Donate Life Month

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By Diane Forrest, RN

There was a cardiologist in my town named Dr. Mal Morgan.  Not only was he a great cardiologist, but a really funny man.  He collected ties, and must have had a million of them, the crazier the better.  He also belonged to the Rotary Club and was friends with my father.  He would call the doctor Mallicious Mal, or Malpractice Mal, and they would share the duties of auctioneer at the annual Rotary fund raiser auction.

Dr. Morgan developed a liver disorder and became very ill.  His liver would need to be replaced for him to live.  Even during that time he continued to joke about his condition.  One day, the long anticipated call came.  A liver had become available for transplant. He was rushed to the hospital and the transplant was a success.  The biggest problem he had was having the muchies.  He loved peanut m and m's, and his wife brought him a bag.  After eating a few he became quite ill.  He soon learned that the donor of the liver had allergies to peanuts, so he had to learn to do without his favorite treat.  This transplant allowed Dr. Morgan to live several more years, and save many lives.

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Organ transplants are a touchy subject.  Most donations occur from tragic events, and people who are making decisions during the most terrible of circumstances.  I like watching movies with Will Smith.  They are usually either funny or action packed.  A few years ago I saw his latest movie called Seven Pounds.  It was a drama about a man who was involved in a car accident that killed several people, and the tragedy and guilt he experienced consumed him.   He no longer wanted to live, but wanted to make retribution for the pain he had cause.  He began to research and found people who needed organ transplants, and made a list of those who were honorable that would benefit from his donations.

In real life, transplants don't work that way.  Donors are matched very carefully to determine the body does not reject the organ.

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April is Donate Life month.  During this month, consider the possibility of donating your useful organs when the time comes, and you no longer need them.  It is a simple procedure, and there will be a notation on your driver's licenses alerting hospitals and family of your decision. 

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To find out how you can become an organ donor, visit this site:  http://www.thenationalnetworkoforgandonors.org/ 

If you want to think more about it, you might consider donating a pint of blood at your local hospital or blood services facility.

Pledge of Allegiance

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By Diane Forrest

I was recently reading that the state of Nebraska has a law pending that would require all public school students to recite the pledge of allegiance.  Not just the younger students, but through high school as well.  Personally, I can remember saying the pledge every morning to the flag that hung in my classroom, so I saw nothing amiss with this law, and while I was reading the article I went to the comment section to see what others were saying.  Imagine my surprise when most of the comments were against this proposed law.  How could this be?

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I grew up in a very patriotic family.  The men in my family were members of the armed forces, who all fought for our country and its freedoms.  My father, brother and son were all in the Boy Scouts, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  One of their requirements is to learn everything about the flag, particularly the rules of displaying it and treating it with dignity.

I never knew about the origins of the flag.  I assumed that it was written around the same time we became a country, along with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the design and making of the flag by Betsy Ross, and the writing of the National Anthem.  Actually the pledge was not written until 1892 by a Baptist minister named Francis Bellamy.  Mr. Bellamy was also a chairman of a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association. As its chairman, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadri-centennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute - his 'Pledge of Allegiance.'

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His original Pledge read as follows: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and (to*) the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered placing the word, 'equality,' in his Pledge, but knew that the state superintendents of education on his committee were against equality for women and African Americans.  In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.  The addition of the words under God has made it a very controversial subject.  Atheists have argued the separation of church and state, and the violation of their rights.

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In October, 2010, one judge in Mississippi even charged an attorney with contempt for not reciting the pledge in his courtroom.  His ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court, and the judge was later reprimanded publically.  In my opinion there will always be people who have different thoughts and ideas.  As I learned at a very young age, your rights end where another's begin.  I learn to respect other's views, as long as they respect mine.  If I want to believe that my nation is ruled under God that is my right.  If you chose not to believe that, it is your right, but don't try to take my right from me.

