Birthday Wish List

Many of you will know that I'll be 70 this next birthday. My dear wife is always saying that I should create or update my online wish list so that people will know what to get me for my birthday. Truthfully, I am so fortunate and already have everything I need or want, but I got to thinking about her suggestion, and I do have a wish list this year after all. Here it is, and I apologize in advance for all the wordiness and for some preachiness.

Caveats: I'd be delighted to receive any of these things should you care to make them available to me. They are not in any particular order, but you can probably tell that some are more important to me than others, although all are seriously important. None of you will likely appreciate them all, but I hope most of you will appreciate most of them. Some of you may be surprised or disappointed by some of them, but I hope you will not find me disappointing as you consider the list. With all of these caveats out of the way...

1. Term Limits for Elected Officials, Especially U.S. Senators and Congresspersons

Too many of our elected officials stay in office beyond their effective shelf life. Also, too much of their time is spent worrying about how to get reelected, while they fail to represent us and do our bidding. Maybe such a change can help to get some of the money out of politics and more good, noble work back into politics.

2. Enactment of Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' Proposed Constitutional Changes

Originally, I was simply going to suggest repeal of the 2nd amendment, but Justice John Paul Stevens has trumped my idea with an even better proposal. If you have not read his new book, Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution, you should go out and get a copy right away. His proposals address: gun control, gerrymandering, campaign spending, the death penalty, states' enforcement of federal laws, and state sovereign immunity. You will find lots of opinions about these recommendations, both pro and con. They may need some work or refinement, but I believe all touch areas we absolutely must address, most especially those related to gun control, gerrymandering, campaign spending, and the death penalty. Just for the record, I dislike the NRA and what it stands for, but I won't bother you with examples of their ludicrous stands on various issues and proposals.

3. An End to Racial Discrimination and Prejudice

Let's just stop all the hate! Intolerance makes us do all kinds of crazy and often violent things, and it stops us from hearing others and working with them. Witness the recent news about the LA Clippers owner! I am convinced that most of the "Obama bashing" I see and hear is a result of racial intolerance. My gay friends know too well the downsides of prejudice. Our Native American neighbors are continually faced with discrimination. Our immigration policies and failures seem to prejudice us against Hispanic persons. There is also too much prejudice deriving from social status and level of wealth. Our government is too white and too male. I suppose it trite to ask why we can't just all get along, but really, can't we just all get along?

4. Exposure of the Koch Brothers and Americans for Prosperity for What They Really Are

The wrong-headed Supreme Court decisions that allow money to be considered speech and the related opening of the flood gates for campaign contributions have these knuckleheads and their far-right, greedy points of view influencing elections in completely inappropriate ways. They will influence elections and votes for issues for which they are not themselves constituents. "Americans for Prosperity?" Really? All that sounds like to me is intent to influence outcomes so as to benefit big business and the wealthy.

5. Acceptance of Individual Rights to Beliefs and Faith Coupled With Decreased Emphasis on Religion

As I've grown older, I've become more concerned about all of the horrible things being done or justified in the name of religion, and I mean all religions. And honestly, my own beliefs have strongly landed on an atheistic base. I'm fine with allowing individuals the freedom to hold whatever beliefs they may wish and to worship as they may choose. However, I also strongly believe in separation of church and state. I believe that all religious texts were written by men and are to be thus understood as flawed and often self-contradictory. And, I do not care for evangelistic practices. Let's be tolerant of each other's rights to their beliefs. Let's appreciate the goodness that can come from our respective beliefs to influence the ways we act as individuals and towards each other, but let's avoid justifying wars, policies, and discriminatory practices on the basis of misguided beliefs. Also, by the way, the U.S. is not a Christian nation. It may be dominated by those of Christian belief, and it may have historically been influenced by the best of those same beliefs, but I understand our constitution's first amendment to mean that our's is not a theistic government, albeit one that respects and allows for its citizens to practice religion as they wish.

6. Acceptance of the Facts of Climate Change (And While We're At It--Appreciation for and Acceptance of Good, Reproducible, Scientific Work)

I have little more to say about this, although I can say more if you have questions. This item on my wish list comes in green only!

7. Purchase of FOX News Followed By Their Subsequent Elimination From the Airwaves

This one speaks for itself. Wouldn't it be fun to see FOX News being purchased by NPR or PBS or maybe even MSNBC?

