Back To 1958

Sometimes a little irritation is a good thing.
This week I was irritated in a way that made me smile.
My "work car" has 235,969 miles on it. A '95 Chrysler LHS, it drives wonderfully and still gets over 27 miles per gallon of gas driving to and from work. It has all the bells and whistles and all of them still work, EXCEPT the air conditioner. The A/C gave up the ghost three years ago, and since it would have to be converted to the new eco-friendly refrigerant, in addition to having to replace the ($$$$$) compressor, I chose to just drive with all the windows down during the five or so months I'd normally be using the air. Working nights, when it gets REALLY REALLY hot, I drive Sara Jean's car to work in air-conditioned comfort.
Yesterday I had to drive to St. Louis to teach a student at a time that required me to drive in my old car since SJ would be at work with hers. Windows down, wind whistling all around, the thermometer on the display said "97".
I flew with my student, then did a little "airport bumming"...
Stops here and there on the airport to visit with old friends, culminating with a stop at the shop of a mechanic I've known over thirty years. Time, gossip, and a few beers were shared.

The sun was well below the horizon when I started my 90 minute drive home.
The temperature had fallen to 84 degrees and felt perfectly comfortable in my old luxury-beater. With the windows down I was reminded of how it was back when we were all growing up and automobile air conditioning was something about which we had only heard rumors...
The sounds and smells of life are in your face when the windows are down.
Skunk.
Honeysuckle in bloom.
A dead critter in the road, followed by the unpleasant scent of decay.
Newly overturned earth in that plowed field.
The (pleasant to me) smell of manure as I pass a dairy farm.
And a reminder of long-ago trips home after the movies at the Meridian Drive-In-
The wonderful feel of a sudden temperature drop as I pass through a wooded area, or drop down into a valley.

We all want to avoid being uncomfortable. We've all paid our dues and have a right to avoid being uncomfortable. But in avoiding discomfort, however slight, we've isolated ourselves from some things in life that really WEREN'T so bad on reflection... Windows down, radio BLASTING, the sounds and smells of LIFE encompassing us as we motor through it.

Life is mighty good.
We all could use the reminder now and then.

Mayfest

The peonies are in bloom and to me that means something else is goin' on...
It's RACE time!

But how it's changed, huh?
Most of us here can remember when the entire month of May, (once the Kentucky Derby was complete), was devoted to the Indianapolis 500...
Practice.
Carburetion day.
A weekend of qualifying.
More practice.
Another weekend of qualifying.
The 500 festival parade.
And the race itself.

I watched qualifications today on a cable channel and I cannot even tell you now which one it was. The stands looked empty. I don't know if that was because rain was threatening the proceedings or if others are like me... angry that we can no longer carry coolers to our seats and make a family picnic out of "Pole Day".
I suspect the answer is... a little of both reasons.

But the race has lost its luster as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" in my eyes.
You can use any engine you want so long as it's the same Honda engine your competitor is using. Pretty much the same applies to chassis... are there still two manufactures making those?

It's a mess. I hope someone takes a look at the path that got us here and makes some dramatic changes.
If they don't, there'll be a chance the Brickyard 400 will start attracting a larger crowd.
(But they're also all using the same chassis/bodywork, and the engines, although made by different manufacturers, are as nearly identical as NASCAR can make them.)

Indy used to be exciting.
Someone needs to figure out how to make it exciting again.

Alumni Banquet 2011

Via email from TwoDogs:

To Fellow Classmates and Friends,

The 2011 Center Grove Alumni Banquet will be held in the 'old' Gym at the High School. The date is Saturday, June 11, 2011. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:00pm. Ticket are $20.00 each and are now available at the following locations: Embroidery N' Things 520 North SR 135 Greenwood, Old National Bank 900 South SR135 Greenwood, The Orchard Golf Center 251 North SR135 Greenwood and Center Grove High School. It is best if you go to one of these locations and purchase your tickets. For those 'out of town' - contact Dan Francis @ 317-431-6156 and make arrangement for payment. He will take name(s) and make a list for the door so that the tickets can be available at that time (6/11) for pick up.

Also, please take a look at the attached letter. It is a request for donations to help the CG Alumni Association continue to provide scholarship monies to graduating seniors. In the past, we have been able to raise enough to award 2 - $500.00 scholarships. We would like to be able to raise the bar this year and in the future. The scholarships are for CG Alumni relatives and are paid directly to the school of choice. The seniors are selected thru a process governed by the Center Grove Education Foundation. If you or your company are interested in donating and making a difference in someone's life, You can go to Center Grove Education Foundation.org and click on 'donate on line'. There will be a dropdown menu to choose from. Make sure you choose Center Grove Alumni Association. This will go directly into a fund that makes the scholarship monies available. The Center Grove Education Foundation.org is a 'not for profit' organization and any donations will be tax deductable. You may also write a check to CGEF c/o CGAA. Please let Dan know if you do contribute. We would like to add your name to the Donors List that is inserted into the program and handed out at the Banquet.

Be there or be square!

Dormant

I got an email indicating that someone had actually left a comment here.
But the comment was spam.

Reunion @ The Barn-

.

Michael C. Mullins

Michael C. Mullins

Michael C. Mullins, 59, passed
away Thursday, April 7, 2011, at
his residence in Greenwood.
He was born June 6, 1951, to
Carl J. and Dorcas (Brandsteter)
Mullins.
Survivors include his mother,
Dorcas Mullins; two nephews,
Michael and David Boswell; and
an aunt, Willetta Lucas.

He was preceded in passing by
his father, Carl J. Mullins; a sister,
Carolyn J. Boswell; and a
brother-in-law, Joe Boswell.
Michael was a graduate of
Center Grove High School and
Indiana University.

Now that he's gone, the story can be told without repercussion:

When Mike was hired at the Frostop I was tasked with teaching him how to be a short order cook. Car hops would take the food/drink orders and bring them to the refreshment window. If there were kitchen-prepared items on the order, that order ticket would be hung on a rotating clip-thingy, (technical term, I know. If you need a better description, email me), and the cook would prepare the necessary items before handing sandwiches, etc. along with the order ticket back to the refreshment worker to add root beer or other drinks to the order for delivery by the car hop.
Back in the kitchen, we had a small window to peer through that gave us a view of who was parked in the lot. One day while I was teaching Mike he was watching the cars pulling up into the lot and I heard him mutter something angrily beneath his breath. When I asked what he was muttering about he pointed to the car that had just pulled in and said, "That (blankety-blank) is the guy that stole my girlfriend".
And as I recall, the subject of his anger was someone that I thought the world would be better without too. So when the order came in for a cheeseburger and fries, I allowed Mike to show me how well I had taught him to cook. We had run out of frozen hamburger patties that day and were using fresh ground hamburger, manually pressing out the patties with our hands. Mike expertly removed a tennis-ball sized chunk of meat, pressed it into patty form with his hands, slipped the patty beneath his armpit and rolled it around, then fried it up, added a slice of cheese and sent it on its way to consumption.
We giggled as we watched the "bad guy" eat his sandwich.

