Memorial Services

“Astronaut, come over to my house
I’ll pour some tea for us, one sugar or two
Your hand is right in front of me.”
Beach House

I’ve been watching the videos of Baltimore indie group Beach House on YouTube. Robert Blaszkiewicz included their “10 Mile Stereo” on his CD of favorite songs of 2010. One critic called their genre “dream pop,” and Parisian Victoria Legrand has a great sultry voice that makes one think of old memories, kind of like Owl City’s “Ocean Eyes.” Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who lies gravely wounded from a would-be assassin’s bullet, is married to astronaut Mark Kelly. In the paper was a shot of his hand clasping hers in the hospital. Mark is a veteran of three space missions, and twin brother Scott is also a NASA astronaut. President Obama spoke eloquently at a memorial service for those shot in Tuscon. On the other hand Sarah Palin delivered a pitiful rant claiming she was a victim of blood libel. Whether she knew it or not, the term dates from medieval times and refers to anti-Semites claiming Jews used the blood of Christian children in their religious rituals. One critic called her usage perverse.

Toni and I attended the viewing at Edmonds and Evans Funeral Home in Chesterton for neighbor Joe Harrison. Photos showing him at all ages as a vibrant person were on a continuous computer loop. He was in the navy during WW II. Wish I had met him before his health declined. Several condo residents were there, including Leo and his wife, but no old friends. After all he was 85 and lived other places most of his life. Probably some came later or to the Wednesday mass. The prayer card contained these words from St. Francis: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” Easier said than done but still a noble sentiment. Afterwards, Toni said she wanted a party if she went first, no solemnity or open casket.

My “Retirement Journal” arrived on Suzanna’s birthday. She wrote: “You have captured life in a mason jar, so to speak and I find that, like little lightning bugs, the writings light up my room with slips of wit and humor and insight and oops - I'd better skip that one. (throw that bug out). What a great project. I have worked on a similar but less far reaching project - a story of my life just for my kids and grandkids. I do have to be careful what I say about their fathers... very delicate territory there. I want it to be a positive narrative of overcoming difficulties, not a harangue, a joyful writing with hope at the end and a sense of overriding spirituality not temporal carnality.” I think my carnal references are why she wrote “oops.” My initial email to her got a “yikes” in response. She is Amish and claims she hasn’t flirted in 20 years. I asked her whether our summer romance will be in the memoir, and she indicated it will.

I interviewed Sheriff Roy Dominguez (first time in two months) about his recent trip with brother Hector to south Texas. The purpose was to reconnect with his roots and contemplate the meaning of his life as we put finishing touches on his autobiography. He suggested a possible alternative title to “Spirits from the Field” – the single word “Valor.” In Spanish it means value or worth in addition to the English connotation or courage or gallantry. The Press wants something in the subtitle to connect the book with Indiana History, so I suggested “From Tex-Mex Roots to Lake County, Indiana, Sheriff.” He was pleased with the offer from IU Press and borrowed O’Hara’s new Gary book to show his wife since his will be the same size and format except with photos. He talked about an Uncle Pablo who was a dozen years his senior and a family protector because nobody dared mess with him. A stroke eight years ago, left him seriously impaired, and Roy found it sad to see this once virile man hobbling around with a cane. Pablo’s brother Saul also looked after the Dominguez siblings, especially when their mom visited her husband in the Harbor.

The cafeteria is so crowded at noon, it being the first week of the semester, that students have taken over what usually serves as the faculty table. We are left to fend for ourselves. I found Bill Dorin by himself at a table with students. He had seen me come in and stayed around to keep me company. English professor Alan Barr had just left the chair I plopped down on. I had a sloppy Joe and applesauce plus chips and star cookies from home.

Chris Young sent me a link to his just-published article in “Federal History” on “Proclamations and Founding Father Presidents.” The journal also reprinted a speech former Senate historian Richard A. Baker delivered at the University of Maryland (both his and my alma mater) highly critical of how the upper body of Congress is constituted and operates. One might scoff at on-line journals, but they are the wave of the future and can incorporate color photos and graphs (as Chris Young’s did) easier than printed periodicals.

Ray and Trish Arredondo sent along a glowing review of “Maria’s Journey” from Forum, a genealogy magazine. Concerning the chapter introductions that I wrote to provide an historic backdrop to the narrative, reviewer Carol Becker concluded: “This feature gives excellent context and extends the value of the book beyond one family’s story, in effect making the Arredondo’s story an illustration of the history of which they were a part. Chapter 6, for example, is about the family’s move to Safe (Indiana) Harbor, where father Miguel found work at Inland Steel after trying jobs in Texas and Pennsylvania. The introductory paragraph for the chapter tells about the city, its incorporation just a few years’ prior to the Arredondo’s arrival, and the steel mill.”

