New Years Eve

Like so many people this year I can't help but bid a fair ado to 2011. For our family it was a year of pay cuts, attacks against teachers, teachers employment rights, longer hours less pay, repairs on the car-again and again, pool repairs, painting, and replacing facets, and appliances. Timmy had the teacher from Hell and was bullied at his old school, and Kaylee moved to New Jersey sending a horrible letter complaining about her childhood.  The downgrade in medical coverage that happened at the same time the portion of insurance increased to 300 dollars a month, and the drug copay's up to 40 dollars. I simply can't afford to take all the medication the doctor prescribes.  My hubby's health continues to provide us with challenges, my sister-in=law continues to fight for her very life, my uncle's cancer is gaining on him, my cousin Skip died, and my aunt is struggling to walk. The diagnosis of Diabetes is still kicking my behind.

However 2011 also held some blessings. My cousin Tara moved back to GR, her husband graduated from medical school, and I bought a new car. I enjoyed seeing my family. Jamie came home for a visit, Timmy adjusted very well to Forest Hills and made the honor roll. I enjoyed taking riding lessons and going horseback riding. A trip to Disney with Timmy was wonderful and the first vacation I had in 10 years.

I close out this new year taking my aunts to church and returning home to toast the new year with my husband. HE IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE. So goodbye 2011

Christmas is Past

The day after Christmas for many people seems to be more shopping. Unreal-unbelievable-and so not me!
My morning began sleeping in to the Blessed Hour of 9:00 A.M. Then the cleaning. Being a working mother these days off give me time to scrub, clean and rearrange. Today in between a quick riding lesson I vacuumed and scrubbed and even cleaned one closet. it is mindless work that allows me a bit of reflection so here goes..Family room and dinette done. Tomorrow the kitchen and living room. Wednesday bathrooms, and Thursday the upstairs.

What I gave for Christmas. So much more interesting than bragging about what I got. I gave zero gift cards this year-while practical and loved by so many they lack that personal touch-so here is what I gave and why.

1. To My Secret Santa at work who recently had a power outage and was a bite freaked out with light and nothing to do- A bag with chocolate wine, wine glass and a flashlight kit.  She got such a big laugh out of the gift that I know when she uses the flashlight she will remember her story of crawling across the floor without light.

2. To my husband who loves "The  Christmas Story Movie" Timmy and I got him THE MAJOR AWARD=That's right the famous leg lamp. I have a feeling it is going in his den window in front of the house-Ah electric gleaming lite up leg-right here in Cascade. Walgreen's had the lamp and it was a mission to  get it in the house without him seeing it. Well worth it to experience the laugh when he opened it. To make it even more perfect he was of course watching the movie A Christmas story in TBS when he opened it!

3.To my youngest son the builder- a Lego Wii remote. It actually works with his Wii and has extra Lego blocks. I envision a village build around the remote made out of-what else Lego's. I also got him an iPod charger that is an alarm clock. The best part is the bed shaker attachment that vibrates under his pillow. He liked the charger part. The alarm clock was needed.  I am loving the idea of the bed shaker......umm a gift that keeps on giving. Gives new meaning to "Shake it Baby Shake it!"


4. To My Oldest son Jamie I sent a 4 Gig USB bracelet for his college data files,  and travel luggage. He says it's a gift that says "visit home more often"- I actually got it because I was stumped as to what to get him and it was on an interest list of Gifts for the Young Adult. However I do love the idea of him visiting home more often.

5. To everyone who came to Manning Christmas- An Ornament showing some aspect of family.

6 . With 2010 students- I bought mints=lots of mints I handed out all day.

7. I got the teenagers lotion and eye makeup, or nail polish and a nail kit. I got the three 3 year old's a winter scarf, hat and matching mittens along with a my little pony. I gave Austin a Detective Kit, Keenan a set of green soldiers like the ones on toy story. Just like the set Robbie played with when he was little.
8. We brought dinner down to my sister in law and her family and enjoyed the seeing their expressions for their little gifts. Travel insulated coffee cups for Randy who whenever I saw him in the hospital was off to get a beverage which wouldn't stay cold. A nice ring for BZ because she knows I always get her jewelry-it's a girl thing. I got Jacob noise resistant Headphones so when needed he can tune out everyone, relax, and listen to music. For Terri an deluxe nail kit and a promise to return and do her nails again.
9. A family at school had a fire so I bought 2 outfits for each of the three children.
10. Someone I knew and was not feeling well was unable to purchase Christmas gifts, So  I shopped, paid for, amd wrapped the gifts for this person to give. That way she could experience the gift of giving as well.


