Tuesday, December 21, 2010
End of an Era
My first memories are of our family home on Tibbets Ave. Mart and I shared a bedroom and across the hall Joe and Paul shared a room. Our room had a brass bed, we shared that and also shared the big oak dresser that I still have, we shared a closet, a cedar chest (that was really our mother's hope chest given to her by my dad before they were married), and we shared a dressing table that we had purchased with baby sitting money. It was unfinished and under the critical eye of our dad we finished it. He was a perfectionist and insisted that we keep sanding until it was flawless.It finally passed muster, barely, and ours to share in our room.
Mart was three and a half years older than I so she was the alpha sister! She enjoyed playing with paper dolls and since we couldn't afford store bought dolls she cut the pictures of her "people" out of Sear's and Montegomery-Ward catalogues. She named all of her "people" and placed them around the room, usually on the window sills and provided a life for them. They did things like, going to work, to school,to dances, etc. while we were occupied with our parellel lives.
I was never too big on these 'fake' families but they were my room mates and I adjusted to them. We did move to other houses but I was still Mart's room mate and never even considered any other way of life. We had our differences now and then but being the Alpha sister, she usually won out. When we had words, so to speak, I never got to use mine.
We couldn't very well share clothes because she was about seven inches taller than I and I had to wait to grow into her clothes. I never did get as tall as she so her things had to be altered to fit me. Our shoe sizes were not even close so we couldn't share shoes either.
We moved a few times but still shared our room. I am an auditory learner and Mart probably was too. She studied aloud every night in our room. I could not help but listen, I had no intention of learning all that she did but apparently I absorbed it while doing other things on my own. I would find that when it came time for me to study these same subjects I already know them or could scan the chapters and have it fixed in my brain.
When I started dating Doc, we doubled with Mart and Bill and some of their other friends. I met Doc through Mart. They went through school together.
England had already gone to war with Germany in 1939 and the United States thought it would be prudent to start encreasing the size of our Army so they had a Conscription program. Men were drafted into the Army supposedly for one year for training so that we could be ready if it came to pass that we would go to war. Bill was drafted. The pop song of the day was ,"Goodbye Dear, I'll be back in a year" Pearl Harbor happened shortly after Bill was drafted and that cancelled the 'back in a year' bit. He was stationed in Austrailia and so was immediately in the thick of the war in the Pacific. He did not get back until 1945.
I married Doc in 1942 and a year or two later he was drafted and went to fight in the European Theater of War. I lived in an appartment with my two kids and Mart moved in with me. So once again we were room mates.
Bill and Doc both came home in December of 1942. Mart and Bill started planning their wedding immediately and set the date for October 25. I was pregnant by this time and due on Oct. 1. We figured that would give me time to have the baby and be ready for the wedding festivities. Linda was delayed and did not arrive until Oct. 24 so Mart had the limo driver take her from the church to the hospital to visit me and let me see her in her bridal attire. One of the guests brought me a piece of the wedding cake.
A number of years later, in 1951, we were both pregnant and due on or around the same date.(Before the New Year). Both of our babies took their time about coming and mine arrived on Jan.13 and on Jan.17 th they wheeled Mart into my room to let her say hello to me on her way to the delivery room. I already had a room mate so we did not share a room!
Finally, in 1956 we had to move to Louisville and so ended our closeness. We still did visit once in awhile on the phone and we traveled back to Spfld to visit a few times a year.
We traveled to the beach together one summer. Her family members and some of mine. A good time to remember.We had lots of fun talking over old times,both bad and good.
Mart passed away on December 5, 2010. I spoke with her quite a few times in her waning days. I think of her often and miss her. Sisters forever. R.I.P.Mart. Ciao
Mart was three and a half years older than I so she was the alpha sister! She enjoyed playing with paper dolls and since we couldn't afford store bought dolls she cut the pictures of her "people" out of Sear's and Montegomery-Ward catalogues. She named all of her "people" and placed them around the room, usually on the window sills and provided a life for them. They did things like, going to work, to school,to dances, etc. while we were occupied with our parellel lives.
