SUNDAY FUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2023

OCTOBER 15, 2023

WARM-UP

No, don’t warm up - we’ve had enough of that hot weather!! Fall is one of our temperate seasons - warm but not hot; cool at night.  

We still could use rain. Lake Travis is about 35% full, and it will require a lot of rain to fill that up again before next summer.

There was a solar eclipse yesterday. Did you catch it? And another solar eclipse on April 8, 2024

Picture from a friend.

*****

A HEART-WARMING STORY: (not original)

“Calvin? Calvin, sweetheart?”

In the darkness, Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired, and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, “Did... did you.... find him?”

“Yes, dear,” Susie said, smiling sadly, “He was in the attic.”

Susie reached into her big purse and brought a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.

“I washed him for you,” Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger beside her husband.

“Thank you, Susie,” Calvin said.

A few moments passed as Calvin lay on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.

“Dear,” Calvin said finally. “Would you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him.”

“All right,” Susie said. “I’ll get something to eat in the cafeteria. I’ll be back soon.”

Susie kissed her husband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength, Calvin stopped her. Lovingly, he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. “I love you,” he said.

“And I love you,” said Susie.

Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.

Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. “Hello Hobbes. It’s been a long time, hasn’t it, old pal?”

Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll, but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. “It sure has, Calvin,” said Hobbes.

“You... haven’t changed a bit.” Calvin smiled.

“You’ve changed a lot,” Hobbes said sadly.

Calvin laughed, “Really? I haven’t noticed at all.”

There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.

“So... you married Susie Derkins,” Hobbes said, finally smiling. “I knew you always liked her.”

“Shut up!” Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.

“Tell me everything I missed. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!” Hobbes said, excited.

And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grandkids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this, there was another pregnant pause.

“You know... I visited you in the attic a bunch of times.” Calvin said.

“I know.”

“But I couldn’t see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal.” Calvin’s voice was breaking, and his tears of regret started welling in his eyes.

“You grew up old buddy,” said Hobbes.

Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend. “I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldn’t grow up and that we’d be together forever!!”

Hobbes stroked Calvin’s hair or what little was left of it. “But you didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were always together... in our dreams.”

“We were?”

“We were.”

“Hobbes?”

“Yeah, old buddy?”

“I’m so glad I got to see you like this... one last time...”

“Me too, Calvin. Me too.”

“Sweetheart?” Susie’s voice came from outside the door.

“Yes, dear?” Calvin replied.

“Can I come in?” Susie asked.

“Just a minute.”

Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time. “Goodbye Hobbes. Thanks... for everything...”

“No, thank you, Calvin,” Hobbes said.

Calvin returned to the door and said, “You can come in now.”

Susie came in and said, “Look who’s come to visit you.”

Calvin’s children and grandchildren followed Susie into Calvin’s room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged Calvin in a hard, excited hug. “Grandpa!!” screamed the child in delight.

“Francis!” cried Calvin’s daughter, “Be gentle with your grandfather.”

Calvin’s daughter turned to her dad. “I’m sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories.”

Calvin laughed and said, “Well, now! That sounds just like me when I was his age.”

Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, “Sorry, but visiting hours are almost up.”

Calvin’s beloved family said goodbye and promised to visit tomorrow. As they turned to leave, Calvin said, “Francis. Come here for a second.”

Francis asked his grandfather, “What is it, Gramps?”

Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago. “This is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him.”

“He’s just a stuffed tiger,” Francis said, eyebrows raised.

Calvin laughed, “Well, let me tell you a secret.”

Francis leaned closer to Clavin. Calvin whispered, “If you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait, he will turn into a real tiger.”

Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, “Not only that, he will be your best friend forever.”

“Wow! Thanks, Grandpa!” Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.

“Francis! We need to go now!” Calvin’s daughter called.

“Okay!” Francis shouted back.

“Take good care of him,” Calvin said.

“I will,” Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.

Calvin lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. His eyelids grew heavy, and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep, he heard Hobbes as if he was right beside him at his bedside. “I’ll take care of him, Calvin...”

Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face.

(I don’t know about you, but I cried reading this).

*****

SOME WORD PLAY (thanks Nancyanada)

I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now. 

England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. 

Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes. 

Today, This girl said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I swear I’ve never met herbivore.

I know a guy who’s addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop at any time. 

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months. 

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, UCLA. 

I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.

A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail. 

A will is a dead giveaway.

With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress. 

Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest. 

A bicycle can’t stand alone; it’s just two tired. 

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine last week is now fully recovered.

He had a photographic memory, but it was never fully developed. 

She thought she’d dye when she saw her first strands of gray hair.

Acupuncture is a jab well done. That’s the point of it. 

I didn’t like my beard at first. Then it grew on me. 

Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn’t control her pupils? 

When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble. 

When chemists die, they barium. 

I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.

I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.

******

Halloween in two weeks. 

I’m playing at Walburg on Saturday, October 21 and 28. (we start at 6:30, so come early)

LOVE WINS!!!

Karen White, October 15, 2023

MAX 9 - MAX ZINN OLIVE GROWER

 MAX9 - MAX ZINN OLIVE GROWER

One afternoon, as Max and Carlos walked through the olive grove, Max’s sensitive nose caught the aroma of green olives ready to be picked.

Max said, “Carlos, I think the green olives will be ready soon. Are we ready? 

Carlos answered, “Max, we are ready - give me a couple of days to get our crates and equipment ready.”

*****

Traditional olive picking has been done by hand for centuries. Mechanical methods can cause the olives to get bruised or fall on the ground. But, at American Olive Growers, they used more technology to make a better product.  

A puffy upside-down umbrella device was put under a tree, and then staff gently shook the branches, causing the olives to fall. The olives did not bruise. When the umbrella device was packed, a drain was opened at the device’s base, and a slide moved the olives into a large bin.

*****

Max had invited Dr. Louise Larkner and any of her students. Now that he knew Louise was a lesbian, he also told Louise to bring along her partner. They were going to pick next week on Thursday. Louise returned to Max, saying she’d have a minibus with about 12 graduate students and maybe three others (including Inez Sanchez - her partner).  

The students were encouraged to join in harvesting the olives (and getting paid). Other 

But, this year, the crop was abundant, and before all the olives fell, the crew stopped the shaking to move the olives already picked into the bin before finishing picking the olives. The bins were loaded onto a tractor that could haul 12 bins (6 on a side).  

Max and Carlos were excited about the abundance of the olives and the quality of the olives. 

*****

Yesenia Garza was informed by the Bluff County Sheriff’s office that Juan Garza’s body was ready to be released for burial.  

About time, Yesenia thought. She had let both sides of the family know that Juan had died and a funeral would be forthcoming. She also had told them that because of Juan’s death circumstances, his body was kept by the Bluff County’s Coroner’s Office, and she would let them know when the funeral would be held. The Brusie Funeral Home in Chico was going to handle the arrangements. The Funeral Mass would be at St. James Church in Durham. 

Her cousin, Father John Ortiz, would perform the Funeral Mass with burial in St. Thomas Cemetary in Oroville, California - where two of Juan’s siblings were buried.

It had been a long two weeks since she had heard of Juan’s death. Her friend Lara Medina had been great in this time of sorrow. But, there were rumors that Juan was abusive. Lara had tried to suggest to Yesenia that Juan had abused her.

At first, Yesenia denied the accusations - she had failed him by little things, and he was justified by beating and slapping her. She had failed to iron his favorite shirt once because she had to work overtime and pick up Miguel at school. He had come close to breaking her arm at that time. Sometimes, it put his lighted cigarette onto her skin because she had somehow offended him.  

Her father had abused her mother occasionally, and she accepted that men were entitled to hit, slap, push, cut, and beat their wives. One evening, Lara had taken Yesenia to a women’s meeting at the Durham library, where a social worker shared about abuse.  

