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626
Thanks for the memories.
As of March 17, 2011, Ramona and I have been married for 54 years, and it seems like only yesterday. I remember her coming down the aisle with her Dad there at Beamer Church and boy, was she a doll. Her steps were slow and somewhat wobbly and I thought to myself, she don’t seem to be in any hurry about this so maybe I better think this thing out first too. As her father sat down, I am looking over at him and thinking about those guns he has on his bedroom wall. Boy, what did I get myself into this time? But as we took each other’s hand, I felt the warmth this blue-eyed lovely lady had and I knew that this was the way to go. As the minister went through his service, I looked back over at Pop McKee and he was crying. Mom Sarah was sitting there with a big smile on her face, with some tears flowing. My mother sat there on her side and just looking at that pretty lady I had known my entire life; I knew that all in attendance was pleased with this union of our affection for each other. It was a dreary sort of day outside but one of happiness inside. That day, I took the first step in the joining of one man and one woman into one couple. That is what marriage is, the union of one man and one woman wed together by a servant of God with the promise of staying married , through sickness and health, richer or poorer, through good and bad times , till death do us part.
Today, we have endured and gotten through those vows even though there has been an abundance of rough times of sickness. The richer or poorer part has never been a hindrance in our lives. Our love has kept us richer and through that love, we learned to always live within our means and really that has not been hard to do. We were blessed with two daughters, Deborah and Patricia. Debbie is living with us and Patty was called Home in 1994 as she had ovarian cancer. In the last five months of Patty’s life we went through some rough times but our love got us through. Patty‘s passing took a long time to get over and although many will tell you that closure will come one day, it never did. We just had to learn to accept and adjust and know that our little girl was in a better place. Debbie works at Whites Meat Market and has been there for a long time. Patty’s children went without a mother as they grew up. Amanda, Patty’s daughter, decided that she wanted to make her place in the world and she took up nursing and works at St. Joseph. Matt worked at an Auto Supply and still has not married. Amanda soon will bless us with a great grandson in April and we are so proud of how this young lady has made herself a part of the caring community. Patty would be so proud. So, as we live each day, we try to remember that our vows were the beginning of a relationship that no one should ever end. The nights that Ramona spent alone while I worked the graveyard shift were hard for her to take but she did. The evenings that she spent alone at home with me working the afternoon shift was hard to take but she did. The times that I was called at all hours of the day and nights to get crews in to work was hard for both of us but we took it. The passing of our youngest daughter was something no parent should have to endure but we did it. The main thing I am trying to get across is that without our love for each other, things might have been worst but we did not let that happen. Life with love for our mates counts so high on our list, and without that love, where would we be. To Ramona, I say,” thank you my fair lady, for the memories.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

627
"USING YOUR MANNERS"
How many times do we hear the word “Please” when someone is asking for a favor or something to borrow? You don’t hear it much as we seem to not stress the manners to our youngsters any more. And how about “Thank you” ? About the same I would say. How about when you are talking and someone butts in like there was no one else but you and them in the room. Most of the time it is not an emergency, and could of waited until you were through talking. You might say something like “Excuse me” to get their attention. How many times do you hear someone give a negative opinion even though they were not even in the discussion.? How about someone commenting about the physical looks of another person? They run someone down and yet when they pass a mirror, they like what they see. People asking how you are and then before you can get a word out, they are telling you about all their ills. Have you ever took it among yourself to just walk in a room without asking permission first? When you are on the phone and you talk the other person’s head off and never give them a chance to comment. Hey, if you are going to do that, just send them a letter. How about using foul language in front of the kids or in front of those who do not care to hear it? Couldn’t you just use common sense and speak without all those barbaric terms. When you refer to someone else , do you call them names? Why can’t you call them by their given names? And do you make fun of those who might be handicap because they can’t get around as good as you can? That my friends is one of the worst things you can do as you should compliment them on how well they do things. They are human like you and me and a little smile and a gift of love will do them a lot more good. If you are at a show, keep your negative comments to yourself as the other person might be enjoying the show. If you bump into someone, do you say “excuse me” or do you just go on by?
In today’s world, germs are everywhere. Do you cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. And please don’t pick your nose. Or do you even care? When you walk through a door, do you hold it open for the next person coming through? Do you ask someone if you can help them do something. Or do you stand there talking while they are trying to keep their attention on whatever they are doing? When someone asks you for a favor, try to assist them or tell them why you can’t do it. When you are at the table, do you ask someone to pass something down or do you just reach over someone and get it yourself? What I have just been asking are manners that everyone should use in their everyday life. A great person is one who tries to give a good impression as well as let it be known that he or she was raised in a proper family home where these manners are just a part of everyday life. You learn from example and making a good impression goes a long way in making good friends or bad ones. Manners are something that hangs around your neck close to your heart as long as you use them properly. When we were kids, Mom and Dad expected us to always use our manners when company was there. And they enjoyed hearing a friend or relative make a favorable comment about us. It is someone that dwells with you your entire life and that is a fact, Jack. Take a little walk out in the neighborhood and listen and watch for those manners to used by children and adults. You might be surprised at how often they are used. I , like you, sometimes am guilty of these. I thank you for the time, and I thank you for your comments.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

628
“Older and Wiser”
As we age, we get wiser, and we start remembering those things told to us as youngsters by our parents , our grandparents and those old and wrinkled men and women who lived through some very rough and tough times in their time here on earth. As children, we sometimes laughed at those foolish things that they were trying to tell us, and we joked about them too. We would think that they were just making conversation so that they could maintain their place in the family’s history, whether it be true or false. As we grow, we start thinking about what we were being told and we wonder why we didn't cherished these bits of history given down from those who lived it. Mom had a friend that everyone called BooBoo, and she spent a lot of time with our mother because Mom was one of those persons who wanted to know everything about what happened way back when. We made fun of BooBoo, because we thought that the things she said were out of this world. But I guess as I grew older, I started giving that little old lady my ear because history was very important to me too. So now you know why I write. It is so that someone out there will be able to get information about how it was, how it is, and how it could be.
As a young child, I remember living there on North Lafountain Street and we lived in a seven room house with fruit trees in the yard, a white picket fence around it and a very big lot just west of our house. That lot was used mostly for a garden, but early in the spring, before planting time came, we used that lot to play softball in. We had a coal shed between it and the house and Dad kept coal built up so that we could have a nice warm home to live in. One of our chores was to bring coal in, take ashes out and either build the fire in the stove or to maintain the heat. It also was our chore to cut up kindling to use to cook with along with corn cobs and coal. Mom had one of those big cook stoves that had an extra spot for hot water to heat up and that helped to maintain an even temperature for baking bread, biscuits, and cornbread. Boy, could that pretty lady cook? And even though she was very tired doing all the things she did, she did them because back in those days, that was what mothers and wives did. Not too many women worked outside the home back then as they had enough to do in the home. And how we treated any other human being rested high on the list of things that our parents wanted from us. You show respect for all people living or dead. You made every attempt to help those who needed your help.
I remember how one of the workers from Globe American named Mr. Dewitt always came by our home on the way home from work. He was a small guy but one of proud stature and he was a very fast walker. He seemed to have a lot of gusto, and his daughter once said that it was because he was proud to be able to keep up the pace with any other worker there. The Globe made Stoves and they even made lifeboats for the military. Another person who came by our house every day heading south was a man named Carl who was blind but he could tell just before reaching a certain spot if there was something in his way. Mom and Dad always said that we should always keep the gate closed because here was a man who did not let his blindness take him down. He would always say after passing right in front of the gate, “Thank You”. We learned a lot about life just watching how these and others walked their paths. As you grow older, you might think about what I said. Respect and loyalty should mean a lot to everyone.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

