Transition

With the resumption of school nearly a month behind us and the advent of Autumn at hand, let us pause briefly as we often do to reflect on the summer from which we are transitioning. Kids trudging back to class is always a milestone in the year, a time to look for changes in the routine.

It's too bad that we couldn't see it coming in order to anticipate it. This was a great summer. Rarely too hot. Rarely tropically humid. Almost always a light breeze and just enough rain to keep the lawn green all summer. [Usually by mid-July the grass has surrendered to an unrelenting sun and turned a straw-broom color.] In Kansas City they say we never broke 100, but I think we did briefly on my thermometer back in June during a short heat wave. Still there was much deck time during pleasant evenings.

But it hasn't all been about the weather. The economy is slowly, steadily recovering from Barney Frank's recession. The stock market's creaky climb is not the sole evidence. Look around--there are more people in restaurants, stores and car lots. Not where it needs to be yet, but better.

Perhaps the most positive thing has been the spirit and indignance shown by Americans this summer. All throught August, in 'town hall' meetings all over the country, constituents have stood up to their government. Defiant at the prospect of having politicians in charge of their health care decisions, Americans turned out in droves to say 'NO' loud and long to the Senators and Congressmen who cared to hold forums. It wasn't just a few here and there across the country and they weren't paid or organized to appear -- unlike proponents of socialized health care who called in markers from friends at liberal labor groups and community 'activist' enterprises, bussing in as many as possible to make the forums friendly to Democrat politicians; sometimes under the unspoken threat of violence. Few were intimidated and spoke their minds, most at a loss to think of anything the government has done so well that it should assume administration of their health care.

Those legislators who hosted events--if they were really listening and not just providing eye candy for TV news--should have got the message that socialized medicine is not a done deal for many of us, particularly with provisions funding abortions on demand, denial of care based on longevity and illegal alien coverage. Are they just crazy in Washington? And through all of this they tell us , "Don't be concerned, it won't raise taxes." Oh, come on! Not even Democrats will believe that.

God Bless those who attended the meetings and forced the truth.

Another great thing about the summer is that all of this health care discussion caused a large drop in the President's approval ratings. No other President has plummeted this low this early in a first term since they started watching. Indeed, folks are beginning to see the real Obama and what his 'hope and change' for America are. They, like me, don't care for it at all.

Of course as the summer wore on there were noted deaths: Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon. Those under forty are challenged to remember much about Walter Cronkite but because he was an area native and attended the University of Missouri for a while it drew even more play here. Cronkite, for those my age, was something of a trusted father figure but in his waning years as a news broadcaster he undeniably developed a clear left wing view which he had difficulty in concealing. Still he was the last of the old guard in TV news before the pretty boys all took over. He had actually grown up in the business and helped shape it, moving from print to radio and then TV as it grew.

At our house we had the much-anticipated Colorado vacation, always in at least a little doubt until right up to the last minute before we leave. Many times in the past, things happened at work to foul our departure but it was pretty smooth this year. Mary Ann's birthday / birthday week / birthday month went well. Annie and her brothers continue to grow. We had the trees trimmed and it made a world of difference around the house. One of Mary Ann's friends opened a restaurant nearby and it seems to be doing well.

Now the equinox is passing and we are headed into Autumn, a little reflective on the greatness of what has been. But let's anticipate the promise of fall weather, always the gem of the midwest seasons. And football! If only the Chiefs would cooperate. But at least the Jayhawks seem to be headed for good things this fall. Rock Chalk!