What I tried to do this year was think about each person and pick out something fun-when you can't afford fabulous-I'll pick funny any day of the week.

I was myself blessed with  thoughtful gifts. A new pair of riding boots from  my husband and a horse statue 'cause a real horse is not affordable. Timmy made me a beautiful necklace that I will treasure.  One of my best gifts was a phone call from my son Jamie on Christmas day.

Irony- The wreathe showing the pool. Christmas framing summer.

Mementoes , Memories, and Understandings

2011 has been a year of mixed blessings. My husband is still with me battling against his

 tremors, and debilitating headaches.My Uncle Sam who is battling cancer was well enough to attend the Manning Family Christmas and I was able to hug him and tell him how much I loved him. I was also able to see my son Jamie who came home for California this summer for a visit. Timmy has recovered nicely from his school drama from last year, made honor roll, and is actually enjoying school. This past May I was able to take Timmy to Disney World and my cousin David and Marty joined us for some great fun.Manning family Christmas was a happy success. It is so wonderful to see my aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins. What is even more of a blessings is how so many make the effort to come.  So my memory book and mementos include, pictures, notes, and yep---mouse ears. My sister in law continues to recover from her stomach surgery and we are overjoyed to be able to visit her on Christmas day in her own home and not at U of M medical.

On the other hand it wouldn't be life if we were not faced with obstacles to overcome, and sadness to bear.I lost my dear cousin and friend Skip a few weeks ago. He was my buddy and conspirator in all the family history research. He died barely over the age of 60. I will remember him how I last saw him, as well as the young man who loved to surf, would throw me over his shoulder, and always seemed to have a "model" of a girlfriend hanging over him. He served as a medic during the Vietnam war taking care of the guys shipped stateside. He married the love of his life who already had 4 children who became his, and added a beloved daughter. He joins his wife Pat in heaven and leaves us with richer lives because of his presence.

Kaylee moved to New Jersey with a boyfriend and we do not hear much from her. She did send a note to Timmy on his birthday, but besides that she remains absent from our lives, but present in our prayers, My Aunt who turns 85 in January has had dizzy spells and I have spent a couple of days and one night over there recently to help out. She has always been so active, seeing her use a walker has taken some getting used to.  But I treasure these days we get to spend together as I know that there are not as many ahead as there once were. We love to talk about our adventures together in the past, and dream of the things we could do if the right lottery ticket ever changed our lives . Her daughter Christine has been shuffling between my aunts home and her own. She is a jewel. I remember well the long years of taking care of my own mother, driving back from Detroit for a day or two, and then back to college, I used to joke I was raising my kids and my mother-now I treasure those days that at one time seemed so endless and trying. 

The other day I  found myself pondering about life, work, family friends and Christmas. I guess crossing 50 gives you a bit of perspective and an uncannily ability to look both back and forward. I find myself forgiving more easily, forgetting more often, and measuring my words more effectively. I now understand what my mother meant when she said, "Some day you will understand!"While neither my husband nor I remember what we "got" for Christmas last year-we do remember many things. We remember and recall the call from our son, Timmy sleeping in for the first time in all the Christmas's we remember. I recall with perfect clarity the look on my sons face when he spotted us at the airport. That look of joy and love inhabits a special place in my heart. I have to smile every time I recall Timmy cantering his horse around the ring with a smile that was half terror and half joy. When I recall handing out diplomas in May to my 8th grade homeroom, I still tear up a bit because I surprised myself with how close I felt to them all. So as I look back this holiday season, it is the memories of people and events-and not of things that have brought both joy and sadness. Ying and Yang.

Now I love "stuff" as much as the next person-but the kind of things I love seem to have changed. My treasured possessions all have a memory attached to them. I treasure a ring my husband gave me on our 5th anniversary when he told me" I was the love of his life." I treasure a hand carved spinning wheel my uncle made for me that reminds me of the full size one I used to play with at his house. I have a emerald ring that My Aunt Geri had her father make for me. ( He was a jewelry and like another grandpa to me).  I have an old weather predictor from my grandpa, a special pin from my aunt Jean, and hand made clay art from each of my children. My grandmother and I shared July birthdays so I was left her ruby ring. I have a dutch cupboard that was made for my mom and a lamp Tim's dad made for us. The retail value on all of this put together would likely be rather small-but to me they are the world. They represent my world, filled with family, and memories, and events.

