At the Butler County Fair

Dear George, 

County fairs have to be among the top two or three places in my life.  This attachment goes back to my childhood in the predominantly rural U.P.  We didn’t have museums, zoos, or symphony orchestras.  But we did have the county fair each summer, and it brought together all of the wonders of life as we knew them — farm animals, crops, flowers, cooking and baking, arts and crafts, clothing and fashion, woodworking, delicious food, amusements, games, hobbies of all sorts, and a huge communal gathering.  Many years later, our son J was born, and we started doing the annual county fair all over again, now in Cincinnati — riding the rides and being terrified by Zambora the Gorilla Girl.  

This is fair season in Southwest Ohio, and this past week Katja and I took in the Butler County Fair in nearby Hamilton.  We headed straight for the rabbit barn, our thrill of thrills.  (Katja had raised rabbits for years in the 1970s.)  There must have been 100 or more furry sweethearts on display.  Here are just a few.  

The big animals, of course are quite as amazing, and the fair is the only place we get to see them up close.  Most were raised by 4-H club members.  

The gardeners — flowers and vegetables — were equally proud of their prize-winning products.  

I always enjoy the arts and crafts, especially the children’s art.  Now I wish our family had submitted things to the Menominee County Fair. 

Probably because it’s so unhealthy, fair food is uncommonly delicious.  Katja dined on a gyro, while I opted for a Polish Sausage, and we shared a lemonade and a Tunnel Cake for dessert.   

The evening Grandstand Event was the Broken Horn Rodeo.  Along with a thousand other audience members, we marveled at the bucking broncos, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and barrel racing.  Gene Autry couldn’t have done better.  

After dark, the fair takes on a whole new atmosphere.  Teenagers throng to the midway, and the night becomes filled with intrigue and adventure. 

Our visit went by too quickly.  I hope that we’ll go again soon.

Love,

Dave

Age 81

Dear George,

If reincarnation turns out to be true, I hope to be a numerologist in my next go-around.  I’ve always had a thing for numbers.   In years gone by I’ve kept numerical lists of points I’ve scored in basketball games, calories consumed, golf and tennis scores, Fitbit points, blood sugar readings, and numbers of people smiling vs. not smiling on Ludlow Avenue.  As you might imagine, I’m currently intrigued by the number 81 since it’s my new age (as of this morning).  Among other things, my age is now equal to my granddaughter V’s age (9) multiplied by my grandson L’s age (9).  This means, of course, that I am the same age as 9 V’s or as 9 L’s.  Here are some other amazing facts about 81.    

The definition of Eighty-one

According to wiktionary.org, 81 is the number that comes between 80 and 82.  Merriam-Webster clarifies further that 81 is one more than 80.  These are helpful definitions.  However,  numerologists delve more deeply into spiritual meanings, reporting that 81 is “a calling from one’s angels to release the old and outworn in their life and begin looking for new beginnings and opportunities.” (35)  In 1933 columnist Walter Winchell reported that servers at soda fountains refer to a glass of water as an “eighty-one”. (31)   Urbandictionary.com, which documents more contemporary usages, says that 81 refers to a male sticking his cha-cha in between a female’s melons. (39)  [Note: numbers in parentheses refer to sources listed at the end.]

Things named “Eighty-one”

81 is the atomic number of Thalium.  It’s also the symbolic number of the Hells Angels (‘H’ and ‘A’ are the 8th and 1st letters of the alphabet).  One of Miles Davis’ jazz albums is named “Eighty-One”, as is a 1965 song by Candy and the Kisses. (41)  “Eighty-One’ is a former restaurant on the Upper West Side in NYC (28).  Finally, if you want to direct dial a phone number in Japan, 81 is the international code. (41)  

Sets of 81 things

It’s easy to think of two or four or ten items that make up a group (e.g., 10 bowling pins).  But there are also many sets of 81.  For example, there are 81 squares in a Suduko board (36), 81 episodes of Jane the Virgin (5),  81 Big Boy restaurants in the U.S. (23), 81 provinces in Turkey (41), 81 prayers in the Rosary (41), 81 home games in a major league baseball season (9), 81 three-star restaurants in the world (25), 81 police officers protecting the President of South Africa (8), 81 countries in the world in which women are a majority (2), and  81 Muslim mosques in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. (22)   Gen X (born 1972 to 1983) has 81 million members (37), and cats make up 81 million of pets in the U.S. (5)   

Age 81

On their 81st birthday people have lived 42,573,600 minutes. (38)  Life expectancy at birth is 81 years in the Netherlands, Bermuda, New Zealand, Belgium, Finland, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom. (12)  54% of people in the U.S. born 81 years ago are alive today (1), and the probability of an 81-year-old man living ten to twenty more years is 37%. (17)  (This is encouraging.)  

