I was watching a little of the History Channel tonight. The program was one about military snipers. In particular, the part of the program I saw was about Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney, a Marine Corps sniper in Vietnam in the late 1960’s. He has the most confirmed kills of any Marine Corps sniper, 103, and 216 probable kills. Wiki says that this man was born about the same time I was and would be about my age.
When he got out of active duty, he came back home, started a family, and worked for the Forest Service until he retired a few years ago. He lived in obscurity until about 1990, when word of his achievement was published in a book. He now attends sniper conventions (I didn’t know there were such things) and gives speeches.
I don’t know about you, but this man was in a different universe when he was an active Marine. He talks of the kills as if it was a natural thing to do and says he has no nightmares, etc. regarding his job in the Marines. His rationale for doing what he did was good, and I can understand the necessity of it. That doesn’t change, however, the fact that war is not at all like the movies; not at all the glorious and grand thing it’s often portrayed to be.
War is ugly. War is brutal. And war is savage. The normal civilian population has no comprehension what some of our men and women have endured or the lives they have lived in Europe, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, and other places and times when we fought and died.
Mr. Mawhinney said in the interview that if he and his partner would have likely been captured, they would have not allowed themselves to be taken alive because of what the enemy would do to a sniper from the other side. He recounts one incident in Vietnam where he took sixteen shots and had sixteen kills…all head shots from 50 yards at night with a monsoon closing in.
Some men (and women) willingly do things that aren’t even on my radar screen, and do it as a matter of course in order to survive. And they voluntarily place themselves in those positions because they volunteer to serve our country in one of the military branches of service.
Once a Marine…always a Marine. Even though I have the greatest value for human life and know full well both the spiritual and moral implications of taking a life, I dare not sit in judgment of this man or of anyone who serves. And even though I haven’t the faintest comprehension of the full import of what I saw on that program, and probably never will, I thank Mr. Mawhinney and others who willingly do those things that allow me to live my life in relative peace and safety.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
You Breathe In and Out...
I was visiting with one of our residents early this morning (well, early for me…about 8am) as he was sitting at the breakfast table. He took off his glasses, blew on them, and put them back on. Now, I’ve done that more than once, and I’ll wager that you have too, just to get the big chunks off of them. The fine cleaning would come later. I mentioned to him that I did that sometimes as well, and he said to me, “You gotta breathe in and out; you might as well do something productive with it.”
This man has mild dementia and cannot live on his own. However, what he said was well worth it and was right on. Of course, he was talking about blowing on his glasses. I immediately thought of some other things.
You might as well do something productive. Why do we waste our time and energy on things that don’t matter?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we do or say things that we know are harmful to ourselves or others?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we complain about things that we can’t change?
You might as well do something productive. Is there any way we can leave our corner of the world better for our having been here?
You might as well do something productive. How can we serve those we know have need?
You might as well do something productive. Can you be an example of honesty, integrity, and truthfulness rather than selfishness, greed, and vice?
You might as well do something productive. What would it take for us to mentor a child, volunteer at the school, or be a special friend to a neighbor?
If you’re reading this, you’re breathing in and out. What have you done with those breaths that has been productive today?
This man has mild dementia and cannot live on his own. However, what he said was well worth it and was right on. Of course, he was talking about blowing on his glasses. I immediately thought of some other things.
You might as well do something productive. Why do we waste our time and energy on things that don’t matter?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we do or say things that we know are harmful to ourselves or others?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we complain about things that we can’t change?
You might as well do something productive. Is there any way we can leave our corner of the world better for our having been here?
You might as well do something productive. How can we serve those we know have need?
You might as well do something productive. Can you be an example of honesty, integrity, and truthfulness rather than selfishness, greed, and vice?
You might as well do something productive. What would it take for us to mentor a child, volunteer at the school, or be a special friend to a neighbor?
If you’re reading this, you’re breathing in and out. What have you done with those breaths that has been productive today?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Pickups and Carloads
Yesterday, I helped my niece move from her rented apartment to a home that she and her fiancé had bought just the day before. She will be living there and preparing the house to be a home until later this spring when they will be married. (How refreshing to see them living together AFTER they are married instead of before.) She has quite a task ahead of her, even though the house is fairly new and won’t need much painting, fixing, etc.
There are drapes to hang, a yard to work, furniture to buy (and move), things to hang on the wall, and the usual assortment of little “fixes” that are inevitable when someone moves into a new home. She and her fiancé will be busy these next few months.
It took three pickups and a couple of carloads to move everything she had out of the apartment and to the house, which is just a couple of blocks up the street in the same addition where we are living. Obviously, they will accumulate more “stuff” as time goes by, but I’m hopeful they will be mindful of a couple of things; where their stuff ultimately comes from, and just how much of it they are accumulating through the years.
Life does not consist of our possessions, says the Good Book. There’s a lot more to this than who has the most toys when he dies. After all, if that’s it, what’s the use?
We have a lot to learn about possessions and things. All too often, we define and identify ourselves by our possessions. Surely, there is much more to a living, breathing human being than what car he drives or what brand jeans she wears.
These kids have, if all is normal, a long life ahead of them. There will be plenty of time for possessions. Far more important will be the fostering and flowering of the relationship and the development of a solid foundation for a committed life together as husband and wife.
Godspeed.
There are drapes to hang, a yard to work, furniture to buy (and move), things to hang on the wall, and the usual assortment of little “fixes” that are inevitable when someone moves into a new home. She and her fiancé will be busy these next few months.
It took three pickups and a couple of carloads to move everything she had out of the apartment and to the house, which is just a couple of blocks up the street in the same addition where we are living. Obviously, they will accumulate more “stuff” as time goes by, but I’m hopeful they will be mindful of a couple of things; where their stuff ultimately comes from, and just how much of it they are accumulating through the years.
Life does not consist of our possessions, says the Good Book. There’s a lot more to this than who has the most toys when he dies. After all, if that’s it, what’s the use?
We have a lot to learn about possessions and things. All too often, we define and identify ourselves by our possessions. Surely, there is much more to a living, breathing human being than what car he drives or what brand jeans she wears.
These kids have, if all is normal, a long life ahead of them. There will be plenty of time for possessions. Far more important will be the fostering and flowering of the relationship and the development of a solid foundation for a committed life together as husband and wife.
Godspeed.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Responsibility
I was laying awake last night at about 4am (I don’t know the exact time…I didn’t want to know), and was thinking about the word “responsibility”. Don’t ask me why, I just was. In any event, I was thinking about that word, along with what it means, and what kinds of responsibilities I had in various aspects of my life.
I can easily understand why some people get so upset about the responsibilities of life that they become virtually paralyzed and cannot function in ordinary situations such as work, home life, and living. It can be a daunting thing to think of all of those people and situations who are dependent in some way or another on someone to do a job or carry out a task.
In the light of day as we go about our daily tasks, the burden seems somehow lessened. We manage to do at least most of what we are responsible for doing, and what doesn’t ge done waits until another day or really didn’t need to be done at all. But at times when it is quiet and we are alone with our thoughts, they can quickly loom ever larger until they just seem to overwhelm the senses.
I am reminded of Paul’s statement that he had learned the secret of contentment. Whatever the situation he found himself in, he said, he learned to be content with it. I would imagine that if anyone had responsibilities that seemed to overwhelm, it may have been him. Carried into situations not of his making and which altered his plans for the future in big ways, Paul learned to rely on a Higher Power and be content with wherever he found himself.
I know that I need to emulate Paul and others that have managed to find the secret of contentment and peace, even in the midst of chaos and disorder. I have a difficult time with that, and know that I would have a much easier time of life in general if I wasn’t so worried about getting this done or fulfilling that responsibility in a timely manner. Yes, we as Christians are to be diligent to live our lives “as unto the Lord” and so we must do the best we can. But to worry excessively about something or to allow external forces to take away our happiness, contentment, and peace is not appropriate and has no place in the life of the Christian.
