Life goes on long after 64

Paul McCartney wrote, "Will you still need me/will you still feed me/when I'm 64?" Even though 64 seems young (it certainly seemed that way when my mother died at 64 from breast cancer), it echoes the reality of aging.


My dad, who is 78, just got out of surgery today, to remove a couple of lumps from his throat. It may be Hodgkins disease, it may be some other kind of cancer. It may be another type of cancer. It may be isolated to the throat; it may have spread. Right now, all anyone can do is wait for test results, and pray.


When I was 8, I used to walk the three blocks from our house on West Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind., to the corner of Northwestern Ave. (I wasn't allowed to cross it by myself) and wait to meet my dad, walking home from work at Purdue. He always greeted me with a hearty, warm laugh and hug, and patiently listened to me tell him about the minutia of my day.


When I was 26, my dad flew to Minneapolis from Ohio to help me move from one apartment to another. We snapped and snarled all day at each other, and I was relaxed and happy when we were done. My mother remarked, when I told her, "That's because your dad understands that you need to do that. I would have tried to make you feel better, and made things worse."


When I was 34, my dad "gave me away" at my wedding. Just before we started down the pathway of the beautiful formal garden, I was irritable and weepy. He gave me his arm, warm, solid and reassuring, and said just the right thing to make me feel calm and happy.


When our first child was born, he sent flowers -- the same Osiana roses he had asked me to include in my bridal bouquet at my wedding. He followed it up a few days later with a visit, where he sat and sang "Um Ya Ya" to her while he held her as they sat on our patio.

And when we had our daughters baptized, he came for both ceremonies and took photos, singing heartily on all the hymns, even as he declared that he wasn't comfortable darkening the doors of a church any more.


Now my dad is showing signs of aging and mortality, and I'm not ready for it. Maybe I was spoiled, watching my grandparents live well until they were in their 90s. Or, maybe with my mom gone, I'm not ready yet for my dad to get old. I guess I'm just selfish, but this is one time I just don't want to be practical or realistic or pragmatic. I just want to be Daddy's little girl a little longer.

Hillary makes a comeback

Tuesday night was an exciting night.

For those of us women who have been waiting for the promise that "a woman can do anything" to really come true, we came one step closer.

Hillary Clinton won two major states, enough to keep her delegate count close enough to Barack Obama that we still have a race. And it is one that the Democrats should be proud of. Not only is it historic, with the first woman and first black man in serious contention for the party nomination. And historic because it will be the first time a woman or a black man will probably win the White House. But they are two fine, intelligent candidates who will restore America's dignity.

Wait, didn't we hear that seven years ago? Funny how when it is a campaign promise, it doesn't seem to mean much.

Hillary Clinton is all that is good about women in politics. She cares deeply, is intelligent, thoughtful, decisive, and has gravitas. She is not as concerned with regaining party power, but about doing what's right for the country.

The Republicans continue to focus on control. And that's what's wrong in politics. It cannot be about party control; it must be about the health of the nation.

More than any candidate, including the fine Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton cares deeply, and understands how to work the system to solve our problems.

I have never been so proud to be an American, and a woman.

Driving the Ice Road to the Arctic Circle

If you saw any of "Ice Road Truckers" on cable last year, you know that driving in the winter in Canada and Alaska is not exactly a recreational activity.

However, every four years, a bunch of amateur rally drivers drive to the Arctic Circle and back, starting in Washington State, in the Alcan Winter Rally. Although it is a competition, there is a great sense of cameraderie and support on the trip.

My dh is one of those foolhardy, er, hardy foo-- er, hardy adventurers making the trek, for his second time, and this time he is blogging his experience. Check it out, and share the experience!

Trump was actually right

On Thursday's episode of "The Apprentice: Celebrity" or whatever it is called, Trump for once made a good decision. Or, at least, half of a good decision.

Clearly Piers and Omarosa were a train wreck, and detriment to their team. The fact that they still won the competition, when the other team had a better business model and execution, is a testament to how the show has become a game of "Who Has the Richest Friends?"

Trump was absolutely right not to fire anyone from Empresario, because they did nothing wrong. What he should have done, and even alluded to it, was fire at least Omarosa if not Piers, as well, just because of the way they acted; regardless of who won.

As much as I don't respect Trump, he at least appears to be capable of making sensible business decisions. It's just disappointing that Omarosa, who is"a disaster" as Trump likes to say, is still in the mix.