Jun 7, 2002 4 min read

Dear Editor: I am a caregiver for the sick and elderly. I encourage all the people I have taken care of not to wait for everyone to give them attention, but to pick up the phone and encourage others and also to send cards.

No matter what your condition or circumstances are, always be a giver and this will bring a purpose and joy into your own life.

Shut-ins have a lot of empty time now, but people in the working world, in school and with families, have very little spare time.

One lady I took care of had both legs amputated but still liked to bake pies for other people. A 96-year-old lady sent cards and called people on the phone. Another lady always tried to think of ways to help the poor.

Shut-ins still need a purpose in life. When they can no longer do anything physically they can pray for all of us who are still running a fast pace and putting ourselves into an early grave.

As Christians we should all have a ministry. I have to ask myself how much time do I spend visiting other shut-ins, for it’s not just the responsibility of the church but of family, friends and neighbors.

I love the prayer in one of my lady’s home, “Never criticize anyone until you have walked (run) in their shoes.”

Esther McMinn

Carmichaels

Graduates get soaked

Dear Editor:

To whoever made the brilliant idea of holding this year’s Southmoreland commencement outdoors, I want to thank you for ruining my high school graduation. For 13 years, I have waited anxiously for this day when I received my diploma.

The only thing that was different from my dreams than actual reality was that in my dreams of that day I never saw myself drenched from rain. It seems a very insensitive motion as a way to congratulate 155 seniors, which most of the students worked very hard to reach this milestone in their lives.

There was a 70 percent chance of a severe thunderstorm at the time graduation was to start. I did want it to be held outside, but I would have understood. I realize a decent amount of people would not have been able to attend the ceremony if it was held inside, but that is just something that comes with the territory of having a small auditorium.

A great point was brought to my attention by my boyfriend. In Dr. Kenney’s speech to the graduates, he mentioned that you should “always apologize when you do something wrong.” Seeing that he is the head of the entire school district, and his opinion had to have been involved in the decision of an outdoors commencement, I think he should have included a heartfelt apology to the seniors for ruining the best night of their lives.

Also, it seems to me that Southmoreland has an apathetic view toward students, teachers, friends, and family members to have them sitting on metal bleachers and seats (which were in an open field, nonetheless) when it is thundering and lightning. Obviously, one would assume educators would have enough intelligence to think about this, but maybe I’m asking for too much from Southmoreland.

To the rest of my classmates, I’d like to thank you for some of the best memories of my life. Everyone deserves a pat on the back for overcoming the obstacles, which we have had to endure at our beloved alma mater.

I would like to thank Dr. Adams, our principal, for being the only speaker who actually sounded sincere and apologetic towards the seniors for this horrible night. I’ll miss my friends and some good teachers I’ve had during my long years at Southmoreland, but I won’t miss the ignorance of a select few of the “higher-ups,” if you will.

Ashley Hall

Ruffs Dale