Shepherd Hoodwin’s blog

I COULD EASILY FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

Introduction

I tell you that I like you a lot.
You sit there smiling,
Looking so beguiling
But you don’t say a word,
Not a blessed word.

And now my head is feeling quite hot.
I’m getting thinner
Picking at my dinner
Like a little bird.

Love birds are in season
And I’m a sitting duck.
Without any reason
To hope for luck.

So may I give a penny for your thought?
Make that a twenty.
Here, I’ve got plenty,
But don’t be noncommittal.
Please don’t be noncommittal.

Since I met you, I’m so overwrought.
Please say that maybe
You’ll want my baby
Or just encourage me a little.

Lover’s Leap has danger,
And I won’t jump alone.
I’m not the Lone Ranger
Who likes it on his own.

I’m on the cliff
Waiting to know if
You would like to fall in love with me.
‘Cause

Refrain

I could easily fall in love,
Fall in love with you.
I could easily fall in love
If you wanted me to.

My heart is fluttering in my chest,
Jumping all around.
If you told me you like me best,
It would really start to pound.

These anti-gravity shoes
Are giving me the blues.
They’re making me walk on the air,
So what are you doing down there?

I’d run the gamut from A to Z
In ten seconds flat.
Sadly here I am stuck at B,
Wondering where you’re at.

I would gladly jump off my bed,
Flap my arms and fly,
Joining the tweety-birds ‘round my head
If I had a reason why.

I could go nuts very soon.
Oh, God, there’s a full moon!
I stay up nights counting sheep
So why are you able to sleep?

I could easily fall in love,
Fall in love with you.
I could easily fall in love,
Fall in love, fall in love.
I could easily fall in love,
Fall in love, fall in love.
If you wanted me,
If you wanted me,
If you wanted me
To.

THE TRUTH OF LOVE

Verse

You say that love is hard and blind,
And it can never last.
You only know the jealous kind
That’s hurt you in the past.

The truth of love is all around
Despite the dark of night.
And you will see it when you’re crowned
In its golden light.

Refrain

Shooting stars are love.
Falling leaves are love.
Flowers and bees and all that lives,
Earth itself is love.

Caring thoughts are love.
Gentle words are love.
God in heaven and God on earth,
You and I are love.

And when two people sense it between them, my! how splendid they feel.
But if it seems to fade like dreams, it wasn’t ever real.

All that’s true is love.
All that’s free is love.
Ev-’rything that’s meant to be is love.

And incidentally, I love you.

I’VE NEVER WRITTEN A LOVE SONG BEFORE

Verse

I always thought that it was hard to express the way I feel.
The feelings felt so real.
But words didn’t come out right.

I always thought if I could sing I would sing the whole day long,
And writing my very own song
Would be my heart’s delight.

Now something has changed and singing’s a breeze,
And poetry flows whenever I please.
I soar through the skies way over the trees,
And I think I could even write a love song.

Refrain

I've never written a love song before.
I never knew how.
I've never written a love song before.
But I can now.

Being with you makes it easy.
I know each word that I’ll use.
I’ll say I’m moonstruck and breezy,
And I’ll say good-bye to the blues.

I always thought that the love songs you hear are foolish and fake,
That true love never lasts more than a year.
Well, my mistake.

Our love will last till forever.
Oh, how the future will sing!
Now I will never say never,
For we two can do anything.

I've never written a love song before,
Because I’ve never been in love with you.

YOU’VE GOT ME

Ain’t got no fancy home computer
Or a shiny stereo.
But I’ve got something that is cuter
Than that Super Mario
And I’ve got something that sounds sweeter
Than a Sony CD.
I’ve got me, honey, I’ve got me.

Ain’t got no microwave oven
To heat things up real fast.
But my home-style lov-in’
For warmth is unsurpassed.
And to entertain you nights
Ain’t got no giant-screen TV.
But I’ve got me, honey, I’ve got me.

Ain’t got no VCR.
Ain’t got no brand-new foreign car
That’ll talk to you when you leave in the key.
Bu-u-ut if you want the best
In conversation and the rest,
You’ve got me, honey, you’ve got me.

I LOVE MY BOD’

I love my skin.
I fit right in.
And if I cannot get a decent tan, well, hell, is that a sin?
It keeps my guts from falling out.
I’m wild about
my skin.

I love my feet.
I think they’re neat.
And wearing twenty-twos in orthopedic shoes is quite elite.
They take me where I want to go.
I love them so,
My feet.

I love my mouth and jawbone, too.
They let me say, “I love you.”

I love my bod’.
It ain’t no clod.
Oh, yes, it’s made with dust but just remember made with dust by God.
I love each nail and hair and pore.
I’m crazy for
My bod’.

I’m beautiful, it’s true,
And so are you,
And everyone else, too.

I love my bod’.

YOU ARE MUCH MORE

Verse

When you opened up your heart
And let me glimpse a secret part
You tried to hide
Deep inside,

Then I knew I had to know
The rest of you you rarely show,
And now my dear,
It is clear

Refrain

You are much more,
So much more than you’ve allowed the world to see.
As the ocean goes so far beyond the shore,
You are much more, and more and more you mean the world to me.

You are much more,
So much more than just a warm and friendly face.
You have strength like I have never seen before,
And yet a gentle grace.

You have love as great as heaven. You have feeling deep as earth.
You’ve had pain like you were dying, and the healing of rebirth.

You are fireworks in the summer. You are daydreams in the fall.
You are rainstorms in the springtime, and I want to know it all.

You are much more,
And together we will fill our days with life.
I can’t wait for what the future has in store.
We’ll be much more and more and more and more and more, forevermore.
Please be my wife.

MY FRIEND

Verse

I don’t know how to describe it.
Is there a word
I haven’t heard?
Or maybe it’s simpler than I thought.
Maybe it’s just

Refrain

She’s my friend. She’s my dearest friend.
And as each day goes by I love her more.
She’s my friend. She’s my truest friend,
A friend who knows what being friends is for.

I can say anything at all and she understands.
No matter what, she never judges me.
I can be silent when I’m with her and there’s no demands.
It’s all okay. I’m free to be.

This is new, but it’s also old.
It seems as if we’ve always been a pair.
This is old, but it’s also new.
We still surprise and find new things to share.

Sometimes we talk about the things we really care about,
And sometimes we laugh until we almost cry.
Sometimes we run around like kids. We play and skip and shout.
And sometimes we stand and look at the sky.

This is good. Sure, there’s problems, too,
But I know that I’ll be with her all my life.
She’s my friend, and much more than friend.
And now, aren’t I lucky? she’s my wife.

ODE TO WASHIN’ DISHES

Verse

Some think that a wise man lives in caves,
Never shaves,
And solemnly behaves,
While over dusty tomes he slaves,
Not havin’ earthly wishes.
But brother, they’re wrong, as I can show.
You wanna know
The way to go
To feel the spirit and get in the flow?
The way is washin’ dishes!

Refrain

Washin’ dishes!
Washin’ dishes!
Oh, it’s so much fun!
In the water of truth and the soap of life
With love you will be one.

Verse

You may ask what washin’ dishes does
That gives you a buzz
And gets out the fuzz,
And changes things from the way they was
When it’s worse than smellin’ fishes.
But of all true gurus now alive,
Four out of five
Mainly derive
The Force that makes them grow and thrive
Just from washin’ dishes!

Refrain

Verse

Feelin’ your hands in them soapy bubbles,
You lose your troubles
And your pleasure doubles.
Your soul comes clean as you rub-a-dub     dubbles
All them dirty dishes.
So bless this ritual, my son.
Do not shun
What must be done
Or of nirvana, you’ll have none.
Remember, wash them dishes!

Refrain

A LITTLE SINNING

Verse

When you’ve been good,
Just as good as can be,
Done what you should,
Everything from A to Z,

(You’ve not touched pot or booze or sex or cards or any other nasty things.
In a day or two, you’d have sprouted wings.)

But then you feel
Like you’re going to burst.
You must conceal
Your desire to do your worst.

If you just let it out a bit at a time you’ll be so very awf’ly glad.
How good it is to be a little bit bad.

Refrain

For we need a little sinning to chase the blues away.
Just a little sinning to brighten up each day.
It’s amazing what some naughty words will do.
They can change your cloudy skies of gray to skies of blue, just one or two.

You need a little sinning to see you never frown.
Just a little sinning, so keep your sunny side down.
Yes, we need a little sinning to be carefree.
Just a little sinning, just a little sinning,
Just a little sinning for you and me.

DOW JONES BLUES

Verse

If you’re down in the dumps
‘Cause the market slumps
And your partner jumps
Out the window,

Don’t feel blue.
What’s happened to you
Is like the flu
Or stubbing your toe.

Refrain

When you’ve lost your money and most of Daddy’s.
When the bull has gone and left you patties.
Don’t despair lassies and laddies.
It’s just the Dow Jones blues.
It’s just the Dow Jones blues.

When there’s runaway triple digit inflation.
When banks are failing across the nation,
And you are feeling desperation.
It’s just the Dow Jones blues.
It’s just the Dow Jones blues.

And if life gets to be beyond endurance,
Remember that is why you bought life insurance.

But when your lawyer takes you aside
And says the answer is suicide,
Don’t forget you’re just paying your dues
With the Dow Jones blues.
It’s just the Dow Jones blues.

SNAP OUT!

Introduction

I’d been on the couch for days, slouching in a haze.
Informercials on the tube, Ben and Jerry’s on the floor.
Then this guy comes waltzing through the door.

He said, “Let’s get off our heinies.
I’ll take you out for Chinese.”

I said, Who are you? Go away, boo!
I’ll scream, I swear. Oh, what do I care?

“My brain is fried, my goldfish died,
I’m all alone, they turned off the phone.

I’ve nothing to give, no reason to live,
Get me a knife! I hate my life.”

“I know, I know. You’re feeling low.
But it’s all right. You’ll see the light
If you let me give you the lowdown.
And, for effect, I’ll sing it in Motown.”

Refrain

Snap out! Snap out! Snap out of that funk!
Snap out of that funk right now! (Twice)

Verse

So what’s this you say that you’re wasting your time,
You should give up ‘cause you’re not good enough?
That’s just some old sludge from the primeval slime.
Kid, the truth is you’ve got all the right stuff.
And I say

Refrain

Snap out! Snap out! Snap out of that funk!
Snap out of that funk right now!
You’re smart! You’re good! You don’t need that bunk! Snap out of that funk right now!

Verse

I know that you’re feeling that you ain’t got love
But all your friends are crazy for you.
That’s only a tape coming up to let go of.
Just love yourself and you will get through.
It’s time to

Refrain

Snap out! Snap out! Snap out of that funk!
Snap out of that funk right now!
You’re cool! You’re hot! You’re really a hunk!
Snap out of that funk right now!

Verse

Kid, I’m your best friend and I’ll always support you.
Whatever happens I will be here.
And when all the world seems to trouble and thwart you
All you gotta do is look in the mirror
And I’ll say

Refrain

Snap out! Snap out! Snap out of that funk!
Snap out of that funk right now! (five times)

(As fades out, spoken to mirror) Hey, baby, I love it when you smile. Yeah. You’ve got a beautiful smile. Did anyone ever tell you that?.…

SUNRISE

Sunrise,
Every day a new one.
And I’d say you’re due one.
Stand all alone
In your very own

Sunrise.
When life feels so tragic,
It reveals the magic
And melts your care
Into thin air.

No revelation,
But there’s a clearer view.
No grand sensation,
Yet life comes new.

Sunrise,
With the flow of healing.
What a glowing feeling!
The dawn of you.

TODAY
A Children’s Song

In the morning when I rise
Sunlight dances in my eyes.
Beauty sings from ev-’rywhere.
There’s a stillness in the air.

I hurry out the door
And through the wind I soar
So glad to be alive today.

Dewdrops glisten their good-bye
To the stars above the sky,
While the sun shines its hello
To all living things below.

I’m part of what I see,
And it’s all part of me.
I’m glad to be alive today.

SPIRIT OF THE NIGHT

Verse

Darkness comes and stillness falls. The moon begins to rise.
Heaven’s hand enshrouds the earth in gleaming starry skies.
In the softness of the wind, the branches stir above.
Deep within my secret place, I stir with love.

Refrain

Oh, spirit of the night! Sky of black, moon of white.
Oh, spirit of the night! I feel your heart. I feel your heart.

Verse

Daytime embers cool and die as cities dim their lights.
Evening fires inflame and blaze as loving warmth ignites.
In the closeness of this hour, I hear an angel’s song,
Silently my soul awakes and joins along.

Refrain

Oh, spirit of the night! Sky of black, moon of white.
Oh, spirit of the night! I feel your heart. I feel your heart. I feel your heart.

