SACKY----The Rest of The Story!!!!!!!

Origins of some nicknames are easy to decipher: "Shorty", "Too Tall", "Slim", or "Tubby". Others may relate to an occupation: "Cookie", "Sparky", or "Marshall Dillon".  Others may identify where you are from: "Tex", "Okie", 'Buckeye',or even "Hoosier".


Yet, there are others that no one seems to know where they came from: I had an uncle who was nicknamed "Pos". Another uncle was nicknamed "Wash" (pronounced "Warsh" in KY). I have yet to find a family member that can tell me where those nicknames came from or even how they apply to two of my late uncles.


This Post will at long last disclose why Jay Vaught was called "Sacky"; Dale Vaught was called "Sacky II,  (check out the 1959 edition of the Pirazet yearbook) and Gary Vaught was called "Sacky III".


This is a true story. I was there when it happened and I guess I ought to know.


It was an autumn  (I think in 1957) Saturday morning and Russell Vaught, Jay, Dale, Gary, and yours truly were picking apples in the Weston Bottoms to make cider. (I had spent Friday night at their home.)


Stay with me on this!


Gary, because he was smallest and could get out on the small limbs, had a burlap feed sack equipped with a short rope that attached to the sack and could be worn around Gary's neck, was in the tree. Russell, Jay, Dale and I were picking up apples from the ground and placing the apples in a large bucket.


The story now takes a not-to-unexpected turn!  Dale and I would pick up an apple from the ground and throw the apples at Gary in the tree.
All the while he was dodging the apples coming up from the ground and could make little progress toward picking the apples in the tree!


Russell issued several warnings to Dale and I and we just kept the apple missiles firing! Russell's voice continue to rise with each new warning. I think he even threatened to close the whole cider making adventure down and go home!


Something had to be done and quick. Jay, who probably would never had been a finalist on Jeopardy, saved the entire disaster by yelling, "Give me that G** D*** sack and I'll put it on my head and pick those apples!" Jay, who was really a funny guy and always asked about me when he talked to my folks.


For a split second, I imagined Jay putting the entire burlap sack on his head and trying to pick apples. I could not refrain from immediately blurting out, " Gary, let Sacky put that sack on his head and pick those apples." The nickname was born and we used it the rest of the apple picking morning.


The cider was made, Dale took me home, and he went with my folks to Madison to watch the boat races. (That was long before they moved the races to the 4th of July.) We had a gallon of the very fresh cider---more like apple juice---that we took to the races.  We have a phrase in Oklahoma to describe my condition the next day----I had the Green Apple Quickstep!


It was an easy transition from Sacky to Dale (Sacky II,) to Gary (Sacky III). Most of the people in Jennings Co called Jay by his nickname. Only those at PCHS knew of Sacky II and Sacky III.


For better or worse, I am responsible for the Sacky nickname. Gee, I feel better after over 50 years finally getting that off my chest!  


(I HAVE MADE A RARE EXCEPTION OF USING ACTUAL NAMES BECAUSE THE POST WOULD BE MEANINGLESS WITHOUT THEM. ALSO, THE PERSONS NAMED ARE MERELY VICTIMS OF AN OVER ZEALOUS NICKNAMER---me)














  

THE GIFT OF LIFE

Recently, I was looking for some information and ran across the program sent to me from last year's PCHS Reunion.I reviewed with considerable interest the ever lengthening list of deceased classmates. Amazingly, I recognize more and more names each year. Each recognized name brought a flood of memories.


Death can come slowly or very fast. A very famous attorney in Shawnee fell in his home last night and in a few short hours was pronounced dead. As a pastor, I spend a portion of my time with death and those who survive. After the funerals, people reestablished relationships with family and friends that had languished for many  years. However, life often  goes back to the pre-funeral mode.


What can we do?


a.Thank God for Family and Friends
b.Live each day as if it were your last---someday it will be
c. Be creative in finding new friends
d.Find a good Bible teaching, Bible preaching, people reaching church.
e. Call, write or email a good friend today


 LIFE! Let's Celebrate It!

AN AMERICAN SPEAKS--My Personal Passion

Regular readers of this Blog will testify I have taken a political preference stance on any of the current issues facing our nation.
What follows IS NOT political--its a CONSTITUTIONAL issue.
I sent this earlier to many of my email contacts. It is now provided to all Blog readers. 

DOCTOR, DOCTOR. IT HURTS WHEN I HIT MY HEAD WITH A HAMMER!

The silly doctor joke is to remind us that doctors are human.


1. You may have heard about the fellow with a very major memory problem. He went to a shrink and told him his plight. The doctor asked, "How long have you had this problem of a poor memory?"  The patient said, "Could you repeat the question?"


2.What do you call a med student who graduates last in his class?  DOCTOR.


3. There are so many doctor shows on TV the only channel I can receive is 98.6!


4.What do you call two doctors? A paradox!


5. Two doctors were arguing in the OR on how to do the surgery. The patient was very much awake and nearly had a heart attack when he heard on say, "OK, we' ll do it your way but I bet the autopsy will prove me right."


6. This is no joke: You can book ER appointments on line! 

MR. WEISS SHOWED US THE FUTURE IN 1958!

In our junior year Mr. Weiss made some rather startling projections about the future. Many of us, in 1958, thought he was way off the mark. Turns out he was 100 percent correct!


1. Men would start wearing their hair long like women. This probably came true in the 1960's. Many of the fellows, me included, thought this  was nuts.A current personal note: One my deacons and his wife are products of the 60's culture. He has long hear and a beard. He is without doubt the most dynamic and sincere Christian I have ever met. I think Jesus may have looked like this wonderful friend and fellow worker in the vineyard. Another personal note: I wish I had some hair! Maybe I am being punished for laughing at Principal Ira Whitaker!


