Why NOYNOY is not qualified..

If one were to believe ABS-CBN, the vast majority of Filipinos are so enthused about electing Noynoy Aquino as president. I have conducted an informal survey among friends and relatives, and the Aquinos’-who I am sure are sincere about discerning what is best for the country-may also want to hear what other people are saying. Faith may go beyond reason, but it is not the opposite of reason. Here are some of the questions/comments other people have about the major arguments put forth to elect Noynoy as President:

1. ARGUMENT ONE: Noynoy has the genes for heroism, having Ninoy and Cory as parents. At the very least, he will be motivated to become a good president if only to preserve the legacy of his parents and continue the work they set out to do.

COMMENT: Motivation is a complex thing. People are complex creatures.We do not know if heroism is something that is written in the genetic code of a family. We do know that people in the same family can be motivated by different things (see how different Kris is from Ballsy in terms of interests and passions.) We do know that some people are just naturally passionate about politics and its potential for good. Obviously, Ninoy Aquino had that kind of passion in his DNA. Perhaps it was what gave meaning to his existence so that he was willing to give up his life rather than wait it out in the safety of America. Passion for principle-centered politics is an energy that drives people to be intellectually curious, to study issues and problems, discern solutions, be a staunch advocate for certain points of views and work smart and hard to mobilize support for their advocacies. This is where charisma comes from- leaders draw followers because they are passionate and certain about their advocacies.
A presidential candidate must have this passion to do good; one cannot be lukewarm about the job!

How can we tell if Noynoy has this passion in his DNA? Or how can we have the confidence that the experience of his family has directed his energies so that he will, for sure work hard to be a credit to his family ? The best predictor is what he has shown in the past. He has had two terms in congress and three years in the senate. Did he show himself to be studios and diligent? Did the quality of his participation in deliberations show that he had a good grasp of the complexity of the issues and problems? Did he take well-reasoned points of view? Did he provide good solutions to our most difficult problems by way of authoring landmark bills or did he just append his name to bills actually initiated and studied by his colleagues? Did he show determination and doggedness in mobilizing support for his advocacies?

Most people agree that Cory was a hero but not in the mould of Ninoy. She was a good woman who may not have had the passion or aptitude for politics but who tried to fill in the shoes of Ninoy at a time when the fight was all about good versus evil. Is this still the kind of hero we need today?




2. ARGUMENT : This is a fight of good versus evil and who else but Noynoy to lead us into the promised land? (the subtext here is that we do not need a competent leader; a “good” person with some government experience will do.)
Cory was a good person and yet, she was not able to or did not prioritize the culture change required to deal with deep-seated corruption in the BIR, Customs, other government agencies and in the Philippines as a whole. Neither did another six years of President Ramos solve this admittedly difficult problem. (although the use of technology in the BIR was started in Ramos’ time.)
Cory was a good person, but her administration failed to anticipate the crippling power shortage partly responsible for low growth rates during her time and for which until now rich and poor alike are paying a high price.
Cory was a good person, but she did not make any bold or imaginative action to drive home the point that her fellow elite in the Philippines must sacrifice to help solve the problem of poverty.
The point I am making is not that Cory was a bad president, but that being “good” alone will not solve our deep-seated problems.

The call for Noynoy to be president is perhaps a sign of our desperation. It feels like we have been walking aimlessly in the dessert for the proverbial 40 years (it’s been 23 years actually) and our hope is that Noynoy will be our Moses. If only we could just rely on Yahweh and on manna from heaven! But obviously, we do not need to go to on a retreat with the pink sisters to discern that God wants us to work it out the traditional way- through brain work and spadework! Our Moses must have a roadmap. He should know the complexity of the terrain, the possible dangers, and the alternative routes. Moreover, he must have a strong conviction about the best routes to take. (otherwise, his people will fight among themselves. Cabinet secretaries will tell you a president will get conflicting advice from different people. The president therefore must be well-informed, intelligent and confident about making decisions-specially during crisis situations)

