In the August edition of Kingston Community News, I told of our daughter’s medical emergency and how she was ticketed for $450 because she parked in the handicapped zone in front of Group Health in Poulsbo. For her, it was that or pass out trying to find other parking.
The judge took the emergency situation into consideration and dropped the fine. There were letters from her doctor and he understood it was the only thing she could have done for her safety and the possible safety of others. Donna is still under treatment and Group Health is sending her to a hand specialist/surgeon, to get his report after another examination.
I’m sure everyone will be glad when the elections are over in November. This tiresome rhetoric of the political parties spending so much time slamming one another has become like a rerun of a bad movie. One listens to the news and gets the feeling we are going to hell in a hand basket, as my grandpa used to say. Once it’s over, perhaps we will finally know which way the wind is blowing for better or for worse. I respect President Lincoln’s words about the people: “I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any crises. The great point is to bring them the facts.” (Today, we don’t know what is fact or fiction.)
Another favorite quote, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove the doubt.” Samuel Butler once said, “Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must be first overcome.” I say one needs to compromise at times for the good of all. Something Congress has forgotten.
When I read that the food stamp program was cutting back on people recently, it reminded me that I had once read a notice attributed to the county Department of Social Services in Greenville, S.C., “Your food stamps will be stopped effective March 1992 because we received notice you passed away. May God bless you. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances.” Uh, you think?!
Seriously, this hurts the unemployed, low-income families and the elderly living on Social Security. The food banks are having a difficult time as it is with folks in need. Food prices are getting higher all the time too. It’s a shock every time I go shopping and see the prices jumping. What must it be for those folks? Just think of the kids getting ready for school this year and the lists of items they must have just to start off. Even during the Depression, everything was supplied for us by the education system in our primary grades.
I have nothing but praise for the organizations and churches donating materials to help children in need. Also, the food banks will need more help than ever to feed these families. And in that vein we want to send thank yous to Albertson’s, Thriftway, Papa Murphy’s, Borrowed Kitchen Bakery and Poulsbo Red Apple, for your help in making Redeemer Vacation Bible School a success this year. You are all very special people.
Fall is just around the corner after a short summer. We did have summer, didn’t we? Just the thought means lists of clean up chores to be undertaken as they change from season to season. To me there is nothing more beautiful than having an Indian summer after a first frost. There is no air like cool-crisp autumn days with brilliant foliage, and huge maples dressed in their fall gowns spreading their limbs out to be admired. Every season Mother Nature, God’s creation, has its special treats to be viewed and enjoyed.
— Contact columnist Jacque Thornton at jacquejt@centurytel.net
