Ron Cooper's Blog
November 28, 2025
Loving Support Expressed thru Bird Songs, Pix
Aging and major health issues can get a guy down, but it only takes small act of kindness to keep me bouncing back.
Last summer, I spotted my wife, Tanya, framing six colorful drawings on our bedroom wall. They were drawings of six bird species, including the Japanese Waxwing, Indian Roller, and the Elegant Pitta.
These extraordinary drawings are positioned side-by-side on the wall opposite the bed. So, each morning that I awaken I see these exquisite creatures of the sky.
This had an immediate positive impact on my mental health, causing me to worry less about the next doctor’s visit or blood draw, and focus more on this stunning collection from Mother Nature.
As if picking up a cue from Tanya, my daughter, Wendy, gave me a great gift for my birthday in September: A singing bird clock. Every hour on the hour, a different bird sounds out its distinctive song, which is music to my ears.
Regularly, I am privileged to hear a medley from the Black-capped Chickadee, the Tufted Titmouse, the Northern Mockingbird, the Blue Jay, the Baltimore Oriole, and others.
Wherever I go, it feels kind of like these wonderful creatures are perched on my shoulder, singing their little hearts out with a melody especially for me!
© Ron Cooper 2025
September 1, 2025
Shattered Innocence
church in Minneapolis
heads bowed in prayer
calm, quiet reflection
turns to panic and fear
childhoods robbed
classmates gone
untold grief
innocence shattered
nation now prays
for tender lives cut short
wounds to heal
nightmares to end
nation now prays
for a gathering will
to end this violence
©Ron Cooper 2025
May 30, 2025
To America’s Billionaires: Stand Up and Be Counted!
A small group of Americans are in the unique position to save Medicaid from disastrous cuts, and preserve democracy to boot.
I’m referring to our country’s estimated 800 billionaires. Their collective wealth is measured in the trillions of dollars, and they would get hideously richer if the federal budget bill now pending before Congress becomes law.
But what if the richest among us would stand strong, and oppose that bill? Hanging in the balance: More than 70 million Americans who rely on Medicaid for their healthcare, and millions will lose it if the GOP/Trump tax cuts go through.
Forbes has reported that America’s 400 richest people had a combined wealth of $5.4 trillion in 2024. That astounding figure rose by nearly $1 trillion from the year before, the magazine said. Truly the rich get richer and…you know the rest of that infamous phrase.
Forbes also reported those 400 individuals gave away just 5% of their combined wealth last year. Loosening their purse strings could go a long way at a time that the federal government is abandoning the virtuous business of compassion for our fellow citizens.
Perhaps we can count on the likes of Gates and Bloomberg to earmark more of their billions for the common good, tax cuts or no tax cuts. But what about the rest of this bunch?
Are they going to stand up and be counted for those far less fortunate? Are they going to help people retain their health care and food assistance, and get a real shot to stay out of poverty?
Or is this wishful thinking?
Ron Cooper ©2025
May 18, 2025
Social Security Under Attack; You Can Help
Crashing website. Overwhelmed phone lines. Workforce cutbacks. Hostile work environment.
Trump has long said that changes to Social Security are entirely off the table. But just look at what Elon Musk and his DOGE team are doing to undermine it.
Make no mistake about it, but the huge staff reductions (reportedly 10,000+) and planned closing of offices are squeezing the life out of this centerpiece program so vital to retirees, disabled individuals, and survivors.
Martin O’Malley, former director of Social Security under President Biden, has predicted that Social Security could be dismantled soon. Trump’s and DOGE’s plan is to hollow out the program so much that recipients turn against it, and Social Security would likely be privatized.
O’Malley’s remarks are a clarion call to the more than 70 million Americans who rely upon Social Security for all or some of their annual income. We must heed his calls for action, including contacting our Congressperson to insist that Social Security be left intact and staff reductions halted before permanent damage can be done to the program.
We can do more. The AARP is mobilizing its millions of members to put pressure on the White House and Congress to stabilize Social Security. More information can be found at aarp.org/socialsecurity. Click on the link, “Join AARP’s Fight to Protect Social Security.”
In addition, we can express our support for the program at street demonstrations occurring daily throughout our land.
Let us get involved before it’s too late!
Ron Cooper ©2025
January 19, 2025
January 20: What is the Celebration Really All About?
