Monday, December 31, 2012

I Love You Too

Hey All,     We have many people in our lives who mean so much too us.  It is written that"life is but a vapor".  Only here for a brief time and then gone from sight.........but these souls live on in us and through us. They contributed to who we have become, even if only in a small way.   They make us better people.......even in the toughest times.
     My grandfather was a 92 year old man when he passed away from prostate cancer.  When he was 60,  his most used phrase was " what the hell, I'm an old man", when my grandmother tried to persuade him to do something she wanted. He still worked on projects at his grown childrens' houses until he was in his 80's. I wonder when he turned 90, if he thought that 60 was still young.
      I received a call in May 2002 that my Grandfather was in a bad way and wouldn't be with us too much longer.  So, as a family group, Penny, Charlie, my brothers. mother and I went down to visit.  He was in a hospital bed in the dining room and was unconscious.  My Grandmother and aunt Ruth said that he had been unresponsive for a couple of days.  We all took turns going in from the living room to visit and talk with him, even though we couldn't be sure if he even knew we were there. I went in last and my grandmother and aunt had uncovered him to change him......... as you would a baby.  They were having a hard time of it,even though he was very thin, he still weighed more than they could comfortably handle.  They asked me to lift him so they could take care of him.  I put one arm under his shoulders and one behind his knees and as gently as I could, I lifted him while they took care of him.  Our faces were only inches apart..........he opened his eyes and looked into mine and asked "what are you doing here?"  I said " I came to see you!  I Love you Grandpop"  He smiled. "I love you too" he softly replied in return.  He then closed his eyes.  He grunted in pain as I gently lowered him back down..........he never opened his eyes or spoke again.  I took my turn visiting and talking to him after the room was clear.  I just wanted him to know how much he meant to me and how much I appreciated what he had done for me as a kid.  I told him that I would have been lost in this world if he had not intervened in my life. He couldn't respond...............but I could still hear "I love you too".
   I went out in the living room and told Tommy about it.  He said that this was " a memory that will last a lifetime"............and so it has. 
   My grandfather passed away three days later.   He may be gone from this world................but he rests lovingly in my heart.  Precious and few are the gifts such as these. Blessed are those who receive them.
                                   Until the next time..........God Bless.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Mrs Marie

Hey All,  Everyone should be as fortunate to have someone, at sometime in their life, who contributes in a special way.  This post is hard to write as it causes a flood of emotion from the many  memories that are shown to me like a movie in my mind.  
     Mrs Marie came to be part of my life by chance.........maybe.  I was born and she was my guardian angel already at her post, living just across the street.  She had eight children of her own.........all of which she loves and cherishes dearly...........and they her. 
     My first memory of Mrs Marie comes from before I could speak.  It was the summer of 1962 and Mom put me out in the back yard and closed the gate. I was 18 months old.  Mom was busy with her new baby, Tommy, and the Beast was handful with his violent behavior.  Mrs Marie had her own babies to take care of, Flossie and Tony, at this time as well. It was hot! I don't know how long I was out there , but my diaper,  clothe with safety pins, was soaked.  It was uncomfortable and I tried to push it down to get it off, but the safety pins held.  I was thirsty, hot and I and started to fuss.  It wasn't long before I was outright wailing as I held on to the fence next to the gate.  How long I cried........I don't know, but it was quite awhile.  I watched the door waiting for mom to come and get me.........I kept waiting.  The longer I watched and waited, the  more panic I felt, the louder I wailed.  Still watching the door.........
     Wailing loudly, through my tears, I saw a head appear in the driveway.  That head became shoulders and legs as she walked up the sloping driveway..............Mrs Marie.  As she walked up the gate,  my crying became a whimper and she picked me up, asking me what was wrong. She  went to the backdoor, it was open and she walked in, calling for my mother.............. she was standing right there.  Mrs Marie checked my diaper and told mom it was soaked and that I needed a change..  She held me as she got me water....... which I gulped down, spilling some down my shirt, getting her shirt wet as well.  She commented on how thirsty I was.
    I wonder how long I would have had to cry before mom would come for me...........if Mrs Marie hadn't. She was standing in the kitchen...........she could see me...........she left me to sun and the heat.  I wonder if she me considered me to be like a annoying barking dog. This was the first time Mrs Marie rescued me............it wouldn't be the last.   This is a sad , but good thing.  That great lady has  a very special quality and an endless supply of love in her heart.............enough for anyone and everyone.  I may not be much...........but without Mrs Marie's love and example, I have no doubt that I wouldn't  be who I am today.  In her, I  found  an example of what a Mother and a person should be.  Sometimes watching them as a family, I felt  lonely and a sense of loss...........for what I would never have.  To be sure...........without Mrs Marie, I would have been lost. At critical times in my youth, she was the only mother I had.
     Mr Carmen Scalfaro had found a rare woman  for his wife.........he knew this, loved her and knew that God had blessed him. 
     Mrs Marie...................I can never properly express what I have inside for you.  You are a part of me as much as if you gave me birth.................surely you gave me a chance at life. You are one of Gods willing and ready angels.................I am thankful and blessed that you are one of mine. I Love You.
      Until Next Time..................God Bless.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

In Search Of....

Hey All,    Each of us has searched for something at at least once in our lives......and  I don't mean  Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.  Sometimes, what we seek isn't an object or a person. Sometimes, .it was never missing and sometimes.......... it will never be found.
    I was asked by someone for advice...........me of all people.  It's like asking a blind man for directions. It was said, that given my background, at least what they knew of it, that I may be able help them understand .  A relative of this person came from a family background I could relate too.  This person , I call "Relative" frequently purchased things and stayed in contact with their family even though they lived in another state.  Relative now had a family of their own and could be considered to be wealthy by many standards.
     Relative grew up in a home that was far from "Ward and June Cleaver" and  tried to find their place and role in the internal family structure when they were a child.........and as an adult. There were siblings and Relative was a middle child...........I guess most of this is how I am similar.
      I am certainly not in a position to judge......only to ponder and offer an opinion.   My reply was that Relative was still searching...........looking for the piece in their life that was noticeably absent to them......but not to their family.  Love and acceptance at the very basic level and first begins as a child at home.  Who we will  become is affected if we are treated differently or less favorably than our siblings  This appears to me to be obvious.  I believe that Relative has void from a Maternal and Paternal level and through visits, phone conversations and buying things that their parents that they can not for themselves is pushing to be loved and treated as their siblings are. How can someone express this?  "Hey I'm your kid too!  Don't I count?  Don't I deserve your affection?  I am right here in front of you.  Don't you see me?   Won't you show your love to me too? How long do I have to wait?  What do I need to do?  Hey, I'm your kid too.....aren't I?"  This is a unending search for  love and acceptance.........looking for parental approval.  Our bodies age and we feel it as times goes by..........but our hearts can get stuck and hampered by not getting the nurturing love we crave so deeply.  Our needs are foundational to our growth physically and emotionally..........without proper care and nourishment our growth in any form is delayed or worse strangled. It's like looking for water in middle of desert. I pray you find it.
      Sometimes this desire can  lead to a lifelong attempt to mend a broken bridge in your heart.  You're not the one who broke it.........but you're the one stranded on the other side.  It's extremely difficult to change these feelings.  Some get to point when they realize that nothing they do will change the past or future losses with someone so important to them. They stop walking into that closed door...............they start the long journey around it.  I wish these travelers a safe and successful trip...........they need and deserve it.
                 Until next time............God Bless.
      

