Author: mikeljohnston1 (Page 64 of 267)
Covid is cruel even though now it’s more of an annoyance than a death threat. At least we were not a statistic like the one million unfortunate soles who have died from exposure to the disease. My problems are comparatively minimal and maybe even be selfish. However, it has once again changed our plans with friends, as they are unable to visit this weekend because of symptoms and a positive test. Thankfully, they were forthcoming about it, rather than discounting the hacking to be simply allergies, as too many people unfortunately do. We will miss their company, while feeling sorry that they also had to forego a much anticipated Disney family cruise because one of their grandchildren came down with it. As a result, 15 people couldn’t go and we have a refrigerator full of food in anticipation of their visit. Ours is a minor inconvenience compared to their ordeal and no one has been hospitalized.
I did arrange for my second Covid booster last week. The spread of new strains makes me wonder if our September cruise to Alaska and Japan will ever happen. The Ukraine situation has already altered the original plan for our ship to dock in Russia. In the last year, we’ve already lost trips to Bali, St. Kitts, Spain, Russia, and Hawaii due to Covid, plus a week in Tahoe because of fires. Our Nile River cruise was also postponed until next year because of the virus. What was going to be a busy retirement flurry of travel has turned into shorter Florida getaways. We’ve done Amelia Island, Singer Island, the Keys, South Beach, Orlando, Vanderbilt Beach, and Marco Island instead. It’s good to have these beautiful resort areas nearby.
Without company this weekend, we will keep tonight’s dinner reservation and enjoy our pool. Some of the dollars we saved on these lost trips paid for the pool and lanai that we now use all the time. At least we have something to show for the money that would have been spent on strictly creating memories. Only time will tell if there will be more disappointment on the travel front, as I’m sure everyone has had their share of Covid cruelty.
By the year 2030, I could be 79 years old, and have a running streak of 22 years, as unlikely as it seems. Right now, I stand at 4,885 days or 13.37 years and sputtering. I keep a diary that goes back twenty-two years, so I can tell you when, where, and how long I’ve run on most of these days. The Streak started in Austin, Texas after a challenge by a new friend. He told me about the United States Running Streak Association and the runeveryday.com website that lists other “streaker kooks” like myself. I’ve since lived in Oregon as well as Florida and haven’t missed a day since it all began on December 29, 2008. I did run before the streak began, but never put together more than a couple months straight of consistent daily practice. Even when I was training for marathons, I usually took at least a day or two off every week to give my body a chance to recover. My first such endeavor at this distance was October 14, 1979 in Detroit, Michigan.
I can remember a family reunion sometime in the mid-1970s when it was suggested that I had “put on a few pounds.” The very next day, I was out running on the path through the woods behind our lake home to lose those apparently noticeable pounds. I was too embarrassed to have anybody see me doing it, although eventually it led to many races, including the crowning marathon. There were also events in Elkhart, South Bend, Plymouth, Saugatuck, Dowagiac, Bristol, Goshen, Indianapolis, Ft. Wayne, and even Chicago where I would travel to earn a ribbon or t-shirt for going the distance.
I’ve run in at least 26 of the 48 states I’ve visited so far (41 with my current wife) and 11 different countries. I plan to add runs this summer in Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Hilton Head, South Carolina; Alaska, and Japan. Next year, I’ll make it to Maine, my 50th state, and add that run to my total, along with Egypt. For some reason, I have not run in Kentucky, West Virginia, Delaware, Virginia, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Mexico, Mississippi, North or South Dakota, Vermont, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Maybe I can work some of these in on next year’s excursion to Maine? I have a lot more spots to cover around the world, but realistically I’m never going to get to them all, as I continue to try to run the world.
It’s Friday the 13th and I’m hoping for a little luck. “On Friday, October 13, 1307, the French rounded up thousands of Knights Templars and tortured them as heretics. Some believe the date of this massacre sparked our modern-day association of Friday the 13th with bad luck.” I’ve learned all about the Knights Templars from the History Channel series, Curse of Oak Island. The Lagina brothers haven’t had much luck in their quest to find the supposed treasure buried on the island. Nine seasons have now passed with preparations for Season Ten. In the meantime, shows like Lost Gold of the Aztecs and Skinwalker Ranch try to capture my attention without much luck.
“If it wasn’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have no luck at all” is the key lyric behind the song “Born Under A Bad Sign.” The words were written by Stax Records rhythm and blues singer William Bell with music by Stax bandleader Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. & the M.G.’s). Bell recalled, “We needed a blues song for Albert King … I had this idea in the back of my mind that I was gonna do myself. Astrology and all that stuff was pretty big then. I got this idea that [it] might work.” The lyrics describe “hard luck and trouble” tempered by “wine and women”, with wordplay in the chorus in the turnaround:
Born under a bad sign, been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
Lightnin’ Slim’s 1954 swamp blues song “Bad Luck Blues” contains some similar lyrics:
Lord, if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all (2×)
You know bad luck has been followin’ poor Lightnin’, ever since I began to crawl
“Born Under a Bad Sign” reached number 49 on Billboard magazine’s Top Selling R&B singles chart. It was later included on his first album for Stax, also titled Born Under a Bad Sign. The album’s cover depicts images of “bad luck signs” or common superstitions, including a black cat, a Friday the 13th calendar page, skull and crossbones, ace of spades, and snake eyes.
