The Happiest Little Graveyard in the World

My favorite attraction at Walt Disney World is the Haunted Mansion.  Funny and (slightly) scary at the same time, it is a classic through and through.  throughout the ride, and even in the line to get in, there are many in-jokes between the imagineers that designed and built the attraction.  Some of the most famous and funny are the tombstones.

There are (at least) 20 tombstones along the line as of this writing.  In the past few years, the line has been refurbished and many more new and interactive items have been added.  Here's a run-down of the tombstones that commemorate actual people.  Those stones that showcase fictional characters will be covered in an upcoming post.

IN MEMORY OF OUR PATRIARCH,

 DEAR DEPARTED GRANDPA MARC

This stone commemorates Marc Davis.  Marc was one of Disney's "Nine Old Men", the famous group of original Disney animators.  He also designed many of the animatronics for quite a few Disney attractions, such as the Jungle Cruise, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean and, of course, the Haunted Mansion.  For the Mansion, he came up with much of the funnier, light-hearted moments, in contrast with Claude Coats' darker ideas.  (More on Mr. Coats later.)

REQUIESCAT FRANCIS XAVIER,

 NO TIME OFF FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, RIP

Francis Xavier Atencio, best known as X. Atencio, was also an animator and imagineer for Disney.  He wrote the scripts for Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion and also wrote the theme songs that play during those attractions.

DEAR DEPARTED BROTHER DAVE,

 HE CHASED A BEAR INTO A CAVE

Dave Burkhart was a model maker for Disney.  He also was a show designer.  One of his biggest projects was the Haunted Mansion.

IN MEMORIUM, UNCLE MYALL,

 HERE YOU'LL LIE FOR QUITE A WHILE

Chuck Myall was an art director and master planner for the Magic Kingdom.

RIP, GOOD FRIEND GORDON,

 NOW YOU'VE CROSSED THE RIVER JORDAN

Gordon Williams was an audio designer and audio-animatronics expert who worked on the Haunted Mansion and many other attractions.

FIRST LADY OF THE OPERA, OUR HAUNTING HARRIET,

 SEARCHED FOR A TUNE, BUT NEVER COULD CARRY IT

The first woman hired to Disney Imagineering, Harriet Burns was a prop and set designer for the Mickey Mouse Club TV show.  She shared a workstation with Fred Joerger (more on him later), and helped him on some of the models of the Mansion.  She also was a "figure finisher", ensuring that the animatronic figures had a "finished look".  She specialized in creating birds, such as in the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Haunted Mansion and in the film Mary Poppins.

MASTER GRACEY, LAID TO REST,

 NO MOURNING PLEASE AT HIS REQUEST, FAREWELL

Yale Gracey started as a layout artist, who specialized in creating illusions, which were important in helping to create the Haunted Mansion.

(By the way, many call Master Gracey the master of the mansion.  This is not correct, as the term "Master" is used in it's original meaning, which is a young boy not old enough to be called "Mister".)

CAMPBELL, HE DIED IN THE FALL, IT'S A FACT NOTWITHSTANDING,

 BUT THE JUDGES ADMIRED HIS FORM ON THE LANDING

Collin Campbell was a background artist for many Disney films and a conceptual artist for many park attractions, including the Haunted Mansion.

FAREWELL FOREVER, MISTER FREES,

 YOUR VOICE WILL CARRY ON THE BREEZE

Paul Frees was famous as a voice actor.  He provided the voice for the "Ghost Host" in the Mansion.  He was also the voice of Boris Badanoff from The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, Mister Granite on The Flintstones, Burgermeister Meisterburger on Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and many, many others.

DRINK A TOAST FOR OUR FRIEND KEN

FILL YOUR GLASS AND DON'T SAY "WHEN"

Ken Anderson was a key animator for many of Disney's classic films, such as Snow White, Pinocchio, The Jungle Book, and others.  He also helped in the development of Disneyland.

WHILE BROTHER ROLAND HERE REPOSES,

HIS SOUL'S ABOVE, ONE SUPPOSES

Rolly Crump was an assistant animator on many Disney films.  He became an imagineer, where he designed many sttractions and shops for the theme parks.

