Is ignorance bliss?

Where in heavens did that phrase originate from?



Thomas GrayOde on a Distant Prospect of Eton College
".Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more; where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise." (http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/20/messages/1361.html)

Is that the case today?

Let me give quote from something that I have on my computer desktop- This is found on page 29-
"(B)- APPLICABLE LEVEL- The applicable level specified in this subparagraph for Y1 is $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family. Such levels shall be increased (rounded to the nearest $100) for each subsequent year by the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (United States city average) applicable to such year."

I finally found the Health Care bill. It is now sitting on my desktop and in a flash drive. The above paragraph- I believe- applies to the out of pocket expenses one would pay with this bill. The sad thing is there is no ceiling. Each year it will go up...what is different then from what we are doing now?


I highly recommend all to read what may be found in this bill- in this case--Ignorance is not bliss!!! jsf

Everything we want?

It is amazing the challenges that families have today. Compared with the hardships that our ancesters had one would think that we should be living a life of leisure. Well...let's review.

Recalling how are children were raised I am amazed that they turned out as well as they did. We were so brutal with them. I am surprised we don't have the police at our front door with warrants for our arrest because of our "neglect."

Case in point: our oldest son was the proud owner of a Nintendo. Not a lot of games, a few to get by. One evening had someone sleepover. During the course of the evening he came sheepishly up stairs to ask a very important question- "Dad, can we hook the Nintendo to the family T.V.? My friend doesn't know how to play Nintendo on a black and white T.V." I was shocked. I was concerned that my son's friend may return to his family and report us to the authorities. I stiffened my spine, though, and said- trying not to laugh too hard- "You got to be kidding me. Tell him to suck it up!"

Truly my wife and I should have been hung by our thumbs for such an atrocity!! If not that time surely we should have been a few Christmases later. Our youngest son was excited when he opened his present that particular Christmas...Santa came through!! It was an awsome thing.

Then my son looked up at us- us with grins from ear to ear, he with questioning face, "There are no games with this X-Box." Perhaps it wasn't my youngest favorite Christmas, but it was definitly a memorable one. For some reason I remember a sore tongue...who new Santa had a sense of humor. I still look at my rear view mirror expecting to see Dog, the Bounty Hunter.

I still don't sleep well at night because of that.

So where is this going? As I meander around I recall discussions with my bride about our children not being able to communicate well at school because they wouldn't have a base of discussion with there classmates because we didn't allow them to watch T.V. during the week. They would be ignorant in the happenings of the T.V.s fodder of the day. Yes...we were brutal parents.

So...would I allow my children to have a cell phone before they can drive? Nope. Would I let them have a facebook account? Nope. Would I let them watch T.V. during the week when school is in session?Nope. Yep...we were brutal parents.

It is titled lost and found

Ok- its been months since I posted last. Perhaps it was because I was lost...

What fun...families!

Wow!




Nothing ages a person more than seeing the children they raised as adults. Not only as adults but as responsible adults.




Wow!




Is it self serving in saying we did a great job in raising them? Ok- I was present during the course of those years. I did have some input...but the credit goes to their mother. So when I state that "we" did a great job raising them I am inferring that I was riding the coattails of my wife and stood back- and try not to screw anything up. There were moments when I almost failed in that task...but thank-heavens my bride had the strength to overcome my weaknesses.

This past week Mar and I spent 5 wonderful days with our children. The occasion- there shouldn't have to be occasions to visit your children but I digress (it is a topic to discuss at a future time)- was our youngest daughters graduation from BYU with her Bachelor's in Science in Nursing. It was a wonderful.

Since leaving high school Bri has been very productive. She has gone to college, served a mission for our church, and been to Ecuador for a month to apply her skills. What a busy life. Pictures will follow.