BOUQUETS TO ART (continued)
We are continuing on the off-ramp from the Bay Bridge. It is always jammed up - stop and go. It will dump us off onto Octavia Street. We are finally moving again. We spent 20 minutes chugging along on that short stretch. It used to be crowded only on holidays. Now, it is an everyday occurrence. That’s progress I guess! Tony makes a left turn, from Octavia Street, on to Fell Street. I always enjoy seeing the interesting and different architecture on this one-way street - west-bound. The houses and apartment buildings are very interesting and well maintained.
We are crossing Haight Street. It will cross Ashbury to the south - the notorious “Hippy” intersection of the 60’s. At the intersection of Fell and Steiner, (NW corner), there is a very attractive Victorian house. To say that it is old is redundant. In any era, it is a large mansion. I would like to know it’s history. If you go by this way, check it out. The old Kezar Stadium off to our left. We are passing the famous carousel. I am surprised by all of the parked cars this early in the morning. The Concourse garage, beneath the Hall of Science, has a “FULL” sign in the entry drive.. No wonder everyone is parking on the street - space available!
We arrive at the museum at 10:45. I am surprised by the large attendance. I would think that it being mid-week, plus the $20 entrance fee ($17 for each of us), would skinny up the crowd. But, not so. The first thing that we do is to head for the elevator that will take us to Level 9 of the Tower. From this height we can see all over the area. The floor is walled-in by large glass windows, for a great panorama view.
I suggested to Kelli and Tony that we head for the cafeteria, even though it is only 11:15. At noon - straight-up - most Americans think of lunch! And then, there is a big traffic jam, and a long lunch hour! They agreed, and we head back down to the Café’ on the Main Floor. We are at the end of a long line. Everyone else in line had the same idea - eat early and avoid the rush! This must be a cultural thing! The Café’ places menu cards at the queuing area, for people to peruse, as they wait in line (very smart!). This helps to speed up the chow line. Even so, it is slow going. Dining staff member told us that the line in the “tent” dining area was shorter, and they serve the same menu, with the food on site. So, we beat a path to the tent. I am not sure our new line was any shorter. We still waited 15 minutes to order.
Tony and I sat next to each other. We had a good view of the action in front of us. There were 17 “senior” women sitting at tables and chairs, pushed together to make one long table. Two of the ladies were the Activities Director and the bus driver. The ladies wore red hats, or red sweaters or jackets. I presume this was for crowd control, making each one easier to spot among the large throngs. What was interesting is they brought box lunches (along with bottled water), even though it was printed on the menu that “No food can be brought in”. While they were eating their sandwiches, an official from the museum came to their table and made a pitch. ( She was tall, with red hair and attractive!) We heard her tell them not to loiter over lunch. They need to free up the tables and chairs for “paying” customers. They complied, even though they passed around a large plastic container of fresh strawberries for dessert. I noticed that there were some berries left in the container. I asked Tony, if I should suggest to them, that we would take them, so they wouldn’t have to carry them back. He just smiled. I took this as a “No”. At least the women were very neat. They put their empty - plastic lunch containers back into the handled-paper bags, from where they came, and the Activities Director carried them off.
After lunch, we headed for the floral displays. They were spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like them before. The only problem - a big one - the congestion - around each exhibit, in the 30 galleries that we walked through. There were not only people (predominantly women), but each one seemed to have a camera - digital or phone. I think that I was the only one in the place without a camera. It was almost like it was a condition for admission! They were taking a picture of each display. One women I saw, was not only taking a picture, but she was “texting” the name of the floral exhibit.
I particularly like two exhibits with a Hawaiian theme. One included bird of paradise and the other anthuriums. I particularly noticed them because I had Hawaii on my mind. Mary, Joan, Sue and I are heading for Kauai, in June, for a week. I will be able to cross off “Visit Kauai” from my “To Do Before I Die” list. Also, Joan and Sue will enjoy visiting the hospital in Waimea where they both were born. This trip will be Mary’s first year back, since we left there for the mainland in 1962. Mary and I have many fond memories of the four and a half years that we lived on Kauai - while Hawaii was a Territory, and also after it became our 50th state in 1959.
