ON A LIGHTER NOTE

A TALE TO BE TOED

(Written August 23, 2006)

I recently started a part-time job with the Sheriff’s Office. So far, I have been doing a lot of filing, and acquainting myself with some of the forms and terms used on a daily basis. (What’s your 10-20?; 10-4; etc.)

I was pleased to find out I would soon be helping one of the deputies do an inventory of the main evidence room. We’ll be checking to see if some evidence may be discarded, and then we will obtain the necessary court orders to do so. This will be a nice change of pace from the filing.

The Sheriff called me into his office and gave me a list of the items that are located in the evidence room. I glanced at the list and was surprised to see the item “fingers” on the second page! Thinking this was some kind of code name, I laughed and asked what it meant. Imagine my surprise when the Sheriff said, “Just what it says -- ‘fingers’”. Apparently there are two sets of fingers stored as evidence. I was so shocked, I never thought to ask what the cases were. I supposed I would find out soon enough, when we conducted the inventory.

I emailed my daughter-in-law that night and mentioned the “fingers” in my note. I went on to discuss an upcoming visit to me they were to make. Shortly afterwards, she answered me by email and stated that my son Matthew told her to inform me he did not want any finger food when they came! I laughed out loud when I read that.

The next night Matthew and I were talking on the telephone and he asked me if I remembered when he was a young mechanic working on a car in Denton and he found a toe. Horrified, I said I certainly did not remember that! “Yeah”, he said. “It was under the front fender and there was blood everywhere.” “Ohmigosh”, I replied, “What did you do??” “I called the toe truck”, he answered.

Gotcha! Again! He’s been doing that to me since he was four years old. I guess I’ll never learn.

Please don't ask about the fingers! I worked at the S.O. until about this time last year. Contrary to some rumors, I did not quit because of one very obnoxious deputy! I quit because of some very obnoxious cigarette smoke! Okay guys, get out there and make the good stuff happen. And don't forget to send warm fuzzies and prayers to our classmates in need. I'll keep you posted. Marilyn P.S, If you wish to send a comment, click on "Comments" at the bottom of this post, not on the little envelope.

POSTSCRIPT ON MEMORIAL DAY

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

I recently asked my “boys” if they remembered having to practice for a bomb attack when they were in school. This is what they responded with:

Craig:

”We did have to do duck and cover. I remember vividly having to get under my desk in first grade and I think going out into the hall and crouching down in the second grade. I don't remember knowing what it was all about. We just treated it sorta like a fire drill.”

Matthew:

“We did it. I remember it well. They played the old training movies from the 50's on the projector.”

Craig was in the First Grade in 1964 in Midland. I’m sure if there had been an attack, the oilfields around the Permian Basin would have been a target..? Matthew, however, didn’t start First Grade until 1975 in Irving. By then, surely they knew how useless the “duck and cover” would be in a nuclear attack! I wonder why they continued this frightening practice.

Funny, I don’t remember doing this at all as a kid. I moved around so much in grade school (remember it was called primary school, grade school, grammar school, and then elementary school?), maybe they practiced these drills on days I was in transit! Did you have to practice these drills when you were in school here in Ballinger?

I do remember being horrified by the atomic bomb. When my dad came home from World War II, I followed him around asking him questions about the war and what he did in Japan. I was too young – seven years old – to really understand about the bomb then, but I had seen enough images in magazines and the newsreels (remember those?) at the movie theaters to know that little children were affected, too, and often killed. My sister and I were left with different relatives in different states from time to time throughout the war. I recall that my prayers were always ended with “God, please don’t let the 'Japs' kill my daddy.” My fear for my dad was resolved upon his return, but my compassion for the little children only increased. I still remember how angry he got with me when I asked him if he had to kill a little child! Only as an adult did I find out that he did not see combat in Japan, but was there with the Occupation forces.