I was never too big on these 'fake' families but they were my room mates and I adjusted to them. We did move to other houses but I was still Mart's room mate and never even considered any other way of life. We had our differences now and then but being the Alpha sister, she usually won out. When we had words, so to speak, I never got to use mine.
We couldn't very well share clothes because she was about seven inches taller than I and I had to wait to grow into her clothes. I never did get as tall as she so her things had to be altered to fit me. Our shoe sizes were not even close so we couldn't share shoes either.
We moved a few times but still shared our room. I am an auditory learner and Mart probably was too. She studied aloud every night in our room. I could not help but listen, I had no intention of learning all that she did but apparently I absorbed it while doing other things on my own. I would find that when it came time for me to study these same subjects I already know them or could scan the chapters and have it fixed in my brain.
When I started dating Doc, we doubled with Mart and Bill and some of their other friends. I met Doc through Mart. They went through school together.
England had already gone to war with Germany in 1939 and the United States thought it would be prudent to start encreasing the size of our Army so they had a Conscription program. Men were drafted into the Army supposedly for one year for training so that we could be ready if it came to pass that we would go to war. Bill was drafted. The pop song of the day was ,"Goodbye Dear, I'll be back in a year" Pearl Harbor happened shortly after Bill was drafted and that cancelled the 'back in a year' bit. He was stationed in Austrailia and so was immediately in the thick of the war in the Pacific. He did not get back until 1945.
I married Doc in 1942 and a year or two later he was drafted and went to fight in the European Theater of War. I lived in an appartment with my two kids and Mart moved in with me. So once again we were room mates.
Bill and Doc both came home in December of 1942. Mart and Bill started planning their wedding immediately and set the date for October 25. I was pregnant by this time and due on Oct. 1. We figured that would give me time to have the baby and be ready for the wedding festivities. Linda was delayed and did not arrive until Oct. 24 so Mart had the limo driver take her from the church to the hospital to visit me and let me see her in her bridal attire. One of the guests brought me a piece of the wedding cake.
A number of years later, in 1951, we were both pregnant and due on or around the same date.(Before the New Year). Both of our babies took their time about coming and mine arrived on Jan.13 and on Jan.17 th they wheeled Mart into my room to let her say hello to me on her way to the delivery room. I already had a room mate so we did not share a room!
Finally, in 1956 we had to move to Louisville and so ended our closeness. We still did visit once in awhile on the phone and we traveled back to Spfld to visit a few times a year.
We traveled to the beach together one summer. Her family members and some of mine. A good time to remember.We had lots of fun talking over old times,both bad and good.
Mart passed away on December 5, 2010. I spoke with her quite a few times in her waning days. I think of her often and miss her. Sisters forever. R.I.P.Mart. Ciao
Monday, December 13, 2010
Catch Up
I have had a lot going on in the last few weeks but I am not yet ready to put my thoughts on a blog. The day will come when I will be ready to write about it.
First, I want to welcome Kathy back to the blogging world. It was great reading her new entries. Maybe she can get back in the swing of it and continue to blog. Georgia's picture was cool. OK, Kathy, now we have to get Dolberry back in the loop. I know he wants to rest on his laurels, he is sure that he cannot possibly get any better than the masterpiece he ended with on May 17, 2010. He posed a question about DaVinci. Did he go on and do any thing else after his masterpiece? Well, maybe not but his neck hurt and his back ached and his landlord booted him out because he had not taken a bath until the Chapel gig was completed. We all wished that he had gone on to even greater things, but alas he deprived us of his talent. Hardly a one hit wonder! We're counting on you, Dolberry!
It looks like we are in for another ice station Zebra type winter, or maybe fall, the snow has already closed the schools down and it is only December. It is bitter cold but undaunted we stood up to the elements and had a fantastic time last Saturday night celebrating Kristin's birthday. We, the Boards, Karen & Paul, the Lally's and I, ate dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then took a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown Louisville. It was raining slightly and cold but we were dressed for the occasion and were all comfy on the ride. The carriage has a top so we were not actually rained on. We drove all around the downtown area, saw The Yum Center, the Light Up Louisville area with the official Christmas Tree, and all of the lighted trees, wreaths, and decorations in store windows and doors. We sang Jingle Bells as a warm up tune and then went on to sing every Christmas song we could think of. All joined in. What a jolly time! We ended the evening at Tim and Kris's for cake and ice cream. (Also a bit of Bailey's, Just enough to warm our bones.)
