Last Sunday we had a lovely Mother’s Day Outing, including a great dinner and a little shopping.  All was well and we were grateful for each others company.  I really did not think of those who have less than I or of those who were suffering on what should be a happy day.

Mary Jane and I have been delivering Meals on Wheels for a little over three years.  Usually I do the driving and she goes up to the door with the meals.  Today, however, I needed to assist her due to there being additional items to carry.  When I saw the physical condition of some of the Meal Recipients I was saddened.  Some with terribly swollen feet and legs…blackened skin.  Others with Neuromuscular disorders…and yet so friendly and grateful for our bringing them their lunch.

During our visit to Edinburgh, Scotland, last July, we saw a comedian who’s show was based on his suffering from Depression.  Some of the content was extremely dark.  And, yet, I had an admiration for this gentleman…and his valiant battle to rage against the darkness.

I have known and been friends with many wonderful people…who have throughout their lives had very little material possessions.  Not because they were lazy or unambitious…they were indeed hard workers.  Many of these people are serious dedicated Christians.

We are taught, that if we care for our family…our children and our spouse…we are good people.

Is our nuclear family…our blood relatives…the only family that we need worry about?

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”   John 15:12   KJV

When we choose to shut our eyes to the suffering of our fellow human family members…in the secure knowledge…but for the grace of God go I…do we not realize that God has grace for the person that we are comparing ourselves to?

It seems that it is somewhat in our nature to compare our lot in life with those who are less fortunate?

God’s ‘Human Experiment’ goes by quickly…or as the Bible says…’My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.’   Job 7:6   KJV

So we spend our days worrying about acquiring more money, although I read to day that, ‘money is numbers and numbers are infinite…thus we never have enough.’

Or, we Americans seek our right as outlined in the Declaration of Independence…for ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.’

A homeless woman shook my hand at church recently…and she looked at me and smiled…I felt peace and contentment…and happiness.

Yesterday Aaron, Jonathon, and I celebrated Mother’s Day with their sweet Mother, Mary Jane.

Mary Jane is truly an outstanding Mom!  Her love for her children and her unfailing concern for them is something that I have admired throughout their lives.

She is indeed responsible for raising two outstanding gentlemen.  Both Aaron and Jonathon are well mannered, well educated, and well rounded as human beings.  Their Mom was instrumental in this development.

When I first met Mary Jane she and I were attending the same church, and she was the teacher in the church school.  I watched her as she so patiently and faithfully taught the children that were enrolled in the school.

Later, after our marriage, Mary Jane decided that she would Home School Aaron and Jonathon in order for me to have quality time with them.  You see, I had just been promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Building Services at Southern Illinois University…and it was an evening and night appointment.  We understood that I would have the later hour work duties…possibly for the remainder of my career.

Mary Jane’s diligence and careful, thorough, academic instruction of our sons…was beautiful to behold.  They have grown up to be perhaps the first of my family tree to hold University degrees.

My Mother was a lovely person.  If she had two dollars…and you were in need…she would give you one of them.

She and my father divorced when I was five years old.  She was devastated.  However, she pulled herself up off the floor and began taking adult education classes to be a photographer.  I am sure this must be where I get my love for photography!

Mom was one of the most compassionate people that I ever knew.  She had empathy for anyone that was suffering.  The times that she has helped someone financially, in secret, are innumerable.

She and my father were married right after the WWII.  They had migrated from Southern Illinois to Chicago…for work.  For a time we lived the life of ‘Leave it to Beaver,’ idyllic bliss.  She was a strong woman…that refused to be defeated.  Much of my personality and outlook on my fellow man…came from my Mom.

I am fascinated by what women can accomplish!  I believe that there is nothing that a strong woman cannot accomplish…and often better than a man!

I have recently become close with my brother, Brock, and his lovely family.  I now realize that wonderful blessings came from my Dad’s life after me and Mom.

Also, my sister Billie and I have visited and are planning on doing so again, next month.  She is a wonderful person.

I also have other brothers and sisters that I hope to meet and get to know in the future.  We have spoken on the phone…and texted…and messaged…and they have a place in my heart.

Earlier this week FBI Director, James Comey, was terminated by President Trump.  Mr. Comey was in Los Angles addressing FBI employees when televisions in the back of the room announced that the he had been fired.

The evening of May 9 several of the President’s surrogates were dispatched to explain that the President was simply responding to a letter from the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, that sited Mr. Comey’s public discourse, last summer, regarding the investigation into Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s private email server.  The surrogates contended that this was the reason for Mr. Comey’s termination.

