Dateline Dayton — For the past two weeks I have mentioned that my brother-in law, Willie, is in the hospital. Last Friday he was transferred to the James Cancer Center, at Ohio State University. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia, which was suspected at the hospital here. Thus the transfer.

We hoped his tests would come back in the treatable percentage. They did not. When my sister Susan received the bad news on Sunday, she called me immediately. She didn’t know what to do. He was going to be released the next day.

I told her not to worry. I would take care of business here. A hospital bed was the first requirement. Next, call hospice.

Contacting hospice was easy. Our son Chris works for hospice. By 11 a.m. Monday, all arrangements had been made. The hospital bed was being delivered at 2:30.

The next obstacle was getting into the house. A neighbor had access, as well as some friends in Piqua. Susan didn’t have the phone number available for the friends, so it was the neighbor. Calling the neighbor was an experience I didn’t need on a stressful day. I had to listen to her problems.

Since I had no luck in contacting anyone else, I decided to call my sister’s home phone number in hopes someone might answer. Fortunately that was the right move. Friends were at the house. They would wait until Pauline and I arrived shortly after 2 o’clock.

The service delivering the bed called to say they would be late.

Hospice called to say that a pharmacy would be making a delivery at 4 o’clock, and a nurse shortly thereafter.

Willie and Susan arrived by transport at 4:30. They transferred him from the gurney to the hospital bed, set up in the living room. The dogs were happy to have them back home. The nurse reported for work. .

I always have been impressed with hospice. They operated like clockwork.

At this point Pauline and I left for a meal. We hadn’t had lunch, and you know I don’t like to miss a meal.

A Different Tragedy

A school shooting has occurred close to home. On Monday at lunchtime, there was a shooting in the cafeteria at Madison Junior and Senior High School. We have two grandchildren who are students there.

Fortunately neither was in the cafeteria.

Our daughter told me later both were okay, but traumatized.

I have rather strong views on school shootings. Parents should be held accountable, required to appear before the student body and apologize for the actions of their child.

The owner of the gun should be arrested and charged with the same crimes as the shooter. In this case, the gun was taken without the owner’s consent. But it was available to the student, which is the same as giving it to him.

While school shootings must stop, guns do not kill. People do.

Coating Over My Feelings

Regarding my efforts to purchase a new coat, I still don’t have one. The store where Willie bought his was no help. They didn’t seem interested in solving my coat problem. Guess it’s too late in the season.