Guapo

  We all tend to give human characteristics to animals at times. Whether the "characteristics" are the result of their thinking or of their reflexes, etc. is a great debate.
  This story might better be called "Brief Encounter" ," Fall Follies" , "Autumn Anxieties" , but "Guapo " keeps us from committing to a side.
  One of the ranches we hunted at regularly, belonged to Tomas V. ---He was related somehow to Bob's wife,--but that gave us the "open sesame".  The ranch house was a nice frame house with rather extensive lawn and driveways. It was about 2 mi. from Rte 281,with a caliche connecting road.  Tomas and his wife had raised their boys,there and were considering moving. These factors helped to "open the door".
  After arrival we would go to the home and offer some groceries---Mrs V especially liked bananas. After a brief chat we would start quail hunting. --walking the fence line in back of the house about a quarter of a mile, making a U turn and returning on the next fence line which ended up about 200 yds from the original path.
  In addition to the fields there was a small pond(tank). After the "quail walk", time had usually elapsed so it was late enough to start dove hunting.
  On the particular days involved in this story, a large retriever type of dog had appeared and greeted us effusively. --He was white with brown and black, so he appeared dirty , no matter what.  As a result he was called "Guapo" --which means "handsome"( -with an ironic twist).
   Bob, Nick and I established ourselves and started shooting.  -A peculiar thing happened.- Guapo brought all the downed birds to me no matter the source.  After a while" Dr.A"  appeared and the same phenomenon persisted.  Guapo became busier and busier with 4 shooters, and my "stack" became higher and higher. -I then became busier and busier returning birds.  Doing more returning than shooting.  In fact, the second time, John was with us and was kept busy with his "return mail".  Guapo persisted, despite my efforts to discourage him.
   The only potential other problem was that should the representative of the Fish and Wildlife Dept. there would be a long "discussion" with a lot of "Yeah,! Yeah!- I've heard that one before," type of things. But it didn't happen!
  This activity continued for about three sessions,  Tomas was becoming more and more obviously disturbed with each session.
   About two weeks after we decided to go to another site to avoid problems with Guapo(and Tomas)
Tomas pulled us over on the highway.  "Where's Guapo?"was his insistent cry. --We haven't seen him since 2 weeks ago Wednesday. "
  " Let me look at your pick up !"He did , found nothing and went away grumbling, "That's what you get when you let city guys hunt on your land!"
   The dog had disappeared the day after we had been there last and hadn't (hasn't) been seen since!
         "Ay, Que Guapo!!"
 

Music-Chaddock, Dean, etc Families-Contd #4

 Currently, Sally's daughter and our only granddaughter, Emily is the shining star.  She began piano lessons in second grade, as she learned to read.   Now 17, she is a senior in high school, and has become a fine pianist.  She has accompanied the Senior Chorus at her high school (starting as a sophomore), and has composed several piano selections. She has recently wrote a choral number, to be sung "a capella".  She taught it to the Chorus and it was presented at their spring concert at Centerville High School.  The name of the poem (borrowed) and set to music is "The Genesis of the Butterfly".  You can imagine the growth and swelling of the music as the ugly little worm develops slowly one part at a time and evolves into a lovely butterfly.  Emily will be a senior in 2011-2012 and hopes to study music composition in college.  I feel certain that she will receive a scholarship for her music, after having become a fine pianist, a fledgling composer and developing a lovely soprano voice.  This summer Emily was one of 50 students from Virginia, to attend a 5 week Governor's School at Radford College to further her already very special talent.
  Emily is the "today" of music in our family, and is a beautiful example of the continued result of the development of music abilities, throughout our recent history.  The tradition of music which began with a "play it and sing it by ear" family of would be musicians, playing just for fun at Uncle Floyd's farm (circa 1930) lands us here with Emily, embarking on a formal education in music, following in the footsteps of her grandmother Hamilton and great grandmother (Chaddock Kuhl) Dean. She is the culmination of many years of a variety of musical experiences throughout our family tree!
    My apologies to any other "musical outcroppings" of the Chaddock or Dean families that I either didn't know about or have forgotten!  With loving memories, Lila Ruth Dean Hamilton

Comment- I too should apologize for my off-handed dismissal of our Kuhl talent. I neglected to call attention to many children and grandchildren who have participated in various scholastic programs.  The outstanding performer -That I know of, has been Peter, who as a member of "The March On Brothers" played  guitar and sang his way through much of Texas. I guess I put our talent, mentally with my accomplishment at the piano.  "Doctor, Doctor "  with difficulties.  I am wrong! (It isn't the first time I've erred-undoubtedly not the last, either!)  SORRY!