I sure liked Mike.
Lord, when he shows up at your gate give him a hug for me and remember...
We were just stupid teen-agers at the time.
Forgive us both, please.

Classmates.com

"Greybeard, 15 people visited your guestbook. Click here to see who's searching for you!"
And when I click the tab I'm transported to a site asking for my credit card number.
Although I really don't want to 'cause I HAVE gotten in touch with a couple folks through Classmates.com, I think I'm gonna have to block 'em. They're beginning to be a nuisance, and I get FAR more valuable information through Facebook and Vandy's Kids...
FREE!

Classmates.com...
You need a new business model.

Hanna-Barbera

"The Flintstones" came first.
Yogi Bear, Quickdraw McGraw, and others soon followed.
Several of our classmates assumed Hanna-Barbera identities...
TopCat and Snaggletooth are two that come to mind, (although Snaggletooth didn't much care for his moniker).
Were there others?

Benny

So many years have passed, it's tough to remember...
I went to my first CG Alumni Banquet in either '81 or '82. I bought tickets for the dinner and the after dinner get-together. The dinner was early... I remember it was still light outside when I sat down to eat... alone. I was maybe halfway through my meal when he approached and asked if he could sit with me...
"Hi, remember me?!! I'm Benny!"
How could anyone forget Benny?
Short in stature, huge in personality and presence, Benny.

I was glad not to be alone.
As you might imagine, Benny did most of the talking, but he wasn't inconsiderate...
He listened too.
I mentioned my Viet Nam service and the fact I was still in the ARMY Reserve.
That gave Benny the chance to brag about his NAVY service, and he had good reason to brag...
He had been selected to serve on "Old Ironsides"...
The U.S.S. Constitution, the museum and oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. That was a prime job... a job the NAVY would not have given to just anyone. His obituary says everyone who attended Benny's tours of the ship said he was exceptional.
I have no doubt that is true.

I didn't know Benny well. I worked with his sister Julene at the Frostop and loved her, and through that association knew the rest of her family well enough to smile and wave.
I knew Benny well enough to know I liked him.
And I'm sad to know he's gone.

So many posts in a row dedicated to sadness...
And our country and the world in a mess...
We need a collective pick-me-up, don't we?

Mr. Merklin

Again, another sad notice this week. Brenda lost her father this week. Our thoughts are with the family.

Dale Hollanbeck

I read in the paper where Dale lost his mother this week. Our prayers are with the family.

Gloria Lindle

Via Carol "Casey Bade" Crafton-
Gloria "Peaches" Lindle has passed.
Please add details as they become available.

This Small World

Over at my blog, a guy responded to my post about the visit Cinders, TwoDogs, Sara Jean and I paid to Ft. Knox, KY last year.
His message was, "I too went to Officer Candidate School at Fort Knox and have compiled a great deal of information about the OC Brigade while it was active there."
He asked if I was interested in adding my name to the growing list of former candidates sharing information about the 4,203 Officer Candidates that passed through the school during its existence. I answered in the affirmative.

"Doug" has since sent me four or five emails, including one that has the roster of class 28-67...
The class I attended. Of course, reading those names brought a flood of memories.
Eighty-six of the 127 Officer Candidates that started that class graduated and pinned on their "Butter Bars" on 13 October 1967.
Two of those men were killed in Viet Nam.
One of those received the Medal of Honor for his incredible bravery in attempting to save men under his command.

I'm amazed at how computers are continually shrinking the size of this big 'ol world.
But you have to stick your toe in the water that is the internet in order for others to find you and share things of interest with you.

Where's your toe?
Stick it in!

Mrs. Rainey

I'm sure Bo won't mind me sharing the email I just received:

"We flew home (Mother and me) yesterday on an Aerocare plane out of Scottsdale to Indianapolis then ambulance to St. Francis Hospital. Family all came to see mother today. She knew everyone but was not truly comfortable. I requested that they just keep her comfortable so they gave her something to help her rest and sleep. Mother passed away today about 5:00 p.m. this afternoon. I am numb but o.k. so far."

She's at peace Bo.
Now you work on getting there too.
Let us know what we can do to smooth your way.
We love you.

More as I hear it.
Feel free to add info as you get it.
GB

Rewind to the 60's

After having a pretty bad week, I sat down to open some emails and there it was, an ad from one of my favorite places, The Vermont Country Store. After a 21 year absence, Bonomo's Turkish Taffy is back. I don't know about you, but a trip to Walden's Drug Store was a frequent stop for me.
Bill, Jo and Kirk were such nice owners and I always stopped by the counter so Harry or Gary could fix me a cherry root beer in a nice frosted mug. Cost 10 cents. The cherry was a nickle.
I must have ate my weight in Bonomo's over the years and now they are offering it 8 bars for $14.95. WHAT?? What happened to the nickel candy bar? But, heck, if you are looking for something weird from your past, chances are this store has it. They have all four flavors, but vanilla was my first choice.
Now if they would just bring back the pink candy lipstick, a sweet confection in a gold wrapper.

Question

Oh my goodness, this Moribund title, let alone being dormant sounds so sad for me. I know I have slowed down in old age, but Moribund???? Dormant, sounds like an old bear in his den, but that may fit me to some degree. I do walk after dinner, can I have a new word please, oh great wizard of the blogs?

So on the off chance I will keep this title forever, please let me ask this question.

Did anyone ever have an occasion to use or remember the "Beep" line while in high school?

Three! Count 'Em.

It started with such promise, this blogging biz.
Several folks who thought there might even be a book in 'em somewhere started writing, and by simply clicking on the links in the blogroll over in that column on the right we were transported and entertained with their thoughts. It was neat, for a while. I sure enjoyed it.
But then, for whatever reason, it kinda died.
Of all the blogs listed in that column, only three are now active...
Mine, Rita's, and a new one by Rita's brother, Crown 'n Coke.
Find and click on "Rumbles From The Vent" there to catch up on C&C's thoughts.
Leave a comment if you're inclined. (And remember it takes a little work to blog, so if you enjoy the words you SHOULD leave a comment!)
'Cause if you don't, I may have to add the tag "Moribund" to another blog or two.

What's goin' on in your life?
Share with us.

Music

On a lighter note, Question of the week is:

Does Hans Zimmer make music for the movies, or do they make the movies for Hans Zimmer?

