Hurry Up and Wait, Miami Style

Hospitalization in Miami has been somewhat of a new experience for me. First of all, there was the interminable wait in the emergency room of North Shore Medical Center in Miami Shores, where I had been taken on Sunday evening because of atrial fibrillation and an unbelievably high blood pressure reading. Being admitted to the ER at 8 PM, there I sat until 4:30 AM on Monday morning. Part of the problem was that the on-call cardiologist who was contacted for orders on me hung up on the nurse who was taking the orders and refused to call back. After having the ER doc let the on-call know that I was a retired insurance claims manager and could cause a world of problems for him if that's what he wanted. The guy called back shortly thereafter. I was finally wheeled up to my room, a full 8½ hours after being admitted.

After spending two days at North Shore, I had to be transferred to Mercy Hospital in Cocoanut Grove in order for a cardiac catheterization to be done. I was told I would be transported at 7AM on Wednesday morning. The appointed time came and I was up and ready to go. I waited; and I waited; and I waited. I was told there was some problem with the paperwork. Finally, at noon, I left North Shore for the trip down to Mercy, arriving around 12:30. Again, I waited; and I waited; and I waited. After a couple of hours I was told that the cardiologist, who had been ready for me that morning, had to leave for his office appointments and he would not be back until about 5:30 that evening. So, all I could do was wait and wait once again. In the meantime, I sent Pam home with Linda, rather than them having to wait around all afternoon long. I couldn’t go anywhere, because all I had on was the usual hospital gown. Finally, around 5:30 I was wheeled into the cath lab where I was prepped and waited again for the cardiologist. He finally showed and the procedure was done (damnit, I had to have another stent placed, making a total of four stents now). I was wheeled up to my room and was able to get a turkey sandwich and cranberry juice, the first anything I had eaten in the previous 25 hours.

On Friday, Dec 10^th, I was to have a cardioversion, a procedure to correct the atrial fibrillation, wherein they place electrodes on the breast and back and give me a shock to get the heart back into a regular sinus rhythm. I was hoping to have it done in the morning, get back to my room, and then discharged. Again, it was a game of hurry up and wait. All morning long I waited and waited, checking with the nurse a couple of times, but he had no information. Finally, about 2:00 I was taken to another building. Once there, I found out what the problem was—the doctor with whom they had scheduled me was on vacation and I had to be seen by the one covering for him. This doc had been in surgery at another hospital. Unfortunately, he could not do the procedure because, beforehand, they passed some kind of instrument down my throat to get a closer look at the heart, via ultrasound, and found there were some clots n the heart. Not wanting to risk dislodging the clots, the procedure was cancelled until they are completely dissolved thru the use of medications, so I will try again in about 6 to 8 weeks.

The final straw occurred on Saturday when I was cleared by the cardiologist to go home. As I was literally walking through the door to the hallway, the nurse came running up, saying the discharge had been rescinded. I was to be followed up at our friend, Linda’s, by a home health nurse to check the Coumadin level and give me any necessary injection of additional blood thinner. Unfortunately, as the insurance company is not open on Saturdays, he couldn’t get the pre-approval he needed, so it was back to square three for the duration. As I was dressed and no longer being on a monitor, I took the opportunity to take a shower—the first one I had had since last Sunday morning. Fortunately, my Coumadin level was within acceptable range today and I was finally discharged. Now it’s just a case of cooling my jets, decompressing from last week, and heading back home to Bradenton sometime mid-week.

Miami Emergency Room Nightmare

Pam and I drove down to Miami on Thursday, December 2^nd to celebrate our best friend, Linda’s, birthday on Friday. We had a great dinner at our favorite local restaurant, The Village Café, and spent the day Saturday at Aventura Mall. Saturday evening we ate at a local Japanese restaurant on Biscayne Boulevard where I had a delicious terriaki steak. I ate about 2/3 of it and took the rest back to Linda’s to finish up later. Next day I worshiped at the Miami Quaker Meeting, came back to Linda’s where I finished the steak off, and took it easy after a short trip to the local T.J. Maxx’s. When we got back to her place, I started feeling a bit bloated and uncomfortable. We ordered out a pizza and I went out to pick it up, feeling a bit worse. When I returned I decided I didn’t feel like eating, so I went to lie down. My chest was quite uncomfortable when I breathed and I felt like I had just smoked a couple packs of cigarettes. I decided to check my blood pressure and was shocked to find it a whopping 179/107. We decided to call 911 and that’s when the fun began.

The EMTs did an EKG and asked me how long I had had atrial fibrillation. Of course, I never knew I had such a condition. They suggested I go to the hospital, to which I reluctantly agreed—mostly to assuage any concerns Pam had. I was taken to North Shore Medical Center, a community hospital a couple of miles from Linda’s house, arriving at the ER around 8 PM. Of course, I was hooked up to all sorts of machines and another EKG was done. Then I sat (or should I say “laid”) around for what seemed like forever. In the meantime, a lady suffering from dementia was admitted to the next bay to me and every once in a while she’d get of the gurney and start walking around. I had to call the nurses in to get her to lie back down, but it got worse and worse. At one point, after I had been there for a few hours I could hear the nurses say that the doctor who was giving them orders hung up on them and they couldn’t believe it. In the meantime, a cardiac arrest came in and the woman in the next bay was up and wandering all over the place. I was calling for the nurse “stat” but they were too involved with the new case and they couldn’t come. I’m still hanging around, waiting to be moved upstairs. Around 2 AM or so I asked the nurse if she knew when I might be moved upstairs and she told me that the on-call doctor had hung up on them. I was a bit pissed, to say the least, but I just bided my time. Finally, at 2:30 I told the ER doc (a great one, I might add) that he should contact the guy who hung up on them and tell him that I am a retired insurance claims manager and if he wishes, I can make his life as miserable as he wants me to. The guy called back within a half hour.

I finally got out of the ER at 4:30 AM, some 8½ hours after I was admitted. The ER doc told me that they cannot release me to the hospital, proper, until a staff physician accepts me as a patient. So, after 3½ hours of sleep Monday morning, it began a day of lying around, cat napping and waiting to hear something. I now find I will be transferred to Mercy Hospital, which has a large cardiac care program and, if my stents are clear I can be discharged. One can only hope.

Back Home Once Again

It was a long day today and I am sure glad to be back home. I left the Rocky Mount Holiday Inn at precisely 8:30 this morning and drove to Raleigh for my flight south. I got to the airport in plenty of time and hung out for a couple of hours before my flight to Fort Lauderdale. Surprisingly, there were many more people there than I expected on a Sunday morning. I got a good seat toward the front for the flight south, which was uneventful. I have driven past the Fort Lauderdale airport on many occasions in the past when driving to Miami, but it was kinda neat to see it from the inside. Geez! Was that airport ever crowded!