Coming home, Yesenia leaned over to Lara in the car and quietly said, “I didn’t understand. Juan did beat me, yelled at me, slapped me, and hurt me. I thought that was normal, but now I understand that wasn’t acceptable.”

*****

 Deputy Sheriff Jose Hinojosa visited Yesenia the same day Juan’s body was released.  

Deputy Hinojosa said, “Mrs. Garza, I owe you an explanation. May I come in?”

Yesenia said, “Yes,” and motioned for the deputy to sit on the sofa. Miguel was playing with Pedro Medina, and she had time.

Jose Hinojosa started, “Ma’am, I’m sorry for some of the information I’ll be passing on to you. These are the facts determined by the sheriff’s office and the coroner.

“At the time of his death, Juan Garza was on the property of American Olive Growers - a company he was fired from two years ago for stealing olives. He was high on heroin and alcohol, so high that the coroner was surprised he could even stand up. He had jugs of poisons that he dumped out on the trees to kill the trees and other vegetation. His intent seems to be to get back to his previous employer.  

“He seemingly was with another person. He was shot in the head with a 22-caliber pistol and died instantly. The other person left and took the car. Two days later, we found the car in a ditch on a rarely used road. We don’t know who killed me.  

“Around the community, your husband was known as a bad hombre. He supposedly rapped three women, but none pressed charges. He slapped and abused those women; two have filed briefs of his abuse with them. One had broken ribs from being pushed down stairs, and another had permanent spinal disability from his breaking her back.  

“He owed money to many people. He gambled with some of his money; he bought and sold drugs - including some to teenagers. He took one of his women and forced her to have sex with six drunk men one night.

“Ma’am, I’m sorry, but these are facts. Your husband was a real jerk.”

“We don’t know who killed him. Several suspects - maybe even half the community- wanted to see him dead or gone. The evening of the shooting, he was at the Empire Club until 10:30 and was drunk and high, and the bartender kicked him out for fighting and swearing.  

“We honor you for staying with him and trying to raise your son in a good family but also suggesting he was a bad man.”

Deputy Hinojosa stopped his speech and looked at Yesenia Garza, who was openly crying.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but the sheriff’s office thinks you are better off without him. We found that he was a veteran and will receive his funeral expenses. You will receive his veteran benefits, and your son will receive social security benefits until he turns 18. 

Deputy Hinojosa excused himself and left. Yesenia called her friend Lara Medina.

Lara came over and helped comfort her friend.  

*****

The bus from the University of California-Davis arrived with twenty-five people. Louise Larkner had predicted fifteen, but ten additional students came when the students shared they would be getting paid for helping.

Carlos and Max had poles for all the students. He showed them how to gently shake the olive trees to get the green olives to fall. Their regular staff was helping with the puffy blanket that the olives would fall into and making sure there weren’t any extra branches in the tubes that went to the bins and would back up the process.

Louise introduced her partner to Max, and he greeted her warmly. 

There was another student with Louise and Inez. The three grabbed poles and helped loosen the olives into the collection blanket.   

Some olive studies majors asked Max and Carlos about the olive grove and its operations. 

By seven o’clock, the team had finished about one-third of the grove, and Max and Carlos had pizza and beer for the students.  

Max had also hired a mariachi band to play for the after-picking party. It was a festive occasion.

*****

Tina Martinez had come with Inez Sanchez and Louise Larkner. She froze when she got off the bus and recognized Max from her weekend in Sacramento. She stayed out of Max’s view as they shook the branches to get the olives.

*****

Max and Carlos had been good hosts at the party, talking and thanking the students. As they approached Louise and Inez’s table, one of the girls excused herself for the bathroom. Somehow, that seemed odd to Max.

At about nine o’clock, the student group was ready to return to campus. The girl who had been absent when Max and Carlos had visited their table hung back.  

Max was outside as the students got on the bus. He was saying thank you to them. The girl came over to him and said, “My name is Tina, and I know you.”

Max took a good look at her and immediately flushed red. This was the call girl he had sex with on the weekend in Sacramento. Max stopped in his tracks.  

