I have many fond memories of my grandparents. When I was growing up, every Sunday, my family would make the trip to their house, and spend a couple hours with my dad’s parents. There were two apple trees in the backyard that were perfect for climbing. In the summer, the apples were sweet and delicious, and could not be much fresher than right off the tree. My aunt and uncle lived up the street. They had eleven kids, so there was always lots of activity around my grandparent’s house.
Although there were a lot of good times and memories made at my grandparents, there was one thing that was not so pleasant. Pap and Mamam had a white, porcelain collie dog that always sat in the corner of their living room. It was just a little nick knack, about five inches high and seven inches long. This dog was a gift from their daughter, who had passed away. From the time I was a toddler, I had a fascination with that collie.
My mother tells me that from the time I was about three years old, I could not keep my hands off of it. Every visit, I would make my way over to figurine and pick it up. This was against my dad’s rules. I was not allowed to touch the collie. The dog would be taken away from me, and a scolding always followed. Apparently, this always caused tension when my family visited.
My behavior went on for years. I ‘m not sure why the collie was not put away somewhere when I visited, but it was not. As I grew older, elementary school age, my dad would get more upset when I would go after my prize. He resorted to putting me in the car until it was time to go home. I remember my cousins, and siblings, playing outside while I sat in the car. They would point and laugh, teasing me about my problem with the collie.
I eventually grew out my fetus with that dog, and my grandparents passed away. My family never knew what happened to the collie, but from time to time, during family gatherings, stories would be told about the troubles that knick knack caused.
About five years ago, another of my aunts passed away, and while going through her belongings, my cousin discovered the long lost collie. Shortly after that discovery, the statue was given to it’s rightful owner, me.
These days, that white, porcelain collie holds a prominent position on top of a bookshelf in the dining room of my home. My children are grown and have no interest in it, but I wonder, if grandchildren are in my future, what will happen when they come to visit. To be safe, I’ll keep the collie on the bookshelf.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Fill-in Dad
Growing up, my dad and I did not have what would be called a close relationship. I’m not sure why, but one reason could be that dad was not much of a talker. He worked hard to support the family, and had other activities that took up his time. Unfortunately, because of the distance we lived from each other, we never had the opportunity to grow closer throughout my adult years. There was one common bond that dad and I had. I loved playing sports and he loved watching me play. If I had a game dad was there.
In the spring of 1974, I was the starting catcher on my high school baseball team. It just so happened that my younger brother was to receive the sacrament of confirmation, in the Catholic Church, that same spring, and he asked me to be his sponsor. Confirmation is the ceremony, which transforms a youth into an adult member of the church. As a sponsor, you stand with the youth during the ceremony, and act as his mentor.
The day of the confirmation ceremony happened to be a game day for me. I recall there was not any concern about this because the confirmation was in the evening, and the baseball game was after school. There should have been plenty of time for me to attend the ceremony. We had a good team that year, ending the season as district runner-up. This particular game was a big one, because the opposing team was in our conference, and also pretty good. The game went into extra innings, and eventually I had to go to my dad and ask what I was supposed to do. It was time to leave for the church, but the game was not over. I knew that confirmation was important, and my brother was counting on me, but this was baseball, and I’m the catcher. My dad answered me by saying “You can’t leave this game.” Dad explained that he would go to the ceremony and take my place.
Going to the game right after work, he was dressed in his work clothes. A white long sleeve shirt and black-cuffed pants were dad’s work attire. He was a meat cutter (butcher), and that white shirt always had a bloodstain or two on it. Back in those days, the floors of butcher shops were covered with a couple inches of sawdust. This kept the workers from slipping on the slick surface. His black pants always had sawdust on them, and the pant cuffs were usually half way full of the stuff. Not having time to change, this is how my brother’s stand in sponsor arrived at the church.
Details about the game have long left my memory, but we did eventually win, and I remember making a good play, ending a scoring threat by the other team, preserving the tie. The events of later that evening are also a blur. All I can remember is my older sister telling the story of how comical dad looked, standing in front of the church, in his work clothes, with my brother was confirmed.
It’s been a little over a year since dad passed away. As I look back on that day, I wonder about his decision. Should he have made me leave the game and fulfill my duties as sponsor? I wonder how hard of a decision that was for him. However, he was able to solve a problem for both of his son’s that day. My brother did have a sponsor for his confirmation, and I was able to continue doing what I loved.
