This memory thing has gotten a lot of mention - and it's beginning to scare me a little. But it is reassuring to know that we were all part of a golden age way back when. And thos shared memories are precious.
- back when was it anyway??
Just to be a part of the Bishop Warren class of '64 back in Delaware, Ohio is a gift that we all will share forever. Back in those golden days when president Eisenbloom was in office and our famous classmate Erik Pressler sang those memorable words, "You Ain'y Nothin' but a Greyhound".
And how could we ever forget those Sunday nights when Dina Soar would open her show with "See the USA in your Ford Fairlane".
And Skippy's made the best coffee you ever tasted - creamy smooth, or crunchy.
Ahh, Memories! We may not agree on much else these days, will we will always have them to share with one another.
p.s. Damn, right at the moment I can't recall "One Another's" first name, but you all know who I am talking about.
I have only one issue of The Eagle View, the last one of our senior year. I would like to get more so that I can have them scanned and posted on the pages here. If you have some please contact me. Attached below is a scan of part of one of the pages of the Eagle View. My scanner is for 8.5 x 11" pages. The Eagle View is about 17.5 x 11" in size. I will be glad to pay for getting them scanned at a place like FedEx Office or Staples.
Below are two scans showing half of the page of the last issue and showing one of the photos inside that has been mentioned here on the forum. I think it was Dave who talked about Mike holding a milk shake over his head to prove that it was too thick to pour out. And here it is!
If memory serves me correctly, I seem to recall a few of those faces on that top photo. But it's that bottom photo that makes me laugh. All this time I had been saying that it was someone holding the shake over Mike's head. But silly me - I remembered it wrong.
As Bob Hope often said, "Thanks for the memories".
Dave, Larry, Mike -- So help us out here, who is the potential victim in the mikshake photo? Is that you, Dave? And who is peering over Jack's shoulder? And, Dave, I know you'll somehow blame Nina for this, but why wouldn't Jack be smirking, when he knew that 50-plus years in the future some guy remembering this stunt will not remember how to spell "smerk" ?
Also, seeing this photo of all the scholarship winners, who were only a fraction of our class, brings home the fact that so few of us are participating in our forum these days. Even among these smarty-pants, we only ever hear occasionally from John Jackson and Jeanine Eilers, (oh and maybe there was a post from Mike Boulware once or twice, not sure). You would think these scholarship-winning know-it-alls wouldn't let us lowly also-rans dominate the conversation the way we do. We need more voices! And we know there are probably many lurking, lookee-loos peeking at our posts but failing to join in.
Come-on team! We need more riff-masters like Mr. LaVelle to brighten the day when we first turn on our computers in the morning. There has to be more to share out there besides me and my goofy songs and stories, or Mr. Memory Mitchell's ability to recount not only poignant events from his life but those of his father's generation, or Dr. Shutterbug Hamilton's beautiful photos (and, some whould think, misguided political opinions, which we all have agreed to try to limit in our own posts), or the works of Mr. Larry Renoir Foster (and sometime Mr. E.A Poe Foster), or Mr. WTF (What-the-Frank) Ganley's golfing-guitar strumming, political-nightmare misspelled rambles, or Mr. Pulitzer McLeod's thoughtful journalistic portrayals (milkshake-dumping not withstanding), or Mr. Watch-Me-Fall-Off-the Roof Maxwell's delightful if somewhat harrowing shenanigans. I guess what I am saying is that we may be beginning to bore each other despite the obvious (if somewhat self-congratulatory) brilliance acknowledged in the previous sentence. We have the nucleus of a good team, but need to expand the franchise. We need to hear from the rest of the peanut gallery!
Everybody remember kids our age being that audience on Howdy Doody? Of course you do. Can you remember what you read in the newspaper yesterday...eh, well, not so much. Aaargh!
With all this chatter about music and memories I took some poetic license to rewrite some of the words to that JD song, "Sweet, Sweet Surrender" and create a parody that maybe our class crooner, (that's you, Mark), could sing for us here on the Forum (not on YouTube or anything that would compromise any copyright laws and get us sued!). I think it perhaps fits a little more with our lives now than does Denver's original words.
