It always seems difficult to for me to say anything profound or inspiring about Thanksgiving. Why should that be? Gratitude is a wonderful thing and to live gratefully is superb. But what to say? To be honest much for which we are often thankful comes at the expense of others; laborers exploited, native resources stolen, and others who have lost out, due to circumstances of birth and location.
Gratitude cannot be demanded...so admonitions to be grateful are not helpful. Much writing about thanksgiving slips into "should" talk. True we should be grateful but it doesn't help anyone to tell them that.
Perhaps the best we can do is humbly acknowledge our dependence. That dependence is on those whose labor and resources makes our lives possible. It is also dependence on our inheritance; genetics, nurture, and opportunity provided by those who have gone before us. Perhaps that is what we should encourage...humility that recognizes our true dependence.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
A day in the life...........
D.M., L.N. and I were driving back from the sale where I almost bought a tractor...glad I didn't...and as we drove through Volga past the old hospital I said "I spent a night there." L.N. said "what was that about?" "It was the time I got hit by a car on the highway.........."
Alonzo Peeke, MD, was the local doctor. He lived in a mansion across the street from the little hospital. His office/clinic was in the ground floor of his mansion. He thought I should be hospitalized for observation after I was hit...my first stay in a hospital.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I was with my best buddy, R.H,, we were seniors in high school. We were driving my '48 Pontiac west on Highway 14, just west of Brookings when I had a flat tire...left rear. R.H. and I were in the process of changing the tire, I was bent over starting the lug nuts when I glanced up in time see a car coming at me, quite slowly. Standing up quickly just before I was hit I was rolled between the cars like one might roll putty in one's hands. Nothing obviously broken, no cuts or lacerations, I confronted the driver who had stopped. He claimed he didn't know he'd hit me.
We drove the 3 miles to Volga and went to the emergency? room...or at least we found the doctor who put me in the hospital overnight. He also called the sheriff who showed up in my room. His name was Clauson and he always wore a 10 gallon cowboy hat. He quickly identified the driver, A.D., who had a record of driving drunk. The sheriff told me later that when he went to A,D.'s house A.D. had confessed and, if my memory serves me correctly, he even did a little jail time for it. I got out of the hospital the next day, stiff and sore, but with no serious injury.
Alonzo Peeke, MD, was the local doctor. He lived in a mansion across the street from the little hospital. His office/clinic was in the ground floor of his mansion. He thought I should be hospitalized for observation after I was hit...my first stay in a hospital.
It was a Sunday afternoon and I was with my best buddy, R.H,, we were seniors in high school. We were driving my '48 Pontiac west on Highway 14, just west of Brookings when I had a flat tire...left rear. R.H. and I were in the process of changing the tire, I was bent over starting the lug nuts when I glanced up in time see a car coming at me, quite slowly. Standing up quickly just before I was hit I was rolled between the cars like one might roll putty in one's hands. Nothing obviously broken, no cuts or lacerations, I confronted the driver who had stopped. He claimed he didn't know he'd hit me.
We drove the 3 miles to Volga and went to the emergency? room...or at least we found the doctor who put me in the hospital overnight. He also called the sheriff who showed up in my room. His name was Clauson and he always wore a 10 gallon cowboy hat. He quickly identified the driver, A.D., who had a record of driving drunk. The sheriff told me later that when he went to A,D.'s house A.D. had confessed and, if my memory serves me correctly, he even did a little jail time for it. I got out of the hospital the next day, stiff and sore, but with no serious injury.
Recommended Reading
Shadow Tag, Louise Erdrich, 2010...I didn't even think I liked it and then I finished it and realized that, once again, Erdrich had worked her magic. "When Irene America discovers her artist husband, Gil, has been reading her diary, she begins a secret Blue Notebook, stashed securely in a safe-deposit box. There she records the truth about her life and marriage, while tuning her Red Diary--hidden where Gil will find it--into a manipulative charade...." quoted from the back cover.
Perhaps I will not read it three times like I did her Plague of Doves but I certainly will think about it. I highly recommend it for anyone serious about relationships.