Wild, Wild West

My first memories of our home on Morgantown road are of a little two-bedroom, one bathroom house in a line of homes, several of which had been built pretty recently. Across the street from us was an empty field. Across the fence behind our house was an empty field. I think I've mentioned here before how one of my favorite memories is hearing a farmer on a "Poppin' Johnny" negotiate the kink in Morgantown Road North of our house and drop the tractor into "road gear" with the ensuing "Pop......pop.....pop...pop..pop.popopopopop as they passed our house. (I still LOVE to hear one run!)
We lived in farm country. Many of us worked on surrounding farms, cleaning stalls, bailing hay, plowing, planting, and harvesting crops.
Indianapolis itself was still a pretty quiet town in spite of its size and the fact it was the seat of Indiana government. The 20 or so miles between our homes and the State Capital isolated us VERY well.

In my growing up years we seldom saw indications of law enforcement...
I'm sure that's partly because there was little need for us to see law enforcement personnel regularly... there was little in the way of crime around us. It was no doubt also a function of the fact that even though the baby-boom had begun, we still had not seen the explosive growth other near-Indy communities were beginning to experience.

In this post I discussed the fact that many of us, (including me), started riding motor scooters in our neighborhoods at the age of 12. I rode my scooter until I was 16 when I bought a more "legitimate" two-wheeler, my Harley "Sprint" motorcycle at the age of 16.
But for almost 4 years I rode that motor scooter freely in our community, aware that I was very unlikely to ever see a State Trooper or Deputy Sheriff, and even if I did they were likely to look the other way rather than going to the trouble to stop a youngster on a harmless motor scooter.

How things have changed, huh? Where could you imagine yourself going today that you would feel comfortable allowing your 12 year old son to ride around the community freely (and TOTALLY illegally) on two wheels of any sort? Cops today certainly would NOT look the other way at such behavior, and lawyers and government functionaries would look upon parents allowing such behavior with disapproval, to say the least.

But we did okay in that environment, didn't we?
We didn't form gangs.
We didn't maim or kill one another.
We didn't threaten our teachers. We didn't phone bomb threats to our school.
We learned respect for hard work. We respected our elders and our neighbors.
And we actually learned how to read early in grade school!

You can never go home again.
But WOW, I SO OFTEN find myself wishing that weren't so these complicated days!

It's Friday.
You want to talk about something other than snow?
Here's your chance...
Regale us.

Snow Days

So- they'd cancel school because they felt conditions were too dangerous to deploy the buses to pick kids up. And what did we (I?) do?
Drive to the school and use that North parking lot to skid, slip, slide, and do "snow donuts".
That lot was free of light standards and relatively flat...
A perfect place to act like a fool.
But we did learn skills there.
We learned the snow was unpredictable and places like that lot were where you wanted to experiment and make mistakes.
Ron S. and I also learned a brand-new Corvette is no fun on the snow...
Its near 50/50 (front/rear) weight balance meant it didn't want to hang its butt out in a slide, meaning it didn't like to slide at all.
A new Pontiac Bonneville convertible was a MUCH better tool for such shenanigans!

Got any snow stories?
Let's hear 'em!

Christmas Eve, 2010

I'm at work.
It's 1:50 A.M. as I punch these keys. I've had a quiet night... one call to see how long it would take us to fly to, believe it or not, Princeton Indiana and transport the patient to Evansville.
Our ETA was too long and the caller declined the use of our services. Whether they chose to fly the patient with another service or load them into an ambulance to drive the few minutes down U.S. Highway 41, I don't know. But I just took a look at our weather-radar and there is a green/white/hot pink blob slowly creeping across the map with us directly in its sights. The snow is supposed to start shortly after Noon tomorrow and continue for 24 hours. The approach of the system will soon make it impossible for me to consider a flight to help a patient from hospitals West of us. My shift tomorrow night will probably be spent with the BK117 safely ensconced in the hangar while me and my crew try to find "It's A Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas" on TV somewhere.

My son is home from California. He is healthy. Having him under our roof is a comfort. I'll be working all but one night during his visit, so we need to make plans to best use that one night before he has to return to L.A..
It's my hope that this post also finds you well, and focusing on what is REALLY important...
Sharing time with friends and loved ones.
And know that I look forward to sharing time with you soon, too.
Happy Christ's Birthday.

Wimpification

They canceled school today. That surprised me.
They've already canceled school for tomorrow. That surprised me even more.
I don't want this to sound like the old joke we so often heard from our parents and Grands...
"I walked two miles to school in two feet of snow, uphill, and with a stiff breeze at my face... both directions!"
We had it pretty good and we know it. We didn't have to walk.
But there WERE days when the weather would be bad and we'd get up listening to reports on the radio or TV hoping to hear "Center Grove Schools, canceled". And on some of those days, even though the weather was pretty ugly, the buses still ran and we made it to school safely.

It snowed here two days ago. We woke to find about an inch or so covering the ground. The roads, where the sun could do its job, remained clear but wet. Shady spots DID get snowpacked and icy. Yesterday there was a prediction of freezing rain and administrators canceled school on the forecast. We watched anxiously for the rain to start and turn everything into ice sculptures during the day... and it didn't happen.
Taking the dogs out for their last "Good doggies go potty?" of the evening I could feel the freezing mist in the air. We woke this morning to see everything covered with a sheen of ice... including all the roads. The temps didn't, and won't, get above freezing today/tonight, so the ice is here to stay until that changes.
No school tomorrow means three days in a row at home for these kids and nightmares for those parents that have to scramble to find daycare for them as they go to work.
I think we might have missed school today due to ice, but I believe we'd have been in school the other two.

Kids don't play dodge ball in school anymore because they might get hit by the ball(!!!) and be injured.
Playground equipment has changed dramatically to keep kids from any risk of injury.
I'm sure you can think of other things that could be added to my "safe kids" list.

All this junk is driven by lawyers, or, I should say, to keep lawyers from having a chance to dip into deep pockets somewhere. And isn't it sad?
It's just another of the many reasons kids won't get the chance to be exposed to the same things we were as we grew up. They also won't have the chance to experience the thrill of being on that merry-go-round we had on our elementary playground.

Think about it...
What are we subtly teaching our kids?
Are we teaching them that risk, no matter how slight, is unacceptable?
And are we also teaching them that they have no responsibility on their own to avoid being hurt...
That IF they are injured it's time to start looking for someone to blame...
Someone to pay BIG BUCKS to insure something like that NEVER happens again?

I think that's exactly what's goin' on.
I think we've begun to see the result of that attitude EVERYWHERE in society around us.
And I think it's costing us a fortune, sometimes in ways we can't even imagine.