Filipinos are imaginative and creative; and perhaps that is why we tend to favor “emotionally- driven” solutions to our problems. Hence, we pin our hopes on movements (Ako Mismo, moral recovery etc..) and symbolisms (yellow ribbons, Ninoy’s glasses). These are helpful, but I think we have lived long enough to realize –we gotta have a good plan! A detailed one that will address the issues of poverty and corruption. How do we increase revenues and clean up BIR and Customs?(specially since we anticipate huge budget deficits in the future as a result of the excesses of the GMA administration and the current pump priming ) How do we ensure that we continue the relatively high growth rate (essential for poverty reduction),low cost of money and low inflation that have been the bright spots of our economy in recent years? How do we ensure our limited resources are spent wisely? Where do we get the money we need for infrastructure? How can the president get the support of congress and senate while at the same time ensuring pork is spent properly? How do we provide jobs and livelihood for people-specially for the majority without a good education? In Agriculture ?-but exactly how do we ensure land reform actually succeeds? And how do we bring down the cost of interisland movement of goods? How do we ensure that growth in tourism is sustained? How can we make our manufacturing sector (which should absorb blue collar workers)more competitive? Or is manufacturing for export still the way to go? How do we attract foreign direct investments? How do we find the elusive path to peace in Mindanao?
What exactly do we do about the poor state of public education?(our teachers are already paid better than those in private schools)How about the population growth issue?

Obviously, integrity is VITAL to become a good president. With the problems we need to solve however, being good is not SUFFICIENT for success. So Noynoy is the only one who can unite the opposition? But UNITY for what EXACTLY? And who is this opposition and what do they ACTUALLY stand for?

Just because we have been disappointed with GMA and ERAP does not mean that there is no one out there who has the integrity, passion, intelligence and political smarts required by the job.. Perhaps the Aquino family can make use of the goodwill in other ways to help the country?

Let's hear it this way...

Manny Pacquiao lost a fight and people are blaming his change in religious out look for it. i just heard someone on the TV say that Pacquiao lost because he stopped wearing his rosary and doing the sign of the cross on his fights ever since his challenge with Bradley. well let me sort this out,.. by this, you guys are implying that wearing a rosary is and has always been his path way to victory. so, if wearing a rosary+sign of the cross=victory, and considering the fact that marquez and bradley eventually won, please ask this to yourselves ; did Bradley and Marquez wear a rosary on their victory?
Manny eventually fought as if his only goal was to erase people's disappointment to him due to his performance during his previous fight, particularly being slow enough to deliver less hits on Bradley. He fought hoping he would bring back the smile on people's face by showing that he regained his vast speed which people thought was already gone. He did it for the sake of everyone's entertainment and he did it in exchange for the fatal blow on his face.
Manny lost because he was meant to lose, the creator have probably decided a better plan for this event and of course Manny's life proves that he is being prepared for something better in life other than boxing.

Pacquiao, on the hands of defeat, still showed a positive outlook on his fight and
appreciated Marquez's drastic improvement in boxing skills.
his sportsmanship and attitude never failed to surprise many. this is what his new religious outlook made him.One heck of a boxer I still salute!

:-) Long Live Filipinos!

Attention! BSM 13 (Science, Technology & Society)

	1)	This is an apparatus which separates proteins and debris to DNA.

2)	This apparatus is used in sucking up solutions.

3)	This is a device which is used to see where the red cDNA molecules bonds.

4)	A device used in PCR which heats up and cools down.

5)	This is a kind of skin cancer cell which is examined in DNA Microarray.

6)	Type of cells which is collected in DNA extraction.

7)	A method used in sorting DNA strands according to length.

8)	A method used in diagnosing diseases and by copying a segment of DNA billions of times.

9)	A method used to investigate everything from cancer to pest control.

10)	It refers to the endless cycle of codependence,co-influence,co-production of technology and society upon the other.

A.

Science

B.	Technology

C.	Science and Technology

D.

Science, Technology and Society

			11)	It is the time where all humans were hunter-gatherers.

A.

Stone Age

B.	Ancient Civilization

C.	Medieval and Modern Technologies

D.

19th Century

12)	They are the inventors of simple machines such as ramp and lever to aid construction processes.

A.

Indians

B.

Chinese

C.

Egyptians

D.

Islam

13)	It is a practical application of knowledge in a particular area and a capability given by the practical application of knowledge.

A.

Science

B.	Technology

C.