A TRAIN MADE A STAIN OF

ABSENT-MINDED UNCLE BLAINE, REST IN PIECES

Blaine Gibson was a sculptor, who also was an assistant animator for many films.  On joining Disney Imagineering, he returned to sculpting, helping to develop the audio-animatronics on quite a few attractions.

HERE LIES A MAN NAMED MARTIN

THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THIS OLD SPARTAN

I've found two different imagineers that this stone could feature.  Bill Martin was an art director and set designer.  He was also a key planner for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  He became Vice President of Design for WED Enterprises, which later became Disney Imagineering.

Bud Martin was head of the Imagineering Special Effects department while the Haunted Mansion was developed.

REST IN PEACE COUSIN HUET

WE ALL KNOW YOU DIDN'T DO IT

Cliff Huet was an architect and interior designer for Disney, working on many attractions, including the Haunted Mansion.

OUR DEAREST DOROTHEA

Dorothea Redmond was an illustrator before she came to Disney, becoming famous for her work with Alfred Hitchcock.  On joining Disney, she turned to architecture, designing portions of Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

HERE RESTS WATHEL R. BENDER

HE RODE TO GLORY ON A FENDER, PEACEFUL REST

Wathel Rogers created many of the early audio animatronics for Disney.  He created the Abraham Lincoln animatronic for the 1964-65 Worlds Fair and figures for the Carousel of Progress.

HERE LIES GOOD OLD FRED

A GREAT BIG ROCK FELL ON HIS HEAD, RIP

Fred Joerger was a model builder for Disney, who specialized in rock formations used in attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain, Tom Sawyer Island and, of course, the Haunted Mansion.

AT PEACEFUL REST LIES BROTHER CLAUDE

PLANTED HERE BENEATH THIS SOD

Claude Coats, another of the "Nine Old Men", was an Animation Background Painter.  He helped to create the story for the Haunted Mansion, coming up with much of the darker, scarier ideas.  He also created the track layout.

RIP, MISTER SEWELL

THE VICTIM OF A DIRTY DUEL, PEACEFUL REST

Bob Sewell was a model maker, helping to design the Haunted Mansion.

And here's my favorite...

DEAR SWEET LEOTA, BELOVED BY ALL

IN REGIONS BEYOND NOW, BUT HAVING A BALL

Leota Tombs started in the Ink & Paint department for Disney.  Yale Gracey asked her to model for the crystal ball head illusion, in which her image can still be seen.

This tombstone is one of the few that are animated themselves.  Occasionally, the face on the stone will move, it's eyes will open and look around for a moment before it shuts it's eyes and goes back to normal.

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These tombstones are not the only place in the Disney parks where the imagineers are honored (I may have to write a post about the Main Street Windows, sometime.), but they are a fun, funny and memorable way to express thanks to those men and women whose fingerprints are all over these parks that I love. 

Remember

I was listening to a song tonight that brought back quite a few memories.  It's a famous song, sung by a famous man and a group of equally famous (if not even more famous) back-up singers.

In the middle of the song, while the music still plays, the singer tells the story of the origins of the song:

On December 24, 1818, the curate of a parish in Oberndorf, Austria, Josef Mohr,gave a poem that he written to a friend of his, Hans Gruber, who was also the choir master and organist in that church. He asked Mister Gruber if he would write music for his poem and that he might write it for two solo voices and guitar accompaniment. Because the organ being broken, he desperately wanted music being part of their Christmas Eve service. Mr. Gruber wrote the melody to a song which has become the most beloved of all Christmas carols. Stille Nacht, in English, Silent Night. Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh. Sleep in heavenly peace.

 The singer was John Denver and his "back-up" was the Muppets.

The speech in this live broadcast is slightly different than on the album.

I was reminded of a Christmas as a child.  One year, our church decided to have each family do something during the Christmas Eve service.  Some performed skits, others sang.  My mother, myself and a friend decided to sing Silent Night, with me quoting this speech in the middle.

I was no older than 10 years old, but this was not my first time speaking in front of this congregation.  I'd starred in many Christmas plays by this time and had played in the band each Sunday.  (It was the Salvation Army, after all.  They get you playing second cornet at birth.)

