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Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I try not to predict it because I know that anything is possible
and the situations and patterns of those to the west, north , south, and
east will in some way affect our weather. How's that for stepping out on
a limb? Some people plant thier gardens as to the weather and how the moon
is showing. I haven't used that theory because I have had good luck with
my plants, and I try to nurture them with the proper amount of food and
care that it needs to trive in our kind of weather pattern. And of course
like all gardeners, I know the plant needs some praise about how great
it is doing. Planting a garden is a pleasure I look forward to each year,
because when I am out there all by myself except for The Great Father,
I feel an inner peace , and I seem to be able to talk with Him one on one.
As you work the soil, you have to wonder just how that soil got
there in the first place. And as you plant that seed or plant, you wonder
how that seed will grow. And later on as the plant starts it's growth,
you wonder just how big it will get and how fruitfull it will be. Gardening
is just that. You start it, you nurture it, you weed it, and you praise
it. What it becomes and how fruitfull it is depends on how much care you
gave it. Sounds about like how life is, doesn't it? That garden is a mirror
of what our lives are, except with the garden, if it doesn't turn out too
good this year, then you do something to improve it the next year. With
life, you only have that one chance, and you have to do it right the first
time, because that is how life will be from then on. Those children that
God sends you, are to be part of you until one of you leave this life.
They have to be trained, supported, and observed until that time in thier
lives when they can do thier own way of life. Are we gardeners of life
or are we the ones who just sit back and watch someone go bad?
I guess I look at life in a little different way than most, because
two times, I almost lost it. And one other time, we lost one of those beautiful
angels that God sent us to train, nurture and observe her beauty as she
grew. So life to me is very important, and each day is a gift for me. I
take it one day at a time, and I try not to let anything bother me, because
all I have to do is to talk with Him and everything starts to come together.I
guess that the way that I look at life is the way that most of the Day
family does too. We are people that don't get around too much and many
times the only way we get together is either at funerals or at reunions.But
we are a family that has been raised with high standards in honesty and
loyaly and morality by our parents here in Kokomo and in Tipton. We are
just common folk with love in our hearts for our fellow men. That is the
way that God wanted and He got it. Thanks Mom and Dad in all the Day families
for raising us up right.
And if you are getting ready to plant a garden, or to raise a family,
you need to follow some rules. Make sure that you have good soil so that
you will have good roots so that it will have good support, which will
bring about good growth, and good a bountiful result. Now if that doesn't
sound like life, then just maybe you are doing it wrong. Remember that
with a garden, you can do it right next year. With life, you have to do
it the right way the first time.
Thanks for allowing me into your homes again on a Sunday morning,
and if there are any of you that wants to contact me,
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
It is that day each year when we honor our mothers with their
day in glory. Mother's Day is a day that we, who have placed all the burden
of our lives on them, honor that wonderful lady we call "Mom". We set aside
one day each year to tell our lady that we love her and we respect how
much she did to raise, feed, nurture, and train us while she did without
all the things she should of had or all the things that she could of enjoyed,
if she didn't have us to watch over. But you know what? Mom liked taking
care of all of us and up to the day that she went "Home", she did worry
about her kids no matter how good they have becomed. Moms are like that.
They have something in thier system called love and they give as much of
it out to those children that came out of her belly. And those who chose
to adopt a child do the same thing. They give thier love to thier chosen
children, and it keeps giving as long as they are still on this earth.
There is an eternal bond with mother and child that starts as soon as she
is with child. The love that flows from within from mother to child is
only experienced between the two of them. Only until that cord which ties
them together is cut, the difference is that bond and the one that starts
with the rest of the family. . But Mom's love doesn't quit just because
she has to share the child with the father and the rest of the family.
Mom still has that nine month head start and she never loses ground. Her
love actually grows more each day and she shows it through all the things
that go un-noticed. I was truly blessed by having a mother like this and
until the day when I will go "Home" to see her, I cherish all the time
that we spent together. No love is greater than between mother and child,
except for "His" love for "His" children.
When Ramona and I married, I picked up another mom to go with my own. Her name was Sarah and she was the sweetest lady around for a son-in-law to have. This little lady was the same as my mother, Lucille, as she cared so deeply for her children. And I recieved a lot of special attention from this sweet lady as many times she would fix meals that I could eat, because of my problems with certain foods. And if I was down with some ailment, she would always check on me to see if I was ok. So this old man through the years , has many memories of two great ladies who deserved the title of "MOM". But why pick just one day to praise the lady who gave us her whole attention for nine months longer than anyone else? We should praise them every day just like we do "The Great Father", because they do the same as He does. They love us, and they watch over us . Happy Mother's Day to my mother "Lucille", and to my mother-in-law "Sarah", who have gone Home. And also to Patricia who has also gone Home and who was a great mother to Amanda and Matt. And for the lady in my life who has always been there for me and who is my mother of my children, and who's name is Ramona, Happy Mothers Day to you and to all the mothers in this world.
And so to end this week, I want to leave you with these words; don't waste your time worrying about the things you can't change. Use that time to cherish life. Until next week, I leave you with my e-mail address in case you have some thoughts to share. arermdrd@netusa1.net. And if you get time, let me know by letter , how you feel about my column. I get e-mails from several places in the USA who still take the Tribune or has relatives sending them my column and I love the praises of my work.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
Well folks, I decided to take a week off from work to rest those
tired legs and feet , part of the negative side of working on cement floors.
And you know that the first chance I get, I am going to catch up on all
those things that have been shoved over in the corner to do later. I know,
I am supposed to rest, but if I don't get to them now, they will just build
up and won't ever get done. The yard needs mowing, but it is raining so
that job can wait. The flower garden has a lot of weeds in it, and being
wet, I can pull those weeds. But if it is too wet, then I might pull out
a plant and ruin it's root system. Maybe I better wait on that until it
gets a little dryer. Hey, how about trimming those branches that hang down
so low when it rains and scratches the car as I drive up the driveway?
