GRANITE STATE SUMMER HODGEPODGE

     Summer is well on it's way here in the Granite State. We have been having a greater number of thunder storms this summer some of which have been quite violent. Last year we were in drought conditions. This year we are not. Lightning is Nature's fireworks display and is stunning in appearance. We have been blessed with a number of awesome displays.
     The Wednesday Hodgepodge is also stunning but in a different way. It's Americana on display. Voices from all over the country giving opinions and recounting their life experiences on display. Thank you Joyce for your continued efforts in providing this weekly pause from the rigors of life. And now, the Hodgepodge...

1. When was the last time you chatted with a neighbor? About what? (sharing that last bit is optional)
     It''s been awhile since I have chatted with a neighbor. We often exchange pleasantries in passing but the opportunity to engage in extended conversation just hasn't presented itself. When we do speak it is usually concerning work/retirement, family and current events.

2. River, lake, ocean, or waterfall...which one are you most like and why?
     I think that I am most like a river. I am always moving forward. Sometimes I am smooth and placid, other times I am rough and choppy but I am always flowing on. Sometimes I am overflowing and affect those around me. Sometimes I am low, revealing things that were usually hidden. Yeah, I think that I am a river.

3. July 13 is National Delaware Day. Ever been to Delaware? Delaware is called 'the first state' because it was the first to declare independence from the British. What's your state's nickname and does that moniker make sense to you? If you were in charge, what nickname would you give your home state?
     I have driven through Delaware but I have never visited there. My state is called the Granite State and the name makes great sense to me. There is granite everywhere. It also fits the character of the people who live here. We are a hearty and independent minded people. Our state motto is "Live Free or Die." Our state constitution explicitly gives us the right to revolt and overthrow our government should the government ever come to oppress the population. You gotta love a state like that.

4. What dish did you contribute to the last pot luck meal you attended? Do you have a go-to recipe for pot luck suppers?
     The last dish that we brought to a pot luck was a fruit salad consisting of watermelon, strawberries and blueberries. I do not have a go-to meal, it's generally pot luck.

5. What is your number one tip for a brand new parent?
     Think "Tag Team." It took two of you to create this new life and it will most certainly take the two of you to raise and care for the little bugger. Sometimes your partner needs to tag out and get some relief . There will be times when you need to tag out for the same reason. There are no "Your Job/My Job" tasks. Both of you are responsible to get the jobs done. Love each other, support each other and take time for each other.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
     Lately things have been difficult for New York law enforcement. A NYPD officer, a 12 year veteran and mother to three children, was assassinated while sitting in her department vehicle. 
     Two days ago a New York State Trooper was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance. 
     Men and women willingly answer the call to serve by laying their lives on the line to make their communities safer and a better place to live. They, more than anyone else, understand that they may be required to make the ultimate sacrifice and do so without hesitation. 
     God bless the men and women who serve in law enforcement. May God watch over them and protect them and bless their families. Please say a prayer for your police officers and their families this week. 
     Enjoy the rest of your week.

SPRINGING INTO THE WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE!

1. What's a phrase your mother often said to you? If you're a parent, is this something you now say to your own children?
     I can't remember any such phrase, therefore the second part of this question is moot.

2. What is a scent you associate with your mother or your childhood home?
     The smell of onions cooking. I love onions and my grandmother who did most of the cooking in our house always used an onion in her dishes.

3. What's an activity you remember always doing with your mother (or someone who was a mother figure in your life)?
     On Sundays my aunts and uncles would come to the house and we'd play Pokeno. A kind of bingo game with playing cards. Those were special times.

4. Flared jeans, maxi dresses, and jumpsuits are 70's fashion trends back this spring. Are you on board? Which trend would you be most inclined to try? For the men...flared corduroys, wide-collared shirts, and floral prints...what say you? 
     Wide collared shirts I suppose. I did wear flared leg pants in high school.