And I did leave politics and pictures of spotted fawns out of it!
I agree with you that more of those "silent Forum peepers" need to join our discussions.
In trying to keep with the sophistication (and humor) of Jane Austen I ask the reader to think on this before reading the explanation below: The following comments can be accepted on face value as a universal truth or they can be recognized as a slight touch of B.S. with a few facts thrown in to make it all seem real. I leave it up to the reader to decide.
******
Perhaps it was that the milk shake photo was taken during rehearsals of "Pride and Prejudice" during junior year. The obnoxious Mr. Darcy (Dave Mitchell who captured the character's arrogance pefectly) had just asked for Elizabeth's (Bonnie Jonas, not pictured) hand in marriage. Elizabeth's father, Mr. Bennet, (Mike McLeod) did not have an egg to put on Mr. Darcy's face so he responded with the second best insult he could give: "Milk shake on your head, sir!" Gleefully observing this all, the wicked Mr. Wickham (Jack Maxwell) smerked in the background. I use the spelling "smerk" here because in the novel the accepted spelling of the times for the word we know as "stopped" was spelled "s-t-o-p-t" so perhaps that is how they spelled smirk in those days.
The gentleman in the background is an innocent bystander as far as I know. But he is none other than classmate Bob Bunsey. He is not Darcy's friend Mr. Bingham.
********
Okay, back to reality now. I think the last two hours of lawn work have taken a toll on my body, not to mention my brain so I just best sign off for now. FYI, no comments about my brain are necessary but they are understood and acknowledged. (See, I told you there would be a slight touch of B.S. in this post. [Smirk, Smirk!])
I really want to "pile on" Mark's remarks. It doesn't matter so much what you have to say...some of us have proved that our group enjoys hearing from everyone no matter the message. I especially enjoyed Dave Dunn's comments and then Julie's. I wish we could have heard from John Roach, that gentle giant. Brian Doyle, Brian Becher, more Donahue, Don Holland, and ladies...more ladies...you've all lived and experienced...or just pop in and say "Wassup Homies!" The possible renewal or discovery of friendship has, for me, been uplifting. Out....no, no, let me add that any of you has to write better than Ganley though few have as much heart. OUT.
Joe. OSU had a reactor near kenny n lane. Btw pride n prejudice was the fall Play our senior year. The thread that runs so true was junior year and Tammy Tell Me True senior spring play. To Bonnie I do remember Sr Constantius (in her porky pig like stutter) being so angry your name had to be added to the programs. To insult the Star of that production!
Would you mind letting a few other people get a word in please?
In further response to Tim and Mark's calling out the class slackers, I heareby accuse Bob Berkemer of holding out on us. I am enjoying one of the most interesting side conversations with him - OFF of the Forum.
And I have a couple of those going from tme to time. I wonder if anybody else has had this happen to them - you find out that somebody you barely knew back then, turns out to be so interesting you can hardly believe you didn't know them bettter when we were together every day!
You all make me laugh every day! Thanks so much for that!
There are a number who have chimed in now and again and it would be great to hear from you from time to time.
A friend sent me this and I thought you might find it interesting. I know many of you had dads who were overseas during WWII.
Starting in 1941, an increasing number of British Airmen found themselves as the involuntary guests of the Third Reich, and the Crown was casting about for ways and means to facilitate their escape...
Now obviously, one of the most helpful aids to that end is a useful and accurate map, one showing not only where stuff was, but also showing the locations of 'safe houses' where a POW on-the-lam could go for food and shelter.
Paper maps had some real drawbacks -- they make a lot of noise when you open and fold them, they wear out rapidly, and if they get wet, they turn into mush.
Someone in MI-5 (similar to America's OSS) got the idea of printing escape maps on silk. It's durable, can be scrunched-up into tiny wads, and unfolded as many times as needed, and makes no noise whatsoever.
