What’s So Good About The Good Old Days?

Sometimes I just want to write from the heart, sharing feelings. This is one of those weeks.

Recently the Fall Festival in Evansville was voted the #1 festival in the country. Their half-pot drawing topped a record-setting $2 million; the entire town was abuzz. That’s quite a pot for a town of 120,000; although folks from far and wide come to enjoy the entertainment and food from 130+ food booths.

My personal highlight is the big Saturday parade. My wife Jo, son Dean and I loaded up our lawn chairs, arriving over two hours ahead of starting time. Many chairs were already set up in the median in the middle of Franklin Street.

We walked for a few blocks and spotted a small, open patch of grass. There was a couple there eyeing us, two senior citizens, carrying lawn chairs, checking out the small spot. Without hesitation, they said, “Here, we can move things around so you can sit here.” We explained we want to put our chairs on the grass and have enough space on the curb for daughter Holly and family to sit. The couple (definitely seniors) on the other side chimed in, “We can scoot over a bit and give you some room.”

We thanked them and set up our chairs. Jo and Dean went on a food safari while I chatted with my senior chair neighbors. They were from central Indiana and have attended annually for decades. They were comfortably seated, using their wagon for a footstool.

I reluctantly tried deep-fried sauerkraut for the first time, it was good!

When the family arrived, I put the Indiana State (where Braidyn attends) football game on my phone. Braidyn, chair neighbor and I cheered as the Sycamores pulled out the victory as time expired.

I guess I’m never too old to love small-town parades. Boy & girl scouts, dignitaries in convertibles, local Shriners racing around on motorized devices, clowns, cool floats, football teams, cheerleaders, young dance troops, parade king, queen and court (Grandson Brock rode that float last year), bagpipes, police and fire truck sirens blaring, big rig diesels honking (hearing aids OFF), antique tractors to huge machines, witches, goblins – and the parade always ends with Santa on a fire truck even though it’s mid-October.

My son-in-law, Casey, grew up here. Several dozen drivers waved out the window, pointed and said “Hi Casey!” The day will come when grandsons Brock and Braidyn will have similar experiences.

The annual event started in 1921 by the West Side Nut Club and raises millions which is put back into the community; hundreds of thousands in scholarship money is given to worthy students. Most of the food booths are local groups; scouts, sports teams, churches, you name it, that raise money for their endeavors.

Walking back to the car, I told Dean how much I loved the parade. No matter what we see on TV, there is still a small-town America, with down-to-earth values, reminding me of what we both grew up with. Jo and I drive across the country regularly, and once out of the big cities, rural Americans just want to go about their business, raise their families, and be left alone, free to do so.

Having travelled much of the world, including the Middle East, families are more concerned about earning a living, providing for their family, and basic down-to-earth values. I enjoy reading former colleague David Galland’s musings about rural Argentina, and Bill Bonner’s tales of rural Ireland and France; same stories, just a different part of the world.

I felt the glow of the small-town feelings for the rest of the weekend.

On Monday, I put the finishing touches on the article highlighting the “National Day of Kindness.” It was written in 1988 by my cousin’s husband, Jim Baxley; published in the Bristol Herald Courier/Virgina-Tennesean on October 16, 1988. I’ve highlighted some of Cousin Jim’s thoughts that ring true today:

“The general state of kindness in the world, sad to say, is not good.

Hostages are still being held in Lebanon; human rights violations continue in every hemisphere; armed conflict, much of it stemming from religious differences, has abated but not disappeared; hate abounds, with extremists at both ends of the ideological spectrum shouting obscenities and insults at those they perceive as their enemies.

Unfortunately, the fact that this is an election year in the United States has not been helpful. George Bush is a ‘wimp’; Michael Dukakis is a ‘shrimp’; George Bush hates old people and children; Michael Dukakis sides with criminals against their victims. And on and on.

All of which, I think lends special significance to my National Day of Kindness. It’s tomorrow.

THERE IS NOTHING any of us ordinary folks can do about what’s happening… even, in the U.S. political campaigns.

The candidates seem to be more interested in drawing blood than drawing lines of honest disagreement. As someone has said, reasonable people ought to be able to disagree without being disagreeable. Alas, that is too often not the case in these days of contentiousness.

But let us take heart. While we may not be able to still the sounds of rancor which abound at home and abroad, we can, in ways quiet and personal, kindle the embers of kindness in our own lives.

…. Resolve to be more gracious toward those with whom you may have disagreements, personal, political, whatever.

…. I harbor no illusions that a world-wide ‘epidemic’ can be generated. There are some who have hated so long, and hated so fiercely, that they are immune to the virus of kindness.

…. But I am of the opinion that the overwhelming mass of people in these United States, and throughout the world, are inherently kind. They exhibit aberrant behavior at times, certainly. Circumstances have a way of short-circuiting the currents which power the better nature of men.

