The World of Grandpa Don  

While sitting in the gazebo after lunch ... I had just finished my latest book ... just soaking in the air ... the phone startled me. It was my cousin Tillie Plefka. She is behind in her letter writing because of pain in her hand so she decided to call. She also wanted to know if I knew an "S Plefka" living in a nearby suburb. I do not. It seems as Tillie's bank deposited a check written to "S Plefka" into Tillie's account. Tillie didn't want somebody else's money. She said that the bank corrected the error but she was curious about who the unknown Plefka might be. My bank instructs me to always use a deposit slip. That avoids many problems.

In Anthony's first game with the Rockford River Hawks, of three at bats he had two doubles, scored 2 runs and chalked up an RBI. in their 7 - 5 win over Traverse City. He had told his mom to expect a good showing because "EEEEVREEEEBODY HITS!". He was making reference to the days when his grandma and I watched the boy's Little League games (and beyond) and I would sing out that phrase at the top of my lungs as the batters came up to the plate ... our side, that is. It had a dual purpose because in hearing it the batter believed it, and, ... so did the opposing pitcher! It became my "signature" at the games and the other fans looked to me for it during the games. It was then and still is a matter of positive attitude. When I had my heart surgery in '98, some of the other parents gave me a T shirt with the phrase on the front with the demand that I return to the ball fields soon. I did and I still have that T shirt. Anne Marie also reported that in their local game Marc got a 2 RBI double as well. 'Way to go guys! By the bye guys, there is a little secrete about "Eeevrebody Hits". I would only shout it out after at least one batter, and preferably two, connected with the ball. That gives it credibility ... especially for the opposing pitcher and the rest of his team. It also pumps up the batter who wants to keep the trend moving.  

Loving ourselves does not mean that we are "full of ourselves". It means that we must be satisfied with ourselves and feel that we are right with God and the world, following the right path.  I have often said that I have a feeling of well being and contentment. That of course doesn't mean that I couldn't be better. I must continually strive for improvement. Heaven knows, there is much room for that. When I went shopping for groceries this week I was especially conscious of my need to eat healthier. I love a tasty breakfast and seldom eat cereal. This time I bought serial and I bought it in the diabetes section of the drug store. I sped past the donuts and sweet rolls in the grocery section of the store. I also passed up my usual cheese cubes on which I love to munch in the evening. It wouldn't be so bad if I stuck to the labeled "serving size" on the package but there is no way I can eat just four cubes! It is better if I don't have them in the house. Instead I bought some of the "Lite" popcorn in the small single serving size. The store's deli section packages a variety of salad with all the ingredients packaged separately. You just open, toss, and eat. (My kind of food) I have also noticed that my glucose levels are very good after eating one of these delicious and filling salads. I bought more of them this week. One of the reasons I seldom went grocery shopping with Anne was her propensity ... no, outright obsession ... with reading the labels on every product she picked up ... often returning  it and scrutinizing another ... or several more ... before finally depositing one in her basket. I find myself shopping more like her these days.

I was having an early breakfast on Thursday so I was surprised when the phone rang. Anne Marie needed help. Sampson and Mikey both had appointments at Touch of Class and Joe would drop off their pooch before work but since Anthony was away with his team and Mark and Joe were working, could I bring Sampson to my house when the dogs had been groomed?. Joe would pick him up after work. Of course. I was on top of the world and would have agreed to anything. My morning glucose result was 85, a great level, and I was eating my diabetic breakfast cereal ... delicious. At 8:30 I took Mikey and told Paula to call me when both dogs were ready to go home. Then I went home for my "after breakfast glucose test and was brought down to earth with a 216 reading. Bummer! I decided that maybe the big glass of orange juice I had before breakfast was the culprit. After all, I remembered that when Anne had a low sugar reaction she would quickly bring it up by drinking orange juice. I love my morning OJ but will either reduce the amount or do without.

