I recall the following doctors in North Vernon during my school days:
1. Dr. Thayer---My late mother thought Dr. Thayer not only hung the stars and moon, he probably made them!. He was always our first choice. I recall he smoked cigarettes rolled in brown paper. He set my arm after it was broken at Lovett Grade School. My left wrist is still smaller than my right one. Both Dr. Thayer and Dr. Green made rural house calls to our house.
2. Dr. Green---He was a blue collar doctor---in comparison to Dr. Thayer. His language was salty and down to earth. I recall he had a long narrow office. His desk was at the end of the room and the front right hand part contained medications that he dispensed from large smokey brown jars. He put the pills in a paper envelope that looked like church offering envelopes. Both he and Dr. Thayer gave me lots of sulfur pills. I can still smell them today just thinking about them and I start to get sick! They were HUGE!
Once my father took me to see Dr. Green, couldn't get in to see Dr. Thayer, for a camp physical to attend the Westport Church Camp. Dr. Green was seated at his desk and said, "Cecil, what the @#!*% do you want?" Dad said, "Glenn needs a physical and you need to sign this form." Dr. Green looked at me and asked, "Did you walk in here unassisted?" I said I had walked in by myself. He said, "Gimme that form!" He filled it out without ever performing any kind of exam. He didn't charge anything. When he retired he ran a notice in the North Vernon Plain Dealer that all of his patient's debts were cancelled!
Believe It Or Not Department: My English 101 professor at Purdue University was Dr. Green's brother! Another fellow, also from a small school was struggling with me to keep up with the assignments. My engineering math classes were eating my lunch. Professor Green, on his lunch hour met with Fraizer and myself to do extra reading and written assignments. The first non-textbook I read at Purdue was assigned by Professor Green: Amid the Alien Corn, a true story of an Englishman's struggle while attending Purdue. Fraiser always kept his head down when talking to anyone. Professor Green, I guess he learned this from Dr. Green, said, "Look those sons of @#!*% in the eye and let them know you are just as good as they are!" Without Professor Green's special help neither Fraiser or I would have passed his fast-paced class.
3. Dr. Matthews-- Seldom saw him. I think he was the grandfather of Leland Matthews who is now an OB/GYN doctor in Bloomington. Leland was a very special friend to me during my PCHS days. He introduced me to many of his friends, some of which were very well to do. Leland's father had been in the Indiana House of Representatives and was the the Postmaster in North Vernon. Leland and his family lived in North Vernon but attended the Commiskey Baptist Church with us. He had two aunts who lived in Commiskey. They would often give me clothes that Leland had outgrown.
4. Dr. Calli---Don't recall we ever saw him. I believe he raised race horses as a hobby. A Nature Preserve near Vernon today bears his name. His family donated the land to the county.
Perhaps no professional field has changed as much as the practice of medicine during the last 50 years. We were blessed to have had some dedicated doctors to help us during those pre-MRI, pre-Ultra sound, pre-Specialist, pre-open heart surgery and pre-short stay in the hospital days.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
J.C. PENNEY'S
EVER WONDER WHERE SAM WALTON GOT MUCH OF HIS EARLY TRAINING--READ ON!
The Wal-Mart story is part of American folk lore and history. Mr. Sam (he liked that name) received early marketing and selling advice from John Cash Penney.
Mr.Sam worked thru TG &Y supply channels to fill the demand for his first three stores. He could not get the supplies fast enough. He went to Dallas to see Mr.Gibson who had a large chain of discount stores and was asked if he (Mr. Sam) had 100K dollars for collateral. He said no and Gibson threw him out of his office. (Anyone seen a Gibson store lately?)
Back to J.C. Penney--he would often sit in his car outside a store and count the customers that went in and how many came out with Penney's shopping bags. He would evaluate the manager accordingly. (I learned much about Mr. Penney from a retired Penney's store manager here in Shawnee.)
Mr. Penney was having a lunch interview with a man he wanted to place in a top company position. The food came and the interviewee immediately pick up the salt shaker and put lots of salt on his food. Mr. Penney immediately stopped the interview and said I don't want a man working for me who makes decisions before he knows the facts!
The closest Penney's store to us was in Seymour (during my school days). I loved to go there and watch the money canister that ran from each check out point to the cashier on the second floor. Change was made and the canister sent back to the clerk who gave the customer the product and change! Guess Mr. Penny had a trust issue.
