You gave me birth,
You wiped my tears away when I was a child,
You made sure that I had a school lunch, and that my clothes matched;
You always managed to find a couple of bucks to give me for Friday night,
You showed that you were proud of me when I did something good,
And even though you disapproved, you supported me when I was wrong.
You drove me back and forth to college,
You were a shining example to my kids and grandkids,
You were a welcome wagon for the neighborhood,
You were a shoulder to lean on for friends and family.
You were the glue that kept our family together,
Even when we were miles apart in distance, thoughts and actions.
You matured with a grace reserved for only a few,
Your life was an example for all to follow.
Now that you have gone to your heavenly reward,
Mother's Day seems like a mere formality.
I do want to wish a "Happy Mother's Day" to all of the mothers out there,
For without you, we would not be here.
But the day is not as special for me as it once was,
Because you my Mother,
Evelyn Ruth Lake Jackson,
Have left this earth for your Heavenly home...
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Birthday Blog
Today is my 68th birthday. That's 24,837 days; 596,088 hours; 35,765,280 minutes; or 2,145,916,800 seconds!! Tick, tick, tick...
I have been alive through 13 Presidential Administrations; FDR the original socialist, "The buck stops here" Truman, WWII Hero Eisenhower, JFK of Camelot, "Not ready for prime time"LBJ, The paranoid Nixon, The caretaker Ford, Carter of the misery index, Reagan the magnificent, Bush the elder, Clinton the philanderer, GWB the misunderstood and Obama the incompetent...
I have worked the following jobs: Summer 4-H Assistant for Delaware County, 1962 and Orange County, 1965; clerk in Charlie Fiumera's Western Auto Store in Walton, NY, 1964; library page at Mann Library, Cornell University, 1964- 1966; Ag Teacher at Windsor Central School, 1966- 1967; Ag teacher at Downsville Central School, 1967- 1968; a short stint at Del- Met in 1968, US Army from 1968- 1971; Ag Teacher in Manatee County Florida from 1971- 1998 and 2000 - 2005; substitute teacher in Delaware County, NY, 1998; dishwasher at the Rainbow Lodge, 1998; Forms Supervisor at Ceridian in St. Pete, Fl., 1999,; Science Teacher at Haile Middle School, 1999- 2000; part time clerk, assistant manager and summer manager for Circle K Convenience Stores, 1982- 1997; produce clerk for Hunsader Farms, 1997- 2004; Industry Certification Specialist for Manatee County Schools. 2007- 2008; Salesman for Southern Heritage Fundraiser, 2008; and Test Scorer for Date Recognition Corporation, 2010 to present...
My greatest athletic accomplishment has been qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 1979, 1981 and 1995; and actually running in, and completing, the Boston Marathon in 1981. In high school I set the record for the mile run at the slow and slightly long ( I measured it!!)Walton Fairgounds track of 4:48. It is, or was, about 50 feet long per half mile lap. I also won the Sectional Cross Country meet at Delhi's Scotch Mountain course in 1960. My Walton teammate, Willie Tennant, finished second in that meet...
The most famous person that I have ever met was Nelson Rockefeller, when he was Governor of New York, in 1965. It was at the Orange County Fair when I was working as a 4-H Summer Assistant...
My all time sports hero remains Mickey Mantle, with apologies to Derek Jeter...
My greatest sports thrill was attending Game 4 of the 1958 World series at Yankee Stadium. I had won a local "Atlantic Gasoline Junior Sportscaster" contest and the legendary Amos Finch of WDLA fame, took me to the Stadium to see the Yankees play the Braves. Even thought he Yankees lost the game, they came back to win the Series and Mickey Mantle hit an unbelievable triple in the 4th inning of that game...
I enjoy incredibly good health for someone my age. I can't take a lot of credit for it though. I have been reactive instead of preventive as far as my health is concerned. I guess I can chalk it up to good genetics; thanks Mom and Dad...
I have overcome some major addictions in my life. I no longer drink alcohol, as of June 1, 1994; smoke, as of July 18,1991; or gamble, as of January 4, 2011...
I have owned at least one legendary car, a 1966 Silver Dodge Charger. Unfortunatley I abused it a lot, but I sure do have some great memories of it...
I have taught thousands of students over the years, and have hopefully been a positive influence in their lives...
I am a lousy golfer who has flashes of brilliance on the course. Ah yes, hope springs eternal...
The most traumatic events that have occurred during my lifetime were the JFK assassination on 11/22/1963 and the Terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. I was alive for the dropping of the A- bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, but of course, do not remember them...