A couple of years ago I got Dad to talk a little about his experiences as a paratrooper in the South Pacific. They were sent to an island in the Philippines to do a mop-up action. Apparently, there were some Japanese gunners hiding out in the caves in the hills. He said they had to sweep the hillsides, and when they came to a cave, throw grenades into it. When I asked if he knew whether or not he actually killed anyone, he said they didn’t stick around to find out… and that he really didn’t want to know. My dad was only 27 years old at the time of the bombing of Hiroshima.

My dad was stationed at Fort Sam Houston during the Korean “conflict” when I was in the seventh grade (it was junior high then, now middle school!) in San Antonio. I read a small book called Hiroshima, which outlined in vivid detail everything about that attack. I don’t know why I read that book – or where I got it. Certainly not at the school library. Anyway, I did a book report on it, and from that day forward I was against war. 

It was so unreal to think that people could be reduced to a mere “shadow” on a sidewalk. I would stand in the sun and look down at my own shadow and try to imagine that that was all that was left of me. Even worse were the reports of survivors with their faces melted, or all their skin coming off if someone tried to hold them or pick them up. For years I followed reports on the aftereffects of the A-Bomb and what it did to the poor people who survived the attack. Horrible, horrible health problems… deformed babies -- if they could even give birth again. Those were the times I was almost ashamed to be an American. And I was only 12 years old.

I also read about the pilot and crew of the Enola Gay, who dropped those bombs. I could not imagine human beings wanting to deliver such destruction on so many innocent people. But then, there are a lot of things about war I do not understand – whether “they” are doing it, or we are!

A side note and not one I am particularly proud of: In the late 80s I was doing some genealogical research on my dad’s family and discovered he had a first cousin in Houston. I found him in Who’s Who in America, and found out he discovered/developed the electromagnetic process that made the first atomic bomb possible. He was among the scientists at Los Alamos during the testing of these bombs. When I met his sister in New Orleans, who was in her 70s at the time, she told me he went blind many years before. I wondered if this was a result of his exposure to radiation at the test sites when the bombs went off. (2021 - I have since discovered this is an error. There were two Moragnes with the same name. My cousin was not the one who worked on the bomb.)

About the same time that I found this side of my family, my oldest child, Craig Young, was the youngest member of the board of directors of the Texas Freeze Voters Association. He was aghast when I told him of our “infamous” relative. He didn’t want anyone to know. 

“Where have all the young men gone?”………………Too many of them are in Arlington National Cemetery and others scattered in cemeteries around the country. “When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?”…

May we honor the soldiers and not the wars.

Too bad, good stuff doesn't always happen.

Marilyn

IN MEMORY

ROSALYN (URBANTKE) HOELSCHER sent me the following information last night. I am sorry to say I don't remember John, however, he was a good friend of Rosalyn's and her family. She said he was a classmate of the Class of '57 until he joined the Navy at an early age. Some of you may find his photo in an early BHS annual. Unfortunately, mine were lost long ago.

"Just want to let you know that John Wayne Watkins passed away this past week. He has been in the hospital since Nov. 19th,the past few months he was at the VA Hospital in Big Spring. He had lung cancer-then it went into throat and voice box, so he has not been able to talk or eat since January (very sad). His funeral was today (Saturday) in San Angelo"...
JOHN WAYNE WATKINS

Publication Date: May 23, 2008

SAN ANGELO - "John Wayne Watkins, 70, of Carlsbad, died Wednesday, May 21, 2008, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Big Spring, Texas after a courageous battle with cancer. Graveside military burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24, in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Johnson's Funeral Home. John was born on Jan. 10, 1938, in Coleman, Texas, and later moved with his family to Ballinger. He joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served aboard the USS Princeton. He was later stationed at Barber's Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii where his son, Allen Wayne Watkins was born. After his discharge from the Navy he worked as an officer for the Ballinger and San Angelo Police Departments and also for the Undercover Vice Task Force of the Dallas Police Department. He later moved to Carlsbad, Texas where he retired from the Texas Department of MHMR after working 20 years at the San Angelo State School. Survivors include his son, Allen Wayne Watkins and family of Arvada, Colo.; one sister, Willie Mae Cole of Ballinger; numerous nieces, nephews and many close friends. John was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph Street, Suite 225, Arlington, VA 22203-1977, The American Cancer Society or your favorite charity."

