Larry Grams

Reflections from the back nine

Larry Adamson

Archives for July 2019

REMEMBER AND RETELL

By Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts: 

                           REMEMBER AND RETELL
 
Two words that I believe should be in everyone’s vocabulary. They are remember and retell.
 
In 2007 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman appeared in a movie called “The Bucket List.” The drift was that one had a list of things they wanted to do in their lifetime. A bit more detailed than that giving circumstances etc. 
 
 
Image result for picture of morgan freeman and jack nicholson
 
Around 1900 my wife’s grandfather who was fifteen or sixteen years old living in Czechoslovakia, one day left his home and family, never to see them again. He hid on a ship leaving his country headed for America. Came into the United States at an East Coast port entering legally. Some way from there made his way to Chicago. Found a Czechoslovakia community, married a girl from his home country He then learned the English language, went through the process of what was asked and became an American citizen.  
 
Image result for picture of prague
 
Soon my wife  and I will get to experience one of her bucket list items. She and I are to fly from our home in Tennessee to Prague. We are to spend ten days doing a Viking River cruise ending in Berlin, Germany. Without a doubt the highlight I think for her will be to visit where her roots began. They began  almost a hundred and twenty years ago with a young teenager boy hiding on a ship, leaving, never to return and starting his life in America.    
 
That  story was first told to me by the very man who first experienced all that,  my wife’s grandfather. He shared that with me on our wedding week-end fifty-four years ago. Over the years it is a story my mother-in-law repeated with more details to our family. It is a story I have told our children. Now I hope that they will remember and retell, the story  to their children. And in turn their children’s children.
 
(I must say I smile a bit when I think: “Hum… Pimento to Prague.” That is a canyon of distance I cannot imagine.)  
 
You know the generations after us will only know of the generations before us only……… if we :
                                             “Remember and Retell.”
 
========================================
July 29, 2019
Keep on, 
Larry Adamson
 
 
  

IN THE BASEMENT

By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

                                        Just some thoughts:
An old oil lamp isolated on white background.

 
  IN THE BASEMENT
 
Rick Bragg is one of my favorite authors. He has gained fame with such books as  It’s All Over But the Shoutin’, Ava’s Man, The Prince of Frog Town and one of the best books written on the rock-n’-roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Jerry Lee Lewis, His Own Story. 
 
On one occasion Bragg was visiting his mother when he asked her about an old kerosene lamp she once had. His mother told him “Oh it’s down in the basement.” With that Bragg goes prowling through his mother’s basement for this old lamp. It was a family heirloom, once belonging to his mother’s parents. It was made of heavy thick glass, thick as a Coke bottle is how he described. It was old, yellowed and smut-streaked but it was special to Bragg.
He had grown up in the same house as that lamp and he did not want to lose touch with it. He had bought his mother three heavy duty flashlights but she continued to keep and use the old lamp when needed. He had gotten her those powerful flashlights to use when her power went out. Think she would use them, think again.
“Well, I guess it’s made its last trip. I told her being all philosophical. But she said no. Someone will need it again, a generation or two from now. Someone will always need it”
                                         Ava’s Man–Rick Bragg
You know in the “basements” of a lot of old folks there are and always will be things from the past  that are needed. Sadly sometimes younger folks just don’t always know what is there. They need to be reminded.
===============================================
July 20, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

                                        

ON THE WALL

By Leave a Comment

 

                                 Just some thoughts:
  

Image result for pictures of hank williams

                                              ON THE WALL
Often on a week-end afternoon I will get in one of my old cars and just take off. More times than not I will end up out in the Leipers Fork area of Williamson county. 
Today I did such. Stopped at local grocery store, back the Corvette into a parking place then went inside. Was going inside to get me a Diet Dr Pepper and then come sit out on the store’s porch. Just let time pass and listen to the country music station they have on. 
Today as I walked into the store just to the left of the coolers was a full length picture of Hank Williams. Standing tall, guitar in place, white suit and hat on. Was almost life like him standing there. Many years ago Hank himself bought land out in this area and used it as a get away from it all place. 
Hank it still serves that purpose. Pretty nice to sit on the porch in an old rocker, cool drink and hear you sing. Never gets old. 
“It would not be entirely inaccurate to add that Williams died of the accumulated bruises of four years of hurling himself against an incredible career that eventually reached legendary proportions.Without a doubt he paid a perilous price for his celebrity as he became entombed in the myth he so effectively created between the climb and the fall.”
                    The Life and Times of Hank Williams
                         Arnold Roger & Bruce Gidoll 
On the wall is a picture.
======================================
July 27, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

ONE THING I WISH YOU GET STOLEN

By Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts:

 
        “SOMETHING THAT I WISH WOULD GET STOLEN” 
 
 
Image result for picture of a man with a weed eater
 
If I ever had to choose one thing to be stolen from my garage it would not take me long to name it.
 
