Ours was a "sort of" athletic family.---One football player, 2 baseball players ,5-6 tennis players and 6-7 swimmers. As a not too big physically "Gringo"family we were well represented. With high school and "club" athletes comes responsibility.
At one time we were volunteered to take 2 male tennis players from the Corpus Christi area overnight.
Corpus Christi is an average Texas city in many ways. Probably 15-20 % black, 60-70% Latin American and the remainder Anglo. "The Valley" where we lived had fewer than 200 blacks from Rio Grande City to Brownsville and Padre Island. We were 85-90% Spanish surname, and the remainder Anglo minus 150, more or less. No exposure to blacks in our little family!
To prevent "culture shock", the evening before the expected arrival of the guests, I gave a brief lecture.
" These boys are to be our guests, and if they are brown, black, white or other color, it is to make no difference, they are to be as our friends and good people". No questions at that time.
However, the next morning John said to his brother,"I hope none of them are green!"
They weren't! They were like the most of the "Valleyites".-- Like my hunting buddies, Nicolas Garza and Roberto Vallejo, Latin Americans.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Kid-eze
One never knows when and where the disconcerting speech of the young will occur. Some years ago Ruth and I were at the P.O. in the Walsh-Tarlton area, obtaining a passport for Ruth. We were in a rather long line on that day with a cute girl of Mediterranean origin, Italian or Spanish, it seemed, next in line with her mother. Ruth's face in repose was rather foreboding, even frosty, but she turned her charm on the well dressed little charmer behind us , a 7-8 year old. She remarked on the pretty blouse and the neat skirt , giving her the smile that would melt the world--or at least chocolate--! The prompt reply was a soft, "Thank you!"
In a moment or two, Ruth popped a sweet into her mouth. -- A habit of old standing (A" bit of sweet" her mother would say).
The attentive youngster immediately softly and distinctly said "Would you like to share? "
Ruth would and did! (and another memory was born).
In a moment or two, Ruth popped a sweet into her mouth. -- A habit of old standing (A" bit of sweet" her mother would say).
The attentive youngster immediately softly and distinctly said "Would you like to share? "
Ruth would and did! (and another memory was born).
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Names-Problems?
Names are an interesting phenomenon in our society. --Or are they? Most of us feel our names are special'. Some just the opposite. Our surnames are basically determined by circumstances before our births.
The personal or "Christian name "is filled with meanings that we are not familiar with.
For example, my name is "Ivan" . I was named for my father. (Who was named for "a friend of the family").
Ivan is the Slavic form of "John" The same name in different cultures is: Ian, Jan, Johan, Johannes, Juan, etc. in various cultures and languages.
It signifies "Gift of God" or "God is gracious". This information is usually not passed on to the individual. So we are not constrained by our name.
One of my nicknames was "Ivy". When I was about 11 or 12, I visited relatives in Connecticut. There was plenty of poison ivy there. In my "previous life" I had no experience with poison ivy.
Somehow the idea came to me, that since my name was "Ivy", I was immune to poison ivy. So I played with it and around it with gusto.
To make a long sad story short , I wasn't and it made me pay! I learned about the virtues of Calamine Lotion and the discomfort of poison ivy dermatitis. I became an expert of the identification of poison ivy and its cousins in one short summer!
And free of charge, the active ingredient of poison ivy is the only medical term in English language derived from Japanese. "Urushiol"- also the active ingredient in lacquer tree dermatitis!
Watch out! Don't let your name get you in trouble!
The personal or "Christian name "is filled with meanings that we are not familiar with.
For example, my name is "Ivan" . I was named for my father. (Who was named for "a friend of the family").
Ivan is the Slavic form of "John" The same name in different cultures is: Ian, Jan, Johan, Johannes, Juan, etc. in various cultures and languages.
It signifies "Gift of God" or "God is gracious". This information is usually not passed on to the individual. So we are not constrained by our name.
One of my nicknames was "Ivy". When I was about 11 or 12, I visited relatives in Connecticut. There was plenty of poison ivy there. In my "previous life" I had no experience with poison ivy.
Somehow the idea came to me, that since my name was "Ivy", I was immune to poison ivy. So I played with it and around it with gusto.
To make a long sad story short , I wasn't and it made me pay! I learned about the virtues of Calamine Lotion and the discomfort of poison ivy dermatitis. I became an expert of the identification of poison ivy and its cousins in one short summer!
And free of charge, the active ingredient of poison ivy is the only medical term in English language derived from Japanese. "Urushiol"- also the active ingredient in lacquer tree dermatitis!
Watch out! Don't let your name get you in trouble!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Food and Five year olds
Of course, one of the amazing things about growth and maturation is the interest in food types and flavors.
