LAST MINUTE DE-ICER & OFF TO PARADISE!

       This past week I have been talking to a few people headed to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl and our Iowa Hawkeyes. Hopefully everyone will ge there safely and without incident.

      It did remind me of the first time flying to Maui for my 60th birthday. The weather forecast was for some really nasty stuff the morning we were to leave. Mt suggestion was to drive from Marshalltown to Des Moines and stay at a motel near the airport just in case the weather was bad and we might at least have problems driving down to Des Moines. 

       As it turned out it was a good decision. The flight was out real early in the A.M. and I remember watching them de-ice the plane from my seat inside the plane.  We sailed down the runway and we were off to Paradise. The weather only went from bad to worse in Iowa right after that. That's what you call a great feeling at other's expense! 

GALVESTON- A STORM & A FEAST!

       It was 1987. My ex-wife, May, and I had driven straight through from Des Moines to New Orleans for the New Orleans Jazz Festival. If you want some good advice, never, never drive that route straight through At that time there was not a good straight route via interstate from Des Moines to New Orleans. It was a killer. We could have divorced then after that journey that didn't seem to end despite seeing some beautiful scenery along the way.

       After a few days in The Big Easy and heading home, my compulsion was to head west and then down the Texas coast to Galveston. I really don't know why exactly. Maybe it was the song by Glen Campbell- "Galveston." Who knows!

      The drive from New Orleans to Galveston was not that scenic. Oh, yes we did stop to see "Oak Alley." This has to be one of the South's most scenic mansions with its majestic 150 year old plus oaks lining the drive from he passing road and Mississippi River up to the Antebellum with its pinkish glow. I photographed it and is still one of my most cherished photos on film. 

      The south-eastern part of Texas, around Port Arthur, with is oil refineries was not that scenic to say the least. But, along the way I got to see my first alligator in a ditch. along a roadside. Once in Galveston, it was somewhat anticlimactic as it was a Sunday afternoon late and a storm of some significance was coming in off the Gulf, producing waves of huge proportions. 

      At the end of a large and long pier sat a restaurant still open that time of day and even though the weather was threatening. The place was quite rustic, but, clean and BIG. From anywhere inside you could see this huge "menu" board high and up front of the restaurant. Knowing that this would be my last shot at enjoying gulf food, I didn't hold back. When the waiter came to take our order, I'm sure he wondered how many I was ordering for or maybe he was dealing with a lunatic.

       To this day, I don't remember all I ordered to eat, but, I sampled a lot even though I had tried a lot of different southern and/or Cajun food at the Jazz Festival in New Orleans and the French Quarter. That stormy afternoon in Galveston was "icing on the cake" to a most enjoyable week down south!

-------------written originally September 2008 


       

UNCLE PAUL AND UNCLE TOMMY LAVERTY

         I wrote the following observations of of my two favorite uncle's back in 2008 and would simply like to share them once again.

My Uncle Tommy (12/5/1910-10/7/1977) and Uncle Paul Laverty((2/15/1923-12/27/2000)

       Paul Mac Laverty was my dad's youngest brother by eleven years or so and was considered the baby of the family. Thomas LeRoy was my dad's oldest brother by a little over a year. He was held back in school at one point so he and my dad could walk to school together a mile east of their farm.

     The both became  role models after my dad passed away in 1953 when I was only nine years old. And, since my Grandpa Laverty had also passed away in 1950, they were, in m eyes, the head of the family at least when it came to the farm operations. There was never any doubt who was the head of the immediate family--my mom!

     I enjoyed being around them as much as I could simply for no other reason than their sense of humor. To this day I am convinced that there is that certain "gene" or gift that we all have within us and I have always been grateful and feel that I possessed those same"good humor genes" that both Uncle Paul and Uncle Tommy possessed.

       Uncle Paul, when he spoke, always had a little bit of a slur to his speech  maybe due to  the  juices from cigarettes or an occasional cigar. He would finish a sentence or phrase with possibly a spit after removing a short non-filter Camel cigarette and always followed with a nervous  Ugh! Ugh! along the way. Also, another nervous motion with his arm and elbow. Another funny thing I can still almost still smell to this day. During hay baling time or combining oats the smell of the hay or oat debris and his arms and the smell coupled with sweat. Maybe that was just a guy thing but it was one of those great smells that you remember.

        Uncle Tommy also was an extremely fast talker. If someone were to play him in a movie, it would have to be Broderick Crawford, a film actor from the 1940's and 50's. Tough acting and a fast talker. The difference was Uncle Tommy was always in a good mood with a teasing remark or gesture.

       One of his favorite "tricks" would be to pass a butter dish with the butter on the edge and then give it a little jerk and push while passing so your thumb would get jammed into the butter. He loved that bit! He introduced me to that trick one year when he took me to the Father and Son Banquet at the Laurel Methodist Church. Larry, his son had by that time had left home and was at college.It meant so much to me that he took me. This was after my dad passed away.

      One thing worth noting was that Uncle Paul, one year, drove a tractor across the mile to our house and through the fields on a tractor, with no cab, during a snow storm just to bring me a birthday card on my birthday in late January! That always meant a lot to me and showed me the importance of family.

        One other observation as a youngster, I could always tell or sense the love shown and expressed between my Uncle Paul and Aunt Mary. It always seemed they enjoyed holding hands and, of course, they loved to dance!

*************originally written September 2008 

        

       

TOP 10 VIEWED BLOG STORIES!!

      I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and thank all who have enjoyed a few a of the stories on my Blog. The following are the top 10 stories viewed since the inception of the Blog

Jack Baker Tragedy! 1/18/ 20115

Annie Laverty-To America 10/19/2014

70 yr. Old Classmate Injured 11/5/2014 

Why Can't I Fix That Or- 12/27/2015

Deborah Laverty's Christmas Story 12/20/2014

My Aunt Vivian 7/16/2014

She Was No Socialite! 8/14/2014

Rick Patterson My Best Friend 8/25 2014

Remembering Carol Berthrong 6/14/2015

Doris May Smith-Early Years 8/21/2014 

       

                              P.S. If you have a story that you would like to share and need assistance in any way please contact me-dennismlaverty@gmail.com, or mail to Dennis Laverty P.O. Box 717, Williamsburg, Iowa 52361, or call 31-330-8818. Thank you again! Dennis

PEPPERDINE! THE BEST CHOICE!

       
        Years ago I learned about the college that sits near Malibu, California and overlooks the Pacific ocean. I used to tell my kids and then my grand-kids that they should consider that institution of higher learning because of its cool location and besides Grandpa could visit on occasion and could have all that beautiful beach and spectacular views to enjoy. So far no one has taken me up on this idea. Just the usual Iowa State, Iowa U., and even Purdue! Chances are fading!

HAWKS LOST! DIDN'T CARE!

     Don't get me wrong! I am an Iowa Hawkeye through and through. I have been since I was a kid. But, the following account I lived through a loss. It was the early 1980's and I had won an incentive trip to Hawaii and  specifically Waikiki

       The Hawks were playing in football, I believe, Michigan State, and it was the last game of the year. What was important that I just had to know how the game came out. In those days you didn't simply pick up scores on TV as ESPN didn't get rolling until early 1980's and of course there were no cell phones. So, I actually called the Des Moines Register to get the score. The Hawks lost. Too bad.

      I remember simply hanging up the phone in our room, walked out to the hallway, took the elevator down and simply walked right out to this beautiful beach right in the heart of Waikiki. It was too bad about my Hawkeyes, but, I was in Paradise for goodness sake. Back to checking out the sand castles!

      

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INTEREST!

      The satisfaction in posting personal and family related stories is knowing that they provide and trigger memories that you have about your own personal and family related events. It has been especially gratifying to honor those that have come before me and meant so much  in my lifetime. 

       The most views on my site have been stories about those that have meant so much to us all! I ask that if any of you have stories to tell about ones you have known or loved ones, please get in touch with me at: dennismlaverty@gmail.com and I will be happy to put it on my site to share with others. Again, thank you all and a very Happy New Year!  

A POEM I TREASURE BY MY AUNT MARY LAVERTY

By Mary Laverty

In the year of 1900 and 44

The stork came knocking on Laverty's door;

With a little plumb baby, it must be a boy!

Mom and Dad were sure proud of their sweet little joy.

Dennis Michael they named him so-

For the day was blustery with new fallen snow.

He had lots of curls all over his head,

And brown big eyes that twinkled, they said.

Then Denny grew up and started to school;

Our boy was sharp and smart as a rule.

Then off to high school and noticed the girls, 

And loved to dance and would give them a whirl.

Football was his favorite sport, you see, 

For he knew how to run away from the enemy.

He loved to sing many a song;

His voice was deep and mighty and strong!