2. Men will use bags, like brief cases, with long straps---like women. Ever see a guy with a laptop computer on a long strap over his shoulder? All kinds of luggage bags also. I don't know how he knew the future. But he was spot on.


3. The line of distinction between men and women would become blurred. This has happened in many areas of life: Women in combat, sports, politics, and many, many others. Our youngest daughter was a real star in basketball and volleyball. How about stay at home Dads? More and more men are entering nursing.


Mr Weiss was a real teacher and could identify with students. I heard he has written a book about cooking German food. He was special to all of us.


One of our classmates was introduced to her future husband by Mr. Weiss!

PERFECT SCHEMES LEAD TO SHATTERED DREAMS

This is a long Post and you may want to share with friends and family. (How's that for uncontrolled vanity!)

PERFECT SCHEMES LEAD TO SHATTERED DREAMS 

Case in point:  Our credit union advertised for weeks that because of the success of the credit union in 2011, a special gift would be given to the first 500 members who were in line New Years Eve. The gifts were to be awarded at midnight.

Like so many others, I braved a cold blowing rain and was in line at 6:17pm. In fact, I was 7^th in line. Speculation was rampant as to what the gift might be. A Gold Coin?  A Trip to Disney  World? Season Tickets to OU Football games? Maybe a year’s worth of free gas? A laptop computer? The longer we were in line the bigger the gifts became. One WAG, who recently had his 1989 Olds REPOed by the credit union, was sure we were all to be given new cars (ala Oprah).

The speculation and merriment stopped around 8:30pm. Several members couldn’t take it any longer and went home. We had to call 911 REACT Emergency to haul off to the ER about 25 members who had not dressed properly and were suffering acute hypothermia. As members dropped out of line, all behind them cheered as they moved up.

Earlier smiles turned to tightly pressed lips in an effort to control chattering teeth. Even though I am a Southern Baptist , I couldn’t help but to start dancing in a vain attempt to keep warm. Some thought I was a Native American doing a stop raining dance!

At 10pm, all talk of gifts had ceased. Survival was now a contest of wills. Some members standing near me tore unused deposit slips from their credit union checkbook and hastily penned make shift Wills. A few started repeating the Lord’s Prayer and the 23^rd Psalm. Some broke out into singing “Amazing Grace.” The un-churched members sang a medley of CW songs: “I got friends in low places,” “The night the bottle let me down,” and “Okie from Muskogee.” The mixture of off tune religious and CW hits sounded a lot like hogs who just lost their gender!

I looked at my Casio so many times I was certain it was broken. Some members began to confess sin and unlawful behavior to total strangers. The long line which stretched down the sidewalk from the credit union and disappeared after making a sharp right turn, became suddenly silent as the credit union manager arrived in his new Lexus and hastily entered the building and turned on the lights. It was now 11:47pm.

Almost immediately, a Wells Fargo armored truck pulled up and parked at the rear entrance of the credit union and started unloading its contents. The prophecy of Gold Coins was beginning to look better all the time.

Just when you thought this cold, weird night was about over, things quickly picked up speed but lost altitude! An unscheduled Bud delivery truck slowed to see what was going on. He was on his way to an all night convenience store—Bad Mistake!

The frightened driver was pulled from his truck and the door keys quickly pilfered from his pocket. The back door was raised as if by magic and many, many suitcases of beer disappeared. I saw a group of card carrying, Medicare users who were old, blue haired widows chugging beer for the very first time. Tee- totalers tossed morality aside in favor of surviving. The popping of pull tabs resembled a pond full of bull frogs all with COPD!

Out of nowhere six black and whites, sirens blaring, wig wag lights dancing, slid to a controlled stop. It reminded me of the Lucky Lee Lott Dare Devil drivers in the 1950’s. They exited with 9mm’s drawn. Silence returned and the Bud driver completed a report but could not ID any of the thieves. He went on his way to the all night convenience store.

One officer got on his PA and ordered everyone to disperse. No way! We had spent several hours trying to stay alive and big prizes were just around the corner. Many beer cans pelted the police cars. Most of the can throwers had never been in trouble with the law but merely wanted to get arrested just to get into the back seat of a warm cruiser.

I looked again at my $16 Wal-Mart watch and saw it was 11:58pm. The line had shrunk and now seemed to compress like a new Slinky. Members were directed to march past the drive-in window to get our prizes. I was now third in line.

There are jokes; silly jokes; bad jokes; practical jokes and even cruel jokes.  What happened next was off the joke seismograph. The first two members were speechless as they were greeted by the manager and given a can of black-eyed peas! I saw what was going down and yelled as loud as I could that the prize was a can of black-eyed peas! One obvious high  school dropout just behind me yelled, “This ain’t no credit union; it’s a discredit union. We’ve been “dissed”! The chant started low and slow: “Discredit, Discredit, Discredit.”

The police could see this unruly crowd was just 17 seconds from becoming a dangerous mob. Several warning shots were fired into the air and more sirens in the distance could be heard approaching the credit union. The manager was forced to seek safety in the Wells Fargo truck which fortunately had remained at the credit union. The members ran in all directions. The police cars formed a safety escort for the truck.

On my way to my car I met a little old lady from the nearby low rent apartment complex pushing a rusty, squeaky shopping cart. I asked her where she was going so late. She said, “This is a dream come true; there must be 500 empty beer cans just waiting for me to pick up. Gosh, I’ll have enough money to pay next month’s rent.” A sharp pang of guilt nearly decked me. I was there for greed, she there for need.