"This years good stuff is next years poison." Perhaps some of the change in appreciation is an excess of "the good stuff". The excesses of the "little ones" are just as notable as the aversions and the preferences.
DD is a healthy young preschooler whose mother works in my house from time to time. Last year her mother picked her up after day school on the way to my house, to ease the day's problems. DD was a good girl this day and endured the accumulated books in the den "for a long time". Then she moved into the living room to ease her boredom.
After a few minutes I asked her mother if she liked "little tomatoes" " Oh yes, She loves them! " After a few more minutes the mother and I were finishing up "the chores", so I pointed out the "little tomatoes" as I left the room.
When I returned DD had full cheeks and handfuls that reminded me of the "raptor talons grasping the crystal balls at the end of the legs of our old piano stool." An unforgettable sight! "Yes, she loves them!"was true! (Next year?")
"This years good stuff is next years poison." Perhaps some of the change in appreciation is an excess of "the good stuff". The excesses of the "little ones" are just as notable as the aversions and the preferences.
DD is a healthy young preschooler whose mother works in my house from time to time. Last year her mother picked her up after day school on the way to my house, to ease the day's problems. DD was a good girl this day and endured the accumulated books in the den "for a long time". Then she moved into the living room to ease her boredom.
After a few minutes I asked her mother if she liked "little tomatoes" " Oh yes, She loves them! " After a few more minutes the mother and I were finishing up "the chores", so I pointed out the "little tomatoes" as I left the room.
When I returned DD had full cheeks and handfuls that reminded me of the "raptor talons grasping the crystal balls at the end of the legs of our old piano stool." An unforgettable sight! "Yes, she loves them!"was true! (Next year?")
Neighborliness-Exotic Food
Neighbors are great! -- We exchange compliments, recipes, discussions, and other things depending on the backgrounds of the particular neighbors and where they fit into ours , or otherwise. In our over 65 years of marriage, we never had a feud. (I married a wonderful woman.)
One family -- was definitely in a different economic stratum from ours. They had a boat housed at the Gulf,(fishing), went to West Texas, for hunting prairie chickens, to the Dakotas for pheasant , as well as quail, doves, etc, in South Texas where we live.
On this particular time they had gone to Canada, and returned with a moose. Our bright (and almost chirpy) neighbor informed me (across the street) . " We have a moose in the oven and plan to throw on some spaghetti in a little while. Come join us!" " Oh yes, for spaghetti and moose balls." said I."Ruth already has the supper on. Sorry, maybe another time." Never did have that fare!
One family -- was definitely in a different economic stratum from ours. They had a boat housed at the Gulf,(fishing), went to West Texas, for hunting prairie chickens, to the Dakotas for pheasant , as well as quail, doves, etc, in South Texas where we live.
On this particular time they had gone to Canada, and returned with a moose. Our bright (and almost chirpy) neighbor informed me (across the street) . " We have a moose in the oven and plan to throw on some spaghetti in a little while. Come join us!" " Oh yes, for spaghetti and moose balls." said I."Ruth already has the supper on. Sorry, maybe another time." Never did have that fare!
More Kids
The freshness, wisdom and honesty of the little people will always amaze us, I hope. As we grow we tend to become more devious, although in our opinions, we are still honest. So the little ones astound us as their unexpected candor pops through to our lives.
A few days ago a granddaughter and her two little live wires visited me -and one of their uncles. Our chatting and checking pictures lasted quite a while, and I could see signs of boredom setting in. I suggested that Uncle B get some raspberries out of the refrigerator, should the girls like them. He did, and they did.
After a few more minutes Uncle B checked again. With a small bowl containing about a dozen berries B checked "How many berries would you like C? " The prompt answer was , " Alluv um!"
Believe me there was no discussion about "ladylike". She is 2 1/2.
A few days ago a granddaughter and her two little live wires visited me -and one of their uncles. Our chatting and checking pictures lasted quite a while, and I could see signs of boredom setting in. I suggested that Uncle B get some raspberries out of the refrigerator, should the girls like them. He did, and they did.
After a few more minutes Uncle B checked again. With a small bowl containing about a dozen berries B checked "How many berries would you like C? " The prompt answer was , " Alluv um!"
Believe me there was no discussion about "ladylike". She is 2 1/2.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Bio-Uncle Floyd Hamilton Chaddock
In my lifetime,Uncle Floyd, Mother's youngest brother, seemed to be a really sober citizen. Seldom laughed , and then for brief bursts. He enjoyed family outings, but seemed seldom to be really happy.
