A year In the Life

Typical US/Mexico Border Crossing

For some of us every year of our lives is historic, for others the years go by with minimal notice.  I guess it’s a matter of choice and placing the appropriate value and importance on a given year.

For my family 1955 was a very significant and historic year.  We didn’t realize how significant the year would be until Thursday September 15^th when we showed up for an interview at the immigration office (located at the border crossing and on the USA side).  We had anticipated the interview for some two weeks, but over a year and a half we had attended so many interviews with hope in our hearts only to be told that we needed more supporting documents.

This time the meeting was different in that the gentleman that met with us was all smiles, and while we had met with him previously, this time around he wasn’t all stiff and strictly business.  If I had been able to guess at the reason for his happy disposition, I would have to say that he was experiencing a very satisfying and happy day.  What we didn’t know is that we were about to get the best news ever and it was my family that would be having a very happy day. 

He mentioned that we were going to go through one final interview, and if that went well, we would be receiving our Permanent Residency Green Cards on that day.  The final interview consisting of making sure that the adults in the family had not committed any crimes since the last interview.  Also that we were not in the middle of any legal action against us.  Happily we passed with flying colors, and we were handed a government envelope with what would change our lives and futures forever.  I felt like we should just keep going north and leave everything behind, but what did I know, I was just a kid.

We went back home and my father contacted family in Los Angeles to arrange for someone to transport us to our new country and home.  We also had to return the rental house that we lived in, and except for a few items of importance my parents gave away about 75% of our belongings, including furniture and clothing.

 

For my family everything going on in the US during this year was alien to us (no pun intended) for those of my readers that already lived in the USA, this is what was happening that year.

 

• Movies:  The Seven Year Itch –with Marilyn Monroe; Mr. Roberts- with Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon; East of Eden-with James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey.
• Popular Songs: McGuire Sisters, “Sincerely”; Bill Hayes, “The Ballad of Davey Crockett”; Perez Prado, “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossoms White”; Bill Haley and His Comets, “Rock Around The Clock”; Tennessee Ernie Ford, “Sixteen Ton.”  Chuck Berry gained immediate success with his first release, “Maybelline,” which is followed with many more hits including; “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “School Day” (1957), and “Johnny B. Goode (1958).”
• On September 30^th Actor James Dean, twenty-four, is killed when he crashes his Porsche roadster.  November 16^th the option owned by Sam Phillips of Sun Records on Elvis Presley’s recording contract is purchased by the RCA Record Company for thirty-five thousand dollars.

 

That was the Pop Culture of that year (1955) that would soon become the pop culture of my new life.  Drastic changes that would tear our family apart awaited us in the years to come.  All those unforeseen changes and turmoil were never part of our plan for living the
American Dream, and yet because of very strong willed and hard working parents, they each individually carved out a share of the American Dream for themselves.  Looking back I can say, that I and my future family would be the ultimate winners of all my parents’ sacrifices.  The best is yet to come….

Meaning of Life

Meaning of Life

I will start this post by stating once again that I have a very blessed life.  I can’t say that my life is perfect, because no one’s life is perfect.  I am grateful that I don’t get to plot every day in my life because I wouldn’t know how to plot the perfect day every day of my life.  I enjoy the variety that comes my way every day.  What makes my life blessed is how I respond to and deal with the multitude of things that come at me every day. 

With todays advanced technology many things are getting predictable.  I remember when I was a teenager working on the farm during the vacations from school, I loved going to bed at night and not knowing exactly what kind of weather I was going to be working in the next day.  Sometimes the smell of wet ground in the morning, and seeing the rain clouds moving away gave me a special sense of energy to start my day.  Today, I can look at the weather report and know what area of my town the rain or snow is going to be falling in.  I can see how fast the wind is going to be blowing, when it will pick up and when it will subside.  I realize that being able to predict the good and bad weather is a good thing, but a small piece of mystery and adventure is removed from everyday life.

Today is my birthday and that also is a good thing, I don’t like the alternative.  My youngest daughter woke up my 7 year old granddaughter and mention that today was grandpa’s birthday.  My granddaughters response was an incredulous response, “really, it’s never grandpa’s birthday!”  My idea of celebrating my birthday is a family dinner at home, or out to dinner with family members, minimally and every bit as good is dinner at one of our favorite restaurants with just my wife.  I am often asked what I want for my birthday, and I am sure you have heard the most common dilemma, what do you give the person that has everything.

