Another Lesson

On By scottpetersenIn Augustana College, Be PreparedLeave a comment

It was September. Second or third week of my Freshman year. Dr. Erickson was teaching a course in political science. I had been slouched in my chair, probably doodling and not paying much attention to the class. Suddenly, I heard my name “Mister Petersen.”  It was Dr. Erickson asking me to answer a question. With considerable ease, I looked up and offered “I’m not prepared” and I went back to whatever it was I was doing.

Dr. Erickson padded over and stood by my seat. “Stand up,” he said. I looked up. “Stand up,” he repeated. So I stood up.

“Mister Petersen, so you’re not prepared?  Well, let me tell you – if you’re not prepared to answer a simple question, you will probably not be prepared to answer the tough ones. You’re not prepared today so I would bet, Mister Petersen, that you will not be prepared tomorrow either.  Perhaps you don’t care.  And if that’s the case, I feel sorry for you.”

The sweat began trickling down my neck. And he went on.

“Mister Petersen, you have two choices in life. To try and be prepared for what needs to be done. Or not.“

Dr. Erickson finished his comments and from that day forward, I was never again unprepared for his class.   I was generally quick to raise my hand and I was usually ready with an answer.  Others in the class had learned a lesson that day too (at my expense).  I ended up getting a “C” in the class and I took four more courses from Dr. Erickson (A’s and B’s).  Poly Sci became my major and he was my faculty advisor.  No – I didn’t whine because he badgered me.  I was truly grateful for the lesson.   More kids should have such lessons. No downside. . . . .

A 6th Grade Lesson

On By scottpetersenIn A 6th Grade LessonLeave a comment

 (A repeat from November 23, 2011)  We’ve all had lessons in life. I’ve had my share. On April 2, 2007, I presented a paper to the Chicago Literary Club on 5 lessons that touched my life.  A big one occurred in 6th grade.

One afternoon between classes, I saw Tim H in the hall. In a show of 6th grade bravado, I grabbed him and pushed him bodily into the girls’ bathroom. And I held the door closed – chortling – while screams of girls and cries from Tim resounded down the hall. What happened next occurred in a kind of slow motion though I’m sure it took place in a flash. I felt a hand on my shoulder which spun me around. Suddenly a bright light exploded on the side of my face. My teacher, Mrs. S, had slapped me. Hard. “Don’t you ever do that again.” Tim escaped. I wobbled back to the classroom. When I got home, my mother was there – arms akimbo. She knew. . . . Instead of hugging me and spitting about the mean teacher, my mother simply commented that she hoped I’d learned my lesson. I had.

I learned a lesson. It was epiphenal. I learned that there were lines that were not to be crossed. In today’s world, Mrs. S would’ve been summarily fired, the school system would be sued by some money-grubbing plaintiff’s lawyer and there would’ve been nasty articles expressing righteous outrage.

I believe our educational system [maybe our political system?] needs options for teaching lessons (even like this one) — without the consequence. After all, who wins? I sure did. . . . .

The Parrot

On By scottpetersenIn The ParrotLeave a comment

A man was looking for a present to buy his elderly mother. What to get he thought. An idea came to him. His mother had lived alone for years.  Maybe a pet?  Not a dog or cat – too much work.  So he went to the pet shop.

The owner said “I’ve got just the thing. I have a parrot. Smart as a whip. Speaks seven languages. Friendly.   She can talk to him.  Great companion.  Bird likes to watch television too.”   The owner named a hefty price.

The man grimaced but said “I’ll take him.”  He had the pet store deliver the parrot to his mother.  And he called her the following week. 

“Hi Mom!  Hey how do you like the parrot I sent you?”

“He was delicious,” the mother said.

“WHAT!  Don’t tell me you ate him!” 

“Of course I did.” 

“Mom – that parrot was supposed to be a pet!  He spoke seven languages.”

“Well he should have said something.”

