How many times have you heard the expression, "back in the day"? Generally, when individuals are referencing the past, they may preface their remarks with this lead in phrase, as it's a nice way to prepare for some sort of reference to the past. Of course, it usually means that one of the parties involved may not have a recollection of the past event. Many people may remember, but there once was a day when you wouldn't see the landscape dotted with those very familiar "golden arches" we associate with hamburgers, french fries, and happy meals. Well, I remember the very first roadside stop for a taste of a hamburger with that special sauce, so permit me to retell the story.
While driving through southern Connecticut in 1968, making one of our family visits to Long Island, my mother spied the now famous golden arches and suggested we try eating there for lunch. Evidently, she had read about this "new" chain selling hamburgers, french fries, and the then recently released, Big Mac. As for my brothers and I, we were just interested in eating anything. In those days, the Big Mac came in a foil wrapper. The ad campaign that familiarized America with the Big Mac went like this: "Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun", and I suspect that any of us who grew up with McDonald's can hear that little jingle in the recesses of our mind right now.
Little did we know that that afternoon stop for a burger would be part of the first million burgers sold, and who knows how many billions have been served since? Over the years, my brothers and I have done our fair share to insure the future of Ray Kroc's vision, but what we didn't appreciate, of course, was just how those golden arches would eventually dot the countryside.
In the words of the "famous prophet", Ferris Buehler, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Those words couldn't be more true today, as it only seems like yesterday when there wasn't a fast food restaurant at every highway interchange or in every small town. In fact, if we wanted one of those famous hamburgers when I was still in high school, my sister would have to drive us to a nearby community, because there wasn't one just down the street.
Yes, life was simpler years ago, and according to my parents, it was even more simple when they were kids. However, on the rare occasion when I bite into a Big Mac these days, I am reminded of my youth, and it tastes just as good now, as it did the first time. Some things never change!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
I'd Love a Cup of Tea
Have you ever read or heard of the book, "Tuesdays with Morrie"? Mitch Albom wrote this delightful book from a collection of stories he had gathered after reestablishing his friendship with a former college professor after he learned that his professor, Morrie Schwartz, was suffering from ALS. After graduation, he promised to stay in touch; but like so many of us, life's demands oftentimes change that vow and a day turns into a week and a week into a month and well, you know the scenario. However, once he learned of Professor Schwartz's malady, Mr. Albom recommitted to his prior promise and thus became the substance of his now, well known book. Most of us could do the same thing, if we only would take the opportunity, and for me, that time comes on Thursdays at tea time.
For years, my mother has enjoyed a good cup of tea. I suspect her love for it came from my Irish born grandmother who would savor a good cup many afternoons herself. During those casual afternoons away from work, my mother and I oftentimes enjoy a good cup of tea late in the day. But what this little ritual offers is far more than just a boost for that late day slump. The stories we've shared are filled from the memories of a lifetime spent accumulating them. We have relived her childhood at Bristol Road, her trips to Canada on the boat out of Boston with her aunts, her academic achievements at St. Clements and later at Regis college, how she met my father and later her future in-laws, and some of the tales from my own childhood would find their way into the story telling. And when my father or anyone else for that matter sits in, additional details are sprinkled in to reflect the differences in our recollections.
Yes, "Tuesdays with Morrie" captured some wonderful stories shared with an old friend, and hopefully, it has inspired others to take the opportunity to exchange similar life stories before they are, for whatever reason, forever forgotten. There is something special about reliving the past while sitting around the dinner table, around a camp fire, or with your mom and a good cup of tea. The memories we share are but the true gifts that life has to offer; and in the end, they are our legacies. Mom, how would you like another cup of tea? I can only imagine her response now, "I'd love it", and on Thursdays or any day, so would I!
For years, my mother has enjoyed a good cup of tea. I suspect her love for it came from my Irish born grandmother who would savor a good cup many afternoons herself. During those casual afternoons away from work, my mother and I oftentimes enjoy a good cup of tea late in the day. But what this little ritual offers is far more than just a boost for that late day slump. The stories we've shared are filled from the memories of a lifetime spent accumulating them. We have relived her childhood at Bristol Road, her trips to Canada on the boat out of Boston with her aunts, her academic achievements at St. Clements and later at Regis college, how she met my father and later her future in-laws, and some of the tales from my own childhood would find their way into the story telling. And when my father or anyone else for that matter sits in, additional details are sprinkled in to reflect the differences in our recollections.