What 81-year-olds are doing 

If you google “81 years old”, you will run across a variety of persons who are doing impressive things at age 81.  These include: a woman who power lifted 248 pounds; a Holocaust survivor who runs six miles a day, six days a week; a woman who climbed Mount Fuji in Japan; a man who finally earned his Eagle Scout rank this year; a woman who takes photos from the back of a galloping horse; and a Marinette WI native who has eaten burgers at Micky-Lu-Bar-B-Q for 75 years in a row. In addition,  British actress Judi Dench got her first-ever tattoo in 2016 at age 81, and former pro golfer Gary Player is still doing back flips off the diving board at age 81. (19, 29)

81st anniversaries

2018 is the 81st anniversary of:  the Golden Gate Bridge; the Hindenburg airship disaster; the premiere of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; Amelia Earhart’s disappearance; Ronald Reagan’s acting debut; Joe Louis becoming World Heavyweight Champion; the founding of the National Basketball League; and the Ohio River flood that left one million homeless.  (34)  

Ranked #81

Being ranked 81st can be a huge accomplishment.  For example, Vic Seixas, a tennis legend, is the 81st greatest tennis player in history. (41)  Other #81’s: 

• The 81st best song of all time: “Billy Jean” by Michael Jackson (1883). (6) 
• The 81st richest person in the U.S.: Victoria Mars ($6.3 billion; candy, pet food). (18) 
• The 81st best NFL player of all time: quarterback Steve Young of the San Francisco 49ers. (41)
• The 81st greatest opera of all times: I Puritani by Vincenzo Bellini. (13)
• The 81st best summer travel destination in the U.S.: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (40)
• The 81st best standup comedian of all times: Dick Gregory. (21)
• The 81st best novel written in English: The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing.  (32) 
• The 81st most popular dog breed in America: the Giant Schnauzer. (14)
• The 81st most nutritious food: carp (18% protein, 6% fat, 0% sugar). (4) 
• The world’s 81st highest paid entertainer: The Rolling Stones ($39 million).  (18) 
• The 81st most popular girl’s name in the U.S.: Willow. (3)

Consequential statistics: Eighty-one percent 

• 81% of white evangelicals voted for Trump in 2016. (11) 
• 81% of Americans are unable to point out the Arab region on a world map. (24) 
• Fossil fuels make up 81% of the energy market. (125) 
• 81% of American voters support reducing immigration levels. (27) 
• 81% of women experience sexism at work. (42) 
• 81% of enrollees in ObamaCare plans are satisfied with their health insurance. (33) 
• 81% of Trump’s judge nominees are male. (10) 
• California uses solar, wind, and hydro power to meet 81% of its electricity demands. (20)
• In 2010 women earned 81% of men’s average weekly earnings ($669 vs. $824).  (7)
• 81% of adults do not read “for pleasure” or on a daily basis. (30) 
• Because of FMLA restrictions, 81% of new mothers don’t qualify for the Family Medical Leave Act. (16) 

This might well be the most detailed information about 81 ever compiled, and it certainly proves that 81 is one of the best numbers ever.  It leaves me in an optimistic mood about turning 81.  I hope that we all have a special year.

Love,

Dave

SOURCES:  (1) 247wallst.com; (2) acog.org; (3) babble.com; (4) bbc.com; (5) bedtimemath.org; (6) billboard.com; (7) bis.gov; (bmj) bmj.com; (8) busineslive.co.za; (9) cbssports.com; (10) chicagotribune.com; (11) christian-research.org; (12) cia.gov; (13) digitaldreamdoor.com; (14) dogster.com; (15) energia16.com; (16) eoionline.org; (17) flowingdata.com; (18) forbes.com; (19) google.com; (20) iflscience.com; (21) imbd.com; (22) kcbi.org; (23) kfyrtv.com; (24) mena.yougov.com; (25) newyorker.com; (26) npr.org; (27) numbersusa.com; (28) nym.com; (29) scoutingwire.org (30)  tdn.com; (31) theatlantic.com; (32) theguardian.com; (33)  thehill.com; (34) thepeoplehistory.com; (35) thesecretofthetarot.com; (36) towardsdatascience.com; (37) travod.com; (38) unitconverter.io; (39) urbandictionary.com; (40) wallethub.com; (41) wikipedia.org; (42) workplaceinsight.net 

