Blog

by Richard L. King

Something I read a few days ago brought back a memory of my childhood so I made a few notes and decided to get back to it later.  It’s now later.

When I was a kid a bunch of us from the neighborhood used to get together to ice skate on a pond in our neighborhood. Our closest neighbor lived over a quarter of a mile away so when I say neighborhood, it takes in quite a large area.   The ice skating pond was nearly a mile from our house, but that wasn’t much of a walk in those days. We used to build a fire out on the ice and mess around all afternoon and well into darkness.

Of course, what passed for ice skates in those days certainly wouldn’t pass muster in today’s world and the ice skates that I called mine had been through three older brothers and who knows how many total strangers, but a bonfire is a bonfire, even today.

I still think that roasting hot dogs using a stick broken off from an old bush is probably more enjoyable than using roasting forks from Field N Stream or Outdoor Life. In those days, a loaf of homemade bread served as our hotdog buns, but catsup is catsup and mustard is mustard. Then or now, there isn’t/wasn’t much difference.  Thinking about it now, I can almost taste that hot dog.  There’s just something different about one that you roasted yourself over an open flame, when it’s below freezing and it’s a long walk home.

Scraping the snow off from an area large enough to become our “rink” was half of the fun, but coming up with a stick that even remotely resembled a hockey stick, was highly unlikely. Old wooden lath held together by screws and adhesive tape may have looked better, but they were very fragile and rarely made it through an entire game.

Being the youngest boy in the neighborhood, meant a lot more watching, than playing,,,, although I will say that it’s awfully hard to eat a hot dog while your playing.

There may be something to be said about watching after all.

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Gramps use’ta say
© R.L.King 2012 #282

About: Friendship

“Giving generously of yourself,
usually offers the best return on your investment.”

Years ago I saved this fascinating history of the $1 bill, but since our currency has all gone through a re-design in recent years I’m not certain that this information is still accurate.   Doesn’t matter, I still find it very interesting.

On the rear of the One Dollar bill, you will see two circles. Together, they comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that Benjamin Franklin and a group of men come up with a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.  If you look at the left-hand circle, you will see a Pyramid.

Notice the face is lighted, and the western side is dark. This country was just beginning. We had not begun to explore the west or decided what we could do for Western Civilization.

The Pyramid is uncapped, again signifying that we were not even close to being finished. Inside the Capstone you have the all-seeing eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin’s belief that one man couldn’t do it alone, but a group of men, with the help of God, could do anything.  ‘IN GOD WE TRUST’ is printed on this currency.

The Latin above the pyramid, ANNUIT COEPTIS, means, ‘God has favored our undertaking.’

The Latin below the pyramid, NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM, means, ‘a new order has begun.’

At the base of the pyramid is the Roman numeral for 1776. (MDCCLXXVI)

If you look at the right-hand circle, and check it carefully, you will learn that it is on every National Cemetery in the United States.

It is also on the Parade of Flags Walkway at the Bushnell, Florida National Cemetery, and is the centerpiece of most heroes’ monuments.

Slightly modified, it is the seal of the President of the United States, and it is always visible whenever he speaks, yet very few people know what the symbols mean.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory for two reasons: First, the eagle is not afraid of a storm; he is strong, and he is smart enough to soar above it.  Secondly, he wears no material crown. We had just broken from the King of England.  Also, notice the shield is unsupported. This country can now stand on its own. At the top of that shield there is a white bar signifying congress, a unifying factor. We were coming together as one nation.

In the Eagle’s beak you will read, ‘ E PLURIBUS UNUM’ meaning, ‘from many – one.’

Above the Eagle, we have the thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies, and any clouds of misunderstanding rolling away.  We were coming together as one.

Notice what the Eagle holds in his talons. He holds an olive branch and arrows. This country wants peace, but we will never be afraid to fight to preserve peace. The Eagle always wants to face the olive branch, but in time of war, his gaze turns toward the arrows.

An (untrue) old-fashioned belief says that the number 13 is an unlucky number. This is almost a worldwide belief. You will almost never see a room numbered 13 — or any hotels with a 13th floor. But think about this:

America, which relies on God (not a number) to direct and lead, boldly chose:

13 original colonies,
13 signers of the Declaration of Independence ,
13 stripes on our flag,
13 steps on the pyramid,
13 letters in ‘Annuit Coeptis’,
13 letters in ‘ E Pluribus Unum,’
13 stars above the eagle,
13 bars on that shield,
13 leaves on the olive branch,
13 fruits, and if you look closely,
13 arrows.

And finally, notice the arrangement of the 13 stars in the right-hand circle. You will see that they are arranged as a Star of David.

This was ordered by George Washington who, when he asked Haym Solomon, a wealthy Philadelphia Jew, what he would like as a personal reward for his services to the Continental Army. Solomon said he wanted nothing for himself, but he would like something for his people. The Star of David was the result.

Few people know it was Solomon who saved the Army through his financial contributions… then died a pauper. Haym Solomon gave $25 million to save the Continental Army, money that was sorely needed to help realize America’s —our— freedom and independence from England.

Therein lies America’s Judeo-Christian beginning.

THE JOURNEY
©By: Richard L. King
From the book Memories & Time

a poet, a prophet, a pauper with a pen?
someday we may discover,,, can’t be sure just when.

words flow like magic, leading him home,
destination a mystery,,, traveling alone.

first, from loneliness, ink starts to flow,
describing the journey,,, to where we don’t know.

mind filled with worry, pockets nearly bare,
hoping he’ll recognize,,, when finally he’s there.

fun times, sad times, times filled with pain,
each time his pen gets busy again.

mission accomplished? not yet it seems,
one day maybe,,, for now he still dreams…..

