Bob Burdick

Now and Then

I’ll begin this article by explaining the meaning of the title. This is necessary as some folks might use these words when asked, “Do you have salad for lunch?” Possible reply, “Now and Then.” And while I do occasionally have salad for lunch, this article is not about salad. It will be my attempt to contrast how some things are perceived or acted upon now with how they used to be. Examples abound to support this vein; however, I’ve selected only a couple for your consideration. One subject that has long been controversial is the death penalty. That is, many folks believe in it while many others adamantly oppose it. So let’s look at some now-and-then examples.

THE REST OF THE STORY

The month of June was a bonanza for this writer. My church, my local paper, and my VFW post all were eager to print my patriotic, short story, "Beyond The Call." I figured it didn't get much better than this, but it did. In the week before the Fourth of July, an editor with the Hernando branch of the St. Petersburg Times called me, saying someone from my VFW post had given him a copy of my story. He asked to print it. I agreed, of course, and asked for the name of the member who had been kind enough to pass along the story.

Grey Matter, or Silly Putty

There is a wide gulf between the rationale of Liberals and that of Conservatives. Why do you suppose this is? After speaking with a Liberal recently, a four-word answer came to mind. I’ll share this in a moment, but first some background. When you combine traits of a hypocrite (a person who professes beliefs, feelings, and virtues they do not hold, possess, or practice) with those of an amoral individual (one who has no moral standards, restraints, or principles, you have the basic ingredients of a Far Left Liberal.

Another Day at the Office

This past Sunday, Ann, the Music Director where I attend church included a short video that expressed thanks to the veterans of our country. This touched my heart, as it has always done in the six decades since my active duty time in the United States Air Force (1954-58). And, as it has done time after time in those years, it has given me pause to reflect on my enlistment time. Just what had I done worthy of thanks?

THANKSGIVING

What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving Day? Is it a visit with friends or relatives while sharing a lavish meal? Watching your favorite sports team in action? Or simply enjoying a day of rest? For many Americans it's all of the above. President Abraham Lincoln appointed a day of Thanksgiving in 1863, but this act was hardly new. Nearly 250 years earlier, in 1621, after the Plymouth colonists completed the first harvest, Governor Bradford proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving. What tribulations led to this proclamation? History provides the answer.

Memories are Made of This

It's enjoyable to mingle with folks who embrace our values, so I was especially pleased when I recently visited with a group of others who steadfastly embraced mine. No, these folks were not family or friends. They were an array of local men and women engaged in various activities at our Senior Citizens Center. For added clarification, this citizen’s center is not a living facility; it is built like a meeting hall and it is open daily 9 to 5. There are rest rooms and a small kitchen located behind the main room that is furnished with recliners, sofas, card tables, magazine racks, and a large-screen TV. Not extravagant, but quite comfortable.

The Good Old Days

When used as an expression, "The Good Old Days" are words as timeless as time itself. We've all heard these words, and, indeed, most of us have used these words, but what, exactly, do these words mean? Experience suggests a simple answer: It all depends on your point of view. In my case first awareness of the Good Old Days occurred during childhood, in particular those times while sitting in awe alongside Granddaddy as he spoke of a magic era long before my life began. At these moments his rocking chair slowed, and a misty sheen clouded his hazel blue eyes. As ecstasy filled his being, sadness filled mine because I'd missed it all.

What's in a Name

Ask a writer this question: "What's in a name?" The answer most likely will be, "Everything." I believe this, as I've long known the importance of a fitting name as it applies to characters in short stories and novels. Mickey Spillane's hard-boiled detective, Mike Hammer, is a good example. Would the character have enjoyed such popularity with readers had he been named Reginald Witherspoon?

