Chicken anyone?

  Fred and Ginger never did it!
  Gene Kelly never included it in his
repertoire.
  John Travolta? Well maybe.
  How about you?
  It's May 14th. It's "National Chicken
Dance Day! Or, "Dance like a Chicken
Day" depending on the source of your
date!
   If you've attended a wedding
reception anytime over the last 50 or
so years you've either seen or been
pulled into that crazy circle doing
the Chicken Dance! For many of us
it's like being sucked into water
spinning around an open drain!  You're
going down whether you like it or
not!
   My late Dad, was ducking and
dancing with the best of them well
into his 80's! He was the Gene Kelly
of the Chicken Dance!
    I've found no rhyme or reason
why May 14th was selected as the
date for this celebration. Then again,
I've never found much rhyme or
reason for the dance itself.
   As far as it's status as a "National
Day" I'm not aware of any Congressional
action so designating the day. Given
the work usually done by our legislators
I'm a bit surprised them haven't addressed
this issue. Perhaps a note to your
Congressman?
   We do know the origins of the "Chicken
Dance song . It was originally titled "Der
Ententanz" (The Duck Dance).
   It was created by Swiss accordion player
Werner Thomas of Davos, Switzerland.
Thomas created it in the 1950's!
   I guess we switched it to chickens when
it hit the United States!
   How do you celebrate? Do you really
have to ask?
   You'll just have to sneak off to a quiet
corner somewhere and do the Chicken
Dance!
   Hope this "holiday" doesn't lay an egg,
and that all your NEWS is good!

  

Remembering Agnes

   I've been doing a lot of public speaking
over the past two years.
   Sometimes it's in schools but more often
than not it's for one of northeastern
Pennsylvania's Historical Societies. I
suppose they figure I lived through a lot of
the history they've asked me to talk about.
   That was the case last night as I drove to
Archbald to share my experiences during
the "Agnes Flood" of 1972.
   I got in the thick of things back then
when I was drafted to be the Public
Information Officer for Luzerne County
Civil Defense.
   In those days Civil Defense was set
up to deal with a possible nuclear
attack. That's why the Emergency Center
was set up in the Sub basement of the
Luzerne County Courthouse.
   I suppose we were safe enough from
radioactive fallout. But when water
started to come up through the floor
drain in the room where I was working
it occurred to me that we might be in
trouble! I was right!
   I shared many of my flood stories
with the group last night including,
for the first time, how I became News
Director of WNEP for a day, and how
we lost only one report on the Flood
Emergency Radio Network when
two little kids used the wire from our
Command Center to the radio station
for a Jump rope!
    There's no question that the Agnes
Flood is the single biggest story of the
modern era in northeastern Pennsylvania
both in terms of immediate and long
term impact! In fact the story has never
really ended!  Changes made since "Agnes"
are still affecting other area communities
whenever storms hit us now!
    And it's a big reason why I'm glad I'm
not in the newsroom when heavy rains
have us all looking at the river!
I'm not much for getting in deep
these days
    I much prefer seeing water around me
going down the drain!
    Hope you're high and dry when the
storms come around and that all your
NEWS is good!








   

Campers & Critters!

   My wife and I decided on a top down
drive in the Miata to conclude our Mother's
Day celebration.
    Our back roads of choice eventually led
over the mountains and through the woods.
We did not, however, end up at Grandma's
house (at least not until later when we got
home.)
     After passing through suburbs such as
Mildred and Lopez we made a rest stop
at Lake Jean in Ricket's Glen State Park.
     Though Sunday evening was already
approaching we noticed several campers,
all staying in various varieties of tents,
enjoying the day and their camp fires.
      We also noticed some interesting
Informational signs posted around the
campground for the benefit of campers
and visitors alike.
       There were your typical admonitions
to refrain from feeding the wildlife and to
be aware of and strange behavior on their
part.
      I saw several postings warning people
of Bear activity in the area. Apparently
Pennsylvania's Wild Black Bears like to go
camping too!
      And they love other campers who
let food around their camp sites!
      I don't think warnings about Bears
are too surprising. It's kind of a matter of
common sense.
     It was the other poster that surprised
me a bit.
     The one warning about Chipmunks!!!!
     It read..."Beware, they're everywhere!"
     I envisioned the tiny critters attacking
without warning! I started listening for
any tell-tell signs of small feet charging
through the underbrush.
     The notice further asked if we were
"ready for the Chipmunk challenge?"
      Being unarmed and just a visitor I
had to assume I was ready for nothing!
      I might have rushed for the car, raised
the top, and sped off had I not seen the
remainder of the poster!
      As it turns out the poster was designed
to serve as a warning to motorists to watch
out for the Chipmunks as they don't look
both ways before crossing the road and are
all too easy prey for your tires!
      Wow! That's a relief. The Chipmunks
should be scared of us!
      I drove off feeling a lot better. But watching
for tiny Chipmunks and large Black Bears!
      Hope you're watching too and that all your
NEWS is good!

Mother's Day...The Rest Of The Story!

