"A Man's Memories"

 

   

As I write my column for this newspaper, I think about those people, who look forward to reading it.  And getting feedback from these readers, gives me great pleasure. I have been told that just reading my column, makes them feel like I was right there with them as they read. This past couple of weeks, I have had calls, and letters , telling me how much they liked what I have to say. I tell them that I speak from the heart, and that my writings are of truth and about the hardships of living in the old days. Although it was rough to live back then, there is the feeling of accomplishment from doing what had to be done.

  I saw an old friend the other day, who said that he reads each of my articles, and that I tell it like it really was. This man was one of my dad's best friends and was always like a second dad to me. As a matter of fact, I got my first real bike from this man, and I always will treasure my friendship with Ray Bassett. This man ,like my father, grew up working as many hours that he could to keep his family fed and warm. He did one heck of a job, just like my dad did. So always remember that a mother and child are as close to each other, as God is to his children. A father earns his love from his family through his dedication to his family, and to his job.

 I recieved one of the letters, asking if  I remember back when a diary sponsered a "Our Gang Comedy", at the Sipe theatre, where a group of men from Hollywood, chose the characters to be in the show.  She said that her brother was chosen as the "tough guy" for the show.  Her parents are gone and her brother does not talk about it. She thought that since I remembered the old days, maybe I would remember it. I told her that I didn't remember anyone telling me about it, since it occured back in the late twenties.  Her name is Lillian and if anyone out there has some knowledge about it, then she sure would like to know.  She said that she really enjoys reading my articles, and that she sent the last one to her great grandson, so that he will understand how it was in the past. That really makes me proud that she and other readers use my writings, as a basis to prove how it really was. Thanks Lillian, for your kind words.

 I met a gentleman of seventy three years of age, that wanted to meet me, because he was so impressed with how I was able to put into words, the way it really was.  He said that ,as a child in Marion, Indiana, and coming from a broken family, he went through a rough time . After living with his mother in Marion for awhile, he went to live with his father in Illinois, after finding out where he had gone. He said that his stepfather and his mother , after finding where he was, came to get him. He stated that his stepfather then took him to Michigan, and sold him to a slave owner , who ran a statewide camp of slaves made up of young boys. He was seven at the time ,and his brother who was older was there too. They worked there in the summers, in the fields, and then in the lumber camps in the winters. He eventually ran away to Ohio, but soon he went back to Michigan, where he started working a job for money at the age of fifteen. He soon found his father again and lived on a farm with him for awhile.

 His father gave him some good advice, and that was that no matter what he did in life, when he died, he should leave this world a little better place, than it was before.  To this day, he has always remembered those words. He said that he entered the service, when he was not quite sixteen,  and that in those days, you took a lot of tests in one week ,that was not interupted, by anything. He had a terrible toothache for that whole week, and so he really wasn't able to answer many of the questions on the test. He eventually wanted to get out of the service after doing his time, but wasn't able to do so, because he had such a high score on the test. He said he didn't answer many of them, but they only graded you on what you did answer. So if you answered only one and it was correct, you had a 100% score.

 He said that while working in Chicago in 1961, he suffered an brain annerisym, brought on by an accident at Continental Can Company, and that a lawyer came into the hospital, saying that they would get a fortune in a suit against the company. He then had a visit from one of the big bosses in the company ,who wanted to know what they could do for him. He told the boss that all he wanted was a job ,when he got well ,and a pension when he was ready to retire . They agreed on that, and he said that the lawyer was really  mad, because he wasn't able to profit from another person's misery. He spent thirteen months in that hospital ,and during that time, had eighteen spinal taps. His temperature was way up there, and there was a lot of pain, but he remembered the words of his father, and he never gave up.  He has lost one-third of his heart, is on a oxygen machine, and he's made up his mind what to do for the rest of his life. He hopes that he will be missed by someone when he is gone. He hopes that life will always be better for his son who he adopted , as he did also with a daughter. As he talked about his children, I saw the gleem in his eyes, showing that he was very proud of them.

 His son is married and has children, but he never hesitates to call  Dad for some advice. He is a whiz with computers, and is doing ok in his life, but he always wants Dad and Mom to be a part of it too. He told his Dad, that no matter what he needs, it is there for them. It looks like this kind gentleman did a good job of raising a boy and girl ,that were adopted. As he talked, he said that the doctors,  after he had a heart attack, even recomended a couple of beers a night, instead of the valium that he was taking. In 1976, he had some blocked valves, and was told that he had five years to live, at the most. He told the doctor that he was wrong,  becaused he was going to live to see his son graduate.  He eventually decided to return to Marion, where he had freinds, that he could trust to raise his children. He then was told by a freind , about a doctor, that was doing some research on the use of  Vitaman E, to cut down on the risk of heart attacks, and that he has been on it ever since, and he feels fine. In 1992, he married a lady from Kokomo who had heart problems, and she went on the Vitamin E, and she is a lot better too.

 He also told me that he has known a great many freinds ,who never got much education in the schools, but recieved it in the home. He even stated that one of his freinds, who is a professor,was sent to Washington D.C. to teach some of our senators and representatives how to read and write. He has talked to Diane Sawyer, and Zsa Sza Gabor, who he danced with while her bodyguards sat and watched. He said that he has met many great people in his time, but that I impressed him most, because I reminded him of his father, who gave him some solid advice on how to conduct himself during his life here on earth.

 By talking and listening to this man , who from very early in life suffered heartache, and then through painful health problems, decided to make life better for those, who will still be here when he is gone, I was re-inforced in my thoughts that things happen for a reason. This man told me his story, that was never told to anyone else, because he felt very comfortable talking to me, and because he trusted me with it and he wanted me to write it. I guess that is why that I want to write these columns, because like his story, it comes straight from the heart.  I thank this gentleman who is a kind person, and very knowledgable in worldly affairs, who took time out , to talk to me about what his life was and is about.

 In my lifetime , I have met some very important people, and have been freinds with others, who in their life have taken stands against the doing of wrong and wanted to do what is right, so that everyone will benefit from their work. People who I have not met yet, such as the great man, Billy Graham, have given me a basis on how I want to live my life and how I want to be remembered, when I pass on . There have been many great geople, male and female, black and white, who have made a path for us to follow. As an American, who believes in being able to pursue what makes us happy, I feel proud that I am able to put into words, my feelings, without fearing that someone will take me down, for doing so. The reason that I write, for all to see, is that it is my right to do so. If  I can help this generation, understand that it wasn't easy to make it this far in life, then they will carry on that thought, so that this will always be a better world than it was. Our past is behind us, our future is forth-coming, based on what we do in the present..

 As I stated earlier in this article, I get lots of feedback from many readers who enjoy my writings, and they say that I have a gift, that isn't seen anymore in the newspapers. They say that reading my words , makes it seem like I am right there talking to them in person. They feel comfortable while reading my words, and they bring back a lot of memories to them, about how it was to live back then. Some have stated that because of my articles, their children listen to them more, because someone else beside them, verifies that the old days were rough, yet fruitful, and that things are a lot easier for them now. That makes me happy, because that is what I am trying to do.

 I recieved some letters, that I need to reply to, and I had some phone calls from readers, who either wanted to thank me, or to tell me about what they had to do to make it back then. I welcome all the letters, and I will try to get back with each one as soon as possible. But, you as a reader, needs to let the Tribune know that you want to continue to read my writings, so that they can let me know how often they want an article. I love to write and I love to know that it helps others. The Tribune has been very good in printing my articles, and through them, I am reaching out to all of you, so that we, as a whole, can enjoy each other. After all, we are all brothers and sisters, and as a family we can sit together and relive the old days.
What I try to do with my thoughts , is to send them out to you , the reader, to trigger up your own memories, of how it was to live in a world without all the assets of today. Many times the memories are of sad times, when it looked like you would never succeed in raising a family, with none of the needed resources in sight. But then, there was that someone out there ,who was willing to share with you ,their good fortune, and without them, you might of given up. More times than most , there was just the feeling of closeness of all the family members , that would get you through.

 I do not try to change how others think. I only want them to know how it was. They can make their own decisions on how they will live their life, and how that will affect those who will live in the future.