Unsung Heros

It’s Christmas Eve on the east coast of the United States.  Most people, with jobs, have finished working for the day and will be off tomorrow because of the Christmas Holiday.  However, there are countless numbers of people who will be working tonight and/or tomorrow, as well as other holidays, performing tasks we usually take for granted until some calamity occurs.

I can’t begin to list all the various jobs we Americans expect to be performed during holidays, but here are a few: security & law enforcement officers and support personnel; toll-takers & snow removal crews and support personnel for bridges/highways; airline flight crews and support personnel; bus/taxi/railway/subway operations and support personnel; electricity/gasoline/natural gas/propane gas/water/sewer system operations and support personnel; emergency medical/hospital/nursing home operations and support personnel;  military personnel in the various branches, as well as the many civilians involved in the day-to-day support of the military.

(If your job isn’t listed above, please feel free to leave a note in the comment area at the top of this posting and tell us what you do.  I think we all need reminders, from time to time, of the many people working while we are celebrating!)

As we prepare to end this decade and begin the next one, it would be a good time to reflect on all the millions of people who work so hard to give our country, the United States of America, one of the highest standards of living anywhere on this planet. 

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

 

Winter’s Icy Grip

We are experiencing a significant snow storm this weekend.  Our Governor has issued a “State of Emergency” for the 2 northern counties of Delaware so far.  Total snow fall around Newark is predicted to reach 18-24 inches.

Our current weather reminded me of an earlier time — During December 1986 we also had quite a lot of snow.  In those days, the majority of answering machines used a cassette tape for both the outgoing message and to store incoming messages.  I used to enjoy putting humorous outgoing messages on my machine.

I wrote the following poem and read it as my outgoing message in 1986 — I had to buy a special 30-second tape, because the poem was to long for the standard 15-second tape.  Every winter for several years I put the message on my machine — my mother didn’t like it, though, ’cause she lived in Maryland and had to pay long-distance charges listening to the message.

With Winter’s icy grip firmly ’round my throat,
And, lacking a 40 below zero survival-type coat,

I’ve gone to seek solace, ‘neath ‘lectric blanket, down comforter, and sheet;
In pajamas, long-socks, with hot-water bottle replete.

I’ll dream of fishing in a warm summer breeze,
It helps me escape this dreadful hard-freeze.

Now’s your chance.  Leave a message, and make it heart-felt.
I’ll return the favor, when the ice starts to melt!

Stay Warm 

 

The Wooden Bowl

Many people have been struggling financially during the economic decline of the past several years.  Additionally, I’ve read how during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays it can often be a very difficult emotional time for people:  they remember a special person (or group of people) whom they used to be involved with at various gatherings and celebrations; but now the special person(s) in no longer available  (death, divorce, moved-away, etc.)   As a result,  depression and the sense of loss become very heavy.  For some, unfortunately, easing the pain and misery seems only possible by ending their life!

I’m sharing “The Wooden Bowl” as a way to encourage you to think of someone you know who might need some help or kind words — something which you can give of yourself that wont cost more than a little time, and maybe some gasoline!  Perhaps, something as simple as a phone-call to a friend or family member you haven’t spoken with for awhile can BRIGHTEN their day, and LIGHTEN their mood!

The story came to me many months ago (I have no idea how long ago) in one of those emails encouraging people to forward it!  You’ve probably had lots of those kinda things forwarded to you in the past — I know I have!  But, this one touched me a great deal.  So, I kept it, and made a few  editing changes which suited me — Below is the result.

——————————–
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson;  his eyesight was blurred and his steps faltered.

The family ate together at the same table.  But, the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult for him: Peas rolled off his spoon, onto the floor; When he grasped the glass, milk spilled onto the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess — ‘We must do something about father,’ said the son. ‘I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating and food on the floor!’

So, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner — There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner together.  And, since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.  Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction he sometimes had a tear in his eye, as he sat alone.

