2-04-2008

In 1974, I purchased a small, handheld, calculator from Sears for $100. It was black, with white keys and was the on the “cutting edge” at the time. I worked in the Payroll Department of Newport News Shipbuilding (we paid about 19,000 employees) and we had two huge desktop calculators that everyone used. Rather then stand in line, most of us would use paper and pencil to do our calculations. One day I proudly walk in with this hand size calculator and start to work. Well, the office is abuzz about this little gadget I’m using and “could it possibly be giving me the correct answers?” After all, my machine weigh’s about 10 ounces, versus the office machines that weigh 20- 30 lbs. In short order my boss is standing at my desk with a puzzled look. “Tommy”, says he, “You’re not going to use that little things to do your job, are you?” “Ish”, says I, “let me do a couple of hours work with it, then you check to make sure it is correct.” Needless to say, at the end of the day, everyone was impressed and almost everyone inquired about it. Because of the $100 price tag I was the only one with my own calculator for a long time. Last week I found it setting all by itself in a bookcase I seldom use. I’m thinking, “Does this thing still work?” So I haul it out to my workbench in the garage and commence to take it apart so I can remove the original batteries from it and hope they have not corroded the inside of the thing. I carefully remove the batteries, they were permanently installed, head off to Radio shack and hack a replacement set of batteries in their place. To my surprise, the thing comes on and is working. All of a sudden, I’m setting at my desk in 1974 with coworkers gathered around me, in awe of this marvelous piece of technology. Today, I carry around a credit card size calculator that requires no batteries and is powered by the sun. I think all of us have “aha” memories like this. If you would like to share your’s with me, please do.

Jerilyn and I traveled to Williamsburg the other day to a very large antique shop. Seems, she was there a while back and spotted this old, weathered, bird house (15”W,16”L,18”H), with a big black weather vane setting atop it. Anyway, she decided she just had to have it, so off we go to bring it home. Needless to say, it needs some work (done by me of course) and has to be installed on a pole in the yard. I will include a picture of it when the task has been completed.

Mary (KD’s wife), her son Duke, and I spread KD’s ashes last week at the place he loved to be the most. It was heartbreaking to do it, but it needed to be done. She let me keep a small amount of the ashes and I have them in a small, thumb size bottle, setting on my desk. Jerilyn’s mother (Gladys) thinks it’s odd that I would do such a thing. I surely hope I’m not odd. I prefer to think this will insure that I will never forget him. I have one other small bottle of ashes on my desk. I knew George Mitchell for 47 years and he and I had many conversations. I must say his death did not hurt like KD’s, but I still enjoy thinking about George.

It is time to fertilize the yard and put out the stuff that kills crabgrass. Everything I read about yard maintenance says that I should fertilize my grass every 3 months during the fall and winter (September, November & February). Sometimes, I think the stuff that kills the weeds doesn’t work very well, but I do it anyway. I guess I think if I stop using it my whole world will be consumed by weeds and choke out my entire existence. I dunno why I feel that way. I know people that do very little to their yard and they seem to suffer no ill effects from their lack of interest. I worry about the runoff of the fertilizer into our water, but the choice seems clear to me: fertilize with weed killer, or, die! So, in a few days I will be out there with my trusty spreader, doing what Scotts has instructed me to do. I wonder if anyone still performs exorcisms.

I received a birthday card from a very special friend and would like to share it with you:
“Sometimes we may not realize that everything we do affects not only our lives, but touches others, too. A little touch of thoughtfulness that shows someone you care creates a bit of happiness for both of you to share. And every time you offer someone a helping hand, every time you have a kind and gentle word to give, you help someone find beauty in this precious life we live. May your birthday bring you all the happiness that you share with others day by day” What a wonderful thought, that we, as individuals, can create happiness for others without even knowing it. I have always thought you had to do big things to make people happy, but I should’ve known better, little things always make me happy. Isn’t it amazing how some people can say things so eloquently?

We watched the NY Giants win the Superbowl last night. Mary came over and watched it with us. Jerilyn provided some wonderful food to eat as the game progressed and we cheered for the Giants each step of the way (Jerilyn is from NY). This Superbowl thing seems to have become a cultural phenomenon. Millions of people around the globe tune in to watch the game and the halftime entertainment, including the commercials, always seems to be a hit. In a way, it’s kinda neat to watch an event with so many of earth’s inhabitants.