Category: PAPA’S MISS/MASH (Page 3 of 4)

Entry to high school will befall each of you. It will be astonishingly sooner than expected by your parents. It may feel as if the day would never arrive for you. (Papa recalls the year getting from the 4th grade to the 5th seemed like an eternity.) Once in high school you will be exposed to an avalanche of activities. One activity that may cause some anxiety is the school dance. What to wear? Am I expected to dance? Will I look the fool if I do dance? What do I do or where do I stand if I don’t dance? The entire student body will undoubtedly stare at me the entire night.

Don’t fret. You are a Freshman. Soon you will be an old hand at school mixers. Even the painfully shy will adjust, make friends and figure out an individual comfort level. The purpose is to become at ease with socialization. When you reach upper class status you’ll know that no one stares at 9th graders; they ignore them. So, go to your high school functions. Endure any anxieties you self-create and have fun. Sadly, the four years will go by faster than you think. Enjoy every minute of it.

Papa was one of those too shy characters. But, most of us have a brain and it can be sorted out. Listening to a CD from a recent high school reunion, an old song from 1958 struck a chord with me. “Over And Over Again” The lyrics begin with…”went to a dance the other night”. It hit home for me. But it’s message includesthat one keeps going…over and over again. (BTW: The flip side of that record was a song your parents knew from their days as fans of the Brew Crew…”Rocking Robin.”)

That Papa was allowed across the border is a wonderment but here I am. Of course, no electricity up the road also means no internet. No blog. Did you even notice? Found this internet outlet 16 miles from cabin so I simply wanted to alert you not to search frantically everyday for a new post. Might be a long wait.

Only seen my eagle a few times. Few seabirds of any kind. Lobster season ended just fater my arrival. Fun to watch boats circle and pull in and set then traps. Up here the main topic is the new haircut of the country’s leader. Back home I guess any of our leaders would be happy to have hair to cut. The loss of common sense generation used to mistrust anyone over 30 years of age. Now, they are enthralled with geezerhood. (At the time a 62 year old President Elect Eisenhower seem old.) 62 and under might be a good cutoff.

Have a good summer. Until I’m back in town or allowed across the border don’t keep a vigil.

Today’s thought is not about a geographic location in the Southwest. Nor has Papa resurrected a warm memory of properly squared off corners on bed sheets from his Army days. I’m instead thinking of the Univrsity of Wisconsin Library Mall. It has four corners leading to a circular gathering area around the Hagenah Fountain. The area comes to mind today when I read about recent “shout downs” of speakers at various colleges around the US.

Perhaps the dead of winter might have frozen students to the indoors at times but Papa’s memory of that mall is of bustling activity that included a smorgasbord of passionately delivered speeches. To be sure it also served as a magnet for protests regarding many issues; 1960 Nashville riots, grape boycott, Vietnam War, and every variety of politician. But, what I remember is the free flow of ideas (including a fair share of rants and raves) from the mall’s four corners. Speakers simply set up shop and started to talk. Clusters of students might stop and listen for both short or long periods of time. A few true followers helped the speaker by cheering. Some who disagreed might jeer. But, I never witnessed an organized effort to silence/stop the speakers. Depending on the weather or one’s mood a person could wander about the mall listening or not. It was also a good place on a warm day to dangle feet in the fountain with free speech as background noise.

It is disheartening to hear that anyone, any view, is precluded at an institution of supposed higher learning. Walk away is always a choice if one doesn’t like a viewpoint. It is hard to comprehend being so afraid of words/thoughts that studnts can’t tolerate differing opinions. This of course goes back to my “sifting and winnowing” mention in a prior post. If you rascals make it to college, keep your minds open. (Sorry, I could not resist…”when” you make it to college.) It’s not that hard to sort out the good from the bad; the silly from the solid or common sense from folly. You have a brain and college is a time to continue its use. College is not the time or location to close your mind.

Dennis Day to Doris Day is how I describe my musical tastes. A bit of an exaggeration to be sure. However, each generation has a type of music destinctive to it. Going back to my youth it was the advent of rock and roll that roiled the country. Elvis, Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly were favorite artists. At the time it was hard for me to grasp that mellow Frank Sinatra had been a teen heart throb only a decade earlier. Or, that a five year gap between my younger brother and me meant someone liked, much less heard of, the Stones. Then in the early years of what was to become the world’s largest music festival, my excitement that Bo Diddley was performing fell on the deaf ears of my own children.