Perhaps I will not read it three times like I did her Plague of Doves but I certainly will think about it. I highly recommend it for anyone serious about relationships.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
"Thank You For Your Service"
E.C.V. called me yesterday, Nov. 10, to wish a Happy Birthday, as he does every year. Perceptive readers of this blog may wonder about that since I was born Oct. 28. Being a good Catholic, E.C.V. is probably not thinking of Martin Luther who was born on Nov. 10. No, Nov. 10, is the birthday of the Marine Corps and under the rubric of "once a Marine, always a Marine" he calls me unfailingly every Nov. 10.
Volunteering in a 5th grade classroom at Noble Academy today, the teacher asked how many years since my discharge? I said "I was discharged in 1962." She immediately made it a math problem for the class "How many years since his discharge?" They quickly answered "52". The students weren't much impressed...hard for them to visualize anything much beyond 15...but the teacher was wide eyed. She's about 26 so 5 decades plus impressed her.
In the first 40 years or more after discharge I never remember being thanked for my service. After the poor reception many returning Vietnam Vets. received there was a backlash. With the Gulf War and Iraq/Afghanistan wars it became popular to be visibly supportive of veterans. "Thank you for your service." Signs "WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" sprang up in many places.
Personally I think we owe it to our combat veterans who served honorably, many of whom were killed or wounded, to be a bit discriminating. Using a "broad brush" thanking everyone who was in one of the military branches diminishes the true homage due to those who faced combat.
Why did I enlist? Was I infused with patriotic fervor and love of my country? Not really. It was the 1950s and America still had the draft. I'd been deferred for 2 years to attend college. After 2 years it became clear to me that with my lack of academic focus I needed time to grow up. Therefore, I chose to enlist...3 years will give me time to gain some clarity and have a bit of adventure.
It worked perfectly for me. Prior to enlistment my world was very, very small...an insulated farming community in South Dakota. Boot Camp was in San Diego, CA, and flying there was my first airplane ride. There I met E.C.V. my buddy for life. Subsequent assignment to Camp Pendleton, CA continued my exposure to young men from all walks of life. A year's assignment in Asia continued to broaden my horizons. While in Asia I gained clarity about my career path after discharge and I returned to college with the focus I'd previously not had.
Given this experience, when people thank me for my service, it feels like I might feel if someone thanked me for driving on the right side of the road. It would be very different had my service been in combat.
Yet, there is another issue that should be considered. Not everyone who received an honorable discharge served honorably. All branches of the service have their share of crooks and sociopaths. I saw my share of them, and, this was in peace time. The chaos of war brings out both the best and the worst in people. Some people in the military do terrible things for which they are never held accountable. Therefore, blanket accolades make me uncomfortable.
One day I was wearing my "Marines" cap when a woman came up to me, shook my hand and said "Thank you for your service." Being in one of my curmudgeonly moods I said "How do you know that I wasn't a crook?" I doubt anyone had ever raised that possibility with her before. The look she gave me was priceless.
So, all honor and respect for all who served honorably in combat. Some honor for those who served honorably in peacetime. No respect for those who served with dishonor.
Volunteering in a 5th grade classroom at Noble Academy today, the teacher asked how many years since my discharge? I said "I was discharged in 1962." She immediately made it a math problem for the class "How many years since his discharge?" They quickly answered "52". The students weren't much impressed...hard for them to visualize anything much beyond 15...but the teacher was wide eyed. She's about 26 so 5 decades plus impressed her.
In the first 40 years or more after discharge I never remember being thanked for my service. After the poor reception many returning Vietnam Vets. received there was a backlash. With the Gulf War and Iraq/Afghanistan wars it became popular to be visibly supportive of veterans. "Thank you for your service." Signs "WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" sprang up in many places.
Personally I think we owe it to our combat veterans who served honorably, many of whom were killed or wounded, to be a bit discriminating. Using a "broad brush" thanking everyone who was in one of the military branches diminishes the true homage due to those who faced combat.
Why did I enlist? Was I infused with patriotic fervor and love of my country? Not really. It was the 1950s and America still had the draft. I'd been deferred for 2 years to attend college. After 2 years it became clear to me that with my lack of academic focus I needed time to grow up. Therefore, I chose to enlist...3 years will give me time to gain some clarity and have a bit of adventure.
