The Constant is Change

Happy Saturday Morning – Not certain what is hotter, my coffee or the weather. Maybe it’s
all equal – having said that I’d prefer the hot coffee.

These days I am taking care of all those annual ‘wellness’ checkups. This week it was time with my Dermatologist. Every time I have that appointment and the lights turn bright in the little exam room I am reminded of what it must be like to be a ‘star’ under the bright lights.

This year as the Nitro spray gun came out, I was ready to suggest that it would be easier on both her, the Doctor and me, the patient, if they just made the event a walk-through, car wash like. A Cryotherapy tunnel dousing me with Nitro spray; I think the idea is brilliant.

“We are what we believe we are.” – C.S. Lewis, Irish British author, literary scholar and theologian (1898—1963)

Finally, this week, the last of any signs that our side-street was, until recently, shaded by a wealth of blooming Bradford pear trees. I’ll hold my breath waiting to see how the road will be restored “to its former glory” as the old saw (pun) goes.

Round and About – Also, this week there came another first. Thursday, across from our balcony sat a Waymo self-driving car. Until that sighting, I was unaware that Waymo had any vehicles in the ‘Nati.

Jason told me that they’re hanging about getting ‘acquainted’ with the various neighborhoods.

Next, I now hope to spot a self-driving Tesla Cybercab. Our Kirstin informs me that she’s already seen them driving in and around Austin. The Cybercab seats two, with no steering wheel, no pedals, and minimal cargo space it’s quite small but sleek looking. I saw two guys using one and taping the experience driving from the outskirts of Austin into the city – it accomplished the drive with nary a hiccup.

Mentioning “Round and About”, unless you’re my age, very few f you will a clue as to the purpose of this item. I actually had one, loved the accompanying humming noise it made, but, by and large, thought it fairly useless.

The answer as to what that item is will be at the very end of this ‘Ramblings’; phew, it’s getting busy down there.

Crossing the Ocean – the Atlantic Ocean that is. It was the summer of 1957, and a young Dirk (he of these Ramblings) was on his way to spend the summer with his namesake grandfather.

The trip began on an old little British 4 engine prop Vickers Viscount – Toronto to Montreal. Then a bus ride to their international airport. There began the Montreal to Amsterdam event, it was on a KLM DC6. Again 4 prop engines, with refueling stops in St. John Newfoundland and Prestwick Scotland where at each stop I and my 64 fellow passengers had to disembark for an hour plus while our ‘ship’ was refueled.

Just under 14 hours of this and it was safe landing at Schiphol, Amsterdam.

Should you think this was all ridiculous you’d be so wrong. We were fed and the crew kept us occupied with chats and cabin wide paper and pencil games. I even had an in-flight visit in the cockpit.

“So”, you ask, “where is all this heading?” Let me tell you. This week I watched an in-depth video of Charles Lindberg and his first non-stop solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in the Spirit of St. Louis.

It took him 33 hours in a plane with no forward-facing windshield (he did have a rudimentary periscope out the side window). Tiringly painful, nonstop hands on the controls, three sandwiches and some water all the while stuck in miserably cramped quarters.

That world shaking event had taken place exactly 30 years prior to my flight.

Do take a look at this professionally made video, you won’t be disappointed.

Then, 30 years after my flight later my brother and I flew nonstop from the USA to Tokyo on a Pan Am Boeing 747 – well over 200 passengers, 2 decks, and dinner service where roast beef was sliced seat side.

So, here is the promised answer. Can we even imagine what things will be like thirty years from now?

The thinking came about because of a conversation I had with my granddaughter. Vaioleti. Attending University of Cincinnati and I was driving her to school. Her class was a freshman offering which, in part, explores future career options. On this short bit of travel, I pointed out to her that since I graduated there are now literally hundreds of vocations which we couldn’t have even imagined when I graduated.

This week’s Interlude – This week it’s a joy to listen to (not only my clip, but the whole piece). Marcia and I were at a concert where the original artist performed this very number, and I watched Marcia jump up in pure ecstasy. And I think that I can predict that a vast majority of you all would have a similar reaction.

Hint: the piece’s writer saw it explode in popularity by another performer.

To make it interesting here performing that iconic piece is the “la Orquesta Metropolitana de Madrid” plus the voices of Coro Talía. I am attaching the link to their performance at the end of these Ramblings all in tiny print. The visuals and the music will make watching it worth your while.

Good luck, I know you’ll get it right! Remember, no cheating on the answer.

This evening both Marcia and I will scurry on over to our neighborhood’s annual Block Party. These events are always a good time. Again, this year one of the side streets will be blocked off to traffic and then like magic tables and chairs appear. Street chalk for the little ones shows up as well as a Big wheel or two. And one of the driveways is filled with oversized grills. Then a chair plus music stand emerges. Let the good times roll!

Enjoy!

Life is AMAZING!

Dirk

BONUS POINTS:

In Pennsylvania’s Amish Country is a Smorgasbord buffet restaurant. Like many food related success stories, this one started as a small roadside ‘veggie’ stall. Today their main food table is 200 feet long. The food both in quality and variety is highly rated. Today it’s not uncommon to see a tour bus come rolling into the parking lot.

Here is a list of numbers. The first is the number of guests on a good day, the second is the number of employees working in the dishwashing area. Only one pair of numbers is correct. The answer will be in next week’s Ramblings along with the name of the place.

1. 1500 — 12
2. 11,000 — 40
3. 8,500 — 17
4. 4,800 — 17
5. 6750 — 21
6. 1875 — 9
7. 14,000 — 50

Last week Bonus Points answer – # 4
Answer, this week’s Interlude piece: is John Fogerty‘s “Proud Mary“, popularized by Tina Turner. https://tinyurl.com/235ne2o4

The photo is of a ‘dynamo’ a bicycle generator to power a front light.