Tina continued, “Thank you for having us here today. And thank you for our weekend in Sacramento.”

Max stammered out, “Ah, thank you for coming.”

Then he said, “I’m sorry. I can be a lonely man. I’ve never done that before.”

Tina continued, “And I know somebody who used to work here - Juan Garza. I’ve heard he died.”

Max was at a loss for words.

Tina said, “He was an evil man. I didn’t know he was married, and he dated and abused and hit me. I’m glad he is dead.” 

Then Tina got a big smile. “If you’d like to date me in the future, you sure can. You won’t have to drive to Sacramento. I did have a good time with you. You were caring and gentle.”

Max struggled to respond. “Tina, I’d like to do that.”

They exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. Max asked, trying to sound casual, “Are you free this weekend, Tina?”.

Tina laughed, “I have a term paper I’m working on. If you let me write during the day, we can spend time together at night.”

Tina grabbed Max and hugged him. “I’ll come about ten on Saturday if that’s alright.”

Max, turning redder, said, “Yes.”

He watched as she got on the bus, and the bus left for Davis.

*****

On the bus, Inez asked Tina what Tina and Max discussed and how she knew him.

Tina answered, “It’s kind of a long story, Dr. Sanchez. But he invited me for a date this weekend.”  

Inez smiled and put her head on Louise Larkner’s shoulder for the rest of the trip.

*****

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023 - BREAST CANCER AND MORE

 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2023 - BREAST CANCER AND MORE

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October 13 (in addition to being Friday the 13th) is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day and No Bra Day.

First, some statistics:

Some statistics 

64% of Breast Cancer Cases are diagnosed at a localized stage for which the 5-year Survival rate is 99%

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.

1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime

In 2023, an estimated 297.790 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. 

This year, an estimated 2,800 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, and about 530 will die.

There are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

This year, 43,700 women will die from breast cancer in the U.S.

Approximately 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women will be breast cancer.

Mammograms save lives.

The most common types of cancer among women in the U.S. are skin, breast, lung, colorectal and uterine. Cervical and ovarian cancer affects only women and is also a significant cause of cancer worldwide. With early detection, cancer is more likely to be treated successfully.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women other than skin cancer. It occurs in the breast cells and can spread to the lymph nodes under the arms. In the U.S. this year, there will be an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women and 2,620 points in men.

Risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing breast cancer include:

Drinking alcohol
Being obese or overweight
Living a sedentary lifestyle
Not becoming pregnant
Not breastfeeding
Use of birth control, particularly oral contraceptives
Hormone therapy after menopause

********

Okay - enough background, enough statistics, enough rational thought

Breast cancer is the number two cancer for women. Skin cancer is first. 

Skin cancer is generally preventable. The suggestions are:

Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

(Okay, I needed to touch on the first cancer for women).

*****

I had my first mammogram last year, and my second one is coming up. My primary care physician was adamant that I needed an annual mammogram - and I did.  

For my female friends reading this, I don’t know if my experience is typical. I remember my ex-wife describing her experience, and it seemed like her breasts were put in a vise, which was tightened until it hurt, and they took an image.  

I went to the ARA Diagnostic Center. Yes, they took an image of my breasts, but it didn’t seem as onerous as expected. (And, I was negative)

Maybe more interesting for me was that I also did a bone-density scan, and I have osteopenia - on the road to osteoporosis.  

I am glad that medical facilities are concerned about women’s health (especially now that I am a woman). My mother had breast cancer and had both breasts removed. The key seems to be early detection.  

Cancer (at least in my mind) is an evil disease. 

*****

What are the common signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

If any breast or nipple changes occur, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider.

Breast lump

Nipple changes

Dimpling in your breast (like an orange peel)

Swollen breast

Lump in your underarm

Nipple discharge – particularly concerning is spontaneous or bloody discharge. Stimulation of the breasts, hormones, pregnancy, and lactation can cause normal nipple discharge.