But I need someone to pull them down so that I can cut them as high as
possible, and there is nobody here to do that. So that job didn't get done
either. Well, there is one thing that needs done inside and that is vacumning
the carpets and moving the furniture and I can do that while the good lady
is gone and I will surprise her. Wrong again, because we are out of the
cleaner bags and my back just started hurting. Man, here I am on vacation
and I can't get anything done. I guess I will just rest my body this week
and schedule another week to do those other things. One thing I would like
to mention here. My father, who worked at the steel mill, never took any
vacation until he was past sixty years old. He kept chugging along trying
to make ends meet for his family. Thanks Dad, for working so hard for us
to live with full stomachs and warm clothes. He was quite a man.
And so to another topic that I like to talk about and that is the
raising of children in the old way when honesty, respect, and family togetherness
was the basis and the rule of bringing up your child. Today, they lable
it child abuse, but in my day it was teaching you to respect your elders
and all the spankings we got were for things when we showed disrepect for
the rules set down by those who were raising us. We were not abused, we
were trained. Today, it is letting them find their own thing in life, whereas
in my day our parents showed us the way and were there to help us get there.
Today, the young folk are into the drug habit because it is cool and the
others are doing it. In my day, about the only bad thing that our parents
might catch us at was lighting up a smoke, which I am proud to say that
once was all it took for this little guy to never do it again. Today, the
kids are out running around at the age of ten or lower with the gangs,
getting in trouble. In my time, we had walking policemen who walked their
beat and if they caught you out late or with the wrong people, they took
you straight home and guess who gets a spanking?
But don't think from the words I write that I am down on those young
people because that is not the fact. Those young kids are going to be our
leaders one day and they will be the ones who will make the decisions that
will help us in our everyday life. Just think about it for a minute. Would
you like your leaders to be drug pushers and ones who didn't respect their
fellow man? Don't you want this country to remain free, led by honest,
respectful men and women, who will work with others in the decision making
process? It is never too late to re-instate the rules and training of old
into todays training of the greatest resource we have, our young children.
Thanks for the visit.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day-
And then when I was in the fifth grade, I had a very terrible looking wart on my chin, and I wanted it to come off. My mother asked her friend to come see me and help me. He wasn't a doctor but he had the "Gift". He looked and he asked if I believed and I told him that I did. He proceded to rub his fingers around the wart, while never touching it and then he said the words. He told me that it will come off in a few days but I will not know when. I remember a few days later while in school, touching my chin and it was gone. This taught me that there is a God and that He does have certain people here on earth that can perform miracles as long as they go through Him.
During my younger years, I played and ran around with different races, and I found out that although we might look different and we might at some places be segregated, we are of the same . Many of my childhood friends still come up to me and shake hands or hug me, even though I might be of another color. This teaches me that under God's eyes, we are the same, made with love the same way that all others are. This taught me that friends are forever, and I really have a lot of good friends. I think that without them, this would be a very dull life. But they are there and I am there for them too.
So as I think back, I have to consider myself a very lucky man to have known all of these people. Many people go a lifetime being mad at the world, thus losing all that time that he or she might of been happier only if they had tried to love thier fellow man. That, in my case and in the case of my brothers and sisters, was from the wonderful training that our parents used, to make us a better person. If only in today's world, we could take the hand of another and give a hug to each other, we might find that happiness that is missing. We could at least try to get along. Let me say this and see if it works. If the day is cold, let's warm it up a little. If it is hot than cool it off some. If it is cloudy, then light it up some. You can do all this by just a smile, a hug, or a handshake. Why can't we as God's children get along with each other? Thanks for letting me visit with you this Sunday and watch for me to pop into your homes via this newspaper next Sunday. Have the coffee pot ready. If you want to e-mail me, you can at arermdrd@netusa1.net. Thanks for listening.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I took a trip down memory lane with some old friends the other
day and we talked about things that we did when we were kids. There were
several grocery stores in our neighborhood that let us walk through the
stores checking out all the great stuff they had. Stores run by Mr Whitacre
and by Ben Martin and by Bill French , and Merrel Winburn, were nice family
type stores with usually family members working there. You could go in
there and they knew you and they trusted you because they knew our moms
and dads and they knew we were brought up right. Man, you could get a sack
of candy at those store for a nickel and it would last all day. And of
course, all those grocery stores let our parents and thier other customers
run a weekly tab where they would take the list that our parents sent with
us and they would fill the order and write what was owed on a sheet of
paper, and on payday , our parents would pay that bill. That was called
credit but also it was called trust in the fellow man. Where could
you find today that kind of trust. As I grew up, I found that there was
larger stores such as National Foods and Marsh Foodliner, along with Longs
Grocery and Jesse Weaver's Market.and Krogers there on Washington Street.
A guy by the name of Frank Neal ran that store and I worked for him for
about two years. There was one fine man. A man named Bill Borden
worked there too and he became store manager when Frank left.
Both of those men were just like Mr. Whitacre, Mr. French, Mr. Martin and
Mr. Winburn, in that they knew who they could trust. The grocery store
business here in Kokomo will always be remembered by me and my neighborhood
friends as having great people leading the way for those who would come
next, in those gentlemen and thier families. You might say that thier families
were all the people in those sections that came to those stores to buy
food. Trusting someone in those days was easier than it is today. Back
then a man's word was his bond, and honesty between businesses and buyers
was common ground. It is sort of a shame that we don't have those small
stores now, but there is no way that they can compete with the larger stores,
because of volume and selection. That was in the past and we only have
the memories of those fine people who ran the neighborhood grocery store.
But with those memories comes thoughts of all the old places that were
here in the form of factories that gave our men and women jobs so
that they could feed thier children and heat thier homes . Places like
Hoosier Iron Works , Delco North Plant Pittsburg Plate Glass , Direlite,
and many more. You probaly noticed that I didn't say where some of them
actually were because my memory fades some about them. Now Continental
Steel has joined the graveyard of companies who were here but are gone,
but they were here to give work to the people of Kokomo. So it makes me
think that just maybe there ought to be at least a marker telling people
where these companies were. I worked at Continental Steel for thirty-one
plus years as did my father for thirty-seven years and our families
were fed, kept warm and with a roof over our heads because of that company.
