My Flag

I have a nice sized flag hanging from my second story balcony that requires occasional unfurling. So I keep an old fishing rod handy to take care of its wrapping around the staff. I am so pleased and proud of "Old Glory" that I almost salute it each time I come home after parking my car. As I look around my apartment complex, I see an occasional flag but, some how, I always wish that I would see more of them. Why is it that there are so few that want to show their love of country and the flag? With all the unrest that is plaguing our country at this time doesn't it make sense that more would indicate to the world, their love of country and want every one to know it? There was a time when this country was almost over run with those leaving Europe for a country that was advertising freedom and opportunity. We were a melting pot then with the Poles, the Micks. the Jews and so many more ethic groups that believed there would be a better way. Today we are being over run with the Muslim, the Latin and probably others of which I am unfamiliar. Are we still a melting pot? No! Today there are too many trying to divide us from each other. A flag would be a wonderful way to separate us from those who do not have the same love of country as do I. I can't help but think of Louise and am constantly beating myself up, figuratively, that I didn't tell her of my love for her as I put my arms around her. She's gone and I can never get her back, at least in this life. Do you see the anology I am inserting? Is it possible that there will come a day when we will be thinking "Oh how I wish for the time when we were able to put up a christmas tree, a cross, a flag, to once again be able to put our arms around a country we love" Where are our liberties going? This is not the vision of our founders! A pernicious erosion is gradually eating up many of the reasons those on the Mayflower were risking their lives to come to this country. I believe we are risking our freedoms, hoping to weather the storm and not sink the ship of liberty we have loved for these many,many decades. If we truly have concerns about this, would it violate our principles to let a flag indicate our love of county and what it stands for? The discord that is reverberating throughout our land is frightening and surely will lead to problems we have never had to witness. Maybe its time for all of us to really believe in the Pledge of Allegiance and maybe to show a flag to prove it!! God Bless America!!

Matthew

Many times the words have been uttered that the only time families gather are at funerals and weddings. It is certainly true in this instance and we will smile and laugh at humorous memories. It is our way to show our love and respect for another family member that has passed into the final stage of life. May he find happiness there with the pain gone and his former family members and friends there to greet him. Farewell young Matthew. You will be missed. Your outgoing personality, your infectious humor and all those trademarks that made you what you have meant to us. Farewell.

LAST MAN STANDING

I know this title is reminescent of a gangster movie or some other media but in this case it really takes on a serious meaning for me. Because I am IT! Yes, the last of my peer group has passed on and I want to tell you of the several men that were classified as my best friends. Oh I have had many good friends through the years and they date back to high school days. But my best friends were special and memorable and as I now sit and think of them I can't help but shed a tear and remember what they meant to me, for they all meant a lot. My first best friend was uniquely called Moon. I don't know why and never asked when I should have. We were cheerleaders but more than that, we hung out together for several years until he went into the Air Force and a few months later, I went into the Navy. Yeah you guessed it, there was a war on and most of the guys I knew were enlisting or were being drafted. The funny thing about Ernie (Moon) was that although we kept in touch for 60 years, we rarely saw each other. He had stayed in the military while I had opted out but I still thought of him as my best friend.

I had chosen to be a retailer and had a pretty good career going when I met Jim. He arrived at the store in which I was working and was hired as a housewares buyer. He was a tall, good humored guy and we struck it off at once. We traveled together, partied together and our wives became very good friends--which incidentally is the only way you can have a best friend. The wives have to like each other and fortunately they did. As the years passed, Jim and I were separated, each of us following our own chosen paths but somehow we continued to see each other in New York, New Jersey or Pennsylvania. We managed to continue our friendship all over the country.