I’ve been working on the railroad

On By scottpetersenIn Rock Island Railroad1 Comment

[A summer repeat from May 15, 2014] In 1845, the Chicago Rock Island Railroad began with a charter penned in the City of Rock Island, Illinois. For 130 years, the Rock Island Line hummed and drummed across the landscape of America. Until 1975 when a federal judge in Chicago ordered the famed railroad into bankruptcy. On December 10, 1977, a one day auction was held in the old LaSalle Street Station in Chicago. Tables, chairs, paintings, rolling stock and office supplies were sold off from the old railroad. And there were several hundred “tote” boxes full of archives of the railroad. All were filthy dirty and all were sealed. Any bid was on the contents. Sight unseen. The local news touted that perhaps the boxes contained a letter of Abraham Lincoln or Stephen Douglas – both of whom worked for the railroad. I was drawn – like a moth to flame – and I bought 45 boxes of “stuff” at $3.50 a box. I crammed the boxes into the trunk and interior of our Plymouth Valiant. And drove home. Donna thought I was nuts. Until I opened the boxes. . . .

There were hundreds of letters of U.S. Congressmen, Senators, Vice Presidents of the U.S., members of the U.S. Supreme Court, Chicago mayors. There were Aldermen like “Bathhouse John” Coughlin and “Hinky Dink” Kenna. Original letters of Clarence Darrow. It was a trove of significant value. And I ended up selling most of the material to the University of Iowa. For many times what I paid for it. It was then I went on a three year quest – to acquire the rest of the defunct railroad’s archives.

After scores (hundreds?) of phone calls over three years, the squeaky wheel got the oil. A gusher. I was told the rest of the Rock Island Railroad archives were housed in a 10 story, 100,000 square foot building at Polk & LaSalle. No one had been in the building for several  years. “I’ll buy it” I said. And did. I bought the entire contents of the building for $500. They handed me the keys and it was mine. The only hitch — I had to get it out in 4 weeks. I made some calls and within a few hours I had the contents sold – to the Universities of Iowa and Oklahoma (Norman). Iowa had first choice and Oklahoma got the remainder. I walked alone through the 10 floors. File cabinets. Boxes of files. Empty desks. Coffee cups ringed with dried coffee. A mausoleum. Over the next few weeks, I orchestrated eight 48 foot over-the-road tractor trailers. Loading up the goodies. I looked back, walked out and locked the door.

I still have a few things from the RI. A ceremonial spike. A slice of track. Oh – and yes – a few old letters. In 1998, I delivered a paper to the Chicago Literary Club. Telling the whole story. It’s online at http://chilit.org  The Rock Island Line. Was a mighty fine line. And it was sure good to me.

Quinto Lingo

On By scottpetersenIn Esperanto, Quinto LingoLeave a comment

My father’s family was Danish and my mother’s family Swedish. I heard bits of both languages as a kid. Our family had a small business where most people spoke Spanish. A few Polish. At Augustana College, I honed my Swedish with two year-long courses. A Cypriot classmate – John G. – taught me some Greek. But what tipped the bucket was my subscription to Quinto Lingo.

In 1964, Rodale Press began publishing Quinto Lingo – a term in Esperanto meaning “fifth language.” The monthly magazine featured articles in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and a host of other languages. I spent more time with Quinto Lingo than I did my class studies. A few years later, I had courses in German, French and Japanese (all in one year). There were a few years of Mandarin. My Russian, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Italian and Swahili are somewhat limited. But I can still serenade my granddaughters in Spanish, Japanese, Hebrew and Lakota Sioux dialect. Can you tell? I enjoy languages. Before I retired, I would practice with and learn from cab drivers. . . .

But Esperanto? Zip. Nada. Esperanto was a language created in 1887 by Polish ophthalmologist L.L. Zamenhof. His objective — to break down cultural barriers and foster international peace. Despite not being adopted as any country’s national language, there are still a million or two Esperanto-speakers. And you can sign up for lessons on Duolingo or join an Esperanto society or club. Maybe one of these days . . . .