That is one reason why when they finally get through figuring out what
to do with the land there, they will take about a forty ft. square of it
and place some sort of a memorial to the place that helped build this great
city. Right now it is sitting there waiting for someone to say what will
be built there. And I along with all the other steel workers want something
placed there that will tell our great grandchildren that we worked
there and for that they can be proud. Surely it would not hurt the city
fathers to grant that wish to all of us workers, living and dead, so that
we would know that we really did help to make this city of Kokomo, Ind.
Of course there would be some reson that it would cost too much but think
about this; it has been sitting idle for several years with no tax money
coming from it. Thanks for the visit and I will see you next Sunday. Reach
me at arermdrd@netusa1.net
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
Somethings I remember about the old days really gets me going, because
it reminds me about things that mom and dad did. Do you remember the old
pop bottle that had a stopper on it with lots of holes in it? That was
what mom used to sprinkle her ironings with. How about the old washboard
that they used to rub the clothes against to get the grease and dirt out.
And how about the old ringer -type washer where after you got the clothes
out of the washer, you would run them through the wringer to force as much
water out possible. That ringer was also great if you wanted some good
creases in your overalls. You would get it started just right and then
let that ringer which was two solid rolls running against each other, put
on the best crease that you would ever want. And add to that, we had some
metal pieces that you would place down the legs of those pants and spread
them out so that it was tight and then hang them out on the line to dry.
Talk about going to school in style, that was it. Remember when the cars
had the head light dimmer on the floor and the ignition switch on the dash?
And at one time you started your car by pushing the floor switch.How about
having to use hand signals because most cars had no turn signals. How about
the old icebox where you actually had to put ice in it in order to store
and protect your food? How about going to the grocery store and dipping
your hand down into a ice filled pop box. Man that was cold. How about
the jukeboxes in the driveins, where you played that favorite song for
that special partner? And do you remember the milkman leaving your milk
on the doorstep? That milk was in a glass bottle and a round cardboard
lid in it. and how many remember the old party line telephones. Each home
on that line would have a certain number of short and long rings
that would tell them that the call was for them. Now you know that as soon
as that phone was answered, there were several more that would pick up
the phone very quitely and listen in. Then there was a word before the
telephone number, which in our case was gladstone. How about those 45 RPM
records that you played on the record player. I still have a lot of them.
Remember S&H Green Stamps, that you would recieve at the supermarket,
and after you filled so many books with them , you could redeam them for
some great prize.? Do you rember using butch wax or Brillcream on your
hair. Believe it or not , we use to take a bit of lard and run it through
our hair and then comb that head into one great look. How about the old
Packard and Studebaker cars. I could sit back and remember a lot more stuff
that was only in my time and will never come forth in your time again.
Walking thirteen blocks to school each day, the same back home for lunch,
then the same back to school and then the same back home . That is fifty-two
blocks in one day and you still had chores to do when you got home. You
know what? We never were tired of doing it, because it was fun. Now if
you are more than five blocks, you have to wait on a bus to pick you up.
Well, the past is just that in that it is gone but not forgotten. I hope
you have enjoyed these memories that was a part of my life way back when.
Ray Day
One such person who I want to tell you about today, was named Tom. We all knew him as Uncle Tom, and he was my wife's uncle. Here was a man who served his country in the Armed Forces, came home to his family and raised some pretty good kids. Tom was one of those guys who meant what he said and he always had a little joke to play on you. I met him right after he came home from service and we became friends right away. He was my best man at our wedding, and of course he had to play the lost ring trick, but with a big smile, he handed me the ring, and everything was good. Though the years Tom stayed in contact and always with a trick up his sleeve.
Through all these years he was our Uncle Tom, and like the rest of his sisters and brother, he was family. This family and thier mother, Grandma Budd, treated me with respect and with loving arms. But one day, we found out that our youngest daughter was diagnosed with ovarion cancer, and the world started spinning and things that always seem important wasn't really that important anymore. Patty was our main concern now and we put our lives on hold in order to help her combat this terrible disease. Who was in the back waiting to step forward to help us in this time of need, none other than Uncle Tom and his wife Carolyn. Here was a man who had very bad lungs with not too much chance of living very long, yet he had enough time to come be with us and to help our little girl. They didn't miss many days being there, trying to be that father figure for Patty when I wasn't there. Patty would tell Tom that he needed to take care of himself and not worry about her but in Tom's heart was a love for Patty that usually you don't get from an uncle. They would joke around and laugh at each other and they both would have tears in thier eyes knowing that both of them needed the other.
After we lost her, Tom started slipping fast and for a little over four years fought to stay alive. He was about gone when I had to have heart surgery and that was the time when he reached down into his soul and stayed alive until he knew that I survived the surgery and I was home safe. He passed away without me being able to see him, but I know deep in my heart that he was ready to go meet his master. His name was Tom Budd and he was my uncle, my friend and my brother. Such is the love that one man has for another. Tom was a man who wasn't afraid to hug another man because it is that love that holds us dear to being close to God.
I sometimes think while out in the garden how he would always ask if we had any tomatoes for him. And I always look back to that time when I needed someone to help me , and there he was. I feel him when I am alone out there working in my garden, because I know where he is. He is at peace and he is Home. Why can't all mankind be at peace while still here on earth? Why can't you out there give a hug to someone instead of trying to fight them. That answer is for you to tell, because you have to live with yourself. I really miss you my brother and we will see each other again. There is an old saying that you reap what you sow, and for our family to have had Uncle Tom with us , we know it to be true. To have known him was to love him. Thanks for listening to an old man tell you how it is.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I really am amazed how many people tell me about my articles
each week. The praises means that people out there are reading and
talking among themselves about this nearly bald old man who tells it like
it was and like it is today. I won't get on a bandwagon just to be heard.
Most people out there who know me will tell you that I won't argue a case
that has no merit. I won't back anything that would hurt, cheat or tear
someone down. If I am to be a voice against something , it has to be something
where there is a possibility of someone being cheated, hurt, or brought
to thier knees by those who would profit by doing so. Thus said, if you
hear me make a statement, it will be one of fact and not fiction.
