Dad's Delight: Another Father’s Day, Another Tie

Dad's Delight: Another Father’s Day, Another Tie

Fathers always seem to get second billing. Father's Day follows Mother's Day, and even Children's Day, although no one takes Children's Day seriously except the children. Mother's Day usually means breakfast in bed (a dubious honor), flowers cards and gifts. Fathers, on their designated day, get ties; hideous dated ties that store owners save up all year and then offer on sale to unsuspecting children. Wives are apt to acknowledge their husbands fulfillment of fatherhood by buying them tools to fix things around the house, then letting them to foot the bill. 21th century fathers would much prefer a variety of I-gadgets.

If it weren't for Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington fathers might still be a forgotten entity. Dodd suggested venerating fathers to Rev. Conrad Bluhm, president of the Spokane Ministerial Association as a suitable tribute to her own father, who, upon the death of his wife, successfully raised his children.

Her proposal was approved by the Association; the first celebration took place on June 19, 1910 in Spokane. Although the rose is recognized today as the official flower for Father's Day it was originally a lowly dandelion because “the more it is trampled on, the more it grows.” This tongue-in-cheek suggestion reflected the inequality of parenting. Motherhood was revered next to godhood; fatherhood, in this respect, was compared to a common weed.

In 1911, the observance of Father's Day in Chicago came as a novel idea. Jane Addams, the famous social worker, approved the concept, saying “Poor father has been left out in the cold . . . But regardless of his breadwinning proclivities it would be a good thing if he had a day that would mean recognition of him.” Pres. Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, expressed his approval of the idea as he wrote, “As I have indicated heretofore, the widespread observance of this occasion is calculated to establish more intimate relationships between fathers and their children, and also to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.”

 Fathers of the 21st century participate more in the daily care of their children. In some instances it is voluntary, in others it is necessitated by both parents working, causing the workload and pleasure of childrearing to be shared. Feminist pressure has helped to release the male from stereotyped thought and behavior, making nuclear families more cooperative than a monarchy.

Before there was widespread observation of this holiday, different sectors of the country celebrated independently in different ways, even different years. The tradition eventually spread throughout most of the Americas and parts of Europe and Asia. A general agreement was settled upon on June 16, 1946, more than 30 years after Mrs. Dodds suggestion. Fathers finally got their day.

Both Mother's Day and Father's Day have become “Hallmark Holidays’’ and while florists and confectioners flourish on the second Sunday in May, haberdasher's profit on the third Sunday in June. Commercialism aside, it seems right and fitting that, on at least one day of the year fathers receive recognition and tribute from the children who bear their names, their legacies and their love. And what father can use another tie?

“Father! To God himself we could not give a holier name”— William Wordsworth

SURF 'N BOOKS BEACH PARTY'

To all my friends and acquaintances: Please drop by during these five days and have some fun. I'll be hosting on the 19th but I'll be there every day as well. Learn more about me, my book, . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang. Find out things not in the book that followed it's publication--some really odd and paranormal events. Just why did the whippoorwill sing?

JOIN US and bring your friends to our SURF ‘N BOOKS BEACH PARTY, a
five day event on Facebook, commencing June 15th and ending June
19th,2013! Choose the days to join from the daily schedules. Fabulous prizes and lots of fun!
https://www.facebook.com/events/457615450997150/
Pease remember to join in so you are eligible for the really fantastic prizes being awarded in a drawing.

Review: Thumb Flagging--the Road to Self-discovery

Thumb Flagging

By

Jerome Peterson

Willy Jacobs, a hitching junkie, convinces his friend and coworker that the way to lose his fears and lack of confidence is to take to the road and let adventures and meeting up with unknown people free him of his self-doubts and allow him to find himself. Jay Patterson decides to take the leap toward self-awareness . . . And they take out a map.

