Make it Simple to understand

As I am in the process of cleaning out my grandmother's house, I come across this collection of books, which were my father's from the late 1950s. I am unsure if Dad had a complete set, but I will continue to look and clean and see if there are any more where these came from.  Thes books cover a variety of different subjects and topics, from English to Economics, even how to play bridge! These were published in the late fifties and early sixties. I saw the Economics book and thought of when I took Economics during my Sophomore year of High School. I think that these would be great for homeschooling, especially during these times of quarantine, and the issue of returning to school in September is brought up around the country and is a very hot topic right now in various cities. 

Independent Post

I am sorry for my delay the past few months, I have been busy processing, grieving,  and getting affairs taken care of after my father's passing back in May, and am slowly but surely cleaning out his house and going through his possessions, as well as my late grandmother's possessions. Dad never got rid of my grandmother's possessions after she passed over 20 years ago for sentimental reasons. As I am going through various areas of the house and seeing what I would want and what I need to give to charity once they start accepting donations again, I find this interesting piece of history. This was a bag for the Independent Postal System in the 1970s. From what I have read, IPSA was competition for the Post Office back in the days, and they actually got sued before they disbanded! This bag was in the Detroit Metro area. Was IPSA active where you were from or currently are? 

Party Time, I'll set the party tray out

Farmer Jack was always a Gem of a store. 

My late mother had a saying when I was a kid and a teenager: "Clean up, you find things!" She used to use this whenever I cleaned up and found something I forgot I had. During the quarantine, I was, and still am, cleaning up the house and getting things ready to go to charity that are no longer needed by me or my dad, but might be of use to someone else. As I am tidying up, I found this gem of a brochure. It is from the Farmer Jack chain of supermarkets in the metro Detroit area, which went out of business in 2007. Farmer Jack was my mom's go-to supermarket. We'd go on Friday night after my mom got home from work, and after she was out of work, she would still go to do her weekly shopping on Friday nights, The one near my house had a large kosher food selection for the Jewish population in my hometown, and special foods for the Jewish high holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Purim, Hanukkah, Passover, and other special days and observances.  These party trays were well known in the deli, with many different selections for occasions as small as a get together of five friends, to a large holiday party for 100 people. Nearly all palates would be met, as well as dietary restrictions if requested. A memory I have of these party trays are of my parents getting party trays if they had family over, and they would have appetizers on the table before dinner was served if it was a dinner party. Nowadays, you can find a party tray at any warehouse club (Sam's Club, Costco, BJ's, etc) or the deli at your local supermarket. 

Helping in a time of Crisis

As I was sliding around Facebook some time ago, I come across a post about Jim Rice of the Boston Red Sox saving the life of then four-year-old Jonathan Keane, at Fenway Park on August 8, 1982. A foul ball had come into the stands quickly, and hit young Jonathan in the head, causing to bleed profusely. Jim took matters into his own hands, carrying Jonathan to the Red Sox team medical staff instead of waiting for Fenway Park medical staff to show up. He was later taken to a Boston area hospital for treatment. An article in Sports Illustrated about Jonathan, who celebrated his 40th birthday in 2017, and the after-effects of the injury he sustained. Also in the last article, it is mentioned about the need for netting from foul pole to foul pole in each Major League stadiums. Many people have varying opinions on the netting. I think that the netting is necessary for all involved, so that injury or worse is caused. 

YouTube Friday: Stevie Wonder - Part-Time Lover (8-bit)

Here is a fun video for YouTube Friday. In honor of Stevie Wonder's 70th birthday earlier this week, here is a digital/8 bit version of a popular song of his, Part Time Lover. I thought this song was a fun remix of the song, and I hope you like it too

Battling Old Habits

I have been on Twitter here recently, and while scrolling through my feed, I noticed that many people I tend to follow were in need of prayers because they were falling into some past habits that were pretty self-destructive or conducive to living a productive life. I think that many of us during this time are prone to, at many times, falling back on or being tempted by old habits, such as smoking, drinking, meds of various legality, vices of the flesh, and other undesirable habits. It seems that no matter how hard we are trying to avoid them, or how long we have been avoiding them, they always sneak up on us at the least convenient or desirable time. Reading an article on CBC from back in March tells us how to divert our attention towards more productive habits. One of these habits is to get social online, whether it be on Social Media, a blog, or other means. What are you doing to get past old habits? I try to read or go on social media. 

