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Reading Is Fundamental

01/05/2020 Anthony Dixon

In the fourth Grade I wrote my first Essay titled what I did on my Summer Vacation. It was an absolute disaster chock full of incomplete Sentences. The most memorable one was a Sentence telling how one of my Uncles gave me money. It read he me Money, when I read it to the Class they broke out in a Thunderous laugh when I got to the part that read he me Money. For the longest time my Classmates called me he me Money. That was my Motivation to learn to Read and write. Whenever something was taught in Class that I didn’t fully grasp, I would go Home and study it until I fully understood it. Pretty much the way an Actor studied his Lines. From then on I was never frustrated with learning. It was that early in life that I learned that if you applied yourself you can do anything.

In High School I was comfortable enough with my Reading Skills that I added English Literature to my Curriculum. Though I struggled with Shakespeare and Dickens I didn’t drop the Course. Taking that Class was one of the high points in my Life I learned many reading Skills including how to Exercise my Figurative Mind. The greatest reading skill I acquired was to figure out what the Author isn’t saying, but allowing you to figure it out. My Teacher picked on me daily to explain what the Author isn’t saying. At first I taught the question to be silly, you would think that what is written is so. Then I remembered Einstein’s Words ” The Intuitive Mind is a Sacred Gift and the Rational Mind is a Faithful Servant, we have created a Society that Honors the Servant and forgotten the Gift. Figuring out unspoken Words is a Gift, because the World takes things at Face Value and so creates People with Sheepish Mentality. “Blind Belief in Authority is the Greatest Enemy of Truth” ( Albert Einstein). Just about everything that has been written have been taken out of Context. Personally I do not write in innuendos I leave nothing to the Imagination, that is how things become misconstrued. Anyway we are not talking about Writing the subject is Reading, this is the Motivation for this Blog. Mother was Big on Education, I believe that she was twelve or thirteen when her Parents took her out of School.

Her Parents had twelve Children and needed her help Nursemaiding them. Even though she couldn’t refuse her Parents request for help raising their indiscretions, she knew that Reading was Fundamental. Over the years she Educated herself by teaching herself to Read. She started with the Hardest Book written, The Bible, if you can Comprehend Whereforth Whence and Cometh, If you can Comprehend that a Man can Sin seventy seven times seven and still be Forgiven you have it licked, Shakespeare can’t touch the Bible, even though the Language parallels. Many years ago I noticed Highway Signs with letters and Symbols telling what you would find at the next Exit. I was totally puzzled why would you write Food, then next to it you would put a Plate and utensils. Then I learned that the Symbols were for People who didn’t read English, or Read period.

My Mother was Born 1916, back then Reading wasn’t fundamental, hard work was. However she knew that in the twentieth Century Education meant Progress, I believe that during my Party Days if I had told her that I was dropping out of High School she would have thrown me out of her House.

Looking back on her Life I understand why I am one of the greatest DIY Person ever. Like her teaching herself to Read, I Thought myself through Reading how to fix anything from an Automobile to a Computer and everything in between, Washer and Dryer including, I can Gut a House and install everything new, Electrical, Plumbing, Furnace and Water Heater including. All that from reading just about everything written on how to fix it yourself, all because I remember one of my Teacher telling us that you should never stop Learning even when you are finished with School. The reason she gave was that your Brain turned to Mush when not Nourished. Einstein puts it best” Wisdom is not the Product of Schooling, but the Lifelong attempt to Acuire it”.

My latest Project is Teaching myself to Write, reading Books on how to write Blogs was Fundamental for me, I also read the Greatest Book written about Parenting. Parenting through Love and Logic, it changed my way of thinking about Parenting. Love and Logic teaches that if you had a Child like I was, you either allowed them to burn themselves out, then coming full Circle with Consequences, or allowing them to come full Circle with themselves and their Potential all on their own. That was my Platform for Blogging about Parenting. Now you know why Reading is Fundamental for me, there is nothing like discovering things. So why is People of the Twenty First Century so Video Prone and anti Reading. Yet more Words from Albert, ” I fear the Day that Technology will surpass our Human Interaction. The World will have a Generation of Idiots”. Reading is something that exercises my Figurative Mind and stretching my Imagination like Elastic. I am sure that Einstein would have done a better Job getting the Point across how Fundamental Reading is.

