Prayer Perspectives

I have no idea what prompted my eleven year-old granddaughter, Alexa to text a series of baseball questions to me last week. Perhaps, she was doing a school project or maybe she is nurturing some entry level baseball infatuation or then again, simply playing with a new cell phone. Regardless of her motivation, I enjoyed sharing my answers, which came from observations and experiences that span some sixty-seven baseball seasons.

Here are some of her inquiries: Did you see Jackie Robinson play? Who are the top five hitters you ever saw play? Who are the five best pitchers you recall? What were your two most favorite games you saw in person? Each recall brought back a flood of memories. In 1954, I sat next to my dad at old Sportsman Park when Stan Musial hit five home runs in a doubleheader against the New York Giants. Ten years later, my Dad could garner three game #7 World Series tickets at Sportsman Park when the Cardinals behind the pitching of Bob Gibson beat the Yankees. I attended that game with my two brothers, Tom and Marty. A gift from a sacrificing Dad.

I attended many games with my Dad from 1948-to-until his death in the spring of 1994. I have never shared the following story until now: Every Cardinals' game that I attended with my Dad, found me whispering the same prayer during the seventh inning stretch. "Dear God: Thank you for this moment and thank you my Dad...I wish it could last forever."

During the 1982 World Series between the Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers, my Dad was hospitalized at Barnes-Jewish Hospital with one of many heart failure episodes. I drove from Jacksonville, Illinois to his bedside with two 'painted hard hats' and heart friendly snacks. We watched our Birds capture the Championship.

Time, distance and age keeps me from attending but a couple of games each year. Nevertheless, I still close my eyes during the 7th inning stretch and thank God...these days I thank Him for the moment but also the previous memories.

I coached well over 900 basketball games. During the playing of the National Anthem, I always whispered a prayer: Dear God: Thank you for this night and the opportunity to coach this game. Bless and keep safe each player. Bless the young people who for some reason are unable to play these games." I never asked for winning...I figured that was 'my' responsibility.

My Choice...Did Good

I am puzzled by these online dating service programs. Seems to me what once was happen-chance romance has shifted to the statistical probabilities puked from a computer. What happened to the individual that had some notion what they liked in a person of the opposite gender and the imagination to pursue a romantic experience?

I was attracted to my wife (of 55 years) some 62 years ago. Why? She always made me laugh. As our preachers put it, "She is a delightful hoot." I have an insatiable appetite for surprise and ...well let the following speak to my reasoning:
1955...at a carhop drive inn restaurant, she placed a cup of hot chocolate on the glove compartment lid of my father's automobile. Within moments her knee knocked the cup's contents into the compartment.
1956...during a morning shopping outing with my mother, they stopped at a outdoor Dog 'n Suds drive inn restaurant. My girlfriend (wife-today) tosses a malt cup froum the vehicle, which finds the remaining contents splattering on the windshield of a nearby car. She gets out to apologize to the gentleman-driver and smears his windshield attempting to wipe it off.

1960... We are married this senior year at ISU. My wife is working as a dental technician in Bloomington. She parked the car and went into the office. The brake is obviously not set. The car rolled down an incline into the front of a Kroger store.
1964...My first home game coaching debut, she overhears the school board president say to another fan, "We should get our previous coach back and teach these boys some defense." My wife handed the board member a dime and told him, "You go call your old coach and I'll go home and pack. My husband was looking for a job when he took this one and he'll find another." After winning the game, she looked up the board president and asked for her dime back saying, "I need that money, the job does not pay that good."

1973...leaves our automobile's engine running in the driveway for better than an hour after returning home from grocery store.

1988...telephoned me during a snow storm to tell me that she locked the keys in the car in front of J C Penney's. When I asked where exactly the car is located in the parking lot, she tells me that it's easy to find because it's the car in the parking lot with headlights on and the engine running!

A computer find this girl for me? Why take the chance? Everyday, I try to stay close by her.
I could miss something really big!

Check Mirror before leaving the house.

Sitting in the local mall galleria waiting for my wife to finish shopping, I noticed that folks' dress attire sure enough has changed over the years. Understand that I would dare not suggest that I am a fashion expert or qualify as a knowledgeable fashion critic. I'm just saying that attire I see today would not be seen back in the day.

May I offer simple personal opinions:

Men should not wear ball caps when dinning in restaurants.
Women with bosom stretch marks that resembled a Los Angeles road map should not wear low cut tops.
Unshaven women should never wear sleeveless tops.