PRAYER

Oh Star of Stars,
May the song of my heart
Ascend to you
On silvery wings,
Meeting your passionate glance with grace and resonance,
Blending with your music
And returning to touch the earth with pure joy.
Amen.

THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

Long ago,
Long ago,
Someone did something to someone else, who
Did something to someone else, who
Did something to someone else, who
Did something to someone else, who
Did something to someone else, who
Did something to someone else, who
Says revenge is sweet?

CHRISTMAS STAR

Verse

There is a time in December when hearts grow warm and bright.
If the season’s cheer
Grew throughout each year
All the world would fill with light.

Refrain

Whether you celebrate Hanukah or Christmas, or even nothing at all,
Whether you’re black or white, Irish or Italian, four feet or seven feet tall,

It couldn’t matter less.
We’re all one family.
And if we just love and bless,
We’ll live in harmony.

So this year, do your part bringing peace and beauty,
Starting wherever you are.
Watch it spread heart to heart, lighting up the earth
Like a Christmas star.

JOSEPH’S DREAMS

In the first dream, it was a day like you’ve never seen before:
Bright as summer, calm as winter, colorful as autumn, and fresh as spring.
Everything glowed with a tingling light
As if at once it was day and night.
The wheat shimmered gold. The sky glimmered blue.
A gleaming hummingbird flew.

We were all together in the field, binding sheaves of wheat, and singing.
All of a sudden, my sheaf arose,
And took off like a dancer on the end of her toes.
It circled around us and flew through the sky.
Then it alighted, standing high.
And your sheaves gathered around,
Bowing to the ground.

In the next dream, it was dusk.
The sun had not set, but the moon and eleven stars were already out.
As I walked slowly into the horizon, the sun and the moon and all of the stars
Fell from the sky and lay at my feet. Then I woke up.

DATES AND HONEY

Verse

I wonder what time it is.
It’s so hard to tell.
Only a shaft of light coming through.
I wish I had something to eat.
Some dates, some dates, some dates and honey!

Refrain

Dates and honey would be so nice.
Worth the money at any price.
Dates and honey to sweeten my lot.
Sweet and sunny when life is not.

Cheese and bread
Would instead
Be fine, of course.
Leg of lamb,
Even ham,
Or wine, of course.

But dates and honey would be so nice.
Dates and honey, dates and honey.
Isn’t it funny
How nice dates and honey would be?

TO BELIEVE IN DREAMS

Maybe it is foolish to believe in dreams,
For what are dreams
But restless schemes?
Maybe all my visions are just make believe,
Just make believe,
And I’m naive.

But you have to have a vision
Or your time on earth
Between death and birth
Is merely dying.
And if you make the decision
That you’ll live your heart,
You give your heart,
Or you’re not trying.

So maybe it’s not foolish to believe in dreams,
And your dreams just may come true.

DO NOT COUNT THE DAYS

Verse

At first it’s hard. At times you feel
Your soul will crack, your mind will reel
But then your friends, the earth and rain
Receive your tears, absorb your pain.

To those you love, your missives fly.
At night, the moon brings their reply.
You learn to trust that there’s a reason you’re apart
And you do not lose heart.

Refrain

Do not count the days.
At night you’ll peacefully slumber.
Months are short and years are swift
When days are given no number.

Do not count the hours
When laboring in the garden.
Working hard and with a song,
Not holding back, and feeling strong,
Bring peace when day is done.

You are not a slave despite the way it seems.
May you learn soon, my friend,
This is not the end
Of dreams.

Live your precious days.
Don’t drag yourself to your sunsets.
Stand up high and count the things that count.

Count the stars. Count the love.
Count the blessings from above.
Stand up high and count the things that count.

JOSEPH, THE SHEPHERD’S SON

Verse

You purchased him for a garden slave a year or two ago.
At first he seemed like a waste of gold. His work was poor and slow.
Then suddenly he came to life and did the work of two.
So I made him lord of the garden, and a bumper crop he grew.

Refrain

Joseph, the shepherd’s son. That is what they call him.
I made him lord of garden, and a bumper crop he grew.

Verse

Then I gave him all the cattle, too, and how they multiplied!
So now I thought it was time to try him on a job inside.
The other slaves all love him and for him they do their best.
It must be some sort of magic, for each thing he does is blessed.

Refrain

Joseph, the shepherd’s son. That is what they call him.
It must be some sort of magic, for each thing he does is blessed.

THE TALE OF ABRAHAM

I tell the tale of Abraham, the servant of God most high.
He sat one night beside a fire and gazed at the summer sky.
All the stars were like shimmering gems in a crown
And the wind was as soft as the finest down.
The night had never felt so warm.
And Abraham trusted God.

Then God said unto Abraham, “Take Isaac, whom you love,
And offer him upon a mount that I will tell you of.”
“If God asks me to do it, then it must be done.
I will give Him my Isaac, my only son.”
The night had never stung so cold.
And Abraham trusted God.

They journeyed for three days until they reached the appointed spot.
And Isaac said, “My father, is there something that you forgot?
We have rope and a fire, but I don’t see a lamb.”
“My son, God will provide it,” said Abraham.
A fire never burned so hot.
And Abraham trusted God.

Then Abraham bound Isaac on the altar that he had made.
He put his knife to Isaac’s throat. His son now he would have slayed
When the angel of God called out “Abraham
Do not offer your son. Give instead this ram.”
A voice had never rung so sweet.
And Abraham trusted God.

“Since you did not withhold your son, great blessings will I bestow,
And through your seed all nations will be blessed in the overflow.
Never shall you again human offerings give
For it pleases God not that men die, but live.”
A man had never been so blessed.
For Abraham trusted God.

NEVER HAVE I SEEN SUCH A ONE

Never have I seen such a one who glimmers like the dawn.
Never have I seen such a one as tender as a fawn.
Never have I seen such a one so like a waterfall.
Yet she is like none of these things, like nothing I recall.

She’s not like silk. She’s not like a bird.
She’s not like rain. Oh, where is the word?
She’s not like spring. She’s not like the sky.
But if she’s not, I know not why.

Her hair is gold. Oh, yes, it is gold.
Yet something more, a thousand fold.
Her eyes are green, like no other green.
Are they em-’rald stars, or merely Ondine?

Never have I seen such a one who gives me this warm glow.
Never have I seen such a one so unlike those I know.
Never have I seen such a one so like no one at all.
Yet somehow I know who she is, though why, I can’t recall.

COME WITH US

Come with us! Oh, Sabrina, come with us, dearest friend!
We shall be your new fam-’ly, sister and brother until the end.

In our grand, noble castle looking out on the sea,
All our days will be happy, safe from harm and adversity.

Our lives have been bound together from the start.
Let us join them together now so that nothing can pull them apart.

Come with us, dear Sabrina, home.

THE GARDEN OF YOUR SOUL

Verse

There’s a place beautiful beyond compare.
Everything longed for is there.
It’s not a spot you can reach by car,
Nor does it orbit a distant star.
It’s not on a mountain that you’ll reach soon,
Or over the rainbow, or on the moon.

But there’s a place of shining grace,
Where rivers flow, and dreams can grow,
Where hearts can heal, and learn to feel,
A place made of pure truth and love.
Can you see it? Can you hear it?
Can you feel it, in the stillness where you are?

Refrain

When you wake up from a dream
And know that everything’s all right,
That things aren’t what they seem,
And that the morning’s not the night,
That the monsters on your wall
Were only shadows after all,
You’re sitting in the garden of your soul.

When, on a sunny day,
You are gazing at the view,
And what’s petty fades away,
And the flowers all look new,
When the mists of restless memories
Are lifted from the trees,
You’re standing in the garden of your soul.

It’s a place where you are free,
And you can soar,
Going anywhere you see
To explore.
The problems that need your care,
The feelings you need to air,
Are more clear
‘Cause you are here
In the garden.

When you know things no one taught you,
And remember what you know,
When you feel that what life brought you
Just helped you learn and grow,
When understanding more
Brings you peace where there was war,
You’re walking in the garden of your soul.

When a moment lasts forever,
And the hours disappear,
When you’re working and you never
Want to stop creating here,
When you want to write a song
For everyone who comes along,
You’re living in the garden of your soul.
You’re living in the garden of your soul.

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All of these are from Dad's writings submitted to local newspapers, except for the final piece, which was the draft of a speech to the Lions Club. There are many more in his collected writings, which he called "The Lifeguard Who Couldn't Swim." I scanned and edited only those that were directly autobiographical.

Best,

Shepherd

***

MY MOM

How can I characterize my mother? I suppose, like most other mothers: loving, generous, devoted, good sense of humor, with guts to do what had to be done when necessary, and so on.

Let's talk about guts, first. My father was killed in a car-train accident when my brother and I were young. And one week later, despite the trauma, Mom took over the factory. With the welfare of her family and the employees at stake, and with limited business experience, she single-handedly kept the business going by herself for almost a year till an uncle came in to take charge. Through sheer determination to save the company, she persuaded customers to stay, suppliers to work with her, and factory personnel to continue production in an efficient manner.

Early memories include Mom teaching me the ABC's before I entered kindergarten. I also learned early that I could say: "Son-of-a-gun!" with no problems. But repeating another exclamation overheard somewhere, "Son-of-a-bitch!" brought an immediate slap to the visage resulting in abundant tears and a decrying of the patent injustice of it all. Then, too, the first big word I learned was "aggravate" as in, "You aggravate me!"

Being the younger son, of course, I was the "baby". As some of you mothers out there can testify, I was always the baby forever and ever. During world War II, Mom would get to talking with strangers on the train about her baby. When they politely inquired as to how big he was, she'd proudly answer: "Oh, he is 6 feet 1 and weighs 180." Then the strangers would look quizzically at her and edge away a bit.

A corollary of this was her pet name for me which my friends quickly picked up: "Bubela", an appellation I unhappily had to put up with for years.

One claim I make for my mother I will back and defend to the end: Mom was unquestionably the finest cook and pastry chef in the history of civilization. No matter what the dish: meat, fowl, vegetable, or whatever, it was absolutely the most delectable mouth-watering preparation since the first humans starting roasting their catches over glowing coals in caves.

And remembering her world champion chocolate fudge and chocolate ice-box cake brings tears to my eyes in the sad belief that these unbelievable delicacies may never again be duplicated in my lifetime. Oh, if only the New Age gurus could bring her back for one more double recipe of each!

Now, as great as Mom was, like all mortals, she did have some failings. She went through a stage when my brother and I could not find birthday presents to satisfy her. Finally, once, in despair, we gave her a gift certificate from Marshall Field's.

"Whatever am I going to do with a gift certificate from Field's?," she demanded of us.

So next year, we presented her with a certificate from Carson Pirie Scott. Same reaction: what the devil could she do with it?

Finally, the following year we decided on what should have been an absolutely faultless selection: cash!

You guessed it; '`Now, what am I supposed to do with this money!"

One characteristic of Mom: she was outspoken, though by whom we didn't know. When my young cousin announced he was going to get married to a nice sweet young thing, Mom told him it would never last.

She was right. Thirty years later Joe's wife divorced him.

Fiercely loyal to her sons, Mom employed an iron-clad rule regarding her daughters-in-law. In the event of a family problem, the wives were always wrong. As you can figure, this sometimes led to fights in both families that made the Louis-Schmeling and Hagler-Leonard boxing matches look like the semifinals in the Olympic patty-cake competition. In later years, however, Mom did mellow and enjoyed warm relationships with our ladies.

This was true especially since she doted so much on her six grandchildren. She was constantly bringing them gifts and schlepping them to the movies or to the Ice Follies in Chicago or to the beach or somewhere—in other words, she became a world class super babysitter like you can't hardly find anywhere anymore.

For companionship for Mom there was George. For thirty-five years this widower faithfully squired Mom around without complaint and undoubtedly should have been awarded a medal for his patience and perseverance. Why didn't they marry? At first, it was because my brother and I cherished our father's memory and absolutely nobody could measure up to him short of sainthood. As time passed, when asked about marriage, Mom, with her great sense of humor, replied that she could not get her children's consent or that she didn't want to rush into it. Later on, it just didn't seem to matter.

In her early eighties, Mom, feeling lousy for months, finally entered the hospital. In two days, stunning us, she was gone. The doctor apologized to us for not having diagnosed sooner the leukemia that took her. Later, we were to be grateful that if it were the Lord's will, at least she didn't undergo a lingering painful death.

Ironically, a couple of years later, her doctor ignored his own symptoms and passed away from the same illness while still in his prime.

Mom, after all these years, we still miss you!

***

MATTIE

Sometime in your lifetime, you may be privileged to spend some years with someone special, a being you will never forget. Such a person was Mattie, our family's domestic for many years, starting while my brother and I were spirited teenagers.