Many of loves he had in his day,

Then Sandi came along-and may I say-

To Marshalltown her smile it won him,

That pink Chevy is heading north again.

But money is needed and a job is near, 

A painter they made him in snow white gear;

They graduated him from Laurel High

and junior college is near, so have a sigh.

we're proud of you Dennis, and all you have done.

A many more years of happiness and fun.

****************** written by my Aunt Mary Elizabeth Spence Laverty (2/28/1923-1/15/1987) for  our wedding shower in 1964. Poetry was just one of her many gifts.

DON'T FORGET TO WALK MALIBU!

        If you are planning on attending the Rose Bowl Game on New Year's Day, here is one suggestion that won't cost you a dime and it is a cool thing to do! You have to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, park your car along the area where all the Malibu beach houses are and walk that beach. Yes, it's the area where "Two and a Half Men" was done.

       Years ago I did it after a Ohio State vs USC game in the 1980 Rose Bow, No I wasn't a  Buckeye somehow, but, I had a close friend who lived near Pasadena, was a Ohio State Alumnus and invited me out to southern California for the New Year. Just to say you walked THAT beach is worth it. And, it will only cost you the short drive there!

STAR WARS!

     I remember seeing the very first Star Wars back in the 1970's and it was a very big deal. I went to the new one in Corralville this week-end and I must say I was sort of disappointed. I was expecting totally different "tech" stuff, etc. I was glad to see Harrison Ford, but, the plot was still about the same as 30 plus years. Don't get me wrong it is worth a see, but, it didn't knock me out of the theater like I expected it would do. Maybe I am just getting "numb" to all the action movies and am expecting too much! The new little robot who just rolled along with his rolling head was kinda cute!

NEW YEAR'S EVE/I FEEL GOOD @ SECOND CITY!

       This was a time in the 1980's and I was married to my ex-wife May. I had quit drinking prior to a particular New Year's week-end. The reason for my decision to stop was due to witnessing a close friend get terribly intoxicated at his own wedding reception. At that point I quit drinking alcohol completely for at least 10 years until our divorce.

        To stay clear of situations where there was a lot of alcohol at least at local , bars, and close friends that drank we decided on this particular New Year's week-end  to go to  Chicago and  attended  the impromptu  comedy club called The Second City.. This was where John Beluchi and Dan Aykroyd got their first starts.

         At midnight they took a break and the house lights went up and just played music over head. One of the songs that was played was "I feel good" by James Brown."  Now keep in mind that both yours truly and my ex were cold sober except for coffee and/or Diet Coke. Everyone else in the joint I'm sure were not feeling much pain one way or another.

        The Club also had passed out the little party horns or Kazoos that are normal for New Year's Eve. Now if you can visualize all these people blowing their little horns in unison as James Brown would sing "I feel good" and then dah,dah,dah,dah,dat! 

         Just watching all these people blowing their horns to this song and the part where the sax kicks in was more than I could stand. I am not sure I have ever laughed harder. Their have been other occasions were I have witnessed intoxicated people do their thing while I was sober, but, this night couldn't be beat! If you have never tried it you might like it!

      
          

THOSE AWFUL GRAVEL TRUCKS!

       During the President Eisenhower years (1952-1960) the Federal  Interstate Highway System was started. Interstate 80 through Iowa was being built during that time and the source of much of the rock and gravel that was used came from the quarry near Ferguson, Iowa. 

      The direct line from the quarry to I-80 (Kellogg- Newton was right by our house. I don't recall how long it took to complete the stretch from say Grinnell to Newton, but, I do know that for some time gravel trucks went by our house day and night with dust flying. We did usually get a break on the week-ends. 

      My poor mother never could keep up with dusting our house and she was obsessive about it in the first place. And, we were always grateful when the wind blew from the west and then it would be the Paul's problem,  the people who lived across the road. 

        I swore I would never live on a gravel road the rest of my life and I never have.Besides, it was always difficult to live one mile from a paved highway(14) so you could carefully dust off your car with a damp towel once you got to the pavement. Couldn't go around with your cool 57' Chevy all dusty. Well, could you? 

A COLD WINTER-REALLY COLD! (62-63)

       The winter was 1962-1963. I had graduated from Laurel High School and was headed to Marshalltown Junior College. Rick Patterson, Tracy Miiller, both high school class-mates, first moved in together in a second floor duplex on the northwest corner of Ninth Street and State Street. Then, Tracy and I eventually moved into a little cheaper apartment, also a duplex on Fifth Avenue south of the Post Office today and close to the railroad tracks. 

        The heat was controlled by the tenants downstairs and we usually had to open windows because it became too hot. The irony was that the temperature at that time hit "below freezing" at least briefly every day for at least 11-13 days in a row. I think this is still some type of record. 

      To keep my car from freezing up by sitting out every night, I would park it over the sewer outlets along the street and let the warm air coming up keep my engine warm. Stuff like that was why I was attending college!!!

LUNCH WITH JULIA ROBERTS- YA! THAT'S THE TICKET!

      Whether you like Donald Trump or not and  all of his exaggerations, he reminds me of a comedian that appeared on Saturday Night Live many years ago. His name was Jon Lovitz and he played the pathological liar with the name of Tommy Flanagan. Check him out on U Tube. He was a stitch. "This week-end I flew to New York City in my private jet with Julia Roberts and had lunch!" Ya! That's the ticket! 

WHY CAN'T I FIX THAT OR WE ALL HAVE GIFT!

     Not too long ago I went to the local Napa auto store and got a blinker bulb that went out in my car. On some things one of the employees will come out and replace some items for you at no charge. I am that guy. 

       Of course, this young lady helped me and went right out and carefully pulled out a section of the front lighting panel and in less than 3 minutes my car was blinking perfectly.That was sort of embarrassing all though not as bad as one of my youngest grand-kids showing me the ins and outs of a lap-top or smart phone.

     My cousin,Larry Laverty, was a whiz at cars and he even built a lot of his own house all except maybe the wiring or plumbing. But, he could have! My brother-in-law- Clyde Eddy was probably one of THEE best auto mechanics in central Iowa if not east of the Rockies!

       My sister, Doris, worked at the Chevrolet dealership in Newton, Iowa and it dawned on me how I could become as knowledgeable about autos as my whiz bang relatives. I had her pick up the latest mechanic's manual on Chevrolet's. 

       I tried to simply sit down and absorb this book and know "everything" there  was to know about the workings under the hood of an automobile. It didn't work out as planned. There is something to be said about "it is in the genes." My conclusion was that I simply did not have what it takes with regard to mechanics.

        I  tried to keep telling myself that we all have some type of gift. I made a pretty god living in selling real estate and never was afraid to get up in front of a crowd to speak. As I am typing, I realize I do enjoy and am fairly good at telling stories and through those stories others may bring back their own fond memories and who knows some may even write their own stories to share.  Oh, by the way, I did replace a rear light bulb in my SUV without anyone's help! It did feel good! 

SELFIES- SOME NOT FLATTERING!

      After looking at several "selfies" on face book and other sources, I have come to the conclusion that not everyone should be in a selfie at least that close up or without using some type of extension on their arm.  Some personal shots would be best done at a distance! Some further away than others. End of story! 

HAIRCUTS OF OLD!

       The 1950's and up until the Beatles came to town in the early 1960's was quite a creative time for men's hair. We started to see more of men's hair after JFK became president because he didn't cover up his thick head of hair with a hat. Up until then all you ever saw were men wearing those Fedora's almost everywhere.

       Hair tonic and butch wax were used alot up until then. You needed those products to slick it back or keep it up. During the late 50's and early 60's I had hair styles with my hair long on the sides with what they called a ducktail in the back, a straight flat top, combed forward with a "waterfall" on the forehead and combed back on the sides. The choices were endless.

       When the Beatles came over in the early 1960's it came to an end. No more getting haircuts once or twice a week. Hair was worn a lot longer and pretty much dry without all that greasy stuff.  Barbers either went broke or changed their ways and turned their shops into fancier places called Salons, decorated them high profile so they could justify higher prices because you weren't coming in as often. Again, times were changing!    

CALENDER'S ANOTHER FADING STAPLE!

       I stopped up earlier to pick up a prescription at the local drug store. I asked where the calender's were as it's that time of year when you need a new one. The lady had a free one just laying in the pharmacy and gave it to me. It would work  perfectly to lay on my desk. I always like to be able to glance at the month while I am making out bills or whatever. Yes, I still write checks for some of my bills.

      Next week I'll stop in a local Insurance Agency and pick up one to hang on the door that goes out to the garage. I can see it nicely from the kitchen table and can glance at it for various reasons.

       I occasionally do glance at the calendar that is on my phone just to prove to myself that I am not totally a dinosaur. But, at one time getting a new calendar was almost a thing you looked forward to. If you got one from your insurance agent or  local co-op you felt like you were part of a special group. Almost status.  

