"Between the Crosses, row on row"

 I've been a regular volunteer at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, in Kansas City, Missouri, for a few months short of four years. Generally, I work two, 4 hour shifts weekly. Volunteering keeps my mind and body moving and frankly, it keeps me out of trouble! The museum has about 200 active volunteers and most of them are seniors, like myself. We all like what we do and I think that it's obvious, to the museum's daily visitors.

In one shift, we can get visitors for several different countries. Just last week, I had folks from New Zealand and a couple from Norway. As volunteers, we are asked quite a few questions about the artifacts and exhibits. We answer what we can and all of us are fairly adept at locating where the answers to those questions might be found. And, the most frequently asked question is ......Where are the closest restrooms?

Every volunteer has a favorite exhibit, artifact or volunteer station. My favorite spot, at the present, is what is informally referred to as "The Poppy Bridge". Just inside the entrance to the museum is a glass walkway that covers a replica battlefield. The battlefield is bare soil, churned up by the shells and large artillery pieces, that were used on the Western Front (farms land and small towns in France and Belgium). But, on that barren land are 9,000 artificial red poppies. Each poppy is placed in remembrance of 1,000 combatant lives lost. We tell folks that those 9,000,000 dead soldiers are remembered by those poppies. The Red Poppy is the official symbol of WWI. 

In 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrea wrote a poem "In Flanders Fields". We give out copies of the poem to our visitors. This year, we are celebrating the 100th anniversary, of our original museum buildings. And, just recently a new, permanent exhibit, is being featured, which explains how and why this great facility is located in Kansas City. Come visit, please.  .......................................................................................................................................................... 

                                                                In Flanders Fields

 In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

    That mark our place; and in the sky

    The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

    Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

        In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

    The torch; be yours to hold it high.

    If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

        In Flanders fields.

 

 

Time For A Change

Spring Forward...Fall Back. It's that time again. (Although DST changes in length, almost yearly) Daylight Saving Time was first adopted, on a national scale in 1918,  during World War I, as a measure to conserve fuel and coal for the war effort. Just as we were late in entering the War, we were nearly the last country to adopt this terrific (I'm being facetious) idea. The Axis Powers (Germany and Austria-Hungary) had adopted it in 1916. Most European countries followed in 1917.

According to what I have read, it was deeply unpopular with farmers and and the general public. There was even a protest slogan "Give us back our stolen hour." So Congress repealed the law in 1919.

But, it returned during World War II. In September of 1945, "War Time" (DST) officially ended. Then, between 1945 and 1965, individual states and sometimes towns, determined their own "times" within standard time zones. It was, according to my research, chaotic. Then in 1966, Congress passed the UNIFORM TIME ACT, and we now have a standard schedule for Daylight Savings Time.

Well, if it were up to me, I'd put us back on Standard Time. I would also go back to Analog watches and clocks. I like the terms clockwise and counterclockwise, both of which are considered archaic and useless. No one under the age of 40, even knows what they mean!!!

Bottom line. I'm grumpy today......I woke up and hour early, I think.

             ............................................................................................................................   

 

S

"Do you hear what I hear?"

 Have you seen the "News"? Believe it or not, Several Popular Influencers, are proudly proclaiming that they have NEVER read a book.....in their lives. Really? Well, maybe a proper adult book. I bet every one of them has read Hop On Pop, or an equivalent. And, why would anyone be proud of that?? May I pass judgement, on such fools? Illiterate, ignorant souls.

Well, I have a book, to recommend. And, yes, I have read it. The author, Bill Bryson, has been a favorite of mine, for many years. He has a great sense of humor, which comes through in all of his books. Once, whilst driving down the road, listening to an audio tape (that tells you how long ago it was) of his book, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, I had to pull over and do some deep breathing. I was laughing so hard, a serious accident was imminent!

My recommendation is his, The Mother Tongue (English and How It Got That Way). The subject matter is why we Americans speak the way we do, our colloquialisms, and our verbal foibles. It's a fun read....if you like words and read books.

Since perusing this particular book, I have been conducting a little survey of how my fellow mid-westerners pronounce a certain word. So far, my research is indicating about 50/50. So, do you say "wash" or do you add an invisible "r", and say "warsh"? Maybe you are politically discriminate and use both pronunciations, saying Washington, D.C., but you warsh your hands. 

Think about it. Let me know.

................................................................................................................................................. 

 Dearest Lord, we are thankful for the Gifts and Graces that You have given to us. Help us to choose to use them wisely.

..."Peanuts and Cracker Jack"

I would be the first to admit that I am a bit out of touch with the world, in general. But, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to knowing my living space, the local area and somewhat about world affairs. Like most Americans, my news comes from a computer. I have to admit to giving up daily newspapers and I don't watch the local TV news. Normally, I don't miss them.

But, it occurred to me this morning, October 23rd, and I haven't heard or read anything about the World Series of Baseball. I didn't know if it was already over or hadn't yet been played? I knew the local team, the Kansas City Royals, wasn't in it, but who was?

