The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Interesting people "I am a part of all that I have met" - a well known and true statement from a famous poet which means in effect that we are shaped and profoundly affected by people we have met, become friends or enemies with, those who have taught us, etc. Teachers are a major influence on their pupils especially those who were "good", as are athletic coaches, although research shows that parents are the major influence on their children. What about people you only meet casually, or are acquaintances or those we have never met, but just read about, seen on TV, or heard on radio? Do they have a major or even minor effect on you your personality, thoughts, actions, etc.? How about a few examples of interesting people this writer has met recently. We met a retired worker for General Motors at a hotel in Illinois. He and his wife, a nurse, were on their way to a church conference in Missouri. We discussed the Canadian/American health systems, the costs of prescription drugs and other things dealing with health care. We both agreed that the big drug companies' explanation as to why drug costs are far higher in the U.S. than in Canada just doesn't wash, although as a General Motors retiree he was fully covered health-care wise and paid only a small prescription fee. He reminded me of another General Motors retiree I met a few years ago. He told me he thanked God every day for General Motors which provided his pension and health care coverage and allowed him to winter in the South. The first gentleman made a couple of interesting statements. One was that he has often wondered why Canada and the U.S. didn't join as one nation, or at least have a common currency. He considers Canadians and Americans to be the same with similar interests and ideals. His second concern was, "I don't know what we will do if President Bush doesn't get re-elected." A member of the Christian Right? Probably, but a nice, soft spoken, intelligent person, hardly a militant evangelist type. A second interesting person I met in a gym during an early morning workout a couple of years ago. We exchanged pleasantries, talked about travel and little else of significance until recently, when Jim told me about his work history. He is pushing 80 and was working out to regain more strength in his body after suffering a stroke, although he claims he worked out regularly, before and after his retirement. Jim moved to Florida in the '60s from the North where he had owned and ran a marine business. He said he sold and repaired marine engines and knew nothing about repairing the engines when he started. He took a course and learned on the job. His first job in the Sunshine State was selling women's wigs to beauty parlors, travelling through out the state, with his profit $5 per wig. When Sears and other big companies got into the wig business, Jim saw his income drop, so he switched careers buying a dry cleaning/coin laundry business, about which he knew nothing. He took a one month course to learn the business, then taught himself how to repair the machines and to fix the plumbing. The business was very successful and Jim established a number of other coin laundries, selling the last of them when he retired at 60. His philosophy? If you are going to be successful in business you have to be a risk-taker. When you think about it, Jim is right. Most of us are not risk-takers, and worked at the same job / profession throughout our work history, although it is more common today to switch jobs / careers several times. I'm sure that none of our readers, including myself, have ever met Bruce Kimball, but some may remember the American diving champion who won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics and was a strong favourite to win gold in 1988. It didn't happen because that year, while training in Florida, Kimball went to a bar after practice, then later drove at high speed into a group of teenagers on a dark road, killing two boys and maiming several others. He had a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 17 years in prison of which he served five. The Florida judge also permanently revoked his drivers license. In prison, Brian joined AA and completed their 12 step recovery program, and normally attends two AA meetings each week (when he can get a ride). He also moved to Chicago, completed his degree and is now a phys-ed teacher in a suburb of the city. Not trying to hide his past, Kimball often speaks to students of the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, using himself as an example. He is also married and at the age of 41 has two small children. In an interview, Kimball said he thinks of the accident every day, more so now that he is a father, and could not fathom or accept the loss of a child. His comments came during a hearing in which he is asking to be granted an Illinois drivers license, which he was refused two years ago. He admitted that his wife keeps wine in the home, his in-laws drink, and that he attends weddings and restaurants where alcohol is served. The lawyer for the state is opposing his request on the basis that he is a risk to the public by exposing himself to alcohol, and may again drink and drive. This argument is patently absurd as many of us know of recovering alcoholics who attend weddings and other functions where liquor is served. There are indeed many who serve alcohol to their friends and guests, but do not drink themselves. Brian Kimball has not had a drink in 16 years, recognizes his problem and admits his life is unmanageable when he drinks and said: "The most important thing in life is to maintain my sobriety. Without that I'm incapable of doing anything." It is unclear whether the hearing panel will grant Kimball his license. I am sure most of us know people who have a license but should not be driving. Has Brian Kimball suffered enough? Should he be granted a license to drive? What do you think?
