Do you remember when a teacher was treated as a real professional. Doctor, lawyer, teacher....those were what many parents wanted their offspring to become. Do you remember those wonderful ladies of elementary school days ? There weren't many men in the lower grades. They tended to gravitate towards the upper grades of junior high and high school. Unto this day, I swear I was taught by the most brilliant women that ever walked the earth. I'll be most of my contemporaries agree. They were firm but fair. You always knew the limits. I do not recall how many times; in answer to my question, I heard, "Norm, look that up in the library and you can tell the class this afternoon." The librarian, a Miss Crooms, became a real savior. I thought they were just making me do extra work, but by the tine I hit the fourth grade....nothing stumped me.
I was musing yesterday about those that made me what I am today and just how much I owed to their efforts. Let me share a little with you. My 1st Grade teacher, Mrs Robinson, spent a whole year trying to keep me busy enough to let her teach the class. I was doing 4th Grade work at home and "hated the kiddie stuff." She was unsuccessful in getting my mother's OK to move me to the 3rd or 4th Grades. During 2nd and 3rd Grades, I helped in her yard on weekends. She let me have a Coke and listen to classical music on her porch afterwards. I can close my eyes and smell the new mown grass, feel the tingling of the cold drink while Beetovoven's 5th raged in the background. Ta, Ta, Ta, DA !
In the 3rd Grade, Mrs. Riley, taught me compassion. I was an absolute hellion to those I did not like. Mrs. Riley insisted I face those I mistreated. I will never forget the day I reduced Caroline Peterson to tears during recess. Mrs. Riley saw the whole thing. She kept us both after class. She got Caroline to tell me how she felt about what happened. By the time she blubbered through the story....I was blubbering with her. I still think about that day. I an better for it. Not angelic, you understand, but better.
Well...enough for now. I love your comments...far and few as they are.
Those were the days my friend We thought they'd never end...
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
On being where I belong....
If you aren't without close family ties, this piece may make little sense. If you are alone, as I am, I think my feelings will be crystal clear. I have spent much of my life in search of my physical place in the world. For 20 years, I sought the right assignment in the Air Force. I planned and plotted assignments almost constantly.
I always felt that I was a fifth wheel. When November came calling and Halloween was done with; all my fellow Sergeants talked of turkeys and visiting in-laws left me speechless. I always back pedaled away from the conversation as quickly as possible. I knew that I would be spending the holidays alone. I tried excepting invitations. It was worse watching others glow than sitting home dreaming. I tried travel. Christmas shopping in London over Thanksgiving is great, but what do you do at Christmas ?
The key,,,,,,it is now plain,,,,,is home. Home as in, "A man's home is his castle." Home as in, "Home is where the heart is." Home as in, "Gee, am I glad to be back home. Home is where I want to be." Homes come in many forms. My good friend, Nell, is surrounded by husband, children, grandchildren, geberations yet to appear. My friend Rick has wife and parents in the same city. While my buddy Cindy has lost her mate and children who have flown the nest.....she lives a few minutes away from her mother and all are in close proximity via wireless. My fav celebrity has a castle full of cats and a celebrity partner to share. It's the partner that makes the house a home. It's the partner that keeps me searching.
I have heard it said that, "there is someone special for everyone". I don't believe it, but I dream it. Several times I thought I had found my match. There was always a fatal flaw or ten. I still remember the fiasco's of my teen years and the heartbreaks of my 20's. By 30 the illusions were mostly gone. I was a hopeless not helpless romantic.
Since I retired I have moved at least once a year and am now contemplating a move to Washington, D.C. Back to the Old Soldier's Home. There, at least, I have companions of a like mind.
I always felt that I was a fifth wheel. When November came calling and Halloween was done with; all my fellow Sergeants talked of turkeys and visiting in-laws left me speechless. I always back pedaled away from the conversation as quickly as possible. I knew that I would be spending the holidays alone. I tried excepting invitations. It was worse watching others glow than sitting home dreaming. I tried travel. Christmas shopping in London over Thanksgiving is great, but what do you do at Christmas ?