It worked perfectly for me. Prior to enlistment my world was very, very small...an insulated farming community in South Dakota. Boot Camp was in San Diego, CA, and flying there was my first airplane ride. There I met E.C.V. my buddy for life. Subsequent assignment to Camp Pendleton, CA continued my exposure to young men from all walks of life. A year's assignment in Asia continued to broaden my horizons. While in Asia I gained clarity about my career path after discharge and I returned to college with the focus I'd previously not had.
Given this experience, when people thank me for my service, it feels like I might feel if someone thanked me for driving on the right side of the road. It would be very different had my service been in combat.
Yet, there is another issue that should be considered. Not everyone who received an honorable discharge served honorably. All branches of the service have their share of crooks and sociopaths. I saw my share of them, and, this was in peace time. The chaos of war brings out both the best and the worst in people. Some people in the military do terrible things for which they are never held accountable. Therefore, blanket accolades make me uncomfortable.
One day I was wearing my "Marines" cap when a woman came up to me, shook my hand and said "Thank you for your service." Being in one of my curmudgeonly moods I said "How do you know that I wasn't a crook?" I doubt anyone had ever raised that possibility with her before. The look she gave me was priceless.
So, all honor and respect for all who served honorably in combat. Some honor for those who served honorably in peacetime. No respect for those who served with dishonor.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
1956 Allis Chalmers WD-45
It wasn't starting. so R.M., who was helping me, pulled off a plug wire while I cranked the engine...one spark then nothing. We cleaned the points, still no spark. At the Car Quest store in River Falls the 20 somethings said "1956 tractor, ooooooooooooo that's not in the computer, it's in this catalog and no one has showed us how to use it." "Mind if I look" I said. He pushed the catalog to me. "The points are number_____, the condenser number is ______, and the coil number is_______." Looking on her computer she said "they're all in stock."
After purchasing a feeler gauge, flashlight, small screw driver and the parts we headed back to the tractor. Installing the condenser and points first, we still had no spark. We removed the old coil and discovered it was 6 volt and looked as if it was the original from 1956. The battery is 12 volt so we'd purchased a 12 volt coil. Because it was what we had we installed it. As soon as we hit the starter the engine started. Lift off!
With the engine running it was time to mount the loader. Looking around the pole shed we found the long hydraulic cylinders. We attached them and used the hydraulic hoses that ran to the drawbar. When we engaged the hydraulic control one piston moved but the other one didn't. We added hydraulic fluid, and, bingo...both pistons worked.
Now it was time to attach the arms and bucket. The right side fit in easily but the loader was sitting on a side hill and slightly sprung so the left side need persuasion. Some adept work by R.M. with a jack, and 2X6 for prying, and attachment was soon accomplished.
It is the Curmudgeonette's new tractor. The loader will be useful in loading on the trailer all the neat attachments that came with the tractor. In addition to the genuine Allis Chalmers loader there are two other Allis Chalmers machines; a three bottom mounted plow and a mounted back blade. A Woods Rotary Mower was also part of the deal, Can you imagine how much fun she'll have farming with these machines?
After purchasing a feeler gauge, flashlight, small screw driver and the parts we headed back to the tractor. Installing the condenser and points first, we still had no spark. We removed the old coil and discovered it was 6 volt and looked as if it was the original from 1956. The battery is 12 volt so we'd purchased a 12 volt coil. Because it was what we had we installed it. As soon as we hit the starter the engine started. Lift off!
Now it was time to attach the arms and bucket. The right side fit in easily but the loader was sitting on a side hill and slightly sprung so the left side need persuasion. Some adept work by R.M. with a jack, and 2X6 for prying, and attachment was soon accomplished.
It is the Curmudgeonette's new tractor. The loader will be useful in loading on the trailer all the neat attachments that came with the tractor. In addition to the genuine Allis Chalmers loader there are two other Allis Chalmers machines; a three bottom mounted plow and a mounted back blade. A Woods Rotary Mower was also part of the deal, Can you imagine how much fun she'll have farming with these machines?
