Great Memories

          The end of February and beginning of March bring back many great memories of things that were an exciting part of my life during these months in my earlier years - and I'm not talking about things like shoveling snow.
          The special memories all started during a late afternoon administrative meeting at school.  At the close of the meeting I was with the Assistant Superintendent who was also the Chief Administrator of the PIAA District 3.  He was sharing with some of the other men that he had just learned that he needed a time keeper to run the scoreboard and clock at a basketball playoff doubleheader that night at the Farm Show in Harrisburg.  He turned to me and asked me if I would be able to help him out.  Now I had never done that before but I quickly volunteered.  It wasn't long until a team of five of us from the administrative unit were on our way to the Farm Show to run the doubleheader - a scorer, a timer, an announcer, a ticket taker and the game director.
        What I didn't realize then was that this would be the start of about a 30 year experience.  During those early years we had games at the "Barn", as we called it, almost every night - sometimes even triple headers and often four on Saturdays.  It was fun to watch the games, although some, especially girls games in those days, were very boring and at times it was even hard to keep awake especially after a long day of teaching.  And that was dangerous especially since I was responsible for running the game clock - I may have even missed a few seconds here and there.  I especially enjoyed watching Carlisle and York Catholic teams play during their great years when they both won several district and state championships.  Jeff Lebo and Billy Owens were two of my favorite players.

          One night I had to fill in as scorekeeper for a regional elimination game.  Actually I preferred that job.  Before the game the officials came to me and asked me if I knew that with two technicals a player would be eliminated from the game.  I never knew that and thought it was strange that they would tell me that.  In those years hanging on the rim was an automatic technical foul.  Would you believe that twice Lebanon's seven foot future NBA player Sam Bowie hung on the rim and was charged with a technical.  I had to summon the officials that he had to leave the game.  We got booed and had things, including soda, thrown at us.  Not a fun experience that night.
         But my worst experience came during a District 3 elimination game between Red Lion and Steelton-Highspire.  At the close of the game Steel-High was leading by one point when a Red Lion player went to shoot and was fouled just as the time ran out and the horn sounded.  Good officials quickly make the call at the end of the game, but these officials didn't.  Instead they came to the table and asked me if the foul was before or after time ran out.  That never should have been my call.  I finally said I thought the foul was before the horn sounded and that was the call they then made.  It was actually a one and one foul situation and the Red Lion player went to the foul line and calmly sank both free throws to win the game and eliminate Steel High from the play-offs.  The Steel- High crowd behind me was angry and things were thrown at us and on the floor.  We were escorted out for our safety.  Then the next day in the Harrisburg Patriot News the sports writer said the decision was made by Barry Kauffman of Millersville and not the officials.  I expected the worst was yet to come from those fans who now knew my name and where I lived, but thankfully nothing more ever did happen.
          However, one good thing did come out of that experience.  The Executive Director of the PIAA was there that night.  Later he came to me and said that I made the correct call.  He was impressed with my work and asked if I would consider being the official statistician for the state basketball championships at Hershey.  I was thrilled to do that and readily accepted.  And so for 25 years I filled that position at both the Hershey Arena and the Giant Center for eight state finals each March.  I was also allowed to hire an assistant whose main job was to work with the press.  So for most of those years one of my sons worked with me and these are memories that will never be forgotten.  Often my wife and others saw us on television. We saw great games, famous college coaches who were there to scout, and great players.  We saw future NBA players such as Kobe Bryant.  And we were treated royally by the PIAA and Hershey.  It was a first class operation.  
         Unfortunately this ended when Penn State decided to donate its facilities and staff at State College and the PIAA saw a way to cut expenses.  And so for me that was the end after 25 years.  But the timing may have been good because it was getting harder for me to do all the stats and the stress was increasing.  It is interesting that the move to State College only lasted a few years until the PIAA realized that Hershey was actually a better location and moved back.  But by that time the PIAA leadership had also changed and I was not invited back.
          But I do miss the excitement.  I also miss the friendships that I had with the team of men who traveled and worked many games together.  Actually I lasted longer doing games than any of the others.  Two of them have now passed away, one has dementia and the third moved away.  Even though it has now been at least 16 years since being involved, each February and March the memories stir and my mind goes back to those fun times.