Fortunately, my connecting flight to Tampa left from the same gate I arrived thru when I got there. After waiting another couple of hours, it was off to Tampa for a short 45 minute flight. That was kinda neat because, rather than flying west and coming up the Gulf coast, the flight went pretty much directly northwest toward the Tampa area. In taking that route, I was able to look below and see the route we generally take between Bradenton and Miami--U.S. 27, flying over South Bay, on the south side of Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, where I had a great Cuban lunch last month, and Moore Haven, where we usually stop for lunch about halfway to Miami. One thing I can say as that those towns look a hell of a lot closer from the air than they are on the ground.

Got to Tampa on time and had just an hour's drive from the airport back home. Great homemade soup with multi-grain Ciabatta roll for dinner. So glad to be back home after an exhilarating weekend. Now that I am back, I am relaxing and feeling a bit tired. So happy that the Rays evened up their playoff series with the Rangers, but not so happy that the Packers lost to the Redskins. I was feeling pretty confident when I watched them jump out to a 10-0 lead while waiting for my plane in Lauderdale. Story of my life--last year the first of only three games the Buccaneers won was against the Pack. Oh well, onward and upward.

The Last Day at Wesleyan

Well, here it is, Saturday evening, and things are drawing to a close. The day started out with breakfast at the Hardee's Patio on campus. Saw some more old friends, most notably Charlie Saunders and Art "Fergie" Ferguson. I took a tour of campus with two of the student ambassadors and it was amazing to see a lot of the changes which have taken place over the past 40+ years. Probably the best thing is the library with its state of the art computer lab and the programs of tutoring and student assistance. It's sure a far cry from the large room on the second floor of the Administration Building that served as a library. The two young men who conducted about 15 of us on the tour seemed intrigued at the tales we were telling them of the early days. In fact, at one point one of them mentioned something he had heard but didn't know if it was truth or a myth. We verified it for him as having actually happened. It involved moving one of the guy's (whose name escapes me) room furnishings and clothes out to the fountain at the entrance of the campus.

We had a lot of fun talking about pranks that were pulled, such as detouring traffic off U.S. 301 through the campus when there was some road construction going on. A few moved and strategically placed detour signs did the trick. I don't think I ever laughed harder in my life. One thing that occurred before I came, thanks to its retelling by Royall Brown was that someone had let loose a pig in one of the classroom buildings one night. I guess it caused a lot of excitement when the first person showed up in the morning to open up.

After the tour, I drove over to the Northern Nash High School stadium for a tailgating party and Homecoming Game. Wesleyan soundly trounced Greensboro College 48-12. The first half was all Wesleyan with them leading 38-0 until four seconds were left in the half. Then then gave up a touchdown to end the half. In the second half, it was pretty much Wesleyan's second and third stringers playing and continued the shellacking started in the first half, albeit not as bad.

This evening was the Alumni Awards and Hall of Fame dinner at the Dunn Center. Dinner was turkey, dressing, veggies and cheesecake. At the end of the evening, we Pioneers were recognized and acknowledged. I am now back at the hotel, where we just had one last get together down in the lounge. Surprisingly, while I was schmoozing with my old classmates, some of the members of Nu Gamma Phi fraternity were there. When I returned to Wesleyan in the Fall of 1970 I roomed amongst the fraternity on the third floor of South Hall. One of the brothers recognized me from my photo name tag. As it turned out there were four of the guys there, including Ed Taylor, who roomed across the hall from Jeff Shee and me. I had forgotten, but one time that Fall, Jeff and got into Ed's room, swiped all his clothes and put price tags on them and were having a (mock) liquidation sale of his clothes. So, besides renewing acquaintances with the "Pioneers", it was great to see others from my second go-round at Wesleyan.

I'm headed back home tomorrow. I have really missed Pam and the animals and it will be great to be back with them. I so wish that Pam could have been here, but such is not her bag and I am so very grateful to her for her understanding and allowing me to have a great weekend among my oldest friends. Can't wait to see them all again in another 50 years.

Day Two at NCWC

Had another nice day back in Carolina. After taking my time to get going and grabbing breakfast I decided to do some exploring.

Driving into Rocky Mount, the first thing I noted was that the nearest bar where the drinkers hung out, The Retreat, is now apparently a strip club, Baby Doll's Cabaret (and, no, I haven't gone nor do I plan to). Continuing on into town, I found that the old airport, where LBJ landed to launch his War on Poverty, is now a HUGE sports complex with soccer fields, a football field, baseball diamond, softball and Little League diamonds. Once I got downtown, the only buildings I recognized were the train station and the Methodist Church. The original Hardee's has been torn down and replaced with some sort of commercial building. I kinda missed the place because, when I went to college here, once in a while my buddies and I would make a late evening run down to Hardee's. If they had cooked too many burgers and would have to discard them, they's let us have the leftovers. Sure beat having to pay for them! One really sad sign of the times, though, was the massive number of vacant storefronts. Downtown Rocky Mount is a unique one--about five blocks long with the mainline of the old Atlantic Coast Line (now CSX) Railroad and the county line running down the middle of the main street. It was like a ghost town. Very few cars and people could be seen. Obviously, all the business had moved out to the U.S. 301 By-pass.

Afterwards, I went out to Wesleyan and strolled all over the campus, taking in both what was here when I was, as well as that that came in the last 40 years. For some reason or other, the hallways in the admin and classroom buildings seem to have narrowed since I was last here. I took a load of pictures. This evening there was an alumni dinner here at the Holiday Inn and even more old friends showed up who weren't here last night. Again, it was great catching up with them. While I hate to say it, the guys are more recognizable than are most of the women. One good old friend who was there tonight was Max FitzGerald, one of the friendliest upperclassmen I ever met. He is (of all things) a retired sex therapist who lives in Wilson, NC with his wife, a classmate of mine, Della Reeves. They were both endeared to me, as they now have an animal rescue consisting of 170 dogs (including 3 they got today) on 80 acres they own. We really hit it off, because rescues are my wife, Pam's and my passion. I shared with them that we have 3 rescue dogs, ourselves (but we have nowhere near 80 acres).

This evening was a family-oriented event at the Dunn Center, a comedic juggler named Mark Nizer, who put on a very entertaining show, some of it in 3-D. While it was not The Beatles, he was entertaining in his own right.

Tomorrow, it's playing in an alumni baseball game, tailgating, and the Homecoming Game. It will be my last day here, as I head back home on Sunday, so I am hoping to make the best of it.

NC Wesleyan College 40 Years Later

I am back at my alma mater almost 40 years after I finished my degree and geez how things have changed. But a little background first. North Carolina Wesleyan College (NCWC) was founded in Rocky Mount, NC in 1956 and opened in 1960. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its opening and so a special "Pioneer Weekend" was planned for those of us who were in the first four classes at Wesleyan. I started at NCWC as a freshman in 1963--the first year there were four classes attending Wesleyan. I was here for three years before Uncle Sam came calling after my junior year. Rather than getting drafted, I went into the Air Force for four years, picking up a semester's worth of credits before returning to NCWC in Fall, 1970 to finish up my degree.

