I remember so well the problems in ascertaining the wishes of Karan Ann Quinlan and Terri Schiavo with respect to end of life care. Judges decided both cases. Resistance to programs to have greater use of living wills bewilders me. I believe most people, like my Uncle and Father, would want natural deaths, with some pain management.

What do we do with profound dementia? My ex wife had a patient who forgot how to chew food. She would shake up liquefied food that would be delivered directly to his stomach. Then she would change his diaper. The patient’s wife wanted her husband to be maintained indefinitely in that state.

My mother-in-law had a horrible death from diabetes. The doctors extended her suffering for several weeks. She was in and out of coma. They did her no favor.

End of life is difficult and working up right-to-life nuts does not help matters.

The interesting thing is that here on the other side of Florida, we have lots – and I mean LOTS – of beach volleyball and horseshoe pits. There are 3 beachside parks located within spitting distance of my home and they have a total of at least 12 volleyball courts.

I don’t recall MADD ever saying anything about George W.
Personally, even though I am a fiscal conservative, I found the DUI on George W. to be a major negative in his column when making my decision for the 2000 election.