Friday, December 7, 2018 </b>
Mom and Dad had been engaged for a few months and it was time to set a wedding date. Mother’s 21st birthday was coming up shortly and it was going to fall on a Sunday. She and dad decided to combine my mother’s 21st birthday with their wedding. They would be able to combine the wedding and the birthday on a joyous wonderful week-end.
The wedding went off without a hitch. They danced into the evening and then retired for what would be a celebration filled Sunday. Sunday morning my father turned on the radio hoping he might hear some early Christmas music but instead was confused and then shocked to hear reports that Pearl Harbor had been attacked devastating the United States air base in Hawaii. The phrase “War was imminent” was repeated again and again. It was to be an inauspicious beginning to what would be a 39 year marriage cut short by my mother’s painful and early death to lupus and scleroderma in December 1980. (Dad passed away November 1995)
Dad would have celebrated his 101st birthday this December 21. Mother would have celebrated her 98th birthday on December 7 and this December 6 would have been their 77th anniversary.
Mom and Dad, you left us far too soon. We miss you both dearly.
Happy birthday and anniversary. Love, Maria and Brooks
“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives:
Yesterday, December 7th, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” (FDR)
When the United Staes was attacked in1941 something amazing and remarkable happened. Within hours after the attack FDR talked with Congress and then called on the leaders of big business, bankers, industrialists, etc.FDR brought them all together to discuss how the U.S. would have to change from a peace time economy to a war time economy.
Within days of the meetings plans were drawn up and within a few weeks production was started and after just a couple of months tanks, ships, airplanes, and weapons, were rolling off the assembly line. It is amazing what can get done when strong leadership, focusing on one goal, and delegation of authority is done properly. Without this merging of the minds the outcome of WW 11 may have been quite different. ( I believe our soldiers would have triumphed anyway , but you do need the equipment.)
New Years wishes for 2019…………………….
1. I would like to see our elected officials, all parties and persuasions, spend a couple of days reviewing how the U.S. in 1941 got everyone on board and was able to do what they did. Then I would like our elected officials to meet, and choose a plan of action that can remedy the current “vibe” that is going around. I believe they can begin the meeting by all saying, “We are better than this.”
2. I would like my hero, Jimmie Rodgers, brought into the classroom. It would be a coup to have a Jimmie Rodgers song played every day to school children and then be able to discuss a little how Jimmie was so beneficial for the American people during the Depression. One man, one guitar, and a whole lot of soul giving us hope. What a gift to our children.
3.I would like to see the master, Beethoven, brought to our ballparks and sporting arenas. I propose that instead of singing the Star Spangled Banner before every sporting event, the strains of Beethoven’s 9th, Ode to Joy, be played loudly and boldly. This would be nothing new. For the past two centuries Beethoven’s 9th has been used to symbolize freedom, faith, hope, etc. You might remember when the Berlin Wall came down what was being broadcast over all the speakers. Beethoven;‘s Ode to Joy drenched the crowd of revelers like manna from Heaven. It was indeed a message from God himself.
4.Speaking of the ONE upstairs. Dear Lord. Can you help us out down here? What with all the hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes, droughts, etc. can you give us a year or two to get caught up? Your children really need some help. Thank you.
5 I would like to see CBA membership jump up 50% and see a long,long waiting list of volunteers wanting to all fill the open positions that are now vacant.
6 I don’t know if one exists, but if not we need a National Blue Grass Day.
What could be more apropos?
7. One more thing… MORE COWBELL!
Those are just a few of my 2019 New Year Hopes and Wishes,
Until Sheila’s birthday Friday January 4:
Read a book, hug a child, pet a dog, caress a cat, and enjoy a bar of chocolate.