An example of Christian love

They came, they saw, they dined, and they bid — some really high $$$ bids. But it was all for a worthwhile cause. Their dear to the heart cause of enabling the Christian Education of our next generation of precious children. Yes, the participants all already pay taxes to support the public schools, no choice in the matter, but obviously feel that a religious-based education is important enough to contribute over and above.

Think on it. For those items that were donated for the auction, including those handcrafted whose materials, were probably purchased in the local area so good for business. The food was all prepared locally but I suspect at a breakeven charge so supply economics is good for the community. Thousands of hours of volunteer labor generously given. Then the thousands of $$$ bid for the donated items plus the high-priced, oh so good, meals all given in heartfelt generosity for a cause they all believe in.

Does one have to be a Catholic to participate? No way, all are welcome and I noted the presence of many of my protestant friends. Several items up for bid were donated by (heathen?) protestants and so went the bidding also. Yes, neighbor, you would be welcome to participate no matter your faith.

A new twist this year is that of giving the whole public a chance to bid online via the internet. It is the “HiBid” auction site so look for yourself. I was attracted to one item offered and here is a part of the advertising writeup: “Wallet made by St. Patrick School alum…. I am honored to be able to give back to a school that gave so much to me.” The item was a hand-tooled and crafted (by the giver) man’s genuine leather wallet complete with an undisclosed hoard of cash inside. Yes, I bid, but not enough to bring it back home with me. Maybe next time.

The old guy is working on a continuing education project to keep my Flight Instructor Certificate from expiring. Interesting thought; I first earned certification in 1964 and have been active ever since so that is half the time that mankind has actually been flying heavier than air machines. Oh, the changes! Airplanes themselves changed—improved, navigation systems dramatically became more capable with GPS coming onboard, regulations and rules constantly get tweaked and the flight instruments available to the pilot have gone digital. The flight instructor has to keep studying it all in order to teach the aspiring aviator—our future.

For you non-pilots out there think on the automobile that you drive today and compare it with what was on the road back in 1964. Cruise control was rare. No GPS or any kind of navigation system. Tires lasted about 20,000 miles and gas mileage no big factor. Airplanes have seen the same kind of technical advances as has the required skill level to operate one today. The flight instructor is expected to be able to operate and teach the old style as well as the latest up-to-date “glass cockpit” versions. So yes the required minimum 12+ hours of study is a good thing for any instructor old or new. Actually, I am enjoying.

Being a long-time instructor does have its advantages. Currently, I am teaching the new owner of a V-tailed Bonanza manufactured in 1956. I flew its military brother in Air Force pilot training. Still, if a recently qualified new instructor had to teach in it he/she might be flummoxed by the archaic flight instruments, the generator vs alternator, manual wobble pump for fuel pressure items all of which were state-of-the-art when I started. Now that new instructor could teach this old guy a whole lot when it comes to flying the new glass cockpits.

I caught a bit of a news release by our current Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro who was touting on his top priority while in office, climate change. Good gosh man here the Chinese Communist Navy already exceeds the number of combat ships that we own and Del Toro wants to reduce the size of our fleet for the unproven fiction of climate change.

In Secretary Del Toro’s defense, he has the experience of being the Captain (commander in charge) of a destroyer holding the rank of Commander in his 22 years of service. He graduated from the Naval Academy. He has to know that our nuclear-powered ships produce none of the “carbon pollution” that the climate lovers so fear. Looking at the state of the world today it might be a better idea to strengthen and build our Navy to prepare for likely conflict with our Communist-loving enemies so far from our shores. It is paramount that we be able to help protect our friend Taiwan and our other allies in the far reaches of the Pacific.

Hopefully, our somewhat experienced Secretary of the Navy isn’t ranking politics of more importance than strengthening the vital armed services, both the Navy and the Marine Corps, that he has been chosen by our President and Congress to represent.

That is how I saw it.

Dick Trail