When is it cold enough? Not yet is the best answer right now. Let’s hope a more dramatic drop in temperature happens soon. Like overnight in Green Bay!Come and get it 49’s. Bone chilling, teeth clattering cold would do nicely. 5:15 P.M. Pacific. We might get a peek at 50 degrees in the Northwest before the sun sets. Go Pack Go.
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In one of my posts I contrasted the history of Europe’s ruling of its subjects by Monarchs verses the founding of America based on individual liberty. The American Revolution shed the “Divine Right To Rule” here. Current news reports indicate that Russia has massed troops to its west for a possible invasion. For centuries there has been a back and forth cycle of conflicts in Europe. As an example, going as far back as the Napolianic Wars, German states and later a combined Germany, have had bitter breaks with Russia followed by remarkably warm relations. They get along best with a buffer or two between them. The problem is that there are some small countries that pay the price of being buffeted. i.e. Poland/Czechoslavakia.
Also, Russia wanted warmer water ports for its shipping. Think Crimea. Hard to ship much or have a navy only seven months a year. Add to this historical context a Russian dictator who yearns for the days of Soviet Russia’s buffer. (Iron Curtain countries) Now, similar to Hitler in the 30’s, there is talk of helping the native Russians by ancestry residing in Ukraine. And, of course, the alleged horror of the West adavancing east while Russia probes west. Russia has always bristled over NATO. Invasion of Ukraine? How about tossing some fuel of weakness on the situation?
I grew up with the stories and history of World War Two. Munich represented appeasement in my mind. Chamberlain went there for “peace in our time” and Hitler received a green light to take the Sudetenland. Another back and forth piece of European buffer. Surprise, surprise; he didn’t stop there. War followed within a year or so. Today it is reported that more than Ukraine might be considered off limits to the west by Mother Russia. So, to Papa at least, fuel for the fire is a man from Chamberlain’s mold saying we’ll be tough as nails but a small incursion by Russia might be okay. (Wink, Wink? Doing it piecemeal may be okay?) Diplomats are now trying to correct the perception of US weakness. I fear that demonstrated weakness might prompt an invasion. Which could trigger further incursions/demands. Don’t feed the dictator beast.
However, worst case scenario, reeling from an ill-advised show of placation, an unsteady oldster might miscalculate and strike out with force to prove his bona fides. Mistakes can occur in the absence of clear thought. No one wants war. We need to keep NATO strong but do not need to be dragged militarily into Russia’s mischief. We can react with economic power but showing weakness has not helped to this point. I can’t help feeling sympathy for the poor devils potentially caught in-between once again.
BTW: I saw an ad that a movie “Munich” is streaming now. It will be interesting to see if it has a different take on Chamberlain’s trips in pursuit of peace. For decades his attempts were not regarded as worthy. Is eighty-four years long enough for a decent rehab? 1/21/2022
Any day would be a good day to do some reading/research on MLK. Today is the holiday celebrating his life. When I was young my awareness of racism was limited; it was an evil that existed elsewhere. I was raised in an all white city. As a youngster I recall our nuns at school teaching against racial prejudices. As only a sports looney boy would do, I remember my indignation when I read that beloved Milwaukee Braves; Billy Bruton, Hank Aaron and others were not allowed to stay in the same motel with white team mates. It was the teaching that lasted and took root because segregation and prejudice based on race affected all; not only the sports hero.
I did not have any interaction/meeting with anyone of color until I attended Badger Boys State. Limited is how I’d describe my experiences until the Army. I of course knew from the news of the Civil Rights movement and the abuses against Blacks but again that was from within a bubble away from elsewhere. On a family trip to New Orleans I did witness a small part of segregation; such as white/black restrooms/water fountains and one scary boast of retold violence at a gas station. Yet, there was a detachment from the full force of racial hatred. As a boy I could feel clear in my own conscience and point to absolving aspects of an unbringing up in the North. However, being better than one or more Southern states does not equal justice for all. So, as one grows older and has more expeiences/interactions it is easier to see not only the wisdom of MLK but of the need for his principles.