It was my first time that I remember speaking German.  I'm sure I massacred the pronunciations, especially since we were just copying what we thought we'd heard on the record.  I didn't actually read the German lyrics until I was in high school German class, at least 5 years later.

I remember a few other things about that night.  I remember setting my hair on fire when I held a candle a little too close when I turned around.  I remember one older member of the church, which we called "Anna Blue" (I can't remember if that was her real name or not, but that's what I remember calling her.).  She used to play tambourine at every service.  (Again, it's an Army thing.)  Imagine Silent Night with a tambourine.

Christmas is about remembering.  Sure, you can remember the great food you ate each year at Grandma's house or the cool KISS guitar you got one year or how you had to tie the tree to the wall to keep the cat from knocking it over.  It's good to remember all of that.

But also remember the baby in the manger.  The One of whom the angels sang "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men." The One who grew up and taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and taught us that everyone, even our enemies, were our neighbors.  The One who gave up His life so that we could live with Him forever.

Christmas is about lights.  It's about food, family, and memories.  It's about carols and gifts.  Remember the gift that Christ gave to us: Himself.

The Forgotten Disney Statue

At the Disney parks, there are many statues.  Of course, there are the characters.  Snow White (and the seven dwarfs).  Ariel, the Little Mermaid.  Belle and the Beast (and Gaston).  Of course, there is Mickey Mouse.

One famous statue including Mickey is the Partners statue.

Partners

 This statue has been placed at Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom in Flordia, Disney Studios Park in Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland.  It shows Walt Disney, holding Mickey's hand and gesturing toward the park, as if to say "Look at what we have done."

While I love this statue and have taken many pictures of it (and would love a small version of it for my house.  Hint...hint.), this article is not about it.  I have another statue, much more overlooked, in mind.

Sharing The Magic

This is "Sharing The Magic".  It was created by the same artist as the "Partners" statue, Blaine Gibson.

"Sharing The Magic" depicts Roy O. Disney, Walt's brother and business partner.  While Walt was the dreamer of the duo, Roy was the one with the mind for business.  He was the one who would find the money to make Walt's dreams come true.  Without Roy, Walt's legacy would be much diminished.

As depicted in the statue, Roy is...well, I'll just leave a quote by Gibson himself.:

“Roy is sitting back in the bench which indicates he was there first and Minnie came to him, not that he came up to her to ask why she was sitting down and not working or coming up to harass her...Also he is holding her hand underneath so he is supporting it, just like he always supported Walt’s dreams. Roy was very underrated.”

 In 1966, Roy was in the process of retiring.  He was 73 years old and the Disney company was now at a very financially stable time, having just released the classic Mary Poppins.  Then, on the 15th of December, 1966, Walt Disney died of lung cancer.

Roy quickly halted his retirement plans and took over the company, finishing Walt's last and greatest idea, then known by many names, such as "The Florida Project" and  "E.P.C.O.T."   Not the EPCOT we have now, but something much larger.  The "Florida Project" came to be called, at Roy's insistence, "Walt Disney World".

The "Sharing The Magic" statue was, until recently, located next to the flag pole in Town Square on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom, about the same spot where Roy stood during his dedication speech for the park.

The statue now is located in front of  City Hall, still in Town Square.  It is off to the side, easily overlooked, much like Roy O. Disney himself, who stayed out of the limelight in order for the dreams of his much more outgoing brother to become reality.

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I'd like to thank Jim Korkis, an author and Disney historian, whose writings introduced me to the 'Sharing The Magic" statue.  Just like many others, I'd walked tight by it without a second glance.  Mr. Korkis' article on the statue (one of many) may be found here.

Disney Trip (And Half Marathon) 2015

My wife and I went to Walt Disney World for vacation, and also to run in their half marathon, held during Marathon Weekend, which is usually the second weekend of January each year.  Marathon Weekend starts on Wednesday with the Sports and Health Expo, a 5K race on Thursday, a 10K on Friday, a Half-Marathon (13.1 miles/21.1km) on Saturday, and a full Marathon (26.2 miles/42.2km) on Sunday.

