Previous related post, Yesterday, Feb. 5.  additional Post re Ukraine et al Feb. 16, here.

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Happy Valentine’s Day, Monday.  Six days to surgery.

One additional post earlier this week, Welcoming Afghans Feb 11.

We attended Friday’s Minnesota Orchestra program, and it was phenomenal, especially  the final piece, the original 44 minute reading of Stravinsky’s “The Firebird”.  Orchestra and conductor earned the ovation they received.  (The You Tube rendition from 2011 by the Vienna Symphony can be watched here.  The Minnesota Orchestra program about Composer Igor Stravinsky is here: Stravinsky.)  (See Postnote below as well.)

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Valentine’s Day is tomorrow.

As I was listening to the orchestra Friday night, I looked through the program booklet for February, to see if there was anything with a Valentine’s Day theme.  The closest I came was a marvelous Essay “Washing for the New Year,” by Mao Kalia Yang, a tribute to the Chinese New Year, which began Feb. 1.  The Essay is here: Washing for the New Year.  It is a single page, concluding with this: “That in all the bitterness of the world there remains: a source of sweetness in our lives, love.  Always the love, first and last, a love that lasts”.

That’s a powerful Valentine wish for all of us.

Personally, acknowledging the deep dysfunction in which we live these days, what this boils down to for me is that all of us, wherever we live on this planet, are part of a single community which is ours, not mine, not them (whoever that is), or any artificial divisions.  Our contemporary society, seems easily led to revere competition over cooperation, to the detriment of us all.

Today is the ultimate and annual example of our national top priority: the Super Bowl, this year, LVI.  Tomorrow, someone will have won…but what?  And for how long will it endure?

LVI?  That’s 56 in English.  Even the vocabulary reminds us of the late, great Roman Empire, which didn’t last.

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Do have a great Valentine’s Day, and make it a beginning of a really good year for everyone.

Handmade card from young friend to young friend, about 1912, with help of Mom.  Both were girls, neither yet in country school.  (This was written by a farm Mom for her daughter to the daughter of another farm Mom nearby.  It would be interesting to know if the writing is original or from a poem seen in the time around 1900-1912 or so.)

The youngsters lived about two miles apart.  The handwriting: “Because I love you, if there were paths to Fairyland or to the brightest star, I would turn from them all and go the road to where you are.”

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My date with surgery seems set for Feb 18.  The week to come will be busy.  A Caring Bridge site has been established for updates.  Don’t expect anything until Feb 18.  I guess I’m Dick Bernard-Mn at Caring Bridge.

POSTNOTE: The officious review of Stravinsky in today’s Minneapolis StarTribune doesn’t agree with me, but, so, what else is new?  I was in the same hall, heard the same performances, and saw and felt the reaction of everybody else.  Reviews are always personal opinions!

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from SAK:  Many thanks for the uplifting post for Valentine’s – lovely card by the little girl (with help from mum).

Stravinsky is one of my favourite composers. He is music’s Picasso: different styles but hugely successful in all.

Picasso when asked about style said: “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on trying other things.” May God carry you safely through the week ahead.

& like you I wouldn’t worry about the review of the Stravinsky concert – has any statue been put up for a critic!?

All the best.

from JSD: Best of luck with your surgery. I pray that you will do well like I did. I have been 14 years cancer free of colon cancer.

from Judy: such lovely thoughts.  My prayers are with you as surgery approaches.  God’s blessings to you.

from Lee: Good luck with your surgery Dick. I will be keeping you in my thoughts.

from John: Sending love and healing thoughts. There are many of us who will be thinking of you this week and always.

from Jeff: Good luck Mr B….i have no doubt a stout German Frenchie like you will come thru just fine….blogging from your recovery bed…thinking of you….

from Larry: Dick, back when I was teaching storytelling and video, I would tape the Superbowl, then isolate some of the most fun ads that were appropriate for kids to watch (obviously in my opinion, because many of them would have already seen all of them).  Then I’d show some of them and talk about how much companies paid for a minute of advertising time (back then it was “only” a million dollars a minute.  Then talk about a few things, like people being homeless, and a decent house, nothing fancy, was then about $100,000.  Then ask them to think, IF YOU HAD A MILLION DOLLARS TO SPEND, WHAT WOULD YOU DO, IF YOU WEREN’T TELLING EVERYONE TO BUY FRITOS?   Some papers were pretty self indulgent, but a fair number would also be quite socially conscious, etc.

from Jerry:  Dick, thanks for reminding us of your surgery date.  You know I will be praying for you and checking on Caring Bridge.  Get well quickly as we value your input with FAHF as well as your blogs,

from Beth:  Star Gazer will be looking after both of you this week.