Back to the de Young. Very few people paid any attention to the beautiful paintings. I did a little wandering. I liked the furniture exhibit. There were seventeen antique chairs sitting (sic) in a row. Each was a different type. Alongside was a huge walnut - laurel-wooden bench. It must have been at least nine feet wide. I would have liked to have seen the Amish Quilts exhibit but time was of the essence. Next time.
We left the museum at 1:55. A Brinks truck is parked at the curb. I guess they are picking up all the $20 bills that people paid to enter. We are on Oak Street, one way - inbound. Shell is posting gas at $3.16. Oak Street is not nearly as appealing as Fell Street - run down buildings which are not as attractive. Yet, the two streets run parallel to each other, with a landscaped island separating the two. I notice that we are passing the Cow Palace. The San Francisco Jail is on our right - adjacent to the freeway - convenient for a quich get-away in case of a jai break. We are now on the lower deck of the Bay Bridge heading eastbound. The speed limit used to be 55mph, until a truck went off the bridge trying to negotiate a detour curve. Since then, the speed limit has been reduced to 40mph at the curve. The roadside radar unit, west of Yuerba Buena, clocks our mass of traffic at 27. We pass The city limit demarcation sign - between Oakland and San Francisco - in the middle of the bridge. One of Hyundai’s container ships is berthed at the Port of Oakland - off to our right. The sun is out now, as we exit the bridge, but it is still cloudy.
We are passing Marriott’s Courtyard hotel in Emeryville. It is attractive and inviting. The Oakland estuary is running along the east side of the I-80 freeway. Sometimes I see crews rowing in their sculls - practicing. But, not today. I start day dreaming. I am wondering what is the average age for all the cars in the country? I guessed that a 2005 model would be about it. Obviously my estimate is not scientific. I not only based it on a small sample that I am observing along side, but also, I can’t identify a 2005 model from any other model year! At least, I don’t think that anyone can dispute my instinctive estimate. I thought about this statement, and “Googled” the topic. A National Auto Dealers’ study in 2001 found that 61% of the vehicles on the road, were older than seven years. A 2008 Polk study estimated the median age of the countrys‘ “fleet” at 9.4 years! This is hard for me to believe even considering that people have been hanging on to their cars longer during this recession. Annual new car sales/leases, before the recession, were around 17 million a year. The past two years the sales of new cars dropped to about 9 million. By not buying new cars, it pushes the average age upwards. The cars I am looking at today don’t look that old. Maybe California cars aren’t representative. I am sorry that I brought it up.
Steam is coming out of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Company refinery in Crockett - a sign that people are working. Yet, there is no cargo of raw sugar being unloaded. Tony is passing a truck hauling a container. I wonder if it is from the Hyundai? Now, it is overcast. With dark clouds wandering through the area. I can see rain falling to the east, The cattle are out in the pastures eating now. Steam is also coming out of the Budweiser plant in Fairfield - another good sign. The rain shower that I just saw must have moved through here in Fairfield, as the streets are wet. We arrive back at Quail Creek at 3:05, after having a great experience. I am already looking forward to next years Exhibition.
RCL - 4/24/10.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
BOUQUETS TO ART
BOUQUETS TO ART
Today is Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Our field trip today is to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where we will visit the de Young Museum. This is a famous museum known all over the country. It was founded in 1895, but damaged beyond repair by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and closed. This was the building that I was most familiar with, because Marie and I and family had made many visits there. The original building was demolished, and the new building was constructed. The museum was reopened during October 2005. The de Young and Legion of Honor are under the umbrella of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
We leave Quail Creek at 9:20 in windy-misty and cold weather - more like winter than spring-like. There are five residents along. Just beyond our main gate there was a hardy foursome teeing up. With our cooler-rainy weather, the California Poppies (our State flower) are still in bloom. Gas at Arco is $2.98 a gallon, and $3.02 at Shell. The Futures price today, for crude oil (May delivery) is $83.45/bbl - up $2.00!