I have no living parents, aunts or uncles left. Every summer that we go to NY we seem to attend half a dozen funerals or so...
I am fearful of the direction that our country, and world in general, is taking. A lot of Biblical prophecy is coming true...
I have been blessed with a loving family, faithful friends and interesting aquaintances...
My goal for the next year is to see my weight drop to under 200 pounds. I am finally being proactive in fighting off the inevitable ravages of old age...
I thank everyone in advance for the birthday wishes. It is my sincere hope to be able to continue thanking you all for another 25 years or so. However I know that is up to powers over which I have no control...
I have been alive through 13 Presidential Administrations; FDR the original socialist, "The buck stops here" Truman, WWII Hero Eisenhower, JFK of Camelot, "Not ready for prime time"LBJ, The paranoid Nixon, The caretaker Ford, Carter of the misery index, Reagan the magnificent, Bush the elder, Clinton the philanderer, GWB the misunderstood and Obama the incompetent...
I have worked the following jobs: Summer 4-H Assistant for Delaware County, 1962 and Orange County, 1965; clerk in Charlie Fiumera's Western Auto Store in Walton, NY, 1964; library page at Mann Library, Cornell University, 1964- 1966; Ag Teacher at Windsor Central School, 1966- 1967; Ag teacher at Downsville Central School, 1967- 1968; a short stint at Del- Met in 1968, US Army from 1968- 1971; Ag Teacher in Manatee County Florida from 1971- 1998 and 2000 - 2005; substitute teacher in Delaware County, NY, 1998; dishwasher at the Rainbow Lodge, 1998; Forms Supervisor at Ceridian in St. Pete, Fl., 1999,; Science Teacher at Haile Middle School, 1999- 2000; part time clerk, assistant manager and summer manager for Circle K Convenience Stores, 1982- 1997; produce clerk for Hunsader Farms, 1997- 2004; Industry Certification Specialist for Manatee County Schools. 2007- 2008; Salesman for Southern Heritage Fundraiser, 2008; and Test Scorer for Date Recognition Corporation, 2010 to present...
My greatest athletic accomplishment has been qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 1979, 1981 and 1995; and actually running in, and completing, the Boston Marathon in 1981. In high school I set the record for the mile run at the slow and slightly long ( I measured it!!)Walton Fairgounds track of 4:48. It is, or was, about 50 feet long per half mile lap. I also won the Sectional Cross Country meet at Delhi's Scotch Mountain course in 1960. My Walton teammate, Willie Tennant, finished second in that meet...
The most famous person that I have ever met was Nelson Rockefeller, when he was Governor of New York, in 1965. It was at the Orange County Fair when I was working as a 4-H Summer Assistant...
My all time sports hero remains Mickey Mantle, with apologies to Derek Jeter...
My greatest sports thrill was attending Game 4 of the 1958 World series at Yankee Stadium. I had won a local "Atlantic Gasoline Junior Sportscaster" contest and the legendary Amos Finch of WDLA fame, took me to the Stadium to see the Yankees play the Braves. Even thought he Yankees lost the game, they came back to win the Series and Mickey Mantle hit an unbelievable triple in the 4th inning of that game...
I enjoy incredibly good health for someone my age. I can't take a lot of credit for it though. I have been reactive instead of preventive as far as my health is concerned. I guess I can chalk it up to good genetics; thanks Mom and Dad...
I have overcome some major addictions in my life. I no longer drink alcohol, as of June 1, 1994; smoke, as of July 18,1991; or gamble, as of January 4, 2011...
I have owned at least one legendary car, a 1966 Silver Dodge Charger. Unfortunatley I abused it a lot, but I sure do have some great memories of it...
I have taught thousands of students over the years, and have hopefully been a positive influence in their lives...
I am a lousy golfer who has flashes of brilliance on the course. Ah yes, hope springs eternal...
The most traumatic events that have occurred during my lifetime were the JFK assassination on 11/22/1963 and the Terrorist attack on 9/11/2001. I was alive for the dropping of the A- bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, but of course, do not remember them...
I have no living parents, aunts or uncles left. Every summer that we go to NY we seem to attend half a dozen funerals or so...
I am fearful of the direction that our country, and world in general, is taking. A lot of Biblical prophecy is coming true...
I have been blessed with a loving family, faithful friends and interesting aquaintances...
My goal for the next year is to see my weight drop to under 200 pounds. I am finally being proactive in fighting off the inevitable ravages of old age...
I thank everyone in advance for the birthday wishes. It is my sincere hope to be able to continue thanking you all for another 25 years or so. However I know that is up to powers over which I have no control...
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