Heritage Stories

The Battle Positions

   We are visiting friends in Rock Hill, South Carolina.   I guess you might call it the deep South where cotton still grows  and folks are more tuned into our national heritage than we are in the North.  Today  we had an interesting visit to Kings Mountain National Park of Kings Mountain, South Carolina.  By chance for us our visit occurred on  the 230th anniversary of the battle of Kings Mountain during the Revolutionary War.   Enactors of the battle in period clothing were present and there was a special ceremony honoring the patriots and Tories that died in this battle.  We walked around the battleground to view the terrain and the positions of the opposing forces.   In this part of the country the Tories and patriots often could be neighbors  who had taken different sides in the conflict.   And as stated by the historical markers, the fighters even changed sides during the battle.  The Tories had only a few Redcoat members so this conflict was much different than the battle of Lexington and Concord.  In spite of the disadvantage of terrain and battle position the patriots prevailed.   And even brutally slayed many of the Tory survivors of the battle in retaliation for the brutal loss of patriot lives in a previous battle.   Brutality begetting brutality.   No different today in our current wars.

Hand to Hand Fighting

All of this has caused me to reflect on the tipping points on the development of the United States.   It seems our great nation have survived manifold crises in its history.   The Kings Mountain battle was considered one of the turning points in the Revolutionary War and was helpful in bringing an end to the Revolutionary War in 1783.   England could have sent more troops and pursued the war more forcefully but chose not to and thus the patriots prevailed.   I guess I had not appreciated how differently the Revolutionary War played out in the South.

Again I am surprised how much our cultural conditioning influences our view of history and the world.

When is Data, Data?

     The other day I was discussing the poverty situation in the United States with a friend and I quoted some statistics from a newspaper article showing that over the past 20 or so years the wealth in the United States has been more and more distributed to the wealthy.  In fact we are at a point where there is the largest disparity in wealth distribution in history.  According to the article we are becoming a third world like nation of haves and have-nots.   My friend challenged this claim by saying that he was suspicious of the data.    Perhaps he has a point.   However, I remember a book written by Bartlett and Steele who were  reporters with  the Philadelphia Enquirer about 20 years ago where through tax return data they demonstrated the migration of wealth from the lower wage earners to the wealthy.   I would expect others could do the same thing.   When  we get into policy arguments or political arguments we often simply pick the data that supports our point of view.    Wouldn't it be useful if we could agree on the validity of a set of data and then argue policy from that point on?

     Today I heard  the Toxic Assets Relief Program is likely to recover all but 50 billion of the bailout dollars.   Although 700 Billion was allocated only about 375 billion was distributed and now only 160 Billion is outstanding.   Some even say there is a possibility that the government might make money on this deal.   However, on the street, the view is there was  a 700 billion dollar give away.   I get discouraged with the mentality that says, "Don't confuse me with the data (facts), my mind is made up".  I would prefer to argue the merits of  TARP from this data regardless of ones political persuasion.

     I served on the Moravia Central School Board of Education from 2000 to 2003.   We had our share of sensitive issues to deal with and the accompanying controversies.  In some cases we were able to resolve the issues with a focus on the data.   It was my mantra when things got hot and heavy.   I would try to remind my colleagues, parents and community to look first at the data.   After I left the Board I am pleased to say my advice was remembered by many of my fellow board members.  Probably that legacy has died out by 2011 but I still think the approach is fundamental.

       I guess I still look for the better day when our decision makers will look at the data and commit to finding the truth rather than twisting the information to their particular advantage.  Will they ever focus on really serving the people who elected them?

Oak Trees

     On Friday I walked down Tower Road on Cornell Campus in the shade of some magnificent oak trees that hover over the side walk on the the north side of the road.   Acorns were crunching under my feet to remind me that from acorns mighty oak trees grow.   I first walked down this sidewalk in the Fall of 1953 as a transfer student to Cornell from a disastrous year at Syracuse U.   The oaks at that time were probably only six or so inches in diameter.   However, now some of these trees 57 years later are over three feet in diameter.   I like to think of these oaks as geezer trees.  A metaphor for aging with magnificence.   However, not all these trees are healthy.    On the north side of the road the environmental condition is one of good soil, protection from the road salt.  On the south side, the same age oaks are scraggly, and stunted with many dead limbs.   They are simply struggling to survive.   For years head in parking on the south side has ruined the soil with winter salt baths and compaction of the soil.    It is a regrettable situation.

