Celebrating...Without Me!

         FRIDAY, JUNE 26th.

 CELEBRATING,,,WITHOUT ME!

  You all know I'm fond of pointing
out unusual holidays. Yesterday, for
instance, I noted National Catfish
Day.
   Some of these lesser know holidays
are official. Others are not.
   I only wish I could observe today's
holiday. It's Drive your Corvette to
work day! It celebrates the Corvette's
birth in June of 1953.
   I don't mine not having any work
to drive to. But I'm a little upset about
not having the Corvette!
   I did own one once. It was a 1961
which I bought used sometime around
1963. The car had some unique
features. One, I suspect, was not
suppose to be included in the vehicle.
    My Corvette would come out of
4th gear whenever it choose to do so.
That was usually at 65 miles per hour
driving along the interstate highway!
    I took it back to my Used Car
Salesmen, a man who typified the
unpopular stereotype of the profession,
who promised a quick repair.
    A day or so later my car was ready.
But, apparently, the paper clip or
whatever was used to correct my
problem didn't last more than a couple
hours and I found myself cruising
along....out of gear.
     Though I only owned the car a
few weeks I discovered it was the only
vehicle I ever owned where I could
physically see the gas gauge moving.
Downwards of course.
     I ended up trading my Vette for
a big Chevy convertible with a
Corvette engine and a 4-speed Hurst
Shift on the floor. I held on to that
one for a couple years until my then
wife-to-be suggested it's lavender
color was not her favorite.
       I miss the Corvette sometimes.
On days like today when I should
be driving it to work...or...somewhere.
And on the days when I realize the
car I paid about $3,500 for is now
worth above $30,000!
       Hope whoever has it now can
keep it in gear, and that all your
NEWS is good!
      (Not mine, But just like it!)

Something Fishy?

        THURSDAY JUNE 25TH

      SOMETHING FISHY TODAY


  June  25th is National Catfish Day!
  I'll bet you almost missed this one! But there's
still time. Call in sick, get the rod and reel and
head out to hook your dinner!
  Or...you can just go to a place like Cracker
Barrel and order your Catfish right from the
menu.
  And before you start thinking this is just some
kind of "Fish Story" let me fill you in.
   Just check the Federal records for
Proclamation 5672 fro 1987! 
   On June 25th of that year President Ronald
Reagan began his Presidential Proclamation
with the words...."More and more Americans
are discovering a uniquely American food
delicacy...farm raised catfish."
    Who says the government never gets anything
done?
    A later portion of that proclamation called
upon people to observe the day "with appropriate
ceremonies and  activities."
    I'm not exactly sure what kind of
ceremonies or activities you......or anybody
else.....has scheduled for today.
   I still think fishing might qualify as an
appropriate observance. Although I don't
think you'd be allowed to do that at a
"Catfish Farm."
   But we're always told  "it's the thought that
counts." So maybe a catfish from a lake or
river would be acceptable?
   Hope you've got your "Gone Fishing Sign"
ready and that all your NEWS is good!

Taking A Dive!

           WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24th

               TAKING A DIVE!

     If a boxer "took a dive" he'd be in
big trouble. I'm no prize fighter. Still
I found myself in trouble for taking a
dive.
     It happened last week during  the
final day of our family vacation in
Wildwood.
     I had a choice. Go to the beach or
enjoy the water in the pool at our
rented apartment. The thought of
cleaning off all that sand after a swim
prompted me to head to the pool.
     The warning "No Diving" was
clearly posted. But there was no
danger of me diving into a swimming
pool. I never mastered the art of
diving into a pool anyway.
     Instead I took advantage of the
steps at the shallow end of the pool
and eased myself into the water.
      I was about waist deep when I
figured it would be better to get wet
as quickly as possible. So while I
didn't dive into the pool...I dove into
the water just in front of me.
       Fortunately my hands, rather
then my head, hit the bottom of the
pool. You would think the bottom
of a swimming pool would be
"rubber-like." It was not. Being a
trained observer I realized there
was some connection between the
pain in my knuckles and the blood
in the water. Good thing this hadn't
happened in the ocean where I might
have attracted sharks!
       Guess it was the shortest swim
I ever had! A little cleaning and a
couple band aids later I was good
to go again.
         Maybe I'll stick to the Hot Tub
next time! Hope I'll be able to play
the piano (even though I never did)
and that all your NEWS is good!