As we parted, she said in a cheery and grateful voice, “Happy New Year mister and God BlessYou.” My frozen face and half frozen heart could only reply “Same to you”. I guess I left my handkerchief in the car.

Note: Black-eyed peas, cornbread, and mustard greens are a tradional Oklahoma New Years Dinner. The credit union did pass out the cans about Christmas time. Everything else in this Post is a product of my imagination and is pure fiction. Sure hope you liked it.

Glenn C. Peck

"CAN WE TALK?' --Strength for the Journey

I am sometimes asked, "How are you able to sit by the bedside of a dying person, console families, and conduct funeral services?" I estimate that I have conducted about 250 funeral services in my 31 years of ordained Christian ministry So far in the first 2 months of 2012, I have conducted 4 services. One was for a very, very close friend.


Like the Apostle Paul, "...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.." The question that follows is how I be strengthened by Christ?

WE WUZ ROBBED!! But what did you expect?

This happened our senior year. Even in our naive innocence we learned that things do not always turn out as you expect !


An old friend of Mr. Harris came to PCHS, I think without any advance warning, to put on a one-man show for the students.


After coughing up 20 cents, we went to the gym and we sat with anxious anticipation for the show to begin. Would we see a magic act? Would he pull a rabbit out of a hat?


The fellow looked older than Mr. Harris, and that is saying something. Was he one of the last relics of Vaudeville? Would he do a soft shoe dance routine while playing Swanee River on a harmonica? 


Ed Sullivan often featured a gent who did hand shadows of famous people on a screen. Perhaps this unusual act was in store for the entertainment starved youth of PCHS.


Our questions were soon answered when he began to quote poetry from Indiana's own James Whitcome Riley. The only poem I remember was the immortal--"When the frost is on the pumpkin."
Credit where it is due: His voice and diction reflected hours of practice. I suspect he was a retired Literature teacher and this was a quick way to turn a buck. Maybe Mr. Harris owed him something.


It is hard to project your own  disappointment upon others. Yet, as I looked around, it appeared to me and others, their facial expressions seemed to reflect a collective mirror that seemed to say--"We wuz robbed!" 


Perhaps part of my skepticism at age 17 remains. Did this fellow and Mr. Harris split the take?

YOU GOTTA HAND IT TO ME---WARTS AND ALL!

1. From about the fifth grade to about the eighth grade I had a dime size planters wart on my right hand. It is probably a real miracle I didn't get an infection or blood poisoning by my amateur attempts to cut it out with a pocket knife and the family scissors. Without warning, the wart started to shrink and the remains just fell off. 


2. For several years my brother had a least 25 warts on both hands. My mother tried medicine, folk cures to no success. I cannot explain how I came upon this cure. Without our Mom's knowledge,  I poured an entire jug of Clorox into a bucket and talked my brother to soak his hand for about 2 minutes in the Clorox. His hands were snow white for a couple of days. But within ten days all of warts were gone! 


3. In the eighth grade I was reaching behind my desk and pulling on Steve Gilley's pants leg. He grew tired of it and had a very sharp pencil and jammed one of my fingers.  I still carry in my right hand the lead that broke off in my finger ! 


This way is off the purpose of the Blog. However, it is part of my school days.

WATCH FOR IT !

It'll Be Here Soon !!!!!


Rock n Roll With A Very Personal Perspective !


I Was There When It Happened And I Guess I Ought To Know!   ----Country Gospel Song in Early 1950's

ADDITIONAL WAGON WHEEL INN INFO

One of my relatives who was known to frequent the Wagon Wheel Inn told me the following story:


My relative shared this in the first person. I must assume he saw the following events:


One evening, about dark, he attempted to enter the Wagon Wheel Inn and was stopped by a shot gun wielding employee who was sitting on the roof with the shot gun in his lap.  


He bravely announced, "There has been a stabbing inside and the sheriff has been called and there ain't nobody going in or going out!"


This was all my relative needed. He turned around and drove away.


I do not think I every went there again.

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS !

Just a little off the main purpose of the Blog


However, it reminds us of our future. It is easy to point out all of the problems the younger generation experience. Let's not forget, there are a bunch of kids that are on the right track. Hope I live long enough to see these young folks step to the front.


Letter was printed in the Shawnee News-Star


(For the record my grand children were in the audience with me.)

June 26, 2011

Letter to the Editor,

Six thumbs up (grandpa and two grandchildren) for the delightful, refreshing, and inspiring performance of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factor, Jr at the Shawnee Little Theater this past weekend. 

The players ranged in age from kindergarten to an 11^th grader. The costumes, sets, lighting, sound, musical numbers, complete with choreography, were “Broadway Grade.”

The production was the culmination of a three week camp in drama and stage production. The high energy and obvious skillful preparation resulted in a continuous crowd pleasing performance.

Especially heartwarming was the participation of several sibling performing teams. The smiles on parents and grandparents registered real pride and satisfaction with their “DNA Darlings!”

Shawnee is blessed to have the Little Theater, a large cadre of volunteers and performers of all ages who bring much needed enjoyment in today’s challenging world.

BRAVO to all!

Glenn C. Peck, 

RICH -POOR MAN (LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD)

THE FUGITIVE ---ONE DAY CUTTING SCHOOL

One school day a classmate and an  underclassman and yours truly decided to spend our school day playing pinball at a hamburger joint. The food was fair but the big attraction was a pinball machine that "paid off": Games won could be sold back to the owner for a nickle a game. I made a grand total of $.80 that day.