My bunk mate in Basic Training was a black man from Cleveland. I still remember talking about family with him. I especially recall a hot day of running when he grabbed my shoulder harness and gave an encouraging tug to a wobbly recruit. The military provided me a great opportunity to intergrate with a wide range of Americans. All in all I believe the best ideal is that no one is superior to anyone else based on race or any other characteristic. That does not mean that you will get along with everybody; you will learn to choose friends, avoid bullies, tolerate many, and sometimes simply not hit it off. Remember, it is within you that others are not viewed as inferior.
Again, it may seem that America has not seen as much racial turmoil and hatred as today but such conclusions are in the eye of the beholder. Hisory indicates otherwise. Slavery and the 1800’s were violent to the extreme. Ditto segregation. The time of lunch counter sit-ins, Rosa Parks and the Civil rights Marches were very turbulent but primarily non-violent. Nonviolence was MLK’s hallmark. Brown vs. Board Of Education; the Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights Acts and Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech all broadcast the value of no-violent, robust debate on political differences.
Resist being drawn into the current or future poisonous political periods. It’s what in your mind that counts. Do some MLK reading.
The start of Covid is when I began writing notes to grandchildren. I was concerned that the virus not overly burden your with anxieties. I cited Jonas Salk, the hero who relieved my generation’s concern with polio. Looking back on those days, it was the parents’ of our generation who most feared polio. For Papa, polio was scary but only if time was spent thinking about it. Dr. Salk did so much for children. But as I recall, it was whether the Braves could catch the Brooklyn Dodgers for the pennant, whether a tiger could really defeat a lion in battle as alleged by Tommy Borski or if Flash Gordon would escape Ming The Merciless at the next Saturday Matinee that dominated my 50’s thoughts. “What Me Worry?” seemed to be the collective refrain for my peers. I have a sense that this attitude is also prevelant with most youngsters in thoday’s generation.
Not so for parents in at least certain cases. One parent in particular appeared to be in a panic mode and prone to overreact. Along the lines of throwing the baby out with the bath water. Recent news reports include a bizarre situation in which that parent locked a 13 year son in a car trunk to avoid Covid exposure from said child. The potential super spreader was denied a seat in the back of the auto and relegated to the boot. The child may have had Covid or had been exposed to Covid, but in either case Mommy Dearest wished a test to verify the kid’s current status. So, off to a drive through test site without the prodigy enetring the cabin of the vehicle.
Some commentators might say wedging a teen into a trunk is more compassionate than having him walk or be dragged behind the family sedan. What is known for sure is that medics at a Texas test site have rules about swabbing the nose of a boy laying flat on his back next to a spare tire. Common sense prevailed. The kid was tested outside the trunk. Mommy must face the consequences for her illegal act. Thus, proof postive of some parental anxiety over Covid.
However, beyond the obvious, there is another lesson in this tale of anxiety. I was hoping to save these lessons until my grandkids approached age 16; the looming driver’s license threshold. Then there will be true cause for anxiety. So, with a car trunk story freshsly in mind be aware that placing a human, any human, even a sibling, in a car trunk is a never, never. Which brings Papa back to the 1950’s. Yes, young people did exactly that dangerous act. It was a way to sneak into a drive-in movie without paying full fare. (BTW: you may need to research the concept of “Drive-In Movies”) There’d be a charge, often per car and an additional amount for each passenger. Fifty cents plus a quarter each for three people was $1.25. The three or four kids in the trunk got in free. Divide that up to calculate your savings!
A rear end collision with someone in the trunk is far more dangerous that a regular accident. Lives are at risk whenever you drive. Don’t lower your odds with careless behavior. In prior postings I advise against “doing silly” but say it’s okay to sometimes “be silly.” Drivng is never a time for silly. When you get behind the wheel of a car you graduate to be the most sensible and responsible person on the planet. No creatures in the trunk, no pulling taboogans behind on a tow rope, no drinking/drugs or allowing passengers to distract. I’ll tell the story down the line when driving is addressed head on (No pun intended) but once Eddie M, a pal, almost caused me to hit a pedestrian when I was driving. Putting him in the truck was not an option but he should have sat in the rear seat. Riding shotgun, he stretched out and did silly with his left foot and the gas pedal. When you begin to drive, no matter how responsible you are, be on the lookout for the unexpected. Not a time fpor silliness.
