The World of
Grandpa Don
A work in progress - complete
but not finished
Current Events
In the life of Grandpa Don
On this page I have
recorded what I found significant during the past week as well as my
thoughts about those events and other reflections. I started doing
this before the practice became popular on the internet
This is my diary, written a little each day and published weekly.
At times I may seem to
pontificate on a subject that comes to mind during the week. I do
not intend it as a demand or even a suggestion that everyone should
think or act as I do. It is rather, intended to let you know what
goes on in my mind ... how I am motivated to live as I do.
If The World of Grandpa Don
appeals to you,
you are free to join me in it. Be warned, however, it is not always what
some would call "The Real World".
Week Ending
Friday January 18, 2008
Go to the Current Event
for ..
Archive
Or to learn more of Grandpa Don and his
remarkable family ...
Words of Wisdom ...
The art of living lies
less in eliminating our troubles than in growing with
them.
~ Bernard M. Baruch
The
Prayer Corner
Visit
the On-Line Chapel
www.stjulie.org
Post your prayer requests there.
Before I presume to pray ...
for my offenses against God
and everyone else, I ask pardon.
I invite you
to
Pray with me
... For
those among us beset with illness particularly the
unidentified illnesses that cause so much concern. ... May
they be cradled in the hands of God who loves them dearly
as do we.
Many of the quotes found on
this page are from the daily messages I receive from
Covenant House
A
Thought ...
I used to eat a
lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die
of natural causes.
Bono
Vince Malum
Overcome Evil with Good
Knight Grand Officer
Chev. Donald J Plefka, KGOStI,
OMStlAt-Large Priory Commander
Order of
Merit III
Saturday morning began with a visit to
Grandpa Baboo's neighborhood.(www.newlewis.net
) My friend has the patience of a saint Or, maybe
it is just the conditioning of years of dealing with "service" people in a
non-service oriented world that requires more service than it ever has.
These days much of our lives are involved with services of one kind or
another, a situation born in technology. In
years long past we lived in a simple
world when we did for ourselves. The local general store served our need for
all our needs and when we bought an item we took it home and used it. There
was no need of installers for nothing was so complicated that it needed
anything more than common sense to take it out of the wagon and begin using
it. Now we need an expert with special tools and .... Ooops, what happened
to common sense? It has become far to uncommon. Store clerks, associates and
such we call them now, when they are present at all, help us with products
about which they know little other than where it is on the shelf, if they
know that.
If what you purchase needs to be
installed, you better hope that it will be a "standard installation", ...
what ever that is! If you are replacing an existing "built-in"
appliance you are in real trouble because the new one will probably not fit
and will require different connections. The installer will either not be
equipped with necessary tools, fittings or mental ability to install it or
there will be an additional installation charge and possible a second
"service" trip to arrange. Of course we also need to deal with late or
missed service appointments.
I don't need to tell you about electronic
installations, particularly cable TV and computer internet connections. And
now they are being integrated along with telephone service. Features on that
new digital TV that you thought were the cat's meow (to you kids, that means
terrific) are not compatible with the cable box and won't function and the
alarm system screws up the phone system. You call three different providers
and they all say its the fault of the other system.
This is all the benefit of modern
technology and our "need" to keep up with it. New companies spring up and
borrow tons of money to have their new gadget manufactured in some far
away place where labor is cheap and hire high priced promoters to convince
us that it is a necessity without which we will be hopelessly lost. We, in
turn buy their stock on the advice of hucksters who make a commission on the
sale and again after a couple years when the company is near failure due to
over-borrowing and law suits for patent infringement when we sell the stock
for a fraction of its original cost.
The fact is that to survive in his world
we need to remember that just because it's there doesn't mean that we really
need it. We are made happy by satisfying our legitimate needs.
We are content when we realize that what happens is not the important
factor, but how we react to what happens that has the critical effect on us.
So, what is my excuse? I an enthroned
here by myself in a house that could be home to a large family (or more) and
drive a luxury car with heated leather seats, heads up gages projected on
the windshield, and automatic everything including a 12 disk audio system,
albeit 7 years old. I have HD Digital TV in two rooms and am contemplating
another. I have six speaker surround sound, and a stack of video and audio
machines, an alarm system, a cordless phone in five rooms all from the same
base unit so they can be used as an intercom, a pretty good computer with a
terrific internet connection as well as a lap top computer to take when I
travel, ... if I ever do. I have a chime that announces the mail
delivery, and almost every conceivable appliance. Do I need all this ... No!