We decided to only run the half marathon because we're only half crazy.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

We left home and flew out of Grand Rapids airport.  There was a snow storm heading in and it was only 7°F (-14°C).  So glad I was getting out of that.  We had a short layover in Atlanta (got some Popeye's chicken), then off to Orlando, where it was 66°F (19°C).

After checking in at our resort hotel (Disney's All-Star Music), we caught the bus to the ESPN Wife World Of Sports Center.  That's the location of the expo and where we had to pick up our race gear.

Back to our resort to drop off our stuff.  Did I mention they upgraded us to a king-size bed?

Then off to do some shopping at Downtown Disney.  Got some gifts for family and then got lost trying to find where the buses pick us up.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

Our second day, we decided to go to my favorite park, EPCOT.  

Here, we did a number of rides: Spaceship Earth (seen behind us in the above picture), Mission Space (the green, less-thrilling side.  My wife can't handle the orange side.), Soarin' (how come I always get stuck at the top?)

We stopped for lunch at Sunshine Seasons, only because it was close.  We had never been there before and didn't know what to expect.  I needn't have worried.  I had spicy fish tacos, which were great.

We met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, & Dale.  Everyone was making fun of me.  I was wearing just a t-shirt (it was about 47°F/8°C).  Everyone else was wearing winter coats.

On to more rides, after a stop at Starbucks.  The Seas with Nemo, Turtle Talk with Crush.  Then into the World Showcase section of EPCOT.  

While walking into the France pavilion, we ran into Mike Scopa and Michelle Scribner-Maclane of the Mickey Miles Podcast.  They are two of my inspirations when it comes to running, so I'm geeking out.  We talk for a bit and then leave them.

We listened to the Voices of Liberty in the American pavilion.  Karamel Kuche in Germany and get a caramel apple and caramel covered rice crispy treat.  I'm in heaven.

To the Morocco pavilion for dinner at the Tangerine Cafe.  I got a kefta wrap and my wife got chicken shawarma.  Both very good.

Back to our resort by 7:30.  we're both asleep before our heads hit the pillows.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9

Day 3. Off to Animal Kingdom.  Waiting in line for the bus, a lady with a huge southern accent says to her kid that she got a pic with the giant "S" (from the "All-Star" sign). It sounded like she said "ass".  I couldn't stop laughing the entire bus ride.  Yes, I'm a 40-something middle school kid.

We arrive at the park before it opens.  I'm third in line.

We get in and my wife stops at a kiosk to get a "Wilderness Ranger Guide".  Before they give us the book, they make us 'caw" like a bird and "roar" like a lion.

Then to some rides.  Expedition Everest.  Dinosaur (I hate this ride.)

We walk through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where there are many animals, including giant fox bats.  Do you know why bats hang upside down?  They have no ankle bones, so they can't stand up.  (A little trivia for ya.)

Finding Nemo: the Musical.  We sit almost at the front.  It's a very good production.

As we leave the show, I got a phone call from my grandmother and grandfather.  They live down in Florida and want to meet up with us.  They ask us to make reservations at the Tusker House restaurant, which I get the last availability.  When I let her know the time, my grandmother says that they can't get there in time, so my wife and I go to lunch on our own.

The Tusker House is a character lunch, where we meet Donald, Mickey, Daisy, and Goofy.  It serves African food.  I'm running out of words to describe how impressed I am by the food on this trip.

I'm sitting by a window.  After Goofy has his picture taken with me, he starts knocking on the window to get peoples attention outside.  He also kept making fun of Mickey, who was in front of him.  We were having a great time.

We found my grandparents and decide to do a few shows.  It's Tough To Be A Bug.  Kilimanjaro Safaris.  Festival Of The Lion King.  Flights Of Wonder.  My wife and I get our picture taken with Mickey and Minnie.

We need to get up early in the morning, so we have to say goodbye to my grandparents.  We're back to the resort by 5:00 and in bed by 7:00.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

It's 2:00 AM.  Why am I up this early?  Oh, yes.  The race.  The real reason I'm here.