I also know that for some people, the problem of excessive worry goes beyond what can reasonably be accommodated, and professional help may be needed. If so, there should be no stigma attached to that need; rather, we support and encourage our fellow Christian as best we know how and “bear one-another’s burden.”
Most of us don’t have the worry of where we will get our next meal, or where we will stay the night. Instead, our worries are more along the lines of paying bills, keeping promises, and attending to looming future events. We have moved away from worry about survival to worry about things not as important. The fallout of that worry, however, does not change. We can still be paralyzed by excessive worry, and that worry can rob us of the peace and contentment promised by our God.
There are no easy fixes. There is nothing I know of that will change this in five minutes or less. I know it is a learning process. And I know that true peace and contentment are gifts and blessings from God. I know that it involves one giving up the right to control one’s destiny and allowing God to take charge. I know that it is a daily decision that becomes a daily way of life.
And that, my friend, is not easy.
I can easily understand why some people get so upset about the responsibilities of life that they become virtually paralyzed and cannot function in ordinary situations such as work, home life, and living. It can be a daunting thing to think of all of those people and situations who are dependent in some way or another on someone to do a job or carry out a task.
In the light of day as we go about our daily tasks, the burden seems somehow lessened. We manage to do at least most of what we are responsible for doing, and what doesn’t ge done waits until another day or really didn’t need to be done at all. But at times when it is quiet and we are alone with our thoughts, they can quickly loom ever larger until they just seem to overwhelm the senses.
I am reminded of Paul’s statement that he had learned the secret of contentment. Whatever the situation he found himself in, he said, he learned to be content with it. I would imagine that if anyone had responsibilities that seemed to overwhelm, it may have been him. Carried into situations not of his making and which altered his plans for the future in big ways, Paul learned to rely on a Higher Power and be content with wherever he found himself.
I know that I need to emulate Paul and others that have managed to find the secret of contentment and peace, even in the midst of chaos and disorder. I have a difficult time with that, and know that I would have a much easier time of life in general if I wasn’t so worried about getting this done or fulfilling that responsibility in a timely manner. Yes, we as Christians are to be diligent to live our lives “as unto the Lord” and so we must do the best we can. But to worry excessively about something or to allow external forces to take away our happiness, contentment, and peace is not appropriate and has no place in the life of the Christian.
I also know that for some people, the problem of excessive worry goes beyond what can reasonably be accommodated, and professional help may be needed. If so, there should be no stigma attached to that need; rather, we support and encourage our fellow Christian as best we know how and “bear one-another’s burden.”
Most of us don’t have the worry of where we will get our next meal, or where we will stay the night. Instead, our worries are more along the lines of paying bills, keeping promises, and attending to looming future events. We have moved away from worry about survival to worry about things not as important. The fallout of that worry, however, does not change. We can still be paralyzed by excessive worry, and that worry can rob us of the peace and contentment promised by our God.
There are no easy fixes. There is nothing I know of that will change this in five minutes or less. I know it is a learning process. And I know that true peace and contentment are gifts and blessings from God. I know that it involves one giving up the right to control one’s destiny and allowing God to take charge. I know that it is a daily decision that becomes a daily way of life.
And that, my friend, is not easy.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Preparation and Prayer
I’m teaching an adult class this quarter (beginning tomorrow) on Exodus. When I was asked to teach it, I thought to myself, “That’s 40 chapters in 12 weeks in an Old Testament book that many people see as rather dry history.” Accepting the challenge after a day or two of thought, I now face the challenge of making this class something like our education minister had in mind for it.
Of course, we will need to do kind of an overview thing this quarter. There’s no way we can discuss each verse, or even each event, story, or section of the book. I’ll have to find the highlights, and for that I’ll need some kind of guidance to land on those places that I think will make the most relevant sense for us today.
In thinking about that, I was taken back to many years ago when I did a series of sermons on Joshua. I took much of my information from a book written by Dale Ralph Davis called “No Falling Words”. In the book, he zeroes in on God’s promises and how those promises were kept. Joshua, in his farewell address to the people in chapter 23 said that “Not one word of all the good words of Jehovah have fallen to the ground.” Of course, he meant that God has kept each and every promise that he gave to the nation of Israel.
Although the first promise to Israel was given to Abraham in Genesis 12, the fulfillment of that promise, and many others, in many ways begins as Exodus opens with the story of the calling of Moses and Aaron. I think it will be quite good to prepare the upcoming lessons based on the idea of “No Falling Words” and what that means for God’s people today.
I have all 12 lessons (we won’t meet for class Easter Sunday) outlined, and the introduction to the first lesson done. I’ll prepare the rest of tomorrow’s lesson later on today. We’ll look at the first three chapters of the book.
I enjoy teaching, as it gives me fresh eyes to look at something I perhaps have looked at many times before. I don’t pretend that I will cause any earth shattering changes in the lives of my students, but I do encourage them to think for themselves, to examine what they’ve always thought about God and their relationship with Him, and to go from class a little more refreshed than when they came into class. I am also acutely aware that as a teacher, I will be held to a greater account (according to James in 3:1).
Tomorrow should be interesting just in seeing who will be coming to this class. I doubt that I will have a house full, but hope that there will be enough that we can have good discussions. I would ask you to wish me luck, but suspect that preparation and prayer have much more to do with it than luck. So as I prepare and pray, if you’ll pray with me, perhaps the favor of the Lord will shine.
Of course, we will need to do kind of an overview thing this quarter. There’s no way we can discuss each verse, or even each event, story, or section of the book. I’ll have to find the highlights, and for that I’ll need some kind of guidance to land on those places that I think will make the most relevant sense for us today.
In thinking about that, I was taken back to many years ago when I did a series of sermons on Joshua. I took much of my information from a book written by Dale Ralph Davis called “No Falling Words”. In the book, he zeroes in on God’s promises and how those promises were kept. Joshua, in his farewell address to the people in chapter 23 said that “Not one word of all the good words of Jehovah have fallen to the ground.” Of course, he meant that God has kept each and every promise that he gave to the nation of Israel.
Although the first promise to Israel was given to Abraham in Genesis 12, the fulfillment of that promise, and many others, in many ways begins as Exodus opens with the story of the calling of Moses and Aaron. I think it will be quite good to prepare the upcoming lessons based on the idea of “No Falling Words” and what that means for God’s people today.
I have all 12 lessons (we won’t meet for class Easter Sunday) outlined, and the introduction to the first lesson done. I’ll prepare the rest of tomorrow’s lesson later on today. We’ll look at the first three chapters of the book.
I enjoy teaching, as it gives me fresh eyes to look at something I perhaps have looked at many times before. I don’t pretend that I will cause any earth shattering changes in the lives of my students, but I do encourage them to think for themselves, to examine what they’ve always thought about God and their relationship with Him, and to go from class a little more refreshed than when they came into class. I am also acutely aware that as a teacher, I will be held to a greater account (according to James in 3:1).
Tomorrow should be interesting just in seeing who will be coming to this class. I doubt that I will have a house full, but hope that there will be enough that we can have good discussions. I would ask you to wish me luck, but suspect that preparation and prayer have much more to do with it than luck. So as I prepare and pray, if you’ll pray with me, perhaps the favor of the Lord will shine.
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Enjoy the Spring
The last couple of days have been, weather-wise, just wonderful. Compared to the weeks and weeks that preceded, these days are a gift to be savored. It’s a little early to say that winter is over, but it is March after all, and things are warming up.
A couple of days ago, the neighbor kids were out on the driveway shooting baskets…in bare feet. Deer have come back to the park out back of our house, and we’re beginning to see a few more varieties of birds. The tulips are peeking through, and people are beginning to stir around, get things cleaned up, and prepare for the summer ahead.
I like all four seasons, but I think spring is my favorite. It’s a time for renewal and growth; of promise and expectation. The sometimes stifling heat of summer seems to suck some of that promise and expectation out of my system at times, but that’s to be expected in this part of the world.