Regardless of weight lifting developed arms, men should not wear cut off shirts in public.
Teens with nasal problems should never get a nose ring.
If your toenails are the color of field corn then pass on wearing open-toe sandals.

All parents should have a tattoo conversation with their children about the time they have that 'sex' talk. It would be smart to tell kids when getting tattooed pass on getting tattoo arrows pointing to functioning body parts.

Finally, I share this: Some time ago, my wife and I were browsing a large monthly flea-market show in Bloomington, when I came face to face with an adult gent who was wearing a T-shirt with this print message:
                                                        "If You Ain't Lutheran
                                                         You Ain't Shit"


I would bet the guy follows professional wrestling and has a 'Trump for President' bumper sticker.

Signs of Bondage

I read a news report recently where a youth boys' basketball team was disqualified from a  National Tournament competition because the team had a girl member. An uproar followed. I just don't get it. The same organization prohibits boys from playing on girls' teams. It's a smart rule, it's a good rule.

Womens' Suffrage passed in 1920 in the USA. Title IX, mandating equity in public monies spent and equal opportunities offered to girls/women became law in 1973. Therefore, we have boys' teams and girls' teams? This is a smart approach, this is a good structured format.

While I am speaking to this wrong- minded support of females, let me add to the thinking another aspect of unnecessary 'crutch-handing' to minorities. The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 and in 1965, the Voting Rights Bill was signed into law giving blacks freedom and protection to embrace the voting process.

Black people will only be truly liberated when they not need have a 'Black Miss America' since there is not a 'White Miss America.'

The simple fact is this: When our society sees the illogical nonsense of wishing to allow girls to have exclusive participation rights to their own programs along with participation rights in boys' programs, without a reciprocal philosophy, females are not truly emancipated. Also, once black Americans see the folly and harm in wanting equality while embracing separatism, blacks will remain compromised.

I am just saying, 'As long as any identifiable group, which once suffered inequality needs to be stroked both ways that group is perceived as weak.'

Short Memory

Congress is in the midst of 'debating' the proposed United States-Iran Nuclear Deal, which was spearheaded by Secretary of State, John Kerry at the directive of President Obama. Debate is good. Debate is healthy. Debate offers 'daylight' on controversial issues. Of course, American politicians are incapable of keeping any debate on a high intellectual level. There will no doubt be vindictive and personally hateful commentary. It is also noteworthy that Isreal will have a seat at our (America) political debate table. Perhaps we should re-design our political process allowing Isreal a voice on all United States' matters.

We will hope at the end of the day, the best decision will be agreed upon, which serves the cause of peace. At least this proposed Iran nuclear deal will not be a Wikipedia paragraph as is the Iran-Contra arms scandal during Ronald Reagan's second Presidential term.

When Presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee states that Obama is leading Jews to the 'oven doors,' he should first refresh his knowledge about the Iran-Contra Scandal and note Isreal's involvement.

Paying it Forward

I glanced at the coloring book in front of my granddaughter and noticed the book was open to one of those 'connect-the-dot' puzzles. Suddenly, it occurred to me that our journeys' consist of many 'connect-the-dot' relationship-experiences.

Today at age seventy-six, I am identified in many ways. My beliefs and interests are in place because many people served as 'connectors' for me...they began connecting my dots early in my youth. I am a St. Louis Cardinals' baseball fan because my father 'connected' the interest. I am a Christian, in particularly a Methodist, because my maternal grandmother, Mammy Bennett was 'the' driving connecting force. I am a Democrat because of my family's East St. Louis blue collar Union struggles. I observed those struggles in the 1940's.

I became a teacher and coach because my father nurtured a connect-the-love of sport-play. Coaches and mentors took time and interest to assist in my skill development...these men were 'connectors.'
Actually, in retrospect, even those individuals who were my adversaries served me well as 'connectors.' Some youth companions would reject thus stir my passion connecting me to the taste of competition. In my early coaching days some contemporaries and certainly some malcontent parents motivated me beyond one's imagination; consequently, these people with negative energies catapulted me to achieve. I thank them in prayer.

And so...I must ask, of myself, the questions: Have I served as a 'good/positive connector' for others ?Should I not be still be looking daily for those opportunities to be a 'connector' for those seeking a direction ?

Make Mine a Krispy Kreme

Last Thursday while driving back from a meeting in Fairview Heights, Illinois, I was listening to one of those radio-call-in shows. The bait for the debate centered on dealing with the terrorist group ISIS. Of course, one caller after another laid the terrorist problem at the feet of President Obama. Only one caller in the one-hour program challenged this mentality. The woman caller said, "Excuse me, but Obama did inherit a mess in Iraq from his predecessor who de-stabilized the Middle East."