Star Gazer resides on my kitchen table and  “Looks Out” and “Looks After” me, and people I care for.  “All will be well”

Star Gazer from Beth 2/13/22

from Kristi: Wishing you all the best for a smooth surgery and a fast recovery. Please let me know if I can do anything to help you.

to Kristi from Dick: Many thanks.  It’s Monday, and absent changes, the surgery is Friday.  No one knows for sure what the future holds, for myself, themselves, or anyone else, or for our nation and world – this is a very troubled time.  You and I and many others shared a lot of time over the past 20+ years since 9-11-01 in the Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers and then Citizens for Global Solutions, and other related common ground, and regardless of what my personal future holds, let’s keep working for a better and more workable world.  It is possible, but it will continue to take effort, lots of it.   I’m an optimist, but my optimism is tested these days, not for myself, but for all of us, everywhere.  Keep on, keeping on!

from Jermitt: I appreciate your comments on what we value in life.  Each of us are different, but our basic interests are the same or at least similar.

I wish you only the best in your upcoming surgery.  In many ways, you are my valentine.

Portion of letter from the Minnesota Orchestra to subscribers Feb. 14:  “Happy Valentine’s Day!  I’d like you to have Besame Mucho from the Minnesota Orchestra. It’s the classic love song “Besame Mucho.” Written in 1941 by Consuelo Velazquez, this achingly romantic tune became a global phenomenon performed by The Beatles, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and dozens of other artists. Trumpeter Charles Lazarus and the Minnesota Orchestra teamed up to make this rendition part of the 2021 Symphony Ball, with Tommy Barbarella on piano and Music Director Osmo Vänskä on the podium.With gratitude for your generosity and all you do to sustain the Minnesota Orchestra, I hope this adds to the sweetness of your day.”

from our next door neighbor, a photo of a rainbow, with best wishes.

Rainbow on Romeo Road

from Kathya:  I know your surgery is on Friday, so I wanted to say that I have been praying for you, for the doctors to do a perfect job and for you to be promptly recovered.

My husband Fred and I are sending you good thoughts and prayers and wishing you to be healed with this medical intervention.

Yesterday, literally, I was at the University of Minnesota for some more medical preliminary before surgery now set for February 17.  I went down a little early so I could take a photo of the old University Hospital as it appears today:

Feb. 4, 2022, old University of Minnesota Hospital

My date with the surgeon is at the old hospital.  I first saw U Hospital in late May, 1965.  The exterior remains the same.  The inside and surrounding area has changed a great deal over the years.

57 years ago I brought my then-wife to University Hospital for a hoped for kidney transplant.  She spent most of that time on the first floor of the wing to the left in the picture, and my recollection is that she died on the 8th floor of the hospital on July 24, 1965.  It was a very long two months for two young people from North Dakota, who’d never been to Minneapolis before.  Our son, then a year old, turns 58 this month.

I think my surgery is on the third floor of the wing where Barbara was hospitalized.

Time flies.

Memories come back from that very difficult summer.

I recall that the summer of 1965 was when a strip of homes, a couple of blocks wide and several miles long, between downtown Minneapolis and Hwy 62 to the south, were razed for the pending construction of the southbound and now old I-35W.  My minds-eye has a photo of the clear-cutting of neighborhoods to build that freeway.  The first place we visited on arrival in Minneapolis was an apartment on Clinton Ave S near Honeywell, which was one of the first to be demolished that summer.

The Foshay Tower was still the skyscraper of Minneapolis, its 28 or so floors now dwarfed by surrounding buildings.  Somewhere is a photo I have from back in that day, taken by brother John in 1968, but it’s not nearby.  Below is a family picture I took at Christmas 1969.

About Christmas 1970 suburban Minneapolis.  My parents, Maria, Joni, Diane and Tom. Maria Eichperger was later Joni and Lauri’s Montessori teacher.  Also at the dinner were my siblings.

Dick, Florence, John, Henry, Frank, Esther Bernard

John, Mary Ann, Frank, Tom, Florence Bernard 1970 Ramsey MN

University Hospital stood out in 1965.  The surrounding area is still recognizable but barely.  Back then, it was possible to park near the hospital entrance – no more.