Took notes as secretary at a condo board meeting held to discuss organizational considerations a week prior to the January general meeting. President Ken Carlson opened proceedings by asking rhetorically, “Who is in charge?” The answer: the board is basically the governing body of the association. Then he turned to the “Assigning of Responsibilities” and noted that the designated persons need not be board members. The others concurred. As a result, former president Jamison Menacher will oversee Lawn Service and Leo Rondo will continue to supervise General Maintenance. Craig Henderson offered to be in charge of Painting, Marcia Gaughan will continue to deal with Snow Removal issues, Bernie Holicky will take primary responsibility for Publication (a quarterly newsletter), and Ken, Bernie, and Phil Chase will share responsibility for Insurance. Regarding Communication, I as board secretary will send minutes of meetings to board members soliciting additions and corrections and then pass on the final version to court directors to disseminate any relevant information to residents. After much discussion of the spring and fall cleanup and criticism of past practices, it was decided to re-hire HORSES for the spring (subject to formal approval at next week’s meeting) but to hold off making any commitment for the Fall.

Ron Cohen showed me his new book on the letters of folk music scholar Alan Lomax. He loaned me the current issue of Mojo magazine with a young-looking Bob Dykan on the cover and an article about mutual friend Izzy Young, who as proprietor of the Folklore Center helped launch Dylan’s career. On November 4, 1961, Izzy booked Dylan into Carnegie Hall’s Chapter annex. Only 52 people came and Izzy lost about $300. He recalled a half-century later: “I wasn’t too impressed by that first concert anyway. He looked nervous the whole time, doing this Ramblin’ jack Elliott routine, jumping around the stage, shaking his boots. He practically fell off the stage! The concert wasn’t that good, but he did have some interesting songs.” In “Chronicles” Dylan describes the Folklore Center as “the citadel of American folk music” and Izzy as “an old-line folk enthusiast, very sardonic . . . and always rattled about something or other. In reality, a romantic. To him, folk music glittered like a mound of gold. It did for me, too.” While we were in Sweden, we stayed with Izzy, an old beat poet, and he wrote a haiku for Toni.

Ron gave me a copy of the January 13 issue of New York Review of Books that contained a blurb from the Norman Mailer Center about week long summer creative writing workshops at Mailer’s home in Provincetown, Massachusetts. I wrote project director Jessica Zlotnicki offering to teach a couple workshops on the topic “Keeping a Journal for Yourself and Posterity.” I sent along three Shavings magazines that include journals, including the “Ides of March” issue, my 2000 “Survival Journal,” and my “Retirement Journal.”

Spotted former IUN student Todd Deloney and Steve McShane assembling an exhibit commemorating the twentieth anniversary of a demonstration that led to the university observing Martin Luther King Day to be a holiday. At one point it started pouring but Deloney, President of the Black Student Union, remained outside getting drenched. Chancellor Peggy Elliott finally convinced him that if he came inside, she’d work to make his goal a reality. She was true to her word. Thereafter, a memorial service and meaningful tributes to King’s legacy took the place of regular classes. I called Chris Sheid in Marketing, and he came over to snap pictures and interview Deloney. When I returned from lunch, they were still deep in conversation. Steve told me later that Chris got a dream job offer in Arizona and will soon be leaving IUN. He will be missed.

Purdue Cal professor Ezekiel Flannery was at the Archives researching the history of dietary habits in the area going back to the days of Native Americans. I told him about Fred McColly’s research paper on starting an Indian vegetable garden and about Cultural Anthropology professor Michelle Stokely’s work concerning Indians in Indiana. Ezekiel lives in Miller and asked to buy my Shavings issue on Tales of lake Michigan and the Northwest Indiana Dunelands, which he came upon, I believe, at the Dunes State Park reading room. I told him it was officially out of print but found a copy for him.

