140310 - March 10, 2014

Fighting Retiree Boredom

by Tommy Towery

Class of '64

    Last week I received the story below in an email from a friend. When I first read it I laughed and then I thought I would share it with you in a special way. After you read the story, I want you to email me with the name of one of our classmates who you think would be most likely to do this in real life, and why you selected the person you did. Any similar tales would be greatly appreciated.

* * * *

A few days ago my best friend from high school sent me a 'Viet Nam Veteran' cap. I never had one of these before, and I was pretty hyped about it, especially because my friend was considerate enough to take the time to send it to me.

Yesterday, I wore it when I went to Wal-Mart. There was nothing in particular that I needed at the world's largest retailer; but, since I retired, trips to Wally World to look at the Walmartians is always good for some comic relief. Besides, I always feel pretty normal after seeing some of the people that frequent the establishment. But, I digress... enough of my psychological fixations.

While standing in line to check out, the guy in front of me, probably in his early thirties, asked, "Are you a Viet Nam Vet?"

"No," I replied.

"Then why are you wearing that cap?"? 

"Because I couldn't find the one from the War of 1812." I thought it was a snappy retort.

"The War of 1812, huh?" the Walmartian queried, "When was that?"

God forgive me, but I couldn't pass up such an opportunity. "1936," I answered as straight-faced as possible.

He pondered my response for a moment and responded, "Why do they call it the War of 1812 if it was in 1936?"

"It was a Black Op. No one is supposed to know about it." This was beginning to be way fun!

"Dude! Really?" he exclaimed. "How did you get to do something that COOOOL?"

I glanced furtively around me for effect, leaned toward the guy and in a low voice said, "I'm not sure. I was the only Caucasian on the mission."

"Dude," he was really getting excited about what he was hearing, "that is seriously awesome! But, didn't you kind of stand out?"

"Not really. The other guys were wearing white camouflage."

The moron nodded knowingly. "Listen man," I said in a very serious tone, "You can't tell anyone about this. It's still 'top secret' and I shouldn't have said anything."

"Oh yeah?" he gave me the 'don't threaten me look.' "Like, what's gonna happen if I do?"

With a really hard look I said, "You have a family don't you? We wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would we?"

The guy gulped, left his basket where it was and fled through the door. By this time the lady behind me was about to have a heart attack she was laughing so hard.

I just grinned at her.

After checking out and going to the parking lot I saw Dimwit leaning in a car window talking to a young woman. Upon catching sight of me he started pointing excitedly in my direction. Giving him another deadly serious look, I made the 'I see you' gesture. He turned kind of pale, jumped in the car and sped out of the parking lot.

What a great time! Tomorrow I'm going back with my Homeland Security cap.

Then the next day I will go to the license agency and wear my Border Patrol hat, and see how long it takes to empty the place.

Whoever said retirement is boring just needs the right kind of cap!

From Our Mailbox 

Subject:    Tommy Esslinger

Craig Bannecke

LHS 65

    I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Tommy Esslinger.  He was someone who's courage to overcome and sparkling personality always impressed me.  Having raised a physically handicapped child that had the same tenacity and outgoing personality of Tommy, I often thought of him through the years as I raised my son.  Having been physically active in my youth and young adult years; I was not prepared to raise a physically handicapped child.  I had to learn patience and humility as I watched and listened to the sometimes hurts and frustrations of my son, who could not run and play like the other kids. Who often was shunned because he was different or could not keep up.  And those were the times I really thought back on Tommy never realizing then, but knowing now, how much he probably had been hurt and disappointed. One of my favorite scriptures is Romans 5: 3-5 "...we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit."  Tommy may have had a physical limitation in life but because of it, or maybe in spite of it, he had character, perseverance and hope. And best of all he had the love of Teresa his friends, his family and the love of many in the Lee Fami-lee.  It is very fulfilling to know that now he is with Lord and walks erect and with joy in knowing he has run the race in life and heard the words "well done good and faithful servant."

Wednesday, February 26, 1964

57th Day - 309 days to follow

Cloudy

    After school I went to Mullin's then caught a bus from there to the Heart of Huntsville.  Got a haircut then went over to Bell Brothers Shoe Store and talked to Troy till 5:45 P.M.  Helen K. and Jean S. came in for a while and I caught a ride to town as they went.  Stopped in the Grand News Stand and got a Classic Illustrated funny book of Castle Dangerous for a book report.  Then went to the library and checked out Seven Days in May.  Met Ronnie H. there and we went to dance team practice at the Naval Reserve.

    Left at 7:30 P.M. and went to the Central "Y" for a Hi-Y meeting.  Only three members showed up.  Terry P., Donald B., and myself.  Donald brought me home after the meeting.

    Wrote Don a letter and started reading Seven Days in May.  It's 11:15 P.M. maintenant et je desire aller a cruche.  Pardon mon spelling de les mots, si vous plat.

    In college we had Cliff Notes and Monarch Notes to help us through the assignments we were too busy or too lazy to complete as they were assigned. In high school I used Classic Illustrated comic books for the same purpose. I grew up calling comic books by the term “funny books,” I guess because of their similarity in design to the comic strips in the funny papers in the daily newspaper. I am not sure if that was a regional slang term or more universal than I think, but the terms were interchangeable to me.

    I cannot say for sure the thought process behind the creators of Classic Illustrated books, but they were the Reader’s Digest version of the classics for most teens. They were easy to read and with the illustrations, easy to understand. I was not alone in the utilization of these short graphic versions of sometimes long and hard to read books given as reading assignments in classes and requiring a book report as evidence that the story has been consumed. In looking back at this, I find I didn’t recall either the book or the author until I looked it up again and found it was penned by Sir Walter Scott. I can only think the reason I picked this book was due to the small list of available titles on the shelf at the newsstand and the time restraints of the assignment.

    Comic books were cherished possessions in my childhood and many were read and swapped and swapped again until the covers hung by a single spike of a rusted staple. Action hero books and newspaper comic strip characters were the most popular subjects. My personal favorite comic book hero was “Blackhawk” who lead a group of aviators in search of adventure and fighting for the American cause. When I first started buy comic books they sold for 10 cents each and later went up to 12 cents.

    I, like many of my friends, wish I had saved all the ones I once owned, for today they are highly collectable and if I had the current value of all I once owned I could add a large sum of money to my retirement nest egg.

    Today you can still find some comic books, but more often today they are called graphic novels. The type of books we bought for 10 cents when I was 10, now sells for $3.99 or higher. Used copies of the 1964 versions start around $3.49 on eBay.

LEE HIGH SCHOOL'S

FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF 1964

50 YEAR REUNION

We will be celebrating the First Graduating Class of one of Huntsville’s Historic High Schools on

September 26-27, 2014

 ALL 1965,  1966,

AND OTHER CLASSES

ARE ALSO WELCOME

ACOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE: Blocked Rooms at the Embassy Suites: 20 suites blocked; 1964 1ST priority;

$119.00/night, must reserve early; rooms will not be held until Sept; specify LHS 50th Reunion Code#636

CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM

CLASS OF '64 - 50TH REUNION

CLASS OF '68 - '69 - '70 REUNION

(CLICK ON UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE LEFT COLUMN

NEAR TOP OF PAGE)

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