The Joy of Tenacity

Behold, three members of Sammie's Scholars, the championship team sans one (We never could figure out what happened to Brent Spencer.) of the first College Bowl ever held at Central State University.  (We steadfastly refuse to call it the University of Central Oklahoma.  We know what our diplomas read.) 

Sadly, as I have mentioned in the past, the one on the far left, Paul Hammond, is no longer with us.  It was a dirty trick for him to play on us, as (in all seriousness) I had planned on him delivering my eulogy in the far future, as eloquent as he was.  He would have made me sound far better than I am.  Now, I'm stuck.

At one time, both Paul and Glen--then gentleman on the right--were over four hundred pounds.  As a matter of fact, the night this photo was taken, that subject was brought up. 

I contacted Glen, letting him know of Paul's passing, and it shook him.  He realized that but for the grace of God, it could have been him.  Thus, he was determined to do something about it.  Glen therefore started on a regimen combined with Weight Watchers and the YMCA.  Over the past two years, he's seen his weight drop down to two hundred, and he looks marvelous.  Glen wanted to be able to see his grandchildren grow up, and he's going to be able to achieve that. 

You know, every time tragedy strikes our lives, we're told something good will come out of this.  That God has a plan, and we need to be patient.  We mutter, "Yeah, yeah," and ignore those who tell us this.  I can tell you in all honesty Glen's life was saved.  He will tell you that.

I am proud of Glen for his tenacity. 

More importantly, I know Paul would be.

It Ain't The Same

I just finished watching a wonderful two-part film about our first Olympic team from 1896.  It dealt with conflict, camaraderie, teamwork, and pride. In short, it's not the type picture one sees anymore, as we're not supposed to be proud of America anymore.

Last night we were watching a documentary on PBS that was quite good until the last historian came on and made a comment about how we need to apologize for everything under the sun.  If this is true, does Italy need to be apologizing for the Borgias or the way the world was treated under the Caesars?  We never hear that.  How about an apology from Egypt to the Jews?  I'm for that, but no one ever calls for it.  No, America is the only one who has to apologize for things that are hundreds of years in the past.  I really don't expect my descendants to apologize for things I have done three hundred years from now. 

You know, Shirley MacLaine claims she's had dozens of lives.  Imagine all the apologies she has to make, considering she's been around hundreds of years.  I mean, she must have committed thousands of sins!  Anyone every call for an apology from her?

No, it's more fun to pick on our country, which is why I like to watch the older shows.  We had pride in our country then.  We weren't apologizing for breathing like we are now.  Americans had self-respect, which is sorely lacking.  The only time people run across that word nowadays is when they play Scrabble.

Times have changed, and with them, so has America.  Unfortunately, not for the better.  But if we have changed for the worse, we can also do so for the better.  Let's start having pride and self-respect not only in us but our country once more.

It Pays to Listen

I know the holiday season is over, but I've been thinking the past few weeks about one of my favorite  stories.  It came to mind on Christmas Day, as I was talking to my niece Mikaela.  I reminded her of the Christmas when no one chose to believe her.

It was about a decade ago, and Mom wanted to give me a pair of black slacks.  Everyone said they were nice, but Mikaela, who was the baby of the family then, spoke up, saying, "Grandma, they're green."

Well, we naturally chuckled at her.  After all, she was a child.  What did she know?  "No Mikaela, they're black."  We were adults.  We knew what was right.

Very politely, Mikaela informed us they were green.  Again, we told her they were black.  Silly child!

She tried again to tell us they were green.  One more we told her she was wrong.  Finally, without saying a word, she plucked them from my hands, walked over to the window, and held them to the light.

Son of a gun.  They were green.

When I reminded Mikaela of this last month, she was flabbergasted, saying, "How rude!"  I pointed out to her that we were the rude ones, blowing her off due to her age, while she constantly was polite, finally proving her point without saying a word.  I told her it was not only beautiful the way she did it, it's my favorite 'Mikaela story,' even though I was one of those proven wrong.

It goes to show that we should never doubt children, as they generally have something to say. Mikaela certainly did that day.  And had we listened to her the first time and paid closer attention, none of us would have had to apologize to her. 

As for me, I made out like a bandit.  Mom so wanted to give me a pair of black slacks, the following day--one of the worst shopping days of the year--she went out and bought me a pair.  So Mikaela continued to assist me.

Now if she'd just go back to making my snickerdoodles.

So Set `Em Up, Joe . . .

You remember the classic Sinatra standard where he's singing about how late it is, and it's time to go, so the bartender needs to set up one last round?  Well, lately, that's the time I've been getting up.  Not by choice, mind you, I have nonetheless.

Cricket loves it.  She gets up with me out of duty, for several reasons.  The first and foremost is that she loves me.  The second is that she knows she's going to be fed earlier.  (I pay for this, as when I finally start to sleep later, she awakens me about two a.m., as she wants to be fed.)  The second is I give her extra treats for awakening her at such a horrific hour.

Now, you may think I mutter and grumble about getting up this early, but I have to admit something . . . . I love getting up this early.  Yes, I know . . . but I don't think insanity runs in my family.  It gallops, but it doesn't run.  I do have my reasoning for enjoying this odd quirk, though.

As you know, I'm a writer.  (We all have our faults.)  I seem to do my best work when it's dark.  (I guess it's the vampire in me.)  That's when I edit the heck outta my work, and I do so without fail.  I look at what I've done, and go 'tch, tch', 'Awwwww!' or 'Fisher, what in the name of Luke Short does that mean?'  It seems once the sun's up I do more piddling. 

