The Cold Continues

Morning all! It’s oh-so difficult for me these days; the Polar Vortex to be more specific. To be told I cannot continue heading out and practicing my favorite pastime, talk. Staying indoors and quietly sip my coffee – at the same time drive Marcia nuts with chatter. It’s absolute misery:

“Americans told ‘not to breathe deeply or talk’ outside as ‘deadly’ polar vortex causes temperatures to plummet.”

Cherokee – for over 60 years a 42’ sign has been visible advertising a used car dealership. It all began by the son, Walter Schott, setting up a remote lot to sell trade ins from his dad’s Cincinnati based Pontiac dealership. The logo of the era was a formal, stylized image of Chief Pontiac. The sign though was of a huge Cherokee Indian, with flashing eyes and a welcoming waving arm.

Walter Sr’s son Charles Schott was married to Marge, Marge Schott, the volatile owner of the MLB Cincinnati Reds Baseball team who loved “her boys”, a chain smoker and absolutely no whiskers on chins allowed. Yes, that Marge.

As college aged kids, brother George had spotted a used Ford with some massive V8 (I think it was an old police car) on that very lot. I was dragged along, ostensibly to tell George ‘What a deal this clunker was’. Instead, I talked him out of it. This was all at this very same ‘Cherokee’ motors and happened under that Indian’s waving arm (the arm’s motor was then still working) and standing next to a Brylcreem slathered salesguy.

The years have passed. The sign still stands and is the ‘linchpin’ for the Paddock Hills/Carthage area. In fact, any sane Cincinnatian will, when asked about the big sign, answer without blinking and eye; “Where Paddock meets Vine, at the Big Indian Sign”.

But now, a handful of activists have begun the push to have the sign taken down. This even though a vast majority of the native population don’t give a diddly-doo. What these activists apparently don’t realize is that as soon as the sign comes down it’ll find a new home at the American Sign Museum.

Guess where the American Sign Museum is located? I think you’d be correct if you said, “Monmouth St. in Cincinnati.” Playing with an old catchphrase to now say; “Old Cherokee Indian Signs never die………”

Obstreperous — One owner in our building has a small dog that, when left alone, will bark on and on at anything; this could be a passing dog walker outside, or any slight noise in the hallway. In any case, Marcia especially takes note.

I’ve been tempted to slide a little note under the door advising just how obstreperous the dog is. I finally opted to not do it because no one would understand what “obstreperous” means. There you go, your word of the Day; Obstreperous.

Quote for the Ages; “How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, you shall reap what you sow… How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. from his march on Selma “Our God is Marching On” speech – Selma, Alabama, March 25, 1965

Persia vs Iowa – This week, during the ‘snow-bomb’ of the century, Iowa held its ritualistic, first in the nation and absurdly dull CAUCUS.

People representing Trump talked beauty of a proper combover, Haley’s mouthpiece glowed about stylish pumps and cute accents, DeSantis’ stand-in proceeded to draw the outline the State of Florida. For Ramaswamy the assigned speaker wore an inside out sheep hide emulating Cincinnati’s entry in his preferred coat.

Still, it was DULL, no ifs or buts about, it had no spunk!

Especially when compared to the decision-making process perfected by the ancient Persians.
As the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived during the time period (550 to 330 BCE), wrote on the Greco-Persian conflicts; “It is their custom to deliberate about the gravest matters when they are drunk…..If, being sober, they still approve it, they act on it, but if not, they drop it. And if they have deliberated about a matter when sober, they decide upon it when they are drunk.”

Persians apparently loved their wine and drank heartily. And, most importantly, knew how to conduct meetings to a winning conclusion. Are you listening Iowa?

Aging — A bit ago Marcia crossed one of those defining Birthdays. In a few weeks I’ll settle even more comfortably in that same age bracket. And my mental makeup is such that I actually enjoy both the new opportunities and the challenges presented as I traverse this path.

Always exploring, I spend a small bit of time now and then searching how to make maturing the positive part of living that it can and should be. The attached is one of those found ‘jewels’:

A Swan Song – from The Netherlands and via my cousin Karin. This recording goes back a few years and was recorded by Ramses Shaffy at the urging of his favorite collaborator and duet-singer; Liesbeth List. The aging Ramses was nearing a final battle with esophageal cancer – he lived 1933/2009. She and friends began with his song ‘Laat Me’ (Let me be)

It didn’t take long and Ramses found himself behind the microphone and the music took over, ‘Liesbeth’, the other singers, and Ramses. Funny how music can do that.

“Laat me” (English translation) Composed by Ramses Shaffy

Maybe I was born too late
Or in a different country with different light
I always feel somewhat lost
Although the mirror shows my face

I know the pubs, the cathedrals
From Amsterdam to Maastricht
Nevertheless I will get lost every day
That will keep everything well-balanced

Don’t mind me
Don’t mind me
Just let me do what I do
Don’t mind me
Don’t mind me
I’ve always done this this way

I won’t forget my friends
Who I love will be loved by me
And where they live is something I should know
But I lost their last letter

There will absolutely come a time I will meet them
Maybe today, maybe in a year
A would kiss and greet them
Everything will be alright

Luckily I haven’t been anchored
Sometimes I live here, sometimes I live over there
I haven’t screwed up my life
I don’t own anything and won’t disagree

I love the water and the earth
I love cheap and expensive
Never saved up a penny
I just live hour by hour

There will be a time I would die
I can’t change that
I would keep my songs wandering
Furthermore you can find it out yourself

Provisionally I will keep kissing you
Your black sheep, your dearest fan
I would love to stay and preferably any longer
And just let me be who I am

Don’t mind me
I always did it this way

Composer: Ramses Shaffy. From When I Look In Your Eyes, released November 11, 2020

Dolly – yesterday was Dolly Parton’s birthday (born in 1946). Happy Birthday Dolly! But that is not what this is about. Just ‘jawing’ around it was Earl Pitts who segued, somehow, from Dolly to self-driving cars. Here, have a listen to see how masterfully our neighborhood’s gadfly masters the transition:

The WEF at Davos — As the old saw goes; “the future belongs to those who show up”. I do believe that those climate (death cult) aficionados who flew into Davos for the WEF meetings this week, and traveled in their private jets, believe this to be true.

May Peace prevail! Shalom

PS. Our local Dairy Queen re-opens in 41 days!
Dirk

BONUS POINTS:
The history of swimwear is a history of not only sports and fun, but also modesty and fashion. Here are some known new introductions and trend starters.

This is to pay homage to Sports Illustrated whose entire staff were told yesterday that they are getting laid off.

Out of these five – which one is incorrect

In 1920 Janzen Knitting Mills introduced the first iconic woolen one-piece bathing suit.
In 1937 New Jersey was the first State to legalize men swimming “bareback” (topless).
The two-piece Swimsuit Dates Back to Ancient Rome.
The string bikini was invented in 1946 by a French auto engineer.
At the start of the 20th Century women wore bathing corsets designed for swimming