I recieved an e-mail the other day from a old friend named Lee who lived here in Kokomo, until 1938 when he moved to the New England area, and who remembers what it was like to live in Kokomo far before I came. Refering to my story about the grocery stores , he said that the little Ma and Pa stores carried a lot of people during some very hard times . Many never collected the full amount owed due to deaths . Things were much different in those days, and loyalty and shaking hands meant something . He said that maybe we couldn't rub two coins together but our Faith in the Almighty carried us through and we could say IN GOD WE TRUST without fear . There is a lot of truth in what he says, because I know that if you put your trust in someone back then, you could bank on them to come through. Lee remembers and in his words talks about walking down the dirt country roads . Only the best was gravel . He doubts now if there is a dirt road in all Howard County . He could shut his eyes and see little dust devils in the middle of the road . In the distance were shimmering heat waves . Burma Shave signs were nailed to the fence posts . There were the big beautiful barns . The hex signs had a meaning. He wonders if there are any barns out there now with a Bull Durham painted on it? How about a big Beech Nut pouch or a Black Mayo ? He remembers climbing in the hay loft on a rainy day and listening to the music of the rain on a tin roof . There is no sound to compare to it . How many kids today have played hide and seek in a corn field ? After harvest it was fun crawling into a corn shock to hide from your friend . Lee says that he has some good friends in Kokomo, and the letters he gets from them are more precious than gold and more beautiful than diamonds .He considers himself to be the most luckiest man in the world . He calls me his friend although I have never met him. He likes to read my column because he says that I write with sense.
It is a big world out there and to have people from all over the world letting me know that they have read my columns, sent to them by friends or relatives, makes me just feel overwhelmed with joy. Let The Kokomo Tribune know because it is because of them that my words reach you. I am there not only to sound off about my days as a youngster, but to learn from you how bad or good you had it growing up. Any way you look at it, this old man will write until his last day on earth and then you will still have one more to read, because no one can tell my obit the way that I would like it to read. To leave this world with one more for you to read would be giving you the chance to read the last words.To finish up this week's column, I want to remember a good friend that went Home last week. Raymond Bassett passed away and will be missed by this old man who knew him all my life. He too, liked to read my words, and he was a good man. Thanks for the visit.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
This week, I am going to climb up on my soapbox and give some
views that need to be addressed.You know what? I don't know how many times
I have stated that I was going to say something about the national holidays,
and then didn't. But today is the day that I get it out of my system, and
let everyone know about it. When I was in school, we were taught that there
were certain dates on which something in history happened, and that they
were to be remembered. Those dates through the years were part of the history
of this great nation and thus were given holiday status. That way those
dates were something special and should be treated as such. Most of the
time, those holidays have stayed intact , but there are many which are
honored on a Monday, so that the workers can have an extra day off. My
feeling is that when you change the date of a holiday so that it is a convienence
for business or the worker, you are saying the holiday is not that important.
All those important dates that we were taught in school should still be
important enough that we observe them on that particular date. Now to get
to another thing about holidays, how many times are we going to allow our
elected officials to come up with a day for this and a day for that? Did
you know we have people in congress who are supposed to be doing thier
jobs, but who are continualy bringing up a new day for someone or something?
And there is a panel there that is supposed to stop that sort of nonsense,
but guess what ; the people on one group are the same people on the other
group. Talk about wasting the taxpayers money. And here is another thing
to think about. It used to be that Sunday was a day of worship with no
stores open, and the only thing open was maybe the movie houses and a place
to get a coke or a sandwich. Now everyone stays open on Sundays and if
you look long enough you will find a tavern open even though it is supposed
to be closed. There are places where you can go and play peek-a-boo at
certain clubhouses. And there is gambling going on all the time. Where
did the meaning of Sunday go? Now you are asking what business is it of
mine and my answer to that is you are right because it isn't none of my
business. I am just stating the fact that things have changed for the worst
and someday, I would like to see us go back to the blue law and enjoy Sunday
as a day of worship and/or rest for all. Maybe I am old fashion, but the
things that I lived with all these years have gone the way of the outhouse.
I know that we have to have progress but do we have to sacrafice all the
honor in order to have it? As to our police chief position,we should fill
from within. I have been friends with a lot of our policemen and women,
and I know that they do the best job they can to protect us, and many times
the stress they recieve goes home with them. To bring an outsider in would
be a slap in the face of those good protectors who we have there now. Take
a look sometime at all the work they have and tell me they aren't doing
thier job. They do it well and I thank them for it. Think what it would
be without that protection. I might not agree sometimes with a method but
I do agree with the results. Now one more thing and I will get down off
my soapbox and let it rest. I am sick and tired of hearing that there are
those out there that hate Americans, and wants them to perish. It is time
that the rest of the world realizes that we are peace loving people but
don't back us up into a corner because that is where the rest of the world
will get bit. It is time that others learn that we live here because we
are free and we are God's people. Enough for this week. Visit with you
next week.E-mail me at arermdrd@netusa1.net
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I have been asked about what I think about the upcoming election
and I will put my two cents in even though politics and religion are two
things that I feel has to be the other person's right to decide which road
to follow. The primary was over two months ago and the ones that have won
nomination from thier party need to really sit back and look at what has
gone on in those seats that they already occupy or want to win in the fall
elections. I could pull out my little notebook and see who has been representing
you and me in those positions, but if you have been watching the papers
and the television, you can see for yourself that changes need to take
place , and the sooner the better. We have those want-to-be's who have
been representing us by sitting on thier backsides and letting the special
interest groups dictate how they need to vote. We have those who don't
show up to vote, because they have something better to do with our time.
We have those who want to increase thier pay for doing nothing. And here
in Indiana, we have a deficit warning for next year even though there was
a lot more money in the pot to spend for things we hoosiers need and deserve.
Was there a large hole in the bottom of our surplus bucket? So let's take
a trip down reason alley and observe what has been done with our reserves.
First off, how many times have you and I heard from our representatives?
Sure they use our money to send junk mail asking for us to fill out, which
turns up in file 13 as soon as they get it back. Then think about how many
of those representatives are sitting on committees researching for information
that doesn't pertain to the people they are supposed to represent. And
what about those who want pay raises at the same time that we are told
that the well is going dry. Something smells real bad here? I know that
I will be getting some flak about what I am saying but these words are
not only mine but the questions of others. It is my belief that it is time
for them to get the job done or get off the pot. You will ask what do I
care about how the state spends our money, and I will tell you that someone
needs to care. Recently there was a large increase in our state budget
approved by the very people who are representing you and I. That tells
me that there will be more money left after the vitals are taken care of
and we will have a balance for someone to come up with a way of using it.
