WELL, IT MIGHT HAPPEN.....

PLEASE EMAIL OUR CLASSMATES AND LET THEM KNOW I AM STILL MAKING POSTS

Maybe we didn’t get the updated info on some of the songs we loved. Here is my version of what might have happened:

BLUEBERRY HILL became a nuclear waste dump that glowed at night. Could be seen 30 miles away!

The HEART BREAK HOTEL was closed by the Health Dept. because a HOUND DOG carried in a bed bug infestation!

LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND lasted until the BP oil platform disaster covered them!  

PEGGY SUE continues to make an annual Feb visit to an Iowa cornfield and places a single red rose on the exact spot where the music died.

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN’ GOIN’ ON became the official theme song for the U.S. Earthquake Monitoring Center!

CHARLIE BROWN continued to smoke and is near death but he makes trips to schools to warn kids of the dangers of smoking.

WAKE UP LITTLE SUZIE did wake up is now a national ad executive for a national mattress company.

YOU SEND ME was adopted by the US Apollo astronauts as their official motto.

HONEY COMB became a breakfast cereal that kids love and moms hate.

LONG TALL SALLY signed a long term WNBA contract with millions of dollars in endorsements.

BLUE SUEDE SHOES became a standard part of wedding tux outfits.

A WHITE SPORTS COAT is part of the uniform for male health inspectors.

That’s enough for now. Maybe more later!

"REPORTS OF MY DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGERATED!"--Mark Twain

After surviving a Perfect Storm this Blog is once more alive and well! Brief “weather report”:

1.   Our family has recently experienced two major medical emergencies. (Comment---911 is very, very fast in Shawnee!)

2.   Desktop computer is still in the process of being relocated. Laptop will not connect to internet. Broadband modem stopped working.  It was replaced by an ATT provided modem/WI-FI combo. I have enough working to revive the Blog. Can’t keep my classmates waiting!  (Vanity and pride are a constant enemy of the Soul.)

3.   Extremely hot weather---30 days over 100 degrees---and several large wildfires in OK and our county has kept us glued to the TV. Many, many homes destroyed. Dollar loss immense, so far just one fatality. Emotional loss beyond estimate!

AS I REPORTED IN AN EARLIER POST, “THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE HAPPEN ALL THE TIME !”

"GONE WITH THE WIND"

As I prepare this post, the all-time great classic "Gone With The Wind" is being shown on TCM.


Here's a couple of true related stories:


1. At Purdue, I was friends with a young (16 year old high school grad) genius from Ruth, KY. He went to see the movie while at Purdue and when intermission came, he thought the movie was over and left! This super star became a VP with IBM!


2. Also at Purdue, I had a very good friend who I asked to come visit me during the summer. "Just ask anyone in Jennings Co., they will give you directions." The very night he came, I had taken my wife-to-be to see the movie. I got home around 1:30am. There was my friend talking with my Mom and Dad. I was embarrassed and my folks were upset at me. My friend said he asked a number of people where I lived. Finally he found a person who gave directions. He said, "You must be pretty good because the sheriff had never heard of you!"

BLOG HACKED-----All Clear Now

I have spent close to a month putting the blog back together. Good to go.

WOW ! What Spiritual Insight !

A woman in the community where I pastor came to know Christ. She had a long, long history of drugs and trouble with the law. What a change Jesus made!!!!


She recently told me, "I was walking around Lost and now I am working hard to be missing!"


On the surface this may she not seem to make sense. But think about: She was Lost, separated from Christ. On her way to a real Hell. Then she met the Master and now she is awaiting His return to take His church away!!!!!

• In over 30 years of ordained Christian ministry and many years of study, I have never heard a more concise, profound, and meaningful statement of the change Jesus has wrought.