The Seymour store had a large selection of candy and pretzels. That was about the only time we had sweets in the house. My Dad still likes those large puffy orange circus peanuts. I ate too many as a kid. Can't stand them today.
The Wal-Mart story is part of American folk lore and history. Mr. Sam (he liked that name) received early marketing and selling advice from John Cash Penney.
Mr.Sam worked thru TG &Y supply channels to fill the demand for his first three stores. He could not get the supplies fast enough. He went to Dallas to see Mr.Gibson who had a large chain of discount stores and was asked if he (Mr. Sam) had 100K dollars for collateral. He said no and Gibson threw him out of his office. (Anyone seen a Gibson store lately?)
Back to J.C. Penney--he would often sit in his car outside a store and count the customers that went in and how many came out with Penney's shopping bags. He would evaluate the manager accordingly. (I learned much about Mr. Penney from a retired Penney's store manager here in Shawnee.)
Mr. Penney was having a lunch interview with a man he wanted to place in a top company position. The food came and the interviewee immediately pick up the salt shaker and put lots of salt on his food. Mr. Penney immediately stopped the interview and said I don't want a man working for me who makes decisions before he knows the facts!
The closest Penney's store to us was in Seymour (during my school days). I loved to go there and watch the money canister that ran from each check out point to the cashier on the second floor. Change was made and the canister sent back to the clerk who gave the customer the product and change! Guess Mr. Penny had a trust issue.
The Seymour store had a large selection of candy and pretzels. That was about the only time we had sweets in the house. My Dad still likes those large puffy orange circus peanuts. I ate too many as a kid. Can't stand them today.
Monday, August 15, 2011
"PAST IS PROLOGUE"--Shakespeare
SAID ANOTHER WAY---MEMORY LANE IS THE ON RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY OF LIFE !
Friday, August 12, 2011
IT'S A LONG WAY FROM GRAHAM CREEK IN INDIANA
AN EVENT IN ALASKA IN 1977 THAT IS TIED TO GRAHAM CREEK !
A month after arriving at Elmendorf, AFB, Alaska, I got up very early on a Saturday morning and made my way to one of the five lakes located on the base. I had three rods and baited each and sat on a small dock waiting for action. I got action alright but not from the fish!
Within a few minutes I heard a loud rustling sound from a nearby patch of trees. Having been warned about the bears, I walked very fast to my Suburban. Out of the trees came a large, I mean large, 1800-2000 pound bull moose. I nervously sat in the Suburban with my windows rolled up, except for a small space on the driver's side. The moose was so near I could see the tell tale moisture trail from his nostrils. He walked around the small clearing, ate some grass and disappeared back into the patch of trees. After a few more minutes I went back to the dock to resume fishing.
Again, after a few more minutes, I heard a different kind of rustling in the trees. Once more I hot-footed it to the Suburban. As I closed the door a black Mama bear walked half way into the clearing, sniffing the air. She went back into the trees and soon reappeared with two cubs, obviously born earlier in the year. They made their way to some garbage cans where she found a few bites to eat and shared this "bonus" meal with her cubs. She, and her off spring, went back into the trees. I ran back to the dock, grabbed my rods and gear and made it safely back to the Suburban.
Before I could start up to head back to our quarters, two different black bears came from another direction to raid the remains in the garbage cans. In a few minutes a Security Police truck, on routine patrol, stopped at the lake and the two new bears scampered back from whence they came.
As I contemplated the events before heading home, I thought to myself "It's a long way from Graham Creek in Indiana to the wilds of Alaska."
Monday, back at my duty station, I made sign that said "Wildlife 6, Peck 0" I had lots of fun retelling the story to the many that asked about the sign. I also mention my Graham Creek thoughts as well.
A month after arriving at Elmendorf, AFB, Alaska, I got up very early on a Saturday morning and made my way to one of the five lakes located on the base. I had three rods and baited each and sat on a small dock waiting for action. I got action alright but not from the fish!
Within a few minutes I heard a loud rustling sound from a nearby patch of trees. Having been warned about the bears, I walked very fast to my Suburban. Out of the trees came a large, I mean large, 1800-2000 pound bull moose. I nervously sat in the Suburban with my windows rolled up, except for a small space on the driver's side. The moose was so near I could see the tell tale moisture trail from his nostrils. He walked around the small clearing, ate some grass and disappeared back into the patch of trees. After a few more minutes I went back to the dock to resume fishing.