That Was No Lady!

        TUESDAY, JUNE 23rd

        THAT WAS NO "LADY"

    Some days and events tend to stick
out in our mind. Sometimes they're
triumphs and  sometime they're
tragedies! And sometimes they're
a bit of both!
    If you're old enough you probably
remember where you were and what
you were doing the day President
Kennedy was shot. Or, perhaps, the
day we landed on the moon!
   I know exactly where I was and
what I was doing 43-years-ago today.
   I was telling a lot of you, or your
parents, or grandparents to get out
of the house and seek shelter!
   This was the day the Susquehanna
river began to flood a good part of
Wyoming Valley thanks to a "lady"
named Agnes! Of course Agnes was
no lady. She was a tropical storm
that then President Richard Nixon
called "the greatest natural disaster
to hit the United States." It caused
3 billion dollars (1972 dollars) in
damage and claimed 128 lives on
its journey.
    I was News Director at WILK
Radio back in those days. But I
was drafted by Luzerne County
Civil Defense to keep people
informed on the emergency and
the aftermath.
    I told my wife I'd be home a
little late. I stopped back there for
a nap three and a half days later.
At least she knew where I was. She
could hear me on the Flood Emergency
Network we set up! 13 area radio
stations agreed to join forces once
every hour to broadcast updates and
messages to victims whose families
were separated by the all too wide
river!
     Our efforts seemed to be
successful. Although any loss of
life is unacceptable only three
people were lost in Wyoming Valley
which was hardest hit by Agnes.
      Several students from Wyoming
Valley West did a history project on
the Agnes flood this year. They
called it "Unsung Heroes of the
Flood." I was honored to be one of
several people they highlighted in
they production. Of course there
were many unsung heroes during
that disaster including thousands of
people who volunteered to sandbag
the levy system in an attempt to hold
back the flood. National Guardsmen
patrolled the streets to assure safety
while the streets were still covered in
mud and debris.
      And the biggest heroes may well
be the folks I told to evacuate who
came back, dug out, and rebuilt the
Valley!    
       There have been a lot of stories
over these 43 years, including a couple
floods. But none have been bigger in
terms of the number of people
affected and the financial damage
sustained than the story of a storm
called "Agnes." That was no lady!
        Hope we don't see the likes of
her again so that all our NEWS can
be good!

Steak Out!

          MONDAY, JUNE 22

              STEAK OUT!
    There was something missing during
our family vacation to Wildwood last
week. We had a very nice condo with
its own swimming pool. But there was
no grill!
     Now to be fair photos of the place
did include one of a propane grill. But
we were told in was only for condo
owners, not renters.
    I suggested we invite the owner to
our annual steak dinner so we could
use his grill. I couldn't get a 2nd to
my motion.
    The option of bringing our own
small grill was ruled out by a rule
prohibiting their use on upstairs
decks.
     So, while we dined on everything
from chicken and  pizza to spaghetti
and sausage our steaks sat in the
freezer just waiting for a flame!
    There were a few diversions that
helped get us through. First, we
had an Ice Cream shop right next
door. Then my daughter took a
morning walk and came back with
Sticky Buns! I always say if you
can't have steak you should have'
Sticky Buns.
    Our last day came and still our
steak dinner was on hold. We just
needed a grill and a chance.
    We found it yesterday when I
and several other Dads in the family
gathered at my son and daughter-in-
law's place where the Wildwood
steaks found a welcome spot on
their grill. It was like extending our
vacation for another day..without the
ocean!
     And, of course, it was Father's
Day. A perfect time to enjoy some
cards, presents, and several very
thick steaks! If only we had saved
a couple Sticky Buns!
    Hope you've got a grill at the
ready, steaks in the freezer, and that
all your NEWS is good! (Maybe some
Sticky Buns too!)