This "den of iniquity" was on Hwy 7 and if driving north it was between Walnut Ridge and the Grayford road. It was called the Wagon Wheel Inn.  A similar name was given to a place on Hwy 50 before you hit Buttlerville.  I think it may have burned.


Every time the door opened I was sure it was our one person truant officer: The infamous Mary Ketchem! She had a Dodge--think it was a 1947. I also believe it was green--not real sure.


This was my one and only day of skipping school. I was a nervous wreck when I got back home.


The Wagon Wheel was converted into a church building long after we graduated! God can change everything to His purpose.

OLD PCHS FRIENDS COME FOR WELCOME VISIT

OK! This a bait and switch Post Title!

My favorite winter time star consellations are Orion and Canis Major (Big Dog) I spent countless hours exploring these beautiful stars in high school. (Psalm 19:1 is a great verse to discribe God's creative power.)

Each cloudless winter night finds me looking with awe and wonder at these two very special constellations.

It is getting very hard to find no-light polluted skies. After I get to Heaven I hope to see these stars from the other side!

A HOUND OF SATAN IS ON MY TRAIL ! V.2.0

BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE LEGAL ISSUES THE ORIGINAL POST HAS BEEN REMOVED.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

COLD WAR HUMOR # 2

This will make more sense if you read Cold War Humor #1 first.



Soviet Dictator Joseph Stalin, and brutal Soviet killer of 30 million of his own people died in March 1953. TV news was just coming of age and there was great competition among the networks to get as close as possible to his body. A comic had this skit and it may be a bit sick for some.




"This is John Cameron Swayze bringing you exclusive coverage of the thousands of Russians lined up to view Stalin's body. I am just outside the fortified wall that shields Red Square. This is as close as I can get."


"Good evening. This is Lowell Thomas bringing you exclusive coverage of the death and after mat of Stalin's passing. I am just inside the Red Square wall, about 200 yards from where the butcher of the ages lies in State."


"(Very low and determined speaking voice.) This is Edward R. Murrow inside the casket."   


After all these years, I still think the act was funny !


Again, I ask, why in the world do I remember such nonsense?? 
My brother, and my wife have often accused me of being trapped in the 1950's. Maybe I am. This was the Golden Era, WWII was only a decade old, the world was very concerned about nuclear war, and Rock n Roll was born, jobs were assumed and assured, and TV was making a big. big impact.  I am a few days away from launching my outline of the music of our time. It will be something I have wanted to do for a long, long time. 


Please let our other classmates know of this Blog. 

COLD WAR HUMOR # 1

THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING! THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING!


1. The Cold War was very dangerous during our high school days. Upfront Note: The Cold War with the Soviet Union was hot, very hot. In another post, I will provide some insights you may not know.

2. Lots of variety TV shows---Milton Berle, Red Skeleton, Show of Shows, Ed Sullivan, and a ton more. (I would give anything for my grand kids to see the talent I saw.) Today SITCOMs are King.


Stand up comics in our high school days were trying to make the Cold War not so serious.


Dinah Shore had a very good show. (Dinah seemed to radiate energy and joy.)Some comic took her theme song. "See the USA in your Chevrolet."  The comic said Russia had their own version: The singer was Dinahusi Shoreski: "See the USSR in your armored car"


I cannot explain how or why I remember such trivia. Today, I cannot remember a three item grocery list!

False Spring Is A Big Thing

Weather is the cornerstone of almost all activities in Oklahoma. Rain is a big event. Tornadoes capture hours of live coverage. Ice storms really bring the state to a complete halt. Every home has a NOAA radio. Weather is often the lead story in many news telecasts. In the stores, malls, church, schools, the rainfall amounts are the talked about events.


My grandmother,on my Mom's side,was rumored to be part Cherokee Indian. She taught me that thunderstorms to the north seldom make it to your location. She also said if low hanging white clouds are moving very fast against a black higher cloud bank there is high speed winds coming your way. 


I am not sure if she taught me that in January their will always be a couple of above normal temperature weeks: Called a False Spring.
The high temperature today was 73 and the normal high is 49 degrees. We have experience only a very light coating of snow this winter.


In the church I am privileged to pastor, we have several Native Americans. According to some of them----cattle feeding facing  north is not a good time to hunt or fish. Cattle lying down is another bad sign to go fishing.


Native American culture is a source of strength and confusion for some Native Americans. Some tribes and nations are more traditional than others. Native American elections are seldom final after the first count. Recounts and court cases are very common. Some of the tribes kick out all of the previous administration and hire kinfolks to replace them. Mismanagement and lack of progress reigns in many tribes. The Citizen Pottawati Nation is an exception and retains quality workers regardless of who wins.


There are about 85 tribes and nations in OK.(Over 300,000 Native Americans) They have their own license plates, have their own police force and manage the 200 plus Casinos we have in the state. Gambling addition is strangling our state. The media is afraid to tackle the problem because they fear the loss of Casino advertising.


Somehow I started with weather and stopped with Casinos. I have relatives that are trapped in the gambling jungle. When they rarely win they stay until the payday is zero again.


In spite of millions generated at the Casinos the average Indian is in poverty, unemployed, struggles with destructive addictions. The myth of the Noble Savage is just a myth. 


Most Native Americans are eager to help and are very stoic and almost to the point of being fatalistic. Some are very prejudiced against "Blue Eyes" Most are trying to live in two worlds at once. Often the results are tragic. Our churches are working hard to bring the saving Grace of Jesus to all people,


Do I love Oklahoma and the people here? Amen and Amen!

