I made a mistake when I said I was transferred to the Cadyville School. I actually went back to the parochial school and had my class changed to a different nun teacher.
Now I want to post a bit about my recent experiences. I have been a member of RV Dreams Community Forum since 2009 if my memory serves me right. Recently some folks I correspond with had joined about 18 months back. I was moved to tears last evening as I read about the health dillemma of the husband. Yes; we are getting older and something like this hits home as I had to do the same in August 2012.
We are survivors though as we will do what needs to be done to have some enjoyment of our final years of life! The question that came to mind was: "How come when one's mind feels so young; that the body has to wear out; ot vice-versa?"
I was diagnosed in July of 2013 with Congestive Heart Failure; Death of the left ventricle heart muscle-(Cardiomyopathy); Angina; lack of fresh oxygenated blood returning to my body properly-(Ischemia); and possible bronchitis and emphysema-(COPD). Survivor of an Acute ST elevated Myocardial Infarction-(Severe heart attack); there was nothing so damned CUTE about it! I smoked cigareetes ( The Marlboro Man & Joe Camel had a big influence on Me!!! Also Smoking in the Boy's Room was cool back then. Also after joining Uncle Sam's Army; I took up drinking alcohol--got a degree in it--; LOL! I was 20 and 37 by the time I quit. You wern't a man if you didn't drink with your Army buds!!!
Quitting the alcohol was a challenge as I stopped for over 7 years; then went on a binge for 4 months before I finally stopped for good; don't think the thought of a "Cold One" doesn't exist now; but it's iced tea or lemon aid.
Is CHF-(Lipid Blockages) a death sentence!! The Name of it sure sounds like it, Was told it was also known as Coronary Artery Disease-(Hyperlipidemia) high tryglycerides; and Hardening of the Arteries-(Smoking).
Now for the cigarettes; I tried unsucessfully four times that I recollect; may have been more. Finally the heart attack quelled that the 30th of March; that morning I had the last two drags on them "Coffin Nails". I had been told by many including a boss when I was 15; "Those THINGS will add to the "Nails" in your Coffin"; Eddie!! I laughed then; but he wasn't joking!!
It can be very easy to slip back into them old habits as I like being around people and more have these habits than the one's who don't. Like Kenny Rogers song; The Gambler; "you have to know when to hold 'em; know when to fold 'em; know when to "Walk away and know when to run"!!!
Where was I going with this; sometimes I believe I suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also. OMG; the Maladies we suffer.
This is it: I wanted to share about the "new to me" 1996 Western Rec. Vehicle "DREAMER" 5th wheel Camper I bought. It is 34' long has a super slide with the dining table and a queen hide-a-bed sofa. Also a smaller slide in the Master Bedroom. Did I say Camper; this is a home on wheels. Previously I owned a tent; truck camper; travel trailers and two Van Campers-Cl-C's one 21' and then the last was a 26 footer.
This is super for a guy who will have his last years in a bit of luxury before I have to meet with my Creator; not the Grim Reaper!!! "I believe I worked in some very lousy low paying jobs with some very unapreciative 'Greedy employers' and this is the way "MY GOD" gave me a nicer place to live with some very kind and caring people!"
This is the end of another chapter!!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Monday, December 30, 2013
The Adventures of a Modern Day Tom Sawyer!
The title of this post says it all and Mark Twain; AKA Samuel Clemons inspired me with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huck Finn at the time I was maybe 7 or 8 yrs old. I believe that some of my schenanigans and pranks were learned from these books. Too bad I didn't pay more attention in my schools years; maybe I would have become more than a Jack-Of-Trades.
This prelude will give you an overview of my early child hood years; and maybe all the way to my present age of 62. I will do my best not to bore you and hopefully this will be entertaining as well.
I was born in the hospital in the Champlain Valley of New York State surrounded by the Adirondack mountains to the South and West. We lived outside the city limits of Plattsburgh near a community called Morrisonville. My parents had bought some six acres of land in the 1930's and built a small building which would serve as shelter while working on the three bedroom one story, with an attic which would become two bedrooms as the family became larger. These were the Great Depression years which made it hard to acquire any financing for such an endeavor.
In 1933 my first brother Harry was born; then a sister; Marjorie in Jan. 1935; James in April 1940; Lyle in Dec. 1942; John (Jack) in Sept. 1944 and finally the runt; July 1951! I was the youngest and believed to be the most spoiled and picked on. When I was born my Mother said; "What a treasure" Dad said; "Yes; Let's taske and bury it!". This is just some of the cruel stuff my brothers mouthed to me!
My Mom worked for the local vegetable farm and orchard after I was born; my sister took over the rearing of me. The women knew all the "Fun Stuff" back when, no man was going to get into those chores!
I really don't remember my early years too much until about the time I was five. I remember waking up one night; believing that a mountain lion bit my big toe. I came down stairs crying and was afraid to go back to bed. Come to find out it was our family house cat that did it! LOL! Later on my wife seen me wiggle my toes while I was sleeping. Another time; we went on a ferry boat across Lake Champlain; I seen some pigeons and ran trying to catch one and stumbled and skinned my chin and hands.
I started Kindergarten when I was six in September of 1957 in the town of Cadyville which was about 7 miles west of the homestead. The teachers name was Mrs. Avril; this was glorified baby-sitting and if you were bad she would paddle you as my brothers warned me. I can't recall being paddled; but I do know it seemed we had a lot of nap time. Guess she didn't like us making messes with water paints and clay.