Music-Chaddock, Dean, etc. Families #3

  Music has continued to be a part of the lives of our families through our children and grandchildren. Following Velma's talents, her daughter Maryl sang a fine alto in the church choir and Bronwyn taught herself to play the guitar.  On one occasion when the girls were very young, all of Velma and Lila's 6 girls sang "Do Re Mi" from "The Sound of Music"at a church function, with the youngest, Megan climbing up and down the steps as we sang .                                                                                                                 Bronwyn's son Bill,  was an outstanding member of his Henrietta High School chorus .  Her son Ray, has gone into the field of "Electronic Music and Amplification" after graduating from SUNY at Fredonia.
 On the Hamilton side of the family, Wendy and Amy were flutists, and Sally played the drums in the junior high band. She played the little cymbals in the marching band because she was too small to carry the big ones. All three girls sang in the school choruses and their church choirs. Wendy went on to become the captain of the color guard in the junior and senior marching bands.  Amy carried on with her flute and the piccolo through high school.  I recall practicing with her the tough piccolo solo in "Stars and Stripes Forever"  I could barely keep up with her  on the piano!
 The grandsons have all taken and instrument of some kind throughout their school years and participated in their junior high school bands.
  Wendy's son Josh, now a pilot in the Air Force has played drums and other percussion instruments throughout his junior high, high school and college years.  He was assistant to director of the Air Force Academy Band as well as percussion section leader. His responsibilities included seeing to it that all instruments were at the right places at the right times as well as the personnel for trips to the A F Academy football games and other performances. Josh himself is an expert drummer and played the "quads" (5 drums) in the Air Force Academy Band and the famous AF Drumline.
  Amy'a son Andrew is also a fist rate drummer. We live with his drum set in our family room. He played in the BHS Marching Band, the concert and jazz bands, the drumline and the orchestra.  now he plays with the music of "the Big Bands" and headphones.

Music of the Chaddock, Dean , etc. families. Contd. #2

The incident involved Mother and a pesky fly flitting over Mother's music as she played.  She, of course, would brush it away, first with one hand, then the other, still keeping the song going.  Finally, it became so hilarious to Velma and me that we "fell apart" laughing !The WBTA announcer interrupted announcing "technical difficulties", while Dad Dean sat at home listening and wondering what was going on.  This was very funny to me then, and even now, I break out with at least a chuckle.
  Our program was called "The Dean Sisters" and lasted until WBTA syndicated and joined a larger network. I still have a scratchy old record of some of our old songs in case for some reason we couldn't be there to sing.  It was never used.
  I graduated from the Crane School of Music, BS , MS, in Music Eduction ,  After teaching at Rye, NY for a year I taught at the Batavia and Oakfield public schools for 25 years.   There I married a very successful PE teacher and coach, who taught in Oakfield where we met. We were married in a double wedding with my sister, Velma.

Grandpa Story-Lore?

  Probably every family has its own stories about-"this and/ or that". For example my  story about my unintentional damage to Bob Lawrence's eyebrow at the time of his wedding get-away. (Previously noted)  Mary Kay and I went to "The Valley" last week where we kept our long friendship  with the John Freeland family, went to Mexico to obtain some medicine, and checked with my long-time dentist.

 The trip through territory travelled many times by Ruth and myself plus being near to areas where my hunting buddies, - Nick and Bob-and I hunted doves and quail multiple times over the years brought back many memories.  -Some fleeting, others more ponderous.

Since no one in the family lives in the area any more, this (and others) could bring (perhaps) memories of our distant pasts(precious?). About 25 miles north of Edinburg on Rte 281, there is a slight curve with an "enclosed in the arc" rest area. This area is (was?) known as "Sarah's Curve) in Ruth's and my lingo.

 About 40 years ago Paul brought his young bride to the home territory of the "Kuhl Klan". I'm sure Sarah took the trip with some trepidation. -- After all,this was foreign territory" where the average complexion was a faded milk chocolate hue and the people talked"funny".   --Besides there were 10 of them (Kuhls), -- and she had only known them from thetime of a brief distraction called a wedding and a reception((back home in Wichita Falls).

      Fortunately she had had a brief inoculation in San Antonio, -but this was 200 miles south!

 From the house we took an orientation drive, and stopped at the gentle curve,  (mentioned above). So, sitting to the other side of the fence was the King Ranch. --Closed off by the usual post and wire fence.   The only wooden structure was at that time a stile at about the middle of the fence line.   Which Sara sought promptly and sat down to relax and observe the ranch country.

 She was no more than settled when I approached and said, " Sarah, did you read the sign?"   "Umm, no!"   She was sitting on the painted board so she bent over, craned her neck and suddenly burst forth with could best be described as a "Leaping Scream".

  The sign said "BEWARE OF POISONOUS SNAKES!. 

Don't ask her to do a "leaping scream" for you..      She won't! 
 

            My apologies, Sarah!  Too good to keep! 

                  Love , Grandpa

Hunting(Dove and Quail, Duck)

 As usual, the context must be put in place before a story begins. Ruth's and my personal family histories of hunting in Upstate New York were of the sort that left a lot to be desired.
Ruth remembered going hunting ducks with her father, in a boat, --about the time he was  about to shoot, she screamed.----That was the end of her hunting career with her father.
My stepfather had been hunting deer in the Adirondacks off and on for several seasons with a compatible group prior to his marriage, when one participant  in the party shot another by mistake and that death finished hunting for him.
As for me, "hunting" was a word without true meaning.  I " hunted Indians and bears " when  my stepfather and sisters were in quarantine for "Scarlet Fever" and I was not allowed to attend school because of possible contagion. (Aside- believe me when your hunting bears and a  pheasant takes off in a semi-dry cornfield you're sneaking along in, the explosion nearly incites instant diarrhea in a 10 yr. old  ! --But it's all over in a couple seconds --and you're safe! Usually!)
 My other "hunting exposure" was puzzlement at the desire of many schoolmates to get out ofschool for "pheasant season".    This outcry usually took place during the World Series which we  were allowed to listen to in the high school auditorium during our study hall periods should our  teachers not object.  The World Series was great to me! I didn't understand their problem!
Oh, incidentally, the city's leading ophthalmologist took off to hunt quail in South Carolina  every fall. (What was his problem?)
With this rather negative background I arrived in The Valley in early 1954 following a history- making freeze and  drought. I had no desire to get out in the rather tormented citrus groves and  open grassy areas to shoot little birds.
 Ta! Ta! Ta Ra! along came an insurance salesman who spotted a likely prospect and one who had little money (at that point) and "nothing but prospects".  Needless to say he talked me into  a policy or two in the years that followed, and into dove hunting, right then.
            Dove hunting sounds rather ridiculous from the outside, but the little birds fly well and are smart.  Even the best grouse and pheasant hunters find that 4 or 5 kills to a box of 20 shells is pretty good shooting.  Therefore it is a challenge and extremely enjoyable as well as relatively inexpensive.
            The season after my first dove hunt there were heavy rains in Starr County, making "pot holes" all over(for the ducks). After that season I went  duck hunting only 4-5 times. The ducks were so large(compared to doves) that the chief problem was to find the sites to encounter the ducks to  shoot at.
            Getting out in the clean free air is a great improvement over the examining rooms and surgical theaters. Finding compatible hunters with similar free times is the biggest problem once hunting sites are located. Needless to say, I enjoyed it the rest of my life.

