The World of Grandpa Don  

Stop! Did you read the Thought and the Prayer for this week?  If not, may I suggest that you scroll back up and take a look? OK, now that you have done that, lets go on ...

Last Friday afternoon I was having one of those "Top of the World" days, feeling exceptionally happy and content ... yes, even more so than usual. After feeding Mikey and taking my shower I settled in to do some reading. My subject was an article from the latest National Geographic Magazine about a water conservation project in a section of India which gets no rain for most of the year, then a short duration of sometimes heavy rain and sometimes little when the unpredictable monsoons arrive ... if they do. Many years ago, when people first moved in this particular valley it was fertile and green with forested hills surrounding it. However as the people farmed and cut the trees for fuel, the hills became barren and when the rains did come the water rushed down to the river and on to the sea. The people dug individual wells, first to 30' and finally as the water table dropped, as deep as 400' feet, now using electric pumps and still they dried up. Each farmer, on his own, was helpless. A complete change in their methods and in their social lives was mandated. They were convinced by the water conservation program officials that they needed to cooperate, not only the landowners but the lower casts among them. The non-landowners were hired to work with the landowners who donated some of their time to dig ditches and terraces on the hills to stop the water from flowing down to the river. Trees were planted and cutting them was prohibited. When the rains did come, the water soaked into the ground and the water table was restored. Now instead of mere survival farming, the farmers are harvesting cash crops and selling the surpluses in nearby villages. Cooperation. Sharing. These are the key words in God's creation. Many of us city folk sneer at the need for conservation. We simply consume. Why not ... aren't we consumers? Isn't that what our economy is all about? Isn't it our duty to buy and use as much as we can to grow the economy? Aren't we to do that as long as our credit will hold up and we can borrow even more money to get as much as we can so we are happy (more makes us happy ... doesn't it?) and the economy will grow even more. One of the very important things in our lives is our credit rating. The president of the company I worked for told me that "The difference between a rich man and a poor man is that the rich man can borrow more." Well folks, guess what! We are cutting down all the trees on our hillside to fuel our misguided wants. The water is running to the sea where it only benefits the fish and ... we aren't fish. The only person who benefits in the long run when we borrow is the lender. He gets rich. Unless we are prudent, we get behind the eight ball. When we dig a deeper well to get more water, our neighbor's well goes dry, and he has no choice than to dig an even deeper well until all the water is gone and we both die of thirst.

What happened in our current financial situation is that greedy lenders tried to cut more trees when there were no more trees to be cut. They lent money to people who had no way to pay them back and got caught in their own greed.  The laws of supply and demand went into effect when the supply of homes exceeded the demand of those who could afford them. And yet, I keep hearing that to "fix" the economy, we need to re-establish the flow of credit. To my way of thinking what we need to do is reinvent prudent living. Of course that will hurt the producers of unneeded products, which in turn will have a negative effect on those they employ. Maybe there is no permanent fix. The "economy" seems to be like those unpredictable monsoon rains, sometimes torrential, sometimes like a mist and at other times, dry. It is indeed, a puzzlement. However, I also tend to think that trying to control the economy is much like trying to control those monsoon rains , ...  impossible. It has a nature of its own and government, or any other intervention will not control the laws of nature. Our only hope is to cooperate with each other, help each other and try to plant more trees of common sense.  We must learn that selfishness, especially to the point of greed, upsets the balance of things. Cooperation and love, restores things. Jesus may have come to earth to teach us to get to heaven but He also was telling us how to survive right here on earth. When will we listen?

I was out early on Saturday. It was Halloween and I had no candy in the house. I needed food also and because of the heavy rains the past two days I had not gone to the store. As I checked out, the bagger said the obligatory, "Thanks for shopping at Jewel." I replied, as I often do, "Thanks for being here to help me", and he responded with, "Thanks for keeping me employed", to which I responded, "Thanks for being employed and paying into Social Security so I have money to shop here".  You see, it is an unending circle. We tend to think of our jobs as only a means to feed ourselves and yet we feed, in one way or another, many others just by doing what we are put here to do. We are meant to be productive. See what Kahlil Gibran says of Work in his book, The Prophet.