Outgoing and gregarious with a great zest for life, she boasted many friends white and black; everyone knew and loved Mattie. She especially loved to gossip with Mom's friends when they phoned. It was not unusual for her to talk five minutes before informing Mom that Mrs. Shon wished to speak with her.

Mattie was fiercely loyal to my brother and me despite the teasing and the outrageous pranks we subjected her to. Sneaking up while she was bent over making up the Murphy in-a-door bed, we'd raise up the bed so she was trapped in it head down, feet in the air, and screaming wildly. But, still, nobody dared a word of criticism of "her boys" in her presence. When I was to leave for the Army in World War II years later, Mattie was the one to cry while Mom sat in the chair and waved goodbye.

Her vocabulary was filled with many colorful expressions, only a few of which I can recall, unfortunately. To describe a persistently obnoxious person begging favors: "He came around with a handful of gimmee and a mouthful of much obliged."

Should she say something that offended you, she wryly observed: "Excuse me, church. Didn't know you was crowded!"

But, on the other hand, should you pester her while she was busy or preoccupied, she would send you away with: "Go, away, boy, I ain't a-studying you!"

When we bought a puppy for my brother for his birthday, I was given the honor of naming it. Seeking the unusual, I finally came up with "Ulysses". Now there was no way Mattie could handle the pronunciation, and so very quickly, she turned the name into "Useless", claiming it was useless to own a dog in the apartment building, anyway. So "Useless" became the pup's name and three or four generations of my brother's dogs inherited the same name.

In her 50's when she came to work for us, Mattie loved to party, drinking and smoking with the best of them. Once, when Mom gave a luncheon, my brother mischievously plied Mattie with a few cocktails till she was effectively bombed out of action much to Mom's dismay. Then one day, the new preacher at her church convinced her that drinking and smoking was the road to her eternal damnation and abruptly, Mattie quit both these sins and henceforth, took a dim view of anyone participating in these now nefarious activities.

One winter, Mom took a two-week trip to New York that lasted six months, to visit her family. In her absence, my brother had the responsibility of paying Mattie. Now, arithmetic did not happen to be one of her strong suits, so you can imagine her consternation one Friday when my brother brought home a heavy cloth bag and placed it in front of her.

"Here is your pay, Mattie, 1,000 pennies. They are loose, so you must count them to see if they are all there." Ten dollars was good pay in those days, but Mattie immediately became hysterical at the prospect of trying to count all those pennies, ranting and raving at my brother and finally calling our aunt and getting her excited, too. But my brother adamantly insisted that the coppers had to be counted and he wasn't about to help.

How did Mattie solve the problem? Simple. She marched down to the corner grocery and had poor Mr. Dallie do the tallying and exchange the coins for paper money.

During the war years, sadly, Mattie contracted a fatal disease and passed on. Wherever she is now, she is undoubtedly enjoying herself gossiping with the angels or whomever and informing any bothersome spirits to be gone 'cause she ain't a-studying them.

***

OLD TIME FOOTBALL

Football has changed much over the years, and many of today's young generation may not be aware of the differences. The two platoon system, unlimited substitutions, offensive blocking with hands, and many other innovations have made the game more interesting and safer.

Outlawed were the flying tackle and flying wedges. The former involved the tackler diving through the air and caused at least one death from a broken neck and other serious injuries. The flying wedge, passing on unmourned years ago, consisted of linemen on the receiving team on kickoffs linking arms forming a wall behind which the ball carrier and blockers ran downfield. Difficult to penetrate, it was also responsible for many injuries.

Andy Gill, legendary Michigan City high school coach in the '20s and '30s, figured out away to stop the wedge one day in a game against powerhouse South Bend Central. He instructed our big linemen to run at the linked blockers and dive feet first at them. Several South Bend players were carried off the field on stretchers and that was the last wedge they attempted, at least for that game.

The Statue of Liberty, in which the passer posed with the ball back, it being grabbed by a circling end or back, has been superseded by the end around. For field goals and points after touchdowns, Michigan City in the '30's still favored dropkicking, but that, too, has departed for the more reliable place kick.

One recollection I have of a night game in South Bend in 1934 was of 6'5" Bill Vergane's punting. That night, the fullback kicked the ball further than I ever saw in college or pro games since. His 65- and 75- yard punts continually soared far over the safety man's head who would have needed a bicycle to get under them.

Under the delusion that I was a budding All-American lineman, I tried out for Elston's team, but ended up as an All-American benchwarmer for three years. Coach Andy didn't play me for two reasons: in my senior year, though big for my age, I still was only 15 and one-half years old due to some double promoting by grade school teachers seeking to avoid damage to their dispositions and life expectancies. Secondly, and probably more meaningful, I was significantly short on talent.

The final home game in my senior year, we had Elkart down 28 to 0 with two minutes to play. Suddenly, Andy yelled for me to go in at tackle. We kicked off to Elkart, and I headed downfield looking for the ball carrier. An Elkart blocker came at me and was able to hit me right in the hands with his head. Unfortunately, the official next to me took a dim view of it and penalized us 15 yards.

For some reason, Elkart then ran a couple of plays at me, and too slow and dumb to get out of the way, I made the tackles. When the game ended shortly after, the Elkart coach walked over to Andy and wanted to know who the devil was the big Irishman put in at the end of the game to rough it up.

***

SPEED TRAP

Small town speed traps--you don't hear much about them these days. But they did exist in some areas at one time. Maybe they still do.

Way back when, in the '30s, ten of us lighthearted teenagers piled into two family cars borrowed for the evening and headed into a neighboring state for a roadhouse about 30 miles distant. Coming to a stoplight in a small town just over the state line, the two of us drivers staged a race as teenagers still often do. It was close till a third auto entered the race and pulled us over. Luckily, the state trooper let us off with a warning, and we continued on to the nightclub.

We five couples were having a grand time laughing and singing when the MC thought it expedient to introduce a local justice of the peace who was running for reelection. Thoroughly unimpressed, we continued singing while the JP glared at us to no avail.

The Saturday festivities wound down and we left the club and headed home. Driving in the lead, I was less than diligent when a sudden gust of wind forced the right wheels onto the shoulder. Unfortunately, the wind had picked a spot where a trooper was standing next to a car giving the driver a ticket.

The trooper evidently had no sense of humor, even though I missed him by at least a foot. He leaped into his vehicle, gave chase, and flagged us down. What aroused our suspicions of a trap was the fact that he also pulled over Howie driving behind me, and Howie had done nothing untoward to deserve being detained. The policeman told us to follow him to the JP's office in the same small town where we had been stopped on the way up.

You guessed it--it was the same JP from the nightclub! He eyed Howie and me and said $200 bail for the two of us--a considerable sum in those days. He gave us one whole hour to raise it, one o'clock in the early A.M. on a Saturday!

My good friend Bill volunteered to try to secure the bail from his uncle who had access to his family's office safe. While the others went home, Bill took my family car and headed back to our hometown and woke his uncle. Uncle gave him the office key and the safe combination. As the minutes ticked away, Bill fiddled unsuccessfully with the safe before discovering he had the wrong one.

Finally, he got the $200 and hopped in the car for the return trip. Meanwhile, the trooper who had originally stopped Howie and me on the way up, walked into the JP's offlce. When he spotted us, we revised our thinking to how we would look in stripes and tried to estimate how much time off to expect for good behavior.

In the meantime, about four miles out of town, Bill in my car ran out of gas. No self-respecting TV sitcom writer today would dare to put out such a ridiculous scenario, but all this actually did happen.

Fortunately, Bill was able to hitch a ride with a trucker and came running up with the $200 clutched in his hand just as Howie and I were being placed into the squad car for the trip to the county slammer.

Later, Bill's uncle was able to recover part of the bail money, but I will tell you one thing. For years afterward, the only thing I could have been arrested for when driving through that village would have been for parking on the highway.

***

OLD TIME SCHOOL HIJINKS

I hate to sound like an old fogey (are there any young fogeys?) but when my generation was teenaged, the hijinks we indulged in were truly innocent most of the time. There was little vandalism or rowdyism, and usually, we were just juveniles being boisterous and enjoying youth as we were supposed to.

Oh sure, on Halloween and other times, a few outhouses were pushed over, garbage cans relocated, windows soaped, and the like. Or we'd call up someone, telling them we were from the public service company, and ask them to check to see if the corner street light was burning. When they returned to the phone, we would tell them to please go blow it out.

Then, there were the usual calls to the cigar or drug stores inquiring if they had Prince Albert (tobacco) in the can. If the reply was in the affirmative, we'd say to please let him out.

In school, when our "deportment" was something less than exemplary, we might be kept after class (ninth period) or sent to the principal's office, neither event being something cherished. In Miss Morgan's art class, I recall spending more time standing in the hall outside than sitting in the classroom. It happened so regularly the janitors dusted me off thinking I was part of the building.

Now, sometimes, we also pulled stunts that were really weird and not in the best judgment, to put it kindly. Away at college, one afternoon, Bill, Jerry, and I were riding around in Bill's Chevy and came to a corner refreshment stand. I told Bill to stop and I'd buy us all ice cream cones. Both he and Jerry declined my offer, so I got myself one and returned to the car.

"Give me a lick," requested Bill. I refused, pointing out that I had offered to get him his own cone. Bill again asked for a lick, but I was adamant. This time Bill threatened: "Give me a lick or I'll drive to Chicago!" Chicago was 150 miles away but I was stubborn.

"You can drive to San Francisco for all I care," I told him, "but you are not going to lick my cone."

So we drove to Chicago, had dinner, and drove back. You might say, the 300-mile trip was solely for the lack of a lick.

In high school one first day of April, my buddies and I determined to pull an April Fool's trick on the kindly physics teacher, Mr. Troyer. Since I sat next to the door, I was elected to interrupt him during his exposition of some theorem and inform him someone in the hall wanted to see him. When he would stop and walk to the door, all of us would then holler "April Fool!"

At the appointed time, I executed my part of the plot. In annoyance, the teacher stopped his discussion and walked over to the door. As he looked in vain for the visitor, I started to call out "April...." I did not finish because there was a deafening silence from my co-conspirators. It was my first memorable experience with a shafting--a classic double-cross!

Mr. Troyer whirled around, pointing his finger at me. "April Fool to you, Fred Hoodwin--three ninth periods!"

Well, that was one way to learn about life,

***

FLYING MONKEYS

Hey, men: any of you out there ever have credibility problems with the little woman when you come rolling in at 2:00 in the A.M. and she doesn't swallow your unimaginative tale of a flat tire and broken jack or perhaps of sitting with a sick buddy in the emergency room?

How about the opposite scenario when something actually happens that is weird and unbelievable but 100% true and she, of course, rejects it with a "Don't give me that bleep bleep!" Damned either way, you are a victim of the born loser syndrome.

Many years ago while in college, I was on my way one spring day to meet my girl Jean at the library to put in some required studying. An acquaintance, Ed, came along, stopped, and asked if I were interested in making a few bucks. "Sure, why not", I answered, "like doing what?"

He looked at me and replied "Catching monkeys."

"Nice seeing you again, Ed". I started to walk on.

"No, I'm not kidding. Some monkeys escaped from the animal psychology lab and the professor has offered a reward for their capture. They have been spotted in the trees near the football stadium."

Such an intriguing prospect sounded like much more fun than boning up on medieval English history on a beautiful spring afternoon. I joined him and we detoured past the library so I could cancel my date. Jean was waiting outside and was disappointed when I told her I had a sudden change in plans. She asked why.

"I am going to hunt monkeys."

"Come on, now. Quit trying to be cute."

"No, dear, it's true. Ed and I are going monkey hunting."

She glared at me and stamped off muttering something about it was too early for drinking and how could I make up such trash or did I have terminal spring fever?

When we arrived at the park near the stadium, sure enough, some simians were frolicking in the apple trees. Uncertain just how to proceed, we picked up some rotten apples and started throwing at them. Through sheer luck we hit one and he fell to the ground unhurt. We pounced on him and put him in a carton we had brought along.

Starting back for the professor's office, we cut by the library and I went in and beckoned to Jean. She came out and I pointed to the box and told her to look inside. Her eyes became as big as the proverbial saucers and she gasped: "It's a monkey!"

From that time forth, my credibility rating with Jean soared from the normal low of routine feminine suspicion to a superior one of unquestioning trust. (For at least 2 or 3 days, anyway.)

***

POO ON A E FOO

Though the great depression of the '30's was a sobering influence, those of us fortunate enough to go to college did manage some lighter moments occasionally.

Living in a fraternity house meant the usual quota of pranks, like short-sheeting beds, hiding clothes, and the like. Once, every piece of furniture and clothing in my room was moved up to the attic and carefully reassembled in perfect order. Then, one day, I had determined that my good friend from my hometown, Bill, should walk to school. This was easily accomplished by my removing the distributor rotor from his Chevy.