Bud and John were Navy buddies. Somehow, inspite of the Navy moving us around, we managed to get into the same group and managed to maintain our friendship through most of the time we were flying together. John and I were navigator/copilots in the same plane. Bud was in the same group but a different aircraft. However Bud and I, along with our wives had lived in the same home at one of the bases and had developed a wonderful relationship amongst the four of us. Didn't I tell you the wives also had to become friends? Those two friendships lasted over 60 years also with Bud passing about 3 years ago and John more recently. And now I have saved two friends until the end of this writing. One was Moynsie who was the first to go. He and I had known each other in High School but only casually. The real friendship began when we met at a bus stop in front of the University of Buffalo. For some reason everything clicked and we began a friendship-along with our spouses that lasted for years. Moynsie was the first to die and I was in Japan when my secretary called and told me she had bad news. Moynsie had passed away at 56 and I remember leaning against a wall with tears running down my cheeks. He was the one I had spent the most time with and whom I had come to love the most. I tear up now recalling how much laughter we got and gave each other.

But I now come to the last to go. Dick and I had met at the department store at which we were both employed. He was a basement buyer at the time and we found out we had both been at the same high school although Dick was a couple of years younger. But we hit it off and it built into a great relationship. We were both buyers. We golfed together, often traveled together and even when I left to go to Wisconsin we would meet in N.Y. The thing that bonded us, was the yearly store party and we found that he and I would write the script, plan the events to take place on the stage of a nearby hotel and work things so the party was a complete success for several years. We had a blast entertaining all the other employees.

Well, there you have it. A record of my closest, best friends. I have much to remember about them all. They brought joy into my life and helped to make my years part of the wonder that has been mine. As I think of them and what they meant to me, I can't help but recognize that it is friendships that make our lives what they are. What kind of a life would it be if we didn't have those relationships that go beyond our love of family- that enriches the tapestry into which is embroidered those many friendships. I am so grateful for the fulness that my life has been and for the men that have made it so. It is my hope that yours will be the equal.

Always Leave Them Laughing

It seems like a long time ago and as I think of it, it is. But for some reason a friend and I were talking about our wives, children and pregnancies. Yeah, I know that seems strange for a couple of old birds like us to be talking about that subject. Football, maybe, baseball definitely, but a subject like pregnancies--hardly. However, we were and I remembered one of mine, --- make that Louises'; actually I remember all of them but this one was special. It was like this: I was in L.A. and was having dinner with our west coast salesmen and his wife when I remarked, "If you will excuse me I had better call home before it is too late" and I headed for a phone. Of course it was not a cell phone in those days, thus I had to leave the table and head for the nearest pay phone. I rang and Louise answered and as we talked, she asked if I was going to ask what the Dr had said. Of course the typical male I replied "Oh, that's right, what did he say." With that, a sudden gush of tears followed and her trembling voice said "I'm pregnant!" Knowing she may have wanted something else, I couldn't help myself and I almost shouted "Honey, that's wonderful", and I truly believed it was. I calmed her down but continued laughing. I have often wondered if she was emotional for fear that I would be upset or because she didn't want another child. I really think it was her concern about me but I was delighted and excited at the thought of another child and she became very accepting of what the next 8 months would bring. She would be 41 by the time the baby was to come. We mentioned it once, without concern, and never spoke of it again. Our Chris was born, peed all over the Dr.twice and I left the room laughing and have laughed many times since then recalling how happy I was at the news and how quickly Louise became happy too. His brothers and sisters think he was spoiled but its probable that the youngest of the family always catches that flack. He was just great kid and was the catalyst that completed our family.

To Mr Anonymous

For several months an unidentified person, male or female, has chosen to criticize various parts of my blogs. I do not pretend to be a grade A student of English and this particular person served to have me go back and re-read those blogs on which had commented. He or she has never revealed his identity(note, I will now refer to this party as a "he") but in my going back he was correct in criticizing my work. While his criticisms were generally not of my grammar, my sentence structure or things of that nature, his comments were more sarcastic and the fact that he remained in a shadow was annoying. I'm not sure why he bothers and if he is supposedly giving constructive criticism, it is difficult to see it as such. As I started out saying, in going back to re-read my work, I deserved to be subjected to some sarcasm. Why I never audited myself is hard to explain, although some of it is a result of my lack of computer skill, it is now too late to worry about. I did what I did and now can suffer rightful criticisms.