          

Anxiety

         Anxiety - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome,  a nervous disorder characterized by a state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension.
          Anxiety is something that we all experience at one time or another.  Sometimes it is actually a good thing, often it is not.  But some of us experience it more often than others and it can wear on us and even affect things like our attitude and our health.  Sometimes it is hard for some of us to control.
         I will admit, as many of you already know, it is something that I battle with regularly in my life, even though I know it is wrong.  And it has been an extra tough battle for me the last several months as I've gone through surgeries and faced some very serious health problems.  It is my problem and I won't blame my mother, but maybe we shared the same worry gene, if that even exists.
          Besides talking to my doctors about it, the best help that I receive is talking to the Lord and spending time in his Word.  In case you experience the same problem, here are some scripture reminders that can be a great help in times of anxiety.
        *  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."   Philippians 4:6-7.
          * "O my people, trust in him at all times.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge."   Psalm 62:8.
         *  "Look at the birds.  They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?"  Matthew 6:26-27.
         * "Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."  1 Peter 5:7.
         * "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'"  Matthew 11:28-30.
         Many years ago our Pastor, Rudy Gehman, died suddenly.  At his funeral the Pastor's Quartet sang a song that I had never heard before and have seldom heard since.  But it has become one of my personal favorites.

(1)   Is there a heart o'erbound by sorrow?
Is there a life weighed down by care?
Come to the cross, each burden bearing—
All your anxiety, leave it there.

Refrain:

All your anxiety, all your care,

Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there;

Never a burden He cannot bear,

Never a friend like Jesus!

(2)   No other friend so keen to help you,

No other friend so quick to hear;

No other place to leave your burden,

No other one to hear your prayer.    Refrain

(3)    Come then at once, delay no longer!

Heed His entreaty kind and sweet;

You need not fear a disappointment,

You shall find peace at the mercy seat.   Refrain

If you don't know it, you can listen to it here.   LISTEN

        I'm not sure why I wrote this particular blog, but if you, too, have a problem with anxiety, maybe these verses and this hymn will be a help and encouragement to you as well.

Cards of Encouragement

        Sending greeting cards by snail mail is a lost art.  It can be expensive.  But it is a ministry that my wife has maintained over the years.  She sends dozens of birthday, get well, sympathy and encouragement cards on a regular basis throughout the year.  And people are so appreciative of this personal attention and they often go out of their way to thank us.          
          Now I've never really looked for cards for myself, but after my recent surgery and ten day stay in the hospital, I have really enjoyed receiving them, especially those which have included personal messages.  Actually I received over 50 of them and some of the messages were really encouraging.  Here are some of the card messages that stood out to me.          
         "A quiet heart, a little rest, a lot of getting well.  It's just what the Father ordered!  Praying you'll soon be well.         
          "Relax, Nap, Recharge, Sleep, Let God renew you today."  I have been doing that.  "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak"  Isaiah 40:29 (NIV).          "There's no safer place than the palm of God's hand; with peace as our shelter, we rest in His plan.  Though trials may try us we've learned what is true - with wisdom and grace He will carry us through."         
          "Is there a prayer my heart can say for someone who's in need today?  I'll ask for grace before His throne, for this is how God keeps His own."  "Let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive His mercy and to find grace in our times of need."  Hebrews 4:16.          
          "May the hands that formed the earth touch your body and heal it.  May the breath that moved over the waters fill your soul with life.  May the heart that sacrificed to save you surround your heart with comfort.  May knowing that you are in the hands of an all-powerful, all-loving God bring you peace."  "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."  Isaiah 40:29  (NIV)
          "The One who created you, knit you together, who knows you and all of your ways '... will surely be near with His healing and love as you go through these difficult days.  May God heal your body and lift your spirit as only He can."          
          Now while most of my cards had serious messages like these, there were a few which made me smile - and I needed that.  Here is one.  "I told your doctor you'd recover faster in Maui.  I'm pretty sure he's considering it.  Get well soon."  Now that would be a great idea.
          Then I really appreciated five cards that I received from our five Awana clubs.  Most had messages of clubbers praying for me and missing me. But there were two that made me chuckle.  One Chum wrote "Don't give up, I'll pray for you!  God is with you."   At times it is easy to think about giving up, but I'm not.  The other cute one came from one of the Guards.  "My friend had a hole in his heart, He got better and I know you will get better too!"   Now that is encouraging.  I guess a hole in your heart is much worse than what I have experienced.          
          Now I appreciated all the cards but the one that I loved the most was the first one which I received from my granddaughter, Lexie.  She loves to make cards and she delivered one to me in the hospital.    On the outside it says "Get Well Soon".  On the inside it says "Dear Pop Pop, I'm praying for you.  Get well soon.  Love, Lexie"  And that card I will keep and treasure.          
           Now I don't know about others, but I have learned to appreciate the prepared messages and especially the personal comments.  For two weeks I looked forward to getting mail each day and opening my cards.  But then, alas,  they've stopped coming.  I just hope the prayers didn't stop as well.