8. Republicans Like the Kinds of Republicans My Parents Were

My parents were Republicans. Heck, lots of the rural Iowans around whom I grew up were Republicans. However, they were also kind, compassionate, caring, thoughtful, and not greedy. Republicans today seem to me to be so far to the right and so conservative, that all I hear when they speak is intolerance and greed. My parents would have supported social good, humanitarian programs and education. They would have been tolerant.

9. A Requirement That All 7th Inning Stretches at Baseball Games Use the Song Take Me Out to the Ball Game and a Companion Banning of the Use of God Bless America

This is actually the most important of the items on my list (just kidding!). It was fine to temporarily involve God Bless America after the 911 tragedy, but we do too much flag waving anyway, and it is time we got back to tradition, having fun, and singing the song that was meant to be sung during the 7th inning stretch.

10. Peaceful, Happy Lives for My Children, Grandchildren, and Other Descendants

On second thought, this is the most important of the items on my list. Given the evolution of my religious beliefs, I want to say that I have never been able to comprehend the notion of a life hereafter. The only hereafter I care about is the life that will continue to be here on earth after I am gone, and I'll be happy if this wish list item is achieved and I can live on, at least a little, in the hearts and minds of those I've been so lucky to have called my family.

11. Whirled Peas

I nearly forgot this one!

P.S. I do have other suggestions that I'll save for the future!

More Colorado Photos

We climbed up to a ridge of red rock above the place we are staying to get a great view of the area. Took a 180º panoramic shot, another of my dear wife, and then later, a shot of her on the deck in the hot tub with the neighbor's dog Sutra stopping by to say hello.

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Beer; No Apple Pie, No Chevrolets

Attended the Rockies vs. Giants baseball game in Denver yesterday. Started out sunny and warm. By the end of the game, the temperature had dropped some and it was cloudy, but it was still great to be out. Hot dogs were wonderful as were the beers and peanuts. Rockies lost 10 to 12 in 11 innings. Lots of home runs. Maybe the higher altitude really does make the ball fly farther. What fun for someone who enjoys baseball as much as I do. Gotta love the company I was with too!

By the way, we are staying this time in a VRBO (vacation rental by owner) cabin in the foothills near Fort Collins, rather than in a hotel. Costs about the same, is more fun, and we can prepare some of our own meals. Very pretty up here. Didn't mean for this to be a car commercial photo, but I took a panoramic shot of part of the view. Wouldn't take long from here to get up into the mountains. We are actually very near the area that burned a few years ago. The cabin is very nice and is actually a duplex. The caretakers live next door and are interesting young folks. He is a musician, and she is a baker at a nearby location. They keep hens for eggs, so we have enjoyed watching the chickens scout around each morning for food and grit. In the valley is a broad field being prepared for planting, and I'm watching the equipment pass back and forth this morning. Cattle are in a nearby pasture. I'm really enjoying being up here. Travis has to work today, so we might spend quite a bit of the day here. Then Travis may come up too so that we can play cards, sit out in the warm 73º sun (forecast) and maybe cook up something fun to eat.

Dinner at La Loma

We had dinner last evening at a restaurant in Denver with Sandy's parents. They said this is one of Will's favorite places to eat out here and that he can slooowly enjoy his fajitas. Those of you who have dined with Will will understand. Dick and I got in lots of talk about trains. Before we met up with them, I visited Caboose Hobbies, the largest hobby train store in the world.

Best Dog I've Ever Known

We had to put our old dog Josey to sleep yesterday. The last year had been a hard one for her. Her back legs refused to work well, so she had increasing trouble walking and in recent months could not get up stairs at all. Internal organs were failing, and in spite of Kathie's many valiant efforts to help her with diet and medications, things did not improve. Last weekend, she stopped eating and developed other problems. So, it was time. Josey would have been 16 in June, so at the usual seven people years for every dog year, she was nearly 112 years old!

You may know that I haven't been enthusiastic about having a dog or dogs. It isn't dogs, per se, that I dislike but rather what I think of as a whole series of inconveniences associated with having them. But Kathie loves dogs and the affection between her and her dogs is very real and rewarding for her. I have to say that Josey was the best dog I've ever been around in my entire life. She was gentle and sociable in so many ways. She was quiet (Tighe! Pay attention!), and she was beautiful.

The English Shepherd breed is not common. Kathie says only about 80 litters a year are bred. The close-knit community of lovers of the breed jealously protect and keep them healthy and genetically strong. Kathie was able to find one of these breeders in Florida. At that point, Josey was named Duchess and had actually appeared with her siblings in some type of promotional video made by the Disney company. Kathie arranged for her to be flown to Chicago, where we picked her up at the American Airlines cargo terminal. We could hear her yipping in the back when we arrived. She settled right down with us, but the flight and dog crate must have been scary for her.

