Friday, February 16, 2018

Tsunami

Tsunami: a giant wave that destroys everything in its path.”  Ray Smock
The word tsunami is Japanese in origin and refers to a seismic tidal wave caused by underwater volcanic eruptions, earthquakes or other explosions.  The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan triggered waves of well over 100 feet that left nearly 20,000 people dead and caused meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant complex.

Tsunamis, to the best of my knowledge, do not occur on Lake Michigan, but there are occasional seiches, sudden changes in water levels, such as the water receding and then returning, often in the form of a wave.  In my “Tales of Lake Michigan” Shavings (volume 28, 1998) I quoted Tom Spychalski’s eyewitness description of one that resembled a miniature tidal wave.  He wrote:
    The boats in the basin and along Trail Creek rose and sank down very quickly.  It was almost like a whiplash effect.  Several boats were damaged, particularly those tied to fixed piers rather than floating piers. It was rather frightening.  The waves were only four to six feet in actual height but really violent.
Former student Kass Stone, whom I kept in touch with for years and who currently lives in London, England, interviewed his mother Kathy, who described seeing one on a spring day:
  The entire lake started to just evaporate or shrink up.  I couldn’t believe it.  It was like someone pulled the plug on a bath tub.  All of a sudden the lake went “Shoop!”  It all just started to go away, maybe 30 feet but probably more.  It wasn’t a slow change; it suddenly started to grow small.  It lasted 15 or 20 minutes.  Everyone was staring; it was creepy, like a thing from the movies.  It made all the TV newscasts from Chicago.  It had to do with the barometric pressure or currents.

Tsunami can also refer to the occurrence of something overwhelming, such as the arrival of a plague or, in the case of Native American tribes in Washington’s Puget Sound, white settlers, whose rapacious desire for land and wanton brutality toward those disinclined to surrender to American might signified the sudden disruption of a rich culture dating back thousands of years.  David M. Buerge’s biography of Chief Seattle contains this description of an atrocity that took place in 1855:
  In December, volunteers in the Walla Walla valley took the Walla Walla chief Yellow Bird and others prisoner during a parley under a flag of truce.  A running battle ensued, and during the evening of December 6, the volunteers killed their hostages, scalping and skinning the chief’s body and pickling his ears in alcohol.  Later they dug up his corpse to collect more souvenirs.
above, Princess Angeline; below, Cecile Hansen
Chief Seattle’s daughter Angeline (1820-1896) lived out her days in a small waterfront cabin near where Pike Place Market now stands.  A devout Catholic, she took in laundry and sold handwoven baskets to eke out an existence.  Buerge dedicated “Chief Seattle and the Town That Took His Name” to Duwamish tribal chairwoman Cecile Hansen, who for decades has been attempting (fruitlessly so far) to gain federal recognition for her people, and included this poem of hers:
Holy Seattle, thrice born and
Always among your people;
Visit these words well meant,
And greet us again, birds
Homing under the eaves
In the house of your name
Buerge concluded:
  Having grown rich on Duwamish land, the city of Seattle has consistently made sure that not one square inch of it would be reserved for the people who nurtured and protected settlers in their hour of greatest need.  That is the city’s original sin.  Chief Seattle’s request that his people be treated with justice and kindness falls on deaf ears.  The hand of friendship offered by the Duwamish is met with blank stares and double-talk.  Seattle is indeed a worthy eponym for the city, but is it worthy of its eponym?  Chief Seattle’s claim upon our better nature has yet to be vindicated.

