The World of Grandpa Don
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Good works do not make a good man, but a good man does good works
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What's New In the world of Grandpa Don |
Week Ending Friday |
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Or to learn more of Grandpa Don and his remarkable family ...
Many of the quotes found on this page are from the daily messages I receive from Covenant House 
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Last Friday afternoon was the time for paying a few bills, on line of course, and also renewing one of my prescriptions, again, via internet. The convenience is wonderful. As for bill paying, most of them are automatic. I get an email saying that a bill has arrived and if the amount is within the limits I have set, the same email tells me that it is scheduled to be paid. My utility bill from the village covering water, sewer and garbage pickup is still one that arrives by snail mail and so I simply go to the list of payees, select the village, type in the amount and select the date to be paid and it is done. The address, and account number were pre-entered. I even make my charitable donations this way including donations to my church. The Bill Pay service pays electronically when they can or they mail a check. I can see a list of pending payments or a history of past payments any time I need to see them. I also keep an eye on the dollar amount of pending payments and the balance in my account so that, when needed, I do an on-line distribution from my IRA (paying myself) into the checking account. It doesn't get any more simple than that. Of course my Social Security payment is received into my checking account electronically. .
People are becoming upset over the administration's proposal to make all medical records computerized. They are concerned about their privacy. There may be some concern that unauthorized people may be able to access these records and use them in a detrimental way. Safeguards will need to be established. But even safeguards can be detrimental. I know of instances when prescriptions could not be picked up for family members because the pharmacy was safeguarding the privacy of the patient. For my part, I want all my doctors and pharmacist to know what medications I am taking in order to avoid adverse interactions. I have a general practitioner, cardiologist, urologist, foot doctor, eye doctor, and dermatologist that I see on a regular basis. It would be wonderful if they all had access to the same records. And when I arrive at the emergency room, or when the ambulance picks me up off the street it would be great if they had my medical history available to them without needing me to be conscious and lucid enough to remember it and relate it to them without error. The last thing I am concerned with is my privacy. I have worn those hospital gowns before and if they haven't seen it before they shouldn't be taking care of me.
If, by keeping my prescriptions and medical history a secrete I am hiding the misuse of prescription drugs or a medical impediment to doing my work properly or safely. I am putting myself in jeopardy of doing myself harm or being guilty of insurance fraud. For myself, that is not my way.
There is a place for privacy. Like modesty, it is a useful tool against tempting others, or frightening them. However, when it is used to conceal wrongful actions it is an impediment to our own wellbeing and that of the community. Openness is preferable. I welcome surveillance cameras in public places. The more - the better. They will not only deter crime but will make me more careful when I am tempted to cheat on a yellow light. And when they fail to deter crime they can help in solving the crime and apprehending the criminal or the rule violator. We should all speak and act like the world is watching and ... comparing notes. We see what happens when people speak one way in private and another in public. I refer to politicians, businessmen and all individuals. Can they be trusted? Which is the "real" person? It has been said that you sleep best when you always speak the truth. That way you never have to try to remember which lie you told to which person.
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Saturday Dan and Nick came bringing lunch with them. Dan had been doing some research in a matter of something I am contemplating involving financial matters. (For now its private) We had a pleasant lunch and discussed my finances and plans. This is an area that an aging father and his children should discuss and there should be an understanding of what is happening. It is a matter of caring. It was a productive as well as enjoyable noon time.
As I left my bedroom Sunday morning I noticed that the pillow on the bed in one of the "guest" bedrooms had been disturbed. It is difficult for Mikey to get up there but sometimes he hides his hard cookies there. Some dogs will hide their master's shoes, or socks, or other articles of clothing. They are important to them especially when their master is away from home. Mikey has never done that. You can imagine my surprise when I lifted the pillow and found, along with three milk bones, one of Bella's little undershirts! Mikey must be in love.
Being the first Sunday of Lent, the music at Mass reflects the theme of the season. Our music director, in announcing the new hymns, told us that the closing hymn was selected because of its message and the fact that it has one of those melodies which sticks in your mind. The intent was to have us remembering it throughout the week. "We Can Make a Difference" I am sure will do just that and that is the theme of the season as well. And after all, that is the reason to go to church all the year, to be reminded of how we should be and then to actually be that way all week.