One fella telephoned the show and became somewhat passionate when stating the following: "President George Bush defeated Al Queda with increased 'boots-on-the-ground' and Obama could defeat ISIS by putting more boots-on-the-ground in Syria. I'm not buying that garbage.
First, I don't believe anyone can make the claim that we defeated Al Queda. Secondly, everytime I hear some idiot say that "We need more boots on the ground," I'll bet you a $100 to a donut that the statement was not made by anyone who saw a family member return from war with no feet to put in a boot.

I'll take a Krispy Kreme!

Use Your Gifts to Serve Others

While driving and listening to the Rush Limbaugh radio program the mid-day news reported excerpts of Former President Jimmy Carter's remarks about the discovery of his liver cancer, the treatment approach and his personal resolve to allow Christ's 'Will' be done. Jimmy Carter only served one somewhat debatable presidential term. Of course, he has spent a life time 'serving' his fellow man.

After the news brief it was back to Rush who was ranting a whaling against some Democrat with some nasty personal attacks.

The thought occurred to me...whose moccasins would you rather stand in before God on judgement day, Rush or Jimmy's?

Priorities??

 I know the NRA becomes aggressive protecting Second Amendment Rights after any mass shooting. One popular position the organization takes is the pontificated logic, 'guns don't kill people kill.' And then the position shifts to the mentally ill. Okay. The mentally ill institutions closed because fanatic tax watch people no longer wished to pay the freight for housing the mentally ill people.

Years ago, the pendulum of justice swung far to the right ...the attitude was...build prisons and lock up these criminals. The tax watch people don't wish to pay for those prisons, therefore states are closing prison facilities and we now have overcrowding conditions. Now there is talk about releasing some prisoners sooner for lesser crimes. Is that a smart approach to saving tax money.

 North St. Louis is a war zone of criminal disobedience, unrest and killings. The city does not have the 'tax monies' to hire enough police but the city has already spent millions of dollars developing plans to spend billions to keep or secure a National Football League team.

Finally, this one is impossible for me to understand. I hear all this crap about 'black lives matter' as if I don't understand that all lives matter. Please spare me the bullshit about police brutality. A couple of days ago, two black thugs beat the crap out of an elderly black man (who happened to be War vet). Police had a warrant to search a house in North St. Louis where they believed the thug to be. The
punk came out brandishing a gun and the police 'tapped his ass.' Happening the same time in another
part of the city, a nine year black girl is in her house, in her room doing homework and a drive by
shooter fires gun shots into her bedroom killing her. That night there was a demonstration by hundreds of blacks bitching about police brutality...not one word about the little nine year old child. Black-on-Black killings happen daily in that city. If, indeed, 'Black Lives Matter,' then clean up some stupid criminal crap in your backyard! Start demonstrating against the punk-ass 'black thugs.'

If you want safety, it will cost. If you want great highways, it will cost. If you want potholes fixed in front of your house, it will cost. If you want a NFL team, that will also cost.

 If you are self-centered and have shit for brains you keep making bad choices...that will also cost.

Own Our Attitudes

A recent survey revealed that among some 2,000 'legal' immigrants, those with lighter skin earned 15% higher wages than those with darker skin. Duh! Welcome to America. It all began with our treatment of Native American Indians...you don't think they called THEMSELVES "Redskins?"

 White people, generally speaking, demonstrate a less compassionate embrace of darker skin people. White folks have always used a 'shade barometer.' The darker the skin the less worthy the individual; except on Sunday mornings when we place $5.00 in the collection plate for 'The Zimbabwe Food Relief Fund' and then pat ourselves on the back or when our favorite NFL wide receiver makes a sensational catch.

Slavery has always been important to the American economy. Cotton picking labor cost changed dramatically after the emancipation proclamation. Today's migrant farm workers, who are often illegal immigrants working for under minimum wage. This low cost economic factor along with pandering to the Hispanic voter are THE two primary reasons we have not secured the borders.

 Here are a few slave labor countries with which corporate-America does business: China, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan. Therefore, it is fair to conclude that we Americans approve of 'slave labor' if it is profitable. Many of our corporate leaders wash hands much like Pontius Pilate pretending they are clear of moral wrong-doing. Money talks...morals walk. We need to own our attitudes.

Spare me your judgement!

