Orchids to …
• Cheryl and Marc Rothbart and friends who brought me wonderful meals during my illness, from Burdell Sell.
• the endoscopy department admissions and staff at Columbus Regional Hospital for a warm, professional and courteous services, including Debbie, Laura, Hailei, Jenn and Alisha (Alaska).
• May for many years of friendly and efficient service at Captain D’s.
• Barbara and Henry Merideth for always thinking of others, for always being so kind and caring and for being the best neighbors we could ever ask for — thank you for everything, from Harold, Tina, Ciara and Nate McNicholas.
• the state highway department for making temporary repairs and improvements to U.S. 31 north of town to get us through the winter, until next spring when extensive repairs and re-paving are scheduled.
• Exhibit Columbus, in its final weeks, for all the great work in making the city even more interesting to my many out-of-town friends and for involving so much of the community, from one of their over 1,000 volunteers.
• Fred Barnett for doing the difficult job of eliminating blighted homes and cracking down on landlords who don’t lead by example.
• the House of Representatives for doing its job in oversight of the executive branch that has confused private political and profitable interests over the public good.
• Indiana teachers for finally standing up to Republican lawmakers for years of neglect.
• those who are willing to defy the State Department and White House and are testifying at the impeachment hearings.
• Clair Rose and Jen Suverkrup, from Peggy — thanks for the delicious cookies.
• Dr. Kaija Platacis, DVM, at Franklin Animal Clinic for her care and treatment of our baby, Arielle, from Dennis and Wilma.
• Kenny at Lowe’s for the excellent service.
• the excellent editorial by John Krull which says teachers had no choice but to take the step and organize a rally at the statehouse.
• the family, friends and special nephew, Joe, special friends, Suzanne, Jamie and Willy and Brent and family, and also the doctors and nurses the North Vernon fire department and Jennings EMS for all their help these last few difficult years.
• The Heart of Christ ministry and everyone who has been by my side as I have been going though an illness — I love you all and God bless you, love, Sharon Phillips.
Onions to …
• the City of Columbus for not enforcing its own ordinances.
• the Democrats who think they are changing anyone’s mind about the sham that is going on in Washington.
• the man at Walmart who was extremely rude to an employee who was simply doing her job.
• uninformed people who don’t believe teachers have the right to protest for a living wage.
• Columbus for once again moving an art installation, proving no one plans or thinks about unintended consequences.
• people who accuse a landlord for being bad when they know they got kicked out for reasons like, no rent payment, drug activity, not keeping up the yard and being a nuisance at the property.
• anyone who doesn’t support all of our wonderful public school teachers and/or thinks they don’t deserve a big increase in pay.
• the teachers union for promoting a strike and not doing what’s best for kids.
• whoever thought a balloon release to honor veterans was a good idea, instead imperiling wildlife.
• Republican state legislators who are forcing a protest and forcing schools to close.
• the landlord who makes his tenants sleep on the sofa when it’s freezing outside because the heaters in the bedroom don’t work properly.
• migrant children held in custody by our government and tax dollars.
• the teachers not working on the 19th, which is causing problems for so many parents, in regards to job obligations and child care.
• the clearly impeachable and removable offense of compromising the sovereignty of our elections.
• the lying do-nothing Congress on another wild goose chase.
Happy Birthday to …
• Nancy Malan, from your family and Donna.
• Autumn Bowen, on no. 24, love, your mom.
Happy Anniversary to …
• Cara and Scott Chitwood, from your family and co-workers.
• Jerry and Martha Grinstead on their 55th, from Carmon, Ryan and Hilary.
• ANOTHER beautiful morning