In the spring of 1974, I was the starting catcher on my high school baseball team. It just so happened that my younger brother was to receive the sacrament of confirmation, in the Catholic Church, that same spring, and he asked me to be his sponsor. Confirmation is the ceremony, which transforms a youth into an adult member of the church. As a sponsor, you stand with the youth during the ceremony, and act as his mentor.
The day of the confirmation ceremony happened to be a game day for me. I recall there was not any concern about this because the confirmation was in the evening, and the baseball game was after school. There should have been plenty of time for me to attend the ceremony. We had a good team that year, ending the season as district runner-up. This particular game was a big one, because the opposing team was in our conference, and also pretty good. The game went into extra innings, and eventually I had to go to my dad and ask what I was supposed to do. It was time to leave for the church, but the game was not over. I knew that confirmation was important, and my brother was counting on me, but this was baseball, and I’m the catcher. My dad answered me by saying “You can’t leave this game.” Dad explained that he would go to the ceremony and take my place.
Going to the game right after work, he was dressed in his work clothes. A white long sleeve shirt and black-cuffed pants were dad’s work attire. He was a meat cutter (butcher), and that white shirt always had a bloodstain or two on it. Back in those days, the floors of butcher shops were covered with a couple inches of sawdust. This kept the workers from slipping on the slick surface. His black pants always had sawdust on them, and the pant cuffs were usually half way full of the stuff. Not having time to change, this is how my brother’s stand in sponsor arrived at the church.
Details about the game have long left my memory, but we did eventually win, and I remember making a good play, ending a scoring threat by the other team, preserving the tie. The events of later that evening are also a blur. All I can remember is my older sister telling the story of how comical dad looked, standing in front of the church, in his work clothes, with my brother was confirmed.
It’s been a little over a year since dad passed away. As I look back on that day, I wonder about his decision. Should he have made me leave the game and fulfill my duties as sponsor? I wonder how hard of a decision that was for him. However, he was able to solve a problem for both of his son’s that day. My brother did have a sponsor for his confirmation, and I was able to continue doing what I loved.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Not Today
In an excerpt from a chapter titled “Everybody does it” in David Callahan’s book “The Cheating Culture,” several reasons are given for the increase of cheating in today’s society. One of the reasons given is income gaps have increased greatly over the past twenty-five years. The old saying of The Rich Get Richer applies here.
In the article, Callahan states, “the top one percent of households has more wealth than the entire bottom ninety percent combined.” (Callahan 20). This has put a large gap between the upper and middle class, and continues to widen each year. Income, for the middle class, has not kept up with the upper class, or the inflation rate. Many middle class American families struggler, financially, in today’s society.
My mother and father raised a family of four children, on a Meat cutter’s (butcher’s) salary. This was in the nineteen sixties and seventies. Back then, a new three bedroom house cost fifteen thousand dollars, a new car under three thousand, and gas went for twenty-seven cents a gallon. That family was considered middle class, and had a comfortable life. Knowing, what the cost of living is today, and what the average meat cutter’s salary would be, it is easy to see, that my family of the Sixties, would not have a chance today. You would not be able to raise a family on a meat cutters wages, in today’s world, and be considered middle class.
Financial pressures, I believe, have forced many Americans to get an edge financially. In many instances, this edge comes in a less than ethical way.
Notes
Callahan, David. “The Cheating Culture.” NextText. Eds. Anne Kress and Suellyn
Winkle. Boston: Bedford/St. martin’s, 2008. 19-24.
In the article, Callahan states, “the top one percent of households has more wealth than the entire bottom ninety percent combined.” (Callahan 20). This has put a large gap between the upper and middle class, and continues to widen each year. Income, for the middle class, has not kept up with the upper class, or the inflation rate. Many middle class American families struggler, financially, in today’s society.
My mother and father raised a family of four children, on a Meat cutter’s (butcher’s) salary. This was in the nineteen sixties and seventies. Back then, a new three bedroom house cost fifteen thousand dollars, a new car under three thousand, and gas went for twenty-seven cents a gallon. That family was considered middle class, and had a comfortable life. Knowing, what the cost of living is today, and what the average meat cutter’s salary would be, it is easy to see, that my family of the Sixties, would not have a chance today. You would not be able to raise a family on a meat cutters wages, in today’s world, and be considered middle class.
Financial pressures, I believe, have forced many Americans to get an edge financially. In many instances, this edge comes in a less than ethical way.
