nothing to do with walking

This is one of my periodic rants. So you might want to skip it. I just need to get it out of my system.

I try really hard to buy American made. Or at least North America. It has to do with jobs, sure. It has to do with growing up in a union house. It has to do with ecology and saving resources. There's really no reason to ship something half way around the world. Pretty much, we can make it here. So we should.

I am not always successful, but I thought, until yesterday, that I read everything and then made a decision. For example, I won't eat anything from China. No safeguards. I'm seriously considering not eating fish from the Pacific. That nuclear waste from Japan should be here soon. I am not eating radio active fish.

Yesterday Bonnie and I walked in her neighborhood. But we went down to South Fourth Street to Walgreens. My allergies had finally gotten the best of me. I needed drugs.  I don't like to take medicine, so I suffer longer than I have to. It's been years since I took a pain killer. The generic Claritin from previous years were half-used and expired. (One in 2009!) I needed a fresh batch. And whatever I pick needs to have it has pseudoephedrine in it. Complete with the song and dance that goes with it to prove you aren't making meth—pick up the little card, take it to the pharmacist, swipe my license, pay and leave.

I've never looked at where meds were made. I assumed it was here I guess. Who'd ship pills around the world? Clearly Walgreen does. Had I noticed it before I opened the box I would have returned them. I'm used to paying more for made in America. But they were open, so I took one. And then I waited for something horrible to happen. It didn't. They are 12-hour ones. They last maybe 5, 6 hours. I'm going back to generic Claritin. As long as it's made on this continent. If not. I'll suffer. Spring is almost over.