Author: scottpetersen

Lawyer, guitar player (the Blues), magic man, chess player, father, grandfather, husband, linguist, etc.

Baseball in Heaven

On By scottpetersenIn Baseball in heavenLeave a comment

[An oldie from April 12, 2012] Two very old men lived together.  They loved baseball.  Each morning they would get the newspaper and read the stories about the day’s games.  They studied the box scores, statistics and players.  In the afternoon, they would watch baseball games on television and occasionally go to the games when their team was in town.  In the evening, they’d talk over dinner about the games, the players and statistics.  And each night, they would dream — dream of baseball.

They knew their days were numbered and so they made a pact.  When one of them died, he would do his best to “come back” to let his friend know if there was baseball in heaven. 

One cold gray morning, one old man did not arise.  He had passed away in the night.  He was buried but his friend carried on.  Reading, studying, watching and dreaming about baseball.  

A few weeks later, the old man got up and shuffled into the kitchen.  Who should be sitting at the kitchen table — his old friend!   “My friend!  How I’ve missed you.  How are y. . . . . wait! Is there baseball in heaven?”    The friend smiled — “I have good news and I have bad news for you.” 

“Well what’s the good news.  Is there baseball in heaven?”  His friend responded “Is there!  I’m on a team with Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.  We played yesterday.”  The old man smiled and said “What’s the bad news?” 

His friend looked at him “You’re pitching tomorrow.” 

Deja vu

On By scottpetersenIn Deja vuLeave a comment

It’s gotta be fifty years ago. I was driving for the first time on Green Bay Road going north toward Highland Park, Illinois. All was going well until. . . . whoa! I had this weird feeling that I had been there – on this road – among these homes – at some point in the past. I looked around. It was a feeling that I had not experienced before. And since then, every time we drive up that way, the same sensation knocks on my door. And as we drive through – it exits. Why? Who knows. . . .

The term “deja vu” was first used in 1876 by Emile Boirac – a French philosopher. His book L’avenir des Sciences Psychiques offered deja vu as a remembrance of a memory. An experience from the past that prompts a feeling of familiarity in the future.

There are numerous theories on what causes deja vu: neurological anomaly, mental disorders, genetics, mild form of epilepsy, certain drug use and the list goes on.

The good news is that more than two thirds of all people experience deja vu. The experience of deja vu is interestingly more common among those who are younger, have higher education, people who travel, watch films and are able to recall dreams. Up until I began researching for this post, I was under the impression that deja vu was just an occasional sensation. It appears that the comments above may be just the tip of the iceberg. . . . .

So this guy. . . .

On By scottpetersenIn So this guyLeave a comment

[A repeat from September 29, 2021] So this guy goes to the doctor.  He’s nervous and fidgeting.  The doctor says “do you smoke?”   The guy responds “yeah – four packs a day.”  The doctor responds “well, if you don’t quit smoking, you’re going to be dead in five years.”  The guy is wiggling in his chair – he says “But Doc – I’m nervous.  I gotta have something to keep me calm.”  The doctor thought for a moment “why don’t you chew toothpicks?” 

So the guy quit smoking and started chewing toothpicks.  Three boxes of toothpicks a day.  He died five years later.  Dutch elm disease. . . .

The value of a handwritten letter

On By scottpetersenIn Handwritten letters, Manuscript SocietyLeave a comment

When I became President of The Manuscript Society (www.manuscript.org) in 2002, I asked the Executive Director to send me a list of all of those individuals and institutions that had not renewed their Society membership. There were about 240. I had stationery made – “The Manuscript Society” with my name as President – my address, phone number and email address. And I began sending letters. Handwritten ones – to every one of the 240 who did not renew. Now mind you – I had a full time job lawyering. And I was verrrry busy. But – for about a month, I stuck around my office for a few extra hours each night to write letters and address envelopes.

My letters were straightforward – like “I understand you haven’t renewed. . . . we miss you. . . . please let me know of any questions. . . . give me a call or send me a note. . . . we’d like you back. . . . yadda yadda. . . .” Well – within a week, responses began to arrive. Most with checks (a few made out to me!). And during the coming weeks, I believe 94 folks renewed their membership. I also received six notes from relatives – advising that the member had passed away. I then bought six sympathy cards and – with a handwritten note – sent them to family members on behalf of the Society. The son of one man who had died responded — with his own check for membership plus a “rounded up” gift to the Society.

