Associated Press writers Nooman Merchant, Lorne Cook and James LaPorta have written a revealing report about the loss of the war in Afghanistan. They write that in the last 20 years some $2 Trillion dollars of American taxpayer money has been spent in that country with a loss of 2448 American military deaths. About $83 billion Dollars was spent on the Afghan forces in sustaining its army and police. That’s in addition to the $145 billion spent by the US…
On August 8, 1953 my maternal grandmother, Marija Babarovich died in Anacortes, Washington at age 90. It was the year of my high school graduation at Anacortes. She was born September 21, 1863 in Splitska, Brac, Croatia. She was a woman of great courage, faith and personal sacrifice. Her husband, my grandfather, Peter, had died the year I was born in 1935 at Anacortes. He was born in 1861. I remember her vividly. A tall, erect woman with hair piled…
Clerow “Flip” Wilson was a comedian and actor best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series The Flip Wilson Show, and introduced viewers to his recurring character Geraldine. Wilson died in 1998 but his stories of Geraldine have a lesson about current political situations. of today. When I read about the hypocrisy and dishonest explanations for political actions and statements I am reminded of Geraldine’s…
On an early Friday morning, July 7th 2000, my mother Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was born on December 28, 1905 and was ninety four years old when she died. She had been in failing health for some time. Her passing was, in fact, a personal blessing to her as she had been ready to meet her maker for some time. She and dad…
My paternal grandfather, Nicola Luvera, was born in Valanidi, Calabria Italy November 23, 1860 and died in Anacortes, Washington on July 4, 1956. His father, Paolo Nicola and mother Rosa Luvera were sheepherders and sharecroppers in Gallina Italy. Grandfather worked with his father until he was 16 years old when he moved to Reggio Calabria where a cousin Antonio working in a slaughterhouse. He was able to get a job with his cousin and lived with their family for four…
A minority of American Catholic bishops would deny church communion to president Joe Biden for what they claim is his conflict of position with their interpretation of Church teachings on policies regarding sexuality and abortion. These bishops would deny communion to president Biden and any other politician with views in conflict with theirs. Why? Well, because they say to receive Communion, which is a central part of the Mass service, Catholics cannot “be conscious of grave sin as it would…
Here are some quotes about living and life that I find inspirational. I hope you benefit from them as well. While they appear to be simplistic, they are profound enough to meditate upon: When we are surprised by the way people we thought we knew act “Sometimes it’s not the people who change, it’s the mask that falls off.” When we are hurt by the actions of others “Some people come into your life as blessings, others come out as…
A young marine appeared at a hospital where an old man was dying, while waiting for his son, a marine, to arrive from overseas to see him for the last time. A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to his bedside. Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed…
For over forty years my essential soul mate and I have been married. She has endured it all with a response of patience, love and understanding. I can say with total honesty and accuracy she has been an equal partner in every achievement I claim for myself . The same is true with regard to every accomplishment we have had professionally, financially and personally. As we are fond of saying “Together we make a winning team.” On February 27th we…
We just came back from Scottsdale where we have a vacation home. The news is full of the Arizona general ballot recount in Maricopa County. Arizona’s Maricopa County ballots, six months after the 2020 general election, are being examined and recounted by contractors working for a Florida-based company. Former President Donald Trump claimed without evidence that his loss was marred by fraud in Arizona. Senate President Karen Fann, has ordered a recount. Fann used the Senate’s subpoena power to take…