Again, after a few more minutes, I heard a different kind of rustling in the trees. Once more I hot-footed it to the Suburban. As I closed the door a black Mama bear walked half way into the clearing, sniffing the air. She went back into the trees and soon reappeared with two cubs, obviously born earlier in the year. They made their way to some garbage cans where she found a few bites to eat and shared this "bonus" meal with her cubs. She, and her off spring, went back into the trees. I ran back to the dock, grabbed my rods and gear and made it safely back to the Suburban.
Before I could start up to head back to our quarters, two different black bears came from another direction to raid the remains in the garbage cans. In a few minutes a Security Police truck, on routine patrol, stopped at the lake and the two new bears scampered back from whence they came.
As I contemplated the events before heading home, I thought to myself "It's a long way from Graham Creek in Indiana to the wilds of Alaska."
Monday, back at my duty station, I made sign that said "Wildlife 6, Peck 0" I had lots of fun retelling the story to the many that asked about the sign. I also mention my Graham Creek thoughts as well.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
TIME TO CONFESS!
Growing Up I Had A "Drug" Problem !!!!
I was "drug" to Sunday School; I was "drug" to Morning Worship; I was "drug" to Training Union; I was "drug" to Evening Worship; I was "drug" to Youth Meetings etc, etc.
Thank God I Was !!
I was "drug" to Sunday School; I was "drug" to Morning Worship; I was "drug" to Training Union; I was "drug" to Evening Worship; I was "drug" to Youth Meetings etc, etc.
Thank God I Was !!
Leaflets From The Sky
Not Pennys From Heaven--Leaflets From Heaven
I had just exited Russel Vaught's bus at our house and I saw three leaflets floating gently to the ground. I caught one, one landed in a fence row about 100 feet from the bus and the last one disappeared in the woods directly south of our house.
Upon opening the leaflet I discovered the US Information Agency was conducting a test on the best way to drop ant-Soviet information into Eastern European countries that were under the firm grasp of the Kremlin. The balloon had been launched in MN. Finders were asked to complete a short questionnaire on the form and return it as soon as possible.
Because I could listen to English language broadcasts from Radio Moscow, Havana Cuba, and many of the Warsaw Pact countries on my homemade shortwave receivers, I was a staunch anti-communist and wanted to return the leaflet. In addition, my patriotism was enhanced by the print and electronic media, that was when the media believed in the American way of life
Enter my mother: Some of you know she could be very demanding and since my father worked at nights, she was the law, judge, and executioner. She said I could not return it. And that was that. (After her death on Sept 12, 1998 I was told by a close relative that my mother was "different" even as a child.) For years, I kept the leaflet. Even took it to high school where no one seemed half as excited as I was.
I had just exited Russel Vaught's bus at our house and I saw three leaflets floating gently to the ground. I caught one, one landed in a fence row about 100 feet from the bus and the last one disappeared in the woods directly south of our house.
Upon opening the leaflet I discovered the US Information Agency was conducting a test on the best way to drop ant-Soviet information into Eastern European countries that were under the firm grasp of the Kremlin. The balloon had been launched in MN. Finders were asked to complete a short questionnaire on the form and return it as soon as possible.
Because I could listen to English language broadcasts from Radio Moscow, Havana Cuba, and many of the Warsaw Pact countries on my homemade shortwave receivers, I was a staunch anti-communist and wanted to return the leaflet. In addition, my patriotism was enhanced by the print and electronic media, that was when the media believed in the American way of life
Enter my mother: Some of you know she could be very demanding and since my father worked at nights, she was the law, judge, and executioner. She said I could not return it. And that was that. (After her death on Sept 12, 1998 I was told by a close relative that my mother was "different" even as a child.) For years, I kept the leaflet. Even took it to high school where no one seemed half as excited as I was.
THE PINK PAINTER STRIKES AGAIN !!
Folks, you cannot make up stuff like this !
This event happened around 1956-57. A neighbor of ours worked at the North Vernon Arvin Ironing Board factory. (Note: Most of you recall North Vernon was once called the Ironing Board Capital of the World!) For what ever reason, he wound up with several gallons of paint that can only be described as a hideous PINK.
Within a couple of weeks he had painted his Model A Ford, using a paint brush, from his abundant supply of paint. By today's standards it might be called COOL. Then, it was merely dumb on four wheels!
Next, his entire small house was this horrible pink color. (Note: This was several years before spy satellites; however, if they had been around then I am confident his house could have been seen from earth orbit!)