Yes, "Tuesdays with Morrie" captured some wonderful stories shared with an old friend, and hopefully, it has inspired others to take the opportunity to exchange similar life stories before they are, for whatever reason, forever forgotten. There is something special about reliving the past while sitting around the dinner table, around a camp fire, or with your mom and a good cup of tea. The memories we share are but the true gifts that life has to offer; and in the end, they are our legacies. Mom, how would you like another cup of tea? I can only imagine her response now, "I'd love it", and on Thursdays or any day, so would I!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Fortunately, enough people said, "Y" not
When I moved to Delaware in 1995, I queried several community leaders why Delaware didn't have its own community center, and in time, I recognized that in spite of a spirited group supporting such a facility, the critical mass needed to launch such a project hadn't yet been reached. Fortunately for Delaware, Ohio Wesleyan's symbiotic relationship with the city helped to offset some of the city's needs. For years, the Hayes swim team made Pfeifer natatorium its home and many residents were members of OWU's athletic club.
Now fast forward to 2008; Delaware had grown, the need for a community center still existed, however, the critical mass to support this project still rested among the city's voters. The citizens group, CPR (Citizens to Promote Recreation), took this challenge on, and they are to be commended for their insights, as they kept the enthusiasm rolling right on through election day. Thankfully, the residents came out in support and passed the necessary tax levy to make this dream a reality.
After passage of the levy, CPR continued working cooperatively toward designing a center that embodied the wishes of and promises to the taxpayers. Following the dedication in December and during a recent return visit to Delaware, I was able to make use of the Y at the Delaware Community Center. Without hesitation, that experience confirms that you should be proud of your state of the art facility that is the product of perseverance, vision, and more importantly, dovetails beautifully with the common goals set forth by those trusted civic leaders.
Although I no longer live locally, from what I have seen, this project will go a long way to promoting the health and well being of an already vital community; as an advocate for good health through exercise, I strongly encourage you all to continue "exercising" that wonderful sense of community. Congratulations!
Now fast forward to 2008; Delaware had grown, the need for a community center still existed, however, the critical mass to support this project still rested among the city's voters. The citizens group, CPR (Citizens to Promote Recreation), took this challenge on, and they are to be commended for their insights, as they kept the enthusiasm rolling right on through election day. Thankfully, the residents came out in support and passed the necessary tax levy to make this dream a reality.
After passage of the levy, CPR continued working cooperatively toward designing a center that embodied the wishes of and promises to the taxpayers. Following the dedication in December and during a recent return visit to Delaware, I was able to make use of the Y at the Delaware Community Center. Without hesitation, that experience confirms that you should be proud of your state of the art facility that is the product of perseverance, vision, and more importantly, dovetails beautifully with the common goals set forth by those trusted civic leaders.
Although I no longer live locally, from what I have seen, this project will go a long way to promoting the health and well being of an already vital community; as an advocate for good health through exercise, I strongly encourage you all to continue "exercising" that wonderful sense of community. Congratulations!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Gone to the "other side"
"Ghost" is an entertaining movie which hit the box office in 1990 starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi Goldberg. Sam, Patrick Swayze's character, met with an untimely death at the hands of a "mugger" only to find out, as the movie unfolded, that it was not a random act of violence but a planned event orchestrated by his coworker and friend, sadly for his own selfish, financial gain.
Several months before I was born, my parents realized that they needed more room for their expanding family, so they moved the family to a quieter neighborhood and larger home. My sisters have related stories of dancing in the empty spaces of the new home before the move and imagining which rooms would be theirs. Naturally, my parents got the master bedroom, but the other rooms were commandeered in order of age. That meant that the two rooms that were once the maid's quarters and separated from the main part of the house by the second stairwell, logically became the older siblings new digs. To this day, those rooms still are referred to as "so and so's old room".
The stairwell that led to those back rooms created a natural boundary between the front of the house and the back, and as you would expect, the two sides of the house have a connection through one of the bedrooms as well. Consequently, we began to refer to this part of the house as the other side. Over the years, for some reason or other, nearly all of us have made the other side of the house a resting spot for some period of time. This is what makes the other side truly a domain unto itself; it remains connected but separate. And for those of us who have actually gone to the other side and returned, it has oftentimes provided that much needed respite from life's occasional disruptions. There certainly is solace in knowing that a place like this really exists!
Several months before I was born, my parents realized that they needed more room for their expanding family, so they moved the family to a quieter neighborhood and larger home. My sisters have related stories of dancing in the empty spaces of the new home before the move and imagining which rooms would be theirs. Naturally, my parents got the master bedroom, but the other rooms were commandeered in order of age. That meant that the two rooms that were once the maid's quarters and separated from the main part of the house by the second stairwell, logically became the older siblings new digs. To this day, those rooms still are referred to as "so and so's old room".
