Grandpa Mike

Finale!

2009-12-31T13:32:00.008-05:00

Well folks, after about a week (more or less) of looking at this blank screen, I’ve concluded that this adventure of “Blog Posting” is over!

I’ve lost my inspiration.

I even asked you for some, in a previous posting.

So, it’s been coming on now for a couple of weeks, or more.

Who knows what MIGHT bring it (the inspiration, that is) back again, but for now, I’m gabbed out!

(Ok, Mike. Nobody’s gonna believe that!)

I checked, and it looks like I’ve made 139 postings here, mostly blabbing about whatever comes to mind - as an inspiration.

It’s not that I won’t have any more “weird” happenings in my life. They’ll always be there, I think. But, whether to have the inspiration to “set them down” on paper or not, is the question.

After all, I DO now have the inspiration to finish editing 46 more of these postings for another book, to be tentatively entitled “More Musings From Mike”. That’ll take another two months or more.

Thinking about these past postings, though, several thoughts come to mind:

I have a penchant for using unusual words for some things. Most times, it’s just the right word for the occasion - though occasionally I have used them as a show-off, I think. And other times, just for fun.

Actually, these words normally come to mind from some previous use of them - by me, or someone else - but occasionally, I’ve gotten them from some British mystery novel I’m reading. I look it up, and with the definition in mind, I store it into my subconsciousness, waiting for a propitious time to use it. I don’t TRY to find a spot for it, but sometimes it just “comes to mind”.

In the previous paragraph, I used the word “subconsciousness”. After doing so, I thought I’d better check. First of all, is it a word? Secondly, should it be hyphenated?

Dictionary - Yes, it is a word! Secondly, it should NOT be hyphenated.

Speaking of British novels, I think those guys (or gals) PURPOSELY use the biggest, and most unusual words they can find, just to “show up” us Americans. They KNOW we’re “definitionally” inept. (Well, that’s NOT a word, at least in my dictionary, but it describes what I’m trying to say. It does list the word “definitional” as an adjective.)

More commonly said, “They know we’re not good at definitions of big words”

As I said, most of these words just normally came to mind, from some time that I used - or heard it used - in the past. The word just seems to fit the occasion.

OK - - - - sometimes I just show-off.

One of the words I used that caused some reaction was the word “posit”. Like “he may not always agree with what I posit here”.

This word just came to me naturally as I was writing that piece. I don’t know where I ever heard it before, but I was confident of its meaning, and used it without question. It means to “put something forward”, or “suggest something”. (I DID look it up, as always, before I “put to bed” that posting.) It never occurred to me that it would be questioned.

The question was, “Was that a ‘typo’, that should have been ‘post’, instead?” No……..I meant to use that word, without question. However, I can easily see how someone could think it was a typo. After all, what I do with these writings is to “post” them.

The one “posting” I did that included 20 or more of those British words - along with their definition - was obviously “overkill”. (I just looked up that word, and had to remove the hyphen I had used.) I’m sure hardly anyone really read all of those words, but it just emphasized what I’ve been saying about the British writers - they think we’re ignorant!

Occasionally, I use one of the unusual words incorrectly. There’s no question in my mind about what the word means but I may mistakenly think it’s a “noun”, when it’s an “adjective”.

For example I ALMOST used the word “intrepid” incorrectly. I was talking about being “up-to-date”, and I ALMOST said, “Since I am intrepid, I have a cell phone.”

Intrepid means, “fearless and/or brave” (mostly fearless), and just to be sure of the meaning, I looked it up before posting, and found out that “intrepid” is an adjective, not a noun. So……….I finally said, “Since I’m an intrepid kind of guy……”. That was correct - at least the grammar part.

Some of the inspiration for these postings come from just the strange way things happen, or many times, how the circumstances just “scream out” for a “God moment” acknowledgement.

Like, how I “happened upon” the fact that the Speedway store had installed an ATM from my bank - Chase. I hadn’t visited that Speedway - or any other one here - since I had moved back. In fact, I had been trying for months to find a Chase Bank to get cash from my checking account, without having to pay two fees. And, this was just two days before I was leaving for a Florida vacation with our granddaughter Kelly, and her family. I needed more cash than you can normally get from an ATM.

God moment!

The strange way people seem to recognize my voice is one of the things that is “weird”. I mentioned a couple of them.

Falling and breaking my nose was an incident that I was inspired to write about. Doing so was a reminder to me to be more careful, at my age, as I walk or move around.

Last Sunday at church, the son-in-law of a lady my age, told me how she had fallen backwards, and hit her head. I went up to her, not knowing she was aware of my fall, and I said, “You know, you’d better be careful where you step so you won’t fall”. She said, “Speak for yourself, Bub” That’s almost what she said.

Time with my grandchildren is always precious to me, and deeply impressed upon my mind. So……I write about these experiences.

Funny things like losing my socks in the washer/dryer, strike me as something someone else might identify with.

One of the most remarkable happenings was how I “ran across” a lady who knew nearly everyone I knew, growing up, but we didn’t even know the other one existed. We’ve been living in the same complex now for months.

The postings that mean the most to me, it seems now, are: The three about New Guinea and Manila; the three about my Radio Ministry; and the four about my school experiences. They were the longest, at least.

Just reading about Jean’s sister’s 9 children, and how they treat their mother was a delight to me.

Jean and I took several vacations in the 65 years we were married, and though several are commented on here, not all of them were. But, these seemed to me to be of interest - at least to family members.

Actually, truth be known, these postings are mostly for present and future “Maddexes” and relatives, as Kelly envisioned when she suggested the book. Others have enjoyed some of them also.

Down this far, I just now wondered if I had used the right word for the title of this posting - “Finale!” If it was incorrect, I was going to change it. So, as usual, I looked it up. As I was reading the definition, I began to get worried, because..... well, just read it:

fi·nal·e

fi·nal·e [fi nállee, fi nlee]
(plural fi·nal·es)
n
1. final theatrical scene: a scene or musical number that brings a stage performance or an act of a performance to an end
2. final section of music: a final movement or section of a musical composition
3. final event in series: an event that is the last or climactic event in a series

[Mid-18th century. Via Italian < Latin finalis (see final)]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I guess the third definition fits this “Finale!”.

Another “snag” I occasionally come upon, is the use of quotation marks at the end of a sentence. Do they go before, or after the period?

It seems to me, that, if the quotation is within another sentence, the period would be at the end. If, however, the period ends a part of the quotation, shouldn’t it be BEFORE the quotation marks? I don’t have it down yet, and I’m sure I haven’t been consistent. I just did what seemed right at the time.

Though grammar is a hobby of mine, I am certainly NOT an expert!

A final quandary (dilemma) for me is in deciding what subject is worthy of posting - on this blog.

I guess, since it IS MY blog, I should have the final say in what is included. But……..sometimes there are personal issues of someone else who is mentioned. And, it is equally unsettling as to whether the name should be mentioned at all.

I’ve been told that the mention of someone no longer living is not even a possible question. But, how about a living person? I’m not talking about libel issues now, but whether or not any name should be mentioned - without their specific permission. Names I HAVE mentioned have been in a positive manner, and not pejoratively at all.

The same with organizations.

There were 3 different postings I made about an organization that I was a member and officer of several years ago, and some of the comments were not positive, in describing what went on. After some months, I deleted these three postings totally, in the interest of fairness.

FINALLY, other than the 45 years I spent in the Christian Radio Ministry; 65 years of marriage to Jean; and the 62 years I’ve been a parent, grandparent and great-grandparent, I’ve had no greater satisfaction than these 140 postings I’ve now made here, and, hopefully, the two books that have followed.

My profound thanks to all who have taken the time to read this stuff!

Mike Maddex
December 31, 2009

Book Signing

2009-12-30T19:26:00.004-05:00

Well, a first for me…………I sold a total of 15 books here - at my actual cost - gave one to Jessica because of her sketch on the front cover; one to Timi for her Author’s photo on the back cover; (neither of them may receive any money from residents for any purpose); one to Tracy for consideration as a “premium” at SHARATHON; one to Kelly, for the original idea of the book; and one to Tom Stafford of the Springfield News-Sun for consideration of a feature article.

That rounds out the original 20 I ordered. I bought 10 more, which are on the way.

There have been 16 sold on the Internet, so far.

To buy one yourself: 1) Go to the Internet; 2) type in www.lulu.com; 3) click on BUY; 4) then fill-in the blank with either “Mike Maddex” or, “Musings of a Story Teller Wannabe.” Then, have your credit card and mailing address ready.

The cost here is $13.94 per book (set by the publisher), plus mailing, making the final cost just over $17.00.

I’ve asked the publisher to refund $3.00 to those who have purchased from them, and take it from my “royalty”. Then, to sell any new ones for $10.94, giving me the “one dollar per book royalty” I requested, rather than the three dollars they set.

I don’t know how that process will go.

Now, to the Signing.

Some were bought earlier in the day since some of the buyers couldn’t come at 1:00 PM for the signing. But, 15 books vanished from my stock - though I expect to have 10 more by Monday or Tuesday.

At the end, I had one book left, so I took it to my room. On the way, the son of one of the residents said he just got here, and wanted a book. He got the last one.

I’m not totally lonely, though, because the ORIGINAL book that I essentially paid $369 for, is staying with me - as a souvenir.

Now, several days later, the next 10 arrived just before Christmas, and I have 7 of them left.

By the way, though I MAY run out of books here that I have bought, the publisher will NEVER “run out”, since they just print up whatever is ordered, and ship them out. They are VERY fast, and generally ship in 3 to 5 business days after the order.

Some of the comments have been gratifying, such as one of the Supervisors here who said her kids like it as much as she does. (She insisted I sign her book, including writing her name with it.)

A couple who are friends with Jim and Joyce are waiting until the Christmas and other holiday rush is over, then to read it. She was so excited, that I told her she should wait until after reading it, to see how she felt about it then.

( I hope it holds up!)

Two or three staff members here say they want to buy it, but need to find the cash after recovering from the Christmas “spending spree”. I WANT to just give one to them, but my “dollars sense” tells me I’m losing enough with the original order.

But, I just want people to read it.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this yet, but I have already done a “first edit” on another 46 potential chapters for a “sequel”. Something like, “More Musings From Mike”; or, “Ramblings of a Rag Tag Octogenarian”; or, “He Can’t Keep His Mouth Shut”; or, some intelligent title like these.

Jessica, the artist who did the front cover, just now stopped by to pick up 3 more for her family. (They MAY like the cover better than the text of the book, I don't know.)

Sitting back now, just thinking about this whole thing, I think one has to be just a little bit “arrogant” to expect people just to rush out and spend money to read thoughts just “spewing” out of one’s mouth (fingers, actually).

And, the more people talk about it, expressing delight in the thoughts, humor, crazy ideas, etc, you express, the more you think what you’ve written amounts to something.

It’s hard not to get proud!

I think I have a tendency toward “braggadocio” anyway. And, having people positively comment on something you have written; or spend money to read more of, “feeds” that apparent need for “self-aggrandizement”.

Sometimes, it’s not a pretty sight.

But, ever since our Granddaughter Kelly began talking to me about “archiving” some of the things I’ve written - basically to give future generations of family members an insight on what one of their progenitors was like, and what he felt like - I’ve been aiming in that direction. And, to be honest, I’d like for others to know a bit more about me, as well.

Whoa!

There I go admitting to some rather distasteful thinking again.

Maybe I should stop here, and give myself a little shower of humility.

Kiser Lake

2009-12-26T10:27:00.001-05:00

Note: This was written the middle of October.

On the Activity Calendar for yesterday, was this notation:

“2:00 Fall Bus Ride to Look At Leaves.”

Been on the calendar for nearly a month - looking forward to the usual “fall outing” for residents of places like The Grand Court.

How does one calculate WHEN the “leaves” are at their “richest” in color - ahead of time?

Some past history in this particular place does help, it seems.

Depends on how far “north” or “south” one is, actually. As well as the amount of moisture in the tree trunks.

This is not some major weather calculation by me, but merely a “guess” as to when the leaves have “turned” just right.

It could be different from last year - again, depending on the moisture.

I’m not by any means an expert on this subject, but some years ago somebody set me straight on what causes the leaves to turn. I was told that, contrary to what I’ve always thought, cold weather is NOT the determining factor of the “changing color” of the leaves. It is, rather, the amount of moisture in the tree trunk/limbs there.

As the days get shorter, and the amount of growing weather abates, moisture and other nutrients to the trees declines, apparently. (Did you notice my “disclaimer” there? “Apparently”. Try to pin me down, will ya?)

Back to Kiser Lake.

When we started out, Karl, our sometimes bus driver didn’t tell us where we were going, but did ask for suggestions. Most said, “North”, thinking of “pretty trees”, no doubt.

No reply from Karl. He just kept driving until he arrived at Westville, west of Urbana on US 36. He turned left then, and I thought maybe he would be going as far as Saint Paris.

Arriving there, he kept going west, until SR 235. THEN I knew he was headed for Kiser Lake.

I don’t know what activities are still going on there. It’s been MANY years since I’ve been there, but it DID seem “empty”. Two months earlier would have provided some guests, I’ll bet.

We drove into the park, and Karl followed the winding road through there, with trees in various stages of “turning”.

We didn’t see many REAL pretty trees. Probably too early this year, apparently.

We went back in there farther than I have ever gone before, and I was surprised to see several private residences there.

Karl went as far as he could, then had to turn around and return to SR 235. Once, I thought we were going to be lost, but Karl “drove us out”.

Going south, then, past US 36, he took us to SR 41, then headed back toward Springfield.

One of our fellow residents had given me a twenty dollar bill to buy “one dollar sundaes” for all at McDonald’s. I passed it along to Karl, so he drove to the McDonald’s on Upper Valley Pike.

Timi had told him that the one nearest home was the best, but Karl was concerned about being gone too long, making the “early supper” riders too late to eat.

Karl and I went in to order 12 Sundaes, 4 each for chocolate, strawberry and caramel. The riders had given us their order before going in.

The clerk said there was no strawberry (a third of our crowd); the chocolate was fudge (another third); and no caramel (the final third.)

Karl and I felt rather compromised, so that, and the fact that we were so late, prompted us to go back to the bus, report on what we found, and asked if they’d just as leave we went on back home - “sundae-less”.

“Go home”, was the response.

Ice cream sundaes another time.

We did just barely make it back for the early eaters, so “all’s well that ends well”, as we used to say in Mechanicsburg.

Don’t give up on us, McDonald’s. We’ll be back!

You can count on it. (We still have Emil’s $20 to spend.)

Sunday Services

2009-12-23T19:44:00.002-05:00

One of the duties of the Resident Council at The Grand Court is to take suggestions or complaints from residents, and investigate what should be done about them, from our point of view. If the comment seems to us to be pertinent, and worth considering, we discuss it, and take whatever action we think we should - mostly discussing it with Management.

A complaint or suggestion might be from, and/or about, just one resident, or about the group as a whole.

The Grand Court is committed to caring for each individual here in whatever way is practicable and possible.

For many of us, we are “shut-in” here, without any way to leave. If there are things we would like to do, or have done for us, we need to find some way to accomplish them.

At the first meeting of the newly organized (after the election) Council, someone mentioned that there are some residents who would like to go out to church, but have no transportation. Could we have a service here?

In past years - in fact when Jean and I were here the first time - our Grand Court Bus took residents to a different church each Sunday.

By the time I got back here last Spring, the bus no longer ran on Sunday. The trips had to stop, due to a lack of interest. They were down to just one resident each week, and it was hardly good stewardship to pay a Staff Member for at least a half-day, just to take one person to a Church Service.

Thus - “Could we have a service here?”

The Management here is very open to that, we are told. In fact, our Activities Director has already planned a letter to local churches, asking if any one (or more) of them could come in on, say, Sunday afternoons to provide a service.

One of our Council Members has a cousin who is a retired minister (whom I have known for maybe 40 years also), and the Member thought he could ask him to consider coming in.

He was able to finally contact him - at about the same time that I sent him an e-mail - to ask him to consider providing a service.

It turns out that, though officially “retired”, he still speaks every Sunday, at various venues, and could not commit to this.

Apparently, contacts have been made with others in the past, to no avail.

The new Council is going to try to get this going.

I sent a letter to my pastor about this, a copy of which follows - with some omissions to not identify the church:

One recent request by some Residents is for a weekly Church Service here.

The facility used to provide a bus ride to some local church when we were first here over 2 years ago, but declining riders (maybe only one a week), made its continuance unfeasible.

Enter this group of Council Members.

Though the Facility cannot pay for a service here, they seem to not object to it, if it's essentially run by the Resident Council.

At our last meeting, we felt that Sunday afternoon would be the best time - both as convenient to the residents, and to any church group that would come in.

Now, my reason for writing to you (as if you didn't already realize):

1. Is there presently any group at our church that would or could provide an hour long service - including music - or shorter, if message only, as an extension of the church?

2. Or, is there an individual who would be interested in doing this, as an extension of the church?

3. Or, is there a Sunday School class, or youth group, that would be interested in the same thing?

4. Or, anything else you can think of - as an extension of the Church?

5. Or, does this fit in with one of the Assistant Pastors' opportunities at our Church?

6. Or, would one of the above 1 to 5 options fit on an irregular basis - say with another or two churches?

I can't promise what the attendance would be, but a quality teaching and worship service could be possibly well attended.

My pastor, by the way, responded right away and said they are already doing two of these each week, and are unable to add another at this time.

For a couple weeks, no one else responded, then, last Monday, Rev. Marv Wiseman, Pastor of the Grace Bible Church, agreed to see what he could to.

Praise the Lord!

Let’s see what transpires.

A week later:

Rev. Wiseman has now graciously agreed to a three month trial of this, for January thru March. Praise the Lord!

His question to Timi about song books (since we presently have only 6 or 7) was answered by a mimeograph machine (or, probably a computer) at the church, with the songs available each week.

I’m not a shut-in, PTL, and I have a car that takes me to my church every Sunday, but I plan to participate in this service to The Grand Court, provided by Grace Bible Church, every Sunday I can.

I have previously mentioned the Bible Study offered here each Tuesday night by a layman, with as much actual Bible knowledge as anyone I know.

He’ll say, “Over in (Book) in about, verse (number), you’ll find – ”, and he goes right to the verse, knowing where it is on the page, the reads it. Of course, it is the right one that he was looking for.

Sometimes he wanders a little off the specific passage we are currently studying – maybe relating a personal experience – but “he ties it all in”!

We sing Gospel Songs also at the beginning, with him accompanying on the guitar. The whole time is very enjoyable, and mostly enlightening.

Our task now, is to do the right thing in encouraging our shut-in residents to attend the Sunday meetings.

Knowing of Rev. Wiseman’s teaching, I can assure anyone that these services will be spiritually enlightening as well.

Thank the Lord for the victory in this project!

Inspiration Anyone?

2009-12-20T15:39:00.005-05:00

I don't mean, "Do you want some inspiration?"

I mean, "Have you got any you can spare?"

You may have noticed that it has been nearly a week since I've posted on this blog.

I've never been "dry" that long before, I don't think.

Ohhhhhh.....maybe one time 10 or 11 months ago, when I couldn't post anything, so I got up at 2 AM, lamenting that I didn't have anything to say. I went on and on lamenting, until I ended up with a "medium sized" posting, called, "Musings of s Story Teller Wannabe."

If you're a "regular" reader and/or devotee of these postings, you know that I don't just pick a story subject or title "out of the air". It has to "Hit me" - so I just have to sit down and type on this infernal computer.

Like this:

What "hit me" today, was the fact that I haven't posted for so long, most folk will have given up on me.

Don't do that!

I've already got a couple "ideas" floating around in my head, and if we're not careful, they'll show up here.

Pray me some inspiration would you, please?

Journey To Bethlehem

2009-12-16T15:36:00.001-05:00

I’m writing this the morning after this experience provided by the Hillside Church of God in Springfield, presented at the Church of God Campgrounds, just west of the Springfield City Limits.

Let me back up, a little.

Last Thursday night I got sick with the flu, and stayed in bed until Saturday morning at breakfast. Not too peppy even then, but I went down to eat anyway. Seemed OK, but shortly after breakfast, I realized that the remnants of the flu remained - tiredness, weakness, a little queasy etc. - so I lay back down again to rest. I didn’t make my bed, I just rested on top.

At lunch time on Saturday, it seemed like I would be feeling OK, but half-way through, I just thought I would feel better lying in my bed. Didn’t eat much.

I hacked at this computer a little, but then it seemed like I would feel better lying on top of my bed - so I did.

At about 1:55 PM, there was a loud knock on my door, and when I said, “Come in”, Timi opened the door slightly and said, “Are you comin’ down? We’re about ready to start!” I said, “I can’t decide”.

She was talking about a pre-school singing group from First Christian Church that was here to “entertain” us.

I thought, “I can’t miss those kids”, so I climbed out of bed and went out the door. I could hear her next door, routing out my next door neighbor to go also.

Walking down the hall toward the Dining Room, I could hear Timi and her other “culprit” walking behind me.

When I got there, I saw that the chairs were all lined up in 3 rows, with another to be added.

I sat in the present back row, among my fellow Grand Court Residents. When I arrived, David came over and asked if he could sit beside me. He does this a lot, and, of course, I don’t object.

The pre-schoolers sang their songs for us, then asked us to join them in singing well-known Christmas Carols.

After each of their selections, they received a nice round of applause from us residents.

When they sang the carols - asking us to join them - I started singing some, though my voice had not returned to its normal timbre. I couldn’t reach the high notes very well.

This was confirmed shortly, when David moved one seat away from me. I, and another senior citizen near by started to laugh - both of us knowing that David wasn’t enjoying my singing. Shortly, I stopped singing, and David returned next to me. Need I have more confirmation of his feeling about my singing that day?

When the singers were finished, Timi provided sugar cookies for them, and they passed out to us, candy canes with a description of the cane, and the letter “J”.

I went back to my room, and “sacked out” for a little.

For some reason, I returned to the Dining Room, and found Jessica Nissley leading the residents in group singing - and an occasional special number by her.

I was encouraged to “sit-in”, and the granddaughter of Marjorie tried to get me to go up front and sing. When David had moved away from me earlier, she encouraged me to sing more.

More singing by the group and by Jessica, then I was asked to go up front to sing. I said that no one means as much to as Jesus, and then sang “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus“ (as many of the words as I could remember)

With further encouragement, I then sang the solo I first sang 70 years ago in Church, “O Rest In The Lord”. Surprisingly, after all these years, I still remembered nearly every word.

By then, I thought I had shown off enough, so I returned to my room.

The next day was Sunday, and I got up and went to church.

That night, the Hillside Avenue Church of God put on a spectacular presentation of a “Journey to Bethlehem”, at the Church of God Campgrounds just west of the Springfield City Limits.

Jodi had called me the previous evening, asking if I would like to join her and Rylan for this presentation. Assuming I would feel OK, I agreed.

I’m surely glad I did!

This dramatic play - spread out over an acre of ground, with hundreds of realistic scenes from Bible times, and maybe that many individuals particitating.

In the dining hall of one of the buildings, they separated us into about 6 groups - with about a dozen in each group - and were led out of that building to go on a “realistic” journey to Bethlehem, on the night of Jesus’ birth.

We were led by a supposed Jew from Hebron, coming to Bethlehem to pay taxes, as all citizens were required to do at that time. On the way, we met shepherds, Roman soldiers, and other pilgrims traveling that way.

Our leader explained each step of the journey, and at each stop, someone there explained what was going on.

Presently, loud music and singing voices echoed over the trees, and from an upper elevation, angels dressed in white and shrouded with light, announced the birth of the Christ Child, and sang “Glory To God in the Highest” for a Saviour has been born.

From there our travels carried us to an Inn without a vacancy; past several shop keepers - some of whom were happy about this announcement, while others were not. Roman Soldiers warned us not to believe all the rumors about this Birth.

We were “dragged” before a Tax Collector, and questioned seriously, with our guide being the one who paid and carried us through.

When we left there, more soldiers, and some peasants greeted us - with one opinion or another.

Soon, we were led further on, where we found a stable with a manger, and Joseph, Mary and Jesus were on display, while the Three Wisemen stood by, announcing their fealty to the Christ Child. They then told us they would NOT report to King Herod what they had seen and heard.

Leaving there, we traveled some distance toward a wooden cross that had obviously been recently occupied, and were met by the Pastor of the Church who explained what we had just experienced, and the message of the birth, death, and eventual resurrection of Jesus, and what that could mean to us if we receive Him as our Saviour.

Following this, we were directed a short distance to another building, where we received hot chocolate and cookies, since it was rather chilly. Then, a bus returned us to the other side of the campground to our cars.

A wonderful experience!

The Book Arrived!!

2009-12-11T18:11:00.007-05:00

12/11/09

The first book arrived today, and Timi took some pictures of the event.

First, here's Carol Miller handing me the parcel, that was obviously the book.

Trying to get the "cussed parcel" open! Don't they know I'm excited?

Me, actually looking at the book for the first time:

Really, I'm acting like a kid with a new toy - or, more aptly, like a father viewing his newborn child - before anyone else did - except, of course, the publisher, or the mother, as the case may be.

I mentioned earlier that though the ISBN number won't work for a few weeks, the book may be bought - and 15 have already been bought - besides the 20 I bought for my friends at The Grand Court.

To buy a book from the Internet, type in "lulu.com", then click on "Buy". In the blank slot,type Mike Maddex, or Musings of a Story Teller Wannabe, then "follow your nose", with your credit or debit card ready.

Sometime next week after the 20 arrive, we are having a "book signing", or "autograph party", whichever you choose, where I will sell maybe 18 to Grand Court people at my Author's cost. I need to reserve 2 for Jessica Pikey, the Illustrator, and Timi Neff, the Photographer for the Author's Photo. Free to them, of course.

Thank the Lord for this experience. I pray that some of thse "musings" - even the funny and ridiculous ones - might bring a smile, or a serious thought to each one who reads.

To God Be The Glory, and in remembrance of my 65 delightful years of marriage to Jean.

Book Published

2009-12-09T14:51:00.004-05:00

Finally!!!!!

The book is finished!

Not only that, but it is PUBLISHED!

Twenty-one copies are on the way to me, in about a week. The “one” is the “free” one I got when I paid $369 to get it published. The “twenty” are the ones I bought to sell here.

They will be available for sale on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, et al, in 6 to 8 weeks, by using the ISBN Number: 978-0-557-19742-2. Other Bookstores may buy them also, by using this number. The book is listed for General Distribution. The title is: “Musings Of A Story Teller Wannabe”. The author is Mike Maddex.

See below how to order RIGHT NOW (some friends have already done so) directly from Lulu.com, my Publisher.

For those new to this blog, I need to explain that the 44 chapters in this book have been compiled, edited and condensed from previous postings here. If you’ve read all the postings from the beginning, I guess you wouldn’t need the book.

Although, our granddaughter Kelly, who suggested the book in the beginning, was going to compile the postings as an archive for the family. Now, part of that has been done by publishing this book.

Also for those new to the blog, I should mention that I posted my first entry here just over a year ago, maybe a month after my wife Jean of 65 years passed over into the presence of Jesus.

Our son John and his wife Tonya, with whom we had been living for a year and a half, suggested that writing on a blog might help me occupy my time and thinking, now that Jean had passed on.

It was all foreign to me, but John gave me the address to use:

mikemaddex.blogspot.com,

and set me out on my own. Now, a year later, I’ve posted over 130 of these “Musings” on this blog, and I don’t seem to have run down yet. Such is the life of a “blabbermouth”.

In one sense of the word, the book is “autobiographical” - that is it’s about myself - what I’ve felt; what I’ve experienced; and how I’ve reacted to outside forces.

There are 3 chapters about my Christian Radio experiences; 4 about my 12 years of Elementary and High School attendance; two chapters on Cell Phones; some family happenings; etc.

I just got the word that though I will receive my free copy in a couple of days; the 20 I ordered, by next week; but it will be 6 to 8 weeks before it will be available by ISBN at book stores.

HOWEVER, contacting my source at Lulu Publishing indicated that the book may be purchased RIGHT NOW on www.Lulu.com, by listing either the title - “Musings Of A Story Teller Wannabe”, or by my name “Mike Maddex”. They say 27 books have been sold already. (20 of them to me).

I’ve talked to some who have bought it off lulu.com, and they say it is “very very easy” to do.

I think I’ll post this right away, so my friends may know how to get it before even the ISBN works.

Rylan's Thanksgiving

2009-12-08T11:30:00.006-05:00

Jodi’s son Rylan attends the local YMCA “pre-school” program, while Jodi is working at Comfort Keepers.

She leaves him there each week day morning at about 7:15, and then goes to whatever client she is helping that day. Her help is NOT medical, but just about every other help that an elderly person might need. She regularly has 3 to 4 clients a week that she helps.

On the Friday before Thanksgiving, Rylan’s “school” had a Thanksgiving observation and meal. Each parent brought or sent a “covered dish”, for all to enjoy. They were invited to join with their child in the meal and celebration.

When Jodi found out about the occasion, she checked her schedule and found that she had to be with a client that day, past the time of the meal. Since she didn’t want Rylan to be there without another family member present, she asked me if I would like to be there, for Rylan.

Of course, I said “Yes”!

Fortunately, she prepared the dish - “cheesy potatoes” - that we enjoyed, along with the other “tasty” dishes others brought.

I arrived at the proper time, and Rylan was with the other children in the gym, with unorganized playing. He came right up to me and gave me a hug.

His friends followed, and more and more came, as they looked at my face, which had been damaged in my fall.

My nose was broken, and my forehead and the bridge of my nose were swollen. Both of my eyes were “black”, and the kids were “enthralled” with this “freak”.

(Any wonder?)

Nobody said anything, including Rylan, but there were plenty of them paying attention to me - especially the black eyes.

Finally, it was time to go to the next room where the meal was to be served. There were 6 or 7 tables laid out, and the food deposited on a shelf at the side of the room.

When came time to eat, one of the leaders had a child lead us all in a prayer of thanksgiving for the food (God is great, God is good, etc.)

The line formed on the left, and Rylan and I followed other children and their parents through the line.

As is the case with all “carry-in” meals, the food was outstanding.

We sat at a table with two other children and their mothers.

The leaders began distributing some of the crafts the children had made. Here’s Rylan and the “turkey” he made.

The other mothers (and I) began taking “group” pictures. Here are a couple with Rylan and Friends.

When we were just about finished eating, Jodi arrived from her client’s house, and got some food herself.

Then we bid goodbye to Rylan’s “school”.