YouTube Friday: Neil Sedaka - Little Brother

Today's edition of YouTube Friday comes from Ben Clevenger's YouTube channel. This is one of Neil Sedaka's songs from his comeback in the 1970s.  I have been intrigued with music from the 1970s since I was in the sixth grade in the mid-1990s. I heard the song "Love Will Keep Us Together", written by Neil Sedaka and performed by The Captain and Tennille, on a commercial touting a Compact Disc package with Top 10/number one songs of the 1970s. This song was on an album of Neil Sedaka's hits from 1974-1980, which included his comeback hit "Laughter in the Rain", along with songs such as "The Immigrant," "The Queen of 1964," "Rock and Roll Wedding Day," and this song, which is a favorite of mine since the 1990s. Neil Sedaka is currently on Facebook, where he performs Quarantine concerts for his many fans and followers.

Legion Centennial plus One

American Legion parade on Woodward '31 Wed, Sep 23, 1931 – Page 33 · Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) · Newspapers.com As I am working on my genealogy, I learn that my great-grandfather, my mom's maternal grandfather, was an active member of the American Legion, which celebrated its centennial in 2019. It was founded in 1919 through an act of Congress. Their annual convention came to Detroit for the first-and so far only-time in September 1931 and there were a number of activities for members of the Legion and the Ladies' Auxiliary, including a parade down Woodward Avenue, religious services at both Christian and Jewish houses of worship, and many other special events. My Great Grandfather was a member of the Charles Young post of the Legion, post 77 in Detroit. He was the chaplain at one time (he was a deacon at the church my grandmother's family attended, and possibly had a spiritual role in the masonic lodge he was a member of), and he was the treasurer of the post at the time of his death in the mid-1950s. Currently, the post is no longer standing. It has been replaced by the  John Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit's Medical Center. Are you or someone you know are related to a member of any veterans organization? How has this experience enriched you or their lives?

YouTube Friday: El villa entrevista al gran Aurelio Rodriguez

It's been quite a while since I have done a YouTube Friday entry, so I would like to start back today. Today's entry is courtesy of Carlos Rodriguez's YouTube channel. This is his interview with Aurelio Rodriguez, who played in the Mexican League and in Major League Baseball from the 1960s-1980s. I had heard of him occasionally, and it wasn't until I met Ron LeFlore, who played on the Detroit Tigers with him in the mid-late '70s, in the summer of 2019 (I mentioned that I give tours, and he asked did I mention Aurelio Rodriguez). I am currently doing my research so I can tell people about this former Tiger. Here is what I have discovered so far. He was born in Cananea, Mexico in December 1947, one of six children. His father, Aurelio, Sr.,  played in the Mexican baseball league and told his son that if he could throw the rocks in the sandlots of his hometown as he did, he could play anywhere. He arrived in the United States in the mid-1960s, and he played for numerous teams, including the Tigers from 1971-1979, and ending his stint in the majors with Chicago in 1983. It has been said that he was a very good fielder way back when. He was a frequent and popular visitor in the Mexicantown section of Southwest Detroit, meeting with fans, signing autographs and being a positive influence on all he encountered around the Detroit area. He was killed in September 2000 after being hit by a car while walking with a friend near the El Rancho restaurant in the Mexicantown section of Detroit. The driver of that car should not have been driving due to an Aneurysm. A memorial service was held in his memory at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Southwest Detroit, and a large funeral was held in Los Mochis, Mexico, where he is buried at Panteon Municipal de Los Mochis.

Quarantine Virtual travel and memories

During this time of quarantine brought on by the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic, I am comforted at times by scanning and looking through some old pictures from past travels and experiences, both here in Detroit and out of town trips to various destinations. Here are a few that I have found that have brought back memories

This picture was from my trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland last summer. I couldn't go until the end of July due to work obligations and the need to help my father out. This was part of an exhibit about music on Television. American Bandstand was one of those shows that really showcased multiple styles of music during its run on TV. 

I went through an old photo album from February/March/April 2006, and ran across this picture of the late Coleman Young, who was mayor of Detroit from 1973-1993. He was Detroit's first black mayor, elected the same day as Maynard Jackson in Atlanta. He passed in November 1997, and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit. 

From January 2007, this was located in the Grand Circus Park People Mover station, on the doors of the now refurbished David Broderick Tower, which is the site of a Marriott Aloft hotel. The Tigers had just made a remarkable run to the World Series in 2006, and excitement was high for anything to do with the team. This was the start of a run of decent success for the team, which stretched from 2006-2014. 

From my trip to Chicago in September 2018 to see my favorite baseball team, the Detroit Tigers on the road for what was my tradition of seeing the Tigers on Labor Day during even-numbered years from 2010-2018 (Detroit in 2010 and 2012, Cleveland in 2014, Chicago in 2016 and 2018) This is the iconic Chicago Theatre on State Street between Lake and Randolph. Seen while doing some evening sightseeing. 

A Thanksgiving fun picture, from 2019! This is Paws, the Detroit Tigers mascot, and Roary, the Detroit Lions mascot, feeling rebellious and hitching a ride to their float to ride in the parade. After the Parade, Roary headed to the Den at Ford Field for the Lions' annual Thanksgiving Day game.