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David Mitchell

A few days back, I was posting about the Grand Canyon flooding and my summer of '61 "Treking through the "4 corners" country - (where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New America come together at a common point).

I can't find a photo from that summer but here is one from a later trip with my Dad and a couple good friends.

If you go to the Grand Canyon you can view it from either the "South Rim" or the "North Rim". There is really a huge diference, (and a long drive to circle around to both).

Most of the great photos and tourist viewing spots (and hotesl) are from the South Rim.

Why?

From the South Rim, you get to view things in different light, and two different eco-systems. As you look on from the South Rim you are seeing the bright lighting of the north canyon walls sun and a lack of vegetation. It is mostlry all red in color - and bright.

From the North Rim, you are looking across at the other (south) side somewhat in shadows and a much more prevalent vegetation mixed in. 

(Sorry my photo willl not upload)

I still marvel at the fact that a bunch of us 12 and 13 year-olds crossed through it!

John Schaeufele

It is a beautiful day here in Richmond, Va.  The sky is clear and bright blue just as it was 25 years ago when I boarded a plane at 8 AM headed to Orlando for a meeting.  Around 8:45 our plane was forced to land in Charlotte, NC for reasons we did not know.  As we approached the airport you could see from the sky there were planes everywhere on the runways and at the gates.  When we reached our gate the pilot notified us that the airspace over the US was shut down after planes struck the World Trade Center Towers in NYC.  Entereing the terminal after deplannng you could see the horros of the towers on the TV monitors and the terminal was packed with travels wondering what would happen next.  Through a miracle and a knd lady we were able to rent a car and drive home to Richmond,  9/11 will always be a day for me to remember the horror of the terrorist attack on this nation and also think it could have been my plane that hit the towers, the pentagon or that field in PA.

Today I see a strange thing happening in this nation as it becomes more complacint or accepting of the Muslim religion.  I hear that there is little difference between the Koran and the Bible in our approach to God.  Believe me when I say there is a fast differnce between these two books.  If you want to dig into this further, read "Seeking Allah and Finding Jesus" by Nabeel Quesrshi. Allah is a god to fear while Jesus is a God of love who wants to have a personal relationship with each of us. Every year I go on a medical mission to Egypt and I see firsthand how Muslims live.  I do not want that life here in USA.  Remember today and please pray for our nation.

David Mitchell

I suppose we can each recall the moment we became aware of the attack. I was just gettting out of the shower and grabbing my phone. It was my daughter Sara (who was in school in Pasadena, California at the time). She screamed "Dad, have you seen the news? The United States is under attack."

I asured her she must have been mistaken but switched on my TV just in case. That's when they hit tower #2. And soon after, the Pentagon, followed by the crsh in Pennsylvania.

I can only compare it to the day JFK was shot.

Days that will stick in our memories forever. 

Joseph Gentilini

I had posted my memories of JFK and 9/11 but hit some button and deleted it all - ugh. I'll try to recreate it.

Thanks for Mike McC, Dave M, and John Sch for their postings on their memories of those days. I was in Sister Mary Alice's (now Barbara) biology class after lunch when Monsignor Spires came on the intercom and said the president had been shot. We all got up and prayed for him. Then we went to gym class. When we got back into the locker room, Spires came on again and said JFK was dead. We were all dismissed. On my way to my locker, I ran into Sister Norbertine (my Freshman Algebra teacher) and she was crying. As I remember she kept a picture of JFK on the bulletin board on the wall nearest the windows.

My family was clued to the television the entire weekend. On Sunday morning, we were getting ready for Mass and my father and I were watching TV and saw live when Oswald was shot by Ruby. The entire country seems to be going crazy.

About 9''11. I worked for the State of Ohio and was in Central Office Administration building. Someone said he heard that the World Trade Tower had been hit by a plane. One of my co-workers lived close to the office and went home to get a small tv and we all huddled around it. When they determened that we were under attack, I sent a note to our manager who was in a meeting down the hall and told her that America was under attack.

The lights in the building were turned off and only the emergency lighting was on. Why I don't know.  We were all like dazed.  Soon the governor told all state workers, except for the absolutely mandatory workers, were told to go home. They were not sure that the attacks might be more wide-spread. Again, I was glued to the tv after that wondering what was happening to our country. 

Leo was working as a clerk in the Clintonville Post Office. I called him and told him.  Sometime after that, the Post Office told offices to closer early. They didn't know if other government agencies might be attacked and/or if the mail and packages might be a source of furthere attacks.