It's Friday.
Tell us what you think.
(And Echo/Shifty, you can gloat here now about being in Florida, surrounded by orange trees!)
Good for you.

Good Pain/Friday Open Forum

When I first met her she spelled her name Elaine.
Sometime during the following year she decided it might be more sophisticated to spell her name Elayne.
I didn't care. She made me laugh.
Hard.

There was never any real romance there. Oh, we kissed a lot, but that's as far as it ever went.
We thought alike and had similar senses of humor. One of us would get started on some crazy topic and the other would add fuel to the fire. Soon we were both giggling and doubling over in spasms.
At the end of the evening I'd give her a goodnight kiss and head for home. For the next few hours my cheekbones would remind me of what fun we had... they'd ache from smiling so much.

I haven't felt like that in a long, LONG time.
Elaine/Elayne, where are you?

December, 2010

December.
Can you believe it?
Seems like yesterday a contingent of us was enjoying life in Eufaula, Alabama. Now it's December and I'm actually contemplating Eufaula and beloved friends again in Spring. Anyone else up for that?

I want you to stop, take a breath, and study my next words carefully.
I just added the names Cheryl Morris and Stan Thompson to our Memorial.
One of 'em a memory that makes me smile...
Both of 'em gone way too soon.
Are ya enjoying life?
Are ya sucking the last drop of nectar out of all the sweet moments coming your way?
I know... it's impossible to do it all the time. Life throws us curveballs we have to deal with...
Stresses that make us wish for some future date when they'll no longer be a factor in our lives. But more and more I'm realizing I should be taking control of things I truly can, so I have reserves built up and can more easily handle those things that are gonna stress me.
One of our contemporaries talks about being in "Resort Prison". I feel bad every time I think about it... being tied down and unable to get away from something that must make every day like living a bad dream. I know there are lots of folks in today's world that are fearful of the economy and what's just around the corner and are therefore staying in jobs they hate, just so that regular paycheck continues to come in. I know we can't fully perceive another person's life until we've "walked a mile in their shoes".

But I work in a job that is a constant reminder, and I want to insure you never forget it too-
Life is short.
Cancer, cardiac problems, drunk drivers, and other boogies are out there waiting to ambush us.
To the extent you can when you wake in the morning, vow to make it the "BEST" day you possibly can. Then try to make it a day that ends with a smile.
The holidays are coming. Try to make every day a holiday from now on.

And please excuse me...
End of sermon.

Cheryl Morris

Cheryl Lynn (Morris) Jedamzik, 63, died unexpectedly Nov. 23, 2010. She was a longtime resident of Greenwood.
She was born Dec. 31, 1946, in Beech Grove.
Survivors include her mother, Margaret Helen Ogden; her step father, Rueben C. Ogden; a brother, Guy D. (Jennifer) Ogden of Bargersville; a sister, Cindy Ogden of Franklin; and a son, Zachary Adam Jedamzik (Amber) of Indianapolis.

She was preceded in death by her father, William H. Morris


Cheryl was a 1965 graduate of Center Grove High School and studied education at the University of Evansville. While in college, she also did some modeling. She was a dedicated member of Psi Iota Xi Sorority.
During her 42-year career as a legal secretary, she worked first for many years at Welsh, Spillman, Osborne & Hiner in Indianapolis. At the time of her death, Cheryl was employed by Kopka, Pinkus, Dolin & Eads, also in Indianapolis.
Every Sunday morning for 20 years, she enjoyed sharing breakfast and laughter with family members at Four Seasons Restaurant in Greenwood, making many friends during those years with servers and other restaurant customers.

As a sports enthusiast, Cheryl was a diehard fan of the Indianapolis Colts football team and the Indiana University men's basketball team. She also enjoyed watching all other sports, from golf to fishing to baseball.
As a breast cancer survivor, Cheryl proudly participated in April in her first 5K during the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event in Indianapolis.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 pm. Wednesday at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens and Funeral Home, 1977 S. State Road 135, Greenwood. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood. Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at Winchester Place, 300 N. Madison Ave., Greenwood …
Memorial contributions may be made to Central Indiana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, 1099 N. Meridian St., Suite 111, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Mrs. Francis

SAD NEWS

Elizabeth Jane Francis, 88, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010. She was born Sept. 5, 1922, in Bargersville. Her parents were James and Florence Robards. She married William E. Francis on December 18, 1942. He preceded her in death.

Survivors include three sons, Daniel E. (Edna) Francis of Bargersville, Dwaine E. (Kathy) Francis of Martinsville and Darrell E. Francis of Greenwood; a daughter, Donna Elaine Collins of Bargersville; eight great-grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She attended Center Grove High School and Central Business College. She was employed for 25 years by Center Grove High School as a secretary, retiring in 1984. She was a member of Mount Auburn United Methodist Church. She was a past matron of Greenwood Chapter of Order of the Eastern Star and an alumni member of Psi Iota Xi.

The funeral service was at 2:30 Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010. There were lots of tears, but more a celebration of her life. Some mentioned her as the “face” of Center Grove High School. She took the job as secretary seriously and considered all students, especially the ones from single parent homes or foster homes, her special charge. Two of her sons spoke at her funeral, as well as a friend and two ministers. Lots of memories, funny stories, her insistence of manners, and a loving mother were the theme of each person speaking. The service ended on a happy note with the playing of the song “Sweet Georgia Brown”.

Belated Birthdays

I've gotten so accustomed to Facebook and its Birthday notifications, I let two slip by this past week unnoticed:
TD and Tools.
Their B-Day was November 13th.
Bo also celebrated her birthday earlier this month.
I'm sure I'm forgetting others.
Remind us!

Might As Well JUMP!

It was in the summer. I can't remember the exact date, but it was quite some time ago... 40 years?
I would come home on the weekends and there'd be news reports complete with video about the event...
Some guy had offered a cash prize to anyone who could jump a motorcycle across a lake.
News crews were having a field day and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Fun-loving guys would buy some old beater motorcycle and come racing down the road to a ramp leading to the "goal", but would fall short and get wet. Divers would retrieve the bike so it wouldn't pollute the waters.
There was a party atmosphere...
It was hot. Everyone was in bathing suits... probably a lot of alcohol being consumed.

My recollection is that this went on for several weekends with the same result...
Entrants would race down a road to the ramp and end up in the drink.

Then it happened...
An entrant finally used a motorcycle capable of accelerating fast enough in the short distance available to reach the other side. He landed at the "goal", the bike came to an instant stop in the mud, and the rider's body violently collided with the stuck motorcycle. I remember seeing photos of the handlebars bent straight downward as the rider landed with extreme vertical force, breaking his back and paralyzing him for life.
But he got the cash prize...
I think it was something like $10,000.
And that MAY have paid for his first week in the ICU at that time.

