holidays

Father’s Day Courage

My Dad was a very complex individual.  He certainly had courage, but he had his unresolved fears, as well.  He had amazing will power, but not in all areas of his weaknesses.  Guess that’s why they’re weaknesses.

My Dad did a stint ‘working on the railroad’ back in the forties and fifties.  He was still living in Connecticut, and his father (the former Marine sharpshooter) was a Lieutenant in the NY,NH & H Railroad Police (The New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad).  This was long before AMTRAK.

I’m certain, at least in part, my father obtained the RR police job through nepotism.  That doesn’t mean he wasn’t qualified, but getting a railroad job was exceedingly difficult.

One late night, he was on a platform awaiting another train’s arrival.  The platform was basically empty.  Suddenly, two drunken sailors appeared and approached my dad.  And proceeded to beat the living crap out of him.

As he told the story (being a macho former college football lineman) he tried to defend himself as best he could.  Have you ever been in a physical confrontation?  Against multiple assailants?  It can’t be easy, given just one can be problematic.  And these two guys were fit Navy guys.

Ultimately, he found himself down on his hands-and-knees, covering his face and eyes with his hands, and his ribs with his arms, while being kicked by two men.  At least one had brought him into that position by kicking him in the crotch.

And there he was, awaiting death.  And appealing to God to give him the strength to survive.

Suddenly, there was a break in the pain and nausea, and he lunged sideways, tackling one of his assailants.  After banging his head on the platform (I assume multiple times), he faced the second sailor.  He threw him off the platform and down onto an empty track.

Then he somehow made his way to a railroad room where he could lock himself away.  There was no such thing as instant communication and backup in those days.

After returning to work, he found out two sailors had reported having been assaulted on the platform.  One with a concussion, the other a broken back!  No one connected my father to the injuries.  Or at least tried to make the connection.

A couple years later, I was born.

Fast-forward about 20 years after that, my Dad was officiating a Pop Warner football game.  And one of those events that seems to be more common these days occurred.  Some kiddie-footballer’s dad took offense to a call and began physically attacking the officials!  And a melee ensued.  Fans and officials fighting all over the field!   A buddy of my father’s, another official, was being choked by one of the irate fan fathers.

And, here comes my Dad, 20+ years after the sailor fight.  He was able to pull the attacker off his friend, and then was blindsided by a second idiot, having his eyeglasses broken for the effort.  He was obviously much older and overweight.  The end result was three crowd members were arrested, fortunately, no officials.  And no serious injuries.

My dad’s friend presented him with a trophy, a football in a kicking tee with a plaque reading COURAGE.

He certainly had that.  And he left us way too young.

He died six years before Molly was born.  He would have revelled in her.

I no longer have my Dad, nor my daughter.  I still have the trophy, somewhere.

Memorial Day

There will be many posts on the blogs today regarding Memorial Day.  Hopefully, most of them remind us that originally it was called Decoration Day, and that families took flags and flowers to remember those family members who had passed too early in war.  Or had just passed.  Sometimes they’d even bring picnic foods to celebrate the person’s life.

Obviously, this has evolved into just a picnic holiday, forgetting the original meaning.  After all, it is the official beginning of Summer, and we get off work, school, etc.  And those who have gone before are still there, forgotten.  And hey, Target has a sale!

I remember one Memorial Day in 1977.  My Dad drafted me to come with him to visit the grave of my Mother, who passed when I was in the second grade.  We didn’t come here often, and being 24, I’d just-as-soon have been anywhere else.  And, my Dad mumbled something about his joining her soon.  I thought he was just being maudlin.

Three months later he joined her.  He knew something, and kept it a secret.

Please take a moment today, while you’re swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, drinking beer, or partying to remember those who have gone before.  It’s the least you can do.

And, as always, hug those still with you and tell them you love them.  Do it NOW.  You never know.

As it’s Presidents’ Day…

(a holiday designed to give federal employees another three-day weekend…)

I found a list of 99 Interesting Fact About The Presidents.

Below are a few snippets – you might visit the link above to read the whole 99!

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) is the only U.S. president who was also a licensed bartender. He was co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, Illinois.^b

Lyndon Baines Johnson “LBJ”(1908-1973) affectionately called the many women he slept with his “harem.” He even had a buzzer system installed that rang inside the Oval Office so that Secret Service could warn him when his wife was coming.^c

The three best known Western names in China are Jesus Christ, Elvis Presley, and Richard Nixon.^k

Robert Lincoln is the only man in U.S. history known to have witnessed the assassinations of three different presidents, his father, James Garfield, and William McKinley. After he saw anarchist Leon Czolgosz shoot McKinley, he vowed he would never again appear in public with an incumbent president.ⁱ

Gerald Ford – Cosmo

Gerald Ford worked as a model during college. He also worked as a forest ranger at Yellowstone National Park directing traffic and feeding the bears.^a

h/t Random Facts, Mental Floss

Happy New Year 1950!

…okay, so I was off by a few years…OKAY 63!

Happy New Year Lovers of the United States and Individual Freedom EVERYWHERE!

Thanks for bothering to continue to stop by.  I’m still in amazement.