So if these trees are a metaphor for aging into geezerhood perhaps it has a message about how to survive with honor.   Geezers need a healthy environment that protects us from the ravages of bad elements.    Over time if we let the bad stuff creep in, we will suffer just like the oaks in the salt bath.   Meanwhile, if we have cultivated good life and surrounded ourselves with supportive family, followed a healthy diet and life style we can reign like the mighty oaks.   And we will enjoy the success of the acorns we produced developing into human trees making a difference in the future society.

Ski Logs

     Starting with the 1997-98 season I have been keeping a ski log.   My entries are brief but normally include the time I leave for the slopes and the time I return as well as temperature range, cloud cover, and snow conditions.  Unusual events are also noted.    Of course I record the ski area name for that ski day.   Many of my geezer skier friends also keep track the of the number of days they ski, although I believe that they mostly leave out the other details I include.    I guess, the analytical side of me drives my interest in keeping data.

       Most of my skiing is in upstate New York with some trips to Vermont or Utah so first and last ski days of the season normally occur for me at Greek Peak.   Occasionally a western trip gives me the last day in April away from my home area.  Over the 13 seasons of records the start of my season at my local area has ranged from November 22nd to December 22nd.  End dates have ranged from March 23rd to April 6th.  In those seasons the number of days I have skied ranged from a low of 63 days to a max of 102.    For the last three seasons I skied respectively 92, 90 and 90 days.  An anomaly in my ski log is the 2005-2006 season when recovery from prostate surgery in October 2005 reduced my ski days to 36.   I must say that when I was able to return to the slopes that season was a great lift to my spirits and helped my recovery of my usual upbeat nature.

Greek Peak

    Here are a couple of my ski log entries for the most recent season.

Snowbasin

       "February 1, 2010.  Day 44 Greek Peak ski.  21-23 F.  Sunny, excellent conditions.  Great day on the slopes.   8:30 AM-2:30 PM.  No noon break!"

       "February 23, 2010.  Day 64 Snowbasin Utah ski.  20-30 F.  Great area.  Mostly sunshine. Wonderful skiing for seniors. Met a German couple.  Best snow on earth according to them.  8:35 AM - 6:15 PM driving included."


    If the day arrives that I will not be able to hit the slopes, I think it will be fun to go through the old ski logs and relive the memories of those times.    In the mean time, however, I hope to remain fit and healthy enough to keep on riding  the boards down the hill.   In the October issue of Ski Magazine Warren Miller reminisces about his excitement and joy of skiing.  I like his final quote that relates to stopping in the middle of a run and asking, "How can someone my age, or any age for that matter, be so privileged to have so much fun?"    So to all you geezer skiers, I look forward to all the fun we are going to have in this new season.

   If you read this and are a ski log keeper, I would welcome your comments!!

Wedding Daze

Bride and Groom Cut the Cake

     Yesterday was a great wedding day for youngest daughter Victoria and her groom Matt.    Both Nancy and I are still in a daze from the glory of the day both in the ceremony and reception.  We celebrated well into the evening in word, song, dance, eating,  drinking and mega socializing.    We were blessed with the presence of family and friends of both the bride and groom from an extraordinary mix of faith, culture and geographic location backgrounds.

     Nancy presided over an interfaith ceremony honoring both Jewish and Christian faith callings and traditions.   As mother of the bride Nancy had multiple roles in the event and with grace and creativity provided a moving set of remarks for Matt and Victoria. The gathering witnessed the personalized vows by the bride and groom being solemnized under the chuppah with its own symbolism in the Jewish faith and in many ways representing the tent of God that embraces all of us the greater sense.   It was a special gift to have the extended family of uncles aunts, cousins and long time friends of the groom's family present.   All of them had a special connection to Matt from the time he was born to the present.   In Victoria's case she is a child with six half siblings who were all present to share her special day along with the ten nieces and nephews ranging age from one to 24.     Although Nancy and I no longer have living family of the groom's family generation, we do have pseudo family in the form of people in Nancy's former churches who have been a part of Victoria's growing up.   We delighted in seeing them and in turn they were honored to be a part of celebrating this new union for our family.

