Wisdom From Table Eleven: Thoughts from Patriots who love America

By Ron Phipps

This is an entertaining and enlightening book about a gaggle of grumpy and flawed old men in their 70s and 80s who meet for lunch every Friday and discuss and argue over current events. Having seen a lot and done a lot, good, bad, and worse, they try to make sense of what is happening in this country. Most are veterans and all are patriots who love America. No topic is off the table, from the emergence of wokeness to the rise of antisemitism to term limits to government corruption to the failing of urban education. Even tachometers and why we don’t need pennies is tackled. Along with a sense of humor, they offer interesting ideas along with insightful revelations about the causes of the quandary our nation is facing. Their discussion is shaped by their cumulative 400 years of living and their Christian faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385014484

Ron Phipps

He is an 84-year-old man who grew up without a father but was blessed with a loving and determined mother. One could say that his childhood was hardscrabble, and he barely finished high school. A year later, he flunked out of a community college. After breaking a leg playing a pick-up game of football at 19 and losing his job in a factory, he decided to join the Army. Leaving his high school girlfriend whom he married, he was stationed in Ethiopia for a year and a half. After being discharged from the Army, his wife urged him to try college again. Because of her extraordinary and loving support, he did. Several years later, he received his Doctor of Education degree from West Virginia University and became a college administrator. Today, he and his high school sweetheart, who have two wonderful sons, are celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary. They are Christians who know that God’s love guided their path.

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Copyright © 2024 Ron Phipps.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1447-7 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-1448-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023923886

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/19/2023

CONTENTS

Cast of Characters

Wisdom

Moral Decay

Corruption At The Top

Government Corruption And Bloat

Failing Urban Education

Demise Of Justice

Higher Education Degredation

Antisemetism (Especially On College Campuses)

Term Limits

Tachometers

The Emergence Of Wokeness

Systemic Racism

June Gay Pride Month

Militant Transgenderism

Root Cause Of Crime?

Sex Trafficking

Climate Change

Where Do We Go Now?

Why I am a Christian

This is a story about a gaggle of old men that meet every Friday for lunch at a haunt in a small town in a state on the east coast. The establishment reminds one of Cheers, the successful TV show that features a good-looking bartender and a clever waitress surrounded by witty protagonists. Well, to be fair, it probably doesn’t really resemble the TV show, but it is a pub which, incidentally, features 58 different beers. Called Connor’s Cafe, the place is frequented by regulars that, let’s say, are representative of a significant part of the American social class. In short, I think it is safe to say that many have a distinctive dislike and disgust of the present ruling class. At any given time, you will meet cops, firemen, trade workers, secretaries, professionals, health care workers, etc. This wonderful cross section of society represents that part of the zeitgeist that is patriotic, loves America, and stands for our national anthem.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Waitress: Glenda is an attractive lady who has been working there for 23 years and features a warm charm, quick mind, and sweet and kind attitude. She dutifully serves table 11 for us old geezers, hence the title of this story. Without a note pad, she unfailingly memorizes our order even though some of us mutter from time to time and change our mind as we are ordering.

Before I describe the old men, it is safe to say that each has led a very successful life, and you would like them if you were fortunate enough to meet them. I’m not ashamed to include myself, because as I said before, this is my story.

Luke: This old geezer is 78 years old and served in the Airforce and is a Vietnam veteran. He was supposed to die a few years ago from liver cancer but he keeps lingering on. I must quickly point out that he is not a drinker. He had cancer behind the eye that metastasized. He has just been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, which will probably have to be repaired. A devout Christian, he owned