        Some of them were works of art. Some were kind of naughty and only guys who owned the likes of auto mechanic shops had them hanging on their walls. It is just another one of those things that is slowly disappearing or at least not in demand as it once was. Sort of sad!

       

ONCE GOOD TWICE EVEN BETTER!

      The other night I decided to give another try to making a homemade pizza with a Chef Boyardee pizza maker.I love rolling out the dough and all else that making a homemade pizza entails. I know I told about the last time I made a Boyardee pizza, but, this one was even better!

      I don't know what there is about this pizza but all I can say is WOW! It has to be what is in the sauce that comes with the kit. Because I normally use a little pepperoni, green pepper, mild sweet banana pepper slices  and a little Kraft five cheese with "a touch of Philadelphia creaminess" whatever that means. It came out of the oven with this dark golden and reddish look. And the taste! Oh, my!

      It is funny that today there are dozens of frozen pizza brands and very few of old fashion boxed pizza's or even the sauces in a can. Some people don't know what they are missing. Who says you can't go back! I did it and it was "marvelous!" 

OBSERVATIONS ON CLOTHES IN THE 50's &60's!

    Up through the 50's and 1960's was a time when you went to events in your "Sunday best." Even on my first day of school in 1949 I wore a corduroy sports jacket. My Grandpa Laverty sat around on the weekends in wool pants, a  long sleeve shirt, and a heavy suit jacket. And that was in the summer. No! We did not have central air-conditioning.

      On a special gathering of my mom's family, my cousins, Phil and Stan, would come down to visit in a white shirt and tie. That was a little extreme, but! Everything got ironed of course even sheets.There was a time when Elvis Presley was popular that I had my mother starch my collars on my shirts so I could wear them up like him.

      When it was time to buy clothes for back to school we usually went to a store in Newton called Wormhandt's. It was an upscale men's clothing store that most town's had like Gildner's in Marshalltown. I really don't remember why we just didn't go there. It was closer. One time I do recall after gathering a whole bunch of clothes the clerk saying that the total came to around $100. I thought, wow! That was a lot of money then.

       Mom never bought clothes from Penney's or Sears. Something about "you get what you pay for." I think my dad had a bad experience at Sear's one time. The kids I met from Church Camp from Marshalltown made an impression on me and what they wore. You watched what those big city kids wore. 

       One time I spotted this kid at the Methodist Church Camp in Clear Lake with a pair of buck saddle shoes. Had to them. I made my mother when I got back find a pair in Marshalltown and that was when there probably 6 or more places to buy shoes. I did find a pair even though they were a size too big and I had to stuff some tissue paper in the end. As of this writing I still have "A" pair of brown buck saddle shoes that I bought in the mid 1970's and I use to wear them to every single Iowa Hawkeye football game for good luck!

ROCK & ROLL AND I GO WAY BACK!

      "Rock Around the Clock"by Bill Haley and the Comets was my first record that I purchased as a kid. It was around 1953 or 1954 and it was what they called a 78 rpm, the size of a big pancake, thick and brittle. That song kicked off R & R in the early 1950's and the song came from a movie called "Blackboard Jungle."  Unfortunately, I sat on it somehow soon after the purchase and broke it!

       At the time I was nine or ten years old and I loved that music like so many kids did at the time , I started collecting 45's (smaller, vinyl, and had big hole in center) like most guys were collecting baseball cards. I loved Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis. It was the beginning of one of he greatest musical sensations in history.

      A lot of the early groups were African American, but, it made no difference. Some tried to keep white kids from being influenced like having Pat Boone(white singer) singing "Tuttie Fruttie" as did Little Richard. Sorry! That didn't work out for Pat Boone. It was a shock to first see a group called the Diamonds, an all white group that sounded black first walk out on stage on the Ed Sullivan Show. Most kids presumed they were black I am sure.  Just like when Buddy Holly walked out on stage at the Apollo Theater in Harlam( area of New York City) at an all Black audience. Most kids had heard these groups on radio or on their records but not on TV. 

      As of tis writing I still have most of my old 45 records and several 33's. I did get to see The Big Bopper at the Val Aire Ballroom in West Des Moines.
       

WHO WANTS TO REMEMBER THEIR DENTIST!

      Two little kids this past week were headed to their dentist and it appeared that they were really looking forward to it! Not in my day.

        I used to go to a dentist in Marshalltown, Iowa by the name of Dr. Pegg. Anybody remember him? He was located in the Masonic Temple Building. It seems as I look back most everybody we went to see was located in that building. Barber, doctors and dentists! 

       He never used novocaine as I can remember. The one thing I can still visualize was the "slow speed" drill that was used at the time. I can still see the smoke coming from my mouth until it was time to reach over and spit! Even the little set of The Seven Dwarfs that he gave away made of some type of plaster never made look forward to the next visit! Doesanybody else remember those dwarfs? Where was Snow White?

A HUNTER I WAS NOT!

        All the talk lately about hunting deer and whatever reminded me of one of my first and last hunting experiences. The realization that I was not a hunter came to me while in college during the mid 1960's. During the pheasant hunting season I came up to our farm from Des Moines with a fellow college student I knew. My sister, Doris, and brother-in- law, Clyde, lived there at the time. 

      The guy that I brought up with me was from Chicago and had a new shot-gun that his dad had purchased for him. I'm not sure that he had ever hunted before. Every time we crossed over a fence that gun seemed to always be pointing at me. 

       When the day was over, I knew I would never hunt again or at least pheasants. First, the thought of being shot accidentally while shooting a bird that didn't appeal to me to eat while stomping through and over corn stalks on a very cold day just didn't seem like my cup of tea. Besides, I was not a very good shot! To surmise, give me a juicy turkey breast from the grocery store anytime. You bet! Never did hunt again.

************As a follow up to this story my dad's 16 gauge pump "Remington" shotgun with case was stolen from a storage facility in West Des Moines in the early 1990's. Despite the fact I was not a hunter it always broke my heart that it was lost. It was one of the very few things left by him! 

SUMMER DANCES UNDER THE STARS!

       I had mentioned in a previous story about listening to my first Stereo. It was at my junior high romance's home in Gilman, Iowa. Her name was Denise Walker and my sister, Doris, would drive me over on a Saturday night or Sunday afternoon for our "date."

       Saturday nights were special because Gilman had outdoor dances in an enclosed area with a concrete floor and built-in bandstand.  Generally the music from a kid's perspective sucked. Usually it was a small band of guys with look a like suits and their music was geared to the "older" crowd. Most of the music was popular with this crowd and not any R & R to the liking of us teenager's. But, after all we were in the minority.

       Oh, well, we made the best of it! And, when they did start to play something fairly cool for us to dance to it wouldn't last long and the they would announce that they would be back in 15 minutes or so. It was always a lot longer! But, better days were ahead! 

I WOULD RECOMMEND LATEST MISSION IMPOSSIBLE!

    Just in case I was not in the mood for another Christmas movie this time of year , I hedged my bet and rented from Red Box the latest "Mission Impossible." I was not disappointed although most of these "action" movies spend way too much time chasing somebody either in a really slick car or motorcycles. At some point you just want to get on with the plot. But, besides some of that you can always fast forward it.  It was was worth the watch! Besides I have always loved the theme music from the original TV series. At one time I bought a "single" CD that was put out by U2 and at a really fast pace. I used it when I went for a run in the morning. Boy! Did that motivate me. PS I did watch "The Christmas Story" earlier in the day. That's my favorite Christmas movie--a kid and his BB gun!

WHEN STEREO CAME TO BE!!

          When I graduated from eighth grade in 1958 one of my gifts was a new hi-fi. It held a 78, 33, and a 45 record. Remember those little or big vinyl disks. The one most often bought was the 45 with the big hole. The 78 was a breakable material and thicker. Generally, you bought the 45 for around 99 cents for a single with another song on the flip side. Rarely did you buy an album until an artist put together a a few songs or several of their hits. 

          One of my junior high romances was Denise Walker who lived in Gilman, Iowa just 7 miles east of Laurel. Her folks ran a Super Value Store in town and lived on the east edge of Gilman. During his 1958 period, Denise's folks bought a new Sterophonic set-up and had it put up in their living room. 

        The coolest thing was that the speaker's were set up on either side of their fireplace in the living room. Of course, the big difference between mono sound and stereo was that stereo the sound was "split" and you could hear different sounds from the speakers and sound could cross from one speaker to the other.

       What was really cool was that they had a demo or novelty record that came with the Stereo. It was incredible listening to a bowling ball start down a lane on one side of the fireplace then  roll on across and hit the pins on the other side of the room. Wow! Or, the sound of an airplane taking off and flying across the room and the same with a car. The sound of music, movies, and TV would be changed forever. 

