Seeing things clearly now: Grateful for modern medicine

Hallelujah, it was done. My 86-year-old lenses clouded with cataracts were removed and replaced with new plastic ones this past week. Evidently I slept through the process while the capable eye surgeon made the intricate incisions and slipped the old lens out because I never felt a bit of pain before or after. And yes my vision was a bit cloudy for a couple of days but is better now with the promise of continuing to improve. Grannie prods me to wear my sunglasses and be careful!

It has been interesting visiting with a large group of my friends who, too, tell me that they have had the operation and now are happy with the result. Modern medicine in our country is a godsend of which we all should give thanks.

Grannie Annie and the old guy gussied up and went to the auditorium to enjoy a “Night on the Hill” in support of the Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation. We saw and visited with a large number of friends there.

Good for you all. I found it interesting to note that there were also a large number of people whom I assume were from out of town, people that I didn’t know or recognize, also there in support of the well-run institution. The banquet was well chosen, well prepared and served just right to eat. Many seemed to enjoy the Dueling Piano entertainment but with this old guy’s hearing aids not working well and the acoustics working against the musical artists we stepped out early to relax at home.

Who am I to offer a critique of the type of music and entertainment that the majority seem to enjoy?

Speaking of old your columnist just sits back and tickles at the political news commentators pronouncing that both Presidents Trump and Biden being past the age of 80 years are both too old to run again.

I am looking back at the age of either of them by five or six years and obviously the problem is Biden’s cognitive decline. Trump does not seem to be suffering from the same mental problems and hopefully won’t if elected for another term.

Poor Joe the problem is obvious but the Democrats have rather put themselves in a box and it will be interesting to see how they will solve their problem of a president that insists on running for a second term although a majority of voters at this time seem to indicate that he can’t win the upcoming election.

Then, too, I personally wonder if the cognitive problem might also be hitting closer to home. I notice that I am having a deuce of a time remembering people’s names although I do recognize their faces. Please tell me if you think that I am having problems and I promise to gratefully step back so as not to become a burden.

Bison Days

Today was day one of a McCook High School exercise called Bison Days. It is a well organized effort to get high school students out into our community to see what jobs make this community work. What occupation that they might aspire to pursue and prepare for their adult lives. I along with fellow flight instructor Dave Fulkerson stepped up to present the jobs that are a part of our airport. We of course are interested in recruiting those to go into aviation which at the moment is in dire need. Pilots are in short supply for both the airlines and all other aspects of commercial aviation including spray pilots servicing agriculture. Aircraft mechanics are in even more dire straits.

How about air traffic controllers and even dispatchers all again in short supply. Aircraft can’t operate without the services of the people who do the work of refueling and servicing aircraft flying local or going cross country. Then there are those who mow the grass, maintain the taxiways and runways, keep the lighting operating and removing snow when needed.

For you who travel by commercial aviation, we have a crew performing the duties of TSA (Transport Safety Administration). Yes all those functions take place at our airport here in McCook.

When I was in high school about all that I personally was exposed to in the way of a future occupation was farming which I loved and grew up in and flying which I initially learned right here at our airport as my dad owned a J-3 cub. With Bison Days our wonderful young people, at an impressionable age, are at least getting exposed to a little more of what is out there that they might be interested in pursuing. Great program!

Friendly reminder

Okay to all my gentlemen readers tomorrow is Valentine’s Day so don’t forget that your wife is looking for flowers and/or a beautiful gift, cards count, to show your continuing love for her. It will pay dividends.

It is also Ash Wednesday this year so take her to church and attend the special services in memory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God will bless you for it.

That is the way I saw it.

Dick Trail