                    

          

My Evaluation

           I've often wanted to do reviews of various programs and facilities but, with the exception of covering sports over the years, I've never really had the opportunity to do so, at least publicly.  But after my recent ten day stay for surgery in the Lancaster General Hospital I think I'll take the opportunity to do so. So what it is worth, here goes.

          PARKING - B  Normally it is very good and convenient with the James St. Garage.  But this time, because the fourth floor was not cleared of snow, parking was often very hard to find, especially later in the day.   And for some reason they closed entrance to the lot about 10 pm.  When I had a sudden problem my wife was able to get in just as it was closing, but a few minutes later it was closed to my son who had to return home.  So what do you do if a family member develops an emergency when the lot is closed?

          ADMISSION - A    No problem at all.  They took me when I got there and within 15 minutes I was already in a pre-op bed. No waiting. Nurses were friendly and helpful. 

          SURGICAL NURSES -  A   They were efficient, kind and helped - put you at ease.  They respected how nervous I was and did all that they could to calm me and explain what was happening.  Those in the ICU, especially John, were outstanding.  All they were missing was a nurse named Matthew.  While I was awake I had Mark, Luke and then John assigned to me, in that order.

           ROOM NURSES - B+   This is a hard one to evaluate fairly because I did have a number of excellent nurses assigned to me once I was placed in a regular room.  The problem was that generally they changed every 8 to 12 hours and seldom did I have the same nurse a second time.  But I did have some very exceptional, caring ones and that was a highlight of my stay. Fortunately they made up for a couple who lacked good bedside manners and didn't seem to want to be there. I also had a number of student nurses and it was difficult to evaluate them since they were in a variety of training stages.  The only real complaint was that sometimes it took too long to summon a nurse with the call bell when you needed something like going to the bathroom.  But I assume that each had a heavy load and were busy helping others.

          FOOD -  C  Now this is a tough one to evaluate since I had no appetite during my stay and because they put me on limited diets.  In fact, I lost nearly 20 pounds during those ten days.  There were numerous choices I could make, most of the time.  But when the food appeared - 7:30, 11:30 and 4:30 - I usually wasn't hungry yet and the smell turned me off.  Often it was returned, uneaten, except for the fruit bowls and cereal.  I did enjoy the cereal but there was so little of it and they would not allow me to have it for lunch or supper.  However, a few kind nurses did find some for me a few times.  Even the coffee and tea did not taste good to me, but that might have been because of the Lancaster water.  We only drink bottled distilled water at home so that makes a big difference.

          ROOM - D    Now let me clarify this. The pre-op room and ICU room were fine.  The fact that I had private rooms was excellent.  But the room that I spent most of my time in was terrible.  It was small.  It was poorly designed.  There was only a very small window that was blocked and if you could have seen out you would have seen another wall. The only times that I could see the weather was when they took me for tests.  It was very inconvenient for visitors.  I felt like a prisoner there.  In fact, a few nights when I was in bed and not able to sleep I felt like the walls were actually pushing in on me.  I was told that many of the rooms in that unit were even worse.  But it was cleaned regularly.  I think the room added much to the boredom that I faced much of the time there.

