It has certainly been a while since I last posted anything of substance. I apologize for that.

This summer has certainly been an interesting one. In late July, my Grand Aunt Millie died after a long struggle against Alzheimer’s. When she passed, my Mom phoned and asked me if we should tell my Grandmother, Josephine, that her sister had died. I counseled that we ask her doctors who replied that she was not healthy enough to be told for any number of reasons.

Now, my Grandmother had been suffering from end stage emphysema, congestive heart failure and, from lack of circulation, gangrene in both her feet. Knowing this and based upon her doctors not wanting her to know her sister died, my instinct told me it was time for a trip to NJ to visit with her. So, on the weekend of July 25-27, I flew to NJ and visited with my Grandmother on Saturday and Sunday.

It turns out she caught pneumonia that weekend. She had fought and beat pneumonia at least ½ dozen times in the previous three years but this time she was exhausted. Also, we had the gangrene to worry about. Her doctors said if she beat the pneumonia the gangrene would kill her very painfully. She would not survive an amputation nor would we allow this proud woman’s dignity to suffer any worse (she already was legally blind, couldn’t walk and was almost deaf). So, we called in hospice care. A hairline fracture of her hip from falling out of her bed in her delirium sealed her fate.

On Sunday, August 3, my Grandmother, Josephine Bellon passed away. I flew to NJ the next day, Spirit Airlines taking 14 hours to get me from Detroit to NJ. I would like to say that expecting it makes it easier. I can’t. If at all possible, the pain is worse than when my father died in 1976. I suppose I should be grateful that I had her in my life for almost 39 years. And I am. But that doesn’t make the parting any easier. However, I will push on. I would not offend her expectations of me by doing anything else. I will look forward to meeting her again on the Last Day.

As for the rest of the summer, it has been very nice. Two trips to Cleveland to see a concert (Styx/REO/Journey) and to see the Yankees play the Cleveland Indians at Jacobs Field (the Yanks lost). Actually, I got to see the same concert three times this summer! I saw it in Detroit and Ft. Wayne as well.

As I write this, I am at P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, Michigan. The park is right on the shores of Lake Michigan and features the largest sand dunes bordering fresh water in the U.S. I am camping but not exactly roughing it – my site has 20 amps of electricity.

Regarding work, I have been working this summer for Prof. Bruce Frohnen. Prof. Frohnen was my Property professor this past year. He has me researching the nature of group rights (as opposed to individual rights). It is a fascinating field. The philosophers who deal with the topic have varied and interesting ideas. However, philosophers are generally terrible writers to it is a challenge to read through their stuff.

Prof. Frohnen has agreed to be my advisor for 2 credits of directed research this upcoming semester. I am attempting to write a paper (when a student writes it it is called a “note”) for publication. I feel this is necessary because I was not offered an invitation for Ave Maria’s Law Review. It will effectively counter this, for resume purposes. My thesis is: the modern American view of the three branches of the federal government as co-equal is myth. The founders intended, and the constitution provides for, separation of powers with specifically delineated interference with one branch by the others. This strict regimen reveals that Congress is the supreme branch of our federal government. However, Congress has slowly ceded this superiority to the Supreme Court.

Classes start next Monday. I am looking as forward to them as I was looking forward to classes last year.