Society

D.

STS

14)	Which civilization developed the following: seismological detectors, matches, paper, sliding calipers and wheel borrow.

A.

Egyptians

B.

Chinese

C.

Indians

D.

Islam

Online Assignment in Nat. Sci. 2 (BS ArchTech-1)

Hello Children...this will be your first online assignment in my subject..let me first assess how far have you gone in Biology as far as your knowledge is concerned...Your GUESS is welcome... Good Luck!! :)

1. Leafy sea dragons have leaf-like appendages that mimic the fronds of the sea kelp beds in which they inhabit. This inherited characteristic enables the delicate sea dragon to evade capture by its enemies. The evolution of these leafy appendages is an example of which of the characteristics of life?
a. organization
b. adaptation
c. growth and development
d. maintenance of internal constancy
e. irritability, or reacting to environmental change

2. One of these is NOT a requirement of living things. Choose that trait.
a. organization
b. ability to think
c. maintenance of internal constancy
d. response to the environment
e. energy

3. What is a theory in biology?
a. an opinion or educated guess
b. proof that a hypothesis is true
c. the outcome of an experiment
d. a hypothetical set of facts
e. a hypothesis that has been supported by many experiments and/or observations

4. Which of the following is formulated as a hypothesis to explain why the different sexes of a ringed pheasant look different?
a. The drab coloration of the female pheasant allows it to be camouflaged in its natural habitat
b. Painting a female pheasant bright red will draw attention to it.
c. Male pheasants, painted a drab color, were ignored by the females during mating season.
d. In an experiment, it was found that male pheasants were attracted to the drab-colored female pheasants.
e. If female pheasants were more brightly colored, then they will be "sitting ducks," especially during the hunting season.

5. What are the two primary environmental factors determining the distribution of biomes in different regions of our planet?
a. latitude and elevation
b. temperature and precipitation
c. the tilt of the Earth and relative distance from the sun
d. global air circulation and ocean currents
e. El Niño and global warming

6. "Seasons" on the planet Mars are characterized by variation in the size of its polar ice cap and the severity of its dust storms over the course of the Martian year. What causes these "seasons" of Mars?
a. topographical differences, such as its great channels and tall volcanoes
b. gravitational forces from other bodies in the solar system
c. rising and falling air masses
d. its relative distance from the Sun at different times of the Martian year
e. the tilt of the planet and relative changes in the angle of incidence of sunlight

7. Why can many different species coexist in an ecosystem when they are competing for limited resources?
a. each species is found in a different biome
b. each species occurs in a slightly different habitat
c. each species occupies a different niche
d. each species comprises a different population
e. resources are shared among all species

8. Which of the following is NOT an ecosystem or a definition of one?
a. the planet Earth
b. all the organisms, sometimes hundreds of species, in a given area
c. a leaf that has fallen to the ground
d. a tropical rainforest
e. the kelp beds of southern Australia, home of the sea dragon

9. Many major deserts of the world are situated around 30 degrees N and S latitude. The aridity of these regions can be best explained by:
a. the water-conserving adaptations of desert plants and animals
b. the absence of pioneer species
c. sea surface temperatures and global ocean currents
d. their high relative humidity
e. the dry air masses over these regions are falling, increasing in temperature, and sucking all the moisture out of the ground

10. The transition of your neighbor’s lawn from a uniform lawn of grass to one that is now crowded with tall weeds, tree saplings, and small shrubs is called:
a. primary succession
b. secondary succession
c. invasive succession
d. disclimax
e. transitional succession

11. Returning to your neighborhood some 100 years from now, you see a mature oak-hickory forest. You are told that if this forest is not disturbed, it will remain fairly constant in species composition for ever. How would you describe the ecological status of this land?
a. disclimax community
b. climax community
c. pioneer community
d. primary successional community
e. invasive species community

12. Shortly after visiting your old neighborhood, the weather deteriorates and a freak tornado scours the area, effectively removing the vegetation. How will pioneer species alter the nonliving components of this ecosystem during the early stages of succession?
a. they prevent later successional species from establishing themselves
b. they maintain the community in a recurring state of disclimax
c. they convert existing organic matter to mineral substrate
d. they reduce light intensity and temperature and add organic matter to the soil
e. they permit as much sunlight (energy) as possible to reach the ground