Willy explains the finer points of thumb flagging to get vehicles to stop and give them a ride, but doesn't have much luck until a trucker named Clem slows down. He's an older, sarcastic guy with a wise mouth, making Jay leery of riding with him. Throwing caution to the wind, they hop in and soon all three are stoned on weed and booze as Clem tears down the highway at high speed. He drops them off at a junction with a gas station. Becoming suddenly quiet, Clem explains to Jay that they passed the spot where his daughter was killed, and his wife paralyzed in an accident that Jay senses he had caused. He tips his hat and drunkenly drives off leaving the still drunk Jay sitting on the curb sobbing. A kind gray-haired woman approaches and comforts him, gives him some advice about life, then leaves him alone.

Willy comes out of the restroom, hears his story and the two young Bohemian wanderlusts move on to their next adventure. But first they buy some junk food and Jay buys a notebook — hoping to fill it with more exciting excursions, as well as words of wisdom like the old woman offered. Willy thinks that's a great idea. They argue about a name for it and decide upon “The Steno."

As their journey progresses they meet people of all ages and walks of life, and enjoy the diverse scenery across and throughout America; managing to live off handouts and missions and " the kindness of strangers." Willy has a hard, but humorously persistent time teaching his friend the philosophy and therapy of the code of the road. Still the street -smart wanderer soon loses patience with his overemotional and easily frightened sidekick, causing them to part ways and friendship for a while.

Author Jerome Peterson’s novel, “Thumb Flagging” is a story about the physical and psychological coming of age of a young man trying to find himself. His hitchhiking experiences will either make or break him. Readers interested in highly interactive dialogue, conflict and adventures written in a “Mark Twain” style will enjoy this book.

Micki Peluso: writer, journalist, and author of And the Whippoorwill Sang.

Endearing story about a Horse, a Man and his Daughter

A Daughter’s Remembrance

By Marcia A. Hancock

Illustrations by Jason Nocera

Author Marcia A. Hancock writes a charming, warmhearted story dedicated to the memories of her father and a remarkable horse named Snoops. The story begins at the end of her father's life and flashes back to reminiscences of the relationships between herself, her father and Snoops; who seems more human than horse. The Tobiano-paint rescue horse enters their lives when both the horse and the father are in bad shape and aging.

It is love at first sight for the horse and the man — they seem to share a secret understanding of each other and are in separable. High-energy feed strengthens Snoops even as the presence of this much loved animal improves the physical and emotional health of the man who adores him. For the first time in their lives Marcia and her father develop a close relationship . . . All due to a horse named Snoops.

Author Hancock writes a sweet, poignant tale about how the love of a horse brings her closer to knowing her father. This is a children's book for ages three – seven, to be read aloud, and by older children as well, preteens, young adult and adults. This short story will be enjoyed by horse lovers and readers of all ages. The creative illustrations by Jason Nocera further enhance the story which is soon to be followed by stories of . . . more remembrances.

Micki Peluso: writer, journalist, and author of . . . And the Whippoorwill Sang

MOTHERHOOD--THE OLDEST PROFESSION

Motherhood — the Oldest Profession

By Micki Peluso

This Sunday mother's throughout the country will be honored in many and various ways. Toddlers and preschool children will cheerfully drag their mothers to their favorite fast food places and older children will escort them, with great decorum, to restaurants with actual dinnerware. The majority of children will serve their mothers breakfast in bed, a calamitous tradition that refuses to die. Adult children with children of their own will have greater reverence for their mothers, graced with understanding and empathy. Mothers will righteously accept the presents, cards, flowers and candy, and promises of exemplary behavior in the future. She has always and will continue to deserve the esteem bestowed upon her by her family on this one honored day of each year.

Motherhood, while fulfilling in ways too numerous to mention, has never been easy. Today it is even more difficult due to the diverse roles played by the 21th century mother. Some mothers are the sole support of the family; others work to supplement insufficient incomes, while many choose to balance a career with caretaking — all monumental achievements. Some households with dual incomes have learned to share the ongoing chores of home maintenance and child care, but it usually falls to the mother to be the primary nurturer, manager, coordinator and ‘gopher’. In spite of reports on ‘burnout’ among working mothers, and ‘latchkey’ kids left alone too much, many American women are proving themselves capable of being both mother and working woman, placing the emphasis on quality versus quantity time with their children.

