Move Kindness Month

You may have missed it and I'm sorry if my blog-reminder saddens you but DID YOU KNOW that October was 'Kindness Month?' Perhaps if you are among the millions who failed to respond to the month's charge-message to do daily 'acts of kindness,' you can blame it on the long and depressing mid-term political campaigning climate. It's fair to say being kind in that environment is difficult.

I'm not so naive to believe political campaign ugliness is something new. A visit to the Lincoln Museum (Springfield, IL.) will document the incredible nasty attacks by the press and political opponents towards Abraham Lincoln. Just the racist cartoons targeting Lincoln is terribly sad.
That said, I believe the current times with extensive social media availability and Facebook comment posting and the plethora of unsubstantiated facts woven into negative attacks gives rise to anger, hatred, vulgarities, and mean spirited attacks, which promotes emotional depression and stress.

Personally, I think the selection of October as 'Kindness Month' is problematic. The leaves are falling, plants are dying, the cold winds and rains reminds us of winter's pending bleakness. I think our 'kindness month' should be moved to May. The month of May is spirit lifting as we feel a warmer breeze and watch the landscape come to life with the renewal of fabulous colors. Personally, I'd like to see 'National Kindness Day' placed between 'Mother Goose Day' and 'National Candied Orange Peel Day.' When moving 'Kindness Day' to May we must establish a date far enough away from Cinco de Mayo Day due to our entrenched dislike for Mexican 'thugs, rapist, and job stealing evil immigrants trying to invade our country.
(Touch)
What a Difference a Day Makes

Everybody's Got A Primrose Lane

A recent research study suggests that one of the best medicines for stress and depression is nostalgia. Of course, one man's nostalgia could be another man's stress. Perhaps we should therefore state that a good 'stress/depression buster' is a walk down one's OWN memory lane.

It appears that when we embrace those carefree and delightful things we experienced in our past, we actually have affectionate recall most generally. Nostalgia counteracts depression. Often times people of their own accord will seek those past experiences when they are feeling depressed. Specifically, a person might wish to watch a classic movie from the past, i.e., 'A Wonderful Life,' An Affair to Remember,' or perhaps 'Christmas Vacation.' I find my nostalgia in music. I suppose that's why I have a collection of hundreds of vinyl record albums, thousands of vinyl 45's and numerous catalogs documented music history while offering the unique trivia. When I retreat to my office/den, I actually travel way back in time, which likely helps me keep my faculties in these times.

Most often people enjoy remembering nostalgia from their youth. Nostalgia allows us to go back in time when life was 'in the moment' and predictable; there was little uncertainty. There was little pressure because there was little expectation.

On a personal note, I have always enjoyed the practice of reminiscing, which is surely the act of embracing nostalgia. Occasionally, I have been accused of 'living in the past.' I refute that accusation but I'm not offended by it. To be upset with such would ask for worry about my psychological well- being, which could stress me out and cause depression.
(Touch)
Lost In Nostalgia  

Forever My Boys

While attending last weekend's wedding reception of grandson, Caleb Howell and his bride, Morgan, I had the opportunity to visit with several of my former Jacksonville high school 'Crimsons' basketball players (Barry Werries, Tim Howell, Kevin Travis, Andy Ezard) and my former East St. Louis high school and American Legion baseball teammates, Tom McGraw and Dick Pawlow who later coached thirty years at WIU. Speaking of coaching, my longtime assistant from Edwardsville and Jacksonville, Ken Hickman was present as was Caleb's former EIU baseball coach Jim Schmitz.

It never gets old re-visiting Little League (East St. Louis Jaycee League) baseball days and American Legion/high school games. My brother, Tom (four and a half years my junior) and I agree that such stories with family and friends have a definite expiration date.

A conversation I had with Caleb's Eastern Illinois University's former baseball coach, Jim Schmitz perhaps lends insight into a coach's mindset. Coach Schmitz spent twenty some years as the EIU diamond mentor. He was relieved of his duties a few years ago. After a brief time away from the dugout, Coach Schmitz decided he 'wanted' a team again and to accommodate other family employment commitments, he stayed on the University's instructional staff while accepting the head baseball position at nearby Mattoon high school. Coach Schmitz and I talked for a good bit and agreed that it is a powerful two-pronged passion in a coach's heart and mind to teach the game he loves and always have a team of names in his head. I miss both these days but I told my former players in attendance that evening that I loved them and I'm grateful for the trust they gave me. They are forever my boys.

Ps. The 'baseruning-run-down play' should be executed the SAME at the Little League level, the high school level, the collegiate level and yes even the pro level. That said, THE PLAY'S PHILOSOPHY AND TECHNIQUE EXECUTION MUST BE TAUGHT...BY A Coach.

The Cheapening Of Our Character

Recently, I was watching one of those never difficult to find television debates between a President Trump supporter and an adversary of the President. At one point in this particular 'give and take / 'jab and counter jab,' the advocate for Trump defended the President's nasty attack rhetoric by stating, "Everybody in America attacks and demeans other people today. The President should do no different." The comment made me think of what mothers have said to their children over the decades when kids sought a below standard choice; "If your friends jumped off a bridge would you follow and jump also?"