It takes me to the time of The Emperor Menalik, the Travels of Hanibal, to Paphos the place where Aphrodite was born, and as far back as the Paleozoic Era and the survival of the largest Extinction in the History of the World. Why would I not choose Reading over a Video or Video Game, there is no Comparison. There is a Price to pay for everything, Technology changed the Medical Field forever and a Functional People to a Society of Android Babies. Occasionally one should put down the Android and pick up a Book. Those who read my Blogs knows that I like to keep it short and to the point, I don’t like to waste Pages on much ado about nothing.

I taught this Blog was finished then I remembered two Women with opposite Mentality. 2017 while working in the Resort Industry I met a Woman from Mexico working in Housekeeping . she was in her late forties living and working in the U.S. for over thirty years, yet she never took the time to go to Night School and learned to Read, neither Spanish nor English. I was Livid that someone could live in the Twenty First Century and was Illiterate, even in her own Language. Two years later I met Jane, an Educated Venezuelaian who came to this country because she couldn’t find work in her Country. When we met she explained that her English was keeping her back so she was working and going to School to learn English. I explained to her that I took Spanish in High School for four years. We agreed to sharpen both our handling of the two Languages, I would speak to her in Spanish and she would speak to me in English so we would correct each others Grammar. The difference in both Women was that one was Complacent with her Illiteracy and the other was Educated but wanted to Learn more to better herself. My Hat is off to the latter. In conclusion I would like to Reiterate, a Mind is a terrible thing to waste. Last Words belong to Einstein ” The Measure of Intelligence is the ability to change”.

Life, Motivation

Life on the Line

12/11/2019 Anthony Dixon

There are four kinds of People in this World, People who make things happen, People who wonder what just happened here, People who wonder how did they do it and People who just don’t give a Rat’s. It’s good to know that there are People who make things happen, around you. Not Blowing Smoke, I have been that way since twelve or thirteen. Playing in the Schoolyard one of my Classmates fell and Slammed his Wrist on a Broken piece of Glass. The Wrist was severed, hanging on a Tendon. Most Twelve years old seeing someone Bleeding Out Screams and Panic. I took off my Belt and made a Turniquet, I tightened and release till the Ambulance came, they told me that I had saved the Kid’s Life and his Arm. I have always been impressed by Ordinary People performing Extraordinary Acts, knowing exactly what needs to be done at the right Moment, many times saving Lives. The Shierff Deputy on duty at Majorie Stoneman High School heard Shooting going on in the School. Yet he made no effort to enter the Building. When the Shooting stopped, seventeen Students were Dead. Four kinds of People in the World.

Thirty years later while working on a Construction Site in Erie P.A. , we were doing Interior Demolition. The Building was an Abandoned. U.S. Steel Foundry. Working in Construction, Safety was always my number one Priority. I was properly outfitted in a Safety Harness and tied off on Rafters, my Coworker was a Macho Man, who felt that he didn’t need one. There was a Wall twenty feet high thirty feet long and one foot Thick. It was this Wall he chose to walk, after walking for fifteen feet, the wall started squeeking. As soon as I heard the first squeek, I was on the Wall, dragging him to safety. There were People working below in the Room of Steel. My actions alerted them to run. After the last Man was out the Wall Collapsed. Can you imagine the sound a 100 Million Ton slab of Metal falling on to a Matal Floor. Back on the Landing where I pulled my Coworker to safety, I checked my Safety Harness to notice a Rip in one of the Straps, one broken Strap is very Dangerous, Thank you Lord.