"Jesus Loves The Little Children Of The World"

During research for a recent sermon I discovered some frightening statistics about our children. It should break our hearts and demand better performance by our child protection agencies. Consider:

* A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds

* More than 5 children die everyday as a result of child abuse 

* About 80 percent of abused children that die are under 4 years of age

* 50-60 percent of child deaths due to maltreatment are not reported as such on death certificates


* 90 percent of child abuse victims know their abuser


* Child abuse happens at all sociological, ethnic, cultural, all religions and levels of education


* 30 percent of abused and neglected children will later become abusers of their own children


* 80 percent of 21 year olds that were abused have at least one psychological disorder


* Estimated cost of child abuse and neglect 2007 is $104 billion


* 1/3 to 2/3 of child maltreatment involves substance abuse


* Parents who abuse alcohol and other drugs are 3 times more likely to abuse their children


* 2/3 of people in treatment for drug abused reported being abused or neglected as children


* 14 percent op all men in prison were abused


* 36 percent of all women who were abused as children are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30 percent more likely to commit a violent crime


* 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually abused

You Don't Say !!!!!!

DURING OUR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR WE ATTENDED THE ANNUAL CAREER DAY AT NORTH VERNON H.S. THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS TO BE A HIGH LEVEL REP FROM GREYHOUND BUS COMPANY. HE COULD NOT MAKE IT; SO HIS SPEECH WAS READ BY SOME LOWER LEVEL GREYHOUND SUIT. THE RESULT WAS AMAZING!


It was apparent that he had never previewed the speech. He would stop from time to time and express amazement at what he was reading. Few paid any attention. Both students and the speaker were very glad when this torture came to an end. 


I cannot remember the subject of the speech. I did remember the bus ride home. Guess I always will.

MEMORIAL DAY 2012

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT GETTING OLDER IS---GETTING OLDER!!!!

ANOTHER GREAT THING ABOUT GETTING OLDER IS  BEING ABLE TO BETTER APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GUIDED, MOLDED, AND SHAPED OUR LIVES. 


OUR TEACHERS AND FELLOW STUDENTS WOULD BE HIGH ON ANY LIST. MOST OF OUR PCHS TEACHERS HAVE ANSWERED THE LAST ROLL CALL. SADLY, SOME OF OUR FELLOW CLASSMATES HAVE GRADUATED FROM THIS LIFE.

I AM THANKFUL TO ALMIGHTY GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SHARED FOUR YEARS, AND FOR SOME, 12 YEARS WITH YOU AND OUR DECEASED CLASSMATES.  


MEMORIAL DAY 2012 IS A FITTING DAY TO REMEMBER ALL OF OUR TEACHERS AND FELLOW CLASSMATES.

BOILED OKRA---A BIBLICAL SIN ??

Each region of the this great nation has their favorite food: Cajun, BBQ, Seafood, Chinese, Tex-Mex , etc.


Here in Oklahoma BBQ, Steaks, and New Year's Day special meal of black eyed peas, onions, cornbread, and mustard greens are considered foods of passage.

Oklahoma has the best fried catfish on the planet.Almost every garden has plants of OKRA. I can handle the deep fried and crisp pickled OKRA. I cannot stand boiled OKRA. It is slimy and nasty. Some say bread or tomatoes will make it better. No way Jose!!!           

Somewhere in God's Word there must be a verse that warns a person not to put anything in their mouth they cannot control!!!!!  


To illustrate the point:A woman threw a large uneaten pan of boiled OKRA into the air for two dogs to eat. All of it went down one dog's mouth and throat. The lucky dog turn to the other done and asked, "Has she tossed anything yet???????????"

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG !!!

In May we celebrated one year of this Blog. Interesting stats:


Posts:   119


Pages Viewed:  1906


Keep reading and I'll keep posting. Real good stuff coming.


Thanks to all!!!!


Glenn <><

EXTRA ! EXTRA ! EXTRA ! READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Brief Geography Lesson:  Find Shemya, Alaska on your computer. It is a 4 x 2 mile rock at the western most end of the Aleutian Islands. During WW II this small island was a major factor in defeating the Japanese during their 1942-43 occupation of some islands in the Aleutian chain.       

In 1967, I served a one-year remote, unaccompanied tour of duty on this treeless island that GI's simply called "The Rock." (We would tell newbies there was a pretty girl behind every tree!) My job was the most demanding, yet the most interesting I experienced in a 20 year career.

