A Veteran's Lament

He stood out as he wheeled his cart into the grocery store. The blue vest on his large frame brightened the aisles. The vest was covered with many striking patches, each designating his part in his service to his country in Vietnam. As he came closer my eye caught one patch in particular that identified him as a POW.

"Hi, Johnny. I love your vest!"

He stopped to proudly explain who had made the vest for him and how he had entered it into a contest at the VA and it won an award.

I admired everything and then told him that I didn't know he had been a POW. Of course I asked him if I could interview him for a testimonial for the stories I am gathering for Save our VA, and later for my next book. He was adamant in his refusal.

"I don't use this VA. I won't give you a story, but you can quote me on this. I have great insurance from my work and I wanted to leave my spot for a veteran who cannot afford to go to any other hospital. And now they are treating them like shit!"

This quote is from a veteran who proudly served his country during an unpopular war, and spent time as a prisoner of war. His anger at the government's proposal to close our VA that has served veterans for over 100 years is a sad commentary on those who sent these young men and women to fight for all of us, and who are now trying to limit their promised benefits that are still given to our representatives in Washington.

Johnny, your anger is understood by many, and we many are behind all of our veterans. We support you and will continue to fight for you as you once fought for us.

Autumn, Welcome, Autumn

It was not only the first day of autumn, but a gorgeous one, to boot. My energy level was high as I scurried around doing the chores best left for that perfect fall day. I was highly motivated to transplant all of my indoor plants for the winter, shop for larger planters to accomodate those plants that are becoming root bound in last years pots, purchase and arrange the bird seed in the shed for easy access during the blustery days, and, in my eagerness to be prepared, I even put out my suet feeder usually left for the chilly November days.

The feeling of satisfaction is always there in late September as I stand by the stove cooking up my first pot of chili for the season. Somehow chili always tastes at its prime on the first day of autumn after a summer hiatus of salads and grilled meats.

New neighbors have just moved in. I saw them painting, cleaning, hauling and dumping. They must be exhausted. I told Bob that he should bring some chili over. It is one of my comfort foods and perhaps it will be restorative to them. Bob responded, "That is so old-fashioned to bring food over to new neighbors."

Well, maybe I am old-fashioned. I have that right since I have lived for eight decades. My mother always greeted new neighbors with a friendly hot dish and homemade baked bread. But I suppose in those days neighbors were around for many years and spent more time on their front porches and chatting over the fence with the folks next door. I know times have changed and we all spend more time isolated in front of our televisions, and on our computers and tweeting with our many unseen facebook friends, but down deep, part of me remains in that distant neighboorhood, along with my parents and our neighbors long gone, Mr. Rogers, Andy Griffith, and the Fonz. We knew everyone face to face, eye to eye, blemish to blemish, busybody to busybody and, most of all, helpful to helpful when the need arose.

The arrival of this new season reminds me that times have changed and much of it for the best, but I can still try to keep a spark of the warmth and graciousness of the old days around, maybe as more of a reassurance to me than to my new neighbors.

Last Night's Phone Call

Rewarding is a word I have not heard tossed around very much, and yet what can be more special than the feeling of being rewarded? Looking back I have experienced many rewards during my lifetime. Of course, in my work as a teacher and a counselor I have known the joy of opening minds to learning, growing, self-awareness, confidence, and on and on. Teaching and counseling both have their frustrations and failures, but they also have many, many satisfactions.

I am grateful to have been in two professions that have given me as much as I have given. It must be sterile and lonely working for money and status only. That work brings material things for sure, but for me, material stuff by itself is empty and unfulfilled.

During my retirement I began my latest profession of writing. I started writing because I finally found the time to do an activity that I had long enjoyed from the other side as a constant reader, and I soon discovered that it forced me to focus my thoughts and feelings that previously had only floated in the back burner of my mind.

It didn't take long to also get the rewards of my labor. I received notes, letters and phone calls from those that felt strongly about my writings. What a bonus! My work was affecting some of my readers, and, at times, influencing their lives.

Last night I had a phone call from a friend in the Twin Cities who recently began reading my book, "Cascade of Flames", and wanted to share his thoughts and feelings about the firefighters and evacuees involved in this disaster. I am busy on my next book about the veterans and rarely think of that last book, but he brought it back to focus for me, and I remembered warmly the many folks I had interviewed and how a natural disaster can change, and deepen lives forever.

Also, my friend brought my book to his place of business and was sharing it with his customers. That, dear friend, is the greatest of compliments. I hope you are reading this so you will know how deeply I appreciated your words and your gesture. Any writer will understand how I feel about last night's phone call. My wish is that all of you who struggle to put your thoughts on paper for others to read, will one day receive a call such as I did last night.

Cool Down!

It is September and we should't be surprised when the weather cools and the air smells like Fall. But, it was a rather dramatic drop from the constant heat of the past summer to the chill-in-the-air that envelops us today. Don't get me wrong. I am definitely not complaining. This is my favorite time of the year when I can walk the river walk with a light jacket, do the chores with no perspiring, water the plants, the bees and the birds less frequently, close the windows at night and cover up with a blanket. I always whine over the extemes of the heat slowing up my activities and the cold numbing me while I pull on a pile of blankets or sweaters.

Each season has its special beauty, but this is truly the easiest time of living. Bob is working away each day putting in new windows, a job that was almost impossible at times during the peak of the hot days. I am using the oven again, and preparing meals that will warm up the house. After three months of absence from our household menu, the stews, baked chicken and chili dinners are a welcome change.

Also, to add to the fresh energy, my health has recovered after a year of battling fatigue after my three surgeries of last summer. Don't let the doctors fool you. It takes more than six weeks to get back on board. Well, there are still occasional lapses, but that could be due to my years creeping up on me. They are beginning to take a toll. I must remember this....slow down, take more rests and expect a little less of this body after 80 years. I should keep reminding myself not to work until I fade to exhaustion. I am grateful to be able to keep up as much as I do, so I say welcome to my new world of a slower pace, and I will remember to take time to relish the seasons in their turn.

Happy cool down and slow down from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The War Continues

On Monday, September 10, VISN 23 of the VA administration told our steering committee for Save our VA that they were going to submit their original proposal as is, along with their insights about our proposal. If they don't accept key elements of our proposal, they will be rejecting our veterans, native American veterans from the Pine Ridge reservation, the citizens of this area and our congressional representatives, Republican and Democratic, and the governor of our state of South Dakota. Our community has fought long and hard to keep this very special facility open to serve our veterans who have fought for this country. We are angry, frustrated, disappointed, but committed to fight on for the cause of our veterans from all wars and branches of service.

Our proposal beats the VA proposal hands down and our representatives are going to Washington to discuss it with General Shinseki who heads up the VA. We have reason and numbers on our side. Our proposal will not only serve the veterans who have served us, but it will benefit the taxpayers in the long run. You can check it out on our web site, theveteranstown.com. The proposal is there for all to read.

What I have come to realize through all of this long, stressful battle, is that we have a group of ordinary citizens in Hot Springs, who are not only talented and thoughtful, but who are hard working, resourceful, resilient, hopeful and definitely determined to keep this the town for veterans forever.