LAST LAUGH

Just saw a headline in the New York Times. A New York Times/CBS News poll shows that 9% of us approve the way Congress is handling their job...while 84% of us disapprove.

If you and I had that kind of approval rating in our work...we'd be fired.

Congress doesn't care. Whether working or getting voted out of office...they will still draw a pension...even if they only lasted 1 term...and they will have health insurance for life.

Who gets the last laugh here? Disgusting.


Dan

80 SOMETHINGS

Today I passed by the emergency room waiting room...and I saw a group of five 80-somethings giving each other a big hug. The hugs were very serious...they weren't old friends meeting after not seeing each other in years...or they wouldn't be meeting in an emergency room waiting room. It was much more serious than that.

My guess...is that there was a sixth 80-something...back in an emergency room...and it wasn't good...and that's why the other 5...were giving those serious hugs. It was likely the situation for the missing member...wasn't good.

I'm glad those 80 somethings had each other...to lean on...and care about.

One of these days...I may be one of those 80 somethings...and I'm gonna want somebody to hug...or be there to hug my 80 something buddy.


Dan

ANGER

Cindy & I watched a good show on the Lifetime Channel last night, titled 'Five'. It consisted of 5 short stories about people, and those around them, who were diagnosed with breast cancer.

With my mother and sister lost to breast cancer...the recent passing of Cindy's cousin to breast cancer...my daughters school friend lost to breast cancer in her 20's...and too many of our friends currently battling the disease as I write this...we have had a 'much too personal' connection with this dreadful enemy.

The five stories were all moving...real...and believable. One of them, however, touched me more than the others...because it shed light from a perspective that I had not considered.

In this one story...a woman reacts to the news from her doctor...that the disease that she thought would soon kill her...was in remission. Her reaction was one I hadn't considered...ANGER.

Anger...because...in the months since her diagnosis...she had spent all of her money...she had cashed in her retirement accounts...she had drained her savings...so that she could do what she wanted in her last days...or as she said when asked what she had done with it all...she said 'living'. After all...we've all heard...'you can't take it with you'.

She was angry because she had given away many of her personal belongings and treasures...knowing she wouldn't need them anymore. Now that she was going to live...what does she live...with?

She was angry...because she had made some enemies...of her friends and family during her final months. She had decided she was going to be honest with them...and if they had hurt her feelings...or done her or someone wrong...she called them on it...and in turn had hurt 'their' feelings...and distanced herself from those around her.

Now...after hearing news that most people pray for...her cancer was in remission...she was angry. She was going to live...at least longer than she had been led to believe...and she had no money...few belongings...and few friends left.

I had never thought of this situation. What do you do...when you've planned to die...and don't?

All the stories were good ones...and heartfelt...and in need of a box of tissues if you watch them.


Dan