Satellite TV was still a dream. We did receive the Armed Forces Radio Network. Mail planes often could not land due to very high winds or fog so thick even Superman had to walk!We once went 6 weeks without a mail plane. ( Ditto a food plane. We eat a lot of frozen liver!  For old times sake, I am tempted to order liver and onions in a restaurant and tell the server to scrap off the liver!) Even in good flying conditions, newspapers  would be 10-20 days late. I missed the letters and newspapers more than the fresh food.

I received two newspapers: A free subscription to the Chicago Tribune and the North Vernon Plain Dealer. (I once tried to get a job with  editor/publisher Dick Mayer.) Maybe I was born a newspaper junkie. During 20 years of moving I have read most of daily papers from our major cities and many international editions. 
 
In spite of very little money, my Dad subscribed to the daily Louisville Courier-Journal and the two North Vernon weekly papers, until he and Mom moved to North Vernon. Even today, my brother buys the Columbus, Madison, North Vernon, and the Louisville newspapers for our almost 97 year old Dad. Maybe we have printers ink in our DNA! 

Every now and then everything seems to go just right. My evidence follows:


At 11pm, Shemya time, I met a high ranking DOD official at our mini base operations building. He immediately opened his brief case and gave me a Washington Post that had the current day's date on it. He  had left Washington, D.C. around midnight and as he prepared to board, he bought the early edition of the Washington Post. The flight to Seattle was on time; the flight to Anchorage was on time, and the flight to Shemya was on time. Because Shemya was 7 hours behind Washington, D. C. and perfect connection I held a newspaper with the current date on it!


For a few brief and wonderful moments I felt I was back home with my wife and special daughters. One was born while I was at Shemya. I saw her for the first time in mid-December when I had completed my one year of remote service.

ho bout them reds

WARNING FROM 80 YEAR OLD MAN !

An 80 year-old man in our church told me as I celebrated my 70th birthday, "When you get to 80 you will find everything either Drops, Drips or Droops!!!

Great Early History of Paris Crossing

Visit this site: http://www.ingenweb.org/injennings/pariscrossing.html

"GET UP PECK---WE GOT 'EM CORNERED!"

Ronnie Harrison

'Hello Country Bumpkin!"

As mentioned earlier, I was a very good friend with Leland Matthews. His father was serving as North Vernon postmaster during most of our PCHS years. As a result,he was well connected with members of the Indiana legislature. In fact, he was a former State Senator himself.


One Friday night Leland took me to the home of the State Senator. Mom and Dad were gone and the house was filled with teenagers, mostly from North Vernon. Leland's friend, son of the State Senator was very cordial and friendly. As we walked to the large living room the son pointed out Dad's stamp collection valued at over a million dollars. I was already impressed; however, this comment sealed the deal.


It was here I saw and heard my first Hi-Fi (Not stereo). Wow! What a sound. I clearly recall "Honey Comb" (Jimmy Rogers) was playing as we walked in. Leland introduced me around. For what ever reason an attractive girl came over and we chatted. Looking back, she must have thought I sounded like a visitor from another planet. I felt intimidated, but she was so pretty. I didn't care. She wanted to know where I went to school and how often I came to North Vernon.


She tried to help me dance. Didn't do bad on the slow songs---not so good on the fast songs. We sat and talked until the get together broke up around midnight. I saw no booze or any PDA. I never saw her again, but she is still in my "Country Bumpkin" head. When I hear "Honey Comb" today I recall that night. Maybe like "Slingblade" she liked the way I talked and I sure liked the way she looked!


(Sad Note: When Pat O'Conner was killed on the first lap of the 1958 Indy 500 things started downhill for this family. They had some business connections with Pat. Leland told me the stamp collection had to be sold and they even had to have their phone removed.)

PRODUCTS THAT WOWED ME !

During my Lovett and PCHS days many new products entered the market. Several had been invented years before but became available during our grade school and PCHS days. Here are five that stand out for me:




1. Saran Wrap.  This stuff was magic. I think this product was advertised on an early "Doctor" show. Maybe Ben Casey. I think my Mom only bought one roll. It was clingy and hard to handle. I still think it is magic


2. Papermate Ballpoint Pen.  This was introduced while in I was grade school. Cost was like $1.95 (Lots of money then) Never had to sharpen this wonder of wonders.


3. Portable Radio. The early ones were very large, but you could listen to your favorite radio station anywhere. I never had one until my Junior year at Purdue.