However, a small percentage of women have elected to forgo their careers, reasoning that careers can be resumed, but childrearing is a onetime occupation. Due to the trend toward women bearing children later in life, some women have worked and established careers for 10 or 15 years before having children. The skills they’ve attained are often utilized in creating home enterprises and small businesses, allowing them time with their children.

Unlike Father's Day, which was erratic in its installment, Mother’s Day was accepted with enthusiasm. In May of 1907, Anna M. Jarvis of Philadelphia was inspired by the idea that at least once a year children should pay tribute to their mothers. She organized a special Mothers church service and the concept quickly spread to other churches. By 1911, the observance was widespread, including every state in the union, plus Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, China, Japan and several islands. Leaflets proposing certain exercises were printed In 10 different languages and distributed to various countries. What the leaflets said in part was: “A day that has shown that it has heart and living interest for all classes, races, creeds, native and foreign-born, high and low, rich and poor, scoffer and churchmen, man, women and child, is Mother’s Day, observed on the second Sunday of May. The common possession of the living world is a mother . . . .”

A Mother's Day International Association was incorporated in December of 1912 to promote a greater observance of the day. The following May, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution calling upon all government officials to wear a white carnation in celebration of Mother's Day. In 1914, Congress designated Mother's Day as an official holiday and asked Pres. Woodrow Wilson to display the national flag on all public buildings. On May 9, the president issued a proclamation asking the people to follow suit and display flags on their homes as ‘a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of the country’. The wearing of white carnations on Mother's Day was modified to distinguish living mothers from those deceased. White flowers were worn by the motherless and red flowers by children with living mothers. Gift-giving by children became popular, especially homemade gifts and cards. One gift in great demand for Mother's Day was the reproduction of Whistler’s portrait of his mother, the most famous mother portrait of the times.

Ever since Eve rocked the cradle that begat civilization, mothers held an almost mystical place in society. Research shows that even the caveman, while chauvinistic to the nth degree, cherished and protected his mate, knowing instinctively that without her the clan would become extinct. The cavewoman was healer, food gatherer, herbalist and fur-skinner, as well as mother. The custom of holding festivals to honor motherhood dates back to the ancient Greeks who worshiped Cybele, mother of the gods. Rome adopted the tradition around 250 BC and celebrated the festival of Hilaria on the Ides of March. The festivities lasted three days and included rites in woods and caves, significantly different from modern celebrations.

Today's mother has exhibited proficiency in job skills, self-reliance, and creativity while continuing to supply the cohesive element that binds the family unit. Possibly the only thing that a mother cannot be is a father. On this Mother's Day, as children and fathers lavishly pile gifts and admiration upon her, the mother is reminded of the importance of her role. When beset with trials and stress that would devastate the average person, the mother does her job and does it well; because it is a most rewarding occupation with no mandatory retirement. The benefits of loving and molding young minds far outweigh the tribulations of guiding children from infancy to adulthood. Abraham Lincoln said it best: “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my mother."

THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY

By Micki Peluso

May Day is usually, but not always, celebrated on the first of May, although in recent years enthusiasm for the holiday has waned considerably. Many Staten Islanders in New York can recall festivities in the past several decades which included springtime sports, and May Poles decorated with bright ribbons streaming from the top of the pole. Young children were traditionally garbbed the ribbons and danced around the pole, reveling in the warmth of spring. Older girls crowned a May Queen, and young girls often made baskets which they filled with flowers and hung on the doors of their friends. Many parts of the country still participate in these activities although my borough of Staten Island does not seem to be among them.

The month of May has always been a favorite month, with spring in full bloom and summer close behind. On the original Roman calendar, May was the third month of the year but the revised calendar moved it to the fifth month. The origin of the name, researchers say, most likely comes from Maia, a mother of Mercury. In Roman times and throughout history May has been considered an unlucky month for marriages, stemming back to the days when both the festival of the dead and the festival of the goddess of chastity were celebrated in May. This may explain the popularity of June weddings.

Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, has held May Day celebrations with field sports, dancing around the May Poll and crowning a May Queen with a headdress of fresh flowers. On some occasions college records in sports were broken on that day, possibly due to the enthusiasm for the holiday. The California State Norma School in San José originated May Day festivities in 1902, with games for their kindergarten students. By 1910, the popularity of this holiday had grown to such proportion that 6000 spectators gathered to watch the celebration.

These observances have little to do with the ritualistic and symbolic fetes of olden days. Historians of folk customs have traced the May Day ritual back to the Floralia of the Romans, the festival of Flora, goddess of flowers. This festival was instituted in 238 BC and was celebrated from April 23 until May 3rd.

During the four or five centuries that Rome occupied Britain, the May Day Festival was introduced and flourished. One theory states that the May Day was initially a phallic festival in India and Egypt, marking the renewal of the fertility of nature at springtime. Researchers claim that the Romans considered the May Poll to be a phallic symbol, and their merrymaking included quite a few licentious acts which were the focus of May Day celebrations in England for some time.

The Morris Dance was a pagan dance which consisted of male dancers in fantastic costumes dancing about the May Poll. The name Morris, a word of Moorish origin, is associated with mummers, who acted out the ritual of the pagan god who celebrated his revival after death. Another custom was the May Day procession of a Man-horse, in Cornwall, where the central figure, "Oss Oss”, was a witch doctor disguised as a horse and wearing a mask. Dancers acted as attendants, sang May Day songs and beat on drums.

These activities greatly offended the Puritans, who coerced the Parliament of 1644 to ban the erection of May Polls. The Restoration repealed the prohibition, and in 1661, to celebrate the revival of the old custom, a May Poll, 134 feet high was raised. Sir Isaac Newton purchased the pole in 1717 and used it as a support for his telescope in Essex.

The New England Puritans also voiced objections to May Day festivities, which incited Gov. Endicott of Massachusetts in 1660, to lead a group of men to Merrymont, where the dreaded May Poll had been erected. The men chopped the pole down and named the place Mount Dragon, after the Idol of the Philistines that fell before the Ark.

May Day was said to have magical rites, such as those of Halloween. Samuel Pepys, the English diarist, related how his wife went to the country each May Day to wash her face in dew, a magic ritual ensuring a good complexion. Poetess Ann May Lawler, put the custom to verse: “Ever on the first of May did magic walk — the legends say. Maiden rose at early dawn to find a dew-ensequinned lawn, and she who humbly bathed her face in dewdrops, in the magic place, she, they say, may never fear the curse of freckles for one year."

When Labor Day was established in this country, the workers of Europe decided to hold a similar celebration, which they observed on May 1st. Due to lively labor politics, the date became better known for riots, bombings and burned cities. Radicals in the U.S. followed the European example and held demonstrations on May 1st. Later many U.S. cities, particularly New York City, demonstrated on May Day with parades of radical, labor, and other organizations, followed by mass meetings.

The beginning of May, whether celebrated with May Polls and flower festivals, or labor demonstrations, or no celebrations at all, introduces a month with few surprises. While March “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," and April teases with balmy weather one day and pseudo-winter the next, the month of May brings a stable promise of ever better days to come.

Welcome, Clayton Bye, I’m so happy to have you as my guest.

For all those visiting my blog, I'd like to introduce my guest blogger, Clayton Bye, publisher and author of the outstanding horror anthology," The Speed of Dark". His collection, written by many gifted authors, that many of you may know, will entertain, amaze, and give you much to think about. I am honored to have two of my own horror stories, which many of you may have read, within his eclectic, mind-boggling anthology of short horror stories.

When you have finished enjoying Clayton Bye’s post, please leave him a comment and check out this unusual collection of stories . . . Which I suggest you do not read before bedtime. Thank you Clayton for being a honored guest on my humble blog.