Rylan and I followed Jodi to their house (Rylan wanted to ride with me), and with Jodi joining us, we headed for the Library. Jodi had some DVD’s to return, and some others to pick up. They don’t have a TV that receives programs, so they watch DVD’s and Movies all the time.

Jodi needed to do some laundry, and I needed to get back home to complete planning for Monday’s Town Hall meeting, so I delivered them to their car, and returned to The Grand Court.

It’s nice to have family around. When we stayed at John and Tonya’s for about a year-and-a-half, we had around us: 2 children; 4 grandchildren; and 6 Great-grandchildren - all in the same small town.

And, on the regular Thanksgiving Day, Jodi, Rylan and I will be joining Jim and Joyce’s extended family for a get-together in Centerville.

Thank God for family!

Staff Christmas Gifts

2009-12-03T07:54:00.002-05:00

A week or so ago, one of our advanced aged ladies (a widow), asked me who was going to handle the money for the Staff Christmas gifts from the Residents, now that Paul said he couldn’t do it any more.

This was all new to me, since I wasn’t here last Christmas, and, even when Jean and I WERE here for the two Christmases before that, this activity didn’t register with me.

I told her I didn’t know anything about it, bus she wouldn’t “let me off the hook”, as we used to say in Mechanicsburg.

“Go ask Timi about it”, she said. “Paul said she helped him.”

I tried to figure out how I got into this, but I suppose my being President of the Resident Council caused this lady to “put me in charge”, whether the Council wanted it or not.

I at least asked Paul about it, and he said he couldn’t do it any longer, and that I should see Timi for help. I told him I’d like to talk to him.

I rather “dropped the ball”, and yesterday, the first of December, Pauline (the lady who asked me about it before), collared me again and said, “Who’s going to handle the money?”

Christmas was almost here, and we should be “gathering” the money right away, so I didn’t have time to meet with the Council.

“Forget the Council!”, I said. “I’ll do it personally.”

So, I took Pauline’s and Paul’s advice and asked Timi for the help she had given to Paul.

“That’s not a staff function. You’ll have to do it. I’ll provide a can for you to place in the Dining Room, but you’ll have to keep tab on it. Leave it there all day, but take it to your room at night.”

Right!

“And, write a letter to all the residents about it, and I’ll make enough copies for you to distribute .”(65 or 70, I think).

I went back to my apartment and wrote out a letter, in bold “Calligraphy” type (for Christmas, don’t you know), signed it, and showed it to Timi.

“Good”, she said, “But change the type. They won’t be able to read it.”

“How about ‘Times New Roman’ or ‘Arial’”.

“Try Arial”, she said.

“Bold?”, I replied.

“No, just plain.”

I went back “to the drawing board”, as we sometimes say, changed the type to Arial plain, returned it to Timi, and went to Physical Therapy.

When I came out of the PT room maybe an hour later, I met Timi coming down the hall and she handed me 60 or 70 of those letters.

“What do I do with these?”, I said. (Thinking they would just go in her usual “distribution center”.)

“Just take them around to all the rooms, putting them in their ‘in-basket’. Or, one of the ladies who distributes the other flyers for me would do it, if you don’t want to.”

“Oh no! They have enough to do. I’ll distribute them.”

Isn’t it interesting how these things develop? That’s what I get for “being retired”, as I often say. “It gives me something to do”. (Where have I heard that before?)

Since my back was a little tired from the PT, I sat down in the hall and rested a little.

Shortly, I began distributing them to all 6 of the halls, stopping to rest my back at the end of each.

After finishing the distribution, I kinda felt good, like I had done something worthwhile.

The Staff will get some Christmas money because of this.

Town Hall II

2009-11-30T07:14:00.001-05:00

The second Town Hall I am in charge of is similar to the first one.

We’ll have a Mystery Resident and interview; report from the Executive Director; reports from each of the six department heads; a “Whole House” survey of the residents’ desires for the TV news program offered during breakfast; special prize for the winner of the “drawing”; and whatever else the residents want to discuss.

Since this is the last Town Hall meeting before Christmas, we will have an assortment of Christmas Carols playing during the hour prior to the meeting.

One of the features of the Town Hall is a drawing from those attending, with the winner being taken out to eat by our Executive Director. In my memo to several, I asked “Any volunteers?” The ED, at the time of that memo, had not committed yet. She did later.

In the meantime, this morning a few hours before the meeting, Judy Falloon, the Marketing Director of The Grand Court, prepared a gift package and sack and presented it.

Before that, the ED had said she would again provide an “eating outing” to the drawing winner. I couldn’t turn that down either.

So, I told Judy about the ED commitment, and asked her for a suggestion for a question to ask the Residents - the one first correctly answering would get Judy’s gift.

She said, “How about asking ‘What company owns the Grand Court?’”

The answer, of course, is “Brookdale Senior Living”. We’ll see how many can come up with that answer.

(The preceding was written prior to the actual meeting.)

After the meeting:

Praise the Lord!

What happened today at Town Hall was the best thing, in my opinion, that has happened here since I arrived the end of February.

Each of the residents here has a “pendant” around our necks that provides a means of getting emergency help if we fall, or have a major disability when we are alone.

If we are anywhere within this facility, pressing the “button”, sends our name to one of the nurses or aides, so they can come to our relief. They do so right away.

A BIG problem revealed in this emphasis on the “button”, is that MOST of the residents take off the pendant - either before retiring, or while in the shower - or both.

SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!

Pendants are water proof, and should be worn AT ALL TIMES.

At our Town Hall a month ago, I made a strong case for keeping them on by reporting that I have NEVER removed my pendant at any time in the nine months I have lived here.

After our asking the facility to re-emphasize the monthly test of the pendants, they tested every one right here during the Town Hall - today.

Mine was the first.

What we found out was that maybe 40% of them WERE NOT WEARING THEM today. It took a very short time to test those that were present.

“I went to the grocery, but took it off before I left, and forgot to put it back on when I returned.”

I said, “You should NEVER take it off. The very reason being what you’ve just illustrated, YOU FORGET TO PUT IT BACK ON”!

One of them reached for his pendant around his neck, but couldn’t find it.

“I know it works, though”, he said

“I always take mine off before entering the shower. I don’t want to damage it”, another said.

“It’s waterproof!”, I said.

“One time, mine reported a problem when there was none. I must have inadvertently pushed it.”

It seems to me that an occasional “false alarm”, when one is inadvertently pushed is a small inconvenience for the advantage of having the protection. And, after all, the “inconvenience” is to the Aide, not to us.

There were a couple of people who didn’t even have one. Apparently, if you are on “Independent Living”, as I am, you’re not required to have one.

They only cost $10 per month!

“Ok”, I said. “I’m 85 years old. Supposing I’m in my apartment, away from either the living room alarm, or the bath room one. I have a stroke, fall to the floor and am unable to even crawl to the alarm on the wall. My pendant is lying on the bed, across the room. I can’t reach it.

“What will happen to me IF I don’t have my pendant to push?”

“You’ll die!”, several said.

“Exactly!!”, I reply.

“I am unwilling to take that chance!”

An additional two or three times during the meeting I asked,

“What should I do with my pendant tonight before retiring, or before getting in the shower in the morning?”

Those who DID answer, said,

“Leave it on!”

It was also announced that the “in-room” emergency buttons will continue to be checked monthly, as well.

Successful emphasis, in my opinion.

We had another Mystery Resident today. It was an advanced aged mother of 9, whose husband had died between the time Jean and I were here in 2007 and now.

I said,

“Give me all nine names real quick”.

She started out fast, but slowed down at about number 7, but finally finished it.

I presented her a K-Mart gift subscription worth $10, provided by one of the Resident Council members, as we did last month.

The Executive Director gave a report, and introduced a new staff member, who is the new Health and Wellness Director. She announced that there will now be a nurse on the job until 11 PM. Previously, it had been Aides after 8 PM, until 6AM the next day.

I announced “no response” to our letter to 21 churches, asking them to consider providing a Sunday afternoon Worship Service here for the residents who cannot get out. Only my pastor responded, indicating that they are already doing this in two places, and could not come here at this time.

(Later note: One pastor called after this meeting, indicating that he would try this out, to see what interest there is.)

Praise the Lord!

Our survey about the TV news program in the Dining Room during breakfast, was a “bust”, in my opinion.

The survey was as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Residents,

There have been some complaints about airing the Fox News TV program during breakfast. Others WANT Fox. Since we desire to listen to the wishes of the Residents, we have prepared this Survey.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only one response per resident is permitted:

CIRCLE one:

1. Do you come to breakfast fairly regularly? Yes No

2. Are you interested in the TV News during breakfast? Yes No

3. If you ARE interested, which channel would you prefer?

CNN? Early Show (CBS)? Fox and Friends?

Good Morning America (ABC)? Today Show(NBC)?

Other_________________________ Turn it off?

Thank you,

Resident Council

Pleased return completed form to a Resident Council Member.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I say it was a “bust”, because we got 14 responses, with 7 saying they don’t care; 4 wanted CNN; and 3 Fox News.

Hardly a landslide.

There are still others to vote, who were not at the meeting, but it’s doubtful to me if we get a definitive answer. Management will have to decide somehow.

(Later - We ended up with 7 for CNN, and 7 for FOX. Alternate months? Management will decide. All the others didn't care.)

We had 28 residents total attending, and though not as many as we would want, it is an improvement over the past several months.

Thank the Lord!

Veterans Day

2009-11-27T15:29:00.009-05:00

The Grand Court Ceremony, honoring the 15 Residents here who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces, was one of distinction and patriotism.

It included appearances, and presentations by:

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly for Welcoming Remarks
“Taps”, played by Judge Richard Carey
A 21 Gun Salute by American Legion Post 286
American Legion Chaplain for Invocation and Benediction
R.O.T.C. from Springfield High School to lower, then raise a flag
American Legion leading in the Pledge of Allegiance
Zach Hoppes to sing The National Anthem and God Bless America
Presentation of a retired flag to the oldest veteran, Emil Spivla
Flag to Paul Bartruss, the oldest Army veteran
Flag to Mike Maddex, the oldest Air Force veteran
Flag to Paul Kuss, the oldest Navy veteran

All of this, including framed pictures of the veterans by Timi Neff.

I’ve guessed the crowd to be over 100, including Residents and Visitors.

Patriotic music was played during the preceding half-hour

This “Tribute” by Joanna Fuchs was printed on the back page of the program:

When America had an urgent need,
These brave ones raised a hand;
No hesitation held them back;
They were proud to take a stand.

They left their friends and family;
They gave up normal life;
To serve their country and their God,
They plowed into the strife.

They fought for freedom and for peace
On strange and foreign shores;
Some lost new friends; some lost their lives
In long and brutal wars.

Other veterans answered a call
To support the ones who fought;
Their country had requirements for
The essential skills they brought.

We salute each and every one of them,
The noble and the brave,
The ones still with us here today,
And those who rest in a grave.

So here’s to our country’s heroes;
They’re a cut above the rest;
Let’s give the honor that is due
To our country’s very best.

Sheriff Kelly in Welcome:

Judge Richard Carey playing Taps:

Twenty-One Gun Salute:

Mike receiving flag flown from Camp Pendleton CA:

Some of our veterans:

National Anthem by Zach Hoppes:

Retiring the flag:

The weather was a little chilly, but after all, it was November 11. What would one expect.

Clark County Commission President, Roger Tackett - a paraplegic, wounded in Vietnam - was scheduled to give the welcome and opening remarks, but illness prohibited it. Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly took his place.

Much of the ceremony was very solemn and respectful. Memories of those fallen were very real.

This was just one of the many community oriented occasions observed by The Grand Court, planned and presented by Timi Neff, Lifestyles Program Director here.

New Book

2009-11-23T07:36:00.003-05:00

All right!

I suppose it eventually came to this - though I CERTAINLY didn’t foresee it happening!

I’ve “written a book”.

Well….. what I’ve actually done is to edit 44 of these postings (at the suggestion of some of my family and friends), and publish them in a book.

It’s called “Musings of a Story Teller Wannabe”.

Catchy, huh?

“How did you find a Publisher that thought enough of the book to ‘go for it’, Mike.”

I didn’t.

I am publishing it myself.

Cost me $369 for just one book. But, that means that any number of these books may be ordered, then bought, in a timely manner - for a “going” price.

IF there are any royalties at all (at a dollar a book), they will be used to offset the original cost that I am “laying out”.

I have to give our son John the credit for finding me a “self-publisher” to do this. It’s on the Internet. I just send them the finished “manuscript” (Ooooh! That sounds so ‘chic’, doesn’t it?), and they “put it all together”.

It’s going to be on Amazon Books, and Barnes and Noble, as well as being available at other national bookstores - on the Internet. I have an ISBN number.

A week later:

I’ve hit a “snag” on publishing this “book”. The Word Processor on which I wrote it is different from the one the “Publisher” uses, and I’m having difficulty getting the right print type; paragraph indenting; page numbering; title page; table of contents; author’s picture; etc. done right.

It grieves me that I have lost a week to this dilemma, but my habit is that if I don’t feel secure in taking the next step in any venture, I “mind the checks” - that is: SLOW DOWN! I pray a lot, looking for some answers, but right now I’m stuck.

Who knows what will be in this next paragraph, AND, when the paragraph will be written.

Of course, procrastination could be involved, I suppose. But I feel a little tentative about the whole project anyway, and until I can “still” the “butterflies” in my stomach, I might wait for Guidance.

Still another week later:

John said he could “convert” my file to one the publisher could use, if I e-mailed my file to him.

I’ve done that, but now, he asks me if I can send him another file as an “attachment” that he can use. I don’t know what that is.

I’m waiting to talk to him, to see what I can do.

Yet another week:

I was talking to John about the book, and I asked him just how I could send him the file, instead of just the written word.

He explained it to me, and within the hour, I had sent him the file, and less time later than that, he sent back two different files they can use.

So, this morning, I e-mailed my contact person there, and she explained how I could get into my file, send them $369 from my debit card, and get on the way.

I did that, then I shortly received three e-mails as a receipt, plus further instructions on what to do.

One of the things just mentioned is that, in addition to the author’s picture on the back of the book (Timi Neff took some shots for that), I need a sketch, or illustration for the front of the book, ostensibly providing a drawing description of the title.

I discovered that one of the night Aides here named Jessica Pikey, does sketches, so I gave her a sample picture of me at the computer, and asked her to draw something like that, or another view altogether, that would depict “Musings of a Storyteller Wannabe”, the title of the book.

Again, I can say, “I’m on my way!”

I don’t know yet how to get the photo on the back cover; the sketch on the front; and up to 10 or 12 photos inside the book, in 300 dpi.

Somebody will surely help me - I think.

If this all comes about, as dumb as I am about it, don’t tell me there are not miracles!

Yet another week later:

In the receipt and letter I got back, it indicated a new name to contact. I’ve done so, with some difficulty, since the e-mail has to have a reference number, something like this, the example they used:

[ ref:00A00bA0.00000AbA0:ref ]

I sent 4 or 5 e-mails with some version of this. One time I used the wrong brackets, and another, the right one at the beginning, but wrong one at end.

I just now sent another, that DIDN’T return because of an improper subject. I followed up with two more, just a little different, and finally, it was accepted.

I’m anything right now, since I am thoroughly confused. Hopefully, the next paragraph will be better.

Next day:

I’ve heard back with further instructions. I’ll TRY to follow them!

Next day:

I’ve JUST NOW (11:20 AM, November 13, 2009) sent the “manuscript”. Whether I did it right or not, I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll hear.

Later that day, I “uploaded” 13 pictures - including the sketch for the front cover, and Author Photo for the back.

Horrors!

They came back, indicating that the files were too long. I had included 6 photos in each file.

Did it over again, 3 photos in four files, and 4 in another.

They didn’t come back.

My representative there said she had sent my manuscript to the formatting department, and that I would hear from them when that was finished.

Wow!

Who said “writing a book” was simple?

I hope you’ll forgive me for this Biblical reference, but I just couldn’t help thinking about the “travail” of “preparing” the book, then the joy of having it published, as it relates to this passage in John 16:21:

“A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the angush, for that a man is born into the world”.

After the book is once in my hands, I’m sure I will NOT remember this “travail” I am now going through - with the book.

Since it will be several weeks, probably, until the project is finished, I think I’d better post this now. If there are “dramatic developments” in the project later, I’ll probably post them as well.

Whew!

“Brethren, pray for us!”

Oh………..she just said I uploaded the 13 pictures “perfectly”.

Will wonders never cease?

Next comes the “Table of Contents”. That is, the list at the front of the book indicating what page each chapter starts on - all 44 of them. Can’t do that, though, until the “formatting” department finishes with it, numbering the pages.

Complex, huh?

That’s what I’ve been thinking ever since I started this project.

Time to post this thing. More on “the book” will come later.

Author photo on back cover:

Antique Mall

2009-11-20T08:45:00.005-05:00

This Bus Trip was announced over a month ago. Didn’t interest me, and I didn’t care where it was. Nonchalant, I guess.

However, today, I heard which one it was to be - the second one north of the Clark County Fairgrounds - and I thought I should go. I remembered this as a “genuine” Antique Mall.

At lunch time, I signed up, and at just before 2 PM, I joined 5 others and climbed on the bus. There were 3 walkers, and one large wheel chair with us.

As is regular with me, I helped put on and take off 3 hand walkers, and one large wheel chair, with a rider in it.

Our bus has an electric lift at the right rear, which drops a “table” right to the ground, and the walkers/chairs are just wheeled right on. Inside, we line them up, and on some occasions, strap them in. Don’t want them to “wander around” behind the back seat.

Today, though there weren’t as many passengers total going, that’s the most chairs/walkers I’ve seen go. The space behind the seats was full.

The entrance to the Mall is just across the road from the Clark County Fairgrounds, and though it appears both of them are reached by the same entrance, not so was the case.

Actually, I had been there right after it opened some 15 years ago, but I hadn’t remembered the two entrances.

Timi was a little uncertain how to get in to the second one, and of course, “old-know-it-all” me, told her to go right in the first entrance, since I thought I knew so much.

Even after we came to the front of the first one, with no clear way to get to the second one, I insisted that you could just drive right around the first one, and get there.

Several, including our bus driver Timi, were reticent about it, but my insistence brought us behind the first one, with no way to get out but “back around”.

Chagrin!

We then drove back out of that drive, looked eastward, and lo and behold, the sign for the right one became visible.

“There it is”, someone said.

“Boy, Mike. Sure was good we listened to you, wasn’t it?”, said Timi. I think others sarcastically thought the same.

We got into the Mall, and comparing its present antiques with those when I was first there, was like “day and night”!

There were, I think, eight LONG rows of displays - one on either side of the aisle, by hundreds of dealers, each of them in their own spot. One complete row was filled with glass cases of jewelry, for maybe 40 or 50 yards. No dealers present, however. Just 3 or 4 workers.

We broke up into three groups. David and I took a different row than the others, and after we went clear down the first row we traveled, then back up another, we met 3 of our gang coming our way.

David is a “baseball enthusiast”, especially the Cincinnati Reds.

We came upon a “booth” that held a “pristine” copy of a Cincinnati Reds Program, with Mario Soto’s picture on the front. It was nicely wrapped in plastic, and was for sale for $7.50.

David picked up that program four or five times, trying to decide whether to buy it or not. He was really tempted, and I encouraged him in that, suggesting that this might be something he would like to have. He assured me that he had brought along enough money to buy it, but he had “mixed emotions”.

I checked to see what booth it was in, in case he decided, after going to the cashier, that he wanted to go back and get it. It was in booth 25. He looked in his billfold again, but started back toward the front of the building, without the program.

Even when we went out into the “lobby”, I suppose you could call it, where I sat on a sofa to rest my back, he was still contemplating it. I kept asking him if he wanted to change his mind, but no. The temptation went away.

He was smart, though. He gave it “full” consideration.

After resting a bit, I went back to the “counter”, and since this was an Antique place, I remembered an old RCA Victor record I used to play on my Dad and Mother’s Victrola in the twenties/thirties.

There were two of them I played all the time, but the main one was titled “The Hold Up At Buck Run”, and it was sub-titled, “The Station Master‘s Story”. It was a recitation, given by the man who wrote the story. It has always fascinated me.

To add to the fascination, my dad had listened to the recitation, wrote it down, and memorized it, giving it in public several times - mostly at Men’s Meetings.

I never lost the fascination for that reading, and have tried several times down through the years to find it - at least a written version of it - to no avail.

So, I went up to the counter to ask the attendant if there were any chance the Mall might have a copy of it, or maybe someone would know about it.

She said, after asking a couple of her associates about it, “Let’s look for it on the Internet”.

I had done that, in a cursory way, with no “hits” at all.

But, she turned around and said it was in truth on a RCA Victor recording; was written by a man by the name of Ralph Bingham, and was recorded by him. (I later found out that he recorded it in 1916.)

Today, after bringing that information home with me yesterday, I went on the site called, “Encyclopedia Discography of Victor Recordings”, and found that reference to it.

The listing told when it was recorded, the number of the 12 inch vinyl assigned by RCA; and other info.

“How can I get at least a WRITTEN copy of that?”, I asked myself.

So far, at supper time the next day, no copy yet.

Hope to complete this after supper.

What is that old saying? “Supper waits for no man”, or something like that?

Be back.

7 PM

Still no more info on “The Hold Up At Buck Run”, but have some more to say about our bus trip yesterday.

After leaving the Mall to go get on the bus, everything seemed to progress normally. All three walkers had been placed on the “lift” by me, while Timi was in the bus “parking” them.

Diane in her wheel chair, was waiting to drive onto the ramp, so I moved away.

With all of us present looking back in our “minds’ eyes”, it appears to us that when I started to move out of her way, I snagged my foot on the lift, and DOWN I WENT!

Flat on my face, no hands involved! I remember my forehead smashing against the pavement, and I lay there a bit, stunned. Diane and Timi, the two available to see what happened, tried to get to me to help me up.

“Are you OK, Mike?”

Did I say I was stunned?

Timi rushed out of the bus with a handful of paper towels, smashing them against my nose (it was bleeding profusely), and I gradually sat up, hardly knowing what happened.

It was fast, was what it was.

I seemed to not hurt anyplace else, though my watch band had pulled apart, and my watch was on the ground. My glasses were intact, and and had to be taken off.

I finally got to my feet, maybe a little wobbly, and stepped onto the bus, paper towels “askitter”. I kept taking down the paper towel, but the blood just kept coming.

“Keep holding it, Mike!”

Diane got her wheel chair on the bus, and Timi started driving home. She called the Grand Court nurse on duty, to tell her we were on the way home with an “incident”.

“I’ll look at him when you get here”, the nurse said.

I kept my eyes closed and paper towel on the bridge of my nose all the way home.

We went in the front door right to the nurse.

She checked me out, cleaning the wound on the bridge of my nose and bandaging it, then everybody began discussing whether I should go to the ER.

“Call the Squad”, someone said.

“NO WAY”, said I.

“Better get looked at and tested. You might have a concussion”.

Several staff gathered round, and each one admonished me to consider letting the hospital check me out.

Finally Timi said, “Let’s call your son Jim, and ask him to take you to ER, if you won’t go by Squad”.

I gave her my phone after “voice dialing” Jim’s number. She told him what was going on and asked him if he’d like to take me to the ER.

“I’ll be there in 15 minutes”, Jim said.

The staff gave me some tissues, and some ice in a rubber glove, and we took off for the Emergency Room.

I told them all “If I’m still sitting in the ER at 10PM and not having been seen yet, you’ll hear from me”. (Past experience with Jean, working here,)

“You call when you know something”.

It turned out that the ER is not as busy as it used to be, or else they’re more efficient than they used to be.

We were ushered into a room fairly promptly, and a nurse “checked me in”. Temp, BP, age, etc. Oh……, and Insrance.

Then she “re-bandaged” the bridge of my nose, and shortly a doctor came in.

Asked questions, examined me, and said, “Since you’re taking Plavix, we’d better get a ‘CT Scan’, because it’s a ‘bleeder’”.

Got one, was told my brain looked intact, but that I have a broken nose.

“Nothing you can do for that, right?”, I said.

“Right. You’ll be out of here in no time.

Not quite, but better than it used to be.

Jim had called John and told him he was in the ER with the “Old Man”, then later reported the broken nose.

Jim took me home, and everyone “made over me” like I was their Dad. Sometimes, I think maybe I am.

The kitchen crew hadn’t gone home yet, so they gave me some Chicken Salad, and a large bag of ice. The salad was delicious, along with my Peanut Butter and Ritz, all washed down with my favorite Orange Gatorade.

Didn’t feel badly, really, but on principle, went to bed at about 8:15.

As I passed the Nurses’ Station going back to my room, Aide Tammy was there. She had taken a picture of me with my Blackberry a month or so ago to have at home, and I e-mailed it to her. On an impulse, I asked her to take another.

This one was on Monday night, the evening of the fall:

Tells it all, right?

Got along fine today. Will remove the “nose bandage” tomorrow.

Second day after:

Fourth day:

Felt fine today, but “black and blue eyes” are the vogue of the day, though no bandage.

My advice: Don’t argue with the concrete pavement. You’ll lose every time.

I haven’t yet given up on “The Hold Up At Buck Run”, though I see no promise of success yet.

Time will tell.

Next day!

Wonder of wonders, I found it!

A CD recording of it, actually, with some other old time stories.

I ordered it off the Internet, and should receive it in maybe 10 days.

Cost me under $20.

PTL!

Mercifully, that’s the end of THIS story!

Magic Show

2009-11-17T18:16:00.008-05:00

It all started with this e-mail from our Grandson Jim - a professional “Magician” in Chicago:

Hey Grandpa,

I enjoy reading your blog about some of your adventures and activities at Grand Court. I was wondering if you guys would be interested in me performing.

Have you ever had a magician there? I wouldn’t charge anything (except maybe a meal).

I can come on a Sunday or Monday or Tuesday. It would be a lot of fun.

How many people are hard of hearing? Do they have a Microphone?

What do you think?

I can make it like a visit as well. My show lasts almost an hour.

Love Jim

My following e-mail to Timi, our Activities Director:

Timi,

My grandson, Jim Jr. lives in Chicago and is a professional magician.

He does table by table magic and offered to come for a visit, and while here do a free show for Grand Court. I'll buy his meal.

He says his show lasts nearly an hour.

Catch him at http://magitainment.com/

Let me know what you think.

Mike

Timi back:

Wow! How cool that would be. Let me know when he is available.

Then, I told Jim that Timi had accepted his invitation:

His response:

That’s great. How about November 8th or 9th.

Just to clarify this would be my stand up show that I do for special events or birthdays. I wouldn’t be doing table magic. Unless of course that’s what is preferred.

I look forward to our visit.

Jim

Here’s a shot of the flyer that was posted around the Grand Court, announcing his appearance.

To use an old Mechanicsburg phrase: The upshot of this was, that on Monday, Jim arrived, and before maybe 30 residents and staff, he gave us about an hour of prestidigitation.

Since I try to be honest and open on this blog, I have to say that I was more than a little nervous that, instead of driving down on Sunday as I would have, he waited until Monday morning to drive 300 miles, and get here before the 2:30 PM “show” time.

He arrived at 2 PM (after calling me an hour earlier to tell me he had just crossed into Ohio), and proceeded to dress in his “magic costume”, gather his “effects” together, and start the show.

Timi introduced him, and I then stood up beside him (he’s 7 or 8 inches taller than I), and re-introduced him as my twin brother.

He started out with a “silent” routine, involving a couple of “first rowers”, that most had trouble following, and then continued with some striking “illusions”, that “flabbergasted” us - saying, “How did he DO that?”

Heere's me, trying to get the "ringss" together. He could, but I couldn't.

He used several audience members as “props”, and performed several “tricky” tricks - more than one involving revealing cards silently picked out, and one time, turning a twenty dollar bill into a “folded-up” insert in an unopened (until later) kiwi fruit, with the donor’s initials still written on it.

“How did he DO that?”

Here's Timi, mouth agape while watching "her card" slowly rise out of the deck.

The audience was enthralled, as was I. Someone said later, “I’ll bet you taught him everything he knows.”

WRONG!

I knew nothing of what he did, though I had seen him do some card tricks several years ago.

He used to be rather shy - but far from that now. He carried himself well - as do other magician friends of his that I’ve seen.

One of the elderly (aren’t we all?) ladies in the second row, who participated in one of the card tricks, said to me the next morning at breakfast,

“I’ve never seen a magician as good as he is!”

He was good - and it was a joy to watch him work.

Afterward, knowing how he likes to eat, I said to him,

“How about dinner? Got a favorite place?”

I knew better than to ask that, because I KNEW - from past experiences with him here.

“How about ‘Golden Corral’?”

Right! The buffet place.

After eating (wonder of wonders, he ate a couple full plates more than I did), I asked him what he’d like to do.

So, knowing he likes movies, I suggested we might find one he’d like.

We went to the Chakeres Theatre on East Main Street, and saw the animated version of “Dickens Christmas Carol”. I had not seen such realistic animation before, and I was astonished at the realism of some of the scenes.

Enjoyable.

He hadn’t seen Jodi for several years (his cousin), so he asked about her. She had told me she wanted to be at his magic show, but she had to work.

I “texted” her, then called her, but no answer.

I knew she went to her dad’s sometimes, and, forgetting about Monday Night Football (THEY are die hard Steelers fans), I saw Jodi’s car there, and knocked on his door. He lives upstairs, so he didn’t hear my knock. She told me next day that they were watching the Steelers. Too enthralled to even hear her phone. I DO know she keeps it in her handbag, because I’ve seen her miss some calls in the car with me.

So, we headed for my apartment, and on the way, stopped at Speedway to fill up Jim’s car. Least I could do for his coming all the way down here for the show. I tried to give him some money, but he said he was going to work for his dad in electrical work the next day, and would be paid that night.

He fiiled up, and we went to my back parking lot.

When I was just ready to get out of the car, I looked at his gas gauge, and it registered half-full. I said,

“Hey! You didn’t fill up!”

“Yes I did”, he said.

While we watched, his gas gauge gradually dropped down to Empty.

What’s going on?

He started the car again, and the gas gauge went only half way up.

Turned it off, then looked under the car for spillage that he hadn’t noticed, since he did have that problem one time when the hose from the filling tube to the tank came off.

No gasoline on the ground.

What to do?

He decided he’d go ahead and drive to his dad’s, and see what happened.

He later called and said the gauge was working properly, and that he expects the tank full to take him home.

The next day, he worked for his dad, then headed for home. I talked to him in mid-afternoon, and he said it looks like he’d be able to get home.

He sent me a text at near midnight, saying, “Got home safely!”