All this brings me to the gift giving part of Christmas. In a year when gift cards seem to be the gift of choice, I just have to pause and wonder how many memories a gift card makes? I remember my Easy Bake oven and the hours of cooking with a little light bulb, as a kid. I remember getting the ugliest pare of slippers that ended up being the best foot warmers ever. My grandmother bought me a little plastic sewing machine that I used forever and whenever I use my real sewing machine now I remember her lessons on my little plastic one.

So Mom-I get it now...it really is the thought that counts. It's the time spent together, its the memories, and the momentous that remind us that we are blessed to have special people in our lives. Our lives our touched by those who love us. It is the joy we ourselves receive when every now and then a gift we might give-becomes a memento for another person. Not a gift card-but a thoughtful gift-the gift of ourselves,

Fabulous Fall

We decided to take advantage of the warm 80 degree temperature in October and make a trek out to the beach since Tim was headache free. These occassions are rare, so we try to make use of them to build some family memories.The drive from Cascade to Grand Haven was like taking a mini color tour. All the rain in September has apparently helped the trees hang on to their leaves longer as they change color. 

We love North Shore in Spring Lake. You can walk along the shoreline for miles and enjoy the sand dunes, beach, and  bathe in the light that dances across the water. One of the best times to visit the "Big Lake" is in the fall. The wind creates such interesting patterns, there are less people, and the colorful tree makes such a nice backdrop to the sparkling watrer and blue skies! The fresh produces stands were all open so of course we brought home some prize pumpkins. Fall in Michigan is a delight for the sensesw.

ArtPrize

Art Prize the Third Year

A lovely  fall day and a town filled with people, and there to view art-amazing. While the forml artists may decry the process where all of us Joe and Jane public  get to vote, even they have to agree that Art Prize drws ttention to art as a whole.

There is so much to see. We wlked from one end of downtown to the other. It will require a return trip to see more, but here is a little taste of the  Art wesaw.

Summer Recap

August 28th, 2011

Dear Readers,
I  got very busy and very behind in keeping up this journal, so I will attempt a bit of summarizing the summer-pun intended.

Timmy went to camp. He enjoyed the horseback riding, going canoeing, and the crafts. He was concerned that they left the horses out in the sun too long. He was happy to get back to his lessons with Kelly at  Rivendell. He has been taking lessons since April and really seems to love them. After a horrible school year, the horses have been very healing for him. His horse is named Precious and the horse I ride is named Mickey. He is really getting control of the horse and gaining self confidence.

One of the real highlights of the summer was when Jamie came home to visit us for a week. Even though Tim Senior had a few bad days we managed to log some great quality time with our oldest. We are so proud of him. He has a decent job and is taking some additional college classes. My heart was so full of joy to have my boys with me. We went canoeing, bike riding and even managed to spent a bit of time at Craig's Cruisers. The guys managed to get the telescope to center in some awesome stars.

Tim continues to have good days and bad days. When he has a good day we quickly plan something fun to do-making the most of the time we have together. We may call each other old man and 'ole woman-but he still calls me the love of his life. So that's worth a lot!!

I managed to stay on my diet, swim and bike ride. So I didn't gain any weight-but would still like to lose some. We haven't heard from Kaylee since she moved, it hurts my heart, but I have my 2 sons whose constant love makes up for it.  My sister-in-law finally was released from U of M medical. We travled once a week to support her, there were days we thought she wouldn't make it-but she came through. Uncle Sam had a pretty good summer but is looking weaker. Fighting cancer is a tough job on him and all of those who love him. Aunt Klio, Tami and Todd continue to be a huge source of support. My cousin Skip and cousin Susie are battling there own health issues. We hold them in our prayers and love.



I am already back at school with inservices.This year I have 2 schools and wil lbe traveling during the day-so life gives me an additional challenge. Now if the car will hold out one more year!