Thursday, October 25, 2012

All in a Days Work

Hey All,     Many of us have had days when we have great days at work.............sometimes it's just because we enjoy our jobs.  Not everyday is the same and some days surpass others in one way or another.
      October 1997.  This was a great year.  Penny said "I do" and and life was good overall.  On this one particular day, Penny and I had a dinner date.  I was a self employed Plumbing/HVAC contractor and had a boiler installation just two blocks from home.  Penny cautioned me not to be late coming home.............I was notoriously late for everything. Some habits are hard to break.
       My customer was a little 88 year old lady whom I had worked for quite a few years  and her sons family as well. I had a helper working with me then, a teenager from church.  He's a hard working lad and assisted me almost daily.  We cleared the way that we would bring the boiler in the house.  There was no basement entry so we had to go through the kitchen and down the basement stairs.  We were all set when the truck arrived with the boiler safely packed in a wooden crate.  The delivery man had only worked for this company a couple of months and he was late and arrived at noon. These things happen................I'm well versed.  He strapped the boiler on his heavy duty dolly and we brought it into the house to the top of the stairs. Now this guy was of athletic build............. thin and muscular.  We decided that he would take the top and my helper and I would brace the bottom and this was the way we usually did this.  About a third of the way down 18 steps I noticed something was just a little off.  The boiler was coming down faster than it should have been................so fast that it was bouncing from step to step and it made quite a bit of noise and vibration.   I looked up and the delivery guy was sitting on a step.......... he wasn't able to handle the weight and lost his grip.  The boiler was on its own...............with two guys below trying to get out of the way.  We made it too........................except that my helper was standing in the way at the bottom...............fascinated by bouncing boiler, still strapped to the dolly.  I leaned across and shoved him in the chest and jumped back to get back out of the way.
        I felt a sharp pain in the side of my head and then I was airborne.  I landed ten feet from the now overturned boiler........onto the cold concrete floor.  I realized what had happened after a few seconds and  got to my hand and knees................with blood dripping from the side of my head.  Poor Mrs C.  She made her way down the stairs and was pretty shook up.  She got me towel and wanted to call an ambulance..............the dolly handle had hit me in the side of the head when the boiler overturned at the bottom of the steps and had torn my ear about half way through.  I told her I had no health coverage and not to do that.  I had my helper uncrate the boiler and inspect it for damage and then went to the clinic in town.  The doctor wouldn't treat me due to the nature of the accident and insisted that I go to the hospital for xrays and stitches and not to drive. I searched for a ride and finally got one from Mrs' C's daughter in law.  We drove to the Vet......I mean hospital,  all the way behind a drunk driver going 30 MPH, swerving from lane to lane.  They took me into the emergency room and the Vet......I mean doctor ordered Xrays  and was preparing to put in stitches.  It was then he asked about insurance...............suddenly Xrays weren't necessary and I was told that a shot to numb the ear would only make the bleeding worse.  He stitched me up without anything for the pain.  To add insult to literal injury, I got a bill for 600 dollars from the Vet..............Oh, I mean hospital.  I'll get it right someday.
      Penny told me if I didn't want to take her out that night that  I didn't have to go to so much trouble.  My right ear was twice the size of my left for quite some time.  Many of you who have read my stories know that I have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This is another incident that could have been life threatening. God had decide once again to keep me around..............for what, I'm not sure.  I'm pretty sure my guardian angel is due for a vacation..............he or she must be tired.  I know I am.
      Until the next time......................God Bless.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

The Catch

Hey All,   Life is full of surprises..........I realize that you already know that.  You didn't get this far without experiencing your fair share of them.......as everyone eventually experiences the unexpected..  Keep your eyes open............the next one might just be around the corner.
       While in school during the fall and early winter,  we trapped furbearers, such as fox, raccoon and muskrat for fun and spending money.  This was part of my fathers childhood and he passed this skill and tradition  along to his boys when they reached 12 years old.  It gave us a way to buy gifts for Christmas and things we might like to have.  Tommy was by far the most successful of my fathers son, when it came to this activity.   The law required  that you check your traps at least every 36 hours.........sometimes you were sick or were otherwise unable to do it yourself and your brother would check them for you.
       We were in High School and my friend Joe G had driven us up to Buckingham.  My cousin Carl,. who was about 20 years old, still lived with Grandma at this time while attending college, had come home just before we left to check Tommy's trap sets.  The Beast was already there as it was his favorite place to mooch..........I mean hang out.  Carl decided that he wanted to go along............not to be left out, so did the mooch.......I mean Beast...........Eh, synonyms..........two words, same picture in the dictionary.
     It was a moonless and crisp autumn night as we loaded into Carls station wagon.  He brought Dads .22 revolver in case Tom had caught something and needed to be dispatched.  Carl drove his wagon down through the grass fields near Buckingham Mountain to the first set and turned on his high beams.  We could see a pair of eyes reflecting back at us ...........so we got a little closer and stopped with the high beams illuminating a beautiful mature Red Fox.  I wasn't a big surprise because Tommy had caught many Red Fox............... as I have said he was the most successful of our litter.  We gathered around in a semi circle and admired this beautiful animal.  Carl was across form me and Joe G was  to his left, the Beast was to  my right   We had to keep a good distance from the Fox as not chance getting bit.............which put Carl about 15 feet away with Fox between us.  Carl loaded his pistol, cocked it and held it out at arms length as he sighted on the Fox..............then he just stood there like that.  I had my fingers in my ears and I removed them and asked " Are you going to pull that trigger or not?  We don't have all night and still have more sets to check."  He said " I have a better idea.  We'll take him alive and put him into the Fox pen, up back in the garden."  I groaned and said to him, "just how do think your going to do that?"  "I'll think of something", he replied.
       Now, Carl is a intelligent guy and frequently has great ideas.................this wasn't one of them.  He says to me " catch" and tosses the loaded, still cocked pistol, high over the Fox.  The  pistol flies over the Fox and I lost sight of it in the high beams of the car.  The first thing that came into my mind was "what the hell is he doing?   Has he lost his mind?"  I  thrust out both hands to where I thought the pistol was going come down and realized I had to catch it just right or someone might be shot.  I stepped forward to get in better position but the Fox lunged and reminded he still had sharp teeth and I jumped back as the spinning revolver came out of the blinding headlights into view.  I had no options but to wait for the pistol to come to me.
         I put my hands together........hoping catch it gently as possible in my open palms.  It was a plan............unfortunately, the guns spinning motion and the spots in my eyes from looking into the lights,  prevented that from happening.  I caught it alright.............with a finger in the trigger guard and it went off.  Everyone stood still and was silent for a long pause.  Then I shouted  "is anyone hit?"...................all responses were no.
     That night certainly could have turned out with a much more heartbreaking ending.  It was Russian Roulette with a uncontrolled, spinning firearm.............with anyone of four peoples lives at risk.  We all expressed our thoughts to Carl..............colorfully, then agreed we wouldn't tell Dad or Grandmom, so that Carl wouldn't get into trouble.  He already realized his mistake and no amount of screaming or physical threats would make him understand it any better.
      We got off easy with the lesson we learned that night.  Joe G still talks about.  In the lessons in life that come your  way,  you often find that you have no control ..................events come at you like a spinning gun that could hurt you or someone you care about.  You can only do what you can and say a prayer..............you may only get enough time for quick one.  Make them count.
             Until the next time..............God Bless.
      

