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Whenever I see a group of protesters or just a lone loudmouth railing about how the guv’mint does this or that or how the big wigs in Washington or Little Rock are spending their tax dollars, I wonder …
They don’t want the government involved in so many things. They want their taxes cut. They rally against abortion. They don’t want gay people to have the same rights they do.
So, I wonder … if they do their part.
• Do they support programs that are endangered when taxes are cut, just so the so-called tea party people can earn Republican votes?
• Do they donate generously when groups like the Mothers [For] Education in Carlisle, Ark., are raising money to buy poor kids pencils, notebook paper erasers and backpacks?
• Do they line up to adopt a black baby because the child’s mother can’t afford to raise her?
* Do they give up their Medicare payments because they don’t want the government involved in their health care — reminding us all of the tea partier who shouted at a rally, “I don’t want the government involved in my Medicare!”
* Do they support the anti-gay marriage law when it prevents two aunts who live together from adopting a nephew when a parent dies?
• Are they the big donors when the city needs private donations to keep the public pool open after tax dollars run out on July 20 and the temperature is still 106?
Maybe there are answers to these questions, but they do cause me to wonder.
My dad, Woot Dougherty, had a pacemaker inserted May 25 to help smooth his heartbeat. It was performed by Dr. Kennedy at Baptist Health Medical Center’s Hickingbotham Outpatient Center in Little Rock.
He is 74 and always has been in excellent health. He’s been a diesel mechanic most of his life — a good one — except for a few years when he moved to Missouri and sold heavy equipment. He talks about not being as strong as he once was, but he’s still one of the strongest men I know.
He had experienced a couple of bouts of dizziness and fast heartbeats several months ago, but didn’t care for the prospects of having the pacemaker surgery. A recent recurrence of the symptoms helped him change his mind.
My brothers, Pat Dougherty of Carrollton, Texas, and Andy Dougherty of Marion, Ark., drove in for the surgery. My wife, Nancy, and I were there, as was Terry Sayers, the pastor at Pine Grove Baptist Church, where my parents are members. They were married in that church, near Sweet Home, nearly 57 years ago, though not by the youngster, Terry.
He did have to make a stop at Homer’s Cafe, on Roosevelt Road near Little Rock National Airport, on his way home from the hospital the next day.
Dad is doing better — his recovery at home has gone well. He said the pain was still there from the surgery for the first week or so, but he feels much better now. During his second week, He asked me to drive him down to the cemetery to check on a worker the church had hired to mow the grounds. When he pulled himself into the passenger side of his pickup, I chastised him for using the arm nearest the pacemaker, and he told me, “I’m not putting weight on it. I’m just using it for balance.” Sure, Dad.
We’ve all told him that even though his two weeks of “taking it easy” is over, he doesn’t need to rush into any heavy lifting or projects that require long periods in the sun.
When I call the house and ask my mom where Dad is, she’ll say, “He’s outside.” I’ll say, “It’s too hot for him to be outside,” and she’ll reply, “It’s OK. He’s just checking on the garden.” Whether that’s what he’s actually doing, she doesn’t know, but that’s what makes her feel better, so that’s what he tells her.
Mom has had trouble getting Dad to retire. After he closed his business, he continued to do projects for longtime customers. Maybe the pacemaker will get him to slow down some. On the other hand, maybe his continued activity is the reason he’s in good health at 74.
Mike Dougherty's Blog 