Ask Grandpa

My Dad thinks I should follow his example-He’s just a cook.  We don’t live as good as a lot of my friends

whos’ Dads have better jobs.  Am I wrong to want a different job when I graduate?  James.

What do you mean “just” a cook?  We’d all be a pretty sorry bunch if it weren’t for cooks.  I suppose we could graze in a field like goats but I’d sure rather have cooks.  My Dad would have asked you if you brought spaghetti with your whine, but that always chafed me so I’ll skip it and ask you this: Is your Dad happy being a cook?  If he is, more power to him.  Many cooks are very prosperous but maybe that’s not his motovation.  If you don’t think you’d be happy cooking for a living then don’t do it.  I’ve been told by some pretty wise people that you can make a good living doing just about anything (within reason) if you enjoy it and work hard at it.  I never learned to cook so I found this fantastic girl that could and I married her.  Now, if I get up before her and I’m hungry, I rattle a pot and she’s in the kitchen in a flash.  She says I make a mess and ruin her cooking stuff.  The kids used to enjoy my “Slum-Gullion” though—it’s plenty of chilies, potatoes and onions plus anything else I find in the ice box or in a can—It’s always different except for the mess.  Someone said “an army fights on its belly”.  The Marines survive on the four “C’s”.  Cooks, C-rations, Corpsmen (“core men,” Mr. President) and Chaplains.  Cooks and C-rations fill your belly, Corpsmen keep it from leaking out and Chaplains get you re-assigned to the best mess hall ever.  These sayings express the importance of food.  Food is no good without cooks.  Your Dad’s profession is a key to life, I hope you learn to appreciate him.  Unless of course, he makes Slum-Gullion.

Grandpa

Please send your questions to George at gayoung@cox.net

Ask Grandpa

After my bike was stolen, I invented a way to lock up a bike.  Everyone says it won’t work and I can’t get any help making it.  What should I do?  William P.

A complete, accurate answer to your specific issue could be pretty lengthy and wouldn’t be of great interest or benefit to most readers.  So if you send your phone number to Grandpa @ the Villager, I’ll tend to it personally.  What I do think might be interesting though are all the golden possibilities you have encountered to learn some lessons about future experiences you will have: the old saying “trust your neighbors but brand you cattle” speaks for it’s self.  You’ve already learned about petty thieves.  They’ll still be here when you’re older.  They might dress better, but they’ll still be around.  Who says it won’t work”?  Nobody knows if it’ll work `till you make one.  Did you ever read about the history of the Panama Canal?  You should.  The canal “couldn’t be built” for a hundred reasons.  Airplanes, computers, space ships, telephones, the Hoover Dam, gas engines, and on and on couldn’t be built.  Maybe something in your chemistry or math class gave you an Idea that no one else ever applied to locks.  That’s how great things begin.  Maybe you’ll need to change it a little, who cares?  Just do it.  Maybe your idea will end up being a revolutionary dish washer or car battery.  Who Cares? Invent something:

Other things you can expect: after you succeed, everyone will want to “help” you.  Also, the folks that said it wouldn’t work will want credit for your accomplishment.  When your enterprise grows, you will become acquainted with the real world of negative “it won’t work” folks.  Employees, bankers, building permit people, lawyers etc.  Learn to plow around the stumps and create something.  While you’re at it, invent a bike that when a thief or negative person touches it, they evaporate into thin air.  I’ll share your credit for that one.  I’ve been asked why some courses are required in school.  That’s why-you never know when you can use some goony-bird idea you picked up in that “goofy” class.  You’re young and all this stuff is fun if you look at it the right way, keep it up and just do it.  Maybe one day you’ll thank the jerk that swiped your bike for the things you learned from it.  Of course, I wouldn’t want you to forget about inventing the machine to evaporate him.

Grandpa

Please send your questions to George at gayoung@cox.net

My Uncle bought me some fire crackers for Christmas but my mom took them away.  She said I could go to jail for using them.  Is that true?  Michael B.

I don’t know about the jail part, Michael, unless your mom’s thinking you might be planning on purposely hurting someone or something with them.  She’s probably just saying that it’s illegal to set them off in the city, which is correct.  It’s about the dumbest thing I ever heard though.  You can buy them in the city but you can’t use them.  Voters approved the sale of them so as long as you enjoy having some—you can have a barn full—You just can’t use them.  I’m still trying to find someone who voted for it.  I have this old crippled up racehorse for sale they would be interested in.  As kids, we always had fireworks at New Years and Fourth of July.  I imagine it was legal then but I’m not sure.  I know everyone had them though and I can’t remember too many serious accidents.  I started to tell you that we set a haystack on fire with a bottle rocket but I remembered that it was actually a jug of kerosene.  We were trying to burn an ant hill and when the jug accidently caught fire my buddy threw it in some grass which ended burning the haystack.  I suspect that we haven’t passed any laws against kerosene because you don’t see too many haystacks anymore.  But then again, maybe it’s because kids with firecrackers burned them all.  Oh boy!  This is too complicated for me; I’ll just leave it to the lawmakers and voters to cipher out.