          DISCHARGE - D     As in my previous stays there the discharge procedure was very slow.  It came several hours after the last doctor told me that I could go home and signed off on me.  In fact, while we waited and waited, the evening meal was even delivered.  After I pushed the issue a few times, a different nurse came and quickly went through things.  It was obvious that she had other things on her mind such as talking to her boss about her schedule.  But, finally about 6:15, we were ushered out to the car.

          If any major surgery can be a good experience, than I would say in summary that my LGH experience was fine.  I hope that I never have to go back again, but if I did, LGH would still be my choice.

From My Heart

          Life changes quickly and unexpectedly.  It's good we don't know what lies before us. We just need to trust the Lord for each moment of our lives.
         For a few years I just haven't felt right.  Numerous tests, visits to doctors and specialists, and even two back surgeries did not seem to find the cause.  I really began to think that it was a mental issue.  I did not enjoy being with folks and probably wasn't always a friendly guy to be around.
          Several months ago I began to have burning across my chest.  We felt it was coming from my arthritis.  I spent much time with a heating pad and tylenol.  One Sunday afternoon this returned, along with increased blood pressure, so we headed for the emergency room.  There they did all the normal tests for heart attacks and didn't find anything wrong.  They released me with the suggestion that I should talk to my family doctor and possibly have a stress test since it had been six years since my last one.
          Two of my family doctors didn't think I had a heart problem, especially since all my EKG's were fine and I didn't have typical symptoms.  But they sent me to my cardiologist who said the same thing.  In fact he felt my problem was more likely anxiety and he suggested some things to help with this.  But to be safe he sent me for an echo and a chemical stress test.
         I had both tests on a Friday and they sent me home thinking all was fine.  But on Monday I received a call that I needed to come back right away since there were some "minor" problems.  I saw another cardiologist who also felt that my heart was fine but recommended a heart cath just to be sure.
          So the Tuesday after the record snow fall we headed to the hospital for the heart cat. I thought that maybe I would need a stent which they would do at the same time.  However, when they concluded the cath I was told that I would need to see the heart surgeons since I had numerous blockages.  I needed major open heart surgery.  We were stunned.  They wanted to send me home until I could schedule with the surgeons but we felt that might be too dangerous.  So they admitted me.  Several hours later I was told that they could do the surgery the next morning.  They said there was a 99% of success since my heart appeared to be in good shape.  I didn't want to go home to worry about it so I told them to go ahead.
          On Wednesday I had about four hours of surgery.  They broke my breastbone and at some time had me connected to a heart and lung machine.  They ended up doing five bypasses.  They brought me back over a six hour period and I don't recall any of that time.  I was moved to ICU where I stayed for a day.
           Then recovery began and I was doing fine until I developed a rhythm problem which they say happens in about 30% of such surgeries.  So  my time was filled by nurses taking vitals and introduction of new meds.  It was very discouraging and boring.  Then when they felt I was stabilized and they were getting ready to send me home, my heart decided to act up once again - for three hours.  So they kept me two more days for more meds, vitals and observation.  But, finally, after ten days, I was allowed to go home.
          Now I will share more about my continual  recovery in future blogs, but so far it has been a real challenge, including  a problem with a mistake in medications, new pains and some unexpected difficult side effects, including numbness, pain and weakness in my left hand and arm.  This has also been discouraging and an MRI might be needed in a few weeks.
          I believe that the Lord is in control and we have spent many hours with Him during this time.  And I believe that He allows these things to happen to teach us lessons we need to learn.  Unfortunately, I still don't know what lesson is being taught this time.  But I know that someday I will know.
         I have, however, been reminded of the value of prayer and friendships.  I have been touched by the many who have praying and the many cards of encouragement which I have received.  Please don't quit - we need your prayers and encouragement now as much as ever.

"Snowed" By God's Provision

          The snow began falling Friday night.  The predictions were 10 to 16 inches.  By Saturday morning it fell faster - 16 to 20 inches now predicted.  But by the afternoon the intensity increased and the winds came.  When we got up Sunday morning we found 30 inches of drifting snow.  It turned out to be the all time record for one snowfall in our area.

