A Beautiful and Majestic Ode

Back in my college days, I needed a "fluff" course to fill out my schedule so I decided to take a Classical Music Appreciation class. Amazingly, the class gave me an actual appreciation for and love of classical music! Imagine that!

A good friend just sent me a link to the video displayed below. It isn't the full fourth movement of Mr. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, but you'll get the idea...this is truly majestic stuff.

Oh, at about 4:00 into the video, you can get a good idea of what I expect to hear as I travel through that "tunnel" many people who've had near-death experiences have talked about. You know, on that last journey when my time here is completed. I've put in my request, someday I'll see if The Big Guy comes through for me.

Now, enjoy the video and watch the faces of the people, young and old alike; it truly is an ode to great joy. Thanks, Ludwig.

Is The American Dream a Nightmare?

Are those Wall Streeters, bankers, movers and shakers really in charge of all that matters in these United States? Does our vote or that letter to your Representative really amount to a hill of beans? Is corporate profit some nasty plan to beat down the middle class?

Being a child of the sixties, I find the Occupy Wall Street movement somewhat interesting. Personally, I can dismiss the whining about college tuition debt and the inability to get a job...no one promised a job to the holder of a BS in (you name the course of study). On the other hand, does 1% of the population control all legislation coming at us from Washington? Did you see the 60 Minutes piece on lobbying and corruption at the federal level of government a couple weeks ago? It was both amazing and disgusting. 

How many elected officials are there because of some inner desire to serve their country? How many are there to line their pockets and insure their own financial security? 

On those angles, I side with the OWS crowd. Things need to change and they must change soon. Change how? There's the question folks. Honestly, it seems rather fruitless to think about or try to do anything about this lack of real patriot leaders. How will we turn this ship 180° after so many years of sailing in the wrong direction? I know, lots of questions and no real answers. 

Below, I'd like to share two videos presenting views that are somewhat different, yet similar. Take ten minutes, watch each of them and comment your agreement or disagreement below. It could be quite interesting and I promise I won't use one of my many pepper spray containers on you if I don't agree. 

> the following video is not suitable for minor children or those with tender ears! <

School Days

After graduating Lutheran High East in 1965, I spent a couple summer months “proving myself” at Concordia College (now University) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They weren’t sure a guy with perfectly average high school grades could cut it in college, so I had to take a summer course to show I could handle it. Mission accomplished, thankfully.



Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI

As it works out, I only completed one year at Concordia, due to a change in direction rather than poor grades. Originally, I had it in my mind to enter the teaching profession. After learning more about what that entailed, I felt it was not the right career path for me to follow. Unfortunately, as is the case with so many 18-year-olds, I had no idea what direction I wanted to head. I enrolled in the Business Administration curriculum at Macomb County Community College in Warren and moved back in with my parents.

Macomb County Community College

A part-time job at Simco Pattern Co. helped pay the school bills while I helped build dies for the auto industry. The time at Macomb CC was good, but being this was 1966-67 the draft for the Vietnam War kept nipping close at my heels. During this period I was married, but that didn’t help my deferment status either.  So, having no desire to take the “walking tour” of Vietnamese jungles, I signed up for a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and entered active duty in March of 1968.

The Air Force years will be discussed in another entry, but suffice it to say that the time spent there qualified me for the G.I. Bill, which would help tremendously with educational expenses after my discharge in December 1971. Actually, the G.I. Bill payments for attending school amounted to very decent income which I used to enroll at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Ah, but the lure of making more money pulled me away from school after just one semester, regretfully.

Oakland University

I didn’t return to college until after moving to the west side of Michigan in search of work. In 1975, I began my employment with Dykema Office Supply in Kalamazoo, moved to Allegan soon after and then enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where I spent two years in part-time general study.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College

This disjointed ramble from one school to another didn’t qualify me for an actual degree, but fortunately the jobs I’ve held did not require a “sheepskin”. Looking back, I enjoyed the various schools and programs, but I do regret not having put together a well-planned journey that would have resulted in a formal degree.