Traffic on I-80 is moderate - east and westbound. We are passing the Mini U Storage facility, where I still have “unresolved” items in storage. Manny tells me that their monthly rate is increasing from $59 to $64. This should provide me with an incentive to sort though the stuff for final disposition!
It is a gloomy day. Even the green hills look sleepy. I don’t see any cattle having breakfast either. They must be hunkering under the trees. We are passing the proverbial truck load of hay heading westbound. We are passing through Vallejo. There are no cars in the Six Flags parking lot. The Park must not be open for the season yet - probably the Memorial Day weekend. They are advertising for summer help - some 1200 jobs!
Surprising that no one is playing golf at the par 3 course, in the infield of the racetrack, at the Solano County Fairgrounds. The Fair will be held in July, for fewer days than it used to operate. The horse races have been discontinued. The long range plans call for a Commercial Center - for all-year use - to be developed, which will incorporate a smaller fairgrounds. Freeway traffic bogs down passing through Vallejo, as the I-80 freeway goes from four to three lanes.
A sign above a hotel - “Relax Inn”! How can you “relax” in a city that has filed for bankruptcy, laid off numerous policemen, has an increase in crime, with a 50% drop-out rate in the local -public high schools? There are a lot of cars parked at Safeway. This is an encouraging sign - mid-week shopping. Perhaps the economy is rebounding. But, again, people have to eat. My economic gauge is probably not the best.
As we pass over the Carquinez Strait, I get a good view of the large body of water below. It is quite “muddy” in color, caused by the recent rains upstream. Tony has his windshield wipers running at low speed. We are warm and comfortable. Passing a CHP car sitting on the emergency strip, “monitoring” the last remnants of commuters. A few miles, and I notice another Highway Patrol car, parked under the overpass. I wonder if the two officers are communicating with each other? I see a highway sign - Berkeley 10 miles.
It seems good that there isn’t any graffiti on the sound walls, like there used to be. Cal Trans obliterates the eyesore as soon as it shows up. Too, the vines climbing the walls, have helped to prevent the “taggers” from access. From Albany, the San Francisco skyline is quite hazy, as is the Golden Gate bridge. Yet, they are probably only 15 miles away - as the crow flies. In Emeryville, the parking lot in front of the Holiday Inn is only about half full. I guess that this confirms the publicity that business travel is down.
The long lines of cars, waiting for the drivers to pay their Bay Bridge tolls, looks like a huge parking lot. The bridge is a workhorse. It supports 250,000 cars per day! The toll currently is $4.00. This increases to $5 on July 1. We by-pass all of this congestion as Tony uses the “Car Pool/ Bus” lane. The highway patrol has culled out an illegal user. That driver will not earn enough today to pay for his transgression. That’s what I like about our culture. Some wise guy is always trying to beat the system!
I get a good view of the material storage area for the new East -bridge span under construction (Yuerba Buena Island to Oakland). Originally, the new span was scheduled to be completed shortly. But like all major projects, there is always un-scheduled time slippage. And, time is money - BIG money! Now, the bridge is about five years behind schedule, and due to be completed in 2013. This scedule slippage has quadrupled the final cost estimate! (6 billion!). It will take a lot of bridge tolls to get that back. But, this is the price you pay, when you place the structural-steel contracts so far away - in China.
