Up, Down and Around Our Town

Labor Day 2008 - a most significant day for many to ponder. Let's take a look at the possibilities and the realities.

On a day when I showed a video recap of Hurricane Katrina to a group of students (the topic was economic impact), none other than Hurricane Gustav was bearing down on the Crescent City. As we write, we hope that the total outcome is far from the 2005 storm and it is appears that much preparation was in effect, but nevertheless, the preponderance of things like hurricanes (and floods) are starting to become hardly a rare event. How we prepare is different and if the lessons of the big floods in the midwest are any template, here's hoping that the outcome down south will be positive. We'll pray and see.

Speaking of praying and seeing, one of our closest friends got the diagnosis that no one wants. While there are lots of bullets in her medical belt, the shock never wears off. Our thoughts and particularly our prayers are everywhere. And the power of prayer is amazing.

Politics. What an overload we have had in the past week. The Denver event, no matter what party you may call your own, was spectacular. Not since Ronald Reagan has a speaker so well illustrated the plight of both the nation and his party. What translates over the next 60 days or so will be historic. In many ways, we can't wait for some of the meaningful dialog between Barack Obama and John McCain to commence. Perhaps there will arrive a true statesman and diplomat for a change.

John McCain. Talk about pulling one from the back row. Sarah Palin, the Alaskan Hockey Mom Governor is the real deal. She balances his age, his religious need, his youth and most of all, his gender. This is a lady that is worth having on a ticket and in many ways makes this election even more interesting than before. He may have wanted his friend Joe Lieberman as his running mate, but that left the Religious Right with no one to support. Such a compromise is key.

For the rednecks and the small minded, here is the one unmistakeable fact. We will either have a minority or a female in one of the two offices that have been hands off for about 235 years. If this doesn't illustrate the power of the globalization not only of commerce, but politics, I don't know what will. What we do know is that the big hope (for those who actually think) is to recognize that the talent of the politician has nothing to do with his/her background or leanings. It is my hope that such a ticket on both parties will energize the one segment of the country that historically hasn't voted - the under 30 crowd. Take a look at the menu - there is truly something for everyone.

More to the point is the turning of the calendar to September. Normally we look to the atmosphere cooling down a little, but that weather arrived in August. So, now it will get a little better as we enjoy the harvest of the summer, get used to things like football and shorter days and start the clock to the holiday season. Yes, I said it first for the simple reason being that within a week, we will see the first "sale" of the season. The next four months always go so quickly. As they should. We tend to pack more into September, October and November than sometimes is humanly possible. Enjoy it all.

We have been sampling and enjoying the Calhoun County peaches, the last of the local sweet corn, those delicious Tittsworth melons and even more. Plus, the tomatoes are plentiful and reminds me of a question that was posed to a friend of mine from a small town. When asked if people in his town lock their cars, his answer was "only if they don't want any more produce." Case closed.

Most of all, the school calendars are back in motion, the excitement of the beginning of a school year knows no limits and being able to enjoy that feeling up close and personal is a real treat. Our little hero smiled her way through the weekend at our last visit to the beach, big brother rode the waves as only he could and the sense of family being close was one of those gifts that we can never take for granted.

Pack up your prayers, enjoy your colleagues, family and friends and share the coming weeks and months to their limit. We'll do the same. And, speaking of a guy who had a hell of a week, chat with my broadcasting friend Jeff Dorsey, who spent one evening in the KTRS broadcasting booth and the rest helping Mike Shannon host the post-game show at Moon Man's restaurant. Now that's a good week.

Till then, and till next week, as always, I remain.....