I'd like to share some thoughts about today's inauguration of President Barack H. Obama. The first inauguration that I remember was the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. I was about Parly and Lily's age. I became interested in presidential politics because my Grandma Reeder (Lula) was at one time an elected official. She was the elected Deputy County Clerk for Box Elder County for many years. My grandfather (her husband---Joseph Martin) died of a typhoid epidemic just two weeks before my dad was born. She was left with 6 children and no income. She raised that family by herself, much of the time during the "Great Depression." Eventually she found work with the county and later won election, running as a democrat, to a position she held for many years. By the time I came along she was just Grandma Reeder but her interest in politics was evident to me even though I was just a lad. Anyway, I remember going to her house (it was next door) the morning after the 1960 election. She was listening to election results on the radio. I remember her commenting positively on the young president elect from Massachusetts. Back to the inauguration---our third grade teacher (Miss Jones) made arrangements with a family who lived next to the school for our class to go to their home and watch President Kennedy take the oath of office (the school didn't have a television---can you believe that?). I remember very well his famous speech when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." One of my friends was miserable. I thought he must be sick so I asked him if I could do anything for him. He replied, "I'll be sad for eight more years, don't try to cheer me up." I had to go home and ask my dad why my friend was going to be sad for eight years. Turns out his dad was the chairman of the county republican party.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration 2009
I'd like to share some thoughts about today's inauguration of President Barack H. Obama. The first inauguration that I remember was the 1961 inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. I was about Parly and Lily's age. I became interested in presidential politics because my Grandma Reeder (Lula) was at one time an elected official. She was the elected Deputy County Clerk for Box Elder County for many years. My grandfather (her husband---Joseph Martin) died of a typhoid epidemic just two weeks before my dad was born. She was left with 6 children and no income. She raised that family by herself, much of the time during the "Great Depression." Eventually she found work with the county and later won election, running as a democrat, to a position she held for many years. By the time I came along she was just Grandma Reeder but her interest in politics was evident to me even though I was just a lad. Anyway, I remember going to her house (it was next door) the morning after the 1960 election. She was listening to election results on the radio. I remember her commenting positively on the young president elect from Massachusetts. Back to the inauguration---our third grade teacher (Miss Jones) made arrangements with a family who lived next to the school for our class to go to their home and watch President Kennedy take the oath of office (the school didn't have a television---can you believe that?). I remember very well his famous speech when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." One of my friends was miserable. I thought he must be sick so I asked him if I could do anything for him. He replied, "I'll be sad for eight more years, don't try to cheer me up." I had to go home and ask my dad why my friend was going to be sad for eight years. Turns out his dad was the chairman of the county republican party.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Rock Off
Scientists have discovered that what once was considered an ancient process in determining who would do a specific task, is actually genetically part of human make up. Two small boys were recently photographed doing rock, paper, scissors in a laboratory in Logan, Utah. The lead researcher, who asked not to be identified, said that the process has never been observed in humans so young. Cool huh?
Friday, January 2, 2009
631 North Main Street
As you probably know, Ross and Ann have sold the Joseph Martin Reeder home. I'm not in the least bitter. It would be nice if it stayed in the family but that's not always possible. We went to see it for the last time and got a chance to visit with all my brothers and sister. I realized that the building isn't near as valuable as the people. We'll always be able to get together and swap stories about being the children of Spencer and Verna and "that has made all the difference."
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