Grandpa Gerry and Flower Girl Emma

    The bride and groom are both Cornell graduates and met as participants in the Big Red Marching Band.   There was a vast crowd of their band mates and classmates in attendance.   There was a special recognition of Cornellians with photo and cheers en mass on the dance floor.  There must have been fifty of us in the group picture.

    For many of the metropolitan area guests it was their first time in rural upstate New York.  They were amazed by out beautiful surroundings.   Irene, who teaches 5th graders was fascinated by our silos and soon I will be giving her background on these storage units that she can use with her class.

   As I write this I have flashes of replay of the entire wedding day that are difficult to express in words.  Perhaps my geezer senses have been on overload.   I am so happy that I lived long enough to walk all my brides who I have parented down the aisle.  The memories of this event will be lasting and precious in a special way just as the previous ones have been.   God bless this union.   Mazel Tov!

Rate of Change - Perception and Reality

The days lengthen and shorten as the seasons change.  Today is one of the days of the year for the most rapid change in day length.   The rate of change of the day length is related to a sine function for those who have a mathematical interest and can visualize derivatives.   My awareness of the varying rate of day length change is driven by observing the position of a building shadow on a side walk that I take to lunch when I am on campus.   With the sun high in the sky and far to the north in the summer, at high noon I must walk in bright sunshine flooding the sidewalk.  As the summer wanes from the longest day each week I notice the shadow line creeping on to the sidewalk.   Eventually the shadow progresses across the walk and on to the grass on the other side.  Shortly after the longest summer day the week to week change is relatively slow.   However,  now that we are at the equinox the week to week change is very rapid and especially noticeable.   I think ancient civilizations used this method to record the seasons and to provide a calendar for planning their planting, harvest and marking the years.   This is reality that can be observed.   Seasons are cyclical and observable.

The perception of the rate of change of time, however, is another matter.   Often my wife and I remark to each other that it seems like in an instant that the week or day has passed by.   Especially if we have been busy with a multitude of things.   Beyond the daily elapse of time, there are the yearly checkpoints such as marking the new year.   It seems that as one ages each succeeding year elapses faster and faster.    This is where perception must come into play.   The year that passes is some portion of ones length of existence.    So when you are four and and a year elapses it is 20 percent of your lifetime and at nine the year following is 10 percent of your lifetime.  However if you are 79 and a year elapses it is 1.25 percent of lifetime.   No wonder the years seem to go by so fast as we age.  We have all those stored memories and experiences in time that generate our perceptions of rate of time flow.

From my view change adds spice to life.   I am glad to live in a climate of changing seasons both of my physical world and the events of a full and interesting life.

For the Love of Cars

Paule and Elaine Beyer 1954 DeSoto

     Sunday I attended an antique car show at a local park.   Hundreds of older vehicles were on display.  They ranged in age from 110 years old to more modern vehicles of the 1980's or so.   I was looking for a 1939 Buick sedan like the one I learned to drive as a teen ager.   I didn't see one, but I saw several of the vehicles I lusted over at one time or another.  Among these desirable vehicles were the 1956 Ford Thunderbird, a 1954 MG-TD and an Austin-Healey Sprite.  It was a pleasant surprise to run into friend Paul Beyer and his wife Elaine.  Paul's 1954 DeSoto was on display in all its glory.  See photo.
      To the best of my observation, antique cars are definitely a guy thing and probably most of the exhibitors were geezers or on their way to being geezers.  Is it in the genes?  Or is it our social conditioning?   I know many  gents of my vintage who can remember every vehicle that they ever owned.   Yes, I can do that too.   I am curious as to whether their are any women who are antique car collectors.   Probably few and far between.   I know that when I start talking about cars with Nancy, her eyes glaze over quickly.
     After my tour of the recent show, I tried to assess my attitude toward the love of the vintage vehicles.  I conclude that at the time that some of these models appeared on the scene, I was excited about their designs and the technological developments.   However, now I find that I am more tuned into the wonderful reliability and comfort of our modern cars.   If I decide to acquire another dream car, it will be a contemporary design that piques a special interest.  And I hope that spouse Nancy will enjoy driving it as much as I do.

1956 Thunderbird - I like red better