Candidate Trump praised Mr. Comey’s pubic statements regarding his Presidential Opponents’ investigation…numerous times during the Election Cycle.

Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein threatened to resign, due to the President placing the blame on him for Comey’e firing.

On May 11 NBC’s Lester Holt interviewed President Trump.  The President said that Comey was, ‘a showboat…a grandstander,’ he later said to Lester Holt, “He [Rosenstein] made a recommendation, he’s highly respected, very good guy, very smart guy, The Democrats like him, the Republicans like him.  He made a recommendation.  But regardless of [the] recommendation, I was going to fire Comey.  Knowing there was no good time to do it!  And in fact when I decided to just do it I said to myself, I said, ‘You know this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should’ve won.”

This morning, the President tweeted, “James Comey better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

So, the President fired the head of the FBI in the midst of its’ investigations into Russia’s influence into our last Presidential Election.  Russia favored him and worked to defeat Hillary Clinton.

Director Comey stated in his last appearance before Congress that he felt slightly nauseated when he thought about the possibility that he may have influenced the last Presidential Election in favor of President Trump.

Former Director Comey had, within the past few days, requested additional resources in the Russia investigation.

During a dinner, that President Trump requested with FBI Director Comey, according to Comey, asked for his loyalty.  Comey replied that he had pledged his loyalty, through his oath of office, to the Constitution of the United States.

The day after former FBI Director James Comey’s termination…the Russian Ambassador visited President Trump in the Oval Office…with only the Russian Official News Agency TASS,,,invited to record the event.

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees met for several hours in closed session last evening to discuss the qualities that they were looking for in the next Chancellor of SIUC.  They were scheduled to select a Chancellor, chosen from a National Search, but chose instead to personally interview the three finalist, in June, along with two more candidates…if they are still interested.

Our beloved University has been experiencing an identity crisis for the past twenty years.

Dr. Delyte Morris came to Southern Illinois Normal University in 1948.  Dr. Morris tenure as President of Southern Illinois University was 23 years.  He, through his visionary leadership, built SIU Carbondale into an internationally recognized University with both a Law and Medical School.  He is also responsible for the creation of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Through his tireless efforts and the support of both sides of the legislative aisle and strong Board of Trustees support; he created a brilliant jewel in the midst of farm and coal country and poor hard working people.

I came to SIU in 1978, and my colleagues still talked of President Morris on a daily basis…so great was his influence on them.  This was a man that treated the janitor as a valued colleague.

The next time I witnessed this spark of excitement and belief in the potential greatness of SIU was in the mid 90’s when Dr. Don Beggs was named Chancellor of the Campus for a two year term.  Many of us begged and pleaded with the then President of the System, to allow Chancellor Beggs to continue as our leader.  He ignored our request.

Subsequently, Dr.  Jo Ann Argersinger was chosen as Chancellor of the Carbondale Campus.  The excitement and energy surrounding Chancellor Argersinger’s leadership was palpable.  I said of her short time in office, that she had caused us to dream again.  Chancellor Argersinger was terminated in under a year.

Beggs and Argersinger were visionary leaders that were not afforded the opportunity of time, to turn the Carbondale Campus around.

Now we are on our ninth Chancellor since Dr. Argersinger…someone is going to have to be given the luxury and necessity of time…to address the massive problems facing the Carbondale Campus.

As the old saying goes, ‘hindsight is 20/20.’  Can we learn from our past…and commit ourselves to a leader…who can demonstrate visionary leadership…through the same method that Delyte Morris did…hard dedicate work + Board of Trustees support + legislative support = success over time.

The necessary finance for Higher Education = support for Higher Education.

Today, I took in the splendor of Southern Illinois University’s ‘Renewed Campus Lake.’  You may recall that for several months the Lake has been dry, overall, due to removing the water to facilitate the removal of toxic algae.  The torrential rain that Southern Illinois received last weekend has re-filled the scenic body of water and even to overflowing its’ banks.

SIU is not only distinct in its’ outstanding Academic Disciplines that it offers, but it is located on one of the most beautiful, natural, physical locations, in the United States.

As I walked around Campus today…I was again heartened to see so many Tours being conducted by our wonderful students.  The wide eyed wonderment of not only the prospective students but also their parents always give me a thrill!

SIU is truly indescribable in its’ beauty and its’ unique history…and its’ vision for opportunity, for all!

Soon, we will choose our new Chancellor…let us pick a person who has a love for the particularly remarkable University that SIU is and the one of its’ kind location that it is planted in.