       It was beautiful but we were snowed in.  I was scheduled for a heart cath on Tuesday and we didn't know how we were ever going to get out.  With my potential problems and Dianne's pacemaker we couldn't use our shovels or our good snow blower.  We had somebody who had promised to come but he wasn't equipped to handle this much snow and we never heard from him at all.  I felt helpless but we did the one thing that we could - we prayed about it.
          Later Sunday morning Dianne looked out front and saw somebody digging  a path up our driveway.  It turned out that it was our neighbor, Tom.  He lives next door with his girlfriend and we didn't know him well enough to ask for his help.  But he was coming to see if we were all right.  I yelled to him and asked if he would be willing to use our snow blower to at least clear enough of our drive to get our car out of the garage and to the street.  He was willing to do that and soon we at least had a way to get to the street, if it didn't drift shut.  I paid him and thanked him for being an answer to prayer.
           On Monday we still needed some of the drifting snow removed as well as what the township plow had dropped at the end of our drive.  And with only half the drive open there was no way we could get our second car out if we had to.  Dianne decided to try and use the snow blower to clear some of it.  I went along with her to help her with instructions.  But it just wasn't working.  It was too much snow for her to handle.           
           But then we saw another neighbor appear with a small Bobcat. Suddenly he was in our drive and was clearing the other half of the drive which included drifts.  When he was done he stopped and we met Doug, a single man who owns a tree service.  He had just moved in and we had never meet him before.  He had brought a Bobcat home to clear his steep drive.  He wouldn't take anything for his work and we reminded him that he, too, was an answer to prayer.
          Two problems remained - getting to our mailbox and getting our second car dug out with a path to our propane tank.  Later that day answer number three appeared.  Our one neighbor has a steep drive which a snow blower and the Bobcat were not able to clear because of the steepness and amount of snow.  But an area contractor showed up with his plow to help them and he also dug out our mailbox enough that the postman could get to it.  Answer number three.
           The worst was taken care of, but a day or two later my son Ken stopped by from work and dug out our second car and a path to the tank.  The Lord took care of it all for us.
          And so, once again we have seen the faithfulness of the Lord in our lives.  I didn't realize at the time how serious my heart problems really were.  If I had tried to do it I probably wouldn't have been here to write this blog today.
         God is good - all the time.

Influences

          It was seven years ago this morning that I found my father, apparently moments after the Lord had taken him home.  It was an experience that I will never forget yet one that the Lord had prepared me for.  And in the weeks ahead, as the Executor of his estate, I learned so many things I hadn't known about the life he had lived.
          Now I knew there were many things that my father and I had in common.   We had both taught math in high school and college.  We both graduated from Susquehanna University.  We both earned our Masters Degrees. We both served on CMBC Boards and on Berean Bible School/Pinebrook Jr. College Boards and on Elder Boards.  We both served as Financial Secretary and Sunday School Superintendent of our church. 
          But there were a number of things that we had in common that I didn't really know completely when he was alive.  For example, I didn't know that he also used to write for newspapers when he was younger.  In fact we both had at one time been employed by the Sunbury Daily Item.  Now my writing for newspapers lasted many more years, probably about 35, but it was something that we had in common.
          Dad also was a pioneer in that he was the first person in our denomination who was allowed to play football in college.  His stepfather pastor allowed him to do this despite the fact that such a thing was frowned upon in those days.  Now I never played college football, but I also was involved with the Susquehanna football program by traveling with them for four years as official statistician.  So being involved with SU football was also something we had in common.
          I also found out that Dad was a high school coach, coaching both track and football.  Now my brother, Terry, was a high school football and wrestling coach so the three of us had that in common.  I don't know if Dad did any coaching before he began teaching, but I doubt that he did.  Not only weren't there many little league programs in those years, but if there were any they were probably interrupted by World War II.
          I actually began coaching little league baseball when I was in high school when I helped coach the Lititz Teener team.  My brother played on that team and thanks to a great bunch of talented athletes we won the league championship. While in college I helped my uncle, Theoren Gaugler, coach the Mosquitoes, a much younger group of boys.  Our big challenge here was trying to keep the attention of the boys in the outfield when things like puddles and dandelions caught their attention.  But it was a fun experience.
          When I began to teach I helped coach the junior high track team and that was an experience as well.  We would have about 100 junior high boys with just two coaches.  Later I moved up to the senior high where I worked with the jumping and throwing events.  I had no personal experience with these events and did quite a bit of reading to prepare.  After a few years of coaching track I changed to timing the running events at meets which I did probably for about 20 years.
          Basketball was another coaching challenge for me.  At least I had some experience here since I was involved as statistician and manager for Susquehanna's team for four years and I absorbed much watching practices and games.  My coaching was with the seventh and eighth graders and was a very special experience.  One year our team was undefeated and featured Wally Walker who later went on to play professional ball and play on two NBA championship teams.  He ended his career by serving as general manager of the Seattle Supersonics.  That was probably the highlight of my unremarkable coaching career.
         Oh yes, there was one more coaching experience to mention.  I was traveling with the junior high basketball team as score keeper when I learned that the cheerleaders were going to be disbanded because they no longer had a coach.  For some crazy reason I volunteered to coach them the remainder of the year so that they could continue.  It wasn't too difficult for the games, but at the end of the season there was a competition, and we were entered.  The girls worked hard and did an excellent job.  I thought that they had won.  But, I think that they were hurt by the female judges who wouldn't accept that a male was involved in this traditional female activity.  Intolerance can work both ways.
          So I have many good memories of coaching experiences and I am sure that my dad's experiences somehow paved the way for me to do the same.  I only wish that I could listen to him share about these experiences.  I do remember how, since he didn't own a car, he had to walk to practices and take busses and even trains as he went to scout other teams.  I also remember going with him to basketball games when he ran the clock for those games.  And that is something else that we had in common and maybe I'll talk more about that in a future blog.  But certainly his experiences probably helped my brother and I get involved in similar ways.