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Advance Individual Training

Hey All,       By the time I was 18, I had already had more experiences than I wanted to remember.  The problem lies with me.......I can't forget them. They are a permanent part of me that pop up as if they have a mind of their own.......sometimes random and sometimes with something to trigger them.........and the emotions that go with them come too.
   I had spent from the end of August/September 1979 to the end of November 1979 in training for my military job. I was on edge after the events from the story" Basic Training".........that was some "training" I could have done without. 
    I was at Fort Lee,  Virginia.  We slept in a large room in bunk beds in these barracks as was common in many units.  I had developed a cold with a low grade fever.......as in Basic Training I was not permitted to stay as a precaution against infecting everyone else.   I was pretty apprehensive, but I was ordered to to the upper respiratory ward of the hospital until  the fever passed...........just as in Basic Training.  I was given meds and I eventually slept.  The Nurse was a captain and she came to get my vital signs..........she called" Private Scarborough" as she entered the room.  I went from sleeping,  to standing on the bed in panic and fear with my fists cocked in her face.   She  started backing slowly away as she spoke softly " easy........calm down......  I'm not going to hurt you" as she backed out of the room.   I got my bearings and my fear under control and sat down on the bed.  The Captain and a husky male nurse came back shortly after that.  I apologized for what had happened.  Hospitals and beds had become two places where I had been vulnerable............and would be again.
     Our unit moved across post to old WWII style barracks to make room for a new unit coming in.  My habit of drinking too much started back then.  I was never a problem, but I withdrew and only interacted with others when required or spoken to. I was always restless..........looking over my shoulder........waiting.  After a night of one too many, I sprawled out on my bunk without getting undressed and slept.  What happened next is in the official report.  A couple of the guys tried to engage me in conversation but I was out.  They decided I needed a cold shower.......so the took me out of bed and carried me into the showers, turned on the cold water and threw me in.  I became conscious and jumped up..............cold, wet and confused as to what was happening.  I hit my head on the tile shower block in my sudden rise and went down........... out again as the cold water poured over me.  My body went onto shock and my body trembled.  The guys got scared and pulled me out and went for the Charge of Quarters (CQ).  An ambulance was called and I was treated for shock, hypothermia and nasty knot on my head.   I regained consciousness still shivering but my vital signs were stabilizing.  I was still confused with the lights and the people standing around me.  Those boys were reprimanded and the CO addressed the company about what could have happened........we were all lucky it didn't turn out differently.
      I stood under the streetlight smoking my pipe before lights out.  It was a nice cool autumn night and you and you could smell the changing season in the air. I always enjoyed this time of year and the peaceful quiet calm of night.  I had spent many nights as a kid in the fields at home..........often when when most people had long been in their beds.  I felt safe there for some reason.......one of the few places that I did.
      Two men came walking down the road carrying bags from the PX.  I recognized each of them as they drew near as being from our unit.  One had to be careful back then......there was a rivalry between some units and a few men from different units had  beaten.......just because.  It sounded to me like gang type of behavior,, but, I couldn't believe that this could exist between military units..........I was wrong.  At first as they walked up to me they started talking trash..............when I identified who I was and who they were, one of them spoke up and stated that it didn't matter........they were going to kick my ass.  I explained to the guys that I knew who they were and would be able to indentify them when I filed a report with the MP's.  They tried to get me into the woods adjoining the barracks and as I resisted one of them grabbed my pipe and broke it.  That did it...... I got away and went straight to the CQ.  I filed a report and before I was finished the two men came in and filed their own report saying I attacked them.  The CO  investigated the next day and he didn't buy their version.  The leader of the two was ordered to pay for my pipe on the next payday and they got extra duty for their trouble as well.  Payday came and when I hadn't been paid I talked to our Platoon Sgt before the last formation of the day.  He  was aware of the circumstances and before he dismissed us, he called that guy forward and ordered him pay me, in front of the platoon.  He came up and refused..............he was then ordered to do it now or report to the CO for failing to follow a direct order.  He decided the pipe was cheaper then an Article 15 under the UCMJ. and paid me........but he was mad and you could see it.  I had been silent all that time, but, not being one to miss an opportunity............I said" It was pleasure doing business with you"!  That guy came unglued ........he lunged at me as the Platoon SGT and a couple other soldiers grabbed him.  He was ordered to sit on the ground and stay there and I was ordered to get out of Dodge.  The Platoon SGT stood guard over him...............I think he was making sure  to make sure that I wasn't followed.
      I mind my own business and try to stay out of trouble.........but......it doesn't seem to matter.    I know I should not have taunted or provoked that guy, as I knew that he had leaned toward the violent side.  I knew I would never see this guy again as it was my last day at this assignment and I was just plain tired of taking it quietly.  These events aren't the only stories I have from Ft Lee.  Some suggest that I write a book.  What could anyone walk away after reading it say, except to say I'm one of the world's unluckiest people? Maybe I give off some sort of non verbal  sign.  Maybe it's the way I look or smell.  Maybe this is part of God's plan........then there's no hope.  At this point..................I'm looking for some way to make sense out of this crap.  Am I really just that unlucky or is there something just wrong with me and this is all I deserve.   How can so many things happen to one person and be random events? Is my death the only cure for what ails me?
             Until next time.........................God Bless.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Witchcraft