Whew!

What a “two day” experience!

Bingo Back

2009-11-14T07:26:00.008-05:00

What do you know about Bingo?

Probably a lot more than I do, I’ll bet.

“So, Mike, why do you think you can write a story about it, then?”

I don’t write “stories”.

I know nothing about how to write fiction.

I can only relate what I’ve felt. What I’ve experienced. What I’ve learned.

I learned a little about Bingo tonight.

It’s a game.

The way these people play it, it’s just “minor league” gambling.

But, let me tell you what one of the residents here at The Grand Court told me a couple weeks ago, when it looked like Bingo on Monday and Friday nights here would be over.

He said,

“Mike. I look forward to each Monday and Friday night. It’s the only entertainment I have. I told my daughter that with no Bingo, I’d be bored.”

But, the “Bingo Caller”, an elderly guy (like me), who has been “calling” these Bingo games for several months - maybe years, as far as I know - told us a couple of months ago, that the stress of this operation was hard on his breathing. (He carries an oxygen tank, with the “tubes” in his nose, everywhere he goes. Even to meals.)

He gave notice at just about the time I was elected as President of the Resident Council here.

Right after our organizational meeting of the new Council, I was told by a management representative that the Facility could no longer operate the Bingo games, and that if they were to continue, the Resident Council would have to run it. It has to do with money. Not necessarily the “gambling” part of it, I don’t think. But just that they didn’t want to handle the Residents’ money, in any way.

Reminder:

The Resident Council exists in order to represent the Residents to Management. We’re their representatives, really. We speak for them. We try to arrange things for them.

But what about Bingo? I’m some expert on the game, right?

WRONG!

I don’t remember EVER playing a game of Bingo. It has NEVER interested me. I didn’t even know the rules. For example, how does one “buy” a Bingo card, then maybe win some money on it?

How does that work?

The time kept getting closer to the day he would “retire” from “calling” Bingo, but no replacement came to mind.

On the next to the last night Paul was to call, I showed up, and after the game, I asked to speak to those attending. There were maybe 7 or 8 there.

I announced that Paul had asked to be relieved of this job, and that the Bingo games had fallen into the hands of the Resident Council, and that so far, we could find no solution. The following Friday was to be the last.

Suggestions were made for a solution, and most had to do with asking several different people to alternate the “calling” job.

On the last day, during the afternoon, two or three said they would come to the game on Friday, to discuss their taking over the job.

The night came, and none of them showed up. Even one or two of them who PLAY Bingo didn’t come that night.

The reticence seemed to come from not only the “calling”, but handling the money, and taking care of the equipment.

Since, as I related earlier, I knew nothing about the game, I decided I’d better learn a little.

I logged on to a Bingo site on the Internet, and after discussing with Paul the procedures he had followed, I listed these rules about the game, along with a suggested “requirements” for a caller:

BINGO RULES

Bingo is played in halls. Bingo rules and payouts and play variations vary from place to place. Bingo brochures detailing particular games, rules and payouts are usually available at each respective location.

Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as B-2 or 0-68 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75 in American Bingo, and 90 in British and Australian Bingo) until one player completes a 'Bingo' pattern, such as a line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards and wins the prize.

A bingo Card contains 24 numbered spaces and one free space (blank), with which you play BINGO. The numbers are assigned at random on each card and are arranged in five columns of five numbers each by five rows (5 x 5 = 25 in total including the blank square).

The numbers in the B column are between 1 and 15, in the I column between 16 and 30, in the N column (containing four numbers and the free space) between 31 and 45, in the G column between 46 and 60, and in the O column between 61 and 75.

Bingo Caller Requirements

1. Like Bingo.
2. Able to speak in loud voice.
3. Have readily available $15.00 in cash for potential pay out.
4. Available every Monday and Friday nights, at 7:30 PM.
5. Set up card simulator and rotary wheel each evening.
6. Charge 50 cents per card.
7. Pay out $1.00 for 5 consecutive Bingo numbers, as called.
8. For final game of evening, play “whole card coverage” for Jackpot.
(Amount left in deposits that evening.)
9. Put away simulator and rotary wheel after each session.

Paul seemed to think it would be easy. Just get 3 guys and 3 ladies to alternate “calling”, so they wouldn’t have to be there more than once very 3 weeks or so.

Right!

Just get the three guys and three gals.

Right!

I found only one guy and one gal who would even talk about it, and even then, rather “nebulously”, without commitment.

I certinly wasn't interested in doing it!

After being unsuccessful, as well as being encouraged to solve the problem, Paul told me that some folk from the next door “senior” facility, “Villa Park”, came to play once in a while, and maybe someone there could help.

I said, “OK. I’ll go over there on Thursday and ask around". Wednesday was Veterans Day, and we were pretty busy around here.

On Thursday morning, right after Paul’s breakfast, when I arrived early at the Dining Hall to help set up Exercising, Paul said to me:

“I’ll call on Friday.”

I went right over to him and said,

“”Wait a minute! Did you say Friday? Or Fridays, plural?”

“I’ll do Fridays, but not Mondays.”

“Starting tomorrow night?”

“Sure.”

We had our exercising class, and right away, I told the Council members that I could find right then, as well as a Management Representative, that Bingo was Back, starting tomorrow night.

I then sent a memo to our Executive Director, as well as the other Resident Council members, and the reply of the “Boss” was typical, when she returned my e-mail saying:

That is GREAT!

Since Paul had said that I should get some of the people from next door to come, I made up a “flyer” that announced the return, and took 5 of them over there.

Then, I asked Timi if it would be OK for me to post a similar flyer here, and she said, effectively, “Go for it! Put them on the doors. You’ll need eight of them”.

I said, “Could we have a banner welcoming Paul back on the job?”

“I’ll make one”, she said.

At the Friday lunch, as well as the two evening seatings, I arose and announced that Bingo would return “tonight”, and that all are welcome.

Just before the evening meal, Timi and I hung up the banner over the large TV screen in the Dining Room. When Paul came to supper, he didn’t seem to notice it, until one of the Wait Staff pointed it out to him.

Couldn’t tell his reaction.

At about 7:15, my BlackBerry alarm went off, reminding me to get ready to welcome Paul back to Bingo.

He was already in the Dining Room, having not left since supper - his regular habit on “Bingo Night”.

When I arrived, the Bingo paraphernalia was already out and ready to go. Paul had told me that Dale helps him set up and tear down, and some residents had begun to filter in.

Shortly, two ladies from Villa Park arrived, and they and Paul greeted each other, as did another lady from Villa Road. She and Paul knew each other as well.

I told Paul that I would welcome the guests, and make a public appreciation gesture to Paul for his return. We all applauded just before 7:30.

As is usual for me, I gave the “count down” until 7:30, greeted everybody, and led them in applause of thanks for Paul.

I took a picture of Paul at his “rotary Bingo wheel”; one of the welcome sign; and one of part of the crowd.

In all, 14 showed up to play, more than the 7 or 8 I had seen on the two previous occasions.

After they started to play, I went around to all the doors and took down the BINGO BACK signs, and the welcome sign for Paul. As I started to leave, Paul said, “Wait a minute, let’s get a picture of me and the sign so I can show them to my son. He’ll think I’m important.”

We certainly do!

I handed Paul the three pictures just before the games ended.

Springfield Children's Chorus

2009-11-12T09:18:00.008-05:00

At the Grand Court, we had the privilege of hosting the 25 members of the Springfield Children’s Chorus, who sang for us.

The Children ranged in age from 3rd through 10th grades, both boys and girls.

As noted in the picture, the time of the “concert” was at 6:15PM, right at the end of our second-seating supper.

Timi, not being able to come back for this, asked me, as the Resident Council President, to preside and introduce them.

I agreed to do so, but neglected to realize that, though the children singing would be heard well by the residents, the comments by the Director could not be heard by all. I realized by 6PM that I would need the amplifier and microphone, and when I mentioned this to the Director, she said it was not necessary, since she had a loud voice.

Not so. Thus, my mistake.

We COULD hear the singers, though, and it was a delight to see and listen to.

I tried to get pictures of each one, so it took 4 shots to do it:

The Director of the group is Ms. Carolyn Kearns, and the pianist, Ms. Becky Chasnov, who happens to play the piano for some of the musical programs at my church.

There were several parents along too, who stayed in the background. I got to greet them as a group, at the end.

They left our place to go to a Nursing Home for their next concert. These kinds of outings are not only enjoyable to their audiences, but also, gives them experience in ministering to, and helping the elderly.

An interesting thing about this concert was that we were merely looking-in on a rehearsal, as it were. Especially interesting to me, as a former Choir Director. She would stop them, then re-do some part.

The music was quite complex for these ages, it seemed to me, but they handled it well!

This was merely one of the many activities and visiting groups that Timi arranges for us, here at The Grand Court.

We all love her very much!

Reserved Seats

2009-11-10T07:46:00.002-05:00

The idea for this posting came to me while thinking about the “reserved” places we got on the River Boat ride on the Ohio River.

Not all “seats” at occasions are reserved.

Last summer, there were several hundred seats at the Summer Arts Festival that we participated in, but NONE was reserved.

Not reserved means that it is “first come, first served”.

We understand why seats for large meals should be reserved in advance. After all, how else would they know how many meals to prepare, if no reservations are taken.

Commercial restaurants, normally, do not have reserved seats. They recognize that many people who come there to eat, do so on a “spur of the moment” decision. They didn’t plan on going, but, at the time, it seemed like a good idea.

There are some “call ahead” restaurants that will hold a seat for you, IF you are there at the right time. Seems to be not much better than “first come, first served”, doesn’t it?

At some public occasions, both “reserved” and “open” seats are available. The “reserved” ones, of course, would be the better seats - down front - as it were.

But, you may still go on a last minute whim, taking your chances on getting a place to sit - especially if the occasion is a popular one, and well advertised.

Supposing, though, that the place you want to go to is VERY important to you, and you don’t want to miss it - at any cost. You know the consequences of missing it, so you make sure you reserve some seats.

On the other hand, you think, why not wait awhile and see how the “wind blows”. Maybe no reserved seats will be needed. Maybe you can just “slip in” at the last minute - without reservations - and enjoy what’s going on, as much as anyone else.

On the “third” hand, maybe reserved seats ARE needed, and you are taking a chance on missing out totally on what you wanted to do.

If you don’t make reservations, what then?

You’ve missed it.

No problem, if it’s not that important to you.

But, suppose it IS important to you.

Is it worth waiting around, possibly missing what you really want to do?

Think about heaven, for a minute.

Did you know that seats there are NOT “first come, first served”?

That they’re “purchased” in advance - or not at all?

You can’t “pay at the door”, after you’re dead.

Heaven and eternal life are for those who, seeing their need for a Saviour, acknowledge that to Him, and receive Christ as a Personal Saviour - without charge.

No payment. Just acquiescence to His right to “set the rules” for entry.

The Bible reports that, “As many as received Him, to them He gave eternal life.”

THAT is a FIRM reservation, with a guaranteed seat waiting for us.

River Boat Ride

2009-11-07T08:38:00.014-05:00

Anticipation for this “outing” has been building for over a month.

This was a special outing, in that it cost us $30 including an outstanding Buffet Dinner.

This was so special, that the normal “sign-up” sheet was not used, but rather, personal contact and reservation with Timi was made. Anyone could go, but PAID reservations had to be made, so a place would be reserved on the boat.

You see, the problem with the “sign-up” sheet is that, up until the time of departure, you may “cross off” your name, and an alternate who signed up may take your place. I learned early that just because your name might not have made it on the list, it doesn’t mean you can’t go.

There’s a GOOD chance you can still make it.

I found that out last summer when I neglected to”sign up” for one of the “Arts in the Park” outings.

I don’t know why, but I just decided to “take up my coat and hat” and show up in the Front Lobby. My name was not only NOT on the “sign up” list, I hadn’t even added my name to the “alternates”.

Brash, right?

I had no intention of taking any one’s place. I just waited to see IF there might be a space available.

I moved to the background so the “signers-up” might go right to the bus and get on.

I thought the size of the crowd was rather small, but I just waited.

“Well, Mike, are you going or not?”, said our intrepid Activities Director.

“Uh……..I neglected to sign up.”

“Do you see the lobby crowded with people wanting to go?”

“Uh..no.”

“Well, GET ON!”

It turned out that there were STILL seats available.

I say, “That’s the problem with the sign-up sheet for bus ride reservations.”

For this ride to the Ohio River, however, it WAS no problem, since all had paid “up front”,

We ended up with 21 Residents, Staff and some family members - some, of course, riding in their own cars, since the bus only holds 12, plus the driver. (There ARE two additional “jump seats” in the back that WERE used this day.)

We left promptly at 9 AM, and headed for Cincinnati and the BB River Boats - well, Newport KY, actually. We made a “pit stop” at a Rest Stop on I 75, arriving at the boat right when they were “on-loading”.

It was a cold, rainy day when we left. But, we assumed there would be no problem on the covered boat. There wasn’t.

Though there was a long line ahead of us (several groups were going today), the line moved swiftly and on to our Reserved tables. Our tickets were “on hold” just inside the loading platform, so we all tried to go in together. We had some wheel chairs, walkers, and one electric cart. One table held 16, and another 5.

Background music was played throughout the meal, mostly by an accomplished banjo player - right next to our table.

Two waitresses served our table, providing our drink orders.

Shortly, we were guided toward the Buffet Table, which was loaded with “goodies” and several entrees, plus dessert.

Several pictures were taken. Some of which are displayed here.

On the way home, the traffic was “horrendous”.

After leaving the heaviest part of it, Timi said,

“Mike. Why don’t you sing some of the songs you had us sing on another of our bus outings.”

All I could think of was:

“Fee little fitties in an itty bitty poo” - ending with “boop boop dittum dottum wottum chu, boop boop dittum dottum wottum chu, boop boop dittum dottum wottum chu, and they fam and they fam right over the dam.”

Too intellectual?

When my mind wouldn’t come up with any other classical tunes, Timi said,

“My daddy owns a grocery store, and in this store he sells something that begins with (some letter). What is it?”

We went around and around with that for several minutes, with Timi trying to tell us it was on “Aisle 5 at the Derr Road Kroger Store.”

Of course, whoever guessed right had to make up another one.

You know, these bus outings shouldn’t be a total loss - you can learn some really good stuff there!

Hallowe'en 2009

2009-11-02T18:27:00.025-05:00

We had a Hallow’en Party here at the Grand Court.

It featured costumed residents/staff, as well as a Karaoke Operator with HUNDREDS of selections of Song Accompaniments and arrangements of well known singers. Many staff, and some residents sang.

I had seen pictures of last year’s party, when we weren’t here, and I tried to imagine me in a costume, and couldn’t come up with an idea. I wasn’t very interested, actually.

About a week before, I mentioned to someone that I didn’t have a costume, and Timi overheard, and told me she had one I could borrow.

Only, it was a Pope Costume - or maybe just a Bishop - or some other fomal clergy I’m not up on. I was a little hesitant to put on a “horror mask” with that outfit, but Timi said last year, she was considering wearing it, and asked several Catholics if they would be offended by it.

All said “No”.

So, “throwing all caution to the wind”, the night before, I went to K-Mart and bought a “Ghoul Face” mask. Still wasn’t certain, but I “bit the bullet”, and went for it.

On Hallowe’en, coming around the front of our building, I saw three outside Hallowe’en displays that I thought were outstanding.

On the inside was this "pumpkin", made to look like a "kitty".

No sense keeping up the suspense, so here I am (I THINK it is I), just inside the front door of The Grand Court. (Supposedly to “throw off” any suspicion that this could be me - or any other resident, I guess.)

Funny, but I got the feeling that no one, at first, could figure out who I was. Oh, Timi sidled up to me and whispered that she wondered where I was and went down to my apartment, which was vacant. Her borrowed costume gave me away to her.

I got the strangest stares! Nobody wanted to venture a comment. Too scary, I guess.

You know, I’ve learned that human nature is such that you can do something, or act a certain way “incognito” that you wouldn’t think of doing, if it were instantly known it were you.

I strutted around, while various ones were doing their Karaoke thing, giving a “thumbs down” to all the performers, and acting real “smart-alecky”, I think.

Some stared at me, as if they were trying to figure out who I was - half grinning, but not venturing to touch.

Walking around, I found one “old gentelman” in an “old gentleman’s” mask, that I found fascinating. Hard to tell who it was, until I saw that he was sitting at the table of the lady he “pals around with” all the time, who had on an outfit, but with no mask. Then his walk rather gave him away, too.

How about this for authentic old?

He’s with me, but he’s the one with the white hair.

There were others, such as a dining Room Waitress dressed up in green, with a resident beside her.

Here’s a waitress and a resident "Witch".

I THINK these pictures of the hay ride were taken on an earlier date, but they fit right in with this subject:

Old man and the Witch, again.

Near the end of the celebration, Timi lined up all the “costumed” residents, and asked the other residents and staff to vote on the “best” costume. She went through the line maybe three times, then centered on the old man, and me.

Old man, by a lot!

One “perennial” (loosely interpreted) feature of these Karaoke sessions is the duet between Pam, our Dining Services Director, and Timi, our Activities Director, singing “West Virginia”, that they said they first sang several years ago when just the two of them, and their kids, drove into West Virginia, and got the “call” , to sing that song.

Sorry that I have nither the picture of the two of them singing, nor a recording. Sad.

However, I just HAPPEN to have one of them, separately - not singing. Timi, then Pam.

Me singing Anne Murray's song, "You Needed Me.", with the Karaoke.

"A good time was had by all!”

Rock Garden

2009-10-31T08:46:00.010-04:00

It was announced that we would be visiting the “Hartman Rock Garden”. Our Grand Court bus was loaded this afternoon, as we left for another “outing”. There were 12 Residents, plus Timi, the Activity Director/bus driver.

Here’s how the “garden” is described on the Internet:

From 1932-1939, H.G. Hartman built a 35’ x 140’ rock garden in Springfield, OH. It contains approximately 20,000 individual stones. Hartman started with a fish pond and then filled his yard with statues, miniature stone castles, cathedrals, and other historic buildings. There are models of the White House, tributes to boxer Joe Louis and the Dionne Quintuplets, as well as religious scenes.

Since his father’s death in 1944, the property was maintained by Ben Hartman, H.G.'s youngest son. However, Ben passed away in 2007 and in 2008, and the property was put up for sale. In 2009, the Kohler Foundation began restoring the site.

Yes, this is actually someone's backyard.

There is a couple there presently, restoring some of the scenes. The man in this picture told me that there are 20 more truck loads of rocks to be brought here, and placed with the others, and that the two of them had been doing this since last April.

The Rock Garden is on the corner of McCain Avenue and South Russell Avenue - west of South Yellow Springs Street in Springfield Ohio - actual address: 1905 Russell Avenue.

There is no charge to walk through the Garden.

We spent maybe a half hour or more there, marveling at the detail of the scenes, and at the thousands of rocks/stones there.

There’s nothing I could say that would adequately describe this scene, so I’ll just share some pictures I took.

Twenty more truck loads?

Whew!

Town Hall

2009-10-28T09:16:00.004-04:00

Well, it’s almost here!

The first Town Hall meeting, I mean.

The first one I am in charge of, actually.

One of the”perks” of being President of the Resident Council is that you get to “chair” this monthly meeting.

When I was nominated for the job of Resident Council Member - by the two continuing members, actually - they told me that the biggest problem they had was a poor attendance at these meetings.

Kind of “my first assignment”, really.

Their intention in nominating me became apparent the first meeting after the election: they voted me in as the President.

When I’m writing this, it’s less than 24 hours ahead of the meeting, and, earlier this evening, while walking down to supper, I passed in the hallway, my EXPECTED Mystery Resident - that NO ONE here suspects is so - but me.

In passing her by (as I always do since I walk so fast), I casually said to her,

“Planning to come to the Town Hall Meeting tomorrow afternoon?”

(Just a little assurance is all that I needed.)

“You know”, she said, kinda pausing, “I can never hear what goes on in those meetings, so I suppose I won’t go.”

(An unexpected sweat breaks out on my brow - and it ISN’T the heat!)

“Uh…..you know, we bought a Public Address System for this meeting, just because many said they couldn’t hear.”

“I’ve always thought something like that was needed.”

Stalling now, I say,

“Sure would like to have you come and let me know how the new idea worked - as a special favor to me.”

(Any sign of “capitulation”?)

“Well, we’ll see”, she said. “I have to go to the bank, and I’ll see what time is left.”

Here I am, now, less than 24 hours before catastrophe, sitting helplessly at my computer, not knowing whether “the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry”, fits this situation .

(Why did I have to think of THAT phrase?)

I hope I can sleep after this!

Maybe a light blow to my skull would help. (Would you believe a “heavy” one?)

And, why did I have to think up this crazy idea of telling my thoughts BEFORE something drastic would happen?

(Expecting NOTHING DRASTIC would happen, I guess.)

It’s too late now, unless I delete what I‘ve just written.

I think I’ll go to bed and cogitate - not to mention pray!

The only comforting thing I can think of is that ON THE POSSIBILITY that something like this COULD happen, I kept my options open by NOT telling anyone who the Mystery Resident was intended to be. Not even that person.

“I’ll just interview another, and act like it was the first choice”, I thought.

“Thought”, mind you, NOT expecting it to happen!

“Any how”, my justifying mind keeps saying, “there was nothing so spectacularly better about this one than another one. There are several who would qualify.”

“And, they’re MY criteria, anyway.”

Good night!

Monday morning at breakfast: Town Hall later today.

I have begun getting together all of the gear needed - one amplifier; two speakers; two microphones; iPod for “prelude” music; “iPod dock” to play it on; two speaker cables; two microphone cables; Aux connecting cable from dock to amplifier; AC extension cable; and a four wheel cart to haul it on.

At lunch, I see the “prospective” Mystery Resident” has arrived to eat.

Good sign!

Nodding to her, I smiled.

(She doesn’t have a clue.)

Same is true of others. I’ve had at least one Aide venture a guess as to the name, and several others who think the “blank” photo looks like their candidate - All wrong!

At lunch, Timi asked me if I wanted to make a final push announcement for the Town Hall meeting, and I said,

“Why don’t you do it.”

She did - in her own inimitable, convincing way. Many smiled at me.

A few minutes later, I remembered that I hadn’t made a public announcement about the PA system helping us old “hard-of-hearing” seniors understand what is going on, so I did so, smiling at my “Mystery Resident” again, and sat down.

I had picked out a “Playlist” of songs to use as a “prelude”, and last night before going to sleep, I timed it at just over one hour.

So, if I start the iPod just before leaving for the Dining Hall, it will time out at just before 2 PM.

I arrived at the Dining Hall just before 1 PM. The staff members were still eating lunch, so I got out all of my gear, and began “hooking it up” a little at a time.

Shortly, Timi came back, and doing what she always does at Dining Hall “get-to-gethers” - began moving the tables to the outer edge of the Hall, and then lining up the chairs in a modified semi-circle - row by row - from the front.

She always sets up two or three tables up front for the members of the Resident Council to sit, with a chair for me at one end. I think she had planned on my being behind the tables, in the middle, being the Chairman of the meeting.

But, since I had to be out front to do the Mystery Resident interview, I moved my chair to the outside end of the tables, along with a microphone at either side of the room.

Timi took down all the names of the attending residents to put in the “hat” for the later drawing. Quicker than having them all “sign-in” she figured.

They began arriving at about 1:30, but were encouraged to wait in the Outer Lobby until the chairs were all set up.

I tried to help some with the chairs, but since Timi knew of my lower back problems - that will hopefully be resolved tomorrow with the impending “caudal epidural” shot I am to receive - she headed me toword the nearest chair as much as she could.

The two Maintenance Men brought in the large “over-stuffed” chair I had requested for the Mystery Resident, and placed a “RESERVED” sign on it and spotted it right up front, stage right.

I glanced up from the “chair moving”, and noticed the arrival of my Mystery Person near the back.

PTL!

Since we all knew that hearing for her might be a problem, I motioned for her to come down front, and sit in front of one of the speakers - stage left.

I’d like to see a picture of the smile on my face in doing so.

“By jove - she came!”

One of the things that I had said to myself last night was, that I should ask Timi to bring her camera.

Here - at 9:30PM - AFTER the Town Hall - I remember it!

Son-of-a-gun!

At about 1:45, I looked up and saw the new Executive Director coming in the door. I was afraid she wasn’t going to make it.

At about two minutes before 2 PM, I turned off the iPod music, and waited for the hour to arrive.

When it did, I rose and said,

“The time for the meeting having arrived, I do now call the October 2009 Town Hall meeting to order. And before we even have the reading of the minutes, I want to ask your indulgence.

“The meetings I have had a part of the last 40+ years have been largely christian, religious meetings, so we have always started off our meetings with prayer, and ended with prayer.

“I have been reticent to do that here, since this is not a religious organization.

“However, unless anybody has an objection, I’d like to ask God’s Guidance as we look at the things we need to discuss.

“Is there ANYONE having an objection to my doing that? If so, raise your hand.”

After waiting, and no hands were raised, and no objection noted,
I prayed for God’s Guidance.

The meeting progressed naturally from there, with the reading of the minutes, and a word from me as to how the meeting will be conducted.

From this note in the Agenda, I read:

D. Explanation of how the meeting will be conducted by Chairman.

1. Robert’s Rules of Order
2. All may have the opportunity to speak, but only after being recognized by the Chairman.
3. To “get the floor”, one must raise a hand if someone else is presently speaking; or, if the room is quiet, one should say “Mr. Chairman”. After being recognized, a microphone will be provided so everyone can hear. Then, a motion or comment may be made,

4. Only one person may speak at any one time, and after recognition by the Chairman.

I then mentioned how our Resident Council sees itself - mainly that of representing the residents to management. We recommend actions that the residents would like to see done, and management takes these under advisement.

I then mentioned 5 items that the Resident Council had requested from Management, and all had been addressed positively.

The introduction of the new Executive Director was next, and she did not give a speech as I assumed, but told us a little about herself, her family, and her work with The Grand Court.

We then proceeded with reports, information, and suggestions from Residents to the departments of:

1. Activities
2. Assisted Living/ Nursing
3. Dining Services
4. Housekeeping
5. Maintenance, and,
6. Marketing.

There were several comments, questions and suggestions from the residents.

A major amount of time was spent on a growing problem of a mis-understanding about the Assigned Seating at the Noon and Evening meals. The mis-understanding of not only the residents, but also by some staff members.

The time spent on this problem was well spent, with seating charts posted and assurances that both the staff and residents now understand.

Halfway during the Department presentations, I went over to the empty chair - that was OBVIOUSLY for the Mystery Resident, wondering, aloud, where - and WHO - that person was.

I asked several male and female residents if they knew who this person was, and all had to say they did not. I asked some staff also. All said "No".

I then related how that yesterday just before supper I had asked the Mystery Person (who did not know she was that person), if she were going to attend the Town Hall meeting, and how I agonized about this until she showed up here, now.

After asking her if SHE knew who was the Mystery Resident - getting a negative response - I said,

“What is your name, please?”

She gave her name, and I said,

“That’s the right answer, Mrs. (her name), YOU are the Mystery Resident of The Grand Court for October 2009.”

Applause, yells and “yessss” rang out through the room.

“You really ARE telling me the truth?”, she asked.

After getting her and her walker safely situated in the special chair, I began interviewing her about her life, family, and her experiences here at The Grand Court, and what she says to anyone asking about her experiences here.

I asked her,

“If you have the opportunity to tell people about The Grand Court, what do you say.”

“The friendliness, the friendliness. Especially the staff. You can depend on them - oh, I have to wear a hearing aid, and if I need help, they give it. I just think the service is wonderful.”

The residents applauded.

I told the Mystery Person about the $10 gift certificate to any store/restaurant in Springfield - along with an IOU from me for same, until she told me her choice.

Lest I forget about the drawing (and I probably did), Timi brought up the “sign-in” sheet hat, and I asked the Mystery Resident to pick out a name. That person will be taken out to eat by the Executive Director.

I closed in prayer, thanking the Lord for the Guidance He had provided.

Part of what Timi does at these meetings, is to record the names of all of the attendees. The list held 32 names.

I was later told my 3 couples that they would have attended, but previous appointments/commitments prohibited it. That’s 38 people, total, who would have come.

One of the continuing Resident Council members (who had said that the first problem was in getting residents to attend this meeting) said that she thought the attendance was double the number who normally attended.

Praise the Lord.

Whew!

Activity Meeting

2009-10-26T07:45:00.002-04:00

WE (at The Grand Court), are “equal opportunity breakfasters and lunchers”.

WE go “where the food is”.

Not that we don’t have sufficient food right here in our Dining Room.

“Senior Citizen Restaurant Outings” have nothing to do with food availability at home.

It’s not the FOOD, silly. It’s the OUTING!

And “camaraderie”.

And “fun”.

And “bus riding”. Ugh!

Each month, Timi has an Activity Meeting. It’s for US to suggest to HER what we’d like to do as a group the following month.

And, restaurant suggestions are taken: Recently, we’ve been to Bob Evans; Urbana Airport Café; Collier’s; KFC; McDonald’s; Mel-O-Dee; Olive Garden; Red Lobster; Rudy’s Smokehouse Grill; Young’s Dairy; and Golden Corral, that I can presently think of.

I’d missed all of these meetings before. I just went to the Activities I was interested in, accepting (or rejecting) what activity she had to offer.

WHY does she have this meeting each month?

I found out at the October meeting last week. There were 12 to 15 residents there, suggesting what she might do to help “keep us busy”.

She has to come up with FIVE different, individual, interesting, beneficial (like exercising daily), and participatory activities - for EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH.

At this meeting, near the end after a good bit of discussion and suggestions were made, she offered a free Hershey bar to anyone who could suggest something that HAD NOT been previously done or suggested. (She gave away 4 that day, I think.)

Any wonder she wants suggestions?

FIVE activities every day?

Whew!

I’m looking at this month’s Activity Calendar and I see:

Doctor’s visits - Exercise Class - 20’s and 30’s Trivia - Catholic Communion - Pretty Nails - Kitchen Cabinet - Campfire and S’mores - Wii Bowling.

And, that’s JUST the First Day!

Shall I go on?

The Exercise Class is every day - Monday thru Friday.

The others just listed are for EVERY THURSDAY!

On Fridays, add: Coffee Klatch - Bingo - and, week-to-week, either Picnic; or Apple Cider on the Patio; or Breakfast/Lunch “eat out”; or Dominoes; or Happy Hour; or Ice Cream or Bus ride; or Patio Chat; or Ohio River Boat Lunch Cruise; or Board Games; or “Deal or No Deal”; or Hallowe’en Party, etc.

