A Case of Better Late than Never
The girl was about sixteen and was in Court for a number of offenses, not the least of which was using her parents’ credit card to run up a bill of over one thousand dollars. Of course she had nothing to show for the money, since it had all been spent on friends and “having fun.”
The Walk on the Moon
Forty years ago Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin walked on the moon. As they were doing so, I was trudging around another stark landscape — a fire support base in Vietnam. I was one of 125 American Red Cross Donut Dollies who were stationed in-Country at the time. My co-workers and I were sent mostly to forward areas, so we got to know the opinions of the combat troops. We talked with them enough to hear how they felt about things. On that particular day their talk was about the men on the moon.
“I’m telling you, I’m just not that impressed,” said one man who had just come in from a long patrol. Another chimed in. “Well, yeah, it’s great we put somebody up there, ‘n all, but you can bet they’ll get them home, alright, yet they can’t seem to get me outta here!” The rest of the men agreed and added their own takes on their situations, as compared to the Astronauts’.
I’ve never forgotten those remarks. In fact, since we had no televised access to what was occurring, the Moon Walk, for me, has always been more about those GI’s and their comments, rather than a visual memory from seeing it happen as it occurred. That doesn’t mean I’m not proud of the accomplishment. I am proud we made it to the moon, and I’m also proud of those soldiers, the nurses and others who were doing their stints in Vietnam at the time. Most of them, in their longing for home, thought they might as well have been on the moon too, that July 20, 1969.
A Perspective from the Past
My husband has come down with a germ and it’s a pretty bad case. Thank goodness it’s not the Swine Flu, but in some ways it may be worse because there is no end in sight. Sometime during the past month he was bitten by the Genealogy Bug. My sister caught it first and it is spreading to the entire family. My in-laws are already showing serious symptoms.
A News “Flash” – Literally
According to a July 2, 2009 Reuters news release, an airline has made a recording of its passenger safety briefing by filming a pilot and cabin crew who are wearing only body paint on their otherwise nude bodies. Call me a fuddy-duddy, call me a Doubting Thomas, call me a cab, but I’m not sure it will work, at least not to achieve the ends they say they are seeking.
My Week that Was
This has been a challenging week — one for reflecting — and the reflections have been good.
Almost 19 years ago I was allowed to write a column that began as bits of advice to people who were having to deal with the justice system. As time went on I added a few of my personal views, mixing in commentary and humor about life, in general. Before I knew it the column had morphed into a potpourri of information and opinion. I always tried to make it meaningful, based in common sense, and worthy of the time it took someone to read it. For those who spent a few moments each week, exploring my thoughts, I am truly grateful.
Now the venue has changed. Still, I can’t stop writing columns — at least not yet. So I will continue to sit at this keyboard and try to form thoughts, beliefs and feelings into meaningful words and comprehensive sentences. The blog may even include a journal, of sorts. With each post I look forward to real conversation, via your comments.
To my gracious supporters and faithful readers I say a sincere and humble “thank you.” I would be remiss if I didn’t add, “God bless you all.”
The Blame Game — In Reverse
I talk a lot about parents who don’t give a hoot what their children are doing, but at the other extreme are the parents who can’t imagine their children doing anything wrong. They consistently cover for them, go to their defense or take the blame themselves, no matter what the evidence indicates. They should, instead, be holding their children accountable for their crimes. Yes, they need to stick with them as they go through the process of establishing guilt and accepting punishment, but from enough of a distance that the child is the one paying the price.
Just a Thought: Greed and the American Dream
What, exactly, is greed? We hear a lot about it these days and I am convinced that, in some ways, we are looking at it the wrong way ’round.
We now assume that people who have money, or who own businesses, are just naturally greedy, particularly if they have “made it.” But, wait. Wasn’t that the American dream? Wasn’t “making it” the very thing that made people want to come here? Has the American Dream become little more than a hand-out? If so, who’s paying the bill?
Parents Should Ask Questions
Dear Probation Officer,
My 14 year old daughter was recently arrested. She says she only admitted to the police because she was afraid. She is home now and we’re trying to get her life back on track but I’m upset by all of this and we still have to face Court. I would like to see the charges and ask some questions of my own, especially since she is innocent. How can I do that, and what should I be asking?
Good Casework, or just Dumb Luck?
Dear Probation Officer,
Our son was on probation for a while and we really had our ups and downs with him. The probation officer was very attentive, and our son eventually straightened up, but we’re not sure exactly what brought him around. We’ve talked about it a lot and we don’t see where anybody did anything miraculous. Was it just dumb luck? We’d sure like to hear what you would say about that.
Dealing with a Stepson’s Misbehavior
Dear Probation Officer,
My stepson is becoming very disobedient to his mother and me, especially me, and I don’t know what to do. His father left them when he was still in diapers, so he never knew him, but he tells me I’m not really his dad and that I can’t tell him what to do. I married his mother about a year ago. He’s 14 now and we think he needs a firm hand before he gets into serious trouble. Can you give us any advice?
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