There is a special election coming up on Tuesday, January 19, in Massachusetts. I urge those of you living there to vote, to exercise your right to self determination. To often we feel there is nothing one person can to do change things for the better, myself included.

More importantly, today those in government forget they work for you and me, not the other way around — You can make a difference!

We make all kinds of excuses for not participating, but voting is one of your fundamental rights in a free county like ours. Please, don’t let it go to waste! I don’t.

I’m not sure if all states support permanent absentee ballots but California does and I take advantage of it. My ballots are mailed to me which makes for a much easier process. But if I want to vote ‘in person’ and take advantage of the community of people one finds there, I can hand carry my ballot to my polling place. It’s the best of both worlds. Consider doing  absentee ballots if it makes your life easier.

As you know there has a been a major disaster in Haiti in the form of a massive earthquake. A massive aid operation, involving the World Community, is under way to help the people in Haiti.

Having lived in Northern California since 1957, I’ve been through quite a few temblors and know how devastating they can be. An earthquake takes a toll on infrastructures, but the biggest toll is on the people and their psychological well being. A feeling of ‘absolutely no control’ over your well being occurs during an earthquake. A quake isn’t predictable like a hurricane or tornado where you can seek safety or shelter.

In 1989, I was several blocks from home, driving on a city street, when the Loma Prieta quake hit and had no control over what my vehicle did until the shaking stopped. After the shaker the neighborhood spent several nights ‘camping’ on the front lawns, due to safety concerns.

My heart goes out to the people in Haiti as I look at the pictures coming from there, with their basic life needs unfulfilled. I believe, that with what they have been through over the last few years, the people have the capacity to rebound and come back better than ever – with the help of the International Community!

Having been in search and rescue for some 30 years in my local community, I also know some of the frustrations the rescue people feel with the delays. I know that everyone wants to help in whatever way they can. The people of the United States are the most generous in the world when it comes to help their fellow World Citizens in time of need.

The best thing you can do right now is to send a money donation. Please act with caution though, as at times like these scam artists will try to take advantage of a horrible situation. I have already received email solicitations from unrecognized folks. Send your donations, marked for Haiti relief, only to agencies you know are legitimate.

The below links may be of some help but I am sure you can find many local agencies to assist in this tragedy.

http://www.imcworldwide.org/Page.aspx?pid=183

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

http://www.haitianhealthfoundation.org/

http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/Home.aspx

http://www.opusa.org/

http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/

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My dad passed very early in my life so I did not get to know him as I would have liked. I know he cared for his family. That he was hard worker, trying to provide.

As a child I do have memory of him taking my brother and I up the street to the creamery (we lived in a small town in Pennsylvania) and enjoying some ice cream with him – he loved ice cream. But it wasn’t until our teenage and later years when we would have really come to know and enjoy him. Unfortunately that was not to be. Enjoy your dad on this Father’s Day.

When dad died, we had an uncle who tried to become a substitute dad for us. But that was not to be either as he passed sooner than he should have. For Larry and I this was a sort of double whammy. Yes we had other family as mom became the bread winner and did her best to provide for us. And Aunts and cousins and a grandfather, etc. But it was never to be the same as having a father.

So spend some time with your dad, get to know and enjoy him – as well as mom – on this his day but on all other days as well.

Happy Father’s Day To All,
Bob