Fifty five years later I was still doing it. When my Mother had Stubbed her Big Toe and Broke it in a Nursing Home, the so called Skilled Care Personnel did not check her out properly. Her Leg was Xrayed but not her Foot, That was an incompetent Blunder. As a result of that Blunder, a week later I noticed in all her Pain, in the Foot, was the result of a Broken Toe, now several Toes were turning green. I superseded the Staff and Called the Ambulance, one thing that I have noticed during my work Life, Foolish People always developed an Attitude when you are showing them how to do something the right way. From having three Toes infected with Gangrene, the leg had to be removed above the knee. In another Day or two nothing could have been done. I was Negligible by trusting the so called Skilled Care Staffing and not taking matters in my own Hands, by taking her to the Hospital and have a Cat Scan done, my Bad. She was in a skilled Care Facility stupid me trusted them. I have always had the Highest Respect for People who put thei’r Life on the Line. The Brave Soldier making the Ultimate Sacrifice, the People who Serve and Protect, the E.M.T knowing the Exact amount of a Drug needed to bring you out of a Seizure, and not enough to leave you rendered Intubated, where your Organs are too Dilated to do their Jobs. If the Ventilator Breath’s for you for longer than three Days, coming off it Successfully is Rare. But these are the Decisions made Daily, People that makes things Happen.

As the Song goes, “I feel Safe in New York City”. Well I feel Safe with the People around me who knows when to Act. My Wife worked for twenty five years in the Emergency Room at the V.A. Hospital, I jokingly told her that if I had that Job, I would be an Alcoholic. Many of her Coworkers and Friends did not Live to be her Age, the Stresses were Great. Last Saturday was an Extraordinary Day for me. I went to my Friend’s House for a day of Head butting about the Ills of The World and Society, as we always do when we meet. Earlier in the Day I was checking some Artificial Crab Meat to use for Bait. It has been sitting in the Refrigerator for Months, I smelled it to find no Odors, I licked it for Tart, there was none. Regardless, Bait is all that was to become of that. If I ate less than one Ounce of that Crab Meat I would not be here writing this.

As the saying goes ” let your Food become your Medicine before your Medicine becomes your Food. Living to be sixty seven have left me Privileged to many Sayings, many of them are words to live by. I don’t believe that I was at my Friend’s House for more than ninety Minutes, when I became Violently Ill, licking that Crab Meat had sent a Bacteria swimming in my Blood, it was trying to Kill me, I had Ptomaine Poisoning. Thinking that I wanted to Puke I stood up and wobbly walked five feet away from the Patio Furniture. All of a sudden an Electrifying Effect ran through my Brain, the Bacteria had reached my Brain, I was Blacking Out. On the way down Head first to the well laid Brick Walkway under me, I thought to myself, this is it you are Dying. Before my Knees hit the Pavement, Trevor had jumped into Action, he put me in a Bear Hug and laid me down comfortably on the Ground, all the time trying to Access my Conditions and keep me Focused. Lucky me Trev was once a Lifeguard.

Once I was on the Ground it was Good Night. My Brain was still Fighting to come Back, I was in a Place where there were nothing but Dark Gray Clouds, if that’s not Dying then how Far. Other than Trev shouting at me don’t close your Eyes, I knew for myself that the only way to get away from the Dark Clouds were to open my Eyes and Gaze on the 🌞. Ten Seconds later I was coming out of the Electrical Storm in my Brain, as I slowly Focused my World was upside down, I thought about closing my Eyes again for Comfort. Trevor’s Voice was loud and Instructive, ” Don’t Close your Eyes. Three minutes later I was able to open my Eyes without the Roller Coaster Effect. Once he realized that I was somewhat Focused, he went to work asking me all the Questions asked by an E.M.T. Personnel trying to find Cause and Effect, all the time Prodding me for him to call 911. I refused the 911 Call because I felt myself coming back Gradually. All during this Debacle he Hung with me Engaging me in Conversation making sure that I didn’t Regress. He Nursed me back to being Functional, he provided lots of Liquids Rollaids and Air Conditioning, all the time Prodding me, should he call. Once we moved inside he made a Bed for me on the Sofa, knowing that I needed Rest from that Ordeal, did I mention making things Happen. You can guess that Life was no longer on the Line, when I Cracked to him that the A.C was so Cold that this is how they Preserved Bodies. Sunday I had to work for a couple of Hours, the Songs that Played in my Head, were ” if you’re going under I’ll be your Oxygen and How Wonderful Life is when you’re in the World, thanks Dirty Heads, Elton and thank you Trev. We walk not only by Sight but also by Faith.