Trying to Adjust

          One of the biggest challenges in my 39 year teaching career was learning how to teach a classroom of students that had a variety of  learning styles.  There were some that were very logical and that was my style.  There were those who were visual and needed drawings and pictures.  Some were verbal and needed to discuss ideas.  Some needed to handle objects and some learned better when I put things to music.  And of course there were those who were very social and worked well in groups as well as those who much preferred to work alone.  We are all different and this is a real challenge for good teachers.
          I'm not sure how many years of teaching it took me to begin to realize that I needed to use a variety of approaches.  Not all students learned best the way I learned.  And, unfortunately, some teachers never learn this or never learn how to cope and adjust.  For example, when we introduced manipulatives and open ended problem solving in the elementary grades, many teachers just couldn't handle it.  They continued to depend upon how they were taught and how they learned even if this wasn't best for many of their students.  It is often hard to see and accept alternate approaches.
          Now while I recognized this as a teacher and tried to adjust to it in the classroom, I must admit that I haven't done as well in my day by day living and working with others.  There are some things that just get under my skin.  And I am working hard to get over these issues because I will never change others.  The only one who can be changed is me.
          For example, I have trouble with folks who are late for everything.  You can count on the same people to arrive in church 15 minutes late and march down to the front seats, week after week, after week.  If you have a meeting or a class, the same people will always be late.   And if you have a deadline for submitting something or doing something, you can count on these people to miss the deadline.  In school I was able to deal with my students who had these problems, but in everyday life it seems more difficult.  Maybe all of these people should be made to make up their time - after the church service or meeting.  Now I must admit, I have the opposite problem - I am usually very early for everything.  That's why I usually carry a book or my diary with me so I don't waste time.  
          I also have problems with folks who can't or won't follow directions.  When I was judge of elections we posted many signs with directions.  We even used ropes to guide them in the correct directions.  And yet we had people climb over the ropes or go around them.  They went out the wrong doors.  They didn't fill out their ballots properly.  I often found their actions unbelievable although I shouldn't have after having taught school for all of those years.   In Awana some  leaders won't pick up their name tags as instructed.  Some won't complete their registration cards or won't complete them fully.  And at times it drives me crazy.  But, as I said before, in school I could handle it.  Daily living is different.
          Then there are those who make promises but don't follow through.  Yes, they say, I will take care of that for you.  But they forget and you end up having to do it yourself.  We have recently had three different friends who started different jobs for us at our house.  In all three cases these good folks have never come back to complete the jobs.  Do you keep after them or pester them especially when they wanted to help you out or do you just move on and find somebody else?  I just don't understand.
         Then there are the bosses or the fellow workers who are idea folks but can't handle details.  They have the ideas but let you stuck with figuring out the needed details and then doing the work to implement them. Or they change their mind and don't tell you. Or they don't pass on needed information to you.  Or, if they eventually do, it comes at the last moment and you then need to change what you have already done.  I guess that is the price that you pay for being a conscientious detail person.
          Of course there are those who can't plan ahead.  I guess they don't use calendars.  You schedule something weeks ahead and then the day before they tell you that they have other  plans.  Drives me crazy.  As financial secretary of our church, I spend many days at the beginning of each year preparing about 400 giving receipts.  I pride myself in getting them distributed by the first or second week of the year.  But, just like clockwork, come April, I get calls and e-mails - "I've lost my receipt and I need another one for my taxes and I need it today."  On this one I've finally learned to roll with it because I just know it will happen - every year.
          Then there are those who love to share their horror stories when they know you are facing surgery.  It seems that almost everyone has stories of friends or relatives who had a similar surgery and ended up with more problems after the surgery.  OK, but why must you share those stories with me before mine?  Are you trying to talk me out of it?  Do you think you'll make me feel more comfortable?  I actually resisted telling folks about my surgery or talking to folks who had had it because of the reactions I received.  I only had one person tell me of a person who was helped by the surgery.  If I based the possibility of a successful surgery on the stories I was told it would only be about 8% and those aren't great odds.  Thanks folks for all the "encouragement".
          Oh yes, one more gripe which I have mentioned before.  It grinds me when people walk by and say "How are you doing?" and you know they don't want an answer and don't really care.  I'm to the point where many times I just ignore them and they don't even realize I have done so.
           Well my premise has been that we have different styles and we must just learn to try to adjust to them or we'll go nuts in this crazy world.  And, maybe given 39 more years as I had in the classroom, I will someday learn to adapt and handle it.
         As somebody has said, "To live with saints above, oh that will be glory.  But to live with saints below, well that's a different story."