Notes
Callahan, David. “The Cheating Culture.” NextText. Eds. Anne Kress and Suellyn
Winkle. Boston: Bedford/St. martin’s, 2008. 19-24.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Family Ties
Could any man resist the temptation of evil if he knew his acts could not be witnessed? This is a question posed in an excerpt from an article entitled, “What the Bagelman Saw,” by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. I would like to simplify this question by asking; if you knew you would not get caught, would you cheat? I believe more people would answer yes to this question in the twenty first century, than would have in the nineteen sixties. The decline of the family is one of the reasons for this difference.
I was a kid in the sixties. Life was much slower then, and families were able to spend much more time together than today. They had time sit down and eat dinner together. I’ve heard this called the family table. In those days, most moms did not work outside the home, allowing them time o prepare the evening meal. I remember this being a time of sharing with one another. Family matters were discussed, and family values were taught. A sense of right and wrong was instilled in me during those family times, and the important thing to remember is that this happened almost everyday.
I think things are much different in today’s society. Families are so much busier today. Kids are involved in many more activities. Most households have both parents working fulltime, and as a result, the family unit has been weakened. Families don’t have the time to sit down and have a meal together on a regular basis. I believe, for the most part, the family table is a thing of the past. That time of sharing, and parental guidance happens all to infrequently. Families are unable to spend enough time discussing right from wrong, and without spending time together as a family unit, how can values be instilled in our children.
Let’s get back to the question. Would you?
I was a kid in the sixties. Life was much slower then, and families were able to spend much more time together than today. They had time sit down and eat dinner together. I’ve heard this called the family table. In those days, most moms did not work outside the home, allowing them time o prepare the evening meal. I remember this being a time of sharing with one another. Family matters were discussed, and family values were taught. A sense of right and wrong was instilled in me during those family times, and the important thing to remember is that this happened almost everyday.
I think things are much different in today’s society. Families are so much busier today. Kids are involved in many more activities. Most households have both parents working fulltime, and as a result, the family unit has been weakened. Families don’t have the time to sit down and have a meal together on a regular basis. I believe, for the most part, the family table is a thing of the past. That time of sharing, and parental guidance happens all to infrequently. Families are unable to spend enough time discussing right from wrong, and without spending time together as a family unit, how can values be instilled in our children.
Let’s get back to the question. Would you?
Monday, December 10, 2007
NON-TRADITIONAL
NON-TRADITIONAL
With the completion of this final piece, I will satisfy all the requirements of an English composition class I have been taking this term. It’s been an interesting class, and I’ve learned quite a bit about the writing process. Some of the assignments have challenged me, and caused me to look outside the box.
The instructor made the classes interesting and worth showing up for. Although, the class was worthwhile, and will go a long way towards helping me in future writing endeavors, the most enjoyable part of the class was the make up of the class itself. Being an entry-level composition class, all of the students, except for one, were eighteen or nineteen year old freshman. If you have not figured it by now, I am the one. I am what is called a non-traditional student. What I am is a fifty-year-old LPN, who is taking classes toward a registered nursing degree. I usually take night classes, where the age of the students is more diverse, but because of some conflicts, I was forced to take some day classes.
It felt a little strange at first, but after a couple of days, I was just one of the class. As the term went on, I got to know a couple of the students, and enjoyed talking to them
.
Next term will be more of the same. Another English composition course is on the horizon, and I predict that I will again be the elder statesman on the group.
With the completion of this final piece, I will satisfy all the requirements of an English composition class I have been taking this term. It’s been an interesting class, and I’ve learned quite a bit about the writing process. Some of the assignments have challenged me, and caused me to look outside the box.
The instructor made the classes interesting and worth showing up for. Although, the class was worthwhile, and will go a long way towards helping me in future writing endeavors, the most enjoyable part of the class was the make up of the class itself. Being an entry-level composition class, all of the students, except for one, were eighteen or nineteen year old freshman. If you have not figured it by now, I am the one. I am what is called a non-traditional student. What I am is a fifty-year-old LPN, who is taking classes toward a registered nursing degree. I usually take night classes, where the age of the students is more diverse, but because of some conflicts, I was forced to take some day classes.
It felt a little strange at first, but after a couple of days, I was just one of the class. As the term went on, I got to know a couple of the students, and enjoyed talking to them
.
Next term will be more of the same. Another English composition course is on the horizon, and I predict that I will again be the elder statesman on the group.
