S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Gonna keep on dancin' to the rock and roll
On Saturday night, Saturday night!
Dancin' to the rhythm in our heart and soul
On Saturday night, Saturday night!
- from Saturday Night by the Bay City Rollers*
Seven bottles of water, a plate full of Texas-quality barbeque, and an earful of hot news later, it was time to get ready for the big dinner at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. After another admonishment from Bo about wearing a tie, in which he used the word "scissors" a couple more times, I decided to go for 'artist casual' and wore black slacks and a Columbia blue pocket T. Unfortunately, the dress shoes I'd worn the night before had aggravated a problem in my Achilles tendon, so I had to wear my hiking boots in order to have the support I needed to walk.
When I arrived at the former Union Depot in downtown Tulsa, I noticed quite a few sports jackets and ties (when will I learn not to take fashion advice from Bo?!?) There were also more than a few people in 'business casual'...tieless with open collars...so I didn't really feel out of place.
At the risk of being redundant, the food was wonderful and the company exquisite! I continued catching up with classmates whom I'd either only exchanged a quick "Hi!" with or had completely missed at the other gatherings. I also got to know some of my classmates' spouses better. Kelly, Clel, Patrick, and Justine have all married some wonderful people.
After dinner, we were entertained by a singing trio called, The G-notes. They were very versatile and entertaining...using canned accompaniment to sing the hits of the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Couples immediately began to hit the dance floor…Sheri was as enthusiastic as she had been 30 years ago. After their first set, we all adjourned outside to have a group photo take under the Depression-era Art Deco facade of the restored Union Depot. Afterward, it was back inside for more chatting and dancing. Diane even got me out on the dance floor once...hiking boots and all. All in all, a fabulous time was had by all. It was incredible seeing how much people like Patrick, Brian, Janet, and Clel had changed over the years…but more stunning was how many like Betsy, Justine, Diane, Mike, Gordon, and Dana look as if the only thing that had changed was their hair styles. I don’t think any of us wanted that night to end…but as has been said many times before, all good things must come to an end.
As people began to filter out, there was a lot more hugging, promises to keep in touch, and more than a few tears. For most people, Sunday was going to be a day of travel back to their homes. That had been my original plan, but one more last minute gathering had been planned for Sunday…a reunion of Memorial’s drama club, the Masque & Gavel.
Next time, Send in the Clowns. Until then, best regards…
* Saturday Night © Bell/Arista Records 1974, 2004
© James P. Rice 2009
28 July 2009
The Sixth Part of 30 Years and Counting: Some Like It Hot
Some like it hot and some sweat when the heat is on.
Some feel the heat and decide that they can't go on.
Some like it hot, but you can't tell how hot 'til you try.
Some like it hot, so let's turn up the heat 'til we fry.
- from Some Like It Hot by The Power Station*
Justine's hug pretty much launched a stellar night for me. As with Thursday night, it was wonderful having the opportunity to renew old friendships and to turn casual acquaintances into new friendships. One of the highlights of the new friendships I made was when I discovered that Patrick, with whom I'd had a casual acquaintance in high school, was one of the people I consider the true heroes of the United States. It seems that after high school, he decided his first college major just wasn't working for him, so he managed to earn an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis from which he graduated in 1985 and earned his Commission. He is currently the highly-decorated Commanding Officer of a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser.
The rest of the night was much the same; a blur of hugs, smiles, laughter, and amazement as I learned how far so many of my classmates had come since our days on South Hudson Avenue. I didn't even think once about 'Captain Paranoia.'
Saturday dawned, promising to be hot, humid, and sunny. Our first event of the day was a Class Picnic that some of the locals had put together at the last minute. My sense of duty wouldn't let me arrive empty-handed, so I stopped at SAM's and grabbed a case of bottled water. Its a good thing I did.
To be fair, living in the Austin area has me acclimated to summer days when the temperature and the humidity are both in the high 90's. I've learned that, as long as I have a hat, a source of water, and either shade or a good supply of SPF 50, a fun time can be had. So I showed up at LaFortune Park with my "workin' in the yard" hat, a case of bottled water, and a heavy-duty camp chair. After stashing the water with the rest and grabbing an already-chilled bottle, I let my memory continue its jogging.
Alan, Gary, Eddie, and all the rest did a fantastic job. The barbeque served was actually prepared by my classmates and it was delicious! But the big surprise from this event was that I discovered that at least a couple of my classmates had been receiving some extra-special tutoring from a couple of teachers. There had always been rumors and innuendos, but it was still entertaining to find out the truth. Hot summer day, hot food, and hot news. Gotta love it!
Next time, S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Until then, best regards...
* Some Like It Hot © Capitol/EMI 1985, 2005
© James P. Rice 2009
Some feel the heat and decide that they can't go on.
Some like it hot, but you can't tell how hot 'til you try.
Some like it hot, so let's turn up the heat 'til we fry.
- from Some Like It Hot by The Power Station*
Justine's hug pretty much launched a stellar night for me. As with Thursday night, it was wonderful having the opportunity to renew old friendships and to turn casual acquaintances into new friendships. One of the highlights of the new friendships I made was when I discovered that Patrick, with whom I'd had a casual acquaintance in high school, was one of the people I consider the true heroes of the United States. It seems that after high school, he decided his first college major just wasn't working for him, so he managed to earn an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis from which he graduated in 1985 and earned his Commission. He is currently the highly-decorated Commanding Officer of a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser.
The rest of the night was much the same; a blur of hugs, smiles, laughter, and amazement as I learned how far so many of my classmates had come since our days on South Hudson Avenue. I didn't even think once about 'Captain Paranoia.'
Saturday dawned, promising to be hot, humid, and sunny. Our first event of the day was a Class Picnic that some of the locals had put together at the last minute. My sense of duty wouldn't let me arrive empty-handed, so I stopped at SAM's and grabbed a case of bottled water. Its a good thing I did.
