Nomad News-Vol.5-No.123

PRESENTATION OF QUILT OF VALOR:
     I was pleasantly surprised on Sunday, January 25 when I was presented with a Quilt of Valor by the ladies of the local Quilts of Valor guild.  It is magnificent.  A similar quilt was presented two days earlier to Mervin Towers who was unable to attend because of health problems.  Mervin is the second oldest World War II veteran, following me, living in Cumberland County.  I am about three months older than Mervin.  That's why I call him "Kid".  There are 142 known World War II veterans in the county.
     On the outside front lawn of our home we fly the American Flag and the Christian Flag, in addition to displaying the Christian Cross.  The Quilt of Valor will be displayed inside the house as a remembrance of my 10,000 comrades who 'rest easy' at Omaha Beach; and symbolically, be placed over them. They are the heroes.  They paid the supreme price and  to them belong the medals and the valor.  As one recipient said: "My quilt isn't another military medal to be placed in a box and sit on my shelf.  I was moved to tears."  My medals are in a brown envelope in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet.
     Quilts of Valor Foundation was conceived by Blue Star mother Catherine Roberts in Seaford, Delaware.  Her son Nathanael's year-long deployment to Iraq was the inspiration for her desire to see that returning warriors were welcomed home with the love and gratitude they deserved.  I believe something like 113,000 quilts have been awarded to date.
     If you are interested in joining this noble project, the local chapter meets at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in the Fellowship Hall, 1461 Sparta Highway, Crossville, TN,  the first Thursday of the month from 9 to noon.  Contact person is:  Melissa Wesley. Cell phone: 785-249-0506 E-mail: sewsouthernquilts@hotmail.com   Elsewhere, check the QOV site on your computer.  (Copyright 2015-Andrew M. Dolan)
   
   
   
   

Nomad News-Vol.5-No.122

UNSOLICITED ADVISE:
     I started to write about unsolicited advise and then an old Irish blessing popped up in my mind.  Maybe I can tie the two together.  The old Irish blessing is:  :"Live a long time without getting old".  Now, there's  some good unsolicited Irish advise worth thinking about.  Don't think too long though or you'll get old.  I never consider myself old because I don't have time to get old.  There's too much still to do.  After all, age is just a couple of figures after your name.   My sheltering angel brought me to Crossville for a purpose that is yet to be fulfilled.  Another unfulfilled desire is to  jump out of an airplane.  With a parachute, of course.        Talking about that, I visited my doctor on Monday. for a routine appraisal and she was elated with my physical condition.  I asked her if my heart was strong enough to jump out of an airplane and she replied: "Yes".  So, I thought, if I'm going to jump I might just as well jump with the best.  So, I have a wheel turning to see if an exception can be made to jump with the U.S. Army's Golden Knights skydiving team.  I know it's a long shot but if you don't ask, the answer is always "no"..  Stay tuned.
     My motto has always been: " I seldom listen to unsolicited advise; never take it."  And, I seldom tell anyone what I am going to do in advance.  I just do it and explain afterwards.  This way I don't get discouraging comments.  If you make a mistake, you learn.  Here's an example:  When I worked at Al Paul Lefton Advertising there was a 18-year old girl in the Mechanical Promotion Department where I worked.  Her name was Sophie Kuhlmann.  She was a little goofy, but in a nice way.  Something like me.  In fact, we were kind of kindred spirits.  We used to kid around, much to the chagrin of the other workers at times.
The agency was owned by a Jewish man but  most of the employes were Christians and on Good Friday the office was closed from noon until 3 p.m. so that those who wished to attend a church service could do so.
Just prior to a Good Friday, Sophie announced she was going to run away and get married to an older man. Every person in the office told her she was making a mistake.  On this Good Friday, everyone had left the office except me and Sophie.  Neither of us were good practicing Christians at that time.  I suggested we have lunch  in the lounge on the street level of the building.  We had  a couple of beers with lunch even though the drinking age was 21 for Sophie.  Sophie asked me what my opinion was on her proposed escapade.  I was on the same bus with the other workers but I replied:  "Go ahead and do it.  If you don't, you might spend the rest of your life wondering if you made the right decision.  If it's a mistake, hopefully, you will learn from it, but don't get trapped in a situation you can't walk away from."  Was I wrong?  Maybe.  The advise I gave is what I would have done.   At 3 o'clock we went back to work and shortly thereafter Sophie left and so did I, so I do not know the outcome.  I have thought of it through the years and hope it did work out.
     Here's my message to you:  Don't listen to unsolicited advise.  Let your heart and your mind make the decision and then do it.  You'll be glad you did.  (Copyright 2015-Andrew M. Dolan)