I'm sorry I couldn't get John's photo to copy from the article in the Standard Times online obituary. If any of you are interested, you may go to their site and click on Obituaries:

http://www.gosanangelo.com/

This is a good address for you to make one of your Favorites or Bookmarks. That way you may keep up with news of this area no matter where you are. I'll place it in the left hand corner of the blog, along with other websites you may find interesting. KRUN's website keeps you up-to-date on Ballinger as well. (You can see who's holding a garage sale!)

On another note, I think I advised everyone that PEGGY (BRANHAM) KRUMLINDE'S test results were all negative. This is one time that negative is definitely "positive"!

I spoke with Carolyn, JERRY DAVIS's wife, yesterday. (He was taking a bath.) She said he was out of "critical care", and in another room at the hospital. His number is now 325-670-5626. They were preparing to remove the oxygen and hopefully allow him to return home. If you call the hospital and are unable to reach him, he may be home by the time you read this. Keep the prayers going for a complete recovery.
Something that has fascinated me since moving back to Ballinger is the vineyard on the San Angelo highway. I know it was planted by a Canadian doctor, Antoine Albert, during the 80s, and that they actually made the wine here for a while. Now the sign says it is owned by Becker Farms, Inc. I have done a little research online trying to find out if they are still making wine from the grapes harvested here. I assume they must be, as the vineyard is being irrigated and looks healthy and green. (I must remember to look for grapes as the season progresses!) I found a Becker Farms in Texas and one back east, but no mention of the Bluebonnet Hill Vineyard.

When I tried to locate Dr. Albert, I found a website he had in 2005. Seems he had become a personal "coach", specializing in assisting medical doctors. His bio mentioned that while he lived in Ballinger, he built a modern clinic. Is that the same clinic we have here today, located on Third Street? I tried to email him, but he no longer has that email address. Maybe he returned to Canada?? If anyone out there can fill me in, I'd love to know the history -- particularly of the wine.

This is Memorial Day weekend, so if any of you have loved ones who have served or who are serving now in the military, we honor you as well as them. We especially need to remember those who lost their lives in service to our country.

A few tips for using the blog... 1) Any photo may be double clicked on and enlarged. 2) The photo slideshows to the left of the blog may be double clicked on, also. When you do that, it will take you directly to the web albums, allowing you to read captions as well as enlarge the photos. 3) To comment on the blog, go to the bottom of the post and click on "Comments". A popup window will allow you to write your comment and send it to me. You may also view comments, if any, by clicking on "Comments". 4) To listen to the music, go to the music "window" to the left of the blog and click on the big arrow. Remember to have your sound on. Of course, you can always email me directly with any news or comments you wish to have published (or not - just let me know).

I look forward to hearing from some new folks. 'Til then, go out there and make the "good stuff" happen!

Marilyn












Runnels County Courthouse

TEXAS RESOURCES ENHANCED

It's not a gold rush, it's not an oil boom, it's not an Emu or Bison ranch, but it promises to be as -- if not more beneficial to Texas landowners than all of the above. There seemed to me to be many, many more of these wind generators than this time last year. One rumor I heard was that a rancher in Sweetwater is being paid $2,000 a month for each generator placed on his land. The gossiping clerks in the convenience store said he had over 100 on his ranch. He was overheard saying he was making more money than he could spend! Imagine that!

I just returned from five days in Amarillo, and as always in the past few years, I was enchanted with the wind generators between here and there. I haven't decided if they look more like giant herons or some kind of futuristic spaceships. Whichever, they are definitely awe inspiring as they rise up off the plains or perch on the tops of hills. The ones pictured here I took between Blackwell and Sweetwater. I have a little nagging concern about the electromagnetic fields they create, and what that might do to animals or people living in their vicinity. My son-in-law pooh-poohed me for that fear. Of course, that could be because he and his father are working on a deal to put them on family land in the Amarillo area.

