December 6, 2014 ... my journey is still ongoing, but with some "speed bumps" in my way. One, mainly a Kidney Stone of major proportions. Still not sure of the outcome of that. My "shunt" or whatever it is called seems to be working. I go in next week to the Urologists office, I guess we will know then what the prognosis may be.
Aside from that my wife still has her Afib, stands, gets dizzy, comes close to passing out. So, I am living with my Kidney Stone and she is living with her problems. Old age was good to a point, but now, it has become rather frightening, wondering what the future may hold for us. Certainly not much to be optimistic about.
Tomorrow is December 7 .... I clearly remember the one in 1941. What a world changing day that was. That one day in time, in my opinion, changed the world more than any other. Boys became men, farmers left the farm and became factory workers, many, never to return to the family farm. Many lives were lost, many altered, injured, scared. Geography changed, countries changed, an age of innocence, matured.
I was in Greencastle, Indiana at my brothers fraternity house, a Sunday morning, a calm, peaceful Sunday morning when the news came over the radio. I still remember than "instance" when all in the room realized what had just happened. There are no words to explain that moment.These were all young men who instantly realized that their lives had just been changed, they all sensed it. The older ones, like my Dad who had experienced WWI, were visibly shaken. They knew of the horrors that awaited all the young men in the room. There was loud, deafening, silence. The future stopped, in that moment. "A date that will live in infamy." Now, there are some who want us to forget that date, forget what happened. I doubt that those who "lived" that date will ever forget.
Collegiate athletics ... look what it has become, one of the largest "industries" in the country. There is no way to put a dollar figure on it. My guess would be, if it all were added up, trillions of dollars pass hands. And, it has grown, thanks to television, the BIG winner in the whole scenario. Television Rules ... if you don't agree .... look at what you purchase, drive, eat, wear ..... because you saw it advertised on TV.
Race, policemen .... why, when blacks shoot blacks, is there NO outrage.Every morning, in Columbus, Ohio, someone gets shot, generally killed .... often, a black kills a black. Why are they still called blacks? Fifty years ago, I thought WE were all just people ... no blacks, no whites, just people. Is there racial equality in this country, no. I lived in the DEEP South in the 50's, NO BLACKS ALLOWED in the casinos in Nevada, in the 50's. Some equality has been reached in the last 60 years, certainly not all. Some whites still do not like blacks ... to a point, and vice versa. Will it ever end, I think not, just the way we are.
I dread going through this Holiday Season, in my younger days, it was a warm, glorious time of the year,so many great memories, but now, it is a season for the young, just memories for the elderly. But, you do "get out of a thing, what you put in to it."We put nothing in it but memories, so that is what we get out ..... if only I could hit the lottery, it would all be different, then ..........................jbd
