Dateline Dayton — I mentioned in last week’s essay that a classmate just had been killed in a tragic accident at his home. Pauline and I attended both the visitation on Friday evening and the funeral on Saturday morning.
Things were complicated by the fact that Pauline’s brother was taken to the hospital Thursday, at noon, suffering from heart failure. Earlier in the day he was transferred from rehab, where he has been since his foot surgery. Even though he had gained almost 40 pounds while in rehab, they saw fit to move him back to assisted living.
Immediately upon his arrival, which is just down a hall, the nurse in assisted living recognized there was a problem. Pauline received a call, telling her that Joe was being transported to the hospital. I believe rehab wanted him moved to the other side so they wouldn’t have to report that a patient was transported to the hospital from their facility.
Thursday evening we had tickets for a Dayton Dragons game, and Pauline did go with me. It turned into a 13-inning game, with the Dragons winning 5-4. We agreed, that if the game wasn’t over in the 13th, we were leaving. It was well past my bedtime, and Pauline was tired, too.
On Friday morning at 10:30, I took Pauline to the hospital, picked her up at 3:30 and we headed for Piqua and the funeral home. We met my sister and her husband on the way, in Troy, for supper and then proceeded to the funeral home. There was a large crowd at the funeral home, which I expected. My classmate had been a mail carrier for over 37 years.
Saturday morning we were again in Piqua, this time for the funeral. The funeral Mass was well attended. The only disappointment was that few classmates from his class or his wife’s attended. eGeorge was in my high school class and his wife was in Pauline’s class.
After the funeral, there was a nice dinner, and that gave us an opportunity to meet other attendees.
We went to the hospital afterward to visit Pauline’s brother. He was having a bad day. He slept the entire time we were there. The nurse told us he had been asleep all day, and he didn’t eat breakfast or lunch. The doctor was concerned.
Saturday evening we went out for supper with friends from Englewood. We visited a well-regarded Italian restaurant in Fairborn, but none of us was impressed. We all agreed that Tony’s in Englewood was superior.
Following church and breakfast on Sunday, we were back at the hospital, and this time Joe was much better. He had eaten breakfast and was enjoying lunch. Pauline stayed for the afternoon, and our son Chris and I went home to take care of a few things.
Joe was discharged from the hospital two days later and returned to rehab. There is no way he has recovered, but President Obama probably said I want you out of here. We still don’t really know what is taking place.
Setting Record Straight
Another shooting this week, again in a movie theatre. We must understand that guns do not kill, people do. Until a foolproof method is developed to keep guns from individuals who should not own them, we are going to have this killing problem. Couple this with our country’s lack of respect for life and the problem is magnified.
Since an individual can sell a gun to another individual, there really is no way to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally disturbed.
I believe anyone who has a plan and carries it out, is not insane. Even the current shooter, although he had been committed, had a plan. He wanted to kill. He carried it out!
We need a movement to respect life, at all ages, which again brings up the subject of Planned Parenthood, who is in fresh hot water. The government should, by all means, stop supplying funds to America’s No. 1 abortion provider.
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net