Delusions of Grandeur

With my good friend Clark Metz leading the way with a 511 series, 25 pins over average, the Electrical Engineers won all seven points Wednesday, improving our record to 10-11 (the first week we lost two points due to a clerical error). We lucked out in the second game, winning by two pins when the opponent’s team captain failed to double in the tenth. We were a hundred points under average, but they did even worse. It looked like we’d lose game three when John Gilbert (a former softball teammate and state dart champ) regained his normal form with a 221, but we all bowled over our heads in the final frames. I doubled in the eighth and ninth, spared in the tenth by knocking down a six pin, and struck on my final effort, leaping in the air as the ball went in the pocket. “No excessive celebrating,” good-natured opponent Terry Kegebin quipped. He had kept up a clever line of patter throughout the match. Called captain Bill Batalis, who left after game one, when I got home, as is my ritual if I have any good news to impart. Emphasized my 182 in the third game and Dick Maloney sandwiching a 117 between his two 200+ games. With the league having gone from 100 to eighty percent handicap, we don’t have much hope of finishing high in the 16-team standings, but, hey, after three weeks one can harbor delusions of grandeur.

“Phrase Finder” website traces the origin of “delusions of grandeur” to an 1882 court case where Stephen Cooper accused brother Henry of suffering from that disorder because the successful tailor falsely claimed to have opened a Parisian department store and unveiled grandiose plans for expanding the family business in new York City.

Terry and Gayle Jenkins congratulated us on the condo move and claim to be looking forward to our visit in October. Terry’s father Ted was either an electrical or mechanical engineer. I have no idea what either one entails, but he was probably good with a slide rule (like the Sam Cooke song, I don’t know what a slide rule is for but do know a few things about History). Ted was one of the coolest WW II generation people I ever met, a stud really. He loved sports cars and always had the nicest Christmas tree in Fort Washington. Phoned Bob Reller to wish him good fortune during his trip to the Holy Land and told him I’d fill him in on the reunion after he returns.

In the IUN parking lot History and Philosophy Chair Gianluca Di Muzio was attempting to carry three ample files plus several handbags. I took the files from him and we talked about department matters on the way to his office. He plans to invite Chancellor William Lowe, a historian, to the next departmental meeting. On Jerry Pierce’s office door was a sticker reading “I followed by the symbol for clubs in cards and then Zombies,” I think in reference to the movie “Zombieland,” which he loved. In other words, “I club zombies.” Coincidentally heard the Zombies’ “Time of the Season.” It contains the line “What’s your name, who’s your daddy?” In 1999 IU coach Bob Knight exploded when Northwestern fans chanted “Hoosier daddy?” to disparage an IU player who had fathered a child. Chauvinist Knight was no one to talk. Eleven years before, in an interview with NBC’s Connie Chung, he uttered the despicable remark, “I think if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”

Bumped into 83 year-old Garrett Cope, still working for Continuing Education, who looked gaunt from a recent bout with the flu that caused cancellation of Senior College. Too bad, many folks look forward to it each August, and I get a kick from interacting with them during my annual guest appearance. A researcher in the Archives said that from the back I look like Stephen King. My hair is the longest it’s ever been; must be the novelist’s style, too. The School of Business hosted a noon courtyard cookout with free burgers, chips and pop. Behind me in line were faculty members Anne Balay and Patrick Bankston (who never thanking me for “Gary’s First Hundred Years”). It was a cool September day, so coeds were revealing much less flesh than last week when low-cut blouses were common and tattoos prominent despite the bare midriff look having apparently declined somewhat from past years.

My starting Fantasy quarterback Tom Brady was in a car accident but apparently emerged uninjured. Substitute QB Donovan McNabb is banged up, so just in case for insurance I picked up Derek Anderson of the Cardinals (formerly from Chicago and St. Louis, the team that is). With Larry Fitzgerald as his primary receiver Anderson should put up big numbers when Arizona plays the Rams should I need him. The NFL season kicked off between New Orleans and Minnesota in the Superdome. Three of my Fantasy players competed. Minnesota tight end Shiancoe was a pleasant surprise, but kicker Longwell sucked and few balls went Marques Colston’s way. Drew Brees is so popular in New Orleans that some call him Bresus. Minnesotans consider Favre a savior although under pressure he is prone to throw interceptions, and last evening was no exception.

The condo picnic in Court Three will take place from 2 until 5 on September 19, when I’ll be speaking to the Ogden Dunes Historical Society. Initially told it would occur from 4 to 7, I hoped I could at least make the last half. Court One has been asked to bring salad or chips. Toni will go by herself, but maybe the affair will still be going on when I get home. Landscapers replanted the two trees in our courtyard after expanding the holes like they should have in the first place. In a flyer distributed to my neighbors I announced my intent to run for board secretary and hoped that, if successful, someone would volunteer to replace me a court director. Sue Harrison seems willing.

