Bucks County Herald – February 18, 2010

Dear Friends,

Good morning. My plan was to write about the Metropolitan Opera Company’s performance at the Regal Warrington cinema. But several more timely experiences popped up, so I’ll do my column about Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” in a few weeks. Needless to say, for $24 each, Betsy and I really enjoyed it.

While we didn’t have the ambience of being at the Met, we didn’t pay the high prices either. And we had the advantage of seeing and hearing fabulous actors on the huge movie screen. By the way, the Met will perform Ambrose Thomas’ Hamlet” March 27 at local theaters. Call 215-918-1660 for reservations.

A few days ago, Dr. Stephen Smith, an orthopedic surgeon from Springfield Township, stopped in to see me at Grand View Hospital. I’m recovering from a bout of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), which suddenly affects the nervous system without warning. A few weeks ago, my hands and feet suddenly went to sleep – my balance vanished.

That should not be news, however. Many of my faithful readers believe that I’ve been unbalanced for years. Fortunately, I’m on the mend. The physicians at Grand View and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania believe I’ll make a full recovery. My experience should make for interesting reading some day.

Anyway, during Dr. Smith’s visit, he told me that he and 28 others will travel to Haiti on March 6 and administer medical help to earthquake victims. What really caught my attention is that these people are paying their own way. “Our team is self-contained,” Smith began. Orthopedic and general surgeons, gynecologists, anesthesiologists and nursing personnel will take food, water, medical supplies and pay for their air fare.

My faith in America always gets a boost when I come across a Good Samaritan story.

We didn’t have time to discuss the New York Times - CBS poll, results make this year’s congressional elections look pretty dicey. Neither Congressman Patrick Murphy nor former Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick will be encouraged by the poll’s conclusion.

“A majority of respondents say that President Obama has yet to offer a clear plan for creating jobs,” the Times said. “But Americans blame former President George W. Bush, Wall Street and Congress more than they do Mr. Obama for the nation’s economic problems and budget deficit, the poll found.”

Its next paragraph would make any congressional candidate shudder.

“The poll suggests that both parties face a toxic environment as they prepare for the elections in November. Public disapproval of Congress is at a historic high and huge numbers of Americans think Congress is beholden to special interests. Fewer than one in 10 Americans say members of Congress deserve re-election.”

Republican Fitzpatrick is fortunate that he’s not an incombent. Still, most Americans are angry at both parties and I wonder whether Fitzpatrick might do better running as an independent.

Turning to the Winter Olympics, I thought about the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, which M.B. and I attended in 1984. The memories of 84 grand pianos with pianists dressed white tie and tails playing George Gershwin’t “Rhapsody in Blue” are etched in our minds forever.

We’ll never forget the three tenors (Jose Carreres, Plcido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti singing at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As a special touch, the Olympic Committee added fireworks, timed rhythmically to explode in Handel’s “Fireworks Music.”

Unfortunately, time ran out before I could ask Dr. Smith about the tragic accident on the luge track at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Smith has seen many athletic injuries during his years of practice.

I thought about my experience on the luge track at Lake Placid several decades ago. The course is about a mile long and Olympic caliber lugers can exceed 90 miles an hour. When we visited Lake Placid, the bobsled and luge courses were open to the public but only for half the length – and, if one signed a release holding administrators of the course harmless from litigation.

After I signed my life away and paid the $20 ticket, I waited in line with a helmet strapped to my idiotic head. Had it not been for a cheerful and courageous woman standing in front of me I would have slunk away. My friends know that I am a devout coward.

Finally it was my turn and off I went, lying on my back on this tiny sled. Because the luge track is steep and the sled’s angle is severe, I could see clearly everything that hurtled by me. The speed wasn’t 90 mph but it probably exceeded 40 mph. The young man who started me told me not to move during the ride. The sled would take care of everything.

As I zoomed down the course I twitched, which caused the sled to pass the finish line 10 years before I did. Mighty Betsy was not impressed but the crowd thought it was hilarious. There was no applause.

As I watched the Olympic ski jumping last Saturday night, I thought of our experience at the jump towers at Lank Placid and Nakiska, the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics.

On separate skiing vacations, we toured those ski jumping venues. Betsy and I took an elevator to the top of the launch areas. I remember stepping out of the elevator and looking down the ramp, which the jumpers used. I thought I was staring down a 100-story elevator shaft. It was scary.

There are some life experiences I shouldn’t repeat.

Sincerely,

Charles Meredith

P.S. I thank the nurses and aides who helped me compose and send this column electronically. I couldn’t have done it without them.