629
Walking our paths

It seems to me that we are tested each day of our lives by our Creator, who is the one who decided that there would be humans, animals, insects, and the good old outdoors where depending on what time of the year it is, we have highs and lows as to the ways that our weather is. We are not asked what we want. We take what is given to us because that is what He decides we need to keep us on our toes as well as keeping us prepared for the worst as well as the best there is. After all, He is the reason we are here and so He does have the last word. The best of life would be one that is free of all illnesses and everything is available just for the asking. The worst of life would be where we were constantly ill, or had no food, water, or housing. Somewhere in the middle is what we do experience in our lives and that is the good, and the bad, and we take it because we can. Life is a period of time starting with conception, and ending with death. What we do in that span of time usually is up to each of us according to how we accept Him in our lives.
We live in the greatest country in the world, and we believe in the concept of spending our lives free, doing what we have to do in order to stay free. Our forefathers many years ago decided that they would design a government where all people would have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We can believe without others telling us how to believe and where to attend a church. We can have as many children as we want to without government telling us that we can have so many and no more. We can live high on the hog or we can live in a modest way, as long as the bills are paid.. We can wear what we want without someone wanting all of us wearing the same clothes. We can have habits that in most cases shortens our lives like in drinking and smoking. We can be part of our defense to protect our country , by backing up the ones who do our fighting.. We can voice our approval or dis-approval of things happening in our government without fear of going to jail or like in other countries the cutting off of our hands. There is a lot more that we can do because we are a free country and we can decide who to represent us by voting them in or out of office. That is the American Way, and it has worked for all of us since our constitution was decreed. As we walk our paths through life, we might meet up with something in our way. What we have to do is decide to either move the blockage, go around it or back up to go another way. That is our decision but sometimes we need help in making it. We meet others who are walking their paths and many times we might linger too long and then we get behind. That causes us to sometimes mistake another path as one shorter than the one we are on, and we lose our way. As I walk my path, I look straight ahead, so that maybe I can see those blockages soon enough, that I can make my own mind up what to do. As with each of us, the shorter path seems to be the best one even though you will spend valuable time deciding why you want to change. We all have the same thing to do in this life and the way we choose our paths decides how our time ends. Take the path that you want to take but while you are on it, give yourself some time to reason out why you are on it. I will walk my path with purpose so that when I get to the end of that path, there is the one who started it all waiting for me. May God Bless.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

630
“The Gift Has Arrived”
Well, the old man has lived long enough to see a new generation started in our family. We have a new Great-Grandson named Evan and boy is he a whopper. His parents are Amanda, our grand-daughter, and Mark . I am really proud of those two young people in that they have meaning in their lives and both are people who will make a mark in this world. As Ramona has been in the hospital, and me going back and forth to visit with her, we have not had a chance to start bonding with this wonderful gift from God. But give us time as we are destined to make that bond, and life will be like a bouquet of flowers which never dries up. The roots of life will come together with the roots of that wonderful gift and life will be a bountiful one. What prouder time could there be than to be witness once again to the glory of God and his gifts He gives us. Our Father sends down to “a man and a woman” the fruit of their love and He gives them the opportunity to nurture that child into a man or woman, who will carry on a tradition since time began in the world. To select a mate to marry, have children, training them, and then watching them start the whole thing over again. Thus is the reason we are here. Our Father wanted to enrich his creation with many new gifts of supreme glory and we are the recipients of that gift.
As we go on in life, we seek the door of opportunity, to walk onto the paths that each will take in his or her lifetime. That path can change for several reasons. You can stand on the starting path too long and opportunity goes around us. We can meet something or someone who will change our mind about where and when to move on. Or we can just let others knock us down as they rush to get on their own paths.
I finally got a look at my great grandson when he was 8 days old. I said wow, this kid looks older than 8 days. But as I held him, and saw what was one of the generation coming up, I was amazed at how he held his head and how solid he was. I thought to myself that I have to last at least 15 years more so that I can see this kid play ball for his school. I like to think that each child born has a road they are about to take and with good parents like I know he will have and with great grandparents too, this kid and those born in his generation will make their mark in this world benefiting all of us who live now and the millions who will live during that child’s lifespan. Am I prejudiced or do I just talk like a proud grandpa? You might say that yes to both parts. But really the ball is in the parents court where grandparents are sitting on the bench, ready to come right in and pick up where the parent left off. And then the proper schooling comes in to make the floor plans available to parent and child. They play a vital part in the bringing up of the classmates in their class., to the point where higher education is there to pick from according to what the classmate wants in life. So life for the newborn is laid out for them to follow, as to the way from a mother’s womb to when the child is ready to go the rest of the way. Life for Evan and the ones of his generation could be a hard one or it might go so smooth that we see him as a leader in the field of his choice. As for his parents and for us, his great grandparents, we offer all the help needed and we say “Good Luck Evan” and God Bless. To those who have walked the path, move over youngsters, this old man is still here, and I am still walking my path.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

631
Don’t get involved.
I get riled up so tight that I have to let out some steam or the whole body suffers from it. We seem to stick our noses into every country’s politics and we always seem to be the first to offer aid to those countries. But here in the good old USA, we have people out of work, going homeless, and hungry, while we give away the things that we need here in America. Now I am one of those who does believe in promoting free will and helping poor countries with what they need but not letting our people starve. We see many countries having civil wars to try to take back their countries from those hard shelled rulers who have been there for ages. At no time should the USA get involved in those wars. If we are attacked then I say we have a reason to go to war, but let those countries solve their own problems first. Understand that the result of their wars might be worst than what they have. For a long time America has been there to help and many times we have been slapped in the face for it. We lost a lot of brave men and women in the Korean War and also in the Viet Nam War. Both were civil wars and if you take a good look back , you will find those countries still having turmoil. But our people over here in the USA lost many sons and daughters in two wars that we should of never been in. As one who has a loved one making a career in the Army and many others in our families who went to war because Uncle Sam asked them to via the draft, I say that we need to stay out of those wars in the middle east and then once the wars are over, we work with them to better themselves. But not by losing our family members who are and always will be heroes.
We do need to use our armed forces right here in our country, by placing them all around our shorelines and fill the air with pilots ready to load up and protect all of us. What we don’t need is to stick our noses into others’ battles. People in those countries who are having the uprisings today are the ones who need to do it themselves so that they can respect what they did. For the United States to go in and rescue those who are being oppressed, that makes us responsible for building the country back up and in today’s world we need to concentrate on doing for the people right here in the good old USA. It has been true in just about every war that we have been in, that we restore the country at war into a better place than what it was before. Where is the reasoning in that way of getting involved. People have fought each other for thousands of years in the countries of old and they will be doing the same when it comes time to leave this world. We, my friends are on a journey of wreckage if we don’t start protecting our people, our country and our constitution.
Can we as a free country at least try to remedy the situation? Many years ago a fat pig in Russia said that America will go down without firing a shot. It can be done by downgrading the educational part and it can be done by downgrading our leaders, and it can be done by feeding and helping those people overseas who one day will stab us in the back. As an American living in a free country which has government better than any other country, I have to say that we need to take care of our own first, build our workplaces back to prosperity and get our people in Washington busy doing for us and not for themselves. We have a president who was elected by the people who still has 2 years remaining. We can vote him back in or we can change to another one. That is the American Way. God Bless.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

