My friend and I ordered a second cup of coffee—decaf, of course. We talked about the erratic weather, agreeing that climate change is real.

 

I just missed a “severe weather” experience in Seattle. And although the dire predictions did not happen, it had people across the Pacific Northwest digging in.

 

My daughter in Florida was in the path of Hurricane “Matthew.” They were not forced to flee but battened down, rolled down their storm windows and stocked up on supplies, expecting the worst.  Matthew did roar through but stayed off shore. They never lost power.

 

Typhoon “Karen” welcomed me home and hot on its heels we had “Lawin.” Are these weather disturbances normal? Are we in for more?

 

We talked about a possible third world war and lamented the dismal prospects of finding good leaders.

 

Suddenly she let out a blood-curdling cussword. I didn’t laugh. “What’s wrong with that?” she asked. “It’s the in thing!”

 

Truly, we have glamorized the obscene. Accepted the unacceptable.

 

I can swear like a sailor. I am not proud of that. But in the past few months I have come to terms with my language.

 

The book of Luke says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

 

I don’t want to keep a heart full of filth.

 

Anthem is an upscale community not far from the Las Vegas Strip. There is a fairly new public elementary school a short walk away from a posh gated neighborhood. It is equipped to take in children with special needs.

 

In recent months, some employees blew the whistle on the teacher in charge of these students. They accused her, among other things, of faking take-home progress reports for kids to show their parents; that instead of doing her job she used her work time to write a thesis for her master’s degree. And to make matters worse, she verbally abused the autistic children under her care.

 

A lawsuit is brewing. Action taken? She was fired. That’s it? In my mind, that is not nearly enough. I have a grandson in that school. I say, “Off with her head!”

 

On the day I left Seattle, I received news of the passing of a good friend.

 

Over the years our paths took opposite directions, but the closeness remained.

 

He was headstrong, often obstinate, but fiercely loyal, always. During my darkest times he was my champion.

 

I wanted to visit him in August. Plans misfired. Why didn’t I push a little harder? I missed it.

 

Lesson: Never put off that “one more time.” Go for it. Share one more memory, another story, even a corny joke, one last embrace. Time waits for no one.

 

I will miss you Vicente (Chiquiting) Ortiz. You were one of a kind. The best.

 

What is a key ingredient to having a happy life?

 

Friends, you will not want to miss this.

 

The greatest gift you can give your family is a healthy you. There’s nothing more important than our good health. It is our principal capital asset. It is health that is our real wealth.

 

Don’t miss a free breakfast forum on Health vs Lifestyle sponsored by the Gleneagles Hospital Singapore, one of the Parkway Pantai Hospitals in  Singapore!

 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Nov. 5, the Turf Room of Manila Polo Club.

 

This is a rare opportunity to listen to our guest speakers: Dr. Lee Kang Hoe, a respiratory expert and intensivist, and Dr. Poh Beow Kiong, a noted urologist.

 

Lee will speak on “The New Epidemic: Fatty Liver Disease” and Poh’s talk will help us understand “Prostate Cancer: Is it the Villain or an Innocent Bystander?”

 

We will all leave this forum better informed and blessed with added awareness of our health and lifestyle.