It was invented by some nut in the early 1970s’ in Houston, Texas. It is said he got the idea from watching his car being washed at one of them car wash places. I wonder if he had been smokin’ something while watchin’. If he was from Texas maybe he and Willie were at the car wash at the same time.
 
What he invented has to be one of the most frustrating things ever known to man. I have worked with them for years and have yet to fine one that works as advertised. In fact yesterday as I was working with it I almost said some nasty words. I will admit I thought them but then again my old grandma came to my mind and I did not utter the words. But I thought’em. Working with this invention can make the most righteous man in the county want to say to  bad words. It does.
 
It is said that the inventor George Ballas was standin’ watching his car go through the wash seeing those nylon bristles going round and round and must have said to himself, “Hey I got an idea.” Well his idea has frustrated more folks than what can be counted. I got so frustrated yesterday evening messing with his invention that I just plum quit. Put it back in the garage, hung it up.  I went and got me a diet-Dr.Pepper, sat down on my porch and said, “that’s it, no more.” Never again will I take that thing from my garage wall.
 
His invention has had all kinds of names. Weed-eater, whipper-snippier, weed whacker (you gotta be wacky to use one), Weed-whip and line trimmer. I’m sure there are others. I have some.
 
Well I’ll show ole Ballas. This week my wife and I have decided to sell our house. We are gonna move into one of them Cottages where them guys in special shirts come around and do the mowin’ and weed wackin’. Really we did. (No seriously  a weed eater did not cause this and yes we are selling and moving to a Cottage type home. It is something I am looking forward to that I will no longer do.)
 
I’m done.
=========================================
August 2, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson
 
    

“THEY WON’T LET THEM FORGET”

By Leave a Comment

 

Just some thoughts:: 

                               “THEY WON’T LET THEM FORGET”
                     Image result for picture of carl mays
                                                     Carl Mays
   
 “I’d like to hold my head up and be proud of who I am.”
Is a line from a Merle Haggard song. Haggard wrote and to a degree at least for a time in his life probably lived the song. Sadly far too often we won’t let others forget what they wish they could forget.
If you are a real baseball fan you will recognize the name Carl Mays. Mays was a professional baseball player, pitcher who played fourteen years in the major leagues  from 1915 until 1929. A pretty fair pitcher if one looks at his statistics. He won over 200 games, 207 to be exact. Pitched over 3000 innings, played on four world championship teams, and had a lifetime era of 2.92. Nothing shabby about his numbers.Some even said he should have been in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
But on a rather damp, dreary day, August 16th, 1920 in a game played at the Polo grounds in New York life would change forever for two baseball players. They both would have their names go down in baseball history. It was the top of the 5th inning, the lead off hitter for the Cleveland Indians was Ray Chapman. 21,000 fans would watch as on the first pitch of that inning,  pitcher Mays pitch would strike Chapman in the head, the temple. Shortly there after Chapman would die from that pitch. Mays name would forever be etched in the annuals of baseball. Mays would never escape from the results of that pitch and what happened on that day. His name would forever be associated “Oh he’s the guy that killed that player.” While it is true that some traits that Mays had did not make him the most popular player with his teammates and others in baseball yet he never outlived that day. He feels it more deeply than you, and no one regrets it as much as he.” Quoted Dr. Scullen the one who spoke at Chapman’s funeral. “May there be no hostility in any heart to the man who was the unfortunate occasion of his accident.
Image result for PICTURE OF RAY CHAPMAN
                                                Ray Chapman
“It is the most regrettable incident of my baseball career. I would give anything if I could undo what has happened. Chapman was a splendid fellow. Quote: Carl Mays
On April 3rd 1971, fifty-one years later Carl Mays would be admitted to the hospital in El Cajon, California. He died the following day. On that day the Associated Press led with this line:
“Carl Mays, the pitcher New York Yankee pitcher who threw the fastball that hit and killed Cleveland batter Ray Chapman in 1920, died today.” Many years had passed but not what some would use as their leading line to identify him.
In reading the book  The Pitch That Killed–Mike Sowell, I was reminded of an ole biddy/ gossip that attended church where I did as a kid. In that church there was a man who had once served some prison time. I once asked my dad about it. He would only verified it had happened but refused to discuss anything with me regarding the matter. “He’s not that man anymore,” was a line said by my dad once back to me regarding. But not this lady. More than once I heard her reference this man in this manner, “You know he was once in prison.” Sadly some people just don’t want to let others try to live their life in as much peace as possible.
                               “But they won’t let me forget”
                                          Merle Haggard
===============================================
July 27, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

 

FIRM BUT FAIR

By Leave a Comment

 

 

Just some thoughts:

                                              FIRM BUT FAIR
 
Image result for picture of tommy connolly first umpire in baseball
 
                                         Tommy Connolly
I think one of the best things that can be said of a person who finds themselves in a position of authority is: “They are firm but fair.”
 