Music appreciation has to be the quickest change of taste between generations by any measure. This year the Big Gig has nearly 800 bands booked. I look through promotional material and recognize a few names; Rod Stewart, Justin Bieber and the Steve Miller Band. The Backstreet Boys ring a vauge bell. Then I remmeber the Violent Femmes because my kids liked that group when they were young. But, Machine Gun Kelly sounds like 1930’s hood. Lil Wayne? Skillet? All the other names mean nothing to Papa.

I wonder how a musical quiz contest between generations would turn out. Perhaps 50 % actual and 50% made up bands/singers. Ten artists each from the 1950’s and 1960’s versus ten from the last ten years and ten from the last twenty years. Papa has to come into the 21st century while the younger generation has to answer about decent music groups. I’ve listened to snippets of music my grandchildren play and waning hearing become a blessing. To each their own.

At my 60th high school reunion, CDs with tons of songs were distributed to attendees. I play them in my car and I am shocked at how many I recall. Boy, Papa is getting old. But, the tunes bring comfort. Every generation hums along to its memories.

LET’S HOPE NOT: Today there are reports of shellings/explosions in eastern Ukraine. It is happening in the Donbass region or should one say in the Sudentenland? Like 1938 when Hitler/Germany justified a territorial expansion to “protect” ethnic Germans, Russia is making propaganda noise that it may need to intervene to save ethnic Russians inside Ukraine. Luckily, for Russia, it happens to have upwards of 150,000 troops hanging out around the border. They have no declared intention to invade. They must just like to hang out. But, it looks like Russia is creating excuses to “save” their neighbor. (Like a Good Neighbor insurance policy.)

It could turn out to be a bluff for negotiating purposes I suppose. Some say old Putin would like to see NATO/US missile forces moved farther west. Maybe Papa is not too bright, but that seems nonsensical. All the way back to Duluth and I bet missiles could still hit ’em where it hurts. However, it seems Russia is ready to go into Ukraine. Perhaps only a partial incursion to chop off the Donbass citizens and steer Ukraine away from democracy. The reasonable question after any Russian invasion is not whether sanctions will then be imposed but rather why they were not used to try to stop bloodshed/invasion beforehand. An invasion will not be pretty.

Papa previously mentioned the danger of miscalculation in such situations. An acquaintance from my old Fort Ord days made the same point on national TV. (His interview would be worthwhile if you have any interest.) Leon Pennata later became a high up government offcial for years in Washington DC. His voice always sounded reasonable to me. With hundreds of thousands of combat forces in close proximity and planes and ships criss crossing; or put a nut or two in the mix; even bigger problems could blowup. It is sad that after nearly 77 years, Europe could again see a major war because of another despot. I’d guess that it is fear of creeping liberty/democracy that makes him tick. It’s hard to be dictator for life if those under your boot get a whiff of freedom.

As an athlete, if you ever need a performance enhancing substance, don’t come sneaking around Papa’s medicine cabinet. I have lots of heart medication but I keep an accurate count so I’d know if even one pill was missing. Go to Russia where grandfathers are not as careful about control of medications. Witness a 15 years old ROC Olympian who failed a drug test. Part of her defense was some convoluted cross contamination from her dear old grandpa’s heart medication. Sounds like a whopper. But, it gets better. She actually tested positive for three banned substances. However, enter the International. She won on appeal and is allowed to compete.

Now, you might ask what the dickens is the ROC? It is the Russian Olympic Committee. ROC for short. The ROC exists because there is a history of so many failed drug tests by Russian Olympians that Russia is banned. They exist, therefore they cheat. Enter the International once again. Russian under a ROC flag are allowed but Russians under a Russian flag are not. Keeping track? Kind of set up by the same birds with UN mentality or alligence to WHO. Make everyone feel better and don’t get overly concerned with logic. So, the Russians keep cheating and pumping performance enhancing drugs into ROC athletes. Almost like they are still Russians. I guess if it gets too bad (Can it be worse than the obvious?) the International might have to ban ROC and force Russians to use a third name and flag. Certainly that would stop the cheating.

Of course, both the International and the Russians don’t seem bothered by the fact that a child (age15) has various drugs injested/injected into her body. I assume the ROC or Mother Russia doesn’t have to worry if there are side effects after she competes. There’s an Olympics every four years no matter what happens to the young girl.