Anyone recall the details?

It's open forum time once again. Comments are requested...
So comment!

{ Sigh }

Good Saturday morning, VK's.
I'm at the dining room table. Mom is on the sofa watching TV... it's a little chilly for her to be on the balcony doing her normal "pelican watch" duties. Sara Jean is waiting, hoping the sun will knock enough chill from the air that she can do a little sunbathing on this, our last day of this trip in Destin.

We've had an "interesting" vacation.
An old neighbor/friend has been in ill health for years. As we were passing through Nashville on our way South we got a phone call... her health had taken a serious turn for the worse. There was and is nothing we can do, really, and she has ordered there will be no memorial service, so we continued our drive Southbound. But she's been slowly deteriorating and of course has been on our mind all week. Two nights in a row we were sure she would not live to see morning, but she's surprised us. It's been an emotional roller coaster.

We drove 8 hours to Titusville, Florida to see the Space Shuttle launch on Tuesday evening. We got face-to-face with "virtual" friends, staying at their home, and had a delightful time. The launch was postponed twice while we were there and we once again drove 8 hours back to Destin so we'd have time to get Mom and have a reasonable visit with her. (Now they've postponed the launch 'til the end of November at the earliest.)

So our stay here has been tough.
Getting home and back to a routine will be more relaxing.
We're looking forward to that.

I hope your week has been better than ours.
Tell us about it and cheer us up!

October Re-Creation

We've had a stretch of absolutely gorgeous weather in Greybeard-land. The two or three days leading to our "Valley Walk" weekend were "keepers", with the only possible complaint being the days were a little too warm. Over the last two weeks the temps have moderated here but the rain has mostly stayed away...
We're about 10 inches in arrears on the moisture scale and you can tell it from the cloud of dust following the combines as farmers harvest their crops... (they're getting those crops in in record time, by the way!)

Once again I'm at work waiting for someone to do something stupid so the phone will ring and I can go out and alight in the center of some intersection somewhere. This is my second night of two...
Sara Jean and I will be pointing our old car Southbound again Friday afternoon, destination- Destin. We'll spend Friday and Saturday nights there, then head farther South to Titusville Sunday to visit with a friend I met via the internet whose brother was also a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam and was killed during my tour there. Our main reason for the trip is to watch what MAY be the next-to-last launch of the Space Shuttle from this lady's back yard patio. We're hearing we'll be close enough to the launch site that our Margaritas and Grand Marnier will be shaken and mixed by the Shuttle's vibrations, thankyouverymuch. Sara Jean has never been to the Cape. I've not been since November of '69 when I was disappointed as I watched Apollo 12 disappear into the clouds and fog three seconds after liftoff. We're both looking forward to a safe, exciting (and visible!) launch.

We'll return to Destin after the launch and stay until Sunday the 7th. We tried to entice TwoDogs and Cinders to come have Red Beans and Rice with us at "Kenny D's" but they've just returned home from the Tampa/St. Pete area and say they have had their fill of travels AND Florida for a while. That leaves a bedroom open in Destin if you're interested in coming down, so COME ON DOWN!

But if you're trapped at home and home is still the Indianapolis metropolitan area, I think you should be tempted to go have a look here.
That's gotta be interesting and could be the impetus for another trip back to Indy for Sara Jean and me.

I'll keep you updated next week as we eat cajun cuisine, fresh seafood, and soak up the sun.
Why don't you keep the rest of us updated on your goings-on in the comments now?
C'mon now...
Do it!

Sidewalk Surfing

You know five or six of us went to the "Cruise Night" at the "Suds" after our Valley walk two weeks ago. If you have ANY interest in cars at all, it's something you should do. The Suds is open every Saturday night from late Spring through Fall, and you won't believe the crowd that gathers for the event.

I was on my motorcycle and left after most of the celebrants had already gone home. I drove up to the intersection that had the little Strip Mall that "Walker's Department Store" was once a part of. At the very end of that little mall, there's a road that goes downhill, back toward the Suds. When I say downhill, I mean DOWNHILL. It's a fairly precipitous dropoff in a short space, maybe a 30 foot fall over a 60 foot distance. We used to skateboard there.

Like so much else, it's interesting now to look at what has happened to some of the stuff we started. "Sidewalk Surfing" we called it, but it was the beginning of what is now skateboarding. We'd take a plank of wood, put steel roller-skating wheels on each end, and go have a ball.
Nowadays kids have huge boards with grippy (neoprene?) wheels, and where we did well to just steer and not "wipeout", these kids can do unbelievable things with their boards, as I'm sure you've seen.

They've put a concrete post in the middle of the road there by what used to be Walker's, but there's nothing there to keep "skaters" from flying down that hill.
I wonder if any ever do?

Friday.
Have a good one.
Tell us your news.

VK Valley Walk & Gathering - Oct 9, 2010

We had a great group of friends, lots of good conversation, wonderful weather and lots and lots of great food. We were all sad the day had to end.

The "Valley Walk" was lots of fun. We traveled from our house in 3 cars and 2 motorcycles (TPO & GB) to go to the valley and parked in the EUB Church.

The Valley was in good shape, the houses looking neat and well taken care of. The Riley Kids even got to talk to the owner of their old home for a minute as they were leaving their driveway. They got permission to walk in the yard and take pictures. We got to talk to the people now owning the "Cotterman" home. It turns out the daughter of the people who used to live in the blue house across the street from the Cotterman home now lives in it. Everyone enjoyed remembering fun times (football, baseball, apple and tomato fights) in the yard of the Witty home. TPO's home also was on our walk and looking good. We enjoyed passing homes and saying who lived in which house and where the Doty, Sutton and Effie's stores and and the Bee Hive Restaurant were.

It is kinda amazing that most structures that were there when we were kids are still there. The Community Center still has a good looking baseball diamond still in use. The Community Center building was not in great shape.

On such a nice day, a lot of people and kids were out in their yards. A group of fifteen "Older People" walking down the street drew some attention. Everyone smiled and left us alone. Everyone had a story about the creek and "Iron Bridge" on Padock Road. Climbing on the bridge, swimming, ice skating, playing hookie from school and building a dam on the creek were a few of the memories.

I think it is a good thing to check in on old memories and friends from time to time. Sorta gives you a feeling of roots and belonging......a good feeling in your chest.....IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

Many thanks to those who came to be with us. It was good to be with VKs and remember those who couldn't be with us, but were such a neat part of our lives and growing up in the Center Grove area......The Valley.

Perfect? Nearly So!

It may actually have been just a little TOO warm. (I'm searching desperately for something negative to say about our gathering, and it's mighty hard, lemme tell ya!)

