While backyard swinging yesterday evening, I recalled two Jewish guys who lived in our neighborhood back in East St. Louis (1947). Myron and Hinny were the best of friends. Most often when you saw one working his garden, you'd see the other giving a helping hand. Myron, however, began suspecting that Hinny was having an affair with his wife. One afternoon, Myron came home early from work and sure enough, Hinny was in the upstairs bedroom with Myron's wife. "Quick, Myron's wife said to Hinny, hide under the bed."
When Myron entered the bedroom, he began looking everywhere for that scoundrel, Hinny. He opened closet doors, looked behind curtains and when he looked under the bed, he spotted his long time friend and said, "Hinny, what are you doing under there?" Hinny spoke softly saying, "Myron, my good friend, every body's gotta be somewhere?"
Hinny was correct; every body must be somewhere, forever! That said, my wife and I made our final plans to be in that somewhere after we have no choice to 'go' anywhere. We always put off talking about this eventuality because our kids perceive us as 'doom & gloom' posturing. Hey, we are moving towards the respective ages of 75 and 73, it's about time that we complete internment plans. The thought process to arrive at a decision was not a slam-dunk. My wife and I were both raised in East St. Louis, Illinois and it is fact that we cannot 'go home' while living so why the hell would we elect to go home dead.
We lived various lengths of time in the following Illinois communities where I coached high school sports: Assumption, Mason City, Washington, Edwardsville, Jacksonville and Decatur. We have children living in Granite City, South Barrington and Jacksonville. We decided that since we have no plans to live with any of our kids in old age, we feel it not necessary to burden any kid with talking plastic flowers to our graves on Memorial Day. We have thus chosen Sunset Hills Mausoleum (the outdoor one; I like the idea of fresh air) in Edwardsville, Illinois.
My brother Tom and his wife Vicky also have final resting plans at this site. They will be in the opposite-end second row corner drawer from Mel and Gerry. I selected the second row because I wish to be high enough that any of my leftover Edwardsville basketball fan adversaries are challenged to urinate that high.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
First on a Summer Garden Hose & Last on the Ice Cream Crank...BAD
My wife and I usually go to Wal Mart every July to purchase a discounted 'fan' that will be given to a needy person during these Midwest summer days. This past week (July 14) has seen a heat wave grip for most folks in 43 states. Many 'senior citizen centers across the country remain open extended hours to accommodate the elderly who are without air conditioning and most shopping malls find many more folks 'hanging-out' to find relief.
I remember my youth in East St. Louis, that industrial city on the banks of the Mississippi where the summer heat and humidity combine for sweltering conditions. My 1954, baseball uniform was made out of 100% wool; I wore a t-shirt and pajama bottoms under the wool uniform to reduce the incredible 'itching' under that July sun. Speaking of a hot July; the temperature this week (July 2013) in Decatur, Illinois will linger at 93 degrees for a high and it will be 'muggy.' On July 14, 1954, the East St. Louis temperature was 115 degrees...the Roustios, as did most folks, did not have air conditioning but we did have a window fan and thank God for screened porches and Grandpa E. V. Bennett's homemade ice cream.
Let me reflect on homemade ice cream, if I may. Not many folks make homemade ice cream these days and the ice cream makers today are electric, which requires no 'crank-the-handle' efforts. You see, back in the day, the ice cream ingredients were place into a cylinder container, which was then positioned inside a wooden mini-barrel container that had ice and salt placed between the cylinders and a crank mechanism was then engaged by people who would turn and turn and turn until the ice cream became hard. The cranking was 'easy' in the beginning but became very difficult, requiring much 'grunt effort' later in the process. This explains why Grandpa E.V. took his cranking turns early.
The July days of 1954, found a 15-year old boy taking the city bus to Lansdowne junior high school where he honed basketball shooting skills all morning and then walking his girlfriend to Jones Park to sit together by the lagoon and then play American legion Baseball of an evening...if time permitted, I concluded the day shooting more baskets in my backyard under spotlights; much to the dismay of the local cops who said the spotlights presented a hazard for motorists...my dad won that debate!
