Friday, May. 02, 2008

The Merry Month of May Blooms

May is one busy month ... lots going on, both here and nationally.

There are high school proms and teacher appreciation week, the Indianapolis 500 race, and May is also National Arthritis, Healthy Vision, Physical Fitness and Sports, and Photo Month ... and my favorite, National Mental Health Month (I wonder if I can order some online?).

This Thursday is World Red Cross Day. More than 185 chapters around the world will celebrate the 145th anniversary of the Red Cross on May 8. To see how you can celebrate this humanitarian organization locally, read the Rotary blood drive story on the front page.

Also, in case you’ve been hiding under something impenetrable (or are posing like an ostrich), we’ve got local elections going on – both for people (rule-setters/money-spenders) and school bonds (yes, that means your wallet). Unfortunately, all too often, voters don’t think local "stuff" matters ... helloooooo, where do they think they live?

Many voters care more about how their lawns look, than who’s going to make the decision about how much they’ll have to pay to water it. Or, what kind of school clothes and shoes their kids will wear to school, rather than how many desks are going to be crammed into a classroom or if students who may not be top athletes will have the opportunity to express their creative interests.

It’s human nature to focus on the things that are up close and personal; what we see – or look for – every day. People wear "personal-interest" blinders, just like horses wear real ones (the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes are both May events, too). That’s not a bad thing, but every now and then – like at election time – we need to take off the blinders and see what direction we’re headed. Unlike horses, voters get to choose what direction and kind of "rat race" they run ... around the same track or a steeplechase in a new direction, carrying the same jockey or someone new.

Bottom line, get off yours and make a decision at a voting booth. You owe it to your own future destination in the journey through life.

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