Guffaw in AZ

Christmas Pet-Sitting

Roomie left yesterday for a couple days in Tucson, visiting her adult daughter, and her ex, David, who is recovering from sinus tumor surgery!  (last Monday)  His prognosis appears excellent!

The plan is to do some housecleaning and prep for Christmas – she’s returning Tuesday afternoon.  I’m tired, already!  And, of course, dog and cat sitting.  They had me surrounded on the couch last night.

Fortunately, all the animals and I get along, and I expect no issues.

Here are a couple shots of said livestock:

DJ and Crosby (looking down) who is 18 1/2 years old!

Dylan, giving us ‘that look’.

Gracie. She’s watching Beverly Hills Chihuahua intently.

‘Tis the Season (NSFW)

Time for a traditional Christmas Carol!

(to the tune Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland)

JOY

I recently had a conversation with a friend which sparked a bittersweet memory.

One of the things many of us miss as adults is the wonder, the surprise, the simple serendipity of joy.  In childhood we experience it often, probably because most things and experiences are new to us, and we’ve yet to become jaded.

One of my favorite memories of my daughter Molly was when I gave her a gift.  She was turning twelve, and I knew just as the Sun rose in the morning that soon she would be developing into a teenager, full of doubt and promise.  One who no longer trusted her parents to be all-knowing and truthful.  Because, of course, we weren’t and could never be.

But here we were, proud father giving his daughter a present.  She opened it, her eyes widened, and there was that sudden exhalation of breath.  Excitement, happiness, joy.  Innocence and appreciation in one second, one breath.  Followed by the big hug.

I don’t even remember what I had given her.  But what she gave me was so much more.  An everlasting memory of a happy young woman, unspoiled by the adolescent hormones of parental treachery.  Not yet jump-started into that distrust generated simply by being parents and adults.

Zen masters tell us to be in the now.  Live life as if each moment was your last.  This is what Molly showed me that day.

I’ve had many difficult times of year.  The holidays and my birthday comprise one such time.  Not because of those specific events, but rather because of who’s not there.

But, I’ve already received my present this year.  As I get every year – when I remember it.

Live in the now, with joy, and never be disappointed.

Thank you, Molly.

November 24…

The birthday(s) of…

1677
Baruch Spinoza
philosopher, writer   d: 1677

1784
Zachary Taylor
U.S. President   d: 1850

1868
Scott Joplin
composer, musician, guitarist, pianist, bugler   d: 1917

1877
Alben Barkley
U.S. Vice President   d: 1956

1888
Dale Carnegie
lecturer, author   d: 1955

1925
William F. Buckley, Jr.
writer, commentator, editor   d. 2008

1941
Pete [Randolph] Best
musician, drummer

1941
Donald [Duck] Dunn
musician, bassist   d. 2012

1947
Dwight Schultz  (The ‘A’ Team)
actor

1950
Stanley Livingston  (My Three Sons)
actor

…and of course,

1952
Guffaw aka gfa, which makes me 60 (!) today

Frankly, if I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself!  , OR
from Mad Magazine’s Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions
(ancient withered guy in bed, questioned by reporters)

“To what do attribute your long life?  “To the fact I haven’t died, yet!”

PS – a party was feted in my honor November 16, brought together by my ex-wife(?!).  She contacted friends and relatives and we all met at my favorite pizza place.  Thanks, again, everyone!  While it wasn’t exactly back stage with the Stones, everyone seemed to have a good time.

Thanksgiving – The New Digs

As I’ve posted before, Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday.

In part, because tradition dictates turkey (which I loathe) and ‘all the trimmings’ (most of which hold neutral memories at best).

I DO like pumpkin pie, though! 

My birthday always happens around Thanksgiving, and when I was 9 or 10 my parents decided to amalgamate my birthday, my father’s birthday (last week), and my step-sister’s mother-in-law’s birthday all into one big bacchanal.  And I was the only kid.  There was much overeating of traditional food (see above paragraph), and much over-imbibing.  The men took over the living room with the TV for non-stop football and alcohol, and the women were relegated to the hot, crowded kitchen, wherein they groused about the men.   Perhaps I’d have felt better had I been able to drink?  Generally not fond memories.

This past year has been stressful, to say the least.  Loss of my house, moving, further financial issues, ongoing medical problems, car troubles and the sudden loss of my good friend Mark.

As W.C. Fields said, when he was dying, “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia!”  He hated Philadelphia.

But, on the plus side, I still have good friends, family, a support system, and a good friend who opened up her home to me in my time of need.  Seriously, this past year could have been a lot worse.

I usually brush off Thanksgiving because of the traditional trappings and memories.  I’ll continue to do that today, but I AM embracing the tradition of GRATITUDE.

I’ve a place to live, a car that runs (knock-on-wood), and friends and family who support me.  And folks all over the World who read and comment on this blog nonsense!  Many of whom have become friends.
In spite of the few bumps in the road, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Here’s hoping you all have a blessed, safe, and Happy Thanksgiving.  We’re having lasagne!

Today…

NOT tomorrow…

(borrowed from Theo Spark, because it made me cry…)

Please remember.  And shake hands and thank a Veteran to day (or tomorrow).  If you are able.

h/t Parker and Hart