Get the news!

          The old riddle was "what is white and red (read) all over?"  The answer, of course, is the newspaper.  But some newspapers are no longer just white and most probably aren't read "all over".
          Newspapers have always been an important part of my life.  Over the years I have worked on the editorial staffs of the Lititz Record Express (8 years), the Lancaster Sunday News (27 years) and the Sunbury Daily Item (1 year).  Growing up I used to write and make my own newspapers.  However, when I was in high school I wasn't good enough to be on the staff of the school newspaper, but that is a different story for another time.  I was yearbook editor however.
          But newspapers are changing.  Many are going out of business or merging.  Most news is now available on the internet.  In fact, when we are away I read our local newspaper on the internet, free of charge because I am a subscriber to the print edition.  Unfortunately, our local newspaper has gone down hill in recent years.  There is actually little news in it now and much more white space.  They've just added color to the comics to try to spark some interest, but I seldom read the comics.  And now they only have one editorial viewpoint and that is usually the liberal viewpoint.  Maybe, after being a subscriber for decades I may soon do like many others have done and cancel my subscription.  Time will tell.
          But who reads newspapers today?  Probably not the younger generation.  Maybe it is just we old-timers.  Well recently somebody sent me their opinion of who still reads them and I am sharing that with you for your enjoyment ... I hope.

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand the Washington Post. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie chart format.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could spare the time, and if they didn't have to leave LA to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and they did a far superior job of it, thank you very much.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country, and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country, as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.

9. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country or that anyone is running it; but whoever it is, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from ANY country or galaxy, as long as they are democrats.

10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.

11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.

Challenge Answers

     Here is what you have been waiting for - the answers to the challenges.  Grade your own test.  Hope you had some success and some fun.

1.    Spelling question -
        mispelled should be misspelled.  The others are all correct.

2.    The sailor is named Yvan.   (Hint spell the names of the son's backwards)

3.     The sequences

a.     Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, ...

b.     Saturday, Friday, Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Monday, Sunday

c.     December, November, October, September, August, July, ...

d.     One,  Two,  Three,  Four,  Five,  Six, .....

e.      18,  001,  121,  441,  ....