Ray Smock’s “Trump Tsunami: A Historian’s Diary of the Trump Campaign and His First Year in Office” just arrived in the mail.  Ray signed it, “For Jimbo and Toni, our long friendship will endure even if the Republic falls!  But let’s do what we can to save this country from itself.  With love, Ray.”  It opens with a George Orwell quote from “1984” (1949): “It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking 13.” I appear in “Trump Tsunami” in reference to calling Ray on the eve of the 2016 election desperately hoping for a landslide victory by Hillary Clinton to demonstrate that Americans rejected what Trump stood for.  Alas, it was not to be.  Ray still posts commentary about Trump’s latest egregious antics and rancid policies.   Worst of all is his desire to rekindle the nuclear arms race.  In this the bicentennial year of the publication of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” some critics are comparing atomic weapons to the horror novel’s monster.  In an essay entitled “Don’t Turn Away from Watching Trump Just because it’s Painful, Embarrassing, or Agonizing,” Ray wrote:
      We must pay close attention to Trump whether we can stand it or not. This is no time to go soft because we don't like what we see, or think we need a break from it. We must stay informed and on top of his daily actions and keep letting our members of Congress know how we feel about him and the policies of his administration.  Someone asked me recently if I was “biased” in my opinion about Trump. I said, no I am not biased. Bias means to prejudge, to be prejudiced. Bias is a word often used to stop conversation. It is one of those ON/OFF words. We dismiss people by saying, "Oh, he's biased."  While I am not biased. I am, however, highly critical of Trump. I have not prejudged him; I have JUDGED him, based on his words, his conduct, and his policies. I am not against Trump for something silly like his label as a Republican, when I am a Democrat. My critique rests on almost 60 years of political study, most of it in nonpartisan professional positions.  Trump is a disaster for this country, not because he is a Republican, not because he is a billionaire, not because he is a TV celebrity, but because he is totally incapable of governing this nation and uniting us. All else flows from this objective fact.
      I will continue to watch this administration unfold. I will not turn away because my blood pressure goes up, or because I get disgusted with the latest outrage. I will continue to place my critique in as much historical context as I can muster. I do, however, reserve the right to just throw up my hands on occasion and scream out loud. Sometimes this is very good for the soul.
I have become more partisan than at any other time in my 77 years on the planet. I am not used to being partisan, except in the voting booth. Partisan means to be a dedicated supporter of a particular party or a particular cause. What I am partisan about is not simple party affiliation. I believe in a strong two-party system. I want Republicans and Democrats to debate again and work together again.  I am a partisan who is in favor of maintaining the U.S. Constitution and three co-equal branches of government and seeing that this president and the other amateurs he has selected to run the country do not undermine the Constitution or the rule of law.

Ray asked if I could write a review of “Trump Tsunami” for Good Reads and Amazon, so here goes:
    For two years, I eagerly followed Ray Smock’s remarkably prescient Facebook dispatches about the phenomenon of Donald J. Trump, and unlikely candidate who morphed into a truly dangerous president.  His posts commonly engendered lively commentary, including mine, and recommendations that he publish his essays in book form. Rereading them reinforces my belief in the validity of their perspective and their continued relevance.  As Smock wrote in a recent post, entitled “Don’t Turn Away from Watching Trump Just because it’s Painful, Embarrassing, or Agonizing,” Ray wrote: “We must pay close attention to Trump whether we can stand it or not. This is no time to go soft because we don't like what we see, or think we need a break from it. We must stay informed and on top of his daily actions and keep letting our members of Congress know how we feel about him and the policies of his administration.”
Former Senate Historian Don Ritchie, a fellow Marylander and Sam Merrill student, wrote this review:
    Having spent years studying Congress, the Constitution, and American political parties, and serving as the Historian of the House of Representatives, Ray Smock is dismayed over the direction the country has taken since the election of Donald Trump. Smock holds government to high standards and politicians accountable for their words and actions. This book documents, in real time, his indignation, incredulity, and alarm over developing events, and offers some sound advice on putting the system back on track. Trump Tsunami also reflects Smock’s eclectic interests, drawing from history, popular culture, and personal experience, epitomized by his reflections on visiting Mount Rushmore and comparing past presidents to the present.
 Samuel and Brenda Ann Love
Brenda Ann Love often shares sardonic posts while on the South Shore to and from work.  Her latest: A guy who just went into the bathroom on the train looked like he regretted that decision as soon as he opened the door,” Natasha Burkett commented: “There's another guy who's been in the bathroom since Hammond...the conductors have informed him there's people waiting and they have been watching to see if he comes out.” Brenda replied: “Do they really want to go in there after he’s been in there so long?”  Natasha responded: “Pretty sure he was in there trying to avoid paying for his fare... probably succeeded too!”  Paul Capriglione agreed, adding: “It’s a common trick, they can wait long enough in there to get a free ride. They don’t want to stop the train for $7 and wait for the cops.”
 Jimbo and Penelope Love; photo by Steve McShane
Cundiff's Boarding House in Aetna (circa 1890)

In the Archives, I spoke with Aetna Manor community leader Penelope (Penney) Love about her group’s efforts to revitalize her Gary neighborhood.  I told her about the area’s early history when the Aetna Powder Company operated a very hazardous operation there.  Periodic explosions cost lives and rattled windows miles away.  During the postwar decade, many present-day suburbanites had starter homes there. Penney was particularly interested in former businesses along Aetna Street, so I showed her how to make use of Gary city directories.  In the 1960 edition, for example, listed on the 900 block of Aetna Street are Nowak’s Dancing School, Fifield Real Estate, Aetna Lounge, Aetna Coin-O-Wash Laundry, Mike’s Barber Shop, and Aetna Snack Bar.  On the next block were a Walgreen’s, a Phillips gas station, a grocery, a radio and TV repair shop, and a hardware. In the mid-70s, there was an Aetna outlet where I got my driver’s license renewed.