Leaving home this morning, I drove to Tampa where I caught a flight to Raleigh, NC and rented a car for the trip to Rocky Mount. Naturally, I made a wrong turn coming out of the airport and realized I was headed the wrong way. I got off at some exit, don't know the hell where, but it was somewhere between Raleigh and Durham. I found some workmen who told me to just continue on the road I was on for a couple of miles and I'd find I-40. I finally got back to where I was supposed to be in the first place and headed east toward Rocky Mount. That was not without adventure though. I was passing a semi which was to my right. All of a sudden, a Lexus SUV comes up alongside me to pass on my left. The woman was yakking on the phone and starts to drift over into my lane--me in a PT Cruiser and a semi to my right. All I could do was hit the brakes and lean on the horn. She finally woke up and got back to where she was supposed to be. Anyway, I made it safely to Rocky Mount.

This evening there was a reception for us "Pioneers" and it was great to see some of my old friends. In fact the first one I saw was my old baseball teammate, Ron Brockenbrough. We talked for a while as others arrived--Gil Wylie, Dave Brady, Ray O'Kelly, Ray Robinson, Royall Brown, and others as well as basketball coach, Don Scalf. We had a great time reminiscing about the early years. One thing that cannot go unmentioned is that, for the first time, I was able to legally consume alcohol on campus. Not only was I able to have a drink, NCWC supplied the drinks (wine in my case). You see, founded as a teetotaling Methodist college, there was absolutely NO drinking on campus, which is not to say I didn't have my own stash. It was so ironic, because the first president of NCWC was named Tom Collins. After that get together there was a show at the Dunn Center, an addition to NCWC since I was last here. It was a great show with a Beatles band, "1964 The Tribute". They put on one heck of a show, singing many of the pre-Sgt Pepper songs. The got the audience involved and everyone seemed to enjoy the show. While I was a bit disappointed that they did not do the greatest rock and roll song of all time, "Hey Jude", I really enjoyed the show.

Now, its back at the hotel, decompressing from a long day's activities and looking forward to tomorrow and other friends who haven't arrived yet.

Peace, Salaam, Shalom

Today, September 11, 2010 is the ninth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, PA. It is a day of remembrance of lives lost, both then and as a result of two subsequent wars. As a result of 9/11, there has been much hatred directed toward Muslim--hatred borne of ignorance and prejudice. Unfortunately, a pastor in Gainesville, FL (who shall remain nameless, having garnered his fifteen minutes of fame) was to have a Qur'an burning today. Fortunately, he rethought his actions and decided not to hold his book burning.

I was fortunate and honored to take part in the Interfaith Service of Understanding and Peace, held this evening at the First Presbyterian Church of Sarasota. It was a moving and overflow service drawing on Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Readings from the Qur'an, the Old Testament, and the New Testament were part of the service. In fact, the most dynamic speaker of the evening was Imam Tarik Al Bouri of the Islamic Center of Sarasota and Bradenton. He was most entertaining in his talk and, in giving some information about the Qur'an, told the gathering that in the Qur'an Jesus is mentioned 25 times (favorably, I might add), while Mohammad is mentioned only 5 times. My small part in the service was reading a part of a larger responsive reading which included people from all three religious traditions.

Hopefully, this and other such services held around the country will lead to a greater understanding and appreciation of all mankind and the various religions that make up this small blue ball we live on. If we can all live in peace and mutual respect, it would be such a wonderful world.

Back Home: Day One

My first day back and I am finally able to unwind. I miss the early fall-like weather I experienced in America's Dairyland. When I arrived last night, it was like going to Saigon all over again--hot and humid.

While I slept fairly well, my ass was dragging the ground through the morning, but I had to hit the ground running. First of all, I had to go to the vet's office to retrieve Bosox and Leroy. They meowed all he way home and were so happy to be back in familiar surroundings. Bosox couldn't get enough of me and was sitting on my lap every chance she had. I also had to go to the post office and retrieve the mail. Naturally, there was a good deal of junk mail to go through and recycle. I was still a bit tired but, after a while, I set out to lay in some groceries and a bite to eat. Returning home, I got them put away and sat down (with Bosox on my lap) and took in a Reds-Rockies baseball game. That sitting on my ass did me a world of good.

After resting for a couple of hours and getting energized by Judge Judy, I did the laundry (3 loads), got it all folded and put away just in time to sit down and watch the Saints-Vikings game. While in Madison, I purchased some 7-year old cheddar and enjoyed that while washing it down with some tasty and dry merlot.

Earlier in the day I talked with Pam and we agreed to push the trip down to Miami back to next Wednesday with a return on Thursday. I have a few things scheduled early in the week and this will allow me to get them out of the way without rescheduling anything else. The one regular activity I will have to miss is the monthly lunch with the Quaker men. We usually go to lunch on a mid-month Wednesday and next Wednesday is the day. I'll have to beg off it for this month. In the end, it will even out. 'cause last Spring, I was the only guy to show up for one lunch. I'm sure they'll do well without my presence.

Now, back to the football game (probably with Bosox back on my lap)...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog

Made it back home to the sweltering state of Florida... Had a great, but pretty long day. I started off by going to work with David. While he did his thing as a paralegal, I sat in the conference room and surfed the net. At the same time, I was able to meet his boss, an attorney with a practice in family law, mediation, and arbitration. She spoke highly of David, not only as an employee, but also as a friend. Really made me proud of him and his accomplishments.

He took me to the airport, where I had a last chance to grab two Wisconsin favorites--a Usinger Bratwurst washed down by a Sprecher's Root Beer. Surprisingly, as I was in line to board the plane, I saw a Quaker friend of mine, Stan Weldy, who was headed to a company meeting in Washington, DC. We were able to talk for a little bit as we made out way down the jetway. The plane left on time and made it to Detroit in pretty good time. Getting off the puddle jumper, I found that I had to make my way to the main terminal. The only way was through a tunnel that goes under one of the tarmacs between the two terminals. It was quite a distance--probably close to a quarter mile. Fortunately, there are two moving sidewalks in either direction, so that made it a bit easier to take. Caught the elevated tram to the far end of the concourse where, at the north station, was Gate 68. Glad I didn't have to walk any further.

The flight from Detroit to Atlanta was quite pleasant. The plane was only about 2/3 full and there was a vacant seat between me and the lady next to me. We had a nice visit with each other. She was from Erie, PA on her way to Columbia, SC and her granddaughter's "Grandparents' Cupcake Day" at school. She had never been to the Atlanta airport before and was a bit apprehensive about finding where she needed to be. Ever the gallant man, I saw that both of us had to go to the same concourse, so I had her tag along with me. We took the subway and, once we got to the top of the escalator, we parted company, she to the left and me to the right (directionally speaking, not politically).

