DON'T REPEAT HISTORY

          DATELINE:  EUROPE--Times are tough.  People are unemployed.  They are desperate for relief.  They need someone to blame--even if that someone has nothing to do with the situation.  Enter a loud, violent voice that makes fake promises.  The people of Europe make poor choices--and names like Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin go down in infamy.

          DATELINE:  U.S.A.--Times are tough.  People are unemployed.  They are desperate for relief.  They need someone to blame--even if that someone has nothing to do with the situation.  Enter a helpful, soothing voice that makes real promises that he can and will keep.  The American people make an excellent choice--and the name of Franklin Delano Roosevelt goes down as the best of our history.

          DATELINE:  HERE AND NOW:  Times are tough.  People are unemployed.  They are desperate for relief.  They need someone to blame--even if that someone has nothing to do with the situation.  Enter a loud, violent voice that makes fake promises.  Don't repeat history.  Don't make a poor choice--Don't let another evil name go down in infamy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHEN I WAS SIX

          I am not sure whether or not any of you will find this interesting, but I have always found it quite humorous--and more humorous still that I can remember this after so many years.  Here goes:  When I was 6 years old, I decided that I wanted to become a writer (and never changed my mind thereafter).  I thought it might be best to start by writing poems. (Years later, one of my college profs told me I was the "world's worst poet" but that he really liked my short stories and my first chapters of a novel.  But I digress.  When I was six, I didn't know the finer points of poetry, so I came up with the two following, and rather laughable, attempts at the art of poetry:

"He dropped his gold watch to the floor,

It mattered to him not a bit.

If that had happened to my watch,

I surely would have had a fit.

Because a watch that toils away,

Telling time both night and day,

Surely feels bad when you say,

'I'd have bought a new one anyway.'"

***********

"A mother and her only son

Would think it really jolly fun

To eat a thirteen-day-old bun."

***********

          LOL!  Yeah, I know this is kind of stupid, but I think of it as being in the same genre as that great Irish poet from "The Joyce Country" in Ireland--James Joyce--and his "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," in that I loved his first chapter when, at the age of four, he was sitting under the kitchen table and thinking to himself as a four-year-old might.  So, if you hated the poems from my "baby days" you should consider the fact that other authors have gone back to their early childhood memories in the writing of their later novels.  As my Mom used to say:  "It is what it is."

          Have a good day, my dear readers!

HI, BLOG READERS!

          Hi, folks.  As those who have looked for my blog entries, I have been very remiss.  When I began this blog in July of 2011, I was not really sure what a blog was!  But the Lorain Morning Journal invited me to write it as part of their Online Edition.  I enjoyed it for a while, but became somewhat disheartened when I came to believe that hardly anyone was reading it.  (I later learned that this was not the case.)  Therefore, I have decided to try again, and hope that those of you who would like me to keep writing it, will let me know that by signing up as followers of the blog.  Wish me good luck as I try once again to write in a format unknown to me until five years ago--THE BLOG!

AMHERST NAVY VETERAN AND BUSINESSMAN IS HONORED IN COLUMBUS

 

          ROBERT L. MACKIN, who was born and raised in Lorain County, was recently honored by being elected President of the State of Ohio Veterans Commission, giving him jurisdiction over Veterans' issues in all 88 Ohio counties.  Bob has given a great deal of attention to Veterans' affairs over the years, having served as an Officer in Lorain County's Post 47 of AmVets.  In addition to his new position as President of the State of Ohio Veterans' Commission, he will retain his Executive role with the Lorain Veterans' Services Commission, serving the needs of Lorain County's many Veterans.

           Mr. Mackin graduated from Marian L. Steel High School in Amherst.  After graduation, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in Southeast Asia.  After returning from the military, he went to work for the D.W. Hankhamer Company in Lorain County.  He later bought out the previous owner, changing the company's name to Romco Fire & Safety.  He has been the owner-operator of Romco for more than 40 years.

          Bob and his wife, Connie, have five adult children, and currently make their home in Amherst, Ohio. 

IT'S MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, BUT HOW CAN A PERSON CELEBRATE SUCH AN OCCASION ALONE?

     Twenty-two years ago today, September 24, 1990, I married John Widder.  The marriage lasted until John's death in 2010.  I never, ever regretted the marriage--not for even one day.
     John was a very romantic person.  We were married on a Monday.  So EVERY Monday, and the 24th of EVERY month, John would wish me a Happy Anniversary.  If the 24th fell on a Monday, he would say "Happy Anniversary!  Happy Anniversary!"  and if he was still alive today, on our actual anniversary, and realized that it was not only September 24th, but a Monday as well, he would say "Happy Anniversary!  Happy Anniversary!  Happy Anniversary!"  Actually, he and I would race each other to be the first to say it, right after midnight.
     Even when he was dying, it seemed that he took care not to die on either a Monday or the 24th of a month.  He died on a Tuesday, the 23rd--just missing both of those special days by a day in each direction.  I really believe that, although he was so ill, he knew the date and the day of the week.  Perhaps our little custom sounds silly or childish, but being silly together was one of the great joys that we shared in our lovely marriage.
     Is it appropriate to still celebrate even though he's gone?  Well, appropriate or not, I still say "Happy Anniversary, Binky" every Monday, and on the 24th of every month.  Who cares if it's appropriate?  Who cares if it's silly?  Silly is what we did best!  So, Happy Anniversary, Binky!

MY REFLECTIONS REGARDING MOTHER'S DAY

     I consider myself very fortunate to be a Mom--and now to be "Grandma Peggy", as well.  But yesterday I found myself giving a lot of thought to Mother's Day, not just with regard to my own status, but to the status of others, too.  They say that there are more phone calls made on Mother's Day than on any other day of the year.  This is a good thing.  It indicates that a huge number of people are calling their mothers, and perhaps their grandmothers, as well.
     When I was a child and a young adult, however, I was taught to do more than that.  I was told that I should also wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of my aunts--and especially those who had never been fortunate enough to have children.
     Nowadays, although my own mother is gone, along with my aunts, I make it a point to wish a Happy Mother's Day to unrelated people in cases where I know that, although they have adult children, those children will--for whatever reason--neglect to make that Mother's Day call.  Unfortunately, in today's topsy-turvy world, there seem to be many cases of children "forgetting" their mothers--even on Mother's Day.  Also, in a world where divorce and remarriage have become the norm, rather than the rare exception, should we not consider calling those stepmothers who, in some cases, have been as nurturing to their stepchildren as a biological mother.
     The bottom line--to all the women everywhere who are mothers, stepmothers, aunts, neighbors and/or friends--to those women who have children, and to those who wish they did, let me offer a belated Happy Mother's Day.  It would be my hope that some of you who read this post may give some thought to broadening the list of those to whom you offer this yearly greeting.
     By the way, when June rolls around, my opinion on Father's Day is the same with regard to all the gentlemen who are fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and to those who always wished they were!

SOME THINGS ARE STILL FREE!

     Economic times are tight right now, but maybe you still receive letters in the mail asking you to donate to good causes.  This being a Presidential election year, you are probably getting letters from your favorite political party asking for substantial donations.  Perhaps you are fortunate enough to be in a position to make those sizable donations--after all, they're tax-deductible.  But if you are on a fixed income, and do not feel that you can make such a donation at this time, please don't forget the bottom line.  There is still something you can do that is absolutely FREE.  Come November, you can VOTE.  Don't think that your one vote doesn't matter.  If enough people took that position, their candidate might not be elected.  Regardless of your economic status--get out and VOTE!  It's FREE, FREE, FREE!  And too few things are.