13. Species that are non-native to a particular ecosystem and whose introduction has caused economic or environmental harm are called what?
a. pioneer species
b. disclimax species
c. invasive species
d. secondary species
e. successional species

14. John Deere and his self-scouring steel-bladed plow, and all others who used this implement, were able to convert tallgrass prairie into agricultural land. The maintenance of this land by repeated plowing, sowing, and raising crops is an artifical form of maintaining what?
a. a disclimax commnity
b. a climax community
c. a biological community
d. a pioneer community
e. all of the above

15. Which factor would cause the change in the growth rate of the population from time 1 to time 2?

a. intrinsic growth factors b. density dependent factors c. generation time d. biotic potential e. genetic make up of the species

16. In the portion of the poem below, how would the birds, snakes, and wolves be classified in terms of biological population terminology?
Thousands of chipmunks scurrying about
But soon their exponential future would be in doubt
For the birds and the snakes and wolves got the hunch
That chipmunks make a delectable lunch
Charles Sokoloff (former Bio 100 student)
a. as factors determining the intrinsic rate of increase of the chipmunk population
b. as density independent factors for the chipmunk population
c. as density dependent factors for the chipmunk population
d. as exponential growth factors for the chipmunk population
e. as members of the chipmunk population

17. The actual growth rate of a population is calculated by ____________.
a. adding up all the environmental resistance factors
b. subtracting the death plus emigration rates from the birth plus immigration rates
c. subtracting the death rate from the generation time
d. birth rate alone
e. multiplying the generation time by the birth rate

18. Which group of organisms is a population?
a. all the plants in the U of I experimental prairie
b. all the trees in Urbana
c. all the Canadian geese (a species of bird) living in the pond next to Menard's building supply store.
d. all the insects living under the grass of the quad
e. all the pets in Champaign

19. Energy, which originated as light, is transported from the light dependent reactions of photosynthesis to the Calvin cycle in the form of:
a. heat
b. ATP and NADPH
c. ADP and NADP
d. oxygen and sugar
e. carbon dioxide and water

20. When plants do not receive enough water their photosynthetic rate drops significantly. This is because:
a. water is a raw material needed for the light dependent reactions.
b. the stomates close and carbon dioxide is not available.
c. sugar builds up and inhibits photosynthesis.
d. not enough oxygen is produced to keep glycolysis running.
e. water provides the carbon atoms used to make sugar.


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E m B a L m i n G Process

[WARNING: Contains disturbing images] This is a fairly morbid topic but a very interesting one. Embalming is not required by law in many countries, but it is often performed for the benefit of loved ones. An embalmer has the very responsible task of ensuring that family members are not left with an undesirable last memory of their loved one. These are the five steps involved in the embalming process.

1. Pre-Embalming

At anytime, day or night, the funeral professional may be called upon to do his or her job. People have a tendency to die at the most inconvenient times, and a mortician cannot wait until later to retrieve a body. This means lots of getting up at 1 AM and having to work on holidays.

When someone dies and once authorization has been granted by the family, doctor, and/or by the medical examiner, the embalmer is called to make the “removal” of the body. After filling out the appropriate paperwork the embalmer takes the body to the funeral home, and if embalming is requested or required, begins the process.

An embalming report is filled out that logs all jewelry and personal items on the body; details any discolorations, cuts, bruises, etc. on the body; and documents the procedures and chemicals used during embalming. This report can become very valuable if a deceased’s family bring a lawsuit against the funeral home.

All clothing, bandages, IV needles, catheters and such are removed. A strong disinfectant spray is used to clean the skin, eyes, mouth, and other orifices. If rigor mortis (the stiffening of muscles after death) has set in, it is relieved by moving the limbs and head about and massaging the muscles. If the decedent is a man, he is normally shaved at this point. Razor burn (yes, not even death can save you from this) is less likely before the arterial chemical firms the skin of the face. Even women and children are shaved to remove the fine “peach fuzz” we all have on our faces. This is done to avoid the makeup from collecting on the hair and making the makeup more noticeable.