4. Kool-Aide. Before this miracle drink hit the store shelves, there was a Tang look-a-like sold by the Watkins Man in those funny looking station wagons. The Kool-Aide package cost $.05---just add sugar. Today there are over 100 flavors. Forty percent of Kool-Aide sales are to minorities.


5. Johnson Century 21 Closed Face Spinning Reel. The spinning reel was invented in France and were all open face---subject to all kinds of backlashes and line mess ups. This reel was the grandfather of the Zebco 33 and other closed face spinning reels.
This reel changed the way we fished the Great Graham Creek forever.


Our kids and grand children do not know how lucky they are!!!!

WALKING ON!

The Native American culture is vastly different from "white eyes" culture and each tribe or Nation differs from each other. This Post is not a critique of their long and rich tradition. Perhaps at another time I will give you more of my impressions, This Post deals with the way some tribes and Nation deal with death. There are about 200 tribes and/or Nations in Oklahoma. I am personally familiar with about 10 of them.


One Nation, The Citizens Potawatomi Nation lists obituaries in their newspaper under a heading---Walking On. I personally like that term because the Bible tells us that physical death is not the end.


Some of the more traditional tribes and/or Nations have funeral ceremonies without a church or chapel. Graves are for the most part all hand dug.


Many light a campfire from the time of death until the burial. A Wake can last a few hours or until the next sunrise. Some burials consist of what we would call a Christian service followed by an Indian ceremony.


When the body is placed in the grave, and Elder or Chief directs a cadre of men with shovels to start filling it in. Older men, women, and children are provided a handful of dirt from one of the shovels which they sprinkle into the grave.


Let me be very clear---some of the most Christ -like and dynamic Christians are Indians who have broken from the traditional Indian ways. I pastor several of those wonderful people.


There is much I do not understand. What I do understand is the stereotype of Indians is for the most part very, very wrong.

BREAKING NEWS: YOU DO NOT OWN TIME !!!

Special Springtime Wedding! V 2.0

(Note: This revision contains a validated true account)


THE REVISED AND TRUE ACCOUNT


I recently heard of a pastor who was on his way to a Friday night wedding rehearsal for a Saturday afternoon wedding. On his way he received a cell call from his brother who asked where he was going. The pastor told him about the wedding and rehearsal.


The brother remarked, "Will there be a rehearsal dinner?"
The pastor replied, "I sure hope so. I haven't eaten all day."


The brother continued, "You'll be eating those big ribs, big hams, fried chicken, biscuits and gravy; all the while I'll continue sipping on this day old coffee and eating this baloney sandwich."


The pastor tried gracefully to end the conversation and get on down the road. "See you later, have a great evening," said the pastor. He hung up before the brother could reply.


The wedding rehearsal started a bit late but went very, very well. The pastor had the rehearsal dinner upper most on his mind, make that his stomach.


After the rehearsal, the pastor went into the church's Fellowship Hall area and quickly saw there was no rehearsal dinner. After saying goodbye, he headed to the nearest McDonalds where he bought a big, dollar Dr. Pepper and a dollar double cheese burger. (When you pastor a rural church it is Chicken one week and Feathers the next. This was a Feathers week!)


The wedding on Saturday went very well. The bride was as pretty as a model on the cover of Bride Magazine. In fact, the pastor remarked that in several decades of ministry he had never seen a more beautiful bride! He further stated that she possessed a regal outward and inward beauty. 


What makes this wedding even more remarkable is at the end of the service the Bride's 2 year-old nephew drove a small battery operated car from the altar to the door with the sign "Just Married" on it and several Pepsi cans trailing behind!The pastor remarked that he had never seen anything like this before.


The Groom is a great fellow who somehow survived a previous disastrous marriage. His daughter and her two boys will make a solid Christ-centered home.


The pastor told several people at the wedding he was not a betting person, but if he were he would put the entire farm on the chances of this marriage making it.


 A TRUE ACCOUNT !!!!!

SPRING FEVER !!!!

