The Emporia Gazette

May 28, 2012

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Some folks who only know me through what I write make the false assumption that I don’t like Emporia. The truth is there are a lot of things I actually love about living here. So, to prove that’s there’s some meat on the bones of my assertion, I’m going to take a minute or two and list some of them.

I love the cheeseburgers and curly fries at J’s. If my cardiologist would relent I’d eat them more often.

I love my pals at cardiac rehab. I’m very fond of dubbing them “Team Boring.” They just let it all roll off their backs. They know we’re pals and that friends can have a good time teasing each other. I love Joanie and Cathy, the nursing team. I like them so much I’ve come to affectionately know them as the Cruella de Ville twins. I’ve even gotten to love doing the leg kicks. Right now our afternoon team is getting in shape to audition for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.

I really love our veterinarian, Floyd Dorsey and his team. Jack loves them too!

I love the Kansas Flint Hills. Standing silently in a sea of grass makes a man feel like a small speck in a very large universe. It’s a very healthy exercise.

I love our church and our fellow parishioners. I love our pastors, Mike and Jannie Stubbs. I love being around people who love me unconditionally, who are willing to confront me when I’m wrong and comfort me when I’m down in the dumps.

I love our family physicians, Brent Hrabik and Kimberley Schmid. I really love that I can get to see one of them on the same day I call. I love the fact that they don’t allow me the illusion of eternal residence here on earth. One of the great lessons I’ve learned from the occasional visits is that my joyful task is going to be patching things up or rubbing liniment into the bruises until I one day “cross the bar.”

I love the fact that I can get from one end of Emporia to another in ten minutes or less. I love to hear the occasional complaints about the 9th Avenue bottleneck, which amounts to three or four cars in a line at the four-way stop sign on the corner of 9th and Rural.

I love the way my developmentally disabled brother-in-law, James, has flourished here. I love to see how happy he is to be productive in his daily work at Hetlinger. I love seeing him interact so lovingly with the folks at Auspicion he calls “his staff.” I take great comfort in knowing that he’s cared for and loved. I love the great pride he takes in taking care of his own place.

I love our old Prairie Victorian. It’s a money pit, but I love it.

I love sitting on our porch swing. I love our neighbors. I especially love seeing neighborhood kids like Alex, Sidney, Travis, and Rae grow and learn.

I love being a member of the Lions Club.

I love the fact we’ve been able to host four international students in our home. I’ve loved the frequent conversations we’ve had with their friends around our dining room table. I’ve loved learning about Moldova, South Korea, China, Mexico, Pakistan, and India. I loved the cathartic effect hosting a Vietnamese student has had on this Vietnam veteran’s life.

I love being able to whisper drive-by prayers when I occasionally walk by the Gazette’s offices at 517 Merchant.

I love being the gadfly at Eggs and Issues.

I love physical activity. I thought hauling old sofas and rusty appliances away during “Cleansweep” was one of the best cardio-vascular workouts I’ve had in years. I love being around the staff who man our recycling center and landfill. I love being around people who love what they’re doing.

I love being in a place where I can look at the night sky and actually see Orion’s Belt and other constellations.

I love the occasional dinners we share with friends of high and low estate.

I love the Gazette’s “bloggers.” Some folks can’t see it, but they often function collectively like George Bailey did for Bedford Falls. We occasionally fuss and fight, but I find myself saying a little prayer for them every night before sleep overtakes me.

Speaking of George Bailey, I love watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” every December. I know the ending by heart. I know what’s coming. Yet, each year I find myself blubbering like a child when it comes. I take great comfort in knowing that I probably have a guardian angel like Clarence watching over me, Nancy, Jack, Ranger, the cats, and all those we’ve come to know and love here in Emporia.

• http://www.anothermansmeat.blogspot.com/