However to now respond to this person that chooses not to come forward, I would really like to know who you are and as of now you are forgiven for any irritations I may have had of you. I receive comments from a couple of people I have never met but when they speak of one of my blogs, I send an e mail expressing my thanks for their interest in my work. For you who may continue to remain hidden, my blogs are a result of a continuing history of a Father who likes to write about his past or present life. I will still write an occasional blog when I am inspired to do so and this one is a challenge to you to reveal who you are so that I may find another friend who likes to comment on what I have to say. If you choose not to admit who Mr Anonymous is, at least make your comments so I can read them. Your last contribution was in French and as you have pointed out, my English is the problem.

The Exams

They were somewhat challenging but certainly interesting and I strangely enjoyed it for over two hours. It's rather strange that at this age I am still taking examinations. Well, it was actually only one test but it had to do with my mental acuity. Let me go back and explain. For some reason the VA decided I should be tested for my ability to demonstrate my ability to reason and determine at what stage was my dimensia. how was my memory or what had I forgotten etc. So I arrived at the office of a PHD and she was delightful. First off, I saw a plaque on her wall indicating she had attended the Un. of Buffalo-my old Alma Mater.That started up a lively conversation of where she lived and where I lived, both of which were well known areas to both of us. Later I realized our enthusiastic conversation was because she was sizing me up. But then the tests began. I did explain before we started that years ago I had gone through a battery of tests with another PHD and he left a bad taste in my mouth because his report stated nothing definitive about me. It was all qualified with could, should, might and so forth and I accused him of being gutless in a report that showed nothing of what or who I was. Dr Brown assured me I would have a specific report before I left her office and I felt placated with that assurance. She took out a sheet of paper and marked it with a middle mark and other marks on each side, which I found out later, indicated the middle mark being average and the marks on the right side were for above average and the ones on the left were below average. There were several forms of tests, math, cultural i.e. "who wrote Faust or who was leader of the French army during the 1800s". Several other tests for the purpose of determining the state of my memory. There were too many to go into but they all were ,as I said before, challenging but interesting. Dr Brown (Christina) was very social, so much so that I asked if I could take her to lunch one day soon. She replied not for two years. When I looked at her questioningly, she said "You are my patient and there has to be a 2 year period before further socializing could take place." Shucks, just my luck! Well, to sum up, all her marks were above the average line, some even high average, and two or three notations were"superior". She kept encouraging me when I faltered at one or another point and I did very poorly on one test which asked me to take some blocks and with the method they were colored, arrange them to look like pictures she showed me. As I tried to do so I said "This isn't my strength". and she replied "That's obvious." Oh well, one engineering failure isn't too bad for my age. She was very pointed in saying the tests had a limit for those up to the age of 85 and I was doing very well. So that sums up an unforgettable experience and as I departed, I remarked,"I'll look forward to calling you in two years". She smiled and said to me "Don't forget". I thought as I left, "I wonder what she meant by that"?

Songs of Old

I had such a great evening!! A new friend I had dinner with last tnight turned out to be a really good piano player. We got talking about it while we were eating and she mentioned she had a song book with all 50's songs in it. I said "thats my year--",rather excitedly! She then said "O.K., I'll meet you by the piano and we'll have a sing-a-long. She and her husband are winter visitors and I have met them during the past 3 years when they have been in our apartment complex but it was the first I realized she played the piano. And so it began. It was so much fun going throught the book page by page. Although she is many years younger than me,she had an immediate relationship with the songs that once were MY songs and she not only played them well but added her own touches with a little boogie-woogie thrown in on occasion. My voice is not very good any more but just to be able to read the words on the pages and remember some songs quite well and others only from what I could read brought back the recollections of what once was. It reminded me of those nights too many years ago when standing around a piano, having Jeanne (an old friend) playing the popular melodies of the day, that were some of those happy times of great memories. So I am grateful to my new friend, Jackie and her huband, Larry for one of the better evenings spent here singing those song of so long ago rekindling things I once loved. Thanks Jackie.