Throughout my life I have always been fascinated with; leadership,  power…and the methods of operating the ‘levers of power’ for the good of humanity.

We see the great change that occurs in our society when one political party replaces another in the majority of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Executive Branch of our government.

For the last several years The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, has been the healthcare plan of the nation.  As of today the House of Representatives has passed their Bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  Certainly this is only the first step, as the Bill must be voted on by the Senate and signed by the President…but it passage exemplifies the transition of political power in our country.

Many years ago I first learned the power of advocacy.  Being a member of the Civil Service Staff at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois, I first felt the power of advocacy when I began speaking with Chancellors and Presidents of the University on behalf of Civil Service Staff.

As a member of the Civil Service Council, who are the elected representatives for Civil Service Staff, I was moved by the acceptance of a group, of primarily faculty, as I expressed my ideas concerning what type of Chancellor that our Campus needed… on a Chancellor Search Committee.

When Chancellor Argersinger was chosen as the Permanent Chancellor of Southern Illinois University I was pleasantly surprised at how regularly she sought my counsel and opinion regarding not only Civil Service issues but also wider Campus concerns.

After her untimely termination…I decided that I would run for the President of the Council

…in hopes of getting a seat at the table, and ‘Voice’ for Staff issues.

I had the pleasure of working with then Chancellor Wendler for the majority of my five year term.  Dr. Wendler and I had monthly conversations in his office where the subjects were wide ranging…colorful…and focused on benefiting Civil Service Staff.  Resulting from those discussions came:

Veteran’s Day as a recognized University Holiday-

More equitable Extended Sick Leave benefits for Civil Service Employees-

Pay increases for some of our lowest paid clerical staff-

Pay increases for Civil Service Staff during the course of the year, when meritorious performance was documented.

An increase in the Civil Service Employee of the Year Monetary Award, making it consistent with the Faculty Award-

The non-contracting out of Food Service Staff and pledge from the Chancellor that he would not Contract Out or Outsource any Full Time Civil Service Positions due to his recognition of the importance of Civil Service Jobs to the economy of Southern Illinois.

And the list goes on.

I have found, for the past twenty plus years, that Campus Leaders want to hear the real concerns and views and needs of those…who only have the power of ‘Voice.’

Recently I have communicated with both the Chancellor of SIU Carbondale and the President of the Southern Illinois University System.   Both are good men and communicate with me very honestly and in an expeditious manner.

It is vital that we remain dedicated to not Outsourcing Civil Service Positions…even though we are in an abysmal budgetary mess due to the Illinois House and Senate and Governor refusing to compromise on a State Budget for the past two years.

These positions are vital to the success of SIU Carbondale and the economic success of the entire Southern Illinois region.

I have been extremely pleased with the current leadership of SIU’s Civil Service Council.  Tony Travelstead, the President of the group, and Elizabeth Cheek, the Vice President, have taken the mantel and burden of leadership of the Council…which is the primary advocate for the entire Civil Service Community…with a seriousness and zeal that is exemplary and illustrative of the professionals that they are.

The entire Council is engaged and energized to speak for and advocate for their needy colleagues.

Over the past three days we in Carbondale, Illinois have received over 11 inches of rain.

It has rained so much and so fast that University Hall, on the Campus of Southern Illinois University had to evacuate 180 residents due to flooding.  The following are photos from the SIU Newspaper, The Daily Egyptian.

Folks that have been in Southern Illinois longer than I have, and I have been a resident for over fifty years, say that this is the worse flooding that they can remember.

 Someone sent my friend, Ryan Cheek, this photo looking north on highway #51 leaving Carbondale.

The only good thing that has come from our April Deluge is that our beautiful Campus Lake, which had been drained to remove toxic algae, has been restored to its’ former splendor…almost overnight.

A Photo by University Photographer, Steve Buhman, uploaded from Facebook.

In contrast to its’ dredged look.

Mother Nature has a way of instructing us that no matter what our plans are…she can disrupt them.

Have you ever wondered, where is my place…how can I help…what is my purpose in life?

These are lifelong questions, although they become amplified when you retire.  I was speaking with the Administrator that I worked for, at the conclusion of my career, as he loaded his vehicle with personal items from his office.  This gentleman is an extraordinary hard worker.  I walk the Campus of SIU most days and on the weekends.  It was not unusual to see him coming or going from his office on both Saturdays and Sundays.  Also, he arrived early in the morning, on weekdays, and stayed until late in the evening.  The Vice Chancellor…lived Southern Illinois University…much as I did during my time there.  SIU will miss Kevin Bame.

