Essay 28.1
REFLECTIONS IN A DENTIST’S CHAIR
(Triggered by a desire to slow tooth decay)
I have an enormous empathy for those who repeatedly point out the ramifications of Loveland, Colorado’s growth. They are good observers, with good memories, and are justly troubled by the changes that they have experienced and will likely see in the future. Some describe continued development as blight, others see it as opportunity. Whatever the view, all the possible problems that can accompany growth certainly have not yet been dealt with, probably not yet been thought of. There is little doubt that there is trouble ahead.
It is vital to appreciate the fact that there really is no such thing as “zero growth”. Every culture, society, community, institution, organization and individual is, at any given moment, an amalgam of both growth and decay. These occur simultaneously. Here I can use “growth” in the context of learning, but whatever its form, it is ever-present in all living and evolving things.. If one were to be successful in halting growth, there is left only decay. It very well may be that the only thing worse than growth is decay. Furthermore, the two are not symmetrical, in that decay is unrelenting, while growth is problematic.
The United States has doubled in population since I was born. But despite this growth, I have seen my home town, located in a neighboring state, dying. Some years ago the community leaders made a conscious effort to keep the city as it was, waving away pressures to change life styles with housing developments, new businesses, etc. Growth was minimized, and guess what? Decay crept along, then picked up speed, and soon became rampant. (When you are over the hill, you pick up speed!) The younger generation departed for other climes. The people who wanted to keep things as they were retired, and their businesses disappeared shortly thereafter and, frequently, so did they! Occasionally a house would burn. It was not replaced. Then business places became empty. Doctors and other professional people became fewer. It was necessary to travel considerable distances for health care and other essentials (and all the while, a bigger percentage of the population needed such care!) The tax base decreased, of course, so there was less money for public matters. Occasionally some money was raised to raze individual buildings and groups of buildings. The vacant places were not needed for parking lots, nor were they used for sculptures. The band shell decayed to the point of classic eyesore, and it was years before volunteers restored that part of the city park, first to grass, ultimately to weeds.
Meanwhile, nearby cities, with discernable differences only in attitude, increased in population, added services and “things to do”. Guess where people in my home town now go for almost everything essential. They also go to neighboring places because they are bored at home. And they leave to visit the kids and grandkids, since the kids can’t seem to make it back home very often. It seems that people inevitably want to go where the action is! Also, they spend money while they are there.
My home town is quiet, and beautiful, and peaceful. But as I remember the good old days, I think of vibrant things--the large high school, the many activities, community affairs, etc. It is the boom town days we take pleasure in recalling, more than depressions.
Too much can be made of my first-hand observations of decay. There were of course many factors involved, and I am probably aware of only some of them. But I would urge all of us, from those who inevitably opt for the status quo to those who are avid developers, to remember that we are obligated to fight decay just as much as we are to praise or decry growth. We all need to work at the task of enhancing community life, and community services. We want all age groups here, including those young families moving here for new jobs. True life requires generations.
I have been very impressed with the level of volunteer work that is made available to us here in Loveland, and this is a necessary ingredient of a viable community. Another key ingredient resides with the city staff, who appear to me to be much better qualified than the staff of any analogous community I have known. They are not quite as good as we deserve, of course, but are much better than we have any right to expect. I notice that they are getting better all the time, adjusting to new technologies and opportunities quite a bit faster than the average citizen. We should offer every encouragement, and celebrate their good common sense.
Finally, I am thankful that it is possible to be against “growth” without being mean spirited about it, and possible to be for “growth” without being greedy. And no matter which of these two “groups” you choose to describe some of your beliefs, keep looking for ways to fight decay! It will be our ability to handle that problem that will determine our future, and not, for example, the number of cars in a given intersection at a given moment.
And does anybody have any new ideas about fighting tooth decay?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Ninnescah Stories
Growing up a few meters north of the North Fork of the Ninnescah, in central Kansas, was a wonderful experience. A few small stories about the place can cause one to wonder if such a place ever existed.
As a young lad, Uncle Frank was going to bed. He walked from the kitchen area of the house across the dark room at the west end, but returned quickly saying that he had been stung by a wasp.
Examination revealed that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake; it was discovered and dispatched. A tourniquet was immediately applied, the wound was cut, and there was a hurried trip in the buggy to see Doctor Bauer in Sylvia.
