Ron the Yarnspinner

  It’s All About You   Six percent of Americans are said to be   full of it . Themselves. These   folks are claimed to believe the world revolves solely around them and they care little about anyone else. That means 94%   (of us, of course) are always nice, caring and focused on others, willing to help   etc.   It makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, or does it ? A senior-citizen supermarket shopper collapses slowly slumping down to the bottom of his cart where you put the big stuff. A fellow   shopper standing less than six feet away rushes to help the patron and calls for the manager. You can tell he’s in the 94 percentile.   Right on Bro! The trouble is it doesn't happen. The grocery shopper nearby   is apparently temporarily blinded by the glare from the refrigerator’s glass door as he reaches for the cottage cheese. (Small curd because it is lower in calories, and something tells you it was the right choice.) The cal...

  Train of Life The Legend of Linda from Leland Bank     Leland   Bank was a living Normal Rockwell painting -   small,   rural    bearing a unique charm and character that reflected the town’s close-knit community. The building was a modest structure,   made of   weathered clapboard with a simple entrance under a covered porch. The   paned windows   were large so people outside could see what was going on inside. The large cannonball safe* was strikingly visible. The interior was welcoming, although the floors creaked. The walls were lined with dated local photographs, 4 H posters, yellowed newspaper clippings, and a FarmWise calendar hung opposite a school clock.   A broad wooden counter spanned the front, where   tellers welcomed customers by name. Wooden desks were scuffed and scratched, showcasing a rich patina, while upholstery was faded and frayed. Still, the bank’s interior exuded a sense of warmth ...

  Flowbee                                                                                                       Back in the early 1950s,   comic books were   still around. My Favorite was the Katzenjammer Kids,   although those were hard to find. In the back of the comic, I would always like to look to see what quirky items were being advertised:   X-Ray Glasses: These were   classic comic book ad staples, promising the ability to see through objects, although kids soon found they were   just cardboard with a few colored lenses. A real gip.   Invisible Ink Kits: These kits included pens and special ink that could be used to write secret...

  Mars Lights and Snap Decisions                                                                                                         He stands erect on the back step   gripping the sturdy, metal grab bars with both hands.: It reminds him of climbing the monkey bars as a kid. The fire truck, an   older model with a large bell and mechanical siren, races through the streets of 1930s Chicago. The fireman’s posture is tense and focused. He wants to avoid more back pain. He braces   against the motion of the truck and the wind whipping past his turn-out coat. The truck’s engine roars, and the sound of the siren blares, piercing through the urban din. But Eng...

  Train of Life                                                                                                  In the late stages of World War II, as the battle fronts were constantly shifting, the army   faced a dire situation with a high number of casualties and limited resources. Using a European   railway system became a crucial element in the evacuation and treatment of wounded soldiers. One particularly dramatic episode occurred in Europe during the winter of 1942. Army personnel   were operating a special hospital train that became known as the "Train of Life." This train was tasked with treating and transporting wounded soldiers from the front lines. The winter was...

  Goodbye Mister Potato Head                                                            Twentieth century toys were analogue, using mechanical or simple physical methods to operate.   Toys like wind-up dolls, tops, Lincoln Logs , wooden trains, and simple board games, all functioned without the sophisticated digital display common today. None were more classic than Mister Potato Head. The original version of the toy consisted of various plastic facial features and accessories that kids   could attach to an actual potato allowing them to create their own whimsical characters. It was a very simple toy. Too simple perhaps. In 2020, toy maker Hasbro, Inc., located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island,   “ Made a significant change to the brand's name for a more inclusive and modern approach. The company introduced a new line ...

  Bottles and his brother Al                                                                                      Al rushed his wife Mae to St. Bernard hospital; he suspected food poisoning because of the   milk she poured into her   breakfast cereal. It was spoiled; she didn’t know.   He   was angry and Al was the one guy in Chicago you didn’t want mad at you. But he realized it was nobody’s fault. Milk at the time was not marked with an expiration date and there were no controls on milk production or distribution. When milk expires, bacteria begin to multiply making consumption unsafe, but it is not readily apparent. Souring, curdling or color change come later. Al decided he was going to do something about the situation and he and his brother ...