I parked behind someone's Cadillac with a message about Aphasia on the back. My car has my green Mental Health Awareness magnet on it.
How do I know about aphasia? I had it during three TIAs, the last in 2011. That's why I take aspirin at nite and carry it in my backpack.
Am now sipping on Decaf Coffee that Linda, the server at the Rotary meeting brought me.
Then they disappeared.
Linda told me they had played golf and were now having drinks at the bar.
Ah, the life of the Great Gatsbys.
When I was getting ready to leave, I asked a woman who was the membership person how much it costs to join.
She wouldn't tell me, plus you've gotta be recommended by two members.
I emailed my friend Joe Thomas of the Upper Moreland Historical Association to see if he had any background about the club.
He wrote: What little I could find in my files states that the HVCC began as a golf club
and its first president was Wm. W. Frazier in 1898.
Sat at the table with Michael Webb, deputy police chief of the Abington Police Force.
Both Michael and Roger, the man with aphasia, were inducted into the Rotary Group. The Rotary does lots of wonderful work, including helping needy kids in Upper Moreland buy school supplies.
Here's Mike with our township commissioner Sam Valenza. BTW, if you have various problems, send a note to your township commissioner. Sam is very helpful.
Next to Neil is our own Margie Peters, head librarian of the Upper Moreland Library. She's president of the Willow Grove Rotary. .
Who knew?
Margie told me that the Rotary is discussing a question at their board meeting: Should they continue calling themselves The Rotary Club or drop the word "club" as it sounds too exclusive.
Altho I'm not a member, I'd say Keep the word Club. To me, it's a nice feeling to be a member of a club. Like my Upper Moreland Book Club. As a 6-yo kid, I was a member of the Cookie Club back in Cleveland, sponsored by the now-defunct newspaper The Cleveland News.
To get to the dining room to give my talk, you descend a dangerously steep set of stairs, tho there is also an elevator.
At the top of the stairs, a man introduced himself to me.
Bob Felte, he said.
Oh, the realtor, I said.
Yes, he said. Sorry I can't stay and listen to your talk.
This Rotary group is comprised of intelligent, aware and witty individuals. Linda, the waitress, loves them and calls them "The Funny Rotary Group."
True. For lunch today, I had Caesar salad minus the croutons, salted asparagus, and pulled pork. All were delicious tho I didn't like the salt.
For dessert, I indulged: slice of apple pie.
Up at the podium I told the group I did a lot of preparation for my talk - 20 minutes - and also wrote a poem.
At another Rotary meeting, I read a poem called A Mystical Experience at the Hardware Store.
Picture the year 1984, I said. Ronald Reagan was president. A 38-yo woman has just stepped out of her home and holds her arm in the air, "I'm the Alpha Male" she said.
Told about getting locked up at MCES - Montgomery County Emergency Service - and looked over at Mike the police officer, saying you've probably driven people there.
Mentioned my kidney transplant from taking lithium and that my bipolar went away. Thank God for that, I said, or fate, or whoever is responsible.
Rev. Tyson from Calvary Church on Easton Road had given the benediction.
I told them I had cataract surgery two days ago and wrote a poem about it.
One man was very grateful since he's having the surgery next week and will make sure he's got enough anesthesia.
Before we close with my poem, some photos of the beautiful golf course and swimming pool, both well attended on this hot - but not too hot - day in July.
Click twice to enlarge.
MY NEW EYES
On
the operating table
they
didn’t know I was
writhing
in pain
as
Dr Clark sawed into
my
left eye
I
could see nothing
but
brilliant colors
is
this what it’s like
being
blind? I wondered
he
told me later
the
most painful part
is
vacuuming out
the
cataracts,
…Dyson
or Electrolux?
little
pillows that
cloud
the vision
and
make nighttime driving
suicidal
You’re
doing great, said Clark
I
relaxed and studied
the panel of
royal blue
the
color of my gym suit
back
in Cleveland
where
I kicked in soccer goals
on
the verdant green grass
hoping
Mr. Parasility was
watching out the window. 
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