This true story now takes on a really surprising turn. The Pink Painter gave a portion of the paint to the youngest son of his nearest neighbor. The son, not yet in high school, painted his bike---using a corn cob as a brush! Here you must use your imagination--- the painted bike had a crinkle like finish, with occasional curved streaks of the original bike paint showing through the new pink paint. His bike could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
The neighbor with the pink car and house was also a pioneer in television entertainment. During the hot summer nights he would bring his television out in the front yard and his family would arrange their chair in theater style to watch the TV. The screen faced the road, thereby making it possible to see what they and the many bugs were watching!
As I said at the start of the Post, you can't make up stuff like this!
This event happened around 1956-57. A neighbor of ours worked at the North Vernon Arvin Ironing Board factory. (Note: Most of you recall North Vernon was once called the Ironing Board Capital of the World!) For what ever reason, he wound up with several gallons of paint that can only be described as a hideous PINK.
Within a couple of weeks he had painted his Model A Ford, using a paint brush, from his abundant supply of paint. By today's standards it might be called COOL. Then, it was merely dumb on four wheels!
Next, his entire small house was this horrible pink color. (Note: This was several years before spy satellites; however, if they had been around then I am confident his house could have been seen from earth orbit!)
This true story now takes on a really surprising turn. The Pink Painter gave a portion of the paint to the youngest son of his nearest neighbor. The son, not yet in high school, painted his bike---using a corn cob as a brush! Here you must use your imagination--- the painted bike had a crinkle like finish, with occasional curved streaks of the original bike paint showing through the new pink paint. His bike could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
The neighbor with the pink car and house was also a pioneer in television entertainment. During the hot summer nights he would bring his television out in the front yard and his family would arrange their chair in theater style to watch the TV. The screen faced the road, thereby making it possible to see what they and the many bugs were watching!
As I said at the start of the Post, you can't make up stuff like this!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
WELCOME BACK! WELCOME BACK!
After a short recess, the Blog is up and going and I'm alive and well!
Welcome back to our regular readers. I hope you will pass along the URL for the Blog to our classmates and anyone else who might want to join us.
MAYBE MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW: Oklahoma has experienced a record number of 100 degree plus days. We are in the worst drought since the infamous Dust Bowl days. My yard looks like shredded wheat, most of the ponds have dried up, and many farmers and ranchers have been forced to sell most of their cattle. They have no grass, no hay, and precious little water. We live in the City of Shawnee and recently we had four deer in our backyard looking for water. Our old water system in Shawnee has experienced many water main breaks because of the drying soil. We had 15 breaks in a two day period (Hello, tax increase!)
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: One time in Kentucky it was a very hot and dry Summer and Fall. At Halloween, the folks filled up a #2 washing tub with apples and bobbed for water! Well, it could happen.
MAYBE NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS: Because of our dangerous weather (tornadoes, blizzards, and range wild fire), most Oklahomans own a NOAA weather radio with alarms pre-set for your county and/or city. Mine goes off often. Smart phones make it possible to carry weather alerts with you and take action no matter where you are located. Weather is really big and big business out here on the Prairie! Storm shelters, roof repair, hail damage to vehicles and even house replacement. Not to mention healthcare costs for the injured. Even with all of the challenges, Oklahoma is still the best kept secret in America!
Welcome back to our regular readers. I hope you will pass along the URL for the Blog to our classmates and anyone else who might want to join us.
MAYBE MORE THAN YOU WANT TO KNOW: Oklahoma has experienced a record number of 100 degree plus days. We are in the worst drought since the infamous Dust Bowl days. My yard looks like shredded wheat, most of the ponds have dried up, and many farmers and ranchers have been forced to sell most of their cattle. They have no grass, no hay, and precious little water. We live in the City of Shawnee and recently we had four deer in our backyard looking for water. Our old water system in Shawnee has experienced many water main breaks because of the drying soil. We had 15 breaks in a two day period (Hello, tax increase!)
MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE: One time in Kentucky it was a very hot and dry Summer and Fall. At Halloween, the folks filled up a #2 washing tub with apples and bobbed for water! Well, it could happen.
MAYBE NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS: Because of our dangerous weather (tornadoes, blizzards, and range wild fire), most Oklahomans own a NOAA weather radio with alarms pre-set for your county and/or city. Mine goes off often. Smart phones make it possible to carry weather alerts with you and take action no matter where you are located. Weather is really big and big business out here on the Prairie! Storm shelters, roof repair, hail damage to vehicles and even house replacement. Not to mention healthcare costs for the injured. Even with all of the challenges, Oklahoma is still the best kept secret in America!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)