    I hope those of you lucky enough to have
'Mom' still around will make sure you honor
her and show your love with the 'present'
she wants most. That, of course, is your
time.
    Visit and talk. If you can't visit call.
And if you're calling don't count the
minutes!
   This kind of individual attention is, I
believe, what Anna Jarvis had in mind when
she came up with 'Mother's Day" in 1858 to
honor her mother, Anna Reeves.
    What followed was a drama you might
think was designed for the late
Paul Harvey's 'Rest Of The Story.'
I researched it for a speech four years
ago and though I'd share it with you in
today's Blog.
    Anna Reeves passed away in 1905. Her
daughter, Anna Jarvis, swore on her
mother's grave that she would carry on
her quest to have a National Holiday
dedicated to 'Mother.'
    She worked hard to promote the idea and,
in 1912 her home state of West Virginia
officially adopted 'Mother's Day' as a
holiday.
   The whole country followed in 1914.
But, as Mr. Harvey would have said,
here is the rest of the story.
   Nine years after 'Mother's Day' was
officially recognized Anna Jarvis
became a MAJOR OPPONENT of what the
day had become! She resented the
commercialization that developed across
the country and fought as hard against
that as she had originally fought for
the holiday!
   In 1948 she was arrested for
disturbing the peace during one of
her demonstrations! Speaking about
'Mother's Day' Anna told a reporter
"I wanted it to be a day of sentiment,
not profit." Sounds like she became a
real tough gal!
   I don't think Hallmark or your
neighborhood florist would be very happy
with Anna!
   Still most of you will probably be
giving your mom cards,and flowers, and
candy. That's still nice!  But, as Anna
Jarvis would probably have insisted,
give yourself...while you still can!
    Hope you have a Happy Mother's
Day and that all you NEWS is good!

Anna Jarvis
Founder,then hater
of Mother's Day!

FORE!!!!!!

   Spring is here and it's time to get out there
and hit the links again!
    I look forward to the challenge each year.
    I especially like those Par 4 holes!
    You know. Those holes where you've got
to hit the ball right through the front door of
the little church to have any chance at a hole
in one!
    What? Of course I'm talking about Golf!
    Miniature Golf! This is National Miniature
Gold Day! Surely you knew!
     I know. The "purists" will tell you there's
nothing like "real golf" out there on one of
those award winning courses that covers
acres and acres.
     I've played that game "back in the day."
     I used to go out with three other guys.
But I'd only see them on the tee and, eventually,
on the green.
     My slice carried my ball a hundred and
fifty yards or so.....to the right. Usually into
the woods. With the animals!
     I think I used to rush myself too much. I
always had the feeling I was holding up the
players behind me. Of course that's because
I was holding up the players behind me.
     I finally broke a hundred in one of my
games. That's when I retired to miniature
golf.
     I get arguments that I should be out on
the long course getting exercise. Actually
I probably walk a lot more around those
little windmills and churches than those
guys who ride to every hole in their golf
carts!
     So put on the nickers and celebrate the
day by visiting a Miniature Golf course near
you!
    Hope you get a hold in one in the clown's
nose and that all your NEWS is good!

The Tea Party!

  
    The Tea Party met in Mountaintop
last night. But it wasn't the politicians
you might have expected!
    There was no talk of Boston or King
 Gorge's controversial Tax!
    This "Tea Party" featured mothers and
daughters from our church and it's extended
families who gathered together to celebrate
Mother's Day a couple days in advance!
     There was, I'm told, a Princess Theme
for the gathering which was actually weeks
in the planning stage.
      There were fancy sandwiches, cookies
and other treats and, of course, plenty of
tea!
      There were Tiaras for everyone in
 attendance and plenty of little Princesses
 to brighten the evening!
      I, and my son-in-law, and grandson
 were among those whose invitations
 were apparently lost in the mail.
      Seems none of the men got them.
     Obviously just an oversight.
     But a welcome one at that!
     None of us look very good in Tiaras.
     But all of us wanted to see
 Spiderman! So we did!
      Hope they had as much fun as we
 did....and that all your NEWS is good!

It's The Real Thing!

   It's the "Real Thing" friends!
   Today is "National Have A Coke
Day."
   Being a non coffee drinker I tend
to observe this day every day. Although
I do sway to Pepsi and Dr. Pepper from
time to time.
    The recipe for Coke has been around
since the late 1800's. It originally contained
9mg of cocaine per glass! That's been gone
since 1903.
    But the drink must still be habit forming!
1.8 billion glasses of Coke are served every
day.
    And judging from my on line research you
should probably keep a supply on hand even
if you never plan to drink it!
    Coca-Cola isn't just for drinking! You can
us it to:
    Clean a toilet.
    Remove Blood stains from clothing.
    Remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers.
    Clean car battery terminals.
    Loosen rusted bolts.
    Remove grease or milk stains from clothing.
    Clean eyeglasses.
    Coke has also been mentioned as a Home
Remedy First Aid treatment!
     The caffeine in a Coca-Cola supposedly can
help thwart an asthma attack!
     Some say you should gargle with the soda to
soothe a sore throat, or a jelly fish sting.
     There are even those who use it to condition
their hair! I haven't tried that yet!
     I intend to memorize these attributes to counter
the arguments of those who don't understand why
I never order a coffee!
     Coffee won't help me when that jellyfish
attacks and probably won't do a thing for my
hair.
    So let's all teach the world to sing in perfect
harmony and have a Coke today!
    Hope your rust spots come out and that all
your NEWS is good!