4.     a.  ONE WORD

        b.   70   ....  25

        c.    you have two apples

So how did you do?

Some Challenges For You

         I've recently begun to sort through my old files of things I've collected and materials that I used when I was teaching.  It is amazing how much one can accumulate over the years.  Some of the things I've found have been interesting and are filled with memories. Others I can't figure out why they were ever saved.
         One of the sets of things I found were challenges that I used to present to my students just for the fun and to encourage creative thinking.  As we start a new year it might be a good idea for each of us to take on some mental challenges to stretch or at least maintain our brain power and creativity.  So with that challenge in mind, I am including - hopefully for your interest - a couple of the problems I recovered.  Give them a try and either reply with a comment or else wait a few days and I will share the answers.  Ready? ... set ... go!

I.  How many words are mispelled?
Ukulele  .....   Desiccate .....  Ecstasy .....  Inoculate .....  Obbligato .....  Fuchsia .....  Supersede .....  Graffito .....  Sacrilegious  .....  Immaculate

II.  (From Lewis Carroll, 1829)
A Russian had three sons.  The first, named Rab, became a lawyer.  The second, named Ymra, became a soldier.  The third became a sailor.  What was his name?

III.   Complete these sequences:

1.     T, N, E, S, S, ...

2.     S, F, T, W, T, ...

3.     D, N, O, S, A, ...

4.     O, T, T, F, F, ...

5.     ..., 61,  52,  63, 94, 46, ...

IV.   Some easier quickies:

1.     Rearrange the letters of NEW DOOR to make one word.

2.     Divide 30 by 1/2.  Add 10.  What is the answer?

3.     Take two apples from three apples and what do you have.

Have fun!

We've Always Been Provided For

          I have been working on going through my file cabinets and trying to get rid of so many things that I no longer need.  While doing this I found an old poem, "We've Always Been Provided For" which was a favorite of my grandparents.  Having lived through very hard times, including the Depression, the words were almost like their personal testimony.  I am not really sure, but I think I remember that they may have even sung these words as a duet.  Anyway, I think the words are interesting and I have decided to share them with you in this blog.

          I did an internet search but found nothing about the poem except that it was once printed in the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald on December 26, 1912.  The language and the story may be over a century old, but the lesson is just the same today as it was then.

Good wife, what are you singing for?

You know we've lost the hay;

And what we'll do with horse and cow

Is more than I can say;

While like as not, with storm and rain,

We'll lose both corn and wheat,

She looked up with a pleasant face,

And answered low and sweet:

"There is a Heart, there is a Hand,

we feel but can not see;

We've always been provided for,

And we shall always be."

He turned around with a sudden gloom

She said: "Love me at rest,

You cut the grass, worked soon and late,

You did your very best:;

That was your work, and you've naught at all

To do with wind and rain;

And do not doubt but you will reap,

Rich fields of golden grain:

"There is a Heart, there is a Hand,

we feel but can not see;

We've always been provided for,

And we shall always be."

"That's like a woman's reasoning -

We must because we must,"

She softly said: "I reason not

I only work and trust;

The harvest may redeem the day -

Keep heart whatever betide;

When one door shuts, I've always seen

Another open wide.

"There is a Heart, there is a Hand,

we feel but can not see;

We've always been provided for,

And we shall always be."

He kissed the calm and trustful face;

Gone was his restless pain:

She heard him with a cheerful step

Go whistling down the lane,

And went about her household tasks

Full of a glad content,

Singing to time her busy hands

As to and fro she went;

"There is a Heart, there is a Hand,

we feel but can not see;

We've always been provided for,

And we shall always be."

Days come and go - twas Thanksgiving time,

And the great fire burned clear.

The farmer said, "Dear wife it's been

A good and happy year;

The fruit was gain, the surplus corn

Has bought the hay you know."

She lifted her smiling face, and said:

"I told you so!"

"For There is a Heart, there's a Hand,

We feel but can not see;

We've always been provided for,

And we shall always be."

As I read this I was reminded of one of my favorite verses, Psalm 37:25, "I have been young and now am old: yet have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging."