Big Apple, Windy City, red-letter day
I've been to New York City twice, the second time having been in May 1973. In Central Park, during that Watergate year, I saw a sign that read:
NO
Roller Skating
Bicycle Riding
Dogs
And you know what? I didn't see even one dog that was skating or biking. Good enforcement there, NYC!
Did you know — WGN, the call letters of that super station in Chicago, both on TV and radio, stands for "World's Greatest Newspaper"? The Chicago Tribune is the only owner the stations have ever had.
Sunday, Sept. 14, was a really good day for me. My grandfather used to write in his diary that he had a "red-letter day." I had one 10 days ago. The Chiefs won, roaring back from a 17-7 deficit in the first quarter at home against the Steelers, to outscore them 34-3 the rest of the way.
I was watching the first quarter here at the office, drinking coffee, intending to go home after the first 15 minutes and watch the remainder there.
I never made it. Well, never is a strong term, but not while the game was ongoing, anyway.
Some friends of mine from Jetmore, Jeanette and Duane Shiew, came in to see me, and we visited for about three hours. They were on a mini-vacation and had spent the night in Lindsborg Saturday (the 13th). They ate lunch Sunday at Gambino's here. They would have asked me to join them, but they did not have my cell phone number with them.
But they stopped by, and it was great. I kidded them that they were responsible for the Chiefs' amazing turnaround and the 34-3 bulge after their arrival here at about 12:45 p.m.
Also, I talked to two of my three living half sisters via long distance, as I always do on Saturday and Sunday with my "free" cellular L.D.
And in the evening, I went to McPherson to hear Gerda Klein, a Holocaust survivor, speak at McPherson College. The news release we received said she would speak at 6:30 p.m. in Jessie Brown Auditorium. I was there about 6:15, but no one else was. Ditto at 6:28 p.m.
I thought "Gee, a Holocaust survivor, and no one cares enough to come to a free lecture?"
Then, leaving the building, I saw a poster that said her lecture was to be at 7:30 p.m. So I left and returned about 7:05. This time, the auditorium was half-filled, and by 7:30, there must have been 500 people or more eagerly awaiting the talk.
She spoke for 47 minutes, and there was many a non-dry eye during her account of the Nazis' vicious cruelty to her and her friends and family.
But she spoke more about the power of love to heal than about the irrational hatred shown and atrocities committed by the Germans during World War II.
She autographed and sold copies of two of her books after her lecture. People lined up in droves to buy the books and speak to her. I told her I admired her very much, and she signed the paperback I bought, titled "All But My Life," — To Jerry, in friendship.
It was published in 1957, then revised a bit and republished in 1995.
Nice lady who has been through hell on earth.
— JERRY BUXTON
