Haiti Aftershocks

Big Orange was hit by a car in early January in front of our house. Aunt Anita died January 4 and was buried the 7th, a snowy afternoon. Uncle Nate was of little help in getting things together, so Lynette and Londa made sure everything was done with the dignity it deserved. After the cemetery service we had a luncheon at DeLucas to celebrate Anita's life. Anita was an inspiration to all of us with her courage and fight against cancer. On Saturday Gabe was going with his uncle to live in Oregon much to the chagrin of Petra. Jobs have been mostly of the half day variety subbing since break, so I hope that picks up soon. Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake that we still do not know the human and monetary cost yet. So much bad news in this new year that people were looking to for changes for the better. You walk the aisles of all the stores to find them wider because they are not carrying extra stock as America continues to tighten it's belt. It cost me $107 for my dental cleaning so I think that will not be something we will be doing as we will try joining a clinic for future cleanings. We've kept the heat down to 65 this winter but the bill was over $200 for January. They say it's always darkest before the dawn so we soon should see the light. I'll keep the faith for the hopeless and keep on seeking the light flashing through dreams and reality.

Winter Slush Thoughts

I just finished my 5 days of proctoring at Cooley and read A Separate Peace and Arrowsmith by Sinclair Lewis . We are on winter break from school and only Jane works the Christmas candy rush. We've had our snow for a few weeks now and the temperature has been around the 30's also. Aunt Anita is in the hospital and is trying to regain her strength in the cancer ward at Sparrow. The boys got 4 points in all their classes but a 3 Phil got in Writing. Christmas is sneaking up more this year than ever as a combination of economy, age and being on Friday. Last Sunday Jane, Andy and I went to Mason to have 4 of the cats spayed and 2 who had respiratory infections treated instead. Hisster, Big Orange, Minky, and Smokey Bones got fixed as they had a deal Andy got us from the Ingham Shelter, next to the jail. So we've had all 8 cats in the house for over a week now. Waverly Road has been open and realigned for over a month and greatly improved. All the schools are cost cutting in order to balance budgets effected by funding cuts by the governor. The health care bill is still evolving waiting to become a reality as the conservatives fight socialism for their own corporate greed. We can't always get what we want but hopefully we'll get what we need for the benefit of all.

O'Rafferty-40th Reunion

Last night was the 40th class reunion at Reno's East for the 1969 class. Steve Morris and Mary Jo Maloney(Dehaven) organized the event that the previous reunion people had abandoned. With images scanned from the Silhoutte yearbook covering the wall screens of the nonsmoking area 30 class members had a great time renewing friendships from 7:00 until almost midnight. Many pictures were taken and those present agreed to try it again in 5 years instead of the past 10 year reunions. I did not go to the 10th and 30th ones as I had a party to celebrate my MSU graduation at he 10th and we had Simon's LCC controversy going on at the 30th. I got to talk with Ed Troshak, Steve Martin, Dan Richardson and Kevin Finnerty quite a bit as well as Kathy Gross(Assiff), Suzy Celentino(O'Dell), and Rosie Kain(Mehaffey). Bob Raby was taking lots of pictures and Suzy and Rosie wanted to have a picture with me. The only person who needed a designated driver was Mary Scully. John Kelley stayed for about 2 hours and snuck out as I had asked him were his coat was and he said he left it in his car. Many from our class are retired like me and Steve Martin reminded us about the severe weather going on during our graduation ceremony at Sexton. That's when I found out some boys had left on vacation instead from George Bridson. The only people I did not recognize at all was Cindy Prentler and Beth Oberlin. 13 of the attendees were from Holy Cross the most of all the parish schools. Jon was home for Thanksgiving which was at the Ybarras. Jane has been working extra hours and the boys have one more week of school and seem to be doing very good. Maybe the meek will inherit the Earth and blessed are the peacemakers. But it sure is great to have a head of hair and be within 10 pounds of 40 years ago!