The email-sender claims to be Christian. The email-sender then defines me with questions that contain very controversial and unjustified assumptions...as I read, I come to understand that this person who claims Christianity is attempting to put me on some guilt trip if I don't forward this 'piece of crap' to ten other people and return to sender. If I fail to follow these instructions I do not love Jesus.

Here is an excerpt from such an email-sender:
 "I know some of you are Democrats and love Obama, but this is for Christians first, politics later. I do hope I don't offend anybody with the truth."

 (I suppose the 'truth' is you cannot be a Democrat and in spite of Christ's commandment to love one another, Obama is to be excluded. Finally, if these comments offend you...you are without knowledge).

I can only hit my computer's delete button and embrace the reality that many people are simply narrow-minded and as a Christian I must love them, anyway.

You Decide

I recall, as a young boy, hearing my father tell my mother that he wanted his three boys to have a better life than did he. I knew enough about my dad's youth that his was surely not an easy life. I have often thought about that comment and imagine that through the generations every father has likely expressed this sentiment...a better life for your kids than the life you had growing up. One cannot fault such a noble mission.

Personally, I don't just jump on that bandwagon 'willy-nilly.' Let me explain why: I don't know the criteria constituting better living from one generation to the next. Example: As a kid, I did not go on vacations...my grandkids do a lot of trips and vacations. Is that better? For 12 school years, I came home to a mother waiting in the home...many of today's children are dependent on day care, babysitters and after school programs. Who's better off?

Today's youth have a plethora of program opportunities and they are in organized sport at an earlier age. I was not. I did play little league baseball but I actually played much more sandlot baseball and softball. Therefore, whereas, my generation learned game management and compromise skills on the sandlot, I see today's youth waiting for adults to make 'all' decisions for them. Does that compute to a better life for my grandkids? I am not sure.

I did note that my grandchildren are over scheduled somewhat. This seems to reduce family time...family time was a big thing in my youth. Is that an improvement.  Perhaps things are better for youth today over those of yesterday when taking into consideration the greater availability of youth prescription drugs to combat many quickly diagnosed children disorders. There are also a greater number of child psychologist and parenting self-help books today. My parents seemed to be fixed on their own bull-headed notions. Maybe parents through the years have 'made a better life for their kids than that which they had.'  You make the call.

Smart is ??

I know that my grandkids are smarter than me. In fact, the older I get the less I get. (Perhaps I should re-phrase that; the older I become the less I comprehend).

I notice hospital personnel wear gloves but patient visitors don't. Explain.
Some stores sell faded and torn jeans, the likes of which, my mother threw away.  S'up with that?

When my wife gets a pedicure, the manicurist wears a mask...my wife doesn't. Really?
Why can my congressperson receive gifts from lobbyists and it's against the law for me to give my mailman a five dollar bill in a Christmas card? Bull Butter!

Most multi-millionaire baseball pitchers have a 50-50 record. The only other person that I know making a living with that kind of percentage record is my T. V. Weatherman. Fact.
Parents hover over their kid until age 16, when they purchase a car for the kid.. At 18, the kid is permitted to go halfway around the world on a senior trip chaperoned by less than responsible people who can be found in the hotel bar. Smart choices, parents.

I might be arrested for Not wearing a auto-seat belt but the motor cyclist can dart in and out of highway traffic lanes wearing NO helmet. Is this why I am told to, "Start seeing motorcycles?"

Sometimes I feel like Ricky Ricardo..."S'plain it, Lucy!"

I hope that my grandkids are smart enough to know that their greatest gift in this life is their mother.
Silly for me to worry; I'm sure they do.

Rejoice in our Likeness

People spend a lot of time and energy emphasizing how we are all different and then we allow our differences to define our relationships...a sad commentary of contemporary society. Okay, let's talk about those differences. Oh, some folks tall / some short...some are skinny others are not...we have female / male...and goodness gracious those endless religious differences. When it comes to those colors...there is >hair / skin / eyes...and of course hair texture  & length. Can anyone imagine our different experiences and education. Oh my, we are different.

Now, with due acknowledgement of our differences may I offer profound likenesses, which should override those differences and make us truly brothers and sisters in this journey labeled life. We all dream of greatness. We all hope for love ones. We all face pain and uncertainties. We all deal with relationship issues, sickness and financial problems. And Yes, we all are called upon to say our goodbyes to family and friends.

Some things that we must all endure are beyond our control,  however we all have an opportunity to choose doing good or doing bad. And so it goes and so it is...shall we choose to celebrate 'us' and our shared likenesses or will we point to those differences while 'pretending' to be a child of God.

