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Larry Adamson

Archives for May 2018

HAVE YOU EVER?

May 30, 2018 By Lydia San George Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

Have you ever walked into a room, a meeting,  faced someone or someone’s, they saying nothing and you likewise saying nothing.

But you realized something strange was happening here cause nobody was saying nothing, but you realized a “conversation” was still managing to take place?

I have.

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May 8, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

 

Posted 5-30-2018

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

HAMILTON

May 29, 2018 By Lydia San George Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

On a recent Saturday afternoon my wife and I attended a drum concert. Yes, a drum concert, don’t think I had ever attended one of them.

Our eleven year old granddaughter, Delaney is taking lessons and now playing the drums. Hey, remember Karen Carpenter?

Her music teacher introduced her and said she would be doing a number from the  very popular Broadway play, Hamilton. With the mention of the name Hamilton I thought of something he once was credited with saying.

“A garden, you know, is a very usual refuge of a disappointed politician.”
Alexander Hamilton

Personally, and I think a few other folks would be in favor of disappointing many of them by bringing about term limits and thus allowing them more time to be in their gardens.

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May 5, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

 

Posted 5-29-2018

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

JUDGEMENT AND LOOKS

May 27, 2018 By Larry Adamson Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

He was on a date in Greenville, Texas on Sunday December 7th, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Shortly thereafter he tired to enlist in the Marines.     He was turned down and told:

“Young man you are too short, you are too underweight and you are too young.”

Some years back I visited his final resting place.

“His grave is marked by a standard Arlington Cemetery tombstone of white marble, just like the hundred of thousands of others. It stands at the end of a row, shaded by the branches of a massive Willow Oak Tree, beside the road that passes north of the amphitheater near the Tomb of the Unknowns. Each day, small groups of people drift over, some of the clutching a map from the visitors center, searching for his grave. They pause and a few take off their hats. They speak to each other in hushed tone. Some obviously know more about the records of achievements that is abbreviated on the front of the stone that do others.”

The Price of Valor–David A. Smith

The one entombed  there is a Medal of Honor solider. In fact it is said that he was the most decorated soldier of WW II.  It is the grave of Audie Murphy, later of Hollywood fame.

A few weeks later in 1942 after his first effort to join the service he enlisted in the Army. At that time he stood 5 feet 5 inches in height, weighed 112 pounds and was 17 years old. His drill Sergeant gave him the nickname of “Baby” because of his youthful looks.He would go on to be the most decorated soldier of WW II.

Possibly one should never be judged by their height, weight or age. The heart may be covered with a thin veil that very few can see or know.

On this Memorial Day week-end I think of so many who gave up so much for many others.

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January 28, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

 

Posted 5-27-2018

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

CAREFUL THOUGHT

May 26, 2018 By Larry Adamson 1 Comment

Just some thoughts:

Harvey Penick the legendary Texas golf professional, instructor, it was once said of him:

“Harvey is so careful in choosing what he says that I have often seen him fail to respond to a question until the next day for fear that his answer  would be misconstrued.”

Harvey Penick with Bud Shrake– Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book

How many of us would be or had been better off had we had such wisdom when something was said or asked of us?

I know one.

You?

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March 18, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

 

Posted 5-26-2018

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

LUCK

May 25, 2018 By Larry Adamson Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

“Luck is the residue of design.”

 Branch Rickey

 
His name was Ralph Sharon. I doubt if most folks reading this recognize that name. He was staying at a hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas when he opened his dresser drawer looking for a clean shirt and he saw some sheet music to a song he had never heard.
 
Ralph Sharon was a piano player. Once during rehearsal with a singer he was working with he mentioned this song and played a bit for him.  The song had been written for an Opera singer. Often she would sing it as an encore at her performances. 
 
The singer that Sharon was playing with in December of 1961, they were playing the Venetian Room of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. That night they introduce the song. Audiences loved the song. Shortly thereafter the two recorded the song in a session but it was set-up to be the B side, the A side was a song “Once Upon a Time.” I stayed at this hotel a few times in my travels and often you could sit in the lobby and hear this song being played. 
 
Well by now you know the song is the famous hit by Tony Bennett, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” The song is now ranked 23rd on the National Endowment of the Arts list of most historically significant songs of the 20th century. Today it is sung at every San Francisco Giants baseball game.
 
And to think what if Ralph Sharon, a piano player, had not needed a clean shirt that day? 

Luck is an interesting word and often hard to explain.
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March 21, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson  
Posted 5-25-2018

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

May 24, 2018 By Larry Adamson 1 Comment

Just some thoughts:

“A boy’s will is the wind’s will, and thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.”

