Eighth Grade

If there is one year of my K-12 school experience that is worth writing about here, it has to be 8th grade at Bryant Junior High (now Bryant Middle School) in Salt Lake City, where Kay and I grew up, married, and raised our children (in SLC, that is, not the school :) 

Starting junior high in 7th grade was a frightening new world, but by the 8th grade I was settled into the seven-period, daily routine with lots of homework every night using my bug-free, antique typewriter.  And great friends!

The neighborhood walk-to-school gang met M-F every morning at the corner of “I” Street and 13th Avenue for our long trek downhill – typically very humorous, as I recall Craig.

My special group of friends at school – not the popular elite, but my favorites for boy-girl parties including slow dancing (think "Blue Velvet") – really made 8th grade my favorite.  One special young woman took me to the formal, adult ball in the Salt Lake Masonic Temple (Wikipedia: SLC’s “best example of Egyptian Revival Architecture”) – a different experience for a sheltered Mormon boy!

After-school dances were mandatory in the gym with lots of “wall flowers” watching from the sidelines – not so fun.

I recall witnessing "greasers" fight with chains in the back alley, which also served as the shortcut to the Fernwood ice cream parlor on South Temple for my regular after-school treat: a double-scoop ice cream cone for 25 cents.  Then the hike uphill, carrying more books than I would actually use, was a challenge especially in "freezing blizzards," as I could describe to my grandchildren.

A few of the most memorable teachers and classes:

Mrs. Webb taught me the valuable lifetime skill of typing; (years later it evolved into keyboarding.)  Speed was the big thing in that class, a favorite.
Mr. Neeley, the tough Social Studies teacher, found a knife hidden in a student’s back (waistband).  After that, I never dared to carry one to his class!

Coach Caputo taught us men to box "with finesse," as he said, to show confidence and expertise.

I still see farewell notes in my 1963 Chronicle, the school yearbook (oops – a clue to my age), for example:

“Ned, It’s been fun in English. Have a good summer and Good Luck next year. 

– Maurine.” 

Sweet!

35 Days Until ...

My credit union online just reminded me it’s Day-5 of “Black Friday specials” (actually Day-4 in the mortgage department store).  Is anything on the market not discounted by now?  Having started with stores open last Thursday (still known to many Americans as a day of Thanksgiving), this is becoming the longest-running Black Friday in my memory. Imagine how much money I could have saved by taking advantage … (sigh) … water under the bridge, except for today, "Cyber Monday."  But no, I’m not gonna go there – can’t afford to save, and need to shovel snow that's falling.

Looking ahead, I realized we have only 35 days until New Year’s Day. Now that’s exciting – think about it, and be prepared!  I will celebrate this Christmas season throughout those 35 days and beyond.  (According to Cannon tradition, our family enjoys it till the end of the "Twelve Days" on January 6th – a wonderful way to extend Christmas gift giving.)

“Friday 6th Jan, 2017 will be … [Epiphany]

Celebrating the day upon which the three kings [wise men] arrived at Bethlehem [and gave gifts to infant Jesus], Three Kings Day is twelve days after Christmas day, and marks the end of the Christmas period.”
– daysoftheyear.com

So you see, there are plenty of shopping days left – more than the market leads consumers to believe.  Not to mention after-holiday specials.  A relaxing thought for Day-5, I think.  Lights, camera, party on!

Familiar to many, this cute reminder got my attention at a Walmart store 11/23/2016, before Thanksgiving.

At the nursery on Halloween 2016; Google defines poinsettia: "... popular as a houseplant at Christmas"

Christmas collection of fast food at our frontier home 2014

Thanks

Tomorrow through Saturday is designated as “Family Week,” and the Church meeting & activity schedule in our area is kept clear accordingly.  Kay & I look forward to Thanksgiving week every year as a fun time to spend with family & friends, and a time to express gratitude to Heavenly Father in special ways.

(Rhetorical question):  How often do people say thanks (often automatically) in emails, text messages, social media, phone calls, prayers, and everyday encounters at home, work, and while shopping, dining, etc.?  I hope the expression doesn’t lose sincerity or value with such frequency.  Let it be a habit that uplifts others and follows the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As Paul the Apostle taught, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(New Testament, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

I am thankful.

Smart Veteran

My “Smart Philosophy Too” post on 24 September 2014, added more about a colorful character in our young family's life: Rowland Smart, our East Mill Creek pioneer “blogger.”  Veterans Day brings back fond memories of "Rowley" and other super heroes, both living and dead.  A short lunch break will do here.

“Rowley was nearly 90 years old, a WWII (Europe) and Korean War veteran, good Christian ... frequently shared his sage advice ... [and] personal experiences – true (we believed) stories from his amazing life.  I still have them in Grandfather’s file cabinet (my OCH)” – built strong like a tank.

Now in 2016, again I found in that WWII-standard cabinet the interesting message Rowley wrote and shared with neighbors on 29 October 1991, from which I posted excerpts 28 May 2012, titled: 
"Camp Davis North Carolina"

“During the fall and winter of 1943-44 when I was assigned in the 247^th Radar and Searchlight Battalion, our outfit was Camp Davis North Carolina.  This camp was an anti-aircraft training center for training officers for the U.S. Army.  It was known then as Officers Candidate School.  That is why they called these officers O.C.S.  They were nicknamed “90-Day Wonders” because the training was for 90 days and if they passed the training, they became 2nd Lieutenant.  I can say one thing: it was real tough and hard doing 90 days of training, both mentally and physically.  They really earned their gold bars as 2nd Lueys, I used to say to myself.  …  I was the communications Sargent [sergeant] in our outfit.  I saw to it that they never made any mistakes that were assigned to Comm. Officers.  …  When we left Camp Davis, we went to Camp Stewart Georgia, and then to Camp Gordon for advanced infantry training, and from there to Germany to combat as foot soldiers.  That was the end of my anti-aircraft life and training.  …”

I thank Rowland Smart and all veterans for their remarkable, courageous service to our country.  May God bless them and the United States of America!
For freedom!

Looking for Leadership?

Having sadly waited a few extra days to see what develops, I will vote today, prepared with reading material for enduring the long line of eager citizens who also wanted more time to analyze and digest everything. (Gulp!)

Recycling basement papers last Thursday, I scanned an article that applies to USA today:

“Does Leadership Matter?” by David Gergen, U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 31, 2005.

“Do leaders really matter?  That question has prompted debate for centuries.  …

Yes, the quality of leaders matters, and what we learned is that it matters across American life.  …  Martin Luther King Jr. inspired with his dream …  Would we have gotten to the moon without John Kennedy?

The issue today is whether America can nourish [and elect] enough good leaders to forge a bright path …”

This may seem boring, and certainly not entertaining; but I believe our life and our children’s life will be seriously affected by our nation’s leaders we elect today – for good, let’s hope.

[Born 1906] "Dmitri Shostakovich, one of Russian culture's most acclaimed intellectuals who was censored under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, was an internationally recognized composer whose music was in over 100 films." 

 – imdb.com

"Drawing a blank" (tiny TV screen) while waiting to see what happens

Our frontier sunrise 23 Oct 2009, giving hope for a new day.