Just Plain Bill

Tape on My Mouth

A recent article caught my eye and resurrected a painful memory:

“Classroom no-no. A San Antonio elementary school

teacher has been placed on leave after being accused of putting tape over a first-grader’s mouth…” *

Can you remember if you had a classmate in school who couldn’t keep his or her mouth closed? He or she was always talking, especially just after the teacher admonished the class to “be quiet!” Well, I was that student.

When I was in kindergarten, my teacher, Miss Dyer, resorted to putting packing tape (before duct tape) over my mouth and sent me out to recess. As you might imagine, my taped trap (sorry, couldn’t resist) attracted lots of attention of the worst kind. Even without the tape attracting attention, my recess time was usually filled with lots of teasing and taunting (and chasing) due to my extra small stature and my inability to keep my mouth shut.

This was often preceded or followed by the proverbial 
"sitting in the corner" which was supposedly designed to curb my unacceptable behavior. 

These events took place in the days before Ritilin, or other drugs prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I certainly would have been a candidate for this type of treatment, but in my days, the "STRSTC" treatment - "spare the rod and spoil the child" was the treatment of choice. 

Guess what I have spent most of my life doing? Teaching and talking - making presentations, while encouraging others to speak their mind, supporting the free flow of discussion in all of my classes.

I meet many who are plagued (or blessed) by always having to talk and talk and talk some more, but I’m never tempted to do what my teacher did to me 70 years ago. Besides, it didn’t help, except for me to be extra sensitive to those who have the need to express themselves, and always have something to say.

*San Francisco Chronicle, 01/23/11. Similar incident reported in Georgia: “An Athens elementary school aide accused of covering a kindergartner's mouth with duct tape to keep the student quiet no longer works for the school district…using tape to keep a child quiet is against school policy...” Athens Banner Herald, 09/26/11

Just Plain Bill

Why Are They Breaking Jimmy’s Windows?

One of my earliest memories as a child is a day when the neighbors were breaking the windows in the greenhouse in the side yard of Jimmy’s house. I was four years old and came running home to ask my dad why this was happening. I had learned very early not to break windows, so this action by many of my neighbors, both young and old, really scared me.

My father told me that this was happening because Jimmy and his family were “Japs.” To a four year old this meant nothing, made no sense whatsoever, and because I had also learned at an early age not to ask my dad too many questions, I just dropped the subject. (My father was extremely prejudiced.)

Soon thereafter, the trucks came to Jimmy’s house, and I never saw him again. Someone eventually moved into that house and the incident, while quite traumatic, stayed buried in my memory - until 1988 when President Reagan signed legislation apologizing for the internment of the Japanese – my friend Jimmy and his family - during the 2^nd World War. Then, and only then, did I connect the two incidents and it was quite an emotional realization. 

I wondered where Jimmy and his family were taken? Most likely they were held at the Tanforan Race Track, in San Mateo, CA, and then interned for 3 years at Topaz, AZ until the end of the war. I also wondered if Jimmy and his family ever returned to Oakland and the neighborhood where we both spent the very early years of our lives.

Spending most of the first 25 years of my life in Oakland, California, I was fortunate to grow up in a community that would eventually become integrated. When the 2^nd World War ended, there was rapid integration as several African American, Asian and Hispanic families settled into my neighborhood. Many had migrated to the San Francisco Bay Area for work with the war effort. This significantly enriched the ethnic mix of my neighborhood and in turn, significantly enriched my life – and I am forever grateful.

At times, I find myself wondering how Jimmy is doing.

Just Plain Bill

Obituary – and a Look Back
Born: January 26, 1938, Died: today!

Once in a while I give the obituary section of our newspaper a passing glance, to see if a friend or acquaintance has recently passed. Just yesterday, I gave it more than a glance when my eye caught the “born” date of one gentleman, as it was the same as the day and year of my birth. It gave me a pause and I wondered that if that had been me, what the obituary details would have included. (Made me think of what I believe Mark Twain said, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”)

I recently celebrated my 75^th birthday, a milestone when as recently as 1987 that was the average life span of a man. My second thought – after appreciating the fact that it wasn’t me in the obituary – is that I’m blessed with still being alive, still having an opportunity to do the things yet undone.

So, I’d better get to my “to do” list, and writing this blog is at the top of that list. My question to you is how are you doing on your “list?” I know for me there have been so many fits and too few starts – and not following up on my ideas, not “shipping,” in the words of Seth Godin, the leading business blogger,* to where it feels absolutely awesome to be sending and receiving through my weekly blog postings  

Once again, you’re invited to join me on my travels, and noting the memories that come to you as you continue to age.  Aging is a beautiful thing – especially when it comes to the alternative.

What’s up your sleeve that’s waiting to be “shipped?”

*To learn more about “shipping,” check this out:

·      Seth Godin: The Truth About Shipping :: Tips :: 99U

Just Plain Bill

Life experiences through the eyes of a “regular” person –

if there is such a thing

“Just Plain Bill”, a radio and TV soap opera, running from 1932 to 1955, has inspired me to write about my “just plain” experiences, and my name just happens to be Bill. The soap opera has been described as “the real-life story of people just like people we all know.” (Wikipedia)

As I continue to age, I thought it would be cool upon reaching 75, to turn my head and look down the “streets” of ages past, to recognize the passing of time and memories past, people I’ve known and experiences that have stood the test of time, of missed opportunities and events to celebrate.

I remembered some early accomplishments, such as putting a pillowcase on a pillow the fastest in a Sunday school class, and playing the Virgin Mary in the Christmas Nativity scene. Not too macho, eh?

Speaking of macho, I had a love of sports from an early age, but soon found I was not very coordinated, lacked basic skills, and was the smallest boy in class.

Regardless of my lack of talent, I enjoyed the camaraderie and team spirit, and a look back shows a somewhat sparse record:

• Played one competitive game of baseball at 13, one competitive basketball game at 14
• Wrestled one match in high school, broke my arm, which didn’t heal straight - been crooked ever since
• Played a few minutes in 4 junior varsity football games, as a 5’ 5”, 120 pound 3^rd string quarterback - after the game was either already won or lost
• Many years as manager/water boy/batboy of high school football team, wrestling team and baseball team (loved getting out of school early on game days)

After doing some growing up with three years in the Marine Corps, I finally realized some athletic success as a young man:

• Coached flag football (league champions), high school wrestling (JV champions), 7 year old’s basketball team, coached tumbling team
• University conference wrestling champion, team captain, most valuable wrestler, and president of athletic society

Reminds me of my favorite book as an elementary school teacher, Leo the Late Bloomer, as I continue to have experiences a little “later” than I might have – and although I’m definitely a senior, those “Late Bloomer” experiences will continue.