Left - Film Star Humprey Bogart with Pat Hitchcock age 21, (standing next to "Bogey")
A River Runs Through It
I would like to dedicate this Month's Service Selection to Historical Society member, Pat Hitchcock, Pat is an avid Service fan herself. She recites "Sam Mcgee" and is the best "husky howler" I know.
Utah Phillips writes of age:
"Oh, that's that '60 s stuff" or "We left that behind in the '30 s, '40 s, '50 s. This is the '90 s." It's not like that. These tidy little decade packages are only a media convenience used to trivialize and dismiss important ideas and events. No, it's like a river. My elders, who led those extraordinary lives that can never be lived again, are the headwaters. What they sang, thought, did, floats down to where I stand in the river, and, if I take the time to root around, ask, listen, I can reach down and take out what I need to understand the world I'm in."
I guess our local historical society keeps that river flowing by archiving for others the path that our river takes.
Well enough rambling, here's to our elders and to Pat who remains . . .
Eighty Not Out
In the gay, gleamy morn I adore to go walking,
And oh what sweet people I meet on my way!
I hail them with joy for I love to be talking,
Although I have nothing important to say.
I cheer the old grannies whose needles are plying;
I watch the wee kiddies awhoop at their play:
When sunny the sky is, you'll not be denying
The morning's the bonniest bit of the day.
With hair that is silver the look should be smiling,
And lips that are ageful should surely be wise;
And so I go gaily with gentle beguiling,
Abidding for cheer in the bright of your eyes.
I look at the vines and the blossoms with loving;
I listen with glee to the thrush on the spray:
And so with a song in my heart I am proving
That life is more beautiful every day.
For I think that old age is the rapture of living,
And though I've had many a birthday of cheer,
Of all the delectable days of God's giving,
The best of the bunch is my eightieth year.
So I will go gay in the beam of the morning
Another decade,-Oh I haven't a doubt!
Adoring the world of the Lord's glad adorning,
And sing to the glory of Ninety-not Out.
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