We do not need to put more money in the pot. We need to make sure that
those who want to be our voice in the state and federal government, use
thier minds instead of our pocketbook. At one time it was my desire to
be one of those voices but my health and the wear and tear on my family
will not allow my dream to come true. But that will not stop me from being
a thorn in the side of those who are only in it to further thier dream
of moving up the ladder of politics.
I am an American, and I believe in the two party system, but I also
am very critical of the way that those who we have elected, have gone from
representing us to that of backing special interest groups. Now there are
some groups that need to be heard and some sort of action given that will
be for the best of all, but don't use my time and my money to condone those
who are there to profit from it. Now I need to tell you that this is my
opinion and not that of any person who doesn't feel the same way. America
is the greatest country in the world and is a country that the other parts
of the world need and just maybe that is the problem. Maybe if we tell
them to stand thier own two feet and make thier country free as our fore-fathers
did here, we might be able to stand along side instead of in front. There
is too much of a chance of being shot in the back. Talk with you next week.
E-mail me at arermdrd@netusa1.net
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day-
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
As many of my readers tell me, they like to read about the old
days when life was what you made of it. They remember all the things that
they had to do , which is not required of the youth of today. They remember
all the hardships of trying to stay warm or to stay cool and to be able
to have a good meal on the table. Many tell me that the youth of today
would not survive back then. And you know what, I agree with them about
most of that. Yes it was hard to keep warm in the winter, because most
of the homes had the pot-belly stoves in one room of the house which had
to be the warmest room so that the rest of the house got some of that heat.
We had a coal and wood stove made by Florence, in the middle room of the
house and we had a cook stove in the kitchen which was always warm so that
mother could cook the meals. And in the summer which sometimes was pretty
warm, we only had the small fans propped up in the open window to bring
whatever air there was to cool us off. Needless to say, we spent a lot
of our time outside in the summer, trying to stay in the shade of a large
tree. And of course our meals were made up of bacon and eggs, toast and
coffee, milk and fried mush in the mornings. At noon, mom would always
have a hot meal ready for her loved ones, which was made up of potatoes,
beans, cornbread, and a cold drink, with a touch of meat for those who
wanted it. At suppertime, we were given whatever leftovers there were from
lunch, mixed in a way that only mom could do. Have you ever had bean cakes,
or potatoe cakes, or cornbread that was sliced and fried so that it was
looked like toast. If not, then you sure missed out on some great meals.
And of course Dad didn't like to eat leftovers so Mom would always take
the time to fix him some fresh food, because he was the person who
went to work each day to keep the rest of us warm and stomachs full. And
also let me say this that anytime that Mom wasn't looking, he would grab
one of those bean cakes or potatoe cakes and put them down just like we
did. Mom knew that but this was her man and she gave him the best she had
because she loved him that much. I can say a lot about my parents, and
talk about them all day, but it goes down to one line and that is that
I and my brothers and sisters loved them very much. The youth of today
take thier parents for granted thinking that they will always be there
for them, but they should realize that they will be gone one day when they
are called HOME, and they should learn everything they can from them before
that time comes. I can truthfully say that all of us can take care of ourselves
because we were trained as youngsters by the greatest couple around called
Mom and Dad. And all those who lived back then feel the same way about
thier Moms and Dads, because they were raised right. This is the time for
the youth of today to do several things. Don't take Mom and Dad for granted,
and try to learn from them. Go to them every chance you can and tell them
you love them. Treat them with respect because what they say to you is
from expierence. And if they are Heaven, then you better watch you p's
and q's because they have a front row seat watching.. Many times I think
back to what our mother and father tried to teach us and I see that it
was for a good reason. They knew that one day they wouldn't be around to
hold your head above water, so they tried to teach you how to swim on your
own. Well, that just about does it for this week, so we part with one more
thought. What would your life be if not for those two loving parents. Scary
thought isn't it? Talk with you later. E-mail me with your thoughts at
arermdrd@netusa1.net
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
This week, I am getting back up on my soapbox and do a little
hollering at some of the most terrible type of scum of the earth. I am
refering to those who think it is funny to knock down grave stones in our
cemetaries. Those terrible people who laugh at the damage of graves of
loved ones who's body is in it's final resting place. Yes, I know that
it is just thier body lying there but that body meant something to someone
and that grave with the name of that person on it has a lifetime of memories
that someone cherishes very much. It takes someone real low to try and
damage that memory. As I go through the graveyards to pay my respects and
to water the flowers on it, I see history. I see the dates and see how
old they were before they passed on. And I see where some didn't make it
past the teenage years. There is a story at every marker that if possible
would show the history of a life before. As I see the plants or flowers
placed on the graves, I see respect. As I look at the names and the dates
on the markers, I can tell if there are still survivors, or if there are
none left. One day, I was in Memorial Park, and there was a little old
man sitting on the grave of his wife who had passed away about six months
earlier, and he was talking to her. And he was telling her what he had
done that day and that he sure missed her. A little later I saw him leaving
and as he came by, he said hello and we talked for awhile. He said he hadn't
missed a day going to that gravesite and visiting with his wife. He said
that some people laugh at him and they say to get over it because she is
gone. I told him that I visit the graves of my parents and family as much
as I can, and it doesn't matter what others think. Everyone has thier own
way of grieving and others should not laugh at them. Well this little old
man was killed about three weeks later as he walked across the street and
was hit by a speeding car.. As I go by that grave now, I never see anyone
there. That probaly was the main reason that this man went there each day,
as he and she had no one else who cared. And that brings me to this thought
that I hope that someone will care enough to remember me when The Great
Father calls me Home. I am blessed in that I come from a large family and
there probaly will be someone out there who will visit my grave and say
hello. So to all those out there who think it is ok to damage the memory
of a loved one by damaging the marker, stealing shepard hooks, or pulling
up flowers that are planted in the ground, I have one single thought for
you. One day your body will be in that ground, and your name will be on
that marker, and you will have a loved one come by and say hello and they
will find that some other scum has desecrated your grave. How will they
feel? So if you are guilty of such a foul deed, just maybe you should take
it among yourself to correct it. There is a grave that says this."I was
what you are today; you will be what I am now" Did that open your eyes?