We are passing the new One Rincon Hill skyscraper - right next to the freeway off ramp. It must be at least 40 stories high. How would you like to live in the penthouse during an emergency, when the elevators are out of service? You had better be ambulatory! The large sign on the building says, “Now selling. Onerinconhill.com”. I visited this website out of curiosity. I was educated! This high rise- living quarters is 60 floors high! If you don’t mind height, the top floor penthouse can be yours for $14 million. (The building does have a pool!). If you can’t afford living in the penthouse, they offer one, two and three bedroom residences. They are priced from the high $500s to mid- $3 Millions. If you are interested, the Sales Center offers complimentary valet parking.
(To be continued) RCL - 4/23/10.
Today is Wednesday, April 21, 2010. Our field trip today is to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, where we will visit the de Young Museum. This is a famous museum known all over the country. It was founded in 1895, but damaged beyond repair by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and closed. This was the building that I was most familiar with, because Marie and I and family had made many visits there. The original building was demolished, and the new building was constructed. The museum was reopened during October 2005. The de Young and Legion of Honor are under the umbrella of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.
We leave Quail Creek at 9:20 in windy-misty and cold weather - more like winter than spring-like. There are five residents along. Just beyond our main gate there was a hardy foursome teeing up. With our cooler-rainy weather, the California Poppies (our State flower) are still in bloom. Gas at Arco is $2.98 a gallon, and $3.02 at Shell. The Futures price today, for crude oil (May delivery) is $83.45/bbl - up $2.00!
Traffic on I-80 is moderate - east and westbound. We are passing the Mini U Storage facility, where I still have “unresolved” items in storage. Manny tells me that their monthly rate is increasing from $59 to $64. This should provide me with an incentive to sort though the stuff for final disposition!
It is a gloomy day. Even the green hills look sleepy. I don’t see any cattle having breakfast either. They must be hunkering under the trees. We are passing the proverbial truck load of hay heading westbound. We are passing through Vallejo. There are no cars in the Six Flags parking lot. The Park must not be open for the season yet - probably the Memorial Day weekend. They are advertising for summer help - some 1200 jobs!
Surprising that no one is playing golf at the par 3 course, in the infield of the racetrack, at the Solano County Fairgrounds. The Fair will be held in July, for fewer days than it used to operate. The horse races have been discontinued. The long range plans call for a Commercial Center - for all-year use - to be developed, which will incorporate a smaller fairgrounds. Freeway traffic bogs down passing through Vallejo, as the I-80 freeway goes from four to three lanes.
A sign above a hotel - “Relax Inn”! How can you “relax” in a city that has filed for bankruptcy, laid off numerous policemen, has an increase in crime, with a 50% drop-out rate in the local -public high schools? There are a lot of cars parked at Safeway. This is an encouraging sign - mid-week shopping. Perhaps the economy is rebounding. But, again, people have to eat. My economic gauge is probably not the best.
As we pass over the Carquinez Strait, I get a good view of the large body of water below. It is quite “muddy” in color, caused by the recent rains upstream. Tony has his windshield wipers running at low speed. We are warm and comfortable. Passing a CHP car sitting on the emergency strip, “monitoring” the last remnants of commuters. A few miles, and I notice another Highway Patrol car, parked under the overpass. I wonder if the two officers are communicating with each other? I see a highway sign - Berkeley 10 miles.
It seems good that there isn’t any graffiti on the sound walls, like there used to be. Cal Trans obliterates the eyesore as soon as it shows up. Too, the vines climbing the walls, have helped to prevent the “taggers” from access. From Albany, the San Francisco skyline is quite hazy, as is the Golden Gate bridge. Yet, they are probably only 15 miles away - as the crow flies. In Emeryville, the parking lot in front of the Holiday Inn is only about half full. I guess that this confirms the publicity that business travel is down.
The long lines of cars, waiting for the drivers to pay their Bay Bridge tolls, looks like a huge parking lot. The bridge is a workhorse. It supports 250,000 cars per day! The toll currently is $4.00. This increases to $5 on July 1. We by-pass all of this congestion as Tony uses the “Car Pool/ Bus” lane. The highway patrol has culled out an illegal user. That driver will not earn enough today to pay for his transgression. That’s what I like about our culture. Some wise guy is always trying to beat the system!
