Weinzierl

Jewelers

Victoria’s Corner Bar.  Nightly Specials and Menus.  952-443-9944

8 First Street in Waconia.  952-442-2885

942-443-2078

Funeral Home & Cremation Services

952-474-9595

Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic.

Occupational Therapy.  Speech Therapy.

952-443-9888

Huber

City of Lakes & Parks  952-443-2363

“Trees Are Our Roots”

8099 Bavaria Rd * Victoria * 952-443-2990

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         Our daughter Jenny sent me a DVD for Mother's Day and also a tiny brass, painted Pink Flamingo.  She knows that the few times Allan and I visited Las Vegas, that our favorite place to stay was The Flamingo.  Its backyard swimming pools, waterfalls, and palms trees were totally private and made us forget that we were actually on The Strip.  It  reminded us of Hawaii, Jamaica, Punta Cana, and Mexican resorts but was much closer to home and far easier to navigate at a moment's notice.  We never spent much time gambling at the various casinos because we don't much like gambling, but I loved escaping to the backyard of The Flamingo during the day and going to shows at night.  Interesting now that Jenny and husband visit the same place.

         As for the second Mother's Day gift, the DVD was entitled "Gifted Hands, The Ben Carson Story."  It is an amazing true story of the man who is running for president of the United States.  Maybe you've heard of him, maybe not.  The field of candidates is growing faster than a field of sunflowers on the North Dakota prairies, and it’s a challenge to keep them all straight.  But, as they say, this one is outstanding in his field.

         Of all the presidential candidates who have so far stepped forward into the wild arena of presidential politics -- not unlike David stepping into the den of wild hungry lions -- my favorite is Dr. Carson.  Jenny knows my favorites in almost every venue.  She knows my favorite colors, favorite music, favorite authors, favorite movies, favorite food, favorite everything.

         The world we live in today is prone to dismiss Dr. Carson or ignore him all together.  For one thing, it is not likely that Americans would elect two black presidents in a row, a second right after the first.  Statistics just aren't there for that, but I'd gladly be proven wrong if only it could be Dr. Carson.

         I've been following Dr. Carson for some time, even as much of the country avoids getting to know or even mention him.  I believe America is afraid of him because he's very  good.  It's nearly impossible to look goodness in the eye if you're on the other side of things.  Seems over half of our country is on the other side of things.

          Let me tell you a little bit about what I learned in "Gifted Hands."  I learned -- in fact it was confirmed to me -- that Dr. Ben Carson is indeed a remarkable man.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.

         As a young boy, Ben grew up in Detroit with a single mother, a mother who only learned to read as an adult, when she was a cleaning lady.  She required Ben and his brother Curtis to read two books a week and write book reports.  She didn't allow them to watch much TV, but when they could, their favorite show was Jeopardy.

         Ben had a violent temper.  One time he almost hit his mother with a hammer.  Another time he threw a knife at a classmate and, by chance or miracle, it hit the classmate's belt buckle and broke rather than killing him.  Ben prayed, "Lord, please take this temper from me."  His prayer was answered and he never lost his temper again. 

         The young student was one of two people accepted to John Hopkins University out of 125 applicants, and he studied to be a brain surgeon.  As an intern, he performed a very risky procedure on a patient, without permission or supervision, who would have otherwise died.  The surgery was successful.  He took a risk solely for the sake of someone else.

         He was introduced to a little girl patient who suffered convulsions, nearly 100 convulsions every day, which made the possibility of a successful intricate surgery nearly impossible.  But Dr. Carson had come to know that the little girl loved classical music and didn't have convulsions while listening to classical music, so he had classical music piped in during the entire operation on her brain.  There were no convulsions during the long surgery.  It was successful.

         Dr. Carson traveled to Germany to meet a couple who had twin boys that were conjoined at the back of their heads.  Surgeries to separate such twins always resulted in the death of either one or both babies because of extreme bleeding.  Dr. Carson studied, and researched, and figured out a way to stop the bleeding, to turn off the faucet.  After a lengthy 22-hour procedure in the operating room, he went out to see the parents of the twins and asked them, "Which child would you like to see first?"

         Dr. Carson officially retired from his career as a brain surgeon in 2013 at the age of 62.  He is a gentle man who is not a politician.  He simply wants to do what's right for the country and not what is politically correct or politically expedient.  He wills the good of everyone, even his enemies.

         Some gifts are invaluable.

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From the Editor

Dedicated to the sunshine of truth,

the moonshine of meeting deadlines,

and the starshine of Victoria.

The Victoria GAZETTE

Sue’s Album

A symphony of photos

and fewer than a thousand words

at www.VictoriaGazette.com

June 2015