       10,784

Vietnam                            10,458

India                                   9,275

El Salvador                          7,813

Pakistan                              7,213

Bangladesh                         5,503

Nepal                                 5,342

Ecuador                              5,061

Nigeria                               4,990

Colombia                            4,785

Yemen                                4,770

Jamaica                              4,375

Haiti                                   3,799

Morocco                             3,585

Cuba                                  3,232

Nicaragua                           3,216