I grumped away from the locked door of the Big Lake Post Office Wednesday morning.

 

The place was locked, as a memorial to the departed George Herbert Walker Bush, our “41st.”

 

My grumping continued for a minute or so, my asking myself, “How in the world can the struggling US Postal Dept. make any headway when they close down for any John, Dick or Jane memorial?”

 

Then, I re-thought it; the “41st” was worth a closing down. He was a WWII war hero, fighting for the US Navy against the Japanese in the Pacific, getting shot down and losing his two flight comrades.

 

He came home and married Barbara and served our country in every facet of government life.

 

He ran for  President - I voted for him (twice) and he did a lot of wonderful things for the US of A.

 

More than all of this - he was a member of a dwindling genre of American veterans - from WWII - who steered their way to great service to our government and in the private sector by being just honorable citizens.

 

Thinking right and doing right.

 

Caring for their brethern, most importantly those who needed care the most.

 

Living a life supported by love for Barbara and the family; of stressing manners and dependability and caring, more notably for the Democrats across the aisle.

 

His second-best friend in retirement from government was Pres. Bill Clinton, a guy he shared not a whole lot in common.

 

But friendships, President Bush showed us, were not based on common values, but on the intrique of getting along with everyone.

 

President Bush was a product of The Great Depression and World War II. He lived through the hard parts of our 20th Century and they helped chistle his personality into a greatest member of Our Greatest Generation.

 

A Greatest Generation who by toiling and accomplishing and working together for a common good laid way for my generation, their children, to enjoy the fruits of their work.

 

For we have been the Most Privileged Generation. And more privileged have followed.

 

“A thousand points of light.” He said that many times. It was his dream in marching toward a better world.

 

That’s why our world stopped Wednesday.

 

That’s why the Big Lake Post Office was closed.

 

And that’s why I was reminded we have lost a good man. A very good man.

 

He was a President quoted considerably.

 

His “thousand points of ight?” What was it. It can be what we want it to be - as long as there is clarity to our purpose and dedication to carry the good deeds to conclusion.

 

He asked often that we promote a “kinder and gentler nation.”

 

That’s what he stood for - that’s what he was. Kinder and gentler. We need more kinder and gentler nowadays.

 

Another quote from the Bush days: “Hatred corrodes the container its carried in.”

 

Love should overcome hate. That’s why we remember the Bush family.