The flight to Sarasota was 180 degrees from the prior leg. The plane was jammed packed and most crowded and uncomfortable. Even though I "recycled" the last of my Sprecher's before leaving Atlanta, nature called once again. Seated next to the window, I hated to inconvenience the young couple next to me, but I had no choice. While I was in the head, the flight attendants had started serving beverages and I was stuck behind them. It was a blessing in disguise because, rather than being crammed into an uncomfortable seat, I had to stand in the aisle for about 10 minutes or so while they made their way down the aisle. Having a Wisconsin Badger T-shirt on, the fellow seated in the first economy row was returning from his high school reunion in Madison, so we had a rather nice conversation while I was waiting.

As noted above, I knew I was back in Florida as soon as I stepped off the plane. Heavy, humid air was the order of the day. My good friend, John Steinmeyer, met me and brought me home. I am happy to be home, but my work is not yet done. I have to pick up the cats from the vet's office tomorrow by 10:30. While I was planning on driving down to Miami to pick up Pam and the dogs and returning on Friday, she had suggested to me that I catch my breath and come down to get them later. Sounded pretty good to me, so I am planning on driving down to get them on Monday and return on Tuesday. That will do it for my travels until October when I go to North Carolina to celebrate the 50th anniversary of North Carolina Wesleyan's opening in 1960.

Last Full Day in the Badger State

Well, my short stay in Wisconsin is rapidly coming to a close. Today was, by far, the windiest day I have experienced in quite sometime. In fact, I cannot recall its being this windy in the four years I have been in Florida. The constant westerly winds were in the area of 30-35 mph, with gusts expected to be as high as 50 mph, although I don't think it got nearly that high.

I spent the entire day in downtown Madison. After washing the road dirt and dust off the car, I stopped at East Towne Mall in Madison for an early lunch at the food court. It was then down to the isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona for the balance of the day. First stop was at the State Historical Society Museum, one of my favorite haunts. I spent a good hour or so checking out the exhibits on all four floors.

It was then down State St into the teeth of the wind, headed to the UW campus and the Elvejeum (pronounced "L V M") Museum (because of a rather large donation shortly before we left Madison, it has been renamed the Chazin Museum, but I don't care; it's still the Elvejeum to me). Anyway, I had my classical music playing on my MP3 (no, not "Pictures at an Exhibition") and bathed myself in the artwork. The highlight of my day was seeing the one painting that has really touched me like no other (above). It is an oil painting of a lone man holding tightly onto the last few feet of a sinking ship's mast in a roiling sea, entitled "The Final Refuge". It is such a haunting painting by a Russian artist, Ivan Konstantinovich in 1875. Oddly enough, the painting had not been on exhibit for maybe the last 4 or 5 years before we moved away and I was so thrilled to see it had been placed back on display. I snapped a couple of photos of it so I could take it with me.

It was then back up State St to the State Capitol building where I took a self-guided tour, including the observation deck that encircles the dome. That was an experience! The wind up there was really fierce, so much so that I didn't dare wear my hat. I took it off and firmly held onto it as I made my way around the dome. As I was preparing to leave the building, I had a call from David. I was to have dinner with him and Jojo, but she is still not feeling well. He left work early to take her to the doctor and was on the way taking her back home. We agreed to meet at East Towne and then decide where to go for dinner. The two of us ended up at T.G.I. Friday's, after which David had a softball game and had to run a file by his boss' house on the way home.

Being on my feet all day long and wanting to get ready to fly back home tomorrow, I came back to David's place and am taking it easy before showering, packing and calling it a day.

Labor Day in Wisconsin

Had another great day in southern Wisconsin, the highlight being a trip to Miller Park in Milwaukee to watch my beloved Brewers go up against the St. Louis Cardinals. The game was close for the first seven innings, but St. Louis broke it open with six runs in the eighth inning. The Crew made a bit of a comeback in the eighth and ninth innings and had the tying run at the plate when the final out was made and they lost 8-6.

But I digress. When David and I arrived at the stadium, I was a bit thirsty and all I could think about was a cold beer. Once inside we found a bar with a short line and the both of us had a good old Wisconsin beer--Leinenkugel's Classic Amber. Of course, being at a ballgame in Milwaukee, one has to have a classic Brewer Brat. Once we got to the Terrace Level (level 4, or top level, for the uninitiated), we found a food stand and I got my brat. Unfortunately, while I ordered one with kraut and Stadium Sauce (in fact the guy repeated back to me, "kraut and sauce?"), once we got to our seats in the middle of row 18, I opened my brat up only to find there was no sauce. David, the dutiful and considerate son, offered to trade with me, as he had put sauce on his. Reluctantly, yet eagerly, I accepted his offer. While it was not like the old County Stadium days when they'd slosh the brat in a pan of heated Stadium Sauce and throw on the sauerkraut before serving it to you, this will have to do.

Made it back to his place and I was thirsty the whole way because of the aforementioned brat. Couldn't wait to get my hands on a cold Landshark Lager that was awaiting me in the fridge. Never had a beer that hit the spot more than that one did. Now, I am watching my other team, the Tampa Bay Rays getting schlomped by my former favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, in the 5th inning 11-2. Oh well, I guess you can't win 'em all. Tomorrow's another day.

Sunday in Madison

Another long but satisfying day in Madison. Starting off, I drove into Madison from my son's home in Lake Mills to worship with my old F/friends at the Madison Friends Meeting (Quakers). Arriving earlier than I expected was serendipitous, as downstairs in the meeting house were dear friends, Karl and Tracey Bietz, whose marriage committee I convened for their wedding some 15 years ago. We had a good half hour to sit and schmooze with each other. As the hour neared for the monthly Meeting for Business, I was able to see various other dear friends. Worshiping with my original Quaker meeting was such a treat for me, having left Madison some four years ago. At the rise of meeting, I got together with even more and more of my old friends.

The planned meeting of JoJo's family did not take place, regrettably. She was ill upon awakening this morning and, as a consequence, neither she nor David made it home. In fact, she is still recovering from whatever has gotten her down. Such being the case, I was on my own all afternoon. I took the opportunity to drive back into Madison, via Cambridge, WI, a quaint village south of Lake Mills. I ended up stopping at Pam and my favorite eatery, Pedro's Mexican Restaurante (http://www.pedrosmexicanrestaurant.com/) for my favorite meal, shredded beef chimichanga, washed down with a Corona cerveza and strawberry Margarita for dessert.

Now, it's just relaxing and chilling for the rest of the evening.

Saturday in Mad City

Well, I am spending my first full day in town (Lake Mills, actually) for the first time in four years. Madison certainly isn't Florida! It is a beautiful sunny day outside, but a bit cooler than I'm used to and the usual wind coming from the northwest. First thing I did was borrow a sweater from David.