One evening, before the meal was served, the father noticed his son playing with some wood-scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, ‘What are you making?’  Just as sweetly, the boy responded, ‘Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.’  The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The child’s words so struck the parents that they were speechless.  Then, tears started to stream down their cheeks.  Though no word was spoken between them, they both knew what must be done. That evening, the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, GranPa ate every meal with the family.  And, for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk was spilled or the tablecloth became soiled.

Things I’ve learned:

• No matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on — very soon we will likely forget the cares we had just a short time ago
• You can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas Tree lights
• Making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life’
• Life sometimes gives you a second chance
• You shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands — You need to be able to throw something back occasionally
• If you pursue happiness it will elude you — But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you
• Whenever I decide something with an open heart I usually make the right decision
• Even when I have pains I don’t have to be one
• Every day you should reach out and touch someone:  People love that human touch — holding hands; a warm hug; or just a friendly pat on the back

And, the most important thing I’ve learned (which I oft times forget) – I still have a lot to learn!

Happy Holidays to you ALL! And, to your Loved Ones also!

May the year 2010 bring you  – Health and Happiness, Peace and Tranquility, Joy and Abundance!

Please leave a comment!  (You can find the comment button at the top of this posting.)  I look forward to reading your thoughts and feelings.

 

Mishaps and Accidents

I’ve had many accidents and mishaps throughout my life.  I suspect most people do…   I fell out of my wheelchair more times than I’d like to remember: frontward, backward, even sideward.

However, around this time of year I remember an automobile accident which happened on snow/ice.  I had only been driving for maybe two years and I lost control of my car during a freezing rain.  I believe this is the only weather-related mishap I ever had during my 40+ years of driving — I’m very proud of that!

My 1st wife and I lived with my parents for a few months after we got married.   When we moved out, we moved into a small 1-bedroom bungalow in Maryland, on the western side of Newark and  just barely over the Delaware state-line. Our new home was about 30-40 feet from a barn & small stable — not to bad during the winter, but the flies and smell got a little tough during the summer months.  I believe our proximity to the stable was one reason why the rent was so low:  $50 a month — which is all we could afford at the time.

I’m sure another reason that the rent was low is because the bungalow was very loosely put together, and pretty-much open underneath:  during windy-weather the window-shades and curtains blew around;  if it was snowing outside we would find snow on the window-ledge at the head of our bed, brrrrrrr (we often kept the blankets over our heads on cold  nights).  And, as a result of the difficulty trying to keep warm, during the coldest months the propane bill became larger than the rent.  Occasionally,  the kitchen drain would freeze — which meant my wife had to wash the dishes in our bathtub!

Because we were in Maryland, and financially stressed, as long as we lived in the bungalow (almost 2 years) we never had a telephone.  Fortunately, there was a small sandwich shop in Delaware within a short walk and it had an outdoor phone-booth, if we needed to make a quick phone-call.  The whole thing was quite an experience!

The accident occurred during the Winter of 1967-68.  I had been trying for many months to find work — I never realized how difficult that would be until after I quit my job in August ‘67.  On the day of the accident, I had taken my wife to work in Wilmington and then stopped at my parents’ house (on the eastern side of Newark) to see if they had any mail for us.  Mom said she had gotten a call from a company I had applied to and they wanted me to call them back, as soon as possible.  So, I got out of the car and into my wheelchair — I used Mom’s phone to return the call, and briefly chatted with her while looking through my mail.

A cold rain was falling when I left Wilmington, and now had changed to sleet and snow.  As I left the driveway, I could see that the road surface had become white in places.  Within 2-3 miles of my parents’ house I had to stop at a red-light, at an intersection.  As I drove away, I became aware that I was losing traction and sliding  (the rear tires were not in great shape).  My car started to wander into the other lane and I tried to adjust the wheel to return to my lane.  However, after several attempts, I began overcompensating and the car started to “fishtail” — that was not good!  Another car was coming toward me, so I turned the steering-wheel hard and my car began to spin around while moving toward the right-hand side of the road.

