pos (people over 60) memories #3...

pos(people over 60)memories #3...

                 

  Some people like to think about their favorite memory or two on a regular basis.  Two ladies said they think of great family memories as a recurring theme.  

  Others may dwell in the past way too much.  One man told me he thinks the 1970s were the greatest decade in his history and he would like to go back to that time.

  Still others claim not to have a fun memory they occasionally bring up just to reminisce. Two people, independent of each other, told me they stay in the moment and don't look back.  I find that almost impossible to do, but, it must be real to some.

  Richard DeHart, 85, started his adult life in the Armed Forces.

  I was in Vietnam in 1969 and left in early 1970, he recalled.  Then, I turned right around and went back in late 1970 and stayed a year and a half.

  Okay.  It's now 1972 and you left the service with a splendid record.  What was next?  Did you have any plans?

  No, I didn't, he laughed.  I did all kinds of crap.  I worked security for a couple years, sold door to door for a couple more, worked for a refreshment services company, and then an assembly line for a lot of years.

  You've been retired for over 20 years.  Have you ever missed working?

  No, I have not, he said.  I'm as happy now as I've ever been and I don't miss one thing about it.  I don't need it.

  You are married.  Do you and your wife travel?

  We did until we got old, he smiled.  

  What is a good memory from all those years?

  I don't have one and if I did, I probably couldn't say it in public, he chuckled.  I pretty much live for right now.

  How about a bucket list, Richard?  Anything special?

  Just to get to the end of it, he replied.  I've pretty much done all I need to do.   

  I'd say you've done well for a man with no plan.

  Yes, I did, didn't I?  That's who I am, he concluded.   

  Michael Flatico also went to the Armed Forces right out of high school.

  I was in the army for three years, he stated.  After that, I went to work at Union Carbide and loaded 50 gallon drums of carbide onto railroad cars.  I did that for one day and quit.  I knew I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life.

  Back then, jobs were easy to find.

  Yes, they were, he agreed.  I applied for a job with Southern Bell and got the job.  I installed telephones for two years before I got a promotion.  They promoted me to work on circuit switches and I stayed in that job for 29 years. 

  Did you retire after that?

  No, I didn't, he said.  I went to the competition and they went bankrupt.  From there, I went to Expedia Group.

  Then you retired.  

  Well, no, he laughed.  I was ready to leave them, but, they sold out to Time Warner, so, I stayed another 11 years.  They changed their name to TW Telecom.

  I can't even begin to figure out how many retirement checks you get.

  I love direct deposit, he voiced.

 You've lived a long life.  You must have a favorite memory or two.

  No, I don't, Michael said.  I just try to appreciate the present. I live for what's going on right now.

  How about travel?  Been anyplace special?

  We did travel, he replied.  I've got health issues, so, we don't get around that much now.  Before that, we took a cruise to Alaska and loved every minute of it.  We've been to Italy and Scotland and a lot of places right here in our country. 

  Do you have children?

 Yes, I have a  daughter and three grandchildren and one 10 year old great grandson.  My first wife died in the late 90's and I remarried.  I've got a new grandson with my second wife and I'm enjoying him too.

  Tell me something that's on your bucket list.

  You know what? he asked.  I don't have one. Got some stuff to do around the house, but, that's about it. 

  Thanks for your time, Michael.

  Any time, he responded. 

  Coming up"  another oddities, observations, & ?'s; a POS memories, and; a job$ somebody's gotta do.

  And, finally.  One of my favorite work related memories goes back to the early 1960s when I was a camera operator for WTTV, Channel 4, in Indianapolis.

  An early radio pioneer (KDKA, America's first radio station, early 1920s) by the name of Frank Edwards came to Indianapolis in the 1950's.  He had a nightly variety/talk show on the non-network affiliated TV station which aired at 10 o'clock each night.  We taped the show from 8:00-9:00 o'clock, Monday through Friday.   

  Comedienne Phyllis Diller was in town and she was to be a guest on the show.

  Mr. Edward's set was much like Johnny Carson's or any of the other talk shows we have seen.  There were two French doors behind the guest chair which was positioned to the right of the host.

  The tease at the beginning of the show featured Miss Diller who on a given cue was to come from behind the French doors and say:  Hi, I'm Phyllis Diller and you are going to see me on the Frank Edwards Show tonight!  Her cue to make her entrance was the snap of the floor director's fingers. 

  At the last minute, the floor director decided to use a clapboard instead of snapping his fingers, but, he failed to tell the performer of the change.  The miscommunication caused Miss Diller to miss her cue and she remained behind the doors at the sound of the clapboard.  Here is the dialogue that followed the sound of an extremely loud clapboard in a super quiet studio.

  Uh, Miss Diller, (she remained behind the doors) that was your cue to come through the doors, he said.

  What? she asked.

  I used a clapboard instead of my fingers, he responded.

  Oh, crap, she exclaimed.  I was going to say, my God you've got awfully big fingers (followed by her famous HAW HAW)!

  I can still hear that clapboard and the immediate ad lib, and, of course, the laughter of the entire production crew to this day.  

  HUH?  What's up with that?