Time for Single Payer

Bit ago I got my first big boy glasses, prescription ground, wire frames. Frames cost a bunch. Couple hundred bucks. Time passed.

Significant wife complained mightily about my alleged snoring and I submitted to laser treatments on the soft tissue at the back of my mouth. Hurts. Another story. Cost a bigger bunch than the glasses, like 1200 bucks. Time passed.

The very wonderful but no-cheap-bargain dentist we patronize lobbied to have me accept two tooth implants. Titanium screws in the jaw upon which are placed crowns of synthetic tooth-like material. Also hurt. And I don't like to think how expensive they were. Plus, you're paying for pain. Serious money was committed to the project with splendid results and excellent pain drugs. Time passed.

Now it is to be a hearing aid. Skipping to the good part, 2700 bucks, and not much larger than the fake tooth purchased above. Good news is, one, glasses seem like a bargain now, and two, I don't think it will hurt. Physically.

Saving the World

Son Cisco invented a way for home-owners to install solar electric affordably and it's catching on big-time... for instance, a Science Magazine blog entry from Copenhagen. Wowie Zowie.

Max Headroom Lives

Ah, and where have you been, Max?

Dad's Gone

Death in the Family. Dad died. Nearly 97 and ready. Still.

From the Minneapolis paper:

Rev. Harold John DeVries completed his earthly life on Feb 20. He was 96 years old and at peace when he passed away at his home, Friendship Village in Bloomington. He had spent his life as he wished, in service to his Lord, as pastor to many, and husband to his beloved wife June who preceded him.

Rev. DeVries led congregations in Michigan, Illinois and the Twin Cites beginning more than 70 years ago. He counseled, taught and inspired tirelessly, never stopping his own study, never failing to look to Heaven for direction, never wavering in his faith and his witness. He loved to preach and sing, he loved his work, and he loved the Lord. He believed deeply in spreading the Gospel and with all his heart, mind and body supported the missionaries of Christ around the world, introducing them to his churches, praying for them, and visiting them in the field.

And he loved his family. His children, Tom, Susan and Steve, made Harold grandpa to eight, and in turn great grandfather to eight, all of whom knew and loved him. So the impact of his long life – which began early in the Twentieth Century – will easily extend at least to the end of the Twenty-first.

He knew without doubt that a place had been prepared for him in Heaven. He left us for it with anticipation and joy. As much as we do and will miss him, we are happy for him too. It was, as they say, a righteous life.