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In 1969 famous comedian Red Skelton gave a speech about the Pledge of Allegiance.  In this speech he said that since he was a small boy 2 words had been added to the pledge, "under God".  He stated wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that would make it a prayer, thereby not allowing the pledge to be recited in schools?  Yes, Mr. Skelton, it is a pity!  To hear his speech in its entirety, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM

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“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Volunteer Recognition Day

By Diane Forrest

On Easter weekend my church staged an Easter event.  It was really beautiful, with 11 scenes of the events that occurred before during and after the crucifixion of Jesus. Planning for this event began in January.  There were sets to be built, costumes to be made, and stories to be learned.  There were over 200 volunteers dressed in costume to perform the roles; there were volunteers to build the sets, make the costumes, drive the busses and trolleys and to clean the grounds after the production.  The whole weekend went off without a hitch, and was a great success with over 2000 in attendance.

My church is full of volunteers performing duties to keep things functioning, from members keeping the nursery, teaching the classes, singing in the choir and even operating the cameras and sound systems.  Not only do they volunteer inside the church, but in the community as well.  They visit the homebound, make hospital and nursing home visits and even help with home repair for the elderly and widows.

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I have always heard the busier someone is, the more they will do.  I found that to be true.  When I was in school, I not only had my studies, but I also wrote on the school newspaper, was president of the Senior class, was president of my nursing class, was active in church, writing my Sunday school newsletter, playing on the volleyball team, working with the puppet class, singing in choir, and teaching a class on Sunday evenings.  The more I was asked to do, I always managed to find the time somewhere.

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Today is Volunteer Recognition day.  Volunteers don't do what they do for recognition or awards; they are simply filling a need in the community and helping out where they can.  My newspaper has an award ceremony every year recognizing community volunteers.  The section in the paper is called Unsung Heroes.  Both of my parents have won this award.  Names are submitted by folks in the community, so it reaches a wide range of activities.

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If you know someone who volunteers, give them a call; send them a card or email to let them know you appreciate what they do.  If you would like to be a  volunteer, contact places in your community, like your church, area hospitals, children's homes, abused women facilities, or even your local chamber of commerce.  If you still can't find anything, try checking out this place for more ideas at http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Chocolate Covered Cashew Day

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By Diane Forrest

My dad loves nuts, he eats almonds and peanuts by the handful, but one of his favorites is cashews.  In fact, at Christmas, when I make my annual "trash" or chex mix, I put 2 cans of cashews in because people always pick them out first. Cashew nuts grow on trees that are related to mango and pistachio trees. They grow naturally in India and Brazil, as these trees thrive in hot and tropical climates. The cashew nut actually grows on the end of a fruit known as a cashew apple.

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Today is an extra special day.  Not only does it involve my favorite nut, but also chocolate…my favorite Everything!  Today is Chocolate covered Cashew Day.  I have been doing extensive research on this day, but didn't come up with much.  I did learn that Chocolate Covered Cashews are celebrated every April 21st, and I’m sure many other days too.  There are many different brands you can try; there are dark and milk chocolate varieties too.  If you can't find any locally, you can also make your own.  I found a few videos online giving instructions on how to make them, but you can simply melt some chocolate and pour it over your cashews, or either stir them in, even dunk them one at a time.  Lay them on wax paper and let them cool.

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Take your time to celebrate Chocolate Covered Cashew Day by enjoying a few handfuls of these yummy treat.

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In God We Trust

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By Diane Forrest

In 1776 Pierre Eugene du Simitiere an philosopher and American Patriot from Switzerland was on the committee to create the new country's Seal.  He suggested the motto E pluribus unum which is Latin for Out of Many, One.  This was adopted by an act of Congress in 1782 and was the country's motto until 1956.  Since E pluribus unum was never codified as law, the United States Congress passed a law in 1956 changing the country's motto to "In God We Trust".  This was also around the same time as the words "Under God" were added to the Pledge of Allegiance to let Russia know that we were not a communist nation.

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The phrase "in God we trust" did not orignate in 1956 however.  During the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key wrote a verse which would later become our Nations Anthem.  The fourth stanza is:

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation.