P.S Lord! keep on proving yourself to me.

P.P.S. From the Outcomes I am here Today to tell you! Live each Day as if it were your last! Live, Love,Laugh and Give God thanks for the Gift of Life, and for each Day that we are given.

Final Post Script

Why do I get the Feeling that I should be Living my Life closer to God.

Life, Motivation

Moby Dick

12/06/2019 Anthony Dixon

CHASING MOBY

Most eight year old Boys are only interested in playing with their toys and their Dog. Not me when I was eight I was a mother’s worst nightmare. Once my mother was cooking, she walked away from the kitchen for two minutes, that was all the time I needed to create a catastrophe. Inquisitive me had to know what was cooking in the boiling hot Pot, pulling it down on myself causing third degree burn to the entire lower half of my body. At eight I was into everything that spelled danger. Several months earlier while walking the Beach I met a man called Lefty, the way he came by his name is nothing short of a horror movie.

Lefty was an avid Fisherman who preferred big Game fishing. One day while fishing in sixty feet depths a Marlin grab the bait connected to 100lb test line, lefty and I must have been born under the same Zodiac sign, the monster fish snapped the pole and took off still on the Hook. Lefty was of my same Heart, he refused to cut the line and live to fight another day. He wrapped the hundred pounds test around his arm just below the elbow. Well now you know how he got his name, the line cut straight through the bone like a Saw.

At eight I was an avid Fisherman lefty had taught me all I needed to know how to catch fish using only a hook and line the same way he lost his arm. It was danger in the make for a child like me, thank God I could never cast my line beyond the Shores. One day while I was fishing the Shore, Lefty’s Boat rolled ashore dragging the ocean floor, the reason why the Boat was dragging is that Lefty had caught a four hundred pounds Marlin. He threw me the morning line that almost killed me trying to secure the Boat, screaming for help from the top of my lungs.

Help soon arrived to get the monster fish out of the Boat. When it landed on the beach with my clothes all wet from going out to get the rope to tie the Boat, I could not tell if I had peed myself with excitement. This was Baby’s big day out, as soon as that fish hit the Sand lefty was all over it with his Machete cutting sixty pound stakes. Whoever was there took home a sixty pound marlin steak. As if I didn’t work hard enough securing the Boat, now I had to get this slab of fish home all sixty pounds of me. I had no intention of abandoning the spoils that I had worked so hard for, I dragged it through the Sand and dirt the entire hundred yards home. I guess it was that early on that Mother knew that I was happening guy, that was afraid of nothing and probably would die early from adventurism.

Luckily enough the following years didn’t kill me so today I live three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Coincident? I’m here looking for my Moby. Living in Florida is a Dream that should have happened thirty Years ago, but as they say nothing happens before its time. One Day while sitting by the Banks with my Line in the Water, not really trying to catch anything. I was just clearing my thoughts while Gazing across the Mighty Gulf of Mexico. A Man walked past where I was sitting, he asked me if I caught anything. I told him that I wasn’t trying to catch anything, I told him that I was in Despair because I would like to start writing but my Computer was Broken. His response was what did you do before you had a Computer, I told him that I have been Writing Drafts on a Notepad for many Years,His response, so what is the Problem. From that Day on my biggest Motivation in Life is to spend my Retirement Years searching for my Moby Dick and writing Blogs. The Little time that that we are given to chase our Dreams whatever they be, is too short and elusive. I knew a Man who was a Gifted Artist, his works hangs on my Walls along with Great Masters. Yet the only ones sold was to me, he had one setback and he gave up on his Dreams. We should not spend all of our time chasing Money, even though making a lot of money is all some of us Dreams about. In the end Money is only a thing, your Dreams will always be a part of you.