I don't know if any of you noticed (or even cared), but recently Bob Dylan was given a Pulitzer Prize for songwriting. Being a big fan of his in the 60s, I was really amazed to read this, as I think this is the first time ever for this category. I mentioned it in an email to DENNY HILL. The following is Denny's response to me:

“I once calculated that I arrived in NYC, and was hanging around Washington Square Park, which is very near NYU, about 2 months before Bob Dylan arrived there. I used to see him sitting on a bench in the park, with his guitar looking REALLY YOUNG. Somehow his intensity stood out already, just by his sitting there, gawking at the Village people.

Not too many months later, one night, as I was sitting in a coffee house on MacDougal Street, listening to ‘Rambling Jack Elliot’, between sets he told us this (Jack Elliot speaking):

‘So there is this incredible new folksinger and songwriter in town who has taken to me, and who usually shows up at my pad late at night to hang out and play some chords. But I hadn’t seen him for a few days, and was worried about him. Well, last night late, he knocked on my door. I said, Where have you been? He said, Oh, I was busy writing a new song. Would you like to hear it? And then he sat down in my kitchen and played for me “Mr. Tambourine Man”. It almost knocked me off my kitchen chair! You’ve got to go hear this guy! I think he just got a gig around the corner on Bleeker Street.’

So of course, I took his advice and went to see him, and in less than a year Dylan had become very famous.”

On May 5th I wrote JAMES HAYS to see how he was doing. I asked if he were walking 2-3 miles a day yet, and this was his response:

"1.2 miles now; going to see surgeon today. Able to sneeze ok now, but a hearty cough is still bad. I don't expect to feel good until 4-6 weeks post-op, but it is ok now except for mud wrassling." That was over two weeks ago, so I'll bet he's in even better condition now!

I also heard from ROSALYN (URBANTKE) HOELSCHER. She said she had just had a heart monitor implanted. She's optimistic that this will solve a lot of the cardiac problems she's been having in recent months.

A little sad news. NYDAH ELLET'S father died on May 7th. She said she feels it was what he wanted. He was 89 years old. Our condolences to you, Nydah.

This is a photo of my granddaughter Audrey during her "Giselle" solo at her last high school ballet performance. The second act of their Spring Concert was a very unusual -- and delightful ballet, choreographed by her dance instructor for the past several years. His father died last year, leaving a cedar closet full of his old suits -- many from the 70s. He coupled his dad's leisure suits with humorous music by Mozart and created a ballet like none other. These delicate dancers were outfitted in men's suits several sizes too large for them, along with their leotards and men's ties. I wish I had been able to capture a good photo of them, however, no flashes were allowed. Her dad, BOB BURTON and her other grandmother (Ann Burton), "Two", were also there to share this memorable family event. We were passing around the Kleenex, as is usual when we watch our grandchildren perform! Some of the tears were for the passing of the years. She's such a grown up young woman now.

This is Audrey (on the left below) with her ballet instructor's wife, Stephanie Parker, backstage between performances. Stephanie performs with Cirque du Soleil in Miami, but has been guest performer in three of her husband's ballets that I have attended. She's much prettier than this photo, but I wanted to show the costumes they wore for the Second Act. It was pretty unbelievable that they could even dance with them on. Of course, we thought Audrey was magnificent!



More news. GLENN SMITH has a young visitor from South America, who will be staying in Ballinger for a while. Glenn has sponsored her to come to the States to attend college. The last I heard, she has a scholarship to St. Mary's in San Antonio. Her name is Stephanie and from her photo, she is a lovely young woman. Stephanie sings. Boy!! does she sing! (I have heard a demo CD she made for auditions). She really, really wants to be on American Idol, and has the talent to go with that ambition. I think she will be going to summer school at ACU, so if you see her around town with Glenn, give her a big Texas welcome.

Happy Birthday, DON SIMMONS!!

Send me all your newsworthy items and photos. I'd love a story from all you great storytellers out there!

Until next time, keep on making "good stuff happen"!

Marilyn