The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

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Jerry May

Finally one about My Mom.

Mom was a lady of tremendous Faith. And prayed/meditated almost daily. 

When we were young (six of us at that time) and living in Oak Cliff.....Mom decided we should have a piano. This was for any of us who would show musical talent or inspiration.  I'm quite sure after many discussions with my Father it was decided they should put some money aside.....so we might be able to get one. Months went by....and between school needs, visits to the Dr and other unforeseens....it was impossible to get one. She was not discouraged however.....and ratcheted up her prayers. Finally she stopped.....thinking...."I'm just going to turn this over to the Lord."

One day a pastor my parents knew very well called from his West Dallas residence. He let them know.....he had a family in his parish who was very poor and had maybe eight family members living in a very small three room house.

He asked......that since Thanksgiving was coming up.... could they now spare some canned goods or childrens clothing......anything which would help these people. My parents agreed to bring a Turkey....with all the trimmings, canned goods, clothing. some of our toys etc. This was a stretch for them since we were sort of poor too!

They wanted all of us to see how other people lived.....and what giving was all about. So we loaded up in our family station wagon. (all I know is that Turkey sure smelled good......all the way there!)

When Father had introduced us to them.....WE were all shocked! These poor folks had nothing to speak of.....and the home had a DIRT floor.

When Mom & Dad were introduced in Spanish.....the Father of this family said "Christmas in November" (I'll never forget this!) They thanked us profusely and even asked if we wanted to stay and have dinner. My parents politely declined.

It was quite an experience!

And not two weeks later Mom received a phone call from our music teacher....who said, "Mrs May.....I knew you were looking for a piano...and I just bought one.....and wanted to see if you wanted my upright?"

My Mom was just floored!! 

Anyway, her prayers were answered and most of us played on that Kimball for years. However....it was my oldest sister and youngest brother who became the piano players!

Wayne Gary

Jerry,

You are halfway through.  You got the 12 points of the Scout Law.   Now what is the Oath and Moto?

Wayne
 

Steve Keene

Jerry

Don't forget to demonstrate how to tie at Square Knot, a Half Hitch, a Bowline, and a Sheepshank.

Did you know there is a Zeppelin knot that mountain climbers use?

David Cordell

Wayne, On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. And there's something about being physically fit, mentally alert, and morally straight, and doing good deeds.

Be prepared.

Sandra, you're  right. "Excuse me, sir," is better than "Hey, old man!"

Wayne Gary

David

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law. To help others at all times . To keep myself physically fit, mentally awake and morally straight.

You were close and Be prepared is motto.

I just back from me weekly meeting .

Reminded the Scouts that our main purpose is to guide them to being a good citizen as an adult. If they take the Oath , Law and Motto to heart and make it a guide to living life as an adult they will be an honorable person.

Steve Keene

Wayne

I kind of lost faith in the Boy Scouts when they began admitting women and unashamed effeminate scout masters.  We had one those in an Amarillo troup and there were more than rumours of the campouts with the "mal in tents."

It also seems very sexist to me, ie I doubt I would be welcomed on campouts with the Girl Scouts especially if I looked to get my cookies by going.

Steve Keene

For the anti fossil fuel crowd,

And you thought smoking at the gas pump was risky!

"Singeing in the Rain"

Hope you enjoy my sharp coruscation.

Jerry May

Okay Wayne,

I knew "Be Prepared" was the motto. The other David answered.

Without getting it out......or looking at it......or better yet....if you don't have it; tell me from memory how many instruments are inside the Boy Scout knife........and what they are used for?

Jean Renard Ward

To Steve K:

I got an email from Facebook that you had posted something there for me.  

However, I really try not to log in to Facebook, so I haven't seen it. 

... Can you send it to me in an email?

I avoid Facebook, because it is such a great source for anybody looking to collect the kind of personal information that would be useful in identity fraud.  I have the account there only because sometimes I get a professional contact where I have to look at something on Facebook. The account has my real name, but other personal information like birth date is all bogus. I also disabled as many of the Facebook account options as possible on how personal information is "shared" (i.e. sold), but I noticed there was no way to restrict what they collected and stored.