He was an Englishman who found himself established in the American game of baseball. A small man, five seven and forty-nine years old when he began his career as an umpire. He was never much of a player but loved the game and early on found himself immersed in the rules of the game. When the American league was formed in 1901 he became an umpire. Tommy Connolly had the distinction of umpiring the very first baseball game ever played in the American League and also the first World Series.
 
In those days of early baseball an umpire often worked the game alone. Not a crew like we see today. He commanded the respect of the players. Often an angry player would charge him following a close play. It was said Connolly would stand his ground allow the player to vent his frustration and then ask of the player, “Well, are you through?” Officially he’s safe, and you best go back to your position.”
 
“You can go so far with Connolly, but when you see his neck get red, it’s time to lay off him.”–Ty Cobb
                               The Pitch that Killed—Mike Sowell
 
I think society can always use and seems to always be in need of those who are “firm but fair.” I think especially today society could use more Tommy Connolly’s asking,”Are you through, now you best go back to your position.” 
 
Connolly had a philosophy, a simple one, “Maybe I called it wrong, but it’s official.” 
 
I kinda like that. “Now let’s get on with it.”
 
======================================== 
July 26, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson 

I’M GLAD THEY HAD THE NERVE

By Leave a Comment

                                      Just some thoughts:
  
Image result for picture of florence crittenton home in terre haute indiana

             1326 Popular Street–Terre Haute, Indiana
                                     Florence Crittenton Home
                      “I’M GLAD THEY HAD THE  NERVE”
This past week I was driving when a song came on by Bobby Braddock. Bobby Braddock is one of the most successful songwriters to ever come to Nashville. He came to Nashville from a small town in Florida in the early 1960s’. He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. A rather unusual happening for a songwriter. Also other recognition too numerous to even try and list.
 He is credited with co-writing what many have said was the greatest country song ever written. The George Jones hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He has written more hit songs than a dog might have fleas.
Sometime back I was sitting in a group and Braddock was asked, “What is your most favorite song that you have written?” Most everyone immediately thought of the giant hit, “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” “No, no,” it isn’t. Actually its a song that was never a real big hit.” Then he referenced the song “I’m Glad They Had The Nerve.” Later that night after hearing Braddock say that I looked up the lyrics to that song. The drift of the song is about his life, his ancestry and how thankful he is for what they did. For the courage, the nerve that it took on the part of various ones in his family to do what they did.
This past week I was back home. Back home in Indiana for a few days of golf, visit old friends and yes a couple nights at a fair watching harness racing. Still part of my Indiana raising I guess.
While there I visited my old home area. One evening before sundown I pulled up in front of an old house on Popular Street. 1326 Popular Street.  A  rather large house, with numerous rooms and extensions. For its time it would have been a rather large house. Sadly today it sits vacant and in disrepair. Up until 1973 it was known as the Florence Crittenton home. That house has a lot of history for a lot of people.
As I sat looking at the house I thought about three people. Alys, Sylvia and John. I could not identify more with Braddock’s lyrics than if I had written them myself. I’m glad an eighteen year old teenage girl named Alys had the nerve she did in March of 1942. Likewise the nerve of a couple who took in foster children at that time. 
I’m glad I had the nerve on a hot summer night in 1962 to walk across a “Happy Days” type place parking lot and talk to a girl sitting in her car. Glad she and her friend Jane had the “nerve” to let us sit in their car and talk. I’m glad that same girl had the “nerve” to say yes when I asked
               “How about a date for this Saturday night.”  
More importantly I’m glad she had the “nerve” to say “Yes” back in July (July 25th) 1965. This coming Thursday that will have been fifty-four years.
I’m thankful for a lot of people who like Braddock I have been  fortunate that they figured into my life and they had the “nerve.”
========================================
July 24, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

THEN I SAID

By Leave a Comment

 

This week is our anniversary week. This Thursday July 25–fifty-four years…so this week I may be posting some anniversary related items. Next week Barb and I will be flying to Prague and taking another Viking River cruise. Not a bad way to spend an anniversary.

                                      Just some thoughts: 
 
Image result for frank and nancy sinatra

 
                                          “THEN I SAID”
 
Fellas a bit of advice. It might be in your best interest to remember what you say to a woman (girl) in the dark  chances are very good she will repeat it to you in the light.
You can write than one down straight from Larry Adamson. To my three much younger friends, Seth (grandson), Adam (nephew) and Kyle (good friend) make a mental note. It is in your best interest to make note of such. 
 
