Page 35 - July 2024 Issue

Living in Today Among the books I have read, few have moved me as much
as the autobiography of the late Senator Bob Dole, One
Soldier’s Story: A Memoir. Imagine, a small-town boy, well
by Bryan Gadow liked, healthy, strong, nding himself in the Army. A er
A highlight of my week, as a child in the eighties, was training that seemed to last for years, he nally nds himself
reaching into our mailbox and nding a fresh copy of the in combat only to have his whole world shattered within
News & Farmer. Some with good memories may recall days. It’s not hard at all to imagine myself in his shoes. As
the regular features: there was “Happy Hossfeathers” (a I walk the streets of Preston, Federalsburg, Denton and
corny joke), “Parson’s Light” (words of faith; boring to me other places, I see the banners honoring those who served,
then but today I would have found them upli ing), “ e including those who paid the ultimate price. Would I have
Lead Mule” (somewhat philosophical; I thought the name stood up to that challenge? Would I have simply cracked
signi ed a mule made of heavy metal, but as an adult I under the pressure?
realize it was probably the stubborn animal at the head of Objects in the mirror are a known commodity; I don’t quite
the team. I still like my old idea better!) My favorite was know what tomorrow brings. Calamity may strike at any
always “Occasionally” as authored by Annie Nonomous. I given second. But the past? It can frighten and it can cause
actually thought that was her real name, which shows how tears to ow, true. But it can never quite catch up with
gullible I could be. It was always a happy few paragraphs on me for, despite it all, I live in today. And if ever nd that
the goings-on around our small town. I never have found depressing I need only to think of the words of a favorite
out who she was; the writing style changed somewhat at one hymn: “ is is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice
point, so perhaps the torch was passed? I suppose someone and be glad in it.” Amen.
out there knows.

I have thought from time-to-time of what I would name a
column should I have a chance (should some publisher be
foolhardy enough to allow my ramblings to continue issue
upon issue.) It was Debbie Bowden who came up with what
you see at the top of this page, and I say she did a ne job.
Certainly, it’s true that I spend a fair share of my time gazing
backwards. I get caught up in yesterday, in its beauty and
charm and simplicity. I know, of course, that my backwards
glance is tinted rose. Perhaps my favorite time period is
1939-1945. In the attic I have stacks of Life magazines,
carefully organized, each one a time capsule of one week in
the life of America. Turning those pages has me traveling
back in a way no souped-up DeLorean ever could. But:
would I truly wish to live then?

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