Not too long ago I wrote a little about my recent experiences with tumbleweeds and polio. This past week I received a short note from a woman who lives in Edgar regarding these subjects of interest.

Concerning tumbleweeds, she says: “My memory on the farm in the early 1950s was those huge tumbleweeds my folks would try to lasso and burn. Burn like the fires of hell, as hot as the fires would be. Scared this little girl at the time and I’m sure it made me listen to my folks, to stay clear back from the roar and height of the flames. A few years back I was in western Nebraska to visit a relative. I had to have help from him to clear the driveway of tumbleweeds. A week ago I was in Deshler at the bank and low and behold, a tumbleweed rolled down the sidewalk.”

Concerning Polio she commented: “Cleaning out the trunk a couple of weeks ago I found my picture books-scrap books that Mom had made for me. There was a receipt, dated Jan. 21, 1956, from J. E. Ingram, MD, at Nelson for polio vaccine: $4. His office was above the ole Drug Store. I remember my folks taking me one time and riding up to that top floor in his chair on the railing that took me up.”

Now, I remember the drug store, but I didn’t know the doctor’s office was above it. As a kid, I remember reading comic books in that drug store as I occasionally got to go to Nelson when my father had business in Nelson and more times than not, us kids ended up reading comic books, sitting on the floor of the drug store.

I appreciate comments about local history as we all have had different experiences to record.

A O

Coffee . . . the curative.

Reading the newest American Legion monthly magazine, I learned something new. Coffee, which often has gotten a bad reputation because of the amount of caffeine, has a number of “good” effects for us humans who drink it. For example: regular coffee drinkers have less risk of heart disease; you can reduce the odds of developing colorectal cancer by 26 percent for the casual coffee drinker, and up to 50 percent for people who drink more than 2.5 cups a day; coffee drinkers have up to a 65 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease; finally people who drink four or more cups a day have as much as an 80 percent lower risk of cirrhosis, especially the type brought on from alcohol consumption.”

Gosh . . . I learned years ago of the benefits of drinking alcohol. (No, I’m serious.) Now with coffee, I think maybe I’ll live to be 101, but I don’t know if I can drink that much.

A O

If it wasn’t so serious, it would be laughable.

The killings that have taken place in Colorado last week and those in Georgia a couple of weeks ago are the latest examples of terrible things in our society today. I join everyone who condemns them.

However . . .

#1: In our society today, we think nothing of killing millions of unborn babies. In fact at the present time our liberal, radical, Democratic government actually “promotes” and helps this killing spree. In fact some of the loudest condemnations of the shootings are from the liberal, radical, democratic politicians. How can they be surprised and shocked about these killings when they support and defend the killings of so many others?

#2: In our society today, there are some people who advocate the assistance of doctors in the killing of others who have the idea they would be better off dead. The liberal, radical, and often Democratic politicians seem so often at the leadership of this misguided effort. Again . . . after the promotion of killing of one sector of society, they are shocked at the killing of others.

#3: In our society today, we are drenched with the idea of killing, but only those we want to kill: the unborn; often the elderly with medical problems; others with the misguided idea the world would be better without them. Why then are we so shocked when these shootings take place ? ? ?

#4: For most of my life I was a registered Democrat and even today many friends who have not changed their political registration ask me why?

My reply is that most people around me that are Democrats yet today, are people who mostly agree with what I say. The trouble, I contend, is the Democratic leadership at either the state or national level. Many of those “so-called leaders” do not believe in the sacredness of “All” life; they do not believe in the scientific fact that there can be only one of “two” genders born at each birth; they have trouble wanting to secure the borders of the United States; they will not allow anyone to come into the United States that cannot prove they have their covid vaccine shots . . . unless they walk across our southern border from Mexico.

The Democratic Party of my younger days has left me . . . I did not leave the Democratic Party.

There are many other answers to many of our problems in the United States today other than “All” of these “killings” and being shocked when somebody does it. The taking of a human’s life is wrong no matter when or where it takes place. Allowing it in one circumstance only promotes it everywhere and anywhere.

A O

A little common sense goes a long way. A friend sent me the following:

”This happened yesterday and is important information for our age group.

A friend had his second dose of the vaccine at the vaccination center after which he began to have blurred vision on the way home.

When he got home, he called the vaccination center for advice and to ask if he should go see a doctor, or be hospitalized.

He was told not to go to a doctor or a hospital, but just return to the vaccination center immediately and pick up his glasses.”

A O