But I am not about to give it all up. (I think I could if I had to.)
There came a point in our lives
when Anne and I became aware that the race for more money and things was not
worth the stress and effort. We started being more generous with our time
and our money. It didn't take long to find out that time given for others is
happier time and the more we gave, the more we received. I have come to
believe that God says, "They share what they have, so I'll give them
more." Maybe I can paraphrase an old gem:: The one with the
most toys doesn't win, but the winner gets more toys.
By the way, to experience this phenomena
I believe that a person needs to try to live the
Prayer of
St. Francis ... not jut wish for it.
"The mediocre
teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.
The great teacher inspires."
William Ward
Saturday evening, Dan and Karen
picked me up and we went on to Capri, a delightful restaurant in Palos
where we met Anne Marie and Dom, Tom and Diane, and Chris and Bob. My
kids don't often get together with my niece, Chris Lawler and the
occasion was arranged to remedy that omission as well as to meet Bob.
Chris and Bob have not yet set a date but a marriage is in their future.
I was along for the ride and was delighted to be there to enjoy an
excellent Italian meal and their company. Bob past the cousin inspection
with flying colors, not that our approval was needed. I had the feeling
that we met with his approval which is far more important. I have not
seen Chris this happy and content with life in years. She has had a bad
time in the past and deserves better, and I am sure she has found that.
It was great to get together and we all agree to make it a more frequent
thing.
Sunday I hosted Dinner & Cards with
the Halfords. after exchanging stories of holiday gatherings and other
family news we went to the Tin Fish, appropriately in Tinley
Park. After ordering drinks, I ordered a shrimp appetizer and when I
hesitated over the selection of a second, our waited suggested a beef
wrap. The shrimp, prepared in a delicious sauce came with an equally
savory white dip. The beef wrap was tender steak chunks wrapped in
steamed lettuce along with other "salad" components. Their menu includes
a three column display of various fish, how prepared, and a choice of
vegetables to go with it. When Jan ordered her fish, our
knowledgeable waiter suggested an alternative preparation to her choice
to preserve the quality of that particular fish and a different
vegetable selection as well. She was very pleased with the results. Dick
and I had the Filet of beef which was delicious and even Dick's well
done entrée was tender and juicy. Dick had Crème Brule while Jan and I
enjoyed pecan rum pie with ice cream. It was a meal fit for royalty ...
"Living in the manner to which we would like to become accustomed." We
all brought home "doggy" bags and I can assure you that Mikey will see
none of mine.
Returning to my house, I enjoyed
showing off some of the new "toys" I received for Christmas and
especially the book of writings by my father. They were amazed at that,
as is everyone who sees it. Then, as is our custom, the evening
continued with pinochle, played as if we were friendly arch-enemies.
The good old
days were when time was marching on -- instead of running out.
-- L.J. Peter [c. 1982]
Mikey, medications are working. I shames me to think
I hesitated so long to get treatment for him using the excuse that it
doesn't matter to me that he had patches of hair falling out ... after
all, he is not a show dog. True, appearance isn't everything but the
contrast in his behavior awakens me to the realization that his skin
condition must have been causing him a lot of discomfort. Sure, he never
complained ... isn't it natural for dogs to scratch? He is back to
being a contented pal again. His skin is a healthy soft pink, not crusty
and stiff and the under-layer of hair is returning. I vow never again to
allow the situation progress again and at the first sign of trouble I
will respond to my friend's need.
There is a message here as well. That person who is
abrasive and irritating probably doesn't want to be that way. Something
either beyond his control or with a cause unknown even to him may
underlie the problem. The first thing to remember is that it is no
personal affront to me ... it is not my problem ... it is his, and so I
should not be offended. The second thing to remember is that although it
is his problem, I may be able to help. Praying is often the
best first step ... that God help him with the problem and that I will
understand and be compassionate. The next step, when possible, could be
to simply show that I care by not reacting negatively and by providing
positive feedback show concern or at least interest. Depending on the
person and the problem, it may be possible to delve more deeply into the
situation and assist in a solution. Hopefully we can remember that most
people are not like our dogs who will try to be loyal and lovable no
matter what is bugging them.