 

I am fortunate to get whatever I want or need whenever I feel like it.  It sounds like I am bragging, but you would have to know me to understand what that means.  Within reason and within my means.  My seven year old granddaughter asked me today what I wanted for my birthday, and I told her that I was just glad to spend time with her, and her cousins (and family in general).  As I dropped my granddaughter off at her school she told me that she couldn’t wait to get home so we could play a game of Angry Birds, and some Mario Brothers.

If it weren’t for my grandchildren, I would simply be growing older, but because of them I was able to cheer us up on the way to school by playing Moves like Jagger, through the Bluetooth from my iPhone to the vehicle stereo system.  It’s funny how things change: when my children were young they had no choice but to listen to the oldies but goodies radio station whenever we traveled. Today you can find the likes of Justin Timberlake, Sy (Gangnam Style), Katy Perry, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Train, and Christina Aguilera, on my iPhone.  Do you have any idea how awesome that makes me in the eyes of youth?  I can also move like Jagger if occasion calls for it!

Once again, my life is not perfect but it is awesome, when you have a happy and healthy family you are definitely blessed, and that is what I am.  Waking up every day of my life to my wonderful wife gives me the edge I need to start my day with a grateful heart.  I forgot to mention that I also have longevity going in my family line, many of my relatives lived into their 90’s, I guess that makes me almost middle aged.  The best is yet to come….

Frugal Is In

Frugal Is In

No one in my life was a better example of frugality than my grandparents and then to a lesser extent my parents.  Frugality doesn’t just appear one day, in fact it is an acquired talent.

The best reason for the frugality being in my grandparent’s life is that they experienced in their life time two world conflicts that totally changed the world as they knew it.  They survived a Depression, and the two world conflicts, they experienced the changing work force from the husband being the provider to the women having to hold the home front while the men were away fighting wars.

Rationing was all around, it became a necessity to grow your own garden for the sake of savings and availability.  While front yards continue to be a sources of pride and what we now call curve appeal, the backyard became something else altogether.  Instead of the normal happy family hangout for entertaining, the backyard became a mini farm. A totally different family entertainment atmosphere, more of a food source value.  Most everyone got into gardening, and raising chickens in their backyards.  Oh that’s right, I forgot to mention that was in a time when government didn’t have so many restrictions that prevented you from raising chickens through land use regulations.

 

I still remember my grandmother darning sock by using a light bulb to shape the sock while making them good as new with needle and thread.  I’ll bet most homes had needle and thread plus a thimble as part of an everyday kit.  Today I am a culprit of throwing socks away when one of the pair of socks begins to show a little wear.  I also remember my mother using iron on patches on worn blue jeans (Levi’s) on the inside of the garment.  Today our silly youth actually wear-out their pants on purpose to look in style or spend hundreds of dollars to buy pre-worn-out jeans.

Sometimes my grandmother would crumble a handful of saltine cracker and add them to scramble eggs to make the meal stretch, even when there were plenty of eggs. Simply because that is the definition of frugality and out of habit.  If you were to get a treat for a drink you would get a pitcher full of Kool-Aid for .05 cents instead of a soda pop each.  By the way the Kool-Aid never had enough sugar for my taste (Bingo-frugality).

 

The family had a car but we didn’t drive the car around town; we drove to town and parked at the grocery store parking lot, and we walked everywhere from there.  Sometimes the family would go in different direction (example: the men would go to the barbershop, the ladies would go to the drug store, and other shopping).  We always had a pre-arranged time to meet back at the car.  The treat was a stop at the A&W Root Beer for a grilled ham sandwich with French fries and a frosted mug of root beer.  I don’t remember ordering a hamburger back in those days.

We are just coming out of two wars that have lasted about 10 years, not to mention high rate of unemployment.  I think it’s time that frugality came back in style.  You don’t have to wait for it to start trending, we are in charge of our family units, and we need to start yesterday.  The sooner we start the better.  The best is yet to come…..

1950’s Pioneer Spirit

Small Town USA

When you hear talk about the Pioneer Spirit or the reference to the Pioneer type woman (with reference to strength), I always imagine a strong and stout woman with a near perfect posture.  In fact the pioneer spirit that we refer to is something that people simply endured or grew into for survival’s sake.

You and I can elect to be strong by choice or be made strong by circumstance.  What I mean is that back in the 1940’s and 1950’s people chose the pioneer type spirit to survive, where as the time shown on Little House in the Prairie (the television series) that was the pioneer times.

In today’s society if you have a wood burning fireplace, you can cut your own wood if you have the Pioneer Spirit or you can simply Google “firewood,” and have it delivered and stacked in the back patio already cut to perfect size.  Back in the 1950’s some people had the option to buy the product but most chose to cut their own, and many times it was used in the wood burning stove that served for cooking and heat.

