Yesterday, I returned to my boyhood home town of Sparta. I paid my respects to an old friend, Marvin Williams. Marvin and I met while both of us served on the Sparta Auxiliary Police Force. Later, I became a full time employee of the Sparta Police Department.
I guess this paying of respects is just another sign I am getting older. As I stood in line to visit with Marvin's family and to say a final goodbye to Marvin, a friend commented, "We were wondering if anybody was still around who worked with Marvin."
At first I was upset by that remark. "Just how old do they think I am?" was a thought that went through my mind. "After all, I'm only 65. That's still young by today's standards," I reasoned.
However, as I left McDaniel's Funeral Home and walked toward my car I began to realize just how much time has slipped past me.
I left the Sparta Police Department in 1969 to become a Randolph County Deputy Sheriff. 1969 is almost forty years ago. And I left the Randolph County Sheriff's Office in 1981 to work for the State of Illinois. 1981 is more than a quarter of a century gone. And, I have been retired for almost eight years.
In retrospect, maybe my friend did have a valid question regarding any of Marvin's former co-officers still being around.
When I entered the funeral home I met my old friend, Sparta Police Chief Tom Ashley. Tom says he briefly worked with Marvin in 1974. Tom is much younger than I; so maybe I am not as old as I thought.
"Who else is around?" I silently mused.
Albert Salto, Jr., John Adams, and Bob ???? (I knew his name a second ago) are still here. I don't recall who else served with us. I do know there were more. Some are gone, like Ralph Pearce, Bill Graves, Elmo Morrison, and Carl Adams. And as is the natural course of life, others will follow.
There is an old song's lyric that goes like this, "Wedding bells are breaking up this old gang of mine."
In reviewing the text I just typed, above, I wish it were wedding bells that are breaking up the old gang. Then, we would have memories to make; not like today, memories to recall.
Watch for more bloggings on this site. I have come to miss writing.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Bad Day
When I arrived at the storage area and saw a pile of glass lying on the ground at the front, passenger tire, I knew. . .
The miscreants pried on the entry door and couldn't get in. Then they pried on the drivers door and couldn't get in. They tried to break the glass on the drivers side door, but all they did was knick it with whatever they used. So, they broke the side glass on the passenger side and crawled through.
There were two other RV's there. The old 1987 Executive was broken into and they used the bed spread to throw over the broken glass in mine so they could crawl in and not get cut.
They threw everything out of the cabinets onto the sofa and the floor. They stole my $30 DVD player and ripped out my 10-disc CD changer ($434.00).
My dentist's travel trailer was broken into, also. They took his one-month-old flat screen TV.
Near as we can figure, it happened between Sunday evening and 11:00 AM today (when I discovered it).
The gray/black stuff in the photos is a liquid fingerprint developer.
I had to laugh when the cop sprayed my MH. He was kind of shocked and said, "Whoa! You must wax this thing. Because this stuff is just running off."
Pics are attached.
MH goes to Capetown RV tomorrow for an estimate and for repair. They said it will take about two weeks.
The miscreants pried on the entry door and couldn't get in. Then they pried on the drivers door and couldn't get in. They tried to break the glass on the drivers side door, but all they did was knick it with whatever they used. So, they broke the side glass on the passenger side and crawled through.
There were two other RV's there. The old 1987 Executive was broken into and they used the bed spread to throw over the broken glass in mine so they could crawl in and not get cut.
They threw everything out of the cabinets onto the sofa and the floor. They stole my $30 DVD player and ripped out my 10-disc CD changer ($434.00).
My dentist's travel trailer was broken into, also. They took his one-month-old flat screen TV.
Near as we can figure, it happened between Sunday evening and 11:00 AM today (when I discovered it).
The gray/black stuff in the photos is a liquid fingerprint developer.
I had to laugh when the cop sprayed my MH. He was kind of shocked and said, "Whoa! You must wax this thing. Because this stuff is just running off."
Pics are attached.
MH goes to Capetown RV tomorrow for an estimate and for repair. They said it will take about two weeks.
Addendum to 10 20 08 Morning Report, Part II
Is it too late to switch sessions from one room to another?
I do not know the true answer as I do not know if our submitted material for the state magazine has already been submitted to the printer. If it has, then we cannot do such.
Presently we have two each, two-hour programs in Ottawa A and both require a screen.
I will go to my basement sometime today (if my memory recalls this) and check on my projection screen.
As I previously noted, there is always a "Gotchya!" lurking in the background.
I do not know the true answer as I do not know if our submitted material for the state magazine has already been submitted to the printer. If it has, then we cannot do such.
Presently we have two each, two-hour programs in Ottawa A and both require a screen.
I will go to my basement sometime today (if my memory recalls this) and check on my projection screen.
As I previously noted, there is always a "Gotchya!" lurking in the background.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Addendum to 10 20 08 Morning Report
PDG Larry,
I didn't get it done last week as I ran out of time. However, I am back in Springfield today and stopped at PALH and took a look at the the rooms. The three Governors room have a light colored wall covering that has a light a brocade pattern. I think it would work in lieu of a screen if necessary. The Ottawa A room has a dark wall at the front so it would need a screen. The Ottawa B room has a white front wall which should work in lieu of a screen. I hope this helps. It would be best if the prsenters that need a screen can be located in the same rooms.