It’s been a rather cold and dreary winter, this one has. All winters seem that way at times, but this one seems to have hung on longer than in recent past years. When the gray, foggy days just go on and on, people begin to get a little nervous. Folks have shorter tempers, and it just seems that it will never end. But it does, of course.
I hope you’re looking forward to spring as well. It’s a great time of the year. Stop and take the time to enjoy it.
A couple of days ago, the neighbor kids were out on the driveway shooting baskets…in bare feet. Deer have come back to the park out back of our house, and we’re beginning to see a few more varieties of birds. The tulips are peeking through, and people are beginning to stir around, get things cleaned up, and prepare for the summer ahead.
I like all four seasons, but I think spring is my favorite. It’s a time for renewal and growth; of promise and expectation. The sometimes stifling heat of summer seems to suck some of that promise and expectation out of my system at times, but that’s to be expected in this part of the world.
It’s been a rather cold and dreary winter, this one has. All winters seem that way at times, but this one seems to have hung on longer than in recent past years. When the gray, foggy days just go on and on, people begin to get a little nervous. Folks have shorter tempers, and it just seems that it will never end. But it does, of course.
I hope you’re looking forward to spring as well. It’s a great time of the year. Stop and take the time to enjoy it.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Always a Possibility
Today was just a lost day, it seems, for me. I was just wasted today and didn’t feel at all well. No bugs or illness…I think it was a mild exhaustion that overtook me today. Not sure why because I seem to sleep well, and long enough. I got home a little early today and promptly took a 45 minute nap, which helped immensely. I wish I could have done that about 10am this morning.
You know the kind of day. You have to work extremely hard, it seems, to put one foot in front of the other. Your brain isn’t working as well as it should. And you’re just not really into anything you do. Caffeine doesn’t help a lot. You can’t wait to be done.
And that is kind of sad because this was the prettiest day outside. One of the best. Tomorrow promises to be as good, however, so I am looking forward to that. We’ve had lots of winter, but not nearly like they’ve had in the Northeast.
Every Friday I look back over the week and think about what happened. I compare it with what I thought (or hoped) would happen five days before. It never seems to be anything close to what I thought it would be, even when I know some of what I have to do that week. I don’t know why I do this…maybe it’s one of those things that everyone does, but they just don’t talk much about it.
This weekend will be somewhat busy for us, but enjoyable. Unless, that is, things happen that disrupt our plans and routine. And that’s always a possibility.
You know the kind of day. You have to work extremely hard, it seems, to put one foot in front of the other. Your brain isn’t working as well as it should. And you’re just not really into anything you do. Caffeine doesn’t help a lot. You can’t wait to be done.
And that is kind of sad because this was the prettiest day outside. One of the best. Tomorrow promises to be as good, however, so I am looking forward to that. We’ve had lots of winter, but not nearly like they’ve had in the Northeast.
Every Friday I look back over the week and think about what happened. I compare it with what I thought (or hoped) would happen five days before. It never seems to be anything close to what I thought it would be, even when I know some of what I have to do that week. I don’t know why I do this…maybe it’s one of those things that everyone does, but they just don’t talk much about it.
This weekend will be somewhat busy for us, but enjoyable. Unless, that is, things happen that disrupt our plans and routine. And that’s always a possibility.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
This and That
I don’t know why some days just seem to take it out of me more than others. Yesterday and today were both like that. I don’t know if it was the amount of things I had to do, what those things were, or my physical or mental condition…maybe a combination of all of the above. In any event, I’m glad this day is almost over, and can pretty much guarantee you that I will be in bed by 10pm or shortly after.
In other thoughts, aren’t the Olympics something! I’ve watched them for many years now, and always enjoy most of the sports that are presented. Some, of course, I enjoy more than others. Do real men really watch figure skating? Yes, they do, and many of them enjoy it.
As time continues to march on, I am more and more convinced that what is here…what is in this life…this existence…doesn’t really matter all that much. It didn’t used to be this way, but now there is an overriding truth in all of my thinking that tells me to temper any decisions regarding the here and now with the reality of the eternity of which we partake as certainly as we exist.
I’ve agreed to teach an adult class this spring on the book of Exodus. I’ll have twelve Sundays to go through all of those chapters and help my class make sense of what is there. It certainly is a different way of teaching than I’m used to. I like to take things more slowly, but really, Exodus isn’t written in that way in very many places. So the survey approach probably will work better anyway.
There were about half a dozen crows in the peak of the bare cottonwood out back this morning. That tree is the tallest one around and the crows were at its peak, looking around, cawing some, and flying off a short way and back again. I came in and told my wife about it. She thought maybe they were discussing where to have breakfast. I dunno. Even though they are “just birds”, I like crows. I’ve heard, and have also thought, that they are probably one of the more intelligent animals we have around. You can read some of the work that has been done on that topic by Googling crow intelligence. Some of that is a rather interesting read.
It’s time to get back to the Olympics.
In other thoughts, aren’t the Olympics something! I’ve watched them for many years now, and always enjoy most of the sports that are presented. Some, of course, I enjoy more than others. Do real men really watch figure skating? Yes, they do, and many of them enjoy it.
As time continues to march on, I am more and more convinced that what is here…what is in this life…this existence…doesn’t really matter all that much. It didn’t used to be this way, but now there is an overriding truth in all of my thinking that tells me to temper any decisions regarding the here and now with the reality of the eternity of which we partake as certainly as we exist.
I’ve agreed to teach an adult class this spring on the book of Exodus. I’ll have twelve Sundays to go through all of those chapters and help my class make sense of what is there. It certainly is a different way of teaching than I’m used to. I like to take things more slowly, but really, Exodus isn’t written in that way in very many places. So the survey approach probably will work better anyway.
There were about half a dozen crows in the peak of the bare cottonwood out back this morning. That tree is the tallest one around and the crows were at its peak, looking around, cawing some, and flying off a short way and back again. I came in and told my wife about it. She thought maybe they were discussing where to have breakfast. I dunno. Even though they are “just birds”, I like crows. I’ve heard, and have also thought, that they are probably one of the more intelligent animals we have around. You can read some of the work that has been done on that topic by Googling crow intelligence. Some of that is a rather interesting read.
It’s time to get back to the Olympics.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
You Get What You Get
It’s been another cloudy, dreary day here with freezing rain and sleet falling sporadically. It seems to be melting when it hits the ground, so things aren’t slick. The official temp is 34 degrees, but probably will fall tonight.
We were out doing some errands this morning and had to drive to several locations. Most of the time, the drivers were pretty good, but we ran into (figuratively, of course) one or two that I kind of had to scratch my head (figuratively, of course) and wonder what in the world they were trying to do. One woman, it seemed, was making a “U” turn on East Douglas in the middle of traffic, holding up the works in several directions. One person (gender is known, but will not be given for fear of my being accused of being biased) sped up and passed me in the rain on I 235 only to get behind a truck after passing, slowing down, and making me go around her so I didn’t have to slow down. I wasn’t sure what she was up to, nor was I sure I wanted to know.
And so it goes, to borrow a phrase from Linda Ellerbee. All in all, our foray into the retail and public areas of Wichita went well, including our visit to Sam’s Club to buy a few things and cash our rebate check.
So it’s been a slow day, which probably is a good thing for us. We’re watching the Olympics, the KU basketball game, doing laundry, and otherwise just vegging around. I went out to the garage awhile ago, but didn’t stay even though there were things I needed to do, because it was cold enough there that it wouldn’t have been a very pleasant time. One of these days, I have to get out there and do some of the accumulating chores.
We’ll host our small group tomorrow evening, and of course we meet for church in the morning. The wife is on administrative nursing call this weekend, but hasn’t had much in the way of issues just yet. Let’s hope that dearth of problems continues through the weekend.
That’s it. Not much from here. I don’t feel like stretching my brain today to ponder the meaning of life or the origin of the species. You get what you get.