The next thing I knew, I had hit something (the curb) and slammed my head on the driver’s side window.  After regaining some composure, I surveyed my situation as best I could from inside the car:  I was now facing east into the traffic going west (west was my original direction) and the traffic had to avoid my car; I was not seriously injured; the only object I could see that was damaged was a wooden post, holding a mailbox, which was close to the driver’s door — I later learned that I had broken the post and creased my door during the accident.

It wasn’t long before someone stopped to see if I was alright and whether I needed help.  He said my back tire had hit the curb and was now flat — the rim was also bent.  (Unseen, additional, damage was a bent axle on the side with the twisted rim.)  I asked him to please call the police and report the accident, which he said he would do.  I could see the driving conditions deteriorate as I waited about 45 minutes for the police.  In fact, I watched 2 additional accidents occur, and an officer stop at one of them, as I sat there.

When an officer finally arrived to see me, he checked to make sure I was ok and then said I could report the accident by appearing at the office within the next 48hrs, because things were a mess on the roads.

I cautiously drove back to my parents’ home with my flat tire, called my wife and explained the situation.  That night, I slept in my old room at my parents’ house and my wife stayed in Wilmington with our friends Peggy and Louie.

I can’t recall much else about this event.  Although, I think I can be sure that I was glad to get back to my bride in our little bungalow!

 

Return the Peace Prize

On December 1st, President Obama told the nation that he is going to send an additional 30,000 US troops to Afghanistan! I wonder:  when the troops arrive in Afghanistan, will the Nobel Prize Committee require President Obama to return the Peace Prize they gave him?

During my life, I can remember other Presidents sending troops to some foreign land to defend us from… (you can fill in the blank!) My vision of this situation is more Americans who bleed and die while they act as the Global Police Force.  And, the ones not killed — will they have been altered physically and/or mentally for the rest of their lives?

We, the United States, got involved in Vietnam to support the French in their attempts to regain power in the region, following the end of WWII: American bombers, military advisers and technicians by the hundreds were sent to Vietnam between 1950 and 1954.  Then, when the French were defeated by the supposed “Communists”, we took on the job of supporting the “Non-Communist” regime that we helped put into power (we had to stop the Communist “domino effect” — which also explains the Korean War).  In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson ordered ground and air combat troops, as well as patrol boats, battleships, aircraft carriers and countless other support/supply vessels into the region.  This military action continued until our Congress succumbed to the anti-war pressure and passed legislation prohibiting direct U.S. military involvement after August 15, 1973.

Famous for his actions during the American Civil War, Major General William Tecumseh Sherman is given credit for stating, “War is hell!”  We never actually declared war on North Vietnam.  Yet, we still lost more than 58,000 Americans fighting that undeclared “War” (occasionally called the Second Indochina War).  I tend to believe that combat is hell – I think any of our soldiers, sailors, pilots or other personnel who have been in combat would agree.   The total number of Vietnamese men/women/children who died (North and South) during our years in Vietnam: an estimated 3 to 4 million.  In Laos and Cambodia: an estimated 1.5 to 2 million died.  And, I doubt anyone has ever tried to count the total number of people injured for the remainder of their lives…

Who benefited from the fiasco in Vietnam:  The weapons companies?  The chemical company making the defoliant which came to be called “Agent Orange?”  Perhaps the many Americans working in the factories; we don’t have much unemployment during a large military action like that, do we?  Although… we were frequently lied to by our Government about why we were in Vietnam!

Fast forward a few decades: The USSR (the Russians) waged a war in Afghanistan for about 9 years!  The US Government supported some of the Afghans, with money and weapons, to battle the Russians. The USSR withdrew/quit because they got tired of what was becoming their “Russian Vietnam!”

Our combat troops  have been actively fighting in Afghanistan since 2001.   The Second Gulf War (our current Iraq war and more lies) began in April 2003.  President Obama has pledged to remove troops from Iraq.  However, what he seems to be doing is “relocating” our troops from Iraq to Afghanistan.