The Summer of Home Improvement

Aunt Jean in the Pool

Summer flew bye. We did loads of Home improvement tasks. Even as I list them here... I am unsure how we mananged to get them all done. It all started with the pool-or as Tim calls it the money sucking hole in the ground. We drained and repainted the entire pool. There are not words to describe what a horrible chore it was. Just draining the deep end with bucket-only to have it rain and get filled up again. I now understand  why they wanted 5,000 dollars to paint it. By doing it ourselves we only spent 600 dollar in paint. Along the way Tim also fell and got a huge egg on his forhead, the acid bath cracked the heals on my feet, and burned them. But hey we were 4,000 dollars ahead of the game. And check out the pictures- doesn't it look good!

Next came rebuilding and staining the deck. That lead to powerwashing and bleaching the entire house. After powerwashing  we had to  paint. Yeppers-the entire back of the house both garage doors, and trim. The final job was  plastering an area on the 2nd story. Somehow going back to work will be restful.

An Open Letter to Michigan's Govenor

Dear Governor Synder,
I will not sacrifice students.You may take away funding from our public schools-I will just work a second job because I know my students need me, and the things I provide for them. I have survived all the pay cuts you have handed out these past 3 years. Even if it means going back to cleaning houses for others, I will buy the supplies, snacks, and incentives my students need to be successful! I will keep on teaching.

You may require more and more testing which is stressful to my kids, but I will still find a way to do fun hands on learning which they will remember and use long after they have forgotten the tested facts. I will honor every child as an individual and know they each have their own gifts. I will tell them that testing is just a small part of their education. I will keep on teaching

You may make the cost of my health insurance so expensive I can’t afford it. I will take more vitamins and learn to live without insurance, but I will keep on teaching.

You took away my seniority rights which will makes it harder for me to advocate for my students when many administrators only see test scores and not children. But I will continue to put my students first because I know their hopes, dreams and aspirations, and I will keep on teaching.

You will continue to point out everything negative you can about education and I will continue to point out how teachers make a difference every day. When I get discouraged I will reread the notes from my past years students and remember that they are the reason I teach. I will keep on teaching.

I will sit through the required Professional Development classes, even though they are basically the same ones I have taken years ago. Then I will go on line and find the successful lessons and ideas real teachers have created that really work. I will engage students in the learning process and I will keep on teaching.

You may make it impossible for students to have Music, and Art classes –but I will find a way to teach them that Art and Music aren’t extra, that they speak to our souls. Even If I have to drag out my guitar, sing off key, and use Youtube art classes, I will keep on teaching.

You may believe that giving school districts the right to evaluated and fire teachers for any reason will scare teachers into being better. I know that fear never works as a motivational tool. I have watched some of the very best teachers retire these past three years. I have watched others become so discouraged that they embraced the philosophy of just teaching the information that would be tested. I am not discouraged, I am not leaving. I am angry and I will fight for my students. Every child is a gift.

The unequal funding for education is not only unfair it is unethical. I will not be discouraged or silenced my students count…I will keep on teaching.

If you are ever interested in real ideas from real teachers to improve education, I would be more than happy to meet with you.

Kelley DeBoer

Summer Blessed Summer

Summers Simple Pleasures

A new canoe and a wonderful trip paddling down the Thornapple River yesterday; Lunch with friends on the deck; Timmy's cousins coming over a swim in the pool; a week of horse camp for Timmy; fresh strawberries from Heidie's market; lounging in the pool reading a good book; the smell of grass as I mow the lawn; discovering Faygo (a Michigan pop); using "deer fortress" and managing to actually see my daylilies bloom this year.

Count Down to Disney

Yes it's that time honored trip-almost the right of passage for most children-I speak of Mouseland...The kingdom of Mickey..........the magical moments. Disney World Now I have been several times but this is the first time Timmy is going. David and Marty drove theor motorcycle downtomeet us. It made Disney so much more fun sharing it. Here are some shots of the magic moments.

Marty and David at Downtown Disney

Timmy in the hotel pool

Our Hotel Suite

Now that's strong

Resting after a long day at the Park

I AM A TEACHER

Being a teacher is not something that I do for a living-it is who I am. In the last few years teaching and education has become a VERY popular institution to attack. Since almost everyone attended school, the masses are quick to comment and criticize.

There are days it seems like very ill of society is supposed to be fixed inside the walls of a school. Children who live in poverty, move every 4-5 months, have a parent in prison, and live under daily stress are expected to perform as well as the kids in the "Burbs" who have every advantage imaginable. Of course when these children do not perform as well as their suburban neighbors-it's the teacher's fault. To make things even crazier-the very districts that seek to educate , feed and cloth these children, are then punished by having more funding taken away because the children are struggling. I equate this to throwing a drowning man a brick.

