ADDENDUM TO GRADE SCHOOL

When I re-read this section I think it comes across like I think I am more intelligent than most. Believe me, I don't feel that way. I don't believe having a higher intelligence quota than average makes a person smarter. I'm not saying we don't need the Einsteins or Hawkins, but some one is required to MAKE something from those theories. We need the Colonel Sanders and the george Washington Carvers, the guy who can wire your house or fix that leaky faucet. I am none of those. I am an 87 year old man trying to remember how I got here (that makes me the oldest survivor in my family). I think I qualify on the stupid meter more than the bright one.

I make it sound as if my family was poor. That is not the case. We ate well and owned our own house (sometimes 2!). My dad had good jobs (at least after 1941) and my mother could grow anything. I believe any stick she put in the ground would blossom. We had a cow and chickens (a turkey once: more on that in another segment). One of my uncles raised hogs so we always had pork. Another uncle had a butcher shop and had beef. It was totally inedible. I'm  not sure what they fed the cattle but it came out tasting putrid. I will talk about good beef later.

I did not just dig ditches as a kid. I love sports and until junior high we played baseball most weekends.I am not very skilled and not someone a coach would put in the infield. There is no telling what would happen if a ball was hit my way, and, if I did happen to field it, where it would travel when I threw it. I was, however, good with a bat and could bat from either side (that didn't work out in golf though). I was relegated to the outfield. Later in life I played softball but that's another story and boy is it a different game. I loved tennis and my brother Larry and I played quite a bit. I thought I was pretty good until I had to play someone who REALLY knew how to play: WOW!! I was never interested in playing football or basketball. I was too little for one and too short for the other. I would have loved to try sports in high school, but life took me another direction. I tried my hand at ping pong (table tennis). It was fun but I never was that good. I do enjoy watching football and have been a Bronco fan since moving to Colorado. I did cheer for Miami when Don Shula was coach and Bob Griese the quarterback. (I am still a Florida boy)

I joined the cub scouts at some point but there is another example of me not finishing something I started. I'm not sure I ever received any award and quit after a short time. Those types of activities didn't interest me and still don't. I'm more a one on one type and I hate crowds and always have unless I am the lecturer and then you can't shut me up!

If able, I will discuss my junior high and high school days next. My cousin Margaret (Juanda's sister) and Michael Overstreet have helped me with photos I either didn't have, or lost. Thank you


Cub scouts. Notice I am the only "cub" with a uniform, quitter that I am


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
 California II So much happened in the 5 years we lived in Saratoga that I am sure I will leave out parts but this was a long time ago. My rep in NYX was VERY Italian and loved good food. He also weighed in at 400 pounds. I had quite a few occasions to dine with him in and around Central Park. He had an auto fitted for his figure and seemed well loved at our clients place in the Bronx. I think he knew every Italian Restaurant in New York, He would order a 7 course meal and still be hungry. Sadly this was also his demise. On one of the occasions I was in California I received a call that he had died of a coronary at age 37. Tony was a very special person and loved life but not enough to give up his desire of all things Italian. I felt proud to know him. We had a company in Japan licensed to build product. I'm not sure how much they built but they were very gracious hosts. Bill and I were invited to an Embassy party in San Francisco on at least one occasion. This was sadly before I h
Read more

Robert Burkett

Image
 Where to start? My name is Robert (Bobby) (Bob) Burkett There is nothing extraordinary about me except I have lived longer than any other family member, so I will begin with CHILDHOOD I was born at home (yes, no hospital) On Garfield Avenue in Winter Park Florida August 1936. I don't remember anything until I was about 3 so I guess that is where I should start. I do have a couple of photos of me when less than 3, so I guess I was around but that's it This photo Was me dressed by my cousin or aunt; not sure which. I think I was 2 or so. Guess she thought I was too pretty to be a boy so she dressed me as a girl. I'm sure she ruined my psyche. I think we owned the house on Garfield until I started school. I know we were there at the start of WWII. I remember Mom telling me the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor even though I had no idea where that was located. She always felt we needed a "country experience" so we live off and on in Oviedo Florida which was nowhere. I
Read more
 Steamboat Springs first 8 years I have been trying to write chronologically but I am now convinced I should just try highlights to try to make more progress! I'm not sure I mentioned that Ellen was born in Steamboat Springs. When we met she was working for Borden's Dairy on Wazee street in Denver. Her dad was a rancher, never owning his own ranch but doing a fine job with others. When Ellen was little she went to a one room school until she entered high school. When little she road a horse to school. I can't imagine a six year old girl today who could do that! As a funny (strange) side note: she was born in the same building that later became the high school from which she graduated. It also was 3 blocks from our motel on 7th street. When she started high school she had to work for her room and board to be in school. The ranch which they were in was too far and hazardous for buses. At that time her folks were managing a ranch owned by a fellow named Barby, who owned the ap
Read more