Play Ball

I am excited!! I was awake until after 5:00 this morning with no sleep. I got up twice to play at my machine. I sat up for quite a while and watched a good movie. I did all those things trying to go to sleep--no way! And why?!Baseball starts tomorrow!! My Twins are starting out playing up in Toronto and will probably freeze their little tootsies. But so what; its the opening of 6 months straining my eyes, looking into my computer and groaning or cheering depending on who's at bat. Do you know baseball, as we know it, has now been in business for some 150 years. Do you also know that the various distances from base to base are still the same and the pitchers mound is still 60 feet,6 inches from home plate. Do you also know that baseball is the only competetive sport where the defense cannot score a basket,a point,a run, nothing?? Ha!Got ya didn't I? Its part of what makes this a great team sport. I love the Minnesota Twins and have been a baseball devotee from the time I was about 9. I played catch with all my kids in the yard. I refused to buy a lovely home in Minneaplis because it was a street on which I would not be able to play catch with my sons and occasionally a daughter. Incidentally she made the Little League team by tucking her hair under her ball cap and that was before they allowed girls to play America's game. True! Buffalo, my home town, was a farm team for Cleveland and I remember the team there with Bob Feller, Bob lemon, Mike Garcia and a host of others. Who alive today recalls the time in the 1954 World Series where wonderful, Willie Mays ran all the way to the back fence to take a monstrous hit away from Vic Wertz. I think that was the first time I died. I have died more times than the proverbial cat, sometimes more than once in the same game. My team has won our divion 6 out of 9 years and yet we always come up against the Yankees-- the Damn Yankees for the uninformed. Maybe this year? But I get ahead of myself. Lets wait and see how the season plays but I can't. Wait that is. Thankfully I won't have much longer. I will be at my post waiting for that clarion call---PLAY BALL! I'll try to sleep tonight but don't count on it!!

Wuzzy Fuzzy

I was watching a commercial, although I usually have no interest in them, but this however, was about a golfer I once knew. Fuzzy was a member of our golf staff and our company had quite a few golfers that wore our product--you know, the shirts with the little penguin embroidery on the chest. Our shirts were very popular and once upon a time we sold more of those shirts than our 3 nearest competitors combined. However, returning to Fuzzy: back in about 1979 he won the U.S.Open- a very honored tournament which carried a lot of prestige for the winner. As he was a member of the staff, it was my job to give him $5000 bonus and to send him a new contract. I upgraded his present one from about $2500 to a new $5000. I had begun to have some concerns about why I had not received a reply regarding the new contract when I had a call come in from a person who introduced himself as Fuzzy's agent. I thought I was now about to put that new contract to bed. Wrong! I was advised that Fuzzy had a new offer from a "better" company that wanted to sign him for a lot more money. Question? Was I willing to let our golfer out of his contract so he could sign with a different company? I mulled this over while the agent droned on about new, better opportunities and I'm. not going to stand in his way am I? I said in reply "I'm not sure I would look at this change as being beneficial to a company that had carried him at a minimal gaurantee for a few years and now was a looking to get a return on our investment. This was the first time I had run into an agent and was in new waters. The discussion continued with him threatening to have his client wear another company's logo and me saying then we would have grounds to take him to court for violating his contract with us. The agent then said " Well, I guess he will just not wear your clothing anymore".To which I quickly replied. Well I guess he won't get any bonus from us if he wins for this next season. Had him again didn't I?! Anyway,it went back and forth until he hung up angry that Fuzzy was signed for the following year as well as the one coming up. I would think that any agent should read the contracts of the persons represented by him, don't you? To make a long story short the discussions continued with him trying to get me to let Fuzzy out of the current contract. I finally became resigned to the fact we would lose a golfer and told him, "If Fuzzy wants to send us a check for $10,00 I'll tear up his contract". And that is not the end of the story. A few weeks later I had come to Phoenix to view other potential golfers that would make good members of our staff and I am at the practise greens early one morning and there is only one golfer practising his putting and of course, it is Fuzzy. I had never met him before and thought "Oh well, I should go and say hello". Not knowing what he would say to me I took a bold approach and said "Fuzzy, we have never met before but I'm the guy that cost you $10,000" He looked at me suspiciously and I followed up my remark with "I'm with Munsignwear and I just let you off the hook so you can sign elsewhere" He stuck out his hand and said "Hell, Jim thats business. I'm glad to know you". A nice guy right!! The sad thing is that whoever the other "better" company is, they never signed Fuzzy to any contract and he was not a member of any of the company staffs of which I'm familiar. I wonder if that agent is still connected with any golfers?