Want more?

Saturdays are relatively quiet, in that Timi is not normally here.

But, regulars on Saturdays are: “Sit and Be Fit” (TV exercises); Lawrence Welk show; Fun & Games. Additional Saturday entries include: Memory Walk; Guest Musical Artist; Family Fall Festival; Penny Ante Game; afternoon movie; etc. (Have also been to a football game.)

Sundays are about the same each week with: Hour Of Power TV Program; an afternoon movie called Sunday Celebration Theater; and Puzzle Time. In October, the Sunday movies included: “Around the World in 80 Days“; “The Spirit of St. Louis”; “Always”; and “Memphis Belle”.

Regulars on Monday are: Bus to local banks; Bus to groceries; Exercise Class, of course; and Bingo. From week-to-week added are: “Community Connections”; “Youthful Dreamers”; “Resident Council Meeting”; “Town Hall” (residents meeting); Bus Ride to see leaves; Health Talk; etc.

Are you tired yet? I am, and I’m now only reporting what is available.

Might as well go to Tuesday’s regulars (besides the daily ones mentioned at first); Doctor visits on bus; Bible Study at 7:30 PM; and Easy Listening Music.

Then, a Volleyball Game was added on a Tuesday this month; Activity Meeting; Community Bingo (outsiders can come); “History Reveals: The Story of Flight; “Discover your Creativity (Crafts) with Judy Roberts; “Birthday Bash” one Tuesday a month with guest musical talent.

Can’t stop now:

Regulars on Wednesdays: Exercises; Game Night; plus the daily ones already mentioned.

Extras on Wednesdays this month: “Daring Dances”; Book Mobile; Mall Area Shopping; Who Am I?; Skip-Bo (a game); Fitness Adventure - Parachute Games; Scrabble; Gin Rummy; Trip to Young’s Dairy; “It All Adds Up”; Wal Mart shopping; Dollar Tree shopping; Pizza ordered in; A Daring Journey - Albuquerque; etc.

Uhhhh, for Timi, it started all over again for November, and NOW December.

She’s even potentially planning an outing tour of WEEC. She just told me, though, that it will be a “Mystery Trip”.

(Mum’s the word!)

Tijuana

2009-10-23T21:10:00.009-04:00

Mexico, that is.

I think the only time Jean and I were in Mexico was one time when there was a Christian Stewardship Council seminar in San Diego CA.

We drove, so we could also visit my Sister Miriam and her husband Stanley in Phoenix, on the way.

After the Seminar, we wondered what it would be like to go across the border to the well known city of Tijuana. In fact, going across the Mexican border at all was an adventure for us.

In those days of “free access” to both Mexico and Canada, we had no problem entering and returning. No passport was needed.

It seems to me, though, that we may have planned on going in, since I believe I contacted our Auto Insurance Carrier about coverage in Mexico, before we left.

Crossing the border was uneventful. We just got in the long line of cars and trucks, and gradually crept forward toward the gate. I don’t remember what questions we were asked, except that I’m sure they wanted to know how long we were to be there.

My memory is that Tijuana is not far from the border, so we drove into and around the streets of the city. We didn’t, of course, know where we were going, but driving down a busy street, we saw some shops.

Being curious, we stopped and shopped. I don’t remember what we bought, but it was some souvenir, like a throw rug or something.

While on that street, I saw a “fast food” shop, open on the street - featuring Tacos. I had been eating Tacos at Taco Bell for a long time. In fact, the owner of the first Taco Bell here in Springfield was from San Diego, and we talked about the trip before and after.

Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to buy a REAL Mexican Taco, so I stood in line at the Cashier, all the while watching what was put into the tacos.

What I saw was NOT what I was used to seeing in a Taco, so I backed away from the shop before my turn came, and went to the car.

Being tourists, we drove around, and turned left at the next intersection, then left again, and ended up on the street just behind the Taco Shop. We could right away see the back door of the shop, and lo and behold we observed a worker “dragging” a side of beef ON THE GROUND, IN THE DIRT, toward the Taco Shop.

Uhhhhh………… I was kinda glad I opted out of the Tacos!

Again being tourists, we didn’t want to return to the US too soon, so we found a reasonably wide road going east.

The scenery was beautiful! The mountains were covered with round boulders, just like the small stones we see on the gravel roads here, EXCEPT that some of them were several feet in diameter.

When we reached Mexicali, I thought I remembered that there was a California city similarly named, so we went back across the border to Calexico CA. Uneventful crossing.

I’m not sure, but I THINK this was the trip that we took from El Paso TX northeast - clear across Texas in two days - ending up in Texarkana, on the borders of Texas and Arkansas. One city name - two states.

While traveling the two days in Texas, we saw some remarkable scenery, through Fort Worth and Dallas, on to Texarkana, then, Little Rock and Memphis.

At one of the towns in Texas (I couldn’t guess which one) we parked the car in the lot of a Motel, registered, then ate supper. (I should mention that we were then traveling with a dark blue WEEC Station Wagon, with the call letters splattered all over both sides of the car.)

Returning to our room, we shortly heard a knock on the door, and a man said,

“Is Mike Maddex here?”

“Uh….yeah. Who wants to know?”

“I saw the WEEC car outside and the Front Desk told me it was you driving.”

Turns out he was a listener to the station, and just wanted to greet us and thank us for the ministry of WEEC.

Amazing!!

(I THINK this was the same trip on the way out west, that a man in a “Lum and Abner” store we stopped at, recognized my voice from the other side of a floor-to-ceiling book shelf)

(Another parenthesis: Timi, our Activies Director, still drops her jaw whenever someone recognizes me at some public function.)

“I knew you’d see someone you knew!”

I think, maybe “working the room” at some banquet or other function may contribute to that. I just can’t help it. I have to look around and see people.

Some folk say,

“Mike, you’d make a good politician.”

Meaning, of course, my “glad handing”, NOT my legislative ability.

Though this posting is about Tijuana, I must comment on our trip to and through San Diego on the same trip.

We’d never been there before.

The most striking thing I remember was the Coronado Bridge, linking San Diego to the Coronado Island. There was a ferry also, but the bridge was the fascinating thing - to me.

The Christian Stewardship Conference we were attending was in the area called “Mission Valley”. In fact, I was so uncertain of the name of that “valley”, that I called a friend of 20 or 30 years ago here in town, who told me about it at that time. He reminded me of the name today. He is a native of San Diego.

My memory of it is that the Conference was in a large Conference Room in a Motel, with smaller rooms available for side meetings.

After the meetings was when we decided to drive around San Diego, and then go to Tijuana.

Isn’t it just like me to remember some small “snippets” of information, then gradually, figure out a way to remember (sometimes “call for”), MORE facts?

That’s what I’ve been doing since last November on this blog. I just let my mind wander - or meander - on some experience I’ve had, then “follow the trail” of thoughts. I’ve had over 120 of these postings since then, and unless the Lord calls me home soon (or maybe lets me lose my mental faculties), I’ll probably keep on remembering - and sharing - thoughts, whether anyone reads them or not.

Collier's Outing

2009-10-20T12:56:00.011-04:00

Well, we had another “outing” at The Grand Court. This one was a luncheon at Collier’s Restaurant, near the Upper Valley Mall.

But……it was MORE than just a luncheon outing.

There had been a “sign-up sheet” for this outing for over a month. We’ve had several - to different restaurants each time - but I haven’t gone to all of them.

These luncheons are normally for a Friday Noon, leaving our front parking place - in the “glorious” Grand Court bus, at 11 AM.

It seems that there were 14 or 15 residents who signed up this time, but when “bus loading” time came, there were only 10 who showed up - besides Timi, our Lifestyles Program Director - who drives the bus on these outings. I’ve mentioned previously that she directs and coordinates the Resident Activities here.

As we were loading the bus, Timi said she had a surprise for us, and would tell us when we left. Her surprise turned out to be that after lunch, we were going down past Young’s Dairy, to just north of Yellow Springs to see a LARGE field of Sun Flowers, before the expected rain in a few days, dampened them.

We all got on the bus, and set out for Collier’s.

There is space on the bus for any wheel chairs, canes or walkers that anyone needs - in the back. There’s a “lift” there for these as well.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we were met by Pam Raines, our Assisted Living Director (Head nurse), who had driven her car.

Going in the restaurant, I told the lady who was holding the door for us that we had 11, instead of the 14 that Timi had initially reported (based, of course on the “sign-ups”) No problem. I had mis-counted, though, since Pam made 12, and later a resident named Paul arrived, after a Doctor’s visit. His daughter brought him to the restaurant. (There were 14 chairs at the long table). Paul had called ahead, and Timi placed his order. Just before he arrived, his cheeseburger and fries were placed at his spot on the table.

Since the food on these outings are at the individual resident’s expense, we had to have separate checks at the restaurant.

We were shown to what I have always called “the party room” on the south side of the building. After we were all seated, I said to the waitress, “Did we tell you that these are ‘separate checks’, and you MAY want leave our section?”

“Not at all”, she assured us.

While eating, there was a lot of friendly “repartee” amongst us, as well as kidding. It was very enjoyable - as was the food.

With Paul now with us, we had a total of 11 riders, and one driver, and we left for the Young’s Dairy area.

The field of sun flowers was outstanding. Timi drove all the way back in the lane, then turned around and came back so the bus door was on the side of the flowers. She pulled slightly off the lane, nearer the flowers.

We all got out, and surveyed them.

Timi wanted to take some pictures of some of us beside the sun flowers, and each one “sidled up” beside them.

Everything was fine, and after all the pictures had been taken, we all climbed back onto the bus, and Timi took off.

Heading back north again, we turned in to the Young’s Dairy parking lot, and we all went in for ice cream treats.

I had my favorite - a cake cone of one dip of Butter Pecan ice cream, while others had a Root Beer Float, strawberry sundae, two large cones of some special ice cream, and a dish or so of ice cream. We sat in the Dining Room and ate.

Some of us, though, went outside early to see the pumpkin display, and of course, Timi took pictures. I had gone toward the bus, so was not in on that event. I can participate, however, by looking at this picture (as can you.)

I was standing on the bus lift (off the ground maybe 5 feet), waiting for the walkers to arrive, when one of them was placed right near the lift, and I THOUGHT about leaning down and picking it up to put it ON the lift.

Timi either read my mind, or saw me leaning that way, and she said,

“Don’t pick that up”!!!

I didn’t.

We all successfully got back on the bus, and headed home. I didn’t think there was as much animation and talking as there had been when we first left home, but everyone seemed to enjoy remembering what we had recently experienced.

We arrived back at the The Grand Court in just about 3 ½ hours after we left.

What a wonderful outing.

I sent a text message to Timi: “That was a great outing! You’re the best.”

She is certainly a synosure to all of us!

(Another new word I learned from my reading. I just can’t wait until I can use these new words.)

cy·no·sure

cy·no·sure [snə shr]
(plural cy·no·sures)
n (formal)
1. center of attention: the center of admiration, attention, or attraction
2. guide: somebody or something acting as a guide or used for direction.

-cy·no·sur·al [snə shrəl], , adj
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I’ve come to really enjoy these outings. When Jean and I were here before, we didn’t participate in them at all, because of her condition. Thus, it was hard for me to get “hooked in” on these things now.

I think maybe the Summer Arts Festival trips kinda solidified my satisfaction in them. The “getting away”, along with the developed “camaraderie” we have, makes them very enjoyable.

Well………..the time I convinced everyone to go to my hometown of Mechanicsburg on one of the trips certainly helped my enjoyment.

The McDonald’s Sundaes we get, occasionally, helps also!

Don’t you think?

And, since I am still one of the “able bodied” residents, I enjoy helping with the wheel chairs, walkers - and even electric scooters - on and off the bus.

The driver can’t do everything!

My experiences at The Grand Court - especially these last several months - have been very fulfilling to me!

M R I

2009-10-17T07:30:00.003-04:00

Properly named, “Magnetic Resource Imaging”.

It’s like a “CT Scan” - almost.

It somehow gives a view of the inside of a person’s body not seen in any other way. Most people have either “had” one, or know of someone who “has”, or heard talk about it.

Don’t expect me to be “pontificating” about it, since I’m not that knowledgeable.

I do know what “they” are like, though, because I have had 2 or 3 of them - over the years.

Most times it has been because of a back problem I’ve had for 8 or 9 years. Arthur Itis has hit me, and some of the parts of my spine have a tendency to rub other parts - or SOMETHING like that.

You know “Arthur”, of course, or at least heard of him. His proper name is “Arthritis”. Get it now?

In about 2004, my back was giving me enough trouble that my doctor suggested seeing a surgeon in Colulmbus. When setting up that visit, I was asked to get an MRI - which I did right here in Springfield.

My back was so bad that I could not stand erect. I had to bend forward to keep my back from severely hurting.

Jean and I drove to Columbus to meet the Surgeon, and he showed us the MRI, and explained - visually - what Arthur was doing to me.

The best way to correct the problem was with surgery, though he gave me doses of a brand of prednisone to help with the pain.

I was admitted for surgery on January 2, 2005.

Our two sons accompanied me to the hospital, and Tonya stayed with Jean in Springfield. I was frankly surprised that the Surgeon would operate on an 80 year old man.

The surgery was performed that day, and the NEXT DAY I was walking erect down the hospital hallway!

I was just today looking at my medical records for 2003 - 2005, and I can’t now believe that I was so helpless before the surgery. The records say that I was barely walking; fell some; and was in severe pain.

I had asked the Surgeon if I could pray with the Operating Room staff and him before the surgery, and he readily agreed.

The next day after the surgery, the Surgeon was visiting me, and I said to him,

“I was hoping to be able to pray with you before the surgery, but I guess it didn’t happen.”

“Yes it did!”, he said. “You prayed for me, the anesthesist, and all the Operating Room staff, just before we all went into the OR”.

Son-of-a-gun!

Anesthetics do some wondrous things. I was apparently given a shot just before the “prayer time”, and, to this day, I don’t remember the incident at all.

But God did!

A year or so after the surgery, I began getting some back pain again, and when visiting the Surgeon again, he prescribed a series of “epidural” shots in my spine - done right here in Springfield. There were 3 treatments in that sequence, and after the procedures, the pain was gone for a year.

The next year, I had another series of shots with the same result.

These have lasted me until just the last several months, when my pain increases if I walk very far - down to the dining room, actually.

Last month, my doctor and I agreed to try some Rehab work, to alleviate any muscle problem that might be there.

To date, I’ve had 5 sessions - that are VERY GOOD, and beneficial to my back and leg muscles - but my lower back keeps getting worse.

On Friday last, I arranged for an appointment with my Physician for Monday (yesterday), and together, we decided that I should maybe start the “epidural” shots again.

That meant, of course, that I needed an MRI.

This was arranged for 3:10 PM today, Tuesday.

Along with the appointment to get the MRI, the doctor gave me another dosage of the “prednisone” - a 6 day regimen of 21 tablets - to help relieve the pain. They began working immediately. Not TOTALLY free of pain, but improvement.

After the test today, I was given a CD, with the results of my MRI, that I was to take to Dr. Abraham, the “pain” doctor, who would decide whether to administer the epidural.

Late this afternoon (Tuesday) I received a call from the “Scheduling Person” at the MRI Lab, indicating that the doctor there felt I should have a second MRI, which we scheduled for two days from now at 2:15 PM.

“Why the second MRI”, I asked.

“I don’t know. The doctor just asked me to set up another test.”

Right!

For you long time readers of this blog, you will remember the “panic” I felt last February, when my TB test “spot” on my arm was reddened, and the Internet suggested that might be a problem.

There WAS no problem, of course, but I had a “worried and sick” stomach before I found out.

What SHOULD be my reaction to the call for a second MRI?

I think it should be just as I feel it now. Feels different this time.

In spite of my history, I’m not worried at all. I’m in God’s Hands, as I was before, without thinking of it.

But, why do I feel calm now, when I did not in February?

I don’t know.

But, I do remember one time years ago when a friend told me of a fact he heard of, that some Christian people have a tendency to worry when it’s NOT necessary, but when they SHOULD worry, they don’t.

Remember now, that I am presently writing right at the time I have just described. I don’t know at all why there is to be a second MRI, but frankly, I’m not worried at all!

Go figure!

It’s now Wednesday morning after breakfast: Slept well. Feel fine. Not much back pain.

Thursday afternoon, 3 PM:

Slept well - no problem. Had a scrambled egg, one bacon, two whole wheat toast, orange juice, and hot tea for breakfast. Did the daily exercises, and made up the Proposed Agenda for our Resident Coucil meeting with the Executive Director next Monday.

And, lunch was OK.

Second MRI at 2:15. Shorter time today, and I had asked for the headphones to play WEEC for me, rather than the “jazz” they played last time - when she didn’t ask what I wanted.

Have you ever had an MRI?

You know why they give you headphones, don’t you? Not for you to listen to music - though part of the time you can hear it.

No………..it’s to block out the AWFUL NOISE that machine gives out.

Grinding, rumbling, knocking - everything but whistling.

Noisy!

I, of course, asked why I had to have a second test after two days.

“The doctor wanted to see higher up on your spine.”

Right!

I held my hands higher on my chest this time, along with the “panic button” they give you in case you have trouble.

Went well, and I got a replacement CD to take to the Pain Doctor, that, she said, included the first test as well. More of the spine to look at, I guess.

Had you remembered that the reason for this whole MRI thing, was to see why my lower back hurts?

Now, I have 12 more days of waiting to see Dr. Abraham ( a friend, actually, who helped Martha’s pain before she died) for an evaluation. Experience tells me that if that goes well, a week later than that (at least), I’ll have my first of 3 epidural shots in my spine - two more a week apart after that one.

If last time (4 years ago) is any indication, my pain will be gone the same day!

Praise the Lord!

Not presuming on the Lord, now. Just following experience.

I MAY not wait for all of that to post this, since the subject is MRI. If I get panicky for not having something to post, I’m liable to use this one before the epidural.

What do you think?

This is Wednesday. By yesterday - a week after the first MRI - my back was hurting so badly that I FAXed Dr. Buchanan to ask if I could have a PRX for a heavier pain medication, and another series of prednisone - or, whatever he would suggest.

His Nurse called-in the two medications that I requested.

How to get them?

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that since last Thursday, I haven’t had a car. Jim’s Electrical Contractor’s Van broke down, and he had to “borrow back” the car he lent me when I moved here the end of February.

I didn’t tell Jodi about not having the car, knowing she would do her best to get here to provide transportation for me - whether convenient for her, or not.

She was trying to decide whether to go to church again with me, or back to the one we went to last week (First Christian), where Rylan can get involved in the Awana or other kids program during the week.

On Friday night she said it would be to First Christian. During the day Saturday, she mentioned that she may go with me again. That meant, that I would have a ride to Church.

Then, at 9PM Saturday night, she said she was not well, and would not be going.

I had a plan in mind all along that if I didn’t get the car back; or if Jodi didn’t go with me; that I would call Roy and Sharon Landrum - the friends who took me to my church a couple months ago - along with Sharon‘s mother, Norma - when in the same circumstance.

I called them, and they said they would certainly pick me up Sunday morning, and any other time that I needed it. They did, thank the Lord!

Yesterday (Tuesday), then, Jodi called in the AM to say that she got off her job at Comfort Keepers at noon, and she and Rylan would come here to see me at about 12:30. We planned lunch together.

When they arrived, I was sitting outside on a bench near our parking lot, and Jodi was about ready to call me to see where my car was, and she saw me.

I got in her car, and told her that she was a God-send, and that after we ate, I needed to get my two prescriptions, and then go to WEEC to pick up an amplifier, microphone and two speakers that I had bought for the next Town Hall Meeting here at the Grand Court.

“Grandpa!! How did you get to church on Sunday?” I told her the above story.

God’s Provision - or a “God Moment”, as David Mains used to call it.

I wrote all of that above to say that, by Tuesday afternoon (yesterday), much of my pain has subsided. And seated now at this computer - after taking the medication Dr. Buchanan prescribed yesterday, I have practically NO back pain at all.

Walking back and forth to the Dining Room, and a little walking this afternoon with our Bus Outing at The Dollar Tree, I did have some discomfort, but negligible.

Within the next 2 or 3 hours I’ll be retiring, and can expect some pain off and on, but I’m thankful for what I’ve just been through.

Except for the postings where I’ve inserted photos, I think this is the longest one I’ve put on.

So, the next report on the Epidurals, or other experiences about my back between now and then, will probably be on a subsequent posting.

In the background, I can almost hear some (many?) of you saying,

“Doesn’t this guy EVER shut up?”

Answer: “Not so you could notice it.”

The Miracle Worker

2009-10-14T08:59:00.011-04:00

A couple of months ago, I noticed a listing at our church of a group called “Golden Gaters”. They have taken “trips” or “activities” that appeared to be for “old timers” - like me. The trips mentioned didn’t interest me very much, until I saw one scheduled to go to Cedarville University to see a stage play entitled “The Miracle Worker”.

This struck a chord with me, since right away I knew that it was the story of Annie Sullivan, the partially blind lady who began working with the legendary Helen Keller, when Helen was merely seven years old, and Annie, not quite twenty-one.

I had seen the original television movie starring Patty Duke as Helen, and Anne Bancroft as Annie - made in 1957.

This was followed by a Broadway play in 1959, with the same cast.

Then, some years later I saw the same story, starring Patty Duke again - but, THIS time, as Annie Sullivan, along with Melissa Gilbert as Helen.

Then, less than a year ago, I again saw the original movie on Television.

I was as intrigued this third time, as I was the first. The story was captivating, and appeared to be essentially true, and was written by William Gibson, based on actual letters from Annie Sullivan in 1887.

Back to the “Golden Gaters”.

The promotion/announcements about this “outing” - as we call them here at The Grand Court - gave a date of October 2, and the need to sign up and pay $18.00 by September 20. The price, of course, included lunch at the “humongous” student cafeteria, principally designed for the 3,000 plus students of the University.

When the sign-up sheet appeared in the Narthex of the Church on September 13, I signed up right away. Then, on September 20, just before church started, there were only seven signed up.

That’s plenty for the bus, I presumed.

The next thing that happened is a mystery to me. I thought sure I had put the date of October 2 in my BlackBerry, for the trip to Cedarville. I just forgot about it after I paid for the ticket.

On Thursay, October 1, I got a call from the man who arranges the Golden Gaters outings, saying that I should arrive at the church at 11:30, since the bus would leave at 11:45.

The “light went on”, and I just said,

“What day is that, now?”

“Tomorrow”, he said.

“I’ll be there.”, I said, never “letting on” that I goofed.

I still can’t figure out what happened - unless when I upgraded to a later model of BlackBerry, is it possible that I didn’t “copy” that date?

Hardly - since I “restored” all the BlackBerry data from the “back-up” file on my computer. Everything else copied. I must have neglected to “schedule” this outing on the phone back in September.

Praise the Lord for “filling in” for my mistake.

I arrived at the church right on time, and discovered that an old friend was driving the bus (I’m not well acquainted with every one there yet). Then, the man and wife arranging the tours were known to me. And, just before we left, Ernie and Irene showed up. Ernie was one of my Board Members when I was President of WEEC.

So, I began to feel at home.

The leader answered a question about how many were going, and he said 20. Apparently, several had signed up that same Sunday at the deadline. It turned out that the bus driver’s husband was sick, so we were short one of twenty.

We left the church right at 11:45, and went south to Cedarville.

The bus driver knew right where to go. I would have been lost, since they have added maybe 10 or 12 buildings since I used to visit there.

An aside: When the leadership of the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland bought Cedarville College in ABOUT 1952 or ‘53, I attended an Evening School class there, taught by Dr. Arthur Williams. (I could’t remember his given name for several days - until now.)

Back to The Miracle Worker:

We arrived at one of the Student Buildings there, that housed - among other things - the Dining Room; the Theater; the Bookstore; and myriad other rooms and, I suppose, Classrooms.

We joined the 3,000 plus students in the LARGE Dining Hall, and got in line at one of the maybe 7 or 8 different lines to different kinds of food.

I filled up on that, then got two pieces of chocolate dessert, then filed out to the hallway to await the entrance to the Theater.

Another couple was there that I have known for over 40 years, and we spent a good bit of time reminiscing and fellow-shipping about the Lord and the past. They now attend the same church.

In fact, the wife reminded me that they felt I was responsible for their attending this church 30 some years ago.

They had attended two different churches in the Springfield area, she reminded me, but didn’t feel quite at home at either.

My being at WEEC made them think that I might have an idea for a place for them to settle down in a church.

Here’s why:

When I was at WEEC, new listeners would move into our listening area, wondering where would be a church of their liking. Often, they would call me and ask for a church “like WEEC”.

What I always did was to ask them where they attended church “back home” - if they were happy in it - and after their telling me about it, I recommended 3 churches I knew of near their home, and having a teaching as close as possible to their old church. Never only one denomination.

I would not permit any of us staff members to recommend our own local church. That would hardly be objective, now, would it?

You might ask:

“How would you know so much about the churches that you could recommend one?”

Over a period of 20 plus years, I got a picture of the hundreds of churches in our listening area that NO ONE ELSE could possibly have gotten - without doing what we did.

After our three children got their own families, Jean and I spent every Sunday visiting different churches in our listening area - for over 20 years. In some cases, I would be the guest speaker, guest singer, or just a visitor, but I could get a picture of that church in my own mind, in order to recommend it - or not.

So, when this couple asked me for a recommendation, I found out their doctrinal preferences, and suggested this church that they now attend, would most likely meet their expectations.

Though I don’t remember specifically, I’m sure I suggested more than one.

I digress, as usual.

The time came for us to enter the Theater, and for the Play “The Miracle Worker” to start.

The Theater is rather small, though it has a nice sized balcony. You could feel a kinship with the actors, and be “right in the picture” with them.

About the play:

On the first page of the program, a Sarah L. Murphy, Dramaturg (literary advisor to the play) writes:

Despite the fact that William Gibson wrote THE MIRACLE WORKER in the late 1950s, the story and themes remain timeless. Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan have become legends in American history. A deaf-blind child is taught to communicate and take part in the human experience by the half-blind 20-year-old. THE MIRACLE WORKER shows what can be accomplished by all who put their mind (sic) to it. It is a story of transformation, of love, of learning, and of meaning.

The theme of transformation refers not only to Helen and what she learns, but also to the relationship with her family. At the start, the Kellers aren’t sure what to do with Helen, a disobedient child they cannot reach. When Helen finally learns, the relationship is transformed to that of a loving family. Kate Keller can finally communicate with her daughter. Annie begins the play haunted by her past in the asylum. She hears voices that constantly bring up the pain she experienced. Once she realizes her love for Helen, those voices disappear. Annie has overcome her past.

Helen and Annie prove that the human spirit can triumph over all disabilities. They give encouragement to those who live with any disability and a challenge to those without one.

Several scenes from the original movie:

Helen Keller "seeing" President Eisenhower:

Helen in adulthood:

Having seen movie versions of the play at least 3 times, I was ready to compare this “College Age” cast to what I had seen on the screen.

Surely the movie version would be superior.

I found that NOT to be the case, at least in my opinion.

The dialogue was perfect, with NOT ONE hesitation in speech; the mannerisms of cast members were thoroughly believable; the stage settings and props were superb; scene changes were swift.

But, to me, the REAL test was the Classic breakfast table scene, in which Helen and Annie have a thoroughly crafted “fight”, over Annie trying to get Helen to feed herself, AND, “fold her napkin”. (At that age, Helen was incorrigible) This went on for several minutes, with one time both of them ending up on the floor, flailing at each other.

Outstanding!!!!

At the end of the play, some of us could not keep from standing, clapping and whistling to show our appreciation.

There are other “outings” of this Golden Gaters group that I might participate in. The next one is a visit to Rio Grande, OH, the birthplace of the Bob Evans Restaurants - and the FIRST one to open.

Since Jean and I had visited there twice - once the two of us, and another time taking along her 92 year old father, I don’t think I’ll go this time.

Actually, we have enough outings here at The Grand Court to keep us “old timers” busy.

THE MIRACLE WORKER, though, is worth seeing again, under most any circumstance.

Kenton Ridge

2009-10-11T08:31:00.019-04:00

This is the name of a High School maybe 3 or 4 miles from us at The Grand Court, out in the County.

I have three events involving Kenton Ridge that I want to write about.

The first is the nearly 150 strong Kenton Ridge Marching Band.

As they have done at least one time before (the last month Jean and I were here in 2007, actually), the Band Director mentioned that they come “every other year”.

Three School Buses drove onto Vester Avenue from Villa Road, and parked along the street that had been blocked off by the City.

They were scheduled to appear at 4:45 PM, so at 4:30, my BlackBerry alarm went off, reminding me that I’d better get out the front door if I wanted to see the Band arrive.

I joined maybe 40 residents, plus some neighbor friends, in front of our facility, in chairs provided by the Staff.

Before long, we could hear noise, counting, and a whistle from down the street on Vester, and pretty soon, the drums announced the beginning of their march into our parking lot. 150 marchers FILLED our lot. Just their marching, chanting and drum action was thrilling. They marched just as they do on the Football Field, entered our lot, and paused.

The Director then announced the next several songs they were to play, and then they did so, one by one, as they entertained us.

The drums, trumpets, clarinets and other instruments thrilled us, as well as the way they shifted while marching in step, before us as they played.

Of course, our Intrepid Activity Director, Timi Neff, had to get on the roof of our facility to take pictures.

One of the results:

This visit by the band was part of their planned trip to Greenon High School, to play at the Football Game between their team, and the Kenton Ridge Varsity.

Applause, whistles and yells of support were given by those of us watching.

After their playing, the Dirctor announced that they would march back to their buses to stow their instruments, then return for the Hot Dogs and Pepsis that the Grand Court staff had prepared.

The band members “parked” on the front lawn, mostly sitting on the ground and talking while waiting for, and eating their supper.

They must have been relaxing there for over an hour, and our “family” interacted with them, expressing our appreciation and praise for their coming, and then entertaining us.

Right after they marched to their buses to deposit their instrtuments, I retired to the Dining Room for our evening meal, consisting of French Onion Soup, and Sirloin Beef Tips.

I didn’t tarry there long, though, since I wanted to interact with the young people, to tell them of our appreciation for their coming, and commending them for their “terrific” playing (I used that word.)

While doing that, Judy Falloon, the Marketing Director of The Grand Court, began taking pictures of the young people on the lawn after they had eaten. I was mingling with them expressing my feeling about what they had done, and Judy asked me if I couldn’t just pose with some of them for a picture.

