One of the blessings of having old friends is being able to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Norm's Daily Ramblins
THE MEMORIAL DAY PARADE OF 1945
"The parade could well have looked like this."
My brain got in a retro mood as it often does. Thinking about Memorial Days of the past, I remembered one of the parades in Wauwatosa -- I think it had to be 1945.
It was big stuff for Pack #347. I was a member of Den Seven and Rolf Dehmel's Mom was our Den Leader. We met at their house on 66th Street between Wells and Wisconsin Avenue. Billy Sheaffer, Tom Stockinger, Johno Davidson, Bob Johnson, Herman Menck, Rolf Dehmel, Millard Smith, Bill Stocum, a couple of others I can't remember, and I had been big budds all through Jefferson Grade School and Cubs Scouts was part of life. (Next came Webelos and then Scouting.) Anyway, Den Seven showed up for the parade at the staging area at the Band shell next to St. Bernard's.
The Wauwatosa High School Band was always the feature and the parade was made up of civic groups, veterans, school children, scouts, politicians, etc.
We marched up Wauwatosa Avenue past the Woman's Club and Harwood Avenue, north past Tosa and on to North Avenue. Now that was one desolate area. The city offices were not there and the Northwest corner was vacant except for the log cabin because Longfellow was still a part of the high school.
We turned left at the Wauwatosa Cemetery and marched to the speaker's platform where we heard a few speeches, sang songs, saluted, heard taps and then the firing of a 21 gun salute (could have been a six, I really don't remember that detail.) There were flags on many of the graves. I did know there were Civil War, Spanish American War and WW1 veterans buried there and I'm sure some of Tosa's valiant who were killed in the past four years.
One thing I'll never forget was the exhilaration of marching in time with the military music and honoring the flag and the memory of those who died for our freedom. I wanted to carry the flag so badly but there were others who were chosen. When I got home, I was so proud of what I experienced I got carried away I lied and told my brothers that I had carried the flag. It was out of my mouth before I knew it.
"Well, big flag carrier! Did they give you a harness with a cup so the bottom of the flagpole could rest in it?"
I thought they were trying to trick me and I didn't notice a harness on the other guys so I quickly said, "No!"
"Oh, yea! You're a real big flag bearer, aren't you?"
I was crushed and humiliated. I quietly went about my activity. Why did I lie about such a simple thing? I guess in my mind, at some point during the cadence, I picked up that flag and proudly held it in honor of my heroes -- the Commandos at Point du Hoc, the P38 pilots, and all the other men and women who had just won the war in Germany and were still fighting in the Pacific Theater. I remember it as if it were three months ago.
And one of the most memorable experiences of being a part of Den 7 was when Johno Davidson's, Uncle Walter picked us up in his brand new, black, two-door Cadillac to take us on a tour of Harley Davison. He kept changing the radio station without touching the push buttons and had a great time teasing us with the puzzle.... how is the radio moving from station to station?
He had the first radio that had a foot switch on the floorboard next to the headlight dimmer switch. That foot switch changed the stations on the AM dial. (FM was not in autos yet.). What a great time at Harley Davison, at the old plant on Kilbourn Avenue, seeing how the motorcycles were made.
Also as I think of Memorial Day, I think of the "Indianapolis 500." Billy Sheaffer is the one who clued me in about it. His grandfather was a brick speedway aficionado and had taught Billy well. Billy then taught me about the Offenhauser engines and his favorite driver, Tony Bettenhausen, who was later killed at the State Fair track in West Allis.
Billy also had a neat brochure of all the major league baseball stadiums that was put out my Miller High Life. They showed the shape of each stadium -- back then there weren't many. Billy's grandmother found the brochure in his desk, took it and threw it away. She thought that what was being pictures was toilet seats "And, Billy shouldn't have anything to do with something like that!"
We all laughed at what Grandma said.
You know, "memory" is truly a gift from God. And this "Time/Space" dimension is incredible at times as we bring up a memory and relive it as if it happened last week. Just wait until we jettison these earth suits and leave this "Time/Space" dimension to be with the Lord for eternity. Talk about freedom!
WE ARE SO INDEBTED TO ALL OF THEM... REGRETFULLY, MORE AND MORE DON'T CARE!