My friend and colleague, for many years, Brad Dillard…is cut from the same cloth.  I remember Brad when he was a student employee…so many years ago.  From those days until the present he has possessed a single-mindedness and determination to produce an excellent work product and to be a mentor and friend to all he encounters.

Brad, who is now the Director of Plant and Service Operations, is one of the most honest people that I have ever encountered.  His care for the staff that work under his direction is unparalleled.  He is a caring person and a consummate professional…that is always trying to make a positive difference for his beloved SIU and for the dedicated members of his organization.

I ran into Mr. Fred Gilbert, Painter Foreman, and one of his colleagues today on my Campus Walk.  Fred is one of the nicest people that I know…and an extraordinary gifted painter.  Also, he is a master Carver.  This man leads one of the most productive Paint Shops that I have ever witnessed.

I often see my friend, David, in Morris Library, who is the Custodian there on the day shift.  He is always working and endeavoring to improve the cleanliness and physical atmosphere for the students of our University.  When I greet him…he is reluctant to stop…and will only do so for a moment because he is so focused on making a difference for SIU.

My friend, Ryan, cleans an extremely large custodial area that encompasses several large campus buildings, with a small crew to assist him.  Ryan is a gentleman and a professional.  He does not complain…he has been working ill for three weeks…and yet he is one of the most pleasant professionals you will ever have the privilege of meeting.

There is a scripture that says, ‘Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.’   Ecclesiastes 9:10   KJV

I think that it must have been made clear that I love to walk the verdant, lush, Campus of Southern Illinois University.  It has been said, many times through the years, that SIUC is the loveliest Campus in the state of Illinois.

The Grounds Department maintains over 1,200 acres.  They also ‘provide snow removal, street cleaning, and parking lot maintenance,’ according to their web site.

Every day that I am privileged to walk the SIU Campus…I see Grounds Staff busily maintaining their handiwork!

The juxtaposition of our well manicured Grounds with our historic Campus Structures results in a Painting worthy of Monet or Vincent van Gogh.

The Grounds department does all of this picturesque work with a staff of under fifty full time and twenty-seven student workers.

They accomplish all of the Grounds maintenance as well as having a crew dedicated, daily, to moving furniture and equipment, and fifteen of the staff are trained in the removal of asbestos.

My friend and colleague, of many years, Elizabeth assists the Superintendent of Grounds, Dave, in the daily managing of the Herculean job that this well run department produces.

We have been to the United Kingdom twice.  Both times I could not help but admire the emphasis that the British place on their flower gardens… in their individual yards. SIU is unparalleled in the spectacular…peaceful…lush…beauty of its’ Campus.

Thank you Grounds Department!

Once Mary Jane and I retired we set out to do something that was a long time dream of ours…travel to Europe.  In fact we embarked on a ‘Retirement Mediterranean Cruise’ in the spring of 2011…or six years ago.

We were so excited to have the opportunity to have a short visit with our friend of many years, Margo, in Nice, France.  During our shore excursion in France, we first stopped in the mountain commune of Eze.

Eze is 1,401 feet above sea level and is also know as the eagles’ nest due to its’ extraordinary view of the Mediterranean.

According to Wikipedia, Walt Disney spent a significant amount of time in Eze.

From Eze we soon arrived in Nice for lunch with our friend, Margo.  I immediately was fascinated with the architecture of the old city.  At lunch I ordered a dish that was  a Nice cuisine or Nicois.  After a lovely lunch…where I took note that many at the restaurant had their dogs with them, setting calmly at their feet or under the tables.  I also noticed the very relaxed and non hurried atmosphere of the French.

We were in glorious France just long enough to wet our appetite for more.  In 2012 we traveled with our dear friends again to Paris for three days and nights that captivated my imagination.

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The French people are friendly and welcoming.  Those that I had the pleasure of encountering were mild mannered and quieter than Americans.  They are a people that value manners and decorum.  When you enter a shop or cafe…they expect to be greeted…and once engaged…they are very pleasant.

From our ‘appartement’ or ‘chambre’ in the 15th ‘Arrondissement’ we could see the Eiffel Tower, brilliantly lit at night.

The ‘Musse d’Orsay’ was simply a fabulous museum with the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh Paintings that I had ever seen.  It is housed in an old railway station.

As we walked along the Seine and looked across at the Cathedral of Notre Dame…I reflected that if there was a more lovely place on Earth…I would like to see it.