The Dinner Roll

Here's a story someone sent me. It touched my heart. I dedicate to those of you who need a dedication.


Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President.

I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics.

There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room.

We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen..

"Sorry 'bout that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry."

"I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass.

Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. "And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty," said the President.

I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don't want to seem unkind..

My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.

"Eric's children are also quite hungry."

With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room.

And their grandmother can't stand for long."

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.

I turned back to the President.

"Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."

I wanted to shout, "that was my coat!" But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled.

Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.

Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

"Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do."

My hands were shaking. I felt faint I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor.

The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

"By the way," he added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories.

I'm firing you as head of your business. I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind.

There's a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars...we need to spread YOUR wealth around..."

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his Brule.

He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.

I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.

Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, President Obama suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands.

"You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

The Cooper Returns

Cooper, you know, my black dog-son....he's here this weekend. Banger LOVES LOVES LOVES him! and she got fixed this week so there is no worries of the impossible happening. wouldn't want that, ya know. anyways, they found a rope today. and play they did. watch!

is that not hilarious?!?!?!?!

Spring 1

first day of spring brings...The Spring Ring. check this article....it's what i have been doing all day. it was fun and this year..this year (1st in 5) was successful. that is not to say it was wi/ out error, but it was an opportunity to lift up our bells in praise and worship. from Martin Luther's "Sin boldly." to "Sing boldly." to "Ring boldly." we did.

http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/local/x1664565200/Ring-in-spring-at-bell-concert

maybe one of these days we'll get a recording.

happy spring!

oh, nursie!

give me a break. lol

the surgery went as expected. with a brace and rehab it is hoped (and prayed for) that w's leg will once again be able to extend to normal.

he's been fed, medicated, watered, and now is fast asleep. the absolute best way for any of my patients to be.

banger goes in at 530. check up on the reverse sneezin. and hopefully lined up for spaying.

beautiful springtime weather....i am going outside now.

Three Holes

There is no push this morning. A little different than the typical Wednesday because I don't have to go to work today! And W gets to go to the doctor with the knife! [snicker] that sounds sick doesn't it. well i believe in enjoying every minute away from the office....and if it is while mr wonderful goes under...well that is the way it is.

seems as if w tore his miniscus sometime ago. he has a little flap that has lodged itself somewhere it doesn't belong and he can't extend his leg. so with three holes, a scope, and soldering gun they are going to fix him. amazing miracles of medicine.

and i get to be nurse-for-a-day. oh yes, the day looks to be promising.

enjoy!

i love the sunshine

headed out to church this am around 6:30. had to buy some coffee for the bell choir and get started on warming up for services at 8 AND 9:30. double-duty today. it was nice until good ol pastor d came up with a funny,,,,and told both congregations that I (by name) would be performing the solo brought to us last week by the bell choir from Concordia~Irvine. of course it drew a large breathe from the crowd and i turned beet red. so guess what my next project will be. yep im gonna do it. why not.

and then on the way home i thought oh what a wonderfully nice day to spend in the yard with Banger, soaking up the rays. NOT to happen. we went visiting. Banger met her nephews, Cooper and Jackson, you know, "the boys". the BIG boys. she snarled and snapped at both of them and then the game was. then we all went to petsmart, the boys got new coats (how can you beat 75% off??? and banger got a sweater. not bad for running out to pick up dog food.

and the real treat of the day....DOG PARK!!!!!! banger was sooooo confused. she kept running and getting on people's laps cause the bigger dogs were after her. but her nephews are the stars of the park so she's in.....

yes, it was a good day. and banger is closing it off chewing on her first steak bone. ahhhhhhh she is sooo cute.

g'nite.

age forgotten

over at the thought doc the musings ensue the reality of growing up. kind of a sucky subject. one that is not fun from where it starts when your fantasy idols turn out not-so-real or you actually gain repsonsibility you are not so into welcoming.

but growing old,,,,for me has been brimming with freedom. i love it. even with the aches and pains of the body and the comical errors of the mind i love it.

its not so important any more to be on time everywhere i go. sometimes i don't even go let alone arrive on time. and how about competition that is really only an internal battle and otherwise meaningless. where can you enjoy that freedom if not in your fifties. and i like watching others grow; learn as they move through their own timelines. they stretch. they roll with the punches. they fight back. and far too many of them remain captive to the rules of this and that.

there is only one rule out there that really has to do with life more than any other and in that far surpasses any other man-made rule. that is to love God with all your heart and all your soul. in doing so you will be able to love others as you love your own self. act within those bounds, you will be free. it is the wisdom all humans seek to satisfy their own soul's needs. it lifts you up from where ever you are downed by others, it lifts you up where ever you are downed by your own doings. because, it is the only thing God asks of any of us. be His.

my hair is gray. my mind is bent. and sometimes, i'm just plain worn out. but life...every day is a new beginning. live it to the brim.

uh yeah

so now you are dealing with one-half of "the old couple". defined: two old married people that own a dog that can...and does....go every where with them. banger sits on W's lap while i drive. we have been to home depot and lowes with our "baby" in the seat of the shopping basket....lined of course, with at least at towel. i have considered purchasing one of those cartseat covers. i have purchased her a coat (yes it is still cold here) and i have even written in an email "she looks so cute!" and here i am blogging about her. YIKES. so my bro- and sis-in-law come for the night on their way to socal and guess who "has gone over to the other side". im tellin ya, i am feelin' pain here. banger is MY birthday dog! and it pains me when i see her lovin on someone else. even when she jumps off MY lap to go sit on W's...and now her auntie???? what is up with that???? and she is now "Auntie's Princess" hmmmph. she is my Banger! MINE.
my life truly has gone to the dog.
banger has had a cough since the day we brought her home. can not be spayed at this time because she might aspirate. back to the vet we went this week. have you ever heard of "reverse sneezing?" that is what the vet said. she is not coughing, she is reverse sneezing ~ sucking in through her nose and blowing out her mouth. little dogs do it when they get excited....big dogs do it but not nearly as much. can be caused by nasal passageway blockage. treat with steroids and for now, some anti biotics, just in case. may never go away. i call it horking...but technically it is reverse-sneezing. never heard of it.