 

God will not deny mercy to anyone. ~ St. Faustina Kowalska .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

... Multiple times ...
First to my eldest son, Dan. May he live long and prosper taking pride in his family and accomplishments. He followed me in my profession and has exceeded my accomplishments, the ultimate pride of a father.
Next is Dan's daughter Kelsey, now in her freshman year at Elmhurst College, showing promise of  success through her abilities and constant striving for the best.
Next is Ana, Dan's youngest, still in high school but obviously on her way to success. She will do well.
And then there is Harry Lawler, Anne's brother, retired in Florida and enjoying the benefits of a productive life.
We continue to Joe, youngest son of my daughter, Anne Marie. He is in his preparing for his future at Robert Morris University of Illinois and gaining in age and wisdom. He also will do well.
And finally, to conclude the birthdays of this week, we have that of Janice (Rutzen) Webb,  my niece and daughter of my deceased sister Jean Copeland.
So, we wish a happy birthday to them all. May they all live long and prosper.

Saturday Dan invited me to join him and Nick at Rocco's for his birthday dinner. Karen and Ana went with her sisters and mom to visit Kelsey at school for the weekend, a "girls holiday". At Rocco's the three of us had the soup special, portabella mushroom and cheese ... wonderful. I followed that with the delectable sausage & peppers and took home at least half for during the week. It was served with a side of pasta which I just sampled, maintaining the meal as a low carb treat. After dinner, nick departed for an evening with friends and Dan came to visit for a while and to watch a bit of the World Series ball game. It was a delightful evening.

Mikey forgot to set his clock back Sunday night so he had me up early Sunday morning. That was OK as I had a more leisurely morning before going to church. Before mass started I had a visit from Bella and her father and after mass I joined them and Sarah on the way out. Bella is very comfortable walking now and wants to roam all over, enjoying her new mobility - her first experience of near independence, or should I say, presumed independence. Now she must also learn that there are limitations to independence and later on become aware that there are inherent responsibilities.

At church we celebrated the saints. The Catholic Church has often been criticized for proclaiming some as being saints. I think Fr Aurtur said it well when he said it is kind of a "Hall of Fame", honoring those who have done exceptionally well in the following of Christ in this world and recognizing heroes to whom we can look as role models. We didn't "make them saints" we only recognize the fact that they fit the description of a saint and assume that they are now in Heaven enjoying the fruits of their sainthood. We also assume that, having been close to God during their lives, they are even closer to God now and we ask them to pray for us (intercede for us) in our needs. I think, however that we put sainthood beyond our own reach by looking at it as something to be granted after death to exceptional people.. Too often we hearing people say, "I'm no saint", not in modesty, but almost as a boast, declaring, in effect, "I am a regular person just like everyone else" as if sainthood is beyond our reach here on earth. We don't even try! It is somewhat akin to the person born in poverty who turns to crime in the belief that there is no way he can become a productive citizen. We continue our sinful ways because we do not realize that sin can be overcome and that we can attain, at least a degree of sainthood, and be happily in doing so. But I go back to the idea that Jesus came to teach us, not how to attain Heaven, because Heaven is a gift, beyond our ability to be earned, but how to live here on earth. To refuse to live as He taught is to refuse the gift of God, and to refuse His gifts on earth is to reject Him and His Kingdom. I am convinced that there is a Hell, which is a state of being separated from God, Heaven, and anything good, and that the only people existing there, I can not call it "living", are those who have rejected God and His ways. I had the audacity and bad taste to mention "sin" and so I feel compelled to offer a definition of the term. For that I refer you to Mathew 25: 31- 46 . That is the passage of the Bible that tells us what will allow us into Heaven and what what will keep us out. The rest of the "sins", the ones defined by the ten commandments, will not be important or not even happen if we live according to Mathew 25: 31- 46  .Amen. This I believe. It is a struggle and it is not easy, but I will try to be a saint.