Grandkid Interviews

Dear George,

Our NOLA family came last week for a long weekend, and it was a welcome dose of happiness and excitement in the midst of our smothering heat wave.  Our daughter-in-law K had taken V and L on a long road trip to Michigan and was headed back home via Cincinnati, and our son J flew up for the occasion.  As is true each time we see them, the children were older, taller, smarter, funnier, and more accomplished.  L, in particular, has grown 9 inches in the last two years.  The visit went by quickly, but we packed in a lot.  Swimming at Coney Island’s Sunlite Pool, visiting Fiona at the Zoo, “The Ant-Man and the Wasp” at the Cinemark (appreciated more by the youth than the adults), some Wimbledon for the grownups, Skyline Chili, supper at Bronte’s, and ice cream at Graeters.  J did several household tasks I’d procrastinated on and made us a gift of fire extinguishers from Ace Hardware.  The children showed me how to make slime, and I showed V how to do Suduko (she solved the entire puzzle on her very first try).  After the road-trippers set out on Sunday, J and I went to the Terracotta Army exhibit at the Art Museum.  It was totally amazing, and it turns out the archeological treasures were from the same region of China in which our grandson L was born.  J said they would go there as a family one day.    I did do an interview with each of the kids while they were here.  These are some of the things they had to say as they’re nearing age ten.

Love,

Dave

INTERVIEW WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTER V (age 9.8):  

• What is one of your earliest memories as a little child?   Walking up to a man who was sleeping on the side of the road and asking him why he was sleeping there.  
• If you could only eat one thing for a week, what would it be?  Mashed potatoes.  
• What is a food that makes you want to throw up?  Beets. 
• Where would you like to visit someday (that you’ve never been)?  Hawaii. 
• What is one of your best talents?  Art.  
• One word to describe you would be ___?  Loving.  
• Would you say you are more serious or more silly?  Silly.   
• Are you more good-looking or more intelligent?  (pause)  It’s a tie. 
• More brave or more timid?  Brave. 
• More artistic or more athletic?  Artistic.  
• More quiet or more talkative?  (laughs) Talkative.      
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what it would be?  Be better at spelling.  
• What do you think you will be doing ten years from now?  I’ll be 19.  In College.  Where?  I don’t know, but based on a farm and take care of animals.  
• What is something that scares you?  Being alone in the dark.  
• Would you rather give up TV, chocolate, or friends?  (pause)  Chocolate.  
• If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be and why?  My best friend Chelsea.  
• What is something your mom always says to you?  This ain’t my first rodeo.  
• What is something your dad always says to you?   Hurry up.  
• What do you think your parents are too strict about?  Not letting me have a YouTube channel.  
• What is something that makes you sad?  Animal shelters that kill animals if they’re not adopted.  
• Do you like:  
• Horror movies?  Yes.
• Art museums.  Not really.  
• Going to the dentist?  Yes. 
• Flying in airplanes?  Yes.  If it is more than a one plane flight, No. 
• Doing math?  No. 
• Watching sports on TV?  Not really.  
• Quiz shows?  Yes.
• Skateboarding?  Like to watch, like my cousin Ben.      
• Walking the dog?  Not really.  
• Which would you like most?:  To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help homeless people; to star in a Broadway show?  Help homeless people.  
• What animal are you most like?  A dolphin.  
• What do you like to do for fun?  Draw.  
• What do you love most about your brother?  He’s funny.  
• What is one word to describe Nana?  Loving 
• Which do you value most?  Kindness, being smart, being a good athlete, being a leader?  Kindness.  
• How many pets do you have?  Seven.  2 dogs, 1 cat, 4 quail.  
• What are the quails’ names?    Dolly, Anjelica, Eliza, Peggy.  
• If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?   Have all the pets in the world.  Become a teacher.  Always be friends with my best friend.  
• What do you think makes for a happy life?  Pets.

