I recently came across two quotes that seem to go hand in hand. One is from E.B. White, a famous American writer and author of Charlotte’s Web, the beloved children’s book. “Old age is a special problem for me because I've never been able to shed the mental image I have of myself - a lad of about 19.”
Prices
A Watch
Life's Versions
The Pioneer
Being Indefinite
Participant or Spectator
Flashbacks
Tipping
Christmas Past
Ungolden Memories
Some of the most golden memories of our youth can become somewhat tarnished when examined many years later. One of the joys of my youth had been being read to by the adults in my life. I was introduced to The Wind in the Willows, Sherlock Holmes adventures, Ben Hur, A.A. Milne, a biography of Mary, Queen of Scots, and much, much more.
The Unity of the Messiah
Earning Jeans
Geography
Good Wars?
Right now, the world seems to be in the midst of wars. Currently, there is the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the Israeli/Hamas conflict. In both struggles we are seeing homes and civilians, adults as well as children, killed. The nightly news is devastating.
It makes me think of the phrase, ‘the last good war,’ which is used to refer to World War II. I would like to say here that there can be necessary wars, defensive wars, and political wars but there are no ‘good’ wars.
Take a look at the two pictures beside this essay. They are both of my father. The first is his graduation picture from West Point where he placed third in his class. The next is just one year later, taken when he had become captain of a B-29 flying over the Himalayan Mountains to bomb Japanese held China. He is just short of his 23rd birthday and will be shot down over Manchuria in a few days.
Look at this young man’s face and see what war does. There are no ‘good’ wars.
Performances and Food
My grandmother grew up in a very wealthy Chicago family. Her grandfather was one of the steel magnates of the late 1800s and early 1900s. wealthier and more productive than Andrew Carnegie at the height of his career. She was introduced in her youth to cultural events like the opera, the theater, and ballet.
The Good Old Days
Was there really ever such a time? I hear great deal from my age group of how great things use to be. Yes, I will agree I do say that myself sometimes. I miss having gas pumped for me by a gas station attendant, and I miss talking over the dinner table instead competing with phones. But there are many things that I do not miss.
Tomorrow
This very powerful word was heard mostly when I was growing up as in ‘maybe tomorrow.’ This meant that whatever I wanted would happen in a distant blurry future rather than right now which is what I had in mind. It bore a close relationship to that other ever popular phrase from the parental mouth, “We’ll see.”
Toughness
I have noticed that my grandchildren, with whom I talk about many things, still see me as someone with whom they need to be careful. But I am really a lot tougher than they think. Because something they have experienced in the world is new to them, they tend to think that perhaps I have not heard of it either.
Becoming History
Becoming older means that one has become part of a history that the current world seems to have forgotten. I was born while World War II raged around the world. My father, my grandfather, and my uncles were all caught up in that war fighting on many fronts. Not only my family, but all of the country was caught up in that conflict as well.