Having said that, you will not find me as a hermit in a cave someplace or always in church and in constant prayer.  I will not be somber-faced and devoid of humor. I will not turn away from the form of a beautiful woman, one of the greatest creations of God. (Even Anne told me I could look, but not touch.) I expect to enjoy the fruits of this earth but not covet them as the ultimate reward. They are but the promise of joy to come. What that promise actually entails is beyond my imagination and that makes it worth the effort to try to be a saint, as defined above, while I am here in this world. And yes, a saint is not a superior being, not better than everyone else. According to Christ, a saint is to be servant of all, willing to help and comfort as the occasion and need arises and be open to being helped and comforted as well. Saints are people gone right. Striving to be one is worth the effort and very rewarding ... in this world and especially the next. And yes, even saints, being human, make mistakes, sometimes mistakes that hurt people. Our faith and hope is that forgiveness is there for us.

 

"We must become the change  we wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) .

Sunday was made complete with a visit to my daughter's and benefiting form the grilling talent of my son-in-law Dominick. He cooked up a bunch of steaks that were exceptional. Of course he started with T bones that were top of the line. Mine was perfect but I was able to consume only 1/3 of it. The remaining will provide a couple more meals during the week. After I left, Anne Marie emailed some photos of Bella's first Halloween. I present "Bella the Elephant" on her first Halloween.

Anne Marie didn't send photos of two of her sons, costumed for Halloween, Joe, as Clark Kent and Mark as a surgeon, both very believable.

Mikey had his clock reset by Monday morning and I was awake before him just enjoying a bit of laziness. It was about 7 when my little friend announced with a polite little whine that it was time to start the day. And so we did. Between taking my meds and the mandatory wait before breakfast I checked my new email and as usual (now) took my daily 3 Minute Retreat. It fits right in with my soap box discourse above. I am amazed at times how the themes of each week on these pages come together, often with a common thread arriving from various unconnected sources. In this case the subject of the 3 Minute Retreat, complements and reinforces the thoughts that entered my mind. It supports the notion that I am on the right path ... and I need that reassurance occasionally, ... hell, ... I need all the support I can get.

I had rummaged around in my Family Tree program and found myself at the family of my younger siblings ... our father's side ... and in particular, their mother's family. Her name was Sue Palinchik and I had almost no information about her. I have asked about her family but the Copland's told me they knew very little about them. OK, she is not related to me by blood, or more accurately, by DNA, but as far as I am concerned, she is family ... the mother of my brother and sisters. She is one of the people who have touched my life, albeit indirectly, through her children, and that touch has left me better for it. In any case, there was a lack of knowledge about her genealogy and that needed attention. I had looked before but had not found her parents or anyone else I could connect to her. There was a 1930 census record of a Mike Palinchik and his family and it listed him as being born in Czecoslovakia. My sisters had told me that Sue's parents were from Czechoslovakia. I knew that was true because I had sampled their Kolache. So I dug deeper until I found (through a "Soundex" listing), a 1920 census report of a 16 year old Susan Polyncheck, with her family living in Hocking, Ohio. (Southern Ohio) They were listed however as originally from Hungry but their native language was listed as Slovak. Knowing that Eastern European borders were shifting drastically in the late 1800's and early 1900's and that census takers didn't always get those foreign sounding name right, I sent copies of both census listings to Marilyn Copeland. Maybe she would recognize some of the names as aunts, uncles or cousins. Or, was I grasping at straws, as I am wont to do. Her reply:

You are definitely not grasping at straws on this one.  It is my mother's family.   The spelling matches if you sound out the name.  My grandparents could not read or write English, so this is how it must have sounded to the person taking the Census.  The person that transcribed my the ship's records from when my grandfather came to this country took the name to read as Talinchik.  My mother's family spelled the name Palinchik or Palinchick, depending on the family member. How did you ever find this???  

My grandfather's name before he came here was Andrus ... he changed it to Andrew or Andy; my grandmother's name was Maria ... she changed to Mary when she came here.   My grandfather arrived here on December 20, 1900.  I'm still looking for when my grandmother arrived ... it must have been soon after, probably in 1901, but I haven't found that information yet.   As far as their country of origin at the time my grandfather came here, Slovakia was part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire.  Most people that came over listed their homeland as Hungry. 