To be fair, living in the Austin area has me acclimated to summer days when the temperature and the humidity are both in the high 90's. I've learned that, as long as I have a hat, a source of water, and either shade or a good supply of SPF 50, a fun time can be had. So I showed up at LaFortune Park with my "workin' in the yard" hat, a case of bottled water, and a heavy-duty camp chair. After stashing the water with the rest and grabbing an already-chilled bottle, I let my memory continue its jogging.
Alan, Gary, Eddie, and all the rest did a fantastic job. The barbeque served was actually prepared by my classmates and it was delicious! But the big surprise from this event was that I discovered that at least a couple of my classmates had been receiving some extra-special tutoring from a couple of teachers. There had always been rumors and innuendos, but it was still entertaining to find out the truth. Hot summer day, hot food, and hot news. Gotta love it!
Next time, S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHT!
Until then, best regards...
* Some Like It Hot © Capitol/EMI 1985, 2005
© James P. Rice 2009
26 July 2009
A Fifth of 30 Years and Counting -or- Take Me Back to Tulsa
Hurry, don't be late, I can hardly wait.
I said to myself, "when we're old
We'll go dancing in the dark,
Walking through the park, and reminiscing."
- excerpt from Reminiscing by the Little River Band*
Friday morning, after a few hours sleep on Dad's sofa and a late breakfast, I took off to tour Tulsa and do some reminiscing. This was my first time back to town since I'd moved away in 1984 that wasn't stuffed full of family commitments and scheduled events. I wanted to look around my birthplace and see for myself the changes I'd heard about. So I headed for the places that were a big part of my teen years: Sheridan Lanes...the Bowman Twin...Don's Restaurant...Bells...Driller Park...St. Michael's Alley. Okay, in some cases I visited the spot where the place used to be.
I also took the time to find the venues for the Reunion. While downtown checking on parking for the Jazz Depot, I saw the new BOk Center and the pit at First and Frankfort I'm told will be the Drillers' new stadium. It was strange seeing some of the old landmarks hidden amongst new construction. Finally, it was time to get ready for the Meet-n-Greet at the Stokely Event Center, so I headed back to my Dad's place to clean up.
Somewhere along the way, I'd missed the note in the schedule that said 'casual attire,' so I wore a tie to Friday night's event. As soon as I arrived, I knew I was over-dressed. After a few choice words from Bo (which included 'scissors'), the tie came off and I began mingling. . I saw many of the same faces I'd seen at the Sunset Grill, but I have to say the highlight of the night was when I was finally able to get a moment with Justine.
In high school, Justine and I were casual friends. We were in different clubs and orgs...she was in Surfs, STUCO, and the NHS, while I was in Wind Ensemble, Masque & Gavel, and barely graduated...but we had a couple of classes together. The thing I most remember about Justine is that she always had a smile for me. When I began connecting with classmates in Facebook, she was one of the first I 'Friended.' Over the months, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the mom/banker/entrepreneur into which she had blossomed. The better I got to know her, the more I came to value her opinions and input...even when I did not agree with them.
When I spied her Friday night conversing with three of our classmates, I moved over near her and patiently waited for her to finish, all the while trying not to eaves drop. When she noticed me, though, she immediately paused and came over to greet me.
Now, I have to say that the best non-Maternal hug I've ever received in my life was from my darling wife, Marilyn. But I have to admit that the best non-spousal hug I've ever received was that Friday night from Justine. It was an embrace between old, dear friends...so full of warmth and kindness that the last of my misgivings fled. I received many warm hugs that weekend, but I have to be honest; none could approach Justine's hug. I only hope she got half as much out of it as I did.
In the next installment, Some Like It Hot. Until then, best regards...
* Reminiscing © EMI Music Australia Pty Limited 2002
© James P. Rice 2009
I said to myself, "when we're old
We'll go dancing in the dark,
Walking through the park, and reminiscing."
- excerpt from Reminiscing by the Little River Band*
Friday morning, after a few hours sleep on Dad's sofa and a late breakfast, I took off to tour Tulsa and do some reminiscing. This was my first time back to town since I'd moved away in 1984 that wasn't stuffed full of family commitments and scheduled events. I wanted to look around my birthplace and see for myself the changes I'd heard about. So I headed for the places that were a big part of my teen years: Sheridan Lanes...the Bowman Twin...Don's Restaurant...Bells...Driller Park...St. Michael's Alley. Okay, in some cases I visited the spot where the place used to be.
I also took the time to find the venues for the Reunion. While downtown checking on parking for the Jazz Depot, I saw the new BOk Center and the pit at First and Frankfort I'm told will be the Drillers' new stadium. It was strange seeing some of the old landmarks hidden amongst new construction. Finally, it was time to get ready for the Meet-n-Greet at the Stokely Event Center, so I headed back to my Dad's place to clean up.
Somewhere along the way, I'd missed the note in the schedule that said 'casual attire,' so I wore a tie to Friday night's event. As soon as I arrived, I knew I was over-dressed. After a few choice words from Bo (which included 'scissors'), the tie came off and I began mingling. . I saw many of the same faces I'd seen at the Sunset Grill, but I have to say the highlight of the night was when I was finally able to get a moment with Justine.
In high school, Justine and I were casual friends. We were in different clubs and orgs...she was in Surfs, STUCO, and the NHS, while I was in Wind Ensemble, Masque & Gavel, and barely graduated...but we had a couple of classes together. The thing I most remember about Justine is that she always had a smile for me. When I began connecting with classmates in Facebook, she was one of the first I 'Friended.' Over the months, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the mom/banker/entrepreneur into which she had blossomed. The better I got to know her, the more I came to value her opinions and input...even when I did not agree with them.
When I spied her Friday night conversing with three of our classmates, I moved over near her and patiently waited for her to finish, all the while trying not to eaves drop. When she noticed me, though, she immediately paused and came over to greet me.
Now, I have to say that the best non-Maternal hug I've ever received in my life was from my darling wife, Marilyn. But I have to admit that the best non-spousal hug I've ever received was that Friday night from Justine. It was an embrace between old, dear friends...so full of warmth and kindness that the last of my misgivings fled. I received many warm hugs that weekend, but I have to be honest; none could approach Justine's hug. I only hope she got half as much out of it as I did.