    
    

     
    

 
 

La famiglia

     SUNDAY, JUNE 21ST

         LA FAMIGLIA

    My Dad would be happy and proud.
For more years than I can count at the
moment "La famiglia," the family, has
preserved the tradition of enjoying a
vacation, together, in Wildwood, New
Jersey.
     My late father started going to the
shore many years before I came along.
But I grew up looking forward to that
one summer week when my Dad, my
Mom, and my brother would vacation
in Wildwood. In fact my first memory
of being there was when I was three-
years-old and was allowed, in fact
encouraged, to keep beeping the horn
on my Dad's car!  We were at the
shore when the news came out that the
Japanese had surrendered and World
War II was over!
     When my brother went off to
college I was allowed to bring a
friend along. But somewhere in
my late teens Dad often had to be
away working backstage for
professional plays and the annual
Wildwood trip faded away.
     I went with a friend on our own
a time or two. But the family trips
we had all enjoyed were gone.
     When my Mom passed away I
knew my Dad needed something
to look forward to. My brother and
I decided that a family Wildwood
trip was just the ticket! And so it
was! Dad loved the place and the
idea!
     My wife and I took our three
kids. My brother and his wife took
their three kids. And we put Dad in
charge of planning. A chore he
truly welcomed.
     After Dad passed on we
continued the tradition although
conflicting schedules made it
virtually impossible to get my gang
and my brother's together as the
same time.
      Of course by then, my kids had
kids of their own. So we continued
the tradition!
     Last week a dozen of us and one
family friend were back in Wildwood
enjoying the ocean, the boardwalk,
and, most of all, each other! One son-
in-law was stuck with work. As far as
I know someone is bringing some
fudge, taffy, or, at least, some sand
back home for him to remind him
he was missed.
     My Dad, and Mom, and
brother are all gone now. I think they
left a bit of their hearts in the sand at
the shore. I suspect they, and my son
-in-law were all with us in spirit last
week.
     Time has made me the family
patriarch now so I'll do my best
to keep the tradition going. Next
year we expect to have a new
grandson to make his first visit.
And, someday, maybe he'll be
leading a family vacation to the
place we've all come to enjoy.....
together....as a family!
     So, on this Father's Day, I'm
feeling like all our NEWS is
good. Thanks Dad. And thanks
to my famiglia!

Wanderland By Night!

   No. That is not a typo. The Boardwalk
in the Wildwoods is a "Wanderland" by
night! It's not a whole lot different in the
daytime. But all the flashing lights and
extra people add to the attraction.
    For those of you who have never
visited the boardwalk of North Wildwood,
Wildwood, and Wildwood Crest, think
about the Midway at the Bloomsburg
or most any other County Fair and
picture it being two miles long!
    There are food stands featuring all
kinds of menus. The new "biggie" this
year seems to be chocolate covered
bacon. There are ice cream and
Italian Ice stands. A Pizza place on
every block. My old friend used to
measure the economy based on the price
of one slice of pizza here.
     There are the rides. But as much as
kids love the rides they love the Crane
machines.
      These machines are the closest
think to legalized robbery I have ever
seen! Kids put in dollars (usually
five at a time) for a chance, a very
slim chance, they'll be able to
manipulate the arm of their crane
directly over the object of their desire,
pick it up and hold it long enough to
drop it into the exit bin.
      There are occasional success
stories. I've seen kids actually
"win" a colorful stuffed animal
probably purchased by the machine
owner for about 12 or 13 cents.
     If you manage to get by one of
those things you'll be hounded by
barkers trying to lure you to spend
at least five bucks in the hope of
shooting a regulation basketball
through a just slightly smaller
than regulation size hoop. Should
one of those balls actually fall
through the net you'll win a prize
similar to those offered in the Crane
machines!
     As you can probably tell I don't
invest much in any of those games
these days. I just sit and watch
the suckers.....I mean....players as
they entertain themselves and make
somebody else very wealthy!
     I still hit some of the food vendors.
Especially the Pizza stands. Somebody's
got to keep an eye on the economy!
     Hope you get the prize you're
after and that all your NEWS is good!