SeizingMyDay

The Future Is Now

What a great day! I'm back in Baltimore near Washington DC on the day Americans exercise their freedom to vote for the candidates who will lead them for the next two years. No more columns to read or political ads to watch; it's time to vote.

As we look back on this day in history, it could be pivotal in determining whether America has the will to see any difficult war through to victory. We didn't do that in Vietnam, and we lost both the war and international credibility.

In the Middle East, they are watching closely. They do not believe America has the will to fight. This election will either enliven their battle or give them a message that we will fight them wherever they are.

I have predicted that Republicans will keep a narrow margin in both houses of Congress, but the latest polls suggest a Republican Senate and a House controlled by Democrats. The world will soon have the answer to this important election.

But while the macro looks for election results, in the Paulson household we are blessed with good news. Dad continues to improve and will probably be home by the end of the week. He's walking on his own on his new knee, and the antibiotics seem to have taken care of the infection. We are thankful to still have the patriarch of the family with us. It's brought the whole family into the cause. Each of us have taken days to be with mom and dad in San Diego. They took care of us for years; it's nice to return the favor in their hour of need.

We are doubly blessed by Sean's call to ministry at Copper Valley Church. He had his first sermon their last Sunday, and they had four times as many people at their service than ever before. What a blessing! May God continue to guide his path and create a community of love, faith, service and outreach. May the Holy Spirit guide him on level ground to new heights as a senior pastor. I look forward to supporting his ministry and at times speaking to his flock. What a gift God has given us to have a son used for such a holy purpose. Grandchildren and new children of God to shepherd---could it get any better? God is so....so....good!

Memorial Day Needs to Be a Day of Remembrance

What a Memorial Weekend it has been! It's been a time for movies--Andy Garcia's The Lost City and Universal's United 93. Both in their own way challenge us to remember and to stay vigilant. The freedoms we so easily take for granted can be taken from us and can come under attack.

In Andy Garcia and Cabera Infante's The Lost City, we experience a family's love affair for Cuba and its capital Havana. The memories of what was is contrasted with the unpredictable and tragic impact of revolution and of freedoms lost. One family's struggle and the divisions it created becomes the vehicle to explore how fragile the values of free countries can fall victim to chaos an anarchy. We watch the rise of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro in response to a cruel and abusive Batista government. We watch suppression of demonstrations turn underground into covert plots to overflow tyranny. But the revolution turns as repressive as the government it overthrew. We watch the dismantling of freedom through the experience of Andy Garcia's nonpolitical character, Fico Fellove. Fico is the owner of El Tropico, an upscale Vegas-style nightclub. We see the communists outlaw saxophones and close the nightclub when two musicians are caught playing cards for money. Life as they know it dies a quick death. See the film, and you'll appreciate how blessed we are to have been born American and to have so many who have fought so hard to sustain the freedoms we so easily take for granted.

Memorial Day brought pride and tears. We attended the annual Memorial Day Tribute at the Griffin Cemetery in Westlake Village. The patriotic music, moving reenactments, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the fighter flyovers and the moving reactions of so many veterans in attendance is how every Memorial Day barbecue should be forced to start. We have come every year for the last five years. I hope it is a tradition we can continue. Watching parents who have lost children in recent wars put wreaths on the stage and hearing their comments in support of our country and our need to remain strong made for one meaningful morning.

But our day was not done! With an almost full theater, we took time to see the Universal Studios film, United 93, a movie that accurately portrayed the heroic actions of citizens on the hijacked flight that was to crash in Pennsylvania. The plane was on the way to Washington; it's target was the capitol building. Other planes had targeted each of the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. They had been successful. Once the passengers gradually came to realize that they were to die as a terrorist missile, they decided to take the plane or die trying. Their actions resulted in a crash of United Flight 93, but it saved the capital and who knows how many lives. May we never forget. May we always be vigilant. May we be ready to do our duty to fight the fight against terrorism on every front.

Remember. Remember. Remember. Freedom is never secure. It is earned and reearned in every generation. We do not know whether on any given day that we will be the warriors called into action to defend that freedom. May we respond as nobly as the soldiers and the citizens that have gone before us.