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

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Since 1864 the phrase has been printed on coins, and printed on paper money since 1957 since a law to that affect was signed by President Eisenhower.  According to Wikipedia, in 2006, on the 50th anniversary of its adoption, the Senate reaffirmed "In God We Trust" as the official national motto of the United States of America. In 2011 the House of Representatives passed an additional resolution reaffirming "In God We Trust" as the official motto of the United States, in a 396-9 vote.  According to a 2003 joint poll by USA Today, CNN, and Gallup, 90% of Americans support the inscription "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins.  To me this tells me the majority of our country's lawmakers and citizens of the United States not only support the Motto, but believe in it as well.

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So today, remember, In God We Trust, all others pay in cash!

Home Improvement

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By Diane Forrest

This is the first of a 6 month series for home improvements.  Since spring has sprung, there are a few things you need to do to your home now, to prevent any damage later.  You have cleaned up the inside now I’m sure, since spring cleaning day was last month, and with the great weather and spring fever now is the time that many of us start cleaning up our winter debris and making plans for our home projects. Here are a few tips on spring updates to help you get the most out of the season.

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• Check for loose or damaged gutters. Poor drainage systems can result in water damage to your basement or crawlspace.
• Check your roof for winter damage. Wind, ice, and snow can be harsh on your roof.
• Have your chimney cleaned and checked for damages by a licensed chimney sweep.
• Remove firewood stored close to the house. Properly stored, firewood would be at least 2 feet from the structure and 18 inches off of the ground.
• Check your outdoor faucets for winter damage.
• Have your air conditioning units cleaned and serviced for the upcoming season.
• Inspect concrete slabs for damage and movement; take the steps necessary to fill in cracks and seal surfaces
• Inspect wood trim around windows doors and railings for damage. Make repairs before spring rains create further damage.

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Possibly this spring your attention is also being pulled to larger projects. Maybe you’re finally installing that pool you’ve been thinking about, redoing a kitchen or bathroom or even planning an addition to the house. Some projects both small and large can affect your homeowner’s insurance. If you have projects in mind, give your agent a call to be sure that you have the proper coverage in place.

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After you spend a weekend or two getting your house in tip top shape, it will be time to sit back and enjoy the summer, sitting outside and swatting mosquitoes.  Let us know if you have any other spring home improvement tips. 

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National High Five Day

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By Diane Forrest

You've done it...I've done it....you can do it in public, or in private, with one person or a group of people. You can do it in the morning or at night, in the summer or winter.  In fact you can do this almost everywhere at any time.  I'm talking about giving a high five.

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The high five is a celebratory slapping of hands used to congratulate someone.  It replaced the hand shake or pat on the back in several areas such as sports or school.  In fact, the term "high five" is said to be coined at a baseball game.  On Thursday, April 12, 2012, a friend of mine's son bowled a perfect series, a 900. Which are 3 games at 300 points each, or 36 strikes.  This accomplishment has only been achieved 20 times since 1997. John Martorella, from Rochester, New York stunned the bowling center Domms, where this record was set, and stunned the world of bowling with this feat.  He is shown here with congratulatory high fives from his team mates after the magic moment.     There are many origin stories of the high five, but the two best documented candidates are Glenn Burke of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Oct. 2, 1977, and Wiley Brown and Derek Smith of the Louisville Cardinals basketball team during the 1978-1979 season.

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The creation of this special day dates back to 2002. It was created by college students at the University of Virginia. Those students were Conor Lastowka from San Diego, California, Sam Miotke of Corvallis, Oregon, and Wynn Walent of New York City. They celebrated with lemonade and a profusion of High Fives.

Now there is even a website about high five's...you can check it out here:  http://www.nationalhighfiveproject.org/

There has been an attempt to replace the high five with a "fist bump” but, it hasn't caught on as well, at least not in my part of the world.  The most famous fist bump was between the Obamas when he won the presidential election as pictured above. But, today is National High Five day, so make someone's day and give everyone a high five.

For a cool song video about National High Five Day, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOaStrQAC88