The Coastal Point encourages the exchange of ideas. Letters to the editor must be signed by the author with phone number included for purposes of verification. Please send your letters to P.O. Box 1324, Ocean View, DE 19970.

Darin J. McCann

I’m throwing up the white flag. My will to run with the big dogs has decided to curl up for a nap on the porch, and I will no longer attempt to bail water from a sinking boat with a teaspoon. It’s been said that a wise man knows his limitations and, lack of personal wisdom aside, I realize when I’ve met my match.

I will no longer make decisions.

Let me be more specific here. I’m not talking about occupational or family-related decisions — those are required of me by the very laws of self-preservation. No, the choices I will forever more avoid making are the ones I’m least prepared to make. Those decisions that seem to be presented at the moment you are least equipped to make one, when you feel like the business at hand is business put to rest. Something like, oh, I don’t know ... how about this for example?

“Wheat, white, rye, pumpernickel, bagel, panini, cinnamon raisin, piece of shoe leather or a small portion of the left ear lobe from a vampire we staked this very morning?”

“Umm ... white?”

“Toasted, untoasted, warm, cold, waved gingerly over a small blue flame in a clockwise motion or shot out of a cannon onto a used lacrosse jersey soaking in garlic butter?”

See what I’m saying?

The very labor of selecting something to eat from a menu is often very exhausting to me. There are either so many things that look good at that particular moment in time, or there is just nothing jumping off the list that makes the three hairs on my head stand at attention. When I do go through my mental pro-con list, and come up with the perfect choice on what to eat, there is a sense of good beating evil, of satisfaction over a hard job done well, of sun burning through an early morning San Francisco fog. It is the unrivaled euphoria of instant clarification, plain and simple.

And then, with a self-satisfied look on my face, I recite my order to the server — only to be knocked right back down that sliding board of despair and into a wading pool of confusion.

Fine, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but it still stings. It’s like going 4-5 in a baseball game and having your father rip you the whole ride home for not pulling that inside pitch on the at bat you made an out, even though you did right what you were supposed to with a guy on second and no outs and moved that runner over with a groundball to the right side ...

But I digress.

My frustration with the choice phenomenon is more a problem with myself than the individual practicing good customer service, I know that. Besides, the very heart of what makes America so very great is our ability to choose our own paths, to mark our own futures and to have our cinnamon toast however we see fit. But, see, I’m weak in these instances.

It’s not only the choices at restaurants that throw me under the emotional bus. No, no, that would be far too easy for me. Allow me to provide another example.

I’m at the drug store the other night, $45 worth of goods in my hands and maybe $3 in my pocket. The math not quite adding up, I realized I was going to have to confront my demons and pull out the plastic.

As soon as the card hit the card reader next to the register, the choices from the helpful cashier began.

“Is that credit or debit?”

“Debit.”

“Is the amount on the reader correct?”

“It looks that way.”

“Would you like cash back?”

“No, thanks.”

“Would you like the reader to scan your card for imperfections, put you on a mailing list for that rather odd ointment you’re purchasing or guess your age, weight or birth month?”

Yikes.

No, it doesn’t stop there. This non-stop barrage of questions and selections strikes us at every corner. Every moment is saturated with wave after wave of decisions and options to ponder, and each one of them paralyzes me in fear like John Denny talking to a pretty girl at a party. It truly never ends:

• “Would you like fries or onion rings?”

• “Sweet or unsweet?”

• “On the rocks, or will you just throw the bottle up to your lips and run around in circles while singing Irish Tenors songs again this week?”

So, from this point forth I vow to not be held hostage to the panic of choices and will thrust myself onto the dagger of the first selection offered. Yes, it is technically a choice, but it is a decision ultimately made by those presenting the options since I am going to go with the first utterance, if I like that choice or not.

Yeah, that will show them.

It seems that all is well

That silence you can’t hear is coming from Bethany Beach.

With the deadline having come and gone for three open town council seats, the town is preparing once again to hunker down for another election. Only this time around, there won’t be one.

Mayor Jack Walsh, Vice-Mayor Carol Olmstead and Council Member Wayne Fuller will again each serve two-year terms when their current tenures expire in September. The people of Bethany Beach have apparently spoken with their inaction, as nobody filed to run against any of the candidates.

In nearly every other town in this community, we’d argue that the lack of interested candidates to challenge the incumbents is due to a general apathy within the town. However, the number of candidates to apply for the past two openings on council, and the passion that has been shown over the years by both candidates and residents, teaches us that apathy is not the answer in Bethany Beach.

Perhaps a genuine satisfaction by the residents concerning the general direction of the town is the true answer to this case. The momentum to a happy town has been building over the past few years, and the work done by those currently in council, as well as by the employees of the town, towards obtaining federal funding for beach renourishment can not hurt.