I get a good view of the material storage area for the new East -bridge span under construction (Yuerba Buena Island to Oakland). Originally, the new span was scheduled to be completed shortly. But like all major projects, there is always un-scheduled time slippage. And, time is money - BIG money! Now, the bridge is about five years behind schedule, and due to be completed in 2013. This scedule slippage has quadrupled the final cost estimate! (6 billion!). It will take a lot of bridge tolls to get that back. But, this is the price you pay, when you place the structural-steel contracts so far away - in China.
We are passing the new One Rincon Hill skyscraper - right next to the freeway off ramp. It must be at least 40 stories high. How would you like to live in the penthouse during an emergency, when the elevators are out of service? You had better be ambulatory! The large sign on the building says, “Now selling. Onerinconhill.com”. I visited this website out of curiosity. I was educated! This high rise- living quarters is 60 floors high! If you don’t mind height, the top floor penthouse can be yours for $14 million. (The building does have a pool!). If you can’t afford living in the penthouse, they offer one, two and three bedroom residences. They are priced from the high $500s to mid- $3 Millions. If you are interested, the Sales Center offers complimentary valet parking.
(To be continued) RCL - 4/23/10.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
SAVER
SAVER.
My daughter Anne, and I, had lunch last week at the Fresh Choice restaurant, here in Fairfield. This is my favorite restaurant, even though a connoisseur might say that my French- taste buds have been diluted. They are probably right.
After we had finished eating, our conversation, somehow, switched to compulsive “savers”. I think that I used to be in this category. But, after downsizing twice in the past 24 years I am much less compulsive. I do admit to having trouble parting with possessions. I like to think that this trait is due to my “Great Depression” familial training. Our discussion reminded Anne of an essay in the May 2008 “Bits & Pieces”. She paraphrased it. I told her it was very interesting. So, she sent me a copy of the booklet.
I would like to share the piece. Bits & Pieces attributed their source to an adaptation from the Heart’n Souls web site.
KNOWING WHEN TO LET GO
The king was having a Grand Ball that evening to which he invited every person in the kingdom. He asked that everyone in attendance be dressed in formal attire.
More than anything, young Julius wanted to go. But, he was poor and hadn’t the means to acquire the appropriate clothing. He stood at the gate of the palace late that afternoon, imagining what it might be like to be on the other side.
“Why the long face son?”
Julius snapped out of his pensiveness. “What?”
“Why the long face? You should be home getting dressed for my ball. I’m on my way in myself to get ready.”
Julius couldn’t believe it! It was the king himself, speaking directly to a commoner. Julius explained his plight.
“Why that’s no problem at all”, assured the king. Then he summoned the prince to join them and instructed his son to find some suitable garments for their guest to wear at the party.
The prince escorted Julius to a royal dressing room where Julius was allowed to help himself and choose an outfit to wear and keep.
“I think you will be very happy with these new garments”, the prince said. “They are made of the finest threads and will not wear out quickly like your other clothes.”
“Thank you kindly, sir, said Julius, as he reached for his old clothes piled on the floor.
“Leave those,” the prince said. “They are of no use to you now.”
“But what if something happens to my new garments?” Julius asked.
“Then you can come to me again and I will give you something else to wear.”
Julius thought about this for a moment. “No, I may need these some day.”
“As you wish my good fellow,” the prince responded. “Come! The ball has just begun. Please go and enjoy every minute of it.”
Julius carried his old clothes with him throughout the party. And because he refused to part with this bundle, he was unable to dance or participate in many of the evening’s activities. When the servants came around with platters of food and drink, Julius could sample only a few delicacies, because he had only one free hand - the other was always holding on to the bundle of rags.