I think what he is saying…for a boy…there are thoughts from his youth that always remain.

A fella I often drink coffee with said to me the other day: “Larry, I’m two years shy of eighty and seems I think about and like most of the same things I did when I was eighteen.” With that he smiled and asked “Do you understand that?”

I also smiled and replied…”absolutely…”oh yeah….I do..yes I do.”

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​

February 5, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

“BUT WHEN” 

May 23, 2018 By Larry Adamson Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

“There is a time in most lives approaching middle age when the scorecard starts to fill up, when the eyes notice a list of departed figures from a circle that had seemed immune, bulletproof against normal attrition. One person dies, and maybe there is an explanation; two, an accident; three, a strange disease. But when four or five die, the eyes notice and the brain starts to considering the limitations of mortality.”
The Big Bam–Leigh Montville

Too true.

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April 25, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

“DUKE OF EARL”

May 22, 2018 By Larry Adamson Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

When I was in high school in the late 1950s’ a song that was popular  by an artist named Gene Chandler was ,” The Duke of Earl.”

A title is something that describes someone’s position, a group of words attached to a person name.  It could even be self given. On the other hand the word testimony is said to be public’s recounting, not self-given but by others about or on behalf of another.

I think sometimes today far too often we see people who want titles when maybe they have not gained or been worth of a testimony.

My wife remembers when she was  in high school that song “The Duke of Earl” was popular. Often there was this kid he would parade the halls or at lunch announcing himself as “The Duke of Earl.”  A self proclaimed title.

Any one can call themselves “The Duke of Earl.” But only others can know and give respect to “The Duke.” I think one should always hope that they would be more worthy of a testimony (positive) rather than a title. Anyone can give themselves a title, only others can speak well to another’s character.

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December 30, 2017
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

REMEMBER 

May 21, 2018 By Larry Adamson Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:
                                                     
Remember the days when someone would say to you, “Well, we saw it on the news last night.” And thus we beleived it was so…after all it was “On the news.”   
When Edward R. Murrow reported it you listened to his story, it was believable and without an agenda.
 
Today… no longer so. Sad, sad commentary on the state of the affairs.
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March 15, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Filed Under: Just some thoughts:

NEVER TOO OLD

May 19, 2018 By Larry Adamson 1 Comment

Just some thoughts:

Whose’s my favorite football coach? Not that it makes much difference. But my favorite football coach is Dick LeBeau.

Why? Well I will tell you why in a minute. LeBeau this past season was the Tennessee Titan’s defensive coordinator. So you say what’s the big deal?

Le Beau is in the Football Hall of Fame and this past year he was the defensive coordinator for   the Titan’s. He has two Super Bowl rings from his 13 season as defensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  LeBeau played at Ohio State under legendary coach Woody Hayes winning the national championship in (way back) 1957. He played 14 season with the Detroit Lions (1959-73) and he ranks 10th in NFL history for the most (62) interceptions. He is the father of five, grandfather of six and get this, great-grandfather of two.

Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots said of LeBeau, “He’s one of the greatest coaches to ever walk the sidelines in this league.” The former head coach of the Titian’s, Mularkey, described him “as amazing man.”

All  that is well and good but none of that is exactly why he is my favorite football coach. He is my favorite football coach because at his age, eighty, he still prowls the sidelines like he’s twenty-one. By his attitude and actions he tells the world that just because we have a bit of dust on us does not mean we  don’t have something to offer.  I like people who don’t let age relegate themselves to the couch, the porch or the rockin’ chair and call it quits. Anytime I watched the Titan games (which I did not do as much as I once did) I would yell at the TV, “let me see LeBeau.”

Today as I picked up the paper at my coffee place, sat down with my coffee, opened the sports section what I saw made my day. (Sometimes doesn’t take a whole lot to do that). There he, LeBeau, was. A big colored picture of my favorite football coach. To me he looked like a face that should be on that big rock out in South Dakota with those four guys.  He has a bit of that Marlboro man look.

I like what Coach LeBeau once said when being interviewed.  He was asked how he had stayed so health, so activity, still involved in work and life after 57 years in football. His answer was simple: ” I like being around positive people.” Amen coach, amen. Thank’s coach for letting the world know that just because there is a bit of frosting on us does not mean we are ready for our toe to be tagged and  the shroud  be pulled over us.

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January 20, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamsona

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Larry Adamson

About Larry

Larry Adamson was raised in Indiana.  After teaching and coaching for several years he worked as Director of Championships at the United States Golf Association in NJ.  He’s retired, living just outside Nashville,TN.  He blogs about his favorite things: sports, music, old cars, and the good ole days.




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