The busy weekend took its toll on Monday and a nap
took me after lunch. I had taken a cup of coffee to the living room to
do some bible study homework. After completing that, I took up my
father's writings and reviewed some of the pages, soon to set it aside
to rest my eyes. The next thing I knew Mikey was politely mewing like a
cat, his way of saying, "Ok buddy, don't you have something to do?" My
feet had fallen asleep along with my mind so it took a few minutes to
get to my feet and take care of him. Before he gets his supper, each of
his two pills is enclosed in a small ball of liver sausage which he
eagerly consumes. I also get a little liver sausage ... equally appreciated
... sans pills. Then he gets his usual 3/4 cup of dry dog food with a
spoonful of caned food to give it some moisture and taste. He won't eat
unless I sit and wait, usually taking the opportunity to watch CNBC to
see how the markets are doing. When his bowel is empty he comes
for desert in the form of a couple small dog treats after which there is
a short trip into the yard. He lives in the manner to which he or
any dog would like to be accustomed.
Some pursue
happiness.
Others create it.
~ Anonymous
The following email came from Joe.
Just wanted to let you know that
after 2 stays in the hospital in the last month, the last one for 5 days
and tests including CT scans, colonoscopy, and upper GI x-rays, and
diagnoses of first pancreatitis and then Chrons disease, the doctors are
puzzled as to what Dana's problem was. They can find nothing!
She has one more test to be done as an outpatient which involves
swallowing a "pillcam" which is a camera in the shape of a large pill
sending thousands of pictures which the doctors will evaluate to see if
there are any problems in areas the other tests couldn't evaluate. (I
believe via a WIFI connection for the computer savvy).
She was released from the hospital yesterday (Thank God!) and went
running home to continue recuperating and will be off of work for some
time yet.
Please keep your prayers coming! They have done the trick so far and
Mary Anne and I really appreciate them.
Thank You,
Mary Anne and Joe
I think the worse kind of illness is
the one that can not be identified. It can not be treated effectively
and the imagination will conger up all sorts of possibilities, all
probably much worse that the actual problem. Lets join the family in
prayer, asking for enlighten for the doctors as well as strength and
peace of mind for the family.
Marilyn said that the first story in
the book of our father's writings was her favorite and I can see why. It
is written in the style of a 'hick' , somewhat uneducated, a folksy tale
describing his introduction to Hawaii in a tongue-in-cheek manner. The
story starts by letting us know that he was subject to sea sickness on
the voyage without saying it. This I can relate to since I spent many an
hour at the rail during my Navy days. He can't find a native Hawaiian
and doesn't recognize the big touring cars used as taxies. That hit a
cord with me because I found the same thing when in Cuba in the early
50's. He describes his trip on the single track interurban
streetcar line with its stops at sidings to let a car pass from the
opposite direction and then the renting of a bathing suit of dubious
heritage. His character is unimpressed by the big empty ocean and
Diamond Head as well as stepping on coral outcroppings at the beach.
(These were also a feature of the beach at Havana.) His
descriptions of encounters with outrigger canoes and surf boards were
equally amusing and I wonder if he had the near drowning
experience he depicts. His aversion to sea travel is evident in his
mention that he would wait until a subway was built to the mainland to
return home. In this story he reminds us that we may be a man of
experience in our familiar surroundings but we are just a tenderfoot
when we stray into unfamiliar territory. The secrete is in adapting to
where you are as our father conveyed when he said that if you visit the
island, the bow legged guy you see in the palm tree will be Pvt. A. J.
Copeland getting his breakfast.
Further readings reveal Al to have
been well read for his tender age and adept at changing his writing
style to suit his purpose. He is reveled as a man of deep thought and
this story, as his other writings, usually include a message about life.
I no longer need to wonder from whence my tendency to pontificate
springs. .