These memories are seared in my brain.  I don't know who organized it, but we attended a program at the Ohio Theater downtown which consisted of prayers, songs, reflections, etc. It was an effort for all of us to gather together to help deal with the horror of it all.

I do pray for our country everyday.

David Mitchell

You can view numerous accouts online of "The Man in the Red Bandana". I have listed one video from YouTube below.

I first learned of the story of Welles Crowther and "The Order of the Red Bandana" on one of my Marked men For Christ weekends - about 10 years ago."

We were all given a similar Red Bandana - listened to his story - and finally, went through a series of prayers culminating with the words "Follow Me. I know the way out". A refence to Christ's offer of Salvation.

Young Boston College Alum Welles Crowther worked in a stock brokerage firm on the 104th floor of one of the towers. He kept a red bandana ever since school days.

When the flames engulfed the building, he pulled his bandana over his nose and mouth and started leading people through the smoke and down the emergency stairway to safety - repeating the phrase,    "Follow Me. I know the Way Out."

I think he made several trips - saving many lives who would have otherwise have been lost - before he himself was lost in the fire. Then stories of some young man with a red bandanna began to surface. They finally confirmed it was Welles Crowther. 

I only learned of this story through the ceremony at our MMFCrist retreat.

(Added later - Note: This YouTube video is about 10 years old.)

Michael McLeod

I had figured that once I retired I coudl relax.

But my brain keeps buzzing around like a racehorse wondering when I'm gonna come let it out of the barn for a few laps. So accustomed to working, and working at something I loved -- guess I'm gonna have to pick up a few related hobbies or something.

AND THANK YOU DAVE FOR RECOGNIZING A HERO. 

Wish I'd been around to write up his story.

David Mitchell

Wow!  

Haven't seen a collapse like that one last night in years.

Big misunderstnding on the part of the defense. They thougth it was a Hockey game and only lasted 3 periods.

Michael McLeod

Dang, bucks. get a grip. But we can make up for it. Quirky loss, I swear I damn near suffocated watching it come down.

Joseph Gentilini

About the OSU game -

Leo and I had gone to a play and when we left the play the score was 20 to 3 our favor.  What happened.  We got home and watched the 2nd half and it was almost as if our team just gave up - maybe it was the heat which saps a person's energy, but really??????

A big disappointment.  

joe

Michael McLeod

I get frustrated with the Lone Ranger when I watch these reruns. When Tonto says "Me get help" or "Him not dead, kimosabe" I just keep waiting for the Lone Ranger to make his illiterate redskin buddy-boy clean up his grammar. But he never does.

In all seriousness you'd never script it like that these days, given our enlightenment when it comes to multicultural realities and respect. You wouldn't get away, I don't think, with having a native american being portrayed in that way, with chronically and comically clumsy grammar. God bless Jay Silverheels. Not to mention Clayton Moore. And Mark: screw you. The Lone Ranger will always be my hero! I'll meet you at the corral for a shoot out and we'll see who rides away into the sunset!

Mark Schweickart

Where does one watch "The Lone Ranger" reruns? Or maybe I should just ask, "Why?" Just kidding. I understand the nostalgiac pull. Having said that, let me just ask again, Where does one watch these? 

Michael McLeod

OK then: who among you, fellow classmates, has the patience and forbearance to explain the modern miracle of cable television to Mark so he can wake up, put on his big boy pants, and tune his wittle tv into some old school cowboy shows from back in the day when men were men and all we had was black and white but we didn't go around whining about it?

Seriously bro I don't know what kinda cable you got wherever you are so I can't advise. But you can try this:

https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-lone-ranger

Mark Schweickart

Okay, okay, I suppose I should know it is easy enough to find out where to watch a blast from our collective past like this. Sorry to have feigned ignorance, but then again, I do come back to the "why."  I think I'll pass on subjecting myself to a show that was hard enough to take as a kid all those many years ago. Was it, "High ho, Silver" or "Oh no, Silver, not you again"? Although I must admit, I did like the intro with the William Tell Overature. Am I remembering that correctly? I think so. 

Michael McLeod

Mark: You mispelled overture, green horn, and as if that wasn't sacrilgeous enough, you misquote my childhood hero. It was a hearty  "high-YO, Silver," not some pansy-ass "high ho!" 

lol.  your memory serves you well otherwise. that's the hoofbeats of the William Tell overture you'll hear galloping along when you tune in next time to thrill to the exploits of the masked man and his loyal sidekick tonto.