Driving into Madison, I made a side trip to Sun Prairie, the Madison 'burb we lived in for our 26 years in the area. Altho' we lived in Sun Prairie, we lived on the west end, just off the first exit from Madison. We were Madison-oriented the entire 26 years and I really considered myself a Madisonian rather than a Sun Prairieite. Anyway, Sun Prairie has changed markedly since our departure. While the downtown area is still the same, Main St, west of downtown to the U.S. 151 intersection has been updated, with a median and some trees planted in the median. While our first home on Sunfield St and the neighborhood looked the same, our second home and Castle Drive is maturing from its development in 1987.

After that tour, I headed down to Madison's Capitol Square and the Dane County Farmers Market, a weekly event around the capitol building from late spring 'til late fall. One of my longtime friends, Glenn Clark, is a baker and his Sugar River Country Bakers has had a stall here for years. In fact, one of the primary things I wanted to do was visit Glenn and get some of his delicious scones. I purchased a package and Glenn gave me a complementary one, to boot (breakfast for the morning). I had also thought about an elephant ear from Oakwood Bakery but seeing they were humongous (about 14" or so across), I decided to pass and just savor Glenn's scone, instead.

After doing the Farmers Market, it was down State Street to the UW Library Mall and the University Bookstore, one of my hangouts for 26 years. It has changed quite a bit. Instead of the usual two floors of books, plus the basement full of textbooks. While the basement remains the same, the general books cover about 1/3 of one floor and that's it. The biggest change I saw was the replacement of the University Square shopping center, a single story quad with a court in the middle with a high rise of about 8 or 9 stories with various shops on the ground floor. Some of the shops on State St have changed but it is still as eclectic as it ever was.

Lunch was at one of my favorite Chinese restaurants, Happy Wok, where I had my favorite meal, garlic chicken. It was then on to the Mousehaus Cheesehaus for some seven year old cheddar, something I have sorely missed (not that I really need it). Finally, back to David's where I'm just gonna take it easy while David and JoJo attend a wedding reception this evening.

Looking forward to worshiping with my F/friends at the Madison Friends Meeting and meeting JoJo's family at a birthday celebration for her grandfather tomorrow afternoon.

Day Four: America's Dairyland

Well, I finally made it after another long day behind the wheel. Had a good night's sleep and putzed around the hotel room for a bit before grabbing some breakfast and hitting the road. Breakfast didn't start out all that well. It was a serve yourself setup and I decided to start off with a waffle. Unfortunately, the batter was a bit soupy and the waffle would not cook. I guess they figured out the batter was too thin. In the meantime I decided to settle on scrambled eggs, three strips of bacon (the first bacon I have had in I don't know how long), home fries, OJ, and coffee. I was hoping that my misfortune with the waffle was not setting the tone for the day and, fortunately, it didn't.

Hitting the road around 7:00 AM, I headed out for a long day's drive. Since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to stop at Superman's hometown: Metropolis (Illinois, that is). Knowing they had a large statue of Superman on the town square, I just had to visit the homage to my boyhood hero. Got a few pics but, unfortunately the Superman museum (a storefront) was not open, even tho' it was past the posted opening time of 9 AM.

Hitting the road once again, I had a beautiful day for traveling. It was mostly sunny most of the way, but very windy coming out of the west and traffic was not bad until late in the afternoon. What with this being Labor Day weekend, I was hoping to beat most, if not all, the traffic. Alas, such was not to be. It wasn't bad at all until about 20 miles, or so, north of Bloomington, IL. Traffic really started to build up quite a bit and, the nearer I got to Rockford, IL the worse it got. At the same time, it became quite overcast and stayed that way for the duration of the trip.

The only traffic jam I experienced was about 5 miles south of Madison. Being on I-39/90, as I neared where I-94 coming from Milwaukee joined I-39/90, traffic slowed to a crawl. Fortunately, I got off the interstate before the I-94 intersection, so I was able to get moving once again. Calling David, we decided to meet at the Madison Friends Meetinghouse since he and Johanna were to attend a women's volleyball game at the nearby UW Field House.

Meeting my future daughter-in-law was a pleasant treat. She is a real cute one, tall and slender, and is as sweet as she is good looking. David is one lucky fellow and I hope all goes well with them and that they enjoy a long and happy life together. I am very pleased to have her become a part of the family. We decided to go to dinner at Bluefie's, a nearby restaurant Pam and I enjoyed when we live in Madison. I had a great grilled portobello mushroom sandwich and a beer. Very tasty and not overly filling at all.

We parted company afterwards and I made my way to David's place in Lake Mills, about 20 miles or so east of Madison. Looking for his place in the dark proved a bit of a challenge, but I guess my old insurance adjuster instincts are still intact and I was able to find it on the first try. Now to chill, relax, and get ready for a fun weekend with David, Johanna, and my old friends.

Day Three: The Longest Day

Well, it's been the longest day of all today, not only for the length of the drive but making it through Alabama. Geez! I spent a week in Alabama today. With all due respect to my dear sister-in-law who hails from 'bama, if I never see that state again, it will be too soon.

The day started off great. Had a full seven plus hours of sleep last night and got on the road around 5:30 this morning. Driving north from Panama City on U.S. 231, I was headed to Montgomery, AL in order to hook up with the Interstate system. Reaching Troy, AL, home of the Troy University Trojans, I figured they must have gotten hosed. After all, how many colleges (besides Southern Cal) were named for a prophylactic? Looking for a Starbucks of Borders Books (aren't they in every college town?), I was out of luck and, with nothing between Troy and Montgomery, I decided to settle for McDonald's. I pulled in and found quite a number of people waiting around. Asking one fellow if he was in line or waiting for his food, he said he was waiting for his order. There were three or four people behind the counter enjoying each other's company and paying no mind to those of us who may have wished to placed an order. In fact, one of the girls made eye contact with me but kept on with her conversation. I muttered so that those near me could hear, "This is (effing) ridiculous" and walked out. Hoping to find a Wendy's or Hardee's on further up the road, I was s.o.l. Hitting I-65, I continued on the trek north and, about 20 miles north of Montgomery, I saw my favorite travel sit down restaurant, The Waffle House. I pulled in and got a seat at the counter. The lady doing the cooking greeted me. To my immediate left was a booth that a couple was seated at. They finished and left, naturally leaving the dirty dishes on the table. A family of five came in and sat on the chairs set up inside the entrance for those awaiting a booth. The waitress cleaned out the booth, the family sat down and the waitress came over, handing out the silverware and getting ready to take their order. Foiled again, I got up and left, ending at a McDonald's down the street. That was great, The manager immediately greeted me and took my order. I thanked him for serving me, telling him my tale of woe at the previous two stops I had made. I guess third time is truly charmed.