In the still of the night, I held you...twice!

I believe I was about sixty-years old or so when I first mentioned to the doctor that I was waking up in the middle of the night around 2 or 3 o'clock to urinate. He told me back then that the cause was the aging and enlarging of the prostate gland.

He did tell me that avacodos and tomato juice would aid good prostate health. I have religiously had my morning glass of tomato juice ever since that conversation and my PSA numbers support the theory.

I am now seventy-six and I still get up in the middle of the night to pee. What the doctor did not tell me is that the middle of the night for a Seventy-six year old is at 11:15 PM., 2:15 AM. and 4:00AM.

If Somebody Can Turn a Dollar...?

I buy into the idea that sport games should not be decided by blown officiating calls...let's get it right! Therefore, I like the Major League Baseball's instant replay systems. However, I anticipate something ugly on the horizon.

Let's just look at baseball's instant replay system. There are twelve (12) cameras stationed in every host major league stadium. There are several technicians handling equipment for umpiring crews at those stadiums. At the 900 square foot MLB instant replay center back in Manhattan there are eight umpires checking out thirty (30) giant television screens complimented by tons of support personnel.

Okay, here's my legitimate concern. The current time taken to review a replay is about 2 1/2 minutes.
Now, y'all know damn good and well the American way is cut cost and make more money for 'the man.' That said, I anticipate the entire replay process to be 'outsourced' to India. Need I elaborate? A few years ago, I called AT&T with a computer problem and my Banker with a routing number problem. In each situation, I was hooked up with some clown in another country. The guy in India got pissed off at ME because he said he couldn't understand what I was saying.

It's bad enough someone in another country is talking to me about my banking numbers but baseball is our great American game. Are we going to be dependent on some Cricket player in India to make the call?

A Picture is worth...

I see the ACLU is weighing in on the police-body cam debate. Communities across the nation are pushing to mandate body cameras to be worn by all police officers. Those who advocate the move cite credibility protection for police officers and civil rights protection of any all suspected law breakers stopped by police. Enter American Civil Liberties Union that contends body cameras are an invasion of citizens' rights.

I am certain that the ACLU has done some good things...None come to my mind at this moment.  I do know that the ACLU championed the nonsense that convicted criminals have the 'right' to sit on their ass, lift weights, watch television and play basketball but cannot be assigned chain gang duties. The ACLU also fought for the rights of the mentally impaired to not work at jobs around the mental institutions. There went the vegetable farm and building curb-appeal! Consequently, those mental hospitals became more burdensome to tax payers and you know the rest of that story and the gun violence fall out.

I'll up the anti on this body-cam debate. I think teachers should have body cams, which would permit society to view the disgusting behavior of many little turd blossoms who will become tomorrow's grown up crap-heads. Surgeons should wear body cams, which might lend credible insight into malpractice lawsuits.

The notion that privacy is invaded with body cameras, as advanced by the ACLU, is ridiculous. Every place I go these days, I am being video-taped. I note mounted cameras around hotel properties, convenient stores, retail stores, theaters, State and Federal buildings, college campuses and at most major street intersections. My privacy is not so private any longer in this land of the 'free.'
Let's all strap'em on and 'smile,' you're on Candid-Body-Cam.

Define your own journey.

A few days ago, I was attempting to make a point with my son and daughter in-law when I said (out of the blue) you could put on my head stone; 'Don't tell me it can't be done.' My point is this: When the outside world suggested something within my arena, could not be done, I always asked myself the question: Is it worth getting done? If the answer came up 'yes,' and I believed in my heart that my applied abilities with passion would get it done; I was all over that! I care not to elaborate with personal examples and run the risk of an exercise in personal back-slapping.

My message is simple. We all have those moments when we are told we cannot do something or worse, we tell ourselves that we cannot make a difference. Several years ago, I asked a third grade granddaughter how she liked school. She said, "Okay, I just wish that I had a nicer bus driver." Are you kidding me? We think the teachers and administrators are the most important 'make a difference' people in schools; for a little 8-year old child it was a crabby bus driver that began her daily educational experience.

Castro with a handful of followers overthrew the Cuban government. Lenin with few believers propelled communism to unparalleled heights and Jesus Christ with 12 followers started the greatest movement in the history of mankind.

Look, you don't need numbers to accomplish great things. You / me, we simply need a determination and passion. Create a contagious environment, which garners support for the cause; that which we are told can't be done.

