My IQ is Lower

I feel like my IQ has gone down. Did I partake in the lead tainted water of Flint, Michigan? Participate in too many football games and suffer from CTE? Perhaps early onset Alzheimer's? Okay, drop the early since that implies I'm young. None of the above. I watched the Republican presidential debate last night. 

Why is universal health care such a problem? Shouldn't every American have health care? Republicans keep talking about repealing every word of the Affordable Care Act. Ok, millions lose health care coverage. The replacement is never mentioned. If it is it does not address issues like pre-existing conditions. 

ISIS? They seem to want us too think ISIS is the worst thing ever. They are going to destroy us. Only the Republicans can save us because they understand the threat and know how to defeat it. Really? Mr. Rubio claimed ISIS was an "unprecedented" threat to our way of life. Perhaps he has forgotten about the very real war we fought against Nazi Germany and Japan? Perhaps he does not recall how close we came to nuclear war with the Cuban missile crisis? Russia and the United States still possess enough nuclear weapons to kill almost everyone on Earth and make the survivors wish they hadn't survived. 

Military spending, how much is enough? We have a smaller army, Air Force and navy than in the past. We spend over 600 billion dollars each year on our military. We spend more than the next 10 countries combined. They want to spend more. They want to do so without raising taxes or increasing the decifict. How does that work? You eliminate all the social programs? Defund Planned Parenthood? Last I checked Planned Parenthood gets about 500 million dollars for medical testing, contraceptive services, STD prevention and other health care services which do not include abortion. Take that money and eliminate those services will in the long run cost more. 

The Republicans need to stop trying to scare us with ISIS. Figure out how to provide safe, affordable health care for every American. After all it was originally something they backed. Remember that military spending isn't the only answer. We can be safe and spend much less money. If you wonder about how much we are wasting take some time to read about the F-35 fighter or the cost of a new aircraft carrier. Listen to what is being said and learn about what isn't and should be. 

Thirty Years

It seems hard to believe it has been 30 years. How do two things that are so vastly different get so entangled in your memory? I cannot recall one without thinking about the other. I was working at the Mary Davis Home and had planned on watching the video I had recorded of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl win. Then this happened.

There are moments in history when you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when the news broke. This was one of those moments. We had lost astronauts in the past but never like this. Never this many at once. Never a teacher heading off on life's greatest adventure. Ready to teach children all across the nation. We saw it begin like so many others. 

Full of promise. Almost routine. Oh, the shuttle is going up today. *que collective yawn* Those of us who watched in collective horror and sorrow that day can never see a launch as routine again. 

Thirty years ago. Somehow it seems like yesterday. The pictures still make me sad. So the Bears win and the Challenger disaster will always be linked in my head. It always provides the big picture that no matter how important the Super Bowl is, at the end of the day it is just a game. 

That's Life

Lily and Rose are adjusting to each other. Rose is adjusting to island life. She has started taking walks with Lily and I. So far just on the north end of the island. The other day at the end of Jaycee Park we saw some turtles sunning themselves on the bank. There were 5 when we first saw them. By the time I was able to get my phone out and take a few pictures only two were visible. 

One of those two decided I was a threat and headed for the safety of the water. 

And in the water it goes. 

Today when we went by there were three in the same area but just their heads were sticking out of the water. I was slow on the draw and by the time I could snap a picture it was down to one. I guess the dogs are too frightening. 

Lily and Rose need a rest after walking. 

Rose can be a bit much for Lily so this afternoon she retreated to our bed for some alone time. 

So that is life at the moment. Dogs and turtles. Life is tough. 

George Washington Oyler

This blog is coming about as a result of the series I did called Ghosts of Christmas Past. Mr. Oyler is my great grandfather. I was born in 1954 and celebrated my first Christmas in Connecticut that year. Mr. Oyler died in November 1955 so I never spent a Christmas with him. My older brother remembers him. I unfortunately do not. What I know is from family stories and historical records. When you think about it there has never been a better time to learn about your family history. So much information is available on line. Today I read the obituary of my great great grandfather Joseph Oyler, the father of George, who died in 1909. So, if you wonder about your family history get busy and start learning. 

George Washington Oyler was born on August 3, 1865 in Walton, Indiana. The town of Walton was founded in 1852 when the railroad came through. It lies north of Indianapolis and at the time of George's birth was home to about 300. It lies in Tipton Township and the 1870 census shows Joseph Oyler to be a farmer. It would be reasonable to assume Geoge was born at home on the farm. He was the youngest of five children born to Joseph and his wife Susanna. 