"Music"--Grandpa Story, "sort of" with added attractions

 #1

Music has always been a significant part of my life. This may seem strange to some of my children (Hear them? Really!?!)  Maybe it's better said that music was always in the background. (Better?) Best to understand any

story, one must have the context for adequacy. 

As the younger generations may not know, I was an orphan of sorts. My father was killed in an auto-train accident when I was only 13 months of age. As a result my earliest "conscious" recollections have to do with my life with the family of my mother- the "Walter H. Chaddock" family.  As I became older more "Kuhls became real" parts of my life , but as a young child my associations were all with the " Chaddocks".

My earliest fixed recollections are associated with the holiday get-togethers of our small group and the other "Chaddocks". There were uncles (3), aunts (3), cousins (4), Mother and Grandma. By that time Grandpa was gone.

(They said I'd been his shadow, as a tot). After the mid-day holiday meal, the chairs and small tables were pushed back to the wall or to the parlor, any way so the festivities could begin!

Grandma played the piano, my uncles all played the" Bones"and/ or the mouth organ.-and so the music would begin! Piano tones, humming, mouth organ music, dancing and the clacking of the "bones"--and we were off!

The older couples began rather in a stately fashion, but soon, words filled the air with such words as we'd never heard before! Schottisch, Reels, Waltzes, Fox trots, and so on! We all made great efforts to dance, hum and other wise enjoy ourselves. After a suitable time Mother and Grandma would switch(at the piano) as would partners, etc. and things continued with giggles, squawks, squeals, etc! -Taking over! This weird and wild showing would 

last an hour or so, then we all ran out of gas! The young folks were just catching on and the old folks pooped! Sitting was a mistake! We all deflated like ballons and giggled and laughed, etc,.etc.,and so to the nap department!

Another happy holiday!

Mother was a real legitimate musical person who had a fine soprano voice, played "cello", piano and other instruments and taught piano lessons. The family had been Presbyterians but she left the Presbyterian Choir to con- duct and manage the choir at the Emmanuel Baptist Church and did so. I presume there were sums of money involved, but that was never discussed in my presence. She did her job well and after a length of time became en-

gaged to Edward S. Dean, a member of that choir, whom she married. Her association with the Emmanuel Baptist Choir continued….And so did I.

Mother gave piano lessons, so scales and basic melodies were part of my life as I looked over the bust of Beethoven on the piano. My personal introduction to piano lessons lasted about two weeks. --The punting of the football in the street was much more attractive to me than confinement to the piano bench and rudimentary scales! To her credit she did not try to force me.

Lila has consented to help me in this area. She was the most musical of our generation , so I feel she should "Give a good go" to us!

I will return to continue with the "Kuhl Family Music" Involving schools, and the rest as it unrolls!

.

Love," Grandpa"

Music Grandpa Story, "Sort of"- Scholastic-- #2

In the primary grades we began singing Christmas carols. I can just imagine the "awesome"

feelings a first grade teacher has starting out on Christmas carols. --too gruesome!  At any rate it's  about all the poor teachers were up to -to work with the squawkers, shouters and "mummies" in the class.  If the teacher were lucky there were two or three in the class that could carry a tune and blend in. My first grade class was large- between 30 and 50.  Needless to say, I didn't count them. 

As I recall, in 3rd grade, instruction in instruments was first offered.  Some instruments were furnished, and some were made obtainable by some means. At that time, Ruth took up the "cello" and did a fine job of it! (So what's new?) 

I wasn't interested at the time, but Mother encouraged me to take up some instrument.  As a result I have a vague recollection of an interview including Mother, the head of the department of music for the schools and myself.  The only discussion I recall is that my teeth and the playing of a flute didn't encourage a happy career.  

Thinking about -Why the flute?-makes me remember that the only instrument player of any local renown was "Bill Coon", who was a flautist of great reputation. He was a Seneca Indian  which  made him more fascinating, but also he had at least two sons who were professionals, a  lawyer  and a doctor, who had gone to McGill University  in Canada!  How attractive can one family be?

I believe it was in 4th grade that a circulating music teacher appeared and took over the real task of teaching us to sing as a group. By the time she was through we could listen to her note on the little mouth organ and take off singing.  Wondering what that little sound had to do with our singing. Not too bad, anyway. 

