| It's
Time to Slow Down |
| There have been 25 deaths on the Fairfax County Parkway
since it opened in 1987. In 2001 there were 55 serious accidents.
So far in 2002 there have been 48, and it's only September. |
| It's about time something was done about safety on this
increasingly busy speedway, and starting Oct. 1, Fairfax County
Police will begin a program to aggressively enforce traffic
laws on the Fairfax County Parkway. |
| In its short history, the Parkway has been the scene of
many serious problems. Cars often speed on the long, open
road, and the sudden, sharp curves and poor lighting make
safe travel difficult. There are few above-grade (separated)
road crossings, and frustrated, hurried motorists often run
red lights, putting everyone's life in jeopardy. |
| In addition, there have been incidents of road rage, usually
ending with two cars playing tag until one of the drivers
chickens out or there is a confrontation. |
| The rules of the road need better enforcement. |
| Police involved in The Fairfax County Parkway Campaign will
come out in full force using radar, traffic cameras and other
means to stop aggressive drivers from tailgating, speeding
and running red lights. The heightened enforcement will last
for 45 days. |
| During the program a new type of radar, called Lidar will
be used. The new radar projects a laser to detect speed and
has a range of more than a mile. It can also pick up a motorcycle's
speed even if the motorcycle is situated between two tractor
trailers. |
| We applaud the Fairfax County Police for taking this strong,
preventive action. |
| |
| New
Australian Home Owner |
| A woman in Sydney, Australia, was recently given a 30-year,
$107,000 home loan. |
| Margaret Cole, who was born in Wales, Britain, and emigrated
to Australia, wanted to own her own home and become part of
the Australian dream. She saved her money and received a $3,850
grant from the government for first-time home buyers. |
| She plans to move into her three-bedroom home next week. |
| The lending bank is hoping Mrs. Cole lives a long life.
She was 92 years old when she secured the loan, but doesn't
have to pay it off until she's 122. May she have a grand life. |
| |
| It's
Almost Thanksgiving |
| This is a year of expansion for our family. Expansion as
in babies. And it's causing us to ponder our Thanksgiving
plans. |
| Thinking of Thanksgiving in September? In our family, planning
for Thanksgiving is a year-round event which begins immediately
after the holiday is over. |
| My wife's family, with all the sisters, brothers, cousins,
nieces, nephews, sons and daughters manage to meet in one
place over the holiday. We have hosted the event here in Herndon
several times because Washington is an easy place to get to
and there are so many things to do here. |
| We've gathered at my niece, Kristen's home in Cincinnati
a few times and last year met in the cold, barren land of
Michigan in November. This year it's back to Herndon, where
we're only a toll charge away from Washington. |
| It will be much different this year. My wife Betsy's mom
died this spring at 95, which will give us much reason to
reflect on all the years she graced our lives. But still,
the family will have grown. By Thanksgiving three more children
will have been born; my daughter's child and the children
of two of my nephews. |
| Added to this mix of babies-on-the-bottle are five other
children aged two to seven, and 19 adults. That adds up to
27 people, and don't think babies take up less room than an
adult. I've seen the new baby carriages (little VWs) and all
the necessary equipment that goes along with a modern baby. |
| My garage could not hold it all. |
| So Betsy and I were looking around our house recently trying
to think how we could arrange two large dining room tables,
room for five youngsters, and space for three babies who will
probably need breast feeding just as the turkey comes out
of the oven. |
| After all, it's their Thanksgiving as well. |
| Then there's the cooking of the holiday beast, the beverages,
the appetizers, the football games and the eventual late mashed
potatoes and gravy. |
| It will be like sardines in a can. Like 27 astronauts in
a capsule. Like peas in a pod. It's impossible. I've threatened
to have elective surgery and spend Thanksgiving Day in Reston
Hospital. |
| So we've tried to come up with solutions, and the only possible
alternative is to EAT OUT AT A RESTAURANT! We've suggested
the ideas to the sisters and they all think it's a great idea
(after all, they are the ones who cook the food). But making
this suggestion to the nephews and nieces was like throwing
water on a fire. |
| I think the word "gag" was used several times. |
| Traditions are hard to change. Traditions may be impossible
to change. Two of my nieces threatened to mutiny and hold
me captive. But I see nothing but this family getting bigger:
More babies are a certainty, and there's still room for a
couple more wives and husbands. Who knows, maybe by 2005 Betsy
and I could be hosting 42 for Thanksgiving dinner. |
| But I'm going to have to use all my subjective arguments
to convince this traditional group that eating Thanksgiving
dinner AT A RESTAURANT is not the worst thing in the world.
They cook. They serve. And best of all, they clean up. |
| We've still got about a couple of weeks left before we make
up our minds. But it's not going to be a democratic decision.
|
| It will be the decision of a benevolent dictator. Me. |
| Now if I can only convince my nieces about that. |
| And that's Our Town this week. |
