The Patron Saint Of Wallace

He was loved and adored by many, but was also reviled and despised by some. Everyone here has heard of him,heard the stories, formed their own opinion from the media and the rumors which were numerous, but when you knew him as a friend of your family for many,many years, you didn't look at the money, the empire, the rumors, you knew the man inside the suit. His name was Harry Frank Magnuson, better known as HFM or just Harry, and if there were such a thing as a patron saint of Wallace, he was it.

Mr. Magnsuon passed away a week ago tonight, and I grieve. He did so much for me and my family over the years, and our lives would not be as bright as they are if it were not for him.
He did so many things for so many people, but most of all, he had visions, dreams, and devotion, and his life made a difference for past and future generations.

I could go on and on about some of the things that are personal, and I will mention a few.
There was the time he offered to pay the bill for heart surgery for my father, There were the letters he wrote on behalf of my daughter when she was applying at universities. There was the tuition that he paid for me when I decided to take advance course in hotel management.There were the calls to our home, just to see if my father was doing okay, and there were times he picked up the tab for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary, and the tab for my father's 90th birthday party at the Jameson. But these things are all about money, and I remember him more for being a warm friend to me and my family.There are many more things that he did for us, but that is not why I admired him.

No, I admired him more for the man that he was, the trust that he had in those whom he knew and who worked for him. He was never too big nor was he ever to busy to acknowledge the "little guy" There were the Christmas cards, hand written every year, which I got the last one this Christmas.He never forgot, even after I had moved to Seattle, It came like clock work every December. he wrote many letters of support for me when I would apply to various hotels , and he always remember to ask me about my kids. " How is that little girl of yours, or how is that son?"

And of course, there is the saving of Wallace. Wallace will never be the same, and part of Wallace died this past week. I guess the thing that has been bothering me the most is that when I compare my life to his, what have I ever done? What will me legacy be to the world?

Rest in peace, HFM, you will always live in my heart, and you will never be forgotten.

We Saw What?

I was not sure yesterday if I was watching the swearing in of a new President, or if I was watching the crowning of the King! Was I watching the 2nd Coming of Christ, or was I watching the peaceful transferring of power between two leaders? What exactly did we watch yesterday, and what does it all mean?



What scare me the most is the emotional hysteria, the looks of pure rapture on the faces in the crowd, and the chanting of his name. Was I watching the beginning of something new and great, or was I watching the death of America? I ask all of this with no malice, no agenda, and no answer at this point. I want to examine the concept of why we are so much like sheep, why we can get so caught up in emotion that we are ready to sign over the deed to our nation.



All of this probably makes me look like I am anti Obama. I am not. Nor, am I pro Obama. I am not. I am scared, and I am trying to find out why I feel that way. I have never been a band wagon person. I do not worship any man, sports figure, musician, politician, or movie star. I worship only God. I do not need another savior, leader, or dictator to show me the way.

So, what was it that we witnessed yesterday? Was it a coronation of a rock star, or was it just good politics? Did we need a change? Absolutely! Is is just another cycle in the jungle of American politics? Probably. After all, we saw this in the sixties with JFK. I guess what really gets me is that people are like sheep. They follow whoever and whatever, and that scares me.

There was a man in a certain country years ago that stirred up the hysteria of his nation. This country was down and out. The economy was in the tank. He promised a new beginning.He stirred the masses through beautiful words, and the emotions were set aflame. We know how that ended. Read the history of Germany.

I am in no way saying this is the case with our new President, and I am sure it is not. I am just saying, be careful of blind following. Think for yourself, and worship no man.

I Want It Back!=You Be the Judge

In sickness, in health, for richer for poorer, until death do we part-except of course unless that includes your kidneys! Several weeks ago I did a post about transplants, and well, here we go again!

Dr, Batista of Garden City, NY, donated one of his kidneys to his beloved wife in 2001. What man wouldn't if it meant the life of his beloved? However, it appears that this happy marriage was about to take a rocky turn when his wife allegedly had several affairs about 18 months after the transplant. He sued for divorce. Now, most people want the house, some money, maybe the wedding bands, and for sure the stocks and bonds. But, this is not your usual property fight divorce proceedings. No, he wants his kidney back!

However, please note that he is not vindictive, for he is willing to take 1.5 million dollars instead of the kidney. Hm,, just how far does the community property laws go ? How would you like to be the judge in this one? Maybe the good Mrs. Doctor could counter-sue and request that he give her back her virginity. Now, that would be justice!

A Sad Holiday

Happy New Year to all of you. Most first year of blogging has passed, and I thank all of you who have read my ramblings, commented, and made this a very fun year. I want to thank GF for turning me on to blogging. Since I can no longer work, it has been a real blessing to channel my thoughts, share hotel stories, and express my feelings. I have not been turning out many posts recently because of a family burden that has left me very sad and unable to be funny right now.

As I have shared with you in the past about my Mother, her strokes, ect, I will share a little about what has happned in the days leading up to the Holidays. About ten days before Christmas, her condition became worse, and my wife, my brother, and my two sisters, along with my 94 year old father, made the heart wrenching decision to put her in a nursing home. She, of course, did not want to go, but it had become impossible for my wife to care for her at home.My wife had actually torn her own her rotary cuff from lifting her. We did promise to bring her home for Christmas, and we kept that promise. We brought her home for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It was a very trying time, and although we tried everyting to make her Christmas a happy one, her mind was too far gone.

On Dec26th she was retruned to the nursing home in Kellogg. Since then her condition has steadily worsened, and then the day came my sister, who is an administrator of a home in the Seattle area had warned me about. When my wife and I went to visit her on New Year's Day, she did not recognize us. She just sat in her wheelcair and chanted over and over again for someone to please help her. We left so depressed. We will go back today and see how she is doing. Maybe she will have snapped out of it a bit. I only want her to have some peace at the end of her life.
Yesterday as my wife and I took down the family tree and other dcorations, I was reminded of how many things she had made over her life. Most of the ornamnets and deocrations were hand- made, and are indeed works of art. She always made sure Chritams was speceial, and spent countless hours making things, sewing, and doing crafts. As I finished taking down the tree I became very teary eyed, for I realize that this would be the last time these things would be used in the family home.

Yes, she still breathes, but the Mother I knew is long gone. Her mind is going fast, and according to the Doctor her body will not last much longer. We still care for my 94 year old Father at home, and will coninue to do so, He is doing well for his age, but misses his wife of 63 years terribly.

I write these words not asking for your sympathy, but I write them to my blogging friends, and ask you for your prayers and thoughts during this hard time. Thanks you for all being there all year long, and thanks for letting me be part of your lives/