Several weeks ago we wrote an editorial about how well the town of Fenwick Island seems to be doing in terms of beach replenishment, aesthetic presentation and healing some wounds between factions in what was formerly a divided town.

Well, this week we are pleased to congratulate the three members of the Bethany Beach Town Council who are retaining their seats, and hope the momentum created over the past few years continues to grow.

One solution to traffic concerns offered
Editor:

It’s time to zone and implement some commercial property in outlying areas off Route 26 for local patronage.

The West Avenue to Kent Avenue loop is a good example. In fact, years ago they zoned 5 acres commercial at the corner of West Avenue and Parkerhouse Road.

Well, we got one funeral home.

So where’s the replacement for those 5 commercial acres they zoned figuring someday they would contain several shops? We all still drive out to Route 26 for a simple coffee or soda. Give me a break.

Charles Crovo
Shady Dell Park

Let’s use the correct context in quotes
Editor:

I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion, whether it is regarding a bar opening or even religion. However, when it comes to The Word of God (The Holy Bible), there are no opinions, only truth.

In a letter to the editor last week, the writer quoted verses from the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31:6-7). These verses were quoted out of context.

Our young people have a difficult enough time making right choices. I just want to make sure the readers get the whole picture. Please get out your Bible and read Proverbs 31:1 through 9.

The book of Proverbs is a compendium of moral instruction that deals with sin and holiness. It is written in poetic form with a style that makes many of its points using contrast.

If you start at verse 1 of chapter 31, you’ll understand that these verses are teachings passed on to King Solomon (Lemuel) from his mother to help prepare him to be a great leader (advising him what he should do and what he ought to avoid).

Verses 4 and 5 speak of how (kings) should avoid wine because it would distort their ability to uphold the laws and be fair to the people. Duh! Verses 6 and 7 (which were quoted in the letter) speak of the intended use for (wine) as medication.

Keep in mind that in biblical times, wine was used as a medicine, which like many things in the modern world, was greatly abused. Depression or distress then is not comparable to what we view as such now. If they were seeking medication, they were very ill — not just having a bad day.

To further understand the meaning of this passage and the point that Proverbs makes concerning this topic, you can read the following from Proverbs: Ch. 20:v. 1, Ch. 21:v. 17, Ch. 23:v. 20-21, Ch. 23:v. 30-35.

Joy Griffith
Dagsboro

Suspects should be given more of the blame
Editor:

I read your article today about the Route 26 hit-and-run.

Seems the point you’re trying to make is to wear helmets, etc., but no emphasis is being put on the driver of the car, who was running from an incident down the road. He’ll probably get his hand slapped for hitting someone and not stopping.

Seems like two weeks ago the same thing happened on Route 1 and that woman is apparently out on $1,000 bail, while the victim (bicyclist) is in the hospital.

Start blaming the “hit-and-runner” and not the victim.

John Harmon
Roxana

Dedication to serve is the mission of Lions
Editor:

We often find ourselves as critics of others or issues, and as human beings we do not take time to analyze or evaluate the good things in life. Normally, circumstances and creature habits precludes us as individuals not caring for the less fortunate folks.

Lord Baltimore Lions Club was chartered in 1946, 59 years ago, in Ocean View, by 22 concerned local men: farmers, storekeepers, poultry growers and business folks. The world-renowned organization and, specifically, Lord Baltimore Lions continues to serve needy citizens for financial, health, physical or medical requirements, i.e., eye testing and glasses for both children and adults, ramps for the handicapped, etc.

Funds are obtained from concerned citizens by special projects and are presently being implemented, namely, sale of car raffle tickets at Hocker’s G&E Market, Cedar Neck, during weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The second project is an all-u-can-eat chicken dinner, Saturday, Aug. 13, held at the Millville Fire Hall.

The considerable manpower required comes from the club members, Boy Scouts, spouses and friends. Your participation will be self-rewarding in knowing that the financial proceeds will benefit others and will be gratefully appreciated by the Lord Baltimore Lions.

Bill Evans
Clarksville

Area continues to be swept aside by state
Editor:

This is to commend you on your July 15 editorial with its apt metaphor, “Still state’s punching bag.”

I urge you to stay on this issue, as well as on the growing number of serious (and sorrowful) cyclist accidents which further reveals our deplorable road conditions and the state’s seeming indifference and delay.

William Amelia
Dagsboro

Route 26 and West Avenue traffic light helps
Editor:

Thank you Mr. Hayward and DelDOT for the light installed Memorial Day weekend.

Anyone trying to make a left turn onto Route 26 knows how difficult a maneuver this is. I’m not talking about the time it requires – I’m talking about safety.

I encourage everyone in the Ocean View area who benefits from this light to inform the editor so we do not lose the safe way to enter Route 26.

Joe Teti
Ocean View