Ron Cohen wants me to accompany him to Michigan State in two weeks when he gives a talk there, promising to drive and pick up the tab for lunch. We’ve had fun going to the Labor History Workshop seminar in Chicago, but a round trip to MSU in one day would mean five hours in the car.

Suzanna can’t see out of one eye and is having surgery. Concerning our relationship a half-century ago, she wrote: “I thought back then I was really only on a very superficial level with you during that summer romance and never let on of my serious side. After you broke up with me I immersed myself in my classical piano study. I practiced piano maybe six hours a day. I ended up playing for the whole school several times, such things as Chopin's Revolutionary Etude, Rachmaninoff pieces, Liszt's Un Sospiro and others. I was always writing, and thinking and going to art museums in Philly and all sorts of things not typical of high school. When I was a young married chick, Joe and I gravitated toward the hippie culture and my parents sent me a letter that they disowned me! That was sad because I was not a participant in the bad stuff, just the music and brotherhood stuff and the image.”

During the sexist early Sixties some guys were threatened by signs of intelligence from their girlfriends. The AMC series “Mad Men,” which I’m into thanks to On Demand, vividly demonstrates how men treated women as sex objects to be discarded when they reached a certain age and didn’t take them seriously. Hopefully things have improved since then. I wrote back to Suzanna, “I don’t think you ever were superficial, and that is meant as a compliment. Toni loved going to art museums growing up, and being from north Philly got to them by public transportation. I can’t believe your parents disowned you. Hopefully they recanted. In grad school at the University of Maryland, I came home with a beard. On previous visits my mother always bugged me to attend church with her but not with me looking like a hippie. I had a bunch of hippie softball teammates in the Seventies, and did we ever have some great times.” Tom, Ivan, and my Porter Acres teammates, I can’t thank you enough.

Oscar Sanchez, Roy Dominguez’s chief of staff, called to say that jpegs of the sheriff with Bill and Hillary Clinton were on the way electronically. IU Press has sat on the manuscript for almost nine months. Indications are that they like it but no final word. They forwarded glowing comments from a reviewer, who praised its readability, predicted that “it will captivate readers from all walks of life,” and called it a significant addition to the literature on Indiana’s Latino history. The reviewer concluded: “The author traces his family’s experiences in America, principally Texas and Northwest Indiana, from the nineteenth century to the present. The narrative describes many struggles faced and dealt with by the Dominguez Family to achieve the ‘American Dream.’ Roy Dominguez freely announces his plans to run for the Indiana governor’s office, and he wants readers to get to know him through the pages of Spirits from the Fields. He believes that his core values—family first, public service, and patriotism—will guide him well if he wins the state’s highest office and that he will be an effective and compassionate leader because of those core values. Throughout his autobiography, he seeks to convey how his parents’ commitment to sacrifice and hard work provided him with opportunities for a better life and how he has tried to emulate their example. “My goal has been to explain to people the inspiration of my passion for life and public service,” Dominguez notes, and goes on to state that ‘holding public office is meaningless if the public servant is not helping others.’ As his parents often said, ‘It’s always about the people,’ and Mr. Dominguez repeats that statement throughout the manuscript, emphasizing how it has fundamentally guided his public (and private) life.”

I am considering publishing my blog entrees for 2009-2010 as volume 41 of Steel Shavings, perhaps in combination with student journals from Steve’s class. Call me delusional but I believe my activities as a Region historian merit documenting. Who knows, the Arredondo family might appear on Oprah, and Sheriff Rogelio Dominguez may become governor of Indiana.

Checked out “Machete,” starring craggy-faced Danny Trejo and directed by Robert Rodriguez, because Robert De Niro and Lindsey Lohan were in it. It was originally a fake trailer for “Grindhouse,” which Rodriguez did with Quentin Tarantino. Lindsey plays April, a slut daughter of the main villain who makes porn movies for her web site, including a three-way with her mother June (in her next movie Lohan will play “Deep Throat” porno star Linda Lovelace). De Niro plays a corrupt Texas state senator playing on racist fears of border “Infestations.” Other actors playing villains include Steven Seagal and Don Johnson from “Miami Vice.” Cheech Marin, currently in the finals of “Celebrity Jeopardy,” played a priest who ends up crucified by the bad guys. The movie is over-the-top violent but campy, with the heroes being illegal aliens. All in all, I was entertained although I closed my eyes a few times when the hero was wielding a machete. Best line of the movie: “Machete don’t text.” But later he does.