If memory serves me correctly, it was about 5th grade that Walter Damrosch appeared. He had a wonderful program called "The Music Appreciation Hour" which was on NBC and taught us about classical music, operas, the stories and the composers of these works.  The class was held in the "music room" , the program was on the radio, and was a wonderful presentation of that subject.  Many were fascinated and I'm sure many future lovers of classical music were introduced to the world of fine music at that time.  (It was broadcast from 1928-1942)

From elementary school we went to 8th grade (at the High School), and there I was in "The 

Boys Glee Club", Ruth was in "The Girls Choral". We both were in "The Choristers", the mixed group supposedly composed of the better voices.  Later, I was a sailor  in the crew of " H.M.S. Pinafore," an opera by Gilbert and Sullivan.  I'm sure Ruth was in other musical presentations, but as a student 2 yrs. ahead of her, I was not observant of her obvious talents and presentations. Too bad we started late in this story! 

                                         Love Grandpa (There'll be more)

Music-Grandpa Story-"Sort of" #2 b 
            I enjoyed music in high school. Singing in "The Choristers"  made me think in the last few  retrospective months, wondering where the music director had the intestinal fortitude to put me in the better group.   -- The answer, I think, was that he knew I always sang next to my good friend, Paul Ruhland, who was an excellent musician could read music, and play the trumpet and carry a  tune! I could carry a tune , but had to be led there(by Paul), reading music was other worldly. I could tell by the music that the sound went up or down, but the "how far"  was my problem! 
When I tried out for the college choral group, I'm sure that was what eliminated me. (And why not?)
So in college, my role was passive in music.
 In contrast, Ruth (Grandma Kuhl to you) who played the "cello"; sang in high school, and in college.  The college group called "The Schola Cantorum," was mixed and sang many  engagements at other colleges, high schools, etc. In addition, she sang for an Episcopal church  to aid the choir, for a small retainer, and as a senior had a lead in the college opera. The opera   took place when I was in med school, so I did not attend. 


As teen-agers we were exposed to "The Saturday Night Hit Parade".  As a morning paper  boy,i did not have much exposure to that.  I don't know about Ruth, since that "was before my  time".  However, we both had exposure to scout and "Y" camps, where we became exposed tothe songs of that type.  Such gems as "Sweet Adeline", "Sweet Ivory Soap", "Clementine" and"the Cannibal King", etc. were enjoyed to the fullest.   In addition in German class I learned such wonders as "Du,Du, liegst mir im Herzen," "Ach Du Lieber Augustine" , and "Schnitzelbank" along  with other songs of German origin. In church I was exposed to the common hymns, but Ruth at  that time had essentially no exposure to religious music.
In college, as a freshman, my chief work to help stay in college, was a "soda jerk" and received plenty of exposure to the popular music of the day.  It was "The Big Band Era" so I heard plenty of the music of the times, courtesy of the coins of the students in the juke boxes. My hours were 8-11 thirty so that was the time! “The September Song,” became our theme song of sorts after. (Ruth was not in college… at that point-we were married…11 Sept 1943)

March Madness(April)-Kuhl Style

   For several years I have noticed that "UConn" has been prominent in the masculine collegiate basketball world, and recently the feminine factor also.

Of course, I knew that Uncle John (John Randolph Kuhl) obtained his pre-med at "Storrs", and Uncle Dick (Richard Cornelius Fisher) had been on the faculty at " Storrs". I also knew that Uncle Dick and Aunt Ellen and their children lived at Waterbury, Connecticut.. In fact, I spent several weeks one summer with the Fishers.  It seems that my father, Ivan , and Ellen had been "best buds"  as they grew up.  Oh yes, I also remember that Calamine Lotion was the treatment of choice for "poison ivy", that year, anyway.

 When all of a sudden the Texas Aggie women crashed insto prominence, it occurred to me that it might be fun to know the Texas Aggie- UConn connection of the "Kuhls".  Sitting here, I can think of six "Aggies" without displacing any dandruff!

Randolph Frink mentioned he is a UConn kid, so there may be more! I don't know where Dick Fisher acquired his pre-dent, or the education of the other Fishers, Frinks, Briggs, or Cinq-Mars families.
               Fun to know!-Randolph-- How about looking some of your Yankee kinfolk up and I'll fill out the "Aggie" roster of "Kuhls"

Randolph's maternal grandmother was Leila Kuhl Briggs-My aunt.  His mother was my cousin Frances Briggs Frink. So Randolph is 2nd cousin to Ruth's and my children. He was at the Kuhl Reunion at Keuka Lake, last summer.
                               UConn is at Storrs,Ct.

                       Love, Y'all! , Grandpa, Ivan, etc.