SPRING FEVER




I’m not real sure where it all starts
Maybe in my brain, maybe in my heart


Nothing seems to lessen its wonderful impact
Giddy, lazy, nostalgic, how strange I do act


Why do I long for the outdoors, yet I want a nap
Flowers, fishing, baseball, just give me the map


Don’t call the doctor, I’m OK for sure
Thirty days of April is my only cure


----- Glenn C. Peck


(This time of year is tough on me. It was during this time of
the year when my cousins and I started fishing the Great Graham Creek in a serious fashion.  Fishing worms were easy to find; it was warm enough to seine the branches for minnows and crawdads; the farm crops were just coming up and we didn’t have much farming to do. I was saddened about 8 years ago when we were in Indiana and I bought a fishing license and associated fishing laws; the fish in the Great Graham Creek are not safe to eat. Runoffs from fields that have been sprayed with herbicides and plant growth fertilizer are the culprit. Some of you know who is responsible for this.


Robert Redford’s “A River Runs Through It” was great. If I made a movie, it would be “The Great Graham Creek Runs Through Me” One of my deepest regrets is my grandchildren do not have an opportunity to have the same great growing up experiences that I had. Maybe God let me eat dessert first!


Just a little reflection and I can hear the Rain Crows (actually mourning doves) in the day and the whippoorwills at night. The smell of honey suckle blooms and the melody of frogs at night were part of who I was and who I am.


The night sky was the best of all. City lights have limited my observing. Dark observing sites are rapidly disappearing.  Meteors streaking through the sky (sometimes called Falling Stars) made my heart to race and to feel the power of a Thrice Holy God.)


Thunder outside my 9 year old grand daughter’s bedroom reminds me I am in Oklahoma. I love Oklahoma, but miss Indiana this time of year. Sure do miss my Mother also.


PS: My NOAA Weather Radio just sounded an alarm!

Oh, Brother Where Art Thou?

In the USAF we had an expression that we used to describe why something had not been done--OBE. Translated: Overcome By Events.


The Blog has been silent for several weeks: I have had two funerals and two weddings. I got the income taxes done 1 1/2 hours before the Post Office closed. Arranged for Home Health Care to come help my wife. End of year school activities (3 schools) and arranged for a new weekly house keeper to help me with the washing. And rural church to pastor. Not complaining or whining. Just telling it like it is.

You life may be just as hectic--but God will provide Grace for the journey.


Will do better.  I promise!

DICK CLARK---Rock 'N Roll Pied Piper Dead at 82

DICK CLARK'S IMPACT ON ROCK 'N ROLL CANNOT BE OVER STATED.  HIS DEATH YESTERDAY HAS BEEN WIDELY AND ACCURATELY DESCRIBED BY EVERY TV STATION.  AS A RESULT,I WILL TELL ONE DICK CLARK STORY I REMEMBER FROM MANY YEARS AGO:

Dick Clark has often been called the World's Oldest Teenager. He was asked by a TV reporter what he did to remain so young looking. Dick replied, "I have it in my contract that the camera must back up another foot after each of my birthdays."

Dick Clark----R. I.  P.

TV Questions That Still Bug Me !

Inquiring Minds Want To Know:

1. Did Howdy Doody pull some strings to get

WELL, IT COULD HAPPEN !

Kings Island is probably a place known to all readers of the Blog. What follows is an extraordinary account told by one of the Nation's best known evangelist. I have heard the story three times in person.

My evangelist friend, Ernie, and wife Wanda were spending a day at the park which is just north and east of Cincinnati. After waiting in line for two hours they finally got to board the coaster that makes a complete loop of 360 degrees. After much pleading, Ernie got Wanda to sit in the first coaster car.

This part of the story must be understood before going on. In the middle 70's women wore wigs of all shapes and colors. Wanda had a wig on this fateful day.

 The ride came to the loop. Wanda and Ernie were in the first car and was upside down when Wanda's wig fell off into the trailing cars that had not started the loop. Ernie claims a fellow yelled out , "A Head ! A Head!!!" Another rider shouted out," Somebody has been decapitated!"

After hearing the part about someone being decapitated, another rider (probably from Kentucky) yelled out, "Yeah, somebody has had their head cut off too!!!!"

IMITATION MAY NOT BE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY

I recently discovered several sites have lifted portions of my Posts and inserted them as their own. Because my Blog is not Password protected, there is no way to stop this.


