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--seed's (semi)sesquicentennial
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--seed's (semi)sesquicentennial |
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Subject: --seed's sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 17 Sep 07 - 01:58 AM My son, John, invited my wife and me to join him and his girlfriend, Jennifer, this afternoon for a nice dinner and a movie to celebrate my birthday. My birthday had been five days earlier (I'm a 9/11 baby), but he'd been unable to schedule the celebration earlier. I was supposed to dress up for the occasion, so I put on a nice pair of shorts Tomie had given me and a nice shirt John and Jennifer had given me for my previous birthday. I had to wear shorts because my left ankle is cast because I tore my achilles tendon a few weeks ago and It's hard to get jeans on over a cast. We were supposed to arrive at John's house in Pleasant Hill at 4:00 p.m., but as usual, Tomie fiddled while I burned and we didn't arrive until about 4:30. As we pulled onto his street we saw that all the parking places in the parking area across from his house were taken and I remarked to Tomie that someone must be having a party. John came out of his house and directed Tomie to park along the curb above the parking area, and as we parked I saw an unexpected person across the street--Peter Wright, son of my friend and tennis buddyStan Wright, whose memorial service John had attended with me last spring. Peter is men's tennis coach for UC Berkeley and former coach of Ireland's Davis Cup and Olympic tennis teams, and as a junior high school kid used to join his dad and I an another friend in regular Sunday doubles. As he came across the street to greet us, he was accompanied by a beautiful 5 year old girl, whom I thought must be one of the kids John occasionally sits with--children of his college roommate, but he informed me that she was the daughter of one his other friends, a former student of mine who is now a cop in Berkeley. I still hadn't realized the enormity of what was going on until we entered John's house and saw my nephew Tom and his daughter Katy, and as I progressed up the stairs into the living room began seeing all sorts of other familiar faces: Tom's sister Stephanie and her daughter Rose, their parents--my sister Phyllis, and her husband Leon, Tom's son Willie, then coming from the kitchen, Jennifer and Andy Mesones, parents of Bella, the little girl from outside, and Bella's brother Calton--Andy was a student of mine at Berkeley High, a year behind John. Then it started really getting crazy: there were members of my Monday night group: Sally, whose illness I described to the Mudcat in detail, calling on the prayer and good thoughts circle's prayers and good thoughts, Charlie Bond--our leader and lead guitarist, accompanied by his wife Katherine and daughter Annie, Dick White--who still plays the Gold Star banjo I sold him a decade or so ago when I bought my first good openback--aha! this is why I brought the banjo, then Mike Sherman--an old friend who was John's ninth grade English teacher; Dick Riechel, my best friend from college, and his SO Lynnette, and Steve, John's friend, Laurie Wotus, wife of Giants dugout coach Ron Wotus, John's next door neighbor. A little while later Terry Doran came in, accompanied by his wife Lenore--Terry was a coworker of mine for many years at Berkeley High--when I was teaching English and journalism and advising the school newspaper, Terry was teaching photography and advising the yearbook staff. Later on, we traded places on the publications and I started teaching photography, as well. He and I retired at the same time, and he was elected to the Berkeley school board. Later arrivals included Marshall Windmiller, professor emeritus of International Relations who was one of the teachers in my Peace Corps training group--and who John, in his job as a reporter for Channel 2 news, has interviewed several times for background on news stories, and his wife. Meantime, I was directed to the buffet table for barbecued beef and chicken, baked beans, corn on the cob, salad, rolls, etc., and after I had eaten, my son said it was present time, and I started opening cards and gifts--lots of fun ones and a couple of amazing ones--from Peter Wright a "Golden Bear of the Year" award for men's tennis--the Stanley Wright Memorial Award, and from the city of Berkeley, a proclamation declaring Sept. 11, 2007, to be Charles Kratz Day. Really! I was astoounded. It's all because of John's connections, of course, including his friendship with Mayor Tom Bates--and, of course, I didn't know it was my day until five days after it was over. Then someone suggested it was time for music--and Charlie got his guitar, Dick went out to his car to get Sally's autoharp--but neglected to get his banjo, I got my banjo, and we started playing--or I started playing, and they joined me. I started "This Little Light of Mine" but in a senior moment, after once through I thought I was doing "Laid Around." After a chorus, verse, and chorus, I remembered what I had started so switched to "This Little Light," did a couple of verses and three choruses and a couple of breaks. About this time another of the group, our female lead singer Nancy Crowe came in and led us in "The Last Thing on My Mind." It goes on--and I sure drone on, don't I? I've certainly put anyone who hasn't clicked away to sleep--anyway, it was the first real birthday party I've had since I was in knickers in Mason City back in the late 30s, and I'll be raving about it for the next few decades. Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: GUEST,micca aat work Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:25 AM Many Congratulaations, Charles, and many more to come, sounds like a wonderful afternoon of Music and Friendship, those unexpected partys are such fun!! Micca |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: catspaw49 Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:44 AM Aw geeziz Seed.................That story made Ol' Spaw kinda' tear up. What a wonderful thing............and yeah, I know you will be raving about it for the next few decades! Thanks for telling it here as it was a beautiful thing to read in the middle of the night. Let me wish you a happy one as well with a few good words to pass on to Sally who I remember well. And I'm envious of anyone with a son like yours, a terrific thing to do for the "Old Man." Notice too that your first responses are from "Patterson" folk.LOL...(;<)) We're one helluva' family.
Best of the Best to you my friend! |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: John MacKenzie Date: 17 Sep 07 - 04:22 AM Aww Garg you're such a tease, I can think of a couple of words you left out there. One of them is off, and I'm danged if I can remember the other. Charlie, that sounds like a wonderful party, and it's nice to know you have so many friends, and are obviously so loved by them all. How they going to top that next year though? Giok |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work Date: 17 Sep 07 - 05:08 AM Aww bless!! Seed, it sounds like you have one hell of a family! Garg.. keep taking the medication. LTS |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 17 Sep 07 - 07:45 AM geez, nobody so far caught my error: it should have been --seed's semisesquicentennial. of course, it's earlye in the marnin' an' 'tis a wonder that anyone has been oop an' arooon' at all, so I'm not surprised that none of you were conscious enuf to read my drivel with a critical eye--except, of course, Gargoyle--and even he seemed to be talkin' in his sleep or talkin' without havin' slept for the last month. But nice to hear from such old friends as Micca, Spaw, Giok, and Squeaky Liz. Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's sesquicentennial From: Amos Date: 17 Sep 07 - 09:47 AM Quite so, Charles!! What a grand event. As to the grammatical slip, here's a list of where you have been and what you have to look forward to in anniversaries of all sizes: Annual - 1 year Biennial - 2 years Triennial - 3 years Quadrennial - 4 years Quinquennial - 5 years Sexennial - 6 years Septennial - 7 years Octennial - 8 years Novennial - 9 years Decennial - 10 years Vigintennial or vicennial - 20 years Semicentennial or quinquagenary - 50 years Semisesquicentennial - 75 years Variations: Demisesquicentennial or hemisesquicentennial Centennial - 100 years Quasquicentennial - 125 years Sesquicentennial - 150 years Demisemiseptcentennial or quartoseptcentennial - 175 years Bicentennial - 200 years Semiquincentennial - 250 years Tercentennial or tricentennial - 300 years Semiseptcentennial - 350 years Quadricentennial or quatercentenary- 400 years Quincentennial - 500 years Sexcentennial - 600 years Septcentennial or septuacentennial - 700 years Octocentennial - 800 years Nonacentennial - 900 years Millennial - 1000 years Bimillennial - 2000 years Given the rapidly advancing state of prosthesis and brain surgery, we are laying plans for your bimillenial, allowing plenty of lead time for complex coordination of all the friends you will have by then. A |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 17 Sep 07 - 02:24 PM Amos, old buddy. Thanks for all the information. I'm looking forward to the whole bunch of them. Are you the Joeclone who fixed the subject? Also, I've been thinking of you lately regarding your nonpariel songwriting ability--have you created any good songs regarding the current threats to the republic? I'm feeling too much rage and despair to come up with much. I've heard a few songs on Air America, but nothing that'll get the masses marching. Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: Amos Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:05 PM Charles: Alas, I am not a clone. As to songs, I am afraid whenever I put my attention on our large-scale cultural depravity since 2000, I slip into a slough of despond and can download no Muse of any virtue. But, since its you, I will see if I can stir the mush in my brain pan and come up with something. A |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:30 PM Maybe we need a song challenge, Amos. Where is BET to get it going? Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: John MacKenzie Date: 17 Sep 07 - 03:40 PM That's as clear as mud Garg. |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 17 Sep 07 - 06:29 PM ...but it covers the ground (what ground it covers may be a matter for serious academic study). Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 17 Sep 07 - 09:48 PM My dearest Mr. B.Seed
Obviously the clones are not "Pacifica" and they continue to censor....double deletion for your celebratory postings from mine to yours
In the simplest of terms - that even a clone might understand :
It is GRAND to see you are still around - best wishes and good health into the next decade.
Sincerely, |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: katlaughing Date: 17 Sep 07 - 10:28 PM Charlesdarlin'!! Happy Birthday!! Great to have you back!! luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: Amos Date: 17 Sep 07 - 10:45 PM Oh, nicely put, Garg!! LOL!!! A |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: chazkratz Date: 24 Sep 07 - 08:03 PM And to think I could read and understand that post! Thanks, gargoyle. Charles |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: Joe Offer Date: 25 Sep 07 - 02:47 AM Charles, it's been nice having you around all these years. Sounds like a wonderful party. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: --seed's (semi)sesquicentennial From: Big Mick Date: 25 Sep 07 - 07:41 AM This is nothing less than what you deserve, Chaz. I am delighted that my impression of you, built over the years of "knowing" you is the correct one. You may rest assured that your Mudcat family all hold you in the same high esteem that your 3D one does. May the worst day of the rest of your life be no worse than your best so far. Mick |
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