In the news two days ago, an upper income woman (I wouldn’t use the term ‘upper-class’ because she had none -- blonde, no make-up because she was “perfect”) was interviewed as she sat in her BMW. She said there was no need for HER child to hear Obama’s message of perseverance despite hardships, since HER child goes to a PRIVATE school and these deprivations have nothing to do with THEM.

Let’s all pray that she loses everything and perhaps then her child will develop into a human being instead of a conspicuous consumer with an attitude.

Meanwhile, the News-Press printed my letter about their tasteless headline “Lee (meaning Lee County) kicks Obama out of Class”. My friend Nadine thought it was great and called to say so, despite being laid up. She just had surgery to remove her left kneecap that she fell and shattered. She is one of the few truly intelligent people on this island and I am crazy about her. I told her I’d wheel her around if she liked.

Friend Leeanne and her sister, Linda, came over last Friday afternoon. We had lunch and I played Chopin for them – several etudes and a nocturne, also some of the Bach Partita No. 1 (I wouldn’t put them through all of it.) Linda said I should go on American Idol. Oh that is too sweet. I can just imagine answering that question, “What would you like to get out of this?” I remember Simon Cowell rolled his eyes when Susan Boyle told him she was 48 (well over any hill he was thinking of). I think I will content myself playing for the locals.

Ed just went in for a medical test that required anesthesia. I drove him home while he had episodes of panic because he doesn’t think I see what he sees. To forestall his anxiety I have to keep up a running dialogue as in "Yes, I see the car coming out of the side street," "My foot is already off the gas, I will brake soon," etc. He sits in the passenger seat and directs me. Well, I got us home without mishap and then he was full of praise. It really is a stretch for me because the facility was over the bridge in Fort Myers with tons of traffic, weird turns and speeding cars. Phew.

I heard Obama’s speech about health care to the joint session of Congress last night. It was funny when the camera panned to a couple of Republicans putting their hands together as if to clap but not really doing it. They are truly pathetic. Then we listened to critiques, some from Republicans who downgraded what they'd heard and said why it wouldn't work and misrepresented what he said, as usual.

It was a good speech and, as he insists on doing, Obama again urged cooperation across the aisle. Good luck with that. I am hoping that although he talks the talk, that he is ready to bang some heads together when necessary. Obama talked about the public option, which last week was considered a non-starter. I hope they can manage to keep it in. What he needs is for the Dems to hang together instead of trying for Utopia.

xx, Teal