That night, an underclassman, Jerry, came into my room with the information that he was about to paint our fraternity's motto on the sidewalk in front of a sorority several blocks away, with which we were friendly. When I told him that it wasn't really very clever, he challenged me for something better.

A moment's thought brought to mind the then-currently popular cartoonist who had his characters conversing mainly with "oo's". From there it was easy to arrive at "Poo on A E Foo", a parody of the sorority's name, as our contribution to current sidewalk graffiti. Jerry thought that was super and insisted that I join him since I had provided the inspired authorship.

So there we were a little while later wielding the paint brush in front of the sorority. We had finished "Poo on A -" when suddenly a car stopped in front of the house. Jerry, facing the street, whispered, "The cops!," and we heard a car door open.

Jerry started to run and had a couple of steps on me when I shot by him so fast, it spun him around twice. As I sped across a side street and vaulted a six foot fence, I heard a grunt behind me signifying that Jerry had been captured by the gendarmes. Continuing cross-country at a pace that holds the record to this day, I found sanctuary back at the house. When the fellows wanted to know where Jerry was, I told them to try the city jail.

Bill and a couple of others drove there and sure enough, there was Jerry behind bars hollering for a lawyer. Bill bailed him out and they returned to the fraternity.

Incredibly, both local newspapers featured the story on their front pages the next day, while the varsity cross-country coach was looking to sign me for his squad. Even more incredibly, *Time* magazine, the following week, used the "Poo on A E Foo" incident in its section on education as a commentary on the sad condition of the country's higher education system of the day.

The mystery of how the police happened to come along and catch us was solved when later Bill confessed that he had turned us in to get even for my swiping the distributor rotor. In fact, he was parked nearby in his car watching the whole bit.

So I told Jerry not to pay back the bail money. I don't remember now whether or not he did.

***

OCS

Those of you who remember the popular movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" may have wondered if the pressure-laden routine of unending harassment of the naval officer candidates was authentic or merely another Hollywood invention and exaggeration. Based on my experiences in OCS, Officer Candidate School, during World War II, I must say the movie was quite accurate in depicting the unrelenting stress inflicted on the candidates.

The idea was that in the absence of actual combat to test potential military officers, the schools applied all this pressure in an attempt to weed out those who can keep their cool and leadership capabilities from those who could not. At first, these courses lasted three months; hence, the common unflattering term for their graduates of "90-day wonders." Later, in the spring of 1943 when I was accepted, the terms were lengthened to four months.

Basically, the schooling was divided into two categories: academics and military. The academics, of course, centered on the specialty of the school; in my case—anti-aircraft artillery, then a division of the Coast Artillery of the Army's Ground Forces.

The balance of the day was devoted to military training, largely close-order drill, which was marching by the numbers. Everywhere we went, we marched at attention with "bird-dog" lieutenants hovering, constantly barking commands and criticisms. They especially relished klutzes like me who had had little previous training. One officer in particular, if you can imagine, somehow jumped into ranks with us as we marched and stationed himself directly behind me speaking commands into my ear to pull those shoulders back, back, back, and dig in those heels.

Later, I became so proficient at bracing that blood circulation actually cut off at the shoulders and my arms would become numb. Despite my giving it an all-American try, the officers decided that I had indeed qualified for two weeks in the "Special Training Detachment," more commonly known as "Boot School". Here, all day long, we did little else but march, do the rifle manual of arms, and take turns acting as drill sergeants commanding the platoon.

At the end of the two weeks, either you were as proficient at marching skills as a West Point cadet, or you were gone. Somehow, I survived, returned to the regular school, and hung on till graduation day.

All the time in school, I had been writing my mother how tough it was and the doubts I entertained about making it. So when the day of commissioning finally arrived, I had to be the only OCS graduate in history ever to receive a congratulatory telegram from his mother addressed not to "2nd Lieutenant" but to "Officer Candidate."

I sort of expected it since on my first weekend pass home after enlisting, the dog barked at me and I discovered Mom and my brother had invested heavily in Japanese war bonds.

***

OLD TIME FUN?

This is for you other old guys out there, but if any of the younger generation cares to read along, well, be my guest. Anyway, have you ever spent time idly reminiscing about your younger days and suddenly recalled pulling a really dumb stunt in which you looked the Angel of Death in the eye, laughed at him, and came away unscathed?

I have, and each time, the hands start to tremble, the moisture on the forehead turns warm, and the words spoken or visualized read like this: "Oh, no! Not me! I didn't really do something stupid like that, did I? How did I ever miss getting the big zap?"

In high school sometimes at night, my buddies and I would split up and pile into "Tuffy" Stephens's family Pontiac and my family Chevy and play a game of "tag". Usually, Tuffy, in the lead, would try to lose my car by darting into alleys and doubling down side streets, twisting and turning to elude us.

This one evening on the East side, Tuffy cut off Michigan Street, a main thoroughfare, and headed north on a street that crossed unguarded over the South Shore railroad tracks, and then he turned down the road paralleling the railroad. Nearly one block behind, I gunned the Chevy trying to narrow the gap.

You guessed it. As we cut over the tracks, an oncoming train rang its bell furiously and to our horror, was practically on top of us. You have seen those old Keystone Kop movies in which, during a chase, the train misses the speeding car at a crossing by one-half inch. Well, this one was closer. Had I been born one second later or were the car one coat of paint larger, that South Shore would have propelled us into eternity.

Tuffy was waiting for us as we turned down the street. "Gee", he grinned, "that was close!" Then, naturally, of course, we resumed the chase.

Some of you probably have never driven in the mountains. Where the peaks soar anywhere from 47O00 to 12,000 feet, the view is spectacular. But the driving ain't like good old pancake-flat Indiana. Sometimes, the two lanes are narrower than some of Michigan City's alleys and they don't include frills such as guard rails or shoulders. To make it even more interesting, occasional fallen boulders and washouts serve to keep your attention. The 500 or 1,000 feet sheer drops assure that if you go over the edge, your car better have wings or soon you will have some, assuming you go to the nicer place.

During World War II, in 1943, three of us Army second lieutenants stationed near Riverside, California, one afternoon decided to venture up into the San Bernardino mountains. With me driving my Ford V-8, we set out for Big Bear Lake, 6,000 feet up in beautiful wooded country. Our hearts were young and carefree and the narrow road provided awesome and perilous viewing as it climbed ever higher, winding back and forth.

Upon reaching Big Bear, we decided to celebrate by having a few beers. Finally, we headed back down but stopped at Lake Arrowhead first, at 5,000 feet. Sampling the stock of brew there approvingly, we figured that we should not slight the rest of the saloons on the way down to the ground floor. So we didn't.

Well, by the time we reached the 2,000 foot level, we were all flying higher than the P-38's stationed at nearby March Field. Why I didn't drive over the edge and why the Big Guy upstairs gave us a bye that day is beyond my comprehension. But that was another one I owed Him.

So it wasn't a total loss, we stopped for a nightcap at the lovely Arrowhead Springs Hotel in the foothills above San Bernardino. Waltzing into the lobby we encountered Hollywood movie star and comedienne, famous in the late '30s and '40s, Joan Davis. Still feeling little pain, we suggested that she invite us to her suite for a drink. To our surprise, instead of calling the M.P.s, she graciously did ask us up. After a quick highball, we had enough sense left somehow to depart with thanks.

Ah, vive la guerre!

***

KAMIKAZES

Sometimes I think back to the Christmas day during the war in 1944 when our convoy of merchant ships plus a few destroyer escorts left Tacloban bay in Leyte in the eastern Philippines to head for Mindoro, the island just south of Luzon. I was the Army cargo security officer on board a Liberty ship carrying 9,000 tons of Air Corps bombs, and why anyone should be concerned with the security of such cargo escaped me then as well as now.

But there I was, together with about 32 crew members and a Navy armed guard contingent, headed by a lieutenant, j.g., on board to handle the ship's armaments consisting of one five-inch cannon and six twenty-millimeter anti-aircraft guns. We had left San Francisco about four months previously and spent much of the time anchored off New Guinea, unloading a little, reloading a little, but mostly just sitting there waiting, true to Army tradition.

Finally, in November, about a month after Gen. Douglas MacArthur waded ashore during the invasion of Leyte, announcing that he had indeed returned, we joined a northwest-bound convoy and anchored after a few days in the bay at Tacloban. The trip was slow since the underpowered Liberty ships, 430 feet long, could do only about eight knots. The joke was that when the steward threw overboard the garbage at night, it floated past the ship, going in the same direction.

We sat in the bay for weeks, getting blase about our touchy load, the occasional lifeboat drills and quipping that if we did get hit, we needed not life jackets, but parachutes. It got so we didn't bother to come on deck for the nightly air raid, although, once in a while, I did go topside to watch in fascination as all the gun crews lowered their barrels to horizontal, chasing the lone low-flying Japanese intruder and wondered how the gunners missed hitting the other ships at anchor. Then, for the first time, we learned of the possibility of attack by suicide planes, or Kamikazes, but shrugged it off with "so what".

The tough old Irish ship's captain made it clear frequently that he considered the Navy gunners and me to be "non-essentials" on board and a waste of government money, besides. It was probably true in my case but he was to change his mind later about the gun crew.

The day after Christmas dawned sunny and clear as we cruised north of Mindanao. We had been promised a 24-hour air cover, so we were not too worried when general quarters sounded about 10:00. It turned out the 24-hour cover was mostly Japanese and some of their planes were attacking. I was standing on the top deck near the funnel when I spotted a slow-flying plane diving on the ship next to us, about 400 yards away.

Fascinated, I watched the Kamikaze crash into the base of their funnel. Suddenly, there was thunderous explosion--the ship evidently had had a load of ammo like us. In horror, I saw its sides fly along the water engulfed in smoke and with dark clouds reaching high into the sky. Twisted pieces of one-inch boiler plate rained down on our ship and we heeled over and rocked back and forth like a canoe in a gale.

In one micro-second instant, our ho-hum attitude switched to one of an unadulterated all-consuming fear. With a load of 9000 tons of bombs, there was no place to hide from the fanatic suicide pilots. But our gun crew was magnificent! Time after time, they shot down or damaged the Kamikazes and stopped them from reaching us. After the attack was over, the Navy gunners figured they had personally accounted for four Jap planes— not bad for a lightly armed non-naval vessel.

The next two days we were attacked frequently, and about nine or ten other ships were damaged, but no more were sunk or blown up. However, one day we observed directly overhead a Zero dog fight with an American fighter. The Zero caught a fatal burst and started diving out of control directly at our number one hold, where the extra sensitive primers and detonators were stored. In horror, we stood watching helplessly but at the last moment, the plane exploded and parts fell harmlessly into the ocean on the port and starboard sides and pieces of the fuselage landed on the deck. So it wasn't a total loss, later in quieter times, while unloading, some of us made aluminum watch bands from the Zero's fuselage.

Finally, we reached Mindoro and dropped anchor in the bay. The island was crucial to the invasion of Luzon and the re-taking of Manila which was to occur later. That afternoon, the captain broke out the slop chest for the gun crew and told them to take all the beer, candy, and cigarettes they wanted, with his compliments. Yes, he no longer considered them "non-essentials".

Then he announced that from then on, to hell with regulations! We would all "abandon ship" nightly and sleep on shore, since he was damned if he was going to be a sitting duck all night long for the crazy Japs. And that is what we did each night, sleeping in foxholes each of us dug for ourselves a couple of hundred yards inland.

The next day at twilight when we had already gone ashore, we heard gunfire from the bay followed by a tremendous explosion. We all cheered, figuring it was our ship that had been hit and now we could leave this bleeping place and head homeward. But when we ran down to the beach, we discovered that it wasn't our ship that caught it, but one that had just arrived that day and anchored next to us. Another ammo ship with its poor forsaken crew who never had a chance.

Finally, the DUKWs, the amphibious Army vehicles fascinating to watch, finished unloading our cargo, the bombs. My orders entitled me to return home expeditiously, so I said my good-byes and headed for the airstrip. I managed to hitch a ride in a C-47, the Army version of the DC-3, flying down to Biak, then New Guinea. Unfortunate~, I was bumped at Hollandia, New Guinea, and ended up in a Navy transport hold for the trip back to San Francisco. But that was another story.

***

SICK SICK SICK

If any of you have ever been seasick, you will agree that there are few feelings worse, especially when realizing that, in the event of an extended sea voyage, your mal de mer is just not going to go away. That is, unless you are sufficiently fortunate to have access to dramamine or some other modern drug that usually suppresses the overwhelming nausea.