Hey All,   I know that this story is a bit strange..........but none the less....... it's also true. As children, all three of us, accepted witchcraft as normal......a recognized fact and part of our lives..  Our Grandmother had schooled some of her daughters in the complexities of many rituals.........as well as how to protect yourself and your family from the power of this evil force.  No mistakes.................it was never presented as a good thing.  My mother had continuously cautioned her sons about witches and warlocks in our neighborhood......not that I ever knew if I'd met one.   I will always have a healthy respect for what I had learned as a kid with a curious mind..............and fear, always the fear from within our family borders.
       We sat under the Norway maple tree, in front of her house, across the street from ours.  She was my age and had asked why my Mom was watering the curb, sidewalk and the fence line around our house  I  was embarrassed and answered quickly, that she was killing weeds.  No........there was salt and water in that watering can and it was used for keeping evil spells from affecting anyone within the marked boundaries.............along with the stated prayer when the water was applied.................that's why she was mumbling to herself.
      She was baking on this particular summer day.  She made loaves of bread, coffee cake and blueberry buckle.  I was a guest at their house for my 8th grade year..................it turned out to be part of my continuing and unforgettable education.  I sat on the concrete steps of the back porch......staring into space.  She had called out to me......asked me if my mind was in the gutter...............I,  being the naive 13 year old........ said yes.   She chuckled about that, so I went inside and asked what "in the gutter" meant.  I turned all shades of red when she told me............I was real naive.   As she mixed the ingredients for her breads, she talked freely about spells and witchcraft.  She recited several different spells and even mentioned  whom they were cast upon.................as well as the expectations or results from them. I being curious, asked "You sure know a lot about spells.  Where did you learn it?"   She changed the subject quickly without answering.  One spell that was the most memorable.......that was cast to cause harm in that very home.  It was meant for my Uncle, but the spell was interrupted before bearing fruit.
          A feather was taken from the pillow of the the intended and a spell was cast..........and when the spell was complete..........the life of the owner of the pillow belonged to Satan and the life was his to control.  As she  related the  spell to me...........................a small chicken would form from the feathers inside the pillow, while the owner was sleeping.  My Uncle  had discovered it in his pillow and had grabbed hold and brought it to his Mom.  An exorcism had followed.  As I understand it...................when they cut the pillow open................a chick in the form of feathers was in hand.   I took this story at face value..........I mean, come on.......really? 
       I had awakened with movement  near my head.   I could feel that there was something moving, but, I was confused as to what exactly was happening.  I grabbed at it ....... and it was squirming in my grip.  I concluded that I had a mouse in my hand and let it go.......then tried find how it got in there.  There were no holes in the pillow................and when I searched the pillow end to end................it was empty, except for soft feathers.  I immediately felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.....................couldn't be.........I must have been dreaming.   I said nothing about it and went about getting ready for school.
      It was a Saturday morning and I was allowed to sleep in until 8 am.   I was half asleep when I felt movement by my head............I opened my eyes and laid there as the wiggling continued.  I grabbed hold, sat up and put my feet on the floor, as whatever it was,  squirmed in my hand.  I was amazed and confused at the same time..............what was going on?   Then, I looked down the hall through my open door........as .my Grandmother took the last step into the hallway from the stairway.  She silently stared at me and the hair on  the back of my neck and arms were standing at attention.............then asked me what I had.  My mind was racing so fast a I didn't know what to say.   How did she know I had anything?  How did she climb those bare wooden steps, in heels, without me hearing her? How would anyone outside the house............... get a feather from my pillow, or my uncles' pillow.......years before?   She was the one that told me witchcraft and spells in the first place.  I was scared to answer her............it seemed like she was looking right through me.  .I tossed the pillow onto the bed, releasing the struggling mystery and answered  as calmly as I could "nothing".  She didn't pursue it and went back downstairs.............I  thought about it it just long enough and then I snuck down the hallway as quiet as I could and swapped the demon pillow with the one from the spare bedroom.
    This episode had left me with more questions than I can or could possibly try to answer.  Grandmom was........in all of our eyes ..............a devout Catholic.   How could any of this be? Yet my questions will always remain.  I realize that this sounds..................way.to the far left of center.....and yes, I'm taking my meds.  I guess if we believe in a loving God................ then we have no choice but to believe in evil and Satan.  Witchcraft was a common subject for us growing up........my Dad used to poke fun at my mother when she would talk about it or perform some "counter-spell" of some kind.  Drunk or sober.....my mother believed without question the lessons taught her by her mother.   For me...........I  will always  shake my head with wonder as I remember that long year of my life.
                                      Until next time................................... God Bless.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Growing Up

Hey All.   We realize that life is learned through our experiences and who we become is affected by them.  We can't always expect what comes our way....................we can only try and listen to our hearts and walk on that road that seems less traveled.
       We were in the fourth grade at Crooked Billet Elementary.  It was late winter and a very cold and sunny day as we walked to school.  We crossed Old York Road as Mrs Shields, our Crossing Guard held up the rush hour traffic. We made our way through the backstreets and crossed the bridge that separated the small residential neighborhood behind us from the school grounds.  Just a little farther along path, the trees faded to open up to large fields that had several low places that often held water and froze over when the cold invaded after a rain. 
        He was all bundled up with a knit hat, gloves and his heavy winter coat as we all stopped by the small ponds of frozen water.  Many kids picked up what stones that could be found and hurled them to  try and brake through the surface.  Someone took his hat and threw it out on the ice............... kids started to get worked up and started cheering.  His apprehension was a painful expression as he looked around at everyone, not sure what to do.....................and then someone grabbed his lunch and book bag and tossed them out as well.   This brought more cheering from the boys and girls in the audience..................and the group grew even louder as more kids stopped by to watch.  Then some of the kids decided that he should should join his possessions out on the ice.  He suddenly found himself trying to keep his feet from going out from under him...................... as he slid out on to the ice from a hard shove from behind.  His panic could be seen and felt through his pained expression, as he unsuccessfully tried to keep his balance.  He fell hard which brought a loud chorus of approval, as did the next two falls...................the last of which broke through the surface.  . He became instantly soaked to the skin.with  the shock of the icy water and as he stood up there was a low murmur.............................. as a kid made his way out onto the ice.  The kid picked up the lunch and book bags and cautiously skated over to help the the shivering boy from falling again...................only to brake through the ice and get wet too.  The pair made it back to frozen ground with a few slips.......................the crowd watching in silence, waiting to see how they would make out.
     The kid was smaller than his soaked companion but he grabbed him by the arm and told him to keep walking as led him up the paved path to school......................wanting to get distance from the group of kids behind him.  The tall boy was shivering as they tried to hurry along..................the kid took of his hat and coat and instructed the taller boy to put them on................he did this but the sleeves were 3 inches too short.  The tall kid asked" Where are we going?"  "To the Office.  You need dry clothes and we need to report this to the principal", the kid answered back.  The bottom of their pant legs were frozen sheets by the time the made their way inside.
     The Principals' name was Mr Thompson.  He called the homes of the boys and explained what had happened..................................their Mothers would be right over with dry clothes.  Mr Thompson asked the boys what had happened and who was involved..................the tall boy didn't know much, as it happened so fast and there were too many kids there.  The smaller boy knew a little more so Mr Thompson took him into his office....................... he refused to admit that he knew of any of his classmates involved.  The Moms arrived and were told the story as the boys waited in the nurses office with blankets wrapped around them.  The tall kids Mom was angry about what had happened to her son......................justifiably so.  She heard about what the smaller kid had done and went to talked to him, but Mr Thompson talked to her in a few whispered words in the doorway...................................and her countenance changed, her disapproval of this boy was evident.
      The smaller boy sat looking out the window......................thinking about the events from that morning.  He could see and feel the fear and panic in the taller boy and he felt embarrassed and ashamed.  He knew what it was like to be out on the ice alone....................the target of someones  idea of fun....................without help in sight.  At first, he was glad it was the taller boy they were after that morning.   Then, as he watched the event unfold, he realized that this was what he looked like.  A view from the other side.............................when things like this happened to him............................and along with his shame, he felt anger.  Angry at the crowd....................even angrier with himself, for he knew firsthand, how that taller boy felt,  but hid within the crowd and became one of them.  Angry at himself for being relieved that it was happening to someone else.......................................angry for being afraid, angry for not being strong enough to try and stop what was happening. .......................and the shame he felt was overwhelming.................................. for the same reasons.  It was that same anger and shame that overshadowed his fear as walked out onto the ice.
      The boy sat looking out the window........................... alone in in a room in the late afternoon.  He wasn't proud of himself.......................but realized that he did the best he could to right his wrong.   He would serve his detentions in silence............................... he knew he deserved them.  He was guilty......................he was.................... that push from behind.
      I'll always remember the lesson I learned that day. Although I was they only one punished that day, I've also learned that I am only responsible for my own sins.  I still feel a twinge inside when I think of my part in causing someone else pain. Standing against a crowd or what is popular is not an easy thing to do..................it takes conviction, courage and strength.  Mr Frost..................I hope that you will forgive me...............that fourth grade kid, who will always remember the lesson you taught him as victim of others. You have taught me to be a better person, a stronger person..........................I'm sorry for what it cost you.
                Until the next time.......................................God Bless.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Irish Twins