In the next installment, Some Like It Hot. Until then, best regards...
* Reminiscing © EMI Music Australia Pty Limited 2002
© James P. Rice 2009
24 July 2009
A Quart of 30 Years and Counting -or- Memories: They aren't just for Cats!
"Memory - all alone in the moonlight.
I can smile at the old days,
I was beautiful then.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again."
- excerpt from "Memory" from the musical, Cats*
First night in Tulsa and I felt as if I'd returned home. Great music, cold Guinness, and a wonderfully warm welcome by old friends...and some classmates who had only been casual acquaintances. Even though it was an unofficial event, everyone attending Jaimie's concert at the Sunset Grill had a great time. It turns out this was to be a precursor of the theme for the whole Reunion: great venue, excellent company, and a wonderful time had by all.
One of the best parts of that first night is that my memory took up jogging. After all the "its great to see you agains," nearly every conversation became a mix of catching up and reminiscing. Even now, my memory is playing tricks with me and I'm certain I missed mentioning someone who greeted me Thursday night. Let me assure you that it isn't intentional...a combination of the stresses I've experienced over the last few years and the pain management meds doctors have prescribed for me have wreaked havoc with my memory...especially short term. This is one of the reasons I decided to blog about the Reunion...to help keep my memory jogging.
Walking around the Sunset Grill...chatting with everyone...I found myself suddenly remembering more and more. In some cases, it was an expression on a somewhat familiar face...a turn of phrase...or even one reminiscence simply leading to another. The curtains gradually parted on the stage of the past and, one by one, my memories began to step into the spotlight and take a bow. Have I mixed enough metaphors yet?
I went back to my dad's apartment that night, the evening a cyclone in my mind. Before going to bed, I logged into Facebook and and sent 'friend' invitations to many of the people I re-met at the club. I began making notes, hoping they would help me organize my thoughts and ensure I would remember as much as possible.
Next time, the Hug of the Century and Take Me Back to Tulsa.
Until then, best regards...
* Cats © Copyright The Really Useful Group Ltd. 1981
© James P. Rice 2009
I can smile at the old days,
I was beautiful then.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again."
- excerpt from "Memory" from the musical, Cats*
First night in Tulsa and I felt as if I'd returned home. Great music, cold Guinness, and a wonderfully warm welcome by old friends...and some classmates who had only been casual acquaintances. Even though it was an unofficial event, everyone attending Jaimie's concert at the Sunset Grill had a great time. It turns out this was to be a precursor of the theme for the whole Reunion: great venue, excellent company, and a wonderful time had by all.
One of the best parts of that first night is that my memory took up jogging. After all the "its great to see you agains," nearly every conversation became a mix of catching up and reminiscing. Even now, my memory is playing tricks with me and I'm certain I missed mentioning someone who greeted me Thursday night. Let me assure you that it isn't intentional...a combination of the stresses I've experienced over the last few years and the pain management meds doctors have prescribed for me have wreaked havoc with my memory...especially short term. This is one of the reasons I decided to blog about the Reunion...to help keep my memory jogging.
Walking around the Sunset Grill...chatting with everyone...I found myself suddenly remembering more and more. In some cases, it was an expression on a somewhat familiar face...a turn of phrase...or even one reminiscence simply leading to another. The curtains gradually parted on the stage of the past and, one by one, my memories began to step into the spotlight and take a bow. Have I mixed enough metaphors yet?
I went back to my dad's apartment that night, the evening a cyclone in my mind. Before going to bed, I logged into Facebook and and sent 'friend' invitations to many of the people I re-met at the club. I began making notes, hoping they would help me organize my thoughts and ensure I would remember as much as possible.
Next time, the Hug of the Century and Take Me Back to Tulsa.
Until then, best regards...
* Cats © Copyright The Really Useful Group Ltd. 1981
© James P. Rice 2009
22 July 2009
30 Years and Counting III; Once More into the Breach...
Previously, in 30 Years and Counting...
(I can almost hear Taurean Blacque* reading that line as a voice-over)
I laid out the issues troubling me about the upcoming Reunion and opened up a can of good old-fashioned Texas Whoop-ass on my insecurities. With Captain Paranoia's attempts at reprobation muffled to indistinct muttering, I loaded up the minivan and headed to Tulsa.
At this time in my life, I'm fortunate that I'm no longer chained to a time clock. Having more flexibility than I used to, I was able to head north a day earlier than planned so that I could attend the club gig of Jaimie Muehlhausen...one of my classmates who is a professional musician. Between a minor mechanical problem and Oklahoma's tendency to place nearly every major highway in the state under construction at the same time, I arrived in T-town a bit later than I'd planned. After I got settled at my dad's place (and tried once again to convince him that the purpose of this visit was the Reunion and not to spend every waking moment with him), I arrived at the Sunset Grill about an hour and a half late...well into Jaimie's performance.
I was lucky enough to find a parking spot right in front of the club. As I got out of the van, I could hear a couple of women sitting at an outdoor table speculating on whether or not it really was Jim Rice getting out of the van. I smiled, said, "Hi!", assured them it was I, then headed into the club. Almost immediately, my insecurities began to dissolve. To a faint chorus of "I'm Mellltinngggg!" from the Captain, I was warmly greeted with smiles and hugs by Bo, Diane, and Cheryl. After grabbing a Guinness at the bar, I was warmly greeted by Sheilah, Brian, and Rob...all to a background of "Roots Rockin' Swamp/Blues/Americana/Southern/Country/Soul" by Jaimie, Tom, Kathy, and Liz. I was surrounded by warmth and acceptance. In spite of what Thomas Wolfe once wrote, I felt like I'd come home.
Next time...Memories; they aren't just for Cats!...
Until then, best regards...
*Think: Hill Street Blues.
© 2009 James P. Rice
(I can almost hear Taurean Blacque* reading that line as a voice-over)
I laid out the issues troubling me about the upcoming Reunion and opened up a can of good old-fashioned Texas Whoop-ass on my insecurities. With Captain Paranoia's attempts at reprobation muffled to indistinct muttering, I loaded up the minivan and headed to Tulsa.