Funny but I don't recall being uncomfortable with the summer heat of July 1954; I do recall that July as perhaps the best summer of my life. I will always be grateful to neighbors who left garden hoses attached; you just had to remember not to be first on the hose.
I remember my youth in East St. Louis, that industrial city on the banks of the Mississippi where the summer heat and humidity combine for sweltering conditions. My 1954, baseball uniform was made out of 100% wool; I wore a t-shirt and pajama bottoms under the wool uniform to reduce the incredible 'itching' under that July sun. Speaking of a hot July; the temperature this week (July 2013) in Decatur, Illinois will linger at 93 degrees for a high and it will be 'muggy.' On July 14, 1954, the East St. Louis temperature was 115 degrees...the Roustios, as did most folks, did not have air conditioning but we did have a window fan and thank God for screened porches and Grandpa E. V. Bennett's homemade ice cream.
Let me reflect on homemade ice cream, if I may. Not many folks make homemade ice cream these days and the ice cream makers today are electric, which requires no 'crank-the-handle' efforts. You see, back in the day, the ice cream ingredients were place into a cylinder container, which was then positioned inside a wooden mini-barrel container that had ice and salt placed between the cylinders and a crank mechanism was then engaged by people who would turn and turn and turn until the ice cream became hard. The cranking was 'easy' in the beginning but became very difficult, requiring much 'grunt effort' later in the process. This explains why Grandpa E.V. took his cranking turns early.
The July days of 1954, found a 15-year old boy taking the city bus to Lansdowne junior high school where he honed basketball shooting skills all morning and then walking his girlfriend to Jones Park to sit together by the lagoon and then play American legion Baseball of an evening...if time permitted, I concluded the day shooting more baskets in my backyard under spotlights; much to the dismay of the local cops who said the spotlights presented a hazard for motorists...my dad won that debate!
Funny but I don't recall being uncomfortable with the summer heat of July 1954; I do recall that July as perhaps the best summer of my life. I will always be grateful to neighbors who left garden hoses attached; you just had to remember not to be first on the hose.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Sleepless in Decatur
When I find sleep allusive, I usually get out of bed and busy myself with some on-going project, writings or reading. A few weeks ago when tossing and turning, I got up and turned on the television; NEVER again. If you think prime time television 'sucks,' don't ever television surf after 2 A.M.
There was a preacher fella offering viewers a free vial of 'No Devil Oil.' All I needed to do was telephone a toll free number, give my address and in a few days I would receive the magic potion. This godly guy said that I could take dollar bills and spread them about a table then put a drop of this 'No Devil Oil' on the money and in a few days I would have more money. If I have any aches or pains just rub the 'No Devil Oil' on the pain area and it would no longer hurt. Those with heart conditions can drop this oil on the heart and 'bingo;' no more heart issues. I switched channels.
The 2:30 A.M. show had a middle aged man seated next to a shapely young lady who was perhaps in her mid-twenties. The fella talked about a product called 'Extenze' while the pretty girl spoke no words but did a lot of smiling as if on cue to all explanations regarding the product benefits. The viewers were told that 'Extenze' would enhance the size of the male sex organ. The guy doing the sales-pitch claimed that 'bigger' is not necessarily better but Extenze could also help guys grade out better as lovers; the young lady really grinned at that idea. I switched channels; my fear was I might purchase this product and about six weeks into taking the pill, I would have 'larger' ears and a Pinocchio nose.
I thought my luck could be better with the movie channel; not so, it was a marathon movie week of 'Rocky' movies starring Sylvester Stalone. I watched for five minutes and remembered that Stalone is likely the worst actor in Hollywood's history.
Suddenly, I realized there was a resemblance between the 'No Devil Oil' preacher-salesman and the gent hustling that penis-growth pill. ...and I believe that the guy 'pitching' sales for Oxyclean actually died a few years ago; that's creepy.