There are some things you experienced in life that at one time you would not tell cause you are telling on yourself. You might be embarrassed. But hey you get older, the years pass and well so what.
 
It was probably 1963 or 1964 and it took place with the one who would later become my wife. We were on a date. I even remember the car. Borrow car, thank you Ray McDonald. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird. A real beauty, gold metal flex paint. It was a summer night, we had the top down. We had stopped at an off street from the main drag Wabash Avenue in our home town. 
 
Fellas remember how pretty they could look with that summer tan  and how special they could smell?  Dwight Yoakam once sang , “Try not to look so pretty and I’ll try not to be your fool.”  So true.
 
There are some things about the incident I remember better than my wife. But it was something she never forgot. Nor has she let me. Remember  earlier I said,  “Be careful what you tell a lady at night cause she will repeat it back to you in the light.”
 
It was a pretty summer night about 11 o’clock, a full moon and we were stopped for traffic. There at that time and place for the first time I said those three words. You know them I don’t have to tell you. Those three most important words in a relationship. Yes I did. Some how they just jumped out. Surprised her and shocked me. “Oh my now what I have done.” Scared me to death.
 
Every time I hear Frank and Nancy Sinatra sing that song I’m taken back to that evening. “Then I go and say something stupid like I love you.”
 
Two quick thoughts here. Telling someone special that you love them is never stupid. And while there’s some significance to remembering the first time those words were said we might ask ourselves….when was the last time we said those words to that person.
 
When? 
========================================= 
July  22, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson
 
 

TWENTY-FIVE

By Leave a Comment

Just some thoughts::
Image result for twenty five
 
Just some thoughts I have had this week over early morning coffee or on the way to the golf course.
 
1.I think the word “most” is often used too much.
 
2.Ditto to that thought and the word “greatest.”
 
3.I really like Ricky Fowler. But Ricky get a haircut.
 
4.I haven’t seen a rainbow in a long time.
 
5. In a book I read the following last night: “No man lives his image.” 
 
6.Does any business answer their phones anymore?
 
7.One of the best rendering of the song “Misty Blue” was done by George Morgan. (ok who was George Morgan?)
 
8.Looking for a “Meat and Three” check for pick-up trucks in parking lot.
 
9.”I’d Trade All My Tomorrows For Just One Yesterday” —   a thought provoking title to a song….
10.Some movies used to make me glad now they can make me sad.
11.Same with songs. Glad to sad.
12. Free…that word is sure being tossed around. I was always told nothing is free. Still believe it.
13.Some drivers drive like they think we know what they are going  to  do.
14.Silence can be fascinating. Especially if shared with the right
     person.
15.There is good silence and there is bad silence.
16.It‘s best one know the difference.
17.Everyone’s grave should be marked in some manner.
18.I wonder how many miles of grass in my lifetime I have cut.
19,Feelings aren’t facts but some times they sure are hard to
      separate.
20.Glenn Ford—I miss him. (Someone is saying –Who was he?”
21.I like old pick-up trucks.
22.”You be as good as I think you are.”–Often said to me in my
        teen years by my grandmother.
23.Is forever longer than always?
24.I never thought I would see the day come when a  lawmaking group would stand and give themselves applause for voting support for abortion.
25.Who came up with the idea that if one does not agree with
       another they hate that person?
26. Ok..26  Wonder if people know it when we visited their grave?
       You say”No” How do you know? (personally I would like to
        think so)
  ============================================June 29,2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson
 Reply  Reply All  Forward

WORTH REMEMBRING

By Leave a Comment

                                     Just some thoughts:
 

Image result for picture of louis l amour

 
                                  WORTH REMEMBERING  
 
Some thoughts from Louie L’Amour worth remembering.
 
1.”People often fall in love with those who resemble them             because they can imagine no beauty greater than     
     themselves.”
 
2.”No memory is ever alone.”
 
3.”Living a life is much like climbing mountains–the
     summits are always further off than you think.”
 
4.”There are men who prefer to keep trouble from a woman,
      but it seems to me that is neither reasonable nor wise.”  
 
5.”Few of us ever live in the present, we are forever
     anticipating what is to come or remembering what has
     gone.”
 
6.”Ours is too busy a world and there is no time for
     considering.”
 
7.”Because one has seen does not know.”
 
8.”To succeed as a human being is not always the same as
      succeeding in your life’s work.”
 
9.”Lying and cheating will often get a man what he thinks he
     wants.”
 
10.”A man who starts imagining that other think good
       because he does is simply out of his mind.”
 
Will leave it at that….
 
========================================= 
July 14, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson