I met Tina in 7th grade. She was the prettiest, most popular girl in our class. One day a classmate asked me to ask her if she would go to the seventh grade dance with him. So I asked Tina if she was going to the dance and she responded no one had asked her. So I asked her to go with me and she said yes. That was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted for 50 years.
Our relationship is based on many things, none of them have anything to do with romance. I have always found Tina to be smart, organized, caring and ripe with common sense. She has a marvelous sense of humor and a way of viewing things that has uncommon clarity. I really can find no reason she favors me with her friendship. It is fair to say that I love Tina. She is the closest thing to a sister that I have.
Over the years Tina has been the keeper of our class. She has been the moving force that organizes reunions and tracks class mates. She has always allowed me to assist her and the time we have spent has been a source of happiness that I treasure.
In High School, Tina dated one of my good friends and they married shortly after graduating. Funny thing is, I dated and became engaged to her younger sister. Neither worked out, but, we both found new loves and enjoyed a happy life. Each went our way, our paths crossing every so often. Recent years have had us spending more time together and certainly ,0n my part, enjoying every minute of time spent together.
If I never work up the courage to express fully my love and admiration for Tina, I hope in some way she knows.
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Dad
My Dad died today. He was 92 a month ago. He was quite a man. Born at the end of the great depression, he grew up in a house of little means, with 6 brothers and sisters. Dealt with the loss of a sister and father at a young age. Became head of household and a prime provider for his family at an early age. Spent time in the army during WWII and witnessed some of the most appalling behaviors man has ever done. Sat with a young wife as she suffered through the rigors of an Iron Lung and polio. Certainly these life experiences had a profound effect.
Despite the hardships of life, my Dad developed an incredible array of skills and talents. He had a special ability to engineer things. He was a very talented mechanic with an understanding of how things work. He created art work that was amazing given his total lack of training. Always a hard working man with a sense of family commitment. Dad was comfortable with all manner of machinery, plants, animals and the outdoors in general. He could build a rabbit hutch, wire a factory, repair any machine, design machinery, paint the daintiest flowers on fine china, raise beautiful flowers, pour concrete, and so much more.
Dad always expected my brothers and I to learn these things by way of helping. Some of my least favorite tasks were learning to do all manner of things. Years later, I am so thankful that Dad "made" me help and learn. My brothers and I can do so many things because Dad had us help and unknowingly learn.
Dad, like all of us, had faults. He had a propensity to be negative as a first reaction. He could be equally self centered and thoughtful. Despite his faults, he was faithful and kind. He had difficulty expressing affection, yet was always there when needed. I know that he held within him, a great amount of love and pride for his 3 sons. Despite ups and downs in his life, he maintained his love for my Mom for 73 years, knowing that she was his strength.
I have so many many wonderful memories of times on Family Vacations, doing projects with just Dad and I, marveling at his ingenuity, walking in the woods and tinkering with mechanical things. The exposure to so many places and things that Dad made available was amazing. I have a large amount of memorabilia that will forever keep him near to me.
My Dad and I did not always see things the same. I will fault him for that because he taught me to think. I will credit him for making me the man I am today. In his own way, he taught me what to do and what not to do. He helped me shape my values. He instilled a work ethic, an honesty and a never give up attitude that I hold dear to me. He taught me how to be a good father and husband, both by his actions and inaction. He was and always will be my Hero. I will Love and miss Dad for the rest of my life. Rest in peace Dad.
Despite the hardships of life, my Dad developed an incredible array of skills and talents. He had a special ability to engineer things. He was a very talented mechanic with an understanding of how things work. He created art work that was amazing given his total lack of training. Always a hard working man with a sense of family commitment. Dad was comfortable with all manner of machinery, plants, animals and the outdoors in general. He could build a rabbit hutch, wire a factory, repair any machine, design machinery, paint the daintiest flowers on fine china, raise beautiful flowers, pour concrete, and so much more.
Dad always expected my brothers and I to learn these things by way of helping. Some of my least favorite tasks were learning to do all manner of things. Years later, I am so thankful that Dad "made" me help and learn. My brothers and I can do so many things because Dad had us help and unknowingly learn.
Dad, like all of us, had faults. He had a propensity to be negative as a first reaction. He could be equally self centered and thoughtful. Despite his faults, he was faithful and kind. He had difficulty expressing affection, yet was always there when needed. I know that he held within him, a great amount of love and pride for his 3 sons. Despite ups and downs in his life, he maintained his love for my Mom for 73 years, knowing that she was his strength.
I have so many many wonderful memories of times on Family Vacations, doing projects with just Dad and I, marveling at his ingenuity, walking in the woods and tinkering with mechanical things. The exposure to so many places and things that Dad made available was amazing. I have a large amount of memorabilia that will forever keep him near to me.
My Dad and I did not always see things the same. I will fault him for that because he taught me to think. I will credit him for making me the man I am today. In his own way, he taught me what to do and what not to do. He helped me shape my values. He instilled a work ethic, an honesty and a never give up attitude that I hold dear to me. He taught me how to be a good father and husband, both by his actions and inaction. He was and always will be my Hero. I will Love and miss Dad for the rest of my life. Rest in peace Dad.
Monday, February 26, 2018
Again
Again, another shooting. Again, in a school by another young, troubled person. Again, hotly contested debate about how to stop such incidents. Young people have started a movement to eliminate / curtail gun sales. Particularly those termed Assault. Potentially this movement may take roots and lead to some changes in gun ownership. What it will likely not create is less acts of violence by people determined to create havoc. Persons with a demented need to wreck havoc on innocent people will most certainly find a way to do so. If automatic weapons are not available, then other means will continue to be used.
We have witnessed acts of this nature in ever increasing instances. Cars, explosives, blade weapons and more besides guns have been used. Most occurrences are attributed to deranged individuals rather than well planned instances of terrorism. The nature of these attacks appear to have nothing in common beyond individual detachment to reality. Arguments are made for increased background checks or increasing legal age for purchasing certain weapons. Criminal leaning individuals will undoubtedly continue to have disregard for laws and therefore more laws will have little effect.
In the grand scheme of things, gun violence is noticeably less than many other causes of death. The fact that some occurrences have happened at schools seems to have brought guns to the forefront of news today, again. Always in the past, some new hot topic has come up and the noise about gun control has died quietly. Interestingly, more frequent causes of premature death have not created the same furor in the consciousness of society. Automobiles, drugs, disease,alcohol and other causes are far more reaching than guns as a cause of early death. Why not similar outrage and concern for control?
Could there be some connection to Movies and Video Games and the potential for reduced sensitivity to violence? Could be. Why not restrict the availability of those. How about distracted driving? Auto makers continue to make it easier to use electronic devices in the modern automobile. Lets legislate the return of driving without electronic distractions. We have attempted to legislate our way out of the drug epidemic, without success. We have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol, yet, alcohol continues to be a leading cause of automobile accidents. So, that's working well? Now, personally, I have no sympathy for drug users and alcohol related problems because those are choices made by those individuals. I do feel sorry for those individuals harmed or killed by users of drugs and alcohol.
While untimely death or maiming is unfortunate and heart breaking, I see no way that we can legislate our way away from the reality that these problems will continue. And continue with greater frequency. Society is becoming more narcissistic every year. Concern for fellow man only happens when some unbelievable act of violence happens. Then we offer prayers and condolences and continue with our life. Permanent change seems only a dream we have. Actual ability of our society to change is most likely not happening until an actual global event that requires a new way of thinking. I am comfortable that I will not see that happen in my lifetime and hope that future generations will rise to the challenge. I feel certain that the necessary change will not come from government, but rather by grass roots groups and individuals. A revolution if you will. Action sparked by a genuine concern for humanity rather than driven by greed.
We have witnessed acts of this nature in ever increasing instances. Cars, explosives, blade weapons and more besides guns have been used. Most occurrences are attributed to deranged individuals rather than well planned instances of terrorism. The nature of these attacks appear to have nothing in common beyond individual detachment to reality. Arguments are made for increased background checks or increasing legal age for purchasing certain weapons. Criminal leaning individuals will undoubtedly continue to have disregard for laws and therefore more laws will have little effect.
In the grand scheme of things, gun violence is noticeably less than many other causes of death. The fact that some occurrences have happened at schools seems to have brought guns to the forefront of news today, again. Always in the past, some new hot topic has come up and the noise about gun control has died quietly. Interestingly, more frequent causes of premature death have not created the same furor in the consciousness of society. Automobiles, drugs, disease,alcohol and other causes are far more reaching than guns as a cause of early death. Why not similar outrage and concern for control?
Could there be some connection to Movies and Video Games and the potential for reduced sensitivity to violence? Could be. Why not restrict the availability of those. How about distracted driving? Auto makers continue to make it easier to use electronic devices in the modern automobile. Lets legislate the return of driving without electronic distractions. We have attempted to legislate our way out of the drug epidemic, without success. We have laws against driving under the influence of alcohol, yet, alcohol continues to be a leading cause of automobile accidents. So, that's working well? Now, personally, I have no sympathy for drug users and alcohol related problems because those are choices made by those individuals. I do feel sorry for those individuals harmed or killed by users of drugs and alcohol.
While untimely death or maiming is unfortunate and heart breaking, I see no way that we can legislate our way away from the reality that these problems will continue. And continue with greater frequency. Society is becoming more narcissistic every year. Concern for fellow man only happens when some unbelievable act of violence happens. Then we offer prayers and condolences and continue with our life. Permanent change seems only a dream we have. Actual ability of our society to change is most likely not happening until an actual global event that requires a new way of thinking. I am comfortable that I will not see that happen in my lifetime and hope that future generations will rise to the challenge. I feel certain that the necessary change will not come from government, but rather by grass roots groups and individuals. A revolution if you will. Action sparked by a genuine concern for humanity rather than driven by greed.
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