ROMEO

On By scottpetersenIn Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together, Retired Old Men Eating Out, ROMEO2 Comments

According to a 2024 advisory by then United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Americans are facing an epidemic of loneliness and social isolation. And it seems to be getting worse. The absence of social interaction for individuals creates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Additionally, social isolation also leads to societal dysfunctions “in our schools, workplaces, and civic organizations, where performance, productivity, and engagement are diminished.”  Statistically approximately 50% of adults feel they do not have a desired level of social interaction. This decline is also spilling down to young people as well. . . .

Some years ago, an old friend of mine mentioned that he got together every few weeks with some old(er) guys to have lunch. They called their group the “Romeo’s.” The term “ROMEO” was an acronym for “Retired Old Men Eating Out.” Women tend to have more social interactions than men. For them the notion of “JULIET” has been an ongoing activity. Oh . . . and “JULIET”? That stands for “Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together.”

Everyone needs a Romeo. . . or Juliet. More than ever it seems. . . .

Man Cave

On By scottpetersenIn Henry SelingerLeave a comment

[A repeat from October 6, 2021] My home was built in 1938 by a man named Henry Selinger. Henry was a violinist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a music director for WGN-Radio. Shortly after moving in, he built a room over the garage in which to play and practice the violin. The room is all pine and acoustically perfect. When the Selingers moved out, the Weiss family moved in. And then around 1987 – the Petersens.

The room over the garage was originally a rehearsal room for Mr. Selinger. It later became a bedroom for a young boy. This young lad had a BB gun and if you look carefully at the walls and ceiling, you can see it is dotted with BB’s. All over.

The room became my office, my safe house, refuge. . . . my man cave. There is a door to an small outdoor porch (which I rarely use) and a bees’ nest in one corner above the boards. I leave them alone and they leave me alone. I have left the BB’s as they are (they add character), as well as a University of Michigan “M” decal on the window which adjoins an American flag. And then in the corner – out of sight of prying parents – there is scratched prominently in the wood “RW + DM.”

I learned that Mr. Selinger also bought and sold violins. At one point he owned at least one Stradivarius and a Guarneri. Thus – when I am noodling on my guitar, I sometimes think that Stradivarius and Guarneri also sang in this room. Ahhhh to have been a fly on the wall. . . . .

A Road to Character

On By scottpetersenIn Chicago Lights Tutoring, David Brooks, Martin Luther King, The Road to Character, Walter Lippmann1 Comment

When I was a tutor with Chicago Lights Tutoring, each week I would put a quotation relating to character on a 3″ x 5″ card for my student (many from John Wooden – like those in June 16’s post).   To me, the reading, writing and arithmetic are all important.  But developing character is just as important. 

One of my favorite books is David Brooks wonderful work The Road to Character.  Brooks opens with reference to the end of World War II — a victory of epic proportion.  He observes that our parents and grandparents did not go around telling each other how great they were.  The collective impulse was to warn themselves against pride.  And self-glorification.  But Brooks observes that there has been a shift in ensuing generations.  From a culture of humility to a culture of I am the center of the universe.  Brooks calls it “The Big Me.”  Fame and fortune used to rank low as life’s core ambitions.  Today, those goals have moved to the top.  Yet curiously some people push to censor the teaching of virtue, character and integrity in schools.

Walter Lippmann said that when “good” and “evil” are reduced to “how we feel” about something, then society loses the objective standards necessary for truth and order. Martin Luther King delivered a sermon in 1954 on the topic of “right” and “wrong.” “I’m here to say to you this morning that some things are right and some things are wrong. Eternally so, absolutely so. It’s wrong to hate. It always has been wrong and it always will be wrong! It’s wrong in America, it’s wrong in Germany, it’s wrong in Russia, it’s wrong in China! It was wrong in 2,000 B.C., and it’s wrong in 1954 A.D.” As both men later said – the concepts of right and wrong are woven into the fabric of the universe.