At first, someone mentioned “tumbling”, and a “human pyramid” with me on the top, but wiser heads suggested one of the Band members try to lift and carry me, instead. Look!

After that, Judy asked some of those close to her (there were nearly 150 of them there, after all), if they would congregate around the outdoor sign of The Grand Court. Some of them started over there, along with me, and I gave one of my LOUD whistles - getting their attention - and asking them to assemble there “and smile” when I gave the cue.

They did, and Judy got the picture.

When this was completed, I walked with Judy back toward the front of the building, along with one of the “bus drivers”, I discovered. Judy said that the driver had suggested that she take a picture of me, pretending to drive one of the buses. (I’m so open to suggestion like this, that I immediately agreed to permit it. Some day, I might be sorry I was so willing. Remember? The pic of me on the ground wearing a sack in the Easter Sack race? No injury, thankfully.)

We walked over to the bus, and here’s the result of that:

When I got back to where the Hot Dogs and Pepsis were, there were only 6 or 7 “dogs” left, but I was too full to take any.

Timi, her husband Steve (whom I had just met for the first time), Pam, Jeff, and Karl started “cleaning up”, and returning chairs, tables, ice chests etc. to their proper places.

The Band was still present, but just talking and relaxing.

Since I had to get some things from Kmart, as well as cash for “tomorrow”, I went back inside to my room, then to my car. By the time I got out to the parking lot and my car, the buses had been loaded, and driven away.

That’s not the last I want to say about Kenton Ridge.

The Kenton Ridge Reserve football game with the Reserve team from Greenon is.

On Saturday, 7 of us plus Timi assembled on the bus to go to the Kenton Ridge/Greenon Reserve Football Game - at KR.

It’s only 3 or 4 miles north of us.

Though our family was living in Northridge when the Kenton Ridge School was built, John and Martha attended, and were graduated from Northeastern before that. Jim had been graduated from Lane Tech High School in Chicago, just before we moved here.

So, I had never been “back” behind the school to the Athletic Fields before. What a nice group of sports fields there.

Timi had taken along some of the “folded-up, portable” chairs so we could sit on the field level.

Timi’s son Caleb played on both offense and defense, so we were quite interested in watching him - and the whole game, of course.

Look at this “old codger”, intent on the game (we hope), oblivious of anyone else around.

The game began at 10AM, and we were back at the Grand Court for lunch at about 12:30. Sloppy Joes were waiting for us when we returned.

KR won the game 42-6, and it was especially exciting when Caleb intercepted a pass on his own 10 yard line, then sprinted the length of the field for a touchdown.

However, there was a penalty call against KR, and the score was negated.

One more event from Kenton Ridge - but two or three weeks later.

The daughter of our Grand Court Office Manager Lisa plays Volley Ball at KR, so Timi suggested to our residents that we might want to go see her play.

I think maybe 7 of us gathered together on the bus and went to the game.

Volley Ball is certainly different from when WE played - or even our kids played. Nearly all the rules have changed.

When the “referee” called one foul, I turned around and asked my neighbor behind me if he knew what was the call, and lo and behold, it was a friend of maybe 30 to 40 years named Paul. We greeted each other kindly.

Timi said, “I knew you’d find someone you knew!”

Our team won two out of three games.

Seems no more than right that I print the ONLY recognizable picture of Katie (daughter of Lisa) that I have. When Lisa saw it, she said it was “awesome”, since Katie’s best friend was behind her in the photo.

Another surprise was when I saw Ernie and Irene coming into the stands. Ernie used to be on the WEEC Board when I was President. I greeted them and Timi just stared at me. They went up to a higher level in the stands.

Between games, I went up the steps to greet Ernie and Irene. They were there to watch their granddaughter play.

I got more than a kind stare, though, when I came back down the bleachers after going up to greet Ernie and Irene.

When I started up, Timi, said,

“Go to the aisle”.

I didn’t, but just climbed over the benches.

That was OK then, but coming back down, I got careless stepping over the seats, and little by little, I slipped down on my hands and knees. I heard gasps from the spectators. I turned around and waved at everybody.

Timi was too far down the bleachers to see the fall, but she said she heard it. I got a scowl when I returned to her row.

A couple of weeks ago, not in Timi’s presence, one of our lady residents said to me, after mentioning something Timi did, said,

“I dearly love that girl.”

I said, “We all do!”

In fact I sincerely believe that Timi is “called” to take care of us old people. I told her that, and she said,

“I say that all the time!”

We old timers really appreciate the love and concern of our family members as well as our “care providers”. That’s why we’re at The Grand Court. We NEED to be “cared for” - careless as we are.

When we left the game, I went to the aisle, and walked down - carefully.

(Didn’t want another scowl from Timi, our “Mother”!)

Grin.

I guess that covers Kenton Ridge.

Only thing missing was a photo of my fall. I’ll bet you would have enjoyed it - since I wasn’t hurt. It was SOOO graceful!

Oh well, “Ya can’t win ‘em all!”

Hmmm.

I guess I COULD re-create it, and ask Timi to photograph it.

IN MY DREAMS!!

Vermont Trips

2009-10-08T07:11:00.015-04:00

Twenty to thirty years ago, Jean and I held a fascination for Vermont - and in fact, the whole New England area.

But several times - generally early in October when the leaves were turning - we traveled to Stowe VT.

Why Stowe?

Because of Maria von Trapp, of course! (Of “Sound of Music” fame.)

We loved driving through the State on small side roads, looking for the “ski slopes”, and the wonderful scenery. We could imagine what those “slopes” looked like covered with snow in the winter, but we never ventured there so late in the year.

The first time we arrived in Stowe, we looked for - and finally found - The Trapp Family Lodge and Restaurant. We arrived, of course, at the noon hour so we might see Maria “working the room” in the Restaurant. We were told in Stowe that she did that.

That first time, sure enough, while we were waiting for our dessert, Maria came through the room, visiting and shaking hands with her guests. She stopped by our table, and we got to speak with her, and shake her hand.

She was dressed like Julie Andrews was in “The Sound of Music”, of course - with a white apron, and white hat. Very jovial!

(This wasn't OUR picture. I got it from the Internet.)

I can’t tell you the year this was, but I DO remember that a year or so after that, we drove there again, and the Lodge and Restaurant had burned down. Later then, a NEW Lodge was built, but we didn’t go there.

This just comes to mind:

One of the times we were in Vermont, we stayed at a Holiday Inn in Rutland. While eating breakfast, coming into the room were three of the Lawrence Welk Troupe - Guy and Ralna Hovis, and Joe Feeney. They ate breakfast just across from us. We acted like we didn’t notice them, of course, but all the same, we were peeking at them - like “star struck” tourists.

I also just now remember the first time we went to Vermont, we didn’t know anything about the area then, and we were anxious to find a place to stay.

We saw a “Bed and Breakfast” style inn, and stopped by late in the afternoon - about supper time. Though it was a little early in the season for BIG business, this place was still just about full.

There was one room, however, but it was a large one for a large family, and they were holding it for a family that size. We pleaded with them to let us stay there anyway, since we were getting worried about having to sleep in the car. They said to come back in an hour of so, and if no one had rented it, they would let us do so. We did.

I don’t, of course, remember the cost, but they obviously felt sorry for us, and didn’t want us to sleep in the car, so they let us rent it.

Big relief!

(While writing this, I’m pausing several times to let my “sub-conscious memory” kick in. Sometimes it works.)

Oh……..one year when we went to Vermont, we hadn’t planned on it at all.

We were in northeastern New York, at the Word of Life Camp at Schroon Lake, in the Adirondacks (just visiting, not staying). While there, we visited Lake Placid also, where the Winter Olympics had been held a year or so before. We drove right by the LARGE ski jump that was used then.

After that, we headed north to Lake Champlain, and took a ferry across to Vermont. I don’t remember exactly where we crossed, but it might have been at Essex, or farther north to Burlington VT.

There were nearly a score of cars and buses on that ferry! One of the large buses was right next to us, and as the ferry kinda “rocked”, so did the bus, and it gave us an eerie feeling.

One year, we drove north from Vermont, right into Montreal, Canada. No travel restrictions then, of course. We didn’t even need a passport.

Because of my enthrallment (it’s a word. I looked it up.) with the French language, I always wanted to visit Montreal.

You know, I guess, that even if English is the national language of Canada, the principal language in Montreal is French.

Here’s the official word on that - from the Internet:

Montreal is a cosmopolitan city. Quebec's language laws impose restrictions on outdoor signs in languages other than French so you will see few signs in English, but in the parts of Montreal where most travellers go, services are available in English. French is heard in all parts of the city but in many neighbourhoods other languages will also be heard. Only half of Montreal's residents speak French at home.

The city is on an island, actually, in the St. Lawrence River. Its population is well over 3 million - the second largest in Canada, behind Toronto, Ontario. Montreal is in Quebec Province.

(Please forgive the "dimness" of this map. I think it DOES show that the river flows AROUND Montreal. Sorry.)

It’s pronounced: Moan- ray-al (as in alley), Kay-bek. (Montreal, Quebec.) The “n” sound in Montreal is soft, and in between the “h” and “n” sound, with a nasal quality.

I don’t remember that we stayed there very long, but it was an interesting experience for me, the “wannabe French speaker”.

I JUST had a terrific remembrance about THAT trip!

The Montreal Expos, in that day, played in a Baseball park known to American baseball broadcasters as “Jerry Park”.

OK.

But, the actual name was “Parc Jarry”, pronounced “PARK jar-REE.

It was the home of the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1976, when it was then replaced by Olympic Stadium, after the Montreal Olympics.

Here's the Right Field Scoreboard at Parc Jarry:

When we drove by Parc Jarry, we were stunned by the small size of it, being used to stadia like Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

To get back home, we took what we thought was a “trans-national highway”, that is NOW numbered Highway 401 (who knows what it might have been numbered in those days), west to Toronto, then down to Hamilton, Ontario, and on to Buffalo and home.

As reported here earlier in “New England Vacation”, Jean and I always had a fascination for New England and the Northeast.

What follows may be extraneous material for the subject of “Vermont Trips”, but it happened when we were in Vermont - and Maine.

Traveling east to New Hampshire, we ran across the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort at Bretton Woods, NH. We were not looking for it, but just naturally looked out our side windows, and “across the river and through the woods”, was a MAMMOTH hotel, sitting right on top of a mountain.

We were stunned!

This was the hotel that held the United Nations Monetary Conference, later named the Bretton Woods Conference. I had heard of that for years, and when I realized this was the site, I was “flabbergasted” (a good old Mechanicsburg word.)

Here’s the official word from Wikipedia, on the Internet:

The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, commonly known as Bretton Woods conference, was a gathering of 730 delegates from all 44 Allied nations at the Mount Washington Hotel, situated in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to regulate the international monetary and financial order after the conclusion of World War II.[1]

The conference was held from 1 July to 22 July 1944 in July, when the agreements were signed to set up the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As a result of the conference, the Bretton Woods system of exchange rate management was set up, which remained in place until the early 1970s.

I now remember that the time we saw the Hotel for the first time, Jodi was with us for our New England Vacation.

Here's Jodi (left) and Grandma (Jean), with the Hotel in background

We found a lane, or driveway, and drove back to the front of the hotel.

It was awesome!

So we could say we were in the hotel, Jodi and I got out of the car and went inside - exploring the lobby. We didn’t stay long, I don’t think, but long enough to brag about it - like right now.

Well, that was New Hampshire and not Vermont, but after all, this is “free association writing”, and in that form, you write what you are thinking.

Or, at least I do.

Back To The Bible 40th

2009-10-05T08:35:00.009-04:00

When the Back to the Bible broadcast celebrated its 40th Anniversary, Jean and I drove to Lincoln NE to help celebrate.

It was in 1979, and my memory is that Theodore Epp was still alive, and was sharing the teaching with Warren Wiersbe. I couldn’t find anyone presentlly at B to B who was there in 1979, so my memory has to suffice.

Lincoln was a place to which we had never traveled before. And, since that was WAY before the GPS systems had been invented, we followed the old fashioned map in a Road Atlas.

My first personal contact with Theodore Epp, the founder of the broadcast in 1939, was when I was still at the Moody Bible Institute, as part of its Radio Ministry - sometime between 1954 and 1965.

Mr. Epp had been at the Institute, and spoke to the Student Body. While there, he visited the radio studios.

However, it wasn’t at the studios that I first saw him, but rather, in the Lobby of Crowell Hall, the main building of MBI then.

I had come back from the Sweet Shoppe, I think, having just had lunch. Entering the lobby to go to the elevator for the 10th floor, I glanced to my right as I came in (the elevators were to the left), and seated there in one of the straight backed chairs, was Theodore Epp. I recognized him right away from his pictures.

Was he reading a book? Or looking around? Or talking to someone ? Surely he was on his Cell Phone? (I’m being facetious.)

No.

Rather, he was very seriously looking at small cards in his hand, taken from a memory packet in his pocket, and he was memorizing scripture. He was oblivious of anyone or thing around him. In fact, when I approached him, he didn’t see me until I said, “Mr. Epp?”

He looked up right away and smiled.

He didn’t know me “from Adam”, as we used to say in Mechanicsburg. He just saw me as a fellow human being - and smiled.

I don’t remember a bit of our conversation, or what we each did after that, but I would HOPE that I had enough sense to invite him to follow me to the 10th floor and offices of WMBI.

He started the broadcast all by himself, in the studio of a secular radio station. No music. No announcer. No fanfare. Just Bible Teaching.

There have been two more regular speakers on the broadcast since his retirement - Dr. Warren Wiersbe, and Dr. Wilbur Kroll - who still speaks today.

I seems to me that on our trip for the 40th Celebration, we drove directly west to Omaha, then southwest to Lincoln.

In getting downtown to where the Broadcast was then located, we passed right by the football stadium of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Couldn’t remember the name of the stadium, but the Internet indicates that the Memorial Stadium was build in 1923. Many changes and seat additions since then.

It seems to me that the main celebration for the 40th, was held across the street from the historic site of the broadcast at that time.

Several other Christian station operators were there also, all of them friends of mine from the National Religious Broadcasters. We had quite a get together, renewing acquaintances, and meeting new ones.

I could try to remember some of those in attendance, and two or three do come to mind, but suffice it to say that the celebration was honoring Back To The Bible, not us station operators.

Something I remember now is that this occasion was the first I had heard of Charles Swindoll, and “Insight For Living”. Dick Bott from KCCV at Kansas City, a long time friend told me that this would be a good addition to the WEEC schedule. I said that our schedule was full, but he said that if he could look at our schedule, he could find a time.

Well, I’ve never programmed like that, but I did get a sample tape of Swindoll, and, convinced that it would be a good addition to our schedule, I found a suitable time. Daily at 7 PM. Then too, another longtime friend, Al Sanders, was the announcer on the broadcast.

It’s been at that time ever since.

While at Back to the Bible, we saw the studio where Mr. Epp broadcast from at that time, including his table, chair and microphone. Beside him was where the Choir sang. In the early days of the broadcast, they were produced live.

I was told that in those days, after the choir had been added, Mr. Epp would end his teaching at precisely 25 minutes, to allow time for the last Choir number, and the closing announcements. To be sure he didn’t go “over” in his time, the broadcast recording was started at 35 minutes past the hour, so at precisely the next hour, Mr. Epp would say good bye.

I don’t remember how many days Jean and I stayed in Lincoln, but I DO remember it was at the Holiday Inn, practically on the Airport grounds, north of town.

Many years later, when John and family moved from California (and Focus on the Family) back to Chicago (and Moody Bible Institute), they drove all the way, with their furniture being taken by truck.

The end of one of the 5 or 6 days they traveled brought them to Lincoln NE, and the Holiday Inn. Our granddaughter Molly, unaware of our previous visit to Lincoln, listened attentively to Tonya talking to me, when I related that we had stayed there years before.

Molly was dumbfounded when she heard just one end of the conversation, and asked her mother, “What did Grandpa say about this Motel?” Tonya told her about our previous visit. Apparently Molly decided that they couldn’t go anywhere that Grandpa and Grandma hadn’t already been to.

After leaving Lincoln, we drove west to Cheyenne WY to fill up with gas. A remarkable thing to me was that, on May 1, snow was falling on Cheyenne. Amazing.

Some details of the rest of the trip are a little hazy to me, so I MIGHT be combining one or more trips together.

Going north from Cheyenne (I 25 wasn’t built yet), we ended up at the Mount Rushmore National Park, southwest of Rapid City SD.

Black Hills, the Bad Lands and Mount Rushmore are in this area.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial to four presidents was breathtaking! Though we had been there before, it was still awesome. The first time, we visited inside the building. This time, we just marveled at the sight. It could be seen from some distance away, through gaps in the mountains.

Driving through this part of the country, we had to stop on the road to allow buffalo (or bison) to cross the road.

We had heard of the “Bad Lands” for many years, but couldn’t imagine what they were like.

We found out.

We drove east from Rapid City to Wall SD, visited “Wall Drug” seen on thousands of signs along highways in the midwest and west, then took off southeast to enter the Bad Lands.

Here’s ONLY a part of Wall Drug.

Here's the promotional bit:

Wall Drug
Wall, South Dakota

For some classic road trip Americana, there's no better place to stop than Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It's more than a drugstore; it's an insane shopping experience right out of America's wild West. The 77,000-square-foot building is six times the size of an average drug store and stocked full of wacky Western wear. You won't miss it, because Wall Drug has more than 250 signs advertising its location along I-90. The tactic works -- Wall welcomes 2.2 million visitors a year, more than the entire population of South Dakota.

From there, we entered The Bad Lands, with desert, cliffs, mountains, animals, etc.

Here’s the OFFICIAL welcome to the Bad Lands:

Greetings and welcome to Badlands National Park.

Badlands contains some of the most spectacular vistas
and scenery in the world. It’s geological and
paleontological resources provide insight into climatic
history and biological diversity during the
Eocene/Oligocene periods. The area in and around the
Badlands also contains places of spiritual and historical
significance for the local Lakota community.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is a must see with our
award winning video and many new and exciting
books in our bookstore run by Badlands Natural History
Association. We hope you also take time to visit the South Unit of the park where
the White River Visitor Center offers a glimpse into the Native American influence and culture.

Take time to enjoy our Night Sky program at the amphitheater and
enjoy one of the most spectacular night skies in the country.
While you spend time at this special place in this special land, take time to view
and listen to the magnificence and splendor of the Badlands. The natural resources and beauty of the area have been preserved for you and for future generations to experience the rich heritage of our natural and cultural history.

And, some pictures from the Internet:

I don’t remember how long we were gone on the initial trip to Lincoln, but we saw some incredible sights. I wish I could remember more.

Isn’t it great that these trips and experiences allow me to “ramble on” in describing them?

(You don’t have to agree. We’ll still be friends! Just don‘t tell me.)

Resident Council

2009-10-02T08:43:00.006-04:00

I’ve learned in the past, that most facilities for the Elderly have what is called a “Resident Council”.

I don’t know exactly how it’s done at other places, but my guess is that through some kind of “nomination process” and election, candidates for the Council are chosen by the residents. Just like here.

I suppose the duties and/or responsibilities at these facilities differ from place to place, but it would seem, at least, that the Council would represent the residents to the Management.

I’m not sure yet, but I think that’s the way it is here.

When Jean and I were here two to three years ago, I was nominated to serve on this Council, but I declined, due to my need to care for Jean.

I no longer have that excuse.

The members of the present Council - three of whose terms expire this year - nominated me again to serve.

I’m not sure I want to be “tied down” in that way, though honestly, I don’t really know what are the duties of the Council members.

I kept saying, “I don’t know. Let me pray over it first.”

The first two who approached me were ladies already on the Council - in fact the two whose terms DO NOT end this year - and I put off both of them - for more time to consider.

Finally in July, they really began to get serious about nominees, since the election is to be held September 22 and 23 - TODAY, actually.

When they sent a man - one of those whose term was expiring - to see me - I had a hard time delaying.

I finally acquiesced, and agreed to serve if elected.

At the August Town Hall meeting (when ALL the residents are asked to meet together in the dining room), those nominated by the present Council members were presented as accepting. One of them, a lady, said she hadn’t really acquiesced.

It was announced that a person could put his or her own name in nomination, providing an additional ten names were signed as joining in the nomination.

There was one of those who right away got the ten signatures.

The “vacillating” lady finally acquiesced, and including me, there are now 6 candidates for the 3 vacancies.

Yesterday, there was a “Meet The Resident Council Candidates” meeting, and all six candidates appeared before a few residents.

We were lined up in front of the residents at the front of the Dining Room, and were asked to state our names, tell of our residence time here, and mention why we wanted to be elected.

Since I was reticent, and was CERTAINLY not going to "campaign", I immediately had a problem.

Fortunately, I was the third in line, alphabetically, to answer. It gave me time to pray and think.

Those before me introduced themselves, told of their stay here, and told why they thought they should be elected.

The night before, thinking about my reticence to serve, I asked the Lord for Guidance in what I was to say. I didn’t want to appear either pompous, or too reticent. I wasn’t sure what to say until I got to my feet.

Since my speech was so short, I don’t have any trouble remembering what I said, which was:

“My name is Mike Maddex, and I ‘started out as a child’. (snickers) I was asked to let my name stand in nomination for this post, and I promised to serve if elected.”

That was it.

The residents were allowed to ask any questions, which no one did.

The present Chairman (if that’s the proper title) told us all the procedures to be followed the next day in the election.

Ballots were to be placed in our “in baskets” beside our doors, and we were to mark them for 3 candidates sometime today or tomorrow, and give them to the Office Manager - Lisa - for processing. We would be notified on Monday at the September Town Hall meeting who the new members would be.

This is the first day of balloting, and the Staff is encouraging the residents to vote - today or tomorrow.

As I think I’ve made clear, I know nothing about the job the Council members are asked to perform, nor the slightest idea who will be elected.

When you read this, down the page somewhere will be the results of the election. I feel it is necessary to present my feelings at this time - before the results are announced.

The ballots were made up by the Activities Director, and look like this:

The election is in God’s Hands.

Thursday: The Staff is still encouraging the residents to vote, and drop off the completed ballots in the office.

On Monday, September 28, at the monthly Town Hall meeting, the winning candidates for Resident Council were introduced: Helen Curry; Mike Maddex; and Paul Bartruff.

After other matters of interest were discussed, the short meeting was adjourned, and the new Resident Council met with Management.

The Council is now made up of: the two continuing members, Diane Mohr and Betty Bohn; plus the newly elected: Helen Curry; Paul Bartruff; and Mike Maddex.

The meeting was brief since the previous Chairman, Diane Mohr, was ill, but an informal discussion was had about some potential matters to be discussed later.

The organization - electing a Chairman and Secretary - was postponed until Diane was able to attend. However, the consensus of the three other members in the meeting is that I should be elected “Chairman”, “President”, “Head Honcho” or whatever,

I asked about a list of the “by-laws”, or other rules governing the Council, and was promised copies later.

On Wednesday, we had our first organizational meeting. All five Council Members attended. I had asked a Management representative to attend, since it was under their auspices that the election was held. and I was elected President, and Helen Curry Secretary.

We preliminarily discussed several topics that we wanted to cover in detail later. A major concern was the poor attendance at the monthly Town Hall meetings of the Residents.

Our next meeting is on Monday, with the regular meeting with the Executive Director scheduled for the following Monday.

Lest it appear that I might bore you with the “Minutes” of our meetings, let me say that this is all I plan to say about them.

Reticent though I was, now that I’m committed, I think I’ll enjoy this activity. Pushy as I am, I hope the residents don’t regret their decision.

I did buy a new edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, and have typed out a proposed agenda for the next meeting.

Navy Pier

2009-09-29T08:40:00.017-04:00

As part of my vacation “up north”, I spent all day Sunday with my Chicago family - at Navy Pier.

As related earlier, I traveled to northwestern Indiana to see my family, and help celebrate, what turned out to be, three birthdays. I had moved from there about 6 months ago, after spending the previous 18 months with our son John, his wife Tonya, and in the same town, 4 grand-children, and 6 great-grandchildren.

My wife of 65 years - not her age, but our years together - joined the heavenly chorus the previous October.

On about Thursday of the week at John’s, I called my Chicago family to arrange to visit them also. Our former daughter-in-law Betty, along with her son Jim, daughter Sherilyn and granddaughter (my GREAT-granddaughter) Elora, drove to Chesterton on Sunday morning to pick me up.

Elora

I had offered to take the South Shore train to Chicago, but they called me right back, insisting that they would come and get me.

Works for me!

At about 10:30 on Sunday morning, the four of them arrived at John’s front door, and ushered me into the front seat of Jim’s car. Jim, Jr., that is.

The weather was rainy, and a little cold. Betty said that they were hoping for a nice sunny day, so we could enjoy ourselves at the relatively new entertainment center (at least to me) on Navy Pier in Chicago.

On our drive west on I 90, then north on Stony Island Avenue in Chicago, the weather began getting better and better. Jim turned onto Lake Shore Drive, right next to the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago’s south side, and the drive along the lake was unusually pleasant. Nice day after all.

We had been to Navy Pier maybe 50 or 60 years ago, when it was mostly “just a pier”, so to speak. Not now! It has turned into an amazing Amusement Park.

Jim made the proper turns, and we ended up driving to the Parking Garage there, and ended up on the fourth floor of the garage. We all got out, and headed for the elevator.

Arriving at ground level, it became obvious that this was a place to be desired - if one wanted to enjoy oneself - with eating, relaxation, rides - including maybe the largest “Ferris Wheel” I ever saw. It may not have even been called that, but it was a big wheel that “went around”, with seats on it. Looked like a “Ferris Wheel” to me.

From a distance, I kept looking at it and wondering why it never moved. I kept looking back and staring at it. After awhile, I discovered that IT WAS MOVING - just so slowly that I couldn’t tell it.

In about the center of one of the inside walkways was a stage, which provided different family entertainment every half hour. Jim discovered that a fellow magician friend of his was to perform at 1:30, so we decided we’d eat - then watch the show.

We made for the inside “fast food” places, and ate. Some wanted McDonald’s and others something else. I went to the other side and saw a Chinese place, so I got two egg rolls.

After eating outside on park benches,

in the sun,

and under the umbrella, it was time to “go to the show”.

(Elora - 4 years old - took most of these “umbrella” pictures.)

Time for the Magic Show!

Elora was chosen as one of the helpers.

The Magician turned out to be VERY GOOD. His presentation was, in my layman’s opinion, captivating.

After the show, we began pondering what was next on the agenda.

Somebody said, “Well, there’s always a boat ride. (There must have been a dozen different boats, and types of rides).

Having decided that, Jim and Betty started for the ticket booth - handily blocking me from getting in front.

“What’s goin’ on?”, I asked. Jim said, “We’re payin’.” These guys had determined ahead of time that they wouldn’t let me spend anything - if they could help it. I DID manage to buy my own ice cream cup, and finally, INSISTED on paying for the parking.

The boat ride we took was called the “Architectural Boat Ride”, which traversed the Chicago River - from middle, to north, to south. Featured were the “dozens” of sky scrapers that graced the Chicago sky line. The Tour Guide was outstanding. He told us not only WHAT the buildings were, but also, the names of the Architects, Builders, and year of being erected.

Here we were near the boat:

We had lived in Chicago for 11 years in the 50’s and 60’s, and I had NEVER dreamed such information could be known - much less remembered - by one individual.

He went to great lengths to point out to us where “Mrs. O’Leary’s cow” was that “tipped over the lantern”, that started the Chicago fire of 1871.

Didn’t happen, according to our Guide. He said that in 1893, a reporter admitted spreading the false story. The exact origin is unknown.

Here is an artist's rendering of the devastation:

The Guide seemed a little “put out” about the renaming of the Sears Tower, to be the Willis Tower. After all, it is the tallest building in the City, and it was built as the Sears Tower. Apparently the building has a new owner, and he chose the new name.

The boat ride - and tour - lasted an hour, and the time went quickly.

After we got off the boat, the Tour Guide was standing near the exit, and I said to him,

“Just how many gigabytes of memory do you have in your brain to remember all that data.”

He smiled and said, “Glad you enjoyed it.” We did!

I haven’t mentioned my chronic back problem when I walk very far without stopping. I still had it that day, and we stopped several times to rest. Elora was always ready to go.

Arriving back on the Pier, we were thinking about what ride(s) Elora would like to take. No one was interested in the Ferris Wheel.

Elora, though, had experienced a ride on the “up and down” ride, and she wanted to to do it again.

After this, the afternoon had been mostly spent. We started “meandering” back to the elevator and the Parking Garage. We arrived on the 4th floor, and there was Jim’s car.

I think mostly for my benefit, he went right back to Lake Shore Drive, and headed north. Many memories flooded in - of our time in Chicago - included swimming at North Avenue Beach.

Jim followed the “Drive” all the way to Irving Park - “Forty hundred north”, I remembered - then west to nearly Cicero Avenue, then south again to Addison Street (“3600 north”), and their Condo.

Though it was late afternoon, no one even thought of eating.

My return to Chesterton could have been done at least 3 ways:

1. Jim take me back in his car; or,

2. Take me to the Randolph Street South Shore station to ride the train; or;

3. Board a bus on Addison Street east to the Elevated Station, then to the Loop and get off near the Soulth Shore station at Randolph and Michigan Avenue.

John would have to pick me up at the Dune Park station for the last two options.

A possibility that John planned before I left Chesterton on Sunday morning was for him and Tonya to pick me up, after depositing Molly’s husband Troy at the O’Hare Airport terminal to return to his 6 week Police Training in South Carolina.

Of course, that was the only feasible, and sensible course to take.

After Navy Pier, we arrived at the Condo, and just sat around talking, not even interested in anything on TV. We reminisced some, including my being able to talk to Betty’s brother, John Bach, on the telephone. I had last talked to him some 40 to 45 years ago. It was just as if we had talked last week.

At about 7:30, John called after leaving O’Hare to make arrangements to pick me up. I told him the route Jimmy suggested, and he said he’d call back when he was a few blocks away. John didn’t want to find a parking place to come in and visit, so after he called the last time, all four of us went downstairs and across the street to meet them.

They arrived shortly.

As I opened their back door to get in, I was astonished to see Troy still in the car, along with his daughter, Priscilla.

There had been someone who had fallen (or jumped) off the Chicago Avenue bridge across I 90 as they were coming into down town, and the traffic jam that ensued kept Troy from meeting his flight. Had to wait until the next day.

After some time of socializing together after a long time away, we got under way back toward Chesterton.

John and Tonya found a restaurant on Addison Street that they used to frequent when they lived there. We stopped for Dinner.

