Dysfunctional Is Putting It Mildly...

This was the last family photo of us on a trip to Washington, DC
Dad's plane crashed about 3-4 months afterward on October 30, 1959.

The 50th Anniversary is approaching and Mike, Sharon & I are planning on attending the Memorial the weekend of Halloween, in Crozet, VA. A local journalist has contacted us to do an article. It's mostly about the soul survivor, Phil Bradley, but he has asked a few questions about us. He has us looking around for old photos and Mike is restoring them with PhotoShop.

Mike and I are the only ones left and as you can see, he just ain't right!!
Bro, you are about the only person that can make me laugh so hard my belly hurts
and I love you with all my heart!

I Received This Email...

Debbie --

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama


Just sayin.....

And She Does It Again...

I was planning on posting about my big success yesterday. Unfortunately, something happened this morning that blew that out of the water...

Two years ago, out of the blue, Rooster started ignoring me. It's obviously her way of communicating. I had no clue what was wrong. She even ignored emails. When I get ignored, I get hurt and upset. I don't stop until I get down right nasty. We didn't talk for over 6 months. We wouldn't have then except that I found out her daughter was pregnant and called her to congratulate her. We managed to get somewhat halfway back to normal and I thought especially close when Ashlie lost her baby.

When she was in the Philippines the first time, it was new and we talked a lot. The second time was completely different. She didn't talk to any of us very much. Including her husband and daughter. Since she's been back she's been different. For the past month or two, she doesn't call me. I had to call her. Making an extremely long story short, I'd had enough of the ignoring and wanted to know what I'd done to deserve it. I called before she left for work this morning and told her to please call me back and I meant it.

Well she did. I received a tongue lashing the likes I've never heard in my life. The way she feels about me is all my fault. I've done everything wrong. All my job problems, life problems, David problems, all my relationships are all because I'm a negative person and have to have everything my way. I'm the most negative person she's ever met and she wants to surround herself with positive things and I just don't seem to meet her standards. We exchanged words back and forth and eventually when I saw I was just wasting my good intentions, I told her when I was good enough to be let into her life then let me know. I hung up. I'm in shock.

Do I deserve this? Hell no. Did I deserve it the last time? Hell no. Am I taking it personally? Again...hell no. I get it. We are all under some stress or another. We all have problems. Do we occasionally snap at one another because of it? Maybe.

Three weeks ago, I was in tears on the phone with her and telling her how much I needed my best friend now. She's called me once since then. To come over and have ME get HER pictures up on Craigslist to sell her daughter's camper. I hugged her and told her how much I appreciated her coming over. She's called me one time since and that was for a brief moody snappy talk.

Some of the things she said indicated to me some inferiority and jealousy. She's the type that cannot be wrong. I've challenged her on a couple of things lately and she can't deal with it. I've never done it before.

Of all the stupid idiotic things to break the bank. Effing flood insurance. She's an expert. Me, who has flooded twice from that damn creek, knows nothing. HER homeowner's policy covers floods. Period. It covered when there was too much rain and it LEAKED into her basement. I've spoken to everyone I can think of, half of Atlanta just went through this, it was on CNN...

THE ONLY TIME YOUR HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE COVERS FLOODS IS IF YOU HAVE A SEPARATE POLICY. PERIOD. But not Rooster's. She won't let it go.

Straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm hurt. I'm mad. I won't be the one calling this time. This may not pass. I've been a wonderful friend to her. If she can do this to me when I'm at one of the lowest points in my life?

Then it's obvious. It's all about her. What goes around will come back and kick you in the ass.

No Visitors Under 18 Allowed...

Our local hospitals are starting a new policy tomorrow, October 1st.

NO VISITORS UNDER 18 ALLOWED.

The only exceptions are the Emergency Room and if you are visiting a dying relative.

My first thought was of enforcement and the hell it's going to bring on Public Safety....David. I talked to him last night and it sounds like it's going to be statewide. He's working at a smaller 50 bed hospital now, but had he been still working up here...1000 bed....it would have been worse.

Most of the hospitals in our state have gone to non-smoking campuses. I don't agree, and we have people smoking on the side of the road because of it, but regardless, the Public Safety officers are having to enforce the policy. There's not enough of them to maintain hospital security and the smoking. Which would you prefer as a patient or visitor? Your safety or a person smoking behind a tree 200 yards away? They have to respond to every call, and there are many. The first time there is a stolen baby or a fire alarm or a loon in the Emergency Room and an officer is not available because he is patrolling for hiding smokers...you can imagine.

Sorry, I got off on the beaten path here. Now, add the fact that they are going to have to deal with hundreds of angry people who can't take their kids into the hospital? I remember a time when I was young. You couldn't even go there unless you were over 12. Period. They also have Junior Volunteers. Are they suppose to quit?

Yes, this is due to H1N1 and I agree with it and think it's a good policy. I just hope all the health care workers will aid their local hospital's Public Safety in enforcing this policy.

One more thing. New York State is making it mandatory for flu shots...on the news. Protesters are angry. Our local NC hospitals, on their own, are making it mandatory also. Shots or job? You have a choice. David's been told.

Is it a pandemic? Who knows? Is it better to have your rights protected or have someone die under your care? May we should just err on the side of safety...

What do you think?

Recurring Daily Objectives...

Stolen from here...

Followed by:Intermingled with this:

And this:
And finally:

Do Something Great...

VolunteerMatch.org

Yes, I volunteered to help at Crisis Control Ministries & Habitat For Humanity. I thank God every night that I have a roof over my head...among other things. We argue that health care is not a right, but dammit, everyone needs to be able to lay their head down at night SOMEWHERE and feel safe.

And then I opened an email and read this:

DOING SOMETHING GREAT

When was the last time you were challenged to do something really... well... great?

President Abraham Lincoln helped me to understand that there is a bit of greatness within all of us. It is said that he often slipped out of the White House on Wednesday evenings to listen to the sermons of Dr. Phineas Gurley at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.

He generally pre­ferred to come and go unnoticed, so when Dr. Gur­ley knew the president was coming, he left his study door open. On one of those occasions, the president quietly entered through a side door of the church, took his seat in the minister's study, located just off the sanctuary, and propped the door open just wide enough to hear the preacher.

During the walk home one Wednesday even­ing, an aide asked Mr. Lincoln his appraisal of the sermon. The president thoughtfully replied, "The content was excellent... he delivered with
elo­quence... he had put work into the message.."

"Then you thought it was an excellent ser­mon?" questioned the aide.

"No," Lincoln answered.

"But you said that the content was excel­lent, it was delivered with eloquence and it showed much work," the aide pressed.

"That's true," Lincoln said. "But Dr. Gur­ley forgot the most important ingredient. He forgot to ask us to do something great."

There is nothing wrong with average lives and average accomplishments. Most of the good of the world is built on the accumulated efforts of everyday people. But, as Lincoln seemed to know, a life should strive for some greatness.

Are you part of a relationship that, if given more effort, could be outstanding? Or do you volun­teer for an organization which is truly doing something excellent? Have you joined a cause that is attempting something great? Or have you ever said to yourself concerning a beautiful dream, "I could never do that," while knowing that if you were to attempt it and succeed, you just might ac­com­plish something significant?

If Abraham Lincoln is right, then every life should strive to reach a little further today than it did yesterday, for there is some greatness in each of us.

-- Steve Goodier