Unconditional Friend

One day last week, I was sitting on the backyard swing with Toy Poodle, Yodie after doing some yard clean-up. Let me make it clear, I had done the clean up while Yodie simply followed nearby. I began talking to my companion about the school kid neighbors who were playing and laughing. Yodie studied my face measuring the words. I knew he was unconcerned about the childrens' play but more interested in a 'key word' like 'treat' or 'walk.'

The thought occurred to me that I have had intense conversations with some sixteen dogs in my seventy-eight seasons. Later that evening I found this note that I scribbled in 2003:
PS. I offer today's rant-post in honor of long time friend and family veterinarian , John A. Ebrey .

                FRIENDS FUR-EVER

There was Skippy, Zipper, Peggy and Pal,
Some were fellas and some were gals.

This one would fetch and that one would chase,
All would join in a young boy's race.

The bark would warn of impending danger,
Yet the tail would wag upon meeting a stranger.

Oh, the stories to my parents untold,
But whispered to my pooch with a heart of gold.

All are gone, those dogs and the young boy, too,
Ah, but the old man recalls with a pup brand new.

           (Touch)

Rufus...Walkin The Dog

What Next?

A fair question would be: Is there a limit? The word 'limit' in this instance that would define a stopping point or boundary. I am referencing public-media advertising.

Up until 1977, all 50-States prohibited attorneys' from advertising. Two lawyers from Arizona argued successfully that whereas the wealthy had access to legal defense the poor needed to be 'informed' on how to secure legal counsel, therefore attorney advertising. I care not to attack or defend lawyers; I am not versed enough to do either. I simply wish to point out how the money desire keep pushing away any guards against previously perceived polite public conversation.

The constant message from the attorney community is the persistent suggestion that lawsuits pay off. Those being sued WILL settle. Never mind the domino effect of consumer cost impact. A family medical doctor told me several,years ago that 30% of his written prescriptions are patient driven. This only happens due to media drug advertisements.

Yesteryear, we had rules prohibiting scenes of partners 'in bed.' Today, you may be watching television with your eleven year granddaughter when a sultry women wearing lingerie is sprawled across a bed making a pitch for a man's erection pill. Really?

Now there is a squatty-potty advertisement. This is a little footstool apparatus that is placed at the front of your toilet, which you can put your feet atop thus contorting your body to permit 'poop' discharge more easily. The ad appeals more to children than adults since the commercial uses an animated Unicorn to 'show-the-flow.'

          (Touch)
Bye Bye Poop

'Dizzy'

I won't speculate what prompted it but I recall my Mammy (maternal grandmother) back in the day might say, "My heads swimming, I best sit-a-spell." I never did press Mammy for an actual description of 'head swimming' but I can say this, I once had a vertigo bout and my head seemed detached from my body...it seemed to be swimming. These days, I more often get 'dizzy' contemplating and processing twenty-first century technology and ways of the world. As Grandpa
 E. V. Bennett would say, "You can ponder but that don't mean you decipher."

My wife and I both learned to drive on a 'stick-shift' automobile. I remember when I told my wife that there were new cars with 'automatic' drive. My wife thought that meant she'd no longer have to guide the vehicle. Everybody got a good laugh but it appears she soon will have the last laugh.

If memory serves me right,  our first family television set (a Philco) was plug into the outlet in 1950. It received three channels with reception clarity dependent on the angle of the tin-foil wrapped antenna. My cable supplied television set today garners over three hundred channels and if I have modem issues I call a toll free number and a young fella somewhere in Florida does something on his computer that re-sets my T.V. in Decatur, Illinois. That'll make your 'head swim.'

Speaking of the 1950's, there was a guy we called, 'Snuffy,' who negotiated a horse-pulled wagon down our East St. Louis alley picking up our trash. Picture that against a rocket taking another guy named, Neil to the moon. Why it all makes my 'head swim.'

With all this technology these days, I can't for the life of me understand why we still have a baseball umpire behind the plate calling balls & strikes.

              (Touch)
'Dizzy'

Random Thoughts

After church this past Sunday, my wife and I did a Cracker Barrel experience and then stopped in at a nearby Dollar Tree Store for some paper products. I lost location of my wife, which is par for every shopping trek. I soon spotted her standing before a vitamin display. Approaching, I asked, "What are you looking for?" She hesitated momentarily and then said, "I saw on a television Doctor show the other day that there is a particular vitamin that helps 'memory retention' but I can't remember, which vitamin. I did not speak my first thought, which was 'You're too late.' Okay, don't be hard on me because upon arriving home, I immediately googled the question and got the information for her...
It's the vitamin 'B' family.

That problem solved, I turned my thoughts to my recent activities. Last week, I spent a good deal of time in my downstairs office rearranging numerous bookshelf and wall displays while 'burning' CD music discs for some Florida friends while having one ear turned to White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer giving his daily explanations of what President  'Ebeneezer' Trump really meant with his most recent 'tweet.'

 I mentioned to my wife that evening how I had 'multi-tasked' that day. She dismissed my brag saying that she does multi-tasking frequently. She went on to say that on that very day she had wash going, while ironing and preparing dinner late afternoon. I didn't continue the 'one-upmanship' debate.