When Linda and I were in Ireland a few years back, we took a similar ride on what they called a Jaunty Cart. It was cold and rainy that day also and it was in June! We went around the Ross Castle grounds. That was the last stronghold under Irish control to be taken by Cromwellian forces in 1653.Our Jaunty Cart driver said he'd had a 'jar' or so before he left home to "ward off the chill,don't ya know?"
We also celebrated Scott's 40th birthday which is tomorrow. Forty used to be considered 'middle age' but that concept faded away. I guess 50 must be middle age in today's world. Good Golly Miss Molly, I've gone past both milestones! I did celebrate my birthday on November 19th. Once again I was in the hospital for my big day. Other than the fact that I was in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, I had a wonderful day. Lots of visitors, flowers and cards and best of all I lived through it! If I was middle aged at 50, I should have 14 years to go! We'll see how that goes. Ciao
First, I want to welcome Kathy back to the blogging world. It was great reading her new entries. Maybe she can get back in the swing of it and continue to blog. Georgia's picture was cool. OK, Kathy, now we have to get Dolberry back in the loop. I know he wants to rest on his laurels, he is sure that he cannot possibly get any better than the masterpiece he ended with on May 17, 2010. He posed a question about DaVinci. Did he go on and do any thing else after his masterpiece? Well, maybe not but his neck hurt and his back ached and his landlord booted him out because he had not taken a bath until the Chapel gig was completed. We all wished that he had gone on to even greater things, but alas he deprived us of his talent. Hardly a one hit wonder! We're counting on you, Dolberry!
It looks like we are in for another ice station Zebra type winter, or maybe fall, the snow has already closed the schools down and it is only December. It is bitter cold but undaunted we stood up to the elements and had a fantastic time last Saturday night celebrating Kristin's birthday. We, the Boards, Karen & Paul, the Lally's and I, ate dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then took a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown Louisville. It was raining slightly and cold but we were dressed for the occasion and were all comfy on the ride. The carriage has a top so we were not actually rained on. We drove all around the downtown area, saw The Yum Center, the Light Up Louisville area with the official Christmas Tree, and all of the lighted trees, wreaths, and decorations in store windows and doors. We sang Jingle Bells as a warm up tune and then went on to sing every Christmas song we could think of. All joined in. What a jolly time! We ended the evening at Tim and Kris's for cake and ice cream. (Also a bit of Bailey's, Just enough to warm our bones.)
When Linda and I were in Ireland a few years back, we took a similar ride on what they called a Jaunty Cart. It was cold and rainy that day also and it was in June! We went around the Ross Castle grounds. That was the last stronghold under Irish control to be taken by Cromwellian forces in 1653.Our Jaunty Cart driver said he'd had a 'jar' or so before he left home to "ward off the chill,don't ya know?"
We also celebrated Scott's 40th birthday which is tomorrow. Forty used to be considered 'middle age' but that concept faded away. I guess 50 must be middle age in today's world. Good Golly Miss Molly, I've gone past both milestones! I did celebrate my birthday on November 19th. Once again I was in the hospital for my big day. Other than the fact that I was in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, I had a wonderful day. Lots of visitors, flowers and cards and best of all I lived through it! If I was middle aged at 50, I should have 14 years to go! We'll see how that goes. Ciao
Friday, November 12, 2010
I guess as one grows older it is only natural that one gets'set in one's ways'. I myself have fallen victim to that. I like to get up in the morning and after my morning ablutions, retrieve the news paper from the bushes, under the porch furniture, or somewhere in the vacinity of my porch and continue with my morning ritual. I first put the kettle on for a cup of tea and then make my decision as to what I will have for breakfast.
I like to take my breakfast of choice and sit at my kitchen table and read the news paper while I enjoy my repast and watch the birds at my feeders. It is a leisurely time and a time to gear up for the day ahead. A time to ponder the imponderables. If time permits, I work the cross-word puzzle and then finally I'm ready to face the day!