How ironic –  We police the World and we can’t, or wont, stop the surge of hundreds-of-thousands of people each year sneaking across our own borders: many of them are coming here to rob us; steal our identities, jobs, Social Security and health care; or kill us in our streets/homes!  If you live in a border State, you are very aware of how bad things have gotten. Where are the troops to prevent this terroristic action?  Should we naively think that Al Qaeda and other enemies of the United States of America wont attempt to smuggle “dirty-bombs” (containing radioactive material) or biological weapons across our borders?  Actually, maybe those with infectious diseases crossing our borders are “biological weapons!”

What have we learned from our experience in Vietnam, or other combat-zones since, except how to kill more people with bigger, better, and more expensive weapons.  Even though we have progressed toward “remote-controlled warfare”, we are not there yet.  American military personnel are still getting maimed and die in foreign lands, on almost a daily basis.  And, some of the people being killed with our high-tech guns, and other weapons of war, are Americans — in cases like that, “friendly-fire” is the politically-correct way of saying how your friend or family member was NOT killed by the enemy! Our weapons are also killing civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, just like Vietnam; ordinary citizens just trying to live their lives as best they can.  That doesn’t do much to make us popular. How is that “helping” the people in those countries?

Here is another quote from General Sherman –  “In our Country . . . one class of men makes war and leaves another to fight it out.” Certainly seems to be a universal-truth throughout most of recorded history.   I find it appropriate to use here to describe many of our 21st-century bureaucrats and elected-officials (remember to include the women) within the Federal Government.

Isn’t it time this lunacy came to an end?  Maybe it would stop if we, the US Citizens, said something like…  “politicians sending the troops had to go into combat with them!”  I can’t claim that idea as my own,  but it does appeal to me.

 

“Disabled”, a poem by Wilfred Owen

I spend several hours most days following interesting links.  I often am surprised at the things I find.  The poem below was written by a British soldier during what was known at the time as the “Great War”; today we call it World War I (WWI).

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen was born 18 March 1893 and died 4 November 1918.  He has been considered to be one of the best poets of  WWI writing about war and its effects.  Unfortunately, he was killed just one week before the war ended.  An additional irony is that, due to the slow movement of communications at the time, news of his death arrived back home on the same day as news that the war was over!

Because of word usage differences during the early 1900s, and perhaps more so because he uses “the King’s English”, it may be a bit of a strange read for you.  However, it still offers an insight into the struggles of soldiers wounded during War and how many of them look at their life ahead!

Disabled
by Wilfred Owen

“He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of play and pleasure after day,
Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him.

About this time Town used to swing so gay
When glow-lamps budded in the light blue trees,
And girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim,-
In the old times, before he threw away his knees.
Now he will never feel again how slim
Girls’ waists are, or how warm their subtle hands.
All of them touch him like some queer disease.

There was an artist silly for his face,
For it was younger than his youth, last year.
Now, he is old; his back will never brace;
He’s lost his colour very far from here,
Poured it down shell-holes till the veins ran dry,
And half his lifetime lapsed in the hot race
And leap of purple spurted from his thigh.

One time he liked a blood-smear down his leg,
After the matches, carried shoulder-high.
It was after football, when he’d drunk a peg,
He thought he’d better join.-He wonders why.
Someone had said he’d look a god in kilts,
That’s why; and maybe, too, to please his Meg,
Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts
He asked to join. He didn’t have to beg;
Smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years.

Germans he scarcely thought of; all their guilt,
And Austria’s, did not move him. And no fears
Of Fear came yet. He thought of jewelled hilts
For daggers in plaid socks; of smart salutes;
And care of arms; and leave; and pay arrears;
Esprit de corps; and hints for young recruits.
And soon, he was drafted out with drums and cheers.

Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal.
Only a solemn man who brought him fruits
Thanked him; and then inquired about his soul.
Now, he will spend a few sick years in institutes,
And do what things the rules consider wise,
And take whatever pity they may dole.
Tonight he noticed how the women’s eyes
Passed from him to the strong men that were whole.
How cold and late it is! Why don’t they come
And put him into bed? Why don’t they come?”

 

The Changing Face of Musical Entertainment

Looks like digital music downloads on computers, MP3 players, iPods, smart-phones and the like are altering the music industry more dramatically than the cassette tape ever could.