632
Our Mother
When I think about Mom, I remember that God selected me to be born to a lady who through the years was the strong part of us kids who so richly loved her. She was our mother, and she was a lady. She was the best cook that ever lived in my heart. She was through the years the backbone of my existence here on earth. She was the one who cared enough to give the very best of herself to her children. She was a lovely woman with dark brown hair and eyes that glowed when she cared for each of us. She was and still is our mother who God called Home to take her well-deserved place in Heaven.. And she knew me 9 months more than anyone else. She bonded with me while I was in her womb and thus became the holder of my life and heart.
I think back to the days, when I was just a youngster and depending on Mom to take care of me, and lead me in the right path to adulthood. I guess that the one thing that will always stay with me was the meals that Mom would prepare for us. Early in the morning, this fine lady was up standing over a hot stove, making breakfast for all her children and her man. There would be mouth-watering biscuits made with her own hands, and cut out with a drinking glass top, laid on a big metal sheet, and baked to a golden brown. There would be gravy, made by our Dad, who professed to be the world's greatest gravy maker. You would never see lumps in Dad's gravy. Mom would fry the bacon, and then use the grease from the bacon, to fry her eggs with. The eggs would be the way that each one of us liked them. She could make them sunny side up, and take the grease and splash just enough on top, to give them the white covering. There would be fried mush, which she made from scratch, and she would fry it just like each one would want it. Top that off with the greatest hot coffee, which she boiled in a coffee pot. It was done when the smell was right. She put eggshells in the grounds, so that they would settle at the bottom of the pot. You did not get grounds in your coffee while Mom was there to make it. And that was just breakfast.
At noon, she was at the stove again, getting a meal ready. There always were mash potatoes at dinner with some more biscuits, with plenty of butter melting down the sides. There were green beans, corn, peas, along with the meat of the day. Sometimes it was chicken, other times it was meatloaf, or pot roast. Maybe sometimes she would deal out Dad's favorite, which was pork chops. Mom always gave us the best she had in cooking.
You would think that she would take a break, but that evening, it was time again to stand over that hot stove and fix supper, which was the most important to her. I never did hear her complain. She always wanted her children to have a full stomach, when they went to bed that night. Supper would be my favorite, because there was always a big pot of beans cooking, and an oven full of cornbread. Sometimes, instead of baking cornbread, she would fry it in the skillet as corn cakes. Add to that, a big skillet of fried potatoes, and there would be a smile on my face for the rest of the evening. There usually wasn't much left at the end of supper, but she would save the beans, and the next morning mix them with some flour, and fry them in the skillet, as bean cakes. If you have never tasted bean cakes, you are really missing something. There isn’t enough room to tell you all the things about our mother but to put it as short as possible, I will tell you that Mom was the sweetest woman in the world according to Ray. I miss her very much. God Bless.
Ray "Uncle Ray" Day

633
"No to Charter Schools."
Well, it is time for me to stand up and be counted again as to my views on the things that are happening here in our country. First off, let me clarify to you that I know that what I am about to say may not be agreeable to you. Here in Kokomo, we have unemployment at a too low base and we do need to go out into the field and try to entice new business owners to set their home base here. That way decisions that are made will depend based on reliable attention one business could give another. Taxes are not the way to go although every time something is mentioned, the cost of it seems to go to your pocket or mine. I am here to tell you that my pockets are full with medical bills and I can’t reach to far down.
In the state, we see the push for a different school situation involving charted schools. I must say that public education has been with us since I do not know when and it is not broke, so do not fix it. We have great teachers and principals in the system that do their very best in supplying our kids with a good schooling and charter schools are not the answer. All this would do, would be to put a crutch in our system and valuable teachers would be put off to the wayside and that my friends is to create an atmosphere of I am better than you. Some will say that I am wrong but just think about it. I would not want my school telling me that my child could not attend a school because he spoke funny or he walked in a way that could be a handicap. Give some thought and see where state government is using the school system in a political way.
Use your mind and you will see from experiences that schools like these would only promote segregation like it was years before. Kids would wear uniforms and would be required to walk straight and stiff like the Germans were in World War II. The use of prayer would return but with the offering to a power instead of The Creator. We don’t need Charter Schools, but we do need the prayers if this comes about. And think about the money aspect of Charter Schools. Why should we the taxpayers put up with the cost of what charter schools would bring. Let’s take a better approach and start using the public schools like they are supposed to be. A place of education given to all the children regardless of race, creed, and poverty. As you know, I don’t try to downgrade our government much because they catch enough heck from all the others, and I can name several right here in our city who do that, but charter schools are a bad way to go. What we need to do is go back to the old way and give the teachers responsibility over our children as long as they are in school. Then give back to the parents the right to handle the child with discipline that is appropriate to what is needed. And while we are at it, those highly paid people at the top of our state education sure don’t earn what we pay them. It has always bothered me to see that the only way to attract good educators at the top is to give them, and I use the term “give” very loosely, a high salary. Why at a time when everyone is scared of losing their jobs, are we paying the top dog in our education dept at the state level a high salary that he sure is not worth. Why do we have superintendents at the top of our separate schools, when we should only have one for the whole county? Don’t tell me that it would be too much of a workload because we know better. If we are going to put clamps on our teachers, then put them on the superintenants too. Public schools are just that, public, and that means that everyone has the opportunity to be taught. My opinion only.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

634
I Question These.
There are many questions I have about events and some of its chances of ever getting an answer. However, here I go with a few and maybe you feel the same way. We just watched The Endeavor blast off with crew aboard and after this one comes down; we will wait for someone to show us what they saw and how they experienced it. At no time have I ever seen where a television program is made showing those beautiful sights that the astronauts must have seen. Maybe a little on the news and then no more. Why are we the taxpayers who pay for space travel not seeing what they saw and documented. Is there a reason that we should not see it? Is it all one big hoax or are we keeping the information locked up somewhere until that time when they feel we can view space the way they did. It would seem to me that we should be allowed to witness everything that the crews did while blasting off, meeting up with the docking station, and living inside the capsule. Is that too much to ask or it is all one big secret. I am a believer in our Creator and I would like to see what He has created besides what we see here on earth. Will we, the general population ever get to view space or will we just have to wait until we are called Home? I would like your thoughts on this matter.
Now another thing that really gets me wondering is how the television advertises medicine and they tell you all the benefits and then the negative effects that that particular medicine could give you. I sure would not think that if a medicine for a certain ailment will cause you to have problems and possibly death then it should not be advertised on television. I for one feel that you see your family doctors because they are the ones who know your problems. It is kind of scary to see that we take one drug to get well, only to die from the cure. Now while we are the topic of television, have you ever noticed that the news starts out with the newscaster saying what the breaking news is but we have to go to the weather first. Moreover, how about when they tell a little about what the news will be about, but we will have to wait until the nighttime news or maybe three days later. It seems to me that if it is important than we should hear about it as soon as possible. And lately we see the final episodes of our favorite shows only to be left hanging , where we will have to wait until next season to find out what happened. Like we can sit back and wait and then wonder why it was so important to do that.
This old man is one of those guys that has a daily routine where I try to live on a schedule that is better for me, and I don’t like to wait for something like that. Wow, we said waiting, didn’t we? How many times do you arrive early for an appointment so that you get in at the scheduled time, only to have to wait for close to an hour before being seen? I know there are times when that can’t be avoided but it shouldn’t be that way always. Therefore, you might say that we are victims of waiting. Well to put it all in one thought, there are only so many minutes and hours in the day and life should not be held up for those things I mentioned. So what do we do about it and your answer will probably be the same as mine. We take it one day at a time, we smile, we gripe, and we try to think that it will be better the next time. That, my friends is what most of us do every day, use our time without wasting it. We tell those who want us to wait, that we just don’t have the time to do much of it. Until later.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