We then went back to the car, and Troy suggested he drive instead of John, to give him a break.

We arrived home safely.

On Sunday, Jimmy had asked me how I was going to return to Springfield, and I told him I had bought a bus ticket on Friday, and John was planning on driving me to South Bend to meet the bus, leaving at 8 AM Monday.

Jimmy said he’d like to drive me all the way back to Ohio. I said I’d try to arrange for a refund of my bus ticket, and accepted his offer.

(It’s now a month later, and I STILL haven’t received my refund!)

On Monday at about 10AM, Jimmy arrived, and we both left for Ohio.

Uneventful trip, capping a wonderful 6 days with these two branches of my family, in Chesterton IN and Chicago IL.

Vacation Up North

2009-09-26T12:37:00.015-04:00

I couldn’t just name this “Vacation”, since I’ve taken a number of them since I’ve been writing. I’ve been to Florida to visit our Granddaughter Kelly and her family; I came to Ohio from Indiana; and I recently returned from a 6 day vacation in Northwest Indiana - then Chicago.

Our Granddaughter Molly was celebrating her 35th Birthday in August, so I wrote to John in July to see if any “celebration” were planned.

He replied that no “specific” plans had been made, but that they’d be glad for me to come up anyway.

Molly’s birthday was on Saturday, and since I am retired, my schedule is practically vacant - at least for major things. So, I wondered about taking a Bus to Chesterton, on Thursday before her birthday.

When I mentioned this to Jim and John, they got together on the telephone and decided they’d like for Jim to take me “half way” - somewhere near Lafayette - so I wouldn’t have to spend all day on the bus - and John would meet us there. The bus ride DOES take about nine hours for the whole trip. I’ve taken it before.

With my practically empty schedule - at least most anything could be dropped - I told them to just let me know when it was convenient for them to “drop me off”. No problem.

I marked the dates of Friday thru the following Monday to be gone, and I deleted normal plans for daily exercising; breakfast, lunch and supper every day (these are regularly on my BlackBerry daily schedule); lunch outing trips; afternoon bus rides; etc.

About a week before, John called and said that he and Tonya would be in Bloomington IN over that previous week-end, and were planning on returning home on Tuesday (prior to the planned Thursday). They would be driving through Indianapolis. Meeting there would be no change for John and Tonya, and would be considerably shorter for Jim to drive, taking me.

“Works for me”, I said.

On that Tuesday, Jim called and said he’d pick me up near 5PM. I suggested that I might save his coming all the way to my place, if I would just drive over to his house - on the way to Indianapolis from here. I’d just leave my car and car keys with him.

Our schedules worked out right, and at about 5:30PM, we left Springfield.

Jim and John reported from Cell to Cell, to learn what our locations were, as we drove.

About 15 or 20 minutes before we planned to meet, Jim and I “pulled” into a BP station on Post Road east of Indianapolis, and Jim reported to John that we had arrived.

They were on their way, and shortly, they drove in. They came right beside Jim’s van on my side, and Tonya and John got out. We greeted one another and hugged. They had already eaten, so I went in to the station for a milk shake. They went to Jim’s side of the car, and they each got caught up on news of the families.

We parted our ways - Jim back to Springfield, and us to Chesterton.

We arrived at maybe 10 PM, and we brought in our luggage, and went to bed. I slept in the same bed and room that Jean and I had while we were living with them.

Nostalgic!

There were many people I had gotten to know while living there a year and a half - not the least of which were the men at the Wednesday night Bible Class that I had attended, and, the church I visited on Sundays.

But, I was there for FAMILY, and I was determined to stay with them whenever I could.

On Wednesday morning after breakfast, John and Tonya were busy with their Internet Radio Ministry they were involved in - especially after being gone for several days in Southern Indiana.

And, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren wouldn’t be available until after 10 AM.

That being the case, at a little before 9AM, I asked John if he felt it was OK for me to take their second car and visit the Nursing Home where Jean had been a resident for 5 months before she passed.

“Fine”, he said.

I then drove the familiar 2 or 3 miles to the Nursing Home, and went in the door I always entered before.

Right away, I saw four staff members I had known, before I had hardly left the front door. We greeted each other - and hugged. All glad to see me, as I was them.

On the way to the Nurses' Floor where Jean had lived, I stopped by the Rehabilitation Center, then across the Hall to the Beauty Parlor which Jean had frequented regularly. Remembered and greeted several staff members in the Center, and the Beautician came to the door and hugged me. Farther down that hall were the Activity Director and her Assistant. Two hugs again.

Turning the corner to the second hall, I ran across Claude, a tall male African American Nurse I remembered, and he said, “Mike. How are you?” And gave me a hug.

Farther down to the Nurses’ station, I saw several nurses, aides and other staff I remembered from before, and we all had a friendly greeting for each other, and several hugs.

I saw two of the three ladies that Jean ate with every meal. Though I saw them independently, both smiled, but didn’t remember me - nor even Jean when I mentioned her name.

Kind of a shock.

I left then, after asking for the code to let me out of the door.

I must have been told a “dozen” times that “You're lookin' good”. Of course, I then gave them my standard story about that, and it seemed like none of them had heard it.

It was time enough then to go to Molly’s.

But first, I drove by Jean’s grave site in the Cemetery there. John and Tonya have kept it up. It’s a block and a half from both Molly’s and Bobby’s houses.

I pulled up out in front of Molly’s, and hadn’t even got the door open, when Elijah, Mary, Priscilla and Benjamin all RAN out to meet me. Many hugs were had by all. Molly followed shortly, and welcomed me in. Heere are Mary, Elijah, Priscilla and Benjamin on their front porch.

The first thing I noticed outside was the new Trampoline in their back/side yard. Molly’s family and their neighbor bought it together.

Awesome!

Inside, every one spoke at once, and we just “reacquainted” ourselves with one another. They showed me new things, and Mary right away wanted to play “Barbies”.

She had a new Barbie house I hadn’t seen before, so she got it out while I got down on the floor beside her. Molly right away hauled out her camera and took pictures.

After awhile, John and Tonya walked in the door, and asked Mary and me if we wanted to go to Merrillville to the “grocery”. Of course we did.

Tonya got in back with Mary and the car seat, and I climbed in beside John.

That Mary, about to turn four, jabbered to Tonya the whole time. Tonya came right back at her, and they talked and giggled the whole way.

I must stop right here and mention something.

For years, I’ve said - very sincerely - that Jean was the “best Grandma” I ever laid eyes on. I know her grandchildren think that.

But, seeing Tonya with HER grandchildren the 6 days I was there, and remembering her with them while we lived there, I have to say that Tonya rates right up there with Jean as the “best Grandma”.

Before the “grocery”, we stopped at a fast food restaurant for terrific hamburger sandwiches, then on to the store.

I had remembered the store from when I lived with them. And, I have to say, it may be the LARGEST and most complete “grocery store” I have ever seen. And, it’s MORE than a “grocery store”.

This was Wednesday, the night when the Men’s Bible Class meets. It would have been nice to go there, but I found out what the family was doing, and I went with them.

One of the things we did was to take Elijah - Molly’s oldest - to Valparaiso for a play practice. Then, later we picked him up.

After dropping him off at home, we went to Bobby and Paige’s to visit. Paige’s brother, Zachary is temporarily staying with them as he gets his business off the ground. We spent a nice time with them - Bobby, Paige, Isabelle, Janie and Zach.

What a wonderful thing - to visit with family you don’t see regularly.

On Thursday, John and Tonya had a lot to do, besides letting me use my “ScanDisk Drive” in their computer, to get stories to write on and post on my blog.

There were two Pharmacists I had gotten acquainted with when I lived there, but both of them were unavailable Wednesday or Thursday. I saw them both on Friday - one in the next town of Portage.

I spent part of Thursday morning visiting my barber; banker; hearing aid specialist; pastor; and Jean’s main and favorite Nurse named Beth, at the Nursing Home. I had missed her on Wednesday. We greeted each other with a hug, and a “nice to see you”.

The rest of Thursday is a “blur”, but I did offer to take John and Tonya out to eat - which never happened! Instead, on Saturday night THEY TOOK ME to my favorite restaurant in Northern Indiana - well, really in southwest Michigan - in the town of New Buffalo.

I didn’t get to spend much money in Northern Indiana this trip.

On Friday morning, John said, “When we get done here, let’s go for a ride. Maybe to Amish Country”.

We stopped by Molly’s to pick up Mary, then we got Janie - Bobby and Paige’s youngest - and took off for Goshen, Indiana - in the Amish Country.

On the way, the girls and Tonya in the backseat, were jabbering all the way. Tonya had told them that we were going to a Restaurant, but that it was a secret. When one of their mothers called (Don’t remember which one), the girls said they had a secret, and were NOT going to tell. Lots of fun.

We got to Goshen, and John took us right to the South Side Restaurant there - a landmark, actually - that Jean had gone with us to over a year ago. We all had our meal - talking the whole time - then got back in the car for the return trip, another way.

Mary, Tonya and Janie in South Side Restaurant.

What a wonderful day!

Earlier picture of Benjamin, Isabelle (Bobby and Paige's oldest) and Priscilla.

Late that afternoon, I took one final trip to the Nursing Home - planning to arrive there during the evening meal. I hadn’t been able to see Jean’s former roommate before, and I knew I could at mealtime.

When I walked by the Dining Room, she waved to me. I was a little shocked, for she was now in a wheel chair. Before, she did a lot of walking around the Home. She’s only a little over 50, but suffers from MS, and is in declining health.

I went to the other dining room where Jean ate, and saw the mother of one of Jean’s table mates there with the others. She used to come at noon to see her mother.

I was glad to see her, and told her that her mother hadn’t recognized me. She shook her head, because she knew. A third “table mate” was there, and she said she thought I looked familiar, but she couldn’t place me. I mentioned that I was the husband of Jean, but I’m not sure that registered.

Finally on Friday, I visited the family of John and Tonya’s Orthodox priest, Father Bill Bass, knowing that I couldn’t see them after church Sunday, since I was going to Chicago. After MY church each Sunday, I visited theirs to fellowship in the basement.

They had just returned from Notre Dame, having taken their son, Billie there for a 4 year “full ride”, on a swimming scholarship.

On Saturday, we not only celebrated Molly’s 35th, but also Mary’s 4th, and Troy’s (?) Anyway, here’s their picture with their cake.

Wonderful vacation!

Confession and Warning

2009-09-23T07:37:00.002-04:00

I had an interesting, and maybe even shocking development this past week, at least to me.

Totally unexpected.

After the Music On The Lawn “concert” on Sunday, I knew I had to take back the microphone, cord, and stand that I had borrowed from WEEC. I meant to do it on Monday, then Tuesday, but didn’t actually get around to it until Wednesday.

Shortly after breakfast seemed a good time to do it. I needed to go to the Church I’ve been attending also, to pay for an upcoming Seniors tour, with a group called “Golden Gaters”.

I guess I left my apartment at about 8:45 AM, since, after breakfast, I wanted to be sure it was suitable for the weekly “housekeeping” crew. Of course, I didn’t have to clean up, but I DID need to put a few things out of the way for the Cleaners.

When I was about 10 minutes from WEEC, I realized that I would probably arrive there while they were having their daily devotions at 9 AM. I thought I probably should have maybe gone to the Church first, so I wouldn’t interrupt the devotions.

But I didn’t.

I continued to WEEC, arriving shortly after they had started their Devotions.

Carrying the microphone and stand, I nodded to the staff in the Conference Room, while I walked down to Tracy’s office to return it.

I then came back near that room, and I was invited to join them in the rest of their devotions. They had just been mentioning some Prayer Requests they had, and distributing sheets with the requests on them to various ones there.

When I walked in, I was gladly greeted by all, and I listened to the remaining discussion about the requests.

All of them seemed interested in my presence, and Ruth Book - now Staff Announcer, but the Administrative Assistant when I was still there - asked me about some of the residents she knew at the Grand Court, and then asked me something about “devotions”, which I later discovered I had TOTALLY mis-understood.

I answered rather “nebulously”, I think.

We went to prayer then, and starting with me, each one of us prayed for the various requests before us - including for one of the programs aired on WEEC; one of the Staff Members; one of the Board Members; and one or more of the requests that had been called in.

During this time of prayer, I found myself “mulling over” what I thought Ruth had asked me, and felt obligated to explain more fully my present devotional practices.

I waited, of course, until the prayer time was over, then I asked them if it would be OK if I kept them a little longer, because I wanted to make a confession, along with a warning. All said OK.

I then explained that I needed to add to my answer to Ruth earlier, since I felt constrained to make a confession.

I indicated that for more that 45 years in the past, I had been reading or quoting a portion of the Bible every single day - without exception. But now, I found myself a little lax in that area - not really knowing why that was. Some place along the line, I had missed some days occasionally, and it distressed me. I wasn’t as faithful to that course as in the past.

In addition, I told them that my experience might be a warning to them, that in their coming advanced years (in which I certainly am now), they might find themselves in a similar predicament, and that they should not be “complacent” - as I apparently was - in this vital area of Bible reading and prayer.

Not that I don’t pray - or don’t read the Bible - but I have not been as faithful in these areas as I once was, to my shame!

The confession appeared to be received with understanding, and needed no comment from any of them.

I finally said, “Boy! I didn’t know I was going to say all of that!”

(Ruth indicated that this wasn’t her question at all! I had mis-understood! Too late now!)

But GOD knew, didn’t He?

Afterward, I felt no sorrow that I had made the confession and warning, and cheerfully left them for the Church.

Though not sorrowful even the next day that I had done so, it did “shake me up” a little. And caused some contemplation on my part.

I Cor. 10:12-13: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation (or testing) taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (or tested) above that ye are able: but will WITH the temptation (or testing) also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (emphasis added.)

“ lest he fall”?

I don’t know that I FELL, but my soul is missing the spiritual food I could have received if I had continued the DAILY reading.

Lord have Mercy!

Music On The Lawn

2009-09-20T07:27:00.014-04:00

I’ve mentioned before that we have several activities, and even entertainments here at the Grand Court.

One of them occurred on Grandparents Day, September 13.

One day in July, Timi Neff, our Lifestyles Program Director (or is it “Coordinator”), asked me if my son Jim could suggest a musical group to bring in. (I had told her about his singing with the Springfield Symphony.) She hadn’t been able to come up with a group that could come.

I called Jim, and he said he would think about it. Then, before long, he called me and said he would be glad to bring his guitar, and present some Folk, Country and popular music for the time.

I asked him to come by to meet with Timi. He did. They got together, and Timi asked him to participate.

Occasionally Jim and I would discuss this, including the fact that the Grand Court no longer had a “sound system”. He thought of his friend, Jim Lafferty, who not only had a sound system, but who was proficient at “guitar picking”. “He’s good!”, Jim said.

Jim mentioned the whole thing to Lafferty, and he agreed to come along and participate - and bring his amplifier.

The Thursday before the event, Jim and I went to the Laffertys (he has a wife Julie. They are “dinner” friends with Jim and Joyce.) to rehearse. When Jim L. played the guitar, it “blew me away”. He is awesome! Just like Roy Acuff.

In addition, Jim M. and I practiced a couple possible duets, and he played and sang some songs. He wanted to know if I would like to sing a solo, and if so, which one. I couldn’t come up with one, so we dropped it.

That night, I was listening to my iPod music before going to sleep. My iPod now has over 900 songs on it, with plenty of memory left. While listening, I came across some Neil Diamond selections. While listening to Neil sing “Secret Love”, I got the idea of trying to “mimic” his style, and maybe sing that song. I had listened to him before and thought I could ALMOST do it. In fact, I HAVE done it before - to myself.

I replayed it several times (maybe 15), and increasingly thought I would like to mimic his style, and sing the song on Sunday.

On Friday, I tried to find a CD that had the piano accompaniment of Neil’s version of the song, but to no avail. I decided to practice singing it “a cappella”.

During the day Friday, I called Tracy Figley at WEEC to see if I could borrow a microphone, stand and cord for Lafferty’s amplifier. Jim M. had misplaced his.

“Come out and get it”, Tracy said. I did.

I listened to Neil again Friday night, and practiced mimicking him.

Same thing through the day Saturday, and Saturday night.

The longer I listened, then sang along with him, the more I thought I could pull it off - comical as it might be.

I Listened some more on Sunday before leaving for Church.

“I’ll try it”, I told myself.

After Sunday lunch, I saw that the “lawn” had already been made ready, with maybe 30 chairs, and a long extension cord lying in the grass.

At around 1:30 (scheduled to start at 2:00), I took the microphone paraphernalia out to the lawn, and already some of the residents were beginning to fill the chairs.

Jim Lafferty arrived with his guitar and amplifier. Jim Maddex arrived with his guitar and equipment.

By starting time, quite a large crowd had gathered, and more came even after we started.

At 2:00 PM, Timi Neff, the Lifestyles Program Coordinator of The Grand Court went to the microphone, welcomed every one, and introduced “Jim Maddex, Mike Maddex and Jim Lafferty”. (I didn’t think she knew that I was planning to participate.)

Jim L., Mike M. and Jim M.

Jim M. then went to the microphone and announced that he was going to do several Folk Type songs, similar to the styles of “Peter, Paul and Mary”; “Everly Brothers”; “Simon and Garfukle”, etc.

After singing two or three songs, he introduced me, and he and I sang the duet, “500 Miles”, an old PPM favorite.

Following that, he introduced Jim Lafferty and his steel guitar, and he played two or three arrangements similar to Roy Acuff.

Jim then sang a couple more Folk Tunes, then he and I sang the Gospel Song, “Day by Day”, followed again by Jim Lafferty on his guitar.

I had not told either of the Jims about my plans for the Neil Diamond “sound alike” solo, until this time when I whispered to Jim that I had an a cappella love song to do whenever it suited him.

He said OK.

There were two or three more selections by both of the “Jims”, then he told me to just go to the microphone and “perform”.

I introduced the song by mentioning Neil Diamond, asking how many knew of him, and if they would recognize his style. Several hands went up.

I did my Neil Diamond impersonation with “Secret Love”.

Though the song got some laughs and applause (they applauded every selection), I wasn’t very pleased with my “mimicry”. Too late now, though I am unlikely to do it again - except for my personal “amusement”.

Timi took 43 pictures of the event - including all the residents who attended, along with some visitors from next door. I shared some of them with the “boys”.

On Monday, several residents told me of their enjoyment of the occasion, and I passed along these remarks to Jim and Jim.

The “Jim, Mike and Jim Show” was fun for us, and I appreciate the music provided by the “Jims”. Timi did too, and she sent each of us a nice "Thank You" note.

Lost Socks

2009-09-18T09:08:00.003-04:00

This is a desperation plea!

I’ve been “batching it” now for over 6 months, and I need help!

When I moved in to The Grand Court the end of February, I began doing my own laundry. Never had to do that before, at least, without outside help. Jean always advised on that, even when we were here together 2005-2007 and I washed the clothes. She was still in charge of the folding and sorting of the clothing - especially the socks.

Every day now, I find myself searching for “matching socks”.

When I do the laundry every Saturday morning, I fold and sort the clothes as well as I can - including the socks - after washing and drying.

Increasingly, it seems to me, I’m finding it difficult to always match all the socks together. So, I just put them in the socks drawer, assuming the “match” will show up later, stuck to some other piece of clothing.

Why is that? (to loosely quote Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes.)

This morning, I decided to look into this phenomenon, and try to “get a handle” on the problem.

So, I laid out ALL the socks in my sock drawer on the bed. As I picked up each one, I tried to find another one to match that one. Not easy!

Now that I have them all laid out, I find that I have 4 pairs matched, and folded together.

But, NOW I’ve got 14 socks side by side on my bed, and NOT ONE of them matches another one!

What’s going on?

Why don’t any of these socks match another one? They used to match.

Have I lost 14 socks in the Washing Machine or Dryer?

When I moved in here from John and Tonya’s, I had a good number of sock PAIRS. They all matched. Tonya saw to that.

What happened?

I didn’t just now get concerned about this. For several weeks I’ve been wondering why I have such a hard time finding matching ones.

Earlier this morning, I found a couple of them that looked a bit alike, same markings and size, but when I got them closer to the light, they were different colors.

One was black, and the other brown!

Do they change color during the laundry?

Surely, I’m not the only one who has been struck by the “Sock Bandit”.

Unless I get help shortly, I’m going to start wearing “almost matched” socks. I’m certainly not going to go out and buy a bunch of new socks, for heaven’s sake.

Maybe I could just “hang up” several of these single socks in the Laundry Room, and see if someone else has a match for them.

Did I mention before that another problem I had with the laundry was that I could NEVER fold the “fitted sheets” properly? For weeks I tried to fold them, but just had to put them in the drawer sloppily folded.

I solved that problem some time back. I just wash the folded sheet, and when it’s dry, I put it back on the bed. Eureka!

I suppose it will eventually wear out, but when it does, I still have the other spare I can wash and replace.

No good for socks, though.

Where are my lost socks?!

Can anyone help me?

I suppose I could search the “Wanted” items in the Newspaper, and see if anyone else has a sock problem. Maybe we could get together and have a “sock swap”.

Can you tell that I’m desperate?

Signed: “Lost Sock Victim”

85 At Grand Court

2009-09-16T07:48:00.002-04:00

As I sit here at the Computer, thinking about this subject, I’m sure that it will be a “short” posting - only a couple pages, as opposed to the 5, 6 or even 7 pages I generally write.

Actually (do you notice I use that word a lot?), they wouldn’t be so long if I used a more normal type size - like 10 or 12 point. For clarity on the computer screen, I use 14 point, Bold. When “pasted” to the Blog though, the type is normal size.

So, I keep telling myself, “I may not be blabbing as much as it seems”.

Oh yeah?

Well, I digress AGAIN, just after I start on a subject. That’s “free association” writing for you.

Back to the subject.

At the Grand Court, when a resident has a birthday, the Staff gets together at the noon meal - bringing balloons and banging drums - and then they sing a “modified” version of Happy Birthday. (Like - “Who has a birthday? Mary has a birthday! Who has a birthday? Mary has a birthday!”, etc.) The whole dining room crowd joins in, and claps for the celebratee.

I’ve known about that for over three years, since they did that when Jean and I were here in 2005-2007.

Early in May this year, they celebrated the birthday of a resident, and while I was laughing at that “spectacle”, Timi Neff said, “Don’t worry, Mike! Your time is coming!”

“Challenge me, will she? You just wait, Sister!”, I said to myself.

That evening, while listening to the Boston Pops Orchestra before going to sleep, I started “planning my revenge”. I had about 3 weeks, actually. As I did so, I began laughing to myself.

(I guess I DO laugh at my own jokes.)

On May 20, 2009, I turned 85 years of age.

At about 12:15 that day, we began hearing the drum coming from the Activity Room. I didn’t need to look back down the hall, for I KNEW what was happening.

There were about 50 residents in the room.

The “entourage” finally reached the back of the Dining Room where I sit, and all 6 or 7 of them began their chant. I turned around, smiling and nodding as they sang on.

As usual, at the end, they gradually started to retreat, when I stood, held up my hands, and said, loudly,

“Just a minute! Thank you for the song. But, don’t go yet.”

They turned around, rather shocked - and stayed.

“You know“, I said, “I turned 85 early this morning, and I’ve learned that when one turns 85, there are certain privileges one gets - not responsibilities, mind you, but privileges”

The staff turned around, stunned that a birthday celebratee would have the gall to challenge them - and have something to say. Never happened before. I could just imagine some of the staff whispering to each other - “What privileges? What’s he talkin’ about?”

I went on, “That being the case, I want to exercise that ‘privilege’, and relate to you a true story.

“About 75 years ago, when I was merely 10 years old, I attended a summer Church camp in southern Ohio. In those days, camps like this one had NO electricity; NO ball diamond; NO basketball court; NO Ping Pong tables; NOR other normal accoutrements. We just had tents, campfires, Bibles and Counselors.

“This year, I remember, there was a Gospel Male Quartet that visited our camp, and they sang at the evening service, by the campfire.

“ Their names were: Eeny, Meeny, Mynie and Moe. They called themselves ‘The Fish Quartet’. And they sang First Tuna, Second Tuna, Barracuda, and Bass (pronounced like the fish).

“After the service, dusk had settled over the camp, and in the “no lights” tents, only a small candle was placed on a picnic table in the tents for light.”

(Actually the story was merely a verisimilitude.)*

OOOOOhhhhh!

(I’ve wanted to use that word for WEEKS - after I read it in a book!)

I won’t burden you with the story, especially since it was what is normally called “a sight gag”. You have to SEE it to GET it.

When the punch line was given, applause and laughter broke out, and I gave a “gracious” bow.

Just then, our son Jim - who has over a hundred pounds on me - came walking down the aisle toward me, saying loudly,

“Ok Dad! It’s time to go back to the Asylum, now!”

He came to me, grabbed my by the collar, and began dragging me out of the Dining Room.

As he did that, I began yelling, loudly, “I don’t want to go back to the Asylum! I don’t want to go back to the Asylum! I want to stay at the Grand Court Asylum! Some of my best friends are inmates here!”, over and over.

That got a lot more applause and laughter than the story I told. Certainly NOT an anti-climax.

Aren’t I a devil?

* ver·i·si·mil·i·tude

ver·i·si·mil·i·tude [vèrrə si míllə td]
(plural ver·i·si·mil·i·tudes)
n (formal)
1. appearance of being true: the appearance of being true or real
2. something that only seems true: something that only appears to be true or real, e.g. a statement that is not supported by evidence

[Early 17th century. < Latin verisimilitudo

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Ruth's Nine Kids

2009-09-14T08:32:00.005-04:00

Maybe this title is rather crude. If it’s still there, it means that neither Ruth, nor any of her family objects to it.

The fact is, Jean’s sister Ruth, now at age 92, has NINE living children. If you would want something to brag about, how about birthing nine “kids” that are STILL alive - after over 50 years!

I don’t suppose she is the only one who has experienced this, but I’d wager you wouldn’t find any family members MORE devoted to their mother, than “Ruth’s Nine Kids”!

I have two events that demonstrate that.

When Ruth turned 90 in 2007, ALL of her “kids” got together - from all over, as we say - to help her celebrate. I’m going by memory here, but I THINK I can name the locations of them:

Phyllis, in Urbana OH
Gene in Myrtle Beach SC
Bill in Fairborn OH
Sandy in Bainbridge OH
Dick in Marco Island FL
Joyce in Urbana OH
Bob in Huntingtown MD
Tom in Waller TX
Ed in Urbana OH

(I DID get some help on the towns)

I’d better not tell you the age range (if I could come up with it myself), but Ruth hasn’t been of “child bearing age” for over 50 years.

At any rate, here’s a picture of all of them in 1954.

I can’t tell you who initiated this “Age 90 party”, but it appears that several got together to start it.

The ones I’ve talked to seem to point to Sandy, and Dick’s wife, Joyce as the “organizers”. Talking to some of them, it appears that some one of them called another one; he/she called another; and, unbeknownst to Ruth, one by one, they said they could come. And "e-mails" helped a great deal.

Sandy said, “I don’t know, we just got to talking about Mom’s birthday, and wondered if Tom and Colleen could come, and others. I always come up here on Mom’s birthday, and it just seems like we contacted others, and one by one, they were all available.”

Ruth: “Dick and Joyce were here, and they were going to take me out to eat. She was going off to see a girl friend or something, and Dick was keeping me upstairs. (She lived on the third floor then.) We had to wait on Joyce to go out to eat, and she was actually downstairs with the rest of the family.”

Sandy: “Yeah…we were down there decorating the party room.”

Ruth: “Joyce called on her cell phone and said we should meet her downstairs, so she wouldn’t come up. When we got down there, I had to stop and get a drink at the fountain, and I wondered why that dining room door was shut. I just kinda ’moseyed’ over that way, and there was all the family!”

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

Sandy: “Every time I come up, I try to see if anyone else can come at the same time. Some of the family members have e-mail addresses, and they contacted each one that way.”

Ruth: “I remember that Joyce got a lot of Kentucky Fried Chicken for all of us.”

Sandy: “Sure. We couldn’t actually ‘fix food’, especially those traveling, and coming in.”

They all brought something - probably purchased here.

Some of the family stayed with friends in Urbana; some in a Motel in Urbana; some more in a Motel in Columbus; and of course, three of them live in Urbana.

I thought maybe they had 24 or 25 people were there.

Sandy: “Oh, there were a lot more than that. There were all the children and grandchildren.”

My memory of the conversation we had is that Sandy thought there were maybe 80 0r 90 people here.

Then, this year, the “whole gang” got together again - by accident.

Tom and Colleen, from Waller TX, called to say that they were coming to visit their mother. They wondered if anyone else could come.

Nobody remembers who called whom, but one by one, they ALL arranged to come. The e-mails were “flying”. They arrived at different times, with Tom and Colleen staying for a week. Others came through the week, and some even only on the week-end.

One by one, they decided that, “Sure. We could be there.” And they came.

On Saturday, they were ALL here, and here’s a picture of the same “kids” who came again this year, along with Ruth right down in front.

Something else I learned while talking with Ruth, Sandy and their Aunt Doris, is that the third week-end in October each year, several of the “kids” gather at Sandy’s house at Bainbridge for the week-end. There’s an annual fall “festival” of some sort there, and they see some of that, but mostly stay at Sandy’s to “gab”. Sandy said they’ve been doing that for maybe 20 years.

She said to me: “Uncle Myron, why don’t you come down this year?”

“Well, I’ll put it on my BlackBerry calendar, and see what develops.”

What a family!!

Annie

2009-09-11T07:16:00.005-04:00

Back in June, I heard on WEEC, an announcement that in August, WFCJ and WEEC would be jointly sponsoring an evening at La Comedia Dinner Theater in Springboro. Featured was to be the acclaimed Broadway Play, “ANNIE”. If we bought our tickets at one of the stations, they would benefit some from the sales.

I’d never seen “ANNIE” - either on the stage, movie, or TV - but I knew of its allure, for children AND adults.

Right away I thought of Jodi and her 4 year old son, Rylan.

“I’ll bet they would enjoy that”, I said to myself. (I “say to myself” quite a lot, lately. I imagine you‘ve noticed.)

On July 1, I had invited Bill Pearce - long time Christian Artist and Radio Personality now retired - to be with us at WEEC, for a time of fellowship. Bill lives in our area. We had a nice afternoon of fellowship and memories of his Christian Journey, and of the 11 years we had together at the Moody Bible Institute - some 50 years ago.

Here’s a photo of Bill, Tracy Figley, Rene Panosian (Administrator of Bill’s Assisted Living facility), and me taken that day.