British rock group Cream recorded “Born Under a Bad Sign” for their third album, Wheels of Fire (1968). The group’s record company, which also distributed Stax records, requested that they record it, according to guitarist Eric Clapton. Cream’s rendition follows Albert King’s, except for bassist and singer Jack Bruce combining two verses into “I’ve been down ever since I was ten” and an extended guitar solo by Clapton. Musicologist Robert Palmer described Clapton’s playing as “practically Albert King parodies”.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia – have a Lucky Friday!
Sometimes I feel like I’m trapped in a time warp where day after day is exactly the same. This is especially true in the mornings since I schedule most of my appointments during the afternoon. I get up at the same time, follow the exact same sequence of preparations for my run including stretching and push-ups, take Tally outside where I often see the same neighbors day after day, go for my run along the same route, take a short swim in the pool to cool down from the run, sit at my desk to write, and eat the lunch that my wife comes home to fix us. It’s almost like I’m sleepwalking through life.
This is why it was good to get away the last two weeks, even though the morning routine was similar. At least it was all done in a different setting with the beach as the focal point. I also didn’t have to deal with the barrage of contractors, house guests, errands, and doctors that I see most afternoons. In addition, evenings are very predictable anymore. We don’t go out as often as we did while working, trying to stay on a retirement budget. My wife cooks dinner, we dine together usually on the back lanai around sunset, and we sit in front of the TV watching series after series. Bedtime is usually 10 p.m. that involves taking Tally out for her final outing and a couple chapters of a book before sleep comes.
My wife takes Tally to the dog park every morning, enjoys an aqua-fit class every other day, and a tap class twice a week, plus bridge and book club meetings in between. She takes advantage of the vegetable and fish guys that come once a week and does most of the shopping by herself with the exception of our joint trip to Costco once a month to stock-up. She sees her life as camp, filled with activities and friendship. I’m much more of a loner since none of my routine involves a group setting. Once a month, there’s usually a Borrego Boyz luncheon that I attend and a “Meet the Neighbors” mixer that we organize. Many of our “snowbird” neighbors are now headed back to their lake cottages up north for the summer and won’t be back until September. Us full-timers, without the responsibilities of a second home, will stick together and brave the heat. See you later alligator!
“See you later alligator, after ‘while crocodile
See you later alligator, after ‘while crocodile
Can’t you see you’re in my way now
Don’t you know you cramp my style”
“See you later alligator, after ‘while crocodile
See you later alligator, so long, that’s all, goodbye”
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Robert Charles Guidry
See You Later, Alligator (Bonus Track) lyrics © Royalty Network
Yesterday was a medical day with visits to the Cardiologist, pharmacy for a second booster, and the dentist for a cleaning. In between, I did some shopping for my granddaughter’s 4th birthday. As a result, the day went by quickly with no time to write. Today, I have little planned, so there may even be an opportunity for some sun before company arrives for the weekend. An Outback birthday get together is also scheduled for tonight, having not seen my son or his family for weeks now.
The Singer Island trip was one of the first in my life when I wasn’t rushed to get a suntan. Two full weeks on the beach was unprecedented. I also didn’t burn, for once, so my skin is not peeling. I did set an appointment with the dermatology clinic next week as a precaution since I’ve been in a medical mode. I also have an appointment to give blood next week and a consultancy with an eye surgeon to potentially remove some of the sagging skin on my upper eyelids. It should dramatically improve my range of vision, despite the concerns of it being my very first surgical procedure. I’m also due for the standard ten-year colonoscopy.
I don’t think I’ve had this much medical attention my entire life. Medicare makes most of these procedures affordable and our resort community provides free clinics. Seventy years is a lot of wear and tear on the body, especially when I’m running every day. I’ve always said that “5k a day keeps the doctor away.” For some reason in retirement, I’m suddenly spending a lot of time around them. What’s Up Doc?
I knew there was something special about the Marriott brand, dating back to my childhood and the downtown Elkhart Root Beer Barrel. I was recently made aware of the connection by a Facebook friend from my home town who posted a picture of the iconic A&W Root Beer stand and provided a little history:
It all began in 1927 with an A&W root beer stand. Founder J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, got their young business off the ground by quenching people’s thirst during Washington D.C.’s hot, muggy summers. Good food and good service at a fair price became a guiding principle for Hot Shoppes restaurants–and for Marriott International as it grew.”
As time went on, “the Marriotts added hot food items to their menu–a first for A&W franchises–and the name “Hot Shoppes” was born, opening two more locations, including the East Coast’s first drive-in restaurant. By 1937, in flight catering debuted when Hot Shoppes begins delivery of boxed lunches to passengers at Hoover Airport, south of Washington, D.C.” The stock became public in 1953 at $10.25/share and sold out in two hours of trading.”