We catch a bus at 3:00 and are in our race corrals by 3:30.  The race starts at 5:30.  (Yes, we had to get there that early.)  It's very cold, about 35°F (2°C).  Sean Astin (Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings movies) is racing today, as well.  That's cool.

The race starts at EPCOT, goes to the Magic Kingdom and then back to EPCOT.  During the race, I run into Lou Mongello of the WDW Radio podcast, another of my inspirations.

Running through the Magic Kingdom is a thrill.  As we get ready to run through the castle, we see Elsa, Anna and Kristof, from Frozen.  I yell out, "I love you, Elsa" as we go by.  She says she loves me too.  Everyone around laughs.  My wife just rolls her eyes.

The race is half over and I'm running out of steam.  I slow down, slower than I wanted.  But I still finish.  My finish time is 3:33:04.  I'm 20224 out of 22081 finishers.  I'll take it.

Then back to the resort for a nap.

After an hour nap, we return to EPCOT.  Back to the France pavilion, we get a Grand Marnier Orange Slush and a Grey Goose Citron Vodka and Lemonade slush.  Yummy!

After drinking, we need food.  So off to the Norway pavilion, to the bakery.  I get the school bread and my wife gets a troll horn.  How do you describe school bread?  Think of a dinner roll, topped with sugar and coconut, and a pat of creamy butter.  Sound disgusting?  It's actually really good.  And a troll horn is just a cream horn pastry, filled with the creamy butter filling, not sugary cream.

While we eat. we see a duck walking around.  We throw over a piece of school bread to him.  We've made a friend.

Got any more school bread?

More walking around the park.  We get our picture taken with Donald and Duffy.  (Duffy is Mickey's teddy bear.)  We go to Club Cool, which is a Coca-Cola store, where you can try Coke products from around the world.  The most famous (or infamous) is Beverly, an aperitif from Italy.  It's very bitter, but I like it.  (You can find videos of people trying it on Youtube.)  I try talking some kids into drinking it, but there are no takers.  Obviously, these are some smart kids.  I need a dumber audience.

Dinner at Tokyo Dining in the Japan pavilion.  Tempura and sushi.  The service is exceptional.  The food is great.  (I prefer my local sushi place, though.)

The sun has set and it's getting cold.  It's been a long day and the drunks are coming out at EPCOT.  it's time for bed.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Off to Disney's Hollywood Studios.  On the bus, it's just me, my wife and a bunch of teenage Brazilians.  I wish I knew Portuguese.  (I say this on Facebook, and my cousin starts recommending phrases.  I know enough to not say any of his recommendations.)

The full marathon is happening, which goes through each of the 4 parks.  So we're pretty much stuck on one side of the park for the morning.  We do Aerosmith's Rock N Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Walt Disney:One Man's Dream.

For years, my wife has wanted to see the Beauty & the Beast show, so we do.  Now she says that our local high school did a better job.

Great Movie Ride.  Star Tours.  Watched the Jedi Training Academy.

Lunch at the 50's Prime Time Cafe.  The pot roast is awesome, much better than mine.

MuppetVision 3D, We catch a show of Mulch, Sweat & Shears (a roving rock band), Voyage of the Little Mermaid (Ariel has D-shells, not Seashells.  There's the middle schooler.)

Pictures with Mickey, Mr. Incredible & Frozone from the Incredibles, Hiro & Baymax from Big Hero 6.

He's so squishy.

The park begins to close, so we go back to our resort for dinner.  In our room, there are no towels, so I go to the front desk to get them.  Back to the room.  We realize we've lost the booklet we need in order to get back to the airport on Tuesday.  So back to the front desk to get a replacement.  (Turns out we'd packed it and it was in our suitcase.)

MONDAY, JANUARY 12

Up early.  Magic Kingdom day.  We have reservations at the Crystal Palace at 8:00 am.  The park opens at 9:00, so we're able to get some pictures before there are thousands of people.

See?  Try getting this few people in a picture like this.

The food at Crystal Palace is good.  It's your normal breakfast buffet stuff.  It's also a character breakfast, with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet.

By the time we've finished eating, the park is open.  We ride the Jungle Cruise (If you sit by the boat pilot, he'll make fun of you the entire ride.)  Pirates of the Caribbean.  Enchanted Tiki Room.  it's A Small World.  The newest ride: The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  It's one of the best rides around.