Back in 2015, I went back to this hospital just to look around inside the building I’d first seen in 1965.  It had changed a great deal of course, though the exterior remained the same.  There has been much more change in the last 7 years. The surrounding area I saw in 1965 is still recognizable but barely.

In the entrance area to today’s facility, which used to be the lounge area for hospital visitors, I saw a couple of signs about the history of U Hospital, now part of the large M-Health complex in Minnesota.  Here are the pictures, which speak for themselves.

2015. Plaques at University Hospital entrance

Now it’s my turn.  There’ll be a Caring Bridge portal for me which will initiate after February 17, or whenever the surgery is actually done.

An early Happy Valentine’s Day wherever you are.

Early 1900s Valentine Card at the Busch farm LaMoure Co ND.

And as a gift: “Yesterday” as performed by the Beatle’s in 1965.    A couple of months ago we watched the three-part “Get Back” film about the last Beatle’s concert in 1969.  I blogged about it then.  If you have even the slightest interest in the Beatles the film is very much worth your time.  Disney Channel.  As it happens, the Beatle’s performed in Bloomington MN August 21, 1965.  At the time I was back in the Cities after my wife had died, and was working at the old Lincoln Del in St. Louis Park.  Survival was the main theme of my life at that time, so I have no recollection of the Beatle’s being almost in the neighborhood that night at the old Met Stadium in Bloomington.

PS: If you’re interested, my Caring Bridge page will be Dick Bernard-mn.  I don’t expect any content to be placed there until Feb. 17.  Many thanks to daughter, Joni, for setting it up.

Bernard family Nov. 7 2015. from left Lauri, Tom, Heather, Dick, Cathy, Joni.

POSTNOTE: To my friend Norm, who sent “Best wishes, Dick, during your undercover review of the health care system“:  Norm,  I’m very impressed with the system I’m experiencing.

Nothing is ever perfect, of course, since there are very many moving parts when a major surgery is undertaken, and of course, nothing can be guaranteed.  There is meaning to the phrase “the practice of medicine” or practice of anything else, for that matter….

The upcoming procedure is the second major one I have personally encountered.  I think I’ve been very fortunate.  The first was Dec. 4, 2018: aortic valve replacement.  During the time period between then and now have been two major events.  The first is the Covid-19 Pandemic which began in early 2020, and has no predictable end date at this writing.  It has been a major disruption in ordinary medical practice.

The second is the continuing consolidation of medical facilities and medicine, generally, which is good and essential in many ways, but a problem in others.  Integrating systems is a long-term process; integrating large systems is not for the impatient or faint of heart.  M-Health, which I knew as Fairview has been my medical provider system for over 30 years.  When I first was a patient, it was primarily a couple of hospitals and a few more clinics.  Today it is a consolidation of hospitals systems and a large number of clinics in a metro area of nearly 3.5 million people.  What used to be a paper based record keeping system is now 100% technology driven, which presents its own set of problems.

So, is it perfect?  Absolutely not.  Is it better than it was when my 22-year old wife waited near two months for a never-to-be-realized kidney transplant at U Hospital in 1965?  Quantum leaps better.  My prospects for success are far, far greater than they were for Barbara in 1965….  And her prospects were quantum leaps better for a patient similarly situated 50 years before 1965 – ironically about the time U Hospital began in 1916.

COMMENTS (more at end of post):

from Vinnie: My prayers and very best wishes for a successful surgery on the 17th. Thinking of you.

from Maria: Thank you for signaling the ‘Bending the Arc’ documentary. I watched it with great interest and emotion, remembering our 2006 visit to Cange with Fondoze’. I have the Feb. 17 marked on my calendar and will be thinking of you sending waves of good wishes.

from Mary: You will do well-and of course be even more imminently able to write the next chapter of “life from the other side of the hospital bed rails”.

from Laura: You know I will have many prayers for you and of course I will check the CaringBridge.  And thank you for the Valentine. Happy Valentine’s Day to you, my friend!

from Harry: Many thanks for this email, Dick. It reminds me of the saying: “The perfect is the enemy of the good.”

from Beth: Dick, I’ll light a candle for you on the 17th.  Peace be with you, all will be well.

from Gail: Thanks for the info, Dick.  You’re much loved!  Everyone hopes things will go smoothly and you’ll be able to join us again post haste!

from Annelee: You’re much in my thoughts and prayers. I am so happy to hear that you are feeling well. Like you say, life is a journey filled with hills and valleys that we have to endure and master. With Cathy and your family beside you, and your friends being as near as we can be, with our best wishes and prayers, we  also be therein thoughts and prayers for guidance for your surgeon on the 17th, love Annelee,

from Catherine: My thoughts are with you, old friend

from Rebecca: By “big event” I guess you mean colon surgery to remove the cancer. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers (even secular humanists pray–or at least I do). I will be looking forward to hearing from you whenever you are ready to get back to your blog. Best to you and your family.

from Virgil: I wish you the best. I will keep up with whatever information there is. See you on the other side of recuperation.

