AND another thing - although the Mister has been retired for a good dozen years, quite a long time ago his union had negotiated company-paid medical coverage for retirees. Last year his $37,000 hip replacement surgery and follow-up rehabilitive therapy was fully paid for. My old pal is healthy, happy, and free of pain and I'll have him around for many more years. We would never have been able to afford it on our own.

A number of years ago I traveled to Tolpuddle to stand by the Martyrs' Tree and silently thank those brave men for taking a stand.

Peace