Spicy Seasoning

Cut Dave and Angie’s grass, then met Toni at the old place and put out trash, including an ancient computer. Last weekend Phil and Dave picked out old record albums they wanted. Left behind was “Love Goes On” by Alda Reserve. Where are the band members now, I wonder? I used to play the album a lot and decided to keep it. One is selling on the Internet for $5.99. After a trip to Goodwill watched the White Sox beat the Tigers despite closer Bobby Jenks giving up a game-tieing, three-run HR in the bottom of the ninth.

Ray Arredondo called from Indy and will bring me a copy of “Maria’s Journey” over the weekend. He predicted I’d like how it turned out. It’s in paperback and sells for under 20 dollars. I’ll write something for the Post-Tribune or Times once it’s in my hands. In the forward I observed: “Mexican family dynamics traditionally were patriarchal, with wives submissive but providing emotional sustenance for household members. Self-sacrificing but with an iron resolve, Maria was nobody’s pushover. A practical woman, she believed that God helped those who helped themselves (“A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda”). Home was her domain. Husband Miguel administered corporal punishment with his belt, but she was quietly in charge and could wield a broom when necessary. If Maria favored the sons, the motive was to instill them with self-confidence. Upon the birth of a boy, celebrants would exclaim, “How nice, another work check for you!” (“Que bueno, otro chegue para ustedes!”). Daughters accepted the house rules until they got married and moved out. As powerful as were the forces of assimilation, the Arredondos, in the words of youngest son Lorenzo, preferred ‘the spicy seasoning’ to ‘the melting pot’ and retained a strong ethnic identity. Though unique, Maria’s life story exemplifies the resilience strangers in a new land needed to confront successfully life’s vicissitudes. Indeed, she represents women in all stations and situations in life who have provided the determination, courage, and persistence needed to hold their families together.”

Met with our neighbor and a representative of the condo association to deal with water problems behind our unit and flooding of the neighbor’s basement. A landscaping company submitted estimates for the problems, so hopefully the board will act without delay. Since I’m on the board, I’ll push for it.

Met Dave’s family at Kelsey’s. Thursday features crab legs: all you can eat. Like a curmudgeon, I complained at the lateness of the hour and that we had to wait a half hour before being seated, among other things. We picked up Darcey Wade, and Tom met us there. A 22-ounce Harp’s Ale cheered me up considerably. I had delicious filet minion. I was skeptical about how often they’d bring refills of crab legs for Dave, Angie, and Toni, but the waitress kept plates coming and even asked if they wanted more when we were among the last customers in the place. Toni said the crab legs were cooked just right and with Old Bay seasoning would have been perfect. While at the University of Maryland, we, the Smocks, the Rumbles, and the Goldfields would pig out on several dozen crabs seasoned with Old Bay. It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening, and I toasted Dave, wished him 41 more good years, and said he was one of my two best friends.

The Senate confirmed Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan with just five Republicans breaking with their “Just say no” colleagues, including Hoosier Dick Lugar (once Nixon’s favorite mayor, that’s how long he’s been around). A California federal judge struck down a law banning same sex marriages. The case is certain to go to the high court, where Scalia and company still have a 5-4 majority.

Sam Barnet passed on a George Carlin rant that he found on YouTube. The real owners of America, Carlin says, are greedy business interests who control the politicians and the media and don’t want people to be well informed or capable of critical thinking. As Carlin put it, “The game is rigged, and nobody seems to care.” YouTube is ubiquitous; Rebecca is even on it singing a tune from “Annie.” Sports Illustrated highlighted four of the most widely watched sports shorts that included a college player sinking a length-of-the-court shot with .6 seconds left to win the game and an autistic kid inserted in the lineup at the tail end of the final home game of the season and swishing six three-pointers. One three-minute segment of a rookie sports announcer making a fool of himself has received over 4.5 million hits.

Connie Heard Damon is planning Upper Dublin’s reunion needed an address for Ricky Hoopes. Knowing his first name was Warrick and with the help of Google, I tracked him down in Eagle, Idaho. He was a big, handsome guy. I called a company that listed him as president, and a secretary answered, I asked whether “her” Rick Hoopes was about 67 years old. “Oh no,” she replied, “I’m sure he’s much younger.” Sure enough, it was Rick. As teenagers we played wiffleball in his back yard; his mother was real nice and attractive to boot. He sent me an email and I filled him in on Pam Tucker, who lived near him and recalled Rick driving his car up and down by her house. His parents sent him to a private school, hoping it would lead to college. Instead (I believe) he opened up a landscape business. I hope to hear more from him.