SOME THOUGHTS, SOME GRATITUDE

It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but that is not a complaint… not even really an excuse for not staying in touch, but time has been short for blogging with so many other things to worry about. I have tried to keep up with some of you in private emails as blogger is being uncooperative again. Once again, storms have changed people’s lives. My cousin lost their cabin on the Susquehanna River up near Wilkes Barre, PA. But, that could have been their primary residence, so while a serious loss, they still have their home and all their belongings. And no one lost their lives – most important of all. Check off that little box on your gratitude list!

Normally this is a hectic time of year anyway, tons of things to do as summer winds down, a dozen events going on before it gets too cold, sometimes having to run from one event in the morning to another in the afternoon or evening. I feel like my friend, Ralph, bless his heart, who is running for Senate again and is trying to be in 5 places at once and still maintain a practice at Children’s Hospital. As I listened to his schedule yesterday, I just shook my head wondering how he does it all. But, he is much younger and in better health and has a team making all his arrangements. I am feeling my age! But keeping going keeps me going. Does that make any sense to you? I know if I quit and put my feet up, I won’t be getting back up.

My auntie up in the Wilkes Barre area had to be evacuated. This was not an easy thing to do as she was one of the hard heads who stayed in her house back during Hurricane Agnes (39 years ago) and had folks coming by boat bringing food and water to her thru the 2^nd floor window. But, for some folks, Lee brought more flooding and destruction than Agnes. The river went up to 43 feet. It was a shallow muddy puddle when I crossed it this summer to see her. But, as of last night, she is back in her apartment in her senior apartment building, full of praise for her son and DIL for treating her like royalty (which she is, of course!) My only regret is I was not up there to do anything for her – BUT, my house (up there) is on the other side of 2 rivers with lots of flooding creeks in-between Wilkes Barre and White Haven.

Here on the shore, actually, up in Delaware, one little town received 14 inches of rain in about 6 hours. I have been in the Seaford area when it was under water, drove home from PA in 9 inches of water on Route 13 just before they closed it. Talk about timing! That was June, 2006. We saw cars with water up to their roofs in parking lots, drove past houses with water up to the front doors. So sad!

Anyway, it is very busy here taking care of my own commitments and worrying about family and friends. So, if I neglect you a little bit, forgive me. I will catch up maybe sometime in November!

I hope you have made out all right in the storms!

A GOOD MAN, SEVERAL GOOD MEN

Good men are hard to find. Remember hearing that one? (and all the bad jokes, yes, I remember them, too.) I almost never get involved in politics on this blog... unless you know me pretty well, you won't hear much about my political inclinations. I was born into a Republican household, but I was also taught to think for myself somewhere along the line. I can honestly say I am generally above politics - if I like you and what you truly stand for based on what you have done, I will vote for you and support you to the end of the earth. I do think for myself. So, I am going to make my big political statement here... no surprise to some... I am first and foremost against war. I do not believe we have any business being in Iraq or Afghanistan, no business at all. My idea of supporting the troops is to bring them home. Those who love carrying guns, shooting people, hiding behind a uniform or in a tank, we have numerous mercenary groups who are looking for folks like that. With that out of the way, I will not vote for someone who wants to drag us into a war, bomb Iran, or to whom God has supposedly told to get elected and bomb Iraqis, Iranians, or any other group. I am still a Flower Child. That said...

Last week I had an opportunity to meet our former governor and current Senator, Mark Warner. He was Not here campaigning - Senators serve 6 year terms, he has 2 to go. He was just HERE... asking US what was on our minds, what he could do to make life better. It is seldom politicians come to little back water areas like ours even when they are campaiging. Anyway, he was here, there were NO prepared speeches, he read no notes, nothing was written on his hand, nobody stood near-by passing over cheat notes... he just talked WITH us, not TO us. Our Delegate, Lynwood Lewis, introduced him, and turned the floor over to Warner. After a few moments about what was going on in DC and where he stood and a plea for folks to work together, he opened the floor for questions. Folks were civilized (is that a good word? I am beginning to question that term.) and cordial. I jumped in on the No Child Left Behind discussion stating that teachers who read the law knew it was a bad deal from day One... He listened. It was like a conversation with a neighbor, one you like! He was animated, but I think that is just his way of speaking. I wondered how well he could speak if his arms were tied down! He never talked down to us, but then, not to be concieted, the vast majority of the crowd was educated, most with at least a Master's degree.