Back when I made it a point to follow Major League Baseball, the World Series was a big deal. It was the "World Serious", in the home where I grew up and in all the years I had children at home. My dad had played Minor League Ball, in the 1930's. We played softball in grade school. We watched the World Series, on television at school (There were no night games, folks.) I went to High School with a couple of really good ball players, that made it to the Big Leagues. One of my sons played ball all the way through school. I knew the game!

After a bit of research, I brought myself up to date. I learned that the two teams, in the 2026 Series, are the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers. Neither team has ever won a World Series, although the National League Brewers has been in the series twice. The  American League team was called the Devils, from 1998-2007. In '08, they changed their name to the Rays. The games will be played tonight and through the next week. In fact, research tells me that the Brewers, have two active players from the Kansas City area. Jacob Misiorowski, is a starting right-hander, and Aaron Ashby is their go-to reliever. I'll be rooting for the Brewers.

Now, I am also wondering, just when do we go back to Central Standard Time? I hope I haven't missed it. 

............................................................................................................................ 

Lord, help me to keep my mind and my body active. 

 

Again and Again.........

 About fifty posts ago, I wrote about a couple of words that I intended to add to my vocabulary. Actually, I never did. It is likely that, at my age, I'm just not going to start using random words that aren't a match for my time tested vocabulary. Yesterday, however, I ran across another new word, that might be a better fit. I decided, it won't hurt to try.

My newly discovered word is EPHEMERA. Just by chance,  I encountered some folks from the Ephemera Society. They were very pleasant and seriously interested in the historical exhibits in the museum, where I volunteer. In case, like me, you do not know the definition of EPHEMERA (al), it is...."lasting a short time". That was Webster's explanation. OED uses 4 columns to define the word and it's forms. Way to long. Longer perhaps than a slang phrase or a paper cup. Both of which are EPHEMERA. 

At first I thought, well this is very odd. Why are these folks visiting a history museum that boasts about storing and displaying 350,000 World War I Era artifacts? This is old, well preserved stuff. It is definitely not EPHEMERA. 

However, in reality, we do have a lot of EPHEMERA, at the museum. There are dozens of paper posters, popular for a short time. Battle plans, maps, gas canisters, ammunition, uniforms, etc.,etc.,etc. Temporary items, initially made to be used for a very short period of time, or even destroyed immediately by use. But, these articles are EPHEMERA, that has been kept for over 110 years.

Okay. According to experts (some elementary school teachers of mine) writing, reading and using a new word five times, will store it in my vocabulary. (as in....."Run Spot. Run.") I think I've got it. Do you?

....................................................................................................................................................................... 

 Good and All-Knowing God. You have shown us that life is a journey of new words and events. Just because we grow old, doesn't stop us from learning. Remind us to keep our minds open to new things. We thank You, for new experiences.

 

"Brown paper packages, tied up with strings."

 Feeling slightly akin to Julie Andrews, aka Marie von Trapp, this morning. My thoughts are leaning toward listing a few of "My Favorite Things":

• Day trips to known and unknown spots around home base. Nothing even stays the same, you know, and even the most familiar of places, never fails to treat me to something new and exciting. 
• Time spent with friends and relatives. A visit, like this can involve a job, sight seeing or just a chat in a familiar living room. All of which I enjoy.
• Eating in a familiar restaurant. Recently we went to one, that I remember from the early days of my childhood. I treasured every greasy bite.
• Car travel that includes listening to the Oldies and singing along with nearly all of the lyrics...."yeah, yeah, yeah". Yes, I do realize that this can be annoying to the folks traveling with me. 
• Talking and meeting new folks. Here is where you get to learn and sometimes teach. 
• And, of course, it is most important, that there should be accompanying you, someone who will share your travels, appreciates your choices in travel and actually chooses to accompany you.

My closest friends and I honor our departed friend Jim, with one of his favorite sayings...."Get out there in it." 

                                  ........................................................................... 

 Holy Lord. Life is indeed a journey. We praise your leadership and honor your guidance, along our path.

 

 

".....drift by my window."

 

 After a brief cool spell, a Faux Fall, if you will, we are experiencing our usual warm Autumn weather. Our house is decorated with my extensive collection of ceramic, crocheted and papier mache' pumpkins. The "mums" are flourishing in pots outside and although the trees are not in full color, they are starting to turn a bit.  Almost everyone's "favorite season" is officially here in the Midwest.

However, there are some folks who really do not appreciate (can you even imagine?) the changing weather. Yesterday, I encountered a woman visitor at the Museum (my volunteer job), wearing a lovely fall themed sweatshirt. I complemented her and she replied, thanking me and pointing out that she wished that the weather was a bit more seasonal (cooler). It wasn't exactly sweatshirt weather, and she was too warm!

Later in the afternoon, I encountered the same woman. She was very upset. It seems our Museum was too cold and she had be forced to make two trips to her car to warm up. Honestly, I did not know how to reply to her statement, so I just nodded. And actually, I don't think she really expected me to fix her issue, she was just complaining.

Unfortunately, it's just impossible to please everybody. But as we often say, here in the Heartland, when all other words fail.......there you go.

                        ........................................................................................ 

Lord, help us to be more helpful, more positive, more thoughtful, more caring. and reasonable.