Kids In Different Times

A few weeks ago, I was visiting with one of my younger grandkids who, like all the other grandchildren is very computer savvy. Not far into our conversation the youngster made a correct observation and candidly shared it with me when she said, "Boompa, you sure don't know much about computers. Perhaps feeling sorry for me she added, "But you know other stuff."  I grew up watching Art Linkletter's television show, "Kids Say The Darndest Things," therefore I am not surprised what comes forth from kids' lips.


As we parted that evening, the youngster put down the handheld gadget long enough to give the old man a goodbye hug. As I drove home that night, I recalled my adolescent years and instead of cell phones and electronic devices, I remembered: One large black telephone and when you picked it up off the receiver, you might hear a conversation taking place; we had 'party lines.' If the line was open a real live telephone-operator said, "Number, please!" She then 'plugged' you into a truck and soon you were talking with your friend. Of course, I knew more about 'anti-anti-over', Mother May I, Newspaper Boys calling out the headlines, Street Cars, Automobile Running Boards, Drive-In Movies, Car Hops, Poodle Skirts, White Buck Shoes, I.D. Bracelets, Character Notebooks, Whitewall Tires, Console Radios, Wax Records (45's & LP's), Grocery Store Deliveries, ice box, Family (Together) Supper-Dinner Time, Butch Wax for crew cuts,  Catfish Tubing, Neighborhood street-light games and chatter. I do recall when we did get rotary-dial telephones; we could then telephone a taxi-cab for an unsuspecting neighbor.
I conclude that my grandchildren are are both smarter and more productive than I.

She Made Her Point

My wife and I were watching television news when the announcer presented a new medical finding. It seems a study involving thousands of men concludes that those men having intercourse with 20 or more partners were less likely to develop prostate cancer. Evidently reducing semen (spermatozoa) reduces prostate cancer risk.


Before I could comment, my wife said, "Men can accomplish the same outcome if they pretend they are 14-years old once again and grab a Playboy magazine on the way to the bathroom!"

Making Sense Of It

I remember at a young age hearing my father say to mom, "I want our boys to have a better life than we did." Over the years, I often recall that comment and imagine that most parents share similar sentiments. Surely, we would agree that such a parental mission is most noble.


As I review the lives of my parents, my generation and that of my children and grandchildren, I simply wonder if 'a better life' truly resulted. Without condemnation, I do take note of one early childhood drastic change; the day care school impact on children. I contend that the 'womb-to-room' concept does not replace 'good' parenting. This cannot be better.


 Personally, I never got in that parenting-parade of making a better life for my kids. I believed my life to be just fine and good enough for my children should I re-create the format. My wife and I always kept things simple so we could understand what the hell we were attempting. We expected our kids to be accountable, respectful, well mannered, maintain personal hygiene, achieve to their respective abilities, understand consequences and pursue something for which they had a passion.

Always a Good Morning

A few things I know a lot about; regarding most things, I am clueless. I know zero about electronic devices, and less about peoples' thinking. I am certain, however that my day begins better than most people! I often wake of my own accord because some arthritic conditions blow the morning alarm-whistle. Perhaps equal to that particular 'wake-up-call,' is the A.M. actions of my toy poodle, Yodie who gets the morning off and running. Yodie sleeps at the end of our king-size bed. He falls asleep each night with his front paws wrapped around the neck of a stuffed bear with his mouth clamped on the Bear's nose.


Sometime between 5:30 AM to 6:30AM, Yodie begins to stretch while looking my way. After his stretch-routine, he then meanders towards the old man to begin smelling my hair and wagging his tail from the rear hips. Each morning is the same, he acts as if he is  totally surprised that I am there. His excitement to renew our friendship bond is contagious with uncontrollable wiggling and squirming.
Scientific studies confirm that Yodie lowers my blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate. He reduces my stress and tension. I also know that this kind of human-pet-bonding relationships results in both human and dog living longer.


Recently, I learned our 24-year old granddaughter, Lindsay and her 2-year old Shih-tzu-Bichon are nearing therapy-dog certification. Imagine a young woman getting it.  She has a special dog with the potential to give precious  moments to the young and old who are facing difficult times and will find joyous-relief from a puppy's boundless love. I must stop now. Yodie needs his teeth brushed and then I'll get on the floor and wrestle with him over his rubber duck...he really needs this moment...well somebody does!

Those Sinful Businesses

I recall, in the 1950's, a popular cigar store on Missouri Avenue in downtown East St. Louis. Perhaps, I was in the store a dozen times during my teen years. The store was near a city bus stop I used after high school basketball practice. I went in the store for a bottled soda to drink during my bus ride home.

The cigar store was always packed with men and smoke; never saw a woman in that cigar store. Once I used the bathroom and walking by the back room, I saw several card tables where guys were playing poker; lots of money on the tables. There was a couple of illegal slot machines against one wall and everybody in East St. Louis knew that the cigar store was an illegal betting joint and headquarters for the numbers racket.

I remember local people bemoaning the fact that the illegal business operation was ignored by the local law enforcement. The speculation was the police were paid-off to 'walk-on-by.'
Finally, the illegal operations did bite the dust...the State of Illinois shut them down; the State now 'runs' the gambling business...casinos, numbers game (lottery), etc. Of course some State officials are still 'skimming.' Now the State is moving into the drug business (marijuana); perhaps one day the government will operate brothels; interesting how morals changed over time...hey, business is business!

In The Sand is No Place For a Head

We all know the proverbial teen myth, 'It ain't gonna happen to me.' None-the-less, my nightly prayer has one repeating line; "Dear God please be with my grandchildren and help them to make GOOD choices."
I observe outrageous college campus behavior driven by the power of alcohol, the promiscuous attitude towards sex and a general theme, "I am a bigger idiot than you!"
 Once the tattoo identified the male but no longer; body markings and piercings are the order of the day along with pretentiously showy and tasteless behavior accentuated with sloppy attire. Hardly a week passes that some pretty young girl goes missing only to be found dead and some creepy looking bastard is 'a person of interest.'
Subscribing to the belief that God helps those who help themselves, I encourage my children to be proactively involved in their children's lives, offer the answer "No" more than "Yes" and never apologize or explain their skepticism about their kids' activities.
I established parent-teenage relationship parameters many years ago with my kids and I land the same punches with the grandkids. I recall saying to my teen daughters, when driving them to and from those endless middle school parties, "What shall we talk about while we have this moment together, 'French-kissing or alcohol-drinking?.' My message?? Kiddos, you ain't the first to experience the carnival-circus and we are going to chat about the larger picture!!!

Who's Your Boogieman?

Put your head around these numbers: Military vets make up 11% of our population and 25% of our homelessness. Many of those vets were kids struggling in high school and going nowhere when they were recruited for the military. After likely fighting a corporate war, they came home with nowhere to go except a park bench.
Another story had easy to connect dots: Some toys produced with cheaper China labor is found in America toy stores and they contain chemical poisons. Homeland security worries about terrorists while communist China poisons our kids. Those outsourced toy manufacturing jobs sure enough have a 'big price' for the American consumer yet a huge pay day for corporations that bitch about taxes while attempting to 'break the labor unions.'
Wanna guess whose kids don't fight wars and don't sleep on park benches.