A new parochial school was being built and I was transferred to it starting the next school year. It was ran by the local Catholic church's nuns. The boys used to secretly call them "penguins"; pertaining to the garbs they wore. I was made to wear black shoes; except for gym or recess; we also had white shirts and blue pants and suit jackets with a little blue bow tie. You can just imagine how I felt about this and my brothere rubbed it in until I was in tears. Begged my parents to go back to Cadyville; but they would have no part of it. I really thought I was a bad kid as the Sunday Pastor and the nuns said; "You are going to Hell; if you don't tow the line!"
I had my first squabbles there and in the 2nd or third grade this nun decided she didn't like it cause I wrote upside-down and left handed (southpaw). She kept putting my pencil in the right hand and soon as she turned her back I would put it back to my left. She then would smack me on the back of my hand, and belittle me saying out loud she could not read my writing in front of the class. I felt like a jerk!
By the time I reached the sixth yr. and was held back I believed I was a real bad kid as one day I was up at the blackboard and told to work out a math problem. I was having trouble and told the teacher (NUN) that I couldn't do it. She grabbed my left hand holding the chalk; put it in my right hand and sternly said you will stand here in front of the class until you solve the problem. Told her I can not do it; She grabbed my left hand and slammed my fingers into the board head on. I must have blacked out. The next I knew she was lying on the floor. The students clapped thier hands! I was expelled and put back to Cadyville grade school; and thought I should have acted up sooner. Really; I felt terrible that this happened and my parents were not to pleased either! My fingers on my right hand were bruised black and purple and the nails had white spots. I believe this is why I was only grounded for two weeks; come home and do homework, no watching TV, no outside activities and to bed early.
This is the end of the first page
This prelude will give you an overview of my early child hood years; and maybe all the way to my present age of 62. I will do my best not to bore you and hopefully this will be entertaining as well.
I was born in the hospital in the Champlain Valley of New York State surrounded by the Adirondack mountains to the South and West. We lived outside the city limits of Plattsburgh near a community called Morrisonville. My parents had bought some six acres of land in the 1930's and built a small building which would serve as shelter while working on the three bedroom one story, with an attic which would become two bedrooms as the family became larger. These were the Great Depression years which made it hard to acquire any financing for such an endeavor.
In 1933 my first brother Harry was born; then a sister; Marjorie in Jan. 1935; James in April 1940; Lyle in Dec. 1942; John (Jack) in Sept. 1944 and finally the runt; July 1951! I was the youngest and believed to be the most spoiled and picked on. When I was born my Mother said; "What a treasure" Dad said; "Yes; Let's taske and bury it!". This is just some of the cruel stuff my brothers mouthed to me!
My Mom worked for the local vegetable farm and orchard after I was born; my sister took over the rearing of me. The women knew all the "Fun Stuff" back when, no man was going to get into those chores!
I really don't remember my early years too much until about the time I was five. I remember waking up one night; believing that a mountain lion bit my big toe. I came down stairs crying and was afraid to go back to bed. Come to find out it was our family house cat that did it! LOL! Later on my wife seen me wiggle my toes while I was sleeping. Another time; we went on a ferry boat across Lake Champlain; I seen some pigeons and ran trying to catch one and stumbled and skinned my chin and hands.
I started Kindergarten when I was six in September of 1957 in the town of Cadyville which was about 7 miles west of the homestead. The teachers name was Mrs. Avril; this was glorified baby-sitting and if you were bad she would paddle you as my brothers warned me. I can't recall being paddled; but I do know it seemed we had a lot of nap time. Guess she didn't like us making messes with water paints and clay.
A new parochial school was being built and I was transferred to it starting the next school year. It was ran by the local Catholic church's nuns. The boys used to secretly call them "penguins"; pertaining to the garbs they wore. I was made to wear black shoes; except for gym or recess; we also had white shirts and blue pants and suit jackets with a little blue bow tie. You can just imagine how I felt about this and my brothere rubbed it in until I was in tears. Begged my parents to go back to Cadyville; but they would have no part of it. I really thought I was a bad kid as the Sunday Pastor and the nuns said; "You are going to Hell; if you don't tow the line!"
I had my first squabbles there and in the 2nd or third grade this nun decided she didn't like it cause I wrote upside-down and left handed (southpaw). She kept putting my pencil in the right hand and soon as she turned her back I would put it back to my left. She then would smack me on the back of my hand, and belittle me saying out loud she could not read my writing in front of the class. I felt like a jerk!
By the time I reached the sixth yr. and was held back I believed I was a real bad kid as one day I was up at the blackboard and told to work out a math problem. I was having trouble and told the teacher (NUN) that I couldn't do it. She grabbed my left hand holding the chalk; put it in my right hand and sternly said you will stand here in front of the class until you solve the problem. Told her I can not do it; She grabbed my left hand and slammed my fingers into the board head on. I must have blacked out. The next I knew she was lying on the floor. The students clapped thier hands! I was expelled and put back to Cadyville grade school; and thought I should have acted up sooner. Really; I felt terrible that this happened and my parents were not to pleased either! My fingers on my right hand were bruised black and purple and the nails had white spots. I believe this is why I was only grounded for two weeks; come home and do homework, no watching TV, no outside activities and to bed early.
This is the end of the first page
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