The Goodness of People

The Goodness of People


I awoke late this morning and remembered I had promised to buy a certain loaf of bread for my friend so I rumbled about and left the apartment after 5 minutes had passed. For me, that was fast. I hurried to this bread company that was about 6 miles away and it was a madhouse. It has never had much parking but this was the first time I had seen, not only parking space filled, but cars sitting and waiting for an opening and such was this morning. After some shuttling back and forth I finally managed to get a parking space and hurried from my car. I got inside and there were many persons moving back and forth and the shelves were loaded with various breads. I grabbed my selection and got in a line with several others to await my turn. In the process I began speaking to the lady in front of me saying to her,"What in the world will you do with this much bread". She must have had 20 loaves. She replied "Oh I will freeze it. I have a very large freezer". We were about to approach the lady who was taking the money and the woman in front was giving her a credit card when I reach into my back pocket.Whoa!! Wait a minute, Darn! I forgot my credit card and realizing this turned to leave when the lady in front said to me "I got yours?." I asked her if she heard what I was thinking and she said "No, I just wanted buy you a loaf of bread". Now how nice is that?! It was then I said that I had left my wallet and would have left except she steped up. I asked her if she was married, not wishing to lose an opportunity, she laughed and said she was and that ended what could have been a beautiful friendship. " I said " Well, we'll always have Paris". What a nice early morning experience! Life is good at times.

Days of Yore

Days of Yore
Lying in bed early this morning, I began to think about various things of my youth and younger years. It probably won't mean much except to those over 75 and they are getting fewer and fewer. So I guess you might say this writing will be for my own amusement and possibly, some where down the line, maybe one of my great, grandchildren may stumble across this and wonder how Grampa ever survived his childhood. But let me begin by saying there was very little religion in our home. Oh I used to go to Sunday School and carry my pennies that, supposedly, were intended for the collection plate. But, to be honest.I some times used them at the corner candy store across from the church. Yes, I was incorrigible at a very early age. I spent my pennies on Jujy Fruits because they lasted a long time. I tried Jaw Breakers but they were very noticeable in my cheek and I didn't want to advertise my pilfering from the church. I often wondered if Reverend Jolley would have missed my donation? I managed to become confirmed, having learned the various gospels and creeds so I guess I got somethings right! I remember strange things about my childhood-some of which are still around. For example, sneakers. Only someone my age would still be calling running shoes, sneakers, And then there were Thom McMahan (sp?) shoes. My Dad wouldn't buy any but that brand back then. Was there a different brand for kids? Growing up in Buffalo, it was curious to see cream frozen and extending beyond the milk bottle top when the weather was cold. Homogenized milk hadn't been discovered yet?!When Mom wasn't looking I would sneak a spoonfull to eat--another example of my nefarious character. I recall going to high school and my first remembrance of Louise was when I was standing on a corner waiting for a friend to walk to school with me, when she and two other girls went by. I remember her nice legs but never saw her again for five years. Just think I might have married at age 17. Does anyone remember the zoot suiters? They were the "creeps" that attended all the dances and had these strange clothes that had baggy trousers with tight ankles. They also had very long suit coats with key chains that dangled to about their knees and wore very wide brimmed hats. Very weird! As I gradually matured I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and looking back loved that 3 years of my life, much of which has previously been written. There were many things of my childhood but they have been put on paper in earlier days and repetition is unnecessary but I wonder if Dentyne or Beemans gum is still around? Somehow I managed to get into the Men's clothing business and became, amongst other things a Men's hat buyer. Any salesmen that came into the store in those days was asked to leave if he wasn't wearing a hat. I still like hats and would wear one if it was still the fashion. Besides my hair is thinning and a hat would prevent any stares or strange looks. One thing which I really liked was the silk or nylon clad legs with the seams up the back. Man, I thought they were very sexy and even at my advanced age would love to see them back in style. Does that make me a dirty old man? Color me guilty!! Lastly, I wish to say a few words about my first car. My Dad bought this Graham Paige which was of the 1929 vintage. It wasn't much but it had wheels that worked and I can remember driving Linda around the block on many nights because that was the way she went to sleep, Well those are just a few of the things that disturbed my slumber this morning and if and when any of my grandkids find these meanderings amongst my papers, I hope they find some amusement in the early days of Old Gramps.