I'm noticing a trend here...
When we attended "The Best Little Whorehouse..." we all stood in the foyer after the show until it became obvious the employees wanted to close up shop. So we simply stepped outside and continued our soiree (yeah, I had to look it up too), there. I think we all stood and chatted for at least two hours total after the play. And that's been the norm...
When we get together we are averse to separating.

This weekend was no different, and it made for a relatively long, but wonderful day.
You weren't there?
Why?!
You were invited!

October In The Midwest

When prospective students come to me expressing a desire to learn to fly, and they want to build flight-time time quickly, I'll frequently tell them October is a great time to plan to do it. We are often blessed with really stable weather in October... almost no rain, but the stable weather also often comes with a hazard to flight... fog forming in the wee hours that burns off by about 9 A.M..



And that's been the case, at least here in my area, for the past week. We've had warm, comfortable days followed by coolish nights with a chance of fog, if the wind stays below 3 knots. Last week at my EMS job I finished a flight each night before midnight, and on each flight I could see the St. Louis Arch from 30 miles out. Stable air means a lack of turbulence, which makes pilots look like expert flyers even when they're not. These nights are so wonderful we frequently have to remind ourselves, "We're actually being PAID to do this job!"



I started two new students down the learning path last week...

One is a computer programmer.

The other is my UPS delivery guy, who those of you reading these blogs are aware I'm on a first-name basis with because of Sara Jean's penchant for watching QVC on television. He's a fixed-wing pilot with 900 hours and a commercial/instrument license in his pocket. He's also a radio-controlled helicopter pilot, so he's already familiar with the principles of helicopter aerodynamics. He's hovering earlier than most would be able to, thanks mostly to the R/C Helicopter experience.

I'm headed to Naptown today. I may be on my way, on the Pizza Bike, by the time you read this. I'm leaving early so I can take the "Blue Highways", ride comfortably, and enjoy the scenery.

I'm lookin' forward to seein' a bunch of you Saturday! 'Til then, be safe, and I'll try to do the same.

What news have you to share?!!

Sad News - Steve Witty's Mom

Alice L. Witty, 83, of Westfield, formerly Greenwood, passed away Friday, October 1, 2010. Survivors include four children, Warren Steven (Jeannie) Witty, Daniel Lee (Cheryl) Witty, Patricia Lynn Killman and Douglas Scott (Jennifer) Witty; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Harding Witty; two brothers; and four sisters.

A funeral Service will be conducted at 1 PM, Monday, October 4th, at G. H. Herrmann Greenwood Funeral Home, State Road 135 and Olive Branch Road. Visitation will be from 11 AM, until service time Monday at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ghherrmann.com

Valley Walk - The Plan

Looks like we have 14-16 people coming on October 9, 2010. We will meet at the Hawkeye's home from 11:00 AM till noon and proceed to "The Valley" in a couple of cars. After the visit we will return to the Hawkeye's home for a pitch in dinner in the backyard.

The menu:

Mrs. Hawk and Bo making a ham and yeast rolls. Drinks provided.
Call Hawk at 317-441-3865 to let him know what you are bringing
Hint Hint - Sissy Apple - Cheesecake???

Any questions call Hawkeye at above number.

Purple Tabby Came to Town & Valley Walk

Got a call from Purple Tabby and hubby early in the week that they would be in Indiana visiting her mom and would we be available that Sunday, Sept 19th. We called a few local VKs and had a backyard party. We had a beautiful day, lots of conversation and food from noon till about 7 PM. So good to relax and visit with friends.

October 9th "Walk in the Old Valley". Depending on the number attending, we can either have a pitch in at the gazebo at New Hope, our church, or our backyard at our home. I need to know who is planning on coming. What time do we want to meet? Need information to get this thing going.

Another Sad Announcement:

Word today that Yvonne H.'s sister Yvette died this week.
If you have more information, please share.
Thoughts and prayers with you, Yvonne.

Tan Shoes With Pink Shoe Laces...

... A polka-dot vest, and man-oh-man...

Dodie Stevens sang it.
If my memory is workin', the class of '65 was in the middle building absorbing facts under Mr. L's (and others) tutelage, and girls from the Senior High School classes who intended to be teachers themselves were checking to see if the vocation was right for them by assisting elementary teachers. I had a huge crush on one of them, Patty Mc.
In my memory she was blond and beautiful. Every time she walked to or from that middle building I tagged along and tried to let her know I thought she was just about the "ginchiest" girl I had ever known.
She giggled and put up with my approaches, which just made me love her more.
Thinking it might make the "big impression", I actually considered buying tan shoes and lacing them up with pink cord. The "polka-dot vest" and "Big panama with a purple hat band" were not my style and were completely out of the question though!

I missed an important birthday last month.
Hawkeye's birthday passed unrecognized early in August.
Belated Happy Birthday, Hawk!
(We'll celebrate in October.)

Friday Open Forum once again folks...
What's happenin'?

Tryin' To Not Die

I was gonna leave a comment about the bike for Bo and Cissy below, but decided a quick Post in response might be better.
As I've said, actually winning the auction on the bike was kind of a surprise, so I'm still scrambling to try to tie up loose ends.
Back when we were still walking the CG halls I had a little Harley-Davidson Sprint. Years before they passed that now rescinded helmet law in Indiana I bought a helmet and wore it religiously. Pretty amazing to think about that now... a sixteen year old kid with no prompting from anyone else, realizing he needed to protect his head with a brain bucket.
When full-face helmets came out, I was one of the first purchasers. I bought a white Bell full-face and with it's darkened visor, looked like one of the Storm Troopers from Star Wars. I wore that thing for YEARS, then when I sold my 1100 Yamaha in 1984 I stored it in the garage. Other than taking short test-rides on bikes owned by others, I haven't ridden since.

Buying the Guzzi... (by the way, I've learned the double-z's are pronounced like "pizza"... "Goot-zee"), lead me to go take a look at the old Bell helmet out in the garage. To my chagrin, Mickey and Minnie apparently decided that was a pretty good place to raise their family. They chewed the padding and styrofoam shell and made a nest of it inside the solid protection provided by the fiberglass outer-shell. Oh well... I'm sure it's for the best because they have made giant leaps in helmet technology since 1971. (That Bell helmet was designed in such a way it broke collar bones during the accident sequence, and took a great deal of criticism for that fact.)
I was gonna have to buy a helmet for Sara Jean anyway, so now we'll buy two... and color coordinate!

They've also made great strides in other protective equipment-
Armored gloves. Armor for elbows, hips, knees, shins. Footgear.
If you want, you can buy gear and ride like one of the Knights from King Arthur's "Round Table".
When we go to buy I'll have to consider how much of that gear I'll actually wear... it'd be cumbersome and hot in the Summer. But the gear would also provide great protection against some of the horrendous injuries incurred by the folks I sometimes fly to the Trauma Centers in BigTown.