2. Feature Setting

Next begins the process of placing the facial features and the body itself in the position it will remain in the casket for viewing. This is done before arterial embalming, because the body will be truly “set” – firmed in position once formaldehyde reaches the tissues.

Great care is taken to close the eyes. The traditional method for doing this involves placing a bit of cotton between the eye and eyelid. Many times after death the eyes sink back into their sockets, so small plastic “eye caps” are placed on each eye ball. A small amount of stay creme is placed on the eyecap to avoid dehydration of the eyelids. Contrary to popular myth, the eyelids are never sewn shut, but in some cases that may be glued together to prevent separation.

The mouth is closed either by tying the jaw together with a piece of suture string or by a special injector gun. With the suture method, a curved needle with a piece of suture string is threaded through the jaw below the gums, stuck through upper jaw into to the right nostril, threaded through the septum of the nose into the left nostril, and then passed back down into the mouth. The two ends of suture are tied, careful not too tightly, so that a natural appearance of the mouth is created.

To finish closing the mouth, many times a mouth former is used. A mouth former is similar to an eyecap as it has a textured side that grips the lips, but it is shaped like the mouth. A small amount of stay creme is also used on the mouth to avoid dehydration and help hold the lips in place. The mortician may also squeeze inside the mouth a little mastic compound, a paste kind of like caulk to give the mouth a better and more pleasing shape.

3. Arterial Embalming

Arterial embalming is begun by injecting embalming fluid into an artery while the blood is drained from a nearby vein or from the heart. The two gallons or so needed is usually a mixture of formaldehyde or other chemical and water. In the case of certain cancers, some diabetic conditions, or because of the drugs used prior to death (where body deterioration has already begun), a stronger or “waterless” solution is likely to be used for better body preservation. Chemicals are also injected by syringe into other areas of the body.

Once the embalming fluid begins to flow into the arterial system, pressure begins to build up in the entire vascular system. This helps the fluid reach all parts of the body and penetrate into the tissues. Evidence of this can be seen in bulging veins throughout the body. The jugular drain tube is opened periodically (it is normally closed) to allow blood to escape and prevent too much pressure in the vascular system which could cause swelling. The blood drains directly into the sewer system, which sounds gross, but in reality much worse things go into our sewers.

Once arterial injection has been completed, the arterial and jugular tubes are removed, the vessels are tied closed, and the incision used to access the vessels is sutured closed and sealed with a special chemical.

4. Cavity Embalming

Arterial fluids mainly treat the skin, muscles, and organs themselves. What’s inside the organs (such as urine, bile, etc.) begins to decompose. Gases and bacteria can build up and cause distention, odor, and purge (such as brown fluids coming out of the mouth – not exactly the way you want to remember grandma). These bacteria can sometimes spread to other parts of the body, even after arterial embalming, causing decomposition problems (and then sometimes legal problems for the funeral home).

Cavity treatment starts with aspirating (suctioning) fluids out of the internal organs in the abdomen and thoracic cavity. This is accomplished this with the use of a trocar. The embalmer uses it to puncture the stomach, bladder, large intestines, and lungs. Gas and fluids are withdrawn before “cavity fluid” (a stronger mix of formaldehyde) is injected into the torso. The anus and vagina may be packed with cotton or gauze to prevent seepage if necessary. (A close-fitting plastic garment may also be used.)

These steps apply only to a body that has not been autopsied. During autopsy all the internal organs are removed and inspected by the medical examiner and then placed back inside the body or sometimes incinerated. At the funeral home, the mortician removes the viscera and places it in a plastic bag called a “viscera bag” and allows it to soak in cavity chemical. The inside of the body cavity is aspirated with a special instrument and then coated with an embalming gel and/or an embalming powder. The treated organs are then placed back inside the body or the bag full of organs gets placed at the foot end of the casket (so never try to admire a deceased’s shoes!)

5. Post-Embalming

The body and hair are washed once more to remove any blood or chemicals and then thoroughly dried. Any restorations are done now, such as rebuilding features, masking sores or abrasions, etc. Makeup gets applied to the face, neck, and hands. Either a translucent makeup is used in normal cases or an opaque makeup is applied if the skin is discolored. In either case, the effect should be a subtle as possible to avoid Uncle Roger looking like Aunt Rose. The fingernails are trimmed. The hair is styled, either by the embalmer or by a professional hairdresser or barber.