635
Plant and enjoy. Well, this old man has once again gone through a winter where things just did not look good for those like me who put out a garden each year. We had our share of moisture and some very cold weather but not that much that it takes away the desire to grow my veggies. We really did not get that last frost date and really it could happen yet but I don’t think so. I have already put out my tomato and pepper plants, and they have had a good dose of lime to cut down on the dry rot that some get each year. I left some space for some plants that I want to experiment with and I have already planted my onion plants that I get from the state of Washington. I like onions and could eat them with every meal, and they are good for you. I have some garlic coming up and they are not easy to grow, as you need just the ideal situations for them to do well. You have to give those plants that you put in your garden some watering a couple times per week until they are adjusted to the soil and then water as needed. I, many times through the winter months while eating food from the freezer that was put there out of the garden, think to myself that there might not be another planting as I am getting very tired and week in the legs due to the illness that I have but come spring, it is try it one more time, old man, because you can do it. And off I go to the plant centers to look at what they have price wise and quality wise. You just cannot go and buy the first ones you see because they look strong. I guage my tomato plants by seeing how much whiskers they have just above the soil. And I look for the ones who stand firm in their pots. I like to plant them where the soil comes a little past those whiskers and then pack a little extra soil around them. And it is a good idea to plant a few extra so that if some fail you have some to take its place.
As usual, each year it has been lie on the ground, stick a plant in and bring the soil up to it. This is how I plant my garden and will be until I can’t do it anymore. The onions are the hardest to plant as you plant them about 4 inches apart and maybe 5 rows so it gets tiresome to do as many as I do without wanting to stand up and rest. But if I don’t have anything to help me get up such as a chair or a piece of wood, I have to rest there until I feel like I can plant some more. Sometimes the end of the rows where the fence is, seems to be so far away, that once I do get up, it is close shop for the day and go inside. So growing my garden not only is a chore but also a happening where you find out just how much weaker you are from the year before. But there is a great benefit to growing your own veggies as it not only gives you good food to eat but it also works to clean your self of all those worries that you had during those months when you couldn’t get outside except to go to the store or pay bills. And what a great place to be when you want to discuss some personal things with God. He hears, and He sends you little bursts of wind and he has the birds singing their music to let you know that He hears you. And He helps watch over your garden just as He does with your life. So gardening is not only a great hobby with great results, it also is that outlet that so many of us need in life. Try it while there is still time to plant your garden and enjoy the results. And have fun .
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

636
My Hometown, Kokomo
As a writer, I sometimes want to write as much as possible in my columns about Kokomo and all the things I remember about it from my young days. Kokomo is and always will be my hometown and only place to hang my hat. The one constant about it is the locality and what it has done for preserving the memories of old while also working to make it better and more visible to the visitors to our city.
For as long as I can remember we had two way streets and parking alongside but a few years ago it was decided that many of those streets would be one way and for many years people would bypass the downtown area and go out to the malls. This cut down a lot of the chances for many to view our city and thus business was not that great even though the places downtown were run by some of the best Kokomo people you will ever know. Many times I found it frustrating to find a place to park long enough to get my business done and then out of the area , because of one way streets and no place to park. But Kokomo is changing and they are trying to make it better for all and not just a few. Curbs have been changed to accommodate the handicap, many of the stop lights are gone and in some areas you have straight through traffic that helps in keeping an area non- congested.
Kokomo had changed a lot in the last few years but the people who built it up will not ever be forgotten. The Walt Moss Barber Shop is still there and who can forget about Walt who had been my friend for almost 58 years. John Palumbo and the people at Engels were always there to give you the best service ever. Palmers is still there doing a great job of taking care of the customers. We have the Historical Society with Kelly in charge helping to keep the history of this great city known to all. Many of the buildings that grace the city are still there with many of them having a face lift but not so much that guys like me can’t remember what it looked like many years ago. We have the event center which soon will be part of Ivy Tech College, but hopefully will find some way to keep and maintain the Auto Museum there. And take a look at how the cemeteries are taken care of with respect for who are buried there and the ones who are left behind. Kokomo has been a place where respect of those who have been called home is of the most reverend. Take a little drive through the cemeteries and you see people all the time there fixing and maintaining some sort of respect for their loved ones.
And folks if there is any place that has stayed in Kokomo as long as The Kokomo Tribune, then I salute them. I started at the age of 12 passing the paper and now I get to write a weekly column for this paper. So it seems like maybe this is just a place that holds many memories of how it was, how it is, and how it will be. I ask all of you to take a trip through this great city and see how it has changed and I bet that if you were born here, you will remember a lot about the old days. Right now, I take a little caution traveling through downtown, because of the changes but soon we will see that Kokomo is coming alive for all of us. The malls are changing outside the city because of how the new bypass will go around us but I think that if enough people get used to the new changes, it will be good for all. As I have said many times, this is my home and I am proud of it. For those out there who want to visit this city, we are on the map in what I call the heart of the USA. Come visit with us.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

637
Remembering our Dad;
I write about the old days when I was young with all my worries being on the backs of my two favorite people I know as Mom and Dad Day. I will go on a little memory trip about my father whose name was Roscoe. Most of his friends knew him as “Dink” and he had a lot of friends from the Globe and Continental factories. Dad was a little guy in comparison to others we knew but he was our Dad and we loved him even though we did not see him much because of the hours he had to work at the mill. Working a swing shift takes away the time that a father needs to bond with his children. But he kept the family from starving and we always had a warm home to live in. I can remember some of those times when he did have a little time to play catch with me and we did go fishing several times.
Dad was one of those guys who expected his kids to obey after just one command. He was not short on telling you that he was the father and he demanded respect for himself and the love of his life, our Mother. He expected to be able to come home, wash up and have the food ready to eat. He wanted to be able to once in a while sit down with no one to bother him and rest his weary body. We ,as kids, knew that we did not want to get him mad because we had problems then. In his way Dad loved us all but he demanded respect and quiet and he expected us to mind our manners and he made sure of this by putting that chore into Mom’s hands and she did a good job of making sure that we were little angels when Dad walked into the door.
Dad was a man whose only bad habit, beside chewing tobacco, was in buying the punch cards and playing pool or if he could find someone who wanted to part with his money, Dad would play a hand of poker. Dad was one of those guys who had a poker face just about all the time so there were times when someone would fall victim to a high stakes game of cards. Now get me wrong in thinking that I am putting down my dad because I’m not, as he was our Dad and he deserved a little fun once in a while. Through the years, we kids knew Dad as a man of discipline and we did not see him smile too much. But in later years I found out what kind of a job Dad had and after working with him at the mill I saw why he was tired and sometimes grouchy and so I found a friend , co worker, and a good man in that father we knew all these years. Dad finally had to retire after 37 years at the mill and he rested a lot sitting in his little corner of the room watching the Cubs, Pro Wrestling, and the news, until that time when God said to him that it was time to come home.
Two days before Dad died, I had a good talk with him there as he lay in bed and I will never forget that little time we had together, just him and me, as 2 days later he was gone. Mom ,Bob, Delores, and Mary have followed Dad to Heaven, leaving myself, Neva, Wanda, Russell, and John here on earth to carry on the memories of a time when it was rough but we didn’t know it. We were a family who lived in a time when respect and loyalty was the name of the game. It was a time when fathers only saw their children when they were not working. It was a time when Mothers held the family together with respect, discipline, and love. And it was a time when we saw our uncles and aunts , and cousins just about every week. Times have changed, and memories have filled the gaps of then until now.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

638
THE SINGING MOUSE"

After my column about Kokomo, I was asked if I knew of a singing mouse here in Kokomo. Well, I do have a story for you about a mouse that made his name known via the nationwide CBS Radio Edward R. Morrow show. The singing mouse was the property of Glen R. Rextrew, who lived up in the north end of town. There was a reporter at the Tribune who did a story on this mouse, by the name of George Welden. At first Welden thought it was a joke, so when he got a call from Glen that he had a singing mouse in his house, he was skeptical. Glen and his wife were in the living room when they heard the same singing sound for several days in the kitchen, coming from the clothes basket in the kitchen. As Glen uncovered the basket, a mouse jumped out and ran away.
After a few days went by, Welden received a call from Glen that the mouse had been caught and if he wanted to hear him sing. Over the phone, he heard the chirping of this mouse sounding like a bird. WIOU was contacted and they made an attempt to record the voice of the singing mouse. When they went to the home, nothing happened. The mouse would make no noise. So Glen said that they would cover the cage where the mouse was in and after some 15 minutes, they uncovered it and sure enough, this mouse whose name was Mickey started his pretty chirping and it sounded like a canary. That same day Mickey was heard over WIOU, and then on the Edward R. Morrow show. Glen caught another mouse and he named her Minnie, and a few days later, she had four babies that were named Enie, Meenie, Minie, and Moe. People all over Kokomo came to the Rextrew home to see Mickey sing, and Glen even had an offer from a booking agent from Chicago. The six mice would sing nightly concerts at the Rextrew home and once, all of them were caught in a wire cage, but were able to escape. Glen’s wife said that she would check the trap every so often to see if they had been caught. She could see where they had been nibling on the bait, but escaped through a hole just under the trigger of the trap. While they were on the loose, they gave a nightly singing concert to Glen and his wife.
One visitor to the Rextrew home was a man, who wanted to see this oddity so that he could describe the mouse to his crippled son. After the man returned home, he called the Rextrew's and asked that the phone be placed near the mouse so that the son could hear the singing. Mrs. Rextrew said that she and her husband would feed the brood and hope that some sort of an offer for the crooner would show up. And she said that they had gotten attached to the mice and would hate to part with them. Glen was a part time salesman and not doing well in the financial part of their life. Glen has wanted to go into the ministry, but he wasn't able to fulfill his goal. He had hoped that if someone had taken up on this story that maybe he would be able to go on to college to get his degree. Glen had been in the service, and received an injury to his leg that would in effect cause him some financial problems from than on. But they never let anyone know that they were hurting financially.
But then Glen took the singing mouse to visit some relatives in Greentown, because he was afraid that someone might enter his home and steal them, and Mickey was able to break loose, and he ran into a woodpile,. They were broken-hearted about this, and after some thought, they decided to release Minnie also. Such was the story of one of Kokomo's first, although there are many that to this day who do not know of this singing mouse. It happened years ago, and you can believe it or not. I do.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