And so the tragic part of this is not only that there are people out there
who would tear down the memory of a loved one, but also there are those
who never take the time to visit a grave of a loved one. Take it from me
folks if I was a school teacher, I would conduct a class in the cemetary
once in a while just to show the history of a lifetime lies in each grave.
If I were a judge, I would take the drunk drivers there to show them how
many lives were lost to drunk driving. Those graves are not just a final
resting place ; they are the history of a life in the past. So as I close
for this week, I leave you with this thought. What are memories without
feelings? Is that memory over as soon as you go Home? See you next week,
Good Lord willing.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
It is very hard for those who have been born in the last twenty
years to realize that life as they have it now is a progression of time
going back to the beginning. In no way do they or will they experience
any of the hardships endured by those of the past two centuries to get
to today. Right now it is the belief of all the things sitting there for
them to get what they want without anything done on thier part to earn
them. Only a few have jobs to help pay for thier education, and to have
spending money. In other words, most of the younger generation have it
given to them on a silver platter. If they would of had to go back in time
to those days when the life of each individual was the result of his or
her's labor, I wonder if they would of made it. If you go back in time
to when your parents were born, you would of seen many hardships that they
endured . But even then it was better than before thier time. If you go
back to your grandparents time, you would probaly be in the time span of
my early life. That time I can relate to because I lived it. And knowing
what my parents and all those before me experienced, I can truthfully say
that I was very fortunate to be one of those born in the thirties. I say
that because before my birth, our parents and grandparents went through
World War I, and they suffered through the depression. It was not an easy
life for them and they had to make do with whatever they recieved in the
form of food and clothing. My father was a hard working man who did whatever
he could to bring his family the comforts of life. My mother very seldom
had any free time as she was the one who did the cooking, the cleaning,
and the loving of her children. But as we grew older, we realized that
we had to do our part to help mom and dad. Mom taught us to do all the
things that she did, because she knew that someday we would need that training
to get by. Dad always taught us that your handshake was as good as you
are. He always said that if you go looking for a job you better be ready
to do it right. Neither mom or dad thought that life as they knew it would
change to life as we see it today. I remember some of the things that my
grandmothers would say such as life is only as good as you make it. They
came up in a time when they didn't have running water, inside plumbing,
gas furnaces, or electric lighting. They existed in a time of turmoil,
when the effects of a civil war were still fresh in thier minds. And they
didn't have any idea that a future of easy living was even possible. They
made due with what they had, and envy was not a word they knew. If you
thought about thier parents, you would wonder what thier life was like,
and what they had to do to make it. Such is what life is all about. It
is what you make of it. And you hope that the lives of your children will
be a lot better because you love them. But with the children of today who
think that money grows on trees, and the use of drugs, liquor, and smokes
is the only way to live, I have to say that the future of life will only
get worse instead of better. You have to have faith that all those before
you did thier part to make life easier for you and now you have to do your
part to insure a better life for your children. I must say that our parents
and grandparents did thier part well, even though they had no idea that
it would be as well as it has been. My advice to all those youngsters out
there, who one day will be parents, is to stay away from drugs, liqour,
and smokes, and to make your parents proud with some healthy children,
and a better way of life. Remember that there were times when sacrafices
were made so that you in the future would reap the harvest of love and
stability and a better life. If I stepped on some young toes, wait till
you grow old and see how they feel then. As always Uncle Ray can be reached
at arermdrd@netusa1.net .
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
A friend one day asked me if he was too fat. I asked him if he meant too fat for me or for him. He said that it didn't make any difference, and I said that it did. So we started on a conversation about the weight problem he said he has and we really got down to some revelations that neither of us even thought of. First off, it doesn't matter one hill of beans how heavy a person is if they feel good about themselves and they can tolerate the strain that it puts on thier body and everyday life. But if there are problems getting around or breathing or just being tired all the time, then just maybe you need to find a way to lose the excess baggage. Why punish your body when you have the disire to be less heavy, and the means to get it done. Your body is a temple and you should always be trying to do what is best for that temple given by The Great Father. So you have to find a way to lose weight yet not lose your strength. You eat less and you watch what you eat. You exercise as much as you can but don't go to the extreme and be out of power to finish. This has to be an everyday chore that only you can keep up. Your body is a work of art when you arrive into this world so why not maintain or improve your body so that you can do all the things that you want without due unrest to your system. Not all people are the same but you can do it your way in the easiest way you can find and still do a great job of maintenance to a temple of God. Now coming off that subject and getting on the plane of reasoning and common sense, I have to wonder just what are the people on drugs thinking about? You take a drug and you pay the price. Drugs that are not prescibed by a practicing doctor, should never be used by anyone. Common sense tells you that if something changes the movement of your body and affects the brain actions, then it is doing you harm. If you think that it feels good, then you must be too far gone to be able to separate good and bad. It doesn't take long for you to become addictive to an evil so bad that you would do anything to get it. Common sense tells me that this is a bad thing to ever come in contact with. Then we go to two habits that have destroyed families and friendships and that is drinking and smoking. Let's get one thing straight right away and say that it is not any of my business what someone else does with thier lives, but I can voice my opinion on the subject. You take a smoke and you cough. Isn't that your body telling you that smoking is bad for you? You take a drink and then another and soon you are in the land of not knowing where you are. You can't walk straight and your speech is slurred. Isn't that your body telling you that drinking is not good for you? You come into this world sent by God and you go out in a condition of unrest supported by those three evils. This old man takes medicine to stay alive and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, so I have to tell the doctor what it is doing to my system. That is the only way to use drugs. To buy them just to get high for a small amount of time is sheer stupidity on your part. To drink so that you can drown your sorrows is also stupidity. And to smoke that tobacco to relieve your nerves, is really you saying that it is your life and I nor anyone else have anything to say about it. And you are right. Why should I care if you don't? The reason that Uncle Ray cares is that I want to see you live longer at least until The Great Father calls you Home. Once again what I write is my opinion only written by one who wants a clean resume when that times comes for me to go Home. See you next week.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I was checking some facts about what it was like in 1902, and
this is what I found. The average life expectancy in the United States
was 47 years of age. And it is said that only 14 percent of the homes here
in the states had a bathtub. Only 8 percent had a telephone. A long distance
3 minute call from Denver to New York would cost you 11 dollars. There
were only 8,000 cars in the USA and only 144 miles of paved roads. The
maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph. The tallest structure in
the world was the Eiffel Tower. The average wage in the USA was 22 cents
an hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year. . Sugar
cost four cents a pound. Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen. Coffee cost
fifteen cents a pound. Most women only washed their hair once a month and
used borax or egg yolks for shampoo.. The five leading causes of death
in the USA were: Pneumonia , influenza , Tuberculosis , Heart disease ,
Stroke . The American flag had 45 stars. Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Hawaii and Alaska hadn't been admitted to the Union yet. The population
of Las Vegas, Nevada was 30. We didn’t have a Mother's Day or Father's
Day. One in ten USA adults couldn't read or write. Only 6 percent of all
Americans had graduated from high school. There were only about 230 reported
murders in the entire USA. That was in 1902. Jump up in time to the time
of the fifties, and this is what you find.