Back on the road, making it to and through Birmingham. About 40 miles north of there I found a temporary orange diamond sign saying "Slow Traffic Ahead", a real understatement. I-65 is three lanes wide at that point and, as I came up over a hill, I saw traffic slowing to a stop ahead of me. Being in the lane next to the median, I stayed there and came to a stop. It was then bumper to bumper for the hour or so. Traffic crept along, going maybe ten or twenty feet at a time (even about six inches at one point) then would stop for about five to ten minutes. This went on for about 5 miles I would estimate. Keeping my place in line in the inner lane, I felt a bit vindicated when a couple of cars ahead of me got into the middle lane and I passed them, leaving them far in the distance, as that lane remained stopped or slower than my lane. As I neared the end of the backup, I found that the three lanes of traffic were being funneled into a single lane. I was so glad to be moving again and making my way through and out of Alabama.

One thing about that state that did not impress me at all was the memorializing and apparent idol worshiping of the bigot of bigots, George Corley Wallace. I saw a sign, pointing the direction to George C. Wallace Community College and a couple more indicating Wallace University--this town and Wallace University--that town. I was reminded of a phrase used to describe Charleston, SC: "Two hundred years of history unspoiled by progress." Sorry, Regina, but that seems to fit the state of Alabama.

Made it to and thru Tennessee without spending a single dime. I bought gas in Alabama, picked up a map at the visitor's center, and made it into Kentucky without stopping. In a perverse sense, I take pride in costing Tennessee at least the price of a map. Nashville was a bit hectic to get thru. Besides road construction, the Tennessee Titans have a game tonight and traffic was starting to build for that as well as the beginning of the rush hour.

I finally called it a day at the Holiday Inn in Hopkinsville, KY just outside Fort Campbell. While I am proud to humbly display a peace symbol on the back of my car, I felt discretion was the better part of valor and stashed it in the trunk, lest it be stolen or the car vandalized. I stopped here after a long 12 hour day and am looking forward to relaxing this evening. I had dinner as an "OK" Chinese buffet across the street. Showering down, after dinner, I am simply chilling and looking forward to making it on to David's place sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Day Two of the Trek North

Well, I'm finally well on the way to Wisconsin. Leaving home at about 5:45 this morning after a good night's sleep, I took the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay and kept heading north until making a left turn at the Big Bend of Florida and am now in Panama City. The trip was uneventful, as I expected--no cops; no accidents; and no dead animals (that I caused, anyway). One thing did strike me, though: I had not seen a crop duster since leaving central Wisconsin in 1980. But yesterday, on the drive from Miami and this morning about halfway between Bradenton and Panama City I saw two crop dusters. How unusual is that? None in the past thirty years and now two in two days. Life can be strange at times.

I stopped in to see Mom when I blew into town and am now chilling at my brother's house with their three dachshunds: Jazzy, Heidi, and Sally. This evening we are taking Mom out for dinner at a local beach eatery, Pineapple Willy's. After another anticipated good night's sleep, I'll be headed north once again, passing thru Montgomery and Birmingham, AL and Nashville, TN on my way to Paducah, KY where I plan to spend the night. Weather looks to be good for the entire trip to Madison and I can only hope it stays that way. 'til then...

Day One of the Trek North

Well, I started the drive to Wisconsin this morning, leaving Miami where I had taken Pam and the dogs yesterday to stay with our best friend, Linda, until I return next week. Leaving Linda's around 9:30 or so this morning, I made a leisurely drive back home to Bradenton. Rather than taking I-75, which would have been quicker, I took our preferred route--I-95 to Fort Lauderdale where I caught I-595; then west to U.S. 27, where I turned north to drive up the spine of the Florida peninsula.

At the recommendation of a good friend, Craig Fannes, I stopped at "Julio's Cafe Tropical" in Clewiston, FL for a great meal consisting of filete de pollo pimienta (sauteed chicken w/green pepper and onion), rice, black beans, fried plantains and an ice cold Corona cerveza. As Craig suggested, the price was quite reasonable--only $9.98 TOTAL! Fortunately, I got there just before the place filled up for lunch. By the time I left, there was nary a seat left in the house. What the place lacks in ambiance, it more than makes up in tasty food and reasonable prices. It is definitely making my list of places to stop for lunch on future trips to and from Miami.

Leaving Julio's behind, I continued north at a very leisurely pace. I had no place to get to, other than home, so I just set the cruise control on 60 and enjoyed a nice drive back to the house, by way of State Route 70, thru the quaint town of Arcadia, FL and on to Bradenton.

I am now catching my breath, planning on an early shower and restful evening watching the Tampa Bay Rays and getting an early start tomorrow, heading out to Panama City, FL to take Mom out for dinner and spend the night with my brother, Gene and his wife, Regina. While I'm not really looking forward to sitting still for the long drive north, I am looking forward to the solitude such affords and seeing more than just a sandy peninsula that juts off the southeastern portion of the United States.

The First Liberal

Anne Rice recently renounced Christianity calling it a quarrelsome, hostile, disputatious, infamous group. She refuses to be, “anti-gay, anti-feminist, anti-artificial birth control, anti-Democrat, anti-secular humanism, anti-science, and anti-life”. She is so right because, unfortunately American Christianity has been hijacked by the conservative right wingers who have no tolerance for the views of those who may not agree with them. They wrap themselves in the flag and tout the virtues of Thomas Jefferson, a professed Deist, and Abraham Lincoln, who seldom went to church and basically scoffed at religion in general.

They follow the preachings of such paragons of virtue as Pat Robertson, who called for the death of Hugo Chavez and blamed the Haiti earthquake on a vengeful God, claiming that Haitians “sold their souls to the devil” in their fight for independence; Jim Bakker, who bilked thousands out of millions; Ted Haggard, who admitted to “sexual immorality” in having a homosexual relationship (nothing wrong with that); and Jimmy Swaggert, who “sinned” in having sexual relations with a prostitute. All these evangelists (and many others, for that matter) wrap themselves in God and the flag and profess to know what is best, not only for America but also for all mankind.

What they lose sight of is that Jesus, the man whom all conservatives look up to as the guiding light of what to do and why, was in fact the first liberal. He spoke for the poor and disenfranchised, for women, and for people who had less political or religious power in the society. And so that made him a popular figure. He preached about freedom and a new social, economic, and political order. But in an occupied country, when you start talking about “Why shouldn’t slaves be equal to their masters and women be equal to men, and shouldn’t the poor have as much as the wealthy?” these are revolutionary ideas.

So then, I ask “What gives conservatives and the religious right ownership of Jesus’ teachings? Should not those of us to the left side of the spectrum be claiming that we are more in line with Jesus and his teachings?” As he cared more about people than he did about money so, too, do present day liberals. As Robbie Burns once wrote “Oh would some power the giftie gie us to see ourselves as others see us.”

The Way To Salvation?

