Opinion

2/27/23 Dear Editor, This is in response to the comments from Gardner City Council member Baldwin to draining Gardner lake rather than do repairs and maintenance to Gardner Lake property. I assume if the lake was drained the city would still own what remained, which would be a mucky depression that could not be mowed, built on or used for anything for many years. In real life, ownership means maintenance and upkeep from time to time and sometimes the upkeep does not mean the cost of the maintenance will be recovered for a long time or maybe never. The job is done because it needed to be. Other times if the project is not done in a timely manner it costs becomes more later.

I’m afraid of many things, but I’ve never been afraid of flying. Here’s why: A lot of people go on trips and most of them come back.

I think many of us believe we’re going to be the only ones in history to defy the natural order of things and live forever. I know I do. But in case that’s not true, it behooves us to get our affairs in order before we take that final trip. And the sooner we do it the better, seeing as that trip is usually unplanned.

Time seems to go by so quickly. Unless you are in the middle of a weather event in Kansas. I really can’t complain. This has been an easy winter. Yes, we’ve had cold, yes, we’ve had a small amount of snow. But all in all, it has been a very easy winter. February seems like a good month to find some new hobbies or even catch up on a little reading. Reading never hurt anyone. Our Johnson County Libraries are free for all of us and easy to find, use and request something you want to get more information about. It is almost as endless as the internet. Well almost. The older I get the more I realize what a tiny view of the world I have been exposed to. How many more ideas I could read and ideas to consider. This is how we grow. Be open to ideas and other people’s opinions. No, we aren’t going to like some of what we find. But maybe we can find new ways to look at the world around us. We are all valuable. Find a book to read. Do some research on weather balloons or some other news item you see on TV. Look to see what all travels up and down our railway lines. Search what all is moved up and down our interstate highways. What you find may scare you or just make you a little more open to your world. We can’t live in fear of what we don’t know. We need to live with information and knowledge. Or if those ideas don’t spark an interest. Do some family history research. Like everything else, be open to what you find. Not everyone is related to a past president, a Native American chief or a famous inventor. But you may find something that explains family beliefs, health, traditions or favorite foods. Or at least maybe get some answers as to why Grandma put raisins in her thanksgiving dressing.

When the 2023 Kansas legislative session began just over a month ago, a new committee was on the agenda — the House Welfare Reform Committee. So far, it’s gone as myself and other advocates expected in Kansas, where lawmakers have tried year after year to add barriers to vital family support programs.

A student will know a lot of stuff when they graduate from college, but a key question to ask is; “Will they graduate from college financially astute and smarter than when they entered as a freshman? Or will they be burdened with student loan debt, living paycheck to paycheck, possibly for the rest of their lives?

There’s a sweet spot that occurs somewhere in our 50s and 60s when we know a few things. Getting older has a lot of negative aspects to it, but there are some positive souvenirs we can receive if we accept them. One of the most impactful of these gifts is wisdom. We have been around the block several times, enough to know what’s true. We can see horse apples coming a mile away no matter how pretty the package from which it spews. We can discern between those who are fools and the authentic. We understand that seeking attention is a sign of low self-esteem. We come to value loyalty above all and to realize that to trust someone can be intrinsically expensive.

I haven’t been able to find my tennis racquet in years. I’ve never had a tennis skirt, and I wouldn’t wear one if I did. But tennis might just be my sport anyway. Apparently I have the elbow for it.

A graduate I interviewed, had signed up for the maximum college loans during her tenure at the University of Kansas (KU). She told me, “I wish someone would have talked to me about this. I borrowed from the government every year and thought it great fun to take more than needed. It meant I didn’t have to work, seek scholarships, or make sacrifices. I had a great time living the college experience. However, I’m twenty- six years old now, in an ill-chosen career and owe $70,000 in student loans. I’ve taken all the deferments I can, but fees and interest keep adding on.”

I’ve been on hold for 37 minutes. A less patient person would have hung up by now, but this is important.