Since I haven't ridden in almost 30 years, (and had no formal training even back then... it was all "school of hard knocks" and I'm sure I learned LOTS of bad habits), I signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's 2-1/2 day school. Two birds with one stone... it would teach me the good habits, and upon completion I receive a certificate that I can take to the DMV and receive my Motorcycle Driver's license. I signed up for, and thought I was attending a course this weekend. But at the last minute I got a note from the Course providers informing me the class was overbooked and they were shifting me to my secondary class date... next month. So I've got plenty of time now to carefully shop for whatever protective gear I'm gonna buy for the two of us.

Me... of all people!
I have absolutely no illusions about questions of safety with the bike...
I get to land on dark roads several times a month to pick up bodies mangled in motorcycle accidents. But like most "accidents" I also know most of these could be prevented by the operator, and in those that could not have been prevented the degree of injury certainly would have been mitigated if the riders had been wearing proper gear. (HELMETS, you Harley riders!)

Going through life entails making thousands of decisions about risk on a daily basis. I also regularly transport people who are hurt while in their own homes... (For instance, just last week I flew a 30 year old woman who fell down her basement stairs to the concrete floor below, fracturing her neck.)
So the question is not, "Is riding a motorcycle dangerous?"
Of course it is.
The question is, "Is the danger worth the rewards?"
And my answer to that is, "I think it is."
To all those expressing concern I say, "I feel your love and I'm warmed by it."
I promise we'll gear-up and ride as safely as we possibly can.

Now... another thought...
I know Clint and Bo have a bike. Any other bikers lurking out there in VK land?
Wouldn't it be great to meet somewhere, ride a while, then have a great dinner?
I'm ready. Sign me up!

What It's All About-

I've learned my lesson.
Until you're actually ready to buy, stay away from eBay!

Several close friends here are now riding motorcycles. I started thinking how nice it would be to have a bike and tag along with them. The fact that riding to work on two wheels rather than four would save me $5 per day in gas gave me all the excuse I needed. I decided Winter would be the best time to buy, but wanted to get a feel for the market right now. I've been fascinated by Italian bikes for years... Ducatis and Moto Guzzis, and the Guzzis are particularly of interest to me because their final drive system is a maintenance-free shaft, not a chain.
I went to eBay and entered "Moto Guzzi" in the search block. That was my mistake.

There was a bike there that was almost exactly what I wanted...
Fully faired, 1,000cc's, looking like a new machine, at a price I couldn't believe.
I bid on the thing and that bid ended up winning the auction. (The bike pictured above, although the wrong model year, looks exactly like the one I bid on. You can click it to enlarge.)

The bike was located in a little town near Erie, Pennsylvania.
I thought I'd have a couple weeks to go get it, but the seller just started a new job which will require him to be in Beijing, China by the end of the month. I had to go get the bike... like NOW.

I talked with my co-workers and got the time off. Then I called Cinders and TwoDogs, hoping to impose on their hospitality for a nights lodging, (and secretly hoping TD would consider coming along on the road trip!)
"You're coming to Indy? Great! You're driving to Pennsylvania? Want a co-driver?"
He read my mind!

We drove to Indy last Friday. Bright and early Saturday morning TD and I had breakfast, then picked up the "Penske" rental truck. We got on the road at 9:30 and the GPS lead us right to the seller's door at 4 P.M.. We visited with him a few minutes, secured the bike in the truck, and started back South-Westbound, getting back to Naptown at exactly midnight. Much of the drive was spent in the rain. Virtually all of the drive was spent talking about old times. (If you're reading this, we probably talked about you!)
But think of it...
I put myself into a "situation" by buying the bike, then called friends to ask for help.
They came through BIG TIME...
Two nights lodging and help driving almost 15 hours.

I know... you're not surprised at all, are you?
That's 'cause you're also a VK!
And that's what makes VK's so special, isn't it?

Hope to see you all October 9th... wherever we end up meeting.
In the meantime, take my advice-
Unless you're really ready to buy, stay away from eBay!

Another "Two-Wheel" Post.

For a while, they were everywhere in our community-
Hal S. had one.
Joe R. had one.
John T's oldest brother David had one, then passed it on to John's other brother Richard.
Bonnie R's brother David had one.
Bill F. had one. (It's how I met him.)
Gary P. had one but his was different... his was Robin's Egg Blue.
One summer day we heard a clatter and a loud scraping noise on Morgantown Road in front of our house and when we ran out to investigate we found Gary had clipped a mailbox, fallen, and had broken his collarbone.

Artwork... they still have a sort of "timeless beauty" to my eye though the basic design dates back to just-post WWII. I wanted one so bad I could taste it. I'd still like to own one if the price was right.
What freedom they provided to the kids that owned them then!
The only thing that approached the coolness of the Vespa was the Cushman Eagle. (Hawkeye had one very similar to the one pictured at that link, only his was gleaming black and had more chrome, and with a kind of Harley Davidson attitude, appealed to a different crowd than the Vespa.
Me? All I could afford was an old Cushman putt-putt and I often planned what I'd have to do to steal Hawk's Eagle.)

It's another of those hard-to-imagine memories...
Most of us were 12 or 13 years old, riding around on public streets on our scooters, knowing the chance we'd see a Deputy Sheriff on patrol was virtually nil. (And even if we did encounter a law enforcement officer, most of them turned a blind eye, not wanting to go to the trouble of citing us. I never heard of anyone ever getting a ticket for riding without a license.)
Those were Norman Rockwell days.
I'm glad we lived 'em.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chatting via email with Mr. L. I made the comment, "Since Echo and Shifty no longer are in Edinburgh, Vandy's Kids have nothing on the horizon to look forward to."
We need to fix that.
Got any ideas?

"Then Came Bronso... er... Greybeard"

You may remember the TV show "Then Came Bronson".
It debuted just about the time I got home from Viet Nam and the idea of a single guy motoring around the Nation on a bike appealed to me...
It was sort of a "Route 66" on two wheels. I liked the show and watched it regularly, but was disappointed in the fact that as usual, Hollywood mucked it up...
Bronson went motocrossing on his Harley Sportster, AND WON!
From that point on I watched the show partly to see how hokey the producers could make it. Others must have felt the same as me, 'cause the show lasted only one season.
Still, the music was good, as were the scenes of Bronson crossing the country on two wheels.