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| File photo (the tractor looks like this) |
Monday, November 3, 2014
Recommended Reading
"A majestic and brave new novel...both intimate and enormous." is what the New Your Times Book Review said about Barbara Kingsolver's recent novel Flight Behavior. It is not about airplanes but about the migration of Monarch Butterflies, those interesting insects, some of whom winter in Mexico.
Mixed in with the story of the Monarchs is a fascinating story of family dynamics. Set in the mountains of Tennessee the locals who are quite impoverished, get caught up in the unusual behavior of the Monarchs. Their interactions with those who come to study the butterflies is revealing.
Of particular interest to me is the clash and misunderstanding between the locals and the scientists. Kingsolver's delineation of the gap between scientist and non-scientist on the subject of climate change is particularly astute. Her perception of the failure of scientists to effectively communicate seems spot on to me.
Our book club read it and it led to a scintillating discussion. If you've read it I'd like to know what you think. If you haven't read it I think you'll find it worthwhile.
Mixed in with the story of the Monarchs is a fascinating story of family dynamics. Set in the mountains of Tennessee the locals who are quite impoverished, get caught up in the unusual behavior of the Monarchs. Their interactions with those who come to study the butterflies is revealing.
Of particular interest to me is the clash and misunderstanding between the locals and the scientists. Kingsolver's delineation of the gap between scientist and non-scientist on the subject of climate change is particularly astute. Her perception of the failure of scientists to effectively communicate seems spot on to me.
Our book club read it and it led to a scintillating discussion. If you've read it I'd like to know what you think. If you haven't read it I think you'll find it worthwhile.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Thailand Update
Several months ago the army in Thailand staged a coup, overthrowing the elected government. For the past several national elections a populist party has had resounding wins. The poorer north part of Thailand has, by dint of numbers, been in control. Thai democracy has always been rather fragile and there have been frequent army coups. The army's attempts to run the country have never gone very well and elections are held and for the last several years the populists have won.
This coup, coming on the heels of months of major protests and disruptions by the opposition party, is different. Apparently backed by the king the army is rewriting the constitution with the intent of restoring the power to the elite saying poor people don't know enough to vote. This is complicated by the extreme "lese mageste`" law, i.e., it is a crime to criticize the king or anything royal.
Since the coup there is no right of free expression, assembly or dissent. Professors cannot discuss politics in class, if you are caught reading Orwell's 1984, or giving the Hunger Games salute you will be arrested. Trial is in a military court without legal representation or any outside observers. Civilian courts are bypassed and freedom of the press non-existent.
The coup, coupled with some murders in the beach areas followed by badly bungled police investigations, has hit the tourist industry hard. Tourism is already down 19% this year and the bad news keeps coming.
Now the situation is calm. However, when the army promulgates a new, biased constitution, or when the king dies...he's very frail spending most of his time in a hospital...there will almost certainly be conflict.
"My people" are suffering. "When the elephants fight the ants suffer." Much of their livelihood is related to tourism. I do what I can to help. My next trip will be in February when I'll return to Ayutthaya to teach school.
Want to know more? This is very brief summary. I would love to talk with you about the situation.
This coup, coming on the heels of months of major protests and disruptions by the opposition party, is different. Apparently backed by the king the army is rewriting the constitution with the intent of restoring the power to the elite saying poor people don't know enough to vote. This is complicated by the extreme "lese mageste`" law, i.e., it is a crime to criticize the king or anything royal.
Since the coup there is no right of free expression, assembly or dissent. Professors cannot discuss politics in class, if you are caught reading Orwell's 1984, or giving the Hunger Games salute you will be arrested. Trial is in a military court without legal representation or any outside observers. Civilian courts are bypassed and freedom of the press non-existent.
The coup, coupled with some murders in the beach areas followed by badly bungled police investigations, has hit the tourist industry hard. Tourism is already down 19% this year and the bad news keeps coming.
Now the situation is calm. However, when the army promulgates a new, biased constitution, or when the king dies...he's very frail spending most of his time in a hospital...there will almost certainly be conflict.
"My people" are suffering. "When the elephants fight the ants suffer." Much of their livelihood is related to tourism. I do what I can to help. My next trip will be in February when I'll return to Ayutthaya to teach school.
Want to know more? This is very brief summary. I would love to talk with you about the situation.
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