An old geezer once said to me “son, it’s a lot easier to plow around a stump that to wrangle with it”.  You might want to consider that advice and take your fireworks out of the city to explode them.  I hope you find a dry spot to do it and wear safety glasses and such.  Also, you might want to practice using your other hand for your chores, just in case you happen to be like my buddy with the kerosene.

Grandpa

Please send your questions to George at gayoung@cox.net.

Ask Grandpa

“My cousins’ school in Scottsdale is nicer than mine in South Mountain.  She says they’re all like that.  Is it because they’re rich?”  -Sara H.

Did the chicken or the egg come first?  Obviously, the average income level is higher in Scottsdale but the question to answer is “WHY?”  Do Scottsdale schools produce more graduates than we do?  Do graduates earn more than drop-outs?  Do students who have enough pride in themselves to work toward graduating have time to deface their school with graffiti and vandalism?  Does that pride allow them to throw trash on the schoolyard or do they pick up trash left by others?  Do these students earn respect by respecting their school property and fellow students?  My Dad used to chastise me for answering a question with a question but since he’s not here, I can get away with it.  If you think about these questions, you will have answered our own.

The bottom line is not about money, it’s about people.  We can have the best school district in the state if we want to put forth the effort to have it.  Most of the kids I’ve met in South Mountain are great kids, the school facilities are adequate and the teachers are dedicated.  So the only things holding us back are the few students that are content to be second class.  It’s up to you.

Grandpa

 Please send your questions to George at gayoung@cox.net

Did parents spend more time with their kids when you were young than they do now?  Matt K.

Generally, I’d suppose so but there are so many different variables involved that it’s hard to be sure.  My folks spent a lot of time with us as did most of my friends’ folks.  We lived where the county hospital is now.  It was a farm when I was a youngster.  Pretty close to being in south Phoenix.  Most parents were involved with their kids’ projects.  Go carts, soap box racers, animals, little league games, school ball games, homework, building forts and tree houses, hunting and fishing and PTA.  When I think of PTA (Parent Teachers
Association), I’m saddened to see that here in our
South Mountain neighborhood the meetings are attended by so few parents.  I’ve heard many reasons (excuses) why this happens but for whatever reason, it’s sure not fair to the kids, or teachers, for that matter.  Most of our folks and teachers knew each other on a first name basis and they worked as sort of a team to conspire against us.  I had a counselor at

Phoenix Union who I knew hated me at the time.  She used to pull me into her office by my ear.  I’m sure one ear is bigger now because of her.  Nothing I did was sacred; she’d actually come to my house and spill the beans in my presence so I wasn’t afforded the opportunity to alter the facts.  I think about her all the time now, not because of my ear, but because of the positive impact she had on our young lives  She’s one of the most dedicated, selfless, sweetest ladies I’ve ever known.  They even recently named a high school in her honor (Betty Fairfax High School).  I think the involvement of our parents and teachers back then must have had something to do with the futures of my close group of friends.  Most are retired now but several are millionaires, a scientist, some business owners, a doctor, and an attorney and politician who should both still get  their ears pulled, a banker and one worn-out blacksmith with a big ear.

Grandpa

Please send your questions to George at gayoung@cox.net.

“My parents want me to study Computer Science but I‘m more interested in cars and racing. How can I change their minds?”   Earl, 7th Grade.

I’m with you Earl, I’d much rather be working on an engine than messing around with a computer. In the 1950’s & 60’s I built and raced some pretty nice cars and boats and actually considered making career of it. If I tried to be competitive in the automotive trade today though, I’d be the biggest loser on the planet. Why? Because I’m computer illiterate. Today, cars are loaded with computers and if you don’t understand them, you’re lost in the dust of those who do.

