It's time...

 A few words on cancel culture.

It seems that cancel culture may have run its course, inflicted its pain, enjoyed its fifteen minutes of fame. Sometimes it even seems to be turning in on itself (... interesting). Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Oh -- and feel free to take your woke friends with you. It seems that people are finding their voices again.  This, in my opinion, is way past due.  My voice counts and ...  so does yours ... whether we agree or not ....      

                            Freedom. Above. Everything.

Now and then during the past couple of years I have been disappointed in people - just like I was back in the days of the Vietnam War Moratorium when I thought I should be able to attend my college classes if I wanted to. Others thought they could deny me this right to an education, so I had to attend underground classes in the private homes of professors. I was also held captive for over an hour in an elevator by privileged, screaming, and hysterical, young women overcome with self righteousness. All of this because they saw that I was carrying text books ... but ... that is a story for another day and one that I don't like to think about. It was not a high point of my college days, but I stood my ground. I am still standing today. I have no idea where those people are now and... don't care.

I know that I am not alone in this feeling of disappointment and isolation in these times, but it feels that way sometimes ... and it is not a good feeling.  As Martin Luther King said: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” I can't help but remember what this silence feels like. I caution myself never to go to that world of cancelling others who may disagree with me. That is not who I want to be… ever. I think I tend to build protective walls instead. Not sure that is always a good thing either. It works for now.

One more thing... it seems odd to me that the most vocal of the past few years have become the most silent. It is a stunning and unusual silence of those who were so sure that they were right about everything... those who felt that had a right to impose their will on others including those who wished to mandate an experimental drug they called a vaccine .... They now have little or nothing to say.  No one is forcing their silence though they tried to silence others and to make them comply to their will. Some still try, but it is not working out too well for them. I am not holding my breath for any expression of regret on their part. I just wish they could at least make eye contact with me when I happen to meet them along the way. I don't have cooties, after all. I never did. They don't either. They never did.

I did not understand this "need" to try to silence and to control others back in the days of the Vietnam War Moratorium, and I don't understand it now. Not sure I want to. It's ugly.

Where is Winter?

 

Probably by the time I am about to post this blog, things will have changed, but for now I have to say I am still waiting for winter. All my boots are mud, if not dust, covered. If you live in NW PA, and it is snowing when you read this, please pretend that it hasn’t started yet and think back a couple of days. Normally my least favorite month as it seems to me like the longest month of the year, February is different this year.  Now almost the middle of February, it is 54º, “… And the green grass grows all around all around / And the green grass grows all around…”. I even saw some sun today.  Strange. A few days ago, I heard geese as they were flying North. Just yesterday I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Goose have made their annual stop at the pond next door -- a full month early!

We have had snow in bursts this season, but nothing that lasts very long. The skiers and snowboarders are thankful that it has been cold enough to make snow at nearby ski resorts.  I am okay with dry roads and the lack of ice, but the lack of snow is unnerving somehow.  When you grow up in Northwest Pennsylvania and live here for decades, this mild weather is like waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it just seems to go on an on.  There is a certain unease about a non-winter.  People in these parts know that somehow we will pay for this in the long run.  We believe deep down that nothing will let us off the hook. We have become accustomed to dealing with at least 150" of snow and to have so little is unsettling. I remember that his has happened before off and on since that one February when I was in grade school, when I walked to school with no coat. I know. But... it is always odd.

Anyway … snow and bitter cold are a part of who we are. This year we have missed the snow but not all the bitter cold. Usually the two go together. The thing is – many of us would rather have a good ground cover of snow than the recurring mud of this year’s so-called winter. Snow cover, after all, makes everything look clean and makes the world quieter and more peaceful somehow.  Those aspects of winter are nice. We are ready for snow here. We have special gear for snow and every third pickup in these parts has a plow on the front. Almost all personal vehicles are all-wheel or 4-wheel drive. Thank goodness for all pickup plows and vehicles that will get you out of your driveway and along the roadways even if the big plows haven't rumbled through very often as of yet. We handle snow well. Plus.. we know how to shovel.

I realize that, if we get a blizzard now after writing all this, that it will serve me right. Sorry. It’s like the Weather in these parts has ears and likes to seek revenge. That’s why we whisper things like “This has been a really easy winter.” In fact - I am whispering in my head as I write this. We know we will pay for the good days. Case in point -- I have seen snow in the air in June. 