Happy New Year--2012

As I write this the New Year is less than five minutes old. 


This New Year may be the most Important in our life time.Our voting will not only be about four years, but the next forty years as well.


May God Bless you and your family in 2012!


Glenn <><

HAPPY NEW YEAR----2012

I Cannot Recall So Much Excitement, Anxiety, and Worry About An Up Coming New Year As 2012.


I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet. However, I will share some of the concerns that many have:


1. Middle East---Iran may be just days away from detonating a crude nuclear weapon. Permitting the Iranians to construct such a weapon is like giving a four old child a full clip, loaded 9MM, to play with.


Our hasty withdrawal from  Iraq has made an Israeli air attack much more difficult because it is doubtful over flight permission will be granted. Extending inbound and outbound flight times impacts every aspect of war planning: Exposure
to defensive air and ground assets is greatly increased. Aerial refueling resources are stretched. Ditto aerial command and control assets. Recon and bomb damage assessment is considerably longer and harder. Regenerating aerial resources for future sorties becomes a commander's worst nightmare.    

NORTH POLE Reality Show Causes Marriage Breakup!

THE UNTHINKABLE HAS HAPPENED: Santa & Mrs. Claus have Split !!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!

This past week I listened to a very compelling radio evangelist who said something that froze me in my tracks:

"Between the end of the Old Testament (Book of Malachi) to the start of the New Testament( Book of Mathew) 400 years had passed without God speaking to His people and that streak of silence was broken with a little baby's cry!" 

WOW!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Our Music: When Elvis Came To PCHS---Well, Sort of

In our Sophomore year the Tupelo, MS Flash was already making a big splash. 

I received a first hand report by one of our Sophomore classmates who had his driver's license and saw Elvis in concert in Louisville, KY.

He was a big Elvis fan, he even had wanna be sideburns to prove it, and said the concert was a wild scene. He said the music was great; Elvis put on quite a show; and the females in the audience never stopped screaming.

I do not want to embarrass or offend any readers of this blog by my next few comments. However, at almost 70 years of age, I think I can speak openly, especially to my classmates.. Our classmate said Elvis was signing autographs on the bras of some his adoring fans. I had no corroborating information, only this one student's testimony. 
 
I have heard the late J.D.Sumner of the Stamps Quartet, who backed up Elvis at Vegas, say many times that following the last show of the night, Elvis would sing Southern Gospel music with them until the wee hours of the morning. Elvis' gospel recordings rank among my favorites. Especially, How Great Thou Art.

Interestingly, while in seminary, one of my classmates was Rick Stanley, a half-brother to Elvis.  After Elvis' Mom died, Vernon, Elvis' Dad, married Rick's Mom and they moved into Graceland. Rick said he knew he was living in a different world when he was in the basement watching his half-brother play pool with The Beetles!

Rick is now an evangelist and as far as I know he has never attempted to glorify Elvis or his lifestyle. See: www.rickstanleyministries.com/journal.html

"Willie Boy"---Town Drunk

THIS IS A FICTITIOUS STORY. I WROTE IT SOME TIME AGO FOR A CHRISTIAN BLOG THAT IS NO LONGER ACTIVE. THE MOTIVATION CAME FROM A REAL WORLD EVENT THAT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS SELLING CEMETERY PROPERTY. A DAD WITH A BROKEN HEART CAME TO HIS TEENAGE SON'S GRAVE EVERYDAY---RAIN OR SHINE. THE SON HAD DIED IN A CAR WRECK MANY YEARS AGO. SOMETIME HE WOULD STAND FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES---SOMETIMES FOR MANY MINUTES.

Every small town has at least one, sometimes two or three town drunks. Your Town had just one---“Willie Boy” Rigby.

“Willie Boy” was hardly your stereotypical town drunk. He never begged; never got belligerent; never passed out in public and only frequented one of Your Town’s three bars.

What then qualified “Willie Boy” as the town drunk?

His journey toward that dubious title started when William Rigby, wife Susan and 19 year old son Carl moved from Cleveland, Ohio to Your Town in 1968.

William was a prominent and very successful investment broker in Cleveland and brought his considerable fortune to Your Town because Susan wanted to be near her father and ailing mother.

Within a year the wheels started to come off William’s life: His mother-in-law dies; Susan rekindles a relationship with her high school sweetheart; and Carl is drafted into the Army.

The next year was even worse. Susan divorced him and Carl was killed in the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam.

William became very depressed and took early retirement. He sold their big, new home on the east side of Your Town and moved into an apartment downtown. His drinking migrated from the weekends, to three times a week, to every day in just a matter of a few weeks.

He was often seen standing with arms folded and head bowed at Carl’s grave. His clothes soon smelled like he washed them in liquor and he always looked like he needed about seven shaves.

The moniker of “Willie Boy” stuck after some mean-spirited teenage boys saw him walking to the cemetery and yelled from a car, “Hey, Willie you goin’ to see your dead boy?”   In an instant “Willie Boy” was born and soon the entire town called him by that name. He hated it but was powerless to change it.

Years passed and “Willie Boy” continued to drink heavily and make his daily journey to the cemetery.

One rainy morning he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. He lived for two days in ICU and was only able to utter a few intelligible words. He asked that his journal be brought to his bedside.

A policeman and a hospital social worker went to his apartment to retrieve his large, dog-eared, and smelly journal. He died clutching the journal.

At his graveside service the Captain of the Your Town Salvation Army read his obituary and some Bible verses and spoke of his search for peace. The Captain then opened the journal and shocked the small crowd when he read a statement that appeared at the top of each page: “Dear God, please send someone to help me today.”