Due to it being a position round, for the second straight week we bowled the Pin Heads, who were out for revenge.  We prevailed in the first game by 11 pins, rolling an amazing combined 115 pins above our average (I had a 191 for the second week in a row). Then they crushed us, winning the third game, for instance, by 160 pins, Duke Caminsky reminded me as I congratulated him and said, “Good bowling with you.”  He’s teammate Mel Nelson’s buddy and a larger-than-life character.  That evening I hosted a successful condo board meeting, resolving snow removal and landscaping issues; Dave’s family showed up due to having lost electricity; and Miranda and Sean drove through the fog from Michigan for Toni’s birthday. 
 Betty Dominguez files for sheriff
Former Lake County sheriff Roy Dominguez returned my called peetaining to my interviewing him for IU’s Bicentennial project.  A few days ago, his wife Betty, a retired probation officer, filed to run for sheriff in the upcoming Democratic primary.  Some claimed she was just acting as a spoiler to take votes away from Sheriff Oscar Martinez and perhaps help Schererville Police Chief David Dowling, but Roy assured me that she was in the race to win and that it was her decision, not his.  Veteran political columnist Rich James wrote: Betty Dominguez, who is almost as recognizable as her husband, would be expected to pull a substantial vote.” I told Roy to let me know how I could help.
 Dan Simon and Salina Tejeda in James B. Lane Room of Calumet Regional Archives
For her oral history assignment Salina Tejeda interviewed Dan Simon, who taught in IUN’s Business Division (mainly Accounting) until 1989 before going to Loyola briefly and then Notre Dame. Dan’s main bridge partners are wife Donna and former IUN Business professor Ed d’Ouville.  Here are excerpts from their correspondence:
October 3:  Dan: “Hi Salina, Jim Lane agrees it would be a good idea if I started to keep you up to date on bridge games, successes and failures, starting with a lucky success. On September 20 Donna and I won an event in Gary with teammates Chuck and Dave. This form of bridge differs from regular duplicate, where you and partner compete against all other partnerships.  In a team game you compete with other teams of four.  The method of scoring also differs. Looking forward to our meeting Tuesday.  Good luck in your studies.” I emailed Mr. Simon back and thanked him for the information.
food break during Gary game; photo by Dan Simon
          October 6: Dan: Hi Salina, In my last email I could report success at the game in Gary.  Now I must report a failure.  Donna and I played Wednesday and Thursday in the Fort Wayne regional tournament.  Our teammates were Ed d’Ouville and David Abraham from Canada.  There are not too many large tournaments in Canada, so David often comes to Indiana, Michigan or Ohio to play.  All four of us played poorly and we deserved our poor results. A regional tournament is a seven-day event with up to three sessions a day, which if you played all three would amount to twelve hours of bridge a day!  Only a few fanatics will play in every session.  They were held in a big room with as many as 50 tables (200 players) each session. The next time I will play will be in a pairs game (regular duplicate) on Monday in Michigan City with Ed d’Ouville as my partner.  A normal club session of this type consists of about 25-28 hands and anywhere from 6 to 12 pairs of players.”
October 10 (Salina): Dan and I met in the library on the third floor, in our classroom across from the Calumet Regional Archives. We first started talking about his personal life. He grew up in East Chicago. We could relate because my parents and grandparents are from there. He met Donna in college and got married in 1964. She had played bridge as a little girl and taught him the game. We talked about his education. Dan was drafted in 1966, went to the army, and came back to the region to get a degree.  They didn’t play much bridge at first because he was in school and they had a child. He did his undergraduate classes at IUN and received a scholarship from Northwestern to get his PhD. In the 1990s they started to take bridge fairly seriously, traveling all over the country, including Florida, Colorado, California, and elsewhere. His favorite place was New Mexico because of the fascinating things to see.  We joked about teaching high school, which is my ambition, and how teenagers are stressful and not nice to teach. His wife was a high school teacher, he said, and it took a big toll on her. He informed that he played bridge against Bill Gates, got his autograph, and was really surprised because there was virtually no security there.  Dan told me most people take these games seriously and people get into altercations.  Local games are more pleasant.
October 10:  Dan: “Hi Salina, Enjoyed our meeting today. It also was good to meet someone with connections to Indiana Harbor.  Let me know if there is anything I can do to make your report easier or better.  Donna would be glad to answer any questions you might have. 