It’s party time in our nation’s capital, as the peaceful transfer of power takes place and an inauguration is held. But just what are we celebrating?
Is it:
Mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, even if it means ending birthright citizenship for children born into these families?Or, pardons of January 6 insurrectionists lawfully convicted of injuring more than 140 law enforcement officers as they stormed the Capitol?Or, retribution against lawmakers and prosecutors who dared to uphold the rule of law, and now face slander and investigations, not to mention possible jail time?At noon on Monday, January 20, 2025, will the nation’s mood shift from celebration to shock and condemnation as long-promised actions take effect?
Will those actions be met with resounding approval, or perhaps silent resignation?
After the last rally is held and the last champagne toast is offered, America will be changed.
Forever?
©Ron Cooper 2025
November 16, 2024
How a Sneeze Saved a Little Critter’s Life
My seasonal allergies plague me all year, but they saved the day for a cute little squirrel who was caught in the sights of a cat poised to attack. That same cat, it turns out, had committed the deadly deed only days before.
This will take a little explaining.
The gray tabby is a community cat, but my wife and I adopted her and called her “Baby.” She loved to hang around our place, and stop around daily for a nice little pet, meowing and purring to our attentive touches. That’s the kind and quiet side of Baby.
But instincts run deep, and there’s an aggressive side to this feline, with a lot of her energy directed at the squirrel population in our little neighborhood.
That became abundantly clear one day when we found a squirrel corpse at our doorstep. We wondered how in the world the deceased rodent could have been deposited there. Then we remembered reading that cats like to bring home trophies to the humans they love and cherish.
Baby was suspect number one. No need for an all-points bulletin to determine the real culprit!
Days later, I was petting Baby in the parking lot when a juvenile squirrel, with little experience dealing with the feline crowd, was nosing around for something to store away for winter, and paid no mind to the lurking presence of Baby nearby.
The little squirrel had made a strategic miscalculation because Baby was between her and the nearest tree. I thought, “Here we go again. This little squirrel’s fate is sealed.” Baby took up a stalking posture and appeared ready to pounce, with no reaction from little “Rocky.”
Just then, my allergies hit me hard and I sneezed violently, causing both animals to flee the scene, with Baby running behind me and away from the squirrel, and Rocky sprinting for the tree, alive and well.
So, you see, I am the hero of this tale. But I’m not 100% sure that one of Rocky’s clan might not end up on our doorstep soon.
Ron Cooper ©2024
October 27, 2024
“That ‘70s Show” Cooper Style
L to R: Linda, Rosemary, Ron and CindyTime flies when you’re having fun, but little did I ever think that we Cooper siblings would get so darn old!
That thought hit me like a ton of bricks this year when my three sisters and I could all call ourselves septuagenarians.
Seventy.
Who among us was really marking time all that closely, what with careers and families and other important things to occupy us?
Seventy!
Who would’ve thought that we would be still so very active, full of life and love of family. Still staying in touch and caring for one another. Still able to reminisce about our growing-up years, our wonderful family life with dad and mom, and much more.
I guess 70 just sort of snuck up on us. Hard to believe that we are no longer the precocious kids raised in a Jeffersonville, Indiana suburb by a homemaker mom and a World War II veteran dad who had a double career as an IRS auditor and a court bailiff.
Although we all reached Social Security age, our real-life version of That ‘70s Show was not destined to last. For on August 14, our eldest sibling Cindy (Sis) turned the big 8-0! Linda (Lin), our youngest, just turned 70 last year. Our sister Rosemary (Rose) and I, in our mid-70s, and Lin now have a bit of catching up to do to reach that octogenarian status.
Ahh, siblinghood, nothing quite like it.
Eighty… h-m-m-m. Kind of rolls off the tongue nicely, doesn’t it?!
By Ron Cooper ©2024
September 7, 2024
Proud of My Son the Librarian!
My son, Jake, is overseeing the launch of The Story Center at The Boyle County Public Library in Danville, Ky., where he serves as assistant director of library operations. As his proud dad, I’d like to share a few details with you:
Using a $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, Jake and his colleagues will dedicate the center on Saturday, Sept. 14, in the historic Grayson’s Tavern located on Constitution Square in Danville.
