Blooming Idiots

I am discovering that life in small-town Pampa may not be quite as dull as I had imagined. I had a pretty active weekend.

A friend from my school days, Greg, came over Friday night for a guys night. It was fun catching up after so many years. We ordered pizza and watched a couple of videos. Real party animals, aren't we? HA!

Greg and I used to hang out together in high school. We ate lunch together our freshman year and then he would help me down the steps. The steps were steep, so he walked down with me to make sure I made it all right. He was a good friend to me all through high school. We also had a couple of classes together at Clarendon College.

It's been fun to get re-acquainted with him now.

On Saturday, I checked out a singles group in town. I was nervous about going, but a friend sent me an invitation. It turned out to be a lot of fun. It was a Blooming Idiots theme party. Everyone dressed like a flower or with flowers on them.

Fortunately, I didn't know about the theme until I got there. (I wouldn't have made a good flower.) The meal was good, though, and we played board games. Yes, more partying. HA!

I met some nice people there. I don't know if I will go back. Most of them were older than me. Hey, maybe I can find an older woman! You think?

The weekend wrapped up with a good service on Palm Sunday. The pastor even used my scooter to help with an illustration in his sermon. I rode it across the front of the church to represent Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the donkey while two women waved palm branches (which were really greenery from the baptistery). Pastor Ben called it a low budget pageant. Maybe so, but it was a good sermon.

Now we head into Holy Week. I hope we will all take some time this week to reflect on Jesus and the sacrifice he made for us and then celebrate his resurrection on Easter morning.

Obama Care

I am glad that my confidence is in God and not in our corrupt lawmakers in Washington.

Over the weekend, House Speaker Nazi Pelosi and her co-horts passed the most irresponsible piece of domestic legislation in our country's history. The worst part is that this health care bill was passed against the will of the American people. The people didn't want this.

I didn't think it would pass. I really didn't. In my post Friday, I even predicted that the bill would fail. I simply couldn't believe lawmakers would go against the people like this.

I was so so wrong. The Democrats don't care what their constituents want. They just wanted to ram this bill down our throats and get more control over our lives.

The country is now going to suffer because of it. Obama Care will literally bankrupt the country. But beyond that, it takes us farther down the road to Socialism. That scares me to death. This is America, which was founded on democratic philosophies. But it won't be a democracy much longer if Obama continues to force his leftist agenda on America.

The bright side to all this, if there is a bright side, is that Democrats have sealed their fates for the 2010 elections. The voters WILL hold them accountable, and the Dems will lose control of the House.

But the damage will already be done. With Obama still the White House, the bill will not be able to be repealed.

I only hope that Obama Care doesn't destroy the greatest country on Earth.

Health Care Showdown or Meltdown

This is it. The health-care debate is coming to a head this weekend. I am predicting -- and praying -- that Obama Care WILL NOT PASS!

Obama and House Speaker Nazi Pelosi are determined to ram the bill down America's throat. But I don't think they have the votes. Not now anyway. If they did, there would have been a vote weeks ago.

This bill scares me. It would lead to more abortions and rationed health care. Would I be denied an operation because I am already disabled? Would my 70-plus year old mom be turned down because of her age?

It's hard to imagine something like that happening in America, but I worry that might actually happen if this bill goes through.

There would be rationed health care, no question about it. There would have to be. There's not enough doctors now. If Obama Care passes, more doctors would leave the profession because of increased costs and regulations.

This should not be happening. Americans DO NOT want this kind of reform, and the polls show it.

Why isn't Obama listening to the people? Why is he pushing it so hard? There have been bribes and back-room deals with House Democrats reluctant to go along with the president. Obama is blowing so much smoke you'd think a new pope was just elected.

Obama is doing it because he wants to push more of his Socialist agenda on the country. Bigger government and more control. That's his goal, and he'll stop at nothing until he gets it.

Pelosi is pushing hard to bring it to a vote Sunday. I'm just praying it won't pass. This is very serious, and I really am scared of what might happen if it passes. The country will never be the same if this bill becomes law.

Praise Report

I thank God today for his goodness and how he always takes care of me.

I discovered today that since moving into my new apartment nearly a month ago my Life Alert box hasn't been turned on! It has been plugged in and connected to the phone, but the box wasn't turned on.

Life Alert calls me once a month to have me test my call button. When I got the call today, I pressed my button and nothing happened. The power button on the speaker wasn't on. I couldn't believe it!

I rely on the Life Alert box to call for help in case I fall or need assistance. Thank God, I haven't needed to use it since I moved. God is definitely looking out for me! I'm so thankful to him today.

I seem to be getting a little strength back in my legs. I haven't fallen in nearly a month, and it has been easier transferring from my scooter to the chair and bed. I've also been getting in and out of my truck better.

God is so good, and I'm just trusting in him.