My favorite ride, though, is the Haunted Mansion.  I'm a little morbid.  After the ride, we stop at the Haunted Mansion store, Memento Mori, and get some spooky pictures taken.  (I'll try to find a way to post them some day.)

Lunch at the Columbia Harbor House, for some fish and chips and a lobster roll.  Not bad.

It starts to rain.  Everyone scrambles for cover, but we just keep walking in the rain.  It gets a little heavier, so we buy an umbrella.  (Surprisingly, it costs just as much as one would have cost back home.)

We get our picture taken with Mickey.  This makes at least one picture with Mickey each day.

Then we also meet Tinkerbell.  I've never met anyone who could out-talk my wife.  Until now.  Holy Crap, Tink could talk.

You'reFromMichigan?YouMustBeIceFairies!MyCousinIsAnIceFairy......

I know how much my wife loves Beauty & the Beast, so I suggest Enchanted tales with Belle, which is where the story is acted out by people chosen from the audience.  Yeah.  Guess who was chosen to be a guard.

By the time we get out, the rain has increased so much, we need to buy a second umbrella.  The park almost seems empty.  So we're able to get on rides easily.

Space mountain.  Tomorrowland Transit Authority.  Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin.  (I got a perfect score of 999,999.)  Winnie the Pooh ride.

Dinner at Be Our Guest restaurant.  Awesome food.  Awesome decorations.  We ate in the grand ballroom, which was my wife's favorite room.  I wanted the West Wing, which is darker and cooler, in my opinion.

After dinner, we walk toward the front of the park.  It's getting late and we're wet and tired.

We had a little extra money on our gift cards, so we blew it all on gifts for the family.  For me, it's actually difficult to spend money at Disney.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13

A sad day.  Time to come home.  When we leave Orlando, it's 63°F (17°C).  When we land in Grand Rapids (after a layover in Minneapolis), it's 12°F (-11°C).  Can I go back now?

Looking Back: 2014

It's the end of 2014.  It's that time of year when we look back at the past 365 days and remember the good and the bad things that happened.

This year has been a doozy.  We've had missing airplanes and Nigerian girls. Shootings and riots. Ebola scares and elections. Abuse by NFL players and NBA owners. ISIS. Ukraine. Re establishing relations with Cuba. North Korea and The Interview. 

We've had quite a few deaths this year. Actors Robin Williams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Kiel and Richard Attenborough. Actresses Joan Rivers and Lauren Bacall. Musicians Joe Cocker and Tommy Ramone. Comedienne Jan Hooks. Artist H. R. Giger. Wrestler the Ultimate Warrior. 

Personally, it's been a rough year. I've lost a job, gained one and lost it again.  I've helped one kid move into her own apartment and another move to college.  I've stretched out the distances of my running. At the beginning of the year, the farthest I'd run was a 5k (3.1 miles). In May, I ran a 10k (6.2 miles) and in October a half marathon (13.1 miles/21.1 km). I've been planning a trip for Disney World to run another half marathon. (That trip is next week.)  I've reconnected with old friend, moved on from others and have made new friends around the world.

It's at times like this that I look back over my life and try to think of what I'd do differently.  Would I make those same decisions if I had them to do again?

I've had a few regrets in my life.  I should have stayed in college when I was younger.  I went for two years and then dropped out, because I wanted to be with some girl.  (OK, I married her and we're still together, but I should have stayed in college, and not spend my tuition money on an engagement ring.)

I should have waited to get married and have children.  (Not that I regret having my wife and kids.  I love them more than they'll ever know.  I just think I should have waited until I was more mature.  However, now that they're moving out and I'm still fairly young, I can enjoy them as adults and friends.)

I should have done whatever it took in order to keep my job.  (Not that I liked that job.  I hated it.  It actually caused a lot of depression issues.  I was nearly unbearable to live with because of those issues.)

Maybe what I'm saying is that we need to live without regrets.  Even those things that I regret having done (or not done) have become positives in my life.  I didn't finish college, but I married the love of my life.  I married early, but have a longer lifetime to spend with her, my children and possibly grandkids.  I lost a job, but I was miserable there and now have an opportunity to grow and be happier.