When I arrived at the station, I asked Cathy Ackley - the Administrative Assistant at WEEC - about the tickets for “ANNIE”, and the procedure to follow. It turns out that WFCJ held reservations for the “left half” of the Theater, and WEEC the right.

I had already found out that Jodi and Rylan would be available for the date of the presentation, so I looked at the seating chart, and picked out the table on the right side of the auditorium that Jean, Kelly and I had some 15 or 20 years ago when we saw “Hello Dolly”. There were only 3 seats at that table, so it seemed “just right” for us.

I told Cathy that we wanted that table, so she reserved it for us. The tickets were $37 apiece, and I told Cathy that I would give her a check at the proper time. I went into the studio where we were to receive Bill.

Tracy came in and told me that, since I was a Board Member Emeritus of WEEC, MY ticket would be provided by WEEC - as for all Board Members - since they had been given a number of complimentary tickets. I thanked Tracy, and gave Cathy a check for the other two seats.

The date for the Show arrived, and the three of us drove to Springboro and the Dinner Theater.

We arrived at the proper time for seating, and were taken to the designated table right away.

Shortly, we were brought our drinks and salad, and we ate. I could hardly contain myself until we would be ushered down to the stage where the traditional buffet was, so I could get - and taste - their famed “Sweet Potato Souffle” again.

While waiting our turn for the buffet, I saw quite a few people I had known in past years at WEEC - including several present and former staff members; quite a few long time listeners; as well as Clair and Margy Miller - friends of many years at WFCJ.

I proceeded to follow my long time tradition of “table hopping”, that I’ve been so famous for - both at WEEC, and at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Washington DC for 23 years. (“What are you running for, Mike”, they’d say) It’s what long time friend Rev. Dennis Moritz calls, “Working the Room”.

I hadn’t “lost the touch”.

At the proper time, and after every one had “sated” their appetites, the buffet was rolled away, and the play was introduced.

By any stretch of the definition, this had to be called a “Family Musical’”, including a cast of 8 or 9 pre-teen children. The voices of ALL the participants - especially, in my opinion, the voice for “Daddy Warbucks” - were outstanding. The 11 year old girl who played “Annie” was remarkable - both in singing, and in acting. The sound system was so good, that we heard every word.

Four year old Rylan was “enthralled”.

“And a good time was had by all”, as I read some place.

Driving home, Rylan fell asleep right away. We got home after 11 PM.

What a wonderful evening!

Hawaiian Luau

2009-09-07T07:14:00.020-04:00

At the Grand Court (where I am a resident), there is an annual “Hawaiian Luau” day.

This year, I’m told, it was on a Saturday, to make it easier for families of residents to come.

Timi Neff, our Lifestyles Program Director, told me that it’s done every year for the enjoyment of the residents and their families, and to “celebrate Hawaii”. Reservations for family were required, and those of us who had families coming, got a special “reserved” table. Here’s my table. There were 5 of us, but we were not seated when I took this picture.

(ALL of these pictures can be "enlarged" if you "double-click" on one of them. And, they can be copied with a "right click".)

The Lobby and Dining Rooms were all decorated, and many residents and staff arrived with “Hawaiian dress”. Notice my “Hawaiian shirt”, that’s about 45 sizes too large for me. I didn’t have one, but Judy Roberts suggested I go to “Goodwill”, and buy one. I did, and took the first one I found.

Pictured with me is our son, Jim; Granddaughter Jodi, her son Rylan, and her friend Daniel Kirkwood.

Part of the decorations were two tables, on which were the special “treats”, Hawaiian style.

Pam Trinkle, our Dining Services Director (I think of Dietitian, and Kitchen and Dining Room Boss), gave me the following menu:

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Spanish White Rice
Pulled Pork
Sweet Potato Casserole
Vegetable Medley consisting of:
Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Zucchini and Red Peppers
Fruit Kabob
Cheese Tray
Vegetable Tray
Tiki Bar
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Tropical Banana and Pineapple Sundae

Here is how some of the staff were dressed:

And, some of the residents:

There was a nice crowd of family guests, and the Dining Room and hallways were filled.

I have mentioned before, I believe, that there are LOADS of activities provided here, and I can’t possibly participate in all of them. Well, I could, I guess, if I didn’t read 3 or more books a week; piddle with this computer; post on this blog; go to church and Bible Class; read the Bible; pray; visit with my family here, visit family in Indiana, Chicago and Florida, etc.

I am a VERY satisfied customer here at The Grand Court, and I highly recommend this place for folks who are by themselves, and maybe need a little assistance in their daily lives. Assisted Living is provided, when needed, though I am presently among those who are in Independent Living - preparing for possible future Assisted status, if needed, I suppose. Even now, if emergencies occur, I will be cared for. And, I have an Emergency Pendant around my neck 24 hours a day; an Emergency Call Button beside my bed, and one in the shower.

Praise the Lord!

Thrashin' Machine

2009-09-04T07:48:00.017-04:00

If you’re younger than 75, you might not know what is a “Thrashin’ Machine”.

Of course, that’s not the correct name. It was a

thresh·ing ma·chine

(plural thresh·ing ma·chines)
n
farm machine for threshing plants: a static power-driven agricultural machine formerly used to beat or rub harvested plants in order to separate the seeds from the rest of the plant

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Got it?

We just “freely” pronounced it.

Here’s how it worked - at least in the 20’s and 30’s:

A farmer would plant his wheat crop in the spring (sometimes in the fall, providing “winter wheat”), then, in late June, when the wheat was properly ripe, he would hook up his team of horses to his “binder”

and go around the field, mowing the wheat as you would mow your yard.

Except, rather than just cutting it, the “binder” gathers the wheat stems onto the conveyor belt (assisted by 5 or 6 rotating “paddles”),

conveying the wheat into the binder, which automatically wraps a portion of it with binder twine, providing a mangeable “sheaf” of wheat, which is then dropped to the ground.

Walking somewhat behind the binder was a helper - maybe the farmer’s son or other family member - who picked up maybe 8 or 10 “sheafs”, stacking them upright on the ground, in a circle, leaning them against each other. Finally, one more sheaf was laid flat on the top, ostensibly to ward off rain from the sheafs.

This was then called a “shock” of wheat.

Not every farmer had the means to get the grain out of the sheafs, and into a bin for storage. The answer to that was that one of his neighbors had a “thrashin’ machine”, and at harvest time, several of the farmer’s neighbors joined together with him to procure the grain.

On a certain schedule, the man who owned the “Threshing Machine”, moved from farm to farm, setting up his machine, along with a “steam engine” tractor to pull it.

The “thresher”, called a “separator” by the farmers, was connected to the steam engine tractor, by means of a long closed loop belt, probably 6 or 8 inches wide.

The distance between the engine and the separator was probably twenty feet or so, spanned by that belt. The engine turned a large fly wheel that turned the belt, and in turn the separator. The belt was always turned a half turn - ostensibly to help keep the belt ON the fly wheel and separator wheel.

Once the belt was positioned over the two wheels, the engine was “backed up” enough to provide tension on the belt, thus providing the friction needed to get the separator started.

Now, the REAL key to the whole operation was the assistance of several of the farmer’s neighbors, who brought horse-drawn flat wagons and pitch forks to load up the sheafs, and bring them to the separator. When available, there were other farmers or helpers, to help load the wagons with the sheafs. Each farmer knew that after he had helped with THIS farmer’s crop, he would get the same help when his turn came.

How they decided who was next was beyond me.

Now, before we discuss the operation of the Separator, we need to discuss how the wheat got TO it.

In the wheat field, some other farmers (and/or their sons) would stand ready with pitch forks, alongside the shocks of wheat.

When one of the wagons came into the field, the “wagon farmer’ moved his wagon right alongside the several shocks, so the farmers in the field could use their pitch forks to put each sheaf on the wagon. The wagon operator stood on the wagon, and properly aligned the sheafs to they would stay in place, and would provide room for as many sheafs as possible. The “stocks” of the sheafs were set outside, and on either side of the wagon, with the “head” facing inside. This would lean the load toward the center, thus permitting more wheat to be loaded, without falling off.

So, who drove the horses while the wagon farmer was loading?

Many times, it was the man’s wife, or maybe a son, but quite frequently, the farmer’s horses didn’t need a “driver”. The farmer had them trained so he could say, “Giddyup”, and they would move ahead. When the wagon reached the next shock of wheat, the farmer would say, “Whoa”, and the horses would stop.

I’ve often thought, sometimes that’s kinda what God would want us to do - GO when He says “Giddyup”, and stop when He says “Whoa”. The striking thing to me is, that many times the horses seemed to have more sense that we sometimes do. They didn’t question the farmer when he spoke. At times, we don’t want to “giddy up”, nor even “whoa” - even if God is the One speaking.

I wonder - Is this where we get the expression “Horse sense”? Probably.

As usual, I digress.

The first thing you knew, one of the “wheat wagons” was loaded with sheafs of wheat, and the farmer then headed for the separator.

There was an extension on the front of the separator, that had a continuous flat bed belt, constantly running into the machine.

The wagon farmer then “pulled” his wagon up next to the separator, and began unloading the sheafs, one at a time, onto that belt - heads first.

When one wagon was unloaded, there was always another ready to move in to “feed” the separator - so there was no “down time” for the operation.

I have not the slightest idea what went on inside that machine, but there were two results:

1. The thresher separated the grains from the stems, and dropped them into a bin.

2. The “straw” - the actual stem of the wheat - was then “blown” through a stove-pipe-like thing, next to the machine, gradually building a “Straw Stack” on the ground. As the stack gradually grew in size, the operator lifte the pipe to accommodate the size of the stack.

This operation went along, until all the wheat shocks had been broken down, and the sheafs brought to the “thresher” (notice how I use the terms interchangeably?), to be “separated”.

Here’s a threshing operation from the late 1880’s to early 1900’s.

Though I lived in the thriving metropolis of Mechanicsburg (pop. 1,800), I never failed to go to Uncle Harry and Aunt Almeda’s farm for “Thrashin’.

Why?

Well, it was a break from the hectic city life in the ‘Burg; was an interesting pastime; and, of course, there was the “Thrashin’ Dinner”!

When the dinner was ready, the Steam Engine operator sounded his steam whistle, and ALL HANDS came in to Dinner.

You talk about a feast!

Generally, a long table was set up in the dining or living rooms, and when there was no more room for the workers, some sat outside to eat. ALWAYS enough food for everyone.

The horses ate and drank then, also. There was always a water pump, driven by a Wind Mill, that filled a trough for the horses to drink.

Of course, over the course of a day of putting sheafs of wheat into the machine, and the grain going in a bin, it eventaully filled up.

That’s where truckers, like Bud Perry came in. They had fixed their trucks to hold a large load of grain, to take to the local “elevator”. Or, as I related in “Truck Driving” on this blog, sometimes the farmer wanted the grain in his “granary” on the farm.

In “Truck Driving” also, I mentioned that Bud and I always argued about whether it was a “grainery” , or a “granary”. I said the latter.

Last month, on a Sunday afternoon in Mechanicsburg, I visited Bud in his home, and he mentioned this, and then admitted that “granary” was right. He’s already in his nineties, but “sharp as a tack”.

When all the sheaves of wheat on that farm had been delivered to the separator, and all the grain loaded on to trucks, the present task was finished.

The farmer whose grain had been provided, hitched up his team of horses to his flat wagon, and he and his sons moved on to the NEXT farm, to help HIS neighbors.

These were fascinating experiences for a boy of 10 or 12, like me.

But, here’s what’s keeping the boys from this good time.

It’s the modern day Combine.

It cuts the wheat (no sheafs or shocks); separates the grain from the straw; drops the straw on the ground to be picked up later and baled; then deposits the grain into the Combine’s hopper.

The only thing still needed from the “olden days”, is the Truck Driver to take the grain to the “granary”, or the Grain Elevator in town.

Better for the adults, no doubt. But, worse for the children. Sad, but…..

C’est la vie!

Afternoon Bus Ride

2009-09-01T08:45:00.002-04:00

Previously, I’ve told of some of the activities provided here at The Grand Court, but the Bus Rides have not been mentioned.

Here’s one:

On the Activity Schedule for this day, it just said “Afternoon Bus Ride”.

Now, we’ve taken rides before: John Bryan Park; Mystery Rides; Young’s Dairy; picnic at the Dam: Airport Café in Urbana; etc. For each of them we knew the destination - at least all but the Mystery ones.

On this one, no destination was listed.

About 10 Residents plus Timi, our Lifestyles Program Director and present bus driver, got in the bus, not knowing where we were going.

Here’s Timi and our bus:

As we were leaving the Parking Lot, she said,

“Where do you guys want to ride to today?”

I waited about half a second (to give everyone the chance to say something), and I said “MECHANICSBURG. I’ll show you where I grew up.”

Everybody said, “Yippee!”

NOT.

But we set off for the ‘Burg anyway.

She drove east on Villa Road to Route 4; then left toward our destination. (Wonder of wonders, she knew how to get there. Must be a BIG town!)

NOT.

We got near the “cut-off” for New Moorefield, and I said,

“Turn right at the next road - into New Moorefield.”

Timi said, “Well…do you want to go to Mechanicsburg, or New Moorefield?”

“Both”, I said. “That road used to be Route 4, and goes right through the village.”

She turned.

Arriving at “downtown New Moorefield”, I said,

“Turn left at the intersection, and we’ll go right back to Route 4”.

She did, and we did.

Before we turned though, I related how - maybe 60 years ago, Jean and I drove through New Moorefield (only way to go from Springfield to the ‘Burg then), and our car broke down, right in “town”.

It was late - maybe 11 PM. We were returning home from Springfield, and our car stopped right there.

We knew Jean’s mother would be coming by in a half hour or so, on HER way home from her job as a Binder Foreman at Crowell Collier on West High Street in Springfield.

Pretty soon, (as we used to say in the ‘Burg), we saw her mother’s car coming right for us. We got to the edge of the street, and yelled and waved, to stop her.

She never saw, nor heard us. She drove right past us.

What to do?

“Well”, I said, “Since I left my Cell Phone at home--” ( in 1949? Just kidding) “we woke up someone in the ‘town’ and called her dad to see if he or her mother could come back and pick us up. They did.”

Back to THIS story:

Arriving in Mechanicsburg, our driver said, “Where to now, Mike?”

“Keep on going right through the city (kidding again - town) ‘til we get to East Sandusky where I grew up”.

We drove right past 169 East Sandusky, where I lived from late 1924, until I entered the Army in 1943.

After that, we turned left and ended up on Pleasant Street, and
I pointed out where Jean lived when I courted her in 1942 and ‘43.

Across the street was the house we later lived in when Jim and John were very little. That’s where we lived when I was hired as a Control Room Engineer at WMBI, the pioneer Chrisrtian Radio voice of The Moody Bible Institute, in Chicago.

We drove on up Pleasant Street, and I pointed out where Bud Perry lives, and where I went each morning in about 1943 to drive a truck for him. When I used to walk from our house on Sandusky Street to Bud’s house on Pleasant, I passed by Jean’s house each day, and gave her a “whipporwill” whistle, while she was still in bed.

She was thrilled.

NOT.

Turning left on High Street, we passed by houses that I began recalling in my mind who lived there years ago, then we passed by the home of Jean’s sister-in-law - Doris Anderson. Then further west to the NEW building of the Mechanicsburg Public Schools - where I spent 12 years trying to learn what I needed to know to get along in this world.

(NOT in THAT building, of course!)

That took us to Main Street, where we turned left, went down the hill, and past the old R.W. Schetter Jewelry and Radio store where I repaired radios and televisions after World War II.

Going farther down Main Street, I pointed out the building in which my store, “Maddex Radio and TV” was located, in 1952 and ‘53.

We turned left at the next intersection (embarrassedly, I can’t remember the name of the street), went to “Creamery Street”, then north back to Sandusky.

Timi said, “How do you want to go back home, Mike?”

“Whatever you want, Timi.”

“I think I’ll drive to Urbana, then home”, she said.

About two miles from Urbana on Route 29, I said,

“There’s an Ice Cream store on North Main Street. If you go there, I’ll treat everybody to an ice cream cone.”

She said, “What about McDonald’s? It’s right on 29. They have Sundaes for a buck apiece.”

“Go for it!”, I said.

We pulled into the McDonald’s parking lot, and we all “piled out”.

Inside, I told the clerk that there were eleven of us, “and they’re ALL my children. I want to buy a Sundae for each of them”.

“Right on”, the clerk said. (I think that’s what she said.)

We all ate our Sundaes, then got back on the bus.

“Thank you, Daddy”, they all said, individually.

“You’re welcome, young ‘uns!”

We got back to The Grand Court in fine shape.

I’ll betcha Timi never asks us AGAIN where we want to go.

Don’t you think?

Son-of-a-gun! I might even ask her to drive us to Chicago and look at 2728 North Racine Avenue.

Nah! It’s too far, on a handicap bus.

New York City

2009-08-29T21:40:00.018-04:00

During the last 35 of the 65 years Jean and I were married, we traveled to NYC several times. Four times were due to a Management Course I took from the American Management Association over a two year period (Jean went twice). At least four other times on a vacation. One to visit Dr. Bob Cook during his last days of Leukemia. And, two more for treatment for our daughter Martha‘s cancer.

The latter ones are what I want to discuss here. Not the cancer treatment, but rather, the “sightseeing” part of both trips.

Martha was diagnosed with cancer in the Spring of 1998.

Jean and I had been planning a vacation trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island that summer. Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine were the farthest northeast we had been before. Except that one time, we journeyed to Montreal - merely driving around, then back west to Toronto.

Martha’s bad news, of course, stopped those plans permanently.

After her diagnosis, she got treatments from the Cleveland Clinic; the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Cancer Clinic; as well as local Springfield Oncologists, and the Ohio State University Hospital clinic.

When there was a question about the efficacy of these clinics for Martha’s cancer, the doctor at Indianapolis suggested she try to get in to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute in New York City.

With that doctor’s help, she got an appointment at the Institute.

How to go? And, whom to go?

Since it was summer time, Jodi was out of school; I was retired; Rick hadn’t taken his vacation yet; and Kelly was in the very early days of her first pregnancy.

“Let’s all six of us go!”, I said.

We rented a large van here in Springfield, and we all took off for NYC!

We stopped at a restaurant east of Columbus for lunch, then on east into Pennsylvania, heading northeast to get to the Holland Tunnel into NYC; turned north to Midtown; parked in a hotel garage, and registered there. Can’t remember the name of the Hotel, but the garage cost us $35.00. This was about 10 years ago. Think what that cost would be today!

The room had two double beds, and we arranged for two cots, so we all slept in the same room.

One of the fascinating things was to look out our Hotel room window into the “constantly busy” Manhattan landscape.

The next morning, we went to the Hotel’s Restaurant for breakfast. Martha’s appointment at Sloan Kettering was late morning. Someone took a picture of us, all crowded into the same booth.

The visit to the Clinic was helpful, but not the most encouraging.

Our first sightseeing jaunt was to go down to the Subway. We didn’t know where we were going, but took a train that went to Times Square. That seemed natural.

Subway

As expected, I had my city map and camera handy, until a middle-aged lady on the Subway sidled over near me, and quietly said, “Get rid of your map and camera. Don’t look like tourists!” I looked around quickly to see if anyone was “eyeing” us, but everyone was looking the other way.

Whew!

When we got off the train, we walked up the steps, and THERE WE WERE, in Times Square. Jean and I had been there a couple times to Broadway plays such as “The Magic Show” with Doug Henning, and “Irene” with Eleanor Powell. (Several years before that, a few blocks east, she and I had seen the classic movie “Gone With The Wind” at the Radio City Music Hall, including “The Rockettes” on stage.)

Times Square

But, our past experiences in Times Square were nothing compared with this time, along with four others of our family.

It seems to me that fairly quickly, we got connected with a “double-decker” tour bus, taking a two hour ride south to Battery Park, then back north through Chinatown, the Lower East Side, The Bowery, Greenwich Village, Tribeca, then farther north back to Times Square. The four of them were able to get seats on the top of the bus, but Grandma (Jean) wasn’t able to climb the stairs, so she and I got a window seat down below. Very good view.

Double Decker Bus

The next day, we somehow ended up at Macy’s Department Store, on the corner of 5th avenue and 34th Street. Though Rick and I toured some of that store, we left the shopping to the women. They had a special place for “husbands of shoppers” to wait. I haven’t the sightest memory of what floor it was on.

Macy’s at Christmas

Martha was intent on buying her first “outfit” for her upcoming new granddaughter, as was Jean, Kelly and Jodi.

Though it’s difficult to picture from the sidewalk, The Empire State Building was just across the street from Macy’s - on the same corner. Though the door we exited from at Macy’s was nearly a block from the entrance to it.

We had been doing so much looking and shopping that we didn’t pay enough attention to meal time. Fortunately, there was a restaurant on the ground floor of “Empire”, so we had our meal, to the delight of all of us.

Empire State Building

Then, we entered the large doors on 5th Avenue that would take us to the elevator(s) going to the top of the Empire State Building. Not having been there before, we didn’t know what to expect, so we just “followed the crowd”. A large one at that.

That finally took us to one of the elevators that we assumed would take us to “the top”. Not so! Only to about the 80th floor. It took two different elevators to take us to the 102nd floor Observation Deck, nearly a quarter mile above 5th Avenue.

Needless to say, the view was breathtaking.

We walked around to all 4 sides of the building, looking over the city and surrounding areas. The protective barriers on all sides forbade any grandstanding person to leave the building. One of the buildings we saw that interested me, was the Chrysler Building. The reason: for years when I saw that “lit up” building, I somehow thought it was the Empire State Building. Not so!

Chrysler Building

About a year later, it seems like, Martha, Rick, Jean and I - just the 4 of us - went back to NYC and to Sloan Kettering.

The sight seeing we did then, I remember, differed from a year earlier, in that we took a Ferry from about 19th Street, or thereabouts on the Hudson River, went south and then east around Battery Park, north of Ellis Island, as well as the Statue of Liberty, and then toured Manhattan from the East River all the way north to the junction of the East River and the Hudson River - just north of 208th Street, and around Inwood Hill Park. We then took the Hudson south to our pier of departure.

An interesting thing happened on the Ferry. I had bought a white Tommy Hilfiger jacket in Manhattan, thinking that the Ferry ride might be a little cool. When we returned to the Hotel, I discovered that I had left the jacket on the boat. It was too expensive to lose, so we somehow found out the telephone number of the Tour, called them, told them about the jacket, and it so happened - as we say - someone had JUST taken it off the boat and had it in the office.

Rick and I took a Taxi to the pier, asked the driver to wait, and I went over and picked it up. I don’t remember the amount of the tip I left, but it was substantial - and worth it.

(Sometimes I STILL leave my jacket some place. In fact, I did so just recently at the Summer Arts Festival. Fortunately, our Activity Director went back and got it before we left. This time, my check book was in one of the pockets.)

In addition, this time in NYC, the four of us took the Subway all the way south as far as it would go, to Battery Park, and toured the park. We stayed there a couple of hours, looking out over the Upper New York Bay, during the early evening. There was another attraction there that I can’t remember the name of right now.

Battery Park

Battery Park

I just talked to Rick, and he said his most remembered fact was that while “downtown”, we stood in front of the World Trade Center, looking up, trying to see the top - unsuccessfully. This was a year before “9/11”.

World Trade Center

You can't see the top of either one!

Since we were so “New Yorkish” riding the Subway south, we took it back north to Times Square, then to the Hotel. It seems to me that we learned that Times Square is the “Hub” for nearly all of the Subway Lines in New York. Could be mistaken.

Amish Country

2009-08-25T12:36:00.013-04:00

I doubt if there is anyone reading this who does NOT know about the Amish. The thing is, is what we know about them true?

The Amish and the Plain People of Lancaster County PA tell us this:

The farmlands of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country are among the most productive in the nation. But many of the farmers here are different from most Americans; different by choice. For these are the Old Order Amish and Mennonites, also known as the "Plain People".

Our Amish neighbors have been employing horse-drawn power since the days when horsepower had a whole different meaning! In comparison to our fast-paced society, the simpler, family-centered Amish way of life holds a special fascination.

These people trace their heritage back hundreds of years, and yet, despite all the time that has passed and the many changes that have taken place in society, they still live and work much as their forefathers did. Their families and their farms are their top priorities, second only to God.

The Amish are very devout in their faith. They believe in the literal interpretation and application of Scripture as the Word of God. They take seriously the Biblical commands to separate themselves from the things of the world. They believe worldliness can keep them from being close to God, and can introduce influences that could be destructive to their communities and to their way of life.

Today there are over 25 different Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren church groups in Lancaster County, all holding to slightly different traditions and their own interpretations of the Bible. The more traditional groups are called 'old order'. They do not permit electricity or telephones in their homes. By restricting access to television, radio, and telephones, the Amish are better able to keep the modern world from intruding into their home life.

The Amish have long preferred farming as a way of life. They feel their lifestyle and their families can best be maintained in a rural environment.While they do not permit the use of tractors in their fields, these old order Amish groups do use modern farm equipment pulled by teams of horses or mules.

These old order groups do not own or operate automobiles, believing that cars would provide easier access to the ways of the world. You will often see their horses and buggies on our local roads.

These traditional groups wear plain clothing styles, which has earned them the name "Plain People". It is the simple, peaceful lifestyle of these plain people that attracts such a curiosity today. Many wonder how these people can survive in their supposedly backward ways. Well, they're not only surviving - they're thriving. Since 1960, the Amish population in Lancaster County has almost tripled.

Their separation from the rest of society actually helps to strengthen their community. Amish children attend Amish one-room schoolhouses through the eighth grade. Amish worship services are held every other week in one of the member's homes. Socializing is an important part of Amish life.

The Amish have a strong sense of community spirit, and often come to the aid of those in need. Their barn raisings are a good example. Neighbors freely give of their time and their skills to help one another.

The Amish are generally private people and often find all the attention and curiosity about their lifestyle disturbing. They believe that the taking of photographs where someone is recognizable is forbidden by the Biblical prohibition against making any 'graven image'. Please respect their desire for privacy when visiting here.

With our society's current interest in restoring 'family values', much can be learned from studying the Amish way of life. Their devotion to family and community and their strong work ethic are good examples for our larger society.

Here's an Amish grandmother:

My original intent of this posting was to tell about our experiences in the various Amish communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

Amish boys:

Baling hay:

Sunday services:

Working the fields:

The first we knew about was the community of Plain City, here in Ohio. I doubt if many people would officially call it an “Amish Community”, though there are some Amish there, as well as at least two large Mennonite Churches.

An Amish Community in Ohio is in Holmes County, in the northern part of the state. The various communities include Walnut Creek; Millersburg; Sugar Creek; and Charm; et al.

Jean and I, for several years, drove to Holmes County at least once a year. We tried to get there at different times of the year, to observe the various different farm activities of the Amish.

We especially liked to watch the buggies; horse drawn implements; and “plain clothes” children. In the fall, wheat shocks were prevalent - which have almost completely disappeared in our “English” culture, as they call us.

We sometimes went on a Sunday afternoon, and driving out in the country, we ran across several church meetings with horses and buggies parked all around. Seemed like the meetings - including Sunday dinner - must have lasted all day.

In any visit to a Mennonite or Amish community, it would be almost a sin to miss eating in one of the local restaurants. The food is always outstanding, and plentiful.

We visited Lancaster County, PA a few times, and we took the same driving tour around that country, as in Holmes County, OH.

Now, last spring, just a few weeks before I moved from John and Tonya’s home back to Springfield, I experienced another Amish community called Shipshewana, IN. It’s in the north-north central area of Indiana, and is Pure Amish!

I went there, because friends from our Chicago days of 50 years ago, had re-located from Chicago to this community. When we knew them in Chicago, they were also Mennonite - though not Amish.

Here’s how I “ran onto” them:

In Indiana, I attended an Evangelical Free Church that had as its members, a few of my former friends from Moody Bible Institute. On two or three occasions (it was a LARGE church), I ran across some of them.

One Sunday, I asked one of the men with whom I met on Wednesday nights for a Bible Class, if he knew Jim Wick - whom John had told me attended there.

He said, “Sure………”then pointing to the back of the church, “There he is right there, about to leave the Sanctuary.”

I turned around and looked, and sure enough, there was Jim Wick - several years older than when I knew him (me also), but I recognized him. I “sneaked” up behind him and said “James Wick?”

He turned around right away and said, “Mike Maddex, as I live and breathe” (I think that’s what he said). “What are you doing here?”

Me: “I’ve been attending here since last July. Why haven’t I seen you?”

He introduced me to his wife, as well as his daughter, who promptly told me that she had assisted in our granddaughter’s delivery of her firstborn.

Good meeting.

Two weeks later, Jim showed up at John and Tonya’s house (where Jean and I had lived over the last year), and said, “I have a story to tell you.”

Jim is a Field Representative of Moody Bible Institute. His area to cover is, I think, Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. He said that a week ago he had visited a couple that he had the names of, but hadn’t met yet.

After discussing Moody Bible Institute with them for awhile, the lady of the house said to him:

“Do you know Myron Maddex?” (Mike wasn’t used much when we knew them).

Jim said to her: “Do I KNOW him? I just saw him in Church last Sunday!”

What Jim came to our house for was to tell me that story, as well as give me their telephone number; e-mail address; and home address, in Shipshewana IN.

These folks were Charles and Joyce Unruh, whose parents had been our Landlords in Chicago in 1954. She was then a teenager, and had NOW been married almost 50 years.

Charles and Joyce:

Of course, I called first, then e-mailed them, to renew old friendships. They asked me to please come to visit them.

Discussing this with John, I found out that Shipshewana was at least 80 miles from their town, and driving there was a task. And, snow had not completely left our “shores” yet, either.

One morning 10 days or so before I was to move back to Ohio, I was driving home from the Library at about ten o‘clock, looked up at the sky and the weather, and called John to see if he thought it would be prudent for me to drive right now to Shipshewana in the Ford Voyager they let me drive all the time.

John saw no reason to object, so, sitting in their second car in a park right near their house, I called Shipshewana to see if it would be convenient. Joyce said, “Come on! We’ll wait lunch for you, if need be!”

I took off right away, using Interstate 80 almost the whole way. In an hour and a half, I pulled into their driveway in Shipshewana.

Though I had met Charles before they were married, I would not have recognized him on the street. When I saw Joyce, I KNEW her right away.

I spent the next about 4 hours with them, and had the most joyous experience one could want. After gabbing and catching up on the families of each of us for awhile, as well as trading and taking pictures, they said “Let’s go get an Amish lunch”.