There was a preacher fella offering viewers a free vial of 'No Devil Oil.' All I needed to do was telephone a toll free number, give my address and in a few days I would receive the magic potion. This godly guy said that I could take dollar bills and spread them about a table then put a drop of this 'No Devil Oil' on the money and in a few days I would have more money. If I have any aches or pains just rub the 'No Devil Oil' on the pain area and it would no longer hurt. Those with heart conditions can drop this oil on the heart and 'bingo;' no more heart issues. I switched channels.
The 2:30 A.M. show had a middle aged man seated next to a shapely young lady who was perhaps in her mid-twenties. The fella talked about a product called 'Extenze' while the pretty girl spoke no words but did a lot of smiling as if on cue to all explanations regarding the product benefits. The viewers were told that 'Extenze' would enhance the size of the male sex organ. The guy doing the sales-pitch claimed that 'bigger' is not necessarily better but Extenze could also help guys grade out better as lovers; the young lady really grinned at that idea. I switched channels; my fear was I might purchase this product and about six weeks into taking the pill, I would have 'larger' ears and a Pinocchio nose.
I thought my luck could be better with the movie channel; not so, it was a marathon movie week of 'Rocky' movies starring Sylvester Stalone. I watched for five minutes and remembered that Stalone is likely the worst actor in Hollywood's history.
Suddenly, I realized there was a resemblance between the 'No Devil Oil' preacher-salesman and the gent hustling that penis-growth pill. ...and I believe that the guy 'pitching' sales for Oxyclean actually died a few years ago; that's creepy.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
I Apologize
A writer runs many risks when putting words together to make a point. One such risk is 'over-generalization.' In a recent blog, I attempted to underscore parenting changes, I did just that; over-generalized. I suggested all grandkids are disrespectful and, of course, they are not. There is no such absolutes . I correct my miss-spoken words and apologize for the 'blanket' statement.
More Than Beauty in Eye of Beholder
One of the few things that I have in common with my children is our profound love and respect for my father; their grandfather. That agreed and said all parties should recognize an incongruity in their perspectives. <My father did not assume the same discipline-demeanor and behavior expectation attitudes as a grandparent that he did as a parent.; my children thus knew a different person than did I>
I am sure that my children become upset with me, talk with one another about my unacceptable parenting-opinions and dismiss me as some sort of out-of-touch 'kook' or nut-case when it comes to parenting ideas and expectation of my grandkids. Let me give an example or two. I believe my grandchildren are generally disrespectful to their parents and have far too much to say. I think my grandchildren have too much family-matters information too soon and they are unable to process the information with less than adult size brains; consequently, these kids weigh-in with unwarranted and ill-thought-out verbal opinions. My father use to tell me often, when making sure that I understood my opinion-giving parameters; "Hey boy, yours is NOT to reason why, yours is but to do or die!" Yes sir, that was my kids' Papaw...what a guy, hey? Obviously, my dad never read a parenting book!
My adult parenting-children listen to my grandkids' opinions about where they should vacation as if they had some monetary stake in the matter. I swear, I never went on a family vacation as a kid with my parents and neither did my wife when she was a child at home. I do remember going frequently to the drive-in movies on Friday nights with mom and dad and it was a blast. I also recall a lot of backyard games and neighborhood picnics; those also were great fun. As parents ourselves, we took the kids to the Lake of the Ozarks a few times but nothing elaborate; I did not have the time off work or the extra monies to engage those niceties. I hear my grandchildren weighing in with their parents regarding family-vacation-experience expectation...gotta by shitting me! My father often told me and my brothers that we should "Be seen and not heard." Now there some crap that flies in the face of modern-day child psychologists! Don't dismiss my parents-style and parenting methods, these were the folks considered to be from the greatest generation; they kicked ass in WWII and then built a strong industrial country; I remember the celebrations along the way.