I believe my grandparents lived in Kohay, Hungary just before they came here. That village name could have changed since that time, I know that the names of the villages that they were both born have changed. At the time of the 1930 Census, the country must have been changed to Czechoslovakia so that is what my Uncle Mick (Michael/Mike) listed.   

Missing from the 1920 were may mother's older siblings: Mary who married around 1914, Mick who was married around 1919 and Anna who was 2 years older than mother, I'm not sure the year she married.  

My mother and her family did live in Hocking County.  My grandfather worked in a coal mine.  They lived in Murray City, Ohio and in the Catholic Church my grandfather's name is listed on plate connected to a pew.  Evidently, families has their own pews, back during that time. It was there in the 1980's ... if the church is still there, I'm sure the name is still there.  I'm not sure when my mother's family moved to the Cleveland area, obviously between 1920 and 1930.  

I have my Uncle Mick's birthday listed as October 4, 1899, this does not match the Census record.  He did marry Anna Brinza.  My Aunt Julia married an Andrew Brinza, I'm not sure if they were related.   When my mother was applying for a passport, she was unable to find her birth record (they used her baptism record instead).  Who knows how the last name was spelled then!!   

Thank you so much for sending this information to me!  You are really getting me back into genealogy.  I never really gave it up, but slowed down a lot ... you are getting me all excited again.   When I did my earlier research, everything took so much time to get answers in through the mail, to try to find information in books, etc., not to mention how much I spent on postage! There is so much information now online.

The photo of the original page from the 1920 Census is of poor quality and is very difficult to read. As far as I could make out, it states that Andy arrived in the US in 1899 and Mary in 1900. They both obtained citizenship in 1910. However, searching further I found this:

1910 United States Federal Census
about Andy Paleneik
Name: Andy Paleneik
[Andy Palencik]
Age in 1910: 40
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Hungary
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Hungary
Mother's Birth Place: Hungary
Spouse's Name: Mary
Home in 1910: Ward, Hocking, Ohio
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Year of Immigration: 1900
Household Members: Name Age
Andy Paleneik 40
Mary Paleneik 35
Mary Paleneik 12
Mike Paleneik 9
Anna Paleneik 7
Susil Paleneik 5
Julia Paleneik 3
Katie Paleneik 2
John Paleneik 3/12

This is obviously the same family with yet another incorrect spelling by the census taker and includes the older children who had moved out by the time of the 1920 census.. The bonus is that the original census page for 1910 is much more clear and easy to read. It shows Andy's arrival in the US as in 1900 and Mary's in 1902. The 1920 census has these dates wrong but shows their citizenship date as 1910.The first two of the children, Mary & Mike,  were born in Hungary and arrived here in 1902, apparently traveling with their mother. Would you take a cruse alone with a 3 year old and an infant? The rest were born in Ohio. Both the 1910 and 1920 census list Andy as a coal miner.  I, of course, sent this new information off to Marilyn Copeland for her to digest and add to the data previously sent. We now know the year of her grandmother's arrival.

But I didn't stop there. I discovered the Ohio death records of two of the Polinchik brothers, John and Edward which gave us a little more information about them and the family including the maiden name of Andy Polinchik's wife, Maria (Mary). One record listed it as Cromi and the other as Kromi. I would guess that the "K" is correct. Just out of curiosity I checked the census reports and found several Kromi listings which not only seems to verify that spelling but lead me to believe that members of Maria's family preceded the Palinchik's immigration to America, possibly influencing their decision to make the move.

No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do. ~ Dorothy Day .

In the midst of doing the above research, Anthony and Marc arrived.  My gutter angels, if I dare to use that term, got out my extension ladder and ascended (wingless as they are) to the roof. Armed with a bucket and a couple scoops they soon had the leaves and other sticky stinky debris removed from the gutters, restoring the free flow of rain until my pear trees clog them again. They accepted my offer for lunch and we were off to Ashford house. They had lunch and I enjoyed a second breakfast of eggs and sausage ... no spuds. My first breakfast had been a couple slices of Irish soda bread, baked by their neighbor, Jack Toomey. I had brought that home with me along with my leftover T-bone Sunday evening. (Thanks Jack.)

There was an email from Kelsey so I will share it with you. ...

