...a romantic occupation.

I have this dream. To become a gondolier. In Venice. I think it would be a rather romantic occupation. To push a gondola up and down the canals. With lovers aboard. Imagine that. A city of canals. Instead of roads. Boats instead of automobiles. I spent four days in Venice. Yes, it's another world. Unique. Nothing quite like it. Even got lost in Venice. Wandering the narrow streets. But that's a nice way to discover Venice. Getting lost. But usually, if I had to find my way, all I had to do is find a gondolier. They have a sense of direction. --Jim Broede

Italians are good at living.

One nice thing about Italy. One can eat out virtually every night. So many, many outdoor cafes and restaurants. The Italians know how to dine. To savor their food. Good food. And good wine. I used to think that German food was the best. Well, I've changed my mind. The Italians do it better. And the Italians live to eat. Rather than eat to live. In my 23 days in Italy, I don't think I had a bad meal. I ate heartily. But slowly. And I did lots of walking. Lots of exercising. So I gained only 3 pounds. And, oh, I had good company. Good conversation. Yes, the Italians are good at living. --Jim Broede

To make a visitor feel welcome.

Oh, so many Paradises in this world. And I keep discovering more all the time. The Italian Alps, for instance. Little villages. Marlengo and Sutrio. Yes, I have lived. This summer. In Paradise. In love. Quaint bread and breakfast places. Chalets. Go to the balcony. And one sees the alps. Huge. Magnificent. And oh, so green. With pine trees. And fields so smooth they look like immense golf greens. And brooks and streams. Steep, steep climbs when one goes out for supper in the evening. And the food. Like nectar. And ambrosia. The Italians know how to eat. Like gods. The best of everything. Yes, I am in love. With Italy. And with an Italian. Little wonder that I am in Paradise. I've been to Venice, too. And Trieste. To the land of enchantment. The land of romance. I will continue to travel. Back and forth. To places in and near Italy. Maybe again in December. And next spring. Ah, what a life. And at my home in Minnesota, I'll hoist an Italian flag. To make a visitor feel welcome. --Jim Broede

...best for the country.

I'm thinking that maybe John McCain doesn't really want to be president. That he's had second thoughts. And that now he's gonna purposely try to lose the election. Because he secretly thinks that Barack Obama would be the best choice for America. But he can't come right out and admit it. So, he'll do little things to give Obama the advantage. Such as picking the inexperienced governor of Alaska as his running mate. And when it comes to his televised debates with Obama, watch for McCain to stumble. Purposely. If this is so, then John McCain is a real patriot. Because he'll be doing what he thinks is best for the country. --Jim Broede

Doing the right thing.

If Barack Obama doesn't get elected president of the United States, it will be a big disappointment. Speaking personally. A big let down. Maybe even tragic. Equivalent to how I felt the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Like the bottom had dropped out of the world. A time of gloom and doom. And I think that's the point at which my country, my nation went awry. And the direction of this country has been on a downward spiral ever since. I think things would have been so much different if Kennedy had lived. If that bullet had missed him. But now I feel as if Kennedy is being resurrected. In a sense. By the coming of Barack Obama. I feel so good about this man. That if this nation elects Obama, we'll regain the soul we lost when Kennedy died. Makes me a believer. That all will be well again. But first, we have to get Obama elected. Then the flow will finally be underway. But what if he loses? What if McCain is elected? That leaves us essentially with another 4 years of George Bush. Well, then heaven help us. Because then our decline will continue. I want to have faith in my country. I want to feel good about America. But for that to happen, we Americans have to do the right thing. --Jim Broede

...the proverbial finger.

Doesn't bother me so much that Russia has invaded Georgia. Acting a bit like the U.S. Time for imperial America to have a little competition. Russians say that America fomented the uprising in Georgia. Encouraged it. Russia has been given the shaft by the U.S. in so many, many ways since the break up of the Soviet Union. Can't blame Russia now for giving the U.S. the proverbial finger. --Jim Broede

...too many racists amongst us.

Last night after Barack Obama's acceptance speech I watched a television call-in program in which the callers were allowed to express their opinions. And a retired Army officer said he won't vote for Obama. Because he's a "black socialist." Interesting, isn't it? Two reasons. Black. And a socialist. As if the color of one's skin should make a difference. And then to categorize Obama for something he isn't. A socialist. He's a Democrat. And an idealist. Yes, a bit more liberal than a conservative Republican. But still, a patriotic American. It's unfortunate that some white people will still vote against a black candidate merely because he's black. But that's the story of America. We've been a racist society from the very beginning. And although things are getting better, evidenced by Obama's nomination, we still have far too many racists amongst us. --Jim Broede