639
How we celebrate?
Well, once again we come to the date of each year to remember that our country was once under the command of other countries, and that a group of people who without fear decided to fight for our independence. They worked through some very rough times to come up with a document that gave us the rights to be free, to assemble, and to speak our minds. Those brave people did all they could to give us, America, the best government of the people, by the people, and for the people. So each year on July 4th, we celebrate our independence with parades, prayers, and outings where we have fireworks that light up the skies with our thanks to those who chose to step up to the plate and say you are free and let no one or no country change that. I give my thanks to those who have made that sacrifice there in 1776 and to those who continue to make sure that we do stay free and as a country we can be proud of. To this day, we are still free to assemble, and speak our minds, although there are those who want to change our constitution so that it favors one group over another. Hopefully that does not happen, because changing something that does not need fixing would be to allow all kinds of changes that would in turn give us, the people, less of an opportunity to fight against them.
So today, I bring to you my thoughts of what happens each year at this time. Instead of selecting a few places to have our fireworks displays, we allow people to sell fireworks to anyone who have the money to pay for them. We allow people in the neighborhoods to shoot off fireworks regardless of the dangers of fire or injury to those shooting them off or to children nearby. Fireworks are dangerous to use except in a way that no one gets hurt and no houses catches fire. As a youngster I have witness the dangers of what fireworks gives us when it is used by those who are not experienced enough to shot them off. I have seen eye injuries, hand injuries and I have been witness to fires caused by fireworks.
For several years, we in our neighborhood have been subject to fireworks being played with by young children whose parents are not around to watch them. One year I was sitting in our family room and some fireworks shot from a yard almost 2 blocks away hit the window right where I was sitting. On that same evening, I was out in the yard and one of the fireworks hit close to me and I was very mad about that. It seems like every year we hear of injuries to children and even to the ones shooting them off, yet we never see any thing done so that it would not happen again. . And for those with pets, they can tell you that fireworks scare the pets and many times that pet will suffer from that scare for several days.There are enough to keep our police and fire departments busy without worrying about the use of fireworks by don't care residents. So to put all this in perspective, why do those who are our governing bodies not make stricter rules about fireworks and how and where they can be used ? Lord knows that we can celebrate that wonderful holiday and our independence without taking a chance on injuries and/or fires. As you know, it usually is very hot and dry on that part of the year and we sure don’t need to cause someone to lose their homes just so the kids and the “don’t care” people can have fun. I am not a prude, and I do my part to celebrate our independence. That date of each year is for all of us to be reminded that we are a free country, and that as proud Americans, want to remain free. However, we have to use common sense in how we do celebrate it. Do us all a favor and regulate some better rules.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

640
They are my memories.

I was asked the other day about my memories of Kokomo and its stores. The person said that he could not believe that anyone could remember the things I do and thus he does not believe any of it. Well, that person had better check with the elders in his family if there are any still here. They could tell him a thing or two. My memory is still pretty sharp although I find myself forgetting things for a few minutes and bingo there it is right there in the old file box that our Creator gave me. We do have several friends who have gone via the memory route and I hope that my memory remains till the day that God calls me Home. When I was just a young whippersnapper, there were many things that happened and thus went into my file box to be remembered today and tomorrow. Going back in time, we had the iceman delivering blocks of ice to go into our iceboxes to help keep our food from spoiling. We had the milkman each day bringing milk if we needed any that day. Mom would leave the empty milk bottles on the front porch with a note saying what was needed. There were the Amish in their horse and carriage who deliver eggs, and sometimes they had some baked goodies to sell. And there was the bread truck which made trips through the neighborhood to deliver needed bread. Of course there were many things that we had to go to the stores to get and we had many stores throughout the city to shop at. But most of the time, we shopped at the neighborhood stores because they were only a stone throw away.
In our area, we had Whitacres which one day became French’s market. Bud and Bill were good men who took care of the people who shopped there. And there was Winburns Grocery on Kennedy Street run by Merle who also was a nice person to know. Down on Monroe and Lafountain Street there was Ben Martin who was on our way to school each day and we started off our days with a little goodie from Ben who always had time to wave to us as we went past his store. Back then you did not worry about people who passed out candy to the kids because people back then had good morals and they were a credit to the neighborhoods. Today, we have to teach our children that there are bad people who try to entice the young people with candy so that they can do bad things. Now don’t get me wrong, we do have good people out there who believe in our kids and are part of the family of those who want only the best for our children.
As I think back to the stores out of our area, I think of Longs and Krogers, both on North Washington, and Marsh Foodliner and National Foods in the south end. And Jesse Weaver had a store on the south east end of Kokomo. There were the Mom and Pop stores in just about every neighborhood, and life back then we had the luxury of being able to shop where ever we wished. And when we went downtown on Saturdays, there were the movie houses which showed some great shows played by the best actors around. Who can forget those cowboys who rode off into the sunset and came back the next Saturday in a new episode? Many times after we got out of the movies, we would walk around looking into each store window to see the newest fashions, and maybe stop at Kresge’s or McCelland’s to get some goodies before heading home .Time back then did not go as fast as it does today and we always had time to play before Mom called us in to eat her great food she made. So to the one who does not believe in what I say, I say, go to your elders and let them draw you a picture that you will understand. I have my memories which are precious ones and I am truly blessed to remember them.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

641
Past, Present, & Future.
Going back in time is a fun thing for me as it gives me a better outlook on what I am going through today. Then using the knowledge of yesterday mixed with today gives me a look at how things might be in the future. The past is something I relish because it puts me in the stages of life from child to today. I can sit and talk about things I did as a child and believe me folks, there are youngsters listening to me. The past is such a large part of my history because it goes up to yesterday and stops. Then today becomes yesterday and its spot in the past. Listening to those who lived in the past gives me a chance to see what they had to endure just to get to today. The wise people of the past are responsible for what we have today. Can you believe at one time there were no televisions? Can you sit down and wonder what it might have been without our radios when we were youngsters? Did you ever think movie houses would go away and only the big theaters would survive? Remember Gene and Roy riding off into the sunset? Did you ever think that Pennys, Wards, Kresges, and Sears would not be downtown? Those are things of the past that have changed into large holding companies out to get your hard-earned money or to allow you to put large credit on just your name alone. Yes, folks some of the past has made it through to today and has a good chance of being here tomorrow. But other things have not and that is where the memories so precious to this old man come into place. I lived it, I am living it and I hope to be living it tomorrow.
Coal for heating and cooking. Electric for having lights to read your books and newspaper by. Ice man delivering ice for the fridge. The Amish delivering eggs and butter by horse and wagon. Milk left at your doorstep each day. And that young fellow with all that gusto delivering the newspaper right to your doorstep each evening after school.
And helping Mom with the dishes after every meal. Did you have your own apron? Each of us did. Folks, those who lived it, remembers. But those who never did, don’t believe all the things told them by that bald headed old man who lived it and loved it. And I am not the only one who loves to talk about the days of old. Tom and Barb can talk your head off with their thoughts of yesterday. I remember Cliff Fouts here in Kokomo who liked to tell the story. And old man Harrington who lived up in the north end could tell you about his life both as a child and as a minister of God. There are many stories yet to be told as there are many who just do not want to relive the past through their memories of a time so precious to most of us but not to them. To them, I say, go ahead and live just today but you sure are cheating some young kids the chance to learn from one who lived it, But think about your grandchildren and the things that they are missing because you want to forget. Will they have to go to the books to learn about the days of old or will they look up someone like me who loves to tell the story of life as it was for my elders and myself. I will be here for a few more years but if some child wants to learn about my past and my words as they are written, all they have to do is to go back to the old Kokomo Tribunes and read about that bald old man with memories to talk about. It is such a blessing to be able to put my words in front of you each week and then hear about it from the readers. And to those like Thelma, Glenn, Grandpa Harrington, Cliff, Jenny and Mary, I say thanks for your help.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