JANUARY 6, 2022
I grew up with certain dates swirling about in my mind. I always had an affinity for history. For whatever reasons, certain dates stuck with me. Today, January 6th, for example was the Epiphany; a significant date for Eastern Christians. It was duly noted in our prayer book. US historic dates for me included June 6, 1944…D-Day a good start towards the end of you know who; Flag Day on June 14th (Need I mention the Wisconsin connection?); July 4, 1776 of course; July 20,1969 actually viewing the landing on the moon; August 6, 1945 as the horrific day of Hiroshima; September 11, 2001; September 17 (No not as the day after someone important’s birthday)….rather in 1787 when the US Constitution was adopted; November 22, 1963 when we lost JFK; and of course December 7, 1941 as the Day of Infamy.
Although not specific to America the year of 1215 was of great eventual impact in our country, Magna Carta. In a way it started us on the path to liberty.
We all have had dates that are imprinted in our memory. You will also. I don’t know what yours will be but it will not be the dates alone that stick. It will be the significance of what happened on the date. As I write this, some forces want today’s date to always mark what is described as the insurrection of 2021. Some claim 1/6/2021 was as significant as earlier historic events; such as 9/11 or Pearl Harbor. True or political hyperbole? As I always say, use your own noggin. America has a long history of violent protests and riots. There are plenty of facts for you to sort through of what was or was not an actual rebellion.
Papa believes that the Civil War was our greatest insurrection. I do recognize that some may argue for Shay’s Rebellion (1786-7) because of its impact on adopting the US Constitution. (Which I also include because its last battle happened near Nana’s hometown.)
Today I was reminded that the anti-slavery movement in the United States took a long time to succeed. Of course, today some would say there has never been success. As is true with so many emotionally tinged issues: use your brains. Blanket statements of success or failure are easy for activists/politicians who wish to self-promote or simply stir the pot. It may be difficult to understand how, in a land founded on liberty, the issue of slavery did so much damage. But, it did. And, for too long. Throughout the 19th cenruty, there were vehement arguements, riots and compromises about enslavement. In the end, liberty did prevail.
The reminder for Papa came from a notice that a newspaper made abolition an early editiorial position in 1833. Even back then the usual “immediate change” versus “gradual transition” undoubtedly existed. Perhaps even within the editorial room of news outlets. Think Edmund Burke vs. Thomas Paine when you get around to reading works from those two. Instant vs. incremental. At any rate, the forces of good and evil are often at work. My study of history has focused on whether and how accomplishments since America’s founding were made. It is hard to think of any rougher internal issue for the country than slavery. BTW: Decent movies on the subject include “Amazing Grace” (England’s ceasing its slave trade); Amistad (America’s slave trade); and “Roots” (Humanity and hope before, during and after the horrors of bondage).
So far there is sigificant evidence of a continued push for the good. At times, it may not seem that progress is being made; especially since it is so easy for cynics to flood the paths to our brains with silly think. (Remember….it is okay to “be” silly vs. “do” silly”.) A ton of Americans argued and proded for freedom before the Civil War. Many then died in our country’s deadliest war. It took courage and gumption on the part of the many to succeed. The 1800’s is an interesting period of Ameican history to study.
From my perspective America has always moved forward. FORWARD FORWARD; That would make a great state motto. I wonder what state would be most likely to qualify for the motto FORWARD? I wonder.