We had a computer in college that was the size of your bedroom. There were little boards that you needed to stick wires in special spots to give the computer directions and some punch cards that did something else that I never figured out. The goofy professor told us that the contraption was so old that we’d never see one in use but we had to learn how to use it anyway. Lucky for me, I had 1923 Roadster with a chromed out corvette engine that the class brainiack like to be seen in so she got me thru the course. I thought I was pretty slick at the time but looking at it now, I don’t have the roadster anymore, the girl wasn’t that cute and I still can’t work a computer. That doesn’t have much to do with anything, Earl, but the experience sort of makes me think your folks may be on to something.

Your question reminded me of a fellow who worked for my brother on his ranch. He looked like Festus on Gunsmoke and didn’t smell too good. His kid looked like Alfred E. Newman in the Mad Magazine. They said he looked like a speckled taxi coming down a trail with the doors open. Anyway the kid was taking a computer class in Flagstaff and I recall the old man cursing about computers being “just a flash in the pan.” If you decide to learn computers I hope you remember me. I could sure use the help

Grandpa

Please send your Ask Grandpa questions to George at gayoung@cox.net.

Ask Grandpa

“My cousin is smoking crack and threatened me if I tell my Aunt.”

- Gabe.

I wish you had given me more information, Gabe. For example: How old is your cousin and is his threat serious or just talk? Do you live in the same place as him? Without more information I’m only able to generalize but one thing is for sure, I’d stay as far away from him or any of his friends as I possibly could.

You have to weigh the consequences for telling your Aunt yourself and maybe consider letting a school or church official or School Resource Officer know about it. They could keep you out of the picture and handle it confidentially. Having said that, and assuming you’ve already had a brotherly talk with him, I’ll tell you what I’d do: I’d let his mom, my mom and dad, the police and anyone else around that could give him some help know about it. The guy is killing himself! If he was my friend, I’d want to get him some help. Let me tell you what’s next if he continues: His health issues are obvious. He will need to find a method of financing his habit which will lead to petty theft from business, homes, friends, and family. The theft will escalate to robbery and more serious crime. He will go to jail or prison. He will meet individuals in jail who teach him about more creative criminal activities and introduce him to different drugs. When he’s released from jail his only friends will be dopers and thieves so he’ll repeat his old habits and either be shot, over-dose or go back to prison. That’s the short version, Gabe, I’ve seen it happen many times and I’d hate to see it happen to someone I care about. Actually, I hate to see it happen to someone I don’t even care about. I’ll tell you why: People who contribute to any type of illegal activity, be it selling or using drugs, stealing, vandalizing property or whatever are costing your family and mine money and peace of mind. Taxes pay for jails, police and repairs to pubic property. Your parents pay the taxes. Imagine the extra things you could enjoy if your folks paid lower taxes. Imagine the things your school could have or the parks and swimming pools that the wasted tax money would provide. Stores include the cost of theft in the price you pay for your Nikes. So, you see Gabe, your cousin’s habit is really a problem for us all. I wish I was more help in solving our problem.

Please send your questions for Grandpa to George at gayoung@cox.net or to 514 West Sunland Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. 85041

GP

I want to either join a boxing club or take karate lessons.  Which do you think would get me most respect from my classmates?  Michael M.

First, Michael, I wonder what you mean by “respect”?  Today young folks confuse “respect” with “fear”.  Do you want others to look up to you with respect because you’re a good person that just happens to be skilled in a physical art or is your intent to be remembered just as a guy who beat up on everyone?  Hopefully you’re the good guy.  If so, either sport is respectful.  Good coaches stress respect for opponents which is why boxers touch gloves and martial arts contestants bow to each other before a match.  Unfortunately, some really good athletes leave a poor impression of the sport.  Here in South Mountain we recently had a superior pugilist that I had hoped would be a positive role model for our youth.  For some reason he grew a silly looking pony tail, got into street fights, ran around with thugs,” disrespected” the law etc., etc.  I think he’s broke and forgotten now.  Not someone who I’d consider respected.  Remember Spinks and Tyson?  I’d sure fear them—respect? Forget it!  Now, think of George Foreman, Mohammed Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.  They all are respected because they all lead clean lives, speak intelligently, respect others, and in general are just nice people who happen to be very skilled.  Anyway, both sports are great for both your mind and body.  In order to be successful they both require dedication, concentration, heart and a whole lot of sweat.  I’d suggest that you continue your schooling and excel at your studies, choose respectable friends, give your best effort and practice being a good citizen and take up either sport.  I think you will be comfortable and confident knowing that people like (respect) you for who you are and are also aware that you can’t be pushed around physically or intellectually.  We all want to have friends like that.

G.



My Brother just got a ticket for an illegal turn.  The COP was very mean.  Aren’t they supposed to be respectful? Jeremy F.