Suddenly doctors, lawyers, and insurance salesman who all make well over 100,000, think the average pay of a Michigan teacher at 48,000 dollars, is paying too much! I am especially hurt when listening to people I thought were friends, paint teachers (through their unions) as greedy saying it is all about money. Perhaps they have a way of paying their bills without money-but my mortgage company, and the bills I need to pay, require money.

These very same people do not have to purchase out of their take home pay the materials they need to even do their jobs. For the past few years my husband has refused to deduct all the money I spent on my classroom for taxes because it is too high a percent of my take home pay. Many people in the teachers lounge are hearing the same thing from their tax specialists. Costs have simply risen much faster that the dollars available for education. Teachers have picked up the difference by digging into their dwindling take home pay.

There is so much misinformation about teaching that the general public seems to believe. First of all being a tenured teacher does not mean you can't be fired. It does mean that in order to be fired the administration must have document why they are letting a teacher go. Trust me I have seen plenty of tenured teachers fired. Administrators that say it is hard to get rid of a tenured teacher are really saying that they do not want to stop in the class observe, and record their reasons. I once saw a principal try to fire a teacher because he was having an affair with her teachers aid, and when his wife found out he thought the teacher was the one who told. It turned out it was another person, but if not for tenure the real facts would never have come out. In this case the teacher was allowed to transfer-and nothing happened to the administrator who was having the affair.

Another piece of information that is incorrect is that teachers are paid in the summer and get all this time off. First of all we are only paid for 60 hours every 2 weeks even though the required hours in our buildings are 40 hours per week. They subtract the 30 minute lunch and the two 15 minutes a day. This is very misleading because I have yet to meet a single elementary teacher who ever got two 15 minutes breaks a day. Lunch time is usually spent problem solving issues that students have and returning parent phone calls. Then like many professions we have work to take home. The difference is -these work hours are not billable. There are no year end bonuses and God help you if you ever miss a message or don't return a parent phone call within a 24 hour period. Gosh I wait weeks for test results from my doctors, lawyers call back when they feel like it, and then I have to pay them extra for the phone call and for reading the tests.

As for summers-hey I would work them if the schools were open. I did not set up the summers off system. However I will tell you I attend lots of classes, inservices, and specialized training at my own personal cost during this time.

I am tired of being attacked and I am no longer going to apologize for the 50,000 dollars a year I make. I know I am worth it. Education is worth it. If you think education is too expensive and teachers are over paid-just watch what is going to happen in the next few years. Take a look at the low test scores and huge turn over in the Right to Work States.

Colleges are seeing many talented students leave teaching programs. No one wants to work in a profession that is not respected, under funded, and the brunt of all societies problems. We need these young people. I do understand the cost/benefit ratio. They cannot graduate with these huge student loans, and take a job that will require them 10 years to pay off their loans. I am worried that we under fund education at the peril of our children.

I love teaching, I love my kids, and I love my profession. It is time more of us speak up. Let's face it if we do not it is the kids who will suffer.

I am a teacher-I am proud of it-and I am worthy of respect and adequate compensation for my skills and expertize!

Valentines Day

So what does a teacher of 14 year old 8th graders do for them for Valentines day? At this point I am going to make them each a valentine with the schools logo and put a treat inside the envelope. I did give each of my girls a pair of socks from Target with hearts on them-but the guys they are a bit more problematic. So any thoughts out there?

I'm a Moderate

Yep I am proud to say it. Go ahead and disparage me if you wish-but I refuse to be labeled as a left winged liberal nut case, or as an ultraconservative right winged closed minded conservative. I am quickly realizing that there are more of us out there than either of the afore mentioned groups would like to acknowledge. So what I do believe in???

I believe, in God, Family, Freedom of Expression and Common Sense.

RELGION
I believe in the freedom of religion-NOT- the freedom from all religion. Since the supreme court opens with prayer, our money says “In God we trust”, a teacher should be able to have the class take of moment of silence out of respect for the death of a classmate or leader. Those who do not believe in God are not harmed by 60 seconds of silence. I have no problem with people wishing me Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, Happy yon Kipper, or any other religious holiday. I personally am up for goodwill in any language or culture.
I believe in a right to a decent life. That means that if we outlaw abortion we are making an 18 year commitment to feed, cloth and educate that child. It is an expensive proposition-but I do not think a right to life should end after the child is born. I am always amazed by the right to life people who are pro death penalty and not willing to fund public schools. A right to a decent life included a decent education.