When the evening came to a close, the people left the palace filled with awe for all they’d seen and done. But, poor Julius couldn’t join in any of these reflections because he’d spent most of his time clutching his tattered old clothes.
How much had he failed to experience because he could not let go of what he no longer needed?
Note: - Even though I know better, I still have some “Julius” in me!
=====================================
Change: Change really becomes a necessity when you try not to do it.
Anne Wilson Schaef
Psychotherapist and writer.
RCL - 4/20/10.
.
My daughter Anne, and I, had lunch last week at the Fresh Choice restaurant, here in Fairfield. This is my favorite restaurant, even though a connoisseur might say that my French- taste buds have been diluted. They are probably right.
After we had finished eating, our conversation, somehow, switched to compulsive “savers”. I think that I used to be in this category. But, after downsizing twice in the past 24 years I am much less compulsive. I do admit to having trouble parting with possessions. I like to think that this trait is due to my “Great Depression” familial training. Our discussion reminded Anne of an essay in the May 2008 “Bits & Pieces”. She paraphrased it. I told her it was very interesting. So, she sent me a copy of the booklet.
I would like to share the piece. Bits & Pieces attributed their source to an adaptation from the Heart’n Souls web site.
KNOWING WHEN TO LET GO
The king was having a Grand Ball that evening to which he invited every person in the kingdom. He asked that everyone in attendance be dressed in formal attire.
More than anything, young Julius wanted to go. But, he was poor and hadn’t the means to acquire the appropriate clothing. He stood at the gate of the palace late that afternoon, imagining what it might be like to be on the other side.
“Why the long face son?”
Julius snapped out of his pensiveness. “What?”
“Why the long face? You should be home getting dressed for my ball. I’m on my way in myself to get ready.”
Julius couldn’t believe it! It was the king himself, speaking directly to a commoner. Julius explained his plight.
“Why that’s no problem at all”, assured the king. Then he summoned the prince to join them and instructed his son to find some suitable garments for their guest to wear at the party.
The prince escorted Julius to a royal dressing room where Julius was allowed to help himself and choose an outfit to wear and keep.
“I think you will be very happy with these new garments”, the prince said. “They are made of the finest threads and will not wear out quickly like your other clothes.”
“Thank you kindly, sir, said Julius, as he reached for his old clothes piled on the floor.
“Leave those,” the prince said. “They are of no use to you now.”
“But what if something happens to my new garments?” Julius asked.
“Then you can come to me again and I will give you something else to wear.”
Julius thought about this for a moment. “No, I may need these some day.”
“As you wish my good fellow,” the prince responded. “Come! The ball has just begun. Please go and enjoy every minute of it.”
Julius carried his old clothes with him throughout the party. And because he refused to part with this bundle, he was unable to dance or participate in many of the evening’s activities. When the servants came around with platters of food and drink, Julius could sample only a few delicacies, because he had only one free hand - the other was always holding on to the bundle of rags.
When the evening came to a close, the people left the palace filled with awe for all they’d seen and done. But, poor Julius couldn’t join in any of these reflections because he’d spent most of his time clutching his tattered old clothes.
How much had he failed to experience because he could not let go of what he no longer needed?
Note: - Even though I know better, I still have some “Julius” in me!
=====================================
Change: Change really becomes a necessity when you try not to do it.
Anne Wilson Schaef
Psychotherapist and writer.
RCL - 4/20/10.
.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A Love Story
A LOVE STORY.
Today is Dody’s 91st birthday! Happy Birthday, Dody!
Dody and I attended Berea High School - she in the Class of 1937, and I was in the Class of 1936. While we were born only five months apart, we were on different sides of December 1.