'School Days, School Days--Different Kinda School Days'

With the 2015-16 school year ready to begin, I could not help but recall a grandparent elementary school visitation day I experienced a few years ago. I did not notice any individual desks, instead children were sitting in groups at tables. Well most were at tables, some were sprawled out on floor mats eating 'Ding-Dong' cakes.

I did not notice any Palmer Method writing materials or multiplication charts. I suspect text messaging and calculators have replaced such archaic ways of doing things. As I entered the gymnasium, I noticed a broken 'slide-rule' being used as a door stop. I watched a physical education class...and the kids did not do any exercises or running. Most of the P.E. students stood in small groups talking while a smaller group of kids played a modified kick ball game. The majority of the students who were standing and chatting appeared somewhat overweight...I suppose it is due to the 'Ding -Dongs.'

I had to hold my jacket during my visitation...can you believe a school with NO CLOAK ROOM?

The school looked nothing like Woodrow Wilson Grade School in 1949, East St. Louis, Illinois.

Say what's the problem?

The new school year brings with it the lingering old debate, 'Should the school day begin later?'
It appears that recent research supports some parents'-complaints that the school day begins too early. The often suggested start time is 8:30-to-8:45 AM. This later high school start time would better prepare seniors for college. The college class schedule will be planned so the earliest class will start at 10:00 AM with no classes on Friday. This allows one to get wasted Thursday evening and keep the buzz going unit the wee hours Sunday morning. Never mind that this approach will permit only 12- to-13 credit hours a semester, which results in a five year program.

Make no mistake, junior and senior high parents want what their kids want; later school start time, buses that pick up and drop off one block from the house, an auto at age 16, no P.E. classes and no homework.  Should the kid play sports...it is preferable to have a coach who does NOT yell at players and / or has a bunch of ridiculous rules like being on time and riding the bus home from contests with teammates.

I just wonder: What percent of junior and senior high school students go to bed without their cell phones? AND What percent of American parents demand a bedtime before 10:30PM without the cell phone in the child's room? Could it possibly be that children go to bed too late, which makes an 8:00 AM school start seem too early?

What the hell, start school later. It's the decision of least resistance, drama and conflict. It will delight school administrators because parents won't be on their ass and it will make parents happy because  students extend evening play time.

Okay, now that is settled. Let's discuss the parent outrage regarding not enough teacher-parent conferences and open house visits. How's that? There is no outrage?

The Crude Truth of the Matter

My late mother, often cringed when I would say, "Money talks and bullshit walks." Any good Christian would find my expression raw and crude. That confessed, I find it difficult to offer an apology and let me explain why.

Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump has captured the fancy of many disgruntled hard core conservatives. When asked about his four companies which filed bankruptcy leaving lenders with billions of dollars lost, Trump said and I paraphrase, 'I did what most good American businessmen do. I used our laws to my advantage.' Okay. Trump pulls off a cosmetic layer exposing corporate greed as primary over Christian morality. Then when Trump is questioned about giving donations to Democrats in the past, he states, and again, I paraphrase. 'I give all politicians money. Therefore I can later call them for favors.' Another cosmetic layer torn away by Trump exposes the fundamental truth of American politics and the hypocrisy of many politicians and business leaders who claim Christian standards.

Donald Trump makes my point...'Money talks and bullshit walks.'

PS. Trump also states that he hates paying taxes because he does NOT like the way government uses his tax monies. Now, let's all embrace that logic and return to those glorious days of yesteryear when we had no public services...don't forget to take the Sears Roebuck catalog to the 'outhouse.'

Me, Me & Me

Ken Hickman was an assistant basketball coach on my staff for 24 of 37 years. He was with me at both Edwardsville and Jacksonville high schools. He told me that for the last 10 years coaching, he noted that attitudes of many players were becoming more self-centered. Coach Hickman based his claim on a response to a question he'd ask players at the start of the season. The question: "If the team could win 20 games and you average 10 points per game OR you average 20 points and the team win 10 games, which would you choose?"

Apparently, some players, over time, had to think longer about the proposition and a few would give the answer they believed the coach was looking for as they laughed.

Last evening, the very first question asked of the 10 Republican presidential debaters was a Coach Hickman 'question.' The candidates were asked, "Would you pledge your support to another candidate getting the party's nomination?" Donald Trump said, "No."

Trump could not play on my team and he sure the hell would not get my vote.

Cod Liver Oil & Goodbyes, Yuk !

I hate cod liver oil and goodbyes. As an adult, I can now refuse cod liver oil however, I cannot avoid those goodbyes.

What a wonderful feeling as parents when we tucked our kids into their beds at night. Then came those years when child's boundaries expanded and then that off to college goodbye...life would never be quite the same. Soon after the college goodbyes came the weddings and yet another goodbye. Of course, each of these aforementioned goodbyes had large degrees of happiness centered around new beginnings with great hopes. Nevertheless, they were mom and dad's goodbyes.

The years roll by and suddenly you become aware of approaching goodbyes of grandparents and eventually your mother and father. I recall sitting in a darkened nursing home room holding my dying Mammy's hand while my wife caressed her other hand as we sang my 89-year old grandmother's  favorite gospel hymns. She may or may not have heard those songs as she laid in a comma slowly giving way to her Lord's plan. I suppose we sang to ease our goodbye pain.

Many years later my wife and I would spend the night death vigil with my father at Barnes Hospital. We laid across his bed and spoke to him constantly assuring him of our nearness and his right to leave and collect God's promise. Nearly twenty- years later, I sat at my mother's bedside as she peacefully passed. I shall always call upon the flood of memories that night looking into that ninety-three year old woman's beautiful face. As they say, 'priceless.'

Of course, I would cry my tears on each occasion but there would be absolutely no 'woulda-coulda-shoulda' moments. I got the best one could get in each relationship...but I still hate the goodbyes.

Making America Great Again

It appears that Donald Trump may be our next President. Since his passion is to "Make America Great Again," I feel it is my patriotic duty to make the following suggestions, which can move the objective closer to the goal line:

*After Trump builds the wall between Mexico and the United States, he should convert soccer fields back to baseball fields...soccer is replacing baseball as our America pastime and THAT'S Un-American as hell.
*Mandate that American high schools offer courses in divorce and bankruptcy laws. Donald can elaborate.
*Mandate vasectomies rather than circumcision on new born males. Reverse the procedure once the male has a job, $20,000 saved and knows 12 nursery rhymes.
*Put women in charge of all work place thermostats...this situation is becoming nasty.
*Remove all T.V. reality shows, 24 hour cable news and erectile dysfunction commercials. Replace with Father Knows Best, Lucy, American Bandstand and Twenty Mule Team Borax commercials.

*Make it illegal for T. V. advertisement of prescription drugs, lawsuits and preachers asking for money.
*Mandate physicians being drug tested as are pro athletes and over-the-road truck drivers.
*Make it illegal for male singers to touch their penis while singing and/or a woman's body.
*Also make it illegal to have more than two chase scenes in any movie.
*Install metal detectors at movie theaters, hospitals and churches.
*Close down any movie house selling any size popcorn for over $3.00.
*Require movie theaters to show any advertisements/commercials AFTER  the main feature
*Establish national election days on Saturday and Sunday at any place of worship this will increase voter numbers and perhaps bring people closer to a God and civil behavior.
*Restore "full service" making all self-service establishments unlawful.
*Give tax breaks to families that eat three meals a week together and greater tax breaks to families
that have grandma for Sunday dinner.
Finally...* Retribution for those who get in the 'speedy checkout lane' with more than 20 items & the color 'black' should be added to M & M's because 'BLACK' M& M's matter!

Choose Caring While You May

I would believe that no one equates animal life to human life. There are horrible stories of human death and suffering that cause greater concern. In light of the growing debate regarding big game hunters killing animals for the thrill and head-decorations, let me tell you a story of 'killing.'

My father served two years under General Patton during WWII. Early in his combat experience, he tried to convince a buddy to be patient while they waited to advance during a German night fight. The friend was rambunctious and moved out of the fox hole before the command. Machine-gun fire flashed through the darkness of night. In the morning, my father saw his friend's lifeless body along a dirt roadway. My father once told me that he shot his rifle at German soldiers hoping that he could soon get home to his wife and kids. Yet, he knew that his bullets likely stopped another dad from going home. He said, "You are conflicted with haunting thoughts."

Many years later, my father's life was good...representative of the 'American Dream.' His three sons married and a comfortable life for he and mother. My wife, Gerry and I had a miniature poodle, named GiGi who had a litter of pups. My mother and dad agreed to take one pup and named the little girl 'Buffy.'
Buffy immediately attached favor to dad. A brief time later, my father at age 54, had a major heart attack and spent thirty days in Barnes-Jewish Hospital recovering. Upon returning home, he had long weeks of slow rehab. At his side and at the foot of his bed during periodic afternoon naps was dad's, 'Buffy.'
Years passed and periodic heart set backs slowed my father and took its toll on the aging puppy. Finally, that dreaded day arrived when 'Buffy's' crippled pain and blindness could no longer be rationalized...the dog must be 'put down.' The local vet, knowing that my dad's physical state would not permit bringing the dog to the office made a house call and picked up dad's beloved puppy.
My mother told me that she never saw my father cry so hard as he handed his 'Buffy'  (his little
pup of 16 years) to the vet and turned to shut the door.