Unfortunately, during World War II, those drugs were not available and those suffering from seasickness got little treatment except sympathy and the advice to lie down outside on deck midship in the fresh air, where the motion was not as severe. Normally, I am a fair sailor, while my wife used to get seasick taking a bath. But in rough seas, even experienced seamen sometimes will admit to feeling queasy or worse.

Returning to the States after a rough trip in the Philippines, I ended up in New Guinea on a Navy transport sailing on the three week trip back to San Francisco. My second lieutenant status counted little with the Navy even though we were allies, and they assigned me to the number one hold in the bow together with a big bunch of G.I.s.

This hold was designed to carry cargo but bunks had been installed along the sides and center in something less than luxury first-class accommodations. Also, in rough seas, being in the bow it would be subject to the greatest motion—up and down, up and down, not to mention rolling side to side, too.

And that is what happened as soon as we left port and entered the stormy open ocean. The normally calm Pacific belied its name and for the entire trip, it was up and down, up and down, rock and roll, rock and roll. The nausea claimed me, and for the first ten days, I was afraid I was going to die. Then for the second ten days, I was afraid I wasn't going to die. Stubbornly, I did not miss a meal. Just as stubbornly, my stomach rejected every one.

One day in desperation, I staggered up to sick bay and asked the pharmacist mate for some medication . When he haughtily informed me that seasickness was all in the mind, I would have strangled him on the spot had I the strength.

By the time we reached San Francisco, I was so thin, I didn't bother to open any doors when passing through. I just slipped underneath.

Reporting to my office, they said they were sure glad to see me since they were shorthanded and they were assigning me to another ship leaving in two days.

My thoughts were unprintable in this, a family book. I immediately called my mother in Michigan City and told her that she was sick and to climb in bed and stay there. Then I put in for an emergency leave to see my poor sick mother. When the local Red Cross came to check her, Mom put on an act worthy of an Oscar, and my leave was approved.

After two recuperative weeks at home, I returned to San Francisco refreshed and ready to try the Pacific a few more times.

***

BOATING ADVENTURES

Being longtime boat lovers, my brother and I picked up an old mahogany Chris-Craft motorboat after the end of World War II. The hull was much stouter than modern fiberglass ones, which I came to appreciate one dark midnight while cruising on Lake Michigan with a sweet young thing.

Returning to the harbor from the west in the darkness, I aimed between two beacon lights near the entrance. A wee bit too late, I discovered the lights sat on either end of the outer breakwater. Luckily, we bounced off safely with little damage, unlike some modern boats recently making the same error and going to the bottom.

That was one hard-way lesson learned. Another came one beautiful windless September day when four of us and my brother's English setter, Useless, cruised over the calm surface of the lake to the Whitcomb Hotel resort in St. Joseph, Michigan. We tied up in the St. Joe River and enjoyed a couple of relaxing hours with the massages and steam room, although Useless didn't care much for the latter.

Returning to the boat, we noticed that a wind had sprung up and the lake did appear a bit choppy. In blissful ignorance, though, we headed out into the lake. Immediately, not spray but huge waves broke completely over the boat.

In about two seconds flat, we achieved 100 percent respect for Lake Michigan and all other sizeable bodies of water when strong winds spring up. It took ten minutes of careful maneuvering to turn back without capsizing and we were very grateful to dock at the local yacht club. The five of us were indeed happy to take the bus home.

Eventually selling the Chris-Craft, we were boatless till some years later when my brother bought a small used inboard runabout which I had use of occasionally. One Sunday afternoon, my wife, four-year old son Andy, our dog Rusty, and I boarded the boat at the dock and I started the motor. Water in the gas caused it to sputter and throw raw gas into the bilge, a deadly combination.

Suddenly, there was a flash explosion and the four of us ended up with second and third degree burns and spent two weeks in the hospital.

One positive note: that incident did more in our area to promote safe boating techniques, including the sale of life jackets, than years of Coast Guard warnings and propaganda.

***

(In 1998, Dad prepared a speech for the Lion's Club. I had previously explained to him, over lunch, his Michael teachings chart, so he decided to incorporate that. He sent me this, his first draft, asking for my changes or additions. I don't think I saw his final version.--SGH)

I kept this topic secret--I was afraid that half of you wouldn't show up if you knew I was speaking, and the other half, if you knew my topic. Glad to see all of you present did have confidence in me.

Anyway, the title of my presentation is "My Book, My Son the Channeler, and My Surprise Ending."

In 1986, as you may recall, the Rotary Club started a campaign called "I Buy Michigan City." It was intended to persuade more local citizens to trade with Michigan City merchants. To show how serious they were, Rotary spent $10,000 for publicity and promotion.

This prompted a short letter from me to the Anvil Chorus in the "News-Dispatch," congratulating Rotary on their endeavor, but stating, "I just bought Michigan City, and will give you Rotarians 30 days to move out. Have a good day." I signed it as a member of the Lions Club.

Naturally, one Rotarian responded in the paper, "All the Lions--in the zoo!" It was my former golf partner and we had a lot of fun corresponding in the paper with numerous light-hearted insults.

This started my career of writing to the paper. Over the next 13 years till the present, I have submitted over 180 articles and letters. 124 were published in the Anvil Chorus and the Viewpoint columns. The paper turned down 24. Also, 30 were printed in the "Bitcher"...excuse me, I mean to say "Beacher." I stopped writing for the latter when Jerry Montgomery cut my pay 50%. When I calculated that 50% of nothing was still nothing, I left in a huff. I believe they quit building the Huff in 1970, but it was a very fine automobile.

Lately, my sons and some friends were pressuring me to turn the articles and letters into a book. So last year I picked out 62 suitable writings, including many rejected by the newspaper, and started to retype them for the book.

1 was doing okay at this until my sons now insisted I should use a computer as a more efficient means to copy. Fighting desperately all the way, I reluctantly agreed and in October the cursed contrivance arrived.

Soon I discovered what real trouble was upon attempting to digest the instructions which were written strictly for Rhodes scholars and members of Mensa. Despite two courses at the high school, my computer comprehension was near zilch.

On top of sheer incompetence, the computer frequently bawled me out. Like "Naughty, naughty, you idiot. You just flubbed up the discombobular circuit. Go to your room!" Three times when my fingers fouled up the keyboard, the following occurred:

1. I bought a ten year supply of tampons.

2. I purchased 5000 shares of "dot's nice dot com" a high tech penny stock. My 5000 shares are presently valued at $1.98.

3. After talking at length to somebody in Korea, I was informed that I had just married Rev. Moon's daughter.

Finally, I completed the manuscript. My articles selected come in four categories: commentaries, documentaries, fantasies, and poetic parodies. I mailed complete manuscripts to three publishers and sample articles to 25.

So far, ten have mailed rejection slips, leaving eighteen more who may or may not answer. Probably, I will wait until this fall before considering self-publishing or forgetting the project. May I point out that the authors of the bestselling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" queried about 35 publishers before being picked up by a small outfit in Deerfield Beach, Florida, not far from my winter home. Currently 20 or 25 "Chicken Soups" have been sold totaling 35 or 40 million copies.

My second segment concerns my son Shepherd, who channels for a living. What is channeling, you ask?

Channeling is "a means of communicating with any consciousness that is not in human form by allowing that consciousness to express itself through the channeler." It can be in words, energy, emotion, movement, etc. To be explicit Shepherd channels an entity of 1050 departed souls known collectively as "Michael."

Before you start passing judgment and rolling your eyes skyward, I ask you to consider this: Go outside at night and gaze up at the heavens. Can you explain how all the stars and galaxies got there and who put them there. If a force known as God created them, where did all the material come from? Etc.

Such knowledge is beyond our comprehension, at least, for now. Imagine going back to my two grandfathers born about the time of the Civil War, and telling them what was coming in our time: TV, radio, automobiles, planes flying at four times the speed of sound, the Moon landing, etc.

So do not dismiss channeling offhand as being beyond reality. Michael Crichton, famed author of "Disclosure" and "Jurassic Park," channeled at one time. You are probably aware of movie and stage actress Shirley MacLaine's involvement, also, in this field.

Right here in Michigan City on West Coolspring is the Spiritual Science Church, run by a Mrs. Novak. She regularly invites in strangers and sits them down in a circle, telling them things about each that she had no way of knowing previously.

A lady of my acquaintance had lost her husband twenty years previous to her visit to the church. Mrs. Novak stood in front of her, correctly named her husband as Fred, and described some unusual arm movements he customarily made.

The Michael entity has described a very complex social structure, usually in amounts of seven. For example, all of us can be categorized as one of the following soul types: warriors, kings, scholars, artisans, sages, priests, and servers. I am supposed to be a king with chief features of stubbornness and arrogance, and have an attitude of realist. The good news is we have all lived before and will live again.

Shepherd has written three books about channeling and Michael: "The Journey of Your Soul," "Meditations for Self-Discovery," and "Loving from Your Soul." He must be doing something right, since he has sold over 18,000 copies so far. An oddity is the fact that the latter title was published in Finnish. This brings to mind the old crack "She wouldn't do it for a Swede, but she would for a fin (five dollars).

Channels are not capable of predicting the future with certainty, and do not claim to have the solution to every problem. For instance, if there is not yet a medical cure for AIDs on the horizon, channeling will probably not come up with one.

Channels can express themselves either by speaking or writing. For some channels, channeling is like taking dictation, maintaining a clear distinction between themselves and the channeled entities. In the other extreme, channels go into a trance, leaving their bodies and allowing the entity to have complete control over them, often remembering nothing when returning to consciousness. In the middle ground, channels stay conscious to varying degrees and move responsively with the entity.

The ability to get information varies--maybe there is much about a health problem, but little about relationships. Sometimes, intuition may enter into the procedure.

A good channel is maybe 80% accurate—it helps if the subject cooperates and is totally honest. If the channel is fatigued, affected by drugs, caffeine, or alcohol, the results may be unfavorable.

Now for my 3rd topic-the surprise ending.

***

NOTE FROM SHEPHERD:

At the end, he simply wrote "Harriet & Shepherd"; he didn't need to write it out since he'd told the story many times already about how I had communicated with Harriet when she passed over. She showed me a picture of a three-drawer chest and emphatically said, "The middle drawer! The middle drawer! I want David to have what is in the middle drawer." Unbeknownst to me, they had bought a little desk with three drawers the year before (in Florida, where I hadn't been in years), and Harriet kept her securities in the middle drawer. David is her son.

Something similar happened last week, by the way. Pat's first cousin Donna Karnes lived in Laguna Beach and we were friendly. She passed over around March 9. I attended shiva at her daughter Terri Meisberger's home. Her widower Jody Karnes has, himself, had psychic/spiritual experiences, and while we were casually sitting on the patio, I got a message for him from Donna: she showed me an image of a stout green bottle with a narrow neck. Donna wanted him to open that bottle and drink it. Jody vaguely remembered such a bottle. When he got home, he found it: it was plum brandy, which Donna would drink when she was constipated. It turns out that, when I gave Jody the message, he, too, was constipated, which I obviously didn't know.

Incidentally, this kind of mediumship is not the main work I do, which is channeling Michael and doing other forms of intuitive/healing work, but it does help people to know that the soul continues after death, which is a great comfort.

My father wrote this for his sons.

***

MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

--Or--

If I Had Known That I Would Live This Long, I'd Have Taken Better Care of Myself

By Fred Hoodwin

September, 1994

I am writing this with little or no preparation, some checking of records, and I do not intend to rework it twenty or thirty times as I do with my other articles. This is written for my sons to learn something about my background and history in case they are interested in same. If anyone else happens to be interested, well, good for them. So expect the writing to be less than ideal and the continuity may not be great. What you see is what you get.

Grandfather Albert K. Hoodwin came from what was called Russia in the 1880s. He was supposedly born in 1880 probably in an area now Lithuania or Poland. His parents were Louis and Goldie and the children in approximate order of birth were Marcus (Udwin), Celia (Kurtzon), Albert, Amelia (Karno), Joseph, Hyman (Jack), Charles, Robert, and Tillie (Gershenow).

In the old country, Louis was a manager of a brewery or something like that. In this country, they settled around Three Oaks, Michigan, on a farm there. Eventually, they moved to Chicago on the near South side. In 1913 they resided at 1416 South Trumbull. How do I know this? I have the engraved plate of the wedding invitation for Albert's and Lillian's wedding and the date was Sept. 23, 1913. I thought I remembered Louis died of pneumonia in 1912 but the invitation states "Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hoodwin" so I am not sure.

Goldie I recall as short and stocky, and she died in 1924. I recall sitting in my parents' auto at the age of 5 while they were inside visiting her in Mount Sinai Hospital. The only other recollection about her is Grandma Lil stating that Goldie would mention sometimes that "When Al lived at home, he had roses in his cheeks," in not-so-subtle criticism of her daughter-in-law.