The remains are dressed in the outfit chosen by the family. This outfit almost always includes underwear, shoes, and socks. In the case of autopsy or other difficulties, plastic undergarments are placed on the body to prevent leakage.

Finally comes casketing. The body is placed into the casket and posed in the proper position. The family normally views the body at this point and decides on any changes that need to be made. During the viewing period (which can sometimes last for several days) the embalmer will periodically check the body for signs of decomposition and takes any corrective action.

BS Criminology Student Wins ISSC Presidency

Garnering a total of 2,097 votes, Razzel Aldwin U. Moreno of CAUPOD Party was declared the new SSG President after defeating Hazel L. Medrina of PULSO Party with 2,052 votes during the synchronized Institutional Student Supreme Council (ISSC) and Collegiate Student Council (CSC) Election held on July 19, 2012 at Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) Main Campus, Calbayog City.

The new ISSC President who won over the BSED Major in English student, was a third year student taking up Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the College of Teacher Education and Arts and Sciences (CTEAS). Razzel, as fondly called by his friends is the second child of Mr. & Mrs. Bong Moreno and presently the SK Chairman of Oquendo Poblacion, Calbayog City.

A LETTER IN THE LOST WALLET

As I walked home one freezing day, I stumbled on a wallet someone had lost in the street. I picked it up and looked inside to find some identification so
I could call the owner. But the wallet contained only three dollars and a
crumpled letter that looked as if it had been in there for years.

The envelope was worn and the only thing that was legible on it was the
return address. I started to open the letter, hoping to find some clue. Then
I saw the dateline--1924. The letter had been written almost sixty years ago.

It was written in a beautiful feminine handwriting on powder blue
stationery with a little flower in the left-hand corner. It was a "Dear John"
letter that told the recipient, whose name appeared to be Michael, that the
writer could not see him any more because her mother forbade it. Even so, she
wrote that she would always love him.

It was signed, Hannah.

It was a beautiful letter, but there was no way except for the name
Michael, that the owner could be identified. Maybe if I called information,
the operator could find a phone listing for the address on the envelope.

"Operator," I began, "this is an unusual request. I'm trying to find the
owner of a wallet that I found. Is there anyway you can tell me if there is a
phone number for an address that was on an envelope in the wallet?"

She suggested I speak with her supervisor, who hesitated for a moment then said, "Well, there is a phone listing at that address, but I can't give you
the number." She said, as a courtesy, she would call that number, explain my
story and would ask them if they wanted her to connect me. I waited a few
minutes and then she was back on the line. "I have a party who will speak
with you."

I asked the woman on the other end of the line if she knew anyone by the
name of Hannah. She gasped, "Oh! We bought this house from a family who had a daughter named Hannah. But that was 30 years ago!"

"Would you know where that family could be located now?" I asked.

"I remember that Hannah had to place her mother in a nursing home some
years ago," the woman said. "Maybe if you got in touch with them they might be able to track down the daughter."

She gave me the name of the nursing home and I called the number. They told me the old lady had passed away some years ago but they did have a phone number for where they thought the daughter might be living.

I thanked them and phoned. The woman who answered explained that Hannah herself was now living in a nursing home.

This whole thing was stupid, I thought to myself. Why was I making such a
big deal over finding the owner of a wallet that had only three dollars and a
letter that was almost 60 years old?

Nevertheless, I called the nursing home in which Hannah was supposed to be living and the man who answered the phone told me, "Yes, Hannah is staying with us. "

Even though it was already 10 p.m., I asked if I could come by to see her.
"Well," he said hesitatingly, "if you want to take a chance, she might be in
the day room watching television."

I thanked him and drove over to the nursing home. The night nurse and a
guard greeted me at the door. We went up to the third floor of the large
building. In the day room, the nurse introduced me to Hannah.

She was a sweet, silver-haired old timer with a warm smile and a twinkle in
her eye.

I told her about finding the wallet and showed her the letter. The second
she saw the powder blue envelope with that little flower on the left, she took
a deep breath and said, "Young man, this letter was the last contact I ever
had with Michael."

