What Courage It Must Have Taken!

As I sit here, on the eve of the anniversary of D-Day June 6th 1944. I think of what it must have been like to have been there. I don’t have to imagine too much because I do have recollections of that time. I was four years old and in the dawning of independent thought. I remember that our house was unusually quiet. I don’t remember the news broadcasts on the radio nor could I read the newspaper accounts, but I do remember seeing flights of airplanes in the sky and so many young men in uniforms everywhere my parents took me.
As I think about those people, I can’t help but think “how brave they all were”. I was conceived four years earlier when the outcome of the World War was in no way a forgone conclusion. These people took a chance in faith that their country would provide safe haven for their new family. As it turned out I was to be my mother’s only child but nevertheless, I think of myself as a symbol of their courage.
June 6th has a special meaning to me. It is my mom’s birthday. She has passed on now but during her life, in her own unassuming way, she inspired everyone with that spirit and belief that things would be better. She worked with my father to support their families in Mexico and Spain and provided me with the special gifts of learning and travel. I was brought into the world of adults and y ideas were treated with respect. My mom was the sweetest person I ever met, she loved my father with a fierce passion and loved me so much that she never hesitated to sacrifice for me. We would go out for dinner and have lemon meringue pie for dessert. She new I liked the lemon but did not like the crust. She always pretended to “love” the crust and gave me the lemon.
She loved everyone. She wanted a little girl and God played a rotten trick on her by giving her me. When I brought my bride to be to meet her you could almost hear the sucking sound as my mom just pulled her into her world of love. She loved our boys and loved their kids.
Thanks mom for taking a chance in those war years so long ago and for bringing that spirit forward into our lives.

It's the Economy - Stupid!

It has been awhile since my last comments, but because of the tremendous demand, I am back with words of wisdom and wonder. (I wonder about the wisdom of them) I have recently been attending Pitzer College. I have just finished a class called Anthropological History: 1492 to the present. I wonder how many of us understand the evolution of capitalism? It is clear, if one studies American history, that now more than ever, we need a strong leader in government and a change in the direction this country and the world is going if we ever hope to return the greatness we once knew. I don't think it matters much if you belong to one party or another, conservative or liberal, what ever that means in today's society. As long as we return to the Progressive ideals we embraced in the 1920s. We are a rich country that can't pay our bills. We love to produce innovations and great inventions and our people are loosing their jobs. We rejoice in being players on the larger world chessboard and we reject the opinions of our one time allies. We fear and defend immigrants on our Southern boarder while the greater illegal immigration comes in from the North and West. We cry about air pollution and global warming and still refuse to sign the Kyoto accord or enforce laws that would put regulation on industry. Like many of you, I watch my hard earned savings go up in smoke because of GREED and the TOLERANCE OF GREED. A retirement filled with well earned rest and activity is not so slowly being erased while those who caused this economic turn down take bailout money and go on vacations or give themselves bonuses. We all need to do our part! Just don't sit there in front of your computer, write someone. Send a note to that deadbeat Congressman of yours. Find out what your union, or church or The League of Women Voters, or your political party is doing about it and GET INVOLVED! Send me a reaction to this rant. If you have any ideas let us know

Ceramics: Hobby or Blood Lust?

As you can probably see, I like and make pottery. It all started when I was contemplating retirement and wondering what I would do to keep busy. My wife suggested taking up pottery because the studio was next to the jewelry workshop where she went. Being the obedient man that I am I went. We all know that "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." Little did I know that it would become one of my most happy activities. I sometimes feel that if you were to open on of my veins, you would find clay slip instead of blood. I have been "throwing" for about six years. I go to the studio at least three times a week and wish there were more days in the week so that I could go more often. I love my kids and grand kids, my wife is my best friend, skiing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on, and golf is the Devil's curse! I tell you this because if I can get some of you retired people to try something new I know you would never regret it. Remember the advice we learned on M*A*S*H, "Listen my children, hear my advice. Pull down your pants, and slide on the ice.

Being Retired

Some may think that being retired is all fun and games, but I am here to set the record straight. For forty years I worked! As a child I sold the Sunday paper door to door, I had my own gardening service in high school, I worked in restaurants, I picked up garbage and dug holes for septic tanks. I worked in factories, I was a psychologist with my own practice, and I was a
teacher. I retired in 2002 and wound up in therapy. Two of my best friends died, my mother and step father died and found myself alone.
The comfort of being around other workers and clients was gone. I went through a period that was like being a Zombie. Now I know some of you will say that I should join groups like the senior center and clubs and groups that throw people together. That felt (and still feels) like I was such a looser. Those people are old, I would say to myself. I will feel like an outsider, I may not be accepted.
A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. I am active as a potter, I travel in our RV with my wife, I ski in the winter, and I audit classes at the local university. I am still not content with my life but I am confident that I am adjusting.
I am sure that there are other retired people who feel vital and alive and unused and wasted. I know that there are alternatives and those who want to help. I am hoping that, by sharing my thoughts and feelings that you people will step up and help. When people reach their 60s they do not go to Mars! They do not run out to buy rocking chairs, and they do not go softly into the night!

First Post

Hi every body. This is my first attempt at "blogging" so the first thing is to find out if it actually gets posted. If you get this, write a comment and send it back.

See ya.

Cactus