The Story Center is quite unique, serving as a central collection point for historic accounts of Boyle County and its people. Its main features include an Oral History Studio for recording community stories and personal histories, and a Memory Lab where patrons can digitize their own personal/family records.
Jake has dedicated his professional life to serving libraries both public and academic, so I like to highlight his accomplishments. I also hold bragging rights for his wife and my daughter-in-law, Jacquie, who is a teen librarian and co-presenter of the “Books & Bites” podcast at the Jessamine County Public Library in Nicholasville, Ky.
So, you see, I am doubly proud of both my son and daughter-in-law for their outstanding public service!
Ron Cooper ©2024
August 4, 2024
Take the High Road: Decry Political Violence!
Back in my college days, it was common to see a bumper sticker adorned with the American flag and this inscription: “Love It or Leave It.”
Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.comOur country was terribly divided over the war in Vietnam. Many young people like myself were vociferously opposed to the war, and the proponents employed that bumper sticker to show their utter disgust.
One day as a college friend was driving us to lunch, it didn’t strike me as unusual that he would get angry when we spotted one of those bumper stickers on the car just ahead of us. But I didn’t expect what came next:
Fuming, my friend tailgated the driver, and began to chant “Vietnam!,” “Vietnam!,” “Vietnam!” Fortunately, that driver appeared unperturbed.
I was deathly afraid that my friend would use his middle finger honk his horn and start shouting obscenities out the window toward of the other driver. That would not end well, I was certain. Luckily for all, the driver signaled a turn at the next traffic light, and we went straight. Confrontation avoided!
A half-century later, I palpably still recall my friend’s fury at seeing the bumper sticker and what it represented, to both of us: A slap in the face for our stance on the war.
That incident surfaced in my mind recently when I read about a 22-year-old Michigan man who used his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to purposefully run down an 80-year-old man who was putting Trump signs in his yard. Authorities believe the violent act was politically motivated. The elderly man was treated at a hospital for his injuries before being released; the driver took his own life as police descended upon his home. That violent act occurred mere days after a young Pennsylvania man tried to assassinate Trump at one of his rallies.
Passions are running high in this election season, and we must do everything in our power to keep our strongly we held feelings in check. All of our efforts should be aimed at the ballot box on November 5, and we must not commit violent acts against our fellow citizens with whom we disagree.
Let’s rally around our preferred candidate, make our voices heard with vigor, donate to a campaign, and show up to vote on Election Day. We can and must do it in a peaceful manner. We must avoid another January 6 at all costs. Civility must be our hallmark during this tumultuous period.
Ron Cooper ©2024
June 29, 2024
Tanya, My Everyday Hero
We all need an everyday hero, and mine’s Tanya Cooper, my wife and best friend.
Tanya is loyal and generous to a fault, and goes out of her way to keep me happy and healthy.
One striking example: She has gone to work masked up for the past four years, dating from the start of the pandemic. Since Covid-19 is no longer a national health emergency, that is extremely rare. In fact, she and only four other fellow employees routinely mask up during her shift of 70 workers.
Why has she so diligently continued to cover her face at the workplace?
It is to protect me. I am immunocompromised due to my age and underlying health conditions.
Not wearing a mask during working hours, she might catch the coronavirus from another employee and infect me. The coronavirus is still sickening and killing people all over the world. True, it’s wreaking havoc at a slower pace, but the stakes are high when someone like myself is struck down by the illness.
So, Tanya steps up to the plate daily for me, her loving husband who has never missed an opportunity for a coronavirus vaccination. Yet, despite the naysayers, it is not entirely safe for those of us at highest risk of being in large groups and in close quarters when the virus is not yet done with us.
Another thing: Tanya pays for the masks out of her own pocket. Shortly after the beginning of the pandemic, her employer provided masks free of charge to all employees, but for the past couple of years she has spent hundreds of dollars masking.
So far, fingers crossed, neither she nor myself has contracted Covid-19 and its insidious side effects. I pray that never happens, though there is no guarantee.
But, having an everyday hero on my team makes me optimistic that I can avoid the virus until it is stamped out completely.
Tanya’s dedication to my health and well-being speaks volumes about her loving nature and devotion to me. Our marriage is stronger than ever because of her decision to stick with masking as long as necessary.
Ron Cooper ©2024