Hassles ‘n’ Headaches

Thus far in life I’ve been blessed with decent health. This is not to say I’ve never suffered an illness or a broken bone. I have, but healing has always been swift, which allowed a quick resumption of life as I’d been living it. Recently, though, I’ve noticed a change. It’s a pulsating headache, which seems to surface and then escalate when watching a news channels on TV. This seemed worth mentioning during a recent visit with my family doctor. Doc sat quietly, arms folded and nodding his head at times, as I explained the problem. When I’d poured it all out, his response was immediate. “You are not alone,” he said.

Touching the Face of God

Shortly after the destruction of the space shuttle Challenger and the death of its crew, President Ronald Reagan recited the following poem to grieving Americans and friends around the world.

The Magic Ring

I was ten when I first heard about the magic ring. Mom and I were spending the afternoon at Grand Mum's. She's my mom's mom. They were talking, and I was playing with Stephanie. She's my Barbie, and she had just gotten home from work. I removed her business suit and dressed her in black jeans and a bright-yellow blouse. I was barefoot, so I let Stephanie be barefoot too. While I brushed her hair, she told me about her rotten day at the office. "You wouldn't believe what Mr. Davidson did today," she said.

United We Stand Only Way to Survive the Pandemic 

I'm a '36 model and to detour around the heavy math concerning my age, let's just say I have much of the road-of-life in my rear-view mirror.  That's not a bad thing---life.  In fact, IMO, the only bad thing about it would be to have lived and not learned from the experience.  And I have good company in my belief: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  George Santayana  1863-1952

God's Winning Odds

I gained a healthy measure of respect for "odds" on July 4, 2000--this the day before I underwent open-heart surgery. The concept of odds was nothing new, of course, but the reality of it all became quite clear when I was told my chances of survival were on the order of ninety-eight percent.

Don't Burn Your Library

It's been said that when an older person dies it's like burning a library. Sadly, I learned the truth in these words as I was going through my mother’s belongings a few weeks after her death. The wealth I found was not in stocks, bonds, or bankbooks. No. The real wealth was in her cedar chest, a locker of polished blond wood on gorgeous glass casters that rested at the foot of her bed.

The Last Step

The year was 1946 and Carolyn was the new kid in my fourth-grade class. In a word, she was different. Not in looks, however, as with soft blue eyes, long brown locks, and dimples that pulsed with her vibrant smile she was certainly cute enough. No, the difference was her mature demeanor, including an aura of self-assurance in her speech as well as her actions.

2014 Resolutions

I woke at noon on New Year's Day, disgusted at the sight of my clothes strewn from the living room to the bedroom. That was the good news. The bad news was an eye-watering odor filled the house, and my right ear throbbed with each beat of my heart.

The Greatest Gift

I was twelve that Christmas eve of '48. In previous years my little brother and I had tried to stay awake all night so we could catch Santa. We always failed. This year proved to be the same. Minutes after consuming his bedtime milk and cookies, my brother was asleep. Worry, however, kept me awake. Would the gift I had prayed for be under our Christmas tree in the morning?

Angel of the Lord

If one tradition defined a community, Christmas Eve caroling defined Cherry Log, the mountain village where I was born and raised. And other than those years while serving in uniform for the country I loved, I had never missed one of the festive occasions. Even now as an older man with a family of my own, this special night still triggered excitement. The lone exception was the heartbreaking Christmas Eve of '98.

Cowgirls Need Love Too

Mom plunged into depression when Dad died. I had tested my wings and left the nest years earlier, and now, for the first time in her life, Mom was alone. I lived nearby and checked on her often, but it didn't take a trained eye to see she wasn't faring well. She shunned friends and neighbors, lost weight because she wasn't eating properly, and the "toddy" she once enjoyed before bedtime was now poured in mid afternoon. One day I caught her drinking at noon. I couldn't allow this to continue.

Competency: No Oval Office Should Be Without It

“Integrity is not a conditional word. It doesn't blow in the wind or change with the weather. It is your inner image of yourself, and if you look in there and see a man who won't cheat, then you know he never will.” --John D. MacDonald---The Turquoise Lament