Yes, officers are trained to be respectful.  But I wonder what you consider to be “mean”.  I assume that your brother is not too old and it’s possible that the officer was only trying to make a lasting impression on him.  The policeman (or policewoman) has probably witnessed someone hurt or killed because of such a turn and was trying to keep your brother from becoming a future statistic.

Obviously, the officer may just have been a jerk, there are some of them out there and we’ve all encountered one at some time or another.

But think about this:  Officers are people just like you.  You have good days and bad days.  You sometimes say things you wish you hadn’t and handle things that you’d do differently if you would have had a little more time to think about them.  I’d bet that you are a good kid and odds are in my favor.  Why? Because most kids are good kids.  How many times have you paid for some other kid’s behavior?  Same as “Cops”!  Most are good people trying to do a good job, they shouldn’t all be judged because of a few.  I also wonder, Jeremy, what was your brother’s first interaction with the “mean cop”?  Is it possible that he pushed the wrong button?  In other words, was a confrontational comment uttered or a rude gesture put forth?  Did he address the officer in a civilized manner?  Just wondering.

We hold police officers to a higher standard and their selection and training is supposed to assure that.  But as citizens, we also have the responsibility to cooperate with them.  Someone once told me that if folks would smile at a “COP” or wave when they pass by and treat them as an appreciated member of our community, the partnership would become like Mayberry.  Perhaps not.  But heck, let’s try it for awhile.

G.

Last month I was answering a question about jobs we had as kids

but ran out of space-so I’ll continue.

Working summers and October round-ups for Mr. Brophy on the

Babacomari Ranch was an experience I wouldn’t trade for

anything. The work was hard but always interesting. I learned

how to repair wire fence, stucco adobe fence, deliver calves, fix

bloated cows, properly use a pick and shovel (believe it or not,

there’s a wrong way), operate equipment and drive a truck, change

big tires, brand, vaccinate and feed livestock, exercise the race

horses—the list goes on and on. I forgot how to do some of those

things (It’s been 50 some years-give me a break). But I

remember the talks I had with Mr. Brophy during work, meals,

swimming and “whiskey runs” to Mexico just like they happened

yesterday. Dad told me that Mr. Brophy was one of the wisest

men around and that I should pay close attention to everything he

said or did. I doubt that a week goes by when I don’t remember

something he told me and wonder what a great place we’d live in if

his advice was common practice. I remember: “Half your life is

spent at work-prepare yourself to do something you enjoy-you

can’t start at the top, do your job better than expected and a wise

employer will reward you accordingly.” “A poor man or a rich

man is still judged by his word, if you keep your word you will be

respected”. “Think about the consequences before you act-if you

want to punish yourself, go sit on a cactus.” (i.e.: quit school,

make babies before you’re prepared, commit crimes, harm your

body and so forth). “Care for your animals, neighbors, tools and

the land and you will prosper in on way or another”. “Don’t do

anything that you wouldn’t do if I were standing behind you”. I

could go on for a spell but you get the idea. Now, I’m going to go

out and paint over some graffiti that some punk put on my wall. I

wish Mr. Brophy could have had a talk with him; it’d sure be a

nicer place to live. GP.

I heard my Dad saying that the city doesn’t have enough money to keep my school open, is this true?  Jimmy H.

You may have misunderstood your Father, Jimmy.  The city doesn’t have much to do with the school budget, although the city is indeed in serious trouble.  Money to run the schools comes mostly from property taxes and Federal money that is tied to enrollment and attendance.  There is also money that comes from the sale and leases of state owned land, overrides, earmarks and so forth.  Did you ever see the guy at the State Fair that has three walnut shells with a pea under one of them and after he moves them around you have to guess where the pea is?  The School Board and State Legislature does the same thing.  Except now, there is no pea.  The City, State and Federal governments are all short on cash and your dad is correct, some schools may need to close for awhile.  If that actually happens, you will still be able to attend class; it just may be at another school and/or will be overcrowded.

You didn’t mention what grade you’re in Jimmy, but this situation is a good example of why you should study Civics (or whatever it’s called now-a-days) when the course is offered to you.  If you learn how things work and pay attention to current issues, you will be able to cast an intelligent vote for those who represent you in government.  If we all kept track of the performance of our representatives and graded (voted) them accordingly you wouldn’t have had to ask the question.  In grade school, a friend of mine was Class President.  He won the election by promising to put root beer and orange soda in all the drinking fountains.  It’s the same now; voters are just as gullible and the promises are just as bogus.  You can help make a change, Jimmy—you just have to be wise enough to not give your money (vote) to the guy with the walnuts and pea.

