Cindy Lange-Kubick: Taking time to catch up
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Let us begin this catch up column in the most painful fashion possible, with a correction of a correction.
Or a vindication — depending on your world view.
* In my last catch up column, I included the following comment from a reader remarking on my reference to Harry S. Truman in yet a previous column: “I am joining the chorus of voices that must be pointing out to you there is no period after the S in Harry S Truman.”.
The next day I received this: “The AP Stylebook calls for the period, quoting Truman as saying ‘It makes no difference to me’ when asked about it in the 1960s.”
(The writer also noted Truman often used the period when signing his name.)
Period. End of conversation. Hope that clears things up.
* A column on making the New Year matter elicited this: “I am trying something new this year. I’ve picked one word I want to focus on … my word is ‘pause.’
“I want to make sure and pause — before responding to my kids, before making a decision … a purchase, before speaking … I want to pause and enjoy life.”
I like it.
* Grammar alert No. 1,269 came from a reader of my banana-tree-grows-in-Lincoln column.
“Your statement … ‘with broad leaves Cleopatra would have looked lovely under.’
“I believe a better way of stating this would be, ‘with broad leaves, under which Cleopatra would have looked lovely.’”
Where’s an editor when you need one?
And speaking of Lincoln bananas: Leonard Frede, who babied the tree at Campbell’s Nursery, says the banana creme pie will have to wait.
“They’re getting bigger, but they’re not ripe yet.”
* A column on a support group for kleptomaniacs called CASA sent a reader to the computer to remind me CASA is also an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates — something else entirely.
The former helps compulsive shoplifters.
The latter is composed of volunteers who “advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in Lancaster County Juvenile Court.”
* My state-fair-leaves-town column, comparing the fair to a slacker boyfriend, inspired the inner analogy-lover in others.
My favorite: “The Fair became like an old girl friend/wife that had fallen on hard times. She was depressed. The kids grew up and moved away. We needed to build a new relationship now that the kids are gone, but she wouldn't change.”
Other readers were not in the mood for word play.
Wrote one: “I myself am sick and tired of being bullied by the University of Nebraska. … I am tired of living in a city where they get everything they want if they bamboozle and bully all of us long enough.”
* A January column on a 2-year-old and his mother dying in an Omaha apartment got me on the Westboro Baptist Church hit list.
“… you hate God and you hate His judgments. That’s why little Ezekiel died,” Margie Phelps wrote in a two-page e-mail.
And that was the nice part.
* A typo — changing the word underserved to undeserved — in a column about Dr. Dave Paulus and the People’s Health Center resulted in a follow-up piece on the state of American health care.
I asked: Does everyone deserve health care? Whose responsibility is it?
A man who signed himself “An American Born in Cuba” wrote: “We, THE PEOPLE,” must be certain that a portion of the taxes we pay are lawfully allocated to properly serve the needs of those that don’t have the financially resources. …
“Americans are caring and compassionate people.”
Ms. Phelps, are you listening?
* I loved writing about Leo the Paper Eating Lion.
And who knew Scott Young (of KFOR fame) was the voice of Leo, as well as the former voice of Lincoln?
After the column ran, a message on my answering machine claimed Goodyear workers donated Leo to the zoo.
The plant manager confirmed the tip.
Wonder if Leo eats rubber, too?
* A column on the Caregiver Chicks got their caregiving guide in lots of hands.
Now the chicks are on the move again, planning viewings of a caregiving documentary and a live performance by the Angels Company in June.
For more information, call 472-7777.
Respite care, of course, is provided.
* Readers were impressed with Adam Field, the Palmyra High senior who took Brett Christian, a seventh-grader with cancer, to prom.
“What a wonderful young man,” wrote one. “As a mother (of) two boys I sure hope I am doing as good a job as Adam’s mom did. I am adding Brett to my prayer list.”
Brett’s mom would probably appreciate that.
Brett is back in Children’s Hospital in Omaha. She finished another round of chemo a week ago and will be in the hospital for another two weeks.
The hope is to get her well enough for a bone marrow transplant.
“We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” her mom said. “We should know by June.”
* I kept a promise I made in a column last summer. In two days, my 23-year-old daughter will walk across the stage at the Devaney Center. I will be in the crowd beaming.
Both of us will be UNL graduates.
(Pause.)
Reach Cindy Lange-Kubick at 473-7218 or clangekubick@journalstar.com.
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Nina wrote on May 8, 2008 9:33 am:
peb wrote on May 8, 2008 2:00 pm: