Bittersweet

There is a community that has only one requirement for membership, and no one ever wants to become a member. It's the "Parents Who Bury Their Children Club", and unfortunately there are millions of us around the world. It seems so unnatural; out the scheme of things, yet it has been a part of our existence from the beginning.

Prior to joining the club, when you meet members your heart goes out to them, and you pray you never have to experience what they're going through. Every parent lives with the dread, but it's usually tucked away in the psyche and only brought out when misfortune strikes someone you know. You offer your condolences, thank God it's not you going through it, then you eventually bury the dread and move on.

Once you become a member, the dread is not so easily dismissed. If you have other children, you're pretty sure it's not going to happen again from a statistical perspective, but good odds don't translate into peace of mind.

This is only my second Father's Day since the death of my daughter and I can only hope that time will eventually work it's magic and make future Father's Days less painful. Beth was my first thought upon waking, but it was the "Happy Father's Day" greetings from my wife, grandson and daughter that ripped apart my facade. The tears have dried for now, so I seek solace in words to other fathers in the club.

I will be having a chicken barbecue with my Dad this afternoon, children and grandchildren will abound, and Beth will be with us in spirit. It will be an afternoon of whiffle ball in the yard, a little golf on TV (go Tiger), the best darned barbecued chicken, marinated overnight in Dad's special barbecue sauce, and the joy of a family come together.

"This is the bittersweet truth of human life: The path to love is strewn not only with rose petals, but with thorns. By journey’s end you will lose everyone and everything you have ever loved; that is why it takes courage to love anyone in this world. You will seek love in safety until you discover there is no safety in love, and none needed. Only when you are willing to risk the pain and sorrow of loss will you trust enough to open your heart to joy."

Dan Millman

Taking that risk is my wish for all of the club members this Father's Day. Being a good Dad is the single most rewarding thing a man can do in this world, and I wish all of you happiness and joy.

The living need to be our focus while the love of those deceased remains in our hearts forever.

When it rains...

it pours, or as may be the case come this fall, it "poors". I've heard the flooding in Iowa described as a "once in five hundred years" event, surpassing the '93 floods in water levels and crop destruction, not to mention the billions in property damage. In many cases you'll find property owners that have no flood insurance because they never expected to need it.

Flood losses are not covered by the standard homeowners insurance policy. There are some perils, such as flood, where you just can't accurately predict losses. In the case of Florida and other states that border an ocean, many insurance companies are refusing to write business in hurricane prone areas because the possible maximum loss far exceeds any insurers ability to cover the losses.

That's where the federal government steps in. Flood Insurance is underwritten by the feds, even though the policy comes through on the "paper" of an insurance company. You can check with any insurance agent and they'll be able to provide you with a policy. It's something that most of us who don't live immediately on the water seldom think about, but the price of the insurance is usually worth at least the peace of mind it gives you.

The really scary part is that this is just the beginning. All that water has to go somewhere, and it will infuse the Mississippi to the point that we'll be seeing these floods for weeks to come.

Corn futures were climbing even prior to the flooding due to the increased use of corn in the making of ethanol. Expect to see very active trading Monday morning; who knows where the price will end the day.

It would appear that FEMA, the Red Cross, and many others are responding as quickly as possible to help the folks in Iowa, so apparently some lessons were learned from Katrina.

I always try to view the glass half full, but the confluence of events are starting to make me concerned. Rising gas prices, no indication as to what ungodly amount it will cost to heat homes in the Northeast this coming winter, wheat and corn crops damaged or destroyed - it doesn't signal the end of the world, but you may want to put another notch in your belt.

The point of the preamble is this: When a disaster assumes the proportions of the current flooding situation, this is when we need the Federal Government to be involved on many levels. As opposed to trying to manage our lives through progressive legislation, this is where government, local, state and national needs to shine. Even with everything the various levels of government can provide, the American people never fail to support their countrymen who are in need.

Blood supplies are always low, so if you have the opportunity to donate a pint or two, why not help out the Red Cross. Money, food, clothing - it's not hard to find relief organizations. If you know someone who needs help, here's FEMA's website for Iowa disaster relief:

http://www.hud.gov/local/ia/library/disasterrelief.cfm

When I googled "Red Cross Iowa Relief" I found a New York Times article and a similar article on the "Philanthropy News Digest" regarding the monetary collections made by the Red Cross after the tornadoes hit in Iowa recently. At this point, I think I'll stick to giving them blood and make a donation elsewhere.

On this Flag Day, let's show the folks in Iowa their countrymen care.

What Are We Waiting For?

As the price of gas continues it inexorable climb to $5 and up, I wonder how high it will have to rise before we start to tap natural resources protected by well-intentioned environmentalists. With China and Cuba drilling for oil a mere 50 miles from the Florida Keys, it makes a lot of Americans wonder why we aren't doing the same thing.

You'll recall the hubbub that arose when the Alaskan Pipeline was first proposed, and the subsequent years have shown that the ecological predictions of catastrophe were unfounded. I guess I work from the perspective that oil companies have as much interest in not having accidents as the environmentalists, but for financial as well as ecological reasons. There is always risk involved when there is much to be gained.