I only knew Doctor Bauer as Doc Bauer. So it was Doc Bauer who gave Uncle Frank drinks of whisky, then he loosened the tourniquet by a small amount, repeating this procedure for some time. Uncle Frank was very ill, and became terribly afraid of snakes from this moment onward.
A few years later the boys were going across the creek, but Uncle Frank refused to cross. The older boys ran back and forth across the creek, over and over, to demonstrate that all was well, and there was no need to be afraid.
Uncle Frank finally became convinced, started across, froze in place. A water moccasin was wrapped tightly around his leg. It was not a poison one, so he lived, but just barely.
In the Brownlee home, everyone learned to carry a lamp when they were on the way to bed. MEASURING DEVICES
This happened before my time and I heard the story only a few times.
After Dad bought the farm from Ansell Hopper, a decision was made to put a full size scale just north of the cow shed. One could then weigh truck loads of grain and other farm products, including cattle.
The Brownlee brothers participated in this endeavor. While the work was in progress, there was one very long piece of lumber that was yet to be used.
How long was it?
Each man weighed in. Uncle Hugh’s number was 22 feet, and that was the highest number. The others disputed his estimate, but then he announced that it was no estimate. He had measured it.
Time passed. Finally Uncle Oscar decided that it could not possibly be 22 feet long, and he was inspired to ask the critical question.
“What did you measure it with?” he asked.
“My eye”, Uncle Hugh replied.
Sometimes the brain can trump observations.
BOB AND GINGER
BY CAROL
GEESE CAN COUNT
Dad and his brothers--Dave, Hugh, Oscar, Charles, Irving, and Frank were hunters. There was a hunter’s blind down by the lake, and they frequently wanted geese to eat.
When one, two, or three brothers went into the blind, and then one or two left, the geese knew that hunters were still present. But if four hunters went into the blind, and three left, the geese thought the blind was empty. This simplified the hunt by a significant degree. Conclusion: at least along the Ninnescah, geese could only count to three.
Dad and his brothers--Dave, Hugh, Oscar, Charles, Irving, and Frank were hunters. There was a hunter’s blind down by the lake, and they frequently wanted geese to eat.
When one, two, or three brothers went into the blind, and then one or two left, the geese knew that hunters were still present. But if four hunters went into the blind, and three left, the geese thought the blind was empty. This simplified the hunt by a significant degree. Conclusion: at least along the Ninnescah, geese could only count to three.
THINGS ONE CAN LEARN WHEN PUTTING UP HAY
Putting up hay was vitally important. One’s prosperity could easily depend upon it.
The best days for this activity were the worst for hay makers. The hay needed to be absolutely dry, and very hot, very dry days were the ones chosen for the hard work at hand.
We had the hay wagon nearly full. The last bit required each one to extend the pitch fork to full arms length, and to try to pitch what hay he could to the very top of the stack.
One of our hired men, Merle Stinson I believe was his name, performed this action, and with the thrust upward, a very long snake fell out of the hay, and down the back of Merle’s shirt. It then wrapped itself around his waist.
We still had lots of rattlesnakes is those days, and Merle’s reaction was a blur of action in tearing his shirt in shreds, dancing up and down and around in circles and hollering like crazy.
The snake was six feet long, and was a bull snake. All was well.
I was always a good observer, so I still remember this event. Afterward I always inspected the hay on my pitch fork before I put it over my head.
Putting up hay was vitally important. One’s prosperity could easily depend upon it.
The best days for this activity were the worst for hay makers. The hay needed to be absolutely dry, and very hot, very dry days were the ones chosen for the hard work at hand.
We had the hay wagon nearly full. The last bit required each one to extend the pitch fork to full arms length, and to try to pitch what hay he could to the very top of the stack.
One of our hired men, Merle Stinson I believe was his name, performed this action, and with the thrust upward, a very long snake fell out of the hay, and down the back of Merle’s shirt. It then wrapped itself around his waist.
We still had lots of rattlesnakes is those days, and Merle’s reaction was a blur of action in tearing his shirt in shreds, dancing up and down and around in circles and hollering like crazy.
The snake was six feet long, and was a bull snake. All was well.
I was always a good observer, so I still remember this event. Afterward I always inspected the hay on my pitch fork before I put it over my head.
UNCLE FRANK’S ADVENTURE AT HOME
As a young lad, Uncle Frank was going to bed. He walked from the kitchen area of the house across the dark room at the west end, but returned quickly saying that he had been stung by a wasp.
