AU REVOIR, MAMSELLE

When my nephew, Mitch Worley was in High School, he was an extremely good football player, and he also excelled in baseball.  In one of his games I saw, he came up to bat with the bases loaded and he hit the ball completely over the center field wall, scoring himself and three others who were on base at the time.  When I see him now after 40 something years, I tell him,  "Mitch that home run ball you hit is still climbing!"

My children and other nieces and nephews have done some remarkable feats, also.  Let me tell you about my  grandson, Ben Delony.

Ben is now in his Junior year at Indiana University where he is on a scholarship in the Ballet department.   The entire department is highly accredited all over the world.  Ben has been training in ballet since he was about 5 or 6 years old, and is quite accomplished.

He was performing on stage before a packed audience on March 29, 2009.  Mamoo and I were watching this live on our computer in Baton Rouge through the web-site.  One of his dance steps required him to lift a girl dancer (while she was on  her tip-toes) all the way over his head, and then toss her backward over his head, to be caught in mid-air by another male dancer standing behind him. 

 When he did this "impossible" move -  the girl just seemed to disappear from the stage.  WOW!

I told him on the phone the next day that the girl probably was still flying out the back door of the stage!  I have named the step:  "AU REVOIR MAMSELLE!"

POLITICAL RHETORIC

Perhaps I should explain why I find political discussions in general to be offensive.

I worked for five years in local politics as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Baton Rouge while W. W. Dumas was Mayor.  I have seen the best and worst in politics on all levels.  After 5 years, I chose to change professions because of the evidence of individual greed and dishonesty by many (not all) politicians.  I COULD NOT CHANGE THIS!.

Also, I was drafted during World War II and was trained to hate and kill our enemies, Germans and Japanese, for the atrocities they committed against all mankind.   I COULD NOT CHANGE THIS!

Just the mention of concentration camps and the holocaust enrages me to this day.  I CANNOT CHANGE THIS! 

This is why I am offended by most political discourses -

 IF I CANNOT CHANGE THE PROBLEM, all I can do is cast my one vote at each and every election for whomever  I think is best qualified for the office.

   I SHALL NEVER CRITICIZE, CONDEMN, OR COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR GOVERNMENT, UNLESS I HAVE A BETTER SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.   THANK GOD WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE WE CAN DO THIS!

ONE OF THEM "OLD MOTHER SONGS"

Virginia and I  have always loved country music,  (still do).  During the 1970s, we took Virginia's sister, Ruth, on a short vacation with us through Tennessee.    While driving through Nashville we decided to attend the Grand Ole Opry for the routine Saturday night show.  Ruth had never seen the Opry before, but she liked country music also.

The emcee and star of the show was Roy Acuff.  He had been there for many years, and was extremely funny and very capable of handling an audience!  They all seemed to love him.  He had some talent on the fiddle, and was great as an emcee while introducing each act that would take their turn on stage with their songs and fiddles and guitars.  He also kept the audience in stitches with his yo-yo, and balancing his entire fiddle on his chin.

About the middle of the show, he introduced a group of singers, and as they made their way to the center of the stage, he said in a loud voice,  "OK BOYS, LET US HEAR ONE OF THEM OLD MOTHER SONGS"!  

With this, we three just burst out laughing loudly - we found this to be absolutely hilarious.  While we were doubling up with laughter the rest of the audience turned to look at us very seriously, and told us in a loud voice to "PLEASE BE QUIET - this is serious business".

For years after, we thought this to be one of the funniest introductions we had ever heard.  (still do)

GOVERNOR JIMMY DAVIS

Mrs. Jimmy Davis was a member of our First Methodist Church.  Virginia and I were choir members at the time.  She invited the entire choir to supper at the Governor's mansion on North Boulevard.  We gathered at the main dining room and were cordially  greeted by the Governor and Mrs. Davis.  The meal included fried chicken, and  " red-eye" gravy, with biscuits.  

After supper, the choir sang a few songs, and then the Governor sang with us and also entertained us by singing with his trio.  The highlight of the evening was when they sang "YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE"

The next time we met him was at the home of Ed and Betty Campbell (my boss at World's Finest Chocolate).  Betty had invited Virginia and me to supper with the Governor and his brother, Henry.  It was a very enjoyable visit including "red-eye" gravy and biscuits for supper.  Afterwards he told stories about his childhood, and some of his First Baptist friends.  He enjoyed telling us about playing football with a hog's bladder with his young friends. Then he sang another one of his favorite songs, "COME ON HOME, IT'S SUPPER TIME".