Newspaper *

This afternoon while writing about the atrophy of the newspaper market, I remembered helping a friend with his paper route for a few months back when we were both in junior high school. His name was Rodney Hammonds. His family had moved into the large two story house just east of the junk yard in Charlottesville. Rodney and I became fast friends when he intervened in a possible scuffle with a few older boys about some stupid thing I can’t even recall that was no doubt caused by a difference in opinion.

I helped Rodney on Sundays with the monstrous Sunday morning editions of the Indianapolis Star. We fashioned wagons to our bicycles to pick up the substantial delivery load. I imagined each family with their paper; chubby little children pouring over the color comics, mother’s looking through ads and clipping coupons, and father’s with pipe and slippers combing over all the important world news and flipping to the sports page to find out what great victory, or blunder had occurred.

Today I read that many papers barely have enough weight, or content, to make the toss all the way to porches and front doors across our bible belted America. It’s just not profitable to advertize in a rapidly decreasing market; and if a newspaper can’t make money, it can’t very well be expected to keep those presses running.

I wonder if one day I’ll be telling my grandchildren about the smell of fresh ink on newsprint paper, and trying to describe the snap, rumple, crimp, and crease of a morning paper with coffee???

Reaper

I pulled the powder blue blanket from my bed

To line the box on the kitchen floor

We used to jump and laugh and play

Our back yard like a jungle

My sister tried to dress him once

like a doll

And stroll down the side walk

He was so weak and helpless

No longer able to chew a shoe

Not like his former self

I prayed to GOD

Tiny belly

Skin soft and hot

The color of peanuts

Hanging from his bones

Big brown eyes seemed shallow

I would not sleep

I cried

How could I sleep

He knew all my secrets

But could hardly lift his head

Sounds from Viet Nam on the TV

Walter Cronkite drifting in from the living room

No! I can’t come out and play

I’m saying goodbye to my best friend

National Past Time

I used to think the great national pastime was the pursuit of pleasant sexual encounters, or perhaps participating in a sport of some kind,
but now I believe the national past time is
BITCHING, COMPLAINING, and BELLY ACHING!
It seems as if there are more justifications in bitching about
things than there are things to bitch about.
What a waste of time and energy.
If you can see something to do to change
a situation then do it, if you cannot, do something else...
These three behavioral aspects will ensure a growing dissatisfaction
with life while robbing you from your joy: thinking and worrying about the past, while complaining of the present, and fearing future.


Hey ! Don't just do something, sit there... CRY BABY !

esoteric surprise

While cruising by an awesome looking cigar store in Bloomington,
my attention was drawn to a sign adjacent to the handicap logo/ sticker
on the window that read " Enter from Within"...
I'll admit it seemed a little spiritual for an access sign.
turns out some wise ass had scratched off the other part of the sign
that indicated how to get into the larger building housing that shop.
After we looked at it for a minute - We decided we liked it just the way it is.
Thank You Scratchy : )

Do's and Don'ts When Interacting With People With Physical Disabilities

DO

Respect the person's personal property (canes, wheelchairs, crutches, communication
boards, etc.). Unless given specific permission, do not move, play with, or use their
assistive devices.

Rearrange furniture if there is something blocking the way of their wheelchair.

Try to get on eye level with the person when talking to them, if possible.

Be considerate of the extra time it might take for a person with a disability to get things
done or said. Let the person set the pace in walking and talking.

Consider accessibility when choosing areas to hold gatherings, meetings, parties, etc.

Speak to the person who has the disability and not just someone with them. Be patient and
ask questions if you can't understand them.

Ask the person questions about their disability. Most people are very willing to share.

Let your child talk to people with disabilities. Understanding is the key to acceptance.

Ask the person if they need some help. The worst they can do is say "No, thank you."

Use proper terms when describing various disabilities.

Treat the person just like you would treat a non-disabled person.

Carry on normal conversations with people with disabilities. They are most likely
interested in the same things that you are.

Emphasize the uniqueness and worth of all persons rather than the differences between
people. Concentrate on the person's achievements, abilities, and individual qualities.

Promote acceptance and understanding among all people.

Relax and just be yourself.


DON'T

Talk down to the person or like they are a child.

Pat someone with a disability on the head. They are not pets or toys. They are people.

Lean on the person's wheelchair when you are near them. The chair is part of their personal
space.

Assume that the person can shake hands with you. Not everyone can shake hands. Try a nod or a smile instead.

Stare at the person. They are not a picture to be examined.

Be embarrassed if you happen to use accepted common expressions such as "Must Dash" "See you later"
or "Got to be running along" that seem to relate to the person's disability.

Use terms such as crippled, victim, deformed, retarded, etc. when describing the person.

Talk about the person like they are not in the room.

Focus on the disability. ALWAYS concentrate on the individual.

Make decisions for the person. They know what they like, what they don't like, and what they can and cannot do.

Exclude people with disabilities from participating in anything because you think it may be too difficult for them to participate.

Judge the person by their looks or by their equipment.

Purple Lady

Purple lady fair
long and lovely
raven hair
forever young
and laughs a lot
her kisses always
hit the spot
Happy Monday
xoxo

Ayúdame