She took to Iowa's winters readily. We had another dog, Murphy--a Golden Retriever, at the time too, and so he showed her the ropes, including how to nap.

Josey was always very festive during the holidays and looked forward to opening her own gifts, of which there were frequently many of the tasty variety. She had her very own Christmas stocking.

When we bought the lake home, we thought she might find the harder winters there difficult, especially if we took her along while we skied or hiked on the lake. So, Kathie got her some boots, but she never really liked them very well. She did this weird sort of high stepping walk with them on.

In the summers, she loved being down at the dock, especially if there was fishing to watch. She always got excited when a fish got on the line, but she never seemed that interested in the fish once they were out of the water. Here she is watching as Henry learns to fish.

Boat rides were a favorite thing for her. Like dogs who stick their heads out of car windows, she liked to stand at the bow with the wind in her face and flapping her ears about.

Josey was always great with children. The grandchildren still tend to ask about her when we speak by phone, so I'm sure they will miss her greatly.

I always loved this photo of Josey and Henry studying whatever is going on in the woods and under the bird feeder up at the lake.

Josey and Kathie hung out together lots. Frequently, she had trouble with some type of affliction on her legs that made her lick constantly to the point of making the legs sore. So, she often sported some very fancy wraps that stopped the licking.

Gentle as she was, she did kill a couple of young raccoons in our back yard. She tried for a porcupine once at the lake as well, but she wasn't as successful in that effort. Josey also did battle with a skunk once, and that didn't turn out well.

Josey and Kathie's moms were extraordinary friends. I always felt like they were "old souls" together. Josey even visited Mom when she was at the care facility in her final days just one year ago.

At one time, a neighbor's dog viciously attacked Josey and hurt her very badly. Nevertheless, she recovered. Kathie was an exceptional nurse during this time with bandages and other attention, including a T-shirt to protect the wounds. Eventually, Josey fully recovered.

We took her canoeing with us once in the Boundary Waters, and she loved that. I wasn't crazy about how she didn't stay centered in the canoe, but we managed, and on the portage trails, she enjoyed traveling back and forth to the next lake.

When Tighe came along three years ago, Josey was curious and Tighe was quite nervous about her. But they soon became friends.

Josey taught Tighe all sorts of things. I look at these pictures and imagine Josey explaining how to behave in our yard, why they sometimes had to be separated from visitors, and when to expect food and treats.

I said earlier that she was beautiful. Her coloring was amazing and shows off quite well here.

Most of all, she was Kathie's wonderful and very good friend. They had an amazing bond, so that it was heart-aching for Kathie to have to say good bye.

We are left, though, with many happy memories and images. RIP Josey!

Happy Birthday Jessica and Travis!

Today Jessica and Travis reach another of those annual milestones that we call birthdays. Kathie had these photographs of the twins taken at about six year intervals. You have to love those smiles and the obvious connections they have to each other, connections that have continued through the years.

One year, when both of them were in Colorado, we took them for a hot air balloon ride on their birthday. I recall this was their 21st.

Turns out that they both enjoy cooking and are quite accomplished at it. Jessica has a degree in the culinary arts, and Travis manages a restaurant and kitchen in Colorado. We frequently take advantage of and benefit from these skills when we are together.

Travis enjoys fishing when he gets the chance. He and his mom have ventured up into Rocky Mountain National Park for some fly fishing.

When we visited his grandparents in Florida one year, they took us out for some deep sea fishing. Travis hooked this approximately 50 pound caravelle jack, and it took nearly half an hour to land it.

He loves his dog, Oliver.

Jessica likes to keep in touch with her mom. Nowadays this often involves FaceTime. Having Nana remotely entertain Maia can help make the days a little more manageable.

I am very impressed with the way Jessica has taken to being a mother herself. She is a natural--very loving and nurturing, and along with Mike, she provides strength and grounding for her family.

We once thought Travis had found the perfect mate in the sweet young girl you see below. After all, anyone who looks like that and who would bring you beers would seem like a real catch. Traveling with her was also easy. However, she proved to be pretty shallow, so it didn't work out. Nevertheless, we know there is someone out there for him. It is only a matter of time before someone meets him and learns what a great guy he is.

In the meantime, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Travis and Jessica! We all love you!