JUST PLAY THE GAME
JUST PLAY THE GAME
I’m a football fan. I’ve enjoyed watch professional football since I was a kid. To me, there is nothing I’d rather do on a Sunday afternoon in the fall, than to sit down and watch a game. Football has change over the years. Today’s game is so much faster and more explosive than it used to be. Although I love to watch the games, there is something about present day football that I could do without. The showboating has gotten out of control. It used to be that when a player scored a touchdown, he would get some congratulations from his teammates, give the ball to the referee, and head off to the sidelines. There are players presently who still handle a touchdown that way, but too many players today act like they’ve just saved the world when they score a touchdown. Elaborate dances are performed, the opposing team is mocked and in general, unsportsmanlike behavior is displayed.
I heard a quote from Joe Paterno, the football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who said to his players “Act like you’ve been there before.” It’s a touchdown. Touchdowns are part of the game. It’s the player’s job to score touchdowns. Sometimes the game seems more like a circus than a football game.
Touchdowns are not the only times when these excessive celebrations are performed. I’ve seen players make good tackles, or sack the quarterback, and then carry on like they’ve just won the super bowl. A team can get penalized for excessive celebration, but the call is rarely made. The game would be better off if the players would just play the game, instead of turning football into a circus.
I’m a football fan. I’ve enjoyed watch professional football since I was a kid. To me, there is nothing I’d rather do on a Sunday afternoon in the fall, than to sit down and watch a game. Football has change over the years. Today’s game is so much faster and more explosive than it used to be. Although I love to watch the games, there is something about present day football that I could do without. The showboating has gotten out of control. It used to be that when a player scored a touchdown, he would get some congratulations from his teammates, give the ball to the referee, and head off to the sidelines. There are players presently who still handle a touchdown that way, but too many players today act like they’ve just saved the world when they score a touchdown. Elaborate dances are performed, the opposing team is mocked and in general, unsportsmanlike behavior is displayed.
I heard a quote from Joe Paterno, the football coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who said to his players “Act like you’ve been there before.” It’s a touchdown. Touchdowns are part of the game. It’s the player’s job to score touchdowns. Sometimes the game seems more like a circus than a football game.
Touchdowns are not the only times when these excessive celebrations are performed. I’ve seen players make good tackles, or sack the quarterback, and then carry on like they’ve just won the super bowl. A team can get penalized for excessive celebration, but the call is rarely made. The game would be better off if the players would just play the game, instead of turning football into a circus.
Socializing from your room
Socializing From Your Room
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article titled “Where’s The Spirit.” I’d like to follow that up with where I think some of the spirit has gone. Back when I was a teenager, the way to socialize with friends and classmates was to physically be with them. We did have a telephone, but you could not spend a great amount of time on it. First, it was corded, so you could not take the phone to a private place to talk. Secondly, there were five other people in my household. Five people and one phone meant short conversions. School social and sporting events was when you got together with your friends. Outside of actually being in school, that was best opportunity for communication.
Things are a bit different today. Cell phones, text messaging and not to mention instant messaging, are the teenagers methods of communication and socializing. Don’t get me wrong, kids today still get out and hangout, but it is not as much of a need as it used to be. With cell phone in hand, a teen can talk to a friend anywhere and at any time. Text messaging allows unheard conversations to go on. This allows the user to communicate in private even when they are with their parents. Instant messaging, on the computer, allows for multiple conversations among these electronic age kids.
All a teen needs is a cell phone and a computer, and they can do the bulk of their socializing electronically, from their bedroom.
The electronically plugged in teenager doesn’t have to be at the game to be with friends. This can be accomplished from the comfort of their bedroom.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article titled “Where’s The Spirit.” I’d like to follow that up with where I think some of the spirit has gone. Back when I was a teenager, the way to socialize with friends and classmates was to physically be with them. We did have a telephone, but you could not spend a great amount of time on it. First, it was corded, so you could not take the phone to a private place to talk. Secondly, there were five other people in my household. Five people and one phone meant short conversions. School social and sporting events was when you got together with your friends. Outside of actually being in school, that was best opportunity for communication.
Things are a bit different today. Cell phones, text messaging and not to mention instant messaging, are the teenagers methods of communication and socializing. Don’t get me wrong, kids today still get out and hangout, but it is not as much of a need as it used to be. With cell phone in hand, a teen can talk to a friend anywhere and at any time. Text messaging allows unheard conversations to go on. This allows the user to communicate in private even when they are with their parents. Instant messaging, on the computer, allows for multiple conversations among these electronic age kids.
All a teen needs is a cell phone and a computer, and they can do the bulk of their socializing electronically, from their bedroom.
The electronically plugged in teenager doesn’t have to be at the game to be with friends. This can be accomplished from the comfort of their bedroom.
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