Columns
In These Otsego Hills: Events not to be repeated
At the end of each year
we tend to become somewhat
reflective about the
previous twelve months,
making note of those events
which we hope to see repeated
in the year ahead.
This year, however, we are
making note of those 2009
events which we hope to
not see repeated in 2010.
For example, we would
prefer that 2010 present us
with better weather. To say
that the weather in 2009
was not to our liking would
be an understatement. In
fact, for whatever bizarre
reason, we think November’s
weather was the best
of the year. And that would
seem to be a sad state of affairs.
We also hope that 2010
does not find us in complete
melt down when it come to
writing this column. In
2009 we missed penning a
piece for six weeks, namely
May 13, 21and 28 as well
as June 4, 11 and 18. And
we have to say we can’t decide
who missed the column
the most, our readers who
missed reading it or us who
missed writing it. We have
great hopes that we will be
better able to stay on top of
things in 2010. And, of
course, we are indeed upset
with ourselves in that by
not writing the column for
six weeks, we ruined an extremely
long record of not
missing a week in more
years than we care to admit.
And we sincerely hope
that we do not lose so many
dear friends in 2010 as we
did in 2009. Our life is poorer
for having lost Donny
Reed, Dorothy Chase and
Bill Hermann. We will find
it hard to ever replace much
of the carpeting in our
home. We will miss the
weekly lunches. And we
will most certainly miss the
e-mails and not, we might
add, just the ones with all
the jokes that we can’t
share in this column.
We will also miss the
ones with bits of history
such as the one we came
across when cleaning up
our inbox. In talking about
the expression ``Go Fly a
Kite,’’ it read, in part, ``The
origin of this expression is
believed to have originated
with the people trying to
construct a bridge across
the river at Niagara Falls
where the current is very
swift and dangerous. Issue
— How to get a cable across
that river. One man figured
out how. He thought, if you
could get a string across, a
rope then a cable could follow.
So he flew a kite across
the river! It worked!! Then
followed the expression.
``How do you get a cable
across Niagara Falls? Go
fly a kite!’’
Also on our list is an inpatient
stay at Bassett and
finding ourselves unable to
drive because of a drop foot.
Both of these items are definitely
on our never to do
again list as is not having
water flowing through our
basement in a matter akin
to Niagara Falls.
We would also like to
spend less time wondering
what all the various posts
on Facebook really mean.
We spent much too much
time musing about the one
which read: ``On my way to
the Phillies Game last night
(which they lost!), I was behind
a 12’ box truck from
Delilah’s Gentlemans’ Club.
Why does a strip club need
a truck? And we also hope,
as we peruse Facebook, to
be able to ignore what we
consider to be slaps against
something near and dear to
us, such as Upper Pioneer
Street.
But, the 2009 event
which we most hope we will
not repeat in 2010 was
turning the unthinkable
age of 62. For some reason
62 really bothered us. It
seemed as if we were now
older than dirt which we
must suppose is not terribly
comforting to those 63
and over. We can not ever
remember dreading a birthday
more. It simply did not
seem possible as we still
think of ourselves as being
youthful, if not childish by
spells. Mentally we are
stuck at 29, an illusion
which we must admit evaporates
when we move. Unfortunately,
we can no longer
convince ourselves that
we are physically 29, or
even 39, 49 or 59. When it
comes to moving, we think
we are probably closer to
109. It is indeed a dichotomy.
And it is a dichotomy
that we suspect we will, unfortunately,
continue to encounter
in 2010
In closing, as we head
full speed into the new
year, we would like to
share, as our quote of the
week, something we received
in an e-mail this past
year from a dear friend. It
is something which we most
definitely wish to carry over
into 2010. Unfortunately,
we do not know the author
who wrote: ``May today
there be peace within. May
you trust that you are exactly
where you are meant
to be. May you not forget
the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith in
yourself and others. May
you use the gifts that you
have received, and pass on
the love that has been given
to you. May you be content
with yourself just the way
you are. Let this knowledge
settle into your bones, and
allow your soul the freedom
to sing, dance, praise and
love. It is there for each and
every one of us.’’ As we head
into 2010, we thank the author
for writing and our
friend for sharing this
week’s quote.
PLEASE NOTE: Comments
regarding this column
may be made by mail
at 105 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown,
NY 13326, by
telephone at 607-547-8124
or by e-mail at
cellsworth1@stny.rr.com.
- Columns
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
(I owe the first part of this column to an informal writers’ workshop sponsored by the Smithy Pioneer Gallery. The small group, led by Gallery Director Danielle Newell, meets Sunday afternoons and is open to anyone interested in the writing craft. As a warmup exercise on that very rainy afternoon, we each wrote a few paragraphs on the weather and emotions. Here’s what that keen group prompted me to scribble down) The dour old Scotsman, the one featured in jokes without number about buying lottery tickets, pinching pennies, scorning worldly ways, etc., once silenced a friend who was praising the beautiful weather.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: We're back from Michigan ...