I am convinced that handwritten letters can make a difference. Sure – it takes extra time but there is no downside. And who knows what smiles you might bring – or responses that might come in the door.

Patience

On By scottpetersenIn Patience as a virtueLeave a comment

I find I’m becoming more patient. Maybe it’s an age thing. Maybe it’s having grandchildren. Maybe I’m slipping – but I don’t think so. For me, patience often shows up when I’m driving. People want to cross the street and there’s traffic? I let them cross. When a car is trying to exit a side street . . . . I slow and wave them out. The UPS driver or guy in a dump truck or the garbage man – I figure they got work to do and they want to get home to their families. So I wave them out too.

In psychology and cognitive neuroscience, patience is studied as a decision-making issue – involving the choice of either a small reward in the short-term or a more valuable reward in the long term. Is it strictly one’s ability to endure delay, trouble or suffering? Or can it rise to the level of charity when others are involved? That’s over my head. Yet in all religious traditions, patience is deeply-rooted as a virtue.

In Judaism, the Talmud considers patience an important personal trait. “A patient man is better than a warrior.” Micah endures much challenge and yet he says “I will wait for the God who saves me” (Micah 7:7).

In Christianity, patience is a most valuable virtue. “. . . be patient with all. Do not return evil for evil but seek what is good for each other and for all.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15).

In Islam, patience is one of the great virtues “. . . give good news to those who patiently endure. . . ” Surah Al-Baqara 2:155-6.

In Buddhism, patience refers more to not returning harm than to merely enduring a difficult situation. Yet patience is one of the “perfections” of Buddhism that we ought study and practice to realize perfect enlightenment.

In Hinduism, patience is an essential virtue. The word “patience” has several synonyms in the ancient literature of Hinduism. In short, it is the cheerful endurance of trying conditions and a consequence of one’s action and deeds.

In this election season, patience is a virtue that everyone needs. . . . .

Marshall

On By scottpetersenIn Hurricane Helene, Marshall, NCLeave a comment

Marshall, North Carolina is a small town of roughly 700 people in the western part of North Carolina. Hurricane Helene brought this humble town to its knees. Stepped on it. And squashed it. There have been numerous articles and even videos which portray the complete devastation that Marshall has suffered. Spend 3 minutes and watch – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJbyYYh0Dl8 If you don’t have 3 minutes – spend one minute and watch a newscast about the devastation in Marshall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxvISLYCrZc

The reason I write about Marshall is because I have a good friend – a golfing buddy – who has a cabin in Marshall. A few weeks, Jerry and his wife Judi, loaded their car with appliances, clothes and cash and drove down to Marshall – where they spent their days and evenings working with the locals. I told Jerry that I would like to help. To contribute to the efforts of the people in Marshall. After some back and forth, Jerry mentioned that the churches in the area have been heroic – in helping everyone. And he mentioned one church that has been of particular help. It is Freedom Christian Church – 7350 U.S. 25/70 – Marshall, NC 28753 – c/o Pastor Dennis Anderson. Sooooo. . . I sent off a check Priority Mail – which is now being used to help fund an 80 year old widow and her daughter (also a widow) to find accommodation. I will be mailing another check within the week.

In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville published his classic work Democracy in America. He wrote “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.” Please consider this post as a PSA – Public Service Announcement – and not a commercial. If anyone feels like making a contribution, this would be a “good” cause to do so.

Did you shave?

On By scottpetersenIn Did you shave?2 Comments

[A repeat from September 4, 2014] I golf a couple times a week.  If I get up early, I hop in the shower, dry off, and dress in the space of 7 or 8 minutes.  I normally don’t shave unless I have to “go somewhere.”  Last weekend, I went off to play golf.  Donna was up.  She gave me a quizzical look.  “Did you shave?” she asked.  “Nah.  I’m just playing golf.”  “Don’t you think you should shave?”  She asked.   “Nah.  Nobody notices,” I replied.  She gave me another “look” and I made a hasty exit. 

Now I have to say that I have never – never – said to Jim, Bill, Tim or Joe “Psssst . . . did you see Norm?  He didn’t shave this morning.”   I have never observed that one of my brethren had not taken Barbasol and Schick to face.  Frankly, I probably wouldn’t notice if a guy hadn’t shaved unless he started to look like Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.  “Hey Mark – did you shave this morning?”  “Scott – I haven’t shaved in six months.”  Golly I never noticed.   I’m not sure what the big deal is about shaving.  But whenever we go anywhere, I inevitably get the question “did you shave?”  Most of the time, I come up with the right answer.       

