Yes, it is February, and I am kind of chilly today. Henry puts the thermostat down overnight as he says any sane person would do as we sleep under the covers. It takes an hour or so for the house to warm up again in morning. Brrr!

I am not only going to get my apron on right away today, but also a sweater. I’d put those cute earmuffs on, too, except that I then might not hear the phone if it rings. When it comes to gossip, I don’t want to miss any.

I just read today’s newspaper as I had my first cup of coffee. I swear if a new name was placed on the front page, it should be the Milwaukee Union Democrat. Who was it that said the New York Times was the most left leaning newspaper in the U.S.?

I am not certain and neither is Henry (even though he’s dyed-in-the-wool democrat) about this recall election stuff. A lot of the people, Henry says, who are organizing them are from other states. This doesn’t bother us as much as the great cost to taxpayers of Wisconsin. My guess is the recall process will cost us $5 million. Henry says the taxpayers will have to cough up even more than that amount by the time it is over.

I just hope Mayor Barrett won’t get involved in this mess. He’s a good mayor. He doesn’t really rollover and play dead when obstacles come calling. But if he did win – questioningly – could he stand up to this recall bunch on other things?

While I am on politics, Henry says the way Sheriff Clark and County Executive Abele can’t see eye-to-eye on sheriff’s needs, it is as though one of them is cross-eyed. Henry thinks it is cute when he says that Chris is not only Abele, but willing. He also believes the hot air should be available only at the Clark stations.

Henry says (he says a lot, too) that the three T’s will get a real workout this year. He describes these as Times to work and play, Talent to really accomplish something and Treasure to be given to those as rewards for their effort in the workplace. I told Henry that a spark of generosity also would help.

Henry said that he might like to try winter golf (big yellow ball) with his buddies on Saturday. I said that he’d better take his Taylor Made Burner club along to keep warm.

I don’t even have a friend by the name of Dawn, but I’ll admit I was up before dawn today, as Henry had to be out the door before it was fully light.

I committed myself into baking four dozen cupcakes for the Feb. 14 Valentine’s Party at the nearby senior center. I understand that two or three other women are doing some baking, too.

Many of the people who go there (I volunteer on a regular basis) aren’t prone to skating on ice, but they’re skating mighty close to the edges of life. They have mostly learned to eat to live, not to live to eat.

You might wonder why I am baking these cupcakes for seniors? The answer is easy. I have the time to do so, am a good baker (my arms are long enough to pat myself on my back) and I realize that as we grow older, we must have a commitment to those who for some reason or another cannot help themselves. We need more than a tolerance of other people; we really need a caring attitude. We must understand that not every person has been as fortunate as most of us. There are those who have no family, whose road through life never was paved, only graveled and with more than a few potholes. It is like Henry asks, “Who took the togetherness out of family life?” I sometimes quietly think he could ask that question of himself.

Am I sputtering today (Henry says that I’d be shifting my gears from low to high). But I guess what I am trying to say is that what we refer to as the Golden Rule really should apply to us. Who would want anything but the best for themselves? Well, if they’re on a diet, they may not like my cupcakes, but then that’s different. Any that are left over will find their way into Henry’s lunch box.

As I know from reading and watching television, we have made great advances in the last 20 years or so in medicine and technological instruments to aid in keeping us well; or as Henry says, on top of the earth and not under it. Now, we must take advantage of these things to enjoy the best possible health we can have in our declining years. Getting older and not always being able to take care of ourselves doesn’t have to be tragic.

We are fortunate enough not to have older family members in need so it is only natural that I should try to make life more comfortable for others in need.

Henry says a lot of these old men are getting stiff in all the wrong joints. Some of these people begin having memory problems and because of pains, aches and forgetfulness, their psychological health is affected. My crabby Uncle Elmer complains so much about his arthritis that nobody listens anymore.

While I see the need for people volunteering in such as nursing homes, I just can’t find it in myself to do it on a daily basis. But, believe me, I do applaud the people who do it. I’m certain they appreciate the warm smiles that come their way. I think they must be chalking up points on that big board Upstairs.

I am not a total slacker. I do help a bit with my neighbor up the street (up is away from downtown), who is afflicted with Parkinson’s disease. I have found out that this is the second most prevalent degenerative disease of the nervous system. My friend says that he knows the average survival time is about 14 years. With a new year here, he’s down to about three years. And as friend Clarence says, there’s no known cure for this disease that mostly affects people age 75 and older.

In closing this month, I am of the opinion that across this world there are many languages spoken, but they each have a word for love. Don’t be selfish. Love your neighbor as yourself, or at least almost so.