Archives for October 2018

Just some thoughts:

It was a little after six A.M. and I was leaving Indianapolis, Indiana. I had been there the previous day to see a Butler basketball game. Butler or Hinkle Fieldhouse, truly one of the great basketball venues.

I was stopped at a light when I looked over and saw the sign to the entrance of Crown Hill Cemetery. Just a few weeks earlier I had read Dary Matera’s book on the life of John Dillinger. I smiled as I thought “Well ole John’s just a short distance from where I am sitting, sorry I don’t have time to drop by and pay my respects.” Dillinger along with some other famous Hoosiers are buried in Crown Hill.

Stranger, stop and wish me well
Just say a prayer for my soul in hell
I was a good fellow, most people said
Betrayed by a woman all dressed in red

Dillinger is one of the most famous criminals in American history .There is a lot of mystery and rumors still to this day that circulate about him.

Rumor had it that after his death every so often a large sedan would stop at the cemetery and a well-bred Lady in Black would emerge kneel and place flowers on the grass at his grave.  Speculation was she was a Dillinger long-lost post-navy Indianapolis wife. Makes for good copy you think.

It was said John Dillinger, Sr declined a healthy sum of $10,000 offer for the corpse of his son. Or  there was such a scare of body snatchers that the plot inside the tomb was sealed in cement.True there was almost two years that took place before burial markers were placed and the marker than is there today is the fourth replacement.

The Lady in Red, Anna Sage while the reward for his arrest was $25,000 it is said she only got $5,000 and was swindled out of the rest. Story was later she opened a nightclub in Rumania.  She did died in 1947.

Three other women in Dillinger’s life, Billie Frechette  she joined  the carnival circuit for a while after his death expounding upon her time with the famous criminal. She died at age sixty-two in 1969. Polly Hamilton died at age fifty-nine also in 1969.Dillinger’s only known wife, Beryl Hovious lived to a ripe old age of eighty-seven died in 1993 in their home town of Mooresville, Indiana.

Dillinger’s dad did eventually accept invitations to speak in stage shows and carnivals about the lives and events of his family. He died in 1943 and was buried next to his son.

Even in my home town area of Terre Haute you can still hear  rumors and speculation about Dillinger. “He used to hang out here to lay low from the law.” You might be surprised just how many folks had a relative that knew something about Dillinger.

As I pulled away from the light I again smiled as I was reminded of a story one of our relatives has passed on to our generation, “Now I don’t know if this is  really true or not  but  story has it that your__________had some contact with Dillinger. “Well just maybe.”

As the old saying goes,:”Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

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August 30, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted November 1st, 2018

Just some thoughts:

Charlie Brown was beginning another baseball season. If you know Charlie you know he and his diamond friends do not have a lot of success.

Lucy their famous right fielder was much more optimistic this season. She told Charlie, “Hey,  this year is gonna be different.” She was going to be a much better player.

Well shortly into the season they are playing a game in which the score is tied. There are two outs and the opposing team’s batter is at the plate. He hits a fly ball to right field, Lucy’s position. Lucy positioned herself to make the catch. But as the ball came down, bingo, it hits poor Lucy on top of her head. It rolls all the way to the fence, the runner scores and Charlie’s team once again goes down to defeat.

After the game, Lucy walked up to apologize to the team’s manager, Charlie Brown, “Sorry I missed that fly ball—I thought I had it, but suddenly I remembered all the others I’ve missed. You know the past just got in my eyes.”

Lucy’s right isn’t she:
“Sometimes the past does just that…it get in our eyes.”

I’ve sure had that happen. Certainly more than once…  The past was ever present, it got in my eyes.

You?

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May 15, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 30, 2018

Just some thoughts:

Includer.

I don think there is even such a word.

He was an above average ballplayer for our Indiana high school level of competition. Above average, yes, but no Coach “K” was going to come knocking, no Carolina Blue offers. He would never exit the Hoosiers locker room.

Yet for me the memory of him still lives on. I don’t know why early this morning as I sat alone at my coffee place his memory came back to me. Maybe cause young people like him are worthy of remembrance.

I taught and coached in Indiana high schools for about the first fifteen years after I graduated college in 1964. At one time had the desire and dream that I might be the second coming of Johnny Wooden. What a shallow thought on my part, no one could be that. When one is young they can have a lot of unrealistic thoughts. Part of the beauty of being young, right?

During my daily teaching duties I would be the “lucky one” assigned lunch room duty. Yes for an hour and half I would be the assigned teacher to be the “rover” in the cafeteria to try to see that some semblance of order was kept. Whew… is all I will say about that.