On the inside of the back cover was penned something of a Will. “Whatever is left, divide equally among the five churches in town. Maybe they will try and help people like me. I miss Carl so much. I am very sad and so lonely---William Rigby.”

                                                                Glenn C. Peck, Pastor

HAPPY THANKSGIVING----2011

MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!


Out on the Prairie,


Glenn <><

Two Old Friends From PCHS Came By To See Me Last Night!

IMPORTANT Addition to my" Water Cooler Bliss" Post

I feel compelled to follow-up on my Water Cooler Bliss Post. 


DISCLAIMER: The real examples were outside the realm of my pastoral duties. No Clergy-Parishioner breaches of Confidentiality have been committed. 


I am not a Poor Man's Dr. Phil, although we both have the same hair style, or a licensed public counselor. My comments are Descriptive not Prescriptive. Local professionals should always be consulted to assist with marital situations.


Finally, while the thrust of my Post dealt with fidelity,it is not a commendation for spouses/children to remain in an abusive/dangerous relationship. Flee to a safe and secure facility!


Immediately seek local, competent, professional assistance!

Water Cooler Bliss

Experts on marriage generally agree that workplace romances are an increasing factor in divorce.

This fact was a topic of discussion I had with a person I have known many years. This Post is a brief summary of that discussion:

Specific cases:

1. A woman, with two teenage sons, had a well known affair with her boss. The affair was terminated when her husband was transferred to another location. She went with him, but a divorce quickly followed.

2. A woman with two teenage sons and a grade school son left her husband to marry a man who worked for her husband. They had many social contacts as a result of the work performed by her husband and her new suiter.

3. A woman with grown children carried on a long affair with a person at work. The affair terminated and the couple was reconciled and today have a strong, healthy marriage.

Please Note: While these examples all represent women, men are equally prone to toss years of marriage away for a new love located at the workplace.

My discussion simply asked the question: "Why do these things happen?"

The person with whom I aked the question had an interesting answer: "Economic independence brings with it the ability for women to make independent decisions in every area of her life---including matters of the heart."

I promptly replied,"If fidelity can be sold for a dollar, it was never worth a dime to start with!"

Upon Further Review (to borrow an NFL replay term) I later looked beyond my knee jerk response and tried to look a bit deeper. What follows is a result of that introspection:

1. An office environment shows people at their best. Clothes, manners, hair styles, and all kinds of attention getting perfumes and body sprays and after shave lotions that are guaranteed to start a sexual feeding frenzy.
Work is like an 8 hour date in your best clothes.

2. For some people getting older is a daily road trip to denial and every effort must be made to display desirability or to even pretend the clock of time can be reversed.

3. There are no children or in-laws to vie for your time and attention. This is a beautifully constructed world of well dressed and good smelling people.

4. Many people are looking for someone to confirm their "victim" status at home. There are lots of listening ears and understanding people at the workplace. "At last, someone will listen and take my side."

5. For others, a workplace romance is much easier than attempting to get counselling and strive for reconciliation. The ME generation is alive and well!

6. And for others, Lust is the same as Love. some will try Lust until Love comes along.

Many people today worry about violence by disgruntled employees. A far greater danger is for marriages to be destroyed by real or imagined affairs of the heart at the workplace.

Oklahoma: Is This A Great State Or What?

Kentucky holds the legal papers of my birth; Indiana holds my early education and coming of age memories; but it is Oklahoma that holds my heart!


In the past couple days we have had several tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, large hail, snow in our Panhandle, and many aftershocks to the record 5.6 magnitude earthquake experienced Saturday night. One student at a local college, he is from Georgia, said of our weather," You have Bi-Polar weather here!"


We had over 50 days of 100 degrees or higher weather this past summer, experienced the worst drought since the "Dust Bowl" days, (many ranchers had to sell their herds), had many wild fires that destroyed thousands of acres and many houses and out buildings, had the largest snowfall ever recorded in the state, and several ice storms that took out lots of power lines and closed many schools. 


With wild bizarre weather like that, why would anyone voluntarily want to live here?


Just a few days in Oklahoma will provide the answer. It's the people! Oklahomans are caring, helping people.  Maybe it's the shared hardships that creates such a strong bond; maybe it's still the Frontier Spirit--we are just over 100 years as a State;  and maybe it's the varied topography and diverse population. Regardless,  people still look you the eyes  and say "Howdy".  (The BBQ and Mexican food ain't bad either.) People will pray for you and with you. Faith, Family and Freedom are still prized. 


I was once asked if I would ever return to Indiana or Kentucky to live? My reply: "Not unless God sends me an autographed message!"


Come experience the best kept secret in America!

ARCHIVE CLEAN UP

To save some space on the Blog, I will periodically remove some older Posts to provide greater ease of navigation and to save some space on the old hard drive. A few have just been removed.

'BLESS THEIR HEARTS' --Oklahoma Secret Revealed

Out here on the Prairie you can say anything you want about someone IF you preface the ugly remark with "Bless their heart....."


Examples: "Bless her heart, she has jealous eyes: One eye keeps watching the other eye!"


"Bless his heart, he married her not for love, but for her money. He sure would love to get her daddy's money!"


"Bless their hearts, those kids are so dumb they think  Men in Black was a documentary!"


You have the general idea. Try it. It works every time!

"Farther Along"---Great Hymn of the Faith

I recently told a close friend that turning 70 was a very revealing time for me. I described the event as like climbing a mountain and stopping to take a glance toward the valley below. My life was pictured in the valley and I was struck by how remarkably short it was. In addition, I saw that I was not nearly as important as I thought I was. (Please Note: All of us are important to other people and God Almighty who thought we were important enough to send His Son Jesus to die for us!) 