Hey All,         Many have heard of Irish Twins..................it refers to two children born with a short span between their births.  Tommy and I are like this at 13 months apart.........................I am the older one.  It is written that "a friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity".....................God knows what you need and when you'll need it.
      Tommy and I did so much together as children and young adults.  As kids, we rode our bicycles where ever we wanted to go.  It may have been to the Park at Hatboro Pool or Eaton Park across the road from it.  We fished and swam in the deep holes in the creek or caught minnows to go fishing...........................sometimes with our Dad, but usually on our own.  One of us would hold the net and the other would run through the creek to try and scare the minnows into the net.....................in our sneakers,  the only pair of shoes we had.  We walked those same creeks in the fall and winter trapping for muskrats and raccoon in those same sneakers...................we made up a song and sang it on the way home to try and take our minds off our frozen feet.   We got up early, around 430 to 5AM  to check and pull our traps before school.....................and when darkness fell, we did it again. 
     We both had paper routes for the Daily Intelligencer and when one of us got sick ............the other delivered newspapers on two routes.  When we were old enough to hunt, Tom and I went every chance we could.  At a very young age,  Tommy and I played together, as teenagers and well into adulthood.  We lived at 16 Norwyn Road in Hatboro.  We had endured so much together and as individuals.  Many times we went hungry and didn't have much clothing to wear.  Dad was usually not around and we often were left to make out for ourselves.  Nobody made sure you brushed your teeth, took a shower, had eaten or did your homework.  We went out early in the mornings and stayed out as late as we wanted...................we were on our own.  I guess we raised ourselves for the most part as far as "homelife" was concerned.....................................or maybe we raised each other.  Without my "brother born for adversity", I couldn't have survived those days.  He was the only person I could depend on,  someone that knew what living in that house was really like. He shared my hunger, embarrassment and pains. Maybe we were so close because of those things..........................who else could understand your circumstances better than your "twin".
      I have so many memories from my life and although the pain I feel from some of them haunts me still...................the warmth and love of many others brings tears to my eyes when I go back in time.  Tommy has turned out to be the smartest and most successful of our litter.  Although he has had to endure many of the hardships that befall all of us, he was still  there when I  needed him.  He opened his house for 4 years to me when I worked for CBSD.  From feeding me to financial aid......................he always stepped forward.   He hasn't changed much in 50 years.
     There is no way for me to express how grateful I am for Tommy.  He is not perfect.................but his attributes far outweigh any faults he may have.  I Love You, Thomas..................I couldn't have made it without you.
        Until the Next Time........................................God Bless.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Track Star

Hey All,   I know that many of us participated in athletics in school.  In our home that was another thing that was not permitted............we could get hurt and we had no insurance.  I had asked Mom............Dad was on the road as usual.
      I frequently walked or ran home from school if the weather was nice.  I would make it running almost as fast the bus route would take.  Mr Wood was a coach and had asked me if I would like to participate in Track or Cross Country.   Of course I knew that I wouldn't be allowed to.....................just as I was denied permission to play football. 
      I was a senior and would walk the long hallway along the parking lot on my way out of the building to run home.  If it was too cold or bad weather, members of Track or XCountry could be seen running the halls after school let out....................this led to my introduction to the Track Star.  I would walk along the wall and he would clip me from behind with his shoulder as he ran by, but never said a word or stopped.  I usually was lost in thought and at first just thought it was accidental......................I'm a slow learner.   After this occurred a few times,  I finally got a good look at this guy and then paid better attention so as not to be caught off guard again, except from behind.     I still didn't know who he was.  It turned out that we shared a lunch period together and I inquired with a few friends to discover his identity. Mark was junior, someone I had never noticed, talked to or interacted in any way...........a complete stranger.
      I would glance around the lunch room and find Mark staring at me.  I tried to understand what I had done to this guy to attract his unwanted attention...............I had enough trouble to deal with when I got home everyday.   Once he realized that I recognized him as the Track Star, he became openly hostile and aggressive with threatening comments.  I tried to go about my business and ignore him.......................but he wasn't going to let that happen.  He was physically more muscular than I was at the time and  maybe he had something to prove.
      I stood at the corner outside of the library after the last bell rang.  I was going fishing with my friend Joe this afternoon as it was a gorgeous day.   We agreed to meet here and take off to our spot and I tried to look through the crowd for Joe.........................when I heard my name called.  Before I could turn in the the direction from which the voice spoke.....................a hard blow landed on my jaw from my left.  It took me a few seconds to recover and when I did, there was Mark, his fists clenched, dancing like he was "Rocky" and challenging me to fight.  Mt temper flared and all I felt was rage..................I followed him  into the   near empty library and I was very close to making a bad decision.  I was able to get control of myself and then shouted at him.......................I told him he was a coward.  That he felt safe hitting me from behind, when I was looking the other way, always the "sucker punch" with this guy.  Instead of fighting him, I told him I was going to the front office.  His punch had caused a chipped tooth and as I have said, we had no insurance. My tooth is still chipped, but the following conversations with the principal ended Marks' obsession for me.
     Graduation came and went as did Arny basic training.  I went back to visit the ladies of the high school library that very next year.........................as fate would have it, Mark was in the library.  He seemed nervous and spoke to me about my military training, particularly hand to hand combat training.  I suddenly realized that he was afraid.  He was no longer bigger than I was and I had military training..............he thought I was going to come after him. Suddenly, I felt sorry for him.................for I was well versed in fear.   I informed him that I had no interest in him and that I had nothing to prove, to him or anybody else.  I told him that he was wrong for his what he had done...................... that he was just a bully, a real man meets another one, face to face.  The relief could be read on his face and heard in his voice.............................he even apologized.
     Why me?   Was it the color of my eyes or the way I walked?   Something had drawn attention to make me a target.  What about me says,  "I'm vulnerable"?   How can I change this?  How do I protect myself?  What's wrong with me?   That's quite a few questions and the answer is the same for all of them.  Nothing.  The problem is not you.  It's not something about you or because of you.....................it's something inside the bully.  What  makes a person enjoy hurting others for sport?   I wonder who hurt them. What causes them to be so insecure that they have this unfulfilled need to prove to themselves that they are some how better than someone else............by embarrassment, ridicule and physical harm?  Those answers are as individual as the bully.
      Just because you have authority, money or a physically stronger presence.......................doesn't give you the right to use it as a weapon on another human being.  If anything,  it's the other way around.  You should have the strength of morality and character to use your assets to lift those up who have fallen and need a hand..........................or a kind word.  It won't hurt....................I promise.
        Until the next time.....................................God Bless.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Now What?