David Cordell

Jean, that's a good Facebook strategy, and good advice, even though you were very wise not to couch it as advice! You didn't tell us what we should do. Instead, you explained what you do and let us evaluate whether it is a worthy approach for us. Did you take the ame tack with your children?

Jean Renard Ward

David:

Jean, that's a good Facebook strategy, and good advice, even though you were very wise not to couch it as advice! You didn't tell us what we should do. Instead, you explained what you do and let us evaluate whether it is a worthy approach for us. Did you take the ame tack with your children?

With the kids?  Pretty much, yes.  Their religious education  -- by which I mean, the way things were taught in our congregation -- was done that way, too: Each human person has an equal personal access to God/Whatever, and thus no fixed creed should be imposed by one person on another. I suppose it's kind of a Quaker/Unitarian/Universalist thing here in New England.

Along the same lines perhaps, ordination of ministers was by the laying on of hands by a congregation, not by the apostolic succession.  Although it was not uncommon for people being ordained to invite other local ministers they were friends with to join in, regardless of religious affiliation, so technically there *may* have been a case for apostolic succession when somebody had a Paulist/Episcopalian/Greek Orthodox/Whatever priest or two in the crowd.

Russ Stovall

Jerry 

Did you happen to go to Margret B. Henderson Elementary or Greiner Jr. High when you lived in Oak Cliff?

Russ Stovall

David

When I first started coaching it was odd to be called Sir.  As time went on I got use to it.  Most of the time it was when the kids were being asked a yes or no question.  Even up to the time I retired we expected our athletes to answer with a Sir on the the end of the yes or no question.   Most of the time I was addressed as Coach Stovall.  Towards the end of my career occasionally the kids I had a good relationship with addressed me as Paw Paw in certain situations, but with respect intended.  They knew that was what my Grand called me.  .  I have many former athletes to this day that I am friends with say they cannot call me by my first name. They have to put Coach in front of my last name.  I understand that because I had Coaches that I played under and then went to work for and I could never call them by their first name.  Just like right now I am frequently in contact with Coach Dukes wife, Tonna Duke, I cannot bring myself to call her Tonna.  It is either Coach Duke or Mrs. Duke.  I simply do this out of respect.  Which I would believe when you are called Sir it is out of respect.  LIke Sandra said you have earned it.  Enjoy it.

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

The martial arts I was involved with had a creed too.  It was simple.  I try my best to follow the simple, yet powerful words.  These.

Courage, Courtesy, Humility, Integrity and Self Control. 

Jerry May

Hi Russ,

I did not go to either but knew where they were. I went to St James Parochial School

until nearly the end of the 6th grade. Why? Did you ever live in Oak Cliff?

 I saw some kinda of "B" grade movie with little plot! But it was filmed there and appropriately named: "The Cliff" I enjoyed it anyway, because it showed a lot of the places, streets and neighborhoods!

Course my wife was rolling her eyes......and in a voice dripping with sarcasm said: "Wow, this is Oscar stuff!" Lol!

Wayne Gary

Jerry,

I never had a official knife.  There are a numbers of different knives with the scout logo.

Steve,

The Scouts have had girls in the Explorers/Venture program for 14-21age for a long time.  Cub scouts have had 'Den Mothers" for many years.

Now the BSA allow girls in Cubs but the Dens are not co-ed.  girls dens and boys dens. For many years when a Pack went on a campout it was always a family event.

Now with Scouts 11-18 age they now have boys troops and girl troops. No co-ed troops.  For a number of years there have been girls that prefer the BSA program emphasis  over the GSA program. 

GSA does not belive girls should be interested in the BSA programs.

The Charter Orginazion determines if an adult can participate.

David Cordell

Wayne, you may not have seen my post about visiting Philmont last summer. We enjoyed it. Two of my sons were Eagle Scouts.

Jean, I have Quakers in my background, and my father was a pacifist, spending four years in work camps during WWII as a conscientious objector. One of our ancestors, John Vail (b 1685 in Westchester Co, NY, d 1774 in MIddlesex, Co, NJ) is listed in genealogical records as John Vail Quaker Preacher. His grandfather Thomas Vail was a Puritan who lived in your territory -- Boston, Salem, and possibly Scituate -- having reached America in 1640.