Albert was athletic and a picture exists somewhere of him on a racing or cross-country bike, and he supposedly rode in cross-country events to distant cities. Also, he did some boxing (not paper boxing, I mean).

Part of his work experience took place at the Illinois Paper Box Co., where, evidently, he was employed just prior to moving to Michigan City in 1904 to start the Michigan City Paper Box Co.

Lillian's mother was born Fannie Wallerstein in Riga, Latvia. She married Isaac Weisman and evidently moved to around Vilna (now Vilnius), Lithuania. They emigrated to this country, landing in Boston about 1895.

There were 12 children but only 7 survived. One who died was a twin to Helen who passed when about six months old. In order, approximate, of birth: Rebecca "Bea" (Wallerstein), Morris, Lillian, Rae (Cohen), Harry, Tillie (Gavender), and Helen (Zaret).

Grandpa Ike was a traveling salesman early, but later in his life, he ran summer beach hotels on the south shore of Long Island, American plan (with three meals included); with luck, he would break even. Grandma Lil mentioned that she had to help him financially sometimes. Later, he ended up with twelve or forteen summer cottages he rented out, in Far Rockaway. Isaac lived to be 87, staying alive, it was said, to see Helen Francis and Len Bachman marry. Then he died, in the summer of 1948. Your mother and I drove out to see him early that summer. Your mother had light blonde hair, and first I told Grandpa that she was an Episcopalian, startling him until I reassured him she was truly Jewish.

Great Grandma Fannie died about 1904 in childbirth. Eventually, Isaac courted a widow named Rose Hill with two children, Leona and Charles. Telling Rose he had only three children at home, he married her. Boy, was she surprised to discover the miscount when arriving at the house. Nevertheless, she stayed with him and Leona became part of the family. Leona later was to marry Morris. I don't recall ever meeting Charlie.

Ike's father was alive in 1920, evidently living in the New York area. His name was Aaron and apparently was fairly tall, as Grandma Lil recalled. Morris and Harry went into the lingerie business together and were quite successful. Tragically, Morris died in 1932 of pneumonia. Harry continued on and did quite well. Remarkably, Harry from my mother's side and Bob Gershenow (Tillie) from my dad's side were best friends, Bob eventually moving to New York and later Florida, as did Harry.

Aunt Bea (Rebecca) Wallerstein was like a mother to her siblings and practically raised them. She was a homebody type but her brothers and sisters were more 'modern' and fun loving, especially Harry, Lil, and Helen. Bea married her first cousin Jake Wallerstein, who was in the tavern and, later, movie business in Michigan City. He had a terrible temper and wasn't very popular with many of us. He died around 1941.

Albert K. (Kofke?--a Hebrew name?) set up his factory upstairs in the Mozart building at 109 E. Michigan St., above a laundry. Later he moved the operation to 225 E. Michigan, and a few years later to an old church building at 314 E. 5th Street. In 1920 he bought the Kronthal shirt company building at Detroit and Pine. When he finished enclosing all the available space, he had about 23,000 square feet. The current warehouse building of 18,000 feet brings the total area to 41,000 feet. Grandpa Al not only did the selling but in the early years often helped run the boxes and deliver them by horse team and wagon. Before turn signals were invented in the automotive age, I recall that the truck driver, "T", devised a mechanical arm that he would raise, since his arm could not reach beyond the truck body.

In 1913, Lillian decided to visit sister Bea in Michigan City, and made the long train trip on the New York Central and Michigan Central railroads. After graduating high school, she went to work for her father and often related how he would angrily fire her on Friday but then rehire her on Monday.

In Michigan City, Lillian met Albert, and they soon decided to marry. Instead of returning to New York, they opted to marry in Chicago at his parents' home in Chicago. Early pictures show Lil behind the wheel of an open touring sedan, with Al, four doors, and Jay and Bea in the back. Lil was a good driver but after Al was killed in the train-auto accident, she never again touched the wheel.

On June 23, 1915, their first son was born and named Louis Frank. As years passed the middle name "Frank" was forgotten and Lou finally took the middle initial "W" from his mother's maiden name. During World War II, he had occasion to obtain his birth certificate and was astonished to 1earn his true middle name, but decided to stick with the "W" anyway.

On April 16, 1919, I was born also at the Presbyterian Hospital on Chicago's near west side. It has since been rebuilt and is now Rush-Presbyterian. Harriet and I were there in the '70s to visit her father Albert, in for a minor problem. I inquired, but nobody remembered me. The name on my birth certificate was "Frederick" with no middle name, named for Grandma Fannie. My middle initial "G" was given to me by Fred G. Mueller, owner of Camp Indianola when I was 16. He and I agreed that it would appear more favorable to have one.

At the time the family lived on Charles Street, just off Franklin. It could be the same house Mayor Cliff Arnold resided in many years later. When I was about 6 months old, we moved to 119 E. 8th Street, across from where the phone company building was built in the '20s.

The home was a two-story duplex with a common big front porch. The other half was occupied by Andy and Mary Gill with their sons Tom and Paul. Andy was the legendary football coach at Elston Senior High (Gill Field named in his honor). Mary was also a teacher. The sons were fine persons--Tom became an Army colonel during the war. Paul served as a Navy Commodore, marrying Phil Sprague's sister. Tragically, both men died relatively young.

My earliest recollection was at the age of three, standing on the sidewalk crying because some dastard bastard was stealing my kitty-cart. Two other incidents: (not remembered but related often by my mother):

Mom told the babysitter to stay right behind me since I usually was into much mischief. So all afternoon I climbed the front stairs, walked down the hall, went down the back stairs, back to the front stairs, and kept circling endlessly. The poor girl was plumb worn out following me every step of the way.

The folks bought a bushel basket of apples in the country. Noting that some were riper than others, they opted to give them to the Gills. I toddled next door and informed our neighbors that my parents were going to give them some rotten apples.

Once my dad was listening to some violin music on the Victrola in the living room. Thinking the record had ended, I took the needle head off and turned off the machine. Dad didn't appreciate my "help," chased me around the dining room table, and whacked me a few times.

When the phone company was going up across the street, I became an early entrepreneur and set up a lemonade stand for the construction workers. Shrewdly, I figured a great way to operate on a 100% profit margin by walking into the Star Grocery nearby on Franklin and saying the magic words: "Charge it." But when big brother Louis found out, he made me go back and pay for the lemons.

In an earlier incident, Mom and an aunt were walking down Franklin when they spied a three-year-old boy lying on the sidewalk kicking and screaming in a king size tantrum. My aunt said: "Boy, if it were my kid, I'd kill him!" Guess what--it was Louis!

I also recall Mom (too tiring to keep calling her "Grandma Lil") teaching me the ABC's from a portable small blackboard.

About 1926 we moved to the Sheridan Beach Hotel at Stop 2, Lake Shore Drive and Lake Street. Eventually, the folks and an architect came up with a set of plans for a home on Coolspring Avenue on a lot they had purchased. The house resembled the home the Henry Winskis owned catty-cornered from Sinai Temple. Work was supposed to start the week after Dad was killed in 1928. The lot eventually was sold to Morrie Kozin, of the M&M Restaurant.

I had been attending the old Central School, a two-story red brick building at 8th and Spring. The folks impressed on me the necessity of not telling the teachers that we had moved or I would be transferred to the old Elston grammar school at 4th and Pine. Of course, I couldn't keep the secret and soon was transferred to the less desirable entity.

After reaching third grade, either I began to impress the teaching staff how smart I was and quick to pick up most courses, except writing and deportment, or more likely, by double promoting me, they would rid themselves of a lively brat--let the next higher teachers handle me. Anyway, by the time I reached 7-2 in Elston Junior High, I was two years ahead of my original classmates.

In kindergarten, I had Miss Armstrong, who had taught Maurie Rubin years before and lived to teach in Sinai Nursery School about 50 years later (I had her there.--SGH). "Cutie" Karpen was in my class--Elizabeth still lives on the beach in the old Karpen cottage at Stop 7. Martin, the father, ran the Karpen furniture factory near the prison till his brothers kicked him out. My crush in kindergarten was Marge Ohming, although I doubt she ever knew it. Jean Robinson Vail was also a classmate. There were five other children we were friendly with: Sam, Doris and her twin sister, Jay and Dick, closest to our ages. Jay and I entered the Army together, also with Art Fogel from the beach, and a little later, Bobbie Hoodwin.

I found junior and senior high a little tougher; though getting A's and B's, I never made the honor roll of all A's. In Junior high, I went out for the Black Pirates football team, as did Bud Ruby. I continued on in high school in my sophomore and senior years. In the last game of the season in my last year, safely ahead of Elkhart 28 to 0, with two minutes to play, Andy Gill finally put me in. I distinguished myself by getting penalized for hitting an opponent on the helmet and making two tackles. After the game, the Elkhart coach asked Andy who was that big Irishman he put in at the end to rough it up. I was 15 at the time.

Bud Ruby calls me his oldest friend -I'm six months older but we were close friends from about the time we were three years old. However, he attended different schools, and, for high school, attended Alton Military Academy, in Alton, Ill. I stayed out of college for one year, so when Bud also chose the U. of Wisconsin, he was one year behind me.

The traumatic experience of my early years happened on August 27, 1928, when my father was killed in a train-auto accident at the 6th Street bridge. At noon, he was driving two factory girls home for lunch. A railroad engine was humping freight cars across the street, but the watchman supposedly on guard was hoisting a beer in a nearby tavern. Besides Dad, one girl was killed and the other lost a leg. The latter, Teresa Granacki, later returned to work in the punchboard department.

I was nine and Louis,13. He certainly remembers Dad much better than I, but we both keenly missed his guidance and love during our formative years and ever after. Dad was highly respected and universally well regarded. I had one man tell me much later than he remembered A1 Hocdwin as being almost saintly, quite an outstanding statement of praise.

Dad was active in Sinai Temple from its founding in 1913. He customarily picked up Sunday school students and drove them to the rented quarters. He was active in other Temple affairs but never sought office. I have some condolence letters sent to Mom from various business and community leaders. A fellow Rotarian wrote as follows: "Al Hoodwin was a man liked by everyone who knew him. He was admired for his sunny disposition, his friendliness for everyone and his high ethics."

Much to her credit, Grandma Lil took charge of the business one week after the accident and ran it mostly on sheer guts and nerve, knowing little about box business. She persuaded customers to stick with the company and often fought with the superintendent and other help to get things done. She held out till 1929 when Jack Hoodwin took over. He had had a farm and orchard in Florida and had not been overly successful, though the only Hoodwin to have attended college. He was an architect whose main accomplishment seems to have been dropping out of the fledgling Chicago Bridge and Iron Works after working there a month. That company went on to become a multimillion dollar enterprise and Jack could have become a millionaire very easily. He did design homes in Chicago for a while, including the homes for the George Kurtzans and Joe Hoodwins.

For many summers, Louis, for a while, and I, for 10 years, spent many happy times at Camp Indianola at Madison, Wisconsin. There I learned to swim, sail, motorboat, horseback ride, and engage in all the sports. Fred Mueller was good at instilling discipline and order. We marched in military order to mess three times daily. At night, we conducted retreat, the lowering of the flag, dressing formally weekends in cavalry, navy, or campcraft (scout) uniforms. We could go from columns of two into four abreast in turns closely resembling West Point marching. We had to keep our cabins spotless and neat, and pennants and medals were awarded for the best; Louis always won a medal for this.

Bud Ruby also went to Indianola, as did Orson Welles, though I don't remember him. I made many friendships there that continued at the University when I entered college. Micky McGuire, a full blooded Hawaiian counselor, taught us the hula and "My Little Grass Shack in Hawaii." He played halfback for the Badgers, barefoot, and was very fast and talented.

I learned to blow the bugle later on, and incurred the wrath of the head counselor for swinging "Assembly" when swing became popular in the '30s. The last two years I became a counselor. I was paid $100 the first year, but only $50 the second. I quit after that, figuring that that was no way to get rich.

In high school, I made friends with a boy from Canada, Bruce Keay. Then Howard Harris joined us and we became a triumvirate, seldom apart.

I should mention here that after the accident, we moved to Sherman Apartments #15 and stayed there 12 years till moving to Mrs. Harris's cottage at Stop 8 on the beach. Her sons were Howard and Bernard, and were good friends for years.

After a succession of Polish maids, Mom hired Mattie Lee, an older black woman who had worked for the Rubys and Shons. She knew all the gossip and sometimes the phone would ring, Mattie would answer it, and hold a conversation for several minutes before calling "Mrs. Hoodwin, Fay Ruby is calling." I refer you to an article I did earlier--she was a a real character.

In high school, I was active in many activities including Hi-Y and the Senior Play ("The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde; I was the minister, of course). Others: the Discussion League (debating), the Elstonian (yearbook), and the Crimson Comet newspaper (I was editor for a while). High school was an enjoyable experience for me: good friends and a good learning experience.