I don't know why this works the way it does.  I wish it was the opposite.  I love my bed.  (I actually sleep better on the couch, though.)  But there's something about the night that stirs my creative juices.  This being the case, it's time to start on another book.  After all, it's 3:50 in the morning.

So set `em up, Joe.

Caught At Christmastime

In regards to my last blog, someone pointed out I took the gist of it from one of my favorite Christmas films, The Bishop's Wife.  I admitted this was true, as it's a wonderful lesson, albeit from a motion picture.

Peter Falk and Valerie Bertinelli in
'Finding John Christmas'

Many of our films having to do with Christmas have outstanding lessons, whether or not we pay attention to them.  Take Miracle On 34th Street and 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.'  Both deal with the way we have allowed the holiday to be so commercialized, forgetting the real meaning of Christmas.  And the latter has the most inspirational scene in a Christmas film when Linus explains the real meaning of the holiday to Charlie Brown under the spotlight as everyone is as quiet as a church mouse.

It's A Wonderful Life is considered a Christmas film, and lets us know we are not alone, although we often think we are.  The inscription Clarence writes in the book he leaves for George sums it all up.

3 Godfathers is an overlooked Christmas Western, telling of the Three Wise Men put in the West, as they care for an orphaned newborn.  It's a terrific look at the birth of the Christ Child, and a wonderful look at responsibility and keeping one's word, no matter the cost.

The Man Who Came To Dinner is a hilarious look at an extremely gruff man who intercedes in others' lives, even when they often don't want him to.  Although he comes across as a grouch, we as the audience see that he does care for people, but doesn't want them to realize it.  We learn that people aren't as they seem to be.

As I stated last year, my favorite Christmas films are a trilogy made for television:  'A Town Without Christmas,' 'Finding John Christmas,' and 'When Angels Came to Town.'  They have two things in common--Peter Falk as the angel Max, and letting us know there is someone who cares for us, even when we think we are all alone in this world.  Never have I been able to watch one of these with dry eyes.

So, as the holiday approaches and we remember the Reason we celebrate Christmas, I hope you enjoy a few of these.  Maybe you'll see a few of the lessons in the films and find a few others.  If you do, please let me know. 

In the meantime, Merry Christmas.

The Empty Stocking

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone.  Many of us have started on our Christmas shopping.  Some who plan for the future have even finished it, and begun on next year's. 

We know that Aunt Martha wants a new purse, while Cousin Henry needs a webcam.  Your daughter is impossible to shop for, so she gets a Wal Mart gift card, and so forth.  The presents bought and wrapped, you mail a few, and put the rest under the tree for now.

But what goes in the empty stocking on the mantle?

You don't have an empty stocking?  You should.  You see, families have stockings for each and every member:  You, me, Grandpa, Aunt Minerva, Uncle Fess, Cousin Henry, but very few of us ever remember to leave another stocking for the One whose birthday we celebrate.  And when you think about it, He received the first Christmas presents.  So why should that change now?

What are you giving Jesus for his birthday this year?  Your first thought is He has everything, being the Son of God, but everyone should get something for their birthday.  Think about it.  Give Him a gift, and when you contemplate, you'll know it won't be able to match what He has brought us, but He won't care.  He just likes to open packages.  Your time is something He really likes.  Give to your church or a charitable foundation in His name.

Your Christmas shopping isn't done yet.  Put something in His stocking this year.  Don't let it be empty.

Mizpah.

Drop It



Elia Kazan

 Elia Kazan was one of the finest directors Broadway or Hollywood ever produced.  On the stage, he brought us hits such as 'All My Sons,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,' 'Sweet Birth of Youth,' and 'The Dark At the Top of The Stairs.' In Hollywood, he produced such classics as A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Boomerang!, Gentleman's Agreement, Pinky, A Streetcar Named Desire, Panic In the Streets, Viva Zapata!, On the Waterfront, East of Eden, Baby Doll, A Face In the Crowd, and Splendor In the Grass.  He won three Tony Awards and two of his movies won Best Picture.  In short, the man knew what he was doing.

When Kazan was honored with a Lifetime Oscar, it created quite a stink, as he had testified before HUAC, being a former member of the Communist Party.  As Richard Schickel--who states he himself is far to the left--says, people today treated Kazan as if he named liberals, not Communists, forgetting there is a vast difference.  People came out of the woodwork, stating the director had 'ruined their lives' had never even been named by Kazan.  They merely wanted their ten minutes of fame by the director.

Well-known liberals such as Ed Harris and Nick Nolte made their disgust for the award known, and at the ceremony, made a show of not applauding.  It was considered 'making a stand.'  Another well-known liberal, Warren Beatty, refused to dishonor Kazan, pointing out 1)  the director was the one who gave him his start in the movies and 2)  Beatty didn't know what he would have done under the circumstances.  Thus, he was one of the few honest people around at the time.  To keep the peace, Beatty also went to a ceremony honoring those who had been blacklisted.

Director Edward Dmytryk was a member of the 'Hollywood Ten' who recanted, and wound up testifying before HUAC, naming names.  He got his career back, going on to direct The Caine Mutiny, Broken Lance, Raintree County, The Young Lions, and Warlock and wound up losing friends.  Yet history has not damned him the way they have Kazan.  Dmytryk eventually wound up writing a book, Odd Man Out:  A Memoir of the Hollywood Ten.  It is considered to be one of the few honest versions dealing with what happened then.

If you want to judge these men, that is your right.  But read all the facts.  If you don't like their politics, that is your right as well.  But get every bit of information you can.  Those were difficult times for this country, and many who have cursed these men and others weren't even there.

As the line from old time radio goes, "Vas you dere, Charlie?"