642
As We Progress”

Back in the days of old, there were many things that in today’s thought, would be sort of a laugh as to if they were true or not. The only ones who knew how it really was are the ones who have been called Home and the children of those who took the time to educate their children as to how it was and how much better that child has it. But don’t get me wrong as to thinking that those things were not necessary facts of life,. Water brought up from the creek by those who had no wells. Washing their clothes in the creek water by those who were not able to have inside plumbing. That little house with the half-moon on the door for the personal part of life by those who had no inside plumbing nor a room for it. Cooking on a stove that used coal, wood and corncobs as fuel . Electric wires coming down from the ceiling where you could hook up the light and a plug in for the radio or iron. A potbelly stove that you put coal, wood, and corncobs in to keep the house warm. The upstairs was very cold in the winter as the only way to get heat up there was though a transom in the ceiling. In the summer we had to use fans powered by electricity to stay cool. That meant that you could not have the radio on or use the iron because it would be an overload and could blow a fuse.
The things that each generation put up with were updated by those who came later and that is how progress was a vital part of the generations coming up next. Just about everyone thought that there had to be a better way of doing the things that were such a vital part of that era. As time progressed, so did the important things that we needed to make the day better and that was because there was always someone out there who had the gift of invention and so in today’s era, we profit from those who tried to make things better for all and not just a few. There are still those outbuildings out there somewhere because when nature calls, you need not have to go looking for that secluded spot for that personal happening. We went from just reading and talking to get the news, to being able to use the radios and then the televisions. We went from using the word of mouth to get our messages through, to using the telegraph or the newspapers, to the phones and now through the internet. In today’s world we are able to see what is happening across the pond and keep up on the happenings too in our own country. We have cars, trucks, trains, and planes to go anywhere we want. We have food for our bellies and we have all the places that will cook the food and serve us at their tables. We have the freedoms that our forefathers fought for us to have , and we live in the best country in the whole world. We are able to elect people who will speak for us in all causes and represent us in our governing body in Washington. Our voice can be heard throughout the land as to how we want our country to be.
And that leads me to this one question. Why are our representatives in" both parties" not working like they should? Why are we at such a poor time of life, subjected to our government divided to the effect that we could default and go down to being at the hands of those who are waiting to overpower us without a shot being fired.? Why are we allowing the states to overpower our school system using the term "Charter School" as a drawing card? Our schools need to stay public and our state needs to clean up their acts and our representatives need to get back to keeping America the powerful and profitable country that always, up to this era, was proud enough to blow our own horn. “Progress”?
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

643
The Days Of Old

Back in the days of old, there were many things that in today’s thought, would be sort of a laugh as to if they were true or not. The only ones who knew how it really was are the ones who have been called Home and the children of those who took the time to educate their children as to how it was and how much better that child has it. But don’t get me wrong as to thinking that those things were not necessary facts of life,. Water brought up from the creek by those who had no wells. Washing their clothes in the creek water by those who were not able to have inside plumbing. That little house with the half-moon on the door for the personal part of life by those who had no inside plumbing nor a room for it. Cooking on a stove that used coal, wood and corncobs as fuel . Electric wires coming down from the ceiling where you could hook up the light and a plug in for the radio or iron. A potbelly stove that you put coal, wood, and corncobs in to keep the house warm. The upstairs was very cold in the winter as the only way to get heat up there was though a transom in the ceiling. In the summer we had to use fans powered by electricity to stay cool. That meant that you could not have the radio on or use the iron because it would be an overload and could blow a fuse.
The things that each generation put up with were updated by those who came later and that is how progress was a vital part of the generations coming up next. Just about everyone thought that there had to be a better way of doing the things that were such a vital part of that era. As time progressed, so did the important things that we needed to make the day better and that was because there was always someone out there who had the gift of invention and so in today’s era, we profit from those who tried to make things better for all and not just a few. There are still those outbuildings out there somewhere because when nature calls, you need not have to go looking for that secluded spot for that personal happening.
We went from just reading and talking to get the news, to being able to use the radios and then the televisions. We went from using the word of mouth to get our messages through, to using the telegraph or the newspapers, to the phones and now through the internet. In today’s world we are able to see what is happening across the pond and keep up on the happenings too in our own country. We have cars, trucks, trains, and planes to go anywhere we want. We have food for our bellies and we have all the places that will cook the food and serve us at their tables. We have the freedoms that our forefathers fought for us to have , and we live in the best country in the whole world. We are able to elect people who will speak for us in all causes and represent us in our governing body in Washington. Our voice can be heard throughout the land as to how we want our country to be.
And that leads me to this one question. Why are our representatives in" both parties" not working like they should? Why are we at such a poor time of life, subjected to our government divided to the effect that we could default and go down to being at the hands of those who are waiting to overpower us without a shot being fired.? Why are we allowing the states to overpower our school system using the term "Charter School" as a drawing card? Our schools need to stay public and our state needs to clean up their acts and our representatives need to get back to keeping America the powerful and profitable country that always, up to this era, was proud enough to blow our own horn. “Progress”?
Ray “Uncle Ray

644
Gripes worth giving.
This week, I am embarking on a new thought called “What Gripes Me”. Doing this could cause some of my readers to get a little mad but hear me out first and then get mad if you will. Watching the blastoffs of our space ships amazes me in that to be able to do this, you have to have full commitment by all. The one thing that I gripe about is that we only get to see the blastoff and the return to earth. Why can’t the people who’s tax money pays for it, be able to see what is going on while they are up there and why is there not a show where the people can see what it really looks like up there? I know I would watch it.
Well back to earth, I ask why do we continue to feed and clothe the world while we have children right here in our country that have those needs? Why do we take polls when you know that the polls are gong to favor the companies that have them? I had a phone call several years ago where the caller asked my opinion on a subject. I told him that my thoughts on the subject were my own and I wasn’t going to participate. I then asked the person about how they would mark me on the poll and he said that they usually put down whatever they want as long as they get an opinion. Why do we pay for cable and have to watch ads that pertain to sex, legal actions, and medicines? Why can we not just delete them from our sets. It seems to me that the cable companies get money from both sides of the table. Sort of like our lobbying system in Washington. And of course one of my biggest gripes are the interruptions of our television shows by the weathermen to warn us about storms, when if you check, you will find channels that have the weather and news all the time. A waste of our money and time, I would venture to say. How about standing in line at the grocery store waiting for the clerk and buyer to stop their visitations. The same goes when there is someone in line who has just about every coupon there is and they are looking for a certain one to give the clerk. Looks to me like they could of done that before coming to the store. And those stores that advertise customer satisfaction but they tell you that certain things are not covered and if they are, you have to mail the damaged product in to them. Back in my day as a salesperson, the words on the wall were take care of the customer. Getting back to the grocery stores, I have to ask this. Why are the potatoes, which are supposed to be from Idaho, about 20% bad ones? And celery is found to have lots of soil still on them when you get home and unwrap it. Lettuce is brown inside the leaves. Ground beef is dark brown inside the package even though it has been just freshly ground. I could go on for a long time talking about the food stores but I will say that I go to stores that I can trust and I only buy from each store the items that I can truly rely on to be right. Getting back to the gripe section, how about the cars that have the volume so high , and the loud engines running for longer than they should.? We have a neighbor who does this every day several times a day and night. Where is the noise law?
There are many stories about the gripes of a old man like me and I would say that I resemble the remark about me being a pain in the neck. But hey, if I didn’t gripe occasionally you might think this is a perfect world. And you know that it isn’t, but it would be great if for one day it were. So gripe time is up and now I will go back to my memories, so precious.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