As time went by, through the process of osmosis(?) I found out some of the reasons for his sober aspect. --As a child or adolescent, one has very little interest in his family, except for food, clothing and content. However, at some time in my younger age I found out that Uncle Floyd had been married to another lady besides my aunt, "Auntie Florence", who had been a cousin of Auntie Florence. This marriage had lasted about 10 years and there were no children or pregnancies of that union recorded for me. Although I do not have any confirmation, it was my impression that she died of "The Flu", being one of the last casualties of the great world epidemic of Influenza of the last half of the "teens" of the 20th century. She died in February 1920.
Floyd and Florence were married in 1920 or 1921. Their son Robert was born in 1922. To the best of my knowledge his was the only pregnancy of their marriage.
Floyd had wanted to be an engraver of metals,-silver, gold, pewter, etc.. After spending a very few years at that he developed signs and symptoms of chest difficulties and was told to work out-of-doors to avoid the possibility of tuberculosis. Which he did, living and working on a farm the rest of his life.
He always seemed healthy to me, but "the family condition",- inguinal hernias-, did not avoid him. This situation probably kept his spirits low . I do not know the cause of his demise, but I suspect it was one of the complications of inguinal hernia. After his brother ,Harry, died of post surgical infection, he and Arthur were very sceptical of any active treatment of their hernias.
It is of interest to add that Robert never developed a hernia,died of leukemia, and with his wife the produced 3 healthy children.
As time went by, through the process of osmosis(?) I found out some of the reasons for his sober aspect. --As a child or adolescent, one has very little interest in his family, except for food, clothing and content. However, at some time in my younger age I found out that Uncle Floyd had been married to another lady besides my aunt, "Auntie Florence", who had been a cousin of Auntie Florence. This marriage had lasted about 10 years and there were no children or pregnancies of that union recorded for me. Although I do not have any confirmation, it was my impression that she died of "The Flu", being one of the last casualties of the great world epidemic of Influenza of the last half of the "teens" of the 20th century. She died in February 1920.
Floyd and Florence were married in 1920 or 1921. Their son Robert was born in 1922. To the best of my knowledge his was the only pregnancy of their marriage.
Floyd had wanted to be an engraver of metals,-silver, gold, pewter, etc.. After spending a very few years at that he developed signs and symptoms of chest difficulties and was told to work out-of-doors to avoid the possibility of tuberculosis. Which he did, living and working on a farm the rest of his life.
He always seemed healthy to me, but "the family condition",- inguinal hernias-, did not avoid him. This situation probably kept his spirits low . I do not know the cause of his demise, but I suspect it was one of the complications of inguinal hernia. After his brother ,Harry, died of post surgical infection, he and Arthur were very sceptical of any active treatment of their hernias.
It is of interest to add that Robert never developed a hernia,died of leukemia, and with his wife the produced 3 healthy children.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Kids Continue
Throughout our married life , once the kiddos started to arrive, Ruth had a continual menagerie to put up with. The most common were dogs, so the dogs are bound to pop up in our stories! One of the last dogs was Christy. She was part fox terrier and probably part border collie. She was a sociable dog, but seemed to know better than most to know when she was welcome. One of her "standards" was to go with me after I was through for the day and went to run an errand in the car. She would hop in the car and sit up to survey the oncoming traffic. As Corien (age 4) said one day, "She gets in and sits up just like Momma!"
To continue in the "pet mode" Paul decided to have some birds. Probably a lost parakeet or some such preceded his desire to take care of "his own" pets. The result was 2 pair of ring-necked doves. Everything went fine until it came time for him to "move on". We just let them go. These doves are essentially identical to mourning doves, except there is a feathery ring around their necks. The last time I was in "The Valley" dove hunting came up. It was pointed out that a new type of dove had become very numerous. The Game Wardens were lumping them in with "the Mourners" to control the legal limit problem, but if the situation persisted a new category would have to be designated. So instead of "mourning doves"and "white wing doves" only, the third category would be "ring-necked doves". Paul, do you suppose you did this by yourself?
To continue in the "pet mode" Paul decided to have some birds. Probably a lost parakeet or some such preceded his desire to take care of "his own" pets. The result was 2 pair of ring-necked doves. Everything went fine until it came time for him to "move on". We just let them go. These doves are essentially identical to mourning doves, except there is a feathery ring around their necks. The last time I was in "The Valley" dove hunting came up. It was pointed out that a new type of dove had become very numerous. The Game Wardens were lumping them in with "the Mourners" to control the legal limit problem, but if the situation persisted a new category would have to be designated. So instead of "mourning doves"and "white wing doves" only, the third category would be "ring-necked doves". Paul, do you suppose you did this by yourself?
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