Imagine having an ice box instead of a refrigerator, and waiting to catch the iceman when he came by on your route every other day.

 

• The ice trade, also known as the frozen water trade, was a 19th-century industry, centering on the east coast of the United States and Norway, involving the large-scale harvesting, transport and sale of natural ice for domestic consumption and commercial purposes. Ice was cut from the surface of ponds and streams, then stored in ice houses, before being sent on by ship, barge or railroad to its final destination around the world. Networks of ice wagons were typically used to distribute the product to the final domestic and smaller commercial customers. The ice trade revolutionized the U.S. meat, vegetable and fruit industries, enabled significant growth in the fishing industry, and encouraged the introduction of a range of new drinks and foods.

Another small struggle of the early 1950’s was the need to maintain a supply of kerosene usually in five gallon cans for the purpose of lighting the homes after the sun went down (using kerosene lanterns).  One of my uncles created a job for himself by keeping the neighborhood supplied for a fee. 

 

You also grew your own supply of vegetables, and anything you couldn’t eat you would trade and barter with.  Homes for the less fortunate ones didn’t have running water or any kind of indoor plumbing.  Imagine having to answer nature’s call in the middle of the night and going to an outhouse with a newspaper in hand (dual purpose including reading).  Taking a bath was not as easy as it is today.  You had to plan it by first warming up water, and later disposing of the used water.  Is it any wonder people didn’t bathe more often?

 

The fortunate people that had cars would usually pick up friends and coworkers every day on the way to work and dropped them off on the way home.  Others would use public transportation or ride bicycles by necessity not just to conserve or be cool.  Walking was a very acceptable mode of transportation, is it any wonder why they didn’t need Fitness Center Membership to get or stay in shape? 

This post is a very small snapshot of what life was like in the 1950’s (for a slightly less than well-off family).  The majority of these people were so satisfied that they had no clue that they lived in poverty.  If you have memories of your grandparents being strong and healthy the reasons were many, including fresh air plenty of sunshine and hard work, many natural foods that included plenty of fruits and vegetables, and minimal addictions.  The best is yet to come…..

Woman and the Fork

                                                  Woman and the Fork

Author Unknown

This post has a very special significance to me because it was sent to me by my best friend. The message is one that was meant to be shared with people that you care about. The only contribution that I’ve made to it is this opening introduction, I hope that you will enjoy it and send the link to your friends and family:  http://www.being50.com/2014/02/woman-and-fork.html

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had
been given three months to live.  So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly. 'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply?
'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.' The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked. 'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.  In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.'   It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie.  Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I
want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?'  Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork… the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.  He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death.  But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did.  She had a
better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge.  She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the
cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.  Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?'  And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.  He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it
either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They
make you smile and encourage you to succeed. Cherish the time you have, and
the memories you share.  Being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet
responsibility. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND...and I'll bet this
will be a post they do remember, every time they pick up a fork!
And just remember...keep your fork! The BEST is yet to come…

Early Influence (50th Anniversary)

Early Influence (50^th Anniversary)

Is it possible this was the first exposure to what would later become known as global community influence?  Up until now everything about our music culture was pretty much home grown, hillbilly, bluegrass, Rock-A-Billy, country, folk jazz, you name it, pretty much all had its roots here in America.

Up until now most recording artists were getting one or two hits on the charts per year, and all of a sudden with the arrival of the Beatles, you could turn on the radio and listen to two or three even four of their new hits at the same time.  On their first full year of exposure to the USA audience (1964) they had 8 songs in the top 55 songs of the year on the Billboard Chart. 

The eight songs were:

• # 1. I want to hold your hand
• # 2. She loves you 
• # 13. A hard day’s night 
• # 14. Love me do
•  # 16. Please, please me 
• # 40. Twist and Shout
• # 52. Can’t buy me love 
• # 55. Do you want to know a secret

During their career they went on to release 13 Albums, more than 200 songs, and they charted 21 # One Singles, and they became the most influential music group ever.

A special factory had to be built in order to keep up with the millions of records being sold by the Beatles.  Soon after their arrival in US Market a radio station in Los Angeles California started playing nothing but Beatles music.

The Beatles led the British Invasion, some of the groups that followed were:  The Dave Clark Five, the Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Herman’s Hermits, the Hollies, Tom Jones and many others.  The best is yet to come…..

1st Time I Heard the Beatles 2

Ed Sullivan with the Beatles Feb. 9, 1964

February 9th marks the First Anniversary of this blog (www.being50.com) and this post is number 301.  A great big heartfelt thank you for all of you that have made this effort worthwhile.  The Blog enjoys readership from around the world.  The following based on numbers alone is as follows: the top 6 countries are; USA (by far the largest), China, Ukraine, France, Canada, and United Kingdom.  Another handful of countries round up the readership.  The page views are in the 10’s of thousands.  Looking forward to the second year!