The Shore has been fortunate. We have had several excellent men representing us, men who cared more about serving the shore than serving their own political interests. One was Republican, and I would vote for him in a heartbeat if he ran again. One is a Democrat, and I will vote for him again in November. Both are men that I cannot find anything to criticize - and trust me, I am good at that! I have known Bob Bloxom most of my life. They don't make them any better than Bob. Actually, Bob was screwed by members of his own party because he voted FOR those of us who voted for him, and not always with his party. Sometimes we get folks in office that are NOT politicians... they are the folks we want who will represent US! Often, the politicians then work to get rid of them.

I had Senator Ralph Northam in school when he was just a little boy - my first year of teaching. He was a sweetheart then and he is the same today (only taller!) Ralph is a neurological pediatric surgeon at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk when he is not in Richmond, and does a lot of work pro bono. I guess the Tea Baggers would call him a socialist (unless it was their child or grandchild he was caring for and they were out of work, had no insurance, no income, etc.) but I just call him one hell of a good man. A man of compassion. An HONEST man - a rare bird in these times. You might think I am dreaming, but I know these men are actually listening to me when I talk to them about something. They don't just say "unh huh," and shake my hand (They are all good huggers!) and not hear a word. They are real people first, politicians last. They are in office to serve those of us who put them there, not the BIG corporations that now own most politicians. They are not there for the money or glory or because they want to bomb somebody or finally make "Poppy" proud.

If you ever have a chance to vote for one of these great men, please do so.

Mark Warner was a good governor and has tried to be as bi-partisan as he could be in DC, working for the good of the People and not for the crippling of the government or the ruin of a president. It takes a lot to impress me... and I am impressed. If the time comes that he chooses to run for a higher office, I certainly would not hesitate to vote for him.

BUSY TIMES!

OR WHAT DO YOU FIND TO DO NOW THAT YOU ARE RETIRED? ISN'T IT BORING?Ummm, noooooo. It has been a busy time here in My Little Corner of the World. Where do I start?

I am now the coordinator for our new Neighborhood Watch. You have seen the pictures from the formation of our Train Station Preservation group. Pat calls me the assistant station master. He, of course, is station master. Works for me! Last week I set up another blog just about the station, and Pat did a website. Check us out at http://onley-spots.blogspot.com/.

And then I have gotten involved in the local political stuff on a number of different levels. VA elects a governor this year along with the local Delegates and attorney general. So, I have been going and listening to what they all have to say. My neighbor is great about driving me to things. The best part was I got to see one of my former students, Senator Ralph Northam. He was a great kid and is a wonderful man. Ralph is also a pediatric neurologist. I just can't say enough good things about him. This is Creigh Deeds, a candidate for governor, and my neighbor's grandson.

And in the middle of it all, I had a new roof put on. That was an experience. I have had so many friends have terrible experiences using local "contractors" and I have had several bad experiences with local workers... I needed to have a contractor with a guarantee and not someone who ripped off half my roof, covered it with a tarp and disappeared for 3 weeks. So, I went thru Lowe's. A work crew showed up one day and were finished the next. Usually, there were 6 guys on the roof at one time. It was amazing how fast and well they worked.

I admit, none of them spoke more than a few words of English, but the job was done in what I consider record time, and there was never any time except for their lunch break when they were all just standing around doing nothing. Another thing impressed me - they were actually able to work without a boom box blasting away some where. Their boss was a lady from Brazil.

And it has been HOT! I have been lucky to get the grass cut before it gets too high, but the weeding... well, that is another story. With a bad back, bad knees, and Lyme's disease, weeding is more than a boring chore. It is a major job. BUT - it was 65 degrees yesterday at dawn so and I headed outside as soon as I hit 'send' on my Sunday newsletter I have been doing for over 10 years. I covered my turn around area with mostly grass and a few weeds. You can barely see the concrete under the stuff I pulled! That's 12 feet by 8 feet of grass and weeds thrown out there to dry. It's easier than shaking the dirt off... I will rake the dry stuff up in a couple of days, put it on the compost pile, sweep the dirt back up into the yard. Like the roof story, I have had a man promise me he was coming to do this for about 2 months. He speaks English.The Dusty Millers on the right had been completely buried in tall grass and weeds. But I do have one easy job... I am babysitting... my neighbors have gone to Maine (envy, envy) for a couple of weeks and so they entrusted me with their plants. Is this a magnificent fern or what? That is a 4 foot wind chime.

Tha garden is still producing beans, zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. C'mon by, I have plenty to share!