arlington, va
sat 8-apr-06

carlton ca 1957 - I think he still has that sweater.

It has been raining all day - and Carlton and I spent most of the day watching the 1924 version of The Thief of Bagdad with Douglas Fairbanks.

Got the results of my cholesterol test back today. No surprise - I have high cholesterol

I continue to address my mortality. Last spring when I was sick - Terri Shriavo was dying badly and Pope John Paul was dying slowly. This spring Art Buchwald is dying well. He reminds us that we can say "Enough, already". I hope that when my time comes I can muster the same courage and dignity.

But, dying with class takes money. (As well as luck and an illness that takes you out gracefully). There is something called "nursing home insurance". I figure there are too many loop holes for the insurance company. So, I am becoming self insured. I have been buying good old fashioned US Savings Bonds in $5,000 increments. Then, if I end up in a nursing home or hospice - they can be cashed in. And, if not - well then my heirs win. And, I win too.

Still have to set up a scholarship at my college. Have to figure out how to do it without attracting attention and additional pleas for "MORE MONEY". I don't want to be one of the College President's special friends. I don't want seats at a football game. I don't even want a sweatshirt. Just a Thank You letter for the IRS - and maybe a card from the kid who gets the money. But, that is most likely asking too much.

One of Carlton's rich friends says set up a foundation and let the foundation donate the money. But, don't foundations get begging letters too? And wouldn't the foundation mail come to me?..

Well, this is an upmarket problem.