Unfortunately, we once again find ourselves stuck in a time warp. When we look at the calendar, we realize that Labor Day is fast approaching. Yet, we seem to be operating under the misconception that it is still early July due in large part to the fact that we spent the almost five weeks from July 15 to August 17 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We feel the summer has sailed by and we, unfortunately, have not kept pace.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Censorship?
All those indebted to John Lawrence, Post-rider, and do not settle the same IMMEDIATELY may rely upon having to pay cost!! Otego, Aug. 24.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: 1984 comes to a close ... finally
As we continue traipsing through 1984, we realize that even though we were supposed to be covering the comings and goings of Cooperstown, we actually were able, even then, to touch on a number of pressing community, as well as personal, issues. Of course, much to the relief of the powers that were at CCS, the school was not among them. The he-we ran for the school board in 1984 and was elected. Thus the school was deemed off limits by the powers that were at the paper. But we discovered there was still a wide range of issues upon which we could write.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: New school book
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, Aug. 18, 1810
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Books offer tennis insights
Professional tennis sometimes seems to be the ultimate life. Where else could you travel the world, earn gobs of money, get in great shape, and have groupies from the opposite sex chasing you all the time? And you get all your equipment free to boot (which may explain why players smash racquets without remorse). Quite a glamorous life, isn’t it?
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Continuing our 1984 musings
Now that we have undertaken the beginnings of this column, we fear we find ourselves unable to stop our review of the early writings. In fact, we seem to be completely addicted to the project. And thus, we will continue to explore the very foundations on which this column has been built.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Burnett's book recalls 'Golden Age'
It’s a shame that today’s young generation missed the golden age of television from the 1960s and 70s. The fact that Hollywood studios with their ``original’’ ideas of constantly remaking hit TV shows from that era into new movies and reunion specials is quite telling. Even Fox with its ``That 70’s Show’’ is a reminder of that whimsical time.
Continued ... -
Home Notes: A place to cherish
As we enter into the middle of summer, let us pause and relish in the fact that we have been blessed with such lovely weather.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Hurray for Mother Bassett!
Just back from my annual week at Lake George’s Silver Bay, in company with about 600 other Quakers. As always, it was a great time: Friends shared silence in the early morning by the lake and during the day in the big brown-shingled tabernacle. (Silver Bay is an old YMCA camp.)
Continued ...
Plenty of fine stringed music and singing in the evenings; lots of daytime rocking-chair stints on the deep veranda, facing across rolling lawns and lake to green mountains and skies of startling blue. -
In These Otsego Hills: In the beginning
Our remembering Jerry in last week’s column has now lead us to muse about our early days of writing a weekly newspaper column.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Prohibition should not be ignored
I was an American history major in college and one topic that my professors never discussed was prohibition.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Elopement
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 21, 1810 Compiled, with comments BY HUGH C. MACDOUGALL
Continued ... -
Home Notes: Personal Care is a rewarding occupation
When I was a young girl in the early 50’s my family would often take rides through Cooperstown and the Cherry Valley area.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Remembering Jerry ...
Difficult as it is to believe, we have been a widow for eleven years this week. And yet it seems as if our late husband Jerry just died yesterday. The memory of it remains most vivid in our mind. We suppose there is much that we don’t remember about July 20, 1999. But we do remember just how much that day changed our life forever. We lost not only our spouse of 28 years, but also our best friend.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Celebrating the 4th
From the Otsego Herald for Saturday, July 14, 1810 Compiled, with comments by
Continued ... -
Our Opinion: What’s good for the goose...
The board of trustees has decided to hire an engineer to review the work of CLA Site, the firm hired to do the site assessment and design work for the Village Gateway Project _ now known as the Cooperstown Intermodal Transit Project. That review will cost up to $12,000.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: ‘Thump-thump, dum-lum’
Since I last wrote to you I’ve been several times embraced to Mother Bassett’s bosom.
Continued ...
(Oh dear, I hope that’s not a disrespectful metaphor. But if you’ve seen photos, you know she was a handsome, dignified woman with an ample superstructure.) This time, for variety, the hospital visits at first seemed to have little to do with Parkinsonism. But a new problem had turned up that had me tested in every part of the hospital except obstetrics. -
In These Otsego Hills: Travels with The Widge...
We have decided that the role of grandmother is quite to our liking. As we have been told any number of times, as a grandparent it is perfectly acceptable to hold, play with and fawn over the grandchild until such time as said grandchild becomes fussy. And then, and this is the best part, it is completely within the purview of the grandparent to return the fussy grandchild to the parents. We love it.
Continued ... -
Otsego Herald: Shocking accident, American arrested
On Wednesday last, as Joseph Faulkner, esq. of Middlefield, was returning home from Cherry-Valley, a gust of wind arose up suddenly, a large Elm was blown across the road, directly on Mr. Faulkner, who, together with his horse was instantly killed.
Continued ...
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From Fly Creek: Passing fronts and settled weather
