Pups & People

A little break in the heat last week motivated me to take Toy Poodle, Yodie to the park for a walk alongside Lake Decatur. After a bit, we sat down on a bench and watched the other dogs parade by. I know most people have made the observation how sometimes a pooch and its master have resembling physical characteristics.

While observing my fellow dog lovers, it wasn't long that I began to notice some dog and master matches. A stocky-short-legged gent with rather pronounced hanging jowls passed by and at his side was a large English Bulldog...bingo! A few minutes later, a skinny-leg willowy young lady with a plethora of freckles jogged by with a young Black-spotted Dalmathian keeping pace. Another master-pup look alike.

I began wondering if Toy Poodle, Yodie and this old geezer held any physical similarities. When I returned to my auto, I gazed into the visor mirror. Holy Cow, both Yodie and I have snow white hair. His ears hang down low as do my earlobes and if I didn't trim, I'd have as much hair growing from my ears as does the pup. Yodie's nose is brown as is mine from the sun...Oh my goodness, then the shock came. Our eyes are much different. The Poodle's eyes are wide open with jet black centers framed in perfect circles. My eyes don't look right. I suddenly recognized that my lids are beginning to droop. I'm glad I have an eye doctor appointment the end of next month to schedule cataract surgery. Perhaps the doctor can give me a 'lid-lift.' Why Dadgummit, if they droop much more, I'm gonna look like my neighbor's Bassett Hound.

Clean Up the Splatter

Some staples, I recall from the 1940's and early 1950's have vanished from the landscape. Back then,  I remember 'fly-paper' and Church-pew Funeral Home handheld-fans. That's right. We had flies but no air conditioning. The fly paper was a strip of paper covered on both sides with a sticky substance. The sticky element held a sweet odor that attracted the fly and once the insect got close to the paper, it became stuck and doomed. It was a slow death, which was somewhat pathetic. I preferred the fly-swatter but mother said if I used the swatter, I had to clean up the 'splatter.'

There was no place more uncomfortable, on a hot Mississippi Valley summer day, than an early-August Sunday mid-morning non-air conditioned Church. It surely didn't help being dressed in o'Sunday togs' while the preacher-man was talkin' 'bout hell-fire-and-damnation.' Today our Churches have air conditioning and 'feel good' sermons. Funny tho' but back in the day my Church was filled; not so today. Anyway, as a youngster sweating out those Sunday Church meetings, I recall handheld fans used by everybody in every pew. Folks waved those fans frantically in front of their faces. Those fans were provided free of cost to every Church in East St. Louis...compliments of local funeral homes. Kurrus Funeral Home, Kassley Funeral Home and Burke Funeral Home. Come to think, the Preacher had all the 'props' working for him...a hellish relentless heat, words of eternal suffering and local funeral establishment ads on a fan held before your eyes to remind you that this 'ride' has an exit station.

Open My Eyes That I May See and My Heart That I May Feel

The most dangerous man in the world is the man in our midst who has no empathy for others. The frightening reality is 'that number of men is growing rapidly.'

Empathy:
The ability to sense other peoples' emotions and imagine what they are thinking and feeling.

Somber Times

In recent weeks, I have heard many people express an attitude, "I'll be so happy when THIS election is over." Of course, they are referring to the general Presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Many times in past election years, I have heard that sentiment offered but this time around there seems to be a soulful urgency wishing for calm, better spirits and harmony. I get it. There is a growing fear among our American brothers and sisters that we, as a nation, are moving dangerously close to an irreversible divisive precipice. These fears are warranted.

There is, without question driving issues. Our citizens are anxious about both their short and long term financial security. Those worried about providing for families, balancing budgets, hoping to have sufficient healthcare coverage and retirement provisions see strong indications that their personal outcome is bleak. Our two political party's offer reasons and solutions, however much is wrapped in finger-pointing blame...it's the fault of liberals, conservatives, Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, labor & trade unions, big corporations, Russia, China, Israel, the Middle East, and the list goes on and on. Anger continues to grow and the climate has never been more ripe for physical confrontation with loss of life. We are already experiencing this in the growing negative relationship between citizens and law enforcement.

The rich get richer while the poor gets poorer. The once strong and well respected religions of our Nation have experienced declining numbers and with that decline the once stabilizing messages of tolerance and love is muted. Exacerbating America's weakening religious stabilization is the proactive political sidings of faith groups. Throwing mud results in dirty hands and compromises the ability to serve the cause of tranquility and peace, which our faith community once anchored.