The caption for the above photo is as follows:
Pearl Harbor survivior, Houston James of Dallas, Texas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. durning a Vereran's Day commemoration in Dallas. Graunke lost a hand, leg, eye and fingers when he defused a bomb in Iraq last year. Associate Press
WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN THE BACKYARD BARBEQUE PROCESS!
This Memorial Day weeked is the first main "bargeque evernt". of the summer. Therefore, it is important to refresh our memories on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity, as it's the only type of cooking a 'real' man will do. This is probably because there is an element of danger involved in the barbeque process. Thanks to Pat and Trish Kelly for this one.
When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion. Here's the routine...
(1) The woman buys the food.
(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes the dessert.
(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along
with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is
lounging beside the grill - beer in hand.
Here comes the important part:
(4) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
More routine....
(5) The woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.
(6) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is burning. He
thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he deals with
the situation.
Then another Important part:
(7) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
More routine....
(8) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.
(9) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
And the most important part of the entire processl:
(10) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
(11) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." And, upon
seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing
some women.... .
Rev. Wallace Willingham, subject of the story below - Photo by John Godby
We have to run this article again just to remind those who have already read it to be aware of the heroes we are losing at an exponentially increasing rate. And those who have not seen the article before.... I want you to take the time to link into an incredible story of a Veteran's Hospital physician in San Antonio, Texas, Capt. Steven Ellison, who is keenly aware of the many men and women of WW2 who are leaving us at an ever increasing and exponential rate.
Some say the men and women who grew up during the depression and served in WW2 are anywhere from 75 to 90 years of age and leaving this time and space dimension at the rate of nearly 1,500 a day... that's over 10,000 a week
We need to realize what is happening. I remember when there were still Civil War Veterans and Spanish American War Veterans. All the WW1's are gone and this generation is the next. I want to thank my niece, Christine Shaw, who lives in Flagstaff, AZ for sending this simple, sincere, and moving website.
Click the first link below and then begin to scroll to read and listen to a moving story and photographs that this Doctor has put together. Remember to scroll as it is not a video.
WHY HAS THE MINIMUM WAGE ALWAYS BEEN SUCH A FOCUS THROUGH THE YEARS?
Lets repeat the question. Why has the "minimum wage" always been an issue in Congress down through the yearss. Is Congress that interested in entry level workers at fast food restaurants and the like and high school students looking for summer and seasonal jobs?
It far more intricate than that.
Through the years, Democrats have supported a higher "minimum wage" and Republicans have opposed saying it would increase costs for small business who would have to pass on the increase to consumers.
The "minimum wage" increase was part of the bill to fund the war in Iraq as a compromise trade off between parties (my opinion) and has increased from $5.20 to $7.50 an hour. I remember when it was under a dollar. In 1958, I got a job at the Downing Corregated Box Company to help support my family while I finished my degree at UWM. My wage was $1.75 and I got $.10 extra for working from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am so I could then go directly to class.
But the question is, "Why have the Democrats been so interested in the "minimum wage" all these years. All of us are for individuals makeing as much money as they can and their abilities demand and being paid fairly - equal pay for equal work has always been a I have practiced in the years I have been an administrator.
So, what is the REAL reason for Democrats alwyas working to have the "minimum wage" increased?
ALL AFL-CIO LABOR CONTRACTS ARE TIED TO THE "MINIMUM WAGE!"
It's my understanding that when the "minimum wage" goes up, the labor contracts automatically go up as well.
As a veteran, I ask that you take at least a few moments to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day. Below are links to sites that explain the origins of Decoration Day, which was intended to decorate the graves of soldiers and sailors who died in the Civil War. Begin to recover what seems to have been lost -- an appreciation for the price of freedom.
Colonel Charles Crawford, Ret. Air Force Intelligence
Charlie gave me permission to use his name. Col. Crawford is our next-door neighbor and Presidentof the Georgia Battlefields Association, a private, non-profit organization that tries to preserve Civil War sites throughout Georgia. He is also a life member and volunter staff for the Civil War Preservation Trust, a private, non-profit organization that tries to preserve civil War sites throughout the country.
Charlie's father was on General Omar Bradley’s staff, responsible for the logistical planning of D-Day and the movement of supplies and transportation that would immediately follow the Normandy Invasion. We digitally taped an hour interview with Col. Robert Crawford, who is now in his mid 90's, totally active and regularly drives from Florida to Atlanta. We plan to sumit his memories to libraries so that what he and his associates did for us will never be forgotten. Someday I will post parts of that interview on this page. It's an great story.