Recently I received three copies of a pamphlet entitled “What Must I Do to Be Saved?”, accompanied by a handwritten note declaring, “REPENT GAYS REPENT. JESUS IS COMING VERY, VERY SOON… JESUS IS COMING. BE READY TO REPENT”.

While these came from a very conservative/evangelistic/in-your-face homophobe, whom I do not know, it appalls yet amuses me to know that not all persons are capable of making up their own minds and those of us who are not anointed or saved have to be badgered by such reactionaries. I, for one, do not have to be washed in the blood of no damn lamb.

I am and always have been an independent thinker. In fact, a couple of weeks ago Mom and I were reflecting back on my independent streak and what she and Dad had to deal with as I grew up and was exposed to the wider world in college. I praise Mom and Dad for letting me find my own way and walk my own path. As a teenager when we moved to Arlington, our family started attending the local Methodist church. Mom and Dad were not very taken with the church or its members, so they started attending another nearby one. They did not force me to go with them. They let me stay with the new friends I had made and never even suggested I attend their church.

While I have not attended a church in over 40 years, such is not to say I have rejected church as a vehicle for traveling anyone’s path; it’s just not my way. I like to say, “I don’t belong to an organized church; I’m a Quaker”. I don’t consider myself religious. I consider myself spiritual. I don’t believe in force feeding beliefs to anyone. I believe in continuing revelation and letting them discover for themselves what’s right for them.

That is what is so great about this country. We are not a theocracy, although I’m sure the most rabid evangelicals would love to have it that way. We are and should always be a democracy. I may disagree with you and you with me, but don’t try to beat me over the head with your version of the way it should be. As erroneously attributed to Voltaire, while I may not agree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it. My prayer is that we all can live in a civil society, treating all--be they liberal or conservative; gay or straight; Jew, Gentile, Muslim, or Buddhist—may they all be respected and allowed to proceed unfettered on their own separate paths.

Ronald Reagan vs Barack Obama

Ronald Reagan:

• Gave amnesty to undocumented aliens;
• Grew the size of the federal government and the budget;
• Added a whole new cabinet agency;
• Added tens of thousands of government workers to the federal payroll;
• Tripled the federal deficit;
• Expanded Social Security with a big fat tax increase;
• Raised corporate taxes by hundreds of billions of dollars;
• Raised taxes on gasoline;
• Signed into law the largest tax increase in history;
• Supported federal handgun controls;
• Called for a world without nuclear weapons.

Barack Obama

• Passed health reform;
• Stimulus package pumped over $100 billion into crumbling infrastructure;
• $60 billion for renewable energy sources;
• Expanded state children’s health insurance for 4 million kids;
• Signed the Lilly Leadbetter Act, insuring equal pay for women for equal work;
• Signed nuclear reduction treat with Russia to reduce each country’s nuclear weapons stock by a third;
• Created new nuclear non-proliferation agreement designed to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists;
• Signed the Hate Crimes Prevention Act aka the Matthew Shepherd Act;
• FDA permitted, for the first time, to regulate tobacco;
• Dismantled the Minerals Management Service;
• Fired two wartime generals in little more than a year;
• Overhauled the student loan program;
• Cancelled weapons program that was bloated, unnecessary and totally irrelevant to the two wars we are involved in;
• Don’t ask; don’t tell;
• Closing Gittmo.

Response by Vern Buchanan to my email

Well, Congressman Buchanan FINALLY responded to my email after a couple of prodding posts on his Facebook wall:

Dear Mr. Hilsheimer:

Thank you for your email about House passage of S. 3473, legislation amending a 1990 law to exempt advances to the U.S. Coast Guard from the requirement that amounts in the trust fund shall be available only as provided in annual appropriations.

Had I been present when the House voted on S. 3473, I would have supported the measure, which passed 410-0 and has been signed into law.

Again, thank you for your email.

Sincerely,

Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress

Email to Congressman Vern Buchanan

I subscribe to a C-SPAN service which gives me a weekly report on the votes taken by Florida Senators Nelson and LeMieux as well as my congressman, Vern Buchanan. Today I learned that Mr. Buchanan did not vote on a measure which would allow emergency access to the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund. As Buchanan's congressional district (Florida 13th) borders the Gulf of Mexico, I am astounded at the fact he did not vote on the measure, undoubtedly because he did not wish to vote against it. In any event, I was upset enough to write him an email via his website to find out why he did not vote for the measure. The text follows:

Re: S. 3473 to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990

Dear Congressman Buchanan:

In a measure to suspend the rules and make it easier for the Administration to withdraw money from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, a measure which was passed, overwhelmingly, by a 410-0, with one voting "present" and 20 Representatives (including yourself) not voting, I am wondering why you did not feel it necessary to register a vote on this most important of matters. The Gulf of Mexico which, unless you have forgotten, borders the 13th Florida Congressional District. It is facing the worst catastrophe in our history, yet you apparently did not feel it necessary to register a vote, even a "nay" one at that.

I know you have been a constant opponent of Obama's spending policies. However, this crisis, caused by BP's negligence (which John Boehner wants a bailout) is one that the Administration may need access to without jumping through a lot of hoops.

So, please, explain to me why you did not feel it necessary to vote on this measure.

Sincerely,

David P. Hilsheimer

I will be interested in his answer, something other than "Thank you for contacting me..." which I received shortly after hitting the "Send" button.

Following One's Leadings

Isaiah 6:8 -- “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

It can be a difficult thing to recognize when one has a leading. We have all had urges which we feel we must move on. It could be as simple as which political candidate to support or as complex as whether to change jobs or careers in midstream. Whatever the situation, it can be a most difficult one at times. At the same time, we may not know it, but the Divine may be speaking to us in ways we may not realize.

When I was in high school I had the idea I wanted to be a Methodist minister. I read my Bible and went to church each Sunday and was a leader in the youth group. I thought my path was all set. Then something happened which changed my life. I had written a history term paper on the sharecropper during the Depression. My teacher, David Turner, was so taken by it he said to the class that it was one of the best examples of a term paper he had ever read. It was that remark that prompted me to rethink my plans and pursue a degree in history, forsaking what I had felt for some time was my destiny. Was it the Divine speaking to me through Mr. Turner?

Without a leading, Martin Luther would not have posted his 95 Theses on the church door; Mohandas Gandhi would have remained a non-descript lawyer in South Africa, and Martin Luther King, Jr. would have continued preaching sermons on Sundays. In today's America there are a host of people with their varied leadings--everything from stopping the wars to stopping abortions. Each of us has our own interests and causes. While not all of us are as deeply led as others we cannot help but respect their actions and dedication to the cause as being divinely led.