Sunday afternoon Sarah was meeting with former classmates from college and Bella and Dominick came to my house for a visit. She is growing, not like a weed, but like a carefully cultivated flower. She takes notice of all that is about her and when held with her feet upon my belly, pushes as if she wants to stand. Her arms are always moving but she doesn't know yet exactly how to control them although she will at times grab hold of her pacifier and take it and hold it before dropping it in a forgetful moment. When pleased, her smile is genuine and beaming and when displeased her cry is strong and urgent. When asleep, nothing will wake her. Dominick and I watched an on-demand movie. We have the same interest in science fiction and he suggested "Iron Man" which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a very good afternoon.
Anne Marie had called to report on the Robert Morris University spring baseball trip. Joe, the catcher and coach Anthony along with the rest of the team arrived in snowy Birmingham Saturday night. Sunday's games were canceled due to the cold and snow so the team planned to go to an indoor batting facility for practice. They were astounded to find that it was closed due to possible ice on the roads. Those southerners don't know how to drive in the winter so everybody stays home.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday wishes go to Anthony this week. May he continue to enjoy life and pursue his dreams.
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The students at St Mary's School in Ontario mad another mission trip to the Dominican Republic. In the past, I have posted photos and accounts of their experiences in my "Witness to Life" section of this web site. I told Don Hall, their Chaplin, that I had no room for more pages because space is limited and I wanted to reserve room for things of my family. Don sent the comments of one of the students anyway. He did not identify the student but what the student said must be shared. It shows that a difference can be made. See D.R.E.A.M.S 2009 #1 . It will not go on a "permanent" page but if you would like to review the words (and photos) of former year's trips see The DREAMS Project.
During my Monday morning reflections drifted to the previous afternoon with my grandson and Bella and from there to babies in general, their preciousness and their fragile nature. From there I began to contemplate a particular child, one who did not survive and yet had a profound effect on my life. Several hours of the day was then invested in the writing of An Ode to a Brief Life . It was easy to write in one sense because it flowed with relative ease. But it brought a lump in the throat and even a tear or two flowed. ... (I tend to be emotional at times.)
I do feel that every life, however brief or long, however famous or obscure, has a purpose. Even in the pre-birth stage it touches and effects people in ways very mysterious and profound, not as a conscious decision to do so, but simply by being there. We may not be aware of the touch of a particular life be it so gentle or it may come as a storm to disrupt and confound. Its purpose may be thwarted as during its development turns to live in greed, envy and selfishness. Or it may flourish and grow "in wisdom and grace" to have a positive effect on others and leave the world better for its being here. Even an evil life can have a good effect if lessons can be learned or it motivates another to good. A person is a success, I feel, if by his touch, he leaves a warm feeling, not a scar.
We have been experiencing "lake snow" for the past several days. For two mornings in a row I have been watching the flakes sparkle in the sunlight as they fell from the skies, blown from the cloud banks to the east. The snow accumulates on the grass and in the cracks of the pavement but poses no threat to walking or driving. That's "my kind of snow". It has, however, been more of a nuisance to other areas, particularly to the north and east of here.
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I did some more genealogy research, this time on Anne's family, the
Lawler side of the tree. We knew all about her grandfather, William
(1881-1925) but only had the information from a census report that his
father was born in Missouri and his mother in Illinois. There were no
names found for Anne's
great-grandparents. There is now a connection from Ancestry.com to the
Cook County, Illinois Genealogy web site and I found that William's
death certificate was available for download for a fee. Entering my
credit card information soon had me downloading the precious document
and on it I found that his father was Patrick Lawler and his mother was
Bridget Suitt or Smith or S????. Click on the thumbnail and see what you
think. The only problem is that Patrick's birthplace was listed as
Chicago, Illinois which conflicts with Missouri as found in the census
records. Either could be a mistake. But alas, several hours of searching
has not reviled any additional information that could be connected to
either Patrick or Bridget. I sent the information along with a copy of
the death certificate to Anne's brother and her niece, Chris.
By return email from Chris I received some glorious news. In June she will wed. The lucky gentleman is George Gancarski who is the father of Stephanie, Bobby, Sami and Joey from a previous marriage. We look forward to attending the joyous event, having already met George and a couple of his children at a family event.