Pampa

I am about to get settled in my new place. I'm liking it even though there isn't as much to do here in Pampa.

The other day, I drove around looking at the town and how much it has changed. It seemed even smaller than I remember.

Growing up here, I can remember riding my three-wheel bike with best friend Bill Luedecke and thinking how far it was from one end of town to the other. We went all over town, our whereabouts often unbeknownst to my mom who didn't think I should leave the block. We had a blast, crisscrossing the town and exploring new areas.

Pampa is smaller now, in population any way. The city's population has dwindled over the years, dropping to less than 18,000 today.

With the decline in population, many stores and businesses have closed. Gone is the Pampa Mall, which used to be packed and where I would often hang out on Saturday afternoons. Downtown streets, which used to be humming with activity, are now lined with boarded-up storefronts.

Some big name stores have closed up shop. Alco, Dunlaps and M.E. Moses are just memories now.

It's sad that the town has lost so much of its retail business, due in part to Wal-Mart, which opened a new supercenter a few years ago.

But it's not all bad news for Pampa. I did see some new construction as I drove around town.

A new junior high school is being built on the north end of town. And dear ol' Pampa High School just completed a major renovation and addition. The new main entrance and commons area make the school look so much better.

Two new hotels have opened across the road from each other. They're nice, but does Pampa really need two more hotels? I hope they can both make it.

So Pampa has undergone many changes, but one thing that has hadn't changed is its friendly people. When I went to the store yesterday, I had people offering to help me with my bags, help me with my scooter, and everyone was so friendly.

I guess that's part of the appeal of a small town. People look out for their neighbors. And that's a nice thing in this day and time.

Bruce Beck

My thoughts today are with a dear friend and his family. I learned last week that my former co-worker Bruce Beck's cancer has spread to his brain. He has fought this disease with such determination and braveness for more than a year. He has had many ups and downs in his battle.

Over the weekend, Bruce had a seizure. He fell out of bed and broke his wrist. I learned that he will start home hospice care when he gets out of the hospital.

It breaks my heart because Bruce is such a wonderful person.

I wrote some thoughts in 2008 when I first heard about Bruce. I want to re-post those thoughts here.

****

A friend and co-worker was diagnosed with cancer. Bruce is a great guy. A friend to everyone. Our desks used to be next to each other in the newsroom, so we talked quite a bit. Well, mostly he talked. But he made a real effort to understand me with my speech impediment.

Bruce is a true friend.

When I moved to a new apartment once, I asked several guys in the newsroom if they could help. Bruce is the only one who showed up. He borrowed one of the newspaper’s big delivery trucks, and he and my dad moved me in no time.

Over the years, with all the shuffling around of the newsroom, I don’t talk to Bruce as much now. He works a different job, and I’m still on the copy desk. In fact, I might not even know he’s around except for the fact that every day, like clock works, Bruce lets out a string of eight sneezes. . . in a row. Every day.

We have learned to withhold our collective “bless you” until he gets that final sneeze out.

The day before Bruce went to the hospital, we happened to be leaving work at the same time.

We walked out together, talking and joking. I didn’t know he was going in for tests the next morning.

I know Bruce is going to be all right. I believe it. He has to be.

*****

And I'm still believing for a miracle for Bruce today.

Are You Happy?

I read an interesting poll question on one of the blogs I follow. The question was: "Are you happy with your life right now?"

Wow. That made me stop and think.

With all of the changes in my life in the last six months, I have experienced a wide range of emotions. Everything from joy and peace to fear and doubt.

If you had told me a year ago that I would not be working and that I would be living in Pampa today, I wouldn't have believed you. That's just not what I had planned for my life. Yet, that's the situation I find myself in today.

I knew I would not be able to work until retirement age. My physical condition makes that nearly impossible. But I had hoped to work at least a few more years. I was aiming for three more years. Then, I would have had 20 years in at the Globe-News. I figured that would be a good milestone to reach.

Well, I didn't quite make it. Physically, I just couldn't do it anymore. I have been "slowing down" for a few years now. I had to start using my scooter more instead of walking and I began to get tired more easily. I'm not walking at all now, and the therapist says I would need some kind of braces on my feet if I did walk.

That has curtailed my daily activity a lot. I now need help to do simple tasks like getting dressed. It has been hard for me to accept this because I worked so hard to gain my independence. I have to rely on others, and I hate that.

So back to the poll question: Am I happy with my life?

For the most part, I would say I am happy.

I truly believe God has a plan for my life, and as long as I am striving to follow his plan I know everything is going to be all right. God will take care of me. He knew I would face these obstacles, and he has surrounded me with a loving family and wonderful friends to help me.

No matter what happens, I know I can trust in God to see me through. He has never failed me! I'm thankful to be close to my family and to have their love and support.

And that makes me truly happy today.