At this time in my life, I'm fortunate that I'm no longer chained to a time clock. Having more flexibility than I used to, I was able to head north a day earlier than planned so that I could attend the club gig of Jaimie Muehlhausen...one of my classmates who is a professional musician. Between a minor mechanical problem and Oklahoma's tendency to place nearly every major highway in the state under construction at the same time, I arrived in T-town a bit later than I'd planned. After I got settled at my dad's place (and tried once again to convince him that the purpose of this visit was the Reunion and not to spend every waking moment with him), I arrived at the Sunset Grill about an hour and a half late...well into Jaimie's performance.
I was lucky enough to find a parking spot right in front of the club. As I got out of the van, I could hear a couple of women sitting at an outdoor table speculating on whether or not it really was Jim Rice getting out of the van. I smiled, said, "Hi!", assured them it was I, then headed into the club. Almost immediately, my insecurities began to dissolve. To a faint chorus of "I'm Mellltinngggg!" from the Captain, I was warmly greeted with smiles and hugs by Bo, Diane, and Cheryl. After grabbing a Guinness at the bar, I was warmly greeted by Sheilah, Brian, and Rob...all to a background of "Roots Rockin' Swamp/Blues/Americana/Southern/Country/Soul" by Jaimie, Tom, Kathy, and Liz. I was surrounded by warmth and acceptance. In spite of what Thomas Wolfe once wrote, I felt like I'd come home.
Next time...Memories; they aren't just for Cats!...
Until then, best regards...
*Think: Hill Street Blues.
© 2009 James P. Rice
20 July 2009
30 Years and Counting; Pt. 2...
As I previously mentioned, I approached my 30-year Reunion with a bit of trepidation. One of my greatest regrets in life has been that I lost contact with my closest friends from high school, so I was anxious...even eager...to attend the Reunion and see my old friends. On the other hand, I was concerned that my memories of those years had grown foggy and been mellowed by time. Did I remember those relationships correctly? Will those people remember me as fondly as I remember them? Will they remember me at all? Will those classmates with whom I made hormone-driven teen-aged mistakes even want to see me again?
They say we are each our own worst critic. Not only am I living proof of that, but in my case it can be expanded to read, "we are each our own hardest taskmaster." Early in life, I developed a strong foundation of principles by which I've always tried to live my life. While I've always believed myself to be an open-minded individual, willing to listen to any and all points of views, it has always taken overwhelming factual proof for me to make any modifications to the bedrock of my beliefs. Being Human, I've not always lived up to my Principles. And this is where I'm not only the hardest on myself, but also the most unforgiving. Because of this, I projected my own disappointment with myself into my former classmates, convinced they would see me the way I do. Way back in the dark recesses of my mind, the little voice I once heard referred to as 'Captain Paranoia' was whispering to me: "Hypocrite! Mr. High-and-mighty! No one wants to see this great big bag of wasted potential again!"
Right about now, a certain classmate with a PhD in Psychology is wishing she'd known about this when I was still in Tulsa. :)
Finally, I decided to face my demons. So I mentally duct-taped Captain Paranoia to a chair and bought my tickets for the Reunion. Come Hell or high water, I was going to get reacquainted with my old classmates...consequences be damned!
Next time...Once More into the Breach...
Until then, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
They say we are each our own worst critic. Not only am I living proof of that, but in my case it can be expanded to read, "we are each our own hardest taskmaster." Early in life, I developed a strong foundation of principles by which I've always tried to live my life. While I've always believed myself to be an open-minded individual, willing to listen to any and all points of views, it has always taken overwhelming factual proof for me to make any modifications to the bedrock of my beliefs. Being Human, I've not always lived up to my Principles. And this is where I'm not only the hardest on myself, but also the most unforgiving. Because of this, I projected my own disappointment with myself into my former classmates, convinced they would see me the way I do. Way back in the dark recesses of my mind, the little voice I once heard referred to as 'Captain Paranoia' was whispering to me: "Hypocrite! Mr. High-and-mighty! No one wants to see this great big bag of wasted potential again!"
Right about now, a certain classmate with a PhD in Psychology is wishing she'd known about this when I was still in Tulsa. :)
Finally, I decided to face my demons. So I mentally duct-taped Captain Paranoia to a chair and bought my tickets for the Reunion. Come Hell or high water, I was going to get reacquainted with my old classmates...consequences be damned!
Next time...Once More into the Breach...
Until then, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
18 July 2009
30 Years and Counting...
> A University New Student Orientation Administrator
> A Hair Colorist
> An Investment Banker and Entrepreneur
> A Legal Assistant
> An Insurance Broker
> A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
> The Commanding Officer of a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser
> The tallest woman to ever appear in Playboy
> An Investment Counselor
> An Oil and Gas Management Executive
> A retired Marine
> An Elementary School Teacher
> A CPA
> A Pilot
> The Chief of Staff for a U.S. Congressman
> A Medical Student
What do all these people have in common? They are just a few of my classmates from the Tulsa Memorial Senior High School graduating class of 1979. Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with many of them at the Reunion held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our graduation from high school.
Originally scheduled for the 10th and 11th of July, two unofficial events were added to the mix; a concert at a local club by one of our classmates on the evening of 9 July, and a corollary reunion of the Tulsa Memorial High School Masque & Gavel...our Drama Club...on 12 July.
I have to admit that I approached the Reunion with a certain amount of ambivalence. For one thing, I hadn't attended any of the other Reunions of my graduating class...partially because I never found out about them until after the fact, but also because I felt I hadn't lived up to my potential since graduation. But with the 30th coming up, I was determined to attend, in spite of my trepidations, and be satisfied with the paths I'd chosen.
As a side bar here, I'd like to say to anyone planning any sort of reunion for themselves, Facebook has been invaluable. I probably would not have heard about our 30th Reunion if it hadn't been for Facebook. If you are planning something...whether it be a class reunion, family reunion, fan convention, or whatever...get on Facebook and create a user group page for your event. Its a great way to scoop up people you might otherwise miss.