The tension laced fears for safety grows as terrorist activities from around the world and in our backyards are reported on 24/7 cable news networks serving as a constant reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed for you or your love ones.
I too will be happy when this election is over. However, when it's over will there be any healing or have we entered a new normal?
I cry for my grandchildren.

Passing Time

Two nights past, my wife and I sat side by side in bed filling our respective 'pill boxes' when she spoke, "Boy, doesn't this little exercise mark time and how how quickly the weeks go by?" I thought of Poem I penned several years ago...

                                            Time Has Its Own Way

                       The young man hurries to dispose each hassle,
                        His focus determined to build that castle.

                        A wife nearby holding his hand,
                        Together they'd conquer; United they'd stand.

                        The birth of children stapled their dreams,
                        But 'time' like a thief demands its schemes.

                        Many years roll by each child leaves the nest,
                        The old couple wonders, did we do our best?

                        The circle complete as grandchildren arrive,
                        Suddenly the old folks renewed and alive.
   
                        Little ones would come for enjoyable stays,
                        Again, it was 'time' that would steal them away.

                        Stay busy old man in this twilight time,
                        Your life has ripened like vintage wine.
 
                        Pause for a moment and embrace your wife,
                        For it is 'time', only 'time' that survives this life.

 

                   

             

                     

Was It Really Ice That Doomed The Titanic?

Oh, My Goodness. The Republicans just cannot give up the ghost regarding these Hillary Clinton emails and the possibility that there is a scandalous connection (pay-for-play) involving the Clinton Foundation. This demonstrates the ongoing nonsensical waste of time and often financial resources chasing these drummed up conspiracy stories. Meanwhile, if we are truly concerned with evil politicians 'selling' political favors and damaging our Nation's well-being then those would-be political scholars should examine the theory and commonly accepted activities of  'lobbyists.'

While time is dawdled away with Hillary email silliness, Democratic operatives met with a twenty year old man just yesterday and hired him to climb up the outside of Trump Towers with instructions to tell others he is a Trump supporter. All this in the attempt to suggest that Trump supporters know that Trump's "elevator only goes halfway up!"

And another thing about these Democrats and that woman...what's behind their constant clamoring for Trump's tax returns; something's up there!

Are You READY for Some Football?

Hip, Hip, Hooray, the football season is upon us and we can finally have a diversion from poppycock politics. This week high school footballers checked out their gladiator-gear and began practicing. I suppose there may be a few rules changes but those noted we will still have six of eleven players 'allowed' to touch the ball and they will henceforth be called 'skilled-position-players' while five interior linemen will be assumed as 'unskilled.' Whatever you do or say do not make that reference in front of those parents of the 'unskilled' for fear they may refuse to work their assigned night at the Booster Club concession stand.

I am somewhat amused at football coaches who are quick with negative remarks about soccer players whose fast growing program threatens to deplete football numbers and God only knows that 'numbers' in football seems to justify more budgeted monies. Let me suggest that you can much easier 'hide' a non-athlete, unskilled kid on the gridiron than on the soccer field. The football 'specials teams' is a terrific place to hide the School Board President's fat ass kid.

My fifty plus years of coaching associations causes me to conclude that basketball coaches and football coaches differ drastically. Football guys 'share film' (video). Basketball coaches go behind one another's back to a clandestine source to get a film on the opponent. Football coaches thus have more integrity or perhaps lack an appreciation for drama. Football coaches are more paranoid and need to 'control' the moment. Consider, if you will that once upon a time football teams 'huddled' to call the next play; today we notice more 'no-huddle' offenses. This no huddle approach reduces the possibility of players talking secret trash about their coach and permits the coach to send-in all plays from the sideline.

Then we have the proverbial Friday Night 'show' versus week-nights 'go.' Let me explain. Most high schools across America will have an ambulance parked near the end zone on game night. This emergency vehicle gives a strong visual message to mommies and daddies that 'their school district goes to any measure and expense for your child's safety.' That's bull-butter fans. Two-thirds of high school football injuries occur at practice when no ambulance is present.

Before we stand for the National Anthem, remember the 50/50 drawing will be at the end of the third quarter.