Huh? What's Up With That?

you can because you think y...        A frequent conversation with several students during my Encore Performance days dealt with the attributes of bypassing college if he or she was interested in some kind of service work, or, something equally brainy and just as hands on.  Conservatively, over the span of 17 years, there were at least a dozen such one on ones .   But, there was only one time a student walked into my office, sat down, and told me she didn't know what to do because she wanted to skip college and be a professional dancer.     HUH ?   What's up with that ?     Valerie Rockey is the youngest of three siblings and is now 27 years old.  Brothers Ben and Tommy are 32 and 29 respectively.     The entire family is a creative and talented group.  The patriarch, John, probably missed his calling as a standup comedian.  John's wife, Debbie, is an amazing artist.  Oldest son, Ben, may have been one...

it's a date...   This post marks our 50th publication since November 1, 2019.  Originally, the blog was to be printed every week, but an every two week format was much more doable and went into effect December 20, 2019.   So, here we are more than a year and a half later.    HUH ?   What's up with that ?   The original intent was to try to make this a better world and perhaps motivate younger people to treat older citizens with more respect.  The point was made in just a couple blogs and it became increasingly difficult to write negatively about any generation.  By nature, I am a critical person, but none more so than when assessing my own work and attitude.  A change was inevitable.    There are a tremendous amount of people of all ages who have a lot of positive contributions to offer and who have achieved success through a variety of different paths.  They are people who make great subject matter and it's been exciting ...

china bound...   Hollywood child actor Mickey Rooney was on a vaudeville stage at age 5 and appeared in his first movie by the time he celebrated his sixth birthday.  He was able to maintain his adolescent status way beyond his actual teen years because his physical stature never exceeded five feet, two inches tall.     Louisville, Kentucky child actor, Drew Ashley was on stage at the age of six.  That was six years ago.  Since that time, Drew has appeared in many productions and recently auditioned for a national tour of A Christmas Story .  In addition, he may have an opportunity to go to China for six months in a touring production of South Pacific .     However, there is now a drawback.  Drew is auditioning for parts and not getting them!     HUH ?   What's up with that ?    Drew is outgoing, extremely well-spoken, respectful and a polite 12 year old.  He appears to be everything any parent could as...

a bridge over troubled waters...                                                                                                                  p.simon, 1969            There must be a phantom sign on the stairway leading up to Air Force One that says, Trip Here.  If that's not the case, those steps must surely be jinxed.       Joe Biden isn't the only politician to stumble while trying to board the world's most famous aircraft.    The president managed to trip or stumble twice last March 19th as he climbed the stairs to Air Force One.     Still, the president's recent missteps pale by comparison to the tumble President Gerald Ford...

  it's concerning...   Environmentalists sounded the alarm years ago and there was some concern for a short time after the initial announcements concerning plastics getting into our water systems.  But, the awareness didn't last long and the alarm evidently wasn't loud enough.  Maybe the task of removing the debris from our waterways is too overwhelming.    It seems just as many restaurants use plastic straws, plastic bags can be found in most supermarkets, and we are still inundated with as many plastic toys as if there never was an alarm or call to action to do something about microbeads ending up in our oceans and Great Lakes.    HUH ?   What's up with that ?   This post is not a scientific endeavor or a pretense of knowledge I don't possess.  It is not meant to be a political statement or a call to arms.  It is simply a way to share with you a potential danger to our environment.     While on vacation in Florida a...

  e p 4...   This is the fourth post featuring interviews conducted with POS (people over 60) who have retired and started an Encore Performance .  These interviews were conducted last May.     For most of us, after a certain age, it is important to remain relevant and functional in an increasingly changing world.  As an example, it can be particularly difficult for POS to navigate the digital path set before us.  Nevertheless, most POS try to understand cell phones and computers, if for no other reason than to look good in the eyes of their grandchildren.  Some of us are more successful than others.       Like the previous interviews prior to Covid-19, this latest group of POS was consistent in attitude with their predecessors.  That is, they were upbeat, positive, and excited about their new significance.        Here are just three of this group's stories.   Linda Luck is married to Ray Clark.  T...

  tiny dancer...                            e. john and b. taupin   Erin Abell grew up in Campbellsville, Kentucky.  She started dancing when she was two years old when her mom put her in a local dance class for kids her age.    That was the beginning of a dance career that would last for many years and take Erin to some top-level competitions.   HUH ?   What's up with that ?    Erin is now married.  She and her husband, Joe, recently celebrated the arrival of Dean, their first born.  The three make their home in Louisville, Kentucky.   But, let's go back to the beginning.    My mom enrolled me in a local dance program that  practiced all types of dance, ballet, jazz, tap, she recalled.  I was two years old.     Apparently, you liked it because you stayed with it for over three decades.   I loved it , she confirmed.  ...