Sometimes I wonder why people live here.  In the summer, one can count the consecutive number of sunny days on one hand. Personally I live here because I like the cold and don’t mind cloudy summer days. I also like socks and sweatshirts. (It goes without saying that I like the people who live here.)  Guess every part of the country has it’s good and not so good weather points.  At least mold doesn’t survive well in these climes and no one has to worry about termites. They cannot survive temperatures below 25º. (I know this because I looked it up a long time ago. Don't know why, but I did.)  So ..there is that. One less thing to worry about.

Northwest Pennsylvanians are a Hearty bunch. We expect winter to be winter.  Maybe not as wintery as Buffalo NY, but still winter.    Let it snow... or not. We are ready.... 

WHO THINKS OF THESE?

             MY TOP FIVE T-SHIRT SAYINGS Of THIS SEASON:

5.   I JUST DID A WEEK'S WORTH OF CARDIO AFTER WALKING INTO A          SPIDER'S WEB.

4.  ANOTHER DAY HAS PASSED AND I DIDN'T USE ALGEBRA ONCE.

3.  I DON'T LIKE TO BRAG ABOUT EXPENSIVE TRIPS, BUT I DID JUST           RETURN FROM THE GROCERY STORE.

2.  JUST ONCE , I WANT A USERNAME AND PASSWORD PROMPT TO SAY,      CLOSE ENOUGH.     

and my most fave...

1.  I DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I ALSO DON'T CARE.

Am thinking that you may have a few favorites as well. Please feel free to add to the list.  We could all use a good laugh or ... if not that ... even a smile. Happy Thursday.  I hereby declare it funny T-shirt day.

 

Ruffians, Hooligans, and Unsavory Types

 

Not even half way through a fascinating book entitled Hidden History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, and I have to share with you that I wish I had had this writer as a Pennsylvania History teacher back in the day. Jessica Hilburn knows how to write a story that brings the past back to life.  She also happens to be the Historian and Head of Reference of the Benson Memorial Library in nearby Titusville, PA. Just so you know.

Those of you who are from this neck of Penn’s Woods will recognize  Warren, Titusville, Pit Hole, Corry, and other places mentioned that may be either a town where you are right this minute or nearby … or ... perhaps you know these places from childhood memories.  But – even if you are not from this corner of Northwest PA, the stories retold in this small book are most interesting. Not much has been written about this area and most of the time we are good with that. But, that said -- I figure we are fortunate to have these recountings and highly recommend this small book of 150 pages or so.  And to think that some people say that nothing ever goes on around these parts... or ever has. 

Only 60 pages in and I have read of murderous quacks, axe murderers, railroad disasters, and the increasing popularity of spiritualism – including a reference to a memoir dictated posthumously by spirits using a Yost typewriter invented in Corry in the 1870’s.  Then there is a pleasantly detailed history of The Warren State Hospital – still in operation today, where treatment of the mentally ill took giant steps forward way back then in methods and philosophy thus changing the perception of mental illness and putting forth new and more appropriate and humane ways to help those suffering with a myriad of issues.

The part I liked best so far though is the recounting of how Titusville, afflicted at one point in time with “characters” of concerning reputation and worse, had come to the breaking point. Enraged citizens of his small town were brought to the point of considering swift and serious revenge on the evil doers – even erecting a gallows outside the courthouse in full view of those being “tried” for their misdeeds.  The townsfolk were especially concerned with those accused of arson who practically burned down the whole place.  Anyway, as the story goes -- the leaders of Titusville established a Vigilance Committee to mete out justice.   One hundred men were selected to round up “thieves, incendiaries, pimps, and harlots.”  In the end, cooler heads prevailed and the gallows were not needed, but all the ruffians, hooligans and unsavory types were rounded up and tried in one morning session.  One single morning. Imagine that!  Justice can be swift .  Anyway --  they were all sentenced to permanent expulsion from the town and were escorted by a large contingent of residents to the Oil Creek Railroad station where they were put on a train that was headed to nearby Corry. Upon arrival in the train station in Corry, the villains met up with a group of ruffians from Buffalo, NY who were headed to Titusville to “exact revenge” -- although -- since no one had been hanged, that revenge was not necessary. 

The Titusville newspaper speculated that a large party ensued.  

Speaking of news reports ... It is important to mention that The Titusville Herald reported throughout.  I have to say that the reporter had an amazing vocabulary and a good sense of sarcasm. I love both of those characteristics.  One headline on January 24, 1866 read, “Disreputables Smoked Out – Wholesale Expulsion of Pimps, Harlots, and Blacklegs -- A Thorough Moral Purgation”.  Impressive, right?  

Hmm... I wonder if history teaches us a lesson or two in all of this...?