Cards And Letters Are Pouring In

Based on the types of messages and the variety of ways I've received them today, I'm reminded I can't say that I write and read this blog by myself.

First of all, I thank all of you for your comments (also, a quick thanks to Joan and Reginald at the HH Main Cafe).

Little did I know how much people care about what I've written here.  Makes me wonder if I should be more aware of the potential effects of what I say.

Instead, I'm glad you're thinking about these words and letting me know facts, like your family history tied closely to this area for generations, your first new job in the city and the welcome you've received, your view of world history and your personal medical experiences.

I try to learn something new every day, whether it's something I like, something appealing, or not (for instance, a little information about diseases is interesting but not the gory details).

Many of you have enlightened me with new information.

What can I say?  As always, I'm humbled by your attention.

I'm a simple, plain guy with simple, plain needs.  My curiosity, driven by boredom, pushes me to explore new territory, usually known by others but unknown by me.

Curiosity has killed a lot of pages at the typewriter and occupied a lot of bytes on the computer.

This laptop computer has served as a diversion from boredom and recently a diversion from the feeling of helplessness during the period I've put my spouse's health in the hands of others (prayer, faith, belief and fate are wonderful but still leave plenty of time for the idle wheels of my thought process to imagine a mix of possible futures, appealing and unappealing).

The hospital staff and support teams have been great.  My wife and I have met people whose personalities shine under a lot of conditions.  We've come to appreciate the hard work and dedication under pressure, both time and paper/procedural, that a group of people focused on high quality face.

I have sat with my wife and seen/felt a bunch of emotions.  Calm under pressure is not me - the heavier the compression, the more my comedic side shows.

Time spent in the realm of modern healing methods winds down.

Soon, my wife and I will return to our daily routines, comfortably seated at home on the sofa while watching TV with the cats.

Not knowing the future is just about my worst nightmare.  I can have a set of predictive statistics in front of me and I'm still not safe from the quiet fear of experiencing the impossibly possible "what's the worst that can happen."

Today, I saw a commonly practiced, well-documented and success-rate-predicted medical procedure from the point of view of one data point, a pivot point that allows any number of trendlines.

I've watched an MD analyse an equation with multiple unknowns, some assumptions and a few variables.  Think being a mathematician or computer programmer is exciting?  Try building an empirical model with a set of living state machines.

The words you share with me make me a better observer and a better writer.  As many of you have said, we have to know the facts of history as seen from the perspective of the individual and not from the pen of propagandists or solely from the point of view of the "victors"/majority.

Freedom and responsibility rest on our shoulders today - let us bear them happily and willingly.  My seventh great-grandfather, from one side of my family, devoted his active years toward the formation and defense of the newly-formed nation called the United States of America.  For him and my family, I devote my active years toward the formation and defense of a world inspired in part by people who've well-represented concepts like political entities we think of as nations.

For those who have given me your addresses, I will gladly send you a greeting via the postal system.  Despite my frequent use of electronic typing, I still prefer sharing my personality with you through penmanship.  I may look for the latest technological advances but many parts of me are old-fashioned - there's little more thrilling than receiving a handwritten note or card in the mailbox - I hope you feel the same way.

Nine or ten days of seriousness and intensity have worn me down.  Time to return to satire and poke fun at us, never intending to meanly or viciously insult anyone, just continue to give us material to see every walk of life from a different perspective, sometimes you'll like and sometimes you may not.

Until next time!