Breast or nipple pain

Nipple retraction (inward into the breast)

Red, itchy, scaly, or thick skin on your breast

*****

Please take this seriously. One of my life goals is to live to see my grandchildren graduate from college and get started on a good life. I want to be able to see LOVE WIN.

So, 

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS AS YOURSELF - and LOVE YOURSELF ENOUGH TO GET SCREENED FOR CANCER

LOVE THOSE WHO HAVE CANCER - SUPPORT THEM BY VISITING THEM, HELPING THEIR FAMILIES, AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE FOR THEM

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, OCTOBER 13, 2023

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 - WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2023 - WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The expression LOVE WINS has been my mantra for the past seven years.  

But, war over land and religion has started again in Israel.

There will be people killed - both military and civilians.  Maybe one of the murder victims would have found a cure for cancer or a way to end dementia.  But they are dead and gone.

You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Above all, love each other deeply because love covers many sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

But we do live in a world of hate and war. Matthew 24:6-7

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. “

A friend sent this:

<begin quote>

“A Holy and Wholly Inadequate Statement

I was a very young teenager when I read Leon Uris’ novel Exodus. At the time, I had a small understanding of World War II and the Holocaust, and I was completely swept up in the romanticism of Uris’ historical fiction. I lacked the age and experience necessary to consider that there might be more to the story of the founding of the State of Israel than I read in the novel. I lacked the humility to fully appreciate the vast scope of history and the stories behind the stories. Even if I had read these words from the onetime Prime Minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, I wouldn’t have understood their implication: "As a piece of propaganda, it’s [Exodus] the greatest thing ever written about Israel.”

Years after his novel achieved phenomenal success, Uris is reported to have said, “Exodus is the story of the greatest miracle of our times, an event unparalleled in the history of mankind: the rebirth of a nation which had been dispersed 2,000 years before. It tells the story of the Jews coming back after centuries of abuse, indignities, torture, and murder to carve an oasis in the sand with guts and blood...Exodus is about fighting people who do not apologize either for being born Jews or the right to live in human dignity.”

I simply think we have passed the point when there can be a political or military solution to what is happening in the Holy Land. A miracle is needed, and it will find its genesis in great love—love for the One we know by different names and love for one another.

[Karen adds - LOVE - AGAPE LOVE - GOD’S PERFECT LOVE. - AND LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER!!]

There is so much I haven’t even tried to address here. Several times, I wanted to say something along the lines of “We must love people more than we love the land,” but I quickly erased those words as I sit here, one day removed from Indigenous People’s Day, on land that Texas says belongs to me and that can really never belong to me. Land that, for 50 years, I thought was “discovered” by Columbus. I wanted to write something that would excuse me for responding to this state of war in Israel when I’ve remained mostly quiet about the insurgency in Algerian and Uganda. I wanted to make sure and acknowledge my unquantifiable privilege. I wanted to write something that offered love and support to my Jewish friends and to my Palestinian friends.

None of that will help. I am going to pray for a miracle. Thank you, Rabbi Sheila Weinberg, for this prayer for Israel.

Two peoples, one land,

Three faiths, one root,

One earth, one mother,

One sky, one beginning, one future, one destiny,

One broken heart, One God.

We pray to You: Grant us a vision of unity.

May we see the many in the one and the one in the many.

May you, Life of All the Worlds, Source of All Amazing Differences, help us to see clearly.

Guide us gently and firmly toward each other, toward peace.

<end quote from my friend>

There is war worldwide - Ukraine and Russia; Israel and Palestine; various African countries; Turkey and Armenia; Iran and Saudi Arabia.  

Many of these conflicts are based on religion.  Many say they love God and are killing in the name of God, Allah, or whoever.  And, even when it isn’t out-and-out war, there are clashes between Republicans and Democrats (or even Republicans and Republicans).  Or with conservative versus liberal.  

WHY DO WE FIGHT? Because we are hard-headed and hard-hearted people - greedy, judgmental, and stupid.  

Let’s get along - Let’s work toward peace!!

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, ©, OCTOBER 12, 2023