Even so, most people want to be kind – to be generous, to be thoughtful, to be caring. It is that trait which holds back hate and fear.

One last thought: When you are kind to others, you are kind to yourself.

Tomorrow is a good day to do that. And today. And every day.”

Not much has changed in the 36 years since he wrote the article; we can change the names of the politicians, but the hate and fear abound.

Somewhere along my journey, I recall a college professor explaining how, for centuries, the ruling class learned to keep the peasants fighting among themselves, stir up the hate, class envy, you name it; for as long as they are doing so, they are less likely to unite to overthrow the king and the rulers. Today’s politicos worldwide have taken that to a new level; hate leads to war. Trump is Hitler, Harris is a Commie, and if he/she is elected, the world will come to an end.

Ernest Hemingway explains:

“The first panacea for a mismanaged nation is inflation of the currency; the second is war. Both bring a temporary prosperity; both bring a permanent ruin. But both are the refuge of political and economic opportunists.”

Friend Richard J. Maybury recently explains:

“A study by the Norwegian Academy of Sciences found that since the year 3600 BC, governments have fought more than 14,000 wars against each other, killing over two billion men, women and children.

I’m reminded of Randolph Bourne’s comment, ‘War is the health of the state.’ I ask, what do governments do for us that could possibly compensate for what they do to us?”

Pundits are screaming that a civil war is looming, a major public health crisis will occur if this or that candidate gets elected. Classes are being pitted against one another at a fever pitch. Same, never-ending crap!

What’s different about the good old days?

I was 12 when Eisenhower ran against Stevenson for the presidency. We would ask our teachers who they were voting for; NONE told us; we did not know their political leanings. Today’s schools are political indoctrination, spewing the hatred. I prefer the good old days….

On the day after the election, we asked Mr. Kiszka who he voted for. He had a lapel pin on his suit turned backwards. He flipped over the lapel and an “I Like Ike” button appeared. We cheered, booed, and laughed.

Mr. Kiszka was a Marine officer in WWII; it shouldn’t be a surprise he voted for Ike, as did most of the WWII veterans.

His history lesson that followed made a lasting impression. He explained that politics is a promoting hysterical hype & fear for personal gain. If the candidate you voted for won, things never turn out quite as well as you hope. If your candidate lost, things never turnout quite as bad as you fear. One of the beautiful things about our Constitution is every four years we have the chance for a peaceful transfer of power. Let’s hope that continues, like the good old days….

While things may change and empires fall, Greece, Rome, Britain and the US will remain and reboot. People will still work together to feed their families, that’s just the way it works.

Don’t let the hate and fear get to you, turn off the damn TV!

Help keep us online! I love it when readers thank me for “telling it like it is” for providing content they won’t find in the mainstream media. I’ve been sent to Facebook purgatory a few times – they didn’t approve. Free speech isn’t appreciated in all circles. When I started Miller On The Money, I vowed to keep our newsletter FREE! I’ve kept my promise – our weekly letter is an expensive hobby. Donations are our primary source of financial support, and what keeps us going. We don’t peddle your name to anyone. I’ve turned down proposals from advertisers, feeling their offerings were inappropriate for our readers. Readers pitching in to help offset our cost are much appreciated. It’s strictly voluntary – no pressure – no hassle! If you want to help, click the DONATE button below. You do not have to sign up for PayPal to use your credit card. And thank you all!

On The Lighter Side…

Last weekend we had our neighborhood golf cart parade. Just a bunch of neighbors having fun, acting silly, decorating their golf carts driving around the neighborhood honking their horns.

I’m not sure what was more fun; Jo and I working together, two senior citizens, giggling as we taped skeletons and decorations on the cart – or just driving around the neighborhood having fun.

In keeping with this week’s theme, this is really what America is all about, family, friends and neighbors in a community, caring and looking out for one another.

A good time was had by all….

Quote of the Week…

A hidden secret to staying young. Always have something fun written on your calendar for the months ahead. Visualizing these fun times keeps you busy planning, gives you something to look forward to and smile. When the time comes, have a blast, and immediately start planning your next one….. — Dennis Miller

And Finally…

Jo sends along some clever thoughts on retirement:

• “Often when you are at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers

• “Aging seems to be the only available way to live a long life.” – Kitty O’Neill Collins

• “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” – Will Rogers

• “Retirement at 65 is ridiculous. When I was 65, I still had pimples.” – George Burns

• “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

• “As in all successful ventures, the foundation of a good retirement is planning.” – Earl Nightingale

• “Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.” – Kellie Elmore

• “Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials: much to live on and much to live for.” – Unknown

And my favorite:

• “Don’t act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been.” – J.A. West

Until next time…

Dennis Miller

“Economic independence is the foundation of the only sort of freedom worth a damn.” – H. L. Mencken

 

Affiliate Link Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking these links, we will earn a commission that goes to help keep Miller on the Money running. Thank you for your support!