Last night I was reading; trying to stay awake until midnight. I think I dosed. Suddenly, I was jolted by the sound of fireworks. In the Wisconsin of my youth fireworks were not a part of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Most Badgers remain indoors during winter. I had only witnessed an explosive New Year’s Eve once before relocating to Oregon. Oregon is a state that has a fascination with excessive foreworks. Only July 4th outdoes December 31st. Alert to the intrusion, I watched the sky burst with colors for ten or fifteen minutes. The noise forestalled further slumber. HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Gazing out my window brought to mind a second imprinted memory of Vietnam. December 31st was the date I was to board a “Freedom Bird” to come home. I can’t recall the exact details but the flight was scheduled for a late night take off. Naturally, I was counting the seconds until starting the journey home to my family. Then there was an announcement of a delay. Not a welcome development. However, concern over a substantial delay was soon alleviated. I saw flashes of explosives lighting up the sky surrounding the air base. The sounds of explosions clapped closeby/. The delay would be short; only long enough to insure it was safe to fly out in clean air space.
No, it was not an enemy attack. It was a celebration. Mostly flares I assume but there were some sounds suspiciously like small arms fire. Perhaps fueled by hope the celebration lasted longer then the short barrage by Oregonians last night. But, comforted with a firm “better safe than sorry” attitude, it was easy for me to wait for a 1972 takeoff. I believe it was close to 2 A.M. before we left Vietnam. All that mattered was that I was headed home amd happy for the new year. I brought along hope that blessings would be bestowed on my family.
When the eastern sky cleared last night, I smiled at the memories brought back to me from so many years ago. Hope for 2022 sounds good. You never know what the next year will bring. Although not needed I did receive a consolation prize in 1972. I was given an extra month of combat pay for the few hours of inconvienience. January 1972 was a full “in country” pay month for Papa because of a late take off.
“Warm up the car,” I said today. “It’s very cold outside.”
Was Papa exhibiting common sense? To others it might translate to Papa being overly cautious. Sometimes that is the way it is with the obvious. It was 31 degrees out. The newest grandchild is bundled in warm clothing. It is time to head home. A cute cap is perched on top of that near bald head. A blanket is available to tuck in and around a new fangled car seat. I didn’t help raise a dope. There’s no need to give advice to start the engine ahead of departure. The kid will survive. HOWEVER, the words make ME feel better. Thus, the phrase means more to me than to be considered a perceived throw away line like “safe travels”, “take care”, and “drive carefully.” Let others think what they want. I felt good. And, when the car heater was running for a few minutes I felt even better.
Why do I write this post? Because I believe it is important to know that there will come a time when an actual warning might be essential. Circumstances will arise which are not meant to be treated with throw away lines. Dangerous situations need to be met with seriousness. So, the first thing a wise grandchild does is request an example. (What’s Papa talking about now and how did he get on this tangent?)
31 degrees is cold but it is not cruel cold. You’ll learn that there are places in this country and around the world that can get very cold. Zero and well below. If you ever go on an Artic adventure you’ll undoubtedly be prepared. But, you do not need to be Nanook to one day find yourself in colder than expected situations. Therefor, be aware of and prepared for “Cruel Cold.”
In 20 degrees below zero, and a car breaks down at night, the meaning of cruel cold is driven home very quickly. Especially when said driver is ill prepared to trudge four miles in deep roadway snow. ( Stop! Stop! Before you think it; there was a time not that long ago when cell phones did not exist.) A coat and tie with a light top coat doesn’t help a lot but with gloves and galoshes they were a plus for survival. The coldest temperature I had previously experienced was the Packer/Ram game a week before the famous Ice Bowl. And, dressed like a Michelin Man I was prepared for that event. What I thought I was unprepared for was that a trusty car would break down. I needed more forethought than that at the time. Think ahead and be prepared for the unexpected. If the car breaks down or a runner unexpectedly falls off your dogsled, there’s a second concept to consider. Like warmer clothes, food, water and in today’s age a stupid, charged cell phone. Just in case. You get the point.