Teresa Terraplane"-Our First Auto

Teresa Terraplane"-Our First Auto- Part 1

 In the fading days of 1944 we realized that if I went out of Buffalo for my internship (We were thinking Toledo, at the time) we might not see our parents for months.  Reasoning that that would be a hardship for grandparents (us?) we checked our bankbook and the projected income (as a buck private in the Army, plus the living allowance) to see if it might be feasible to obtain an auto.  So we talked and thought a lot with each other and friends and decided to "give it a go" if at all possible. So we read all the ads and kept our eyes open and asked friends to do likewise.
               Perhaps it would be well to establish the context in which we were working. Regular production of automobiles was prohibited as of early 1942.  Therefore there were no "new" vehicles available, and the "used" cars were "really used".
               After a few weeks -2-3- we located a vehicle about 10 blocks from us, for only about $200.  The only major problem was a "cracked block". That meant the cooling system wouldn't work after a small length of running time and the motor would quit.  So I asked the local garage if he could fix it.  -Yes, but no guarantee-- for $85. (About $10,000 in today's money-it seemed at the time). Nevertheless we took the chance. We took the chance, and they did it!
               Our find was a "Terraplane". The Terraplane was made by the Hudson Motor Co.. It was among several cars made by that company. The Essex Terraplane was made in 1932 and 1933 and the "Terraplane" in 1933 through 1938. Therefore our car was 6-10 years old, -probably 6-7.(?) There was no problem with a name for our juggernaut.
               Believe me, it was with a mixture of fear, trepidation and prayerfulness that I drove out of the garage, down Allen St. to our 2 story on College Avenue. We were on the 2nd floor.  It(We) made it!  Believe me there was no celebratory drive after that delivery!
               However, the next day, after a trial "spin" with Ruth and Peter we undertook the  Batavia trip!   So at the start of that momentous occurrence we took off with even more of the previous tenuous aura to the 19 Spruce St. address in Batavia!   We made it!
With Ruth triumphantly carrying little Peter to his maternal grandparents home!    However, Dad Amidon said, "That motor doesn't sound too powerful" The mechanic's pronouncement!
               So the mechanic did his thing and "the spark plugs are fouled pretty bad". So I learned how to change spark plugs that day, the old plugs were cleaned and a new set was obtained, so they could be switched after each leg of the Batavia- Buffalo trips!
               Believe me, we didn't cruise Batavia to show off! The "Deans" had to come to see the "crew and the "cruiser"!
               After a suitable time we made the venture back to Buffalo.  Uneventful!!  Later we made a few brief rides to gain confidence.  My dear mother-in-law made the venture to visit us.  So we went "for a spin'. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME I SAW FLAMES THROUGH THE FLOORBOARDS1 Strangely enough that was the only time she came to visit us during that period. with our furnishing the transportation.  You might say she was timid.  I would say she was just one smart mother-in-law! Hope you picked yours as well as I did!


                                                                       Love, Grandpa

Teresa Terraplane"-Our First Auto- Part 2

Of course, in those days the only "new tire" was in a museum.  I vividly recall one pleasant spring day as we approached the Buffalo City Limits on the blitheful way to Batavia, feeling the usual "sashaying" of the car as the right rear tire went flat.  So, we slowed down, stopped, and yours truly took off the wheel and trundled it the 2-300 yards to the nearby gas station. Having been the veteran of many years of bicycle tire repair, it would be no big deal!   ---But, I didn't have a tire repair kit with me!

"What can I do for you my man ?" came the cheerful greeting.      

"I just need to buy a tire repair kit, then I'll fix the tire and be on my way."

 "You're going to use "that"  tire?  

"Yes, that's my tire."

 "Hey, I have a better one than that  in my reject pile, that you can have."  

 "Hmm…let's see."    

And, we did… and I did!  

While my wonderful wife and poor Peter suffered because of the Old Man's goof.  So, on to Batavia.
Almost every week-end-- or when they(in-laws) could figure out a way to avoid the minor calamities coming otherwise, they came to Buffalo instead of our trips to see them in Batavia.

 About the time we were ready to take off for Staten Island (changed from Toledo) we had the problem of the motor suddenly going "POOF POOF POOF" with the accompaniment of a slowdown of the car to a complete stop.  After suitable periods of  anxiety and other shenanigans, the motor would respond and we'd be off for another 30-40 miles!  Of course these pseudo breakdowns would always occur when we were farthest from our current goal.
                               With this rather daunting prospect we took off for Staten Island and Port Washington on the 30th of June to be able for me to check in at the hospital before the 4th. We stuck to the 30-40 mile pattern until we went by Dansville.  We were unable to persuade the garage people to work on the car at that time.  "Wait until Monday," HO HO!!  So off we went and about 3 miles into the 20 mile Dansville Hill, the car refused to go up at that angle.   So we went back down hill and with great persistence we founf a road      which bypassed the hill! -- And wonder of wonders we called Don Groff's parents in Wayland and made the town!  Don's step- father took over and arranged for the transmission repair the first thing in the morning!!

 With that lovely wife and cute baby we didn't stand a chance of going to rent a room! So we stayed with them.
                               So about 11:30 am we were off for another try!
                               After a few more 30-40mi laps we ended up in a small town in New Jersey where we encountered a mechanic who listened to me and my story.  Then, said he:" That sounds like the diaphragm of your fuel pump!  I can fix that in an hour or so!"  -And   he did! So shortly another valiant try began?!?

                                       Love, Grandpa!

Teresa Terraplane"-Our First Auto- Part 3

 We proceeded and lo and behold we reached Brooklyn!  Of course, you might guess that the one place we would have a "flat" would be Brooklyn!  So on a lovely stretch of Atlantic Avenue in the Borough of Brooklyn we had a definite flat tire.
       That stop alone could have been written up as a musical, or at least, -- a play.  Once i opened the trunk the air was filled with helpful suggestions from the absorbed , interested sudden flock of onlookers!   " Dat ting goes heah"  "No dat ting goes ovah heah.  –On de udder side!".   "Let's take da momma, and dat cute little chahma inside to clean up too!.",etc., etc..

 So Ruth and Peter went inside, got cleaned up and refreshed while my appreciative voluble audience saw to it " Dat I did da right ting."  They didn't touch anything, however, just "helped" verbally.  So after many "thank you’s," and a rinse we were on our way to Port Washington (Without Ruth's wrist watch, we found out after arriving at "Joey's" in Port Washington.)