I don’t know how many times I would see him after he would get his tray of food look around the large room. He would stop, pause a moment and then often he would walk over to someone who was sitting by themselves. He would stop and  speak to that person and ask them if they would like to join him and some of his buddies at a table. Other times I would see him just sit down with that person and the two of them eat together.

I watched him on occasion go to the new kid in school and invite him to his group or just sit down and talk with him. I always felt for the “new kid.” So often they would be left on their own.

You know I remember some games he played and played well, point guard, could score when needed, very unselfish but what I remember more about him all these years later was just what a good person he was, above average for a young man of his age when came to the consideration of others.  Someone who was always thinking about someone else. I have often wondered whatever happened to him.

You know kindness can live on long after games are over. Scores can be forgotten but seldom is kindness forgotten. It can live long.

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October 12, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 29, 2018

Just some thoughts:

Recently I overheard a discussion about the matter of honesty. I had to smile as the discussion brought back some memories.

Possibly some of the best  philosophy well I would like to say best life philosophy and advice I heard came from listening to some old timers standing behind a coal stove at the grocery store where I worked as a young kid. (Pimento days) Or over at the feed mill or garage. Yes I know some would question that. I know my mother would have.

“If he tells you that a rooster dips snuff…
you can look under his wing and you’ll find the can.”

Pretty strong support for another fella and his honesty.

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June 20, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 29, 2018

Just some thoughts:

This past year my wife were spending some time in Florida as we often do.

The church where we attended on a Sunday morning had advertised a “Marriage Comedian”  would be speaking that night. That night we returned to hear the comedian.

I still remember him saying “Tonight I’m going to give you the best and the shortest marriage advice one can ever receive.”

“When you’re wrong, admit it.”
“When you’re right, keep your mouth shut.”

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March 28, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 28, 2018

Just some thoughts:

 

To some degree the past always lives in the present. If it does not live there, at the least it will linger.
Night​–Elie Wiesel

Personally I have found this to be true. In a lot of areas of ones life.

You?

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March 6, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 27, 2018

Just some thoughts:

Not too long ago I was sitting in one of Nashville’s “Libraries  of culture” (honky tonk) when he walked in. Seeing him made me smile. He was the son of what I think was one of the most talented people to ever come to Nashville. His father was Roger Miller.

Just saying the name Roger Miller can make some people smile, maybe even laugh. What a mind, what a talent. Could do it all, write, sing, tell stories, write a Broadway play, “Big River.”

Anyone that was ever around Miller has a story, really stories.  He grew up in small town Oklahoma, Erick to be exact. I remember the first  time (1960) I drove the famous Route 66 from Indiana to California coming into this very small town of Erick, Oklahoma, population 1,052 and seeing this huge, large billboard sign that read, “Erick, Oklahoma, the home of Sheb Wooley and Roger Miller.”  Miller, years later when asked about his roots and where  Erick, Oklahoma was located, his replay, “It’s close to extinction.”  Hum…maybe there really was a “Purple People Eater” and Wooley first sited it there.

Stories abound. In 1989 Miller was stopped in Nashville for speeding. “Where you goin’ in such a hurry,” the officer asked him. “Officer, I’m sorry but I’m late for Red Foley’s funeral, “We’ll take it easy.” The officer tore up the ticket.  True Miller was late for Foley’s funeral, Foley had died twenty-one years (1968) earlier.

One time after a night on the town Miller looked out into the first gleam of daylight as the sun was coming up………………….. “Uh–oh, oh, here comes God with His bright’s on.”

I miss his humor and his music.

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August 9, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 26, 2018

                                           Just some thoughts:

During the mid 1970s’ I had the good fortune to caddie in a few PGA tour events. First time I caddied was in Robinson, Illinois. Robinson was the smallest town to ever host a PGA tour event. Since then I have gone back and played the course that hosted that event.

Not being a regular tour caddie I quickly picked up the fact that “locals” such as myself were not always looked upon favorably by tour caddies. One the most recognizable tour caddies back then was Mitch, Herman Mitchell. A rather large, out spoken African-American fella.  On one occasion I caddied in a group with Mitch. It was quite an experience.  Mitch was most known for his days as  Lee Trevino’s caddie for a number of years. There are many stories about Mitch.