And there was another reason I liked the show...
Ron and I had made a Road Trip to Ft. Lauderdale in his big Pontiac Bonneville convertible the summer between our Junior and Senior years at CG, and we enjoyed the adventure. On the way home we discussed the possibility of taking an across-the-country road trip on Harley-Davidson "Dressers". We fantasized about the experiences we'd share... the two of us together riding to points unknown... wherever the wind would lead us, meeting wonderful, interesting people... stopping to work at odd jobs just long enough to buy enough gas to make it to our next exotic destination.

We were quite aware that actually doing it would take a chunk of change at the start...
Buying a Full-dress Harley would, for me (not him!), be daunting. Even a good used "HOG" would take the outlay equivalent to a VERY GOOD used car, and I was still working for minimum wage at the Frostop at the time.

My Mom expressed concern about the dangers of riding that far on two wheels but she needn't have worried...
It quickly became obvious that Ron's interest in his future bride would eliminate any hopes I had about the two of us riding up on our bikes and peering over the rim of the Grand Canyon.
I never saved a dime toward buying the big bike.

But I still dream of such a trip...
And Sara Jean and I MAY ACTUALLY DO IT...
(In a 28 foot motor home!)

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!
Got news?

The Pied Piper

Did ya ever wonder...
"The Pied Piper"...
What caused him to be "Pied"?
Did Soupy Sales or the Three Stooges get to him?
I had to look it up. Cinders, DJ, and GH will have an advantage here, as will those who know why Elizabeth Taylor's horse in "National Velvet" was called "The Pie".
The term "Pied" is related to "Piebald", and means "many colored".
So apparently the Pied Piper, along with playing the flute better than Ian Anderson, was a pretty colorful dresser.

All the above is tangential.
I drove to work tonight to find that while I was sleeping today in preparation for my second night of 10 in a row, crews had oiled and chipped the last two miles of road leading to my workplace. I was lucky in that it wasn't blazingly hot, so my tires didn't pick up the oily rocks and throw them down the sides of my car.
But it brought back memories I knew I could share with you...
I can remember like yesterday when they first oiled and chipped all the roads in the Sutton addition. I think every kid with a bicycle showed up to watch the crews and follow them as the oil truck first laid down a coat of tar, with dump trucks following and dispensing rock on top of the tar.
They may as well have been "The Pied Piper"!
As I recall, there were also a couple guys with shovels following along to add rock where dump trucks might not have laid down a heavy enough layer.
It was fascinating to watch, and more so because with most of the neighborhood kids watching it became a social event. I'm sure we all came home with bicycle tires speckled with spots of tar, and we probably had tar samples on shoes, other parts of clothing, and maybe even some body parts.

A fond memory for me, and I've shared it with you.
Traffic has been mighty sparse here lately...
Have you a fond memory to share this Friday?

Rasslin'

Cowboy Bob Ellis...
Dick the Bruiser...
Bobo Brazil...
Do you remember 'em?

I do.

I was never really a "rasslin'" fan.
But Saturday afternoons would frequently find Steve B., Hawkeye, and me jumpin' into the old Ford Station Wagon and Mom would drive us North on Bluff Road to the WTTV broadcast offices. We'd arrive early, 'cause those first in line got the ringside seats...
And that was the whole reason for the exercise...
The matches were recorded for broadcast on Sundays.
On Sunday we'd sit at home and catch glimpses of ourselves ringside at "the match" on Channel 4.

Of course the faces have all changed...
Are any of those guys still alive?
The sport itself hasn't changed much though, except there's a lot more money in it these days.
I doubt kids these days can go to their local TV station and watch an hour of rasslin' free!
(We grew up in a better time!)

It's Friday.
Are you rasslin' with anything?
Anyone?

Jus' Not Enough Hours In The Day

Pushin' retirement age...
Wasn't life supposed to slow down?
I think I took the wrong entrance ramp somewhere on this trip.

Cool, Or Fool?

How often do you go through this exercise?
"If I had a chance to go back in time, would I ?"
And if you'd like to go back, how far would you go?

I imagine going back in time now and then, but generally come to the conclusion I'd just like to correct a wrong I did at a specific time, then return to the present. Life comes with pain spread intermittently throughout, and the only way I'd consider going back is if I could make changes. Of course making those changes would change EVERYTHING that followed, so if I stayed in that new life I'd soon find myself with new things that would cause me pain.
Who would want to go through that again?

And that brings me to the memories we discuss so often here...
Most, but not all of us, have wonderful memories of our days walking the CG halls.
And the folks that don't have great memories?
They may think some (many?) of the rest of us were cruel to them.
And... we MAY have been cruel to them.

I can remember going through life back then, making decisions looking through the "Cool or Fool?" lens.
Elvis was cool.
Kookie Byrnes was cool.
We were sure they never did anything stupid... never humiliated themselves.
Embarrassing yourself was just about the worst thing you could experience...
I didn't want anyone to be able to laugh at something stupid I did.
I suspect we all spent 'Way, 'WAY too much time looking through that lens, trying to avoid being laughed at. It's painful to think of how much time I wasted, worrying about what others thought. But I know I often was quick to ridicule others for their mistakes.
Shame on me.

Our earliest class reunions were similar experiences...
Who did what with their lives?
What work are you doing?
What are you driving?
All that... gone now.
Good riddance.

We're considering a few events for "minis" soon. You need to come. You'll enjoy yourself.
The only requirement I can think of?
Bring a smile and some memories to share.
We can talk about how Cool "Palladin" of "Have Gun, Will Travel" was!

It's Friday and I certainly hope you don't think I humiliated myself with this post, but criticize away if you must!

My Suspicions were Correct

Back when I was 15/16, I had a big crush on a classmate.  I carefully timed a trip to my locker every day so I would "just happen" to meet up with my crush in the hallway of Center Grove.  Then I would non-chalantly be going in the same direction at the same time.  I think we were "an item" a year or so until I got sick of his boyish ways and told him where to go.

I can remember admiring his older brother Charlie.  He was a ton more outgoing than his younger brother, and seemed to "own the hallways" of Center Grove.  Charlie was popular, and I thought he must be a really nice guy.  Two days ago, and 41 years later, I confirmed my suspicions that Charlie really is a nice guy.

Before we left on vacation to Ft. Myers, I asked Charlie if we might meet up while we're down here.  Luckily, we were able to do that.  He and his wife drove two hours to see us.  We sat around my sister's condo and talked about Center Grove and our high school days.  Three short hours later, we went out to eat at a restaurant owned by a fellow Hoosier.  We enjoyed good food and good company.  The evening was "done too soon", but I've got more good memories to stow away for a rainy day.

Once again, my Vandy's Kids friends got me started on this path to reaching out.  I am not only finding new friends, but old friends that I've missed for decades.  I told Charlie that when we do our "valley walk", I'll send him photos of his old place.  I think he'll like that.

Love to all,
"Cissy"