INTERVIEW WITH OUR GRANDSON L (age 9.8):

• What is one of your earliest memories as a little child?  My first word — “mine”. 
• Which would you like most?:  To have lots of friends; to make lots of money; to help children and poor people; to star in a Broadway show?  To have lots of friends.  
• Would you say you are more serious or more silly?  Silly.   
• Are you more good-looking or more intelligent?  Intelligent.  
• More brave or more timid?  Timid.  
• More artistic or more athletic?  Athletic.  
• More quiet or more talkative?  Talkative.    
• Do you like:  
• Horror movies?  No.
• Art museums.  Kind of.    
• Going to the dentist?  No. 
• Flying in airplanes?  Yes.  
• Doing math?  Yes.  
• Watching sports on TV?  Yes.  
• Quiz shows?  Yes.   
• Skateboarding?  No. 
• Walking the dog?  No.   
• If you could only eat one thing for a week, what would it be? Noodles. 
• What is one of your best talents?  Building legos. 
• What is your favorite thing about school?  Math. 
• What is the most difficult thing?  Grammar.  
• How would you describe yourself as a student?  Good.  
• Who is someone that you miss?  Cody, my cat.  
• One word to describe you would be ___?  Smart.  
• What do you love most about your sister?  She’s funny.  
• What do you think you will be doing ten years from now?  Be driving.  Be living alone?
• Will you be married?  No.
• Will you have a job?  Somebody at a cafe.  
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be?  Walk through walls.  
• If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be and why?  Me.  Why is that?  Because I like me.  
• What’s the hardest thing about being a kid?  You can’t make your own decisions.  
• What is something your mom always says to you?  Don’t hurt your sister.  
• What is something your dad always says to you?  What’s up?  
• What is a food that makes you want to throw up?  Broccoli.  And mushrooms.  
• What is something that makes you sad?  Thinking of when I die.  
• What do you value most?  Kindness, being smart, being a good athlete, being a leader.  Kindness.  
• If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?   To live in a bigger house.  Have kids.  To be rich.   
• What do you think makes for a happy life?  Friends and family.  

July Four

Dear George, 

I don’t remember being this glum on the Fourth of July before.  This is, of course, the most patriotic holiday of the year, but there doesn’t seem to be much in current national life to celebrate.  I’m not going to blame it all on the President.  The forces that put him in office — racism, sexism, xenophobia, extreme inequality — have been disrupting American political life for decades.  And we have, of course, lived through equally bad or worse times as a society — World War II, McCarthyism, the Vietnam War era, assassinations, 9/11, etc.  In my more optimistic moments, I find myself imagining that politics have bottomed out, the Republican Party has pretty much destroyed itself, and that we’ll see a revolution of sorts beginning in 2018 and 2020.  We’ll see.  In the meantime, here are few quirky facts to help brighten up the Fourth of July:  

• Jefferson changed the word in the Declaration of Independence from “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of property” to “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 
• 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence were made, but the whereabouts of only 27 are known today.  One was found in the back of a picture frame at a yard sale.   
• The names of the Declaration signers were kept secret for six months since they would have been executed if independence from Britain hadn’t been achieved.   
• Three U.S. presidents died on the Fourth of July (all in a row): John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe.  
• The song “Yankee Doodle” was written by British army officers to make fun of colonial, buckskin-wearing “Yankees”. 
• Miners in Swan, Colorado, blew up the post office in 1884 because they didn’t receive fireworks to celebrate the holiday.  
• Before the advent of cars, the Fourth of July was the worst day of the year for horses because of the noise and of children throwing firecrackers at them.  (Now it’s worst for dogs.)   
• After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, the Declaration of Independence was moved by train to Fort Knox, Kentucky.  It was returned to DC in 1944.   
• July 4th is Americans’ top beer-drinking holiday, accounting for about $340 million in beer sales. 
• Joey Chestnut of San Jose, California, holds the world record for eating 73.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes at Nathan’s Coney Island Fourth of July contest.    
• There is a 42% decrease in air quality on July 4th because of fireworks.
• Malia Obama was born on July 4, as were President Calvin Coolidge, Neil Simon, and Kiera O’Hara.    
• The modern 50-star U.S. flag was created as a class project by Lancaster Ohio high school student Robert G. Heft.  When his teacher gave him a B-, Heft sent his flag to President Eisenhower who chose it for official adoption.  (The teacher changed Robert’s grade to an A.)  
• The vast majority of imported U.S. flags are made in China.  

Love,

Dave

SOURCES: 

www.acei-global.blog, “20 fun facts about the 4th of July/Independence Day” 

www.businessinsider.com, “10 unusual facts you probably didn’t know about the Fourth of July” 

www.cbsnews.com, “Independence Day: Fun facts you may not know about July 4” 

www.cnn.com, “Independence Day Fast Facts”  

www.huffpost.com, “Fourth of July Facts” 

www.ibtimes.com, “4th of July Trivia Facts 2015”

www.list25.com, “25 4th of July Fun Faces That Will Make You Want To Celebrate”

www.purpletrail.com, “Independence Day — 4th of July Trivia & History” 

www.theodysseyonline.com, “15 Fourth of July Fun Face and Trivia”