Hey All,  I think all of us have had moments of decision when we have that little nagging feeling...............some may call it instinct, a gut feeling or maybe your subconscious.  Whatever it is....................I've always been sorry when I didn't heed the message.
     Korea.  When stationed overseas.............military personnel are issued a RCP Card.  It looks just like a credit card and is used to track specific purchases.  Depending on marital status and family size, each soldier is allowed to spend just so much money and buy only so much liquor, beer, cigarettes etc.  These items along with many others were in high demand on the black market and people could easily supplement their monthly income by purchasing and selling what they didn't use or spend on themselves personally. Spouses get a card too.
     I was a SGT/E5 by this time with a Korean wife and a son.  We were allotted more than enough to cover our family needs for things purchased in the Commissary and PX.  I was informed to report to the 1st Sgt at company HQ at 1000 Hrs.  I wasn't informed as to the nature of this order but, being a dutiful soldier.........I obeyed.   I arrived with plenty of time and when the 1st SGT finally had time for me.................he told me I was overdrawn by dollar amount on my RCP account.  He had all the signed slips....................in the "old days"  they put your card in a slide type machine with a paper over it.  I sat with him and examined all the slips...................I had only signed 2 of them, my spouse at the time............ all the rest.  Sure enough we were over the limit.  I then had to see the "Old Man", the Commanding Officer. He explained that I could be punished under the Uniform Code of Military Justice -UCMJ, which was entirely up to his discretion.  He sent me home to talk this problem over with my wife and I was to report back to him after lunch.
     When I got home my wife was very surprised to see me.  When I explained why I was home...................she was even more surprised.  She went to a drawer and pulled out a cigar box with RCP slips in it and added everything up with a calculator and added it again to be sure......................we hadn't overspent by her tally. She insisted that they had made a mistake as she was very "careful" to keep track what she bought.  I went over to the open drawer and looked inside...................I then pulled out a slip that apparently was under the cigar box................this changed everything.  I was curious to just what we had purchased that cost so much money..........................since we were out of rations allotment, but, not out of month.  She had been black marketing and now my career was in jeopardy.................... just shoot me now,  please.    I then asked how long she was doing this and just where was all that money she made. She claimed to have had been at it awhile and sent the money to her family back home..........................the same family, I had never met.    Did they even exist?  She advised me to tell the CO that we had a big party and had overspent, but would be more careful in the future,  She wanted me to lie for her and cover up her illegal activity..................................as I walked back to post, I had this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that wouldn't quit.
       I officially reported to the Old Man and he asked for my explanation.............................."Sir. I'm not going to insult your intelligence.  I have only signed 2 of those slips.  My wife has been black marketing her ass off.", I said.   There was a long  pause as he regarded me with his hands folded in front of his mouth.  His reply gave me hope in all the virtues that I had been taught  He leaned back in his chair and said "Sgt Scarborough, if you had come in here with some bullshit story about having a big party................I would have had you Court Martialed and busted back to a Private.  Get your house in order and don't let this happen again. Dismissed." I sharply saluted, did a quick about face and walked outside HQ...................I stood there, considering what had just happened,.  Grandmom Scarborough was right........................"nobody likes a liar"................honesty really was best policy.
     We had a long talk at my house that afternoon and we had come to an understanding.  I felt like I had a daughter instead of a wife and she insisted she was being treated as a child. My career was on the line and I wouldn't accept another mistake on this subject..................it was my name she would ruin.
      A few months went by and I received a phone call from the front gate...................my spouse.  She informed me "we" had a problem.  She had over purchased cocoa, a controlled item like cigarettes and had found her error too late.   I asked when this happened.  As it was only a couple of days, I instructed her to go back to where ever she disposed of it and get it back, then, do a return merchandise at the Commissary.  Immediately!  It worked...................... no violation was recorded.  She wasn't very pleased after I took her RCP card away though.  From then on I would to do the shopping..................small price.
   I wish that was" the end" of my marital problems.   I was the Titanic and had only seen the tip of this berg................................. just a part of my continuing education.  Life is  learning, loving and learning how to love others.  Sometimes.....................it's learning how to love yourself, even though you've made mistakes....................................and sometimes it seems that it is easier to forgive others.........than yourself.
       Until next time.............................................God Bless.
     

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Gander

Hey All,     Relationships exist in many forms in our lives.  The ones that we have with our pets are unique themselves and our pets are as unique with their "personalities" as we are.  They may be pets, but, are often considered by many us as part of the "family".  For some people..................the are the only family they have.
        Mrs Varga was in her mid-sixties or so in 1988.   She lived alone on her old family farm near Yardley with an assortment of ducks, chickens and a goose that she called Gander.  The farm buildings were all in a state of disrepair............................ everything was antiquated and needed something or another.  Mrs Varga didn't have the funds needed to make these repairs, so at times I would make necessary adjustments to her converted coal furnace or fix faucets as  needed.  She was a talkative old girl..................I suppose there is only so much you can say to goose.  It took her a little while to warm up to us, but, I think Charlie, who 5 years old at the time, had more influence over that than I did. She had no family and refused offers from real estate developers to sell her homestead.
        I met Mrs Varga when I was searching for a place to board my horse.  I had owned a couple of horses at different times back then.  This particular horse  was a registered 7 year old paint named Tiko.  He was gelding and was one easiest to get along with. There were no quarters for Tiko at the farm,  so I agreed to construct one at no cost to Mrs Varga if she would rent space to me to board Tiko in her pasture................. we had come to terms.  I commenced to  building Tiko a shelter.................we also got acquainted with Gander.  He was not like any pet I had experience with.......................he was the farm alarm, announcing the presence of anyone coming down the long lane to the farm house.  He was a constant companion who would talk back with Mrs Varga, as if he understood everything she said...........................sometimes he would even argue with her and she..................with him.  Gander was also a dining companion.....................when we were invited to have lunch, Mrs Varga would shoo Gander off the kitchen table so she could set down our meal.   He also slept....................in the bedroom.
         One day when I went to the farm to feed and water Tiko.......Gander announced our arrival with a series of long drawn out honking.  Mrs Varga met us in the barnyard and had to scold Gander to make him quiet down.  He wasn't very fond of this and he "muttered" as if under his breath, his tail end wiggling with indignation.  Gander could be a bit of bully and at times he would stalk Charlie who was about the same size as this goose...............pecking at his clothes or if Charlie wasn't careful..............his fingers.  Today was no exception and I kept an eye on them as I talked with Mrs Varga...................that goose was going to establish a pecking order and Mrs Varga scolded him again as his head snaked back and forth, waddling after Charlie.  I put out my hand and guided Charlie so that he was behind me and I kept shifting my body so that I was always between them............................that goose was pretty smart though, he eyed Charlie through the space of  my legs and shot his head forward.   Instincts are an amazing thing..................as if on their own,  my knees slammed together and caught that goose by the head, trapping him there.  He complained with loud squalks...................beating his wings and trying to get free.  I thought that Mrs Varga was going to angry........................but she roared with laughter. "That will teach you Gander!  Now you leave him alone!"   she told him.  I released my hold and he retreated about 5 feet away........................muttering and then flapped his wings and settled back at safe distance.....................he never came closer than 5 feet or so from that day forward.
         Mrs Varga, Gander and Tiko will always be kindly etched in my memory.  When I go back to those days, I remember to be thankful for them.....................they helped me to understand how important all relationships can be.  I know that each of us has had experiences that are unique to us......................I hope that yours warm your heart.
             Until next time.............................................God Bless.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Coke Number One!

