Text 21116, 70 rader
Skriven 2006-07-18 18:48:08 av Stan Hardegree (1:275/311)
     Kommentar till en text av Jeff Binkley
Ärende: Re: Middle East Crisis
==============================
To: All

I had intended to do this just after we got back from Washington two weeks 
ago, but Charter cable decided otherwise, not allowing me to connect with 
Ross's e-star server.

Jump back two weeks:

Friday: Cindy and I make it to the airport an hour earlier than we need to 
and people watch until time to board the plane.  On the way to DC, I again 
had the opportunity to listen to Air America, which is always a good time. 
Al Franked was interviewing Joe Conason about the flag amendment and both 
smugly concluded that the only patriots in the debate are those against the 
proposed amendment.  Spent the evening with the kids.  My grandaughter is 
getting big - and trying to talk.

*** Note to Alan Hess - skip this part.

Saturday: After lunch, my son in law, Derrick, and I headed to Baltimore to 
meet Alan Hess - took us about an hour and 15 minutes to get there.

Mrs. Hess met us at the door and escorted us into the living room where Alan 
was sitting.  Derrick and I spent an hour and a half with Alan and came to 
know a remarkable man.

Alan is the son of two Jews who managed to escape Hitler's insanity and 
Eichman's "solution," though not easily.  The Hesses, not yet married,  were 
among those who sought to flee Europe and the Holocaust aboard the St. 
Louis, a ship denied berth by both Cuba and the United States (something 
about the country's Jew quota).  Both were returned to Europe, Mr. Hess to 
Holland and Mrs. Hess to England.  After the war, the couple reunited, made 
their way to the United States and settled in Baltimore.  Mr. Hess died too 
young of heart failure in 1966, while Alan was still a boy.  Alan said, "My 
dad's brothers and sisters got the message, got Pacemakers, and are all 
healthy in their 80s."

In 1981, Alan was diving with some friends near Baltimore when it happened. 
His memory is sketchy about the details, but somehow Alan hit his head while 
diving, breaking his neck.  He told me that after the dive, he watched his 
arms fall useless as he sank in water over his head.  Alan said that his 
friends were on the dock and not paying attention to his rather dire 
situation - he prepared to drown, to die.  His next memory was of being 
taken from the scene aboard a helicopter.  At the hospital, Alan's doctor 
said flatly, "You are paralyzed and it is hopeless."

This is the history that Alan cared to relate to me during our short time 
together.

On our way home, Derrick remarked at Alan's courage and his sense of humor, 
which we got a large dose of during the afternoon.  Alan and I don't see eye 
to eye on most things political, but I consider it an honor to call him my 
friend.  He is a really good guy.

*** Note to Alan Hess - you can pick back up here.

Monday:  Spent most of the day helping Derrick move stuff into storage.

Tuesday:  During the day, we watched the Shuttle launch even as North 
Korea's Tampon Dong missile crashed into the ocean.  Hilarious.  That 
evening, we went to DC for the 4th of July celebration on the Capitol lawn. 
Jason Alexander was host along with Cuba Gooding, Jr.   Performers were 
Michael Bolton and, get this, Stevie Wonder.  I saw Stevie with my 
grandaughter the next seat over.

Wednesday:  Early flight home.

Great trip. 

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