My Birthdays

My Birthdays
Being born in February wasn't exactly conducive to having birthdays on warmer days and thus a number of my birthdays are vague and therefore not particularly memorable. However, some of them stand out at least to the degree that I can remember, what took place on those days. For example, my 20th.; that was the day Louise saw me off on a train headed for Albany N.Y. and our final destination was to be Troy at a school which I shall call R.P.I. because I can't spell the actual title of this university. It had an excellent reputation rivaling the best of the tech schools. Why is this so memorable? It's because I was now in the U.S. Navy and I was headed for my first training facility. I am not going to dwell on this although I was very proud having successfully passed quite a number of varying tests that were the major part of our enlistment. A quick example was that the first battery of tests taken in Rochester N. Y.found me one of nine out of 36 passing the first level.
My 30th was notable in that Louise surprised me and had a friend keep me in a hotel bar while he got drunk and kept me from going home. I arrived home to "SURPRISE"and our new but very small house was packed to the ceiling with friends and neighbors. I mean packed. Our living room was about 11' by 13' and I had walled up the entrance to the kitchen to get more wall space thus allowing our furniture to fit. People were sitting on stairs leading to our ex-pandable upper level. If you enjoy friendships there was plenty of happiness to share that evening.
My 40th birthday was only remembered because at the time I had forgotten that I had added a year but while fast asleep,I was awakened by a call from Louise, who was in Wisconsin, and that's another story which I might relate sometime. She was with a friend enjoying an evening out and called to wish me well. Should I have been suspicious with her being out at 11:00 at night?
As for my 50th, I have no recall whatsoever and so I will move along.
However, my 60th was very special. I had taken a new job and had landed at a small airport in Appleton,Wisconsin where fortunately I was met by the head of the store I was going to work for. He took me to my new residence, a hotel, and gave me directions to a restaurant where he had already made arrangements for me to have dinner that evening. The dinner was great but the hotel while completely acceptable, was to be my home for about 6 months. The company I was going to work for owned the hotel and had agreed to permit me to live there for as long as it took my family to join me . My room was quite large but right over a bar where the juke box played constantly and I never again want to hear the theme to "A Summer Place".

My 70th was, once again in a new home, now in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and while there was a party for me, it was much more subdued than was my 30th and now I will be 87 this coming Saturday. I am once again in different surroundings being in a retirement community which is replete with walkers , canes and wheelchairs. I have never seen so many geriatrics in one place and I am perturbed telling myself I don't belong here but for the first time in my life (?) I may be wrong. I am now in Arizona, Mesa, to be exact, and love it here. Its the weather that I love and when I returned to Minnsota last December, I decided to never again venture into any place north of Scottsdale during the months of November to April. I love the blue skies and the blazing sun. I will finish my last days here and whether I will live to be 90 is a question for which I'm not sure there is an answer except, possibly, do I want to?

Home Again

I was up and about early this morning. I had been in contact with my grandson, Jeff in Orlando. We were trying to make plans to go fishing again but he was having problems trying to get out of a court date he was involved in. Ain't it heck when your job gets in the way of your recreation? I also had to make a date with my dentist and have my dentures refitted so I could eat more comfortably. That phone conversation was sucessful and I set off to keep a 9:15 appointment. I was cruising down Center street at about 9:05 when I became distracted and the next thing I am hitting a curb with some velocity. I blew my right front tire AND my rear tire. When I examined it I saw I had also managed to wreck the rim. Oh dear, here I am without a cell phone and no way to #1, cancel my 9:15 or #2, a 10:30 I had made with a church friend. I then see a man standing at front of a condo, I assumed to be his, and called out "Do you have a cell phone I can use?" I walked over and he pulled out his cell called a number I gave him--my insurance agent, and things began to happen. My agent called me back on his cell phone and arranged for a towing service to come, get the car and take it about a mile away to a car repair shop recomended by my new friend--Carlos. No, he wasn't an owner in the repair shop. However, after the tow truck had put my car up on the bed, and had me get in, we drove to the aforementioned repair place. Getting the paper work done with knowledge that I would have to lay out money for 2 tires, a new rim, maybe then straightening of the car frame was enough to make me sick. In the meantime, here comes Carlos, saying he wanted to make sure I got here O.K. What a nice guy!!The shop owner didn't have a loaner car but said he would drive me home at which time Carlos volunteered to take care of that. And he did! As he drove away, I thought to myself, "what a nice guy" at the same time telling myself I wanted to get to know him better. In the several minutes we were together I discovered, we are both diabetics, we have both lost our wives and are alone but managing to stay afloat finacially and emtionally. I thought as, he drove off,this confirms that there are people in this world that are friendly, able and willing to help others that have troubles. I'm sure glad we met and we will meet again.