 One of my sons originally convinced me to write a book about my life and family, a book which is still in progress.  I shared my book’s rough draft with my son (around a hundred pages), and he suggested that I start a blog.  My son and I share many similar traits, one in particular is decisiveness.  Once we agree on a course of action, we start immediately.  I still have that February 9^th a year ago fresh on my mind; I was sitting across from him at his dining table, as he began initiating the blog.  As quickly as he was done (in minutes), he said, write your first blog.  I told him I didn’t know what to say.  He said write about your favorite music group.  That became my first post: The First Time I heard the Beatles, http://www.being50.com/2013/02/first-time-i-heard-beatles.html.  That post was not much more than a sentence or two, and yet it got an unbelievable response. 

 Today I would like to expand a little on that first post.  Hearing about the Beatles for the first time created a little more than your normal exposure to a new song.  Up until that very day all my music heroes were American Made (the following list is the top 7 Hits of 1963); Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs - Sugar Shack, Beach Boys - Surfin' U.S.A., Skeeter Davis - The End Of The World, Cascades - Rhythm Of The Rain, Chiffons - He's So Fine, Bobby Vinton - Blue Velvet, Paul and Paula - Hey Paula.

·       Released: 29 November 1963 (UK), 26 December 1963 (US)

·       John Lennon: vocals, rhythm guitar, handclaps
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps

·       Released on 29 November 1963, I Want To Hold Your Hand sold more than a million copies on advanced orders alone. It became the group's first US number one, and kick-started the British Invasion of America.

·       The song was written by Lennon and McCartney

The very next year (1964) The Beatles had 8 songs in the Top Hit Songs of the US Music Charts.

It’s been 50 years since 73 million people tuned in to The Ed Sullivan Show to watch the Beatles perform live on American TV for the first time.

 

• That Feb. 9, 1964 performance helped set Beatlemania in motion, and also resulted in Capitol Records opening up a factory in Jacksonville, Ill. to meet the demands of pressing the millions of Beatles albums that were being sold. That factory was nicknamed “The House the Beatles Built.”
• How much did the Beatles get paid for their Ed Sullivan performance? The deal called for them to make three appearances in 1964 for $10,000 — which is $75,147 adjusted for inflation in 2013.
• Their performance was so highly-anticipated that the show’s organizers received more than 50,000 ticket requests for the 700 seats in the theater. And it appeared all 700 present squealed in delight at the sight of the Beatles. By Chad Merda

How appropriate that my Blog’s 1^st Anniversary coincides with the Beatles 50 Year Anniversary of their arrival in the US of A, and performance on the Ed Sullivan Show.  The best is yet to come…..

A Gaggle of Girls

A favorite Hangout

• A gaggle is a term for a flock of geese that is not in flight.
• In terms of geese, a gaggle is equal to at least five geese.
• In certain regions of The Netherlands, a gaggle can also refer to a group of adolescent females.

I was working in my office (home office), while keeping an eye on three of my granddaughters for a couple of hours.  As usual I have part of my mind concentration on the work I am doing and the other half tracking my granddaughters. The only time I worry is if they are not in the line of sight or when the house gets too quiet. 

On this occasion I was working and blocking out sounds until I couldn’t help but listen to the noise coming from the family room.  The sounds reminded me of a few times in spring and summer when I am out at the golf course chipping or putting on to or on the green and a bunch of geese grazing nearby interrupt my concentration. Each one of my three youngest granddaughters are very assertive, and each one will raise her voice to be heard over the others. You honestly can’t tell what the discussion is about or who is making the most sense.  Their ages are three, five, and seven.  Two are sisters, and the oldest one is their cousin.

They are a joy to look after, and I love each one equally.  Never a dull moment when I have them in my care.  Through the years I have re-acquainted myself with cartoons and children’s programing in general.  From Disney Jr., to Nickelodeon, and from Lazy Town to Sheriff Callie and everything else in-between, including the Mutant Ninja Turtles.  We spend time at the park playing foot races, and play equipment (swings, teeter totter, monkey bars, and slides), and can’t forget riding bicycles.  Sometimes the highlights of a day are the trips to Children’s Hands On Museum, Chuck E. Cheese, Charlie Safari, or Jumping Jacks.

I also transport them around, I am their care provider (not full time), chauffer, nutritionist, cook, activity director, homework helper, first aid attendant (EMT – Band-Aids only), and favorite grandpa; in no particular order.  I suppose that the one outstanding qualification for my present position is that I am retired, the second is that I love them more than life itself.

