Lessons from Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSjJhV89uxU

The girls in gray were behind 4 to 1 in the first inning of the Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Arkansas) v. Delta State softball game. Delta State's player hit a 3-run homer, and one of the base runners hurt her ankle at second base. The rules are that her teammates cannot touch her until she finishes her run. When Henderson's shortstop saw the pain on the runner's face, she went to help her. Other Henderson players carried the runner to third base, paused to let her touch the base, then carried her to home plate to score the run and to her waiting teammates. Henderson then retook the field and the game carried on.

College sports at their finest.

This morning about 12:15 a.m., something woke me up. It wasn't a noise or anything. Just a strange feeling, I guess. I laid there for a few minutes, then realizing I wasn't going back to sleep anytime soon, I got up to go to the kitchen to get something to drink.

At the sink, I looked out the window, and saw everything out there as clearly as if it were noon. The moon was so bright. It was incredible.

Unable to resist, I slipped on some flipflops and walked outside. Walking south down my driveway, I was looking up at the sky and saw the biggest, brightest moon I think I've ever seen. All the stars were very faint, except for one I could only glimpse every now and then through the leaves of the trees. At the end of my driveway, I stood there for a few minutes, taking in the silence of the moon-swept night. A soft, cool breeze was blowing, and there were no sounds except that breeze rippling through the trees. Eventually a dog began barking, and as I turned to walk back to my house, I caught a look at my shadow. For the first time, I fully understood what a "moonshadow" is. It was just as sharp and clear as the shadows cast by the sun. I held my hands out in front of me and studied them, wondering at how clearly I could see them in the moonlight.

I started back into my house, but something prompted me to walk to the east side of my carport, open to the night. Looking up at the sky, I saw that bright star. Without my glasses, it literally looked like a multi-faceted diamond hanging up there in the soft dark blue of the sky. Not really a star, but the planet Venus, I felt just a little less alone.

The dog began barking again, and I very reluctantly returned to the darkness of my house. I wanted to walk on down the road, feel the gentle breeze and enjoy the beauty of the night.

I wonder if there will be another chance to do so.

I hope so.

My grandchildren.

I know I've previously said I wouldn't post any more photos of them, but that was before Justin. And there have been a few people who have asked how Kenny is doing. Can you believe he is three years old already? He's wearing a sling on his right arm because he broke his collarbone falling out of bed. He's okay, and the bone is healing nicely. Hasn't slowed him down any, either.

So. There they are. Sydney, Kenny, and Justin.

My family.

ABC News reported today that Obama's tour bus cost $1.1 million. They neglected to mention that there are two of these buses.

Our local ABC affiliate reported that the Secret Service, a division of the United States Treasury Department, purchased two of these buses at a cost of $1.3 million each. One is to be used by Obama for his re-election activities. The other is being held in reserve for the use of the GOP nominee for United States president.

Allegedly.

My problems with this:

1. Our Treasury Department paid for these buses using taxpayer money. The sole purpose of these buses is for use by presidential candidates. Obama will be using his for at least a full year before the GOP nominee will be using the one that is supposedly designated for his/her use. Why are campaign tools being paid for with taxpayer money? Isn't this embezzlement of public funds?

2. Any GOP nominee who would consent to use a campaign tool that is furnished by the other side ought to have his/her head examined. Can you imagine the potential for illegal wiretapping? What kind of idiot would accept that possibility?!

3. These buses are heavily armored. The gas mileage is probably about a quarter-of-a-mile per gallon of fuel. What happened to Obama's requiring fuel efficiency of new vehicles? Just one more example of the law not applying to him. Hypocrisy in action. Again.

4. This just may explain why Obama was so adamant about his requirement that the debt crisis legislation (whatever it came out to be) would raise the debt limit and extend to at least through the November, 2012, elections. He got the money to buy and pay for operating two new party buses at taxpayer expense.

This man should be impeached and tried for embezzlement of public funds, and go straight to Leavenworth.

And if Congress does not take action to do so, every one of them should be recalled.

Why isn't this headlining every internet news service, every cable news network, and every network news service today?

In the last few months, I've lost two good friends to cancer. My cousin is currently fighting--hard--against breast cancer. Others I know are fighting, or have fought, this evil disease. I've seen the grief, sorrow, and pain of those who have lost loved ones to this scourge.

Why isn't this being shouted from the rooftops?

In a world of such awful things--wars, riots, famines, earthquakes, tsunamis, drought, crime, political idiocy, genocide, terrorism--there is hope for so many.

Why is hope not newsworthy anymore?