I think this will be all for now. When next I post, I'll talk about the difference between anticipating the reactions of people you haven't seen in 30 years, and their actual reactions to seeing you again.
Until next time, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
> A Hair Colorist
> An Investment Banker and Entrepreneur
> A Legal Assistant
> An Insurance Broker
> A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
> The Commanding Officer of a Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser
> The tallest woman to ever appear in Playboy
> An Investment Counselor
> An Oil and Gas Management Executive
> A retired Marine
> An Elementary School Teacher
> A CPA
> A Pilot
> The Chief of Staff for a U.S. Congressman
> A Medical Student
What do all these people have in common? They are just a few of my classmates from the Tulsa Memorial Senior High School graduating class of 1979. Recently, I was blessed with the opportunity to reconnect with many of them at the Reunion held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our graduation from high school.
Originally scheduled for the 10th and 11th of July, two unofficial events were added to the mix; a concert at a local club by one of our classmates on the evening of 9 July, and a corollary reunion of the Tulsa Memorial High School Masque & Gavel...our Drama Club...on 12 July.
I have to admit that I approached the Reunion with a certain amount of ambivalence. For one thing, I hadn't attended any of the other Reunions of my graduating class...partially because I never found out about them until after the fact, but also because I felt I hadn't lived up to my potential since graduation. But with the 30th coming up, I was determined to attend, in spite of my trepidations, and be satisfied with the paths I'd chosen.
As a side bar here, I'd like to say to anyone planning any sort of reunion for themselves, Facebook has been invaluable. I probably would not have heard about our 30th Reunion if it hadn't been for Facebook. If you are planning something...whether it be a class reunion, family reunion, fan convention, or whatever...get on Facebook and create a user group page for your event. Its a great way to scoop up people you might otherwise miss.
I think this will be all for now. When next I post, I'll talk about the difference between anticipating the reactions of people you haven't seen in 30 years, and their actual reactions to seeing you again.
Until next time, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
17 July 2009
I Live, I Learn
Hello again, family and friends!
Last 'extended' weekend (9 - 13 July), I celebrated the 30th anniversary of (barely) graduating from high school, my 48th birthday, and my grandson's 2nd birthday. As one can imagine, it was a whirlwind of activity, emotions, and memories...and I'm still trying to assimilate it all and recover. One very important thing that happened was that I had the opportunity to sit down with one of my classmates from the Class of '79 and discuss a number of things with her. One of the topics we discussed was blogging.
Justine is one of the people whom I admire. She's a successful investment banker, entrepreneur, wife, mother, mentor, and experienced blogger. I don't think I'm speaking in hyperbole when I say I am truly blessed and honored to count Justine among my friends and that I put great store in any advice or input she offers. During our conversation last weekend, she provided me with great input about this blog. She told me that, while she liked my topics and the way I expressed my opinions, I needed to work on making the posts shorter...only 300 - 400 words each. Until this point, I had been treating the posts to this blog as 'human interest' articles one might find in a newspaper. When I first started teaching myself journalism, I learned that the average length for an article of this nature is 1000 - 1500 words...and that is the standard I had used for my posts. Apparently, our post-MTV soundbite-driven culture no longer has the attention span for articles of this length.
Starting immediately, I will be implementing Justine's suggestion. Over the next couple of weeks, you will be seeing posts from me on topics ranging from our recent 30-year Reunion to the American Healthcare system to racism in the U.S. For those topics that can't be covered in the print version of a 'soundbite,' I will serialize them...breaking those articles into multiple posts, each post not exceeding 400 words in length.
So, my friends, I will ask you to stay tuned and sign out for now. After all, this post (with signature and copyright) is 374 words long. Until next time...
Best regards,
Jim
© 2009 James P. Rice
Last 'extended' weekend (9 - 13 July), I celebrated the 30th anniversary of (barely) graduating from high school, my 48th birthday, and my grandson's 2nd birthday. As one can imagine, it was a whirlwind of activity, emotions, and memories...and I'm still trying to assimilate it all and recover. One very important thing that happened was that I had the opportunity to sit down with one of my classmates from the Class of '79 and discuss a number of things with her. One of the topics we discussed was blogging.
Justine is one of the people whom I admire. She's a successful investment banker, entrepreneur, wife, mother, mentor, and experienced blogger. I don't think I'm speaking in hyperbole when I say I am truly blessed and honored to count Justine among my friends and that I put great store in any advice or input she offers. During our conversation last weekend, she provided me with great input about this blog. She told me that, while she liked my topics and the way I expressed my opinions, I needed to work on making the posts shorter...only 300 - 400 words each. Until this point, I had been treating the posts to this blog as 'human interest' articles one might find in a newspaper. When I first started teaching myself journalism, I learned that the average length for an article of this nature is 1000 - 1500 words...and that is the standard I had used for my posts. Apparently, our post-MTV soundbite-driven culture no longer has the attention span for articles of this length.
Starting immediately, I will be implementing Justine's suggestion. Over the next couple of weeks, you will be seeing posts from me on topics ranging from our recent 30-year Reunion to the American Healthcare system to racism in the U.S. For those topics that can't be covered in the print version of a 'soundbite,' I will serialize them...breaking those articles into multiple posts, each post not exceeding 400 words in length.
So, my friends, I will ask you to stay tuned and sign out for now. After all, this post (with signature and copyright) is 374 words long. Until next time...
Best regards,
Jim
© 2009 James P. Rice
07 July 2009
Remembrance of a Grand Master
Hello, Family and Friends!
Those of you who know me know that one of my most enduring (and not necessarily endearing) traits is that I'm a voracious reader. To me, reading is almost an addiction. At any given time, I am usually reading three or four books...not at the same time, just at different times of the day. I usually have my 'car' book that I keep in the glove box of my primary mode of transportation, my 'meal' book that I only read at mealtimes, and my 'bed' book that I use to help me get to sleep. In addition to these three, there is usually a fourth 'work' book that I take with me so I have something to read during down times at whatever job I'm pursuing. And I don't stick to any particular genre. As I sit here typing, I am surrounded at my desk by works of fantasy, philosophy, religion, current events, biography, history, and social commentary. On the shelves across the room from my desk, I can see works by Victor Hugo, Ellery Queen, Stephen R. Donaldson, C. J. Cherryh, Charles Dickens, Alexander Hamilton, Amity Shlaes, James Madison, Piers Anthony, John Jay, Isaac Asimov, Glenn Beck, Alexander Dumas, Arthur C. Clark, E. E. Cummings, and, well, you get the idea. I'm well-read.