We may have all come
on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. [1929-1968]
It was maintenance time this week. My furnace works
24 hours a day 365 days a year it is either heating, cooling, or just
circulating the air. The fan never stops and that is evidenced when I
change the air filter the first of every month. Running the fan
continuously and using a high efficiency filter not only cleans the air
of dust and contaminants but it keeps a more even temperature in the
house when heating, cooling or just circulating the air entering from
open windows. With all that work and the benefits gained it is well
worth the cost of twice yearly cleaning and checking. It also lessens
the possibility of a surprise breakdown.
Maintenance is a necessity of existence. whether we
are talking about houses, machinery, our bodies or our our spirits.
Neglecting to do so leads to deterioration and failure. All to often we
fail to keep up with the ravages of time and normal use as well as
damage by accident or misuse. This applies to all of the mentioned parts
of our lives. and extends to cities and nations as well.
Too often we begrudge the time and cost of
maintenance or don't even recognize the need. Entire societies require
maintenance and renewal. How many recognize education, for instance, as
something to be maintained and constantly renewed as a benefit for all
of us. The uneducated are a drag on a community in their lack of ability
to contribute at their potential and propensity towards crime. Many of
us do not see the education of others as our responsibility, yet we all
benefit from their knowledge.
The same applies to all public services. The
construction of good streets and roads, furnishing an adequate supply of
good water, providing for sewage and waste removal and disposal or
recycling, as well as police and fire protection are requirements of
modern living. We may not need every service every day but when the need
is there for us they must be in place. Even public transportation, an
extension of streets and roads, if you will, benefits us all even if we
as individuals don't use it. This extends to traffic control, on the
ground and in the air, port authorities and so much more. We may not
like taxes but these things do not just sprout out of the ground like
weeds. They are all my responsibility and unless I want to live as a
hermit in a cave, living on grasshoppers and worms I better be willing
to pay for them.
Unfortunately government is necessary to provide,
coordinate and maintain most of these things and government breeds
bureaucracy and waste. (Seems to be the nature of the beast) thereby
adding to the cost. Be that as it may, governments need to be maintained
as well. It is our responsibility to pay for this cost unless we wish to
live in that cave and protect it from those who would take it from us
ourselves. It is also unfortunate that those who would actually want the
responsibility to lead governments need have egos as big as a mountain
and ego is what leads men astray. We must be ever vigilant in selecting
these people. (but that is another problem) In any case, waste in
government is not an excuse for me not to support it but all the more
reason to contribute to a need that is being cheated of needed support.
The most pressing need for maintenance is however the
one most neglected and that is our own spirituality. This is where the
sharing of our time, talent and treasures pays the highest
dividends ... in Eternal Life. 'nuff said!
"I am not what
happened to me,
I am what I choose to become."
--- Carl Jung
Peggy Cecora sent a prayer. It is too long to be the
"Prayer of the Week" (above) but it is worth sharing:
Saint Theresa' s Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that
has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle
into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and
love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
The prayer is not just a bunch of wishes but a plea to
God that with the help of His Spirit we may make these individual choices in
life. The prayer reminds me of the statement by C. S. Lewis that he does not
pray to God in order to change His mind, ...but to to change himself.
And speaking of changes ... The newsletter of
Kelso-Burnett Company arrived. This issue of Kelso-Kurrents celebrates the
Companies' 100 years in the electrical contracting business during which
there have been many changes. The company was a major part of my life
between 1957 and 1996 and when I started there I was privileged to know
several electricians who replaced the gas lights in buildings with electric
by pulling wires through gas pipes. A major part of our work back then was
the rewiring of downtown buildings, converting them from DC current to the
more efficient AC that is universal today. For a one-page synopsis of my
days at KB see
On the Job. For a more detailed
story of how I got involved with computers see
Kelso-Burnett Computer History.
And, for a look at the company as it is now see
Kelso-Burnett.
Thursday morning, Mikey was left at Touch of Class and I
continued on to Bible study. John concentrates the most on the Divinity of
Jesus as well as the theology of his life. According to the commentary,
this particular gospel was slow to be accepted due to these factors. The
Jewish community, then and later joined by the Moslem followers do not
accept this Divinity of Christ, considering the theology of the Trinity to
be a violation of the belief in One God. We Christians, however claim the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit to be the single Creator God. We try to explain
it but it is beyond our understanding. If we accept Jesus, however, we must
accept this mystery because it was revealed to us by Him. It is that simple
... either it is true or He is a fraud.