We were out doing some errands this morning and had to drive to several locations. Most of the time, the drivers were pretty good, but we ran into (figuratively, of course) one or two that I kind of had to scratch my head (figuratively, of course) and wonder what in the world they were trying to do. One woman, it seemed, was making a “U” turn on East Douglas in the middle of traffic, holding up the works in several directions. One person (gender is known, but will not be given for fear of my being accused of being biased) sped up and passed me in the rain on I 235 only to get behind a truck after passing, slowing down, and making me go around her so I didn’t have to slow down. I wasn’t sure what she was up to, nor was I sure I wanted to know.
And so it goes, to borrow a phrase from Linda Ellerbee. All in all, our foray into the retail and public areas of Wichita went well, including our visit to Sam’s Club to buy a few things and cash our rebate check.
So it’s been a slow day, which probably is a good thing for us. We’re watching the Olympics, the KU basketball game, doing laundry, and otherwise just vegging around. I went out to the garage awhile ago, but didn’t stay even though there were things I needed to do, because it was cold enough there that it wouldn’t have been a very pleasant time. One of these days, I have to get out there and do some of the accumulating chores.
We’ll host our small group tomorrow evening, and of course we meet for church in the morning. The wife is on administrative nursing call this weekend, but hasn’t had much in the way of issues just yet. Let’s hope that dearth of problems continues through the weekend.
That’s it. Not much from here. I don’t feel like stretching my brain today to ponder the meaning of life or the origin of the species. You get what you get.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Another Day
Today is Valentine’s Day. According to Wiki, the day is named for at least two Christian martyrs of early Christian times. The day was authorized by a Catholic pope in the fifth century, and currently is a time of celebration of love and affection between intimate companions. I assume most all of that is pretty close to authoritative.
We didn’t do much to celebrate the holiday. I never like to do much to celebrate any holiday, including birthdays, and today isn’t any different. We did go to a nice Italian restaurant for Sunday dinner. It wasn’t crowded or noisy, and the food was good. We also spent the afternoon with each other, as we normally do on weekends and went to see the grandkids and took pizza over to their place this evening along with Valentine cards and candy for the kids.
A couple of observations and comments please. First, my apologies to my wife for my reluctance to celebrate this or any holiday in the traditional way. I never was comfortable doing some of the traditional holiday things. She has known that for years, but somehow I feel the need to say it again.
I want her to know that in spite of her not getting flowers or chocolates today, I love her intensely, and cherish the time we are together, even if it’s just sitting in our easy chairs watching the Olympics. When she’s gone overnight, I don’t sleep well. I notice the empty space. Things just aren’t normal. When she’s not feeling well, I don’t feel well. Again, things just aren’t normal.
Second, it’s great to be a grandparent. Who else could take pizza and candy over to a couple of pre-schoolers, let them indulge in both, and then leave after a couple of hours and have someone else deal with the aftermath?
There’s also something about the unconditional love between grandparent and grandchild that is just different from anything else I’ve ever experienced. It’s not the same as a parent/child relationship. In fact, it’s not the same as any other relationship. On this day especially, it’s a privilege to be reminded of the special bond between the grandkids and us.
I don’t know if my wife is disappointed in my lack of holiday skills or not. If she is, she doesn’t say anything about it. I am capable of a lot of things and, I suppose, could break down and get flowers on Valentine’s Day. I’d much rather, though, do something unexpected on a routine and regular day. To me, that seems more genuine than doing something on a certain day just because everyone else does it.
Tomorrow is another day.
We didn’t do much to celebrate the holiday. I never like to do much to celebrate any holiday, including birthdays, and today isn’t any different. We did go to a nice Italian restaurant for Sunday dinner. It wasn’t crowded or noisy, and the food was good. We also spent the afternoon with each other, as we normally do on weekends and went to see the grandkids and took pizza over to their place this evening along with Valentine cards and candy for the kids.
A couple of observations and comments please. First, my apologies to my wife for my reluctance to celebrate this or any holiday in the traditional way. I never was comfortable doing some of the traditional holiday things. She has known that for years, but somehow I feel the need to say it again.
I want her to know that in spite of her not getting flowers or chocolates today, I love her intensely, and cherish the time we are together, even if it’s just sitting in our easy chairs watching the Olympics. When she’s gone overnight, I don’t sleep well. I notice the empty space. Things just aren’t normal. When she’s not feeling well, I don’t feel well. Again, things just aren’t normal.
Second, it’s great to be a grandparent. Who else could take pizza and candy over to a couple of pre-schoolers, let them indulge in both, and then leave after a couple of hours and have someone else deal with the aftermath?
There’s also something about the unconditional love between grandparent and grandchild that is just different from anything else I’ve ever experienced. It’s not the same as a parent/child relationship. In fact, it’s not the same as any other relationship. On this day especially, it’s a privilege to be reminded of the special bond between the grandkids and us.
I don’t know if my wife is disappointed in my lack of holiday skills or not. If she is, she doesn’t say anything about it. I am capable of a lot of things and, I suppose, could break down and get flowers on Valentine’s Day. I’d much rather, though, do something unexpected on a routine and regular day. To me, that seems more genuine than doing something on a certain day just because everyone else does it.
Tomorrow is another day.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Surprises Await
I’m reading a book called “Physics For the Rest of Us” by Roger S. Jones. Yes, it is what you think it may be, a book that attempts to explain modern physics in language and ways the ordinary person can understand. Although the author tried very hard to do this, he didn’t succeed, at least with me. There are places in the book that are relatively easy to understand, but there are places where it just isn’t possible to mush it all down into something that the ordinary person can swallow.
I am fascinated by modern physics…relativity, the quantum theory, the big bang, and all of that. Many of the things I do understand are just jaw-dropping. The world that we think we know of as such an orderly and predictable place is, in fact, a world of organized chaos, probability, and unthinkable truth. Imagine light slowing down inside a substance to a speed of a few inches a minute. Imagine a beam of light exiting a substance before it enters into it. Imagine a particle thousands of miles away reacting to the deliberate modification of it’s “partner” particle, with no apparent connection between the two. Imagine the fact that one can know either the movement of a particle or it’s location, but not both at the same time. Imagine something that behaves either like an electromagnetic wave or like a physical particle (commonly thought to be an impossibility due to the vastly different properties of each), depending not on anything it does, but rather depending on how it is observed. Imagine an electrical current that, once induced into it, traverses a metal for hundreds of thousands of years, yet never being replenished or decaying.
I could continue, but you get the idea. The book tries to explain the above phenomena, but I couldn’t understand it all. What I do understand, and what I take from the book is the incredible complexity of this creation.
That, friend, is a gross understatement, but it’s the best I can do. This creation is just astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly complex. For example, why is a crystalline substance either a conductor of electricity (metallic copper) or transparent (diamond); but not both. And how does the answer to that fit in with all the rest of the creation and enable everything else to work as it should? Yet it fits together and works perfectly; astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly well. We don’t know so much more than we do know, but what we do know is more than enough to be able to say that something truly unique is going on here…never in quintillions of years could all of this come together on its own.
I’m about three quarters finished with the book. Many more surprises await, I’m sure.
I am fascinated by modern physics…relativity, the quantum theory, the big bang, and all of that. Many of the things I do understand are just jaw-dropping. The world that we think we know of as such an orderly and predictable place is, in fact, a world of organized chaos, probability, and unthinkable truth. Imagine light slowing down inside a substance to a speed of a few inches a minute. Imagine a beam of light exiting a substance before it enters into it. Imagine a particle thousands of miles away reacting to the deliberate modification of it’s “partner” particle, with no apparent connection between the two. Imagine the fact that one can know either the movement of a particle or it’s location, but not both at the same time. Imagine something that behaves either like an electromagnetic wave or like a physical particle (commonly thought to be an impossibility due to the vastly different properties of each), depending not on anything it does, but rather depending on how it is observed. Imagine an electrical current that, once induced into it, traverses a metal for hundreds of thousands of years, yet never being replenished or decaying.