But of everything I've read throughout my life...out of every genre and style...there has been one author that has had the most profound impact on my life. I didn't mention him in the previous list of authors because, as anyone who has ever visited the den of chaos that is my home can probably tell you, there is at least one of this author's works on every bookcase, shelf, and desk I use throughout the house. This man became the voice for my thoughts and beliefs before I honed the skills and gained the confidence that now allow me to organize them into written form myself. Right about now, my immediate family is seriously considering moving on to something else, thinking to themselves, "Oh, God! He's going on about him again, isn't he!" Yes, ladies, this post is about Robert Anson Heinlein.
At this point, I think its only fair in the interest of full disclosure to let you know that I am a regular member of The Heinlein Society. Between Wikipedia and the Society's own extensive biography on Mr. Heinlein located at http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/biographies.html , his life has been thoroughly chronicled, so I won't go into any great detail on his 'speeds and feeds', but here are some of the highlights...
At the time of his birth on 7 July 1907, Robert's family was living with his maternal grandfather, Dr. Alva Lyle, in Butler, MO. A few months later, his family moved to Kansas City, MO where Robert lived until he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1925. In 1929, Midshipman First Class Heinlein graduated 20th in a class of 243 and was commissioned with the rank of Ensign. While at Annapolis, Robert was one of the top-ranked fencers in the U.S., as well as an excellent student. In fact, he actually stood 5th in academics in his class, but disciplinary issues brought his overall rank down to 20th. Unfortunately, Heinlein's Naval career was cut short when he was retired in August 1934 as "Medically Unfit for Service - Totally and Permanently Disabled." After serving three years aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington, Heinlein was assigned to the destroyer U.S.S. Roper. Because the smaller Roper was less stable and constantly rolling, Ensign Heinlein developed chronic seasickness. Within a year, his weakened condition resulted in him contracting pulmonary tuberculosis, thus ending his Naval career.
I mentioned his home and his discharge because these two things would go on to color nearly all his writings over the years. If his first choice of career, the Navy, hadn't been denied him, he probably would never have started writing. But once he did start writing, his mid-American 'Bible Belt' upbringing is reflected in most of his major characters. Additionally, the character of Dr. Ira Johnson, the maternal grandfather of one of his most popular characters, Lazarus Long nee Woodrow Wilson Smith, bore a strong resemblance to his own maternal grandfather, Dr. Alva Lyle; and it is generally accepted that most of his strongest female characters were based on a woman he may never have met if he had continued in active duty with the Navy, and who became the great love of his life...his third wife, Virginia Gerstenfeld Heinlein.
My first exposure to Robert Heinlein was in 1978 when I picked up a copy of The Past Through Tomorrow at a used book sale. The cover caught my eye...an old man in a primitive-looking space suit, sitting on the helmet, apparently on the Moon, looking fondly at the Earth. That, plus it only cost a Quarter. When I started reading it, I was blown away. The Past Through Tomorrow was a collection of Heinlein's short stories and novellas that make up what John Campbell once termed "Heinlein's Future History." Campbell had organized them in chronological order based on where they occur on this fictional time line rather than the order in which they were written. I was swept up in the richness of the universe Heinlein had created. Every single story in this collection was a blend of social commentary, speculative fiction, and science fantasy. Heinlein had taken very plausible situations, dropped in characters the reader could care about, and placed them in a futuristic setting so that he could turn the situation about and examine it from all directions. It was brilliant! There was even a short story called The Roads Must Roll that anticipated the creation of the Interstate Highway System and could have been a metaphor for the 1974 long haul truckers' strike, even though it had been written 1940.
After finishing The Past Through Tomorrow, I was hungry to read more of Heinlein's works. I quickly went through Red Planet, Starship Troopers, and Glory Road. The more I read, the more I found that Heinlein seemed to possess an uncanny ability to see 'the big picture' when it came to the effects a new technology would have on civilization. He didn't just stop at the obvious 'primary' and 'secondary' effects, but drilled down to and examined the corollary effects that most 'experts' never even considered. For example:
The Automated Assembly Line process allowed Henry Ford to mass-produce inexpensive automobiles >>> The widespread use of inexpensive, mass-produced automobiles led to the disappearance of the horse as a common sight in America >>> Most Americans now have almost no real experience with horses and do not have even basic knowledge and skills that were considered commonplace just a single generation before mine >>> The widespread use of the automobile also makes society more 'mobile', allowing people to travel further distances in a shorter period of time >>> Social mores begin to loosen up as people realize that the automobile allows them to get away from those who would gossip about their behavior >>> Families begin to spread out around the country as the automobile makes it easier for them to return home for visits more often where previous generations almost never traveled more than twenty miles from their home over their entire lifetimes >>> 'Urban sprawl' begins as people begin to realize they no longer have to live and work in the same neighborhood, but instead can 'commute' to work.
This is just one example of how Heinlein examined in his works the way a single technological advance had effects that branched out and spread through several generations. Other topics he foresaw and examined while they were barely beyond the theoretical stage included (but weren't limited to) the safe generation of nuclear power, the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction that would proliferate during the Cold War, and the intellectual and cultural gap that could (and most likely will) occur between the early settlers of extraterrestrial colonies (such as the Moon or Mars) and the 'groundhogs' who remain behind, just to name a few. His insights into the workings of society as it related to its environment and the technologies used were almost prophetic.
