As I think about those four stages of life just put into a poem
below “Eastern Sages’ Stages,” I realize in this climate of anti-
government sentiment just how indebted I am to federal and state
governments for financial aid in all those stages:

Stage One, the student: I had a public school education from
third grade through two years of community college. Kindergarden,
first and second grade, the last two years of college, seminary
through my doctorate were parochial. When my father died when I
was seventeen, I received social security till I was twenty-one,
which helped pay for college.

Stage Two, the householder: my two children received public
school educations through high school and government grants
and loans for college. When my wife died at 48, the government
offered a small death benefit. For the twenty-six years we were
married my wife and I were able to contribute to charitable causes.

Stage Three, the forest dweller: because of social security,
medicare, a state pension and state health insurance along
with our personal pensions and investments, my wife and I were
able to retire and explore life. My wife Chris, retired from
the corporate world as a human resource executive, now is
a fine artist in mixed media sculpture. She is part of a six
women exhibit to be shown in October. I have blogged since
2011, have published one book of poetry and have another
coming out in 2016. My wife and I enjoy the out-of-doors
through life-long activities like jogging, hiking, kayaking,
cycling and camping. We continue to contribute to charitable
causes. None of this could have been possible without the
generosity of the state and federal governments.

Stage Four, the enlightened one: I trust that the
“social contract with America” and “promotion of the
general welfare,” taken seriously through the years by
wise legislators with an understanding of caring
community and the intent of the constitution will
continue to be there for all Americans as my wife
and I ease out of this life and as we seek continue
to “pay back” by “paying it forward.”

I might add that my widowed mother, after my father’s
tragic and untimely death when he was 56, worked two
jobs until she was a recipient of social security,
medicare and eventually medicaid all of which helped
her live safe and securely until she died just shy of
age 93.

Thank you federal and state government of caring
enough to help me and my family move steadily through
the four stages of life.