TIP: Sunday, we watched a preview of  a very powerful film which is opening today on Netflix.  The title is “My Best Friend, Anne Frank”.  Running time: one hour 43 minutes.  Do take the time.  You won’t regret it.

I’m planning at least two more commentaries in next two weeks: on Black History Month; the other on Pubic Education.  Check back.

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Today is my Precinct Caucus day.  This will be most unusual – no in-person meeting, with a convening time nonetheless.  Submission of candidate statements, resolutions, etc.   Pre-registration on-line.  It will be interesting.  Covid/Omicron of course is involved; but more importantly redistricting maps aren’t yet available so nobody is sure what the district will actually look like, and on and on.  Every setting is different, of course.  Here’s how my Senate District is doing everything it can to make the precinct accessible to everyone.

I appreciate the folks who organize this and subsequent events leading to election 2022 in November.

Thank you.

SD53 DFL Precinct Caucus Feb 1, 8:30 p.m. Woodbury High School.  There were a total of nine persons there when I arrived. I expected two. Given the circumstances this year, I thought everything for this years caucus was very well planned and executed. The preparation is for the next level, after redistricting decisions have been made. THANKS to everyone involved.

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We are at an exceedingly dangerous time in the history of our democracy.

We are besieged by “communication” and can pick and choose what to believe, whether it is true or not.  Far too often the information is deliberately false….

Someone wrote a few days ago: “There is documentation of President T_____’s request to Nancy P and Chuck S for National Guard troops (Jan 6) – There is also documentation of their refusal.  It is possible that the copies they have were destroyed.”

I asked for documentation.  Of course, I’ve seen none…and I almost certainly won’t.  There is none.  The charge is all that matters.

Neither Pelosi or Schumer control such things as the National Guard.  In the case of Washington D.C. Jan. 6, best I understand control of the NG was Department of Defense, per then President the United States, commander in chief.  But who cares?  Building on a lie is important.

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It used to be that communication was more or less universally understood.  No more.

Years ago – long before new innovations like Facebook – I described it as “more ways to communicate less”.  And that was light years ago.

People isolate themselves.  Last week I met in person with a candidate, and before the meeting just wrote down means of information I’d used/heard about in the day or so before: “Handwritten letter, Facebook message, Apple Message, Text  message, Phone call, e-mail, U.S. mail, Website”.  Yesterday a friend talked about how her group now communicates: basically text only.  You can extend this list on and on and on.  Something like this blog is far too long for a devotee of text or twitter….

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Back in the old days – 1991 – I was at a communications meeting where a presenter shared a “Hierarchy of Effective Communications”  from Ragan.com in a then-publication of theirs called pr reporter.  I asked for and received permission to reprint

Here was their list, in order of effectiveness, now over 30 years old:

1.  One-to-one, face-to-face
2. Small group discussion/meeting
3. Speaking before a large group
4. Phone conversation
5. Hand-written personal note
6. Typewritten, personal letter not generated by computer
7. Computer generated or word-processing-grenerated “personal” letter
8. Mass-produced, non-personal letter
9. Brochure or pamphlet sent out as a “direct mail” piece
10. Article in organizational newsletter, magazine, tabloid
11. News carried in popular press
12. Advertising in newspapers, radio, tv, mags, posters, etc.
13. Other less effective forms of communications (billboards, skywriters, etc.)

I venture that the list would be very different today.

I commented on this hierarchy in a earlier blog I wrote in February 2004, which you can read in the archives section here.

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No question: if you follow the news at all these days, it is obvious that there will be major efforts to suppress and discourage the vote of certain people in November, 2022, and future elections.

This may be true.

They have not yet been successful in eliminating the right to vote, only to make it more difficult.

Accept the reality for now.  Register.  Help others register.  However awful the rules.  Then, VOTE.  That’s what democracy is all about.