While I no longer struggle with Passion, I still struggle with Pride. Turning 70, let a whole lot of hot air out of my Pride ballon! Each of us face innumerable trials and temptations and some day we will know all about it.


The wonderful, always appropriate, gospel hymn by W. B. Stevens says so very well what I am attempting to say:


                            FARTHER ALONG

1. Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder
   Why it should be thus all the day long;
   While there are others living about us,
   Never molested, though in the wrong.
   • Refrain:
     Farther along we’ll know more about it,
     Farther along we’ll understand why;
     Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
     We’ll understand it all by and by.
2. Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer,
   Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,
   When there are many living in comfort,
   Giving no heed to all I can do.
3. Tempted and tried, how often we question
   Why we must suffer year after year,
   Being accused by those of our loved ones,
   E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.
4. Often when death has taken our loved ones,
   Leaving our home so lone and so drear,
   Then do we wonder why others prosper,
   Living so wicked year after year.
5. “Faithful till death,” saith our loving Master;
   Short is our time to labor and wait;
   Then will our toiling seem to be nothing,
   When we shall pass the heavenly gate.
6. Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior,
   Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;
   Then we will meet those gone on before us,
   Then we shall know and understand why.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU & MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: The Class of 1959

Today, I reached the biblical three score and ten birthday. This Blog and this birthday have created  a greater appreciation for classmates who helped shape and mold my early life


Admittedly, I am an unrepentant sentimentalist. My shortcomings notwithstanding, I have sought to find a single word to describe our class. "Friendly", "Funny", or "Zany", and others, did not make the final cut. The word I selected is RESPECT.   (The late Rodney Dangerfield---a really funny guy---- never got any respect!)


We had respect for each other in spite of differences in income, athletic ability, academic achievement, and many other differences.

Respect is like humility----you don't have to tell people you have it.


Today, gang members kill each other if they even suspect you don't have respect for them. The Class of 1959 had many imperfections but lack of respect was not one of them.

"Teenage Life in the 1950's" *

THIS ARTICLE BY ERIKA COX IS PROVIDED FOR ALL BLOG READERS. IT IS A GOOD SUMMARY STATEMENT
                          

Teenage Life in the 1950’s   

by Erika Cox
The word Teenager was created in the 1950’s due to the tremendous population of those in this age category and because teenagers started gaining more independence and freedoms. Teenagers were able to buy more things like food, clothes and music because of an increase in spending money.

Teenagers were also becoming more independent in the type of music they preferred to listen to, no more listening to what their parents liked, teens flocked to the new music of the decade, which was rock and roll.
Growing up as a teenager prior to World War II, teenagers were expected to take life seriously. Males were expected to join the military or go out and get a job in order to help bring in money for their family or to take care of their future family.

Females were taught how to take care of the household and prepare themselves to be a dutiful wife and take care of children. Marriage and preparing for a family, more than education or a career, was seen as a definite in the lives of teenagers. Also, teens had very little economic freedom, independence, and input into decision making prior to WWII.

However, in the 1950’s, expectations changed for the teenager. The economy started booming and families experienced a great deal of economic power, freedom and independence, including teenagers.

New medians were created like television and AM radio that attracted teenagers. Also they were able to attend high school dances, create clothing trends, dance fads, and hairstyles to name a few.

Things were starting to change. In the 1950’s, teenagers where more inclined and encouraged to attend college, find a skill, and seek a successful career. Their parents had more than likely gone through the depression and a number of wars, and now wanted something more for their children. 
This resulted in teenagers receiving spending money and having more time to socialize with other teenagers. Of course, this newly found independence would often result in conflict between the parents and the child.

The media played on these emotions and often portrayed teenagers as juvenile delinquents. Peers easily influence teenagers, often at that stage in life what peers think and do becomes more important than what parents think and say.

Perhaps, some would say looking at society in general that the first indication or act of teenage rebellion began in the 1950’s.

Before the 1950’s, teenagers listened to the music of their parents, but when rock and roll came on the scene teens swarmed to it. Even though teens were able to purchase rock and roll records because they were receiving extra spending money, their parents were opposed to rock and roll music, they despised it, and thought of it as corrupting their children.

This sometimes caused friction, it seemed as if teenagers were becoming more rebellious, defensive, and at times, disrespectful, and that listening to rock and roll was the root cause of all this rebellion.

However, this belief was often exaggerated because parents didn’t understand the newfound independence and freedom that they never experienced. Yet, rock and roll was something new and parents thought it was shocking and terrible. They felt if their children were listening to this dreadful music that the end must be right around the corner.

Although, this wasn’t the case in every household it was in a large number of them. Because parents had never experienced this they thought their children were doomed never realizing it was just a phase and it would be over with once the teen reached adulthood.

Later on this clash became known as the generation gap. Nevertheless, with the help of adults, radio, rock shows, concerts, and TV shows like American Bandstand opened doors for teens in the 1950’s to experience things teenagers of the past never experienced. Despite all of the uproar, teenagers in the 1950’s played a huge part in the rise of rock and roll music. 

* (From Rewind The Fifties Web Site)

"They Can't Take That Away From Me"

I love Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair movies! Probably have seen all of them. The plots in their movies were predictable--Boy finds girl--Boy loses girl---Boy finds girl. The plots never mattered. It was the singing and dancing that captivates me. What talent. It shall never pass this way again. 


The song referenced in the title of this Post came from one of their many movies. The best and most romantic version, very sensual in the best of tastes, can be found at the following You Tube site. 