Hey All,      Sometimes trying to communicate or get your point across can be frustrating.........especially if you don't speak the same language.  You may need to illustrate what you are trying to convey in another way.
      Korea, 1983.  We had three Korean men working as assistants in the motorpool and they all were very friendly and sometimes shared things they had such as Ramen Noodles or Kimchee.  I was a recipient of this generosity for the three years I was there.  Their names were Mr Kang, Mr Kim and Mr Yu.   This generosity was mainly displayed by Mr Yu.........a very kindly man of about 60 years old..............and in accepting his favors, I soon learned that I had to give much more than I recieved.  
       Mr Yu would frequently come into my office and pick up my pack of Marlboro and help himself without asking.................................which resulted in my persistant irritation.  I had to explain to him many times that he needed to ask first..................to which he replied in broken english and in part Korean,  that as he was older than me, that I must show him respect and let him have the cigarettes.  I had a great deal of respect for Mr Yu.................but I couldn't get past what I considered to be ill manners and the fact that he did this almost everyday.  Many times,while he was having his smoke break in my office, he would reach over my shoulder and pick up my Coke and finish it off..................no matter how much was left in it............. when I would turn around to say something about it he would stick up his index finger as say "Coke number one"!  Did I mention my persistant irritation?   I also had a hard time making him understand the same principle applied to my Coke,  and my smokes.  Oneday, I was at my desk having a smoke with my Coke and I almost used my soda can as an ashtray.....................a solution to my communication problem with Mr Yu was found!   I smoked my cigarette down using the half full soda can as an ashtray............................careful not to get any ashes on top and keeping an eye out for Mr Yu.  I dropped the butt in the can when I was through and then had another one and did the same .................................fortunately, Mr Yu was late on collecting his entitlement today.   Once again,  he strolled into my office and helped himself to smoke and lit up.  About two minutes went by when he noticed the Cokle and reached over and picked that up too................at first I smiled, as I had my back to him.  I couldn't resist..............I turned around and watched him as he chugged down my Coke............until he got the first butt in his mouth.  I couldn't understand why he got so upset........................all I said was "Coke number one"! as I held up my index finger and  he gagged on the butt.  He lit in to me in Korean and I had to wait until he took a breath before I could get a word in.   I explained that I had already told  him that I had no problem sharing, but, since these things were mine, he needed ask.  He was silent for a moment, then quietly replied in Korean that he understood.    The next day Mr Yu came into my office....................he stopped next to me and asked for a smoke............and I said "sure" and I handed my smokes to him.   When he asked for my Coke...............I declined.....................maybe if he had a cup I would have considered  it.................nah!
     They all were fine older gentlemen and I will always remember them with kindness.  Mr Yu was rooted firmly in his culture..........................I was proud to have been able to teach him a little about mine.
                          Until the next time.......................God Bless.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Loan Shark

Hey All,   I believe that most people have found themselves, where they ran out of money before they ran out of month. Sometimes, when that happens, you have a friend you can go to...................we had Rich.    He wasn't anybody's friend if you didn't repay your debt on payday...............with 50% interest.
       1980,Fort Lewis,Washington State.   Rich was a tall man of about 6'4" and I'd guess he'd go about 240 pounds.  He worked in the motorpool with us and was a very enterprising guy.  He didn't go out much so he always had money and he discovered how to make even more money..........almost by accident.  One of us was short of cash near the end of the month and desperately needed money.....just for a few days until payday.  Rich had money and he offered to loan it with the understanding that on payday he was repaid.......with 50% interest.  The desperate man agreed and a new business venture was born.  It wasn't long before the everybody in the motorpool, most of the 2/47th Infantrys' enlisted,  as well as some of the Officers, knew of Richs' loan program and became clients.  Rich was never lost money, as far as anyone knew, because of his size ..............and fear for their continued good health.  When a loan agreement was made, Rich would always tell his clients that he better have it by close of business payday.................as he leaned over you........"I better not have to come looking for you".  The loans themselves were not legally permitted.............it was against regulations, especially for the Officers................they knew this and didn't need to be threatened.
     It was Friday, payday, and as of this time, I wasn't one of Richs' clientele.........yet.  I came back from the Px with munchies and soda after work.  I was walking up to the barracks and passed Rich as stood on the sidewalk...........................waiting for the sheep to come for their shearing with their cash.  He reached out, grabbed my grocery bag and asked "what did you buy me?'.  As he rummaged through my bag, I asked politely for its return.......................to which he asked me" what are going to do about it? Nothing, So,just shut the F*** up".  Well, I, being of sound body.of only 160 pounds.............. but not of sound mind...........put my arms around Rich from behind and lifted him off the ground and asked for my bag again.  Oh, he agreed to return my bag alright.........then he chased me up the flight of stairs as I ran for the safety of my room.  He caught me on the 2nd floor landing and the grabbed me by the throat.  He backed me up so that I was leaning halfway over the railing, squeezing my throat as my face turned red.  He said " who the F*** do you think you are?  Don't you ever touch me again.  Do you understand me?"  At first, I managed to say  "go to hell".............but through his persistent persuasion, that is, my back was killing me as I was bent over the railing and I really didn't like the look of the concrete sidewalk below...............if he let go, I wasn't going to bounce.  I squeaked out that I understood.  I, also being of stubborn German decent,  decided to tell Rich what I really thought........................ but, only when he got down to the first landing and I was at my floor.  He came running back up, but by then I was in my door and had it locked.  He pounded on it for a little while as he shouted threats, but finally left.  What I hadn't realized, was that in front of everyone in view......................I hurt his image by picking him up and standing up to him.
    Months had passed.  Mike and I were coworkers in the motorpool and eventually became roommates in an apartment off post.  Mike had gone to Rich for a loan as we were ones short of cash..................but, Rich held us both responsible for the loan when he knew what it was for.   Payday came and I went and paid the debt...............so did Mike.  When we found out we both had paid, I went to Rich demanding the return of  my money.....................I'm sure you can guess what his response was.  Well, there was no way to force him to give it back.......................so I went to our Company's Commanding Officer and reported Rich and his illegal loan program.   Rich wasn't  a happy man..................he was in up to his ears with the CO and his loan program was now history.
     Rich probably could have continued indefinitely..................if he had just returned my money.  I was assured there would be no retaliation for informing on Rich.........I was to inform the CO immediately if there was.   Greed is a powerful sin...............as I'm sure Rich has learned.
                                   Until the next time.................................God Bless.
       

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Plumbers Assistant

Hey All,  I spent a great deal of time at an early age at my mother's parents house.  This was mostly for my own safety....................to seperate me from the oldest...........the Beast.  I would spend a weekend and go to work with my grandfather or help him around the house.  It was from his influence, that I chose my profession.
      August 1974.  Grandpop was a plumber by trade and I loved being around him.  He was one of the first adults I had come to trust................he never said mean things or raised his hand to hurt me or anyone.  He was firm in his convictions, but, you knew he loved you, even with correction and would always let you know it...................something that was almost foreign in my life and that I craved deeply.
       The shop that Grandpop worked at for years, Hicks Brothers was closing up................Grandpop and the secretary were the last employees for a few years.  Mr Hicks kept it open until Grandpop was able to retire.  I was asked if I would like a job until school started........................working on Grandpops last job and cleaning out the shop of stored materials and finally sweeping it clean.  I jumped at the chance to go to work with Grandpop...............it would be one of the last opportunities.  I believe that I was the only one of his many Grandchildren that ever had gone to work with him.
      I loved that month..............Grandmom would make us a hearty breakfast.............bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, orange juice and coffee................. my addiction to caffeine began.   She would pack Grandpop a lunch as she had done for the last forty five years and she packed one one for me too.  Then there was supper...........always complete with everything...............it was like eating at a restaurant every night.    This was alien to me..........I wasn't accustomed to eating like a king and on a daily basis.  I had eaten like this at Thanksgiving and a few times  at the Scalfaro household across the street...........  Mrs Marie was a great cook too.
      The month and my job were coming to a close.  I had picked up a little money in my pocket as well as a couple of pounds added to my bones.  I was to start the eighth grade at Keith Valley Middle School this September.............but the Beast was restless.  Dad was on the road as usual and Mom was.............Mom.  The Beast emerged from his bedroom in his usual surly mood....................on the prowl to strike out at whomever he saw or decided he didn't like at that particular moment.   I was safely away, so he took up the only other prey available................Tommy.  He ended up chasing Tommy all over the house with a hammer................screaming that he was going to kill him.  Mom couldn't stop him, so she had to call the Hatboro police department.....................they were finally able to calm the Beast down and get the situation in hand.  Only thing was,  that the Beast had made a very passionate threat....................... that he would kill me on sight when I returned home.   Given his past history of violence.............especially with me.................it was taken very seriously.  What started out as a month long visit turned out to be year.....................I attended St.  Lukes School in Glenside for the eighth grade.
      The Beast had been seen professionally by psychiatrist as teenager and had been prescribed medicine as well..................we didn't have enough money for medicine, food and booze.............so the medicine got cut.  Instead of dealing with the Beast.....................they removed me.  This decision to keep me safe was offered to me as permanent in my  story "Fork in the Road".
     The first timeI remember going to work with my Grandfather,  I was seven years old..........I cleaned copper fittings with sandpaper.............my little fingers were small enough to fit inside the smaller fittings..............and I felt and was treated like I mattered.............that I belonged.........I was loved.
     Thank You Grandpop................I would have been lost............. without you.
                               Until the next time.................................God Bless.