At that time, there was only one manufacturer in Great Britain that had perfected the technology of printing on silk, and that was John Waddington, Ltd. When approached by the government, the firm was only too happy to do its bit for the war effort.
By pure coincidence, Waddington was also the U.K Licensee for the popular American board game, Monopoly. As it happened, 'games and pastimes' was a category of item qualified for insertion into 'CARE' packages', dispatched by the International Red Cross to prisoners of war.
Under the strictest secrecy in a securely guarded and inaccessible old workshop on the grounds of Waddington's, a group of sworn-to-secrecy employees began mass-producing escape maps, keyed to each region of Germany or Italy where Allied POW camps were located. When processed, these maps could be folded into such tiny dots that they would actually fit inside a Monopoly playing piece.
As long as they were at it, the clever workmen at Waddington's also managed to add: 1. A playing token containing a magnetic compass. 2. A two-part metal file that could easily be screwed together. 3. Useful amounts of genuine high-denomination German, Italian and French currency, hidden within the piles of Monopoly money.
British and American crews were advised, before taking off on their first mission, how to identify a 'rigged' Monopoly set by means of a tiny red dot, one cleverly rigged to look like an ordinary printing glitch, located in the corner of the 'Free Parking Square'.
Of the estimated 35,000 Allied POW'S who successfully escaped, an estimated one-third were aided in their flight by the rigged Monopoly sets. Everyone who did so was sworn to secrecy indefinitely, since the British Government might want to use this highly successful ruse in still another future war.
The story wasn't declassified until 2007, when the surviving craftsmen from Waddington's, as well as the firm itself, were finally honored in a public ceremony.
It's always nice when you can play that 'Get Out of Jail Free' card!
I still have a bunch of silk aerial navigation maps of China and Japan (and I think, S.E. Asia?) that my Dad saved from his time as a B-29 flight surgeon in India, China, and Tinian. He had to fly missions occasionally (and volunteered even more often than required for morale purposes), so he was issued a full set of maps just as all crew members were. They would stuff a bunch of their maps down one of their flight suit leg pockets.
I doubt if they are from the Waddington's company, but I also have no proof that they are not. If I can find a way to get a few photos of them I will try to upload a few of them. They were, as you say, quiet, waterproof, and extremey accurate. But Dad's were more of a high altitude flying navigational map than a ground level type of map.
The one thing that stands out about them to me is their sheer beauty. They are a(b)solutely gorgeous in stunning full colors indicating the terrain. I have about a dozen of them and have long considered them treasures. It would be interesting to learn it they came from Wadddington's - whom I had never heard of before this story.
I'll check them out when I return home in a few days.
I used to have one of France that belonged to my dad’s brother who was an Army Officer. When i was growing up it was on top of my dresser with a piece of glass over it. I wish I knew what happened to it.
Dan, while we were going to high school andsome to Ohio State the Ohio State facility was located on Kinnerar between Kenny Rd. and North Star (closer to North Star. The OTHER one was located between Fifth Avenue and Third Avenue along the East sideof the Olentangy River. It was owned and operated by Battelle, until they moved it to the West at what is noe Battelle park. Supposedly one employee of Batelle died from exposure.
Jim, I want to next take "Stupid Engineering" for five hundred Euro. Is their alien life? Think of the "Microbes" at work on earth. Many years ago a division of a well known compny found the best source of Methane gas was old land fills. They quickly acquired the rights to pump the methane from cashstrapped municipalities. It became a money maker for the company. Then the engineers, who were cearly not scientists, determined if they could obtain bonuses, and maybe promotions, if they increased the flow of Methane. Looking towards the Oil and gas business they determinedthat forcing air intothe "well" would force the Methane out much quicker (NOT scientists) they did so. They received bonuses and promotions for the increase. Alas, I scientist would have told them that the microbes which live on "garbage" producing Methane CAN"T livein an Oxygen enviroment. THEY KILLED the poor microbes It took overfive years before a new generation of Microbes started doing their work. Could this be the aliens on other planets that have / have not evolved?