However, no matter how prophetic his insights may have seemed, Heinlein was first and foremost an engineer, by both temperament and training. His engineering skills led him to either postulate or even invent mechanical devices such as 'waldoes' and the waterbed in his stories. In fact, because Heinlein had described waterbeds in detail in three different stories (Beyond This Horizon, Double Star, and Stranger in a Strange Land) decades before, an application submitted by Charles Hall in 1968 for a patent for the water bed was denied. Heinlein even commented on the waterbed in his 1980 story collection, Expanded Universe:
"I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds."
Robert and Ginny Heinlein didn't limit their social activism to fiction. As I was immersing myself in his writings, I found a 1958 newspaper article at the library written by the Heinleins and entitled, "Who are the Heirs of Patrick Henry?", in response to a full-page ad placed by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (a sub-committee of the American Socialist Party) calling for the U.S. to unilaterally end nuclear testing. What became known as the "Patrick Henry Campaign" was rooted in the outrage they felt at what they believed to be an irresponsible policy blunder at the height of the Cold War. It was refreshing to see an opinion that I had felt but could not vocalize so succinctly put into words. I began to see a kindred spirit in Heinlein. Philosophically and politically, he became my mentor.
As I got to know the man behind the tales, I came to see a passionate, dedicated man who was deeply in love with his soul mate, and for whom words such as 'duty,' 'honor,' and 'integrity' were more than a passing fad. I saw a gifted man who, even though he had been a Socialist in his youth, was open-minded and intelligent enough to allow his beliefs to grow and evolve as he gained life experience and identified the morally-bankrupt fallacies of the socialist philosophy. Heinlein helped to cement within me a love of the United States as created by our Founders and a sense of wonder at the natural beauty of our world and the Universe in general. He also helped me to learn to keep an open mind and view things from all different angles, and not just through a narrow tunnel of dogma created by the demagogues in power. Above all, he provided the mortar for the foundation laid by my parents, the foundation of principles by which I live my life to this day. At the end of the day, Heinlein made it cool in an era of moral relativism to believe, "...that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness..."
So, on this, the 102nd anniversary of his birth, I felt moved to share with you, my friends and family, the reason I sometimes seem obsessed with Robert A. Heinlein. In my humble opinion, Heinlein's keen intelligence, prophetic insight, easy way of communicating with his readers, and his belief in something larger than himself make him the greatest author of the Twentieth Century. If you have never read Heinlein, then I encourage you to pick up a copy of either The Past Through Tomorrow or Expanded Universe and introduce yourself to him. As you read, look beyond the gadgets, the fantastic settings, and the technical jargon. Allow yourself to experience the plot and the characters. If you do, I feel confident that you will find the joy in his writings that I always have.
Until next time, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
Those of you who know me know that one of my most enduring (and not necessarily endearing) traits is that I'm a voracious reader. To me, reading is almost an addiction. At any given time, I am usually reading three or four books...not at the same time, just at different times of the day. I usually have my 'car' book that I keep in the glove box of my primary mode of transportation, my 'meal' book that I only read at mealtimes, and my 'bed' book that I use to help me get to sleep. In addition to these three, there is usually a fourth 'work' book that I take with me so I have something to read during down times at whatever job I'm pursuing. And I don't stick to any particular genre. As I sit here typing, I am surrounded at my desk by works of fantasy, philosophy, religion, current events, biography, history, and social commentary. On the shelves across the room from my desk, I can see works by Victor Hugo, Ellery Queen, Stephen R. Donaldson, C. J. Cherryh, Charles Dickens, Alexander Hamilton, Amity Shlaes, James Madison, Piers Anthony, John Jay, Isaac Asimov, Glenn Beck, Alexander Dumas, Arthur C. Clark, E. E. Cummings, and, well, you get the idea. I'm well-read.
But of everything I've read throughout my life...out of every genre and style...there has been one author that has had the most profound impact on my life. I didn't mention him in the previous list of authors because, as anyone who has ever visited the den of chaos that is my home can probably tell you, there is at least one of this author's works on every bookcase, shelf, and desk I use throughout the house. This man became the voice for my thoughts and beliefs before I honed the skills and gained the confidence that now allow me to organize them into written form myself. Right about now, my immediate family is seriously considering moving on to something else, thinking to themselves, "Oh, God! He's going on about him again, isn't he!" Yes, ladies, this post is about Robert Anson Heinlein.
At this point, I think its only fair in the interest of full disclosure to let you know that I am a regular member of The Heinlein Society. Between Wikipedia and the Society's own extensive biography on Mr. Heinlein located at http://www.heinleinsociety.org/rah/biographies.html , his life has been thoroughly chronicled, so I won't go into any great detail on his 'speeds and feeds', but here are some of the highlights...
At the time of his birth on 7 July 1907, Robert's family was living with his maternal grandfather, Dr. Alva Lyle, in Butler, MO. A few months later, his family moved to Kansas City, MO where Robert lived until he was admitted to the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1925. In 1929, Midshipman First Class Heinlein graduated 20th in a class of 243 and was commissioned with the rank of Ensign. While at Annapolis, Robert was one of the top-ranked fencers in the U.S., as well as an excellent student. In fact, he actually stood 5th in academics in his class, but disciplinary issues brought his overall rank down to 20th. Unfortunately, Heinlein's Naval career was cut short when he was retired in August 1934 as "Medically Unfit for Service - Totally and Permanently Disabled." After serving three years aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington, Heinlein was assigned to the destroyer U.S.S. Roper. Because the smaller Roper was less stable and constantly rolling, Ensign Heinlein developed chronic seasickness. Within a year, his weakened condition resulted in him contracting pulmonary tuberculosis, thus ending his Naval career.
I mentioned his home and his discharge because these two things would go on to color nearly all his writings over the years. If his first choice of career, the Navy, hadn't been denied him, he probably would never have started writing. But once he did start writing, his mid-American 'Bible Belt' upbringing is reflected in most of his major characters. Additionally, the character of Dr. Ira Johnson, the maternal grandfather of one of his most popular characters, Lazarus Long nee Woodrow Wilson Smith, bore a strong resemblance to his own maternal grandfather, Dr. Alva Lyle; and it is generally accepted that most of his strongest female characters were based on a woman he may never have met if he had continued in active duty with the Navy, and who became the great love of his life...his third wife, Virginia Gerstenfeld Heinlein.
