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6A Daily News – Friday, March 2, 2012 Opinion Atribute to the wonderful world of Nanny D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Her name was Ester, but we called her Nanny. When it comes to humans, she was as good as they come. On her 99th birthday recent- Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer's home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 ly, she took her last breath. This is a little ironic, since she spent most of her life taking away the breath of others. I don't think there was any- thing she didn't like. And I don't think I never – ever – heard her say a negative word about anyone or anything. With Nanny, the world was beauti- fully wonderful, innocent, and true. That's more than I can say for it. Somehow, I wish her per- spective would rub off on me. Nanny died lying in a lonely bed all by herself. She spent the last five years of her life that way, which is what happens when elderly folks take up res- idence in one of those adult caretaker places. Nanny outlived her passion and exuberance for life. She lived longer than her own daughter, who died of cancer in her fifties. Nanny was, in every sense of the word, the matri- arch of the Hubbard family. Her granddaughter Cindy carries that mantel now. Growing up, I called them all my good friends. Her grand- son Brian and I played ball together, six years straight to be exact. I pitched and he caught. I was best man in his wed- ding; Nanny was there, too. What I remember about that was that we danced; I would sing along and she would lis- ten. Nanny would smile as she looked into my eyes. She loved us because we were young and full of life. We loved her for so much more than that. I think now, looking back, Nanny was a rock in our lives, a fortress of security, wis- dom, and strength. Kids need that when they're young. I know I did. Nanny laughed. She laughed a lot. She would always giggle at our silly shenanigans or equally stupid jokes. And if there was food to eat, well, she liked that, too. Nanny loved to cook and be around people. She loved company, which is why the way she died makes me a little sad. So many folks her age die alone, with no one there to share those final, precious moments. Usually, it's a stranger if anyone at all, a nursing home worker who just hap- pens to be there when the time comes. I wish I could have been there. Nanny loved music and living in the country. For years she the laugh as her small herd chased me off the property. I didn't find it all that humorous because cows run faster than one might think. Pat Gleason Face Time had quite the spread just south of here down in Loma Rica. I remember the first time I went there. I had my first up close and personal encounter with a live cow. They were these cute little things who were certainly curious about me. They must have picked up on my city boy scent. Anyway, Nanny got quite What I loved most about Nanny was that she not only loved to talk, but really enjoyed listening. It was as if God sent her down to lend us all an ear. Lord knows we could use a few more like her because peo- ple don't listen any- more. This is Nanny's anthem: If I look to Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. the sky, summon the wind and lean in closely, I can still hear laugh - and that makes me smile. Have a great day. ——— Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2595 Cean- othus Ave., Ste. 182, Chico, CA 95973; 893-8363. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111;(510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Credo clarification Commentary Our real estate office has had a large sign along the freeway south of town for many years. We attempted to sell some 160 acres as an industrial park thinking that our only other was the one at the airport which would someday run out of room. But even though the county elected to correct roadways in the Los Flores interchange area to make traffic safer and less congested, they eventually decided to abandon the project. That caused the owner to abandon the industrial park concept and to concentrate on marketing the property as an agricultural pursuit. This has finally come to fruition and I expect the new owner will plant something thereon in the near future. But that is not the story. I write of the sign on the property rather than the sale of it. You may have noticed, in and about the sign, that folks opposed to abortion have been allowed (for a short time each year) to insert small white crosses in the earth, which are designed to illustrate aborted fetuses. Those adopting this side of the issue feel they are making a strong statement that will encourage young pregnant women to give birth rather than to take alternative action. They even went so far as to temporarily cover the sign with anti abortion verbiage. This is a free country, of course, and, with owner permission, they can state their case in this fashion. However, when they failed to cover the sign completely, and left the name of our real estate firm to show on the bot- tom, this might have suggested, to those dri- ving the freeway, that Western Real Estate is an anti-abortion establishment. If drivers, passing by, have come to that conclusion, I hasten to correct them on the matter. We are not in that camp. We believe it is a woman's right to choose what she does with her body, and no one should attempt to regulate her right. I hope that sets the record straight. *** In the high winds of a week ago, a young man was walking across the river bridge when a gust sent his cap tumbling over the railing. The bad news is that our area needs rain. The good news is that his cap landed on the large sand bar, the result of low river lev- els, and he was able to recover his cap. If it were a Dodger's cap, it obviously would not be worth the effort, or the story. *** When an elderly gent saw a kindergarten- er hugging an old woman, he asked the little fellow if she was his grand- mother. He replied that she was and that he sees her every Christmas. When asked where she lived he said, "At the airport...and whenever we want her we just go out there and get her." Very convenient. *** I avow that people should find a mate, get mar- ried and have children...which is the way to eternal happiness and, in a way, eternal life. But the message is not getting across to most of the young...at least the mar- riage part. A New York Times article reports that more than half of the births to mother's under 30 occur out of wedlock, which is a social catastrophe. In 1965, 24 percent of births among blacks and 3 percent among whites were out of wedlock. Today the num- bers are 73 percent among blacks, 53 per- cent among Latinos and 29 percent among whites. If today's parents would like to help their girls avoid the out-of-wedlock situation (which invariably gives them a tougher road to travel) they should provide for them a col- lege education as only 8 percent of women with college degrees have children out of wedlock. *** Police log of Tuesday reported an 11- year-old boy knocked on a door and asked if he could have one of the owner's chickens. The owner refused the request, but later found the boy attempting to scale the fence to the chicken arena. Deputies located the boy's parents and they admonished him for his actions. I see nothing wrong with the lad's attempt to garner a chicken of his own. They make excellent pets and are unique. When was the last time you had a two legged pet? *** Be careful to articulate when on a public forum. A critic of George Will claimed the writer said on television that President Obama had advanced "Lenin-Socialism." What George said was the Presi- dent had advanced "lemon socialism," to which he added, "there is happily a difference." *** Last week's quiz was Robert Minch I Say first answered correctly by B. Kelsey of Burlingame who knew that Lemuel Gulliver's ship was the Antelope, that the wedding gifts, by the book, should be paper, cotton and leather, and that the Beat- les' record company was Apple. This week's quiz: In the 1933 movie "King Kong," give the heroine's (not the actress') name, of the three men making the Apollo 11 moon landing, who had to stay in the command ship to mind the store, and name the only jockey to win the Triple Crown twice and on which horses. *** A young man went to the lake for a swim, but forgot his swimming trunks. Thinking the place was deserted, he decided to take a dip. Later, as he climbed out of the water and was about to dress, he saw two little old ladies approaching. He hastily grabbed a small bucket and held it over his private parts. But when the old ladies stared at him, he felt decidedly awkward. One said to him, "You know, I have a special gift. I can read minds!" The young man scoffed and replied, "So you think you know what I'm thinking, do you?" "Yep," she said, "You're thinking that bucket has a bottom to it." Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff, former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine and author of the "The Knocking Pen." He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.