          October 16: Dan: “On Saturday, we played in a team game in Gary with Ed d’Ouville and Barbara Walczak.  Results were fair, winning 3 of 6 matches. In Northwest Indiana, there are games in Gary, Highland, Chesterton, Portage, Valparaiso, Michigan City, and Long Beach. All of these duplicate games last about four hours.  Each location has one game per week except Gary which has two.
          November 4 (Salina): I received information I had requested from Donna Simon about growing up in Gary. She wrote: My main memories of the fifties and sixties in Gary concern living in Tolleston.  My friends and I got great pleasure from Tolleston Park, where we would often play tennis for many hours.  We also enjoyed going downtown on the bus, where there were many stores, such as Sears, Gordon's, and Goldblatts, as well as movies theatres on Broadway.  Unfortunately, all stores and movies have left downtown areas for malls. As far as bridge is concerned, my father taught me when I was nine.  My husband had never played, but learned quickly.  We learned how to bid from a book by Howard Schenken called Better Bidding in 15 Minutes. Schenken was considered the best player of his time and the Scenken system was popular in the sixties.  We played very little duplicate in the seventies and eighties; but when we started again in the nineties, we continued to use the old Schenken system even though few players still used it. We continue to use the system, which starts the bidding on all strong hands with one club even if you have no clubs!!  Duplicate games in the sixties were held at Temple Israel in Miller and at a hotel on US 20 which is now abandoned.  There was also a game at a Catholic school in Hobart.”
November 16: Dan: “Hi Salina!  Very little bridge to report.  Played the last two Mondays with Ed d’Ouville, doing very well once and so-so once.  Donna and I haven't played recently and probably won't for a while due to a variety of family commitments and (alas) medical appointments. Take heart. The semester is almost over and then you can relax for a couple of weeks! Let us hear from you. Good luck on your finals!”
        November 20: Dan: Hi Salina, After I was drafted in September 1966 we played little bridge of any kind until the mid 1990s. A few things I remember from the sixties.  There were several good players.  One of the best was Dave Andrews, one of the few African American duplicate players in the area. Dave was much in demand as a partner because not only was he good, unlike many good players he was not critical of his partners mistakes.  Another good player whose name I don't remember was often referred to as the Jays Potato Chip man.  His job was delivering potato chips to stores and he usually had on a Jays Potato chip uniform when he played.  Donna mentioned in her email to you the games in Gary and Hobart.  There was also strangely an evening duplicate game played in the Michigan City South Shore station!”
        November 27: (Salina) I thanked Dan and Donna for helping me with this paper and how wonderful they were to me. They went beyond and above the call for me. Many classmates were having many complications with their interviewee. I was very fortunate to get kind-hearted people who were willing to really help me out.
 above, Kyleigh and Leah; below, Lori Rea with Jimbo and Dee Van Bebber
Kyleigh McCoy and Leah Tsiongas interviewed bridge players Lori and Tom Rea for their Indiana History assignment.  Here are excerpts from Kyleigh’s notes:
October 13: First Interview We are meeting Lori and Tom at Portillo’s in Merrillville at 11am. Leah and I arrived at 10:30 a.m. to save a booth. Also, we sent them a selfie to let them know what we look like; we had an idea of placing a balloon where we sat but thought that might be too much.  Sitting in the diner, Tom and Lori explained that they met in college.  Lori was studying to be a teacher. Tom was in the Air Force and loved working with planes. Lori became an elementary teacher in Gary; she loved working with students in kindergarten, first grade, third grade and fifth grade. Learning about her teaching methods helped Leah and I see how we’d like to teach.  Lori left us with some great advice: “Do something that makes you feel like your actions leave an impression.” We learned that Lori and Tom’s son-in-law was still working the Gary community schools. “A lot has changed,” Tom spoke, “we definitely don’t see the same city we grew up in anymore.”
            October 17: Bridge Game Tom and Lori sent pictures of their bridge game that we could not attend due to both being in class at the time of the games. They were an amazing way to see how the games are being done. We loved how some people looked so intense!
    October 18: Favorite Childhood Book: I asked Lori and Tom about childhood favorite books.  Tom liked Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain because it was a great adventure. Lori mentioned Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, writing, “I loved all the characters. I was probably 11 or 12 when I first read the book.” 

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