May the swine flu leave us along with the recession, and it appears there is more hope at the moment of both happening.

    The two topics have dominated the news in recent days, and the flu news story probably developed greater interest because Vice President Joe Biden chimed in with his own personal take on the situation when asked a question about it in a TV interview.

    It’s not hard for people in Delaware to imagine just how it happened. Joe was asked the question and he simply responded immediately with his personal view.

    As it turned out, the exchange may have had a silver lining, even though members of the administration rushed to offer clarifications and the comic commentators appreciated the opportunity to make fun of what was said.

    That’s because one of the problems with the flu scare was that no one actually knew for sure just what the situation was, and the extreme measures Joe mentioned might have turned out to be the way to go.

    Whatever, it’s likely now that the swine scare will fade along with any real harm to Joe’s reputation.

    What is worth remembering is that every year about 36,000 people in the United States die from the expected ordinary flu season.

    And the possibility of a pandemic is always there, remembering the Spanish flu pandemic about 90 years ago which killed millions world wide and hit this country very hard.

    My father was in the Army at the time and contracted flu not once but twice. He always remembered hearing one doctor say to another as he was taken into the hospital, “I’ve never seen anyone live through it twice.”

    He obviously did. I’m here to prove it.

    And with personal history in mind I’m always sure to get an annual flu shot.

    *****

    With Dover celebrating Old Dover Days last weekend it was natural that the name of Mabel Lloyd Ridgely came up often. She is given credit for starting the annual celebration, and she deserves the recognition.

    Going back to the early 1960s, in my mind I can see her standing in a group of men, all of whom towered over her 5-foot frame. Somehow, despite her small size, she dominated the gathering. Known for her sharp mind and strong will, Mabel Lloyd Ridgely had a presence that made her a force to be reckoned with.

    Congratulations and thanks to all the volunteers who today carry on so well the spring observance she started.

    *****

    It has become a habit for Mary and me to watch the Kentucky Derby on television every year, and last Saturday’s race well earned the title of “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

    I’m not sure how happy the Mind That Bird gelding was to win, or how happy the people were who picked him and benefited financially from the 50-1 odds, but there is no question that the jockey, Calvin Borel, was the happiest jockey I have ever seen.

    He couldn’t stop smiling, and waving his arms, and greeting everyone left and right to let them know just how excited he was.

    Fortunately Maryland was able to hold on to the Preakness at Pimlico, which had been threatening to close. Let’s hope it’s another great race, although Mine That Bird isn’t going to provide a 50-1 jackpot for anyone. And may it all continue on to the Belmont Stakes and a Triple Crown win with one particular jockey still beaming and shouting and smiling and thoroughly enjoying the experience.

    *****

    A feature story in the April issue of American Way, the magazine published by American Airlines, caught my attention because of what I see as its relevance to today’s struggling economy.

    The story is about the history of the C.F. Martin company, which last year celebrated its 175th anniversary, making it one of the oldest companies in America.

    To quote from the story, “For a musician, a Martin represents the ultimate in quality, the best that money can buy. Each model is still handmade at the factory in Pennsylvania and vintage Martin guitars can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

    The company has been run by the same family for six generations, but was on a downward spiral with the fifth generation family member in charge.

    When Chris Martin, the sixth generation leader, took over, the company was on the verge of collapse. It had “taken its eye off the ball,” to paraphrase what was going on.

    To quote again from the story by Jack Boulware, Chris said to everybody in the company:
    “Look, if it’s 3,000 guitars, let’s make 3,000 really, really good guitars.”

    With that attitude, and other favorable factors involving demand, C.F. Martin sold 500,000 guitars from 1990 to 2003, “more than in the previous 150 years of  the company combined.”

    Where’s the relevance?

    The strength of the country’s economy has always been private enterprise working hard, with pride, and ready to try new ideas. Government has a role in the economy — regulations of various kinds are necessary — but the role doesn’t include management. The sooner government can get beyond any managerial responsibility in the current effort to boost the economy the better.

    And this is said realizing that the question of what to do, and who should do it, is one that could be debated forever.

    But while I wouldn’t know a Martin guitar if I tripped over one, I’m impressed at what a concentration on quality can do to a product, any product. That’s the basic story of the successful American economy.

    *****

    Concentration on quality impressed patrons at the Schwartz Center for the Arts who saw the production of “Seussical,” the musical staged last week by the Saint Thomas More Preparatory School Midnight Dreary Players.

    The show, based on the works of Dr. Seuss, had been in production since December and the excellent results showed it. The big crowd on Wednesday night, when we saw it, obviously enjoyed the evening.

    *****

    Dusty: “So, Rusty, I see that you burned both your ears pretty bad. What happened?”

    Rusty: “Well, I was ironing a shirt, you know, and the telephone rang, and I put the iron to my ear.”

    Dusty: “Not so smart, Rusty, but what about the other ear?”

    Rusty: “Well, then I tried to call the doctor …”