Later that evening, I was watching the 'Big Bang Theory.' I coughed while laughing and had several back-to-back sneezes and instantly wet my pants...I wondered if that qualifies as multi-tasking?

       (Touch)
TCB

I Think I'm Becoming a Prude

I never thought of myself as a prude. Look, I was born in 1939. That was the year the movie, 'Gone With The Wind' was released. I discovered later that many people were uneasy with the line in that movie when Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable said to Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivian Leigh, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." What was the big deal? Did you hear the language in the more recent movie 'Step Brothers?' Possibly you failed to see the movie, 'Basic Instinct.' Oh, Buddy Boy that pushed the soft-porn envelop.

Much water has passed under the movie-bridge since 1939 and I believe it's fair to say that the water has gotten dirtier if not down right muddy. I am not passing judgment, I am simply being honest in my assessment. Americans have seen profound demise of their once Puritanical innocence.

I recall in the late 1940's when my grandparents took issue with American women wearing 'slacks' in public. During my 1950's teen years, I heard folks complain about young girls wearing those terribly revealing 'short-shorts.' Today, I fight criticizing the younger generation who dress 'down' as a matter of choice,  pierce their bodies with rings and jewelry while putting ink tattoo designs on their bodies. I tell myself...I am not a prude...let it go.

The last week in Destin, Florida while sitting in 'Whale's Tale Restaraunt' with  our 22-year old granddaughters, Erica and Loren, I noticed several coed spring breakers walk by wearing very skimpy two piece swim wear. When I pointed out their attire, my granddaughters informed me that many college females at today's American beaches are wearing Victoria Secret's lingerie.
 OMG...I Just became a PRUDE!

           (Touch)
Short Shorts

This We May Covet

I vacillate with my perception and opinions of my fellow Americans. Now before you latch to the notion that I am posturing myself in some condescending manner let me quickly add that I feel the 'same' about myself. I'm a fool just like you! Consider...

We likely agree that insurance (health, auto and home) is a good idea. We also agree that we likely purchase that which we can afford. Now fast forward to the current political debate regarding 'America's Health Care' insurance options. Going back to Harry Truman's administration there has been a push to have a national health care program and finally under the recent Barrack Obama administration a health care program was established. The Republicans have been on a seven year mission to repeal and replace the 'Obamacare.' The Democrats admit some issues with the program but wish to keep the larger Obamacare concept in tact.

Okay, here is where my frustration with me and you surfaces. We get drawn into the health care debate. We pick 'sound bites' from our favorite party and run off at our mouth as if we are experts on peoples' health care needs. Oh, I'll acknowledge a FEW (very few) folks who are extremely well read on the issues but let's face it most are ignorant about health care when ascertaining needs, provisions and cost factors. None of this will stop us from arguing with each other...because WE KNOW!

Well brothers and sisters of average intelligence let's cut through the crap. All,I want in my health care program is the 'exact' same coverage my Federal and state lawmakers have...after all, you and I financially assist in the premium payments for their health care insurance.

     (Touch)
What Kind of Fool

Personal Flashback

On the front page above the fold of the Decatur Herald-Review newspaper the photo was eye-popping. Hundreds of people were gathered around the Northeast Community food pantry truck, which was positioned to dispense fresh food items to needy families. Before one conjures up an erroneous vision of some racial divide they can dismiss the notion because the picture presented 'equal-opportunity hunger.'

As I read more deeply into the article, I was a bit taken back. The blue-collar Decatur city of 76,000 folks located in Macon County's combined population of 107 thousand residents has significant poverty issues. Consider these facts: 1) Macon County has better than 25% of children living below the poverty level and 70% of Decatur's public school students qualify for 'free lunches.' On this latter topic, I find it disgusting to hear anyone wishing to reduce the school lunch program suggesting statistics fail to substantiate that a filled belly relates to improved academics. Give me a break! A hungry growling-empty American stomach is absolutely unacceptable!

As I repeatedly scanned the faces of these Decatur neighbors, fellow Americans, Christian brothers and sisters reaching out to accept these food products, I could not help but study faces and wonder, 'What's your story?' Everybody has that story. That story, which lead to the 'good life' or the 'life in poverty.' I recalled the years I taught in the Jacksonville 'Alternative Education Program.' This was a program that attempted to identify high probability high school drop outs and start their day out on a positive note with classes offering life skills and interpersonal communication techniques. These were students who were personally angry about hidden unspoken daemons plaguing their young lives. These issues created negative behavior attitudes. I remember asking those students at the beginning of each school year: "I want you to write a paragraph telling me what ONE thing you would change in your young life if you could." Oh my, what heartbreaking stories. One female student: "I wished my mom would have believed me when I told her my step dad was sexually abusing me." A male student: "Still today, I have to be home with my mom when dad comes home drunk because he beats on her if I'm not there." Another student: "Every night my parents gets drunk and fight." And yet this: "Ever since my dad left, my mom has one guy after another at our house and they are bums."

Before we judge, before we criticize and before we make generalizations, we should consider 'The Story.'

       (Touch)
He Ain't Heavy...He's My Brother