EDUCATION
I value education and I do believe money does make a difference. After all if it doesn’t- the schools that receive so much more money would have no problem in giving up some. It makes no sense to me that children and teachers are funded at different rates across the entire state and yet are expected and punished if they do not meet the same academic standards. It is unacceptable to me that urban teachers are expected to work with lower pay, higher student teacher ratios, and many times without textbooks or materials. I consider myself a well-educated person but I will never understand quantum physics. Thanks goodness my teachers were never punished for my lack of talent in that certain area. The world is full of talented people-not every child is the same and expecting them all do well at everything, is simply not possible. There is a difference between having high expectations for students and asking then to accomplish something that it beyond their means (AKA quantum Physics and myself). I am sorry to admit that all the art classes in the world would not make an artist out of me. Perhaps we need to have some flexibility in courses, to maximize the talents each individual student has, instead of trying to make them all the same. (Core curriculum)

Respectful SPEECH
I am never sure what it means to be politically correct. I am sure that every human being should be treated with respect. That means listening and debating ideas not personalities. It means not demeaning the idea of another person in order to elevate my own. Too often all ideas are lost in the shouting and disrespectful tone of an argument. I am also willing to concede that I am not always right, and that an opinion of mine is subject to change based on new information and new life experiences. This does not make me wish-washy-but rather someone who is willing to see an issue from a variety of perspectives.

Discipline
Discipline should not be a dirty word. Self discipline is perhaps one of the hardest skills to attain. My continual battle to diet is a testament to this fact. Too many people in our free society get away with too much. Somehow it’s only wrong if you get caught, or if other people were doing the same thing-it is supposed to mitigate personal behavior. When I was a kid a little fear kept many of my behaviors in check. If I was in trouble at school I was in double trouble at home. Now, the children are proud to tell teachers not only is their mother not going to do anything she may come up to school and kick my behind. Teachers get in trouble now for speaking to harshly to a child, and sending them to the office is often seen as a fun way to get out of class. Basically they know-nothing can or will be done to them if they choose not to comply. Not great training for the work world where you do as you are told or lose your job. Discipline must be restored to the schools if achievement is going to progress in an upward direction.

UNIONS
I think unions are fine as long as they represent their workers. Once the administrators for a union make more than twice as much as the workers they represent-they have become an institution in and of themselves. I was recently surprised and disconcerned about the amount of money the MEA leaders were making. After years of pay cuts and benefit concessions-they need to feel the pain as well. On the other hand it makes no sense to me that managers make millions while they ask workers for pay cuts. In my school district there are so many administrative positions no one is really sure what half of them do. And if Charter and Catholic schools can run without huge layers of administration-why can’t public schools?

TAXES
Taxes-as much as I hate paying them, feel I pay too much of them, I know they are necessary. I am for transparency, in the budget process. There would be less bridges to nowhere built if we could actually see the budget expenditures. Public Service should be compensated but not made rich. I am also thinking that making money in tell all books about public service should be reviewed as a matter of national security. I am tired of the TRASH TALKING.

SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security was set up to be a retirement fund. You put money in while you are working and when you retire you get the money back. The problem with social security today is that it pays people who never put a cent into the system. It covers kids with ADHD who are not even old enough to work, people who are too over weight to work, ect. I am not saying that these groups do not need help-but social security should be used for what it was set up for- retirement. If you are disabled and need to retire sooner-ok-you can draw off the money that you put in to date. No more free rides.

GUNS
I believe that my family should be allowed to own a hand gun for protection if we wish (and we don’t}, and that deer hunting requires things like rifles, bullets, bows and arrows. My uncles all hunt and since I am not a vegetarian, I eat meat that someone has killed. However, I do not believe that my family is entitled to an AK47 assault rifle. I would like to believe military weapons belong in the hands of the military! I think it should be more difficult to get a gun permit than a driver’s license. Guns do kill people-they are made by people, shipped by people and used by people. Privilege’s and responsibilities come hand in hand. Responsible gun ownership is both a right and a privilege.

Common sense is behind most of my ideas. I do not claim to be an expert on any subject. I would however like the experts to learn how to communicate in a civil manner and practice the time honored and true method of compromise.