I could continue, but you get the idea. The book tries to explain the above phenomena, but I couldn’t understand it all. What I do understand, and what I take from the book is the incredible complexity of this creation.
That, friend, is a gross understatement, but it’s the best I can do. This creation is just astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly complex. For example, why is a crystalline substance either a conductor of electricity (metallic copper) or transparent (diamond); but not both. And how does the answer to that fit in with all the rest of the creation and enable everything else to work as it should? Yet it fits together and works perfectly; astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly well. We don’t know so much more than we do know, but what we do know is more than enough to be able to say that something truly unique is going on here…never in quintillions of years could all of this come together on its own.
I’m about three quarters finished with the book. Many more surprises await, I’m sure.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
The Future Visited
Is it a sign that one is getting older when his vision of the future doesn’t include anything beyond a certain number of years? Or is that just normal?
When I was much younger, my vision of the future was virtually unlimited in terms of length. I could think 20, 30, even 50 or 60 years into the future and find that I was a part of it. Now, whenever I think much beyond 20 or so years, I also think that I probably won’t be around to see it anyway, so why worry about it.
I have to wonder just how common of a thing that is. I know there may be some folks that don’t think that far ahead at all. They have concerns in the here and now, and don’t look much beyond the week or month ahead. There are others who enjoy thinking about life in the twenty-second or twenty-third centuries, and some (Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, and others) who have made tons of money from those thoughts.
I would think, though, that as life begins to wind down, a part of that process is a change in how one thinks about things to come, as well as the things that were and are. I’m already well past the point that I think I have to scratch my way to the top of the work pinnacle, or that I have to prove my competence to someone else. Yes, I still do good work and I still give 100% when at work, but the reason for doing so is different. I’m also looking more to the time when I won’t have to punch the time clock so religiously.
This thing called aging is yet another adventure that I am witnessing in myself and in others I know and love. It, like all other of life’s adventures, is a marvelous thing to behold and presents far more questions than answers. I may no longer be seeing myself 50 or 60 years from now in the future I concoct in my mind, but I’ll still have enough to think about as time marches on.
When I was much younger, my vision of the future was virtually unlimited in terms of length. I could think 20, 30, even 50 or 60 years into the future and find that I was a part of it. Now, whenever I think much beyond 20 or so years, I also think that I probably won’t be around to see it anyway, so why worry about it.
I have to wonder just how common of a thing that is. I know there may be some folks that don’t think that far ahead at all. They have concerns in the here and now, and don’t look much beyond the week or month ahead. There are others who enjoy thinking about life in the twenty-second or twenty-third centuries, and some (Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, and others) who have made tons of money from those thoughts.
I would think, though, that as life begins to wind down, a part of that process is a change in how one thinks about things to come, as well as the things that were and are. I’m already well past the point that I think I have to scratch my way to the top of the work pinnacle, or that I have to prove my competence to someone else. Yes, I still do good work and I still give 100% when at work, but the reason for doing so is different. I’m also looking more to the time when I won’t have to punch the time clock so religiously.
This thing called aging is yet another adventure that I am witnessing in myself and in others I know and love. It, like all other of life’s adventures, is a marvelous thing to behold and presents far more questions than answers. I may no longer be seeing myself 50 or 60 years from now in the future I concoct in my mind, but I’ll still have enough to think about as time marches on.
Friday, February 05, 2010
A Place to Go
Well, folks, it’s been a few days since I’ve written, or even felt like I had something to say. It’s been cloudy, foggy, rainy, snowy, and generally dreary for more days than I care to count. I think the lack of sun truly is beginning to take a toll on me as I struggle at times to maintain a decent demeanor.
It doesn’t help that work seems to be never-ending. Additionally, things seem to never get better…we always seem to be a half-step behind the ball, catching up in some way. We hold things together, but just once I’d like to see us at the top of the hill looking down instead of struggling against the grain trying to gain a little altitude.
Maybe that’s not practical in today’s work world. As I talk with others who work in different places for different employers, it seems to be the same everywhere. Everyone seems to be peddling hard just to keep from falling off. These are the folks who have to remind themselves that they are thankful they have someplace to go at 8 o’clock on Monday morning.
And then there are those who don’t have any place to go on Monday morning. They probably haven’t had a place to go on Monday morning for several weeks to several months to even a year or more. For them, life is on a different plane. They think differently, plan differently, and act differently. Life centers on unemployment insurance, expense cuts, and possibly even acceptance of charity. They worry about health insurance, or lack thereof. They don’t sleep much some nights. And their demeanor is even harder to control sometimes.
So as I gripe about work and lack of sunshine and where I am on the hill of life, I must also think of others who have different worries and different concerns. And I indeed am grateful that I have a place to go on Monday morning.
It doesn’t help that work seems to be never-ending. Additionally, things seem to never get better…we always seem to be a half-step behind the ball, catching up in some way. We hold things together, but just once I’d like to see us at the top of the hill looking down instead of struggling against the grain trying to gain a little altitude.
Maybe that’s not practical in today’s work world. As I talk with others who work in different places for different employers, it seems to be the same everywhere. Everyone seems to be peddling hard just to keep from falling off. These are the folks who have to remind themselves that they are thankful they have someplace to go at 8 o’clock on Monday morning.
And then there are those who don’t have any place to go on Monday morning. They probably haven’t had a place to go on Monday morning for several weeks to several months to even a year or more. For them, life is on a different plane. They think differently, plan differently, and act differently. Life centers on unemployment insurance, expense cuts, and possibly even acceptance of charity. They worry about health insurance, or lack thereof. They don’t sleep much some nights. And their demeanor is even harder to control sometimes.
So as I gripe about work and lack of sunshine and where I am on the hill of life, I must also think of others who have different worries and different concerns. And I indeed am grateful that I have a place to go on Monday morning.
Friday, January 29, 2010
We'll See
“Every day is election day” in Washington. Or so says President Obama in his State of the Union speech a few days ago.
Yes, it is, Mr. President. And it has been for years. Instead of making decisions based on what may be good for the country, legislators all too often make decisions based on how they will play with the electorate, as if the election was being held the next day.
This phenomenon is not unique with the Republicans, or with the Democrats, for that matter. It’s an infection that has permeated the Washington establishment for years.
Why else is it such a refreshing thing (and much talked-about) when a politician states in plain words that he or she is not running for re-election (a-la Mark Parkinson, governor or Kansas)? The clear implication is that he or she is no longer bound to think about decisions based on the future election. Instead, he can actually do the job he was put into office to do. What a novel idea! Doing one’s job!
As I said in a prior blog, this is not funny…it’s just sad. If there is any pessimism within me regarding our government, it is that those who are our elected representatives always seem to be running for office, and the minority party always seems to be the party of “No”, obstructing anything that it didn’t think up on its own or that may result in a better image for the majority party.
Will it change? I don’t know. What I do know is that something needs to happen soon. The government, both local and national, is becoming more and more irrelevant as the years go by, and more and more expensive. I also know that this cannot continue ad infinitum. We’ll see.
Yes, it is, Mr. President. And it has been for years. Instead of making decisions based on what may be good for the country, legislators all too often make decisions based on how they will play with the electorate, as if the election was being held the next day.
This phenomenon is not unique with the Republicans, or with the Democrats, for that matter. It’s an infection that has permeated the Washington establishment for years.
Why else is it such a refreshing thing (and much talked-about) when a politician states in plain words that he or she is not running for re-election (a-la Mark Parkinson, governor or Kansas)? The clear implication is that he or she is no longer bound to think about decisions based on the future election. Instead, he can actually do the job he was put into office to do. What a novel idea! Doing one’s job!
As I said in a prior blog, this is not funny…it’s just sad. If there is any pessimism within me regarding our government, it is that those who are our elected representatives always seem to be running for office, and the minority party always seems to be the party of “No”, obstructing anything that it didn’t think up on its own or that may result in a better image for the majority party.
