A couple of folks 'n' friends have written to ask if my home is at all threatened by any of the fires raging around the Southland. I appreciate the concern and I even more appreciate that the nearest fire is at least eighteen miles from me. Sadly, I know folks whose homes are in danger, including one in San Diego who's lost his.
Obviously, it's all very sad but as I get older, I find that this kind of disaster increasingly makes me angry. No, not angry at the forces of nature. No point getting mad at them. But there is a point in getting mad at all the trivial, unnecessary things our government spends its time and our money on. Every minute they spend debating things like that moveon.org ad and every billion that disappears mysteriously into the Iraq War is a resource we don't have to protect our citizens when a fire or Katrina hits. We hear a lot these days about "value voters" and I don't know that I share some of their values. Mine include helping out our fellow human beings in time of trouble, which means being able to help. We can't eliminate hurricanes but we could sure eliminate a lot of the nonsense that limits our ability to respond when a hurricane occurs.
In other depressing news: It's barely hit the wires but singer-actor Robert Goulet is hospitalized and in critical condition, awaiting a lung transplant. I know the man has been the subject of some jokes dwelling on his ego and/or seeming willingness to appear in anything. In fact, I sheepishly admit, I've written a few in my day. But I've also always admired him as a first-rate talent and entertainer. A few years ago, I saw him at Carnegie Hall and he sure filled the place with a sense of history and stardom. Here's hoping he has more such performances ahead of him…for our sake as well as his.