Meeting a Potential President

As one of the general session speakers for the Arkansas Governor's Annual Conference on Tourism in Jonesboro, Arkansas, I had the opportunity to speak to the men and women in the tourism and hospitality business who are doing a great job of bringing tourists to see Arkansas, the Natural State. With a strong state vision and financial support from the citizens of the state they have embarked on a multi-year campaign to make Arkansas a destination of choice for more Americans. They are having success with over 22 million visiting the state last year.

One of the reasons is Mike and Janet Huckabee, the current Republican Governor of Arkansas and his first lady. Gov. Huckabee has made a tourism a key driver in expanding the economy of the state. He will not be able to run for another term but would easily be reelected. His wife, Janet, has also played a key role in supporting his tourism focus. She has been to all the meetings. I had the pleasure of talking to her after my program. All the positive gossip about Janet and her husband appears to be true. She was refreshing, candid, passionate about her state, her role and her husband.

She gave me her personal address to send her my book, The Dinner: The Political Conversation Your Mother Told You Never to Have. I will send it on my return. After hearing her husband connect with the audience, I can understand why many have considered him for a dark-horse candidate for President in 2008. Janet was aware of the challenge, the cost and the opportunity but trusted that, God willing, if it is to be, they would take it one step at a time.

Skip Rutherford, the director of the Clinton Presidential Center, won the top Henry Award for his service in support of Arkansas tourism. Skip thanked former President Clinton, and he thanked Mike Huckabee for his early nonpartisan visionary support that put Arkansas first in the pursuit of the library. In closing his acceptance, the winner turned to the Governor and said, "If at some future time we might have need for erecting a second presidential library Governor, I want you to know that I have kept good notes!" The room full of Democrats and Republicans applauded. Could it be another President is rising out of Arkansas to take to the national scene. I liked what I saw; I want to know more.

I suggest you take a good look at Governor Mike Huckabee. He has much to offer.

Visiting Our Piece of Paradise-Lake Tahoe (2-25-06)

For years we have enjoyed our home away from home in Lake Tahoe. When my father's cousin Carl Bostrom decided to form a unique time share in order to keep his home at the lake, we eagerly joined in. Now, we are one of ten families that own our lovely home in paradise. We can open the curtains and look beyond the balcony through the pine trees to our view of the lake. Over the past twenty plus years we have walked parts of the Tahoe Rim Trail, we've canoed some of the streams and the lakes, and we've seen most of what you "have to see" in Tahoe. Now, we can rest and just enjoy the solitude and the change of pace. We no longer have to ski every day there is snow. We settle for the pretty days; the ones that have good snow but are not too cold. We don't even torture our bodies to get in every run; we settle for half-day tickets. Are we old or what?

We had a wonderful trip up to the lake. We stopped in Visalia where I presented to the annual Tulare Country Republican Lincoln Day Dinner. I got to speak to Republicans in a Republican county about a Republican President I have grown to respect more and more. I love Lincoln and the lessons he can teach us about political issues and life. I shared with the 200 people gathered some of the lessons I have valued the most-messages about smaller government, sustaining the American Dream, keeping a sense of humor, seeking God's wisdom and strength, and valuing the men and women who serve in our military. The positive response from the politicians and supporters there was very gratifying.

For awhile I had thought of running for office, but the more I did my due diligence I realized that it was not the best use of my gifts. If I won, I'm not sure I would like it. Using my speaking skills to help further the Republican values I treasure is my calling. I do it well, and it is appreciated.

To keep the American Dream alive for someone, we also stopped at the Folsom Premier Outlets to invest some of our hard-earned money. Both Lorie and I separate for a shopping jaunt! I seem to buy more; things fit well without having to try things on.

One sad note, this is our first trip to Lake Tahoe in 13 years that we have not brought our dog Sunshine. Our aging Dalmatian is no longer up for the journey. Her arthritic body and occasional leaks makes it hard on her and us. It was the right decision not to bring her, but we miss her. I miss having her in the car in the morning as I go to the 7 Eleven for coffee and a paper. I miss taking her on walks through the wilderness area near the lake. I even miss the fact that we have to watch our food in the kitchen for fear she will leap up and eat it off the counter. Soon she will be gone. I will miss her even more.