Dody was my first girl friend! When we met, I was a Junior and she was a Sophomore - she was 15 and I was 16. We went “steady” for three years - her last three years of high school, and my last two years of high school, and first year at Baldwin Wallace College, (Dody subsequently graduated from BW). While we never verbalized it, we both presumed that we would eventually marry each other. It was not to be. My family moved from Berea to Ypsilanti in 1937. My Dad worked for the New York Central Railroad in Cleveland. The NYC consolidated it’s offices during the Great Depression, and my Dad was transferred to Detroit. We courted - long distance - both of us visiting each other - for a year.
Then, the old truism kicked in - “Absence makes the heart grow fonder ---- of somebody else”. Dody was in college in Berea. (She was born in Berea, and still lives there!), and I was working in Ann Arbor - about 150 miles away. Then, WWII came along, and that was “all she wrote”. My Mother was very fond of Dody, and I presume that my Dad was too. During a phone conversation a few years back, Dody told me that my Mother had given her a party on her 16th birthday - “ the only birthday party that I ever had!” I can’t believe that I don’t remember it. But, Dody’s memory has always been better than mine.
Fast Forward to 1976. Dody and I hadn’t been in touch with each other for nearly 40 years. When I received Tony’s annual Class of ‘36 Reunion invitation, it was emotional for me. Only then did I realize that time was zipping by, and I missed seeing Dody and my classmates. So, I accepted. I asked Marie if she would go with me. Her response, “Why do you want to go and see all those old people?” I took that as a “No!” Marie’s comment made me a little apprehensive. Would I recognize anyone if there were no name tags? How would I react to my friends that I hadn’t seen for so long? But, my experience was weird. I didn’t see late 50 year-old faces and bodies, I saw my classmates as I remembered how they looked when we graduated. (I received the prize for coming the greatest distance!) . I was very surprised how many of my classmates were still living in the Berea area.
Dody was there without her husband, (I never got to meet him). I was there without Marie, ( although she attended a few with me, later on - even though she didn’t enjoy them). I thought it might be awkward, but we both were glad to see each other. She asked me if I would take her home at the end of the evening. At first, I thought it was a request that I couldn’t refuse. Then, I thought that her husband might be waiting with a shotgun. I agreed, and all went well. My problem was, do I offer to kiss her goodnight - for old times sake? I decided that “discretion was the better part of valor”, especially since she didn’t give me any encouragement. I have made many Reunions since 1976, the most recent one was our 71st in 2007.Marie finally agreed to accompany me on a few, even though she said that she didn’t enjoy them. I enjoyed having her along. I hope to go back to our 75th (and probably our last) next year, if any of us is still alive. There were 81 in our graduating class, and now we are down to 12 survivors!
Dody and I have exchanged birthday, and Christmas cards, through the years. Her husband Hank, died a few years ago.(They had three sons, and Marie and I have five daughters.) We have kept in contact by phone. It is strange when two nonagenarians tell each other, spontaneously, “I love you”. She sent me a newspaper clipping after Hank died, telling of high school sweethearts, whose spouses had died, and they married each other. Dody casually mentioned that “this could be us!” I think she was delusional, as it is not to be. Can you picture two ninety year olds trying to take care of each other? Besides, a native Ohioan, would not consider moving to California.
I sent Dody a birthday card. She has been living in a
Care Center near Berea. I tried calling her today to wish her a Happy Birthday. The phone in her room rang numerous times, but she didn’t answer. So, I called Dody’s son Jim, to see what was going on. Jim, wife Judy, and their young -twin boys (Jim re-married a much younger woman!) live across from Dody’s house on Seminary Street. One of the boys answered and I asked him if I could talk to his mom or dad. He asked me my name and I told him. He tried repeating it, and finally said “call back”, and hung up!
As I was typing this, I was listening to the music on our closed -circuit TV channel. Playing was “As Time Goes By” - how fitting! RCL - 4/13/10.
Today is Dody’s 91st birthday! Happy Birthday, Dody!
Dody and I attended Berea High School - she in the Class of 1937, and I was in the Class of 1936. While we were born only five months apart, we were on different sides of December 1.