I am well aware, as I've written before, that the news paper is inferior and not always accurate in some of its reporting but I still don't want to break with tradition. Could I cozy up to my computer with tea cup in hand and tolerate the birds frisking about with no audience to appreciate them and...well, you get the message.
I have my paper bill paid with a bank draft. Each month $17.75 is withdrawn from my account automatically. I can check all of the withdrawals on my on-line account. Yesterday, when I checked my account I noticed that I was charged $19.50 by the Courier.
I promptly called to question why the price had gone up. Now, it is possible that there was some kind of communication published in the paper concerning this change but I either missed it or put it out of my mind. After the usual phone game : press 1 for...,press 2 for... I finally reached a human being. When I stated my purpose for calling, he said," Well that extra charge is for the Thanksgiving day paper"
"Are you serious! I have to pay extra for that paper?"
" Well,that is our biggest paper of the year."
" Why didn't you reduce the price of the Monday paper? It is a joke. A neighborhood paper is bigger than it is and we are still paying full price for it each month." It's hardly worth going outside on a cold morning and searching for the miserable little excuse for a news paper.
I told him that the Thanksgiving edition has very little news and filled with advertizements. Having had experience with the publishing of papers and magazines, I know for a fact that they could afford to give the paper away because all of the revenue comes from the advertisements! I told him he could give me a paper without advertisements,
He said when you signed up for the paper you signed a 'disclaimer' saying you understood that the Thanksgiving edition would cost extra!
I was sorely tempted to ask his age but I restrained myself and I used my "I'm outraged" voice to say " You mean in 1958 when I agreed to take the Courier Journal, I signed a paper saying I would pay extra for the Thanksgiving edition in 2010??? "
He said," I will credit your account with the $1.85. Have a nice day!"
It's the principle of the thing! Ciao
I like to take my breakfast of choice and sit at my kitchen table and read the news paper while I enjoy my repast and watch the birds at my feeders. It is a leisurely time and a time to gear up for the day ahead. A time to ponder the imponderables. If time permits, I work the cross-word puzzle and then finally I'm ready to face the day!
I am well aware, as I've written before, that the news paper is inferior and not always accurate in some of its reporting but I still don't want to break with tradition. Could I cozy up to my computer with tea cup in hand and tolerate the birds frisking about with no audience to appreciate them and...well, you get the message.
I have my paper bill paid with a bank draft. Each month $17.75 is withdrawn from my account automatically. I can check all of the withdrawals on my on-line account. Yesterday, when I checked my account I noticed that I was charged $19.50 by the Courier.
I promptly called to question why the price had gone up. Now, it is possible that there was some kind of communication published in the paper concerning this change but I either missed it or put it out of my mind. After the usual phone game : press 1 for...,press 2 for... I finally reached a human being. When I stated my purpose for calling, he said," Well that extra charge is for the Thanksgiving day paper"
"Are you serious! I have to pay extra for that paper?"
" Well,that is our biggest paper of the year."
" Why didn't you reduce the price of the Monday paper? It is a joke. A neighborhood paper is bigger than it is and we are still paying full price for it each month." It's hardly worth going outside on a cold morning and searching for the miserable little excuse for a news paper.
I told him that the Thanksgiving edition has very little news and filled with advertizements. Having had experience with the publishing of papers and magazines, I know for a fact that they could afford to give the paper away because all of the revenue comes from the advertisements! I told him he could give me a paper without advertisements,
He said when you signed up for the paper you signed a 'disclaimer' saying you understood that the Thanksgiving edition would cost extra!
I was sorely tempted to ask his age but I restrained myself and I used my "I'm outraged" voice to say " You mean in 1958 when I agreed to take the Courier Journal, I signed a paper saying I would pay extra for the Thanksgiving edition in 2010??? "
He said," I will credit your account with the $1.85. Have a nice day!"