Will it change? I don’t know. What I do know is that something needs to happen soon. The government, both local and national, is becoming more and more irrelevant as the years go by, and more and more expensive. I also know that this cannot continue ad infinitum. We’ll see.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Time and Timelessness
This weekend, we volunteered to keep the grandkids overnight so their parents could take a day off and celebrate their anniversary. The time is winding down and mom and dad should be here before long. Both of the kids are asleep…one in his bed and the other is sacked out on the couch a few feet away from me. It’s been an interesting time.
We’ve kept the kids before, and we always enjoy doing so. However, it’s a break in our routine, and it is kind of tough sometimes to remember that we have others we have responsibility for, and that we just can’t get up and leave, or even just go to the bathroom.
We’ve had several weekends leading up to this one where we either went somewhere, had someone at the house, or had some other responsibility of some kind. I told the wife that I’d really like to have a weekend where we had no responsibilities like that scheduled. Next weekend won’t quite do, as she will be gone to some kind of meeting, and I have agreed to substitute at a Sunday School class next Sunday. I’m sure that by the weekend, there will be something else we’ll need to do.
I always wondered how retired people spent their time. We’re not retired, but I’m getting an idea of how that might go should one or both of us be fortunate enough that we could retire. I suspect that we will be busy more of the time than not, assuming our health holds out and we have the financial means to do a few things from time to time. In a way, I look forward to that time as I know there are things we could do during the week that had to do with “church work” that we just cannot do now. A lot certainly needs to be done, and it seems that retired folks do a lot of it, probably due in great part to the fact that they have more time in which to do it.
Besides, remaining active like that, they say, keeps one healthier and happier than if one just vegetates in the house all the time. Sometimes, I like to veg out, but it never lasts very long and I’m ready to go after awhile. That’s one reason I don’t like to be ill, besides the obvious of not feeling well. Those four walls and ceiling get awfully old after just a short time and I’m ready for some new views of the world.
One of these days, it won’t matter for me any more. I’ll not be concerned with illness, retirement, or having something to do. I truly look forward to that time (or timelessness, to be more exact), and trust you do too.
We’ve kept the kids before, and we always enjoy doing so. However, it’s a break in our routine, and it is kind of tough sometimes to remember that we have others we have responsibility for, and that we just can’t get up and leave, or even just go to the bathroom.
We’ve had several weekends leading up to this one where we either went somewhere, had someone at the house, or had some other responsibility of some kind. I told the wife that I’d really like to have a weekend where we had no responsibilities like that scheduled. Next weekend won’t quite do, as she will be gone to some kind of meeting, and I have agreed to substitute at a Sunday School class next Sunday. I’m sure that by the weekend, there will be something else we’ll need to do.
I always wondered how retired people spent their time. We’re not retired, but I’m getting an idea of how that might go should one or both of us be fortunate enough that we could retire. I suspect that we will be busy more of the time than not, assuming our health holds out and we have the financial means to do a few things from time to time. In a way, I look forward to that time as I know there are things we could do during the week that had to do with “church work” that we just cannot do now. A lot certainly needs to be done, and it seems that retired folks do a lot of it, probably due in great part to the fact that they have more time in which to do it.
Besides, remaining active like that, they say, keeps one healthier and happier than if one just vegetates in the house all the time. Sometimes, I like to veg out, but it never lasts very long and I’m ready to go after awhile. That’s one reason I don’t like to be ill, besides the obvious of not feeling well. Those four walls and ceiling get awfully old after just a short time and I’m ready for some new views of the world.
One of these days, it won’t matter for me any more. I’ll not be concerned with illness, retirement, or having something to do. I truly look forward to that time (or timelessness, to be more exact), and trust you do too.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
It's Just Sad
I know many are joyous over the win in Massachusetts of a Republican for the Senate. Others are boding the end of the world as we know it because of that. As an independent, I am just sad. If you care to read further, I'll tell you why.
No, it won't be the end of the world as we know it. And, no, there's no particular reason for joy. Not much really will change, except the politics of legislation will be much more complicated, much more overrun with lobbying and bribery (yes, I said that word), and much ado about (usually) very little of substance. And that's what makes me sad.
The founding fathers had a deliberative body of august men (no women in that time) in mind when they conceived the Senate...a place where substance, country, and the people could rise above politics and the cesspool that often accompanies that profession. They deliberately made Senators appointed, not elected, and staggered their six year terms so the body could remain relatively intact and somewhat insulated from the whims of the day. Senate rules (each house sets its own rules) originally were conceived to carry out this vision of a great deliberative body which intentionally goes it slow and steady over the course of time. The rules attempted to preserve the rights of the minority (no limit on debate, etc) while maintaining a process so that needed legislation would eventually rise to the top and be debated and voted upon.
The Senate today is nothing like that body which was in the minds of Jefferson and others of long ago. Senator Byrd notwithstanding, the Senate and its rules have become a breeding ground for politics and political shenanigans at the basest of levels. The direct election of Senators began to bring down the Senate to its present form and function, and the polarization of the political process has brought the work to substantial completion.
Where is the great oratory on either side of the aisle? All either party knows how to say now is “filibuster”. Where are the debates wherein the words of the debaters are recorded, analyzed, and taught in the classroom as an example of great political debate? Where are the great Senators? Where are those who have, as many before them, distinguished themselves as men and women who have the interests of the American people at heart and aren't afraid to go it alone, if necessary, to preserve and protect what we hold dear? Where is the Senator who is not constantly looking toward the next election and how his or her words and actions will “play” in that election? Where is the Senator who is not constantly raising money for the next political campaign, and selling his or her soul and vote in the process? I wish someone would tell me who are the truly great Senators of today.
So, I'm sad. I'm disappointed. I'm angry. And I'm cynical. It doesn't matter three cents-worth if the Republicans or the Democrats are in control or if one has a filibuster proof majority or not. It's the same on either side of the aisle. Democrats have nothing to crow about regarding ethics and doing the right thing, and Republicans certainly aren't any better.
The only thing that this election in Massachusetts will do is make the Congress of the United States even more irrelevant than they have been the past many years, and as Rome burns, they will continue to fiddle until all that's left is for someone to shut off the last light as they leave.
No, it won't be the end of the world as we know it. And, no, there's no particular reason for joy. Not much really will change, except the politics of legislation will be much more complicated, much more overrun with lobbying and bribery (yes, I said that word), and much ado about (usually) very little of substance. And that's what makes me sad.
The founding fathers had a deliberative body of august men (no women in that time) in mind when they conceived the Senate...a place where substance, country, and the people could rise above politics and the cesspool that often accompanies that profession. They deliberately made Senators appointed, not elected, and staggered their six year terms so the body could remain relatively intact and somewhat insulated from the whims of the day. Senate rules (each house sets its own rules) originally were conceived to carry out this vision of a great deliberative body which intentionally goes it slow and steady over the course of time. The rules attempted to preserve the rights of the minority (no limit on debate, etc) while maintaining a process so that needed legislation would eventually rise to the top and be debated and voted upon.
The Senate today is nothing like that body which was in the minds of Jefferson and others of long ago. Senator Byrd notwithstanding, the Senate and its rules have become a breeding ground for politics and political shenanigans at the basest of levels. The direct election of Senators began to bring down the Senate to its present form and function, and the polarization of the political process has brought the work to substantial completion.
Where is the great oratory on either side of the aisle? All either party knows how to say now is “filibuster”. Where are the debates wherein the words of the debaters are recorded, analyzed, and taught in the classroom as an example of great political debate? Where are the great Senators? Where are those who have, as many before them, distinguished themselves as men and women who have the interests of the American people at heart and aren't afraid to go it alone, if necessary, to preserve and protect what we hold dear? Where is the Senator who is not constantly looking toward the next election and how his or her words and actions will “play” in that election? Where is the Senator who is not constantly raising money for the next political campaign, and selling his or her soul and vote in the process? I wish someone would tell me who are the truly great Senators of today.