645
Steel Mill Memory.
Having endured quite a heat wave in July, I think back in time when the Steel Mill was still working and I remember some very hot uncomfortable days working in the hot heat coming off the furnaces as well as how it was outside. Back when I first hired in, they made the steel in the open hearth where there were five furnaces going all at the same time. The workers kept busy preparing each furnace with all the additives needed to made a good bed for the scrap metal that would be put in there using a crane that had an arm that hooked into the end of the pans of metal, then lifted it up and then into the furnaces and then turned over to dump it. This was the way that scrap metal was melted down in this long pan that was lined with furnace brick. On each furnace there was a first and second helper and a utility man. They were responsible for making sure that the right amount of scrap and additives went into each furnace. When the heat of steel was ready to be poured into a ladle, one of the helpers went around back of the furnace and break loose the hole in the brick lining.allowing the molten steel to run into a large ladle, and when this was finished, then the crane operator would take the ladle over two rolls of ingot molds which had to be prepared by the pit crew. The hot steel would be poured into each mold and then one of the pit crew would lay a plate over the top of the mold allowing it to solidify into an ingot.
After these ingots were ready, the crane operator would lift the mold, thus allowing the ingot to slide out. Then after all this was done the ingots would be taken to the soaking pits to get another soaking of heat to make the steel needed for an order. From there the ingots would be pressed between long solid rolls to make billets, and sheet bar that would in turn go through the sheet mill, the rod mill, or be shipped to our other companies to make their type of product. Watching and knowing the way that steel products were made, you appreciated the work that it took to go through the process. And through all of this, weather never dictated whether you took time off because it was too hot or too cold. You took the worst of the heat and the cold because it was your job. That was how the steel was made up to 1967 and then the electric furnaces took over. The elements were the same but not as harsh as it was in the open hearth. Steel was the backbone of just about anything that was to last a lifetime.
The steelworker was the hands of America in a business that was dominant here in America until unruly business men decided to use it to their advantage, thus taking it down to its knees. We still make steel here in America but not the quality of that which was made at Continental Steel in Kokomo, Indiana. The Roofing Stock made in the sheet mill was the best ever made. The Wire and Rods, which companies all over kept on their shelves was the most dependable made. And the Welded Fab was use by Cement companies as strength for their concrete. And the nails made at Continental was sought by all because you never saw them bend or break. A memory of a company here in our city of Kokomo Ind, will never die as it will dwell in the minds of all who worked there and their family members. And it is fitting that the memories of such a great country can be found in The Howard County Museum right here in our city. Someday when you get time, go up and take a visit to the memories of that company. God Bless all those workers who gave their all to make what was called steel. There is now only an empty lot on Markland Ave. but our memory is full.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

646
I am a writer.

Many times I have received mail or email from the readers out there who give me accolades and even rebuttals about the topics I write about. I knew from day one that there would be some who did not agree with what I write but I also knew that there would be many who agree. As most know, I like to go back in time to those days when as a youngster, things so precious to me, are told in a way just as if it was today. The hardships of the people in the old days, the family attitude, and the love of parents to child and likewise. Just telling it like it was has been a wonderful thing to do. I will at times write about things that are going on in today’s world, and give my opinion of it. I write about the elections sometimes, but at no time do I try to change someone’s mind. I will not try to picture someone as being bad, nor will I dress up the picture of those I personally would like to see as our leaders. I will check and verify the things I write about and if the only way to get someone to agree with me is to try and defame that person, then I will not write it. My goal is to give you, the readers, a look at what I personally stand for, and you can get your own opinion on how I am.
Writing is not only a hobby with me, it is also a trip back in time, and it is a thing of joy to be able to open the newspaper and see it in print. As with me, the goal of a writer is to put in print a picture of what he or she is, or what the things that are going on could mean to the readers. You should not attempt to drag someone through the dirt using the columns you write, nor should you use curse words or pictures of something bad. Writing can be rewarding most of the time, but it also can lead to bad feeling for the family members if you write the wrong things. You should never use someone else’s words unless you give credit to that person. So as you journey on in your quest to write, you should watch out for any and all shortcuts that will change the way that writing is perceived by the readers. Many times a few words will put you in defense of your writing and thus what you intended to say is turned around to mean something else.
The Tribune has been very good to me, allowing me to write almost 600 columns, and I thank them for that. With the illnesses that I have experienced in my lifetime, writing has been not only good for me but also it has been a healing from the things that would of taken me down. I have met many more people not only through reading the Tribune, but also though the mailings of my columns from my readers to their friends. I get many emails, letters, and even as I shop, I am stopped by someone who asks if I am Uncle Ray who writes for the Tribune. My wife and I have been pen pals with a wonderful reader named Thelma since May of 2003, and that has been good for us as we keep each other aware of what is going on in our lives. She will be 100 year old in January of 2012. Glenn and his wife Wanetta have been email buddies for several years and they are in their nineties too. So what I write about seems to get across to those who lived the things in those days of old, and I feel good about that. I have reached the younger generation enough that they are asking their grandparents if it was true what was written by that old man named Uncle Ray. So yes, I love to write and I love it when I hear from the readers. So as long as I am allowed to, “I will let my fingers do the walking“.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

647
Misuse of credit
Today, we are at a time when the use of what we have in assets is secured to the effect of how we put our backs to the wall, as we use credit cards. It seems as one starts their way toward using a credit card, it soon leads to closing our minds to what we can afford. We take the use of credit cards and we abuse that use in placing more debt on our shoulders without fear of making a payment in the next month. It has gotten to be a virus that holds on to you as it lessens your worth today and for years afterward. Why do we do this? It is of "my opinion" that really most don’t care about the after effects, and they live only for today. Where will the money come from to get you out of debt? How many of you really care about how the money owed is paid.? How many take the time to find out what the interest paid would amount to and how much the rate rises when you don’t fulfill the commitments you make? Do you open another card to pay what you owe and the result being that the hole you dug just got deeper.
This writer has been very fortunate in having been raised by parents who never let themselves enjoy something they could not afford. We were taught to never be envious of those who live better than we did. We were taught that to borrow more than what you need just puts you into a commitment that you might not be able to meet. In the case of credit cards, there wasn’t any of that when we were kids. Businesses would give you credit for the things you bought through their stores. Groceries would allow you a tab each week or each payday, and you had better be on time each payday or that tab was no more. You borrowed on your credibility and your history of proper paying up. There weren’t any mailings of credit solicitations each week in your mailbox. The temptations of opening credit card accounts was not there for those who just did not have the paychecks to pay that money back. In today’s world we put too much emphasis in opening a charge just to get that free gift that they dangle in front of you. Promises of low payments each month make the credit card a luxury that can’t be overlooked. Young people think that all they have to do is to open that account and then lie back and enjoy without wondering where that monthly payment will come from.
We always hear how our leaders want this or that because it will be good for us when really they are thinking about how their own pockets will hold the profits of such things that really do not benefit you or me. The price of medicines rises each week and we don’t look at the cost that we pay. The rises in monthly rates for our insurance for our better health rises each year even though we get less in return. Food has taken a hike in prices with less quality of said food. Fuel prices go up even though it is bought as less than the previous month. Stores offer rebates on their merchandise to mail in and only be used in the store the merchandise was bought at. That folks is not a sale because said store still gets your money as soon as you use that rebate. As one who worked in sales for seventeen years, I know how to find the small print that tells you the information that should be up front where it can be seen by the buyer at the time. I would never sell anyone something that I knew would be a problem later on. I guess that is why I did as well as I did. People trusted me to not only sell them what they needed but also to advise them on what they did not need even though it was less money in my pocket from that sale. Common sense is needed by all of us.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