The preceding paragraphs are a perfect example of the growth of a family tree as described in The Tree . At one end, ancestors have been added to the tree, two branches, Patrick and Bridget. But this is a discovery growth since they have been there for well over a hundred years, just newly revealed. At the other end of the Lawler line there is the graft of an entire section of tree, new to our tree but part of another large tree as well. The addition of Patrick and Bridget extends that particular group of branches to seven generations as they are the 4th great-grandparents of Isabella Ann Albano and includes Italian, Slovak, Czech, German, English and Irish along the way.
The best mirror is an old friend.
~ Anon.
Peggy Cecora has been doing some research as well. She found our family members mentioned in the pages of "The Evening Telegram" under "Amherst News": (Ohio)
In the June 13, 1912 issue:
Mrs. Alex Cuthberson, of Cleveland, arrived last evening and together
with Mrs. Clara Lossner and two children, Lucile and Kenneth, also of
Cleveland, are spending a week as guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry
Zimmerman, of Long Street.
And further down in the same article we read:
Mrs. John Packard and daughter, Mrs. Henry Zimmerman and son, Earl,
together with their Cleveland guests, Mrs. Alex Cuthberson and Clara
Lossner and two children Lucile and Kenneth are spending the day as
guests of the former's daughter, Mrs. Charles Slumsky, in Lorain.
Then on June 19 we read:
Mrs. Richard Lossner and two children, Lucile and Kenneth and Mrs. Allie
Cuthberson, have returned to their home in Cleveland, after spending the
past week as the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Zimmerman of Long Street.
The husbands accompanied their families home.
OK, they didn't have Blogs or even a web site with a "What's New" page but the local newspaper kept the community up to date. All those people are on my family tree. Lucie Lossner of course, was my mother but only 8 at the time. And what else did we find on those pages? Take a look - click to enlarge.:
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| Clothing Sale | Modern Machine | Food Prices |
There was also an add for paint touting the fact that it was the best because it had plenty of lead as one of the main ingredients. Oh, I almost forgot, The Wright Market on Broad Street even had a phone number listed in their ad. Just crank up the phone and ask the operator for #619. They had Veil chops for 18¢ per pound. Times have changed somewhat.
But now for "the rest of the story". It is reasonable to assume that young Lucile Lossner continued to make occasional visits to her cousin Cora (Packard) Zimmerman in Amherst during her childhood and teen years. It could be that on one, or more, of these visits she met a young man, Alden Copeland, who at the time of his enlistment in the US Calvary on May 6, 1918, was known to be living with his grandparents in Amherst, Ohio. Lucy was 14 and Alden 18 in the year of 1818 and it may have been the occasion of that "first kiss". It must have been memorable, for in 1921 it still burned in Alden's memory as he wrote To Lucile & I Dream. Alden was away in Hawaii from 1919 until later in 1921 and so we know his memories of that event were from a time prior to 1919.
It may have been a secrete kiss at the time but as we know, there are no secretes. This one appears to be revealed 91 years after the fact. So be very careful of what you do in "Secret". Someone will remember and there will be clues. ... a lesson to be learned.
"In every conceivable manner,
the family is link to our past,
bridge to our future."
– Alex Haley
The Alabama weather turned warm and the boy's team not only played but did exceptionally well. However Joe was hit by a bug, spending Tuesday night and Wednesday in his motel room, very close to the bath room. His room mates avoided him like the plague. Joe was able to play on Thursday and after the game the team boarded the buss, two hours Southeast of Mobile and headed for home. They arrived in the wee hours this (Friday) morning.
It even turned warm here with strong winds from the south driving temperatures into the low 60's on Thursday. Bible Study, as usual was very interesting. In this session we compared the accounts of the Resurrection as related by Mark and Mathew and found them to be quite different in the points they were trying to stress and in their style of writing. The main message of course was the same but they differed in their immediate reaction and their message to those who followed ... us.
Friday dawned warm (52) and sunny we expect a wet weekend followed by a colder spell, a typical rollercoaster spring. For the second week there have been no comments posted in my Blog. I'll give it a little more time and if there is no interest, remove it. Any comments? It can be just between you and me, ... our secrete. I promise ... I won't tell. (Don't bet your life on it.)
Latest photo of Bella.
Don't forget the 3 Minute Retreat ... Have a GOOD Lent and let's try to make a difference.
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I am blest |
Grandpa Don
Plefka
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Following the link is ...
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Boogey through Life ... Alex Kapocius
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America ... Mary Moscal
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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