When I get a time for reflection, I think of how great it would be to see them off to college, and perhaps to be at their weddings.  Either way it is very reassuring to know that my DNA will go forth even long after I am gone, and the best part is that it will be in very capable hands.  The best is yet to come……

Sports Influence 2

Sports Influence 2

I’ve said it many times before, as long as you put forth your best effort, you can always be proud of your accomplishments.  It doesn’t matter if you walk away with the ultimate prize or end up second best.  Someone has to win and someone has to lose.

Last weekend Super Bowl Sunday had special meaning for me.  For the second time in 38 years the one team that has maintained my interest in the National Football League, the Seattle Seahawks were competing.  During the last two weeks of hype leading up to the Super Bowl, I was so strong in my support of the team that I knew we could walk away champions.  Just the same I told myself that there was a chance that we could end up second best, and I could live with it.

I invited family over to our home so that we could collectively lend our energy to our favorite team.  The family gathering alone made this event a winning situation.  This special day at our home was one of momentous jubilation even before the game started.  Our family gathering in itself was reason to be happy.  Plenty of food variety for everyone’s taste; definitely the best indoor tailgate party we have ever had. 

The fan base known as the 12 Man understand that our team is young and strong with only a handful of players entering and testing free agency next season and likely to move on.  Even the experts who have managed to ignore our team over the years are now comparing the Seahawks to the young Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990’s that went on to win 3 championships is short order.

Like many negative events in history where you will always know where you were when they happened, so will this championship.  Our family unit will always remember the time when our first championship was won and how we were all together enjoying our family unity in victory.

While there is a requirement to exercise good sportsmanship in victory as well as in defeat, there is no comparison to the feeling of being World Champions.  I hold a very strong respect for Peyton Manning and all his accomplishments, and very classy demeanor.  Go out and support your team because they depend on the fan base, besides, at least to date no one team is champion forever.  The best is yet to come…..

Contemplating Retirement

Contemplating Retirement

The very first day I contemplated retirement was when I completed my very first day of work (my first full 12 hour day).  Farm work doesn’t punch a clock from 8 to 5.  Back when I started at 12 years of age and the time clock was solar (sun-up to sun-down).  We would get a 30 minute lunch break, not paid for, and no breaks before or after lunch.  The only breaks we got were of the forced type (forced by the call of nature).  I went home from work at the end of the day, I had driven a Ford Ferguson Tractor all day long, pulling a flatbed trailer while three college young men loaded bales of hay on it. After the trailer was filled to capacity plus I would drive them over to where the bales of hay were stacked for year round use.  The farm had so much cattle that all the hay was strictly for in house use.  Sometimes the rancher would even purchase additional hay to make it through the year.  I remember getting done at the end of the day and I was so tired, that I would often go to sleep without eating dinner.  Enough reminiscing about the good old days (and they truly were).

At some point I started loving work so much that I had difficulty stopping at the end of a day to go home.  Back in the day 100% effort was expected from everyone, but to add a 10% extra made you shine very bright and opportunities for advancement almost always followed.  Many of my friends complained that management required more than a 40 hour week.  They were right, but with my work ethic, once I reached mid-management level in the corporate world, the long hours coupled with appropriate wage was like a fine tuned V-8 engine hitting on all cylinders.

I didn’t realize it growing up but learning about life and the struggles that often come along for the ride, made my life much easier.  I learned how to work hard and stand out amongst my co-workers.  Thanks to lessons learned growing up, I’ve lived within my means or below all my life, never cared to keep up with the neighbors, and home has always been the basis of my comfort.

Many workers spend their lives dreaming about the retirement, but the reality does not always meet the fantasy. There are pros and cons to retirement, both in terms of finances and in terms of lifestyle. Understanding the possible negative consequences of calling it a career can help you make a better transition from the role of worker to the role of new retiree.  Keeping busy for the sake of sanity can be as important as adjusting to your new finances.

Time is a precious commodity, and one that retirees have in abundance. Without the responsibilities and stresses of a job, retirees are free to visit their children and grandchildren whenever they want. Retirees can also travel as much as their hearts desire or their budgets allow.  Making the right choices for you and your new lifestyle is where it’s at.  You may have to experiment until you get used to the idea that you no longer have to punch a clock,

I was lucky to retire early thanks to advice from my best friend, and I tried different things before settling to what feels good and fulfills me.  I’ll just say that my new lifestyle has a little bit of everything in it.  This post was prompted by the fact that my best friend’s wife just retired, and I got to thinking of how I was affected, and how I wish them the best in their new found freedom!  The best is yet to come…..