Yours in LionismLion Bill Gillespie, IPDG 1-E
I didn't get it done last week as I ran out of time. However, I am back in Springfield today and stopped at PALH and took a look at the the rooms. The three Governors room have a light colored wall covering that has a light a brocade pattern. I think it would work in lieu of a screen if necessary. The Ottawa A room has a dark wall at the front so it would need a screen. The Ottawa B room has a white front wall which should work in lieu of a screen. I hope this helps. It would be best if the prsenters that need a screen can be located in the same rooms.
Yours in LionismLion Bill Gillespie, IPDG 1-E
My Fellow Lions,
When I first began writing my newspaper column, no one acknowledged my column or me for several years. I felt like hanging a sign on my typewriter (Yes, typewriter) asking, “Is anyone there?”
No one else has weighed-in on the late fees issue. Perhaps you are busy with other matters. I can understand that. Perhaps you do not want to cause any dissatisfaction. I can understand that. But, I have begun to wonder, “Is anyone there?”
So, presently, I am leaning toward doing what has been done in the past; we take what we get. I guess I lean this way because of what I think could be a que and cry from our Lions when the registration form is published in the magazine.
Walk-ins will still be $30. We’ll give no ground on that. However, I am still open to comments before closing the chapter on this issue at week’s end. Please, speak up.
I cannot find amethod to attach several forms Lion Betsy has forwarded to me. Thus, I will e-Mail them to you. Each form deals with registrations. I will let Lion CC Ron do his Excel sorting, by alphabet and by district, for me. He can then send it on to all of us, if he chooses. (In advance, thanks, Lion CC Ron.)
Contractually, we were to have 25 room nights at the Hotel. Here is what our Hotel said yesterday:
“Good afternoon! Attached is the most current list of guests who have made reservations within the Lions of Illinois room block. Currently, there are 61 room nights reserved out of the 25 room nights contracted. YEAH!! You are over your room block. The cut-off date for reservations is October 31, 2008. As of today, the Hotel still has plenty of rooms left to sell on the weekend of your event so getting extra reservations is not a problem at this point. Please let me know if you see any discrepancies on the list.
Thank you and have a great day!
Malinda Beagles
Event Manager
President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center
701 East Adams
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 544-8800 Ext. 4156
mbeagles@PresidentAbrahamLincolnHotel.com”
Such news makes me glad; as I am sure, it does you. However, we have to get attendance up or we will have a big food bill. And we will not break even. Presently, as you will see by the attachments, we are 89 away from the 200 goal. WE CAN DO IT!!!!!! If we try hard enough.
Has anybody thought of a way to light a fire in the bellies of the Lions to get them to the Forum?
In my district’s newsletter (yet to be out) I noted there are three fears when starting out. Fear of loss. Fear of failure. And fear of success. Let us strive for fear of success.
Have a good day.
Lion Larry
Cc: Lion SST Betsy
CC Ron Belcher
08 – 09 Council
When I first began writing my newspaper column, no one acknowledged my column or me for several years. I felt like hanging a sign on my typewriter (Yes, typewriter) asking, “Is anyone there?”
No one else has weighed-in on the late fees issue. Perhaps you are busy with other matters. I can understand that. Perhaps you do not want to cause any dissatisfaction. I can understand that. But, I have begun to wonder, “Is anyone there?”
So, presently, I am leaning toward doing what has been done in the past; we take what we get. I guess I lean this way because of what I think could be a que and cry from our Lions when the registration form is published in the magazine.
Walk-ins will still be $30. We’ll give no ground on that. However, I am still open to comments before closing the chapter on this issue at week’s end. Please, speak up.
I cannot find amethod to attach several forms Lion Betsy has forwarded to me. Thus, I will e-Mail them to you. Each form deals with registrations. I will let Lion CC Ron do his Excel sorting, by alphabet and by district, for me. He can then send it on to all of us, if he chooses. (In advance, thanks, Lion CC Ron.)
Contractually, we were to have 25 room nights at the Hotel. Here is what our Hotel said yesterday:
“Good afternoon! Attached is the most current list of guests who have made reservations within the Lions of Illinois room block. Currently, there are 61 room nights reserved out of the 25 room nights contracted. YEAH!! You are over your room block. The cut-off date for reservations is October 31, 2008. As of today, the Hotel still has plenty of rooms left to sell on the weekend of your event so getting extra reservations is not a problem at this point. Please let me know if you see any discrepancies on the list.
Thank you and have a great day!
Malinda Beagles
Event Manager
President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center
701 East Adams
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 544-8800 Ext. 4156
mbeagles@PresidentAbrahamLincolnHotel.com”
Such news makes me glad; as I am sure, it does you. However, we have to get attendance up or we will have a big food bill. And we will not break even. Presently, as you will see by the attachments, we are 89 away from the 200 goal. WE CAN DO IT!!!!!! If we try hard enough.
Has anybody thought of a way to light a fire in the bellies of the Lions to get them to the Forum?
In my district’s newsletter (yet to be out) I noted there are three fears when starting out. Fear of loss. Fear of failure. And fear of success. Let us strive for fear of success.
Have a good day.
Lion Larry
Cc: Lion SST Betsy
CC Ron Belcher
08 – 09 Council
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