More about how cruel cold can be. Years later, at Christmas, preparations were needed when it got to be 30 below zero. We were visiting a cross town relative. I traveled fully prepared. During the celebration I also went out every 45 minutes to start the car to be sure it’d be able to get the family home safely. Go outside, place beer can on roof of car, get in, start the car, goose the engine and listen to a few Christmas Carols on the radio. A good plan. Executed by a person prepared for the unexpected.
Have you seen the problem? Yes, it was right in front of a person supposedly with common sense. During one outing Papa slammed the car door too hard. Beer can fell over. Contents slithered downward. Howver, the liquid never made it completely off the car. It froze! That is “CRUEL COLD.” **
**(Wind chills not factored in.)
Thanksgiving turkey, St. Nick’s, a festive tree with gifts beneath and a nearly opened Advent Calendar are all memories that brought me to each Christmas Eve of my youth. For a brief time that night there was a reflection on the substance of the Christmas spirit. Family, charity, hope, love and a calming it all down was sensed. It was a good feeling as was the determination to follow through with that spirit throughout the next year. It may not be conscious thereafter but it is good to have that purpose in the back of one’s mind as the hustle of life returns.
Christmas at its root is a Christian holiday. A Holy Day in most religions. It was not a bad way to be raised. Whether one belongs to an organized church or not, it is good to try to follow tenets set forth by various religions. Whether by church or philosophy or moral upbringing always strive to do good. How the spiritual side of your character develops will be your choice. Use your mind when you search for it.
When I was in grade school the boys in my class who could carry a tune (others could fake the same by mouthing the words) put on red and white cassocks, lit candles and walked into church singing “Silent Night”. Whenever I hear that song I am reminded of the letter “t”. Our nun was emphatic that we annunciate that letter on the words silent and night. Like many of my cohorts I was a bit over the top on those sounds.
It was certainly a ritual to sing like angels once a year but there was also a certain mystery to doing so at midnight. It did tend to emphasize the purpose of Christmas. Only candles lit the church. It was always fairly cold inside but nothing compared to the frosty night air outdoors. The street lights seemed to have a halo effect and I swear flurries were in the air every Christmas Eve. Snow crunched under foot. Staying up until the wee hours of the morning. Participating in a ceremony with adults. All in all it added some warmth and depth to one’s spirit. Merry Christmas!
Even Papa had a childhood. Despite that obvious fact, someone once expressed an inability to imagine me as a boy. The years have certainly wrecked havoc on my physical body but I still view my mind as quite uncomplicated. No longer naive; yet I’m a far distance from being jaded. Christmas still brings vivid memories to mind. And, one of the best was a program that ran on a radio station back home. It was on the air from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Billie The Brownie (Think Elf) and Santa had a brief broadcast slot just around supper time. That timing often was annoying. My family made it a point to eat together. ( A good thing.) However, it was impossible to enjoy crouching around the radio in the living room when seated behind the closed door of the kitchen.
I believe it was only a fifteen minute program so it was easy to miss an entire show. On the rare nights dad came home late from work or mom’s cooking needed more time I could listen to Billie The Brownie to my heart’s content. Billie offered an array of serious Christmas guidelines. Letters to Santa needed to be read. Other kids had their letters read aloud. (The Postal Service must have misdirected my more insightful correspondence.) A local store, the one with a giant toy department, sponsored the show. So much knowledge about the latest toys was there for the asking. Santa’s health report of the eight rain deer was always a top consideration. And, there was routing news that was dependent on breaking weather forecasts between us and the North Pole. Christmas was on its way. Billie often seemed on the verge of a breakdown due to a possible ruination of Christmas. However, the steady hand of Santa always prevailed.
The actual years in which children are enthralled by Christmas is quite short. But the memories of those years linger. Christmas memories pack quite a punch. You can’t go wrong by encouraging the dreams of youngsters as your own fantasies fade into reality. For your own children, when and if, remember to cherish the season. You may develop other customs but even those of less than a decade will come to be remembered as long term traditions. The entire season blossoms into an all encompassing spirit that does the heart good. There is always going to be radio or television or books or digital something that has its own Billie The Brownie to recall. Gosh, I miss his squeaky voice.