Apples don't fall far from trees

The Reporter's Notebook

 

Last updated 9/9/2020 at 8:21am



Sometimes it is strange the things that draw you back to your childhood.

While driving the other day, I looked down at my left hand that was grasping the steering wheel. My hand looked exactly like my father’s. 

I often think of my parents, even though they have been gone for a very long time.

My dad was a lifelong Democrat. The New Deal worked for our family, and making a negative comment about FDR would put you in peril around our house. There were many arguments around the house between my dad and two of his brothers. But one stern look from my Norwegian mother and arguments stopped.

My parents had a Philco radio and listened to all of FDR’s “Fireside” chats. I remember well how close to the radio they would sit.

I was born while Herbert Hoover was president, and as I grew, I developed a fondness of FDR.

Over the years I have read numerous books about Roosevelt, and Mrs. Roosevelt.


My parents had other heroes. They never missed listening to a Joe Louis fight. Both Mom and Dad would lean in close to the radio as if they could understand the fight better.

I never heard my parents say anything bad about a minority, or about anyone.

They had a hero in Babe Ruth. I was too young to hear the Ruth crowd on the radio, but he became a hero of sorts when I became a little older.

My dad was also a lifetime union man. I had joined the union on one occasion because I had no choice. While I haven’t had a close association with unions, I fully understand how they have helped the working man.

I got my urge to travel from my parents. They continually were on the road. While they also chased their horizons, they didn’t travel far.

My horizons luckily were different, and I found myself in circumstances where it was possible to follow the sun to a host of far off places. But I didn’t get to them all.

On my list of places were an exploration up the Amazon River, a walk on the wall in China and a trip to Cuba.

I had to substitute a boat trip up the River Kwai in Thailand, where the jungle sounds and sights I guess will have to do. While I never got to walk on the wall in China, I did get to stand at the border of the New Territories in Hong Kong and peek at Mainland China from a few feet away.

As far as Cuba, I did make it to Grand Cayman Island, not that many miles from Cuban shores.

And I ask myself, is it all over for me? As the days tick by and a slow fade in energy, probably. But never say never.

I almost was able to add Norway to my list. I had two tickets on SAS, but a health condition arose just a few days from departure.

So I can point to many things that caused the apples to fall from the old Lucas apple tree.

I look at the back of my hand again and thank my lucky stars that my parents gave me so much.

 

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