I suspect that some of the grandkids have no concept of lawn-mower usage or lawn raking. All my grandkids have many of the latest electronic gadgets and they each appear to wear the latest clothing styles. Many have automobile when they get their driver's license; my wife bought my first car when we got married my senior year of college. She had been working saving money while I was attending school. As a teenager, I waxed my mothers hardwood floors when I was sixteen just to get a five dollar bill for a date night; I thought she was an angel making me such a good deal.
I do recall my parents having conversations about making a 'better' life for me and my two younger brothers; thank God they did not confuse better with easier and softer.
For the most part, I followed the 'parenting-blueprint' shown by my parents. I am thinking perhaps my children have deep scars and thus felt it necessary to change the parenting approach...and here I thought I did such a wonderful job. Oh well, 'checkmate!!'
I am sure that my children become upset with me, talk with one another about my unacceptable parenting-opinions and dismiss me as some sort of out-of-touch 'kook' or nut-case when it comes to parenting ideas and expectation of my grandkids. Let me give an example or two. I believe my grandchildren are generally disrespectful to their parents and have far too much to say. I think my grandchildren have too much family-matters information too soon and they are unable to process the information with less than adult size brains; consequently, these kids weigh-in with unwarranted and ill-thought-out verbal opinions. My father use to tell me often, when making sure that I understood my opinion-giving parameters; "Hey boy, yours is NOT to reason why, yours is but to do or die!" Yes sir, that was my kids' Papaw...what a guy, hey? Obviously, my dad never read a parenting book!
My adult parenting-children listen to my grandkids' opinions about where they should vacation as if they had some monetary stake in the matter. I swear, I never went on a family vacation as a kid with my parents and neither did my wife when she was a child at home. I do remember going frequently to the drive-in movies on Friday nights with mom and dad and it was a blast. I also recall a lot of backyard games and neighborhood picnics; those also were great fun. As parents ourselves, we took the kids to the Lake of the Ozarks a few times but nothing elaborate; I did not have the time off work or the extra monies to engage those niceties. I hear my grandchildren weighing in with their parents regarding family-vacation-experience expectation...gotta by shitting me! My father often told me and my brothers that we should "Be seen and not heard." Now there some crap that flies in the face of modern-day child psychologists! Don't dismiss my parents-style and parenting methods, these were the folks considered to be from the greatest generation; they kicked ass in WWII and then built a strong industrial country; I remember the celebrations along the way.
I suspect that some of the grandkids have no concept of lawn-mower usage or lawn raking. All my grandkids have many of the latest electronic gadgets and they each appear to wear the latest clothing styles. Many have automobile when they get their driver's license; my wife bought my first car when we got married my senior year of college. She had been working saving money while I was attending school. As a teenager, I waxed my mothers hardwood floors when I was sixteen just to get a five dollar bill for a date night; I thought she was an angel making me such a good deal.
I do recall my parents having conversations about making a 'better' life for me and my two younger brothers; thank God they did not confuse better with easier and softer.
For the most part, I followed the 'parenting-blueprint' shown by my parents. I am thinking perhaps my children have deep scars and thus felt it necessary to change the parenting approach...and here I thought I did such a wonderful job. Oh well, 'checkmate!!'
Monday, July 15, 2013
Spinning Wheel / Swimming Head
My maternal grandmother, Mammy Bennett, when facing fast-paced, chaotic activities would often say, "My head is swimming!" These days, I find my head swimming and spinning as I attempt to digest the crazy crap 'out there!'
My 51-year old son is in Uruguay with six other missionaries using the sport of basketball to spread goodwill and the gospel of Christ. They will also be in Sao Paulo, Brazil where just last week a soccer umpire, who stabbed to death a player, was killed and decapitated by angry fans; that's crazy shit. Some guy in Grants Pass, Oregon using his rifle as a crutch inadvertently discharged the gun causing a shell to go through the ceiling of his apartment and killing a five-year old in the apartment above. That is pitifully sad. A five year old Kentucky boy uses his 'child-size' rifle to shoot and kill his 2-year old sister; this should make every American's head swim as we attempt to understand 'WHY' Americans are manufacturing lethal weapons for children. In Nelson, Atlanta the citizens must contend with a new town-law; home-owners must own a gun. That is not only crazy-ass logic, it surely is unconstitutional! I am thinking that we folks in America NEED some MISSIONARIES! My head is swimming!!!
Amidst this aforementioned chaos from sea-to-shinning sea, many Americans kept a media vigil on the eventual trial of George Zimmerman, the 'walk-about' Charles Bronson, Death Wish character who was charged with murdering a 17-year old 'Black' boy, Trayvon Martin. After much deliberating the jury returned a NOT guilty verdict. Even with the 'fuel charged' social media baiting segments of society, there appears to be a more civil nationwide reaction to this verdict as compared to the Rodney King and O.J. Simpson verdicts; much to the obvious dismay of our mainstream media, which begs for conflict and controversy. That attitude makes one's head swim. Perhaps the most positive influence on the post-trial prevailing-moods is the apparent Christian love and faith expressed by the Black youngster's parents.
On a personal note, our middle child and oldest daughter was in Jacksonville this past weekend celebrating her JHS Class of 1983, 30th Reunion. She spent the weekend with her sister, our youngest who is sending her last child off to college this fall.....talk about making a guy's head swim!!!
Excuse me while I go cut the lawn and not my wrists.
My 51-year old son is in Uruguay with six other missionaries using the sport of basketball to spread goodwill and the gospel of Christ. They will also be in Sao Paulo, Brazil where just last week a soccer umpire, who stabbed to death a player, was killed and decapitated by angry fans; that's crazy shit. Some guy in Grants Pass, Oregon using his rifle as a crutch inadvertently discharged the gun causing a shell to go through the ceiling of his apartment and killing a five-year old in the apartment above. That is pitifully sad. A five year old Kentucky boy uses his 'child-size' rifle to shoot and kill his 2-year old sister; this should make every American's head swim as we attempt to understand 'WHY' Americans are manufacturing lethal weapons for children. In Nelson, Atlanta the citizens must contend with a new town-law; home-owners must own a gun. That is not only crazy-ass logic, it surely is unconstitutional! I am thinking that we folks in America NEED some MISSIONARIES! My head is swimming!!!
Amidst this aforementioned chaos from sea-to-shinning sea, many Americans kept a media vigil on the eventual trial of George Zimmerman, the 'walk-about' Charles Bronson, Death Wish character who was charged with murdering a 17-year old 'Black' boy, Trayvon Martin. After much deliberating the jury returned a NOT guilty verdict. Even with the 'fuel charged' social media baiting segments of society, there appears to be a more civil nationwide reaction to this verdict as compared to the Rodney King and O.J. Simpson verdicts; much to the obvious dismay of our mainstream media, which begs for conflict and controversy. That attitude makes one's head swim. Perhaps the most positive influence on the post-trial prevailing-moods is the apparent Christian love and faith expressed by the Black youngster's parents.
On a personal note, our middle child and oldest daughter was in Jacksonville this past weekend celebrating her JHS Class of 1983, 30th Reunion. She spent the weekend with her sister, our youngest who is sending her last child off to college this fall.....talk about making a guy's head swim!!!
Excuse me while I go cut the lawn and not my wrists.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Stand Up or Give Up...A Simple Choice
I admire folks who 'stand' for some thing. Actually, I admire all people who step forward and publicly embrace ideas, beliefs and causes; even though those passions may be diametrically opposing views to that which I embrace. I may disagree but I shall tolerate 'rights' of every kind of thinking. I am saddened by the weak-kneed complainer who fears retribution or some negative 'fallout' from having public courage to stand and be COUNTED. 'Fear' is the greatest social-malady of the 21st century.
Please, if I may; I believe Jesus Christ died for our sins and thus our acknowledgment of Christ paves the way to forgiveness and eternity. Whatever it is that others may or may not believe (religiously), I accept as their right and I will defend that right. Personally,organized religions don't 'float-my-boat' because I notice too many who belong are 'long' on judgment and 'short' on tolerance.
Furthermore, I am a Democrat because I can identify with more platform-planks and tenants of that political ideology than those held by the conservative Republican Party. I am a social scientist with an eye on social issues; I am not a wall street guy worried about money. I believe the two-party philosophy differences make for healthy debate and the potential for positive resolutions I hold to one philosophy but appreciate the other.
Okay, why my public proclamations regarding religion and politics? I simply wish to 'stand-for-something.' I do not fear consequences for my thoughts and beliefs as long as I permit others the same freedom. What irritates me is folks who wish to change or correct something but choose to do so anonymously either because of the aforementioned retribution or their methods are less than honorable; those individuals fail to have my respect.
Let me illustrate...
A few weeks ago, I spoke out openly regarding the unwarranted parent-driven dismissal of a high school coach. Many telephoned or emailed expressing similar concerns and opinions but stated they could not 'go public' with their opinions for fear of a backlash on their kid. I say 'bull-butter.' The coach that got fired is somebodies kid! Another example: Recently, the Decatur Public School District was confronted with alleged illegal recruiting by one public school coach. I understand that the matter is under investigation; good. What I do not understand is the number of people who want to 'see' the issue cleaned-up but are scared shit less that their name may be draw into the confrontation. Give me a break...if we wish for wrongs to be righted then 'stand' for right or jump on the 'yellow-brick-road' with the Lion.
My wife and I recently saw the movie 'Heat,' staring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. McCarty's character is a tough, foul-mouth-speaking investigative inner-city cop. In one scene, she is upset with her Captain's lack of courage on a matter. She shouts repeatedly across a large office for all to hear, "Has any body seen the Captain's NUTS, they're very small and he's lost his NUTS."
I get it!
Please, if I may; I believe Jesus Christ died for our sins and thus our acknowledgment of Christ paves the way to forgiveness and eternity. Whatever it is that others may or may not believe (religiously), I accept as their right and I will defend that right. Personally,organized religions don't 'float-my-boat' because I notice too many who belong are 'long' on judgment and 'short' on tolerance.
Furthermore, I am a Democrat because I can identify with more platform-planks and tenants of that political ideology than those held by the conservative Republican Party. I am a social scientist with an eye on social issues; I am not a wall street guy worried about money. I believe the two-party philosophy differences make for healthy debate and the potential for positive resolutions I hold to one philosophy but appreciate the other.
Okay, why my public proclamations regarding religion and politics? I simply wish to 'stand-for-something.' I do not fear consequences for my thoughts and beliefs as long as I permit others the same freedom. What irritates me is folks who wish to change or correct something but choose to do so anonymously either because of the aforementioned retribution or their methods are less than honorable; those individuals fail to have my respect.
Let me illustrate...
A few weeks ago, I spoke out openly regarding the unwarranted parent-driven dismissal of a high school coach. Many telephoned or emailed expressing similar concerns and opinions but stated they could not 'go public' with their opinions for fear of a backlash on their kid. I say 'bull-butter.' The coach that got fired is somebodies kid! Another example: Recently, the Decatur Public School District was confronted with alleged illegal recruiting by one public school coach. I understand that the matter is under investigation; good. What I do not understand is the number of people who want to 'see' the issue cleaned-up but are scared shit less that their name may be draw into the confrontation. Give me a break...if we wish for wrongs to be righted then 'stand' for right or jump on the 'yellow-brick-road' with the Lion.
My wife and I recently saw the movie 'Heat,' staring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. McCarty's character is a tough, foul-mouth-speaking investigative inner-city cop. In one scene, she is upset with her Captain's lack of courage on a matter. She shouts repeatedly across a large office for all to hear, "Has any body seen the Captain's NUTS, they're very small and he's lost his NUTS."
I get it!
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