     

Nomad News Vol.5-No.121

COMPROMISE:
     About three years ago I was admitted to Cumberland Medical Center’s ICU after suffering a stroke.  I credit my Sheltering Angel and the excellent care I received from the personnel in the ICU for my survival.  One nurse, in particular, watched over me like a hawk.  Time has dimmed my memory but I believe her name is Lorita.  If I am incorrect, I apologize, but it is something equally as attractive and unusual.  Lorita’s parents, as I recall, had separate favorite names to call their new infant and couldn't reach a decision.  So, they sat down and took parts of each name, put them together to form Lorita.

That’s what I call compromise.

     Now, I know a married couple named Congress.  There’s Poppa Republican and Momma Democrat.  We send this family, on a regular basis, to Washington to represent  We the People.  Poppa Republican recommends a piece of legislation to improve the economy.  Momma Democrat says: “It stinks.  What is it?”, then recommends her idea.  Poppa Republican  then repeats the mantra and the harangue goes on and on.  Nothing is accomplished.  Why can’t Poppa Republican and Momma Democrat sit down like Lorita’s parents did.  Take a little part of Poppa’s legislation and a little part of Momma’s suggestion, put them together then repeat the operation  until they fashion a passable bill; something that makes both members of the family happy.   The president may threaten to veto the legislation but the family is in agreement and can easily override any veto.  That’s what I call compromise. (Copyright 2015-Andrew M. Dolan)

Nomad News-Vol.5-No.120

THE MOON DIPS LOW:

     A number of years back I had a dream.  I had written a book, the title of which was "The Moon Dips Low".  My immediate waking thought was; the topic of the book must have something to do with America, as a constitutional republic, being on the verge of becoming extinct.  During the ensuing years, I often thought about this but couldn't come up with a coherent solution as to what the dream portended, if anything.  Most dreams, as a rule, disappear from the mind over a period of time.  This one wouldn't go away.  I kept thinking about it,  in an on and off manner, but hadn't thought about it lately.

     Until last night.  I awoke out of a deep sleep and immediately thought about the book. Maybe I had been wrong in my analysis of the book's topic.  I'm wide awake and thinking now.  America wasn't disappearing.  What happens, literally speaking, when the moon dips below the western horizon?  The sun comes up over the eastern horizon and a new day is born.  In this case, The disappearing moon was taking with it, 80 years of creeping socialism while the new sunrise was bringing with it new hope for America.  We were getting one more opportunity to save America as our founding fathers had planned it with the advent of the Constitution of the United States of America.  That opportunity is two years hence with the General Election of 2016.
     Here's something to think about:  In the 2008 election, I believe the Evangelical Christians and the American clergy elected Obama.  The part of the Evangelicals were the ones who stayed home and didn't vote.  The part of the clergy because they failed, with a few exceptions, to tell their congregations about the creeping attacks on Christianity that were there for everyone to see,
     If this scenario is repeated in 2016, America is doomed.  Maybe there is a bright spot on the rising sun.  On the same evening but, prior to my dream, Mike Huckabee parted ways with Fox News so he could pursue plans to run for president.  He hasn't declared yet but I believe he will.  Mr. Huckabee is an Evangelical and an ordained minister as well.  Maybe, just maybe he will be able to convince these two groups to do their duty and once again the rising sun will shine brightly as freedom and liberty  reign over America the beautiful.  (Copyright 20145-Andrew M. Dolan)