|  Labor Day Greetings, Classmates
On August 23, his family threw a surprise birthday/retirement party for Brent Wilson and he was truly surprised. It was just great! I was totally surprised and it was a lotta laughs. Vicki, Karen and Shirley were all there and we got to visit some, but not enough. There was a little eating going on, a little drinking going on, and a whole lot of laughter going on. My wife Nancy and our children and their spouses did a heck of a job. The underlying theme was Ohio State, as I am a huge fan. Lots of ornery cards and OSU type gifts. I wish you had been there. What the hell, maybe I'll do it again. I hope to have photos for the next issue. #########
I bet you have never seen a fountain like the one in Canal City Hakata. It makes words and pictures! It has been described as working like a inkjet printer. Pretty amazing! Click here. #########
Last summer I exchanged several emails with Gene Buckingham and he had an interesting story. He retired from many years of cemetery management and was enjoying his free time by puttering around the yard. On one particular day, he was trimming the hedge when his neighbor came over and struck up a conversation. The neighbor commented on what a nice job Gene was doing on the hedge and asked if Gene would trim his hedge, too. One thing led to another, and word spread, and now Gene is operating his own lawn care service. He has a client list and employees, too. I emailed him this year to ask if business was still booming. I didn't get a reply so I will take that as a yes.
######### Delaware has become the mecca for another sport--get ready--lawnmower racing! In 2007 and 2008, the US Lawn Mower Racing Association held their national championship competition at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Competitors came from as far away as Maine, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, and both Dakotas and the event was taped for future showing on the Outdoor Channel and the Discovery Channel. Like auto racing, there are many classes of mowers. Some are production models and others are modified. REALLY modified! All racing mowers have a deck. The blades and gearing have been removed but the deck is part of the requirements. Each race is 20 laps. In 2007, there were five classes and each had their specific parameters, almost none of which I remember. I do, however, remember the numbers (fancy that). The first class, called IMOW, is the entry level. These mowers are closest to the stock units at Home Depot. They are one cylinder engines with governors. They have some modification for speed but not much. These machines average about 22 mph. In 2008, a junior class, JP, was added for kids aged 10-15. They drive the IMOW machines. The second class, AP, has more modifications. They average about 30 mph. Third is the SP class. This class reaches speeds of 35-40 mph. Of the oldest mowers in competition, three are Springfields--a 1952, a 1958 and a 1960 Springfield. The fourth is a 1959 Sears Craftsman. The fourth class, CP, is faster yet and they still look like ordinary riding mowers but they don't behave like anything ordinary. They can reach 60 mph! At the end of this race, the announcer interviewed one of the nationally-known drivers, Bobby Cleveland, who had taken his mower to the Bonneville Salt Flats just to see what it would do on the straightaway. He clocked 80.59 mph!! He said he always dreamed of driving on the Salt Flats but he never dreamed it would be on a lawnmower. The fifth class, FX, is different. They are much lower to the ground and they have smaller wheels, with only a hint of a mower deck. Everything has been modified: gear ratios, steering, braking, wheels--anything that is modifiable. From our seats they looked like big, noisy bugs and they routinely break 60 mph. I would be terrified to go that fast on such a little rocket. The course is shaped like a soft B. The straightaway was on the inside, toward the audience, and the B-humps were on the far side. One end is a tight curve and the other is only slightly less so. The course is lined with bales of hay on both sides of the track, presumably for a softer landing, but a speeding mower can wipe out a hay bale pretty fast. The state association is called Mowhio; www.letsmow.com is the website for the national organization. You can see photos from the 2007 event here. The 2008 races were held at night under the lights. The photos were not as interesting as the 2007 shots.
On August 24, Sue Donovan Mooney was recognized for her long-standing service in Health Ministries. This award is given biannually by the office of National Health Ministries and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The presentation was made at her home church, Overbrook Presbyterian, in Columbus. I received an award from the National church for my work in Health Ministries. I was to be given it at the General Assembly meeting in California, but since I couldn't travel they sent G.A. to Overbrook on Aug 24th. I was sort of amazed when 200 plus people showed up from my past at Overbrook. I have done over 100 workshops across the country for parish nursing and people I had worked with actually came. What a shock!!!! Even cousins that have not had a clue about what I have been doing were there, so it was sort of a surprise. They probably selected me for the award because they thought I probably didn't have much time left......what a hoot. There were six other nurses across the country that worked with me during the past 15 years and they are every bit as deserving as I am, so I feel a little embarrassed by the whole deal and am glad it is over. The text of the program can be seen here. The print is small. Full-screen viewing is best. ######### Roger Gledhill has a new hobby. He calls it hebephrenic songwriting. Being a word lover, I played along. I don't have a clue how he could set this to music but it certainly was fun creating.  ######### SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS Wesley Watson Darlene Winship Creasy Sonnie Bayliff Keefer Betty Henry Daubenspeck Tony Pope (I think) John Gaskell Anne Skatzes Williamson Fred Oehler Charlotte Stiles Covrett Dick Patrick These birthdays were listed in the class directory. If I have overlooked anyone, please let me know. We see things not as they are, but as we are.
H.M. Tomlinson | |