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 Gramps use’ta say
©R.L.King2012 #308

About: Stupidity

“It seems woefully clear that his glass
…ain’t never been full.”

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From The Hints Book Almanac II
©R. L. King & Donna Hale Chandler

AUTOMOTIVE HINTS – Now that most of us no longer smoke here’s a tip on how to Freshen your car with a little fragrance. Put potpourri in your car’s ashtray. The heat from the car activates the scent. BUT… If you are still a smoker, you might want to forget this tip because while the heat of the car releases the scent, the heat from the ashes or cigarettes could possibly ignite the dry potpourri.

 

 By:  Donna Hale Chandler

No, I’m not talking about my first date as a teenager. My teen years were a VERY long time ago. I’m talking about my first date as a senior citizen. My ‘second’ first date was even more terrifying than my ‘first’ first date.

Almost two years after the death of my husband, I decided to be brave and register on-line with one of those ‘dating sites.’ They’re supposed to be able to find your perfect match. I wasn’t looking for a replacement for my husband. I was simply looking for a gentleman with whom I could occasionally have dinner or maybe with whom I could go out dancing. Basically, I was looking for someone to make me laugh every once in a while.

For quite a while, I was pretty leery about the men who contacted me, but finally I agreed to meet “Jack” for dinner. I was an absolute nervous wreck. Was I going to meet an ax murderer? I told everyone that I knew exactly where I’d be, just in case I should disappear. I wanted them to know where to send the search party.

It was August and I live in Florida. If you haven’t been to Florida in August, just imagine the hottest day you can, then add another 20 degrees.

There was a car show in a nearby town. We roamed along the streets looking at old cars until I thought I’d surely die of heat stroke. Finally he suggested that we find a place for dinner. As long as there was air conditioning and a place to sit down, I was agreeable.

The restaurant that he chose was very nice. They even had real flowers in bud vases on the table and cloth napkins (which of course always says ‘classy joint’). It seemed that it was especially crowded. We were seated at a small table for two near the window. The waiter took our order and we quietly sat there staring into space hoping our food would arrive soon.

Finally our meal was brought to our table. I reached for my glass of Diet Coke to add some moisture to my dry throat just as I heard “Jack” say, “I’m looking for a wife. Are you looking for a husband?”

There’s nothing quite like getting right to the point. I guess he was thinking that at our ages, we don’t have time to wait around for long.

I’m sure it must have been some sort of a spasm, but the next few minutes aren’t very clear in my mind. First, I dropped my drink into my lap, soaking my nice white shorts. The instant that ice cold liquid hit my legs, I leaped up from my seat. This jostled the table and sent his glass of sweet iced tea crashing to the floor, where it broke into hundreds of pieces and sent sticky tea flying in all directions. As I grabbed for one of those nice cloth napkins, I knocked over the bud vase that sat in the middle of the table, spilling icky daisy water into Jack’s plate.

Instantly the entire restaurant was as quiet as church, while all the patrons craned their necks to see what the crazy lady over by the window was doing. Staff came running from all directions, one with a mop, one with a broom for the broken glass, one to usher us away from the destroyed table to a clean dry one and the rest just to ‘appear’ to be helpful.

I was so embarrassed that I had yet to speak. Finally when conversation was once again buzzing around us and the employees had returned to their regular duties, I raised my head to see if Jack was still there. I fully expected that during the confusion he had taken the opportunity to distance himself from this insane lady by fleeing the scene.

Surprisingly he was still there. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, and I seemed to have lost the ability to speak. He calmly picked up his fork and said, “Well, I think I’ll take that as a no.”

Strangest thing, I never did get another dinner invitation from “Jack.” And it was quite a while before I got up the courage to try this dating business again.

I was concerned that I just might not survive a THIRD first date.

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Gram use’ta say

“Red meat is not bad for you,
Green fuzzy meat, now that’s what’s bad for you.”

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From The Hints Book Almanac
By Donna Hale Chandler and Richard Lee King

THE USES FOR ALUMINUM FOIL

1. Baking, piecrust – For a perfect piecrust, keep the edges of your homemade pies from burning by covering them with strips of aluminum foil. The foil prevents the edges from getting overdone while the rest of your pie gets perfectly browned.
2. Baking, cake pans – Create special shaped cake pans – Make a teddy bear birthday, a Valentine’s Day heart cake, a Christmas tree cake, or whatever shaped cake the occasion may call for. Just form a double thickness of heavy-duty aluminum foil into the desired shape inside a large cake pan.
3. Cooking, brown sugar – To restore hardened brown sugar to its former powdery glory, chip off a piece, wrap it in aluminum foil, and bake it in the oven at 300 degrees F for five minutes.   (watch for more aluminum foil tips)

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FREEDOM ON THE 4^TH
© By: Richard L. King
From book MEMORIES & TIME

Independence Day is a precious time when we all should reaffirm,
thank our ancestors for the freedom they fought so hard to earn.

It’s our country’s birthday, the day a new nation was born
and for a number of years that followed, we faced a mighty storm.

If you ask people on the street, what we commemorate this day,
the answers will be varied, you’ll be surprised at what they say,

Some will fly our flag, but many won’t know the reason,
most will find a fireworks display much more to their pleasing.

Our country celebrates on the 4^th for the very best of reasons,
our forefathers rebelled against tyranny, facing charges of treason.

The 4^th of July is a patriotic demonstration, a way of reuniting,
the fireworks displays simply help to memorialize the fighting.

Sometimes we need that reminder of the meaning of this day,
so we don’t get distracted, as we continue on our merry way.

It helps to make us more aware of the troubles that were endured,
while breaking away from tyranny, as our freedom was secured.

 

~ Author Unknown ~ 

The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.”