A Special Thank You To My Readers

Last night, I ventured forth from the bunker to meet two of my readers - one at a fancy steakhouse and the other at her Lower Macungie home. I want to thank both for their hospitality and wonderful conversation. I am fortunate so many people are willing to share their insights here. I learn far more from them than they do from me.

My first rendezvous was with Retired ASD Teacher, an interesting and humorous man who has devoted most of his adult life to Allentown's youth. Like the manly men we are, we both devoured steaks at Shula's American Steak House and solved all the world's problems in about ten minutes. He gave me a real education on what it's like to be a teacher in Allentown's schools. That would be the subject of a great post. He had high praise for Mrs. Dottie, who he knew as a teacher in Allentown. He tells me she always put in the extra time with the kids, trying to reach them after school with all kinds of art projects. He also admires Michael Donovan, the only locally elected official I know who started a blog after he was elected. Best of all, he paid for my steak!

After saying my goodbyes, I lingered a bit until Retired ASD Teacher was on his way. I didn't want him to have to listen to my Jeep. On my way over to meet him, the muffler suddenly failed. It now sounds like a motorcycle. It's old and loud, just like me.

My Jeep is also air conditioned. The floor is completely rusted and I sometimes put my foot right through when I get in. So people gawked at this guy with his feet coming out of a Jeep that sounds like a motorcycle. I just waved, looking around for cops. Then it started raining.

In addition to being rusted on the bottom, my Jeep also leaks. So by the time I made it to Arlene's home in Lower Macungie, I was pretty wet. Her cat didn't mind a bit and actually come over and laid on my arm. Arlene is a brilliant woman, but her sole source of income is social security. She has a fascinating story, and I'll share it with you in the next few days.

I have very little money myself. Most of the time, I'm barely a hundredaire. That's about to change, thanks to Miss Letisha Aisha, who hails from Sierra Leone. She wants to drop $9.5 million in my bank account. God told her, and who am I to argue with His Divine Will? I may be poor, but can't help feeling enriched with readers like the ones I met last night.