This week, it was my duty to take my mother to visit her only nephew…..my only cousin. He was quite ill, and was being cared for in a nursing facility. He had asked to see her, twice, so we made the trip on Friday morning.
I bitterly regret that I had not kept in touch with him. I was shocked to see what the past eight or ten years had done to him. Communication was difficult. Emphasema had taken away his ability to project words. I talked to him about recent changes in our lives, and showed him a picture of my new granddaughter.
Our visit was brief, and I hoped to arrange a second visit when his wife or my sister (the nurse) were present, to help us understand what he was saying.
Unfortunately, my cousin passed away this morning.
He is the first of my generation to die. His passing is making us all reflect on the time we have left, and the things we have put off. We were about twenty years apart in age, and were not close, but still…..he was my only cousin. I wish I had made a greater effort to know him.
I’ll always remember him for his ascerbic wit, for remarkable talent with a camera, for an intense interest in the family history and genealogy, for extensive knowledge about the petroleum industry, for his successful efforts to improve the quality of the fire department in our home town, and for raising incredibly smart children and grandchildren.
I hope he is trading cracks with St. Peter….free from the pain that has shrouded the last years of his life.

When I weed, I need some mental diversion. I started my weeding marathon on Saturday, and was listening to WGN 720 AM Radio as I worked. Just before noon, the Paul Harvey Report came on. One of the last segments caught my attention. I’ve copied the facts down to hand to any of my young relatives who might have doubts about going to college.
If you do not graduate from high school, you are likely to earn an average of $18,826 per year.
If you graduate from high school, that figure jumps to $27,280.
If you go to college and earn a B.A. you will earn an average of $51,194.
If you earn an advanced degree, you are likely to earn an average of $72,824.
I’d say those statistics are pretty compelling when it comes to deciding what you want to do with your life. GO TO SCHOOL! Get an education, if only to raise your earning potential. I can think of a lot of other reasons for getting an education, but being able to make a decent living isn’t all that bad.
The current Federal poverty line for a family of four is $18,850. If you happen to live in San Francisco, you’d have to hold down more than THREE minimum wage jobs to meet the minimum standard of living for a single parent with a toddler and a preschooler: $69, 241. Not all places have as high a cost of living as San Francisco, but the point is, without at least a high school education, you are guaranteed to be living at poverty level.
So, talk up education. If finances are tight, use the Internet to find sources of grants and funding. There are an amazing number of grants out there waiting for the student with the right interests. Surf….you’ll see. And meanwhile… tell the kids to hit the books!