Gratitude for Joshua Rodgers and other heroes

To give up one's life in the service of one's country is laudable, but not what any family or friend wants to hear about. Unfortunately, CWO Joshua Rodgers, a Douglas High School graduate, was killed in Afghanistan last week, leaving behind a grieving family and a host of friends. Take a moment to imagine their pain, then say a prayer for those who put themselves in mortal peril. Thank all the families who stay at home in constant fear that their loved ones won't survive. They are fighting the battles, too. And to Warrant Officer Rodgers' family, our heartfelt sympathy and thanks.

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Another kind of heroism, with gratitude: Adam Houghton and his parents, Pam and Roy, witnessed an elderly man drive into a ditch on 5th St. last week. They reacted immediately, as did several other people, calling 911 while Adam held the man's head out of the water until the fire department rescuers came and got everything under control. We are glad we have all those people in Carson City. That's the kind of helpful news we like to hear about. Thanks to Adam and all of you who assisted the driver.

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In case anyone wanted to know, the old National Guard Armory is being mothballed until the State sells or develops it. Let's hope they keep up the grounds around it until the decision is made so it won't become a weedy eyesore.

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Jim Lien came upon a politically "correctism" the other day: "Due to the climate of political correctness now pervading America, Kentuckians, Tennesseeans and West Virginians will no longer be referred to as 'Hillbillies.' You must now refer to them as 'Appalachian-Americans.'" Yeah, Bubba dun said so ...

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Couple of interesting things coming to Carson this week: A free talk at the Nevada State Railroad Museum tomorrow night at 7 p.m. on military railway service in India in WWII. Should be fascinating. Also, the Push America Puppet Show and bike safety demonstration will be at the Children's Museum on Friday at 1 p.m. Started in 1977 by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, the guys bike across the country putting on an excellent puppet show for kids to teach children about kids with disabilities. It's a great opportunity for children to learn. Call 884-2226 for information and admission prices.

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Had enough of Paris Hilton yet? Guess it just goes to show, they couldn't buy off the judge. Would you like some "whine" with that turkey?

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Congratulations to Desiree« Davis, a recent Douglas High grad ... happy days, Des! And to Ashley Glover and Stella Baldauskas for graduating from the theater program at UNLV. Ash may go to Europe to study further ... she's also a graduate of the fine CHS program led by Karen Chandler, and will concentrate on tech and backstage work. We will always remember Stella (a great Marilyn Monroe impersonator) when she was 8 years old and came to a PPI production of "Greater Tuna." She was so "impressed," she snored her way through the ending and was spread-eagled on a chair while the cast and audience milled around her. Now she's a theater grad ... who'da thunk? Way to go, ladies.

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From off the Internet: "A young monk arrives at the monastery and is assigned to help the other monks copy old canons and laws of the church by hand. He notices, however, that they are all copying from copies, not the originals, so he goes to the head abbot and points out that if someone made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up and that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies. The head monk thought about this and agreed with him, then went to the basement and wasn't heard of for hours. The young monk became worried, and went to find him. He saw him banging his head against the wall and wailing, 'We missed the 'R,' we missed the 'R.' His forehead is bruised and he's crying uncontrollably. The young monk asks the abbot, 'Whatever's wrong, Father?' With a choking voice, the old abbot replies, 'The word was CELEBRATE.'"

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Speaking of celebrate (with an "r"), there is more happening this weekend: A free Father's Day Pow-Wow at the Stewart Indian School (687-8333) all weekend; the Taste-of-Downtown on Saturday (883-7654 for tickets and times); and the Carson Sertoma annual charity golf tournament at Eagle Valley East (885-7579). So don't say you have nothing to do.

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A very happy birthday to Arlene Batis ... a "little bird told us" she is 82 years young today. May you eat cake! And to Rhonda Brown (Aaron's mom), we hope yours is wonderful, too. Thanks, Tyrell, for joining us for lunch Friday at Panithias Grill. We had a good time. And thanks, too, to Tim Harris at the Station Grille for making M's "designer" pizza. Yummm.

More happy birthdays to Ed Jesse on Saturday (he's #%&@* years old), and Marion Grindel Hollahan, mother of seven active children in eight years (and you're still sane, Marion?), who will be 80 on Monday. All your children send their love.

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Proscenium Players, Inc. will have its annual meeting tomorrow evening at the Josten home. Bring a "dish" (hopefully, George Clooney or Brad Pitt) and prepare to have a good time. Everyone with an interest in theater is welcome. Call 887-0438 for info. And PPI'er Rod Hearn was off to Japan Sunday to take part in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program. He's one of 200 teachers nationwide selected to attend. Fantastic, and sayonara.

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In case you wondered if Big Brother is watching you, he is! M was typing a column recently and all of a sudden a screen popped up asking if she wanted "terrorist, Osama bin Ladin, George W. Bush, war, etc." on her computer. She pushed, "Yes," and the screen disappeared. See you in Guantanamo.

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Ken Fraser sent us the following observations: "These things DO NOT belong together: 1) a nose ring and bifocals; 2) a pierced tongue and dentures; 3) miniskirts and support hose; 4) midriff shirts and a midriff bulge; 5) in-line skates and a walker; 6) Speedo's and cellulite; and finally, the best, 7) thongs and Depends."

Happy Father's Day! (especially to Rett and Marty).

• Carolyn Tate and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at carolynandmaizie@yahoo.com