This may be the most bizarre segue I'll ever make. But this talk of things at OSU that you did not know were there reminds me of my encounter with a cannulated cow.
This was when I came home to Columbus briefly to teach journalism at OSU for a couple of years. Not totally sure about dates these days but I know I was there the year we played Michigan and we were number one and they were number two. (of course they are ALWAYS number two if you know what I mean and I think that you do). I digress. Back to Bossie. A cannulated cow is a cow with a surgically implanted port in its side so that ag student can see and FEEL how a cow's stomach operates. One way of doing this is to put on a thin elastic disposable glove and stick your hand into the cow's stomach. Somehow I was over there, on west campus, maybe with a journalism student who was writing about it, and I got THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME and stuck my arm into the cow's stomach. What a weird, weird experience. I could feel the hay at the top - just felt like wet hay. Then at the bottom of the stomach it was all mushy and of course warm with the digestive juices. (At this point I can hear everybody who got this far in the story going 'EEEEUUUUUUUUUU!" Which was pretty much my reaction.) But it WAS interesting. And not nearly as taxing as far as yucky stuff as the open heart surgery I once watched. A cow, I realized, is just a walking hay mow. Such are the glamorous realizations a career in journalism provides.
I don't know about the engineers as possibly being aliens that need a few eons more of evolution, but microbe life brings up an interesting topic. Evolution most likely starts with some primative soup of molecules that by some force (?lightning) merge into a form of microbial life. Once that occurs just add a billion years or so and maybe something with intelligence develops. Space and planetary exploration is always searching for microbes, for a good reason.
Jim -- sorry, I have been out of touch with the forum for a few days, and just read your clever parody of John Denver's Sweet Surrender on post 3819. I loved this so much that it inspired me to try to also write a parody of this, and furthermore to steal your idea of making it about those of us in our seventies.
So without further ado, here are my lyrics shamelessly based on John Denver's original lyrics and even more shamelessly based on Jim Hamilton's parody. And if this does not seem relevant yet, don't worry I fear it will soon enough.
Please, Please Remember (by yours truly)
Lost and alone on some / forgotten highway
I think I’ve been here before / but could not say for sure
I was lookin’ for something / on my way to somewhere
But I’ll be damned if I can / remember why (or what for)
There’s nothin’ behind me / nothin’ in front of me
That gives me even / the slightest of clue
I know I was headin’ / to the store on the corner
But something tells me / I made a wrong move
There’s no sign of that / corner store waiting
No hint of where I was going / no hint of where I have been
The light on the horizon / tells me the day is fading
How long have I been out here / where will this all end?
Please / please remember
Brain please / please kick in
I’m a fish / out of water
Please tell me /where I’ve been
Please / please remember
Please lighten my / heavy load
I’m that chicken / out on the highway
Not knowing why he / crossed the road
I’m lost and alone on / this wretched highway,
One now forgotten / but one I once knew.
Lookin’ for something / like a lost moron
Knowing no more than / a lost child of two (or three)
But our futures could not be / any more unlikely
He knows not where he’s going / I know not where I've been
Both lost in our own way
Saying “Forget the past and the future / let today now begin.”
So I curse one time more / that old corner store
For vanishing before my / old bleary eyes.
My septuagenerian / spirit will guide me
I only hope my old brain / hears my cry:
Please / please remember
Please / please kick in
I’m a fish / out of water
Please tell me where / I have been
Please / please remember
Where is that damn / corner store
I know it must be / ‘round here somewhere
Been there a hundred / times before
Please / please remember
Please lighten / my heavy load
I’m like that chicken / out on the highway
Not knowing why he / crossed the road.
JIm-- I didn't mean to make this a competition I just got excited by your post and wanted to take a shot at doing the same thing. Kind of like the haiku challenge we had going on for a while.
No offense taken and no competition suspected! I was just happy that you thought my parody was "clever" enough that you built upon the thought that I had regarding rewording the song to perhaps better fit our age group.
