Award
A summons came to report to the corner office. The corner office was that of the Division Manager at Westinghouse Aviation Division. In addition to Dan Yorksie, Engineering Manager, Don Baker, Mark Rosswurm and I were among the guests. The gathering turned out to be an awards ceremony, during which Yorksie presented an Engineering Achievement Award to Baker, Rosswurm and Jessee. Yorksie said that the Awards Program had been established to offer a new dimension of recognition of deserving individ...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 2.8 minutes
Bad News
We’d had a good life together, Mary and me. From cutting wedding cake, to getting up in the middle of the night to attend to sick kids, to seeing four of them through high school we’d been a functional family. We had agreed or agreed to disagree on things that mattered. Our love for each other had grown and matured. At this time in our lives we were ready to begin to enjoy the fruits of our labors. It was late winter 1973. She was only 46 and I just 52. Shouldn’t we have a lot of years to enjoy ...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 4.8 minutes
Balloon Ride
Outside the neighborhood dogs were excited and letting everybody know it. Such barking had not been heard since the dogs chased a fox through the nearby woods.
“What’s their problem Jack?” asked his wife Sue Lane during a momentary pause in the noise.
“Don’t know,” said Jack and he stuck his head out the back door. “Hear that hissing sound? I believe there is a hot air balloon close by,” and the dogs started their barking again.
“Yes I heard it. Let’s go outside and se...(click to continue reading)
“What’s their problem Jack?” asked his wife Sue Lane during a momentary pause in the noise.
“Don’t know,” said Jack and he stuck his head out the back door. “Hear that hissing sound? I believe there is a hot air balloon close by,” and the dogs started their barking again.
“Yes I heard it. Let’s go outside and se...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 8.1 minutes
Barbershop Chatter
“Good morning young man.”
“Howdy.”
“Come in and have a seat, we’ll get to you pretty soon. Where’s your pretty young woman this morning?”
“Sent her to buy groceries. A feller has to eat.”
“Dat’s right, one of d’ reasons we work so hard here.”
All quiet for a few seconds, then from across the room, “Say Matt, did Chet find a job yet?”
“Don’t believe he did. He’s been outa work over six months. He may get a little part time work. His wife’s g...(click to continue reading)
“Howdy.”
“Come in and have a seat, we’ll get to you pretty soon. Where’s your pretty young woman this morning?”
“Sent her to buy groceries. A feller has to eat.”
“Dat’s right, one of d’ reasons we work so hard here.”
All quiet for a few seconds, then from across the room, “Say Matt, did Chet find a job yet?”
“Don’t believe he did. He’s been outa work over six months. He may get a little part time work. His wife’s g...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 4.1 minutes
Beach
“I’d be glad for you to use it,” I told David. “Get a group of your friends to go with you. If you don’t use it the time will go to waste.”
“Ok,” he said, ‘Thanks a lot.”
We were talking about a time-share villa on the beach at Tybee Island, Georgia. I bought the time-share years ago for my late wife, Dorothy. She loved the place. We visited the resort every year. Some time later David called and said that he could not find friends interested; wouldn’t I come with my Louisiana...(click to continue reading)
“Ok,” he said, ‘Thanks a lot.”
We were talking about a time-share villa on the beach at Tybee Island, Georgia. I bought the time-share years ago for my late wife, Dorothy. She loved the place. We visited the resort every year. Some time later David called and said that he could not find friends interested; wouldn’t I come with my Louisiana...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 8.0 minutes
Bedtime Story
“The Bakers are having an Easter egg hunt this afternoon in their backyard and they invited me. May I go?” Fred asked his mother.
“How will you get there?” she asked.
“I’ll walk, it’s on the other side of the woods. It won’t take long,” he said. The Bakers lived about a mile down the road from Fred’s house. Fred was used to walking places alone even as a six-year-old. That’s how he got to school.
“All right, but be back before supper,” his mother said.
After l...(click to continue reading)
“How will you get there?” she asked.
“I’ll walk, it’s on the other side of the woods. It won’t take long,” he said. The Bakers lived about a mile down the road from Fred’s house. Fred was used to walking places alone even as a six-year-old. That’s how he got to school.
“All right, but be back before supper,” his mother said.
After l...(click to continue reading)
Estimated Reading Time: 5.9 minutes