Gramps.

The great youngsters at Sunland School sent so many questions last month, It’ll be awhile to get through them all so I’d best get cookin:

Did you watch a lot of Television?

Until I was about eight we listened to the radio, I forgot most of the programs.  When TV came out we couldn’t afford one but my buddy got a Magnavox.  Everyone went to his house to watch it.  There were many westerns and family type shows.  It was all clean stuff and “R” ratings weren’t invented yet.  The Monday Night Blue Ribbon Fights were my favorite.  My buddy’s dad, (our idol) was a contender for the World Middleweight Belt and he would explain all the moves to us and quiz us on them afterwards.  We used to make extra money by collecting scorpions & rattlesnakes for a doctor from the Teachers College (now A.S.U.).  He had the first “color TV” and offered us a chance to see it.  It was a regular black & White with a yellow, blue and orange plastic thing in front of it.  Roy Rogers would gallop in from the left as a blue cowboy and change colors as he headed off.

Did you have bullies?

Yeah, we had some, they weren’t as vicious as today and they usually didn’t last too long.  There were many more decent kids than punks and the good kids would step in if someone was being bullied.  None of my friends were bully’s and we were discouraged from fighting at school.  We were usually excused if it was fair and a bully was being straightened out after school.

Boy! you guys and girls are bringing back a lot of memories for me –keep it up.  GP

Our parents complain about our loud music-they try to scare us with “you’ll go deaf”.  Can music hurt us?  Robert and Terri H.

I started to say something about scary parents, but realized that your question is really very serious.  Actually Robert and Terri, if your folks haven’t scared you yet, they should try harder.

Loud noise, including music, can cause something called “Tinnitus”.  People with Tinnitus hear constant noise such as crickets chirping, bells, water running and so forth.  Our company mechanic hears birds singing and has a hard time falling asleep if he doesn’t drown out the racket with his TV.  I hear a buzzing noise that is pretty annoying which may have been the result blaring Willie Nelson, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and a bunch of other folks you probably never heard of.  We played loud music then too and although we didn’t know it could cause Tinnitus, our parents scolded us for being rude.  I remember Pop saying” are you trying to announce your grand arrival?  I could hear you coming block away.” And “What makes you think you’re so important that you assume everyone else in the neighborhood wants to hear what you like.”  My Doctor says loud noise can also cause deafness and the police can issue citations for loud noise-just in case you need another reason to tone it down.

I reckon our folks are a lot smarter than they are scary.

Grandpa

Have a question for Grandpa please send it to me at (gayoung@cox.net) by the 5^th. of the month.

My grandma told me about a class she had called “Home Ec”.  Are there any schools in the area that have such a class?  Suzy B.

I spoke with some very nice, helpful ladies at the Roosevelt School District office and was told that Home Economics, as well as Shop classes were dropped in the 90’s due to budget constraints.

It is really a shame, Suzy, that young folks today aren’t able to take advantage of those classes at a grade school level.  You didn’t mention your age, but when you graduate to high school, they offer what they call food, design and child management.  I think that’s a fancy way of saying Home Ec.  The whole deal boils down to teaching you to be a proficient home manager.  Meal preparation, value shopping for groceries and clothing etc. as well as household budgets are some of the things your grandma probably remembers best.  Having a home manager skilled in these areas is one of the important keys to a healthy, happy, financially secure home.

We had friends over for dinner a few months ago and their daughter (about 22) remarked that it must have cost a fortune.  My wife showed her that it didn’t cost much more than fast food.  Grandma took Home Ec.  Grandpa

I hate English class.  I’m in the 6^th. Grade and can speak and understand English just fine.  What’s the big deal?  Josh S.

It is a big deal, Josh.  Perhaps not now at your age, but I hope you clip this column and rethink your question in a few years.  The reason I say that is because most kids in the 6^th. Grade hates English class.  Later, we find ourselves in situations where we wished we had paid attention in class and had become proficient in grammar and sentence construction.  That situation might be as serious as being considered for a job where the interviewer will select the person they feel is the most intelligent.  Your superior verbal skill could get you the position or a promotion or in a less serious situation, you could find yourself trying to impress a young ladies family.  They probably want the best for her.  The certainly don’t want her going out with someone who sounds like a failure.

My Dad told once, Josh, that “First impressions are important, if you speak like a dope, people will assume you are a dope and you might not get the opportunity to prove otherwise.”

Please e-mail your questions for Grandpa to George at gayoung@cox.net or call 602-243-3162 before the 5^th of the month.  Thanks.