When I'm gone, what will my family remember of me?  Will they remember that I didn't have a degree?  Will they remember that I was unemployed for most of a year?  Will they recall that I was only 20 years old when I got married and my wife was only 17?

Or will they remember me as a loving husband?  A caring father?  A loyal friend?  Someone they could depend on when they needed me?

Try to think on how you want to be remembered and once you've found that out, do your best to live it.

I might not be world famous and be mourned by millions, but it's more important to me that those whom I love remember me well.

Happy New Year to you all.  Live to make 2015 a year to remember.

The Eyes of the Enemy

The disgustingly holy light had finally faded.  Unblessed darkness returned and shadows fell across the field.  The pitiful ones to whom the message had been given had all gone.  Only I had remained.  I had stayed in the corner of the field, hidden in those shadows.  I had to think this out.

I thought I knew how my Enemy worked.  This war had gone on long enough and the plans were always the same.  But this message was something different.  Uncertain, I began to walk toward the place, the little town referred to in the message.  It wasn't far.

How was this time going to be different?  What was His plan this time?

Up ahead, I saw the place.  It was just a cave, used to keep the animals out of the weather.  A dirty, wet cave.  Could I have heard the message wrong?  No, I could see the guard standing next to the cave's mouth.  This was definitely the place.  Inside that cave was the One the Enemy had promised so long ago that He would send.  At least, that's what the message had stated.  I left the shadows and walked toward the cave.  Immediately, the guard saw me.  He chuckled as he said, "I was wondering if you would show up.  Go on in."

This had to be a joke.  The One that I had been warned about for millennia was in this cave and now I was being invited in to see him, as if I was there to enjoy a cup of coffee with my neighbor.  I must have had an incredulous look on my face, because the guard laughed.

"We have no worries about you any more.  You have no power here.  There's nothing you can do."

We'll see about that.  I knew I still had my power.  I've had it since the beginning of time.  I will always have it.

I walked into the cave and the stench of animal dung hit me in the face like a brick wall.  Again, I thought this had to be a joke.  Why would the Enemy send His warrior here?  A smelly, dirty animal pen.  And send him as a human baby?  Ridiculous!  I'd kill him before he could take his first step.  I'd kill him tonight.  They never should have allowed me to find out where he was.  Making that announcement in public was a big mistake.

My eyes adjusted to the dark and I looked around.  I saw them at the back of the cave.  There were two more guards, unseen by the others, standing next to the trough where the animals would feed.  In front of them knelt a number of people, the shepherds that had been in the field I had just left.  Also, there was a man and a woman, obviously the brat's parents.

I entered, unseen by the humans, but noticed by the guards.  They looked at each other, grinned as if enjoying a joke, and looked back to me.  One nodded, acknowledging my presence, and invited me closer.

I approached and saw the baby.  He was asleep.  He looked just like any other child of a human.  Nothing spectacular.  Extremely fragile.  This was going to be easy.  None of the guards had any weapons that could harm me.  I knew this as fact.  I was once one of them, the greatest of their number.  Only the Enemy alone could defeat me.  He couldn't stand the fact that I wanted and deserved to have a share of the glory and power.  So I was banished, myself and my followers, a third of His army.

"We were told you might show up.", said one of the guards.  "Come and see.  You'll be surprised."

"I am surprised.", I said.  "I'm surprised that He's done this.  I thought He didn't make mistakes.  No human can beat me.  Not even Michael, the greatest of your warriors could.  If I wanted to destroy that baby, there's nothing either of you could do to stop me.  That's why I'm here.  Stand back."

I reached down into the feeding trough to grab the child when he awoke.  Good.  I wanted to hear his cries when I allowed him to see me.  But he didn't cry.  The child actually laughed when he saw me.  It was then that I looked into his eyes and saw my doom.  I looked and saw the eyes of the One who had banished me, the eyes of the only One who could defeat me.  I knew then what my Enemy's plan was.  I had no way of stopping Him.

My scream could be heard from my realm all the way to the Enemy's throne.

