White Collar Hippie

It was a beautiful fall day this 2019 when I walked for the first time for a "Walk Against Domestic Violence"  for the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center.  This center is not that unusual for communities around the globe.  Over 20,000 calls a day nationally reach centers such as this one.  It is not only women of course but men , children even pets who are hit, punched, yelled at or screamed at. Vulnerability could be the new name of this blog post in particular. My Dad wasn't intending to hurt

It is strange what unexpectedly brings back memories.  1986.  I remember distinctly when my grandfather shared with me how this was one thing he did not want to miss before he died. That being able to withness Halley's comet again.  He had seen it when it passed through Earth's orbit in 1910 and this was a dream he had to view it once again before he died.   Brilliant, fast and clear this comet completes its cyclic orbit in fragments of 76 year cycles the last being 1986. Witnessing the passage of time by cosmic events, while observing  a passage of time is a strange union of memory because it becomes a part of one's soul experience on our planet Earth.  And then to know that now my grandfather sleeps restfully on some perch in 'heaven's skies' perhaps, while I toil away trying to find my way amidst personal and real equatorial earthquakes.  Just curious as the notion of time here are a few notes on Halley's comet and its orbital cycles:  ...

November 3, 2019 My Dad was born a twin with sister Rose - without Google searching his year of his birth - I cannot tell the reader when he was born because I don't know.  I know according to one of my brother's, that when my Dad was in the hospital - he shared with my brother that he hoped he was, "good at dying".  This is a profound statement, meaning to me that he wished to be good. I flew to Omaha in January on a very, very cold night, arriving after midnight, alongside my oldest brother, Michael. He had rented a vehicle and we drove together to the hospital for my father's last 24 hours of life.   When we arrived both my sister and 2nd oldest brother were there, and quickly departed to my father's apartment to rest.   I wanted to have some time alone with Dad and my eldest brother left on my request.  I falsly told my Dad I forgave him. I actually did not feel that way at all.  Instead I lied to him in order that he could die without a...

Ragamuffin, You are cherished.  You are love. Wisdom give her a chance. Words cannot speak the heart of innocence of the lost inner child. Ragamuffin. .

I came across a typed note from my father that was written with no date (!) but it was in the months preceding his ultimate passing.  Here is what it said: " Your good wishes may not have seemed like a big deal to you but they were to me " Dear ones:  I came very close to being gone from you and all that we have shared would only be a memory now.  Two firemen, minding their own busness shopping for supplies for their crew at HyVee, changed that outcome. They, along with Methodist Hospital, doctors, nurses and other staff kept me in life so that I can be with you today.  Things will never be the same. That experience has for me changed the nature of my relationships.  My realization is that I may never havev gotten the chance to express how I feel about you so I am going to do that now.  I love you, I appreciate you and I am grateful for your presence in my life.  Thank you for caring about me and for your wishes for a speedy recovery and a ...

Charles I. Scudder, Jr.'s roots were in the dust bowl . (For a fascinating documentary of the history of the dustbowl see Ken Burns' treatment here:   https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/share-your-story/  ) But that legacy during his early life quickly changed to become what was an advancing popularity of factory work and post WWII economics which benefitted an expanding economy causing a boom of work into the bread basket of the U.S.A.   For my parents, their story unfolded with a new home purchase in Omaha, Nebraska and both of my parents taking on work at the Swift packing plant . (Second link:  https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2259&context=studentwork ) The American economy experienced a shift during the 1950s that created more income for more Americans than ever before. Though during the early 1950s the American economy was negatively affected by inflation—prices were rising, currency was losing its value, ...