I ENJOYED THE SCHOOL HOT LUNCH PROGRAM!

       Yes we ate hot prepared meals back in the 1950's and early 1960's. And, to me despite what others might think, were very good overall. I don't remember only on rare occasions taking a lunch from home. 

      My favorite day was Monday. Usually the cooks rotated hot-dogs and loose meat sandwiches every other week. My least favorite day was Friday. Fish sticks! Ugh! It is funny that today I love all types of seafood. Not then. The private Catholic school closed in nearby Haverhill during that time and the parents sent some of their children to Laurel which was a public school and no tuition. At that time Catholics had to eat fish on Friday's and so we always had fish sticks on that day. I still am not a big fan of fish sticks to this day. If would have only been Walleye!

      Also, in the afternoon, we would go down to the lunchroom and have unsweetened orange juice and/or milk for an afternoon treat. I haven't had it for years, but, for a long time as an adult I would buy the Texan brand of unsweetened orange juice. That I loved!

FOLLOW UP TO WORKING AT LAUREL SCHOOL.

     The summer after my sophomore year at Laurel High School I worked for the school mowing the school grounds and doing other odd jobs to assist the janitor. I helped clean rooms, some painting, treated gym floors and so on.

      I usually worked eight hours a day, 40 hours a week at an hourly wage of $1.00 an hour. Somewhere I still have a pay stub that showed the deductions and what my net was after deductions. One dollar an hour was prevalent then for a wage give or take 25 cents.  The work was not too difficult. The school did have a riding lawn mower so it wasn't too taxing.

      It was always fun to walk uptown and have lunch at the cafe at the back of Fuller's Grocery Store and have a big ol' hamburger or hot beef sandwich. Lunches usually ran about $1.00 the equivalent to an hour of your wages.   

WHEN WINTERS WERE WINTERS!

       This mild winter to date reminded me when one particular winter was one that just didn't quit. It was 1961 and we had just moved to Laurel, Iowa from our farm home south of town. The home we moved into was owned by our Uncle Pat Laverty and was just a block north of the school.

      At the time it sounded like a good idea to work for the school shoveling snow on the sidewalks around the school. Besides I had worked at the school during the summer and how hard could shoveling a little snow be?

  I should have passed on this one. The winter of 61-62 was during my senior year and I did shovel snow for the school. And, I mean with a shovel. There were no snow blowers or they did not have a little tractor with a blade. Nope! A shovel! Thank goodness I wasn't responsible for the drive ways. 

      That winter it just snowed and snowed and the snowed some more. And, it never seemed to melt off. Those side walks were like canyons. I lifted that snow up and up some more. Only a few months earlier I was riding leisurely around the school grounds on a riding lawnmower. Those winters were winters!  

DANCE CRAZES OF THE 50's, 60's, & 70's!

       My sister Doris has talked about a particular dance craze when she was in high school called the Bunny Hop! You simply lined up with one person behind another with hands on the next guy's hips and off you would go, hop, hop, hop. Just like a bunny! Also, there was the Hokey Pokey!  That's what's it's all about!

      One of the crazes similar to the Bunny Hop when I was in high school (early 60's) was the Locomotion. There was a song made popular by "Little Eva" called the Locomotion.  It was a lot of fun weaving around the dance floor with a chain of people just like a train. It stayed popular for dance clubs and parties for years afterward. Chug! Chug!

      During the years between the 50's and 70's there seemed to be more "craze" dances then, and it did put a little something extra into dancing besides just the same R & R steps. The Diamonds made the Stroll famous as Chubby Checker and the Twist. Even in good shape the Twist could make your side hurt until the next day. Who knew how many calories you would burn "Twisting the Night Away!"

      And, there were others like the Frug, Chicken, Mash Potato, Pony, Swim, Hully Gully, Monkey,  and the Watusi! Later on during the Disco era of the late 1970's was the Hustle. Maybe these craze dances were a little silly, but, let me tell you they were a lot of fun! Who knows! Maybe some will make a comeback one day! 

      

      

EXCHANGE THOSE FAMILY STORIES- DO IT NOW!

       Just recently I put on my Blog some stories that involved my cousin, Dianne Smith Davis, and family. They were short "gems" that were fun to have and share with other family members and as usual for others to trigger memories.

       I have another cousin that I will be arm twisting to come up with a few more family memories. I intend to keep pecking away at different family members, especially my sisters for more, and old classmates. The best stories are one's with humor involved or something unusual. And, keep them short just as if you were sitting there and telling it to a loved one! Do it now and before it is too late!

SNOW SUITS TO T- SHIRTS & SHORTS!

      One observation that came to mind yesterday while working at the Burg Grocery was the attire of the younger crowd coming in  especially as to what they were wearing. Some of the kids that came in were wearing shorts, flip flops and short sleeve shirts. Now mind you I realize the temperature was in the 50's and fairly mild for this time of year but!

       It does seem that people are not dressing in the winter months with heavy clothes like I did when  was a younger man and as a kid. I am sure a lot of it is because we are darting from our garages into our fast warming cars and then right in to our inside destination. Maybe we are getting tougher?? No! Some clothing is lighter but can resist cold and heat better. 

     Some of my memories of winter gear as a kid seem very heavy by today's standards.  Snow suits, Parka's, big over shoes with buckles were the norm. It was a wonder we had any time left at recess after all the time it took to get the stuff on! And, oh that smell of mittens on the heat registers! 

       Just like the custom of  not wearing white after Labor Day, mine is and will be no shorts after I can see my breath in the fall or early winter unless I am walking the beach in some tropical paradise!   

BRANDON'S JOKE OF THE WEEK!

What do you get when Santa goes down chimney into fireplace?  CRISP KRINGLE!!!

ONE BUCKET LIST LEADS TO ANOTHER!

       While helping out a lady at the Burg Grocery yesterday, I mentioned about my adventure to Kalona and the Livestock Auction. She quickly advised me that there is one held in Oxford which is even closer to Williamsburg. Plus, she went on about how great their pies were and that they still use "lard" and that their hot beef sandwiches are really really good! Well, here we go again!

THE HOODS OF LILLIE MAE'S!

      My early memories of Lillie Mae's in Marshalltown goes back to when it was located on east Main Street on the north side between 1st and 2nd avenue-across from Zeno's Pizza today. Wherever you remember the location, most all of us would agree it was great candy.

        I don't really know why I got to thinking about it, but, I always found it odd or strange that such a nice place that everyone loved to get candy for that "special" occasion, was also a hang out for the "hoody" crowd of the time. These guys always wore black leather jackets and real greasy hair and were considered the rougher crowd of the town. Generally, they sat way in the back of the candy shop even though there were booths and you could order food there. 

       Sometimes, they would be standing around out front and they were a little frightening if you happened yo go in or walk by. It didn't make sense  to me then nor now why such an establishment with its fine reputation for candies, let a  rough crowd hang out there! Maybe the Greeks that ran the place knew that these hoods were actually very nice guys! I will never know. 

WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR IT!

/  
      A week ago or so when we had that run of really nice weather, a few people that I assisted at the Burg Grocery all made a similar comment that seemed odd at the time. It went something like "It sure is nice today but we'll pay for it later!" 

        Does that mean that God or Mother Nature likes to play tricks on us by giving us something nice and then somehow punishes us later! I guess logic says that we will have worse weather, especially once we get in to January-no doubt! Hopefully somewhere down the line that will work in reverse!

AN ITEM ON BUCKET LIST COMPLETED!

      Most us of think of things that are on a "Bucket List" include a Mediterranean Cruise, a Hawaiian trip, or something else really exotic. Let's just call this one item on my Bucket List somewhat on the miner side, but, still it has been something I have wanted to do since I heard about it moving to eastern Iowa.Besides, I have fond memories of  having lunch at  the Baxter Sales Barn when I was a teenager and working for a guy named Bernie Klaunberg. I always remembered  how good the food was there and so this was my chance to relive a fond memory in a way.
    
       And, here it is. This past Thursday I drove down to Kalona, Iowa and went to the Thursday cattle auction at the Kalona Sales Barn which is about a 35 minute drive south of Williamsburg. I didn't go so much for the actual auction but the adjacent luncheon  cafe run by Amish or Mennonite ladies. 

       When first arriving, I went into into the auction area and sat on the top row of all wood  tiered down stadium seating. In a horseshoe shape, it surrounded the show ring area that was large enough to handle up to 10 cattle. The auctioneer did his thing and the number  of cattle, average weight, and hundred weight sold were posted on a digital board.  The action was fast and the cattle were brought in and out with much speed.

      As was pointed out by a gentleman sitting next to me, there were at least two men that represented "large" interests there bidding on what interested them. And, to think that this style of buying and selling livestock has been done this way for decades. 

      Now for the part that I actually came for. The luncheon area sits adjacent to the upper area of the show ring. It is enclosed and arranged in a narrow horse shoe with bolted down stools facing the continuous  counter. Most of the walls and ceiling are the old knotty pine wood from at least the 1950's. This was my kind of place. 

       A young man that was sitting to my right side advised I try the cheeseburger and hash browns with gravy. He told me like he was giving me a secret tip of some kind leaning over and telling me this out of the corner of his mouth.. He was right on and I was not disappointed. The young lady that took my order was dressed in the Amish attire as  all the waitresses were and courteous and efficient. 

       The big delight came when I ordered a slice of cherry pie with one scoop of vanilla. It was out of this world. The cherry was the deepest red, sweet, and delicious as I have had since I can't remember. Someone makes their pies for them and at this point I didn't push the young lady for the name of the supplier. If I want it again I'll just have to make another trip. I was advised by at least three different people how good their pies were! Eating was believing. 

       Coming from a farm background and growing up around cattle, even the "cattle smell" didn't bother me in the restaurant. Somehow it was just part of the magic! A good friend of mine believes that they have an "exotic animal" auction in the spring. That could be fun and worth checking out! No matter. I shall return one day soon. That pie will be haunting me until I do. Besides, I forgot to order the hash browns with the gravy!    

I WAS SANTA

       This morning from 9AM to noon at the Hartig Drug Store here in Williamsburg, I had the opportunity to be Santa. The store provided a really nice brand new uniform that worked well. (Pictures will be put on Facebook in the next few days as that is not my cup of tea.

       It didn't really amaze me that I was not nervous, as I do love impromptu situations, am not afraid of strangers, and I do love little kids. The one thing that wasn't really a surprise was when I asked them what they wanted for Christmas. A lot of the the things mentioned I did not have a clue what it was they were telling me. What ever happened to wanting a doll or truck. I know, it's been a while for that.

        One young lad when asked what he wanted replied: " I would like a Drone!" That threw me off a bit and I just replied with a "We'll see!" One of the adults standing around later said that he had never even seen a drone nor did he know what it did! Times have and are a changing!

        I truly loved doing this gig. Maybe next year I can get some more bookings and I will go on tour?  Ho! Ho!Ho! Merry Christmas!   

ENCOUNTER WITH PIGEONS WHEN HE BROKE BOTH ARMS!

     This another story from my cousin, Dianne Smith Davis, who resides in Corning , Iowa. Her parents were Ruthella and Arnold Smith. Arnold was my mother's,( Doris May Smith Laverty) youngest brother.

My Encounter with Pigeons

      Late one fall day when my family was living in Laurel my father Arnold decided to do a good deed for someone he knew. The task at hand was helping hiss friend shingle the roof. The day proceeded along quite nicely until toward the end of the day. Unfortunately, my dad fell off the roof that was being shingled and broke both his arms.

      My dad had always had a love for animals of all types and at that time my dad was raising pigeons in the barn.The task of feeding the pigeons fell on me the oldest daughter and at that time I was only in 5th grade. I certainly didn't like the stupid pigeons flying around while I was trying to feed them. 

       Word quickly spread to my Aunt May and my Aunt Vivian(oldest sister of Arnold and May and Uncle La Verne(Vivian's husband) and soon all three were at our place. Aunt Vivian being the nurse went with mom to the hospital and Uncle La Verne came to my rescue to feed those stupid flying around pigeons. Aunt May took us home with her  when the task of feeding the pigeons was completed. Aunt May fixed us all supper and we spent the night at her home. After supper Uncle La Verne went back to Marshalltown. Aunt Vivian was in charge of taking care of my dad and my mom. 

        My dad wasn't able to drive for quite some time nor do any other tasks that needed the use of his hands or arms. Before my dad was totally healed he became very testy with all of us. My mom had to do the driving, but, she didn't quite live up to the expectations that my dad had for driving. 

       It became a very long healing time for us and yes, guess who had to keep feeding those stupid pigeons? You got it, me!!! I don't enjoy pigeons to this day, but, I do enjoy watching the birds of all species come to my suet feeder and the bird feeders in the winter. I certainly can live without pigeons for a long time or at least from quite a distance from me!

                                                                    Dianne Smith Davis

       

  

WHERE HAVE ALL THE MODERATES GONE!

        It seems like when watching the news and listening to the candidates running for President, they seem to try and convince us all that they are extremely conservative or extremely progressive. I have always been one of those people that for the most part have been somewhere in the middle. Extremists of any kind have always made me uncomfortable left or right. As one old judge said in a movie years ago "The truth lies in the middle."The one I am totally confused about is where it puts Donald Trump! He has put some excitement in an otherwise somewhat boring political process for electing a President! 

OXYMORON!!!

   

       Yesterday at the Burg Grocery, a lady was checking out only two items.One was a bag of lettuce and the other a bag of chocolate chips. It seemed odd and for a second I could not think of the word that the situation meant. The clerk immediately blurted out "oxymoron!" It was funny at the moment! 

TRUE STORY/ AA MEETING!

      Years ago while visiting a friend in the Minneapolis area, I attended  an AA meeting with him as his guest one Saturday morning.The gentleman that was running the meeting told the story about being invited out for a drink after work by a fellow employee. The employee asked if this particular guy would like to stop after work for "A" drink. His reply was "NO" but if would kike to have 5 or 6  he could count him in!!!

MEMORIES OF FAMILY GATHERINGS!

      The following are more thoughts and memories of Dianne Smith Davis during this Holiday Season. Dianne is the cousin of Dennis Laverty and daughter of Arnold and Ruthella Smth. The period of time would have been late 1940's and 1950's.

      These are some thoughts that popped into my head recently. I guess the thinking about Christmas and family gatherings caused this to come forth in my memories.It was a custom of our family to gather at least once a month for a family meal and time to be together on Sundays. Our gathering spot was often Aunt May's home south of Laurel as she had had the largest home to host all of us.
     
       There were twelve cousins, and four sets of parents plus our beloved grandmother to enjoy this gathering. After a bountiful meal and the dishes were done, the men would gather together in the living room or if the weather was warm, outside on the porch chatting and casually smoking their favorite brand of cigarettes which were usually Lucky Strikes except Uncle La Verne and his favorite brand was Chesterfields. 

      The women w would gather in a place that was not where the men were gathered and the cousins were outside playing in the yard playing games that children of that era enjoyed. On occasion, I would sit and watch the women do needlework, and usually some type of embroidery, or knitting. Unfortunately, I didn't inherit the gift of crocheting or knitting, but my cousin, Bonita, has become a beautiful crochet artist and my handywork talents have been embroidery work or any other. 

 

SUBTLE HINT/ SNOW BIRDSARDS A LEAVIN'

Today at the Burg Grocery was one of those first subtle hints from a customer that they will be soon leaving for warmer surroundings.This particular lady mentioned that she was unable to find a bag of potatoes smaller than 5 pounds. She really wanted something smaller as they would be leaving very shortly for Florida. I f you are headed for  a warmer climate thae last of your worries are a few spuds! Before she left the store at least three other people knew they were leaving.If only I were a burlar! Stay tuned.There will be some more "subtle hints" and not so suttle coming up! Stay tuned.

AUNT VIVIAN/ OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL OF SORTS!

      This is another Holiday memory of my cousin Dianne Smith Davis of Corning, cousin of Dennis Laverty, daughter of Arnold and Ruthella Smith.

Fond memory of Aunt Vivian:

This is a memory that I have of our Aunt Vivian, the sister of Arnold, Vernon and May. Aunt Vivian was the one in our family that had a nursing degree. For many years she worked as a Visiting Nurse in Marshalltown, Iowa

 But, my memory of her relates to our family. When any one in this family had a sickness or needed surgery we could count on Aunt Vivian being right at our side. She was even allowed to go into surgery when any of us needed surgery. This relieved our parents as well the one of having surgery such as having our tonsils removed or any other type of surgery.

We all knew we were in excellent care when Aunt Vivian was with us during our illness. It was so comforting to awaken from surgery to see Aunt Vivian right there with us along with our parents. She was also the last person we saw as we shut our eyes being put to sleep for the surgery procedure and being there when we woke up from the surgery. Aunt Vivian was such a comforting, caring Aunt through her entire life. 

A MENU-HEY! NOT A BAD IDEA.

     Besides weather, once in a while conversations drift toward food and eating while assisting customers with their groceries. On this particular day at the Burg Grocery a gentleman, well maybe more of a good ol'boy type, started it off.

     He began by telling me a story about having lunch at one of the restaurants in the Amana Colonies some thirty years ago. The story goes that at lunch time working guys would sit down at this particular round table and they would give their drink order to their waitress. Then the others at the table would pass bowls of food and if an item ran out more would be brought to the table and around and around it would go. When done eating one would get their check , pay the tab,  and out you would go.

      Sometime later, as the story continues, did this particular guy come to a stark realization while dining out one evening for the first time with family and,  was given a menu. He  did not realize that you had to order your entire meal from it. Not just your drink order as when he was at lunch with a group of working guys. That story made my week!

TOP 10 YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN A SMALL TOWN GROCERY!!!

1. Corn stalks are found laying around in the parking lot.

2. There are more dirty and dusty vehicles in the parking lot that clean ones.

3 One of the check-out clerks swats flies while waiting for a customer.

4. More checks written than plastic cards used and while waiting for them to write the check your life flashing in front of you.

5. Most customers in the cold months are wearing Carhart coats

6. The lady customer complains of sore shoulder, but says she hasn't done anything unusual during the day except feeding horses by tossing bales of hay over fence to them!

7. Lady says she doesn't need help with carry-out while grabbing to large gallons of milk in one hand and two sacks of groceries in the other.

8.If someone comes into the store in a suit and tie you know they are not from town or it's a funeral or after church!

9. The clerk knows most all customers entire family, with names, ages, and social activities.

10. A guy walks in with extremely muddy boots and nobody seems to really notice or care. 

OUR DINING ROOM -THE HUB!

       I always had a problem in homes I owned later in life because the dining rooms never compared to the one where I grew up. Our home was a huge old turn of the century two story. nothing could compare to its size Nothing!

      At Christmas time this was the hub. The leafs in our dining room table could be extended to accommodate 10-12 people easily. Slidin you chair back from the table you could never hit a wall. Of, course the kids card table was close by. I am sure some might say the real action was the kitchen., but, not for me.
      The east side of the dining room was a large opening to the living room with pocket doors normally slid back. In the left-hand corner was a writing desk, and on the right of the doors or in the south east corner of the room was a chair with an old wall mounted crank telephone.

    On the south wall were a set of windows with a built in bench seat the entire length of the wall, except for a door that led out to the enclosed back porch that was built on around 1950. The west wall adjoined the kitchen with a built in China hutch for finer dishes and included a pass through counter and built-in drawers below. 

      The north wall always included a long buffet that held finer dishware and one door  on the northeast corner led into a bedroom and later a TV room and to right of the buffet was a door that led to the hallway and stairs that led to upstairs. 

        Especially in the winter months, this room carries my fondest memories, not only at Christmas time and all the activity around the dinner table, but many more warm memories. During the cold winters, Mom would close off the living room to conserve heat and basically shutting down the house to two rooms-the dining room and the kitchen and adjoining bathroom. With all the glass from the panel of windows facing south in that room it was obviously the coziest room in the house and from that vantage point you could see who all was coming and going in the driveway, but, for quite a distance south! 

       Many a day I remember playing Chinese Checkers to pass the time especially if we were snowed in. I t still remember watching early TV in the winter when the TV was moved into there and watching the likes of Davey Crocket (Walt Disney) with Fes Parker in the evening from that room.

       To get anywhere in our home you generally went through hat room. It was my favorite!  

WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY WITH TV!

       Most days while watching and continuously scanning around the endless TV dial, it reminds me how far we have come since we first had a TV back in the early 1950's 

        Not only was the picture in black and white for starters, the dial only went up to 11 or 12 and keep in mind there were only one or two stations at the early days. We were fortunate as we had an antennae up in our attic for better reception and we never had to worry about it blowing off the roof. Some also had just little "rabbit ears" that sat on top of the TV. 

       We also were located between the Des Moines/Ames market and the Cedar Rapids/Waterloo stations. So what ever came in better we could switch to the best. 

      And, of course there was no remote to change channels from the couch. Nope! You actually had to get up off your rear and switch without very many choices.  In addition, early days the programming started in late afternoon and ended at midnight with the Star Spangled Banner!

      There weren't too many choices, obviously, in the early days, but, it seemed like you enjoyed it more because everything was all so new and different! 

AGAIN ALREADY! TOO MANY CHOICES!

     Working in the isle with all the various canned and bottled juices, again, you realize we have way too many choices. It all starts with just the Brand Names. Our little store at least carries six or so Brand names. Then there seems to be another break down of regular juice, diet, low cal, or light.

      Now the fun begins. Within all the various general categories of apple, pineapple, tomato, just juice, cranberry, grape and so on then comes all the COMBO'S: White Cran Peach, White Cranberry, Cranberry Cherry, Apple Cranberry, Kiwi Strawberry, Cider.

     It is mind boggling. This doesn't even include the kids section on juices like Juicy Juice or Kool Aid. Plus there are containers of various juices in the refrigerated cooler.And, again the Companies that sell all this stuff has the audacity to say that "customer's ask for all this insanity!" Right! I guess I would rather live in a country that has all this stuff than anywhere else. It's still nuts! 

A FOND CHRISTMAS TIME MEMORY!

         After discussing Christmas stories at work the other day, a fellow  employee asked me what was my favorite Christmas memory. I have lots of warm and fuzzy memories through the years, but, one stands out as a youngster. 

      I grew up in a very large old farm home and our living room was laid out for Christmas. In the front or southeast corner of the living room was a three window sided cove of good size, that was thee perfect location for a fairly tall and large Christmas tree as the ceilings were in the  10 foot variety. 

     The tree was a Scotch Pine and the smell alone was worth just putting it up. The bulbs were the old fashion mult-colored that were popular at the time. Lots and lots of aluminum tinsel was used all around with bright colored glass balls and various keepsake decorations of all kinds. 

        Then when the packages started to accumulate under and around the tree, it all started coming together. The final climax was when at night and after the church program arriving home and seeing all that Santa had brought. Or, even if Santa did not come until later in the night and all was experienced in the early hours of the morning with lights aglow, it was so magical and will never be forgotten. 

        

KIWI STRAWBERRY???

       I was reminded today at the Burg Grocery about a cake frosting that I ran in to while shopping at the Hy Vee Store in Marshalltown, Iowa years ago. The frosting that seemed funny and/or odd was Kiwi Strawberry. Not that it is bad and actually I have never tried it. 

       It just struck me funny, like a lot of things do, in the following way. "Hey Grandpa! I would like to make you a cake for your upcoming birthday. What's your favorite cake and frosting?" "Oh, let me think!  You know what sounds really good and I haven't had it for a long time is a chocolate cake with Kiwi Strawberry frosting." "Yum!" "Besides, you know your Grandpa,  I always like to try something a little different!"  Right! And, I still have one bridge left!

THE BIG GAME THAT LED TO ROSE BOWL IN 1981!

      It was 1981 and Hayden Fry was the coach. My ex and I were coming back from a trip to Niagara Falls and it was decided to swing around coming back and stop at Ann Arbor and see the Michigan vs. Iowa football game. We really lucked out in that the Friday night before the big game we got a room at a nearby hotel due to a last minute cancellation.

     That evening we partied with some of the Hawkeye faithful and the next morning scalped a couple of tickets from a former Michigan athlete. The seats were in the end zone, but, it was exciting to be in one of the largest football stadiums in the country. The crowd that day was estimated at 105,000.

    The stadium was built in the 1930's with a capacity of over 100,000 seats and that was just up until the 1980's. It was built in the ground so that when you walked in you were at the top row. The one thing that impressed me at the time was the restrooms. They were huge and you could line up 100 guys, so it seemed, to this endless metal trough of running water.

     There was ample parking all around and all the lanes, even for the interstate, were coming in before the game and all going out after the game. The final score was 9-7 in Iowa's favor and all of the scoring were on field goals by Tom Nichol. The funny thing was after the game all the Michigan fans that came up to us with congratulations. The season was only half over, but, they assumed anybody that beat them was probably going to the Rose Bowl.  Iowa did! 
     

A COUSINS MEMORY OF DANGEROUS HOLIDAY TRIPS TO M-TOWN!

           The following is another Holiday memory from my cousin, Dianne Smith Davis, of Corning Iowa. The story was remembered when she and her sons were together this past Thanksgiving.

Holiday Trips to Marshalltown 

      Many,many trips we made to Marshalltown to see my parents, Arnold and Ruthella Smith, resulted in some very dangerous trips back and forth during the Holiday season. Many times our worst trips were made during Thanksgiving. Frequently, the roads were covered with ice and snow and our trips were quite risky.

      The boys remembered one year when we were returning home from Marshalltown we weren't very far down the road from Marshalltown on Highway 64 (I think that is what that highway was called at the time) we hadn't even reached Melbourne yet when Dean hit an icy spot on the highway and we turned completely around before returning to the correct  direction we needed to travel. 

      Both the boys had taken off their winter coats, boots, stocking caps and mittens for our travel home. When I turned around to check on them, they had all their winter gear back on and were buckled up. Neither boy said another peep all the way back to Corning.Our troubles continued after we got back to Corning as we couldn't get up the hill to turn onto our street in Corning. 

      At long last we finally made it safely to our home,  but, our normally 3 hour trip took a couple of hours longer. All four of us were certainly very happy to be back in our home. This was just one of the many trips like that to and  from Marshalltown  at the Holiday season. These are trips that the boys and I have never forgotten and will be embedded in our memories forever. 
       

SHE"S THE ONE IN THE RED BLUE JEANS!

      Back in the mid 1950's there was a song by Gene Vincent entitled "Be Bop A Lula!" Just heard it the other day on the Burg Grocery intercom and brought back memories. First of all, there is a line in the song that says "red blue jeans." I am not sure if back in those days I ever say a girl wear a pair of red blue jeans?     

     Also, one time on the Steve Allen Show which was a comedy hour that ran against Ed Sullivan, Steve did a comedy bit and did a serious poem with the lyrics from Be Bop A Lula.
It was one of those things that was very funny at the time and watching Allen recite those words in a very stern way! ie: "She's my baby and I don't mean maybe!" Made me laugh! Right up there with Tuttie Fruttie! by Little Richard

MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.

       I don't know how many of you remember the TV series Man from UNCLE! It was a spy series that took place during the cold war era. The 1960's show starred  Robert Vaughn and David Mc Callum(now stars in NCIS).

      The other night I rented the new movie version(2015) and was extremely disappointed. It was one of those movies that just never took off. All the real action was just at the opening of the movie. If there was any toward the end I didn't stick around! The two stars are hunks and maybe for you ladies it would be worth a look see!
    

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLD WHEN--!

       You know you are getting old when you remember buying your very first 78 LP record of "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & The Comets in 1953. This record or song from the movie "Blackboard Jungle" kicked off rock and roll music as we know it today. What did I do? I sat on it and broke it in several pieces and never did buy another!

WHEN I DRINK ALONE!

      The other day I heard a song on a local Oldies radio station called "When I Drink Alone," by the Destroyer's which for some reason I have never heard! The lyrics are kind of funny with his buddy Weiser and and his pal Jack Daniels and Jimmy Beam.

         It is funny, but, at the same time it reminded me of a darker time in my life. I think I'll  just remember the humor in the song. "When I drink alone I prefer to be by myself!"

MAYBE I HAVE FOUND THE LIGHT!

        The other day after listening to Christmas music at the Burg Grocery, I really started to enjoy and appreciate it. I usually have complained about starting Christmas music too early like everything else, but, the other day it was different. 

      Besides, I have always been an old Rock and Roller most of my life and Christmas music wasn't that hip! I must be getting old! Or, maybe I am starting to really appreciate the likes of Perry Como and his soft, clear, smooth as silk voice. Also, Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Tony Bennett, and of course Frank Sinatra. 

       I may even get a player of some kind and enjoy these guys at night to help me go to sleep instead of TV. It's almost like "I have seen the light" or maybe it is just the season and with all the bad right now going on in the world, this is my "Security Blanket!"

SHAKE THAT HAND!

      When I was a young man and my son wasn't but 2 years old, I decided that when introducing him to someone that I would make sure he would stick his hand out and attempt to shake the person/s hand and look them in the eye.

       Growing up in a small rural farm community, I didn't want to see him greet someone with this shy look and looking down at his shoes kind of introduction like I had experienced as a kid. I am not being critical of manners and customs of rural communities as it just way the way it is. 

       When I first arrived at Drake University back in the 1960's and I ran into the guys in my business fraternity from the likes of Chicago, I was in for a real awakening. They would almost get in your face with a greeting and would be saying -"Hi! My name is so and so" while reaching out and pumping your hand.

       I don't want to get into a Sociology lesson here, but sometimes I do miss that more outgoing, direct if you will, approach to greetings. Don't get me wrong I do love what a smaller community has to offer and its innocence. But, I still like meeting someone and saying "Good Morning"   and looking them right in the eye! 

       



        

LAUREL'S MISS DAISY DRIVING & REAL HORSE POWER!

      I have been doing little "You know you are getting old when" ditty's this past week and this fits that category. There were three sisters by the names of Daisy, Gladys, and Cora and two or three brothers which no one ever seemed to have seen or met up close as they never seemed to come to nearby Laurel. Their last name was Paul.

     Their farm was just one miles east of Laurel and set on the north side of the road. I do remember watching the brothers out doing field work on several occasions by just horse drawn  equipment up until the time I left for college.

      The sisters always came to church in Laurel in a possibly  1930's or 1940's 4 door Dodge with Daisy driving and the other two sisters always sitting in the back.And that's the way it was! 

        

A TIME WHEN THERE WERE HATS!

      There is a gentleman that comes into the Burg Grocery on ocassion and always is wearing a Fedora hat. It always brings back memories of a time when I was a youngster, especially in the 1950's and early 60's when everyone seemed to wear a hat of some type.

       My dad had a Fedora and wore it when he got dressed up and if he wasn't wearing his work hat that resembled a cross between a baseball cap and an engineer's cap. My mother, of course, had all types of hats, but, my favorite was the pill box type with the netted veil that  usually remained up. And, oh yes let's not forget those white gloves that were worn at least every Sunday to church! Those days were cool!   

"NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT!"

      I always get a kick out of watching a newscast and they are interviewing some 28 year old kid about some horrific weather catastrophe  His response always starts out with something like "I have never seen anything like this in my entire lifetime!"

       You want to say Oh shut up! Like he has seen a whole lot in those short years. Now if you interview an older guy like myself, maybe! It probably wouldn't happen in another 100 or 200 years. The other favorite one is when they say something like "We never would have expected it to happen in our community!" Only in New York City! Right?

      

BUT WE'LL PAY FOR IT LATER!

      With the beautiful day yesterday, it still amazes me(not really by this time)when people just can't enjoy the day and let it be! A fellow I helped out with his groceries Friday just had to ruin it by saying "Ya, it's nice today, but, we will pay for it later!" Sometimes I just want to strangle them!

YA GET WHAT YA PAY FOR!

      My mother at different times would say "You get what you pay for!" Throughout my lifetime I have found that not to always be true. One of them I just purchased the other day at the Burg Grocery. Even though I could probably buy it cheaper elsewhere, $1.49 for my can of BARBASOL shaving cream, remains one of my most satisfying, with great leather, and least expensive products I buy on a regular basis. Mom's are not always right! Are they? 

A COUSINS CHILDHOOD CHRISTMAS MEMORY/ WW II

     The following is a warm and touching Christmas memory from my cousin Dianne Smith Davis of Corning, Iowa.  Hope you enjoy!

 Childhood memory with my sister and cousins 

      During the war years,(WW II) my sister, Linda, and I along with Ruthella Smith, our mother, Aunt Helen, my mother's sister and her children, Kae and James, lived with my grandparents in Weldon, Iowa. My maternal grandfather, Lucious Smith was a minister at the Weldon Methodist Church.  One year on Christmas eve when we were all quite small and had been put to bed, my grandfather who loved shell peanuts, shelled a lot of peanuts and proceeded to sprinkle the shells around the house to the Christmas tree so we would find them in the morning upon rising.

      He wanted us to think that Santa had made a trip to the Christmas tree even though our fathers were gone we weren't forgotten.  I often think, especially at Christmas time, how my grandmother must have really been upset with my grandfather for making such a mess all around the house. This is a Christmas memory that I have never forgotten. Unfortunately, I don't remember any gifts we received that Christmas, but, I do remember quite vividly the trail of peanut shells throughout the parsonage. 

WHEN CHEF BOYARDEE WAS KING!

       The "Chef" was my first pizza experience on a week-end night back in the late 1950's and early 1960's. It was fun looking forward to the experience of not only eating pizza but, watching your mother roll out the dough and assisting her with the toppings! Yum!

WHEN YOU KNOW TIMES GOES BY WAY TOO FAST!

        It's when it only seems like yesterday and you're watching your mother cook on the stove with her caste iron skillet, and then you just finished dinner and you're washing up that same skillet you used for the evening meal!

MY FAVORITE THANKSGIVING FOOD ITEM!

     I should have said what was my favorite Thanksgiving food item THIS YEAR. Maybe that's what I should start doing, giving out a ribbon or award to the best or my favorite Holiday Dish. This year it would  had to have been scalloped corn. Yes, you heard right. Most everything that was prepared by family was outstanding this year, but, for some reason that corn dish sure hit the spot. Again, those little things in life!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE AN OLD TIMER WHEN---!