Examination revealed that he had been bitten by a rattlesnake; it was discovered and dispatched. A tourniquet was immediately applied, the wound was cut, and there was a hurried trip in the buggy to see Doctor Bauer in Sylvia.
I only knew Doctor Bauer as Doc Bauer. So it was Doc Bauer who gave Uncle Frank drinks of whisky, then he loosened the tourniquet by a small amount, repeating this procedure for some time. Uncle Frank was very ill, and became terribly afraid of snakes from this moment onward.
A few years later the boys were going across the creek, but Uncle Frank refused to cross. The older boys ran back and forth across the creek, over and over, to demonstrate that all was well, and there was no need to be afraid.
Uncle Frank finally became convinced, started across, froze in place. A water moccasin was wrapped tightly around his leg. It was not a poison one, so he lived, but just barely.
In the Brownlee home, everyone learned to carry a lamp when they were on the way to bed.
This happened before my time and I heard the story only a few times.
After Dad bought the farm from Ansell Hopper, a decision was made to put a full size scale just north of the cow shed. One could then weigh truck loads of grain and other farm products, including cattle.
The Brownlee brothers participated in this endeavor. While the work was in progress, there was one very long piece of lumber that was yet to be used.
How long was it?
Each man weighed in. Uncle Hugh’s number was 22 feet, and that was the highest number. The others disputed his estimate, but then he announced that it was no estimate. He had measured it.
Time passed. Finally Uncle Oscar decided that it could not possibly be 22 feet long, and he was inspired to ask the critical question.
“What did you measure it with?” he asked.
“My eye”, Uncle Hugh replied.
Sometimes the brain can trump observations.
BOB AND GINGER
BY CAROL
Bob Saved Ginger!
When she was very small, Ginger fell into one of Grandma McComb's ponds. Grandma had several little ponds of water around the yard. Most were shallow and made of cement, with little sea-shells embedded in the edges. For years she kept goldfish in those ponds. One pond, designed to be a fountain and made of iron, had been welded. The rim was made from a big iron tractor wheel from which the cleats had been removed. The first tractors in use after the steam engines were huge; they had large iron wheels with big triangular cleats.
The bottom, which was cone-shaped, was made of iron. A pipe rose from the center to a height of about five feet above ground level. It was so constructed that a garden hose could be connected to the pipe . When the water was turned on, it flowed to the top of the pipe and out over a round metal piece welded near the top. In the old days, this was used on rare occasions, such as, for instance, the Fourth of July. Daddy had put a fence around the pond with a view to keeping the children out. However, it proved to be no real barrier to a child who really wanted to get in; a child could climb the fence.
Once, when we were very young, Ginger toddled out to that pond, threw her doll over the fence, then crawled over the fence to retrieve the doll -and fell into the pond.
Ginger must have been about a year and a half or two years old; she was able to walk and climb.
The conical bottom of the pond was covered with algae and was very slick, and Ginger slipped to the bottom.
I have no memory of the event. Mother always said that I reached my hand through the fence, grabbed Ginger's hand, and held on, and yelled.
Bob heard me yelling and came to the rescue. He scaled the fence and got Ginger-and the doll out of the pond.
Bob says he doesn't remember whether Ginger's head was above or under the water when he got there.
Bob saved the day. And aren't we thankful for Bob!
Note: God created McCombs able to yell; I'm just thankful that this time it served a good purpose.
When she was very small, Ginger fell into one of Grandma McComb's ponds. Grandma had several little ponds of water around the yard. Most were shallow and made of cement, with little sea-shells embedded in the edges. For years she kept goldfish in those ponds. One pond, designed to be a fountain and made of iron, had been welded. The rim was made from a big iron tractor wheel from which the cleats had been removed. The first tractors in use after the steam engines were huge; they had large iron wheels with big triangular cleats.
The bottom, which was cone-shaped, was made of iron. A pipe rose from the center to a height of about five feet above ground level. It was so constructed that a garden hose could be connected to the pipe . When the water was turned on, it flowed to the top of the pipe and out over a round metal piece welded near the top. In the old days, this was used on rare occasions, such as, for instance, the Fourth of July. Daddy had put a fence around the pond with a view to keeping the children out. However, it proved to be no real barrier to a child who really wanted to get in; a child could climb the fence.
