I Approve This Message

Is anyone else tired of this phrase? Did they pass a law about requiring this statement that I am unaware of? Is the voting public considered so idiotic that they could not/would not distinguish between a candidate's ad or a smear campaign from the competitor?

Last year, the Belle and I had a conversation about the 2008 presidential election. She told me who she planned to vote for and when questioned further, she said, "He will take the best care of the veterans." I confess, I had this thought:

Oh my Gosh, will you still be living here in November? (I was thinking moving, not death.)

Every vote comes down to personal circumstances and priorities. Mine might be property taxes. Yours might be the school system or gambling in your community. I don't think we choose by age, sex, race or religion, but I know some people who will rule a candidate out based on these factors. I guess you have to weigh it out, based on your own value system and your own priorities. Frankly, I don't care if a candidate smoked a joint in college. (Although we all know Bill Clinton didn't inhale.) I respect the freedom of religion but I admit to a little wariness with some of them.

The oldies don't get to vote this time. That makes me sad. This is the first year the baby gets to vote in a presidential election. That makes me giddy. I know he will vote because if I've done my job well, he is afraid of me. I have drilled it into him. This is the poor child that I have (more than once) dragged out of bed to watch some historic event. During Reagan's funeral, the cameras panned the crowds. I asked, "Who is that?" It might have been world leaders or important people in our government. Yes, his eyes glazed over but I choose to believe some of it was absorbed through osmosis.

I'm Sheri Riley Roman and I approve this message.

It's Not Just Tax Day

You know many things send icy shivers up my spine. Just a couple examples would be birds and any time the husband says (with a serious face,) "we need to talk." In both of these scenarios, I want to run like the wind.

Another one that makes the list is tax time. The husband is stable. As a writer, my income fluctuates wildly from year to year. Plus, I'm not the world's greatest keeper of records so it becomes a game show -- did we win, lose or draw? I have no idea why our accountant keeps us on as clients. I know I frustrate him to no end. I would've fired us years ago.

I'm unpacking and prioritizing my week. I flipped open my calendar and remembered: Today would have been the oldies 62nd wedding anniversary. They almost made it.

Last Rites

The husband authorized the hospice chaplain/priest to give the mother-in-law last rites. This was done a few hours before she died.

She and Hangdog raised their four boys as Catholic. They attended parochial schools. Then, after they were grown, she got a little irritated with the Catholic church and they joined the Presbyterian church. (Not a big stretch.)

I am a Methodist. I have been baptized and confirmed in the Methodist church but I am not quite the member I should be. I'm working on it.

We can debate forever ... should churches pay taxes? Do they provide solace or hope or both? Does the fellowship outweigh the constant issues?

Here's what I know. I lost my mother-in-law yesterday. I do not know our minister well because I have been default in making that a priority. But I know him well enough that he was one of the first calls I made. I don't need him to preside over a service. I don't need him to visit an oldie. I wanted to hear his voice and connect with my church. I wanted to say a prayer and have someone on the phone who could guide me through it.