The next time we see George in the historical record is April 18, 1891 when he is joined in holy matrimony with Laura Byrd Martin in Fulton, Indiana. How George and Laura met is lost to the sands of time. Fulton where they were wed is about 30 miles north of Walton. A chance meeting somewhere would be likely. The census of 1900 shows George and Byrd ( I've always known her as Byrd not Laura) living in Vigo Township, Indiana as boarders. George is employed as a commercial salesman. Vigo Township is southwest of Indianapolis near the Indiana/Illinois boarder. 

By the 1910 census George and Byrd have relocated to Hanover Township, Ashland County, Ohio. It is located just northwest of Cincinnati. George is listed as a commercial trader in steel ranges. This makes sense and fits with oral family history. My grandmother Byrdis was born in Ohio and was adopted by the Oylers when she was about three years old. She was born in 1907 so everyone is where they should be. Mr. Oyler and his wife and new daughter would travel from town to town going out in the rural areas selling cooking stoves from a horse drawn wagon. If you piece things together George must have been a pretty decent salesman. Records indicate that in 1915 he lived at 538 Myrtle Avenue in Albany, New York. For those who enjoy technology if you go to google maps you can find the house, go to satellite view and then street view and you can see the house where they lived. George is now a General Superintendent for the Wrought Iron Range Company of St. Louis, Missouri. 

By 1917 George, Byrd and Byrdis have relocated to St. Louis and George is now a Department Manager for Wrought Iron Range company. The 1920 census shows them living in St. Louis and my grandmother's name was listed as Eloise B. Oyler. I would always know her as Byrdis. Mr. Oyler apparently made a good living with the Wrought Iron Range  company. Byrdis was able to attend a private school called Hosmer Hall and later attend and graduate from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. George would stay at Wrought Iron Range company until sometime in the late 1930's. When he left he next shows up in Fort Madison, Iowa as the proprietor of the Hotel Lincoln. Keep in mind that in 1940 he would have been 75 years of age. He had spent a good deal of his early life as a traveling salesman and felt he knew what a traveler wanted in a hotel. I'm told he was a rather proper gentleman and would tolerate no coarse language in his establishment. 

At some point in the 1940's George and Byrd sold the hotel and moved to Sparta Township to live with my grandparents, their daughter Byrdis and son in law John. Mr. Oyler didn't take well to retirement and at some point around 1950 he got in the car and went for a drive. He came home that afternoon and advised his wife, daughter and son in law he had purchased the Northern Hotel in Princeton, Illinois. Records indicate he died in Princeton on November 21, 1955 at the age of 90. 

Here are some pictures to fill in the story. 

George Washington Oyler in the 1920's 

George next to his car with Byrd seated inside. The hubcaps indicate the car is a Pontiac and by comparing it to other cars on the Internet it appears to be a 1935 model. 

In the picture above in the striped dress my grandmother Byrdis, next to her Byrd Oyler, the older gentleman on the right is George Oyler. The young fellow in front is my Dad, John. 

The Hotel Lincoln in Fort Madison, Iowa. 

George and Byrd Oyler standing in front of the Northern Hotel in Princeton, Illinois. 

The story wouldn't be complete without this story. Since finding out that George sold Wrought Iron Ranges I've been looking for one at antique shops and anywhere else old appliances were displayed. No luck. Then our daughter Tammie and her girls came to visit us on Tybee Island. They wanted to climb the lighthouse and tour the grounds. In the Keepers house was a Home Comfort stove made by the Wrought Iron Range company of St. Louis, Missouri. 

So, there is George's story. I wish I knew more but with the passing of my grandparents I lost that opportunity. 

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my Dad's 87th birthday. Some people get hung up on the day their dad passed away. I choose to rejoice on the day of his birth. He could have allowed life to make him bitter. Given up for adoption, placed in an orphanage, at least one prior attempt to be placed with a family before being adopted by John and Byrdis. It was not something he ever talked about with us. He did, every day, work to insure our childhood was different than his. We never had to wonder if we were going to be given up or not have a home and a bed. He had expectations and rules. They weren't in place because he was mean. They were there to guide us in the right direction. To help us make good decisions and to recognize and accept the consequences of poor decisions. So here are some pictures of my dad. 

The picture above is how I see Dad today. If he were alive today and able to do so this is what he would be doing. Sitting somewhere on a frozen lake catching some fish. 

Gone to the Dogs

Things have been a bit busy here. Right now here is West Central Illinois. We left the moderate temperatures of coastal Georgia for the frigid north on Friday. When we left Tybee Island it was 57 degrees. On Sunday up here it was below zero with a wind chill advisory in effect. Cold weather isn't so bad if you are allowed to adjust over a period of weeks. A quick change, not so much fun. Why are we in Illinois in January? 