Compact Disks (CD) came into the marketplace about 1982-83.  And, by the end of the 1980s CDs had just about replaced cassette tape and records as the format of choice for music.  Today, I read that Linn Products (based outside Glasgow, Scotland) is preparing to discontinue manufacturing CD players; the reason is declining sales of CDs!

Although the article I was reading, and its associated statistics, were focused on the United Kingdom (UK) I’d be surprised if the results were much different (on a percentage basis) in the US.   According to The British Phonographic Industry trade body, more than 117 million tracks had been bought by the end of October this year.  And, that is before the popular music gift giving season of Christmas.  Looks like 2009 is set to be a record year for single sales.  No doubt the economy has driven some cash-strapped music fans to economize.

Market share for albums was still dominated by CD sales but it is slumping.  In 2008, there were 137 million album sales, made up of 123 million CDs, 10.3 million digital downloads;  vinyl records, cassettes and other formats accounted for around 300,000.  In 2007, only 2.7 million albums were sold via download, while 151 million CDs were purchased!

My earliest recollection of music was watching people singing; either family or friends.  Then, I can remember AM radio and the black & white TV.  When I was about 10 years old, my father got a hi-fi (high-fidelity) radio with turntable; he was a carpenter and had done some remodeling work on a store in Newark which sold just about everything associated with music.  As part, or all (I don’t remember which), he exchanged labor for components and some LPs (33 1/3 rpm albums).  That’s when I became aware of FM radio and “longhair” music (classical music was popularly known as longhair or longhaired from about the mid-1930s until the Beatles landed).  Pop built his own cabinet and speaker boxes for his newly-acquired stereo system.  I can remember trying to listen to opera… I never did get into that stuff!

So, since the late-1950s what formats were/are available to the average music enthusiast: vinyl record singles & LPs (not to be overlooked are the large and heavy old antique 78 rpm records, which are spinning so quickly they finish in the same time as the much smaller vinyl single for sure); various tape formats – reel-to-reel, 8track and the shorter-lived 4track stereo cartridges, cassettes; CDs; and now digital downloads to the device of your choice.  And, let’s not forget listening to AM, FM and now satellite radio. 

What’s in the future?  Something mind-blowing I’m sure! 

 

Signs of Intelligent Life?

Does it bug you when you’re speaking with someone, either in person or on the phone, and they seem to constantly be saying “ya know?”  I find it a sad comment on the lack of conversation skills amongst so many people:  they seem to have their mouth running faster than their brain, so the “ya know” inserted in mid-sentence gives the speaker time to take a breath and let their thinking catch-up!

During the early 1960s, I had a high school English teacher who emphasized vocabulary and word usage.  He did not like us saying “ah” or “um” during a sentence; commonly heard phrasing, at the time, in everyday conversation and political speeches.  Mr. Williams taught me in 10th grade, and again during my senior year; he has had a lasting impact on me.

Around 1973-4, I had my first memorable contact with someone who had a habit of using “ya know.”  She had married one of my brothers, and after he had moved the family to Delaware, I noticed that his wife would often end a sentence with “ya know.”  Eventually (after about 2yrs), it created an urge within me which I did ultimately yield to by saying “no, I don’t know!”  My wife wasn’t very pleased with my comment.

I see it on the news programs, if I watch them: interviews with athletes, celebrities and others, which are loaded with “ya know.”  Many of those being interviewed are looked-up-to by young people.  It’s a good thing for these celebs/stars that unscripted/unedited speaking is not how they earn their living!

Recently, I was listening to some recorded teleseminars by several individuals who are reportedly rather savvy in doing business on the internet.  I found that I was quickly distracted by the frequent, “ya know”, comments used by the interviewee;  so much so, that I may try to edit those words out of the mp3 files!