In 1953 The USA population was less than 150 million. You knew more
people then, and you knew them better. The average annual salary was under
$3,000, and our parents would try to put some of it away for a rainy day
and still live a decent life. A loaf of bread cost about 15 cents, The
television shows were I Love Lucy, Ozzie & Harriet, Gunsmoke, and Lassie.
There wasn't any ratings because there was no need for them.
We didn't have air-conditioning, so we raised the windows. If you
fell off your bike, your mother and several others came running out to
help. You addressed your teacher using the sir name . You didn't call them
by the first name. You loved to climb into a fresh bed ,because the sheets
were dried on the clothesline, where the sun did the drying. Parents were
respected and their rules were law. Children did not talk back, because
they knew it was wrong. You watched television in black and white, but
when you were outdoors, you were in living color. The fathers in the families
worked on thier own cars. You had a garden out back with a chicken coop
close by. And if you were thinking about doing something bad, you better
forget about it because there was always someone watching that knew you
and your parent's phone number. And when you had your chores done and your
homework finished, you could settle down with the family and watch shows
like, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, Sky King, Howdy Doody
, The Lone Ranger, The Shadow Knows, Roy and Dale, Amos and Andy, and Lum
& Abner. And all of us read the comic books. You mowed the lawn with
a reel type mower powered by you only, and your summers were filled with
bike rides, playing in cowboy land, playing hide and seek and kick-the-can
and Simon Says. Also going to the baseball games, the Saturday matinee,
bowling and visits to the pool. And don't forget the Kool Aid drinks that
Mom always had ready for you on those hot days. And so as we went down
memory lane, I felt the wanting to go back to those times when life was
good and respect and loyalty really meant something. But we can't go back
because that time has gone and we are here now , but the memories are there
and that I cherish. Remember folks, that it really wasn't that long ago.
It was only a blink of the eye, but it is history that will never be replaced.
And that is one reason that I try to bring you my past to read about because
history very seldom repeats itself. If you have some history to write about,
bring it on. See you next week.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
This week, this old man is going on a trip of friendship. Friends
are there when you need them to help you.They have love in thier hearts
and they show it. In my neighborhood, I am blessed to have neighbors who
help me without asking. They seem to always know when I am down and they
go ahead and do things that I need to do but can't because of my leg problem.
So John and Carolyn and Dave and Cathy, thanks for the help you give me
without asking for it. Bless all of you for being not only great neighbors
but also best friends. Now I am going to tell you about a special best
friend that I have and show you that he also is a true friend. This gentleman
who is a lot younger than me, also lives in my neighborhood. Many times
he has done things for me without asking for permission. He never asks
for my thanks because he knows me that well and he knows that I am thankful
for his help. He checks on me when I am down and he watches my property
for anyone who might be messing around. He asks me for advice because he
knows that I wouldn't tell him wrong. He is one of my neighbors, and he
is my buddy at the ballgames. And he is my driver when I have to go to
Indy to the doctors. He is my best friend and he is my brother Russell.
So as I finish my time here on this great earth, I know that he is in the
background ready to do what he does best and that is caring for his brothers
and sisters. He is thier best friend too who never asks for thanks, but
he deserves it anyway. So if you see this younger brother of mine later
on in this month, wish him a happy birthday. So although there are several
neighbors in my addition, who are there to help me, and who are always
waving hello to me, and who are very good friends, it would take more space
in my column to say thanks to each of them. So I say "Thanks" to all of
them. Thanks for doing all those things to help this old man when I am
not feeling good. Isn't it great to know that someone really cares?
The Continental Reunion and the Day Family Reunion were in August
and it was great to see those great friends and co-workers from the old
mill. There are still stories told about how it was to work in blistering
heat and bitter cold and yet enjoy doing it because of the family brotherhood
that was and is there between all of us. It would be great to know that
all of them will be at the next one but we don't know which of us will
still be around. If you have ever made friends with a steelworker you would
know that it is forever. At the Day Reunion, we missed those who couldn't
attend either because of sickness or prior commitments, but we had lots
of joy seeing those who made it. And of course those who have passed away
were in attendance sitting in the clouds laughing and joking and observing
thier loved ones having a great evening. It was nice to see Mark and David
and thier families along with Merl and his wife there for the first time.
Of course Merl's brothers Burl and Clayton were there in the clouds watching
, and they would of attended if not called Home. We try to get together
each year just before Labor Day, and just have some togetherness that is
missing the rest of the year. As we go about our everyday life, we don't
get around to see the relatives like we should and on this day, we make
up for it. Family and friendship is part of life and we do take it for
granted sometimes. But you know that when it comes time to help each other,
it is there for you. Where would we be if not for caring for each other.
Other countries are so filled with hatred for America, yet they know us
only as friends when they need help. Just maybe we ought to stop helping
them and give all that help to our families here in the greatest land of
all. Watch for the next few weeks for the oldman to really let it all out.