When I picked up Mikey he looked great. I carried him to
the car so he wouldn't get the car seat wet since there was a light snow falling
and melting as it hit the ground. His under coat of fine straight hair has
completely covered the large bald spot and the curly top coat will soon
follow. Modern medicine does wonders, even for our animals. Years ago he
would have been considered a "mangy dog" and left to scratch himself raw.
If we could all hear
one another's prayers, God might be relieved of some of his
burden.
~ Ashleigh Brilliant
Today, Friday is deceptively bright an sunny, made even brighter by the
thin crust of frozen snow covering everything. It is cold and going to
be colder. Inside it is nice and warm made even more pleasant by the big
red blossoms on Biscus (say "Hi Biscus"). He has been blooming almost
continuously since coming into the living room in the fall. In the
family room the Christmas cactus has been blooming prodigiously as well
with its orchid-like flowers adding a tropical look to the room. Not to
be left out of the "garden in the house", the two pots of Hens & Chicks
that I brought in for the winter are overflowing in their greenery. I
may need to find an empty pot and transplant some of them before too
long.
I was never a gardener in my earlier years but now that I have taken the
time to appreciate the wonders of nature about me it seems to reward me
for the attestation. Now that I think of it, the same applies to people.
Thank you God.
:The name Shepardsfield may have some
significance as the possible origin of our ancestor's first name.
.
Grandpa Don Plefka
Links of the
Week
Following the link is ...
the name of the person who led me to it.
Dance Like No One is Watching ... Bob Lewis
Anne
wanted everyone to be 'Nice'.
This button was in one of her dresser
drawers I cleaned out in August of 2004
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A work in progress - complete but not finished |
Current Events In the life of Grandpa Don On this page I have recorded what I found significant during the past week as well as my thoughts about those events and other reflections. I started doing this before the practice became popular on the internet This is my diary, written a little each day and published weekly. At times I may seem to pontificate on a subject that comes to mind during the week. I do not intend it as a demand or even a suggestion that everyone should think or act as I do. It is rather, intended to let you know what goes on in my mind ... how I am motivated to live as I do.
If The World of Grandpa Don
appeals to you, |
Week Ending Friday January 18, 2008 |
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If what you purchase needs to be installed, you better hope that it will be a "standard installation", ... what ever that is! If you are replacing an existing "built-in" appliance you are in real trouble because the new one will probably not fit and will require different connections. The installer will either not be equipped with necessary tools, fittings or mental ability to install it or there will be an additional installation charge and possible a second "service" trip to arrange. Of course we also need to deal with late or missed service appointments. I don't need to tell you about electronic installations, particularly cable TV and computer internet connections. And now they are being integrated along with telephone service. Features on that new digital TV that you thought were the cat's meow (to you kids, that means terrific) are not compatible with the cable box and won't function and the alarm system screws up the phone system. You call three different providers and they all say its the fault of the other system. This is all the benefit of modern technology and our "need" to keep up with it. New companies spring up and borrow tons of money to have their new gadget manufactured in some far away place where labor is cheap and hire high priced promoters to convince us that it is a necessity without which we will be hopelessly lost. We, in turn buy their stock on the advice of hucksters who make a commission on the sale and again after a couple years when the company is near failure due to over-borrowing and law suits for patent infringement when we sell the stock for a fraction of its original cost. The fact is that to survive in his world we need to remember that just because it's there doesn't mean that we really need it. We are made happy by satisfying our legitimate needs. We are content when we realize that what happens is not the important factor, but how we react to what happens that has the critical effect on us. So, what is my excuse? I an enthroned here by myself in a house that could be home to a large family (or more) and drive a luxury car with heated leather seats, heads up gages projected on the windshield, and automatic everything including a 12 disk audio system, albeit 7 years old. I have HD Digital TV in two rooms and am contemplating another. I have six speaker surround sound, and a stack of video and audio machines, an alarm system, a cordless phone in five rooms all from the same base unit so they can be used as an intercom, a pretty good computer with a terrific internet connection as well as a lap top computer to take when I travel, ... if I ever do. I have a chime that announces the mail delivery, and almost every conceivable appliance. Do I need all this ... No! But I am not about to give it all up. (I think I could if I had to.) There came a point in our lives when Anne and I became aware that the race for more money and things was not worth the stress and effort. We started being more generous with our time and our money. It didn't take long to find out that time given for others is happier time and the more we gave, the more we received. I have come to believe that God says, "They share what they have, so I'll give them more." Maybe I can paraphrase an old gem:: The one with the most toys doesn't win, but the winner gets more toys.
By the way, to experience this phenomena
I believe that a person needs to try to live the
Prayer of
St. Francis ... not jut wish for it.
Saturday evening, Dan and Karen picked me up and we went on to Capri, a delightful restaurant in Palos where we met Anne Marie and Dom, Tom and Diane, and Chris and Bob. My kids don't often get together with my niece, Chris Lawler and the occasion was arranged to remedy that omission as well as to meet Bob. Chris and Bob have not yet set a date but a marriage is in their future. I was along for the ride and was delighted to be there to enjoy an excellent Italian meal and their company. Bob past the cousin inspection with flying colors, not that our approval was needed. I had the feeling that we met with his approval which is far more important. I have not seen Chris this happy and content with life in years. She has had a bad time in the past and deserves better, and I am sure she has found that. It was great to get together and we all agree to make it a more frequent thing. Sunday I hosted Dinner & Cards with the Halfords. after exchanging stories of holiday gatherings and other family news we went to the Tin Fish, appropriately in Tinley Park. After ordering drinks, I ordered a shrimp appetizer and when I hesitated over the selection of a second, our waited suggested a beef wrap. The shrimp, prepared in a delicious sauce came with an equally savory white dip. The beef wrap was tender steak chunks wrapped in steamed lettuce along with other "salad" components. Their menu includes a three column display of various fish, how prepared, and a choice of vegetables to go with it. When Jan ordered her fish, our knowledgeable waiter suggested an alternative preparation to her choice to preserve the quality of that particular fish and a different vegetable selection as well. She was very pleased with the results. Dick and I had the Filet of beef which was delicious and even Dick's well done entrée was tender and juicy. Dick had Crème Brule while Jan and I enjoyed pecan rum pie with ice cream. It was a meal fit for royalty ... "Living in the manner to which we would like to become accustomed." We all brought home "doggy" bags and I can assure you that Mikey will see none of mine.
Returning to my house, I enjoyed
showing off some of the new "toys" I received for Christmas and
especially the book of writings by my father. They were amazed at that,
as is everyone who sees it. Then, as is our custom, the evening
continued with pinochle, played as if we were friendly arch-enemies. The good old
days were when time was marching on -- instead of running out.
Mikey, medications are working. I shames me to think
I hesitated so long to get treatment for him using the excuse that it
doesn't matter to me that he had patches of hair falling out ... after
all, he is not a show dog. True, appearance isn't everything but the
contrast in his behavior awakens me to the realization that his skin
condition must have been causing him a lot of discomfort. Sure, he never
complained ... isn't it natural for dogs to scratch? He is back to
being a contented pal again. His skin is a healthy soft pink, not crusty
and stiff and the under-layer of hair is returning. I vow never again to
allow the situation progress again and at the first sign of trouble I
will respond to my friend's need.
There is a message here as well. That person who is
abrasive and irritating probably doesn't want to be that way. Something
either beyond his control or with a cause unknown even to him may
underlie the problem. The first thing to remember is that it is no
personal affront to me ... it is not my problem ... it is his, and so I
should not be offended. The second thing to remember is that although it
is his problem, I may be able to help. Praying is often the
best first step ... that God help him with the problem and that I will
understand and be compassionate. The next step, when possible, could be
to simply show that I care by not reacting negatively and by providing
positive feedback show concern or at least interest. Depending on the
person and the problem, it may be possible to delve more deeply into the
situation and assist in a solution. Hopefully we can remember that most
people are not like our dogs who will try to be loyal and lovable no
matter what is bugging them.