Mensrooms of WW2

Once again, the pink tinged Eastern skies of Arizona have not yet appeared and I am risen from my bed to relate a story told to a friend of mine a few days ago. It had to do with a certain phenomonon that accompanied the days of WW2. Let me back up and tell of my earlier days and my new position as a Boyswear Buyer in the department store in which I had previously worked part time. I was 23 at the time and upon my elevation to the aforementioned position, I became known as the youngest buyer ever appointed in that store. I mention this mainly to point out that my ears were not yet wet and my education was just beginning it this chosen job.However to prove a point, I must speak of the spectre of a thing that haunted every military based Mens room across the entire United States. There is not a man who served in the military that will not smile when you mention the name or the image of this visitor to the urinals of the country's toilets. On a wall in each restroom is scrawled, by an unknown quasi-artist, a picture that has come to my mind, just recently, as I recalled my experience. This picture has, over the years, come to represent  an image engraven in the minds of the entire male reprsentatives of the Army, Navy, Marine and every other military installation you might think of. It may also be a fixture in the imagination of the female military personnel as well. The picture is represented by a bald, large nosed  individual peering over a wood fence with his four fingers of each hand grasping the fence top. He is quite homely with his large eyes and the previously mentioned nose and scalp. Further, there is the same inscription on each and every wall in the toilets visited by millions of service persons across this wide expanse. It says "Kilroy was here" Sound familiar? Your Father, Grandfather, Uncle or boyfriend may have spoken of him. He was extremely well known in those days.
So here am I, in the middle of Herald Square, at Broadway, in New York city trying to locate a Boys outerwear manufacturing company. I have the address but it isn't likely that this company is situated between Macys and Gimbels and yet that is what my address reads, Hmmn--a quandary for a young buyer not yet knowledgeable in the mysteries of my new job. Still, undaunted and not yet willing to give up, I approached a formidable looking N.Y policeman. You know the stereotype; big, with a ruddy complexion, all knowing and yet, friendly looking. So somewhat intimidated, I walked up to him and said "Can you help me?" He replied, with a wary look, "What can I do for you?"  I said "I'm looking for a clothing company that was supposed to be here " I said, showing him my address. He looked at it and said "Why that's right in the middle of this intersection?". "Thats the problem" I stated! "What company are you looking for" he asked? And this is where it bgins to stick in my throat as I replied "Kilroy" because he said to me "Are you putting me on?" I knew at once that he recalled the previous told story and my heart took a dive as I said in a somewhat quavering voice, "No sir". You see I was very polite because TV had shown me what a N.Y. policeman could be like and I had already been advised on the rudeness of New Yorkers. However, he suddenly had a big smile and then said "That large building, in the next block, houses a lot of manufacturers, why don't you try there?" Well, I did and yes, I found Kilroy. It was a small thing, in retrospect, but the image of what the restroom walls had included was on my mind and I was faint at heart in approaching a cop and displaying my ignorance. But you know what? Those New York cops are pretty nice and I had found a friend in the Big Apple. There will be many of you, who, if you read this have never heard of Kilroy but if you ask any person who once served in  the military, you will get a knowing smile. And further, I am willing to bet that Kilroy is still looking over the top of the fence in restrooms not only in the United States but now, all over the world. God bless the military and God bless that ugly creature, Kilroy, for bringing some levity to a war torn world.