Couple of ladies at our old-folks boarding house got up a four-handed domino game of 42. Been longer than 42 years since I last played, but I remembered how to shuffle the dominoes, draw seven, set them up so the other three players couldn’t see, and sound my bid. One lady told us how 42 started. God-loving Texas parents didn’t want their boy playing with cards and learning about poker. Or playing Whist, a forerunner
Category: Dick Elam
Boarding House
At the “boarding house” where I now live, they go by a fancier name “senior assisted living.” Like my two previous boarding houses, food is good. While the privileged at my 1950s college days were eating at the fraternity, sorority or team tables, I located a “pitch ‘til you win” luncheon boarding house. Enroute to afternoon classes—-no well-educated senior signed up for morning classes—-I ate at the widow’s food table. She furnished us a bunch
PT-109
This Naval Reserve officer on temporary active duty and his family from Texas, plus some eight thousand others including The Secretary of Defense, Jacqueline Kennedy and her two children, the late President John F. Kennedy’s Mother Rose and some 40 other Kennedy family, national press, and numerous admirals were aboard that 7 September 1968 for the commissioning ceremony of USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier. The Kennedy was scheduled for diplomatic visits to foreign ports. The
End of Conversation
“You’re telling Noah about the flood.” That’s how fellow professor Mike Quinn stopped my narration. “Last time I heard that, I kicked the slats out of my cradle.” Cowboy Bob Westerman after listening to my tall tale. “Won’t Go.” Linotype headline machine printer Fred Barbee explaining why my headline contained too many words. “You ask Dick Elam what time it is, and he tells you how to build a watch.” Fred’s wife Eleanor. “I’m reading the
Weighing In
Professor Ken Byerley told us to “boil the fat out of the copy.” I pass his advice on, and include “Write You, before I, except after ‘Congratulations’ or ‘Thank You’ for opening email sentence.” My children now in their sixties still cringe. They have heard before. But occasionally a newcomer asks old editing teacher to critique. Recent email: Mr. Elam, you are worth your weight in gold! Thank you for your help with this. I
A for Astrology
Thanks to internet, a recent biography of Nancy Reagan and words in the Dallas newspaper, I’m beginning to pay attention to this astrology stuff. I’m a Libra. Googled and read….. Libras are incredibly empathetic and do what they can to see the best in people… Your Libra man is an expert communicator, always knowing the perfect thing to say in any situation to come off as diplomatic, tactful and charismatic. He’ll make you laugh.
Right to Say It
Whatever happened to “I do not agree with what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it?” Not very ‘sociable’ media if you take down what your Facebook or Twitter friend said because you do not agree. Not talking about removing profanity, or libel (laws against publication of ‘defamation’ that I have noted and studied since age 19) or character assassination. Or verified (that varies sometimes) falsehoods. Just talking about censoring
Tutukane
My fondest memory of Tutukane centers on a picture we took in January 2005 when we were visiting Beaufort SC from our home in Virginia. Tutu and Tutukane were also visiting Beaufort, so we met and went walking along the waterfront. At the time, Isaac was 18 months old and Merrin was barely 3 months. To our surprise, Isaac took Tutukane’s hand and they went walking along the water’s edge. For once in our life,
Literary Touchstone
First Lady Nancy Reagan’s recent published biography authored by Karen Tumulty, I predict, will become one of those books that provide footnotes for historical writers for several years to come. Maybe sooner comparisons because Tumulty writes about Nancy’s contribution to Ronald when his memory began to fail. Is this old professor’s opinion a bit biased? Maybe. Author Karen Tumulty and I both edited at the Daily Texan, student newspaper at the University of Texas in Austin. My
Die, For What?
The Senate Minority Leader came to Dallas to speak to Republicans. Southern Methodist University invited Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen to speak at the student’s morning assembly. The Vietnam War was raging. So were some students. Many had protested on the SMU campus. We were warned. Maxine and I sat in row four and watched students fill the auditorium. When Dirksen came to the podium he was greeted with cheers. Applause lasted several minutes. Senator Dirksen raised his