And another great video!

A friend emailed this one, with the heading "Greatest Movie Line Ever!"

Great video!

This is fantastic. If only someone in Congress would stand up and speak that way to Obama.



H/T Anchoress; also found on The Real Revo.

Dear President Obama

Received via email from my cousin in Virginia this morning:

Dear President Obama,

Thank you for helping my neighbors with their mortgage payments. You know, the ones down the street who in the good times purchased their house for no money down, refinanced it several times, then bought SUVs, ATVs, RVs, a pool, a big screen plasma TV, two Wave Runners, a boat, and a Harley.

I was wondering, since I am paying my mortgage and theirs, could you arrange for me to borrow the Harley now and then?

Signed,
"Concerned in CA"

P. S. They also need help with their credit cards, when do you want me to start making those payments?

P. P. S. I almost forgot - they didn't file their income tax return this year. Should I go ahead and file for them or will you be appointing them to cabinet posts?

My godfather

Robert Mueller, my Dad's older brother and my godfather, entered Eternal Life on Monday night. He'd had a bout of pneumonia, and though for awhile it looked like he might recover, his 87 year old heart eventually just tired out. It was his time to be called home.

This is hard, as my Dad's younger brother, Dick, passed away last October. My Dad is now the last surviving member of his original family. Years ago, my Great Aunt Catherine Ennis said that one of the hardest things about getting old is having to say good-bye to everyone you love.

Uncle Bob was one of the good guys. He and his wife Mary Ann are salt of the earth: faithful Catholics, hard-working, persevering, loving, kind-hearted, responsible. They raised ten children, all of whom became productive adults with their own families.

He was a very talented musician. At family gatherings, there was always music. The far wall of their living room was bracketed by a grand piano and an organ. All the kids inherited that talent (somehow, the music gene totally skipped over my branch of the family tree); they could stage their own quartets, quintets... a small orchestra... with piano, drums, French horn, flute, violin, trombone, trumpet, guitar... what did I miss? Amazing.

He was a smart man, too; worked as an engineer at GE and was responsible for many of their innovative medical devices.

His creativity extended beyond work and music into all kinds of projects, including wood working. Some years ago, he gave me a handy "push me-pull you" gadget for the oven: a smallish, sturdy piece of wood with notches carved at the end to push and pull hot oven racks. It combines beauty and function; its curved shape fits the hand, it was sanded smooth and stained a pretty walnut brown. It's even personalized, with my name neatly wood-burned into it. A friend from Chicago was visiting once and admired the clever tool. After she left, I called Uncle Bob and asked if he could make another for her. Of course! Within a few days I had it in hand, ready to mail to her. She was tickled, I think Uncle Bob was delighted (at least I hope so!), and I had another fond memory of my godfather.

My aunt always made sure to send birthday and graduation cards and gifts. I said to her once, recently, "You had ten kids, and you still never forgot my birthday!" "Well, of course!" she said, "you were the goddaughter." What a lovely statement of the importance of family, faith, and the bonds created by the Sacraments. That meant a lot to me, as a kid, and even more now as an adult.

Family was so important to Uncle Bob. A couple years ago, he said, "You and I ought to put together a little family reunion, with anyone who lives nearby." One of my great regrets is that I had to put that off. Though I was honored that he asked me to plan it with him, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt I simply couldn't take on another project in my over-scheduled life. Still, I'll always feel a bit sad that I wasn't able to say yes to him on that.

But, in faith, we know that we'll see each other again. So, Uncle Bob, as your goddaughter, I promise to pray for you, and your family, and your brothers and their families, so that we'll have that great, joyful reunion someday.