Picture Tehran, Iran in the early 1970s. The Shah was still in power. The students had not yet taken 52 American citizens hostage at their own Embassy. While there was tension between Iranians and foreigners, it had not yet gotten to the point where it was unsafe for them to be there.
My father , David M. Rush, worked for an aerospace company who had sold helicopters to the Shah’s Air Force. He was assigned to set up a repair and maintenance program for those helicopters with the Iranian Air Force. Since it was to be a long assignment, my mother, Juanita Carr Rush, and the 3 boys still at home (Mike, Jeff and Mark) Continue reading Ali Goes Home Early→
My mother, the infamous Juanita Carr Rush, wanted to get married before she finished high school. Now you young ‘uns don’t act shocked. Back in the day, folks married off early.
Most of my adult life I have engaged in some sort of regular physical activity. The motivation derives from an effort to keep my weight somewhat in check and maintain a level of health. Plus I just plain feel better when I am exercising. This activity has taken various forms over the years, jogging, extended walks, bicycling, or lap swimming.
I was backpacking with my brother Jeff. As one is prone to do in those situations, we were discussing a wide range of topics attempting to solve all the world’s problems. Please just ignore the fact that it was a short two day hike that would barely allow us to get past the first dozen or so.
We were discussing something which for the all the pot in Humboldt county, I cannot recall. I do remember it involved an ethical decision on how to proceed in some circumstance. We rocked on for a couple Continue reading WWNMD→
One story I have shared with many folks over the years is about Aunt Peggy. She had some cards, may still have some for all I know, that she carried in her wallet.
Upon the cards were the words, “I see you smoke, well I chew. If you do not blow your smoke on me, I will not spit on you.”
I never saw her hand it to anyone, but I am betting that she did from time to time. It was certainly a nice, humorous way to get your point across.
My father passed away 5 years ago February 19th. He had a massive stroke back around 1996. He basically cheated death at that time, and my mother always referred to the ensuing years as “their bonus” years. And they were.
Even though he had been in poor health for many years it is still a shock when your partner of 50 plus years dies. My mother was cast adrift in her grief for a considerable period of time. But time is Continue reading The Quotable Juanita→
When I was a young teenager my father had a hi-fi stereo, state of the art. We boys were not supposed to touch it, but of course we occasionally did. In my father’s LP collection was a comedy record that we had been explicitly charged with not listening to…under any circumstances. That ranks right up there with waving the old proverbial red handkerchief at “el Toro”, with telling Brett Favre he should retire, or Mt. Everest beaconing Sir Edmund Hillary. It became a challenge. I had to hear that comedy record.
Outsized would have described my Uncle Sam, Irene’s husband. He had an outsized personality, and he was prone to tell outsized tales of questionable veracity. He was physically a big man. I do not know what his height was, but he always seemed taller than my 187 centimeters. He was a man who loved eat, and his weight showed it. He was just a big man.
Picture Tehran, Iran in the early 1970s. The Shah was still in power. The students had not yet taken 52 American citizens hostage at their own Embassy. While there was tension between Iranians and foreigners, it had not yet gotten to the point where it was unsafe for them to be there.