648
Life is a book
Have you ever given thought to what you have stored in your book of memories? Have you told your young about how it was back then? Have you taken the time to think about it? Well, I have and I do. As you know, most of my columns are about the old days and what they meant to me. You might say that it is like turning the pages in the book of life and you would be correct. Being able to relate to you, both old and young ,my thoughts, is like maybe going back to a preceding page and taking another look at what the past was for me and you. And my book of life is about those things that have happened in our family’s time here on earth. We can take a short trip back in time by turning the pages of the book of life. We can show the children of today what our life was about as children and also the times of our parents, grandparents and other relatives and friends. There are many out there who have closed the book of their lives and they only live for today and tomorrow if it comes about.
Many times when I have the time to do so, I sit back, close my eyes, and explore those wonderful pages in my book. Sometimes, I have had tears coming from my eyes, when I think about my family who have done their time here and have received the call to go Home, and I wonder just how it would be to have all 14 of us brothers and sisters still here with Mom and Dad here too. That would be one room full of family and I am pretty sure there will be at least half of them all talking at the same time. But we can’t be together here on earth because there are only a few of us left.
But in my book of life, my memories give me a lot of pleasure, just being able to remember those great days of old that are and hopefully will always be there for all to see and think about. Memories of Mom and Dad and what they gave up in taking care of all of us, lies between the front and back covers of my book and sprinkled in all the pages are thoughts about my brothers and sisters and cousins, aunts and uncles, and our grandparents too. Why would anyone not want their own book of life? They have the memories, and they have family, so they do have their book of life if only they would take time to open it up.
Many of my readers are in the eighties and nineties and they are always letting me know that they feel good reading my thoughts about how it was and how it is today and how it might be in the future. Yes, Thelma and Jenny, you are two of those readers and my love goes out to you each week as I think about what to write about. Think of it. What a full book of memories they must have and what it must have been like in their day. The things that we enjoy today are results of the generations before us who envisioned what it could be in their future. Their future is our today and our future is your tomorrow. So if you have good memories to go back to, then you are truly blessed.
And for those who have been only living today and not thinking about what it took for them to get to this time, I ask you to take time, and write down some of those memories that you have been hiding because your children will benefit from knowing what you and your family had to go through. It is not fair to hide what might be beneficial to the young people of tomorrow, and really folks you can feel real good about having survived the past so that you can live today. My book of life still has some empty pages and I will fill them in before my call Home comes. How about you? Memories are precious.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

649
The Silent Army

Well, it is time to jump over to a topic which is special for me to write about. Those who know me. know that one of the things I like to write about is the legion of health soldiers that we come into contact almost every day. I am talking about those special people we call nurses, who in their own way, gives us hope along with the medical help that we need in those times of care to make us well. They are part of our army against disease, and other sicknesses. They do things that most of us could not or would not do because of the situation at hand. They keep a professional aspect toward the things that they need to do for the patient while holding back the sentimental feelings that we know they have. They are the ones who follow the orders that the doctors leave for the patient, and they use their skills along that line to know how to care for us while we can’t do for ourselves. In other words they are the ones, who are our leaders when we can’t lead for ourselves, and in those times that we have needed that care, it was right there to receive and all we had to do was to push that call button.
This past year, I have been witness to how the wonderful people at the cancer center do their job of giving chemo and other things needed by my brother and the others who come there to get their chemo. Those people in that center handle their duties with care of those who are receiving said treatments. They must walk several miles a day going back and forth between the patients which at times are a room full. They are very good at their job and they make you comfortable while you are there. They will answer to the best of their ability the questions asked by the patients and they don’t give out information to anyone else about their patients as that is the privacy of the other patient. Sometimes the person being given treatment might be there for several hours and when they are through, they are released both in a professional and personal way . Those people also are part of the army mentioned earlier. Everything they do for a patient is used as another part of the puzzle of taking care of others who need better health and care.
As to those patients who are getting the care from the health personnel, they too are part of that army because each thing done to make them better is another step toward eliminating cancer, heart problems, lung problems, and all the other illnesses that we have to combat each and every day.
Our daughter was a patient for several months having ovarian cancer and we like to feel that the things they learned from taking care of her will play a big part in one day saying that we whipped cancer. As with her, I have always seen that hope in just about everyone who has gone through their battle, and as long as they have hope, we have them. I have witnessed many who are laughing, smiling, and have that desire to defeat that enemy called cancer. So there we have our look at “the army of all to defeat cancer and other maladies” To those nurses who work the floors and to those who work there in the cancer center, along with the aides, housekeeping, clergy, and the families of the patient, I see not only hope, but also all the new ways to give out that care to the patients. There have been some families that gave the hospital memorial plaques not only in memory of their loved ones but also giving thanks to the doctors and the nurses and others for the care given their loved one. It meant a lot to those nurses.. Sadly the hospital has decided to take them down and store them in a closet to collect dust. It is said that they have other ideas and we were not asked our opinions. That is the “only” negative thing I can say.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day

650
Remaining Strong.

As the anniversary of 9/11, approached, we as Americans felt not only vigilant, but ready to show all of the world that we are a free nation under God, and give respect not only for our fallen but also the families who were left to remember such a sad day in our history of living in a country where we felt free enough to live in peace. We as Americans were thought to fall apart because of this tragedy and thus become an easy target for the lowly terrorists who want to put us on our knees. However we did not get down to our knees because of the terrorists, We did get down on our knees to pray to our Creator to help us respond in a way to reinforce our country so that nothing like this cannot and will not ever again. We are a nation drawn together so that with God’s salvation, we will bounce back stronger than ever and with guidance from our God, we will return in a peaceful way to respect life of our fellow Americans, along with trying to remain peaceful with the other countries, yet strong enough to take the threats to a higher level and to show the world that we will not go down without a fight.
This is what we are, a nation under God, trying to live within the rules, yet ready to show our teeth, and ready to take a big bite out of those who are not our friends. In today’s world there are many countries who are taking up the fight to take down the tyrants who have held them prisoners in their own land and many times put those people on their knees and then slaughtered and left to rot in the ground. The problem I see is that many times there are groups who will move in to take over the countries once the dirty work is done and once again those people will not be any better than before, maybe worst.
We read of the predictions of others who say the end is near, and maybe that is so but God did not intend for us to live in fear, and we must work together as a free nation under God to bring all of our people together with intentions to make us not only stronger but also unified so that we remain free with a proper attitude of our leaders, not only to each other but also to the people they represent. We need to clean up the attitude of said representatives and those in the judicial part of government and start working together with our president who too needs to get out of the party handle and represent us as our leaders who were elected party wise, yet should represent us as a whole nation under God. We allow our Supreme Court to make decisions that are not consistent with what our country was supposed to follow in our Independence from foreign rule. We allow our Congress to sit back and bicker with each other on the other side of the line. And we allow our President to continue to want to stay within the party’s line while trying to bring this country to a democracy one more.
How do we as Americans respect the losses of our men and women in the wars, while trying to remain a peaceful country under God? When will we see the time when Government goes back to being of the people, by the people and for the people? We elected our representatives to represent us, not the party. We elected our President to work with Congress to make our country stronger and better. And we need to do a better job of having our President to appoint our Supreme Court’s body so that our Declaration of Independence will be followed in a way that we do remain that United States, under God, until that time when we all will be called Home. May this country be continually blessed by God and the Heavens above. We will remain a country under God, free to live free and without fear of others and their threats of harm.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day