One time Mitch was caddying for Miller Barber. Barber hit his tee shot off line and into a pond to the right of the fairway. Barber hit a second  tee ball (a provisional) and as they were walking down the fairway Barber asked Mitch, “Aren’t you going to go over there and look for my first ball?” “No I ain’t going over there.” was his reply. “Why not?” “Mr.Bob live over there, not goin’.”

Immediately Barber and one of the other players in the group ask the oblivious question, “Whose Mr. Bob.” Mitch replied  ” Mr. Bob is a water moccasin about 20 feet long.”  Barber said to Mitch, “Mitch the weather is too cold now for snakes and that water definitely too cold for a snake.”

Mitch replied, “As big as Mr.Bob is, he can afford himself an overcoat.”

You know some folks know where  trouble might be and decide it best to note even go in that  direction. Not too bad thinking.  I give Mitch some credit.

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September 6, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 25, 2018

Just some thoughts:

I hesitated to repeat this one now.  Then I thought again.

Some years back our oldest grandson was living with my wife and I. His parents were going to move to this area but their transfer could not take place for a while and for him to get into school at the beginning of the new year he needed to enroll before his family could move. So he would live with us until his family had moved.

He was a teenager. A move, a new school, moving is not easy and changing schools can often be difficult. For him fortunately this transfer ended well. Two years later near the time of his high school graduation he shared with me how one particular boy at that school had helped him, welcomed him, been good to him especially his first few weeks as a new student at this school. This particular person he told me about was the son of a well known celebrity. If I said the boys last name most folks would recognize the child’s celebrity parent today.

Fast forward. Our grandson’s time at this school went well and it came time for  his high school graduation ceremony.  My wife and I attended. As the ceremony was over I found myself standing outside waiting on family when I saw the mother of the boy who had first befriended our grandson when he came to the school as a new student. I remembered what our grandson had once shared with me about how nice her son had been to him.

I hesitated. Do I or don’t I? The lady had been talking with a group of other ladies but now I noticed she had turned and was walking away. Now by herself. Do I, don’t I?  Oh, Larry go on.

I walked to the lady with some hesitation, as I said she was a well known celebrity. I called her by name and said, “Excuse me you don’t know me but if you have a minute I’d like to share something with you.” She paused and I could tell she was taken back a bit but smiled and said, “Yes.”

“As I said you don’t know me but two years ago our sixteen year old grandson came to live with my wife and I. This move saw him beginning a  whole new experience, moving to a new state, a new school where your son also attended. I just wanted to tell you that our grandson said of all the people he met at this school your son was the friendliest, most helpful to him of anyone he met there. Your son invited him to sit with him, eat with him, showed him things he needed to know and places to go in his new school environment. Your son was a real friend to our grandson.  I just wanted to tell you that as his grandparents how much my wife and  I appreciated your sons kindness and say thank you.”

I thought the lady was going to cry, in fact tears did come to her eyes. She paused, put her hands to her mouth as if she was grasping for some words, looked at me and said: “Oh my, you have no idea how badly I needed to hear that story. If you knew what has taken place in our house in recent days and even just before I came here today….well I needed to hear that story about him. Thank you…thank you. I needed that.”

You know some stories need to be told and  certain people need to hear.

If you know a good one…share it. Won’t you?

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September 28, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 24, 2018

 

Just some thoughts:

First, no I am not referring to the song the Dixie Cups made famous back in the late 1950s’.

He received one of those early morning this is not a good time to be receiving a call from his Dad. He was told that his mother had been taken to the hospital and was going to have serious heart surgery the following day.

The following afternoon found the son at the beside of his mother. The nurses were coming in and out preparing her for surgery. “Thank you for coming” were the words to him from his mother. Time came and she was then wheeled to the surgical floor There was a chapel on the fifth floor of the hospital one floor below where he currently was with his mother.

Shortly after she was taken from her room he walked to the elevator and pushed the button for the fifth floor. Walking into the chapel the lights were dim and he noticed no one else was there. He sat down, bowed his head in the chapel and tried to put himself in the operating room.

Three hours later the doctor in his surgical dress came and spoke with he and the family. “I think she will be fine,” he said.  “In  a few days she should be able to go home.”

That day came.  He and his father were there to assist and take her home. Just a bit before leaving her room the son excused himself for just a short few minutes. He then rode the elevator again to the fifth floor. The chapel door was open, it always was. It always is.

Evidently the son’s thoughts were if one goes to a chapel “To speak about a matter–put in a request” it is only fitting they return to that chapel to “acknowledge the outcome of that request.”

Simply it is called saying ” thank you.”  Sadly too often people fail to say those two words.

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January 4, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted October 20, 2018