Viewpoints

To the Editor:

I read with interest the Huck letters to the editor in the (August 19) issue of The Standard. As I read the letter, I reflected on the issues that faced us with my wife’s 89-year-old mother, who was recently living in an assisted living facility.

She too was isolated both to her apartment, and our visits, too, were only through “the glass”. We really couldn’t visit her, other than sight as we could not hear her through the glass and we were not allowed to talk to her through a screen. While she had a phone in her apartment, it was not where she could talk on it and see us out the window at the same time. The times we visited her there we left in despair and knew that her despair was worse than ours.

To the Editor:

I want to say how much I appreciate Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon and Crossing Rivers Health Hospice out of Prairie du Chien, WI for helping alleviate most of the pain and anxiety of a terminal illness for both my husband, Michael, and me.
July 31 of this year Michael was diagnosed at Veterans Memorial Hospital with lung cancer. At age 92 he never considered treatment. He only wanted to stop the pain and the worry for me.

Every one of the hospital and hospice staff was kind, competent and always helpful in guiding us through the dying process. I am extremely grateful for all the caring people who saw us through this ordeal to Michael’s death August 22, and after.

I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate we are to have our own small-town hospital and nearby hospice. A heartfelt expression of my gratitude goes out to all the good folks who have helped us in so many ways. Your kindness is contagious.

For your meditation: Isaiah 22-15, 19-23
Romans 11:33-36
Matthew 16:13:20

I hope you are enjoying a peaceful and relaxing summer. Have you been able to assist the people of central Iowa? It’s rewarding be ing Christ-like to them. I know a good friend of mine from Farley, Chris Kleusner, (nephew of Sister Margaret Anne Kramer) took his entire crew and all his construction machinery to Cedar Rapids this past week to help clean up.

Today’s Gospel follows last Sunday’s Gospel and it’s on the same page in the Bible. The Gospel today depicts something much larger that it would seem to be after a mere casual reading.

Up to this point, Jesus has only appeared to be a Rabbi, that is a teacher. His disciple had been following him because they liked what He was teaching.

To the Editor:

Prior to ratification of the 19th Amendment August 18, 1920 and its formal certification August 26, 1920, many small steps eventually led to suffrage (women’s right to vote).  It all started on June 12, 1840 when Lucreita Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lady Byron tried to attend the World Anti-Slavery Convention, though the invitation was only extended to “gentlemen.”

The women were barred from attending and incensed that females were excluded from participating in any meeting. During that time period American women were deprived of legal rights in virtually all dimensions of their lives; excluded from college, wages belonged to husbands, couldn’t own property and custody of children went to spouse in dissolution of marriage.

“Fear Not!”

Hello Friends. Today my message is entitled “fear not!” In Luke chapt 21, one day towards the end of His life, Jesus, Who was the greatest of biblical prophets, gave His disciples a discourse on how to discern the signs of the times and the end of the age. Just as there were signs accompanying Jesus’ first coming to earth, there will be perplexing signs leading up to Jesus’ second coming or return. Jesus likened the signs to birth pangs; the closer a woman is to delivering her baby, the more intense and close the birth pangs. So it will be with Jesus’ return. Jesus said no one would know the exact day or hour of His return - He doesn’t even know - only His Father, but we can know when that day is drawing close.

To the Editor:

Waukon has a beautiful city park. During this pandemic the park has given many people an outdoor space for walking, exercising their pets and enjoying nature. A slightly unknown area across Eleventh Avenue SW is a loop hiking trail one mile in length known as the 5-Bridges Trail. The area is for walking, running and just treasuring the wild beauty of the area which is known for the five bridges that cross the west fork of Paint Creek and one spring called Fox Spring.

The half mile 5-Bridges Trail becomes the Ridge Trail which is the last half of the mile loop. The 5-Bridges Trail and the Ridge Trail converge at a public parking lot just off Thirteenth Avenue SW. This street leads to the State Highway Facility. Traveling south on Ninth Street SW. Turn left on Thirteen Avenue SW, you will see the parking lot.

The first part of 13th Avenue SW is a city street which continues as a private road for the DOT.

To the Editor:

The Census has announced their intentions to move the final response date for the Census from October 31 to September 30.

A quick online search and you can find the 2020 Census Response Rate Map. The interactive map allows you to select a county or city and learn what the 2020 Census Response Rate is in the selected area. COVID-19 has decreased the outreach efforts associated with Census completion, but at Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation, we anticipate that the NEED for funding and resources directly affected by Census data will increase exponentially as a result of COVID-19.

To the Editor:

The absolute and undisputable key factor for this upcoming school year is flexibility. Students, parents, staff and the entire Eastern Allamakee Community will need to exercise a degree of “flow” in all aspects of the return to school this August.

Black and white may be the preferred norm for many, but it cannot and will not work in this time. It is important to safely open schools this fall, and we have been preparing for that. The navigation of the school year during a pandemic means that we will need to be flexible and be able to change on a dime when necessary.

To the Editor:

March 16, 2020, I visited Mom at a local nursing home. A couple days later, I stopped again and was not allowed in. The next time I was allowed in was 137 days later. The only way I got in was because Mom was on her deathbed. Approximately 27 hours later she passed. She was non-responsive for 98% of that time.

How would you feel if you were not allowed to enter your Mom’s room for 137 days and when you were finally allowed in, it was too late. During that 137 days, your Mom was not allowed to have anyone come in and visit her. Would you like to be forced to live like that?

To the Editor:

How does the visitation go for you with your loved one at a nursing home or assisted living? Are you able to see them in-person or through a window (a clear wall) or by screen (computers, cellphones and tablets)? Is this the new ‘norm’ for loved ones in nursing homes and assisted living centers?

If saying this is the new ‘norm’ for today’s life, are we supposed to just accept or deal with it when companionship is part of life? This way of life is keeping children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends away from holding a hand or giving a hug to their loved one. These individuals worked, had a family, endured many of life’s struggles and joys, involved in our communities (some even building our communities), and/or so forth when they were young. And the reward is confinement, isolation, and distant viewings of loved ones that persists due to COVID-19.