Be patient, my friends. I shall return.

.....I wonder why people can't be more civil when they disagree on something. An "argument" begins innocently enough, but then the two contestants begin to rant and rave, and both chatter at the same time, and pretty soon the battle is out of hand and neither one has made a dent in the mind of the other.  Tomorrow we are going to Tallahassee to visit my daughter, Robin, with whom I rarely have a disagreement, except perhaps, politically. But that is understandable; both she and her deceased husband Richard both worked diligently in Republican administrations. Robin had posts with three Republican VIPs--President Bush, the father, George W., and then Jeb in Florida.  I never worked for any politician that I can recall.  And I never got into any dispute with someone whose political views clashed with mine.  I make no secret that I am a Liberal Democrat, indebted to FDR for the GI Bill which got me through college. I never could have gone to college without that law.  And because of it, I had a decent career as a teacher, and I learned that integrity is the essence of everything successful.  So, remember that next time you have a dispute with a friend. 


It's five minutes to nine right now, and I have to leave to pack and to watch "Person of Interest"  I will not be able to write a blog for about a week, so check back here at that time.  I'll be in Tallahassee.

"What wound did ever heal, but by degrees." (Othello)

.....I am trying a new font for this posting and it's called "Helvitica" which I never heard of, but it looks O.K.  I like Ariel best, but I get tired of the same old thing all the time. By the "same old thing" I refer to fonts, not to people.  For people, I have different names.  Today began with an early morning phone call from Maroone Chevrolet where we brought Rhoda's 2008 Malibu for repairs.  She was unable to lock or unlock her doors with either of the "remotes" she got with the car when she bought it.  So, she had to use her key on all of them.  Steve, the mechanic we brought it to on Friday said that the cost to repair it with parts and labor would be $1094!  We told him the car was only four years old and had only 20,000+ miles on it, and that this kind of thing ought not to be happening to such a new car, and he said that he would talk to his manager to see what he can do for us.  An hour later, we  got a call from Steve, and he said that the job would be done for no charge!  Can you all believe that?  Now we don't know what to do with the thousand dollars we saved.  Maybe some scratchoff tickets.

.....I have been working on the Great American Unkown Novel (by the Famous Unknown Author) and it's damn difficult to write one when you haven't a clue as where to take it.  I just start writing down anything that comes from my brain, and then I send it to JR for editing.  I am dedicating this book to my future Great Grandson, Houston, son of Katrina and Bobby's first  grandson.  Bobby a grandfather?  That's pretty hard to take at this stage in my life.  I still want to think of him as a biker, a beer drinker, a soccer player, and a pool hustler...but a grandfather?  Oy vey! (as they say in Hebronics).  I will be taking a hiatus from blogging and novel writing this next weekend as we are going to visit Robin in Tallahassee.  We'll be there Saturday through Monday and then we' ll decide whether or not to come home or continue on to Biloxi to cavort and gamble at the Beau Rivage.

.....I am now happy to report that I am using only a cane to help me walk.  So, it's taken me over a year to get from the scooter to the push walker to the three wheeler to the cane.  I am finally pain free.  My left hip is healed and my right hip was healed long ago.  I can also ditch the cane in the house and walk around wobbly without it.  We will, nevertheless bring the cane and the three wheeler to Robin, and ditch the scooter.  I haven't felt so well in a long, long time.  It's been a long, long, winding road through windstorm and cactus.  

"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." (Lincoln)

.....The other day on my Facebook page, there was a message from my nephew, Mark Triton--my sister's son, who proudly gave the news, that his daughter--therefore my grand niece, (I believe) had joined the US Marine Corps. Meghan is a very bright and beautiful girl whom I believe just turned 22.  Now, along with my granddaughter, Katrina, my son Bobby's daughter, who is an Ensign in the US Navy, the family's military tradition is still existent and very much alive.  My father fought in Aero Squadron 27 in WWI, I served in the Naval Air Corps in WWII, my daughter, Robin, retired from the USMC as a Lt. Colonel & my son-in-law, Rich Higgins was a full Colonel in the Marine Corps who died a tragic death and for whom a guided missile destroyer, the USS Higgins, carries his name and has been adopted as a member of our family, if you will. My son, Joel, also served our country and  though not military, nevertheless  has retired from the CIA after 20 years, and who is now employed in private business.

.....Yesterday, I received a comment on the April 18th blog from a surprised but very welcomed though rare source--Peter Kehrig, a student of mine way back when, and since I don't want anyone to miss it, I decided to reprint parts of it here:

Doc, congratulations to the Ross clan for continuing the proud lineage of military service. There is also the possibilty or probability of overlap between the military and the creative arts. Our son in law served and our son continues to serve in the USMC. Although I work for the Air Force at Quantico, I'm happy to be surrounded by the Corps. Except at the gymnasium...I'm confident that you'll help bring out the best in each of the thespians in the ensemble, even though they may fall short of the high (and alas the low) standards you may expect. 
Peace and best of health to you and RH+ Pete Kehrig 

.....In Peter's last sentence he is referring to the Theatre Arts class whose wannabe thespian readings and performances left something to be desired, so I took a few weeks off in order to gather myself together from the ordeal.  Yesterday, I returned because a couple of the people asked that I come back and help them with their work.  Stan Amster who is running the class asked if I would come and help him with directing the skits that are being rehearsed for next fall's "Showtime".  We'll help the people to do the best that they can.  I realize that they are not professionals, but that should not stop them from doing the best that they are capable of doing.