Adrift in my thoughts……

I find myself drifting. Bobbing around in the boat of a newly acquired friend. Bouncing back and forth, lightly, as the thoughts also drift in and out of my head. What is the overwhelming generosity that I am feeling? The absolute definition of selfless service.

Every once in a while, you find a person/group of people that really cares. In a world where things are very often strange and pain inducing… I found a place that I can hang my fears, anxiety and pain. This group of people I am speaking of are the hosts of Warriors Weekend. Never in my life have I experienced a larger amount of caring/dedication to a cause, than down in the lovely area that is south Texas.

A little about me… my name is Tony Fisher. I was in the Army for the better part of a decade. I joined on an airborne ranger contract and two days later 9/11 happened. Haha, talk about timing. I did a few years of in the sand and came back a little worse for the wear. While it was rough, I have always found a reason to keep on rollin’. It’s folks like you that can help a heavy heart. For that I am forever grateful. The last few years at times have been rough for me and y’all are always a shining beacon of hope for this weary traveler.

It always has been a magical time. ALWAYS. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart… thanks….

Thanks to all the hosts that put people up. Thanks for all the boat captains that do what they do (I know that s**t isn’t free). Thanks for all the volunteers who work their fingers to the bone, so we can all have the best time we can. It would be offensive of me to try and name names. There are some many of you guys it would be a futile effort.

I just wanted to say that, even after the smoke has cleared and the weekend is over, I am still out here thinking of y’all and am very grateful. Keep fighting the good fight. Thanks for everything.

Tony Fisher #goarmy

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, kindness and food that was provided for us . Pastor Ernie, Pastor Samuel, POC Womens Service club, Baptist church group, our family, friends and community helped us get through this difficult time.

Thank you so much.
Stanley “Bubba” Thumann family

Dear POC Neighbors & Friends,

I feel so very blessed today and I want to say thank you all; the benefit for Terry was such a success and I truly feel overwhelmed.

I can’t begin to thank everyone that came out to eat, buy the baked goods and bid on awesome silent auction items.
I always feel the love in our P.O.C. but I still start crying when I start thinking about all the love and support I felt and still feel from this Fundraiser.

Special thanks to our service club for all the baking plus everyone else that brought out baked goods..

Thank you to everyone that donated the brisket and other food and paper goods. Calvin Ragusin put his best spin on the brisket and of course spent the day with all of us and helped with all the extras that had to be done.

To everyone that donated to the silent auction, I can tell you there were bidding wars. It was so much fun watching.

But above all else, I want to thank Sally Ragusin. It was her love and compassion that put this all together and I can not begin to put into words How much appreciation I have for her. So, if you see her around please tell her how great she really is.. The same goes for Marie Hawes. She took this all on with just having had foot surgery. It amazes me. I have no idea how to thank these two girls except to try to give back as they do. So again, if you see either of them, show some
love Thy are, above all, the reason we call Port O’Conner home. Our town is awesome, and I feel privileged that Terry and I are able to call this home.

Blessing to all and again Thank You.
Sincerely,
Jacque Bechard

Dear Mr. Brayshaw,

My homestead is in Austin, but I own (and pay generous taxes on) a cottage in Seadrift. I feel comfortable with my neighbors there, but am sometimes alarmed by the volatile political climate of the Coastal Bend.

A case in point—and the reason for my addressing you—is your article (review? endorsement? advertisement?) in the August 17, 2018, issue, of a recent book publication, “Liars, Leakers, and Liberals” by one “Judge Jeanine” Pirro. I hadn’t heard of the book or its author, so I looked up her biography and credentials on Wikipedia, a public-source website not known for partisan distortions. I could not find that she had ever served in a public judiciary position, elective or appointive. I did discover that she was a reality TV star on a commercial “courtroom” drama. How many of your readers know this, or go to the trouble of finding out? Is it perhaps the Dolphin’s responsibility, in the interests of a community paper, to disclose the biases of the author?

I find the book (if your summary is accurate) a caricature of irrational prejudices and unsupported claims, a classic reflection of the fearmongering and reckless untruthfulness of the current federal administration, from the top down. Do you personally, or the Dolphin’s editor and owners, seriously want to be party to disseminating such toxins in Port O’Connor and Seadrift? It should be obvious that my own political allegiances are Democratic and Liberal, but I think I am a loyal and thoughtful and honest citizen, a practicing Christian who reads the Gospels, and as other such persons should be, outraged by the unmitigated Trumpite propaganda that this book appears to wallow in.

From your publication, presumably a family imprint, I would expect more rational and civil discourse on the urgent issues of our day.

You may print this letter and my name. At 84 years of age, I am not afraid of being bullied and I refuse to have my voice suppressed when I raise it against cruelty or disingenuousness.

Joseph J. Moldenhauer

The Editor Responds…

Mr. Moldenhauer, I am always pleased when readers take the time to respond to what they have read in Dolphin Talk. I must point out, however, that your disapproval of the referenced article by Mr. Brayshaw is based on false assumptions.

Here is the entire entry from Wikipedia:

“Jeanine Ferris Pirro (born June 2, 1951) is an American TV personality, former judge, prosecutor, and Republican politician in New York. Pirro is currently the host of Fox News Channel’s Justice with Judge Jeanine.
She was the first female judge elected to the Westchester County Court prior to her election as the first female District Attorney of Westchester County. As District Attorney, Pirro gained considerable visibility in cases of domestic abuse and crimes against the elderly. Pirro briefly sought the Republican nomination for United States Senate against Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2006, but dropped out to accept the nomination for New York Attorney General. Pirro lost the general election to Andrew Cuomo.”

I must assume that you are not at all familiar with Fox News or you would have heard her name before. She is the Legal Analyst for Fox News and her nightly program, Justice with Judge Jeanine, is not a courtroom drama, but a platform for discussion where various topics in the news are discussed and debated by guests with differing points of view. As the host and moderator, Judge Jeanine, asks the questions. In her “Opening Statement” in each program, she gives her views on the latest political issues.

Mr. Brayshaw is quite knowledgeable about current political issues, and could probably have given you a more detailed response, but having addressed “Letters to the Dolphin”, I felt that I should respond.

Joyce Rhyne, Editor, Dolphin Talk

The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
Letters to the Dolphin:
Dolphin Talk, P.O. Box 777, Port O’Connor, TX 77982
dolphin1@tisd.net