A basketful of puppies

Recently, I received a letter addressed by a loved one to "Angry Old Man." I plead guilty to being an old man. In fact, that was confirmed by a happening which occurred when I was in rehab for a broken hip. As I was rolling down the hall in my wheelchair, I passed by a two-man room, and I heard one old gentleman ask the other, "Who was that?" The response was, "Just some old man," and I instantly aged precipitously and gained a new name. In all fairness, the responder was the youngest inmate in the facility, who was there only because each day he had to ask someone where his room was.

However, I am not angry. Each day, when I awake, happy to be alive, I ask myself, "What can I do to make the world a better place?" I am comforted that I live in a wonderful country populated with millions of fine people. However, there a few Americans who have lost the spirit, and my contribution is to point them out and encourage their reformation.

To this end, I post here and contact newspapers and television. Most of the people with whom I take issue may be characterized as angry and hate-filled. There are school administrators who attack teachers, and teachers who frighten children. There are the politicians who lied about President Bush, and one Senator who is still trying to destroy the career of a specific private citizen. There are disgruntled losing voters who want to disrupt American life. And is there any legitimate excuse to continue to attempt to embarrass Sarah Palin, or enjoy the suffering of O.J. Simpson?

I'm concerned about the growing number of haters and criminals with whom the President-elect has and still does associate. I'm disturbed that Walmart has eliminated the hyphen, preparatory to the change of the name of our nation to The United States of Walmart (only Guinea-Bissau is hyphenated, and it's so third world). I question science regularly, but in a friendly manner, and my favorite commenter has taught me that science is unconcerned with proof. Does that mean that my medicine may or may not be good for me, but I should take it anyway?

My favorite literary milieu is humor, but I'm not Mel Brooks, so I frequently wax serious, but if something sounds satiric or sarcastic, it probably is. Not to be offended, though, because I try very hard not to be offended, and you should emulate me. (See. . . that's sarcasm.) Now laugh or I'll get angry. (Oops, I did it again.)