The busy weekend took its toll on Monday and a nap
took me after lunch. I had taken a cup of coffee to the living room to
do some bible study homework. After completing that, I took up my
father's writings and reviewed some of the pages, soon to set it aside
to rest my eyes. The next thing I knew Mikey was politely mewing like a
cat, his way of saying, "Ok buddy, don't you have something to do?" My
feet had fallen asleep along with my mind so it took a few minutes to
get to my feet and take care of him. Before he gets his supper, each of
his two pills is enclosed in a small ball of liver sausage which he
eagerly consumes. I also get a little liver sausage ... equally appreciated
... sans pills. Then he gets his usual 3/4 cup of dry dog food with a
spoonful of caned food to give it some moisture and taste. He won't eat
unless I sit and wait, usually taking the opportunity to watch CNBC to
see how the markets are doing. When his bowel is empty he comes
for desert in the form of a couple small dog treats after which there is
a short trip into the yard. He lives in the manner to which he or
any dog would like to be accustomed. Some pursue
happiness. The following email came from Joe.
Just wanted to let you know that
after 2 stays in the hospital in the last month, the last one for 5 days
and tests including CT scans, colonoscopy, and upper GI x-rays, and
diagnoses of first pancreatitis and then Chrons disease, the doctors are
puzzled as to what Dana's problem was. They can find nothing! I think the worse kind of illness is the one that can not be identified. It can not be treated effectively and the imagination will conger up all sorts of possibilities, all probably much worse that the actual problem. Lets join the family in prayer, asking for enlighten for the doctors as well as strength and peace of mind for the family. Marilyn said that the first story in the book of our father's writings was her favorite and I can see why. It is written in the style of a 'hick' , somewhat uneducated, a folksy tale describing his introduction to Hawaii in a tongue-in-cheek manner. The story starts by letting us know that he was subject to sea sickness on the voyage without saying it. This I can relate to since I spent many an hour at the rail during my Navy days. He can't find a native Hawaiian and doesn't recognize the big touring cars used as taxies. That hit a cord with me because I found the same thing when in Cuba in the early 50's. He describes his trip on the single track interurban streetcar line with its stops at sidings to let a car pass from the opposite direction and then the renting of a bathing suit of dubious heritage. His character is unimpressed by the big empty ocean and Diamond Head as well as stepping on coral outcroppings at the beach. (These were also a feature of the beach at Havana.) His descriptions of encounters with outrigger canoes and surf boards were equally amusing and I wonder if he had the near drowning experience he depicts. His aversion to sea travel is evident in his mention that he would wait until a subway was built to the mainland to return home. In this story he reminds us that we may be a man of experience in our familiar surroundings but we are just a tenderfoot when we stray into unfamiliar territory. The secrete is in adapting to where you are as our father conveyed when he said that if you visit the island, the bow legged guy you see in the palm tree will be Pvt. A. J. Copeland getting his breakfast. Further readings reveal Al to have been well read for his tender age and adept at changing his writing style to suit his purpose. He is reveled as a man of deep thought and this story, as his other writings, usually include a message about life. I no longer need to wonder from whence my tendency to pontificate springs. .
It was maintenance time this week. My furnace works 24 hours a day 365 days a year it is either heating, cooling, or just circulating the air. The fan never stops and that is evidenced when I change the air filter the first of every month. Running the fan continuously and using a high efficiency filter not only cleans the air of dust and contaminants but it keeps a more even temperature in the house when heating, cooling or just circulating the air entering from open windows. With all that work and the benefits gained it is well worth the cost of twice yearly cleaning and checking. It also lessens the possibility of a surprise breakdown. Maintenance is a necessity of existence. whether we are talking about houses, machinery, our bodies or our our spirits. Neglecting to do so leads to deterioration and failure. All to often we fail to keep up with the ravages of time and normal use as well as damage by accident or misuse. This applies to all of the mentioned parts of our lives. and extends to cities and nations as well. Too often we begrudge the time and cost of maintenance or don't even recognize the need. Entire societies require maintenance and renewal. How many recognize education, for instance, as something to be maintained and constantly renewed as a benefit for all of us. The uneducated are a drag on a community in their lack of ability to contribute at their potential and propensity towards crime. Many of us do not see the education of others as our responsibility, yet we all benefit from their knowledge. The same applies to all public services. The construction of good streets and roads, furnishing an adequate supply of good water, providing for sewage and waste removal and disposal or recycling, as well as police and fire protection are requirements of modern living. We may not need every service every day but when the need is there for us they must be in place. Even public transportation, an extension of streets and roads, if you will, benefits us all even if we as individuals don't use it. This extends to traffic control, on the ground and in the air, port authorities and so much more. We may not like taxes but these things do not just sprout out of the ground like weeds. They are all my responsibility and unless I want to live as a hermit in a cave, living on grasshoppers and worms I better be willing to pay for them. Unfortunately government is necessary to provide, coordinate and maintain most of these things and government breeds bureaucracy and waste. (Seems to be the nature of the beast) thereby adding to the cost. Be that as it may, governments need to be maintained as well. It is our responsibility to pay for this cost unless we wish to live in that cave and protect it from those who would take it from us ourselves. It is also unfortunate that those who would actually want the responsibility to lead governments need have egos as big as a mountain and ego is what leads men astray. We must be ever vigilant in selecting these people. (but that is another problem) In any case, waste in government is not an excuse for me not to support it but all the more reason to contribute to a need that is being cheated of needed support.