It can be difficult for one to realize they have a leading and even more so to act on it. The most unfortunate thing which can result is that one can be left with regret that they did not act on their leading. Bill Kreidler, a member of Beacon Hill Quaker Meeting in Boston was a gay, tenured, elementary school teacher who, in the 1980s, had the opportunity to speak out against Anita Bryant and her rants against gays and lesbians, but he chose not to do so. One of the regrets which followed him to his grave was the fact that he had the opportunity to act but didn’t. That point in history passed and he failed to act on his leading.

May each of us recognize and act on our leadings, no matter how trivial they may seem at the time, lest we come to feel a sense of inadequacy or regret that we failed to follow them.

Giving of Oneself

In the mid-1970s my wife and I were involved with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in central Wisconsin. We both found a great deal of fun and fulfillment in our matches—Pam with Cindy and me with Scott. At the annual banquet held for volunteers, the keynote speaker was the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (and later Governor of Wisconsin), Lee Sherman Dreyfus. The crux of the message he gave us was to do unto and for others. The one thought he left and which resonated with me down through the years was, that when you get toward the end of your life, ask yourself the question: “What did I do with my life and for whom did I do it?”

I find myself asking that same question on pretty much a daily basis. My basic philosophy of life is that we are all put on this Earth to be of service to others. It can be in the simplest of acts—holding the door for an older person; or simply waiting that extra second or two to allow the other car to proceed. Muhammad Ali has said that service to others is the rent we pay for our room here on Earth. How true! Roberto Clemente, the late great Pittsburgh Pirate centerfielder once said, “Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on this Earth.” He was killed on a volunteer mission to aid earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He certainly had the opportunity to make things better and was doing so when he paid the ultimate price.

In closing the circle I started at the beginning, I would like to share another resonating quote, this one from Benjamin Franklin: “In the morning ask yourself, ‘What good shall I do today?’ As the day draws to a close, ask yourself, ‘What good did I do today?’” If we all do as he recommends, the ultimate question posed at the beginning will have an easy answer.

Cherish Every Moment

As a volunteer for Tidewell Hospice, I run across many people from different strata of life—from the Jamaican man I was first paired up with to the retired dermatologist I was recently matched with. Each has been on a different journey through their respective lives and experiences. And not all the people I have encountered, especially at the Bradenton Hospice House, have run through what we tend to think of as a full course of life. I have encountered many people of all ages—from two teenaged twin boys at the “House” (one of whom passed away) to those well-advanced in age.

One person, who probably represents the best learning experience I have ever had, was a hospice patient I knew for less than a week. She was a childless widow who lived alone about a block from my house. She had a woman who cleaned her house, drove her to appointments and grocery shopping, and the like. Well, this person had a death in her family, so I was contacted to see if I could take her to the beauty shop one day and to the doctor the next. No problem. On Thursday I took her to her standing hair appointment and did some grocery shopping while she was in the chair. Next day I took her to see her doctor. On Sunday she called to ask if I’d take her trash and recyclables to the curb, as they were much too heavy for her to move. No problem, so I went up to her house and took care of things. She wanted to pay me, but I flatly refused, saying that the only payment I needed was a hug from her. She obliged and I went home. Later that evening, she had a massive stroke and was taken to the hospital where she passed away on Wednesday. It later struck me that that hug we shared was probably the last meaningful contact she ever experienced with another human being.

We never know when fate will catch up with us or the ones we love. The last thing we ever want to do is to burn bridges, never to rebuild them. Having such unfinished business is something none of us wants to leave behind, either when we leave this life or lose someone close (or not so close, for that matter) to us. Cherish each moment; keep the door open; and above all, love and respect all with whom we come in contact. We never know when that final encounter will come.

Email to President Obama re: Israel

Dear President Obama:

On this Memorial Day, a day on which we in the United States remember those who gave their lives for our great country, Israeli commandos boarded a ship in international waters that was bringing supplies to Gaza. By any definition, this is an act of war.

Once again, Israel has shown itself to be somewhat of a rogue nation, much in the vein of Iran and North Korea. Turkey has done the right thing in recalling its ambassador to Israel. I would like to suggest that the U.S. do likewise. In addition, all foreign aid to Israel should be suspended until such time as they decide to honor the rules of international diplomacy and decency and not act like the rogue nation they are.

Thank you for your consideration of my position on this matter.

Sincerely,

David P. Hilsheimer

May 31, 2010

What does One Trillion Represent?

At 10:06 A.M. this morning, May 30, 2010 the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan passed the one trillion (1,000,000,000,000) dollar mark. Huge figures are tossed around like beanbags in Washington and few people seem to pay much attention, save the Tea Partiers lately. That got me to thinking… How much, exactly, is one trillion? I did some figuring and came up with some startling conclusions. To wit:

• One trillion seconds ago, it was 1978;
• One trillion minutes ago, it was 108 B.C.;
• One trillion days ago, it was 113,955 B.C.

Just a little food for thought to help put things in perspective…

Letter to the Editor re: The Cost of Wars

Dear Editor:

We now have one trillion reasons to oppose the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. On May 30, those two wars will have cost $1 trillion for
operations alone, not even counting the interest on the debt of that
borrowed money or the health care costs for returning vets. It is an
amount so incomprehensible that it can only be understood in terms of
what it could have bought rather than missiles and destruction.

For $1 trillion we could immediately give every one of the 15.4 million
unemployed people in the United States a $50,000 job and still have
$235 billion left over. We could provide free public university
education for the next 24 years to the 2 million of our children who
typically enter college annually. And those are what we can quantify.
What could $1 trillion do for cancer research or alternative energy
discoveries or any of a myriad of problems we would like to solve but
cannot because of lack of resources.

If we are not stable economically, then we are not secure as a nation.
We are now on our way to the next trillion. This hemorrhaging of our
collective resources for war has to stop now.

Published: 05/28/10

Sarasota Herald Tribune

Letter to the Editors re: Fair Districts Florida

For as long as I can remember, the Florida legislative branch has drawn congressional district lines in a manner to favor the party in power without due regard for the population centers and the common interests of the various constituencies. To wit: Florida's 11th Congressional District includes part of St. Petersburg; a good deal of Tampa; the western shore of Tampa Bay; the eastern half of Palmetto; and downtown Bradenton. More than half the district sits within Tampa Bay, itself and partly in the Gulf. How ridiculous it that?

FairDistricts Florida undertook a successful grassroots campaign, circulating petitions to get Amendments 5 and 6 on the November ballot to do away with gerrymandering, the process described above. On Tuesday, April 13th, legislative leaders submitted their own plan for redistricting, the provisions of which totally circumvent the protections of Amendments 5 and 6. I am not a Tea partier, but we must take our government back from those who would maintain power simply due to the fact they were elected in the first place. True representative government depends on the voice of the people. If we are not listened to, then we have little rights in determining where we go from here.

Everyone is encouraged to contact their state senator and representative, requesting they oppose SJR 2288.

Published: April 18, 2010

Bradenton Herald

Sarasota Herald Tribune

Glenn Beck Warns America about Me