The stairwell that led to those back rooms created a natural boundary between the front of the house and the back, and as you would expect, the two sides of the house have a connection through one of the bedrooms as well. Consequently, we began to refer to this part of the house as the other side. Over the years, for some reason or other, nearly all of us have made the other side of the house a resting spot for some period of time. This is what makes the other side truly a domain unto itself; it remains connected but separate. And for those of us who have actually gone to the other side and returned, it has oftentimes provided that much needed respite from life's occasional disruptions. There certainly is solace in knowing that a place like this really exists!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
"Caught" out in the cold
The NFL playoffs are well underway with several of the second round games wrapping up this evening. As a New England Patriots fan, the outcome of their game appears to be a mere formality at this point. However, in the infamous words of Yogi Berra, "it isn't over until it's over".
Although New England winters are typically harsh, especially in January, this one has been rather mild by comparison to most; but tonight the temperatures have dipped into the single digits which can make playing football outside considerably more challenging. In spite of the frigid weather, the Patriot's offense fired on all cylinders, as did their defense for that matter, and with it, they tied a number of offensive records. Even my dad, who prefers watching baseball to football, was in awe of the complete team performance turned in by the Patriots tonight. It just goes to show you that sometimes getting "caught" out in the cold can score big points with the fans and in this case, for the home town team too. Go Pats!
Although New England winters are typically harsh, especially in January, this one has been rather mild by comparison to most; but tonight the temperatures have dipped into the single digits which can make playing football outside considerably more challenging. In spite of the frigid weather, the Patriot's offense fired on all cylinders, as did their defense for that matter, and with it, they tied a number of offensive records. Even my dad, who prefers watching baseball to football, was in awe of the complete team performance turned in by the Patriots tonight. It just goes to show you that sometimes getting "caught" out in the cold can score big points with the fans and in this case, for the home town team too. Go Pats!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
It's in the Cubby Hole
When my daughter was young, I remember reading a story to her called, "The Bear Under the Stairs. The story was about a young girl who had this typical childhood fear about a monster bear under her parents stairs. To appease the bear, she routinely threw banana peels into the dark abyss where the bear resided in order to avoid the bear's evil wrath. Who didn't have one of these childhood "monsters"? My siblings and I called the monster in our basement the "boogie man". However, unlike the scary cave inhabited by the bear under the stairs, the cave under my parents stairs was affectionately called, the cubby hole.
Our cubby hole served as a storage area for card tables and chairs and at times, the vacuum cleaner. However, when the weather outside turned foul, the cubby hole served as our "tree house". "Systematically", we removed all the contents of this coveted space, and there, we set up camp for the day and then just let our imaginations run wild. There are plenty of memories "stored" in that cubby hole for sure.
During the recent holidays, while preparing the family dwelling for the celebration, my sister asked where the extra card chairs were; when I said they were in the cubby hole, she smiled and then laughed as it triggered her own memories of this indoor shelter. As for me, I prefer to think of our small cubby hole as just a little, childhood wedge of real "escape"!
Our cubby hole served as a storage area for card tables and chairs and at times, the vacuum cleaner. However, when the weather outside turned foul, the cubby hole served as our "tree house". "Systematically", we removed all the contents of this coveted space, and there, we set up camp for the day and then just let our imaginations run wild. There are plenty of memories "stored" in that cubby hole for sure.
During the recent holidays, while preparing the family dwelling for the celebration, my sister asked where the extra card chairs were; when I said they were in the cubby hole, she smiled and then laughed as it triggered her own memories of this indoor shelter. As for me, I prefer to think of our small cubby hole as just a little, childhood wedge of real "escape"!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Resolutions for the New Year
New Year's has always been a time for merriment and celebration with Time Square residing at the epicenter of those "parties". However, when the sun rises, it's just another day, with one exception; many people look at this day as an opportunity to erase past mistakes or failed commitments. This is the year for yet another resolution, but this time it will be different for sure.
Unfortunately, for the majority of individuals, the legendary NewYear's resolution is broken shortly into the new calendar year. Many times, the excuses for failure are as creative as the resolutions themselves. Well, I would like to propose this. Make your resolution, not just for this day, but every day for the rest of your life. Since many of those failed resolutions are focused on healthy lifestyle changes, I hope that this is the year that you are successful with those worthy resolutions. The clock is running, so good luck and Happy New Year to all!
Unfortunately, for the majority of individuals, the legendary NewYear's resolution is broken shortly into the new calendar year. Many times, the excuses for failure are as creative as the resolutions themselves. Well, I would like to propose this. Make your resolution, not just for this day, but every day for the rest of your life. Since many of those failed resolutions are focused on healthy lifestyle changes, I hope that this is the year that you are successful with those worthy resolutions. The clock is running, so good luck and Happy New Year to all!
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