She looked away for a moment deep in thought and then said Softly, "I loved
him very much. But I was only 16 at the time and my mother felt I was too
young. Oh, he was so handsome. He looked like Sean Connery, the actor."

"Yes," she continued. "Michael Goldstein was a wonderful person. If you
should find him, tell him I think of him often. And," she hesitated for a
moment, almost biting her lip, "tell him I still love him. You know," she said
smiling as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I never did marry. I guess no
one ever matched up to Michael..."

I thanked Hannah and said goodbye. I took the elevator to the first floor
and as I stood by the door, the guard there asked, "Was the old lady able to
help you?"

I told him she had given me a lead. "At least I have a last name. But I
think I'll let it go for a while. I spent almost the whole day trying to find
the owner of this wallet."

I had taken out the wallet, which was a simple brown leather case with red
lacing on the side. When the guard saw it, he said, "Hey, wait a minute!
That's Mr. Goldstein's wallet. I'd know it anywhere with that bright red
lacing. He's always losing that wallet. I must have found it in the halls at
least three times."

"Who's Mr. Goldstein?" I asked as my hand began to shake.

"He's one of the old timers on the 8th floor. That's Mike Goldstein's
wallet for sure. He must have lost it on one of his walks."

I thanked the guard and quickly ran back to the nurse's office. I told her
what the guard had said. We went back to the elevator and got on. I prayed
that Mr. Goldstein would be up.

On the eighth floor, the floor nurse said, "I think he's still in the day
room. He likes to read at night. He's a darling old man."

We went to the only room that had any lights on and there was a man reading a book. The nurse went over to him and asked if he had lost his wallet. Mr. Goldstein looked up with surprise, put his hand in his back pocket and said, "Oh, it is missing!"

"This kind gentleman found a wallet and we wondered if it could be yours?"

I handed Mr. Goldstein the wallet and the second he saw it, he smiled with
relief and said, "Yes, that's it! It must have dropped out of my pocket this
afternoon. I want to give you a reward."

"No, thank you," I said. "But I have to tell you something. I read the
letter in the hope of finding out who owned the wallet."

The smile on his face suddenly disappeared. "You read that letter?"

"Not only did I read it, I think I know where Hannah is."

He suddenly grew pale. "Hannah? You know where she is? How is she? Is she still as pretty as she was? Please, please tell me," he begged.

"She's fine...just as pretty as when you knew her." I said softly.

The old man smiled with anticipation and asked, "Could you tell me where
she is? I want to call her tomorrow." He grabbed my hand and said, "You know something, mister, I was so in love with that girl that when that letter came, my life literally ended. I never married. I guess I've always loved her. "

"Mr. Goldstein," I said, "Come with me."

We took the elevator down to the third floor. The hallways were darkened
and only one or two little night-lights lit our way to the day room where
Hannah was sitting alone watching the television. The nurse walked over to
her.

"Hannah," she said softly, pointing to Michael, who was waiting with me in
the doorway. "Do you know this man?"

She adjusted her glasses, looked for a moment, but didn't say a word.
Michael said softly, almost in a whisper, "Hannah, it's Michael. Do you
remember me?"

She gasped, "Michael! I don't believe it! Michael! It's you! My Michael!"
He walked slowly towards her and they embraced. The nurse and I left with
tears streaming down our faces.

"See," I said. "See how the Good Lord works! If it's meant to be, it will
be."

About three weeks later I got a call at my office from the nursing home.
"Can you break away on Sunday to attend a wedding? Michael and Hannah are going to tie the knot!"

It was a beautiful wedding with all the people at the nursing home dressed
up to join in the celebration. Hannah wore a light beige dress and looked
beautiful. Michael wore a dark blue suit and stood tall. They made me their
best man.

The hospital gave them their own room and if you ever wanted to see a
76-year-old bride and a 79-year-old groom acting like two teenagers, you had
to see this couple.

A perfect ending for a love affair that had lasted nearly 60 years.

"NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU'VE WAIT... IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT TAKES YEARS EVEN A DECADE... IF GOD ALLOWS IT... NO ONE NOR ANYTHING WILL BE HARD... IT ALWAYS WORTH IT... TRUE LOVE CONQUERS ALL..."