                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_OCayMN9JA&feature=related


This, in my view, is one of the great moments in the careers of two gifted and talented performers. I tried to get a grandson to take tap dancing, but he selected football---well, this is Oklahoma.


This song was sung by the aspiring broadway high school girl in the wonderful "Mr. Holland's Opus."  Fred's version is still the best.


I'm a sucker for most musicals. The song writing is unparalleled. Throw in the choreography and you have me hooked. 


Personal confession time: I was so impressed with Meredith Wilson's "Music Man" I saw it two nights in a row in the same  theater  ---with different dates!

Caught In The Middle

During our senior year at an evening school function, a female classmate, who I had the most incredible feelings for, came to me and said an underclassman female, "Wants to be with you!" 


What was I to do? Say "No" and try to express my affection for the messenger or should I go talk to the underclassman who sought my company.   


I was then, and remained convinced now, the messenger was not attempting to derail my feelings for her and send me to an alternate girl. Rather, she was simply conveying a message from a girl who sought a go between.


Sometimes things happen that do not permit a time out to reason out a response. Out of courtesy to the messenger, I went and talked to the underclassman. We had a few dates, even a couple after I went to Purdue, but we decided to go our separate ways.


Some readers of this Post will question the truthfulness of this account. Some will say, "Who cares?" I am within days of my 70th birthday and realize the chilly waters of Jordan are closer now than ever before. As a result, I simply want to give an account of events that remain part of my shrinking data base. I have no ax to grind. Just to report how I remember those wonderful days of passage to adulthood. Readers may question the content, but not my motivation. It is real.

THANK YOUR BRAVE BODY GUARDS OF THE LAW---TODAY !

This past week has been a very difficult time for me and the citizens of Pottawatomie County. We lost two Deputies in a crash that involved their patrol car and an 18-Wheeler that was making a U-Turn on a narrow Oklahoma rural highway. Oklahoma in general, and rural Oklahoma in particular, has a special gift of sharing the hurt and helping those who have experienced great loss. 

I performed the service for Deputy Michael Roberts on Tuesday. He and his family are very, very special people. Pastors do not have lots of close friends---yes, we do have lots of brothers and sisters in Christ---but we have very few close friends. The Roberts family are my friends.

I dedicate this Post to the memory of a very special close friend: Deputy Sheriff Michael Roberts.

What follows is a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. He has informed me it will appear soon:

Letter to the Shawnee-News Star Editor:

“Getting the Bad Guys off the street” and enforcing the law is the sworn mission of law enforcement officials at all levels of government. Many times we forget that these brave body guards of the law have families. We often forget the daily dangers they face in an ever violent world. And we are seldom given a public glimpse into the extraordinary bond that exists among and between these under- paid and under-appreciated dedicated protectors of society.

As the editor of this newspaper has so correctly and compassionately observed, we lost two very special deputies of the Potawatomie County Sheriff last week: Mike Roberts and Tim Lowry. Only those close to families of these two men know the depth of the grief and anguish they are experiencing. Through their tears, the new widows and their families were able to say with great love and understanding: “They died doing the very thing they were called and volunteered to do.” 

The hundreds of law enforcement officials from our state and nation who came to the services bear silent testament to the strong bonds all lawmen have for one another. It is special and unique. The unseen attention to detailed planning reflected the concern for showing the families their loss was shared. Both funeral services had the dignity, honor, and respect due their fallen comrades. 

   

The public outpouring of sympathy and support to the grieving families has been, and must continue, with the genuine concern that only the citizens of the great state of Oklahoma can give.  Grief is not an event; it is a long, difficult process.

Citizens of Potawatomie County can be justly proud of Deputies Roberts and Lowry. They also can be very proud of Sheriff Booth and his staff for their professional and personal concern for the widows and families of Mike and Tim.

Glenn C. Peck     

Pastor, St. Louis Baptist Church

STEVE JOBS 1955-2011--An Incredible Life

Steve Jobs of Apple Computers, in my view,has changed the cultural, business, political, entertainment, communications, educational and environmental world more than any other person born in our lifetime.


Consider this: During our lifetime we have seen the space age and computer revolution. Many made this happen, but Steve Jobs was the catalyst, at least in the computer world. iPods, iMacs, iPhones, and iPads came from his creative mind and business ability.


Computer Geeks contend Bill Gates of Microsoft stole the Graphics User Interface from Jobs and used it to create the Windows operating system. Maybe he did and maybe he didn't; nonetheless, Steve Jobs will be remembered in history long after Bill Gates becomes a technological footnote.


Interesting Fact: My wife bought me a TI handheld calculator in 1966 that could only add, subtract, multiply, and divide---it cost $65. The iPhone has more computing power than the early American astronauts had on the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft!!!!


Steve Jobs, R.I.P. and thanks!!!!!!!

ZIT and ZAT

OK, THIS MIGHT NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL BLOG READERS. FORGIVENESS IS SOUGHT IN ADVANCE.


Before physics class started, an upperclassman showed off an obviously infected pimple square in the middle of his forehead. A member of our class, not me, asked if he might pop it. The proud owner said OK.


Using the "AMA Approved" two thumb finger nail method, the zit was soon to be history. Several boys gathered to watch the operation. With the force of a 10 megaton bomb the contents of the zit exploded and shot toward the opener at the speed of light. Fortunately, the opener wore glasses and the contents merely splattered on the lens. We all had a big laugh and class started soon thereafter.


Boys in high school had several unscientific, and vulgar, reasons we had acne in the first place!!!!!!