It's the principle of the thing! Ciao
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Three D Football
I was fortunate enough to get to see a U of L football game last Friday night, thanks to Gregg. Our seats were in the new section of the stadium, on Flight Deck 5, row C. We were on the 40 yard line. We hung out before the game, with Andrea, Travis and the boys, until time to go to our seats. Their seats were not on the same level as ours. It was a long trek up to the seats, by steps or ramps, you had a choice. They went up the ramps, I went up on the elevator! The weather was perfect, it was a crisp fall evening; a slight breese coming in from the west put a bit of a chill in the air.
I'll digress here to tell of the football games we first attended when we moved to Louisville fifty years ago. We were used to Ohio weather which called for sweaters or jackets early on in the season and heavy coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets by mid October. At the first football game I attended here, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I got mosquito bites! The first years, our football outings were mostly to see Mike play. I do recall some games that were played in heavy downpouring rain but none played in snow flurries or below zero temps.
We did attend a few U of L games and later got season tickets to their games. We got to the games early so we could see the marching band and hear them play. The cheer leaders were there to get the crown reved up before the game started. Soon after the coin flip the game began and we were all focused on the field and the teams, yelling and cheering them on until half time. There was always lots to see at half time. The visiting team, if their band traveled with them, performed first, any tributes or introductions of VIP's were made and then the home team band performed. When the half time show, as it was called, was over the teams re-appeared on the field and the rest of the game was played, with the crowd cheering them on. If U of L made a touch down, a cannon was fired. Very impressive! The whole thing was over in about two and a half hours. It was sort of like the no-frills Mass I go to, you go, you pray, you go home. You went to the football game, you watched the game, you went home!
Oh, my gosh! It's a whole new world out there now. We got to our seats about a half hour before the game began and there was 'the greatest show on earth' right before our eyes. The music was cranked up and playing to the rocking crowd, large screens at both ends of the fields showing the cheerleaders, the crowds, other sites of interest, the players of both teams en masse,of course, on the field warming up, hurling the football through the air, looking clean and ready to take each other on, (Astro turf has eliminated dirty uniforms, they stay clean looking). The P A system was in tip top form, directing our attention to events that were going on on the periphery. At one time they showed pictures of former coaches at U of L. I loved the picture of Corso, and Howard was young and kinda cute, Cragthorp and Cooper were no shows. That was good! Charlie Strong appears on the large screens saying, "Stand Strong!" I loved it! The game started promptly at 8PM. The music rocked on at maximum volume until 'play' actually started. We were not too pleased with the first play of the game but we got beyond it. With the end of that series of plays, there was a TV time out and advantage was taken of that time lapse. We were introduced to Pres. Ramsey and accolades were bestowed. The next TV 'break' we watched as a few guys tried to kick the football up the field to a certain yardline and perhaps win a prize. Kicker, not so good, missed by about ...aaaa most of the yards. Next time out, we were introduced to the women's LaCross team and their coach. Hurrah ! There were a few spectators in our section that volunteered to be water boy for that team. As breaks went on we saw large banners pulled onto the field that volunteers tried to 'pass' the ball to hit one or the other of the two large banners, one white and one yellow, with the goal of winning a large prize. Not so good again! I think the fans are short on talent! The crowd was given a choice of a music selection that would be played. They named the performer and the song and the crowd was supposed to cheer for the one they liked best. It had to be done twice because the people that booed the choice they did not want, skewed the results. Finally they got it right and the song of the evening was TNT.
Half time was very good, we had intros to a few more VIP's and then the band performed, and the Lady Cardinals (I'm not sure of the groups' name) did a routine that was so good, I was dazzeled! We were ahead of BearCats and hoping for the best in the second half. Our team has gotten so far this season compared to the last few seasons. Bilol Powell 's 209 rushing yards was a spectacular performance and there were many others but they still have some kinks to iron out. I had the best time and am so thankful that I got to be a part of it all! I loved all of it! (Except for the fact that we lost, score: Cincinnati 35, Louisville 27. As Satchel Paige used to opine though, "We stang 'em"
I left out some of my other favorite things, when the Star- Spangled Banner was played before the game, the lighted strip on the other side of the stadium, rolls across the stadium with the colors of the flag flashing, during the game other things roll along on that strip. The stadium is, in fact, beautiful! What a place to watch a game, it is truly an awesome scene to behold. The whole evening was memorable. It puts a whole new light on ' going to the game'.
