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The Final Reflections of

 Everett Charles Albers 

"The unexamined life is not worth living" is a famous dictum uttered by Socrates in Plato's Apology.
​A lifelong student of the humanities, Ev Albers personified the examined life.

Long Live the Splendor of this Spring Day

4/16/2020

1 Comment

 
Friday, April 16th, 2004

​Words for Today
"There's nineteen men livin' in my neighborhood eighteen of them are fools and the one ain't no doggone good."


One more twist on the men who aren't their women right here in the middle passage comes from that great song-belter, Bessie Smith, who left us far too young just months past her forty-third birthday in 1937. She was born on the day taxes are due - on April 15, although we weren't doing income taxes back. I do believe that I have mentioned Leslie and my taxes as well those of our independent children. I'm the weest bit smug about the fact that I accomplished this a month ago - all in the same breath confess 'twas my spouse' s gentle reminders that motivated me enough to get this done months ago. The modest refund's in the bank. One less nuisance - and the source of a bit of chagrin, I suppose, about the inequity or who pays for America and who benefits most - is getting that information filed - I've been doing it electronically a good long while. The last time I hired a professional to them, he made a mistake and I would up paying penalty and interest. But I must hasten to add that my spouse, not I, really sees to it that I do not - and endures. No getting taxes was not my major worry yesterday or the day before, one of a skirmish with insidious invader from that feeling quite terrific day of Monday, 12th, that brought such optimism and budding spring. After perhaps a too-long day, I tried to sleep through with cramps and pains - 'twas no go. I was having problems hieing myself beyond the computer and my lap - we Leslie arranged for review of the condition by my physicians at Midwestern Medical Center - they have urged (but never dictated) that I come back sooner instead of later, hence we'll be on the road again either sometime late this Friday or early Saturday morn. I've had dressings on the tubes changed by a local nurse here - and I have a great new little blue pill that help stop those sharp abdominal pains - the whole world can share in the memory of such sublime pain with no small amount for moaning and groaning. So, we're off to see the Wizard to check out plumbing - and the rest. I'm gonna make sure they tell me as much as they can about all of this.

Then perhaps we can make a few plans for the future. I nor exaggerate in the weest - this Friday is one of glorious beauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuty and a feeling of sheer joy and jubilation. My dear and faithful kola - you are ever-gentle on my mind this one and the less glorious one of Wednesday - just want you to know how your letting me know you're out there in your unselfish outreach and that you are doing for others what you can. Curious observances of the "official" variety today - wonder who successfully pushed through National Eggs Benedict Day.

Check out some great Eggs Benedict recipes.

I'm not quite ready to try to down Eggs Benedict - quite yet. But I'm gonnna there. This is also the day designated as National Stress Awareness Day - I know what I'm gonna do to thwart this - mean rosy-fingered dawn in all her glory, get some projects done, and pack very carefully. My hope is that your day finds love and laughter, music and baskin' in the warmth of spring.

Ev Albers

(Note: Final blog entry. Thank you for reading.)
1 Comment
Laura J Schmidt-Dockter
4/16/2020 12:29:45 pm

I knew this would be coming to an end...each day I hoped for at least one more post. I can surmise what happened next. Ev may or may not have made the trip the following day. Regardless, the insidious invader, finally, became too much. I hope his kola still bask in the light and love Ev left behind.

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    Author

    Everett Charles Albers was the founding director of Humanities North Dakota (formerly known as North Dakota Humanities Council). Ev brought his love of the humanities to the greatest challenge of his life, his  diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in September 2002.
    Given three months to live, Everett lived and worked for another 18 months, while also writing daily, on-line journal entries in which he reflected on the people and experiences of his life, books and music, pie and the great humanities question of all time: "Where have we been, and where are we going?" 

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