In the early days of computing, reliance on spell-checking software created some nightmarish results for companies.  I remember an incident which occurred in the Parking Office prior to my arrival in that unit.  A young female secretary had typed a letter responding to an outraged parent regarding some parking situation.  The letter was to be issued under a specific U of D Vice-President’s signature.  When the VP received his copy of the letter, which had already been sent to the parent, our walls shook!  Although, there were no SPELLING errors, the words on the paper were not the proper words (hypothetical examples: four, not for; by, not buy; new, not knew; or, knot instead of not).  Future letters never left our Department without a review by at least one supervisory level staff member.  Fortunately, additional layers of technology to check grammar and word usage are now available for purchase.

Maybe 20-25 years ago, instant messaging (IM) began the rapid, abbreviated, style of conversing which has now been supplanted by the wide-spread use of texting and Twitter;  these technologies are driving the way people, especially those from 13 to 30, engage in chatting with their friends.  While some might consider it conversation, I find it marginal at best.  And, when the message is sent to hundreds or thousands of people at a time it is broadcasting, not conversation — it can even become a form of SPAM that you enrolled in!

I believe that speaking in complete sentences, without “fill-in-the-blank” spaces, is imperative to the existence of a highly-functional society.  So, what will be the impact of our diminished capacity to have conversations, which exchange complex thoughts and ideas, on our society’s future?  Have we begun sliding backward?  Will employers find it impossible to find quality applicants for jobs in areas such as customer relations; applicants who will not need extensive training in the art of speaking intelligently?

What do you think:  are we witnessing the “dumbing-down” of our society?

 

A Question of Civil Rights

Recently, I came across a news-post attributed to Jessica Testa, a reporter for The State Press (a student run publication at Arizona State University).  The article was titled, “Sharpton says Arpaio threatens civil equality“.  And, the lead sentence stated “Rev. Al Sharpton cited Sheriff Joe Arpaio as the biggest threat to civil rights in Arizona during a forum on the Downtown campus Friday.”

I have never been a fan of Al Sharpton!  I view him as a self-aggrandizing publicity seeker ready to use rabble-rousing sensationalism wherever he sees fit.  Since the topic/issue of Illegal Immigrants (or the more “politically correct”, undocumented immigrants) is one of my hot-buttons, I sent an email to the address at the bottom of the article as a response.  Below is a copy of that email:

“Ms. Testa,

I read your article ( http://www.statepress.com/node/8491 ) dealing with some recent comments made by Rev. Al Sharpton.  You quoted Rev. Sharpton as saying “To defy federal law … is a threat to all of us and we must fight it all together.”  I can agree with that statement.  However, it appears to me that Rev. Sharpton wants to obscure immigration law when he calls this a civil rights issue; CIVIL RIGHTS do not grant anyone crossing our borders the right to stay here, more or less permanently, just because they want to.  And, that is not influenced by race/religion/ethnicity.

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1996 added a provision, 287(g), which allows the Department of Homeland Security to enter into contracts with state and local law enforcement agencies. The provision provides training for local officers who will help enforce immigration law under the supervision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  As of August 2008, there were 63 local municipalities that were part of the 287(g) program.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Immigration Statistics, issued a report in August 2006 detailing the estimated population of unauthorized (a kinder term than illegal) immigrants living in the U.S. –  10.5 million in January 2005.  Even if the recent recession has had an impact to slow-down the previously estimated annual increase of 408,000, we are likely to have more than 12 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in January 2010.  It is well passed time to deal with this out-of-control matter.

Personally, Rev. Sharpton needs to take himself to Washington, D.C., if he thinks Sheriff Arpaio’s actions are a federal violation.

Sharpton, get out of the way and stop interfering with people working to protect the lives and property of citizens! (**Large and Bold were features of this sentence as I originally sent it.)

I support all efforts to prevent illegal entry into this country.  I also support efforts to deny access, to the rights and privileges granted to U.S. citizens, by those whom overstay their Visa or enter the United States of America illegally!”

My email was sent on Oct 21st, and included my full-name as well as my mailing address.  To my surprise, there was a message in my in-basket the very next morning.  I’ve copied the text of that email below:

“Mr. Dean,

My name is Indra Ekmanis, I am the Opinion Editor for The State Press. Jessica Testa forwarded me the email you sent her regarding her article on Rev. Al Sharpton. Are you interested in having it run in our letters to the editor section in the paper?