Tuesday, January 17, 2012

The Watermark

Hey All,      Like so many, we often live our lives without to much thought or concern of the unknown.  We go busily about our daily routines and plan vacations and family gatherings............then something happens to change evrything.
       June 2006.  We were very happy, when a group of friends volunteered to help us cut up a truck load of logs that we bought for our winter heat supply. We had a family style dinner afterwards.........did I mention Penny is a good cook?   A couple of days later, using Tommys'  logsplitter...............Penny and I split the sections of logs together......................I would split and she depostied the pieces in a pile that I would stack later when we were done the splitting.  It was near dinner time and we were no where near done..............and it was starting to rain.  We decided to finish the next day.................we already had a mountain of cordwood to stack.  It rained with heavy downpours for about three days.
      Charlie and his then fiance, Colleen came down for a visit and dinner during this time.   My Father-in-law called to say that his sump pumps weren't keeping up with the water..............he had two.......one regular size and one high output pump.  Charlie and I grabbed extra pumps that I had on hand for customers when things like this occurred..............we jumped in the pick-up and got on I-81.   We got near our exit when 81 became a parking lot...............for miles.  It seems there were mudslides and nobody was going anywhere.  I called Penny to let her know what was happening.....................we were stuck and she should call her dad.  She then told me our car was underwater................I said "if the cars underwater, then the basements underwater".........she said "it is".  She told me they had manged to get a few tools out of the basement before it went under and that Colleen was still down there in chest high water, looking for things to save.    I told her the electric panel was under water and to get Colleen out of there immediately.............whatever was down there was already lost, forget about them.
    Charlie asked me what happened................I told him I just went out of business.  After an hour, emergency vehicles turned all traffic back in the other direction using the exit ahead of us.   When we got home we parked at the fire hall................it was above the running water.  All you could smell was sewage and fuel oil as the waters rushed by.  It was a river running around both sides of our house...............with a flashlight, I couldn't see Tommys' log splitter...........it was completely submerged....................and all that firewood............completely gone.  We spent the night watching news reports and listened to the bumping on the floor beneath us as our refrigerator, freezer and washing machine bounced of the floor boards under our feet.
     The rain stopped about mid- morning the next day and not long after the sun came out...............and it got warm. Charlie and Colleen stayed to help with the cleanup for a couple of days.  A group from church came after the water went down  and helped us pull everything out of the cellar and Pennys' Gift Shop.  In the story, The Amorous Skunk............Penny closed down.  I built her her a new shop next to our house the next summer................it flooded too. While setting up hoses to wash the mud out of the gift shop.........................I stepped on a board that had washed in from somewhere................it had two spikes sticking out and both went through my right foot with one of them tearing through the side of my foot when I pulled the board off.  So now I'm hobbling around and popping Aleve and cleaning up.  
     We discarded many of our possessions at the curb as did many our neighbors..................it was a sight I pray I never see again.Our car was towed away by the insurance company............my tools were a total loss.  If they had been stolen or burned in fire they would have been covered...........but not by water.  Penny and I cashed in our IRAs to pay our bills during this time.............................we had flood insurance but really is limited in what's covered.  My business phone rang off the hook..............but I couldn't help them.........I could barely help ourselves.  What was I sup'osed to do?  Let Penny clean up all that mud and mess herself?  She had just gotten through her radiation treatments six months before this happened and still had her medicine port in from chemotherapy.  It was September before we had cleaned and sorted everything from the shop, house and small barn.  All the power equipment was stored in the barn...................managed to save some things.  
  The flood set in motion my search for a job with good medical benefit's that would cover Pennys' health care, as she was a considered a cancer patient for five years and to rebuild our spent retirement savings...........................which led me 125 miles from home.................5 days a week.............. for four years .................to the Central Bucks School District. 
                                  Until nest time.................................God Bless.

Monday, January 9, 2012

The Amorous Skunk

Hey All,   We try to live with the best of intentions.............when you care about someone................you do what you can for them.  I have done this for others.........and have had it done for me.
       Penny's long time dream, was to have her own gift shop.   She talked about what she would do and how it would be...................it was all Greek to me.  I knew nothing about the business or anything else..........been in a few to buy my wife something on occasion. 
      It was September 2003.  I had job working for a woman who owned several properties in town.  One of these was a store front on main street.  Penny and I were discussing her gift shop idea not to far in the distant past................I wondered how much the rent would be..................how much to stock the  shop......................things like that.  I asked the woman who owned the property how much it would cost me, when she was paying me for the work I completed.  We struck an agreement and I paid for 6 months rent in advance and thereafter on a month to month basis.............I drove home with the keys in hand.  Penny was getting ready to go out, when I walked up behind her and put my hand out with the keys.   She asked me what they were for.................she had tears in her eyes when I told her.  So the project began..................painting and ordering stock...........setting up displays...................all done by Penny and her Dad.  By mid November the shop, named "Penny For Your Thoughts" opened for business......after many hours of work and preparation.  As we live somewhat rural...........a lot of business comes from summer residents and folks on vacation.  Pennys' shop managed to survive her first holiday season............but things slowed down after.
    It was a Wednesday in the middle of February.    Penny closed up her shop to come home and get dinner ready and then we were off to evening services at church.  She asked if we could stop on the way home and pick something up at the shop that she had forgotten.    No problem...................it's on our way.  It was about 9 PM when we walked in................we started to gag.  It seems that a skunk had taken up residence under the floor.................a crawlspace of laid up field stone.................and sprayed.    It was so thick you couldn't breathe...................everything not made of glass was ruined and had to be discarded.  Insurance wouldn't cover it.....................an act of God, they said.  Three months later..................the building was still uninhabitable.
     We brought home glass and ceramic items, that  we could wash and store.....................the rest was a loss.  Pennys' broken heart could be seen and heard in her tears and sobs..................  I hurt for her.  February is part of the mating season for skunks.   Males travel from den to den looking for receptive females............if she isn't in the mood and he persists..........he gets a face full.  This wouldn't be the end of Penny's dream of a gift shop ...............but that's another story.