Good Morning All & Happy Tuesday!
Here’s the “Anti-Coronavirus Fighting Tip” for the day:
Here’s to fight the “Coronavirus Blues”…have a “Anti-Coronavirus Happy Hour” featuring a glass (or two) of the best sparkling wine in the known Universe…Campo Viejo from Spain…available at Vino! in Spokane (they even provide curbside delivery service now!). Guess what another integral part of a “Anit-Coronavirus Happy Hour” is a must?…DVDs of “Get Smart” and “WKRP in Cincinnati”. What better way to get through the virus challenge! Here’s a toast to all of us!
Speaking of happy thoughts…Happy “National Crayon Day”!…who knew? I have so many great memories of drawing with crayons in Miss Bell’s Kindergarten Class at Lincoln Elementary in my hometown of Olympia, Washington…those were the days my friends! Crayons are one of the best inventions ever made, for sure! What’s your favorite crayon color?
Happy Birthday to former neighbor and outstanding spouse of Jeff and mother of Jeffrey and Carter, Christina, who turns 46 years old today! Have fun on your special day, Christina! Here’s to you! Happy Birthday wishes also go to one of my favorite actors, Richard Chamberlain of “Dr. Kildare”, “Shogun” & “The Thornbirds” fame, who is 86 today; to actress/singer Shirley Jones of “Oklahoma” & “The Partridge Family” fame, who turns 86 today; to one of my favorite musicians Herb Alpert of “Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass” fame, who is 85 today; to actor/comedian Gabe Kaplan of “Welcome Back Kotter” fame, who turns 76 today; to actress and spouse of Danny DeVito, Rhea Pearlman, who is 72 today; to actor & former Cornell University running back great, Ed Marinaro of “Hill Street Blues” fame, who turns 70 today and actor Ewan McGregor of “Long Way Round” & “Star Wars” fame, who is 49 today. Whew!…here’s to all of you too!
One of the “silver linings” of the coronavirus challenge is that it has afforded/inspired the opporunity to explore the deep, dark caverns of my house and, lo and behold, I found more treasures of long ago letters from loved ones…this one from my beloved father, Don Newbold:
27 November 2000
“Dear Mark,
Here is my version of E-mail, only I call it P-Mail (the Palmer system of written communication!). On second though, this will probably appear to (be) a 21st century version of ancient Egyptian Sandscript…
…Mom and I were at Matt & Val’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Val did a nice job of preparing a very tasty repast…
…Hey, it’s cookie time! (each year my wife Judy made thousands—and I mean thousands—of cookies for clients, family & friends). Please tell Judy I am as usual in awe of her cookie making project. All I can say is WOW! Also, tell her to take a big BOW!…
…I guess “the question before the house” is in what month, of what year, in what decade do we finally elect a new president? I think Florida will have (to) redesign their slogan from “the sunshine state” to “the chad state”! They certainly can claim the title on this one hands down.”
As you can see, my Dad (Pumpa as we affectionately called him) had a way with words and his letters are real treasures. There really isn’t anything like the written word, especially written in Dad’s own hand. Thanks Dad for your true “labor of love.” They are a source of enjoyment and inspiration to this day.
Speaking of finding things of interest, I came across the 1969 Topps Football Card for Jim Keyes, linebacker turned kicker for the Miami Dolphins for just one professional season in the NFL in 1968-69. Of all of the 1969 Topps Football Cards I own, his is probably showing the shortest NFL career of any! I couldn’t find him on Wikipedia, so I’ve pieced together some info about him from various sources. Jim was born on June 16, 1944 in Laurel, Mississippi. He was a gifted linebacker and kicker for the University of Mississippi and was named to the University of Mississippi’s Sports Hall Of Fame in 1999. Among his claims to fame was kicking the first two field goals in Senior Bowl history in 1968. He played for legendary Mississippi Football coach Johnny Vaught, who coached there for 20 years. Jim was the 35th overall pick in the 1968 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins and he ended up playing just one season, his rookie season. He was 30 for 30 in extra point kicks and 7 of 16 in field goal tries. His 1969 Topps card says: “When the Dolphins had place-kicking problems, they turned to this rookie specialist. Jim quickly resolved Miami’s troubles as he was perfect on 30 extra point attempts and made good on seven field goals!” If memory serves me, the legendary kicker Daryl Yupremian (sp?) joined the Dolphins about that time, which may have had something to do with Jim only playing one season. After football he married his wife Billie and they moved to Pensacola, Florida where he was the store manager for McRae’s Department Store there. Jim is 75 years old. Here’s to Jim Keyes and his efforts for the Miami Dolphins!
I was listening to the car radio the other day and a song from Goo Goo Dolls came on…for some reason it reminded me that Lady Ga Ga’s 34th birthday occurred a couple of days ago. Wouldn’t it be something to have them do a concert together…it could be called the “Goo Goo Ga Ga Tour”…what do you think?
Here are some thoughts for the day:
“Wisdom outweighs any wealth.”
—Sophocles, Greek playwright (496 B.C. – 406 B.C.)
“One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.”
—Sophocles, Greek playwright (496 B.C. – 406 B.C.)
Here’s to a great Tuesday—“National Crayon Day”—and lots of love and good wishes always!
Press on and stay safe,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)