"Joey" (Eleanor Merrill) had been one of Ruth's roommates at Wm Smith and she and her family were enthused about keeping Ruth and Peter until suitable housing would be found on Staten Island. So, I left them and went back to check in at the U.S.Public Health Hospital at Stapleton, Staten Island. There I had a room in the hospital,checked in and began my term.

 In about a week I happened on some rooms supposedly just right for a small family.  Turned out to be a disaster…  Although the owner was an MD she had not had a course in Hygiene in school, whereever it was.  Brings to mind one of Ruth's little sayings that she seldom used, but had in her repertoire. "I never saw a cockroach until I married you!" Fortunately in about 3 days we found a lovely set up about a quarter of a mile from the hospital.  Clean, handy and wonderful landlords!
                             

 Teresa was then parked in front of the apartment.  I don't remember moving her from that spot.  I would go out, start the engine about every 10 days to 2 weeks but, that was all. About the first of May a recently discharged soldier from Colorado appeared and despite my history he moved Teresa from our world.  --To our relief.  I have wondered many times over the years-- How did Teresa's life continue?  As interestingly as with us; without problems or disastrously…Never did hear!

                               Oh, by the way, Ruth and i found the spot of the "flat tire" and found that the plan was, if we didn’t appear by the following Sunday the "Folks" were going to ask the diocese to notify the R.C. Church in Port Washington of the watch encountered after  we left.  At any rate, Ruth's watch returned to its rightful site, her wrist!  

Spelling Bees

Last Sunday I was fortunate enough to attend the performance of the Musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", featuring among others, my granddaughter, Annie Kuhl, as the moderator," Rona Lisa Peretti.”  It was a splendid production, and you "Kuhls" would have been proud of her, as was I. However, it stirred up mixed emotions for me.

 As a child I was always a good speller. Don't ask me why, I just was.  I have a faint recollection of being the last one standing in the portable, where we had 2nd grade!  (That was a LOOONG tim e ago!) Excuse the spelling! As time proceeded I still maintained my place in the line of our class!  ----So as a 7th grader I was Spelling Champion at Robert Morris School in Batavia, New York!  When up came the time for the Genesee County Spelling Bee, I was there!  Probably wore a necktie, and everything!    Things went well for the first rounds of oral spelling.  Those of us remaining were to take a written for the next round.  Two of us had 100s.  But since there were only two they decided to allow the ones who missed only one to proceed also.   That was my downfall!  After all, I thought, - "it's just a matter of hanging in there and I've got it made!"    Ah so! --- The first new oral round went well.  "Man, did I have it made!"  My next word was "ransom.”  My mind, now in overdrive put an "e" on the  end. After all some has one!?  But, too late, I realized, I'd been too confident and not careful enough!!!  With my tail between my legs, I took a seat. -To the accompaniment of a rather sad nod by my principal who, after all, was kind of a friend.
                               Had enough?  But the story goes on!

 Strangely enough, the following year i was spelling champion of Batavia Junior High School!  Incidentally, the runner up was from the same school that Grandma Ruth Marie Amidon went to. The runner up was an acquaintance from the Block System in the Junior High  in which Jeanne and I were in the same group -"The college entrance group".

So the next year yours truly was at the Genesee County Spelling Bee, again!  As before I survived the first two basics, but the third round got me!  This one made more sense!  The word was "unconscious".  That was where I was again!  This time I left out the "s" in the middle!  There was no sad principal to console me with a nod of sympathy!   Probably the darn necktie got me!

 As a follow-up It's fun to visit your old classmates, even after 50 or whatever years.  Jeanne became a widow about 20 yrs ago and i contacted her by "phone about 5 yrs ago with respect to some class get-together that i wasn't going to be able to make.  After a bit we went into family discussion and she said she had had 8 children.  Upon hearing we had had 9, she promptly interjected: "You beat me there, too!"  Sadly, last summer when we went to Batavia, I was unable to contact her.  The phone # had been discontinued.

Chartreuse

Chartreuse

Among other things your Grandmother introduced me to was the word "chartreuse" .  She was also fond of knitting for people she liked (loved).  The first knitting project that I recall (now, at least)  was for her boy friend in medical school.
       The project was a lovely woollen vest of a beautiful brilliant chartreuse hue.  Back then, maybe even now, "chartreuse" was not exactly considered a masculine hue.  Of course when she presented the vest to me and patted it gently in all the right fitting places I was overcome with gratitude!  I immediately started wearing it on a daily basis.  Since it was fall it was entirely appropriate.  About the third day I wore it, "Microbiology Lab" was on the program.  One of the professors was one of these rather wise guysand he made (in?) appropriate comments from time to time.  On that day when he arrived at me and my beautiful apparel, he innocuously inquired where I obtained that  lovely vest.  I of course, informed him my girl friend made it.   "Hmmmmm…You must love her very much!"
                               I believe my positive reply was lost in the changed atmosphere, as my "micro" neighbors suddenly became "macro" neighbors (or do you spell it Naybors?).
                               Strangely, in a few weeks, she took the sweater back, stripped it down, and it became part of a rather neutral brown sleeved sweater.  Thus ended my introduction to "Chartreuse" I've enjoyed the color ever since. --Even though I can't remember the  name or how to spell it, sometimes.