Please check the URL of any Posts claiming to be from me. You can forward a single Post or the entire Blog to others without any problem


Somewhat Related topic: In Grad school, my major professor said when one student steals from another it is call Plagiarism. When one student steals from several others it is call a Term Paper. When a students steals from over 50 others it is called a Thesis!!!!!

"It's Friday, But Sunday Is Acomin'" ---Black Preacher

Dr. Tony Campello wrote a book by that title; he used the title from a sermon preached by his black pastor.

MY UNOFFICIAL HISTORY OF ROCK 'N ROLL: Introduction Part 1

There are hundreds of books and thousands of Internet sites that chronicle the history of Rock 'N Roll. My Posts will deal with the subject from a PCHS student's perspective. The Class of 1959 experienced the birth and the Golden 1955-1959 years.  As I have remarked before: "I was there when it happened and I guess I oughta know."


This introduction starts in a plain, unpainted,cinder block hamburger joint in McKinney, KY. The only teen hangout in McKinney was owned by a second cousin (Dad's side) and a first cousin (Mom's side) was one of his best customers. My first cousin provided this account of what happened when Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" 45RPM was placed on the nickle a play Juke Box. 


By the second day, the record was no longer intelligible! The groves were worn smooth. This is a real example of the impact of a single song upon the youth of America. Rock 'N Roll was born (Most music historians agree with my assertion.) Alan Freed an East Coast DJ, coined the term "Rock 'N Roll." (More about Freed in later Posts)


I heard the song a couple of times on the radio before attending a 4-H Youth Camp in Versailles, IN. The night time recreation was dancing (if you can call it that) to Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock." The song was electric, exciting and seemed to say how we felt but could never tell anyone, especially, our parents. 


In addition to the mesmerizing impact of the song, I was smitten by a pretty, very, very pretty girl from a North Vernon 4-H Club. She had a heart-melting smile, dark brown eyes that seemed to twinkle when she winked, and an inviting low voice that resonated on my heart strings. She had the grace and charm every 14 year old boy dreamed about. Did I mention she was several years ahead of her female peers in physical development? Hollywood can put a glow around the leading lady. For one magical week,I saw the glow around her!


After camp was over, we exchanged a few letters and both of us turned Life's page and continued our road to adulthood.



 The next part of the Introduction will answer the question: "Why did Rock 'N Roll burst upon the American scene during our PCHS days?"

east

east

NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKN' ABOUT !!!!!!!!!

Class of 1959,You Are the Greatest !!!!!!!!!!!


Thanks to all for the response to my plea for help.


Hello, to all new readers. You can jump into the Posts anywhere or you can start at the oldest and read forward. As I have mentioned in other Posts, the Blog is in a very large way autobiographical. The topics covered are many and varied. 


We have a saying out here on the Prairie: "Come see us; we'll treat you so many different ways you are bound to like one of them!!!!! The Blog is in that same spirit.


NOTE: THE FIRST PERSON TO EMAIL ME AT ke5gk@sbcglobal.net WILL RECEIVE A NICE OKLAHOMA GIFT. I' LL EMAIL THE WINNER BACK AND GET A MAILING ADDRESS.


There is an old Ernest Tubb recording that expresses my gratitude: "Thanks, Thanks A Lot." 

HELP! HELP! I NEED YOUR HELP! NEED MORE BLOG VISITORS!

I NEED YOUR HELP! 


Please email; telephone; text message; Skype; Messenger; snail mail;smoke signals; beat the jungle drums; flash a mirror; semaphore flag; telegraph; or even put a note in an empty Nehi orange pop bottle, seal with a cork, and drop in into the Graham Creek and let others know of our Blog. Otherwise, I may be forced to start permitting advertisement on the Blog to keep it on the Internet.


I certainly do not want to be known as the classmate who hustled "Lose 40 ponds before 4pm!", "Buy secondhand Gold and save",", "Get your PhD in a weekend", "Wake up feeling 17 again." etc. etc.


Please help me maintain my dignity and honor by getting the word out about 


www.hallpasspchs1959.blogspot.com


Thank you again for helping me.


The Roots of Rock N Roll will start very soon!

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 !!!