Hi Grandpa! Thank you so much for the birthday card! I had a really great time this weekend. My mom, Ana, Grandma, Aunt Sue and Aunt Linda came up for the weekend to eat, talk and shop. We had a really great time! Elmhurst hosted our Conference Cross Country meet on Saturday and it was cold and very muddy! It was a great time! We went into the meet ranked 6th in Conference and ended up placing 4th and beating our rivals, Augustana! Everybody performed really well and I videotaped and took the mile and two-mile splits as part of my "coaching" duties. Then Saturday night I went to a Halloween party with a few friends. I attached a few pictures from the meet and a picture of my friends and I before we left for the party. Talk to you soon!

  

	Team mates with muddy shoes

Kelsey is second from the right in the first photo and the Pirate Wench in the Halloween photo. I have no idea which muddy shoes are hers. By the way, We have heard little of granddaughter Caitlin's activities at Pomona but if you want to peek in and see what is going on visit the college's Swim Page on their web site. Apparently the page does not include the roster for this season but we did find her name in the results of the latest swim meet. Unfortunately she was a participant in one of the relay races where something went wrong and they were disqualified. Sorry, no details available.

Bob Lewis sent a story, one that has been going around for years. You know the kind that people insist on telling you to forward to all your friends. This one is one though that you don't need to be told to share and I won't insult your sensitivity by urging you to do so. I will, however, share it with you. I'll call it "Information Please" and it's the original version. Thanks Bob.

 

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.  ~ Woodrow Wilson .

Mikey is learning. Yes, an old dog (10) is learning new tricks. The steps that I bought so that he could get into his favorite chair were a problem for him. First of all, they have very small steps designed for small dogs, but not like the ordinary stairs in a house ... about 1/2 the rise on each and so they were not familiar to him. Then when I initially had him try them, they moved due to their light weight and so he didn't trust them. Since then I have weighted them so they don't move but the damage was done. The trick of putting treats on them to lead him up didn't work, the mistrust was too strong in his mind. Since then, when he asks to be put in his chair, I have held him as I guided him up the steps. Each time, as he gains confidence, he does better. This morning he climbed the steps just with my right hand on his side, giving him assurance, but no support. One of these days he will do it all by himself. All animals need to be able to trust. Dogs and humans alike. That is why it is so important to be honest and truthful at all times. If someone looses trust in you it is very difficult to regain that trust. The doubt will be very strong. People can tolerate mistakes. They identify easily with them because, "to err is human". We all make mistakes. But to try to hide a mistake by lying about it, pretending it didn't happen, transferring the blame, or denying responsibility. is a fatal error. In doing so we create shaky stairs and trust is destroyed. On the other hand, if we fess up and tell others that we made a mistake we have them on our side and they will want to help us. How does this happen? One reason is that the other person's ego comes to our rescue. Yes, in this case ego can be a good thing. Being able to help someone boosts the ego, it gives a feeling of superiority and power even though the help is given in a humble way, which it hopefully should. The other reason is that it is simply the right thing to do. And yes, Mikey teaches me a lot about people.  

And ... speaking of the "dog connection", Ginny Gully sent God & Dog. Obviously Ginny is a dog lover.

I had planned to go to Bible study Thursday but as I sat in the living room with my coffee just before 9 o'clock my lawn guys arrived. This time they were in landscape mode. Mac was with them and he was soon marking the shrubs to be removed with spray paint. My lawn was soon scattered with the potted new plants. I went out and took Mac to the back yard to show him a shrub that was against the back of the house but due to lack of sun was doing poorly. It was an evergreen climber and they will move it to a sunny spot against the north fence where it should provide a nice backdrop to the gazebo. Mac is one of the many people who takes care of me. There is an advantage to having a long relationship with the people with whom you rely on to provide services for your home. He knows what I like and what will work for me. On the east side of the driveway they removed some scraggily bushes and replaced them with hearty, rabbit resistant, rose bushes which, Mac assures me, will require no maintenance and will bloom all summer. Along the west side of the driveway the dead and dying boxwoods were replaced with a more hearty variety, resistant to the disease that did in the old shrubs. Along the front of the house the ancient and scraggily red barberries were replaced with a more decorative small shrub and under the Bradford pear tree the ancient spreading ewes were replaced with sprightly Wegelia bushes which will add a splash of color.  Oh yes, Mac found a bare spot next to the garage where we, at some time in the past, had placed a potted plant, and dressed it up with a new vibrant red barberry. Fresh soil was added where needed and a barrier laid down which was covered with fresh new lava rock. He is to add some plantings along the back of the house but the selected shrubs must wait until April for planting or they would not survive the winter.  Before noon, the crew had finished their work, cleaned up and left. Everything looks great. Even the transplanted climber looks happy at the back fence. Mac informed me that due to the fact that all the new plants were entering their dormant stage for the winter, no watering will be necessary. Nature will do everything for me. Isn't that wonderful! By the way, You can reach Mac's Lawnstyle at 708 460 6604. Tell him Grandpa Don sent you.