Chartreuse 2

Having been exposed to my introduction to "chartreuse", you deserve to know how  "I've enjoyed the color ever since."
                               To quote one of my sons, "You can't tell history without geography! "   We are now going to "the Chisholm Trail", the Goodnight-Loving Trail" etc.
                               200 years ago south and central Texas was essentially a million acre spread of grassland plains creased by creeks and rivers.  The Spaniards had introduced cattle gradually in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries into "The New World".  This population expanded gradually and by the 18oos there were significant numbers in Northern Mexico and Texas.
                               The diversion from cattle care during the 1850s and 1860s--time of civil strife-- led to the presence of thousands of unherded cattle roaming the grassy plains.  The ranchers had "much meat," but the market was thousands of miles away!  Hence the cattle drives beginning after the Civil War.  "To get the meat to the market" by foot and by the railroads to Abilene, Ft. Dodge, Omaha, Kansas City, etc.
                               All of this to bring the chartreuse to grow in your reckoning!    Practically all the trees in the far south were along the rivers and were of the mesquite family. The mesquite family has its basic method of reproduction seeds in sweet pods-- which the cattle dearly love!  So you see the picture-- eat the pods in McAllen, plant the pods in Alice-along with a dash of fertilizer- and as each cycle goes,- Alice to Three Rivers- Three Rivers to San Antonio,- San Antonio, to Austin, Austin to Waco, Waco,- to                                Abilene planting as they passed. So now you know how the Brush Country was formed!
                               Last week-end Martha and I went to McAllen. It was our pleasure to see what might be called an early spring in "The Brush Country"!   The yuccas were pushing their heavy red-brown stalks to the sky-- some of which had the beautiful, bell-like flowers in their usual formation, plus scattered here and there the brownish-yellow of the huisaches (wee-sotches) in blossom and splotchy chartreuse glob-like patterns of the mesquite trees in their "wake-up" clusters of early growth in the bright sunlight.  This sudden growth of the mesquites comes after the winter quiescent period which lasts only a few weeks, when the return of smatterings of heat and moisture seem to stimulate the return to activity.
                               There are other actors in the "spring festival" of the brush, but they come later!  But this part was Our Pleasure!

I Just Don’t Do That

We all are different, one from the other.  --For an obvious example. I was one of three children, each of our children had 8 siblings! There have to be differences!   “Little things " and Big things" can make enormous differences in the formation(s) of our personality(ies) and lives.

               That over with, I will remind you if you were "on board" before, Uncle Harry was our(Bob and my) "rich uncle". His daughter Frances was beautiful, intelligent and altogether "worshipful" for me. - Actually, she was "on a date" so much of the time "When I saw her..  I didn't see her."  She followed through with an education which included Elmira College and one of the fancy colleges in the east, " Simmons", I believe.
               At any rate, in the spring of 1937 she and Bob Lawrence(Cornell) decided to get married. Uncle Harry had had trouble with a hernia all his life and decided to get it fixed that year.  So early in 1937 surgery was performed. Unfortunately infection set in. Those were the days when antibiotics were fantasized and if available, tried, but after two 'Sulfas" without effect his condition gradually deteriorated. So the wedding was set for home 26 June 1937. (Uncle Harry died 11 Jul 1937.)
               The rather somber wedding ceremony was held in the parlor without incident. The getting away rites "exercises" were held in the driveway, behind the house.  Things were going well, and the newlyweds were about to "take off" when yours truly tossed some confetti in the open window on the driver's side.  Bob ducked, hit the corner of the rear view mirror on his right  eyebrow---BLOOD everywhere, handkerchiefs, distressed cries, somber faces, --the world sunk around me it seemed ,I was so aghast at what I had set in motion!  Things simmered down after a bit, but I DON"T DO THAT ANY MORE! (and…never have).


                               i  Anda con cuidado!!  Con mucho amor , Abuelito  (o Tio Ivan)

By today standards Uncle Harry wasn't rich.  He had a hardware store which made new gadgets his while we dealt with ice boxes, tiny radios, etc., AS OPPOSED TO PLUSH CABINETS, ELECTRIC TOASTERS, ELECTRIC REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER WONDERS. Aunt Louise was his fabulous wife.  Ruth liked her a lot (me too).  You may remember you have an aunt by the name of Anita Louise.  Guess whom she was named for?!  Uncle Harry was the oldest of the Chaddock children, Mother (youngest) was almost 20 yrs younger than Uncle Harry.  Nice to show your interest! Love, Grandpa

I'm Cool....?

Lost!?!!? #!

My father was killed in an auto-train accident when I was 13 months old. -- So for my earliest years I had no "father figure".
                       Mother had been a fourth and last child, so there were no live-in aunts and uncles for me to deal with.  In fact she was 12 years younger than her next oldest brother and 20 yrs younger than the oldest.
                       After my father's death we moved in with my maternal grandparents. From what I understand my grandfather took the place of the father figure. He was about 70 with white hair, bushy white moustache, a stocky build and pleasant mien. When he was available, I was apt to be in his shadow.
                       Grandpa had been a farmer until sometime in his 50's when he quit farming and moved into town(Batavia) and dealt in real estate. We lived comfortably in one of the oldest houses in the area.
                       So much for the background!  The story, basically as related to me(too young to really remember).:
                       One bright, sunny day, when I was about 4 , I pulled out my wheelbarrow, put in my teddy bear and my Raggedy Ann book and headed for downtown Batavia! I passed the old Amidon home (Ruth's grandparents) on Oak Street, went east on Main Street, past the county jail and th sheriff's house and the City Hall, and was just passing "The Blue Bird Inn" when I stumbled on the curb, skinned my knee, and cried a bit (discretely I'm sure)  and a waitress from the inn came out and rescued me. Of course, when I informed her of the situation, she referred me immediately to the Police.
                       Here I was in "Hog Heaven" but I didn't know it.  When they asked me my name , naturally i told them "Iman Kuhl"   That resulted in a sweater, ICE CREAM, and even a coat.  But i still insisted with the same ridiculous info "Iman Kuhl"…  They were baffled for an hour or so when one of the guys came in and said:" That looks just like the kid that watches my neighbor's chickens next door!"   " Let me make a call!"   Mystery solved! They had just begun to miss me!
                       Mother insisted that if they had just let me go I would have gone to my grandfather's office.  The stumble was just about a block from the door to his office..


