We cannot help but notice all of the sensational greeting cards out there, especially at this time of year.
Here is one saying what I have seen on posters, T-shirts, and, of course, greeting cards. The outside said, “Dear Dad.” Open it and you read, “Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special like you to be a Dad. To Dad … Thank you for everything!”
To all of you Dads out there — Happy Dad’s Day.
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Summer is here, and along with the increase in hot spells comes the increase in stupidity. Sure, you were only going to hop into the dry cleaners for one minute to pick up your outfit for the celebration this weekend, but you stopped to talk and dammit — you forgot that you left the little puppy locked in the car. How many times have you read stories like that in the local newspaper?
More stupidity: instead of the puppy, you forgot that your six month old baby was left in the hot car. We hope and pray that you returned promptly before some serious damage was done.
Every year an average of 37 youngsters die from being left in a hot car. In 2013, 44 children died because of this neglect. Perhaps it was due to so much publicity that number of deaths was reduced last year to only 30. Did I say “only?” Thirty is still too many deaths caused by stupid neglect. Parents, baby sitters, and everyone else who drives with an infant in the car seat: Think before jumping out for that quart of milk.
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Some of the results are in. From the Freedom of Information people we recently learned that there were 486 arrests during the Baltimore riots. Only 191 were prosecuted. Now for the big question. How many do you think will be convicted?
Who knows? Take a guess. I say the number is under fifty.
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It was one of those fabulous celebrations that make us love our family so much more. The combination of two birthdays — Edwin’s and Josie’s — and two graduations — Brandon from college and Samantha from middle school — had eleven of us dining together at a wonderful restaurant. Merely the word “proud” would be an understatement.
Nearby, the Vincent family was also in a celebratory mood. Their son Samson was there in his graduation suit wearing the medals he had been awarded at his high school graduation. I shook his hand and asked him which university he will be attending and playing football for on his way to applying for medical school. Now here is a young man who can have a terrific time playing sports in almost any school to which he applied. With the many awards and his very honorable academic record, he would no doubt be accepted in almost every Ivy League college in the U.S.
“No Sir” he replied. “I have been accepted, and in a few weeks I will leave for training as I enter the United States Marine Corps.”
Wow! Here is a great-looking, extremely bright young man who is willing to trade an academic and/or football scholarship to protect me. I held on to his hand as I said “Good luck to you Sir, and may God bless you and watch over you.”
I am StanG