*****

Merry Christmas

1984

Recently, I was rereading George Orwell's classic 1984. I say rereading because it's not the first time I've read it. I don't remember how many times I've read it, but I do remember not reading it in school, when I was supposed to read it. Yep. I'm a scholar and a rebel.

Even if you've never read 1984, I'm sure you have heard something about it. Even if you only have heard the phrase "Big Brother is watching you". Basically, it's the story of one Winston Smith, a member of the Party living in London, Oceania. (Oceania consists of North and South America, England, Australia and part of Africa.). The Party (the government or Big Brother) controls every aspect of life. Citizens are continually watched. Even their very thoughts are monitored. Winston meets up with Julia, a girl in the Anti-Sex League and they both decide to join a movement against Big Brother. Antics ensue (and not funny antics).

This time while reading, I paid more attention to the technology behind the world Winston inhabits. I wondered how easy it would be (now 30 years after the books setting and 66 years after it was written) for the government to do the things mentioned in the book. 

Now, before I go on, I want it made known that I don't believe in conspiracy theories that the government is doing all these things. Anyway, this article isn't about whether or not it's truly doing these things, only if these things are possible. No conspiracies, only possibilities. 

Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, which is what could be called the media of Oceania. His job is to rewrite news articles which are found to be in error by the government. For example, at the beginning of the book, Oceania is at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia. During the story, the alliances change and Oceania is at war with Eastasia and allied with Eurasia. Winston's job is to rewrite every article and book written since the war began, changing "Eurasia" to "Eastasia" and vice versa. Then all "incorrect" copies of the books and newspapers are destroyed and reprinted with the "corrected" information. 

Would this be possible today?  The answer is turning more and more closer to yes every day. 

At one time, even during the writing of 1984, this would have been near impossible. It would have meant collecting and destroying every copy of every book ever printed, millions of books per year. However, with the invention of the e-book, it becomes much easier. Your average person does not have a physical copy of the book, just downloads the information, which is stored in a single computer server. That info can be easily edited, so that those who read it will download the updated, "correct" version. 

Another item I noticed was that citizens in Winston's world were under constant surveillance. There are cameras everywhere in his world. How about ours?  

It depends on where exactly you live.  In larger cities you're on camera quite often  I've recently read an article that states we are seen on camera more than 75 times per day.  And that was written 7 years ago.  I'm sure the number has risen since then.  There are cameras at street lights, on buildings, at ATM's, on buses, in taxis. Everywhere.

And those of us who live in smaller towns aren't safe from scrutiny either. The next time you're at the grocery store, look around at how many security cameras are attached to the ceiling. You may be surprised. 

Continuing with that idea, in Winston's apartment, he has what's called a telescreen. It's like a television, except it broadcasts, as well as receives signals. During morning exercises, Winston is yelled at by the instructor on screen because he isn't touching his toes. She sees him as well as he sees her. Do we have this?

Yes. We do. 

Sitting on top of my computer monitor, there is a camera, no larger than a postage stamp. While I have control of when that camera turns on, all one would have to do to control it would be to bypass my system firewall (which really isn't a difficult task).  Even my phone has a camera.  Two cameras, if you want to be specific: one in front and one in back.  If a government were to mandate that I give it control of my computer or my phone, they could very easily turn my webcam on and find out what I'm doing. (No one really wants to know that.)

I mean it.  You really don't.

I have one more item to mention.  However, it's not mentioned in the book, but I thought about this and I think it's worth mentioning here.  In the book, Winston and Julia leave the city and go out into the country in order to be able to get away from the all-seeing cameras and from having their every movement scrutinized.  Today, it's getting harder and harder to do that.

On my phone, I have an app I use when I run.  It tracks my movements and tells me, down to the closest meter (or yard for you American readers), where exactly on the planet I am.  If I can use this to find out where I am, I'm sure Winston's Big Brother would use this technology to track its Party members movements.

My latest run.

Again, I'm not writing all this in order to say "The Government's watching us!  We're living in the world of 1984!"  I'm just writing this as a thought exercise.  Could the world of 1984 be possible?  I think that's a strong YES.  We need not be worried about it, though.  Alert, but not worried.