"Eyes to see a brighter day"

A few things I learned about my Grandpa today from talking with the family while sitting in his room in the nursing home:

• His third and fourth toes on both feet are webbed up to the knuckle. I saw it. It's pretty sweet.
• Some of the many countries he traveled to for business with John Deere were Thailand, South Africa, Turkey, Australia, Iran and Argentina.
• Upon return home from business trips, sons Grant and Greg usually received two spankings. One for doing something wrong and one for good measure because they probably did something else wrong.
• Rumor has it that Grandpa's discipline eased as time went by as last child Dave didn't have as many spankings.
• Once my Grandpa had bought my Grandma expensive perfume from Paris for Christmas. One day the box and wrapping paper was wet and Greg and Grant were promptly spanked for breaking the bottle of perfume. On Christmas, Grandma opened the package anyway and the perfume hadn't broken. Instead my Mom had spilled water on the wrapping paper while watering the tree.
• My grandparents had a condo in the Bahamas for over 25 years. They initially went to the Bahamas because a friend had a golf package and invited them down for a visit.
• Most days in the Bahamas Grandpa would sit by the pool reading while Grandma cooked dinner in their condo. When dinner was ready, Grandma would go out to the balcony many floors up on the high-rise, whistle and wave him in. While he was a long ways down, he could always hear the whistle and knew dinner was ready.

It's the little things that are so beautiful.

"Sail away with me, honey"

I think most know that I've been blessed to have all of my grandparents living to date. I had the opportunity to know them, to love them and to spend time with them for 26 years. In fact, as of last June, all lived in Anderson, Indiana just a few minutes away.

Donald Gregory Martin, my maternal grandfather, will likely die this week. Pass away into the arms of the Maker. He's been sleeping peacefully all day, although his breathing has been heavy. And, it's comforting to know that he's in a better position than the rest of us...so close to heaven. Ah, the peace that passes understanding.

On Saturday, we listened to some Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker and Dean Martin together. He was awake, but couldn't really talk. I didn't have "Summer Winds" on my iPod, which my Uncle Dave informed me is his favorite. But we still got in several great songs. Grandpa was a dancer, and I suspect he wanted to jump out of his nursing home bed for a spin.

I've visited him several times over the past couple of weeks. For the most part, many things have been consistent. He can barely speak. He's mostly sleeping. He may not be completely aware of what's going on. But you can see in his eyes that he's happy -- and perhaps somewhat sad -- to see you. And his hands can still squeeze as though he were gripping a golf club ready to drive the ball down the fairway. There's still strength in those hands, even as his body wastes away. He can't say it beyond a whisper, if at all, but the squeeze tells you he loves you.

A man of faith. He was studying Galatians this past year. Something he'd done so many times before. Undoubtedly, still working to comprehend the magnitude of God's grace and our salvation.

I asked him about heaven on our way back from Ohio over Memorial Day Weekend. He said it was strange not knowing what it would feel like transitioning from the current- to the after-life. Not knowing how that works, but having the faith that it does all the same.

Some of my earliest memories of Grandpa were in the yard at my parents house...him teaching me the finer points of how to play first base. I suspect my first base mechanics have stood the test of time although my baseball career ended at 12.

I miss him.

"Turn the black lights on"

It's just getting out of control. Is there really a health reform bill being considered that would outlaw the writing of private insurance policies? This is ridiculous and a hard copy of the bill should be printed out and promptly burned. The following links to an editorial on this specific detail in the bill.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=332548165656854

Yesterday, I submitted the following to Senator Bayh and Senator Lugar through their comment system on their Web sites. (Had to submit three separate comments.) To voice your opinions:
http://lugar.senate.gov/contact/
http://bayh.senate.gov/contact/email/
-------------------------------------------------------------

I am writing today because there are several issues compelling me to take action. I am 26 years old and have never written your office, but expect I will do so regularly in the future, if our government continues to guide our country in the current direction. I ask that you consider my opinions and represent them in the Senate.

1) Nuclear treaty with Russia. The July 6, 2009 agreement President Obama struck with President Medvedev is alarming. First, I do not agree with the decision to reduce our nuclear arms. In these unprecedented and dangerous times, when our enemies are working to procure nuclear arms, planning to destroy those we have will only serve to unnecessarily reduce our security. Secondly, Article II, Section 2 of our Constitution clearly states the President has the power "…to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur…" Obviously, the Senate must be engaged in these discussions moving forward, and I ask you to ensure this occurs.

2) Health reform. I work here in Indianapolis for a company called Mercer, the largest global and US provider of employer-sponsored health and benefit solutions, including strategic consulting, brokerage, communication and administration. My personal opinion on health reform is very much in line with that of Mercer's.

Our industry leadership position gives us a unique perspective in understanding the strengths and improvement opportunities for our health care system. We have 7,200 employees in the US, who help employers of all sizes design, fund, market and administer employee health and benefit programs that attract and retain high-performing workforces. Our clients pay a substantial portion of the nation’s health care costs and have been at the vanguard of innovative health care solutions.

Significant improvements can and should be made to better control health care costs, improve efficiencies, reduce the uninsured population and improve overall population health. I believe that those objectives can be achieved more fully and quickly by supporting and enlisting the private sector and its entrepreneurial strengths. Unnecessarily expanding government’s involvement through new, duplicative bureaucracies could destabilize the current system and increase the economic risk of rising federal budget deficits.

Mercer [and I] support an approach to US health care reform that achieves the following:

• Builds on the health insurance industry's considerable strengths rather than eroding competition and threatening the industry's viability
• Encourages and supports private sector efforts to continue to provide innovative services and new forms of more affordable access rather than duplicating existing capabilities and expanding the size and cost of government
• Allows employers to control decisions about their health plans, including providing consistent benefit plans in all locations
• Demonstrates fiscal responsiblility by funding new initiatives within existing federal budgets rather than adding to the budget deficit or raising taxes

Please let me know if you would like additional thoughts on this topic.

3) Sotomayor. I have justifiable concerns regarding Judge Sotomayor's potential appointment to the Supreme Court. I do not believe she will be good for the country and do not think she should be confirmed. Perhaps most importantly, Sotomayor's record and speeches clearly show her to support and believe in policy-making from the bench. For instance, she has written:

"Our society would be strait-jacketed were not the courts, with the able assistance of the lawyers, constantly overhauling the law and adapting it to the realities of ever-changing social, industrial and political conditions." (Judge Sonia Sotomayor and Nicole A. Gordon, "Returning Majesty to the Law and Politics: A Modern Approach," Suffolk U. L. Rev., Vol. 30, No. 35 (1996), p. 37.)

This is an alarming quote that independently should be convincing enough to not appoint her to a position of such grave importance for our country. I thank you and your staff very much for serving our country, and would appreciate your support and representation on these topics and would gladly engage in a dialogue with you on these issues.

May God bless and guide you.

"The sun with my eyes closed"

Thursday - Bachelor party of Jason Diamond Clodfelder
Friday - Rehearsal and No Doubt
Saturday - Wedding
Sunday - White Water River Tubing

An exhaustingly enjoyable weekend.

-Berg

"The way you sing with me"

Off to Chicago tomorrow for what's become our annual trek to the Windy City to celebrate our anniversary (which was a couple of weeks ago), get away for a couple of days and have a good time. I'm looking forward to Taste of Chicago, fireworks, the Threadless store, some good Chicago-style pizza, perhaps catching Public Enemies, perhaps a Chicago event, Navy Pier, walking around, holding hands and having an all-around fun 72 hours.