My first exposure to Robert Heinlein was in 1978 when I picked up a copy of The Past Through Tomorrow at a used book sale. The cover caught my eye...an old man in a primitive-looking space suit, sitting on the helmet, apparently on the Moon, looking fondly at the Earth. That, plus it only cost a Quarter. When I started reading it, I was blown away. The Past Through Tomorrow was a collection of Heinlein's short stories and novellas that make up what John Campbell once termed "Heinlein's Future History." Campbell had organized them in chronological order based on where they occur on this fictional time line rather than the order in which they were written. I was swept up in the richness of the universe Heinlein had created. Every single story in this collection was a blend of social commentary, speculative fiction, and science fantasy. Heinlein had taken very plausible situations, dropped in characters the reader could care about, and placed them in a futuristic setting so that he could turn the situation about and examine it from all directions. It was brilliant! There was even a short story called The Roads Must Roll that anticipated the creation of the Interstate Highway System and could have been a metaphor for the 1974 long haul truckers' strike, even though it had been written 1940.
After finishing The Past Through Tomorrow, I was hungry to read more of Heinlein's works. I quickly went through Red Planet, Starship Troopers, and Glory Road. The more I read, the more I found that Heinlein seemed to possess an uncanny ability to see 'the big picture' when it came to the effects a new technology would have on civilization. He didn't just stop at the obvious 'primary' and 'secondary' effects, but drilled down to and examined the corollary effects that most 'experts' never even considered. For example:
The Automated Assembly Line process allowed Henry Ford to mass-produce inexpensive automobiles >>> The widespread use of inexpensive, mass-produced automobiles led to the disappearance of the horse as a common sight in America >>> Most Americans now have almost no real experience with horses and do not have even basic knowledge and skills that were considered commonplace just a single generation before mine >>> The widespread use of the automobile also makes society more 'mobile', allowing people to travel further distances in a shorter period of time >>> Social mores begin to loosen up as people realize that the automobile allows them to get away from those who would gossip about their behavior >>> Families begin to spread out around the country as the automobile makes it easier for them to return home for visits more often where previous generations almost never traveled more than twenty miles from their home over their entire lifetimes >>> 'Urban sprawl' begins as people begin to realize they no longer have to live and work in the same neighborhood, but instead can 'commute' to work.
This is just one example of how Heinlein examined in his works the way a single technological advance had effects that branched out and spread through several generations. Other topics he foresaw and examined while they were barely beyond the theoretical stage included (but weren't limited to) the safe generation of nuclear power, the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction that would proliferate during the Cold War, and the intellectual and cultural gap that could (and most likely will) occur between the early settlers of extraterrestrial colonies (such as the Moon or Mars) and the 'groundhogs' who remain behind, just to name a few. His insights into the workings of society as it related to its environment and the technologies used were almost prophetic.
However, no matter how prophetic his insights may have seemed, Heinlein was first and foremost an engineer, by both temperament and training. His engineering skills led him to either postulate or even invent mechanical devices such as 'waldoes' and the waterbed in his stories. In fact, because Heinlein had described waterbeds in detail in three different stories (Beyond This Horizon, Double Star, and Stranger in a Strange Land) decades before, an application submitted by Charles Hall in 1968 for a patent for the water bed was denied. Heinlein even commented on the waterbed in his 1980 story collection, Expanded Universe:
"I designed the waterbed during years as a bed patient in the middle thirties; a pump to control water level, side supports to permit one to float rather than simply lying on a not very soft water filled mattress. Thermostatic control of temperature, safety interfaces to avoid all possibility of electric shock, waterproof box to make a leak no more important than a leaky hot water bottle rather than a domestic disaster, calculation of floor loads (important!), internal rubber mattress and lighting, reading, and eating arrangements—an attempt to design the perfect hospital bed by one who had spent too damn much time in hospital beds."
Robert and Ginny Heinlein didn't limit their social activism to fiction. As I was immersing myself in his writings, I found a 1958 newspaper article at the library written by the Heinleins and entitled, "Who are the Heirs of Patrick Henry?", in response to a full-page ad placed by the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (a sub-committee of the American Socialist Party) calling for the U.S. to unilaterally end nuclear testing. What became known as the "Patrick Henry Campaign" was rooted in the outrage they felt at what they believed to be an irresponsible policy blunder at the height of the Cold War. It was refreshing to see an opinion that I had felt but could not vocalize so succinctly put into words. I began to see a kindred spirit in Heinlein. Philosophically and politically, he became my mentor.
As I got to know the man behind the tales, I came to see a passionate, dedicated man who was deeply in love with his soul mate, and for whom words such as 'duty,' 'honor,' and 'integrity' were more than a passing fad. I saw a gifted man who, even though he had been a Socialist in his youth, was open-minded and intelligent enough to allow his beliefs to grow and evolve as he gained life experience and identified the morally-bankrupt fallacies of the socialist philosophy. Heinlein helped to cement within me a love of the United States as created by our Founders and a sense of wonder at the natural beauty of our world and the Universe in general. He also helped me to learn to keep an open mind and view things from all different angles, and not just through a narrow tunnel of dogma created by the demagogues in power. Above all, he provided the mortar for the foundation laid by my parents, the foundation of principles by which I live my life to this day. At the end of the day, Heinlein made it cool in an era of moral relativism to believe, "...that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness..."
So, on this, the 102nd anniversary of his birth, I felt moved to share with you, my friends and family, the reason I sometimes seem obsessed with Robert A. Heinlein. In my humble opinion, Heinlein's keen intelligence, prophetic insight, easy way of communicating with his readers, and his belief in something larger than himself make him the greatest author of the Twentieth Century. If you have never read Heinlein, then I encourage you to pick up a copy of either The Past Through Tomorrow or Expanded Universe and introduce yourself to him. As you read, look beyond the gadgets, the fantastic settings, and the technical jargon. Allow yourself to experience the plot and the characters. If you do, I feel confident that you will find the joy in his writings that I always have.
Until next time, best regards...
© 2009 James P. Rice
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)