       You know you are an old timer when you remember sitting under the kitchen sink as a little kid just listening to the radio!

AS BAD AS CHALK ON BLACKBOARD!!

     The kitchen where I grew up was huge with this single free standing sink with legs, single basin, and built in drainboard to one side that sat  at the north end of the room. It served all our needs including a porcelain round pan to  wash your hands. 

      If the bottom of the basin wasn't keep perfectly clean, grit, dirt, and sand bits would accumulate. Then, when that pan would slide around, it would make this awful screeching sound that could "send you up a wall!" Some things stay with you forever, even sounds!


      

A FRIGHTENING CHILL OUT OF THE DUMPSTER!

     A fellow employee was sharing a story about a homeless Vet and a tale that involved a dumpster. It immediately brought to mind an incident when I had my cleaning service in Marshalltown several years ago.

     On this particular Saturday morning I was cleaning this office in a complex on East Church Street.  One task was always taking the trash out to a dumpster that sat just outside the building. As usual I flipped up the lid to the dumpster to then get ready to toss in the trash. 

      As I looked down in the bin something started to move. My eyes were deceiving me. No they wern't. A frightening chill ran down my entire body. Whoa! It is a person! This guy got up from his curled up sleeping  position, straightened all the way up, stepped over the edge of the dumpster and proceeded down the alley way without uttering a word. Good morning to you too!! Made my day! 

YOU'RE AN OLD TIMER WHEN---!

      You're an old timer when you actually remember eating at the original Taylor's Maid-Rite when it was across the street from its present location and was housed in a smaller diner.

YA THAT'S THE TICKET! MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IS DONE!

       Years ago, there was a guy that was on Saturday Night Live and his name was John Lovitz.  One of his roles was playing the pathological lair. He would do bits by saying that he had lunch with some movie star and flying her to some exotic place in his jet. And, then he would always say something like "Ya, That's it-that's the ticket!"

       The next customer that comes through the Burg Grocery and asks if I have my Christmas shopping done I am going to reply "I had mine all done during Labor Day weekend with the big sales back then. And, some I did during the sidewalk sales last summer." Followed by Ya, That's it. That's the ticket! 

JOHNNY DEPP! WHO?

      
      Today at the Burg Grocery, our local Johnny Depp look a like happened to stop in for a lunch item from our deli. Johnny(the look a like) works in the body shop of our local auto dealership.. He always comes in looking pretty grimy from his morning labor. At least, if he was cleaned up he could at least be Depp's twin brother.

       After Johnny the look a like left, I mentioned to a lady that came through the line afterwards about this young guy. She appeared to be pretty hip to what's happening and figured she would know who at least the real  Johnny Depp was. She didn't have a clue! She asked if Johnny lived here and then I explained that Depp was a major actor. She never had heard of him so the story quickly fizzled.

      Sometimes, it's hard for someone like myself who loves movies, to comprehend when I run into someone who just doesn't  have a clue about movie trivia! End of story!

      

YOU KNOW YOU ARE OLD WHEN----!

     You know you are old when you remember putting a fresh, clean, washed, folded, and ironed cotton handkerchief in your rear right hip pocket! And, that fresh,dried on the clothesline smell, was divine with its first usage. 

      P.S. At a later date I'll explain ironing to you younger people!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE OLD WHEN----!

      You know you are old when you can actually remember an old fashion manure spreader being loaded from the barn or barn lot and can still see that delightful waste flying out the back end onto the field. Ah! Those were the days! 

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLD WHEN---!

     You know you are getting old when you can remember when all the walls including the ceilings in your home were wallpapered!

WHO NEEDS CRANBERRY! HE DID!

      Years ago right out of college in the 1960's and living at our first apartment at 7705 Dennis Dr. in Urbandale, we became good friends to a couple that lived just across the street by the name of Chuck and Royce Brown.

       For some reason, we had a Thanksgiving dinner at their home one year. Everything was going really well up to dinner time when Chuck realized there was no cranberry. He really went off about it and had what I would call a major fit!

    Somehow we found some cranberry at a grocery store that was open or a convenience store. And, what seemed funny to me at the time was it was the type in a can and it plops out in a cylinder and then you slice it and serve just like that. 

      I guess it was hard for me to comprehend as I never have really cared for it. A cranberry salad, maybe, but not out of a can!

       

       

NEVER TELL YOUR MOM----!

      This past Thanksgiving someone made a couple of berry pies that weren't let's just say up to snuff! It reminded me of a time when I was a kid and I made a negative remark about my mom's pie.

       It all started when at some point in time I had said how good my aunt Glatha Laverty's pies were and that my mother's weren't as good. Somehow that got back to my mother and I don't think she was mad as much as it hurt her feelings.

       I was just a little kid when that happened, but, it seemed to come up from time to time through-out my lifetime. The moral of the story is, I guess, is to either keep your mouth shut or lie! 

SUBTLE SIGNS-THINGS ARE A CHANGIN' !

      As reported in USA newspaper, ESPEN's subscriber base has plummeted to 92 million as of October 3. That's down from 95 million just a little more than a year ago. Live sports programming is expensive to produce. And an increasing number of cord cutters are ditching pricey cable subscriptions and turning instead to a la carte options, available through streaming services and smartphone apps. I will be changing from cable after the first of the year as soon as I talk to my 12 year old grandson to assist me with the best way to go!!!! 

       

REDNECK THANKSGIVING!

      A redneck Thanksgiving is when you drive to a Convenience Store from a relative's home to get a slice of pizza for your appetizer!

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLD WHEN---!

      You know you are getting old when you remember a time they used to have cardboard boxes at the front of the grocery store to carry your groceries out in!!

YOU KNOW WHAT REALLY UPSET ME TODAY?

      Today in our Deli at the Burg Grocery, we have a deal going with "ChampsChicken" where you can get 5 chicken tenders for $5, 10 for $10 up to 5 for $50. I just wanted 3 for lunch and it was going to cost me $1.49 each. Such a deal!!! 

YOU KNOW YOU ARE GETTING OLD WHEN--!

      You know you are an old timer when you remember your first pizza at home on a week-end evening being a Chef Boyardee box pizza. Not only was it so good, it was fun to watch your mom roll out the dough and assist her with on the toppings!

HOLIDAY LEFTOVERS CAN BE GOOD & FUN!

       This year's Thanksgiving dinner was one of the best ever in recent memory! The leftovers are generally O.K. later, but, nothing compared to the main event! However, tonite was one of those exceptions to the rule, at least for me! 

       Thanks to Ilah, I took the leftover broccoli and cauliflower from the appetizer tray and made a soup that included the above along with onion and celery. Of course it had to be cheesy and so I did have to go the Burg Grocery and buy some shredded cheese. 

       What was funny to me was that there was a CASSEROLE BLEND  which was American, Cheddar, and Mozzarella cheese. It just continues to amaze me, like everything else, how they continue to come up with more varieties and blends. I have to stand there and ponder too long in making the decision on what cheese to use! I am sure this is not the end! No matter. The leftover soup was oooooh, so good!

       

TIME FLYS & NOTHING YOU CAN DO !

     We have lived in Williamsburg going on four years as of the first of November. And, since working at the Burg Grocery, I note, each year,  a Christmas tree stand put out by the Kiwanis's just south of the grocery store. And, each year it seems that the trees are put out sooner and the next thing I know is they are basically gone and the the little hut that they sell the trees from is moved away.

      The whole ritual seems to go faster and faster each year. I just wish there was some way I could slow this down! Let me know please if you ever figure out a way!  

THEY DIDN'T SMELL THE ROSES!

      Back in the late 1960's and early 1970's while working at Allied Mutual in Des Moines, I worked with a very interesting man which we will call Les. He was nearing retirement when I started there and he could tell you to the day when he was going to retire. His wife Lucille also worked there and was going to also retire when Les did.

       They both were old school in that they would come in on a Saturday and/ or Sundays and would usually stay late, working, through the week. It was known that they didn't have any children and they also didn't take vacations throughout  their working careers. 

       One thing they were banking on or looking forward to after retirement was enjoying a lakeside cabin they were going to build near Brooklyn, Iowa. It never happened! Lucille passed away just a short time before their retirement. It was devastating to Les. The good news was he eventually met someone and all ended pretty well for him. But, we all know the moral of the story!

THESE CAN BE THE GOOD OL' DAYS!

      Helping a lady out the other day at the  Burg Grocery, she mentioned that she had seen my article about story writing in the local paper. She regretted not getting more stories out of her dad before he passed away. I told her the same thing happened to me, but, I decided that if anybody could tell stories it was me.

        The moral of my story is don't think just because a loved one several loved ones are gone that all family stories are lost forever. You may think you don't have stories to pass on, but, you do. Get going!