In my short lifetime, I have distinctly observed the dumbing-down and cheapening of the human spirit, desires and morals of Americans. As a sport-playing kid there was always some who were not skilled enough to play and the contests always declared a winner and loser. Today's sports finds everybody getting equal playing time, no score kept and trophies for all. From age six till age 55, I was in school institutions of some sort seeking learning or teaching. I saw standards and expectations, lowered as was the grading scale...betcha!

I've seen peoples' personal physical appearance evolve from the stylish and tasteful to the rather flamboyant sensuous presentation displaying once covered body parts. In time many felt the flesh exposure did not draw enough attention thus art form markings were added.

We seem to be a people terribly lacking in self-worth. Therefore to puff up that worth we have, in many instances lowered the standards of expectation so we might 'feel' better about ME! Even our once beloved professional sports figures appear to gain more in their successes if they taunt, embarrass or humiliate their losing opponent.

Oh, once in awhile our rhetoric needs to degrade others...again that also elevates ME!

I Wish For You The Same

It was a wonderful weekend and welcomed diversion offering a hopeful future in the midst of unexplained and demoralizing current events. This past weekend, my wife and I returned to the Jacksonville community where we once lived for twenty-one years while I coached and served as an athletic administrator and teacher. The weekend's main event was the celebrated marriage of grandson, Caleb Howell and Morgan Fernandes. From the Friday evening wedding rehearsal and dinner to the Saturday mid-afternoon service and the last reception dance the warm 'love-in-the-air' extravaganza was spiritually nourishing, socially uplifting and family anchoring. I am blessed.

As I stood amongst 29-immediate family members for a post-wedding photo opportunity, I could not have felt a greater humbleness and gratefulness. The newly weds will return this day to St. Louis and continue personal career pursuits while building their dreams. Many other older grandchildren will do likewise. The remaining grandkids amongst the fifteen will start a fresh week of elementary, high school and collegiate demands. Three great grandchildren will remain under intense scrutiny while deepening life's longing for itself. Our adult children with spouses will continue to balance career-work demands, support children's needs while attempting to secure retirement years.

Every person will draw on personal hopes as we continue our respective journeys in the face of a nation in ugly turmoil. As we manage our lives, we will attempt to make sense of our elected officials' behaviors and our nation's moral claims.

As this old man tries to make sense of it all, I will pause frequently to recall the words of the late baseball broadcaster, Jack Buck who when facing his journey's end said, "Should I be fortunate enough to meet my 'Maker,' I will ask one question: WHY WERE YOU SO GOOD TO ME?"

Let There Be Light

Yesterday, I was finishing up with some winterizing yard work with the task of replacing porch light-bulbs,  security motion-light bulbs and adjusting timer-lights. I thought how interesting the various lighting options these days. Aside from the aforementioned lights, we also have many landscape solar lights.

I recall in the late 1940's, Grandpa E.V. Bennett took me to visit some kinfolks in Kentucky backwoods country. The house had no indoor plumbing or electricity. I was introduced to the outdoor water pump for drinking water and watched as some lady heated my bath water over a wood burning stove. I also established a record for holding my breath on my first trip to the outhouse.

The only lighting in the house was kerosene/oil lamps. I was about seven years old and accustom to hearing our kitchen radio deliver the afternoon programs featuring the voices of Kate Smith, Bing  Crosby and Vaughn Monroe. In the evening our family sat around a Philco console radio to listen to 'One Man's Family,' 'Gangbusters,' 'My Friend Irma,' 'The Fat Man' and 'Fibber McGee & Molly.'  In this small almost cabin-like Kentucky farm house the only noise I heard was living room chatter by adults, cicadas and occasionally some distant howling and barking. I recall going to bed early and everybody up before daylight.

 I'm glad that experienced touched my journey but I very happy it was a brief moment in time for me.
(Touch)
The Old Lamplighter 

Undeniable

Back in the mid-1940's, I remember seeing the old-time crank-handle telephone hanging on the kitchen wall. I never did use one. By the time I had reason to telephone somebody the telephone we had was a rather bulky black heavy tabletop phone. It did not have a dial-number face. You simply lifted the receiver off the cradle and if you did not hear people talking (our telephone was part of a multiple household party-line), the live operator's voice would ask, "Number Please" and you told her the number you wished to call and she'd 'hook you up.'

I recall that my mother's family people truly enjoyed using the telephone. What was particularly interesting about that propensity was the reality that our house, my grandparents house and the houses of Aunt Libby, Aunt Irene and cousin Dorothy were literally a few blocks from one another and yet those gals telephoned each other at least once every day. Of course the telephone was quick communication without need to dress for public appearance. The telephone also allowed for meandering chit-chat, which oft times could be characterized as 'gossip.' Grandpa E. V. Bennett said to his wife Mammy Bennett many times, "Mary, that phone is the Devil's tool that just might keep you out of Heaven." His warning didn't seem to discourage the devout Christian woman from phone use.

Thinking back to those days and objectively examining today's Internet (Facebook) 'chit chat,' it would appear the Devil has a much bigger tool today. Not only does the Facebook hook-ups permit gossip lies, but we can argue, curse and disrespect total strangers as well as fracture relationships with family and friends...yep believe me, indeed the Devil has a bigger hammer these days.