Click the link below and then thank God for these men and woman who are living and protecting our Freedom.
Regretfully, Congress seems hell-bent to keep working at removing some of those freedoms.
Watching the video and thinking of the freedoms that have been qualified or taken away since the 1950's will make some eyes sweat in joy and in sorrow.
Norm's Daily Ramblins
IT ALL STARTED AS "DECORATION DAY."
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead," it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
Its more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war.
It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays. Several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead. -- David Merchant
LIGHTS OUT radio horror/dramas broadcast locally 1934 - 1935 and was originally based on WENR in Chicago, national broadcasts from 1935-1947 on NBC,CBS, and ABC.
"Lights Out" began life as a radio show hosted and written by Arch Obler. This creative story teller and playright could easily be called Rod Serling's Rod Serling with his often outlandish, ironic, and downright terrifying radio plays which scared millions of radio listeners and theater goers in the 1930's and 1940's. And in 2005, you will be scared as effectively as those listeners of old.
Arch Obler wrote most of the plays heard on the "Lights Out" radio program and also served as the host and annoucer. While other radio shows dealt with murder and mystery, Arch dealt with such simple topics as turning people inside out (along with sound effects) and the last moments of a couple before a train kills them both. Obler had a superior knack for scaring, no terrifying, people and doing it well. He was the Stephen King of his day. But, the death blow to the "Lights Out" program came when it was judged so terrifying that it was moved to the time slot of half past midnight and left there. Eventually, when TV came along in the '50s, "Lights Out" found a new home there for a few seasons before fading out of the public spotlight and disappearing forever. It's interesting that there are no Web sites, photographs, or memoribilia for the "Lights Out" program.
But do I remember the program well -- by not being able to listen to it! At age eight or nine, I was forbidden to go into the living room while my brothers, David and Moody, were listening to "Lights Out" or "Suspense" on our old 1938 Philco floor console. Apparently, my parents told them they could listen but they would have to keep me out of "ear shot." But being brothers, they would try to scare me with whatever they had heard on Lights Out. Of course, my mother tried to protect me, but I still had nightmares because I was the "dreamer" of the family -- and have never stopped.
The program was sponsored by Ionized Yeast, usually opened with bells tolling and the announcer, in kadence, saying, "It-is-later-than-you-think." Then he would characterize "Lights Out" as dealing with the supernatural and the supernormal warning you to turn off the radio if you couldn't handle terror and the macabre.
AND NOW! LIGHTS... OUT! EVERYBODY!
Be sure to listen to the programs I've posted for your enjoyment.
Willis Cooper, creator and writer, sold out to Arch Obler
Listing showing WMAQ Chicago airing "Lights Out." Note the late time and how many "live" music shows
Arch Obler did many other dramatic projects until the 1970's but is most known for "Lights Out"
Norm's Daily Ramblins
In the 40's, some people would "walk a mile for one of these."
The National Geographic photo you see above was taken from an airplane directly above a caravan of camels in the desert. It was voted one of the best pictures of the year picture taken directly above these camels in the desert. It is considered one of the best pictures of the year.
Look closely at the photo above. Realize that the camels are not te large black camel shapes.... those are the shadows. The little white lines in the picture are the camels from directly above.
ATLANTESE ~ Things You Should Know About My Wonderful City
Bob Becker, a '53 classmate from Wauwatosa, WI who has lived and worked in the oil industry in Calgary, Canada sent this hilarious essay about Atlanta, Ga USA. It's right on target. Enjoy! And yawl come see us, ya hea! I've been here since 1963 and have seen the population grow from 600,000 to over five million!
This is for anyone who lives in Atlanta, Georgia, has ever lived in
Atlanta, has ever visited Atlanta, ever plans to visit Atlanta, knows
anyone who already lives in Atlanta, or knows anyone who has ever
heard of Atlanta.
Atlanta is composed mostly of one-way streets. The only way to get
out of downtown Atlanta is to turn around a nd start over when you
reach Greenville , South Carolina .
All directions start with, "Go down Peachtree" and include the
phrase, "When you see the Waffle House." Except that in Cobb County ,
where all directions begin with, "Go to the Big Chicken."
