There have been several letters to the editor in the Yuma Daily Sun bemoaning the news that seniors may not get their yearly raise this year. Good grief!
Of course seniors should not expect a cost of living increase in their social security benefits. We are all aware that the system as it is is absolutely unsustainable. Those of us old enough to remember are aware that the system was not designed to be a retirement program, just a hedge against starvation, a bowl of beans and a cup of rice.
Unfortunately, like all cases of creeping socialism, it's spun out of control. We know that our country's deficits are going to be a burden to our grandchildren and we would much rather give up a lunch out on the town, a trip to the casino, or a new dress than to see our grandchildren further burdened.
Sometimes the families of the elderly do need to step up to the plate. Our grandparents were cared for by our parents and our memories of the beautiful times we spent with them as they slipped away are among the most precious we have. My children had the honor living with their great grandmother for the last three years of her life. It was a wonderful experience for them. Caring for one another is the most important lesson we can teach our children.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remembering 9/11. President George W. Bush has suffered the thorns of abuse and criticism for an endless variety of sins – and I have participated in some, but one criticism that blows me away is the criticism for his immediate reaction to the news that the nation was under attack. How often I have heard naysayers express their disbelief that he chose to finish “the silly photo op,” turn back to the classroom full of children, and continue reading. I guess they think he should have told the second graders that he had to leave because the nation was under attack. Yes, that would be smart. When I watch that video of him in that Sarasota classroom and watch his jaws clench as he grappled with the news, I am amazed at his ability to maintain composure, finish the story, and graciously exit the room without panicking the children, all the while his head exploding, his guts twisting against his heart. At that moment he proved himself truly presidential.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
To live content with small means
To seek elegance rather than luxury
And refinement rather than fashion
To be worthy, not respectable; wealthy not rich
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly
To listen to babes and birds, sage and stranger with open heart
To bear all cheerfully
Do all bravely
To let the spiritual, the unbidden, the unconscious
Grow up through the common.
This is my symphony.
William Henry Channing
To seek elegance rather than luxury
And refinement rather than fashion
To be worthy, not respectable; wealthy not rich
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly
To listen to babes and birds, sage and stranger with open heart
To bear all cheerfully
Do all bravely
To let the spiritual, the unbidden, the unconscious
Grow up through the common.
This is my symphony.
William Henry Channing
I was quite moved when I read the Socrates’ dialogue with Crito. I wondered if my father had read The Republic. His formal education ended in the third grade when his father died, but he read voraciously all of his life.
Socrates’ interaction with Crito was so much like my father’s interaction with me. When I was in elementary school I used to think I knew a lot about politics, and I enjoyed discussing my ideas with him. Now that he is gone, I muse in wonder at his attitude. Rather than dismissing me as an presumptuous child, he listened with respect, as though he was really interested in my thoughts. He certainly disagreed with me. He was a staunch conservative; I sided with liberals; but he never argued; he never made me feel silly. Like Socrates, he simply asked more questions.
In the dialogue I also heard echoes of the discussion I had with my father at his deathbed. His enemy was not evil men but the evil of cancer Several times throughout the dialogue Plato asks for Crito’s help: “This is what I want to consider with your help, Crito.” We know, however, that he had already made up his mind about what he should do. He simply wanted to help Cirto understand that his decision was the right one. .
The doctor had told my father that with aggressive treatment he could probably hold the tumor at bay, and extend his life for six months, a year – perhaps two. Without treatment he would be dead within 10 days. My father asked me, “What do you think I should do, Cora Lee?” I told him that he should take the treatments and hope for the two years. But he had already make up his mmind. “If I die today, I die knowing that I’ve had a good life.
He felt that his 81 years were an accomplishment. He'd had a wonderful wife, a loving family, and many, many great friends. "Should I trade a good and peaceful death now for what? Maybe six months. Maybe two years, and all that time sick, your mother having to clean up after me? Do you remember how pitiful Joe was those last years? Life has been good to me. I have no reason to fear death.”
Actually, my father had made his decision many years before that he would not suffer the indecency of extensive medical treatment, that he would die at home in his chair. Imminent death did not shake his resolve. He died peacefully in his sleep eight days later. At his funeral my brother said, “He taught us how to live, and now he taught us how to die.”
Socrates’ interaction with Crito was so much like my father’s interaction with me. When I was in elementary school I used to think I knew a lot about politics, and I enjoyed discussing my ideas with him. Now that he is gone, I muse in wonder at his attitude. Rather than dismissing me as an presumptuous child, he listened with respect, as though he was really interested in my thoughts. He certainly disagreed with me. He was a staunch conservative; I sided with liberals; but he never argued; he never made me feel silly. Like Socrates, he simply asked more questions.
In the dialogue I also heard echoes of the discussion I had with my father at his deathbed. His enemy was not evil men but the evil of cancer Several times throughout the dialogue Plato asks for Crito’s help: “This is what I want to consider with your help, Crito.” We know, however, that he had already made up his mind about what he should do. He simply wanted to help Cirto understand that his decision was the right one. .
The doctor had told my father that with aggressive treatment he could probably hold the tumor at bay, and extend his life for six months, a year – perhaps two. Without treatment he would be dead within 10 days. My father asked me, “What do you think I should do, Cora Lee?” I told him that he should take the treatments and hope for the two years. But he had already make up his mmind. “If I die today, I die knowing that I’ve had a good life.
He felt that his 81 years were an accomplishment. He'd had a wonderful wife, a loving family, and many, many great friends. "Should I trade a good and peaceful death now for what? Maybe six months. Maybe two years, and all that time sick, your mother having to clean up after me? Do you remember how pitiful Joe was those last years? Life has been good to me. I have no reason to fear death.”
Actually, my father had made his decision many years before that he would not suffer the indecency of extensive medical treatment, that he would die at home in his chair. Imminent death did not shake his resolve. He died peacefully in his sleep eight days later. At his funeral my brother said, “He taught us how to live, and now he taught us how to die.”
A New Beginning
Life blesses us with new beginnings. I am beginning a new life with my daughter Lynne. I am beginning a blog. Mornings are cool beginnings here in the desert southwest. I begin each morning reading a section of the Bible.
I have to thank Reed McCormick for the idea .and Solveig for the medium. When he was here he had started a chronological Bible reading program and it inspired me to do the same, but my eyes weren't working well. Solveig had the solution. She put a program called illumina Gold on my computer which has the Bible with an option to bolden and enlarge the type.
I have surprised myself by sticking to it. It's become habit. I rise early, fill up my glass with water, turn on my computer and read. In just four days I will have finished my first round, and I am already looking forward to another new beginning: the second roun. I found a site on the web that describes a different sequence, also chronological, but from a different perspective. I am going to try that. I tried to paste the url for it, but it doesn't seem to work. I'll find a way. I am just beginning.
I have to thank Reed McCormick for the idea .and Solveig for the medium. When he was here he had started a chronological Bible reading program and it inspired me to do the same, but my eyes weren't working well. Solveig had the solution. She put a program called illumina Gold on my computer which has the Bible with an option to bolden and enlarge the type.
I have surprised myself by sticking to it. It's become habit. I rise early, fill up my glass with water, turn on my computer and read. In just four days I will have finished my first round, and I am already looking forward to another new beginning: the second roun. I found a site on the web that describes a different sequence, also chronological, but from a different perspective. I am going to try that. I tried to paste the url for it, but it doesn't seem to work. I'll find a way. I am just beginning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