This is just an aside: Someone asked me today when 'tail-gating' came into being. I told them that back in the 1950's Mickey and Warner and Doc and I tail-gated at the Ohio State games. It was not participated in by as many people but quite a few of us did it. Tail-gating is an ancient custom!!! Ciao,caio
GO CARDS!
111
I'll digress here to tell of the football games we first attended when we moved to Louisville fifty years ago. We were used to Ohio weather which called for sweaters or jackets early on in the season and heavy coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and blankets by mid October. At the first football game I attended here, I was overwhelmed by the fact that I got mosquito bites! The first years, our football outings were mostly to see Mike play. I do recall some games that were played in heavy downpouring rain but none played in snow flurries or below zero temps.
We did attend a few U of L games and later got season tickets to their games. We got to the games early so we could see the marching band and hear them play. The cheer leaders were there to get the crown reved up before the game started. Soon after the coin flip the game began and we were all focused on the field and the teams, yelling and cheering them on until half time. There was always lots to see at half time. The visiting team, if their band traveled with them, performed first, any tributes or introductions of VIP's were made and then the home team band performed. When the half time show, as it was called, was over the teams re-appeared on the field and the rest of the game was played, with the crowd cheering them on. If U of L made a touch down, a cannon was fired. Very impressive! The whole thing was over in about two and a half hours. It was sort of like the no-frills Mass I go to, you go, you pray, you go home. You went to the football game, you watched the game, you went home!
Oh, my gosh! It's a whole new world out there now. We got to our seats about a half hour before the game began and there was 'the greatest show on earth' right before our eyes. The music was cranked up and playing to the rocking crowd, large screens at both ends of the fields showing the cheerleaders, the crowds, other sites of interest, the players of both teams en masse,of course, on the field warming up, hurling the football through the air, looking clean and ready to take each other on, (Astro turf has eliminated dirty uniforms, they stay clean looking). The P A system was in tip top form, directing our attention to events that were going on on the periphery. At one time they showed pictures of former coaches at U of L. I loved the picture of Corso, and Howard was young and kinda cute, Cragthorp and Cooper were no shows. That was good! Charlie Strong appears on the large screens saying, "Stand Strong!" I loved it! The game started promptly at 8PM. The music rocked on at maximum volume until 'play' actually started. We were not too pleased with the first play of the game but we got beyond it. With the end of that series of plays, there was a TV time out and advantage was taken of that time lapse. We were introduced to Pres. Ramsey and accolades were bestowed. The next TV 'break' we watched as a few guys tried to kick the football up the field to a certain yardline and perhaps win a prize. Kicker, not so good, missed by about ...aaaa most of the yards. Next time out, we were introduced to the women's LaCross team and their coach. Hurrah ! There were a few spectators in our section that volunteered to be water boy for that team. As breaks went on we saw large banners pulled onto the field that volunteers tried to 'pass' the ball to hit one or the other of the two large banners, one white and one yellow, with the goal of winning a large prize. Not so good again! I think the fans are short on talent! The crowd was given a choice of a music selection that would be played. They named the performer and the song and the crowd was supposed to cheer for the one they liked best. It had to be done twice because the people that booed the choice they did not want, skewed the results. Finally they got it right and the song of the evening was TNT.
Half time was very good, we had intros to a few more VIP's and then the band performed, and the Lady Cardinals (I'm not sure of the groups' name) did a routine that was so good, I was dazzeled! We were ahead of BearCats and hoping for the best in the second half. Our team has gotten so far this season compared to the last few seasons. Bilol Powell 's 209 rushing yards was a spectacular performance and there were many others but they still have some kinks to iron out. I had the best time and am so thankful that I got to be a part of it all! I loved all of it! (Except for the fact that we lost, score: Cincinnati 35, Louisville 27. As Satchel Paige used to opine though, "We stang 'em"
I left out some of my other favorite things, when the Star- Spangled Banner was played before the game, the lighted strip on the other side of the stadium, rolls across the stadium with the colors of the flag flashing, during the game other things roll along on that strip. The stadium is, in fact, beautiful! What a place to watch a game, it is truly an awesome scene to behold. The whole evening was memorable. It puts a whole new light on ' going to the game'.