Bible study followed and was very interesting as Paul was speaking of obedience to authority. The subject moved to the question of the Infallibility of the Pope. Touchy subject ... but is should not be. Several of our group had the mistaken idea, like many of our non-Catholic brethren, that this is a claim that anything the Pope says is without error. That is simply not true. First of all, his infallibility only applies to matters of faith and morals. Secondly to be held as infallible it must be specifically intended and declared to be as such. Many things have been said by many Popes and some of them have been questionable to say the least. However, for an in depth statement on the matter see the Catholic Encyclopedia. No, it is not simple. However, on the basis of the fact that we recognize an all powerful God who created everything, I must believe that He, through Jesus, would not have initiated a church which would be allowed, by Him, to flounder without direct guidance. If we believe in His power to do anything, it is certainly possible and reasonable for Him to guide His believers in their faith through a church with special powers granted by Him. Can the church and the Pope make mistakes? If the history of the church and its Popes is read, it is obvious that the answer is a resounding YES!  Are certain beliefs and specifically defined moral teachings to be taken as sacred and true? Again ... YES!. Again, I reiterate ... it is not simple. Could anything involving God and spirituality be simple? I don't understand everything I know about this (and many other things) but I have come to the point in my faith where I realize that I do not have all the answers and may not even know the right questions. But ... if I did, it would not be "faith" would it?

By the way, the Catholic Church has a great summer program for young adults, married or single, to keep up to date in their faith. Each year, we at St Julie sponsor Theology on Tap.   It is only one of many programs designed to let us know more about what we profess to believe and to help us in our lives.

Thursday evening the Rockford team took a double header from Traverse City. Anthony sat out the first game but did well in the second. The local newspaper reported:

Anthony Albano, who hit his third double of the series midway through Game 2, went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to set the tone again.

"EEEEVREEEEBODY HITS!" Anthony is trying to cement his place on the team and seems to be doing everything right. 'At-a-boy Anthony. He does his job knowing that everything we do is the most important thing in the world at the time we are doing it.

On a lighter side of a serious subject, Mary Moskal sent this:

The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Health Reform Proposals:

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. The Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter.."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.

I was awakened today, Friday, by the sound of the big mower in the back yard. It was 8:20. I managed to slide out of bed and into the bathroom. No sign of Mikey! Once out of the necessary room, I got dressed ... still no Mikey. Looking around, I saw his posterior protruding from under the foot of the bed. It was motionless but a gentle touch got a reaction but not much. He had been with Sampson most of the afternoon Thursday after a busy morning at the groomers. Mikey was tired.  I was part way through breakfast (without orange juice) before he finally came down stairs, sitting down in front of his "treat cabinet". It was only after I gave him his usual morning treat that he asked to go out.

As I sat on the patio with my morning coffee, asking God to watch over my friends and discussing the ones who were in particular need the thought of the week, above and repeated here came into my mind. ... 

Joining a health club and never showing up is like claiming to be Christian and never going to church.

So often you hear, "But I have a great relationship with God and I am a good person ... I don't need to go to church." That may well be a decidedly one sided relationship and possibly an illusion. It is like the man who claims to love love the girl but he can't stand to be around her. Then He doesn't understand why she doesn't respond to him. We go to a health club understanding the need to participate in order to improve our health. We go to church, not because we are good, but because we need to improve our spiritual health. We listen to the Word of God and the homily to exercise our spirits and expand our spiritual muscles. We receive the Eucharist to reinforce ourselves in preparation for our daily lives. We add our voices to prayer and song to reinforce each other ... yes, consider it to be group therapy, if you wish. Going to church because of a rule to go is a poor reason to be there. Yes, there is an obligation but it is an obligation to ourselves. It is we who deprive ourselves, our spiritual lives, when we do not regularly attend, and participate. And ...we do not go to the health club and watch the others exercise.

This morning I didn't have orange juice at breakfast and I ate my special diabetic cereal. I had a great glucose reading before eating but two hours later it was way too high. Ok, the OJ is not the problem. Am I eating too much for breakfast? I will need to look on the box and see what a "serving" is supposed to be and next time measure it. It is a bother but it is something I must do. There is another option but we will consider that when all else fails. I have all the 'tools' available to me,... all I need to do is use them.  It's like going to church.

Grandpa Don Plefka

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Free JavaScripts provided by The JavaScript Source	Anne wanted everyone to be 'Nice'. This button was in one of her dresser  drawers I cleaned out in August of 2004