Family

The First Day Of Spring — No More!

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Yeah, yeah, I know — another birthday coming around. Big deal!

When I was young, my family made a big deal out of the fact that my birthday was “The First Day Of Spring.” Actually, the Vernal Equinox would occur on Mar. 20 sometimes and Mar. 21 others.

It also marked the first day of Ares, for those who follow astrology.

But some few years ago, I lived long enough that the universe rotated and my birthday was no longer the first day of spring — which now will be either Mar. 19 or 20 some years.

“The precession of the equinoxes refers to the observable phenomena of the rotation of the heavens, a cycle which spans a period of (approximately) 25,920 years, over which time the constellations appear to slowly rotate around the earth, taking turns at rising behind the rising sun on the vernal equinox.”

So I will have to be patient if I want to wait around for my birthday to synch with spring.

What this means in astrological terms — I really don’t care.

Precession of the equinoxes

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I Was A Teen-aged Drinking Monkey

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As a middle child, I have a lot to thank my older brother for. But in a few things, I wish I hadn’t followed in his footsteps.

My older brother was a trail-blazer when it came to drinking, smoking and most of the other passages from childhood to adult. Being only slightly more than two years younger, I became his sidekick — his drinking monkey.

Monkey smoking a cigarette and carrying a bottle of booze.I’ve since wised up and dropped my evil habits. But I know that many people aren’t able to master their habits.

On an unrelated topic, my younger brother (when he was very young) asked my mother if she would have another boy so HE could have a little brother (the poor lady had already given birth to three boys.)

She told him that more children were not in the picture.

So little brother asked, “Then can we have a monkey?”

For purposes of these anecdotes, both brothers will remain nameless. Please forgive me, my brothers.

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Observing Craig Week

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If you are wondering why there hasn’t been a front page post recently, it is because I have been working on my history of The Bunkhouse Boys.

This is the way I honor the memory of my big brother, Craig Ward, who was taken away from us much too soon by cancer.

I believe that a huge part of his joy in life was his time with The Bunkhouse Boys, comprised of his two brothers and a great friend. To make this public is to show the world (or at least the world wide web) what he did and what he meant to us.

There will be more installments on this blog.  How many?  I don’t know.  I think there are a lot of stories to tell.  First I’ll set down the basic chronology and then get into anecdotes.

If you knew him and loved him, I hope you enjoy reading about Craig.

If you didn’t know him, you are welcome to get acquainted by reading these tales.

Happy Birthday Craig.

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Easter Memories — 2014

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My family always made a big party out of Easter.  My grandparents were very religious (Methodists) and we all went to church, but afterward it was your typical family feast with all the relatives.

My Grandpa Roy and Grandma Lee hosted (until they got too old) and we had a big egg hut for the kids in their yard. We also had small gifts — nothing like Christmas, but little things.  Also Easter was a time to buy new clothes (usually “Sunday School” clothes but sometimes everyday stuff).

Painting Portrait Of Wade On Easter Egg

Always A Good Egg

The food was outrageously good and plentiful — lots of stuff with all the good Midwestern-type of picnic food — every kind of salad and Jello dish you can think of — all the baked goods from cookies and brownies and fudge to cakes and pies, and of course LOTS of ham, potatoes and that stuff.
Then — whenever we had a big gathering — the men would churn home-made ice cream.  Grandma made her own special vanilla mix with a hint of lemon extract — I have never found any commercial ice cream that tastes quite like it.  We would fill the tub with ice and take turns cranking the mixer … Grandpa Roy would start, then poop out and my dad would take over, and when we got older, the boys would finish off (it got more difficult as the ice cream solidified).  One person would keep adding ice and rock salt as it drained off (of course you did this outside because of the water flow. )

Great memories.  I think after we found all the eggs, sometimes we nagged the adults to hide them again!

Most of the day was spent watching TV (adults) and playing board and card games.  It was a real close, extended family.  My Uncle Bill and Aunt Bee (Dad’s sister) had two kids about ten years younger than me, so it was like a new generation and my two brothers and I moved up into the adult roles — hiding Easter eggs, helping make ice cream and whatever else men did (this was back in the day when the women did all the real work — cooking, serving, washing dishes).

Great memories.  And I really miss every bit of it.

Hope you and your family have a very happy Easter.

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Old Family Remedy For Cleaning Your Hands

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Yecchhh! Dirty HandsAre your hands a little grimy and need a good cleaning?  Here’s an old trick that still works today.

Crush a raw egg in your hand and rub the slimy mess with both hands thoroughly.

Rinse the egg from your hands with warm water (soap is optional)

Or — if you are in a hurry or out of eggs, just rinse your hands with soap and dry them.

Works as well today as it did in Grandma’s day.

WADE

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Memento Mori — Brother Craig Ward

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This time of year is full of holidays and reasons to party and be glad.  But for me it  is also a time of reflection — thinking of those I’ve lost and that won’t be partying with me on any of these holidays.

Two close dates mark the beginning and the end of my big brother’s life — bookends that are too close together.

Craig was born on Dec. 4 and died on Dec. 6 — 49 years apart.

It sounds silly to say that we were very close, but I’ve found that not all brothers are.  Craig was very special and he made his two brothers feel very special.  The relationship he had with me was different than the relationship he had with our little brother, Bart, but they were both very strong and special in different ways.

One of the things we three brothers shared was a magical, musical time in the mid-1970s when we played music together professionally.  Looking back, it was a very brief period. But duration really isn’t relevant.  It was magic.

Unfortunately, I don’t think many — if any — recordings survive from that musical partnership.  And I know there aren’t a lot of photos.

I’m starting a special page on this web site to reminisce about my late brother Craig, and am framing it against the backdrop of his — our — musical journey.

I’d like to invite anyone who knew him, or anyone who experienced our music, or just those who are kindred spirits to post comments, photos or whatever else you’d like to share.

WADE

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I Remember Mama — On Her Birthday

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Carolyn Rae Bartley was an ordinary girl from a very small town in an out-of-the-way place.  Her greatest accomplishments in life were simple, personal ones.

Craig, Carolyn and Don Ward, Nov. 1955

Craig, Carolyn and Don Ward, Nov. 1955. I'm hiding under the newspaper -- I won't be born for 4 more months.

She married at a young age and had three sons.  Her family was the center of her universe.  She was happiest when surrounded by her kids and grandchildren.

Like every life, there are tragedies as well as happy events.  She struggled with health problems most of her adult life and lost her first born child to cancer.

She survived her first encounter with that same disease, but it returned years later to finally claim her life.

No — she wasn’t a saint or a celebrity or anybody who attracted a lot of attention.

But, like all mothers, she made priceless contributions to the lives of many others — including me.

Today is the anniversary of her birth.  I remember mama — every single day.

WADE

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