This is just an aside: Someone asked me today when 'tail-gating' came into being. I told them that back in the 1950's Mickey and Warner and Doc and I tail-gated at the Ohio State games. It was not participated in by as many people but quite a few of us did it. Tail-gating is an ancient custom!!! Ciao,caio
GO CARDS!
111
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Borders
Our country is so beautiful and has many spectacular areas to explore. Some are serene and peaceful, some are rough and rugged, I guess they can be peaceful even if they are rough and rugged, some have trails to follow and some are unmarked trails. There is a relative amount of risk or maybe even danger to hike on some of these sites but adventurous hikers enjoy the challenge of risk and of arduous effort to complete the journey.
There are magazines on the market that encourage the hiker, while at the same time giving information on the equipment necessary for the safety of the hiker. There is also special garb suggested for the hikers' comfort and important information on the proper foot wear.
These journals also give great information about hundreds of possible hiking spots throughout the world. Many in our own country but also many in the countries that are beyond our shores. Exotic sites that are popular and some that are more remote and less traveled by others.
In most of the articles and books that I've read that give accounts of hikers' joys and travails of hiking are consistantly urging people to heed the importance of being safe, alert, and cautious wherever you are.
Why is it then, with all of the fabulous, adventurous, beautiful places to explore on this globe, that a few insist on traveling near the borders of hostile countries or territories? Would you plan a back packing sojourn to the rocky, treacherous area of Afghanistan, near Iran's border? Or the border between North and South Korea,or perhaps take a jet ski ride on a lake that is on the border of Mexico where the members of the Mexican Drug Cartel hang out?
In the first two instances the hikers were accused of spying, they were captured and imprisoned and kept under guard in cells.The 'prisoners' insisted that they were not spies and just 'happened' to wander over the borders of these countries.Why were they there in the first place? With much negotiations and diplomacy the U.S. managed to free some of the trespassers but two are still imprisoned in Iran and one dead body is still in the lake between the U.S. and the Mexican border. A lawman, determined to search for the body of the jet skier that was shot and killed by the Cartel and search for the perpetrators of this heineous crime, was abducted and his severed head was delivered to the officials in charge. I am sickened by this! How can people be convinced that living on the edge can be exhilarating but it can also be deadly and jeopardizes the lives of others!! HIKE and SAIL in politically safe areas! Caio
There are magazines on the market that encourage the hiker, while at the same time giving information on the equipment necessary for the safety of the hiker. There is also special garb suggested for the hikers' comfort and important information on the proper foot wear.
These journals also give great information about hundreds of possible hiking spots throughout the world. Many in our own country but also many in the countries that are beyond our shores. Exotic sites that are popular and some that are more remote and less traveled by others.
In most of the articles and books that I've read that give accounts of hikers' joys and travails of hiking are consistantly urging people to heed the importance of being safe, alert, and cautious wherever you are.
Why is it then, with all of the fabulous, adventurous, beautiful places to explore on this globe, that a few insist on traveling near the borders of hostile countries or territories? Would you plan a back packing sojourn to the rocky, treacherous area of Afghanistan, near Iran's border? Or the border between North and South Korea,or perhaps take a jet ski ride on a lake that is on the border of Mexico where the members of the Mexican Drug Cartel hang out?
In the first two instances the hikers were accused of spying, they were captured and imprisoned and kept under guard in cells.The 'prisoners' insisted that they were not spies and just 'happened' to wander over the borders of these countries.Why were they there in the first place? With much negotiations and diplomacy the U.S. managed to free some of the trespassers but two are still imprisoned in Iran and one dead body is still in the lake between the U.S. and the Mexican border. A lawman, determined to search for the body of the jet skier that was shot and killed by the Cartel and search for the perpetrators of this heineous crime, was abducted and his severed head was delivered to the officials in charge. I am sickened by this! How can people be convinced that living on the edge can be exhilarating but it can also be deadly and jeopardizes the lives of others!! HIKE and SAIL in politically safe areas! Caio
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)