Positive Connectivity

A few days ago, I was part of a group of nearly 50 people that attended a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game in Milwaukee. Most of the people in this group had developmental disabilities. We had a wonderful time - even though the Brewers got trounced.

The following day, I was called into emergency duty to play the organ for a funeral at my church. About an hour before it began, I learned that the funeral was for a man that had developmental disabilities. I was pleased to see that the church was about half full. While I was up in the choir loft during the funeral, I experienced deja vu. While looking at the backs of people, I recognized several of the same people that attended the baseball game the day before. These people, all of whom had developmental disabilities, were at the funeral to pay their respects to a man that had been a friend, a roommate and a co-worker. I am glad that I had the opportunity to support these people during a very fun time and during a very challenging time.

We often forget that having a developmental disability does not keep one from really enjoying many of the fun things in life as well as struggling with the grief when friends pass away.

Turning Off The Fawcett

Given that we are in a news period that can be called "All Michael Jackson, All the Time", we seem to have forgotten that Farah Fawcett passed away after a very difficult battle with cancer.

One of the graces that God has given me, and many other males my age, was Farah Fawcett. I know what you are thinking - I must be a sexist pig. I admit to having a t-shirt that prominently featured the famous pin-up poster of Farah Fawcett (8 million copies of the poster were sold). At the time the poster came out, I might have been around 12 years old. While many males older than me might have ogled the poster, especially the lower half of the poster, I just thought Farah Fawcett was "Ivory soap" beautiful. She was the all-American girl. I must have had some fairly well-balanced friends. We all had some version of the poster and none of us were oglers. We saw the image as a work of art - something to be viewed and appreciated for its beauty. She was like a flower in full bloom.

I suppose that I need to get use to losses like this - the deaths of many people, especially entertainers, that I remember from my youth. In a strange way, it is a blessing to have been given some type of connection to a person that causes a sense of loss decades after the original connection came about.

I Ran So Far Away

We should have seen the situation in Iran coming. However, it has become habit for those of us in the West to think that everyone in or near the Middle East is an extremist crackpot. The videos and photos we are seeing are reminders that the vast majority of people in Iran are, in many ways, just like us in the West. They want a level of freedom that makes it possible for them and their families to live decent lives. After many years of being pressed into corners by the leaders of their country (most of whom are extremist crackpots), the people of Iran are sensing an opportunity to escape from the corners into which they have become trapped. As we see what is happening in Iran, we all seem to struggle with the fact that the people in Iran will not be successful in their quest for freedom without outside assistance. What can be done to provide assistance that will not make if worse for the people of Iran?

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall, I've Become My Father, After All

As my dearly departed father grew older, it became increasingly difficult for members of our family to figure out what to get for him as gifts. He wasn't picky. He just never presented any clues for things he wanted or needed. Christmas, his birthday and Father's Day always presented struggles. It was to the point where we were almost upset with him.

Here I am - on the cusp of middle age (today's 50 is yesterday's 40). While I have no children, I have a beloved wife and a beloved dog. My wife informed me that the dog had a difficult time figuring out what to get me for Father's Day. It isn't that I don't like and am not grateful anything I receive as a gift. Like my father, I seem to pretty much have everything I want.

So, it seems like I may am becoming my father. I won't complain, since he was a pretty good guy.

Capitol Punishment

No, not capital punishment. Yesterday, I heard a breaking news report on the radio. A body was discovered, in the middle of the day, on a bench in front of our state Capitol building. I was disturbed that the reporter continued with the report that, while not specifically stating it in this manner, gave the inmpression that the body was - fortunately - that of a homeless man that has had a history of contact with local laws enforcement agencies. So, because the man was homeless and may have had a criminal record, he doesn't count. The story was not even mentioned in the newspaper of the capitol city!

While I am upset about this, I shouldn't be surprised. As a society, we did not recognize the inherent dignity of the homeless man while he was alive. Why should I be surprised that we failed to recognize his inherenty dignity after he has died?

Unbearably Creepy

Earlier today, my job took me on a journey in central Wisconsin. I had the opportunity to drive through Plainfield, the small community nobody had heard of until its most (in)famous citizen made the news. Decades ago, Ed Gein killed people, dug up corpses, made furniture our of body parts, etc. Norman Bates of "Psycho" fame was based on Ed Gein. Even though the "Gein era" was decades ago, I still experienced an eerie feeling while driving through Plainfield.

While I was driving out of town, I thought that it was unfair that the small community was known for being the home of one of the nation's most bizarre murderers (Wisconsin can also claim gruesome murderer Jeffrey Dahmer). I don't know what this might signify, but as I was thinking this, a black bear came running out of the woods and was heading in my direction. I had to brake fairly hard and come to a stop. The bear crossed the highway about 15 feet in front of me and paid me no attention - he just kept running into the woods on the other side of the highway.

A Double Whammy

I just heard that two people were shot at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and that the gunman apparently has ties to hate groups.

This news comes on the cusp of a disturbing event I recently experienced. Every morning, my beloved dog and I walk in part of a city park that few people know about (and we want to keep it that way). There is a stormwater creek running the lenght of the park. On each end of the park, there are wooden pedestrian bridges that make it possible to cross the creek. Several months ago, I noticed some graffiti on one of the bridges. The graffiti consisted of what could be gang symbols - I am old enough to have no clue about such symbols. I just figured that someone was bored and made their way to that part of the park to find a graffiti "canvas". Since, few people use that part of the park, I didn't bother reporting it.

On Monday morning, I noticed some additional graffiti on the bridge. The additions included three swastikas. Even though my guess is that the "artists" were high schoolers and not members of hate groups, seeing swastikas outside of an historical documentary or book is pretty disturbing. I did inform a friend of mine that happens to be the director of our city's park system. He called the police to investigate and then had a staff member paint over the graffiti.

The "artists" are, at a minimum, ingorant or, at a maximum, bigoted. Let's hope that they are merely passing through a phase that will end soon - for their sakes and for ours.

Give 'Em a Brake

On my my drive home (about a 15 mile drive) from work yesterday, traffic came to a stop on the highway about 3 miles from my home. I could sense that many people stuck in this "parking lot" were very frustrated. Given that I knew there was no construction in the area, I also sensed that something terrible may have caused the backup.

I was able to get off an a different exit and make my way home just a few minutes later than usual. I told my wife that I thought something terrible happened. I turned on the radio to see if I could find out what happened. The highway I was on has three lanes going north. A team of county workers was doing routine cleaning in the left lane. There was a "street-sweeping" truck in front of a "warning" truck. The "warning" truck has a very bright sign on it with a blinking arrow directing drivers to merge into the two right lanes. Unfortunately, a man in a pick-up truck driving in the left lane was not paying attention and slammed into the back of the "warning" truck with such force that the "warning" truck slammed forward into the "street-sweeping" truck. The driver of the "warning" truck was killed instantly. The driver of the pick-up is has numerous charges against him. He was not drunk. He just wasn't paying attention.

I am one that may push the speed limit a bit (but really, not too much) EXCEPT whenever there is construction, utility, lawenforcement activity near the road. Then I always drive at a speed that is a bit lower than the posted speed (including special speed zones related to construction).

I feel badly for the victim and the driver of the pick-up truck that now has to spend the rest of his life dealing with the fact that his lack of attention resulted in the death of another human being.

Staying Cool

Here it is, early June. When I took my beloved dog out for a walk early this morning, there was a crispness in the air. I could see my breath. I kept my eye open for signs of frost. There was none. However, when I rubbed a piece of prairie grass, my fingers became full of......ice! Yes, conditions were not foggy enough for frost, but they were cold and humid enough for ice. Ugh!