If there ever was a typical Amish restaurant anywhere, this one “took the cake”. I THINK I ordered swiss steak and mashed potatoes, but talking so much, I did leave a good bit on the plate.

After lunch, they gave me a tour of Shipshewana, and surrounding county.

The village itself, though retaining much of the Amish flavor Jean and I saw several years before, has modernized in many ways.

Out in the country was different!

I saw two or three Amish schools, with only bicycles “hitched up” outside; mothers and children riding bicycles home from the store, with one on his own bike, and a little sister bundled up behind her mother on her bicycle. All the houses were plain, with very few curtains and no blinds.

The farms and barnyards were immaculate. Everybody was friendly. I don’t know - it may have been because they recognized Charles and Joyce - though they were dressed just like me.

I saw some Amish churches, along with Mennonite Churches (one of them was theirs).

Going back to their house, we still talked - and since Joyce had baked a peach pie, we ate that with ice cream.

I almost hated to leave - except, of course, I have family in Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Michigan and even cousins in Connecticut.

The drive home was uneventful, and I arrived in Tonya’s kitchen from their garage, JUST as she was “laying out” supper. (Oh..dinner.)

I brought home with me some pictures of Joyce’s sister and her family, as well as of her brother - whom John used to play with, some fifty years ago.

Jim’s mother-in-law, Charlotte, has lent me some Amish books written by Beverly Lewis, that I’m just now getting into.

Whew! I didn’t know I had this much to say about the Amish Country!

Did I ever mention that I’m a “gabber”?

State Of The Union

2009-08-21T09:38:00.005-04:00

Have you ever actually attended a Presidential State of the Union address - at the Capitol Building in Washington DC, that is? Not on television, now, but right in the chambers of the U.S. House of Representatives?

I did - one time - along with our son John, in what I believe was the first year of President Jimmy Carter’s term of office.

President Carter

I attended the Convention of the National Religious Broadcasters in Washington DC every year from 1966, through 1990.

Each year I went, I tried to contact our 7th Ohio District Congressman, as well as one of our Senators from Ohio. Over those years, I didn’t make it every time, and with different members, but the year we attended the State of the Union address, Clarence J. Brown, Jr. (Bud) was our 7th District Representative in Congress.

When I visited his office this time, he said, “Would you like to sit in the audience when President Carter gives the State of the Union address?”

(It happened that year during the NRB Convention.)

“Absolutely”, I said. “Can you arrange that?”

“Of course”, he said.

“Could my son attend also?”

“Sure”, he said. “You and your son meet me in my office at (whatever time he suggested), and, together with CBS Reporter Ike Pappas, we’ll ride the Congressional subway over to the Capitol.”

(Bud’s office was, at that time, in the Longworth House Office building, across the street from the Capitol, toward the south side of it.)

Longworth Building, south of the Capitol.

(Double click on the picture, and you can see that designation on the "map".)

John and I were both thrilled. This MAY have been John’s first - of many - times to go to the NRB Convention, representing Moody Bible Institute there.

We arrived in Bud’s office, and he and Ike Pappas were already there. We were introduced, and chatted for a little while, until Mr. Brown indicated that we should “mount” the Subway. He gave us our tickets, and “away we went”.

I just now sent John a “First Draft” of this piece, and he replied, saying he was impressed that when we were sitting in Bud’s office, we all four watched a piece on TV that Ike Pappas had just done. He was sitting there with us while we watched it.

Arriving in the Capitol, we took an elevator to the top of the building, outside the Visitors’ Gallery. While waiting there, Speaker of the House, Tip O’Neill walked through, preceded by what appeared to be a Congressional Page, saying, “Make way for the Speaker. Make way for the Speaker!”

We did, of course.

It seemed to us an interminable amount of time before anyone came to us, looking at our tickets, and starting to admit us to the Chambers. Our tickets indicated that we had “Step Seats”. “What are those?”, I wondered.

It turned out that where we sat was not in a “theater-type” seat, but rather, on one of the steps from the top, down to the spot where Rosalynn Carter and her entourage sat, in the Visitors’ Gallery. We were on President Carter’s left, as he faced the Chamber. Pretty high up, actually. No problem with seeing him, though.

I enjoyed the experience very much, as we “sat in on” a bit of history.

It just now comes to mind, that Congressman Brown introduced in Congress a bill for me one time - somehow concerning the affairs of Christian and Religious Broadcasters. Can’t remember the specific subject now, but my bill was introduced. (Never heard from it since!)

Just another moment in history.

Another year, I visited Senator William B. Saxbe, in his Senate Office Building. I knew Bill when he was in High School in Mechanicsburg. Also, when I sold “Maddex Radio & TV” to Joe Hinton, Bill wrote up the contract, copying it out of a law book he had on his shelf.

While in his office, Bill and I discussed various things, as well as how well WEEC was heard in Mechanicsburg. He could hear it well there.

While talking about visits to Washington DC, and the National Religious Broadcasters Convention, I’d like to brag that, in different years at the Convention - mostly while I was an Officer (Secretary) of the Association, I was able to see up close, speak to, and/or shake hands with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush.

Someplace, we have pictures of me, with President Reagan and Vice President Bush. Another, with President Reagan at the podium, and me on the front row of the platform beside him.

With President Carter, the experience was unusual, to say the least. This was one of the years that I was an Officer in the Association.

It should be noted, that when Presidents spoke at the Conventions, the members, officers and crowd were in a roped off area, about 15 feet from the dais. Being an officer, I was right in the front row, just behind the “rope”.

Right after President Carter spoke, he stepped off the platform, and headed right for me, shaking my hand. Others too, of course, but I was the first.

Later, I saw a former co-worker of mine a few years back at Moody, and I walked up to her and said, “Do you want to shake my hand?”

She said, “You didn’t!”

“Oh yes I did!” I said.

“You lucky dog!”

Luck was what it was.

On the occasion of shaking the hands of President Reagan, and Vice President Bush, they were in a small side room, while each of us officers, and some “VIPs” in NRB - mostly noted Television speakers - walked in, and shook their hands, individually, while a Photographer took our pictures.

For several years at the Convention (which ran from Saturday into the next week), my two closest friends in NRB (Bob Ball and Brandt Gustavson) and I attended Church services at either the National Cathedral or the National Presbyterian Church. One year, Bob’s son came to the Convention with his dad, and he went with us. The next year after that, he told his dad when he left home, “Be sure to greet Mr. Gustavson and Mr. Maddex for me.”

Sadly, both of these friends are now in the Presence of the Lord, in Heaven. I STILL miss them both!

Some experiences you remember, and some you don’t. I’ve been amazed that in almost 10 months of reminiscing for this blog, I often can’t think of the right thing, but later - while doing or thinking of something else - it breaks in upon my mind.

Did you know that everything we have ever said, heard, or thought is STILL residing in our brains? That’s memory!

I’ve often said that my memory is not my problem - it’s perfect.

MY problem is RECALL.

Something else amazing: When I indicated on this blog that this was a NEW posting, the site informed me that this one is number 100 of the postings I have made here since last November.

Unbelivable!

Salt Water Taffy

2009-08-18T07:18:00.009-04:00

You know what that is, don’t you?

The stuff that sticks to your teeth?

Sure you do, but, BOY IS IT GOOD!

“What is YOUR favorite flavor, Mike?”, you say.

Well, I do like MOST of the flavors, but when you eat the REAL, home made Salt Water Taffy, especially if it’s “dragged” right off the puller, I like VANILLA best. In chunks, not just in “kisses”. They’re OK, but to get a big “glob” of Vanilla, right off the puller, you can’t beat it, for my money.

(That is, if it’s Stanley’s vanilla! What you get in stores these days, all wrapped up nice, not too sticky and all, DOES NOT “hold a candle” to Stanley Powell’s Vanilla Salt Water Taffy. In my opinion, of course.)

Oh……Strawberry is good; Black Walnut tastes fine; and, I like Mint some.

But, did I tell you that Vanilla right off the puller is the best? Well, I meant to.

I never knew much about Salt Water Taffy, until my sister Miriam married Stanley Powell from Springfield. He was a partner with his brother-in-law Bill Coffelt (the founder of the Coffelt Candy Company), and he and Bill (along with Bill’s son, Dwight, in later years) visited various State and County Fairs each summer, making, and selling, Salt Water Taffy, right on the Fairgrounds.

After some years, Stanley split off from the Coffelts, and went out on his own. He and Miriam spent nearly all summer every year, going from one site to the other, mostly here in the Midwest.

When they WERE in this Midwest area, Jean and I - along with our “kids”, would occasionally visit the Powells at some of the Fairs.

I remember one year at the Ohio State Fair when we visited, one of the parts on Stanley’s Candy Wrapping Machine broke and he had to get it fixed. Couldn’t shut down the place, since selling the candy was what “made the wheels go ‘round”, as they say.

He found a place on North High Street in Columbus that could either fix, or replace that part (I don’t remember which), so he asked me to go pick it up.

He stayed, and made more candy - to be wrapped when the wrapper was fixed.

He had a special recipe he used in the candy that made it taste special. It was a secret recipe, and though later on when I helped them for maybe a week at a time on my vacations, I had to know what went into the candy, but for the life of me I can’t remember what were the ingredients, but I followed his instructions to the “tee”. So, I couldn’t reveal the recipe, even if I wanted to.

The first time I went out with them, the biggest problem I had was keeping the syrup (main ingredient) from sticking on the floor. Actually, I found out that the easiest way to keep it off the floor was to NOT SPILL IT! For that first week, Stanley spent a good bit of his time, either cleaning up the syrup on the floor, or eventually, having me do it. He NEVER spilled it, by the way.

A feature that I NEVER got on to, was how high to cook the “batter”, depending on the heat and/or humidity on the Fairgrounds. The humidity really determined the temperature on the big Candy Thermometer stuck in the mess.

Stanley would say, “We’ll cook it at 248 today”, or whatever temp he thought was best.

The Thermometer was not a little glass thing like Jean used when she made caramels at Christmastime. This one was BIG, attached to a long, wide wooden “paddle” that stayed in the candy until just the right time. At the beginning, it was stirred. When the time came, (whenever that was, I never figured out), there was to be NO MORE STIRRING. Just watching the thermometer on the “paddle”, determining when to “turn off the gas”.

When that time came, the candy had to be poured out in a buttered pan for cooling (twenty pounds at a time, actually). When it cooled enough (I didn’t know when that was either), it was lifted off the pan and “loaded onto” the “puller.

Here is picture of plans for a puller:

You’ve probably seen a puller. It has these four crooked arms that rotate, (on some models, a stationary arm as well) and “pull” the taffy until it becomes the right consistency (whatever that was). Loading it onto the puller was a big task in and of itself. If the taffy was too soft, or even too hard, it didn’t “load” properly.

Actually, now that I think about it. You could partly tell when it was “pulled” long enough, by the color and texture of the candy.

I’ll never forget the first time I “tasted” a glob of that Vanilla after Stanley reached into the puller cabinet, and pulled off a big chunk for me. I don’t remember when that was, or where. That wasn’t important. What WAS important, was the taste of that Vanilla Taffy.

Whew!

After the taffy is “pulled”, and of the right consistency, the puller was stopped, and a worker (eventually me) took it off, formed it into something like a long “python”, making the end smaller and smaller, until it would fit into the “wrapper”.

The Wrapper was one of the most ingenious machines I’ve ever seen. It was noisy “as all get out”. It had a large roll of waxed paper on one side that was fed into the wrapper just right, and when it came out the other side, it had been cut; placed in one of the “jaws” of the machine, then as the wheel rotated, a knife cut off just the right amount of candy to be placed in that paper. Then as the wheel was rotating, a pair of wire “twisters” reached over and twisted the paper around the candy.

By the time that piece made it 'round the wheel, it was “pushed out” into a basket, all wrapped and ready to sell - and EAT.

My recollection of it is that there were not too many of those Candy Wrapping Machines in the country, and Stanley and Bill had several of them. When parts were needed, one of the older machines was “cannibalized” for parts, and he was back in business again.

The wrapped candy was then laid out on a long table in front - each flavor by itself - waiting to “mouth water” some kid, or adult.

Though most people had favorite flavors, the most popular was a mixture. Those of us down by the table gathered up a variety, or whatever the customer wanted, put it in a box on a scale measuring a pound, then closed and put it in the customers’ hands.

A favorite question the Fair Goers had was: “Got any samples?” We didn’t - generally.

One of the results of my several trips with them (one fair at a time, actually), is that I now sleep on a relatively hard bed.

When I was with them at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit the first time, Stanley put a mattress right on the floor of the truck, beside the puller and wrapper for me, and I “slept like a log”. There was some noise on the Fairgrounds, even at night, but I still slept right through. Since I took their mattress in the truck, they went to a Motel.

Ever since, I require a relatively hard bed. In fact, in Chicago after that, Jean and I put a plywood board under our mattress. Felt just like the one at the Fair.

Where we lived in Chicago was in an apartment on the second floor. Right across the hall from us was an elderly couple. Mr. Libkeman was in his nineties, and though his wife was elderly, she worked some time during the day at Smucker’s. At that time, Jean kept watch over him for her.

Jean and Mrs. Libkeman got to talking one day about beds, since she had back trouble.

Jean told her about putting the plywood in the bed, so somehow, she arranged to put one in their bed. They got it themselves.

The next morning, Jean asked her how they liked their bed this way, and she said, “It was OK, but the board was so hard, it made my back sore”. Jean checked, and lo and behold, she had put the plywood ON TOP of their mattress, rather than underneath, and they tried to sleep on that board!

We all had a good laugh about that.

I guess Mrs. Libkeman’s bed had very little to do with the story I was telling about Salt Water Taffy, but as I do so many times, I just wrote what came into my mind at that time.

That’s called “free association” writing.

free as·so·ci·a·tion

n
1. spontaneous expression of thoughts: the spontaneous and uncensored expression of thoughts or ideas, in which each one is allowed to lead to or suggest the next

Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I do it all the time on this blog. YOU know it!

Granddaghters to Canada

2009-08-14T19:33:00.011-04:00

If you’ve only known about the International Travel Restrictions in recent months, or maybe years, this story will seem incongruous to you.

Why?

Because it’s about Jean and me taking Molly and Kelly with us to Canada years ago, without visas, passports, or even very much of a problem.

I can’t recall the year it was, nor the ages of the girls, but I’m assuming it was at ABOUT the age that this picture shows them to be:

Kelly on the left; and Molly on the right.

Kelly thinks they were 2 or 3 years older than these pictures. Probably right.

We often took our grandchildren with us on trips - as some of my previous postings on this blog indicate.

I don’t remember the occasion, nor the reason for it this time, except we “gloried” in doing so.

I may have mentioned here before, but if not, I HAVE nearly everywhere else:

“Jean was the BEST Grandma I have EVER run on to!”

I saw and heard her up close. These forays with ANY of them were SPECIAL for her.

How we happened to decide on Canada, I don’t remember. I think it’s entirely possible that we just “set out”, and “followed our noses” as we went. I know for sure we hadn’t made any Motel reservations ahead of time.

As would be expected in traveling from Springfield to Canada, the most direct route - and we took it - was to go north to Detroit, and then take the Tunnel into Windsor, Ontario.

We MAY have driven around the City of Detroit before we entered the tunnel, but I don’t know for sure. I imagine both Kelly and Molly would remember some things, but I hate to bother them again. I’ve done so, so many times in the last few months, digging in their memories about the things we did with them.

Jean and I had been to Canada before - in fact, many times. We even drove from Montreal across Canada to Toronto one time. It was on National Highway 401, I think. (At least that’s its present designation.)

I also just now remember that I wondered about my CB radio in the car, not knowing if it were allowed there. Or, was it my in car Mobile Telephone? Probably the latter. We had no problem with it, however.

Naïve as we were, we were a LITTLE shocked that the Immigration officials just inside Canada looked a little “askance” at these two middle aged folk taking two pre-teen girls across the border.

Not shocking now, right? Even adults have to have a passport to cross these days.

But, as I said, we were naïve.

At one time in our travels with our grandchildren, either we, or one of our “kids” got the idea of providing for us a written description of their children, as well as written permission for “Myron B. and Wilma J. Maddex” to care for their children - including any medical care they might need.

However, I don’t think we had done that yet this time. My guess is that this experience may have helped to “trigger” such written statements from their parents.

At any rate, we were “pulled over”, asked to show identification, and asked to “prove” that we were, in truth, their grandparents. The girls saying so, I think, didn’t “cut the mustard”.

I’ve just “broken down” and called Molly, for her memory. She’s just getting in the car to pick up her son Ben from some activity he’s in, and will call me back.

After Molly got in her car, she called me back.

She thinks that the statements from the parents had already been made, and that was why they eventually let us go, BELIEVING that we were their grandparents. That makes sense, and gives a reason for the officials to even let us go, though they had stopped us. I don’t remember coming back to the U.S. as being so hard.

Though Molly thinks not, I do believe we rented a Motel Room in Windsor - spending the night.

How far inland we may have gone, neither of us is sure, but Molly said she remembered that we were traveling in our Station Wagon.

Molly said, “I remember riding in that station wagon a lot when we were young”.

JUST NOW, I talked to Kelly, and she agrees with Molly that I showed some kind of paper to the authorities to attest to our position, and that would be the statements from the parents, of course.

Also, Kelly agrees with Molly that, though we probably drove around Windsor, neither of them thought we were in a Motel, nor drove out of Windsor, very far, at least. The two of them have convinced me that we DID NOT stay over night.

Also, Kelly definitely remembers calling her mom, FROM CANADA, just to say that she was calling from another country (collect, one would presume.)

By the way, as is with “the way of all flesh”, they didn’t stay that young. Now, I have to use TWO pictures for them, because Molly lives in Indiana, and Kelly in Florida. And, THESE are current!

In THIS picture, Molly is on the left, and Kelly the right.

They each have a “blog” on the Internet, that I check daily (Sometimes more frequently!):

http://mollysabourin.typepad.com/

http://kellyjeanfarmer.blogspot.com/

Wonderful memories - even though they’re often incomplete.

Old age does that to you, you know!

Maybe right here I should admit that I’m probably obsessive in telling about my being old - and especially, 85 - since I mention it so often.

I am, after all, a BLABBERMOUTH!

(Look it up in the Dictionary. My picture is there!)

Arts In The Park

2009-08-11T09:05:00.003-04:00

I’m going to TRY to recall some details of the three times I rode the Grand Court Bus down to Cliff Park here in Springfield in July.

(It seems to me that another name for this series was “Summer Arts Festival”.)

I had not been to one of these affairs since Jean and I took some of the grandchildren there, years ago.

When I saw on the Activity Schedule that several “shows” would be visited by the Bus this summer, I wasn’t very interested. Oh, Jean and I enjoyed the times we went, but we could never get there early enough to get seats very close to the front - and, all the “lawn chairs” put there on the morning of the event to save seats, kinda bothered me. (Was I just jealous because OUR chairs weren’t there?)

When I saw the July Activity Schedule, I noticed that Meredith Willson’s Broadway play “Music Man” was scheduled for July 5. I had seen that as a movie several years ago, and I really enjoyed it. Why not take it in?

I asked our Activity Director (Oh…I know that’s not her RIGHT title, but I can’t think of it right now) how this worked. She said, “Well, I take our lawn chairs down real early in the day - reserving a place for us when we arrive. Then, at 6:45PM, we all get on the bus and ride down there. The show starts at 8PM, so we’re there in plenty of time. Be sure to ‘sign up’!”

Works for me!

Early arriver that I am, I was in the Lobby at 6:30, but no one was there. The bus wasn’t even in the front parking lot. “Oh well”, I thought, “They’ll be here before long.”

Shortly, Timi (that IS her right NAME) came by and said, “Let’s load up!” I think nine of us got on - just before 6:45. We “loaded up”, and took off for the Park.

Going down Fountain Boulevard, Timi said, “Oh Mike! Does your BlackBerry have an alarm on it? I have to give Betsey her pills at 8PM, and I don’t want to get out my phone while I’m driving.”

“Of course”, I said.

So, I set my alarm to ring at 7:55. (Good thing, because an announcement was made that phones/pagers should be turned off during the show.) The alarm sounded at the proper time. Timi heard it and gave Betsey her pills.

We got to the Park, and drove right through the barrier (the attendant permitted it) to the Bus parking lot, near the seating. We all got out and headed for our “already set up” chairs, while Timi pulled along the ice chest (for snacks).

Our chairs were just in front of the paved walk, and we were set for the evening.

Prior to the show, there was recorded music played over the PA system, while people were being seated.

The show began on time, and we were treated to an enjoyable evening by excellent local talent. At times, I had a little difficulty hearing all of the dialogue (I may not have taken along my hearing aids.), but the music and singing were excellent, and the plot was well understood.

The ice chest produced potato chips, barbecue chips, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, another snack I don’t know the name of, and bottled water.

After about an hour, there was an Intermission, and “the hat” was passed for contributions to offset the shortfall in the budget for the summer. It was announced that it “appeared” that this crowd was maybe the largest ever in the history of several years of these Festivals.

At the end, I was VERY glad I had come. It was very enjoyable. While there, I saw several friends of former years that I hadn’t seen for a long time.

Three nights later, the Festival featured the “Paragon Ragtime Orchestra”. Someone told me that old time silent movies would also be shown. Sounded intriguing to me, but since I hadn’t signed up, I probably couldn’t go, because of no room.

I went to the lobby anyway, along with a light jacket and my cap, being on standby in case someone didn’t show up. Sure enough, not everyone came, so there was room for me. (The bus holds about a dozen people.)

At precisely 8 o’clock, the Ragtime Orchestra came on stage, and after an introduction by the Conductor, they started playing.

I noticed a movie screen behind the stage, and the Conductor said that his orchestra resembled the Movie Theater Orchestras of the 1920’s that played while silent films were shown.

“When it gets dark,” he said, “We’ll watch Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin in old time silent movies.”

They played some music circa early 1900’s, and it was pure “ragtime”, as I remember the sound repeated in the 20’s.

At just before dark, the Conductor introduced a Buster Keaton silent movie comedy, and the orchestra accompanied it, providing, in some cases, sound effects occurring there. Just like in the early 1900’s, he explained.

Following that, a Harold Lloyd film was shown, also a comedy, with the usual accompaniment. When the orchestra was silent sometimes, I forgot that it had been THIS orchestra providing the background for the film.

At intermission, workers “passed the hat” again this time, receiving gifts to help offset the deficit.

By this time, it was total darkness, and a Charlie Chaplin comedy routine and movie was shown, again accompanied by this “Ragtime” orchestra.

All very enjoyable.

The final time I went, was for a program featuring Warren Hill, a Jazz saxophonist. I was not as enthralled with the “show” as I had been with the other two. Totally determined, I am sure, by my dis-interest in this “modern” Jazz being played. The talent and presentation of the music was outstanding, and MANY in the crowd stood, clapped, and danced to the music.

Just NOT my “cup of tea”, as we say.

When we arrived, there was a “set-up group” playing Jazz, but, as it turned out, was not as loud and heavy “jazzy” as the last one. Though the music was not my type, I did enjoy the talent and expertise displayed. It was Jazz, but not as “radical” as the later group, in my opinion.

Our group stayed until the Intermission of the Warren Hill group, but two of our folk returned to the Bus EARLY in the program.

On the bus while returning home, I asked our group how many enjoyed the “first” group better than the “second”. Several raised their hands.

Oh………the last time, we didn’t have our chairs set up before hand, since Timi thought it MIGHT rain. We took the chairs with us. Getting them out of the bus and into the crowd required a little additional help, so I picked up some chairs, and the “pull along” ice chest to help. Same at the end. Fortunately, the bus has a hydraulic lift at the back, so walkers, wheel chairs and lawn chairs could be “lifted” up and down.

An additional feature was that I left my jacket on the ground near where my chair was sitting. I thought of it after we had re-loaded the bus. Timi went back and got it. I was a LITTLE nervous, since my check book was in the pocket.

"All's well that ends well",an old Mechanicsburg saying.

Looking back, I rather wish I had started attending these affairs earlier than I did. I apparently missed some good ones.

Besides the enjoyment, the trips provided a diversion from my computer, and the books I’m reading. I have taken, and still will be taking, some more trips on the bus, and I MAY write about some of them, “if the spirit moves me.” (A good old Mechanicsburg phrase.)

Random Memories IV

2009-08-08T08:33:00.004-04:00

Here’s part of what I wrote at the beginning of Random Memories:

I think I’ve mentioned before that when different stories, or “memories” come to mind, I jot them down - either here on the computer; or in my BlackBerry if I’m out of the apartment (or in bed!); or even on any piece of paper available, if I have a pencil.

WARNING! I’m going to start relating one “short” incident after another, including what I can remember about it, then move on to the next one. I don’t mind admitting, that if more incidents on that subject come to mind, I very likely will extend that into its own “posting” on this blog.

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Cell Addiction

This morning, right after breakfast, I headed out to the Speedway Station on Upper Valley Pike, to get cash from the Chase ATM for my trip to Florida tomorrow, when I’ve planned a visit with our granddaughter Kelly and her family.

I left in kind of a hurry, since I’ve got a lot of things to do today - not the least of which is to finish packing my “pull along carry-on” suitcase. But, I didn’t want to miss breakfast!

Since it was a little “chilly” this AM, I got out my light jacket and my blue cap, and “rushed” out the door. I wanted to get back in time for our daily exercise program. I’ll miss a week of it starting tomorrow, while I’m on vacation.

In addition, I have an 11:00 o’clock appointment with the ENT clinic for a check up and adjustment of my Unitron hearing aids. And, some time today, I need to write a check for my monthly stay at The Grand Court. (The other bills basically are paid automatically by my bank - when due.)

So, I was in a hurry. (I have to explain my goof some way)

About half way there, something caused me to reach for my Cell Phone, normally connected to my belt. Probably a bell ringing on the radio, or something.

Whoa!!!

Where is it? It wasn’t on the side seat of the car. It hadn’t fallen on the floor.

Where IS it?

Suddenly, as if a light went on over my head, I recalled plugging in the battery charger to the phone after coming back from breakfast. Dummy me, I left it OFF the charger all night, and the battery was very low. Uncharacteristically, I then went out the door without my BlackBerry!

“Oh well”, I thought. “I won’t miss it for a half hour.”

Ya wanna bet?

“Wow”, I thought. “This would make a nice story for my blog. I’d better note it on my BlackBerry so I don’t forget. (Beat) Oh……I don’t HAVE my BlackBerry, It’s at home on the charger.” What’ll I write it on? Nothing.

So, all the way there and back I kept saying to myself “Cell addiction”, “Cell addiction. Cell addiction."

I thought I might suffer some withdrawal symptoms, since I am definitely addicted - but I didn‘t. At least I don’t think I did.

What ARE the “withdrawal symptoms”? How would I know if I had them?

Maybe a “nervous twitch”? Or a “runny nose”? Or constantly saying, “Cell addiction”, “Cell addiction”, “Cell addiction“. How would I know?

I did make it through the ATM withdrawal OK.

I thought I should check my “Shopping List” on my BlackBerry, as I do every time I go out. I find it is helpful for a “forgetting” guy like me to have a “list” to follow for shopping purposes. I started to check it - it wasn’t there!

What else is going on today? I’d better not forget. Check my daily “date book” on the BlackBerry. Oops, no BlackBerry.

Check to see if I’d missed any calls. No phone!

(Can you take anything for this nervous “tick” in my right cheek?)

Is someone missing? I seem so alone.

When I finally got back to the apartment, I grabbed up the BlackBerry right away to check. No phone calls. No e-mails. No text messages. Not even any “daily reminders”, such as five minutes before Exercise time. (It was too early for that.) It was just sitting there on the bedside table, “not doin’ nothin’”. Calm as could be.

I guess I DID get along for a half-hour without it, AND, the phone got along OK without me, sad to say.

I MIGHT have said, IF I was hooked, “Did you miss me? I’m terribly sorry I left you right here by yourself.”

I didn’t, and I wasn’t missed.

But, WOW, it sure seemed strange to not have that “crutch” hanging from my belt - ringing or not. Just knowing it’s there, gives me a sense of “belonging”.

Hold it right there! I’m not THAT “bonkers”, am I?

Don’t answer that.

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Jenny

Jean and I “inherited” a cute little French Poodle named “Mademoiselle Genevieve” - a French name, of course, but we right away called her “Jenny”.

She belonged to our 2 year old second grandson, Bobby. His mom and dad bought her from George and Kathy Key, here in Springfield.

She was a cute, fluffy doggie with gray hair.

I think Bobby liked her, at first. However, after a fairly short time, he got so he didn’t like her. I THINK it might have been her breath, since he called her “Yukky, yukky Jenny.” It might also have been because of where they lived at Cleveland, or the neighborhood, or something else. I’ve asked him to tell me what he remembers.

“Under-bite and bad breath”, he said.

For whatever reason, he gave her to Grandma Jean, and she was DELIGHTED to get her! I thought she was a real cute and nice dog, but I didn’t get as attached to her as Jean did.

Jean held her in her lap quite a lot, even when she was reading, or watching television, or telling me how much she loved me. She DID do that, you know. We told each other that - OFTEN! (How do you think we stayed married for 65 years?)

Jenny was not always the nice, cute little creature that we loved so well. Sometimes, especially when we were not home, she seemed to get real angry, because she began “tearing up” our sofa. We thought it was because she was angry with our leaving her. Who knows?

One especially bad time, was when she tore up the sofa while we were at the Dayton Airport, picking up Mel Johnson - for meetings and the WEEC SHARATHON. We came home, and the sofa was a mess!

Jean was chagrined! Especially just before such well known company had arrived.

In later years, Mel always stayed at the Holiday Inn when he came. I hadn’t thought about it, but was it because of Jenny? Nah…..I’m sure it wasn’t.

As poodles go, Jenny was a rather small dog, but when she realized a dog (large or small) was walking by on the sidewalk, she became almost berserk. We’d open up the door, and she would go “tearing” across the porch to the ground, never even using the steps, but would stop before getting to the sidewalk where the dog was. They were ALL larger than she was.

Over time, Jenny became a real buddy to Jean - like when I was gone to the Office all day, and especially when I would go away to NRB in Washington DC for nearly a week.

On New Year’s Eve, when we had our grandchildren here, Jenny joined right in for the celebration of banging on pots and pans at midnight. She would run outside right away, looking for who knows what.

I don’t know how many years Jean had Jenny, but they were joyful for her, for sure.

I enjoyed her also.

Mademoiselle Genevieve was a nice dog!