This little girl needed a home and our beloved Miss Lily needed a playmate. She was named Eve by the staff at the shelter in Rushville, Illinois because she was dumped on Christmas Eve. She is about a year old and is a coonhound mix. She is intelligent and loving but very fearful. Scared of the dark. Freaked out yesterday because the ceiling fan began turning. She is very thin and when fed just wolfs her food down. The good news is that she gets along very well with Lily. They are similar in personality. We have renamed her Rose so they are a couple of flower girls. We are staying up here a few days to allow the girls to adjust to each other and Rose to adapt to her new life. Things will change again for her when we head south and she has an opportunity to experience island life.

Rose and Lily sharing some afternoon sunshine on the couch.

Lily moved to the chair and Rose snuggled up with Carol for an afternoon nap. None of the ladies were impressed with the football playoffs. 

Carol was leaving in the car yesterday and the girls were watching her leave. Rose is about half the size of Lily. 

So that is life at the moment. In Illinois freezing our butts off because a sweet puppy needed a home. 

Protesting?

I have, with some degree of amusement tempered with dismay, watched the antics of the right wing "Christian" militia in Oregon. 

First, I wonder if these were angry black men or native Americans what would happen? Would they be allowed to freely enter and leave the compound to meet with law enforcement and buy supplies? Somehow I think this would have ended quickly and violently with an offensive by law enforcement. 

Second, I believe the group told locals if they didn't want them there they would leave. The local folks have consistently told them to leave, yet they stay. 

Third, you claim to come prepared for a long stay yet you are sending out a request for snacks, clothing, food, cigarettes, bedding and numerous other items. I guess you object to being on the public dole but are willing to do whatever is necessary to convince their simple minded followers to provide them with what they want. 

Fourth and finally, if being an angry white man gets you a free place to stay at taxpayer expense in a federal wildlife refuge along with food, clothing and other basic needs supplied by idiot followers. Well where do I signup? Who's with me and what should we take over? There is a national wildlife refuge near Savannah. Who's in? 

Ghost of Christmas Present- 2015

Those who have tagged along for this series, you have my thanks. I hope you have enjoyed reading these as much as I have enjoyed writing them. There will be more next December. I did want to finish off with this Christmas. A Christmas on Tybee Island. Regular readers know that Tybee loves a parade. Well Christmas is just another excuse for a parade. The Christmas parade, like every other parade on Tybee begins with a couple of groups. The Beach Chair Brigade and the American Legion Honor Guard.

Tybee is blessed with a very active American Legion post. Every Thursday evening they have a meal available for purchase and open to the public. Each Thursday during the month has a different theme, fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried fish, Italian night, home cooked meal or low country boil. Always good food and well attended by locals and visitors.

The Beach Brigade led by "Rudolph" with a red nose. Several members were walking to the sides passing out candy to the kids.

You always get the same view from my pictures. The view from in front of Benny's Tybee Tavern. Arrive early, drink beer, take pictures, drink more beer, go home.

It was a big day for decorated golf carts. You need one if you are really going to embrace life on Tybee.

What's a parade without a convertible?

Of course all the business folks want you to know they are around and looking for customers. It is, after all, our off season here.

This is one of the few parades on Tybee that has a high school band performing. They did a great job. I'm sure they enjoy performing here in the 70+ degree temps than the bands in Illinois playing in sub-freezing temps.

We are by the ocean so you have to have a shark boat.

Mermaids passing out candy for the kids. Again, we are at the beach.

The local female roller derby team.

The Crab Shack looking for customers.

One of the many vacation rental companies looking for visitors.

And the parade officially goes to the dogs.

The stars of the parade arrive on a fire engine. Why does Santa always show up that way?

I wanted to close with the community Christmas tree. I am always talking about this being a strange community inhabited by old hippies. The tree is another example of their environmental concern. It is not a cut tree. It is a live tree with an intact root ball. When the holiday season is over and the decorations are removed it will be relocated and permanently planted in one of the city parks. You have to love a community that is so concerned about its trees and the environment. Lily and I were on one of our walks the other day and stopped to talk to a couple of city workers tagging trees. They are taking an inventory of every tree in the city right of way on the island. Each tree gets a numbered tag and is identified by species. Diseased trees are marked for removal and replacement. If there is a hurricane and trees are lost FEMA will pay to have them replaced based on the inventory. Lily and I used to solely concentrate on walking as exercise. Now we stop on a regular basis and talk to folks about whatever is going on at the time. So, our advice for the new year, stop and smell the roses. Slow down, relax, enjoy the moment.