At this stage of Trump’s presidency, no one knows if he is truly impeachable. We do know that he has told countless lies since he became president. We know that he is highly disorganized mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and that he has a huge credibility problem with the rest of the world. We also know … Read more
When I grew up during the 1930s and 1940s, I had no understanding of the terms lesbian, nonbinary, transgender, gay (back then, it meant “happy”), bisexual, or undecided (pertaining to sexuality). I did know the words homo, fag, and queer. I don’t think I knew anyone who was any of the above, and I only … Read more
I was reading the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, April 7, 2019, and this article caught my eye: “150-Year-Old Priestly Heart Tours the U.S.” I had to read the title again. Yes, that’s what it said. Unbelievable! It seems the real heart of a Roman Catholic priest, John Vianney, has been set in a little … Read more
Annie and I recently went to Big Bear Lake, California, for three days of skiing. The conditions were idyllic: sunny blue sky, forty degrees, six feet of snow pack, well-groomed trails, and not many people. In 1975, after living in Hawai’i for twenty years, Annie and I moved to southern California. During our first winter, … Read more
I am an authority on vaccinations, not by education but by on-the-job training. My wife and I are the parents of a rubella (German measles) baby, born fifty-four years ago. We still feel the effects, and life hasn’t been easy. I also come at this issue from a Christian ethical point of view. I live … Read more
I have a friend who reads the obituaries every morning, and if his name isn’t in there, he gets dressed. I also read the obits every day out of curiosity. With tongue in cheek, I present my future obituary. William Hamilton Aulenbach, Jr.: October 28, 1932–February 29, 2042 Bil died surrounded by no one while … Read more
This is the story of my life—and yours too, I hope. We are constantly evolving, if we allow ourselves to. Many don’t. In my lifetime, I suspect civilization has evolved more than in any other era of history. Most folks don’t think they are evolving, it just happens—but we have come a long way from … Read more
Many years ago, when my family lived on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i, my wife, Annie, wrote and received a grant to start a volunteer group at the Hawai’i School for the Deaf and the Blind (HSDB). Our middle daughter, who is deaf and legally blind, went to school there. Annie had German measles … Read more
I have a friend in the Bay Area who emails me cartoons that are political as well as funny. Last week, he sent me a cartoon showing a machine gun going “blam blam blam” under the caption “Semiautomatic.” Then, under the caption “Fully Automatic,” a man labeled “Congress” continuously says “Thoughtsandprayersthoughtsandprayersthoughtsandprayersthoughtsandprayers.” I thought this cartoon … Read more