                       Aside: as a youngster I had trouble with the "v" sound,  Provided much amusement to some of my relatives.  If I'd known, it was a direct hint that i could do OK in Spanish.  The one word they really worked me on was "Vinegar" I can still hear one of my uncles saying "Bingiter" for me.     I survived!

Lost!!??! #1--Proofreader Goof!

The proofreader goofed!  The house mentioned as being on Oak Street was the home of John Joseph Brice- the contractor for the church in Crittenden whose picture many of you have.  Interestingly, an aunt and uncle of the Amidon family lived in that path, but 15-20 yrs later, not at the "trundling time".  Sorry 'bout that!  LOVE, Grandpa

Lost!!??! #2

Life can be frustrating!  This is bound to be one of my shortest stories, but it is a "Teller"!
               About a year after Lost #! I decided to accompany my grandmother and mother downtown shopping.  They wanted to shop, I wanted to go!  When we arrived downtown it struck me what they really meant.  "I didn't want to shop!!" Well, what'll we do?  I'll stay here while you shop, said this male being. "Will you stay in the car?" "Yes" After 4-5 hrs(?) I decided to at least get out of te car and look in the nearby store windows.
               Within 5 min of leaving the car (still right in front of the car) I was grasped firmly by the arm "I know who you are!  You come with me, young man!"  So, off to the Police station to regreet my old acquaintances(Friends…no), at the Station.  No more ice cream just, "Oh..That kid again!  Uh, when'll he learn?"and other sage comments. Needless to say my return to Society was prompt and efficiently performed!

               Men, watch out when a woman says she's going shopping.  The words don't mean the same thing in male and female language!

Lost!!??! #3

About 22yrs after "The Teddy Bear Incident" the following took place. Sorry the "context " takes so long to unreel for you.  Without it, it would be difficult to understand the thinking and pressures of the time.

               After WWII for a year or two it was almost impossible to obtain autos of any description unless you were the father-in-law or brother of the franchise owner.  I wasn't one of those, nor were my in-laws or my other relatives.  Our "Teresa Terraplane" that had more or less served us faithfully during the last months of "our" time in med school for our trips to and from Buffalo and Batavia and vice versa was disposed of on Staten Island when a recently discharged soldier from Colorado offered me a hundred bucks for it.   -Despite my giving him the dreadful history of spark plug replacements, fuel pump and tire problems.   --I was happy to get rid of "Teresa" and he was happy to get "wheels". (Used to wonder how he fared- Still would like to know)
               So without the auto we were dependent on public transportation. -No problem in NYC, but in WV. a different story.  We arrived in So Charleston, West Virgiana by train with our little group, P&P plus R&I. The name of the assigned institution was KVMC (Kanawha Valley Medical Center).It's mission was for the treatment of Venereal Disease. There were about 25 of these scattered about the US.. After about 2 wks at the barracks type of facility at the "Center" we obtained housing designed to house people being trained to work at war material producing facilities. Ours was called "Kenna Homes". As for transportation, I was allowed to drive one of the Center's vehicles back and forth to work -and for grocery shopping.
               Application for a new vehicle made you think you had a future in comedy.  We were "transients"  -Bottom of the bottom of the lists!!! Same problem in NY…
               So after we became "comfortable" we decided to visit upstate NY.  So Ruth and the little guys boarded a train for NY.  Our first visit Peter on the way back had the chicken pox. So I gave him Benadryl syrup for babies, We had the drunkest kid in Upstate NY on that trip!  So any way time passed and we tried again. Same deal they go before me and do the visiting deal!
                While there this time the mothers (Ruth and her mother) decided to go shopping.  Peter wanted to go. "After a little nap sweetheart"  "They'll be all right!" So the "little nap" became too long for his nibs.  So "back at the ranch" he checked and found no mothers!  He decided to take the situation in hiis own hands.  --Didn't hear about any wheelbarrow, but he took off, crossed the busy highway (East Main St is where 2 major highways occupy the same space.)  After crossing that he encountered grassy lots next to a cemetery, but, hearing men talking (always the sociable one) he headed toward them at the Massey-Harris plant and was soon enjoying their "break" with them.  After a few minutes along came a policeman on his motorcycle.  The men hailed him, -he stopped.  "Anybody know this kid?" "Nope."  "What's his name?" "Don't know, but he says something like Pecool"  "What's your name young man?"  Pete Cool"  "Man, I kinda know this kid!! Some things run in families!" "Hop on Kid we've got to make some calls!  Wonder how you got over here? "
               End of MYSTEREY!   Things went smoothly as one could ask after that!

P.S. We did obtain a vehicle this time!  A 1946 Packard, 2nd hand(it was 1947). Cheaper than a Chevy.  Something about the law of supply and demand gave us this fancy sounding auto. Was a good one until sometime later…Maybe that's another story?