“Marriott made a historic shift into the hotel business in 1957. The world’s first motor hotel opened in Arlington, Virginia, under the management of J. Willard Marriott’s son, Bill. Over the next 25 years, Marriott became a diverse global enterprise, and Bill Marriott became a visionary CEO whose leadership transformed the hospitality industry. The first international property then opened in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969 while a partnership with Sun Line in 1972, allowed the first lodging company to enter the cruise business. Also that year, J.W. Marriott, Jr. was named Chief Executive Officer of Marriott, adding the Courtyard brand for business travelers by 1983 and by building the first JW Marriott in Washington DC.
“One company, many brands–that’s the innovative model that Marriott began building in the late 1980s. From pioneering the extended-stay business to launching distinctive brands geared toward the business traveler to increasing its presence overseas, Marriott International broke new ground in its quest to become the #1 hospitality company in the world.”
“In 1987, with the opening of the first Fairfield Inn and Marriott Suites hotels, Marriott become the first lodging company to offer a portfolio of brands, also acquiring Residence Inn to pioneer the extended-stay lodging business. 1988 then saw Marriott open its 500th hotel in Warsaw, Poland, the first western-managed hotel in Eastern Europe. By 1995, a famous, historic luxury brand was added into its portfolio when it acquired a 49% interest in The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Two years later Renaissance and TownePlace Suites were part of the group, followed by SpringHill Suites by Marriott in 1998 and ExecuStay corporate housing in 1999,”
Alice Sheets Marriott – “Mother Marriott” – passed away in 2000, but growth from her A&W roots continued as the first Bulgari Hotels & Resorts opened in Milan, Italy in 2008 and the EDITION brand was launched in 2008. “Marriott was on a mission to shape the future of travel through technology and innovation. From mobile check-in and lobby Greatrooms to transforming the meeting experience with the Coat Direct app. Gaylord, MOXY HOTELS, AC, Protea in Africa, Delta Hotels in Canada, and Starwood positioned Marriott as the world’s largest hotel company in 2016 with over 5700 properties, 1.1 million rooms, and 30 brands in over 110 countries. It was the year that my wife and I joined the Marriott Vacation Club, using our Bonvoy card to travel the world under the care of Mother Marriott, to whom we raise a frosty mug!
I like to joke that I have “multiple mothers” as we celebrate Mother’s Day every year. After all, it took more than one woman to raise me, along with Mother Marriott to watch over me when I travel the world. I’m not a religious man, so Mother Marriott takes the place of Mother Superior. Silliness aside, I give all the credit to my adopted parents who rescued me from the Suemma Coleman agency. I also know the identity and whereabouts of my now 89-year old birth mother. Sadly, she does not acknowledge my existence even though she made it possible over seventy years ago.
Being a teenage mother is difficult in any era, especially in the early 1950s when unwed pregnancies were shunned. I can only imagine the shame that was imposed on my birth mother by her family, friends, and society, forced to give me up to strangers whether her decision or not. They undoubtedly tried to hide her condition and took her far from home to give birth. I would guess that there were times when she tried to figure out a way to keep me as part of her life, and moments when she hated me. Since abortion was not a safe option for her back then, I was probably better off raised by the loving couple that I’ve always proudly called “Mom and Dad.” I could never blame her for trying to erase all the memories from her mind.
Mother’s Day for me is a time for reflection and appreciation, as I try to make sense of my life. I no longer have a mother to honor on this day. I hate to call it indiscretion that gave me life. I prefer to think of her as being naïve and caught in a moment of passion. The birth father was about four years older and preparing to enter the service. I’m sure that neither of them thought about the consequences, but she had to live with the “mistake,” while he probably never knew that a child was on the way. She got little support and undoubtedly lots of criticism. I’m simple grateful that there was a special couple that wanted a baby when they couldn’t have one. As a result, I became a treasured part of their family when I could have been a burden to a teenage girl.
Because of me, my birth mother’s life drastically changed. From what I’ve been able to uncover, she had to quit high school, get a factory job, and struggle with doubts of desirability and prospects for future relationships. She was a tainted woman, harboring a secret for the rest of her life. I made my best efforts to let her know how grateful I was for life and what I’ve done with that time on Earth. I’ve made serious misjudgments just as she has, and it’s sad that we never got to know each other. She might even be proud.
Abortion was never a legal option for her as Roe vs. Wade didn’t happen until 1973, Consequently, I can’t give her or her family credit for preserving my life in the womb and allowing for my adoption. They never had a choice, as women have today. Adoption is always the best option with a healthy child and mother, but it comes with emotional and physical hardship. Those that have gone through it, like my birth mother, are strong, selfless individuals who preserve lives and enable others to raise families. Depending on the circumstances, all women should have a choice when it comes to their bodies, so it’s hard to belief that the 45-year law is now being seriously reconsidered. I’m so thankful for life on this Mother’s Day, especially since it was such a hardship on my birth mother. I have life, but I’m not necessarily Pro-Life.