This topic may be premature for you but I cannot not resist a vision that I have of two future career paths. Sometimes thoughts simply pop in and out of my mind. Right now a hot topic is global warming. (Howcould anyone miss the clamor?) As is true with almost any subject, many folks nowadays believe that government solves problems. You live in an age when great faith is placed in politicians and bureaucrats. Someday I will describe their iceberg theroy of governing, but for now think long and hard before you credit them as the “best and the brightest.”

Hopes for changing the weather/climate is certainly not a new concept. There is quite a long history of making things better. I’ll spare you the tales of special chants, rain dances and magic. Get right into the 1800’s. One concept called for huge plots of forest to be lit ablaze to generate heat to shake up the atmosphere. Of course, in succeeding years more enlightened minds felt that rain often followed Civil War battles. So war had to play a role in improving the planet. Move on the the 1890’s when concussions in the air caused by huge explosions generated weather change. (A smaller version of the Big Bang?) And, last century we seeded clouds. Never give up. Which brings me to suggested careers for you after university if the best and the brightest remain dedicated to new energy.

PROSPECTING or SCIENCE. Take your pick. If alternative energy sources come to fruition (Wind-Solar-Tons of Batteries) there will be a need for loads of lithium, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and cobalt. I’m not talking pick and shovel work. There’ll be a need for gouges into the earth to satisfy need. We’ll all be better off with frenzied chasing after minerals. No one notices the 78 mines currently designated as Super Fund sites. The public won’t be any wiser in 20-40 years if more sites are added. Dig at your hearts content. Think geologist for a career.

Or, maybe a nuclear scientist. “Atoms for Peace” was a concept going back to 1953. Therein lies a possible answer for future energy. It has lost a political battle over safety/fear to date but actual bright minds are getting closer to safe, sustainable nuclear energy. It’s a source that may be ripe for development. If you contemplate such a career just be sure that you understand the difference between fission and fusion.

None of you have lived long enough to have “old memories”. Papa has lived for a fair amount of years. It is interesting that at times something comes up that leads to questioning the reliability of one’s memories. February 3rd is known as the “Day The Music Died.” I first recall hearing that term (Or, perhaps the day rock and roll died.) in the 1960’s. My roommate mentioned it. I wasn’t up on my music knowledge so I had to ask what he was talking about. He explained the tragic airplane accident in a Iowa cornfield that took the lives of famous performers. I especially liked one popular song of Buddy Holly because it reminded me of a John Wayne line in “The Searchers”.

On the anniversary of that 1959 plane crash, “day in history” features proclaim that the music dying day line first came from a 1971 song. That’s impossible because my roommate used the phrase in the 60’s. He was sharp but not so sharp he could predict the future. Now, the logical conclusion is that the phrase was indeed used by fans throughout the 60’s and then used in the 1971 song lyrics. However, there is no mention of that possibility that Papa could find despite quite a bit of searching the internet. Has Papa’s memory in essence been wiped clean? A know it all wag might suggest that Papa’s memory has slipped. In that regard I know that on some past events the memory is there but the specifics could be intertwined. The lesson is to not bet on memories as 100% fact. But, a factual nugget does still rattle around upstairs.

With time on my hands I will now seek out old newspapers/magazines from the 1959-1971 era in search of a popular culture mention of the phrase in use before “American Pie.” You’d think that would be a good chore for tech savy grandkids. That’ll be the day.

Right out of the box, a US women’s hockey star from what many consider the greatest university, was injured against Finland. That means the university is down to ten players competing in this Olympics that have school ties; 4 US and 6 Canadian. Speaking of Canadian, there is a hockey player from Baddeck. Everyone in the family is or someday will be familiar with that Bras d’Or town. It is close to the heart of Papa’s universe. I don’t know how it works but she is on the Chinese team by way of the U of Minny-Duluth.

Papa’s hometown was once the source of many USA speedskating Olympians. In the 1940’s/50’s the director of recreation started a team that raced on frozen lagoons in the area. Many of those kids dominated speed skating on a national level. The Pettit indoor oval is located back home and it is still a big training facility and site of competitions. But, many ice skaters now have in-line skating backgrounds; such as from Florida. Not much outdoor ice in the Sunshine State. Back home in the winter, playgrounds were flooded with water inside snow banks to create rinks. A current US Olympian’s dad plowed an oval on the family pond for training. He’s still young but who knows? Watch Jordan Stolz if you view any Olympics besides hockey with players from a marvelous university. Florida a pipline to speedskating team? How times have changed. But, Wisconsin still feeds the Curling team.