The key,,,,,,it is now plain,,,,,is home. Home as in, "A man's home is his castle." Home as in, "Home is where the heart is." Home as in, "Gee, am I glad to be back home. Home is where I want to be." Homes come in many forms. My good friend, Nell, is surrounded by husband, children, grandchildren, geberations yet to appear. My friend Rick has wife and parents in the same city. While my buddy Cindy has lost her mate and children who have flown the nest.....she lives a few minutes away from her mother and all are in close proximity via wireless. My fav celebrity has a castle full of cats and a celebrity partner to share. It's the partner that makes the house a home. It's the partner that keeps me searching.
I have heard it said that, "there is someone special for everyone". I don't believe it, but I dream it. Several times I thought I had found my match. There was always a fatal flaw or ten. I still remember the fiasco's of my teen years and the heartbreaks of my 20's. By 30 the illusions were mostly gone. I was a hopeless not helpless romantic.
Since I retired I have moved at least once a year and am now contemplating a move to Washington, D.C. Back to the Old Soldier's Home. There, at least, I have companions of a like mind.
Monday, February 20, 2012
The last straw!
I was talking to a friend yesterday. The conversation went like this:
She My brother is a real a..h... .
Me Why do you say that ?
She When he takes me and my daughter out to eat; he orders everybody's food.
I almost never like what he orders.
Me He doesn't ask first ?
She Never. All men are like that.
At this point Mt Norm erupted....Vesuvius didn't have a prayer.
I have been helping this friend for 6 years. Men have been helping her all her life. She's 55...no drivers license....only income is Social Security.
I am tired of being put down by women who married young and their choice of mates did not bow quick enough. I am tired of hearing the term "single mother" The only "single mother" I know is Joe down the street who isn't married because he really is an SOB ! Last time I checked; all children had two parents. With a couple of wonderful exceptions, the "single mothers" I have known kept the father at a distance. That includes my own. If a man deserts his children, he deserves what he gets. This is not my gripe. So many men leave marriages because they have no place in them. Low expectations lead to even lower performance. Just the use of the term "single mother" lets the world know that this lady has No Use for a male partner.
I have watched a lot of marriages from the outside. Not many were partnerships. In most happy marriages the organisation was simple. The wife orders. The husband complies. I am very lucky to have a core group of friends that do have partnerships. They are all that keep me from feeling useless. I am certainly tired of hearing that all men are worthless.
Then there is the biggest mythconception of all: Men don't pay child support. In Texas, the women who owe child support outnumber the men. It's Grandma who is carrying the burden.
She My brother is a real a..h... .
Me Why do you say that ?
She When he takes me and my daughter out to eat; he orders everybody's food.
I almost never like what he orders.
Me He doesn't ask first ?
She Never. All men are like that.
At this point Mt Norm erupted....Vesuvius didn't have a prayer.
I have been helping this friend for 6 years. Men have been helping her all her life. She's 55...no drivers license....only income is Social Security.
I am tired of being put down by women who married young and their choice of mates did not bow quick enough. I am tired of hearing the term "single mother" The only "single mother" I know is Joe down the street who isn't married because he really is an SOB ! Last time I checked; all children had two parents. With a couple of wonderful exceptions, the "single mothers" I have known kept the father at a distance. That includes my own. If a man deserts his children, he deserves what he gets. This is not my gripe. So many men leave marriages because they have no place in them. Low expectations lead to even lower performance. Just the use of the term "single mother" lets the world know that this lady has No Use for a male partner.
I have watched a lot of marriages from the outside. Not many were partnerships. In most happy marriages the organisation was simple. The wife orders. The husband complies. I am very lucky to have a core group of friends that do have partnerships. They are all that keep me from feeling useless. I am certainly tired of hearing that all men are worthless.
Then there is the biggest mythconception of all: Men don't pay child support. In Texas, the women who owe child support outnumber the men. It's Grandma who is carrying the burden.
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