Thoughts For The Day From Papa ‘a

Good Morning & Happy Thursday!

Happy Birthday to friend Aubrie…wife, mother & educator/teacher extraordinaire and best friend to my daughter Andy; to long-time friend Doug, one of the outstanding young men of our time, who turns 47 today; and to friend and business associate Jeff!  Here’s to all of you on your special day of celebration!

Also, Happy Birthday to former Vice President of the United States Dan Quayle of the spelling “potatoe” fame, who is 74 today; to singer Alice Cooper, who turns 73 today; and country singer/songwriter Clint Black, who is 58 today!  Here’s to all of you!

The world lost a great actress and lovely woman the other day…

Cicely Tyson died at the remarkable age of 96 and what a career she had!  She was full of grace and charm and won a Tony Award at age 88 for her role in “Trip To Bountiful.”  She also had stellar performances in “Sounder” and “Miss Jane Pittman.”  Here’s to Cicely Tyson and all of her contributions to helping make the world a better place!

Love & deepest sympathy goes to my friend and our church’s youth pastor, Andrew, upon the news of his father’s death due to complications from the coronavirus pandemic.  He must have been quite a guy, having raised such a fine person as Andrew.  Here’s to Andrew’s father…may the gates of a larger life be opened unto him and that he be received into the arms of Jesus!  We join with Andrew and his family in celebrating his father’s life.

Speaking of people who have a made a difference in the world…

Here’s to Quentin King, long-time industrial arts/shop teacher at West Valley High School in Spokane Valley WA, who recently turned 100!  There was a great article about him in our local newspaper with a color photo of him, no less.  Many friends and family drove past his home to wish him a happy 100th birthday.   Here are some excerpts from the article:

“He (Quentin) was kept in the dark about the celebration until the cars approached his house, which he built himself.  “I thought, “Holy smokes…I didn’t expect that.”

Friend Terral Schut says about Quentin…”He’s given me the starts from my tomatoes the last three years…He’s very energetic.  He gives the best hugs ever.  He’s always happy.”

“Wood shop was my favorite class in high school, Quentin said.  “We had an excellent shop teacher.  It helped me a lot.”

Quentin served in World War II.  He was first assigned to be a company clerk in a field hospital, but King said he was a “lousy typist” and asked for a different assignment.  He was trained as a surgical technician and was assigned to the 76th Infantry Division in Europe around the time of the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944.  He worked in a collecting company, which received wounded soldiers from the battlefield and gave them treatment before sending them to a field hospital for additional treatment and surgery, if needed.  They moved every few days.  “We were like M.A.S.H. without the field hospital,” he said.

King grew up in an era where if you wanted something, you made it yourself or repaired it yourself.  “In those days, if you wanted something and couldn’t do it yourself, you did without it.”

Based on the response to King’s birthday, the community has taken note of his contributions.  He received a stack of birthday cards in the mail, many of which included notes and letters.  Some came from former students and King said he was gratified to learn that many had gone on to be successful, thanks in part to his influence and direction…”

Here’s to long-time teacher Quentin King and his many contributions to our community through his influence with his students!  He has quite a legacy don’t you think?

Here’s the trivia fact for the day:

Did you know that Mickey Rooney turned down the role of “Archie Bunker” in the hit show “All In The Family”?

 

Here’s the thought for the day…it came to me through my friend and human resources professional extraordinaire Bill Sweigert.  It’s a song entitled “The Union Of Different Kinds.”  I thought, given the difficulties were having in human relationships at this point in time, it is worthy of seeing:

For all the small people, and the tall people

For the dispossessed and the observers

For all the brokenhearted, and the recently departed

And the unwashed and the unheard.

 

Mother Nature don’t draw straight lines

Broken moulds in a grand design…

 

For the unloved and the denied

For the little wheel, turning bigger deal

For all dreams that bloom and those that die…

 

…Mother Nature don’t draw straight lines

Broken moulds in a grand design

Let’s stand up for one last time

We’re card carrying, lifelong members

Of the union of different kinds.”

—Fisherman’s Friends, “The Union Of Different Kinds” from the album Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends

Thanks for sharing this Bill!

 

Here’s to a great Thursday and lots of love & good wishes always!

Press on,

Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)