Thank you,

Indra Ekmanis”

I immediately replied to Ms. Ekmanis telling her “Yes, I would be glad to have it appear in your paper.”

So far, it has been a week and nothing further has been heard.  So, I’m unsure whether I’ve become NOTORIOUS in a new State or not!  There are, however rumors that I have achieved that status in at least 10 States! 

I’m curious about your feelings.  Your comments are always welcome.

 

History in fast forward

To those of you asking WHEN I was going to add a new post to my blog — HERE IT IS!   And, thanks for asking.

The old adage “time flies when you’re having fun” doesn’t only apply to fun.  As you have probably already experienced, the clock moves forward regardless of what any of us are doing.  Although I did have some fun since my last posting, there were also periods of stress and disappointment which were not fun (however, it is difficult for me to remember how I spent most of that time).  Nonetheless, three months have passed because I have allowed many distractions to take up my time.  I shall endeavor to post more frequently in the future. 

As I tried to select from the topics I was considering writing about, I was repeatedly drawn to the period in my life when I was completing High School and transitioning into “adulthood” and becoming “a productive member of society”:  five years which had a dramatic impact on me and my future;  five years which also had a significant impact on the United States and virtually all of its citizens.

• 1965 — During the early months of the year, President Lyndon Johnson dramatically escalated the war in Vietnam by bombing North Vietnam and introducing ground troops directly into the fighting of the Viet Cong in South Vietnam; I graduated from High School in June and, soon after, started taking business courses at WWRC (Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center) in Fishersville, VA (almost all of my male classmates had been drafted into military service to begin their boot camp soon after HS graduation, but I was exempt from the military due to my physical limitations);
• 1966 –  I completed classes at WWRC during the summer;  August 3rd, I began my first full-time job ($50 for a 40hr work-week… equal to $1.25 per hour);
• 1967 –  On January 17th, I was married for the first time;  that August, I quit my first full-time job! (Following my marriage I had been given a “raise” to $55 per week — it took me more than 6 months to see that my new wage was the equivalent of $1.375/hr, although federal minimum wage had been raised in January to $1.40/hr…  I have not been as naive since);
• 1968 –  April 4th,  Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee (King’s assassination led to a nationwide wave of riots in more than 100 cities: including Wilmington, Delaware, which is were my wife was working at the time. On April 9th, Delaware Governor Charles L. Terry, Jr., deployed the National Guard to the city at the request of Mayor John Babiarz. One week later, Mayor Babiarz requested the National Guard troops be withdrawn, but Governor Terry refused, and kept them in the city until his term ended in January, 1969.  Reportedly, this gave Wilmington the infamous distinction of being the American city with the longest occupation by state forces in the history of the U.S.);  Aug 3rd, I started working for the University of Delaware (my career spanned a total of 30 years and 1 month);  the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, from August 26 to 29th, and became a scene of huge conflict between police and protesters against the war in Vietnam;
• 1969 –  Feb 10th, my beautiful daughter was born;  from Aug 15 to 18th, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair took place in upstate New York (one of the U of D students I had met while working told me, during the week prior, that he “was going to Woodstock”).

Clearly, the above is a condensed version of events taking place during the years listed.   Anti-war protests had actually begun prior to 1965, lead by the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other groups, with the peak of anti-war demonstrations coming in 1968 (the SDS had an active chapter at the University of Delaware and was involved in organizing some of the sit-ins and take-overs of on-campus buildings during the last few years of the 1960s); while activity slumped, protests did continue until 1973 when the Vietnam War ended. (Specifically worth noting:  the Ohio National Guard shot and killed 4 students in 1970, on the campus of Kent State University, while they were protesting the U.S. military’s invasion of Cambodia.)

Many things have changed during my life, and continue to do so.  As I use this blog to recall things I’ve witnessed, or became aware of, I invite you to add comments from your experiences.  I may also do some speculation about the future, as I see it from here.