Deciding I was too young at 16 to start college, I stayed out for a year. I took a couple of courses; then in February, 1936, during a bitter cold spell, Mom said, "The hell with it! Let's go to Florida." So we took the train to Miami Beach and stayed there till April. This was lots of fun, also, and I found some kids my age whose company was great.

At our hotel, entertaining nightly were the Ritz Brothers, a very funny trio who went on to star in some Hollywood films. Jerry Lewis admits stealing liberally from their act. Their father, Pa Ritz, took shine to Mom, and I might have become the fourth Ritz brother with a little luck.

In September, 1936, I followed in Uncle Louis's footsteps and entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison, a beautiful school in a beautiful city and a beautiful state. Eventually, I majored in commerce and graduated with a Ph. B, same as a B A, only without a foreign language requirement.

Also same as Louis, I joined Phi Sigma Delta fraternity, and as a sophomore, was elected president, serving for two years. I went out for freshman football in the spring under famed Notre Dame Four Horseman coach Harry Stohldreher. Years later, we met in a Chicago theatre and he still remembered me. I was before my time in that I preferred playing defense, but, in those days, you played both ways. An assistant coach said I did okay, but at 175 pounds, I could see no future in varsity ball.

In my sophomore year, the outgoing Master Frater talked me into a stupid activity--running for sophomore class president. I came in third with 88 votes, and completely messed up my scholastics. Also, it reinforced my distaste for politics and politicians. The winner had about 250 votes, as I recall.

In my junior year, I became friendly with Jerry Glaspiegel and we studied together for our accounting courses. Later that year and in my senior year, I dated Jean Ettenheim from Milwaukee. She eventually married and divorced a dentist, having four children.

For the sidewalk-painting and the monkey-catching episodes, I refer you again to articles in the red notebook, hopefully you are maintaining.

After graduating in 1940, I went into the factory and was put to work on the various machines, same of which I had worked on in 1936. By the time I retired, I could run most of equipment, many times having to operate them when employees didn't show. The exceptions were the printing presses and the setting of the wrappers. I also was forced to drive the truck often, including trips to Chicago. Once, our driver was injured in Chicago, and I had to go in at night and bring back the truck. Usually, I helped load the truck for the Chicago loads, once or twice a week. When I retired, two persons were required to replace me. I figure it was not so much that I was a super superintendent, but that the ones hired in my place couldn't cut it.

December 7, 1941, changed everybody's life, including mine. In May, 1942, four or five of us drove to Dayton and enlisted into the ground crew of the Army Air Corps at Patterson Field. We figured it was much preferable to getting drafted into the infantry. Since my eyes were 20-200 or worse, I had to fake the test. On entering the test room I glanced at the chart and memorized the top two lines. Without my glasses, I could hardly see the chart.

In a few days, several of us were shipped to Indianapolis to the Indiana Fairgrounds and we were quartered in the 4-H barracks, a great deal compared to other possibilities. We were to set up the 46th Air Depot Group, and I soon was put to work as a typist-clerk. In 5 weeks I made corporal--in the regular army in peacetime, it could take three or four years. We got every other weekend off and I hitchhiked home. The first time I walked in the house, Useless barked at me until she recognized me and came cowering up to apologize.

In August, we were transferred to the Syracuse Army Air Base, still under construction, the second location in a row we opened up. Syracuse was a great city and we were treated nicely by everybody. In the winter for one week, the thermometer stayed at 20 degrees below zero.

I was assigned special service duty and became the assistant manager of the theatre, great duty. Here I made sergeant, and would have made staff sergeant if I hadn't signed up for Officer Candidate School. In April, I left for Wilmington, NC, for the AntiAircraft Artillery School, formerly part of the Coast Artillery, and part of the Ground Forces. (I was to serve in all three Army branches). My biggest problem at first was my lack of infantry close-order drill training. In the air corps, we got zilch - I actually had more schooling in this at Camp Indianola.

After a few weeks, I was transferred to the specia1 training detachment, more commonly known as "Boot School." For two weeks, we did nothing else but march and practice commanding marchers. Sometimes you braced so much, your arms would fall asleep. At the end, I could equal or top any graduate of West Point.

Midway in boot school, I became ill with "glandular fever," which I think could be called hepatitis today. In the hospital two weeks, I attended a program organized by the Red Cross. One of the singers was a patient called Buddy. He sang "Good Bye, My Coney Island Baby" and later he became famous--he was Buddy Hackett.

I finally returned to a new battery (company) and chose the 90 millimeter AA gun as my specialty, over the 40 mm., and, believe it or not, searchlights. The 90 required knowledge of trigonometry and algebra, and we worked with the calculators and radars. Now that I had the military down pat, I found I had to really apply myself to handle the math. The three-month course (90 day wonders) had been lengthened to four months; so with boot school and the hospital, it took me five months to graduate. Being super cautious, and since I told Mom how hard the courses were, on the day I graduated as a Second Lieutenant, in what has to be a first, Mom sent me a congratulatory wire addressed to "Officer Candidate Fred G. Hoodwin."

Happily, I was sent to Camp Haan, Riverside, California. On the way out there, I stopped in Michigan City and bought a 1940 Ford V-8 for $1,000. Before enlisting, I had sold my 1940 Plymouth ($600 cost) for about $300, because who would want autos during the war with gas and tire rationing? Boy, was that ever incorrect! My first car, a 1929 Ford Model A, which cost me $55 in 1936, also was selling for about $1000 during the war.

Camp Haan, an AA installation, was 60 miles from L.A. and we took advantage of the good times there frequently. A funny thing happened to anti-aircraft in the fall and winter of 1943: the Allies achieved aerial superiority over the Axis powers, and suddenly there were 10,000 Second Lieutenants in AA too many. So the Army switched us to the Transportation Corps, a spin-off from the Quartermaster Corps, in the Service branch. Most of us had never heard of TC and knew as much about transportation as about nuclear physics. Nevertheless, I and a bunch others were transferred to San Francisco, certainly a great town to be in if only we could stay there and not get shipped with a port battalion to some God-forsaken south Pacific island.

Returning to commissioning dates, I became a Second Lt. Sept. 9, 1943. On March 8, 1945, I made First Lt. The end of April, 1946, I became a PFC poor f--- civilian, as the expression went.

In San Francisco, I was assigned to Fort Mason, the famed Port of Embarkation. The date was Feb. 1, 1944. The division was called TD Troop Movement and Equipment Division. I ended up under a Major Drummond who had me trying to supply some personal requests from personnel overseas. This was a cockamamie deal and I opted for the deal known as Cargo Security. You sailed over on merchant ships and were in charge of guarding the army cargo till discharged, something the ships' first mates routinely handled in peacetime. In other words, probably quite unnecessary. The great part of it was you got to return to the USA when unloaded, beating hell out of the poor Joes stuck over there for the duration.

My first trip was on the Norway Victory, faster and better furnished than the Liberty ships being made in great volume. We left early in April and arrived in Milne Bay, New Guinea on May 12. There, I ran into a fraternity brother, Les Grubin, who had already been overseas for nearly two years. Some of our cargo was discharged, and then we were ordered to Finchhafen, further west on the upper coast of New Guinea. Finished there the middle of June and returned to Fort Mason the end of the month. For this trip, I was awarded the American Theater and Asiatic-Pacific Theater campaign medals, plus one bronze service star on the latter medal (ribbon) for service in a combat zone.

Early in July I was assigned to the John F. Shafroth, a Liberty ship. Liberty ships made about 9 knots as compared to the Victory's 16. The joke was that the garbage thrown over the stern floated past, in the same direction. This was the trip that my sense of humor almost did me in, permanently.

We unloaded on Guadalcanal in August, and the mixed cargo include many cases of beer. You can imagine what happened when the thirsty Marine stevedores reached it. The pilfering was outstanding, so in my report on returning to Frisco, I wrote that if we could have had more guards, the Marines would have been "sadder Budweiser."

Somehow the Colonel in charge didn't think that was very funny, chewed my fanny out massively, and quickly assigned me to another Liberty, but this one to load 9000 tons of Air Corps bombs, 500 pounders, plus their primers and detonators. So my job as Cargo Security Officer clearly was to be very alert that no scoundrel snuck down the gangplank hiding a bomb under his clothes. The Francisco Morayon left Benicia Arsenal the end of August, '44, and headed out through the Golden Gate, eventually reaching Hollandia. New Guinea, in September.

We sat around there for weeks, and finally convoyed up to Leyte in the Philippines, which had been invaded by "Dugout Doug" MacArthur's troops a month earlier. A lone "Check-point Charlie" Jap plane came over every evening and after a while we didn't bother to go topside to watch the AA fire from our ship and dozens of others. We joked about needing parachutes, not life jackets. Some time later, the joke no longer seemed funny.

Finally, around Xmas, we headed up in a convoy for Mindoro, near Luzon, which was to be the next invasion target. We were promised 24-hour air cover, which we duly received. Trouble is, it was 12 hours of U.S. cover and 12 hours of Jap. About 10:00 A.M. the suicide Kamikaze planes showed up. One dove into the funnel of the ship next to us and it disappeared in a huge explosion and cloud of debris. Evidently, it had a similar load to ours and the stress went up a couple of thousand degrees. Our Navy gun crew was superb, and eventually in the four or five days we were en route, the gunners shot down four Japs, a great record.

One day, a Jap fighter was shot down by one of ours and was heading for the #1 hatch where the touchy primers and detonators were stored. At the last instant, it exploded and only a small part of the aluminum fuselage landed on the deck. Later many of us made watch bracelets from the debris. Again I must refer you to the red book for a more complete coverage of this fateful trip. It lasted 6 months by the time I shipped back in a Navy transport from New Guinea. I think that was the one I got terribly seasick--see another article for details.

Arriving back the 9th of March, I wangled a two-week emergency leave by getting Mom to play sick--otherwise they would have shipped me right out again. My fourth trip was on the Justo Arosemena leaving the middle of July, 1945. This Liberty ship touched Eniwetok, Palau, Manila (I saw Les G. again), Russell Islands, Guadalcanal again, Noumea, New Caledonia (a French possession) and back to Frisco in July. I picked up more ribbons and stars along the way.

The fifth and last trip was on the Ocala Victory from end of July eventually landing on Saipan. On August 14, my roommate, the radio operator, poured himself a drink early in the p.m. When I asked him how come, he said, "Oh, the war is over--the Japs surrendered!"

I went over to Tinian, next to Saipan, and surprised Jerry Glasspiegel, a finance captain there. We had a nice visit, and one day sailed a catamaran in the lagoon there--an experience many people dream of forever. The ship returned through the Panama Canal to Baltimore, and I had to talk the authorities into letting me entrain back to Frisco where my car and other belongings were, in mid October. The next few months I had pier duty or troop movements, checking in returning troops. Finally, I was sent to Camp Atterbury in southern Indiana in February and was discharged as of the end of April. Four eventful years, memorable, but I was happy to get out and resume civilian life.

After a month or so of relaxation and renewing home ties, I returned to work at the plant, gradually taking over as plant superintendent. Uncle Jack was still in charge but he was to retire in the early '50s, with Louis assuming control. Louis was and is accounting oriented and did much of the bookwork himself. He doesn't know a screw driver from a monkey wrench, but watched the administrative details carefully. In all these years, being conservative, he never borrowed a cent for business purposes, a very rare phenomenon in business. At the same time, he made some speculative personal investments that came in big, establishing a solid base for his affairs. The company was and is strong financially, though never a roaring success.

As for me, I never was really trained for my job but had to pick it up as I went along. For one thing, I hated and still dislike the building itself--there is no room for expansion. A semi-truck cannot be accommodated, the floors are poor, as is the elevator, which is too small. Thank the Lord, we finally built and expanded a decent warehouse. You should have seen some of the monstrosities we had prior to erecting the one near the prison.

I evolved my own system for keeping track of inventory and production records--which should be done now by computer--Maybe Al will finally get around to doing same, including computerizing payroll. Everything I knew, I taught carefully to my successor Rick, who, when I retired, dropped everything for his own system best described as instant chaos. He and his successors actually lost track of thousands of boxes, many of which were stolen by crooked employees.

In 1946, Louis and I bought a 1932 Chris-Craft speedboat, twenty-two feet long, and with a mahogany hull. We put much money and labor in it, but it never did run right. We did have lots of fun with it, nevertheless, and also lots of friends on account of it.

In September of that year, Eleanor Fox (later Fogel) introduced me to a pretty young blonde named Ruth Keller. Her folks lived at Stop 11, 3 stops down, but they returned to the west side of Chicago shortly after, where they operated a successful girdle shop and factory.