How do you feel about that?

Fort Reno

On By scottpetersenIn Fort Connor, Fort Reno1 Comment

[A repeat from April 23, 2015] In August 1865, the terrible pain of the Civil War was still white hot. Thousands of Confederate soldiers remained in Union prison camps. Cities in the South smoldered in ruin and the dead of both sides — 620,000 of them (2% of America’s population) — were still being buried.   Eight hundred miles west, Chief Red Cloud of the Cheyenne Nation began objecting – with violence – to the incursion of troops along the Bozeman Trail. 

So, in August 1865, two forts were built along the Powder River in Wyoming — Fort Connor and Fort Reno.  To staff these forts, the United States offered some Confederate prisoners the option of swearing allegiance to the United States and then going off to fight the Cheyenne in Wyoming.  Many signed on.  This contingent of newly-minted American soldiers was called “galvanized Yankees.”  They went out to Wyoming, took care of business and came home — to help rebuild the South.  Fort Reno and Fort Connor were abandoned in 1868 and disintegrated.  Fort Connor became a part of the meandering Powder River and Fort Reno was overgrown and disappeared from view. 

In 1969, while I was hoofing around Wyoming, I was in Lysite (population perhaps 20) – along the Powder River – and met with Mr. Skiles — a rancher.  He took me to the site of Old Fort Reno and pointed the way through perhaps a mile of high grass.  I waded through the brush and finally arrived at a place where nothing but a few brick foundations remained.  I pulled out my trusty metal detector and went to work . . . . . After a few hours, I had found some heavily-rusted artifacts:  some nails, a few horse bridle parts and two really neat pieces — the top of a cooking pot and — a perfect axe head formed by one piece of folded steel.  The axe head had been perhaps a foot beneath the surface — in a position where it leaned against the brick foundation.  I’ve got these pieces at home.  One on my desk.  Pretty special to think about those pieces being used by some chaps — 150 years ago.  No one remembers galvanized Yankees or Fort Reno.  But I sure do. 

Reach, Throw, Row, Go!

On By scottpetersenIn Lifesaving Merit Badge, Reach throw row goLeave a comment

[A “good to know” summer repeat of June 7, 2022] In my freshman year of college, I had a job at the Moline YMCA – as a lifeguard for the indoor pool. There was hardly ever anyone there – but they needed a lifeguard and so I took afternoon hours. After class. I was hired as a lifeguard because I had Lifesaving Merit Badge and the American Red Cross Lifeguard certification. In these happy days of spring and summer, it is important to know a few things – about saving lives. . . . .

The one mantra that I learned early and often was “Reach, Throw, Row, Go!” Trying to save someone from drowning does not always require diving into the water. If the person is 3 feet away, Reach for them – with your hand or a stick or rope. And pull them to safety. Or Throw a ring buoy (throw it behind them so you can pull it forward – and snag the person). If the person is far from shore in a lake or river. Choppy water. And you have a rowboat, then hop in the boat – and get out there. Finally – if all other options are exhausted – GO! Jump in the water and swim out. So you don’t get pulled under by flailing arms, go under the water, turn the person around, bump them up to the surface with your hip – and toss an arm over their chest and start moving. Usually the flailing stops. If you Go, ya gotta be careful. A drowning person can grab on to you putting your life at risk. The Red Cross does not encourage the “Go” unless there is no other option.

People who are drowning will have their head down. Or mouth back. Body vertical. Legs not moving. Arms may be flailing but the head my be under water. Struggling to get back up. Watch their head.

Once on shore, if a person is unconscious, there is precious little time. Begin with some quick mouth to mouth resuscitation – to get air into lungs. This may prompt vomiting. If there is no pulse – or a weak one – begin CPR. To learn more – go to https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguarding/lifeguard-training/lifeguard-certification

In short – keep watch. And always be ready. . . . .