Peachtree Street has no beginning and no end and is not to be
confused with:
Peachtree Circle
Peachtree Place
Peachtree Lane
Peachtree Road
Peachtree Parkway
Peachtree Run
Peachtree Terrace
Peachtree Avenue
Peachtree Commons
Peachtree Battle
Peachtree Corners
New Peachtree
Old Peachtree
West Peachtree
Peachtree-Dunwoody
Peachtree-Chamblee
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Peachtree City
Atlantans only know their way to work and their way home. If you ask
anyone for directions, they will always send you down Peachtree.
Atlanta is the home of Coca-Cola. Coke's all they drink there so
don't ask for any other soft drink unless it's made by Coca-Cola.
Even if you want something other than a Coca-Cola, it's still called
Coke.
The gates at Atlanta 's Hartsfield International Airport are about 32
miles away from the Main Concourse, so wear sneakers and pack a
lunch.
The 8 am rush hour is from 6:30 to 10:30 AM.
The 5 pm rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:30 PM. Fri day's rush hour
starts Thursday afternoon and lasts through 2 am Saturday.
Only a native of Atlanta can pronounce Ponce De Leon Avenue , so do
not attempt the Spanish pronunciation. People will simply tilt their
heads to the right and stare at you. The Atlanta pronunciation
is "pawntz duh LEE-awn."
And yes, they have a street named simply, "Boulevard."
The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget
all traffic rules.
If a single snowflake falls, the city is
paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash
every 15 minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be
sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.
I-285, the loop that encircles Atlanta, which has a posted speed
limit of 55 mph (but you have to maintain 80 mph just to keep from
getting run over), is known to truckers as "The Watermelon 500."
Don't believe the directional markers on highways: I-285 is marked
East and West but you may be going North or South. The locals
identify the direction by referring to the "Inner Loop" and
the "Outer Loop ."
If you travel on Hwy 92 North, you will actually be going southeast.
Never buy a ladder or mattress in Atlanta. Just go to one of the
interstates and you will soon find one in the middle of the road.
Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.
There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 live in Georgia.
There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Georgia , plus
a couple no one has seen before.
If it grows, it sticks.
If it crawls, it bites.
It's not a shopping cart, it's a buggy.
"Fixinto" is one word (I'm fixinto go to the store).
Sweet Tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when
you're 2 years old.
"Jeet?" is actually a phrase meaning "Did you eat?"
"Momma-nem" means: How's Mother and all of the other children and
other members of the family doing.
If you understand these jokes, forward them to your friends from
Atlanta , Georgia and those who just wish they were.
GOD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING. HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING LATELY?
God says in Scripture:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on "religion?" Come to me! Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me -- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
Matthew 11:28-30 The Message Bible Navigator Press, Glen Eyrie, Colorado Springs, CO
THE PHRASE "LEARN THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE" IS ONE GREAT METAPHOR! Would you not agree?
The Scripture you've just read above has some wonderful words of Jesus. They are as comforting as one can find anywhere in the Bible. Jesus makes some powerful key suggestions -- "Walk with me." "Work with me."
That's how we get to know someone intimately. By walking and working we learn the heart and mind of the person we are doing it with and develop an intimate love.
And, then that beautiful phrase -- "learn the unforced rhythms of grace." That's one powerful phrase! "The unforced rhythms of grace."
When we've learned to do that we are definitley in a state of "going with the flow" -- knowing Who you have turned control of your life over to. Absolutely beautiful and something everyone should experience!
Sadly, for all too many followers of Jesus, moving in the unforced rhythms of grace doesn't happen often. It's my prayer that we all are able to not just learn the "unforced rhythms of grace" but allow them to be a normal part of our everyday life. NP
We're always honored by visitors. We do our best to provide new information on this "Ramblin" page ... and leave some of the stuff we think is extra good a little longer than the others. Please visit again.
We'd enjoy hearing from you. Drop us a note. We'd enjoy knowing you're visitin.' To do so, click the "Drop Us A Note" link right below.
We extend to you an old Southern salutation you don't hear much any more down here.... "Ya'll come back now, ya'hear?"
Norman Plunkett
God is good -- ALWAYS!
And especially as He floods you with all the grace you need no matter what the situation. As you trust Him, God's grace is always just enough and always on time.