Approaching Halloween

I have been busy subbing this school year. Today I was at Waverly East and the Halloween party. I've been to Elmwood, Scott, Cumberland, and Riddle many times so far. The weather has been mild and the leaves are starting to come down now. What was bright yellow and red background is now turned grey and empty with the decaying of leaves on the ground. Jane is now full time at Fabiano's and got a raise 2 weeks ago. We visited Helen Reck at Tendercare West, she is 95 but still very aware of everything. Michelle Fedewa died and we went to Tiffany's and took Ed dinner last Saturday. Phillip started painting the house but still has the upper east side to finish as Luke and I also worked at it. Jon may have fixed the roof this last time tarring the seams thoroughly as no leaks have dripped while it's rained hard. The budget of the state threatens education as the federal budget increases. Someday there will have to be the reckoning of debt and the extravagances of the rich and want-to-bes. All Hallows Eve is approaching with the full moon and the fall back of daylight savings and time. We had 9 visitors this year compared with an average of 3 a year since 1975. All Saints Day and All Souls Day will be the fate of true believers, Amen!

Flowers on the Wall

Jane and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary, Sunday at Smokey Bones. Rachel helped Jane pick out and plant flowers to replace the bushes in front of the house that had been there for 20 some years. Phillip had tore out the bushes and put in the black soil and mulch. Jon was here for the Labor day extended weekend and returned to Indiana today. We had a nice cookout at Ybarra's Saturday and the weather this past week has been sunny, in the 70s, and cool at night. Today is Beatles day as their remastered songs were debuted and a new generation will fall under their influence. Tony got out of Clinton County Jail yesterday and turned 18 today. Instead of counting flowers on the wall we all could follow Obama's advice to school children and make our lives better by working hard toward beneficial goals. Don't tell me I have nothing to do but you can remind me to get off my ass to do good in the world. I've been retired 8 years now and time should be my best friend but he is not kind to anyone. But without time we would go nowhere and stillness only freezes inaction to nothingness. Number 9/ Number 9/ Number 9.

A One Week Summer

We began our week at Grand Haven on the 8th of August this year, and it turned out being the only real summer weather of the year 2009. Except for a couple of days around Father's Day the sun and warm 80+ temperatures excelled during our week. Lukas and Phillip were with us all week, and John arrived Sunday through Wednesday, and Simon was with the Foxes on Sunday. At 6:30 Sunday we had our storm with 60+ mile an hour winds cutting electricity for an hour and taking out a tree outside the porch. It scared April and Jane was afraid the tree was going to blow over onto the roof, but outside that the sky was sunny and it was nice to be by the beach. We went swimming everyday for the first time I can remember and Wiley went with us for the first time and was a good boy! Last week I worked at Cooley proctoring for lap tops and accommodated exams all week, 37 hours. I read Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle, W. Somerset Maugham's The Narrow Corner, and Karen Hesse's Out of the Dust. None are great books but were interesting in their perspectives and historical times of reference. Lukas and Phillip are taking classes at LCC and hopefully they'll get there class schedules straightened out soon. I got my letter from MIP on my school retirement and service time which is 5.1204 years. This means I will need 5 more years of public school service for a pension or will need to move this money I've accumulated since I work for PESG now. Edward Kennedy died yesterday and has been featured on the news and TV networks honoring the liberal Camelot legacy now over. Birds cry outside and the air is cool as a health care bill waits for compromise that will never be fully what we need or want. Our fates await the passage of time which goes on as forever it will ,and nothing we say or do can change the natural course of nature and God.

Buddy Not Bud

Around an hour ago Little Buddy was hit by a car and died in front of our house. Lukas got home and told me and we looked out at the lifeless body in the street. Luke and I buried him in the back property line and we are sad to lose our cat that fetched the socks, teaching Wiley that trick. The white monkey will no longer climb the trees or screech when chased by Cappachino. It's been a boring summer but pleasant temperature wise. Lukas finished 2 classes at LCC and did really good, while Phil is still slowly learning all the things he'll need to do better at for college. Jon took the Indiana bar exam this week but has a wait before he finds out if he passed. Jane is going to be full time at Fabianos and hopefully getting a raise and benefits. I talked to John Magnotta at Meijers Saturday for about a half hour about high school and friends and his 20 years at the unemployment office. We had Sue Hauser over for spinach pie Sunday, 2 weeks after Ruby's 1st birthday party at Richard's house in Grand Ledge. I went to 2 more Blues on the Square concerts and will go tomorrow night after the Cooley proctors meeting. Everything seems to be losing its luster but I pray the joy of living will not fade with the passing days and the realization our time is shorter with all our loved ones. I miss Holy Cross and they've boarded up the rectory 2 weeks ago and the school over the weekend, the nails in the boards like the ones through Jesus' body and my heart. No more Beefus, Little Beefy, or Captain Beefheart with his sad eyes and goatee.