So, I'm sad. I'm disappointed. I'm angry. And I'm cynical. It doesn't matter three cents-worth if the Republicans or the Democrats are in control or if one has a filibuster proof majority or not. It's the same on either side of the aisle. Democrats have nothing to crow about regarding ethics and doing the right thing, and Republicans certainly aren't any better.
The only thing that this election in Massachusetts will do is make the Congress of the United States even more irrelevant than they have been the past many years, and as Rome burns, they will continue to fiddle until all that's left is for someone to shut off the last light as they leave.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Not Just Think, But Do
It’s been a week (almost), since I last blogged. Let’s see. There’s been a week’s worth of work at the nursing home, six nights slept, and many meals eaten. There’s also been the comfort of a nice home, the company of a good wife, and the great relationships with friends and relatives.
Such has life been here; such has not been life in Haiti. What a tragedy of untold magnitude. Words just can’t describe what is happening there, just as words couldn’t describe Katrina or the Tsunami or other earthquakes or hurricanes. I haven’t a clue why such things happen, nor do I have a clue why bad things happen to good people. Yet, to say, “It is what it is,” seems to be trite and dismissive.
So, do we throw up our collective hands and say something about not being able to fix the world? Or do we stop for a minute, collect ourselves, and ask what we can do? I hope the latter, as it is the collective help of individuals that will truly make a difference, not only in Haiti, but wherever there is calamity.
The earthquake is but the last of untold decades of despair, evil, and catastrophe, both natural and man-caused. While many, many people have been and continue to help places like this in any way they can, the task truly seems gargantuan and that two or three steps back are taken for every step forward.
Yet we continue. We press on. And some of us really do what we can, although many of us could do a lot more. This is a good time to give ourselves an assessment. This is a good time to not just think, but do.
Such has life been here; such has not been life in Haiti. What a tragedy of untold magnitude. Words just can’t describe what is happening there, just as words couldn’t describe Katrina or the Tsunami or other earthquakes or hurricanes. I haven’t a clue why such things happen, nor do I have a clue why bad things happen to good people. Yet, to say, “It is what it is,” seems to be trite and dismissive.
So, do we throw up our collective hands and say something about not being able to fix the world? Or do we stop for a minute, collect ourselves, and ask what we can do? I hope the latter, as it is the collective help of individuals that will truly make a difference, not only in Haiti, but wherever there is calamity.
The earthquake is but the last of untold decades of despair, evil, and catastrophe, both natural and man-caused. While many, many people have been and continue to help places like this in any way they can, the task truly seems gargantuan and that two or three steps back are taken for every step forward.
Yet we continue. We press on. And some of us really do what we can, although many of us could do a lot more. This is a good time to give ourselves an assessment. This is a good time to not just think, but do.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
To Crash or Not to Crash
It’s Saturday morning. I don’t often get up at 5:30am on Saturday; consequently, I don’t often blog at 8am. Oh, I know some folks just seem to wake up as the perfect perky person, but I’m not one of them. It takes awhile for the bones to get used to supporting the weight each morning.
Oh, why am I up, you ask? Our church hosted the York College (Nebraska) touring choir last evening (a great performance, I might add) and we kept four of the young men in the choir overnight. They had to be back at the church to load up on the bus for Colorado at 7:30 this morning. So that meant we had to get up early to feed them and get them to the building.
Now, I’m not sure whether to crash for another hour or two of sleep or just tough it out. As I think of it further, maybe that hour or two would be a good thing since we’re hosting a birthday party for our younger grandson this evening. I don’t think a tired grandpa would be a good thing tonight.
Well, the hour rest suddenly, with a phone call, has vanished. Sis has a frozen pipe and they want to borrow my radiant heater so I’ll be loading up and going into their place in a minute or two. It’s been cold here and their older home just has a draft or two that in this weather will freeze water pipes. I just hope the pipe didn’t break. It’s in a place that’s hard to get to under the house.
Later…
Oh, why am I up, you ask? Our church hosted the York College (Nebraska) touring choir last evening (a great performance, I might add) and we kept four of the young men in the choir overnight. They had to be back at the church to load up on the bus for Colorado at 7:30 this morning. So that meant we had to get up early to feed them and get them to the building.
Now, I’m not sure whether to crash for another hour or two of sleep or just tough it out. As I think of it further, maybe that hour or two would be a good thing since we’re hosting a birthday party for our younger grandson this evening. I don’t think a tired grandpa would be a good thing tonight.
Well, the hour rest suddenly, with a phone call, has vanished. Sis has a frozen pipe and they want to borrow my radiant heater so I’ll be loading up and going into their place in a minute or two. It’s been cold here and their older home just has a draft or two that in this weather will freeze water pipes. I just hope the pipe didn’t break. It’s in a place that’s hard to get to under the house.
Later…
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Award-Winning Comments
Rush Limbaugh had to go to the hospital a few days ago suffering from chest pain. They didn’t find anything cardiac related, and Limbaugh was released. On his release, he was quoted in an Associated Press article in the Wichita Eagle on January 2, 2010, as saying, that he got the best health treatment in the world "right here in the United States of America."
"I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system," Limbaugh said. "I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms."
I am truly glad that Mr. Limbaugh was able to get the diagnosis and treatment that he needed at that time. However, as someone with both fame and money, Mr. Limbaugh hasn’t a clue whether there’s anything wrong with the health care system or not. I challenge him to attempt to receive care anonymously, without insurance, and without money. I challenge him to say the same words regarding our health care system after a few years of trying to find free clinics, applying for Medicaid, navigating the emergency room, and hoping against hope that he won’t need an expensive antibiotic to treat a very treatable condition.
An article in today’s Eagle (January 3, 2010) tells of crowds waiting all night for vision, dental, and medical examinations and treatment in Tennessee. A 26 year old mother of three says she has waited “pretty much as long as I can remember” to escape the pain throbbing through her jaws. Her husband is out of work. Medical insurance is out of the question.
Over the next two days, providers at that clinic will have seen 701 patients. They will have extracted 852 teeth, filled 234 others, tested 345 pairs of eyes, and had 87 people examined by an M.D. The bill, if someone was paying, would total over $138,000. And this is just one clinic in one area over two days.
The people that finance and provide the clinic say it’s been this way during the entire 17 year period they’ve been doing this. The clinic just completed was number 587 and was held at a local high school.
Would Mr. Limbaugh have been willing to wait “pretty much as long as (he) can remember” to have those pains in his chest examined? Would he have driven for two hours with three kids, waited overnight in line over 10 hours, and waited some more the next day (with those three kids) in order to be seen by a provider who didn’t have access to the latest and greatest medical equipment, laboratory, or diagnostic instruments? Who had hundreds more people lined up to see him or her? Give me a break.
Yet thousands of people live this way, dealing with their medical and dental care as they can and as others are willing to provide. Having no choice, they wait for the next free clinic which could be next week or next year. They hope against hope that they will be healthy enough between clinics that they will be able to continue to function.
I give Mr. Limbaugh credit, though. His comments certainly qualify for the “stupid comments of an ignoramus” award. They’re right up there with President Bush’s comment that health care is always accessible. “People have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room,” he is quoted as saying in Cleveland, Ohio a few years ago.
By the way, while the EMTALA law requires emergency rooms to provide an examination and stabilization to anyone presenting without regard to ability to pay, that is ALL it requires. No emergency room is required to provide treatment that is not life-saving or does not stabilize the patient’s medical condition. The fact that many emergency rooms DO provide treatment in addition to what EMTALA requires is testament to the generosity of many health care providers. I wonder if Mr. Limbaugh or Mr. Bush would be satisfied with this kind of health care?
P.S. (added later) When Mr. Limbaugh and the mother of three in Tennessee receive substantially the same care in substantially the same time frame for substantially the same out of pocket dollars for the same condition, with substantially the same hope of a good outcome, then health care will be closer to what it should be. As it is now, it is ludicrous to think that both of these people will be treated in the same manner if they both present with the same problem at the same health care institution at the same time. And anyone who thinks that they will be treated equally with the same chance for a good outcome hasn't yet crawled out from under the rock they've been living under all these years.