This was a man who knew much about the value of life, about killing and about loving.

I ask you to look around. It is all a gift from our Creator. Behold it, embrace it, enjoy it and care for it. Soon enough it is gone.

Brain Freeze Can Cause Pain

This past Thursday was both a busy and painful day for yours truly. Look, at age 76, I am delighted and thankful to be busy. At my age, I expect some pain. With three back surgeries and a lifetime of sport participation in my rear view mirror, I understand why the arthritis in my back, knees and hips. However, I was befuddled with NEW pain areas.

While cutting the grass, I felt as though my knees were going to give way and buckle inward. My ankles hurt with each foot plant. Later, during my Fitness Center workout, my hips were barking at me At each workout station. While taking a shower, my feet felt unusually tender & sore. I dismissed the new pains thinking they were going to join the journey.

Friday morning, I noted this new pain began immediately when slipping on my shoes. Upon closer examination, I discovered that my $500.00 personally molded hard-plastic orthotics were in the wrong shoe. You got it. The left orthotic was in the right shoe and the right orthotic was in the left shoe. This had been my self-inflicted pain all day Thursday.

Therefore, my four color wrist bands serve as 'old fart' reminders: Blue means check my fly every hour. Green means take handkerchief and make two passes across nose and mouth area to clean away debris. Red means make sure shoes and orthotics match feet. Finally, the Orange band reminds me never to pass by a restroom and not use it.

You Don't Know 'The Duke?'

A few weeks ago, I was watching a television program and said to my granddaughter, "I sure would like to see a John Wayne movie." My granddaughter (15 years old) responded, "Who's John Wayne?" Of course, my immediate thought was, 'Oh my God, America is adrift in the universe without purpose.'
I began to realize that I likely have fifteen grandkids who do not know the following:

St. Louis native, Chuck Berry was the first inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The greatest American debate amongst men was 'who's the prettiest Sophia Loren or Liz Taylor?'
Bobby Thompson's 'shot' was second only to the one on Fort Sumter.
Having a job, $20,000 saved and memorizing 12 nursery rhymes is a necessity before marriage.

You do marry 'the family' and your intended will resemble the same sex parent in 30 years.
America's second greatest invention behind the Marlboro 'Flip Top Box' was the 'fly-paper strips.'
'Gertrude & Heathcliff' were two very famous seagulls.
Skirts were part of an automobile as was 'curb-finders.'
Joe Louis was ALL THAT before Ali...just quieter about it.

If something was worth 'doing' then there are two objectives: (1) Do it well & (2) Finish the job!
You might boast about how good you did your work but never bragged about the money made.
You never looked for a home for grandma; you made room for grandma in YOUR home.

You ate out on rare occasions but you 'put up garden veggies' for the winter and made your own jams.
You were civil in most disagreements and sought a compromise.
Policemen, firemen, clergy and teachers were highly regarded and shown respect.


Tin foil is to rabbit ears what butter is to corn on the cob...makes it better; ask someone over 75.
Mother was the most important person in the family...just ask father who was our leader. Ain't the kid.

Hypocritical Bullcrap

In 2004, John Kerry was the Democratic choice versus Republican candidate, G.W. Bush. We all know how that race ended. Likewise, we all recall the group, 'Swift Boaters for Truth.' This was a few military vets that contested John Kerry's military service record. I recall how conservative news pundit, Rush Limbaugh really embraced these guys and their constant attack on Kerry. They made a case for the Republican Party's cause to discredit John Kerry as a illegitimate War Hero.

A bi-partisan fact finding commission verified that Kerry's war record as a hero was accurate. Interestingly, when Donald Trump recently attacked John McCain's war hero status, Jeb Bush chastised Trump and defended McCain...however, ten years ago Jeb did not support John Kerry.

I guess it's a different Republican Party that's angry at Candidate Donald Trump who claims former prisoner of war, John McCain is NO War Hero.

How do you define 'hypocritical?...Behaving in a way suggesting one has higher standards or stronger moral beliefs than is the case.