In my house, I make all of the big important decisions. Donna makes all of the piddly ones. However Donna is the one who decides what decisions are “big” and which are “piddly.”   Shaving, it seems, is one that borders on piddly . . . .

The cool side of the pillow

On By scottpetersenIn The cool side of the pillowLeave a comment

On January 16, 2020, I offered some thoughts on how I try to go back to sleep when I wake up at 3:00 in the morning (unclench hands, deep breathing, the lazy face and don’t bend the ears). On June 16, 2021, I added another dimension that – over the years – I have found very helpful in getting back to sleep. Phosphenes. The little electrical picture show that the eyes see when the world is dark. It was once called the “prisoner’s cinema” given that in solitary confinement, phosphenes would still be present. Blind people will sometimes rub their eyes to stimulate phosphenes.

Let me toss another idea into the ring — the cool side of the pillow. When I wake up in the middle of the night, my pillow is warm. And somewhat collapsed. And so, I will often reach back – give the pillow a fluff – and drop it down with a different (and cool) side. Ahhhhhh. . . . .

I frankly thought that my idea – “the cool side of the pillow” – was unique. That I was amazingly perceptive. Wise. Learned. Sagacious. And that in the history of the world, no one had ever come up with this idea – much less the term. Sorry Socrates. . . . . I Googled the expression and learned that many others have palavered about the “cool side of the pillow.” There’s even a song of this title by Kyle Dion.

Just call me Solomon

On By scottpetersenIn Happy Socks, Just Call me SolomonLeave a comment

[A repeat from December 21, 2017] In my post of April 2, 2017, I discussed the gift of colorful and quirky “Happy Socks” that my granddaughters gave me last Christmas.  I have more than a dozen pair and I now wear them every day.  But as in all cases, the past is prologue. . . .   

My granddaughters had a sleepover at our house earlier this week.  Next morning, I got dressed and called out the door offering Eve and Elin the option of selecting the Happy Socks that I would wear to work.  The two of them (ages 3 and 6) bolted in, pulled open my sock drawer and began perusing the choices.  Each held up a different pair.  And insisted that I wear “their” pair.  I asked that they confer (something the U.S. Congress doesn’t do very well) to come up with one pair that I ought wear.  No deal.  Each wanted me to wear “their” pair. . . . .

Please understand that I am not as dumb as I look.  So we reached a compromise.  For the first time in my life — I agreed to wear two highly different colorful socks to work.   My granddaughters looked at each other and grinned like – he really is as dumb as he looks.  And squealed.  Each peeled off one sock and handed it to me.  I sat down and put them on.   The good news is that I told no one else about my wardrobe issue.  No one looked at my feet.  And no one (that I could tell) noticed during the day.  I arrived home unscathed from my Solomonic decision.   That said – I tossed the two socks down the laundry chute for washing.  And I will await their delivery — to reunite them with their rightful partner. . . . .   

Scott – Give me two dollars

On By scottpetersenIn The Lottery1 Comment

It was probably early 1994. My secretary came into my office and asked me for two dollars. “What’s this for?” I said – reaching in my pocket for some bills. “We’re playing the lottery!” she said. I’d never done that but – trying to be a good guy – I gave her two bucks. The next week it was the same thing “Scott – give me two dollars.” And I did. Every week for more than a year.

It was 7:50 a.m. on July 13, 1995. I was in my office – talking on the phone with Tom L – a lawyer in Huntsville, Texas. I sat with my feet on my desk – talking with Tom about a case. Suddenly two secretaries stood at my door – laughing and squealing. “Hang up the phone,” they said. I thought – this is unusual – and said “Tom – can you hold on a minute.” I put him on hold and asked “what’s going on?” They replied “have you heard?” I said “heard what?” And they laughed “YOU WON THE LOTTERY!!” And I started to hear yelling down the hall. After ending my conversation with Tom, I learned that our lottery group – 14 of us (2 attorneys and 12 secretaries) – had won the Illinois State Lottery – all 6 numbers – to the tune of $4.4 million. Divided 14 ways – and payable over the course of 20 years. It was still a nice chunk (you can do the math) and fortunately it wasn’t enough that anyone retired.

Some weeks later, lottery people came to our office and presented our group with a massive cardboard “check” for $4.4 million. It was billed as the “highest lottery payout” in history. The reason? Our office was on the 85th floor of Sears Tower. . . . .