Letter to the Editor

We live in a VERY conservative area. Each week I read our local paper and cringe when I read the thoughts of some of the fellow citizens around me. Today, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut, or, I should say my fingers from typing.

Here is what was written, and my response to the editor. I will let you know next week if my comments get posted.

Marriage has not Changed

Centuries ago, the institution of marriage was created for one male and one female united in wedlock as one, and at their choosing can give birth to children. That is the definition of marriage.

A committed gay or lesbian couple cannot meet this definition of marriage because they cannon give birth to children on their own. So it's not a marriage.

But they can have a civil ceremony with the legal rights of a marriage, but they are not satisfied with that. So, now who's intolerant? Keep the sanctity of marriage.

-Ed (last name omitted from my blog), Grafton.

Ed, I sure hope that "marriage" has changed. As you say, "Centuries ago, the institution of marriage…" Don't forget that centuries ago, marriage was not an institution based off of love and romance, but of a business arrangement between two families. An arrangement where the wife was expected to be subservient to her husband in all matters. I hope things have changed. You also feel that if a couple cannot reproduce children that there is no point in being married. In the United States there are about 12% of heterosexual married couples that cannot have children. I know people that will never be able to reproduce because of a physical condition and are happily married or hope to be someday. Adoption is an option for anyone (regardless of their sexual orientation, gender, or marital status) who can care for, love, and raise a child. I know homosexual couples that have adopted children. They are wonderful parents. Sadly, there are people who are intolerant, and ignorant of what the definition of marriage should be. With divorce rates so high for heterosexuals, I think it is us who might be able to learn a thing or two from committed gay or lesbian couples. They certainly are not getting married because of a business arrangement or because they are expected to get married because someone got pregnant. If two people love each other, our society should celebrate that. It is love, not intolerance, that will make this world a better place.

-Jason Goyette, Cedarburg

So the whole issue bothers me. I totally support our gay and lesbian community. Like I said in my response I have met a nice gay couple that have adopted 3 kids that have special needs. That takes more love, and more commitment than the average person can imagine. I also know a nice lesbian couple that adopted a child from Russia over 15 years ago and they are wonderful people. But, what steamed me the most was when he said that if they can't have children then they can't be married. Excuse me, WHAT? My daughter will not be able to give birth to a biological child, but if she wants to get married someday, it will be a wedding (and a marriage) to remember!

Best Medicine?

Whenever I go to the gym to workout, I bring along my iPhone so I can listen to some music. I've gone through the trouble of creating a "Workout" playlist that is meant to inspire, while I perspire. It gets old though. So I started streaming Pandora for more variety, but even then I was getting songs that all sounded the same. Then I was inspired, why not listen to some stand up comedy clips? There is a reason that you haven't thought of this while taking a jog, or pumping iron. It is a bad idea. I made it through my pull ups without incident, and then slapped some weights onto the barbell, got into position and heaved about 135 pounds over my chest on the bench press. Then my earbuds are filled with someone actually being funny and I realize that I may be putting my life in danger. It can be a little difficult to maintain a steady breath and muscle composure when someone is imitating George Bush trying to do arithmetic. Something about 150billion percent being almost half. Things were still hovering on the awkward side when I am grinning ear to ear while on the treadmill. I'm a happy guy and all, but I don't need anyone at the gym thinking I am borderline psycho. I will be back to the old playlist next time.

We don't watch much TV in this house. When we do, it is usually a movie or Allie's favorite America's Funniest Videos (which is never on at the gym, go figure). Two great shows that we always record or watch in real time (okay, beside Packer games GO PACK GO) are Parenthood, and Justified. Pretty much polar opposites. Parenthood is a show that we can relate to. It covers relationships of married adult couples, their teen-age children and the real issues that happen in life. It is wonderfully written, and will make you laugh, or have you grabbing for a box of tissues. Then there is Justified. It's about a Federal Marshall that gets to say the best lines on TV while bending the law to catch criminals in Harlen County Kentucky. One of the reasons that I like the show is because Joe likes watching with us. It gets difficult to watch TV shows with your teenage son, common interests are harder to come by. While Parenthood is excellent, it really doesn't appeal to the teen age boy 90% time. There is a story line with a high school senior named Drew and his one and off relationship with Amy, but most of the show is more about older relationships.

Resolute

So the new year has just started and you are supposed to make some changes. Around here, changes are the norm. Make plans to go somewhere, they will be cancelled. Go out to a movie, come home after 20 minutes (true story). Get a job offer, accept it, then realize that it will end up costing you much more than you could earn financially.

Welcome to our "Spinning Wheel". 

The term has been hanging over us like a dark cloud for years. Sometimes that dark cloud will dump a torrential storm on you. It might just drizzle a bit. Or if you are lucky, it will pass quickly and the Sun will fill your skies. It wasn't that long ago that we used to wait at the check out at the grocery store and inside our heads we would make that familiar sound that comes after someone spins the wheel on the Price is Right. click click click... Will the credit card transaction go through??? Thankfully, it always did go through and even more so, going to the store now doesn't cause that moment of anxiety to reoccur.

The Wheel continues to spin. Allie has been prescribed human growth hormones twice in the past. The first time was when she was about 6 years old. She is on the smaller side for height, and the only way to help her grow more is going to be by giving her a daily injection of HGH. Needles aren't her thing, this is where the problem lies. It was too traumatic on her when she was that young so we stopped the injections within a few days. When she was 9, we heard about a new device that didn't use a needle to get the HGH into her. Instead is was a "jet" of medication that would pierce her skin. Sounds pretty good in theory. Problem was that if it wasn't 100% perfectly lined up and the area that it was being put in was 100% still, it would cut a line in the skin and puff up for days. We tried that for about 3 months before giving it up. Now Allie is 4'2" and her growth has been going slowly, so we made another appointment with her endocrinologist and we are going to give HGH another "shot". The newest device will use a needle, but it is only 1/4 long and I believe that it is a 32 gauge needle (very, very thin). We hope to start therapy in a few weeks once it get approved by insurance again.

I got a job. Then, I turned it down. With Joe going to college soon, we thought a few extra bucks would be nice to have. Turns out that if we increase our income, we end up paying more for college. Sounds stupid, and yes, it is. I am already gainfully employed around the house. Teaching homeschooling, taking care of the house, etc. Amy calls me the "glue" that holds it all together. I couldn't do it without her though, she is my rock.