Louie,

Centuries ago many, from children to English nobles, marched in the holy fight to the promised land, to bring back the Holy Grail. Now we are engaged in another march, on to Texas to bring back the grail of the most important event in Wisconsin since the "milk wars" of the thirties. The Super Bowl of 2011. I never thought McCarthy was doing anything but blowing smoke when he broke down the season into the last "16" quarters. I now am a believer, and hope the Pac will be able to boil Pittsburg in the "hot oil" of the Arlington stadium. It should be a good ball game, the lesser cities are playing in the big contest.

Paul R. was over and he and I watched the ball game while Dorothy painted at the dining room table. We enjoyed two martinis after the game, then some pizza. It was an enjoyable day.

Paul made a trip to the Masonic home and looked at the facilities as a new home. He feels as if he has pushed the envelop as far as he can and now must make his own decisions on where he will spend the next few years. He is not depressed, but in his state of widowerhood, he realistically views the future as being with some problems, which he must solve and not wait for further medical events. The past year has been unkind to him, but he has some hope and less pessimism now during the past six weeks. His daughter is four hundred miles and a generation away, desiring to help, but realistically unable to assist if his condition should deteriorate dramatically. Consequently, he feels the urgency of lifestyle change, on his terms. Somewhat of a realistic appraisal, one that no one likes to make.

This age is bittersweet. People who have a modicum of health at age 85, realize how fortunate they have been, but also are aware of the potential for sudden overwhelming problems. But so many of us fail to plan for the inevitable. I believe the threat of dependency and loss of control poses a problem to all of us, and too often we make plans retrospectively and not in proper sequence-- plan ahead and clean up the acts of junk accumulation and delayed property management. As I look around all the "things" in my den, in the garage, and in the house, those "things" are really just things but have the memories of us as a couple and family. The things have little intrinsic worth, but the memories are irreplaceable. We hesitate to place the equation in proper perspective and go from day to day, drinking the coffees of procrastination.

When a person as Paul puts his position in perspective, one needs to listen and talk with his own "frau,” plan, and look to the future. Not all future is "Super Bowl Sunday.”

Keep the faith, look out for the "boiling oil" of the future.

Jim