In 1947, we started dating and finally became engaged with wedding plans set for December 27 in Chicago. Ruth was quite artistic and also had a lovely trained dramatic soprano voice. We honeymooned in Acapulco, and then moved into her folks' cottage, which they had recently remodeled. By 1949, Ruth tired of living with her folks, especially her mother. We built a five-room house in Edgewood, the second new home there since WWII. Unfortunately, the fifth room was a dining room instead of a bedroom, and there was but one bath. When you children came along, it was obviously inadequate. Ber Kottler bought the home from us when we built the home on Kenwood.

Not until after we were married did I find out that Ruth was subject to severe migraine headaches. They would occur randomly and would play havoc with our plans. She took much strong medication and I even wound up giving her shots. I think I counted seven or eight psychiatrists she went to. A trip to Mayo Clinic and a quack in Houston shed little light on her problem. Of course, any domestic bickering or other difficulties did not help the situation.

However, upon becoming pregnant with Andrew, she felt great; with Shepherd, not as good, and with Robin, she had a rough time of it, including a bladder infection. I have always believed that all the medication she took while carrying Robin caused his health and physical problems.

In 1956, after Robin was born, I took Ruth and Andy to go for a ride in Lou's sixteen-foot speedboat. It had been having problems with water in the gas. Still tied up at the dock, I raised the engine hatch for a few moments and unfortunately, closed it. When I tried to start the engine, there was an explosion and flash of fire. Evidently, gas fumes in the bilge had exploded. All of us, including Rusty, the Cocker Spaniel, went to the hospital in an ambulance. Ruth stayed in for a week but Andy and I were kept two weeks.

In 1957, Ruth decided we needed a new and bigger home. We bought the lot on the corner of Maple and Kenwood for $10,000, with help from the Kellers. We found a plan in a booklet we liked for a split-level and gave it to architect Norb Schaaf, who developed the plan very artistically. Sadly, I wasn't smart enough to realize how much over our heads we were getting into. We could have bought the Scholl home, 2000 feet, on Maple (later owned by the Youngs--SGH) for much less money, but Ruth didn't like it.

We ended up spending $75,000, including furnishings, a vast sum in those days and eventually causing the divorce because the Kellers had to give us so much help. But the home was beautiful with a great layout and I really loved it. Nevertheless, the headaches the contractors gave us were the worst experience of my life, next to the divorce.

In February, 1962, Ruth announced to me that she wanted a divorce to allow her to strike out on her own and seek a career as a singer. I was stunned, even though we had had some problems, largely about money that her foIks had given us towards the house. I considered this ironic since the new home was completely her idea, an extravagance she knew we couldn't afford.

That month she took the first of three trips to California, staying with her brother and sister-in-law, Sheldon and Bitsy. As a matter of fact, the first trip preceded her divorce announcement. I told Louis and Grandma, of course, and they, too, were surprised. The Kellers were very much opposed to it and called me often urging me to fight it.

Louis asked me how I felt about the divorce, and, for a period of about six weeks, I couldn't give a determinate answer. Finally, I came to the conclusion that if she no longer wanted me, then I didn't want her.

The lawyers moved me out of the house, although on her next two trips west, I returned to stay with the children. In April, the Jack Winskis across the street gave a party and I was invited. Harriet Stumer also was there, in the process of being divorced by her husband Mike. We greeted each other as the "two rejects" and struck up a relationship on those oommon grounds. Her divorce wasn't final till the summer while she negotiated financial arrangements with Mike. When we were to marry the following January, she said Mike should buy me a very expensive gift since I saved him about $40,000 in payments he would have had to make.

Ruth's lawyer was Phil Cagen, a very close friend of Lou and Pat's. He turned out to be a complete bastard (ending the friendship!). I never saw so many shenanigans--motions, two changes of venue (in a divorce!), till we ended up in the court in Crown Point. In the meantime, not too happy with my lawyer, Harriet convinced me to switch to A1 Blieden, who was more aggressive.

In May, Ruth was having second feelings, especially since the entertainment world was not anxiously awaiting her debut. With her folks' urging, she called me from the West Coast to discuss a reconciliation. I turned her down since she had trashed me earlier, and I had finally arrived at a reasonable peace of mind status.

The rest of the year turned ugly and I won't go into further details.

The divorce was granted early in January and she got custody of the children (even though not having seen them since October) (She was mostly in the hospital or in bed at her parents' apartment recuperating during this time.--SGH). She also got the house and $80 a week support. I was relieved that the ordeal was over, and Harriet and I married two weeks later.

On February 17, a Sunday night, we were stunned when the Rabbi called to inform us that Ruth had passed away that evening. She had been in Weiss Memorial Hospital, and the cause of death was listed as nephritis, a kidney disease, plus cystitis and pyelitis. Evidently, the disease had been there for years and nobody knew it. All the many medications she took certainly did not help her condition.

She was buried in Westlawn Memorial Park in Norwood--I attended the funeral at Pisers, on Chicago's north side, but didn't go to the cemetery.

I called A1 Blieden that Sunday night and he arranged for me to pick up you children the next day. So now Harriet and I were living in a two-bedroom, one-bath house with four kids and two dogs. It was hairy going for a while, but in April, we bought the house at 239 Belmont Court. Bud Ruby lent me enough money for the down payment and furnishings--I paid him back in three years, plus interest that I insisted on paying.

Being flat broke, I was helped greatly by Harriet carrying much of the burden till I could get back on my feet financially.

Life goes on and all of us survived. I know you boys missed your mother's love and guidance, but Harriet was there to keep things on an even keel as much as possible. Robin now regards Harriet as his mother since he hardly remembers Ruth. She has taken a real interest in him, although her relationship with you older boys is not as close, understandably so.

I have always been active in organizations, and in 1948 joined the M.C. United Jewish Welfare Fund as secretary-treasurer. It was the year of the birth of Israel and many of us worked diligently to raise the goodly sum of $75,000, most of which went to the infant state. I served in that capacity for two or three years.

In 1947, I joined the Lions Club and became the Tail Twister within several years. Also, I became active in B'Nai B'rith--it turned out that I started through the chairs in both organizations at the same time. I was attending so many committee meetings that eventually I tired of the meeting bit. I served as lodge president in 1952-53 and as Lions head in 1953-54. While head of the Lions, we sponsored the first collegiate football game ever in Michigan City, between Ball State and Valparaiso.

During my lodge tenure, the new Sinai Temple was built and I was active in that drive. Also, in 1953, I was appointed to the LaPorte County Selective Service Board and eventually became chairman. I served on it for twenty years, proud of my duty on it till the latter part of the Viet Nam war when it finally became evident that we had no business there in the first place.

Also, I put in time on the Temple board and in the early '70s, on the Pottawattomie Country Club board. I have remained active in the Lions, doing several stints as program chairman (monthly) and just put in two years as assistant chairman for the Entertainment books drive.

Almost forgot to mention that I was hooked into going thru the chairs of the Edgewood PTA, serving two years as president. As far as charities and tax-exempt institutions go, I have always supported same and in 1993 contributed over $3,000 to them.

Working in the business, Louis and I have gotten along reasonably well. We have had our share of disagreements, naturally, a couple of big ones with yelling and not talking for weeks. When we were kids, Louis, as the older brother, very normally teased me and I was upset, also quite normally. If I had been the older, I am sure I would have done the same.

However, most of the time we got along fine and he was always very honest as far as financial matters were concerned. In 1979, he offered to buy me out when I reached the age of 62 in April, 1981. After much thought, I accepted his offer but to finalize on December 31 of '81. The financial part appeared fair, with the pension from the fund to be paid in 1982. It had not been my idea to retire, but as I thought it over, I figured why not? Working was fine, but many times I wearied of the hassle, especially fighting with the union and experiencing all the problems with the employees. In the '70s, our labor turnover was about 250%, and absenteeism drove me up the wall. Many times I had to step in and do some cutting or drive the truck. Once my foreman walked out with no notice in the midst of our Xmas rush. From Lou's viewpoint, he got rid of my large salary and could afford to hire two to replace me and still save money. Of course, he ended up with a poorly run factory much of the time.

The superintendent situation as I write this still isn't settled as Albert is about to make another change.

In July of '82, Louis paid me the pension from the fund and I put the lump sum into Fidelity Investments, which I had been using for about six years. In August, just like I knew what I was doing, I put much of the investment into Magellan, which proceeded to double and triple over the next few years. (That was the beginning of the bull market.--SGH)

My current investment with Fidelity exceeds four times what it was in 1982, this is with my withdrawal of thousands of dollars needed to live on in the last twelve years. I have two money funds, a muni bond fund, and two growth funds, in and out of the rollover. Also, I have had several other investments and IRA's currently.

In 1981, Harriet and I went to Florida to get a place to stay. We purchased a townhome in Palm Beach Gardens and picked out the furniture. Then she dropped a bombshell, announcing she did not want to live in this home. When the opening skirmishes of World War III had ended, we kept the place to rent out. I stated what the hell, real estate there had been going up $10,000 a year, and so we could not possibly lose. Then Harriet observed what if real estate doesn't go up and maybe even goes down in value? I snarled, "What the hell do you know about it?" Guess who was right? A few years ago after all the hassles of being landlords, we unloaded the home at a loss.

We rented later in 1981 the condo in North Palm Beach and ended up buying it and its furniture. In November, I stupidly lost my balance stepping to a dock at the warehouse and fell to the ground, fracturing my wrist. In a cast for four months, I played no golf the first season in Florida, but the following fall, we joined the North Palm Beach Country Club, a village-owned golf, swimming, and tennis facility.

Early in the '80s, I participated in a roast for Mayor Cliff Arnold. 1985 was my big year for performing, MC'ing a Lions 60th anniversary party at the Club and joining in a roast for Bud Ruby. I have videos of both events, which I believe you have seen. In 1986 I started writing articles and letters for the News-Dispatch and Beacher. To date, there are 51 letters to the Anvil Chorus, 37 to Viewpoint, 30 to the Beacher, 16 unpublished, for a total of 134. The N-D makes it difficult for me now to publish anything in Viewpoint, and the Beacher quit accepting my contributions.

I have covered about everything I can remember. The recent years since you grew to manhood, there is little point in my reviewing, since you know it first hand. Recalling big news events: Skidding off the Roeske avenue bridge at Xmas time 1970 (a car accident--SGH). My trip to Europe in 1973. Grandma Lil passing the same year. Operations for prostate and a hernia in 1974, cataracts in the '80s. Harriet's health in the '70s, worsening in '79, depression treatment continuing until the present. Her osteoporosis and fractured vertebrae in 1992; her fall and fractured pelvis in 1994.

The crowning event that this saga ends with is my three sons and granddaughter surprising me in Florida for my 75th birthday, a super wonderful event I shall remember with pleasure for my remaining days!

With love,

Dad

***

NOTE FROM SHEPHERD:

In 1984, I was working with a psychic therapist, who did a fascinating workshop called "Getting in Touch with Your Guides." We were all doing an exercise to get a message from the other side. I desperately wanted to contact my mother, but wasn't able to get past my blocks at the time. Finally, I told the psychic and she said, "No wonder my right arm is shaking." My mother was trying to write through her, since she couldn't get through me. The psychic had long ago made a rule that she wouldn't allow anyone to be channeled through her except through her writing hand. She started rapidly writing a message that even looked like my mother's handwriting. Because I'd been doing a lot of therapy around the issue of my parents' divorce, I wanted her comments on it. She wrote, "Very young, I knew I was dying. I thought that if I could be free of the marriage, I could be free of the death. My illusion. I also wanted him to be free of me. I wanted it all. No one gets it all. Do you understand?"

I also discussed the divorce with my father, and came to realize that, as with most human relationships, they both had a valid point of view, and both made mistakes. That's how we grow.

The therapist had had no way of knowing some of this, like the fact that her best friend Shirley Goldsmith also lost her husband from kidney disease and told me that, looking back, Ruth had had symptoms from around the age of 17. These few lines were a profound summation of their divorce from a higher perspective.

My mother was 17 in 1942, just as the Holocaust was going into full swing. She had visited Poland with her mother and brother in 1930 for her uncle's wedding. She was very sensitive and must have been picking up on the nightmare happening there. I recently got that her illness was about her taking on that energy and trying to heal it, especially as it hit her mother in 1945 when she received the telegram telling her that most of her family had been murdered. The kidneys remove toxins from the body; with her disease, the poisons overwhelmed her and created enormous pain, especially in her head (migraines).

I worked a lot with my father as he was passing over. I had gotten from my mother years before that the two of them would not meet to resolve things right away after he passed, that he would first handle his other main relationships so that they could devote some in-depth energy to theirs. And that's what happened. Not long ago, they connected, healed their relationship, and rediscovered the underlying love that brought them together. It has been quite beautiful.