"I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system," Limbaugh said. "I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms."
I am truly glad that Mr. Limbaugh was able to get the diagnosis and treatment that he needed at that time. However, as someone with both fame and money, Mr. Limbaugh hasn’t a clue whether there’s anything wrong with the health care system or not. I challenge him to attempt to receive care anonymously, without insurance, and without money. I challenge him to say the same words regarding our health care system after a few years of trying to find free clinics, applying for Medicaid, navigating the emergency room, and hoping against hope that he won’t need an expensive antibiotic to treat a very treatable condition.
An article in today’s Eagle (January 3, 2010) tells of crowds waiting all night for vision, dental, and medical examinations and treatment in Tennessee. A 26 year old mother of three says she has waited “pretty much as long as I can remember” to escape the pain throbbing through her jaws. Her husband is out of work. Medical insurance is out of the question.
Over the next two days, providers at that clinic will have seen 701 patients. They will have extracted 852 teeth, filled 234 others, tested 345 pairs of eyes, and had 87 people examined by an M.D. The bill, if someone was paying, would total over $138,000. And this is just one clinic in one area over two days.
The people that finance and provide the clinic say it’s been this way during the entire 17 year period they’ve been doing this. The clinic just completed was number 587 and was held at a local high school.
Would Mr. Limbaugh have been willing to wait “pretty much as long as (he) can remember” to have those pains in his chest examined? Would he have driven for two hours with three kids, waited overnight in line over 10 hours, and waited some more the next day (with those three kids) in order to be seen by a provider who didn’t have access to the latest and greatest medical equipment, laboratory, or diagnostic instruments? Who had hundreds more people lined up to see him or her? Give me a break.
Yet thousands of people live this way, dealing with their medical and dental care as they can and as others are willing to provide. Having no choice, they wait for the next free clinic which could be next week or next year. They hope against hope that they will be healthy enough between clinics that they will be able to continue to function.
I give Mr. Limbaugh credit, though. His comments certainly qualify for the “stupid comments of an ignoramus” award. They’re right up there with President Bush’s comment that health care is always accessible. “People have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room,” he is quoted as saying in Cleveland, Ohio a few years ago.
By the way, while the EMTALA law requires emergency rooms to provide an examination and stabilization to anyone presenting without regard to ability to pay, that is ALL it requires. No emergency room is required to provide treatment that is not life-saving or does not stabilize the patient’s medical condition. The fact that many emergency rooms DO provide treatment in addition to what EMTALA requires is testament to the generosity of many health care providers. I wonder if Mr. Limbaugh or Mr. Bush would be satisfied with this kind of health care?
P.S. (added later) When Mr. Limbaugh and the mother of three in Tennessee receive substantially the same care in substantially the same time frame for substantially the same out of pocket dollars for the same condition, with substantially the same hope of a good outcome, then health care will be closer to what it should be. As it is now, it is ludicrous to think that both of these people will be treated in the same manner if they both present with the same problem at the same health care institution at the same time. And anyone who thinks that they will be treated equally with the same chance for a good outcome hasn't yet crawled out from under the rock they've been living under all these years.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Saturday Morning
We went “out” this morning to do a few errands. One of those was stopping at the mall to exchange some house slippers I had gotten for Christmas that were too small. The wife also had some things to buy in a department store there. While I was unsuccessful with the slipper exchange (they didn’t have the right size), it wasn’t a total loss. We saw a friend from the community where we used to live and chatted a minute or two. I perused the little shops in the public areas of the mall and wondered how anyone possibly could make any kind of a living selling some of the things they were selling. And I encountered all kinds of people.
I encountered the gamut of men from homeless men to dads who had their kids for the weekend (they’re not hard to spot) to other men who were waiting on their wives to finish shopping just as I was.
There were teens who (and I admit I don’t really know) appeared to not have a clue or care, young mothers pushing strollers, texters, trollers (mostly girls 12 to 15), strollers (who were walking for exercise), the requisite saggers (both male and female) and those who looked like they were angry with the world. There were women in gawd-awful get-ups with heels and others who were nicely attired. Older women were, it seemed, more of the nicely attired group, though there were one or two of that age who looked like they really wanted to be 17 again.
Some men were following their women; others were leading. A few (like me) were just standing around. Sales clerks helped those people who came by and feigned interest, and one even asked me if I was being helped (I’m so beyond help…) as I looked at the watches in a display case.
“I’m just killing time waiting on my wife,” I said with a little embarrassment. I moved on fairly quickly to a corner and just stood there for awhile trying to blend in. Noticing, after a time, that I was in the cosmetics department and probably wouldn’t blend in there in the next hundred years or so, I moved on out to the store entrance.
The wife called just a few minutes after that and we found each other and went on to the next thing. On the way out, I looked at the tattoo parlor, the candy store, the jewelry store, the underwear place (Victoria’s Secret), the book store, the electronics retailer, the import market, the tobacco outlet, and all of the clothing stores and wondered to myself if there was enough money in Wichita to keep all of these places in business. I also went past the little shops set up in the court area… the calendar place, the cell phone place, the shirt place, the massage place, the knock-off perfume place, the hat place, the ink cartridge refill place (yeah, I’ll certainly think of the mall first to get my cartridges refilled or get a tattoo), and the 18 other places on our way out. I wondered if there was enough interest on the part of the public to patronize these places to the extent that they were all here and going to be successful. I just can’t imagine that could possibly be the case.
I dunno, though. Maybe the dames in the heels need the massage parlor. Maybe the saggers need tattoos to cover what their clothes don’t. And maybe those who are angry with it all could use something positive from the bookstore or a new calendar. On that thought, maybe the mall and its inhabitants were made for each other. That may be why I felt somewhat uncomfortable in there.
I encountered the gamut of men from homeless men to dads who had their kids for the weekend (they’re not hard to spot) to other men who were waiting on their wives to finish shopping just as I was.
There were teens who (and I admit I don’t really know) appeared to not have a clue or care, young mothers pushing strollers, texters, trollers (mostly girls 12 to 15), strollers (who were walking for exercise), the requisite saggers (both male and female) and those who looked like they were angry with the world. There were women in gawd-awful get-ups with heels and others who were nicely attired. Older women were, it seemed, more of the nicely attired group, though there were one or two of that age who looked like they really wanted to be 17 again.
Some men were following their women; others were leading. A few (like me) were just standing around. Sales clerks helped those people who came by and feigned interest, and one even asked me if I was being helped (I’m so beyond help…) as I looked at the watches in a display case.
“I’m just killing time waiting on my wife,” I said with a little embarrassment. I moved on fairly quickly to a corner and just stood there for awhile trying to blend in. Noticing, after a time, that I was in the cosmetics department and probably wouldn’t blend in there in the next hundred years or so, I moved on out to the store entrance.
The wife called just a few minutes after that and we found each other and went on to the next thing. On the way out, I looked at the tattoo parlor, the candy store, the jewelry store, the underwear place (Victoria’s Secret), the book store, the electronics retailer, the import market, the tobacco outlet, and all of the clothing stores and wondered to myself if there was enough money in Wichita to keep all of these places in business. I also went past the little shops set up in the court area… the calendar place, the cell phone place, the shirt place, the massage place, the knock-off perfume place, the hat place, the ink cartridge refill place (yeah, I’ll certainly think of the mall first to get my cartridges refilled or get a tattoo), and the 18 other places on our way out. I wondered if there was enough interest on the part of the public to patronize these places to the extent that they were all here and going to be successful. I just can’t imagine that could possibly be the case.
I dunno, though. Maybe the dames in the heels need the massage parlor. Maybe the saggers need tattoos to cover what their clothes don’t. And maybe those who are angry with it all could use something positive from the bookstore or a new calendar. On that thought, maybe the mall and its inhabitants were made for each other. That may be why I felt somewhat uncomfortable in there.
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