5. May 6th is Teacher Appreciation Day and also Nurse Appreciation Day. Is there a nurse or teacher  you have especially appreciated along the way? Tell us why?
       In high school I took two years of Latin. My second year I had a teacher who had a fondness for all things Roman. We studied Caesar's Commentary on the Gallic War in Latin, of course. She went beyond the text and delved into the history and background. It was one of the best classes I have ever taken. 
    6. If I came by your house, what would I find on your frig door?
     You would see an assortment of magnets from the different places SWMBO and I visited, San Diego, Acadia National Park, Niagara Falls, etc.

7. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana made her royal entrance on Saturday, May 2nd. On a scale of 1-10, how much attention did you give to all the news coverage? 1=Who's Charlotte? 10=sat glued to the telly, cuppa in hand.
     I would have to say about a "3," the "Oh that's nice!" crowd.
  8.  Insert your own random thought here.

      I am troubled by the rush to judgement when a police officer is involved in a  situation where lethal force was used. The notion that any police officer goes out looking for someone to shoot is absurd. A policeman's job is tough enough. It is grossly unfair to jump to the conclusion of wrongdoing without having all the facts. 
     In my experience initial reports are almost ALWAYS incorrect. This was the case in Ferguson, MO. The false narrative that was proven by competent evidence to be false persists to this day. The incident in Baltimore that ignited the riots is still being investigated notwithstanding the fact that six officers have been charged already, without al the facts being in.
     Police officers must be held accountable when they do wrong...period! However, they are also entitled to fair due process before being condemned. Any elected official who uses these incidents to further any political agenda is beyond contempt.
     My beloved SWMBO often tells me in light of recent events how happy she is that I am retired and no longer have to expose myself to such dangers. I must say I agree with her. Please pray for all of our first responders, Police, Fire and EMS.

IT'S BEEN A HECK OF A WEEK!

     Last week was a heck of a week, wasn't it? If you have been living off the grid in a cave somewhere, here's what's been happening.

     Last Monday was Patriot's Day. Patriot's Day is a uniquely Massachusetts state holiday. If you remember your American History, the shot that was heard around the world was fired by British troops in Massachusetts. Much of the revolutionary fervor was birthed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...but I digress.

     One of the Patriot Day traditions is the running of the Boston Marathon. Thousands of runners from around the world come to Boston to run the 26.2 mile marathon. In addition to the runners, are hundreds of thousands of spectators who gather along the marathon route to cheer the runners on and to take in the festival ambience that is the Boston Marathon.

     Shortly before 3:00 p.m. two bombs were exploded on Boylston Street near the finish line. These bomb blasts killed three people, including two colleged aged women and an eight year old boy. In addition, about 260 people were injured. Many of these injuries consited of  limbs being torn off and lacerations caused by flying shrapnel. 

     This horrific incident brought out the best of what is America. Our first responders, Police, Fire and Emergency Medical personnel, rose to the challenge and rushed in to the danger zone while everyone else was running out...as they should have been doing.

     Ordinary Americans stepped up to help the injured by applying tourniquets and administering other first aid and by helping the first responders transport the injured to medical attention. 

     Marathon runners who had just run 26.2 miles ran a couple more miles to the nearest hospital to donate blood for the injured.

     The best of America was on display that day!

     The law enforcement community consisting of federal, state and local agencies sprung into action. They worked around the clock to identify and try to apprehend those who were responsible for the bombings.

     By Thursday, the police identified two persons of interest who were seen on video carrying two back packs in the location of the blasts. There was video showing one of the suspects placing his backpack on the ground along Boylston Street. The Police (FBI) published pictures through the news media, soliciting the people to call them with information if anyone recognized the subjects in the photographs.

Officer Donohoe and Officer Collier

     Thursday night, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Officer Sean Collier was murdered by the suspected "Marathon Bombers" while he was sitting in his patrol car. Another officer, MBTA Transit Officer Richard Donohoe was also shot and critically injured. Both officers were classmates at the same Police Training Academy.