Just some more thoughts on "trust" ... There is an email circulating that gives advice to you on what to do if an unmarked police car, with flashing lights, attempts to stop you. The email advises you not to stop and instead call #77 on your cell phone to be connected to the police dispatcher. It is bad advice. Firstly, calling #77 only works in a few states. Secondly, the proper procedure is to stop. If in doubt of the identity of the person stopping you call 911. That works anyplace in the US.  If really suspicious of the person trying to pull you over, try to get to a very public place before doing so. Also you can keep your doors locked and windows just open enough to talk and ask for ID. But, don't disobey a police officer and don't bother calling any number but 911 in an emergency. And ... don't trust email advice about such things. In addition, remember that sending bad advice to your friends may hurt your credibility. How can they trust you about anything? Join the "Use the Internet Responsibly" crusade.

But some things that come in the email are good. Alex sent Happiness is a Choice a wonderful parable and great advice.  When people tell me to "Have a good day" I generally reply, "That's my plan and I'm going to stick to it." It always brings a smile and it makes people think about what they have said, realizing that it is a real wish, not just a rhetorical statement. Thanks Alex.

 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.  ~ Anne Frank  .

On Thursday, November 5, 2009 Doug Berg was born to Eternal Life. I haven't seen Doug in some time but I will miss him. Doug and Gesell moved into their new home on Drake Ave in Mt Greenwood in the early 60's and together with several other families formed what we affectionately called "The Drake Avenue Gang". We were all raising our families and their son Kurt and my son Dan were the same age. They grew up together along with several others on the block, at the end of a dead end street 2-1/2 blocks long. The Bergs, Plefka's, McNeil's. Looney's and Sheridan's sometimes joined by others were often found holding impromptu "meetings" in the middle of the street or on someone's front porch. The boys all played baseball together and their fathers were all involved in one way or another with Greater Mt Greenwood Youth Baseball. We celebrated New Years Eve together at one house or another, had block picnics, and "progressive dinners". Our kids gathered together to play first their childish games and later for dances and proms. We were family. We were kindred spirits. Doug was a friend to me and a friend to everyone, a rough and tumble iron worker with a heart as soft as mush. He raised huge tomatoes, the plants supported by steel reinforcing bars. On Thursday his day started with a visit to the doctor who proclaimed him to be in good shape. His life ended as he took his usual walk to the park, and was feeding the squirrels. He had to go because they needed him. He will be missed. We pray that through the grace of the Holy Spirit and God's infinite love, Doug is now with Him in Paradise. We pray also that Gesell and all of Doug's family will be comforted in the gratitude of the gift of his life all these years. He is one of those who have touched my life and left me the better for it. Thank you God for giving us Doug.

I visited Drake Ave Thursday evening, for Anne Marie and her family now live in our old house and it was Joe's birthday. Rose Albano was there and Lasagna was the treat along with cake and ice cream. We had a wonderful celebration. Life moves on. As I drove home I reflected on the point that I am almost the only surviving male member of the old "Drake Ave Gang", One by one they have passed on leaving widows who have stayed in their homes or since moved away. The flavor of the block remains the same as new families have moved in. It is still a great place to raise a family. My daughter and her family have great neighbors. ...

I Am blest I Am  anointed I Am overjoyed .