Opening up ANWAR and drilling offshore are only stop-gap measures to be sure, but would an announcement that we intend to begin exploration not have an effect on the current speculation that is driving the cost of a barrel of oil through the roof? Hopefully that would help get the price headed in the other direction.

There are legislators on both sides who realize that nuclear power must also be a part of the solution, and my hope is that after November we can put the politics aside for a while and concentrate on energy independence. Expanding nuclear power, solar power, extended battery life, wind power (lots of windmills here in Lewis County), and opening new refineries are pieces of the puzzle that should not be overlooked.

It's hard not to take it out on big oil when they show record profits - even a confirmed capitalist such as myself would like an explanation as to who or what is driving this upward spiral. We have to keep in mind that millions of other Americans have their pensions and savings tied up in that industry, so I would hope that any action taken by Congress would be measured and prudent. Tax breaks for someone making record profits doesn't make sense, unless you're going to put that money into exploration and research & development. Tax breaks for any industry are always a point of contention, and I'd be in favor of doing away with all industry tax breaks, but then the issue becomes parochial and the politicians suddenly care more about being reelected and protecting their own constituency.

Whoever becomes our next President will be faced with some very difficult decisions as regards our environment, our economy, and our continued reliance upon oil. Short term actions such as opening up areas for exploration are really long term due to the nature of the business, but could have an immediate impact on oil prices. Research and development of new technologies is the key to our success as far as I can see. Setting up a new government bureaucracy to trade in carbon credits would not only be counterproductive because of new bureaucrats, but it would also do more harm to our economy. All the increases in the cost of doing business will be passed onto us, and our climate won't change one bit without China and India buying in.

What do you think? If you don't think tapping our own resources will help, what will? Should our economy falter because the government wants to get into the carbon credit business? Let's even assume that everything ever written about global warming is true - do you think placing the burden on the American taxpayer is going to solve anything? How is it that we get China and India to tell their millions of inhabitants that a better life is not possible?

Interesting questions that have a pat conservative or liberal answer, but isn't it time we scrapped all the usual party line talking points and developed a unified approach to the problem?

Even those of us who question global warming are aware that any contribution we can make towards eliminating pollution should be pursued, and we certainly feel that our dependence on foreign oil leaves us in a precarious position. It seems to me that neither side can have it totally their way, so nothing will be done until after November. John McCain has shown that he's willing to compromise (congrats to Sen. Kennedy for the successful surgery - he may not represent a lot of my views, but we Irish Catholics still pray for one another) and try to get the ball rolling.

That's why he'll get my vote in November.

A D-Day Thank You

At left is a copy of the letter my Dad received from Harry Truman. It's a mass produced thank you from a grateful nation; the fact it was mass produced does not effect the poignancy and honesty it contains. I took the liberty of adding his image, a picture I will share with all of my brothers and sisters.

There were over 6,000 Americans who never received that letter because they perished on D-Day. How lucky we were, and are, that America produces young men and women willing to fight for the ideals we hold so dearly.

At the risk of repeating myself so soon after Memorial Day, I'd like to say thank you again, but this time, specifically to all the men and women who didn't survive D-Day. You gave your all, and it is our duty to recall your dedication to future generations.

We should also be thankful that we finally have a memorial in Washington D.C. to honor the WWII veterans, living and dead.

Support Your Local Tribe

If you're a non-smoker, chances are you're not aware that our beloved New York State Legislator's have decided to import the caste system from India. In America, smokers are now the "untouchables". With the new cigarette tax, $1.25 per pack, our New York State government is doing all it can to assure that the little guy never gets a break. Just toss in the ridiculous gas prices and increases in food costs, and many families will find it hard to make ends meet.

It's not bad enough you have to stand outside in the winter and other inclement weather, or that you can't sit at a bar and have a smoke, but now it will cost you a lot more - but it's for you own good you see.

When a socialist Democrat decides what's best for you, how can you go wrong?

You should stop smoking, whether you want to or not, because it's not good for you. Just like it's not good to drive without a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet (both are required when my daughter drives), and don't forget our Massachusetts liberal friends who tried to enact legislation to ban spanking.

In the future, look for legislation that bans smoking in cars and in your own home if you have children. The fact that millions of us "boomers" grew up in households where smoking was the norm, and we seem to have survived, means nothing at all.

I quit smoking on September 2, 1997. Now, after ten years of quitting, I've started smoking again. A dumb decision, but mine to make.

So, my fellow smokers, it's time support your local tribe. Whether you drive down to Turning Stone, or up to Hogansburg, it's time we showed our legislators that there's more than one way to skin a cat. Even with the cost of gas, if you can buy multiple cartons, you could make a day of it once a month and stick it to our socialist government. Make sure you're almost on empty by the time you get where you're going, that way you can fill up on cheaper gas and stick it to 'em again.

Are you sick and tired of socialist's condescending to the rest of us; presuming that they know what's best for everyone?

No one political philosophy has all the answers, so before our communist-socialist-liberal friends reach high dudgeon, just try to simmer down and remember your mantra:

"Conservatives are red neck, bible-thumping, gun-toting, know-nothings - we ARE superior".

There, now don't you feel better.

Now, if you could just let us run our own lives, maybe we could concentrate more on the things that bind us.