     After these two brave officers were shot, the two suspects carjacked a SUV and it's owner. At some point when the suspects stopped to put gas in the SUV, the owner escaped and police were notified.

     Following the car jacking, police caught up to the carjacked SUV and a shootout ensued. One of the suspects was killed in the shootout. The other suspect escaped. He was captured later, but that story is for a later blog entry.

     Three people are dead, one of which is an eight year old boy! One officer is dead, and another is fighting for his life in a Boston hospital! Hundreds of people are injured, some with severe, life changing injuries! Through it all the people of metropolitan Boston stood tall! The first responders stood tall! The marathon runners stood tall! The best of America was on display that day! That Week!

WHEN DID WE BECOME THE BAD GUYS?

     I love what I do. Being a police officer is a calling, a noble calling. When I first began my career there was a promise made to me and my fellow public servants that after 20 years of service and upon reaching age 45 we could retire with a reasonable guaranteed pension. We pay about 9 percent of our weekly gross salary into the retirement fund. The municipalities paid about 6 percent.


     Over the years the retirement system was allowed to use peculiar accounting methods and the municipalities were allowed to reduce their contribution to 1 percent when at the same time we still had to kick in our 9 percent. So now, low and behold, to no one's surprise the retirement system is dangerously underfunded. I understand that the downturn in the national economy coupled with the municipalities being let off the hook and the unrealistic accounting methods used resulted in the current state of the system. It is important to note that all of these things were beyond our control.


     Now the State of New Hampshire is seeking to change the rules of the game while the game is still in progress. They want to raise our contribution to 11.5 percent among other changes. Those of us who are in public safety have understood and accepted the tacit bargain made with us. We accepted lower salaries for security and reasonable benefits in exchange for a secure, guaranteed retirement pension. With the new changes to the laws governing our retirement and collective bargaining, we are simply being cheated. To correct a problem that was not of our making we are being required once again to make a greater sacrifice. 


     It appears that the sacrifices that we make every day have not been enough. The missed family gatherings and special family events due to the job; The putting our lives on the line every day that we go to work; The exposure of losing everything we have because of a frivolous lawsuit or worse, a disabling work related injury; and the many other sacrifices we make; have not been enough.


     There will be unintended consequences to these law changes that will negatively impact upon public safety! I hope that our lawmakers pause, reflect and listen to the legitimate concerns of their public safety workers. It's not too late!


     Again, I ask when did we become the bad guys?


     

POLICE OFFICERS DESERVE RESPECT!

     The reason why I started this blog was to use this forum to comment on the three main areas of my life, Spiritual, Personal and Work. To date I have not written anything on the work aspect of my life. I have had difficulty selecting material that was relevant and that at the same time did not violate any confidences or disclose information that is not for public consumption due to department policy, privacy considerations and/or provisions of current law.
     In my experience when you ask people what they think about police officers you generally get one of two responses: (1) They are well thought of and respected, or (2) They are despised and believed to be corrupt and evil. People either love them or hate them. There is no middle ground.
     Regardless of the character, or lack thereof, of any police officer, I strongly believe that they deserve your respect. I believe this for one simple reason. When a call comes in, police respond...period! They don't evaluate whether they like the person they are being dispatched to help before responding. Police don't pick and chose which jobs they will respond to, responding to some or not responding to others. Police officers will risk their lives one day making an arrest, then will risk their lives protecting that same person who they arrested from harm on another day.
     Police officers are in a no-win position. They are damned if they do and they are damned if they don't. Police officers are by no means perfect. They are human and do make their fair share of mistakes and they often pay a dearer price for them. They are often called upon to take very unpopular action which if they had a choice, they would not chose to do. To the person who needs help, police officers are heroes. Conversely, to the lawbreaker, police officers are corrupt, narrow minded doughnut vultures. Again, there is no middle ground.
     Admittedly I do have a bias in favor of police officers. That doesn't change the fact that they deserve our respect. In future blogs I will provide more evidence in support of this proposition. Enjoy your day!