I particularly call your attention to yesterdays post, Precinct Caucuses (as they are referred to in Minnesota, but exist everywhere, this time of year).  It is easy to kick “politicians” around.  Just remember, we, the people, are solely responsible for who represents us in what so far has been a democracy.

(Precinct Caucus in Minnesota is February 1.)

I’d also recommend a quick look at the agenda for an on-line international conference on education on Monday Jan 24 here.  “The power of international exchange.”  At least take a look.  Open to anyone, anywhere.

There have been numerous comments to the Jan. 18 post: “C-word”

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Gratitude.  This week came a gift from the folks who produce Wikipedia.  It is very simple: wonderful photographs submitted by readers from around the world.  It is fabulous.  Take a look, here.

Wikipedia has been around the internet for many years now.  It is useful and ever-more credible source of information.  The last few years I’ve contributed to it, and this gallery is its thank you.

Yesterday came a guest essay in the New York Times from Amanda Gorman, the young poet who spoke at the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris a year ago.  Her Essay, “Why I Almost Didn’t Read My Poem At The Inauguration”, can be read here, (at least I hope it can – as a subscriber to NYT, I understand that this is one item I can forward as an open source.)  The column is very powerful.

Personally, I subscribe to NYT and WaPo and the local Minneapolis Star Tribune, mostly to support credible journalism.

Monday was Martin Luther King Day.  Jeff sent a comment from MLK: “Whites, it must frankly be said, are not putting in a similar mass effort to reeducate themselves out of their racial ignorance,” King wrote in his 1967 book, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?” “It is an aspect of their sense of superiority that the white people of America believe they have so little to learn.”

I am among millions of “whites” who do our best, imperfectly, to get it.  Our very substantial voice tends to be subordinated to other other members of the white persuasion less understanding than we.  Don’t forget or dismiss us.

Finally, Do attend your local Precinct Caucus, whatever it is called, wherever you live.  It is part of the dues all of us should pay for the privilege of living in our democracy.  Once again, here’s the link.   Be more than a passive voice in the conversation about our future as a nation and world.

COMMENTS:

from Peter: (suggestion in below has been incorporated above) [Your] paragraph [quoted below]seems ambiguous, if a reader didn’t know you:

“I am among millions of “whites” who do our best, imperfectly, to get it.  Our very substantial voice tends to be subordinated to other types less understanding than we.  Don’t forget or dismiss us.”

I suggest making it clear that by “other types less understanding than we” you mean other members of the white persuasion.

Unconscious bias is a thing, and a challenge for everyone, though some more than others. Only recently the former Senate Majority Leader was quoted saying something comparing Black people to Americans…

We still hear things like: “People are afraid of Blacks.”

Amy Goodman had a guest last week who did an amazing documentary on race.

Reporter: “What’s your message for voters of color who are concerned that without the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, they’re not going to be able to vote in the midterm?”

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: “Well, the concern is misplaced, because if you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans.”

Dick: This seems to be credible actual data.

Please note: Thursday, 1/20, Zoom conversation about the film “Until We Find Them”  with the filmmaker, Hunter Johnson.  Watch 31 minute film on-line beforehand.  These discussions are always very interesting.

Monday, 1/24 international talks on Education, details here.  “The power of international exchange.”  At least take a look.

My 1/17 post covered two topics: Supreme Court and Covid-19; and Voting Rights.

“My Angel Tree up 36 years now!”

My Christmas present delivered on December 27 after a colonoscopy was to the point: “Adenocarcinoma” in the sigmoid colon.  “Moderate in size”, the report said.  Endoscopy found no problems in esophagus, stomach, and Duodenum.  Remote film capsule was swallowed (went down easy!), went through, and apparently found nothing in small intestine.

Dec. 26 I spent preparing for the colonoscopy, Dec. 25 was Christmas….

Since Christmas, the train has been on the track.  Surgery is scheduled for Feb. 17 – there is a process [1/21, date changed to Feb 18]  This is serious business.  My doctor asked me Jan. 18: “are you anxious?”  I answered, honestly, “no”.

CT and MRI scans appear to show that the cancer has not spread, which is very good news.  Nobody guarantees anything – prudent.  But cancers warning shot for me, (in mid-October, 2021), was very helpful, and it was up to me to listen, and I did.

Enroute home from the Tuesday appointment, I met friend Kathy for breakfast and she showed me the above photograph she’d gotten from her friend, Ron, who was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1985.  The picture and the caption are his, from Christmas 2021.  This was his tree at the time of diagnosis in 1985, and its never come down.  His “Angel Tree”.