Lowell Tuttle

For Scouts (especially Brownies, Campfire Girls...)  and others who felt a bit of a misfit in youth, be sure to catch the film, Troop Zero.  It is a charmer.

Allison Janney, Viola Davis, Jim Gaffigan, and a host of 8-9 year olds.

Jerry May

I don't know if this qualifies as a "Good Deed" or just plain "chivalry"..... but I believe every married man on this forum would do the same thing.

Ellen was going through a tough period physically with some of the surgeries she had. 

I was at home and came into the room where she was talking or rather listening on the phone with tears rolling down her face. I could not believe the profanity laced tirade on the other end.....and the speaker was not on! 

I mouthed......"your ex"? She nodded as I put my arm around her and grabbed the phone.

"Hey, you are NO longer allowed to speak to her that way......you're not married anymore....or do you remember?"

"In fact, if I get an inkling of an idea.....you have treated her this way......you'll be dealing with me!"

He sheepishly said "I'm sorry" I blew up again! "Not me,.......Ellen! And I'm here so I can hear it!" He then said he was sorry to her.

She seemed relieved I stepped in.....but said...."Don't do anything to him. He's not worth it." I said: "I know that bum isn't worth it sweetie.....just wanted him to know I was around."

She looked as though a big weight was lifted from her.

Oh.....and that was 2 years ago~j

Hull Barbee

Now that's my friend Jerry !!!!!!!!! Except I might have introduced him to my friend , BUBBA

Jerry May

Thanks Neighbor!!!

Jean Renard Ward

David:

Jean, I have Quakers in my background, and my father was a pacifist, spending four years in work camps during WWII as a conscientious objector. One of our ancestors, John Vail (b 1685 in Westchester Co, NY, d 1774 in MIddlesex, Co, NJ) is listed in genealogical records as John Vail Quaker Preacher. His grandfather Thomas Vail was a Puritan who lived in your territory -- Boston, Salem, and possibly Scituate -- having reached America in 1640.

I really don't our family's geneology or history much beyond my grandparents.  

I would like you hear more about your father -- I suspect being  a C.O. was not an easy thing back then, with the war being seen as an existiential conflict.   "Work camp" -- was this alternative service, or some kind of punitive measure?   (I suppose the line between the two could be pretty blurred.)  Did he talk about it much?  Did it carry over into later life, like during the 1960's?

My own father didn't talk much about his experiences -- he was stateside most of the war, after a service-related injury in an accident while on patrol with the Coast Guard.

My spouse's father didn't talk much about his wartime experience, either.  He was  POW in Siberia until 1948.   We do have all the letters he wrote to my spouse's mother, but they all had to pass through the censors. 

You mentioned the movie "1917" a while back.  We still want to see it.

Wayne Gary

David,

I did see your  post.  I hope to go to Philmont next year for a Methodist church training.

Jean,

If you father is alive make sure he has his POW medal and ribbon.  If he does not you can buy replacements on the web.

I have friend that was taken POW on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge.  He would not talk much about the time in the POW camp. When I asked him about a POW medal, he replied "they do not give medals to cowards".  I ordered in a replacement medal and ribbons and gave it to him in front of his Sunday School Class. He has been able to talk a little about it.  He said it was 25 years before he could tell his son he was a POW.

Steve Keene

David,

My neighbor called and invited me to share at a grand opening today:

Jean Renard Ward

Wayne: 

If you father is alive make sure he has his POW medal and ribbon.  If he does not you can buy replacements on the web.

I have friend that was taken POW on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge.  He would not talk much about the time in the POW camp. When I asked him about a POW medal, he replied "they do not give medals to cowards".  I ordered in a replacement medal and ribbons and gave it to him in front of his Sunday School Class. He has been able to talk a little about it.  He said it was 25 years before he could tell his son he was a POW.

It sounds like your friend had a rough time that I cannot imagine.

Sorry for any confusion -- It was my spouse's father, not mine.  Her father was a calvalry soldier (with an actual horse!) in the German army in WW II, which is how he ended up as a POW in Siberia, held by the Soviets in a work camp.  He was released in 1948, three years after the war ended.  He never said much about his war experiences, just a few little stories about when they were on leave or off-duty, and not even that about his time as a POW. 

He didn't seem angry or bitter about anything.  He just didn't talk about it.