Meanwhile steer clear of the ho's, bro, and look me up if you are ever come cloppin' down Florida way. 

David Mitchell

Just got my new copy of "The Eagle Review", a fancy first class magazine about our school. Wow - lots of successful alumni. Pretty glitzy publication if you ask me.

And if you look on page 19 you will see a familiar face in Army Camouflage. Looks awfully distinguished in grey hair.

Michael McLeod

NEXT TIME I SEE ROBBIE THE ROBOT I'M GONNA KICK HIM IN THE CONSOLE.

FROM TODAY'S NY TIMES:

OpenAI on Wednesday disclosed six new instances in which artificial intelligence systems hid mistakes, made up data and moved files onto the open internet without permission, amid an ongoing industrywide debate about A.I. safety.

The San Francisco company revealed what it said was the “unexpected or concerning” behavior of its A.I. models as part of a new framework for reporting “misalignment,” which is when the goals or actions of A.I. systems diverge from human intentions and values.

John Jackson

Mike, nothing will be done.  Trump is vehemently opposed to any regulation because the stock market is totally dependent on the AI bubble - the stocks of the AI companies and their suppliers (like Nvidia).  Any realistic prospect of regulation could have severe effects on the market.

And, spineless as ever, Speaker Mike Johnson just sent the House members home until after the midterms rather than deal with this or the Epstein “matter”.

John Jackson

My wife Carol’s uncle, Don Kelley, passed away this week at the age of 97.  He was terrifically successful in his Columbus commercial real estate career but he always found time to devote his time and energy (and wealth) to help the less fortunate.  I first met Don when, as part of a Watterson YCS activity, he took Mike Yarborough and me on a tour of recently built low income housing projects in Columbus.  I had just recently met Carol but had no idea that Don was her uncle, so imagine my surprise when he asked Mike and me, “Do either of you happen to know my niece Carol Plank?”.

I don’t think I’ve met a man with as good a heart as Don or who more embodied the core Christian value of concern for the poor.  Nothing sums up his life better than this line from his obituary “Dad’s parting words to his children and grandchildren were “Be generous.”  

https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo1563917

David Mitchell

Thanks for the Obit John. Sounds lke a guy I wish I had known - both professionally and personally.

David Mitchell

Just a favorite song to break the silence.

Loved the movie - Horse Whisperer.  Love the singer - a very under rated singer Allison Moorer

Joseph D. McCarthy

Well since were on a break I thought I could quickly step in and say a few things.  Few being more than a couple for those who failed math.

I enjoyed the pre-reunion gala, it was great seeing all who showed up.  Best though was the reunion.

On my last days in Columbus I received a text from the guy that was checking on our house.  He added three photographs, not to the quality of Jim's photos, but to the point.  They were notices by the city's water department that during the month of August we used over 20,000 gallons of water.  Turns out that TWO toilets continued to flush just after we departed for Columbus.  Quick call to a contractor and they shut the water to the two toilets.  When we returned home they installed new toilets, OUCH.

For those at the reunion I did not have a red rash on the right side of my face.  Shorly after returning a Dermatoligist (Doctor) removed the B. cell carcinoma completly.removed.  Jim do you know that these newer Doctors don't know about "Zorro."  They gave me an almost straight scar.

More of the few to follow. O'h I've just been told we're going out to eat NOW.

Michael Boulware

Joe, So sorry about your water bill and running toilets. It appears that homes hate to be left empty and seek revenge when abandoned. One thing for sure, our reunion was improved with your presence. It is always good to see you. 

David Mitchell

You don't have to be a baseball fan to appreciate this. 

Instead of the usual Manager strolling out to the mound to "relieve" the pitcher, Justin Verlander is relieved for his final time by his little daughter. The beautiful end to a Hall of Fame carreer. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Back to the Ponds 

Yes, there are several on the grounds of our complex, but this is the largest and is my favorite. 

It was such a beautiful October day that I was compelled to walk the short distance and photograph it again.

Of course, I miss the aspen changing season that has now mostly ended in the mountains of Colorado, but I still like to seek out and photograph the beauty of the areas of which I am able to access at our age 🙂.

Jim

Joseph D. McCarthy

No matter if you are in Colorado or Ohio Jim your photography is terrific.  Now if we could only get Mr. Foster to add one of his pictures.