Life goes on.  I feel good.  I’ll keep you posted.

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I come from a family where one branch has a rather high incidence of colon cancer, so it’s a known.  Mom died of it at 72, and it afflicted a couple of brothers of hers.  A niece died at 35 of it.  Doubtless there are others in the family…

So, I’ve been doing the colonoscopies since my 40s, usually every five years.  There was seldom anything of interest; the last one was clear.  That was six years ago and I was 75 – the point where such procedures usually end.  Why bother getting another one of those disagreeable procedures? Another lesson learned, at 81.  Sometime after the last one, the cancer began. It didn’t follow the calendar…or maybe it did?

Lesson: Genetics does matter, likely a lot.  Somebody recommended genetic counseling, which seems to make lots of sense.  Just knowing your own family history is helpful.  Three years ago I had my first major operation, aortic valve replacement.  I first saw that with my Uncle Vince, who had the same procedure at age 81…and died 7 years ago at 90.  In 2006, I had no idea that the same malady was brewing in me.

Not everybody will get a predicted disease.  Disease isn’t a death sentence, either, though the fact of the matter is that every one of us will die of something…it’s inevitable.

Lesson 2: We live in an extraordinarily advanced society when it comes to medical care.  I am amazed at the kind of service that is available to me, as a long-term Medicare recipient who can afford the needed supplemental coverage.  There is no reasonable excuse for not having ‘national health’ for everyone.  We owe it to each other.

A few days ago I was privileged to learn of a new film, Bending the Arc (Netflix) which tells the story of Dr. Paul Farmer and Partners in Health, a health initiative which began in impoverished Haiti about 1983, and expanded to Peru and Rwanda.  We watched the film, which is very interesting (near two hours).  We’ve been to Farmer’s facility in Cange, Haiti.  For the ordinary Haitian, I suppose it might be said that if you get sick, you either get well, or not. We generally don’t experience this harsh either/or fact in our society. Health care is a luxury few can access.   Bending the Arc, will bend your arc.  Take the time to watch it.

COMMENTS (More at end of post)

from Carol:

from Dan: Sending best wishes as you head toward surgery.

Your post was timely: I had my first general checkup in seven years yesterday, together with husband John (who’s not nearly so blasé). The doc suggested we consider DNA mapping, for its predictive value among other things.

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from Larry: Thank you for sending BENDING THE ARC

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from Gail: Thanks for the update, Dick.  Have a quick recovery!

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from Lydia: I was sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. Your post was very indepth so, no need to ask questions about it.

My best friend of 30 years got a diagnosis 7 years ago , it keeps coming back but, he’s still here.

I hope your surgery goes VERY well. Early indicators (no spread) looks good.

You remain in my thoughts & (what passes for) prayers–asking the Creator to keep dear people in my life safe & asking to be a better person myself.

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from Paul and Barb: We are sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis but encouraged by your description of the extent of it and good feeling going into surgery.  We wish you all the best possible outcome.  Please know that we will be thinking of you over the coming weeks.

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from Joyce: I will hold you in my thoughts, and in my heart; your friendship is very, very dear to me. The offer of assistance holds.

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from Christine in France:  Covid is a nightmare too here….

It is a disease but also a political issue and scientists are not always saying the same……how do you want people to feel secured between those three points of view fighting between themselves….????

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from John: Sending you love and good prayers for your health. I think you know that 6 or so years ago I was diagnosed with bladder cancer.  Caught it small
And early so it has been easy and things are clear now.  But it was a nudge.  A wake up call. A notice to use each day well.  I see that you already know that lesson.

Thanks, as always, for sharing your story and your wisdom.

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from Arthur: It sounds like you will beat this one Dick. so glad you caught it in time.  You will be healthy and well once they get it out!

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from Stephen: the best to you Dick

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from Laura: Many prayers, Dear friend Dick!… I am with you in spirit!

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from Judy: Thank you for the update.  I am sixteen years out from a double mastectomy and treatment for breast cancer. Modern medicine is wonderful.  I do hope you will do well and will stay in touch with your updates.

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from April: I will be sending positive thoughts your way!

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from Flo: Wishing you well and expecting to come down to visit while you’re in recovery from your colonoscopy. Yes, it’s a big deal.  Keep as active as you can, and find pleasure in each day. It’s the only one we can count on!

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from Dick:

Somebody(ies) surprised me with package delivered yesterday.  Thank you to whomever it was.

Jan. 19, 2022