Once, when we were very young, Ginger toddled out to that pond, threw her doll over the fence, then crawled over the fence to retrieve the doll -and fell into the pond.
Ginger must have been about a year and a half or two years old; she was able to walk and climb.
The conical bottom of the pond was covered with algae and was very slick, and Ginger slipped to the bottom.
I have no memory of the event. Mother always said that I reached my hand through the fence, grabbed Ginger's hand, and held on, and yelled.
Bob heard me yelling and came to the rescue. He scaled the fence and got Ginger-and the doll out of the pond.
Bob says he doesn't remember whether Ginger's head was above or under the water when he got there.
Bob saved the day. And aren't we thankful for Bob!
Note: God created McCombs able to yell; I'm just thankful that this time it served a good purpose.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Essay 53.1
Essay 53.1
As soon as the kids were judged capable of taking care of themselves, but could still pretty much do as they were told, they began their ventures to foreign countries. The “minimum” age for such learning was guessed to be about 14, though there was some variation from teen to teen. Fortunately or not, they seemed to attain such an age very quickly, and soon became a group clamoring for more. Whenever possible, grandchildren were added if they qualified.
We had a habit of inviting other family members and friends to accompany us when possible, and some of the results have been 18 of us in Kenya, 14 in England and Scotland, 14 in France, 22 in Peru, 18 in China, 11 in Egypt and 16 in Antarctica. For a number of trips there may have been only four or five of us; there were four of us in South Africa one time, and five of us were on another trip to China.
I have always believed that the monies invested in these trips were well spent, for the returns keep arriving decade after decade. Appreciations for our country grow immeasurably after a number of other countries are experienced. We also relive many of our experiences when we are together, and the howls of laughter when memories are shared make a day incredibly bright.
Even before we started traveling as a family to foreign lands we had a habit of taking the family flag with us. Ultimately there were seven stars on the flag, and thirteen stripes representing the grandchildren. The flag will show great-grandchildren when they join the tribe for future travels to foreign countries.
There follows a potpourri of pictures illustrating family behavior in various places.
Each of these excursions was planned for about a year. The priorities were several;
1. It is imperative that the most be obtained for the least money
2. A “back up” plan is designed to enable surprises to be handled more easily.
3. Each person is responsible for his own stuff, and his own actions4. Scattering is OK if information and directions are left behind.
A FAMILY THAT TRAVELS TOGETHER, SCATTERS
As soon as the kids were judged capable of taking care of themselves, but could still pretty much do as they were told, they began their ventures to foreign countries. The “minimum” age for such learning was guessed to be about 14, though there was some variation from teen to teen. Fortunately or not, they seemed to attain such an age very quickly, and soon became a group clamoring for more. Whenever possible, grandchildren were added if they qualified.
We had a habit of inviting other family members and friends to accompany us when possible, and some of the results have been 18 of us in Kenya, 14 in England and Scotland, 14 in France, 22 in Peru, 18 in China, 11 in Egypt and 16 in Antarctica. For a number of trips there may have been only four or five of us; there were four of us in South Africa one time, and five of us were on another trip to China.
I have always believed that the monies invested in these trips were well spent, for the returns keep arriving decade after decade. Appreciations for our country grow immeasurably after a number of other countries are experienced. We also relive many of our experiences when we are together, and the howls of laughter when memories are shared make a day incredibly bright.
Even before we started traveling as a family to foreign lands we had a habit of taking the family flag with us. Ultimately there were seven stars on the flag, and thirteen stripes representing the grandchildren. The flag will show great-grandchildren when they join the tribe for future travels to foreign countries.
There follows a potpourri of pictures illustrating family behavior in various places. The Step Pyramid, Egypt
The Summit of Huayna Picchu, Peru
With the Terracotta Warriors in Xian, China
Near the Antarctica Peninsula
At the Tower of London
Balloon trip over the Masai Mara, Kenya
At the Door of the Cathedral, Lima, Peru
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
The Karnak Temple, Egypt
Our Feluccas for Sailing Down the Nile
On the Nile with Felucca Crew
On the Antarctica Pennisula
In Colca Canyon, Peru
On one of the Floating Islands, Lake Titicacca, Peru
Each of these excursions was planned for about a year. The priorities were several;
1. It is imperative that the most be obtained for the least money
2. A “back up” plan is designed to enable surprises to be handled more easily.
3. Each person is responsible for his own stuff, and his own actions4. Scattering is OK if information and directions are left behind.
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