The most pressing need for maintenance is however the
one most neglected and that is our own spirituality. This is where the
sharing of our time, talent and treasures pays the highest
dividends ... in Eternal Life. 'nuff said! "I am not what
happened to me, Peggy Cecora sent a prayer. It is too long to be the "Prayer of the Week" (above) but it is worth sharing:
Saint Theresa' s Prayer
The prayer is not just a bunch of wishes but a plea to
God that with the help of His Spirit we may make these individual choices in
life. The prayer reminds me of the statement by C. S. Lewis that he does not
pray to God in order to change His mind, ...but to to change himself.
And speaking of changes ... The newsletter of
Kelso-Burnett Company arrived. This issue of Kelso-Kurrents celebrates the
Companies' 100 years in the electrical contracting business during which
there have been many changes. The company was a major part of my life
between 1957 and 1996 and when I started there I was privileged to know
several electricians who replaced the gas lights in buildings with electric
by pulling wires through gas pipes. A major part of our work back then was
the rewiring of downtown buildings, converting them from DC current to the
more efficient AC that is universal today. For a one-page synopsis of my
days at KB see
On the Job. For a more detailed
story of how I got involved with computers see
Kelso-Burnett Computer History.
And, for a look at the company as it is now see
Kelso-Burnett.
Thursday morning, Mikey was left at Touch of Class and I
continued on to Bible study. John concentrates the most on the Divinity of
Jesus as well as the theology of his life. According to the commentary,
this particular gospel was slow to be accepted due to these factors. The
Jewish community, then and later joined by the Moslem followers do not
accept this Divinity of Christ, considering the theology of the Trinity to
be a violation of the belief in One God. We Christians, however claim the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit to be the single Creator God. We try to explain
it but it is beyond our understanding. If we accept Jesus, however, we must
accept this mystery because it was revealed to us by Him. It is that simple
... either it is true or He is a fraud.
When I picked up Mikey he looked great. I carried him to
the car so he wouldn't get the car seat wet since there was a light snow falling
and melting as it hit the ground. His under coat of fine straight hair has
completely covered the large bald spot and the curly top coat will soon
follow. Modern medicine does wonders, even for our animals. Years ago he
would have been considered a "mangy dog" and left to scratch himself raw. If we could all hear
one another's prayers, God might be relieved of some of his
burden.
Today, Friday is deceptively bright an sunny, made even brighter by the
thin crust of frozen snow covering everything. It is cold and going to
be colder. Inside it is nice and warm made even more pleasant by the big
red blossoms on Biscus (say "Hi Biscus"). He has been blooming almost
continuously since coming into the living room in the fall. In the
family room the Christmas cactus has been blooming prodigiously as well
with its orchid-like flowers adding a tropical look to the room. Not to
be left out of the "garden in the house", the two pots of Hens & Chicks
that I brought in for the winter are overflowing in their greenery. I
may need to find an empty pot and transplant some of them before too
long.
I was never a gardener in my earlier years but now that I have taken the
time to appreciate the wonders of nature about me it seems to reward me
for the attestation. Now that I think of it, the same applies to people.
Thank you God. |
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Grandpa Don Plefka |
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Anne
wanted everyone to be 'Nice'. This button was in one of her dresser drawers I cleaned out in August of 2004
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