See you next week.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day---
We got past the 9-11 memorial without something else hitting
us in our country where it is the land of the free and the home of the
brave. We sat there in front of the television and watched as the people
spoke about how it was without thier loved ones during the past year. We
watched as the children go about thier everyday lives without that father
or mother there with them to be witness to them growing up. We watched
as the heros of that fatefull day were honered with the praises of a nation
trying to heal from a hurt that will always be there. We watched as our
leader President Bush, promised to rid our country and the world of the
cowardly creeps who admit to doing this in the name of Allah. And we watched
as those in the other countries who had loved ones here who were took down
by those cowards, cried and give thier support to America . And all the
time that we were watching we had tears flowing because we felt the hurt
of those who had loved ones who perished that fatefull day of 9-11-2001.
And we thought that this was just the beginning of a fight to rid our country
and the world of the cowards that hate us enough to kill themselves along
with all those innocent people. Where in the name of GOD do those who did
this terrible act think they are going. They will go to the gates of Heaven
only to be turned away to spend eternity in hell.That day of 9-11-2001,
the gates of Heaven were opened to the thousands of people who perished
on that day, when The Towers and The Pentagon were hit and the plane destined
for the White House was crashed before it got there. Those are the ones
who were welcomed into Heaven with open arms. I truly believe in that each
of those men and women with the exception of those cowards had thier Guardian
Angel with them to take them Home. I heard people ask where was GOD that
day and why did He let this happen. My answer to that is that He was with
each and every one of those innocent people on every floor and every plane.
GOD did not do this terrible thing but he couldn't stop it either. He took
his people Home that day of 9-11-2001. Each of those innocent people were
sent here by GOD as angels and when they went Home they were in the arms
of an Angel. I really believe that , and because I believe it, I know that
a straight and narrow road is my path to walk until my time comes. As for
those who were the evil force in doing this terrible plot, there is a judgement
waiting for them, and a place hotter than the fire in those buildings and
planes. The one thing that stands out is that you who are guilty, have
awakened the American people and we will prevail. People from all over
the world have made thier way to America to be free and to have some goal
in life. We are made up of all kinds of nationalities who have decided
to be a part of our way of life. Those who believe in the American Way
should always be part of and known as Americans. Those who only are here
to tear our country down, should take the trip back to thier old country
and be subject to all the terrible things that thier country provides.
All over the world there are those who can't get along with another, and
people are terminated by those in power, and people are going to
bed at night hungry. Evil runs rampart all over the world and we here in
America try to help the good to survive. Good will win over evil someday,
but this old man would rather be an American living in the land of the
free and home of the brave, until that day. I have always stated that I
do not single out any one group of people over another, and the word race
is very seldom used, because I believe that all men and women are created
equal and they should be treated as such , and that all of those who want
to be free have that right, but it takes a combined effort of everyone
to achieve that goal. To stay free from those who would take us down, we
must come together as one to rid our country of those cowards. Black, white,
brown, yellow, and red, we are CHILDREN Of GOD, and we must work
together. I leave you with this word, "GOD BLESS AMERICA"
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day
I just thought that maybe I would keep count of the mail coming
out of the seatbelt article since it is a big topic of discussion lately.
I have recieved twenty-eight e-mails, four letters, seven telephone calls,
and fifteen come-bys at the store relating to the use of seatbelts . I
was sort of surprised at the results of those replies from people who I
know personally and those who I have never met. Out of those fifty-four,
there was only three negative thoughts and all three of them said that
I sort of softened my stance at the end. There were six who live in Indy,
who said that the seatbelt law was relaxed for several days so as to not
create bad feelings between the people there and the police who normally
would of given a ticket for not fastening up. There were thirty-two who
agreed with me and hoped I would of taken it to court because it does need
to be repealed. There were thirteen who just thanked me for having the
courage to admit that I was stopped, and that I wore the strap under the
arm instead of over it. One of those people asked me if I thought it was
a good idea to have the strap rubbing against the caratoid artery in the
neck, because the edged of the strap could act like a knife in some conditions
and could slice open a main blood artery if the strap tightened to much.
So this old man doesn't feel too bad about telling the world that a belt
across the waist area is ok for those who want to use it, but the strap
across a heart surgery scar or one rubbing against an important artery
has to be one that needs to be looked at in fact and not theory. There
is no actual data anywhere that proves that a seatbelt saves lives. All
the so-called facts used in passing a seatbelt law are just theories passed
by those who want to enforce that law. And for those who use them all the
time, that is thier right to do so. For those who want to have thier own
say-so about using them, I have to side with them. Of course, since I was
stopped and ticketed on a first time instance, I have to follow that law
until that time when it is redone or repealed. That said, thanks for those
who let me know how they felt . Whenever you see me, give me your opinion
on anything I write about because you inspire me to write more.
Now getting to a subject that is and always will be high on my list of memories, let's take a trip to Continental Steel in the fifties. Having been hired there in 1955, I found a whole new life that would forever be the force driving me to be able to understand what personal commitment to an employer is. I asked for a job and by that, I told them that I wanted to work. They gave me that job and that meant that they expected me to follow the rules and do the best I could while I was there. So for thirty-one plus years that company allowed me to put food on my table, clothes on my family and confort in my home. I went through many different positions at the mill including sixteen years of supervision over some of the best workers around. I worked around melting lead, metal dust, rusty scrap, all kinds of dirt, all kinds of oil and some of the worst smoke possible . And yet they say that the ground is contaminated. Goodness folks, someone is and has been handing all of us a bunch of untruths. Forty-seven years after being hired, and thirty-one years of being around that stuff would of killed me if it was true. Take it from me folks that I wouldn't be afraid to build a home there and live out the rest of my life there.
Working in a steel mill was hard honest work, and many times, you kissed the family goodbye knowing that this day might be the last on earth because there is always a chance of explosions, train wrecks, or being crushed by something falling on you. But it was a job and I really enjoyed working there. We still get together at the reunions and we talk about what it was like to work at Continental Steel. So to finish up this week, I ask for you to keep reading and giving me your feedback, because this column will be intertaining and informative.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day---