Dody was my first girl friend! When we met, I was a Junior and she was a Sophomore - she was 15 and I was 16. We went “steady” for three years - her last three years of high school, and my last two years of high school, and first year at Baldwin Wallace College, (Dody subsequently graduated from BW). While we never verbalized it, we both presumed that we would eventually marry each other. It was not to be. My family moved from Berea to Ypsilanti in 1937. My Dad worked for the New York Central Railroad in Cleveland. The NYC consolidated it’s offices during the Great Depression, and my Dad was transferred to Detroit. We courted - long distance - both of us visiting each other - for a year.
Then, the old truism kicked in - “Absence makes the heart grow fonder ---- of somebody else”. Dody was in college in Berea. (She was born in Berea, and still lives there!), and I was working in Ann Arbor - about 150 miles away. Then, WWII came along, and that was “all she wrote”. My Mother was very fond of Dody, and I presume that my Dad was too. During a phone conversation a few years back, Dody told me that my Mother had given her a party on her 16th birthday - “ the only birthday party that I ever had!” I can’t believe that I don’t remember it. But, Dody’s memory has always been better than mine.
Fast Forward to 1976. Dody and I hadn’t been in touch with each other for nearly 40 years. When I received Tony’s annual Class of ‘36 Reunion invitation, it was emotional for me. Only then did I realize that time was zipping by, and I missed seeing Dody and my classmates. So, I accepted. I asked Marie if she would go with me. Her response, “Why do you want to go and see all those old people?” I took that as a “No!” Marie’s comment made me a little apprehensive. Would I recognize anyone if there were no name tags? How would I react to my friends that I hadn’t seen for so long? But, my experience was weird. I didn’t see late 50 year-old faces and bodies, I saw my classmates as I remembered how they looked when we graduated. (I received the prize for coming the greatest distance!) . I was very surprised how many of my classmates were still living in the Berea area.
Dody was there without her husband, (I never got to meet him). I was there without Marie, ( although she attended a few with me, later on - even though she didn’t enjoy them). I thought it might be awkward, but we both were glad to see each other. She asked me if I would take her home at the end of the evening. At first, I thought it was a request that I couldn’t refuse. Then, I thought that her husband might be waiting with a shotgun. I agreed, and all went well. My problem was, do I offer to kiss her goodnight - for old times sake? I decided that “discretion was the better part of valor”, especially since she didn’t give me any encouragement. I have made many Reunions since 1976, the most recent one was our 71st in 2007.Marie finally agreed to accompany me on a few, even though she said that she didn’t enjoy them. I enjoyed having her along. I hope to go back to our 75th (and probably our last) next year, if any of us is still alive. There were 81 in our graduating class, and now we are down to 12 survivors!
Dody and I have exchanged birthday, and Christmas cards, through the years. Her husband Hank, died a few years ago.(They had three sons, and Marie and I have five daughters.) We have kept in contact by phone. It is strange when two nonagenarians tell each other, spontaneously, “I love you”. She sent me a newspaper clipping after Hank died, telling of high school sweethearts, whose spouses had died, and they married each other. Dody casually mentioned that “this could be us!” I think she was delusional, as it is not to be. Can you picture two ninety year olds trying to take care of each other? Besides, a native Ohioan, would not consider moving to California.
I sent Dody a birthday card. She has been living in a
Care Center near Berea. I tried calling her today to wish her a Happy Birthday. The phone in her room rang numerous times, but she didn’t answer. So, I called Dody’s son Jim, to see what was going on. Jim, wife Judy, and their young -twin boys (Jim re-married a much younger woman!) live across from Dody’s house on Seminary Street. One of the boys answered and I asked him if I could talk to his mom or dad. He asked me my name and I told him. He tried repeating it, and finally said “call back”, and hung up!
As I was typing this, I was listening to the music on our closed -circuit TV channel. Playing was “As Time Goes By” - how fitting! RCL - 4/13/10.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
