Thursday, June 02, 2005
MARCH AND APRIL....1992
March came in on a Sunday and we had word that my supervisor, Pete, had been taken to the hospital emergency room with a possible heart attack. He was off for a week and had an angioplasty which cleared a 90% blockage in the lower heart. We were all dumb-founded. Pete was one of those guys you would never suspect with serious medical problems. We were all hopeful he could return to work and be OK.
Our daughter-in-law, Barbara, had surgery the same day and also came through without mishap. The date was March 6th. We were happy that the worst was over for both of them. It seemed as if the sky was angry that day. We were working in Eminence, that Friday afternoon, when a terrible hail storm hit the area. I happened to be giving a driving test to a young man in a pick-up. The hail was hitting the roof so hard we couldn’t hear anything. We pulled to the curb and waited until the storm passed by and then drove back to the Court House. The other examiners were watching for us to get back and were concerned because the tornado sirens went off and the hail was intense. Wind damage added more problems and the town was pretty well beat down.
It turned cold by mid-month and we had Jonathan’s birthday supper at our house with his favorite dish, Green Enchilada Casserole. He was 17-years old this birthday. We received a phone call that a friend, Joe Tylke, had tumors in his brain and lungs. We were sorry to hear of it. He and his wife had been in our home Bible study for quite a few years. They were leaving for Chicago for expert advice on how to treat the malignancies.
Bear worked several days burning leaves at Becky’s, George’s lot and our yard. He picked up several loads of rocks to add to a rock wall in our flower garden in the back. It’s very nice and rustic. Bear lost his leg 12-years ago on the 26th day of March…..it still doesn’t seem possible. On the 5th of April, Sam Walton died of cancer. His WalMart empire was to be run by his children and a few trusted business partners. He was quite a legend in our area. The little man who made good and proved everybody wrong with his business practices. Cancer has no favorites.
After working all through the big CDL licensing process, the deadline for grand-fathering in was April 1st. No one was happier than all of the driver’s examiner’s who had the brunt of the responsibility to get them processed. It started January 1st, 1990 and went until April 1st, 1992. We had hoards of applicants, continuous complaining and commercial drivers who tried every way in the book to get by with less testing. Of course, we had nothing to do with the Federal Regulations and it made twice as much work for the examiners. Believe me, had there been an easier way to work through it all, we would have gladly complied. When April rolled around, we were ecstatic. To celebrate, we decided to have a “CDL” party at our co-workers cabin which was on a wooded area outside of town. The very thought of all that behind us, and a party to boot, was like gasoline on a fire. We couldn’t wait.
The day finally arrived on a Saturday and we were all to bring food to go with the grilled meat and drinks provided by the host. I fixed a blackberry cobbler to take and absolutely everyone showed up, ready to celebrate. We had lots of food and all the rest……it was truly a memorable evening with laughter, stories, and the feeling of a big job that was finished. Our merriment went on until the wee hours…..
And then……..we could not imagine “the rest of the story.” The State decided to prolong the grand-fathering until 1994. It is a source of amusement any time the subject comes up between our original group……we are all retired now except for Becky and one other male examiner….but when we get together for any reason, sooner or later, one will mention……the party to celebrate the end of CDL.
On the 18th, Pete had a heart attack and was taken to a Springfield Hospital. We were all concerned because he had not been feeling up to his old self. Little John’s 7th birthday was the next day and Jennifer came home for Spring break on the 23rd. Bear and I left to visit friends at the Lake of the Ozarks for a week-end, later in the month. They had a very lovely home on the lake with two boats and a paddle boat to accommodate their children and grandchildren.
We were told that Pete was doing well but would be on extended leave until he was able to come back to work. We were willing to take up the slack for him….he would have done the same for any of us….and so, April passed by another year……
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
Our daughter-in-law, Barbara, had surgery the same day and also came through without mishap. The date was March 6th. We were happy that the worst was over for both of them. It seemed as if the sky was angry that day. We were working in Eminence, that Friday afternoon, when a terrible hail storm hit the area. I happened to be giving a driving test to a young man in a pick-up. The hail was hitting the roof so hard we couldn’t hear anything. We pulled to the curb and waited until the storm passed by and then drove back to the Court House. The other examiners were watching for us to get back and were concerned because the tornado sirens went off and the hail was intense. Wind damage added more problems and the town was pretty well beat down.
It turned cold by mid-month and we had Jonathan’s birthday supper at our house with his favorite dish, Green Enchilada Casserole. He was 17-years old this birthday. We received a phone call that a friend, Joe Tylke, had tumors in his brain and lungs. We were sorry to hear of it. He and his wife had been in our home Bible study for quite a few years. They were leaving for Chicago for expert advice on how to treat the malignancies.
Bear worked several days burning leaves at Becky’s, George’s lot and our yard. He picked up several loads of rocks to add to a rock wall in our flower garden in the back. It’s very nice and rustic. Bear lost his leg 12-years ago on the 26th day of March…..it still doesn’t seem possible. On the 5th of April, Sam Walton died of cancer. His WalMart empire was to be run by his children and a few trusted business partners. He was quite a legend in our area. The little man who made good and proved everybody wrong with his business practices. Cancer has no favorites.
After working all through the big CDL licensing process, the deadline for grand-fathering in was April 1st. No one was happier than all of the driver’s examiner’s who had the brunt of the responsibility to get them processed. It started January 1st, 1990 and went until April 1st, 1992. We had hoards of applicants, continuous complaining and commercial drivers who tried every way in the book to get by with less testing. Of course, we had nothing to do with the Federal Regulations and it made twice as much work for the examiners. Believe me, had there been an easier way to work through it all, we would have gladly complied. When April rolled around, we were ecstatic. To celebrate, we decided to have a “CDL” party at our co-workers cabin which was on a wooded area outside of town. The very thought of all that behind us, and a party to boot, was like gasoline on a fire. We couldn’t wait.
The day finally arrived on a Saturday and we were all to bring food to go with the grilled meat and drinks provided by the host. I fixed a blackberry cobbler to take and absolutely everyone showed up, ready to celebrate. We had lots of food and all the rest……it was truly a memorable evening with laughter, stories, and the feeling of a big job that was finished. Our merriment went on until the wee hours…..
And then……..we could not imagine “the rest of the story.” The State decided to prolong the grand-fathering until 1994. It is a source of amusement any time the subject comes up between our original group……we are all retired now except for Becky and one other male examiner….but when we get together for any reason, sooner or later, one will mention……the party to celebrate the end of CDL.
On the 18th, Pete had a heart attack and was taken to a Springfield Hospital. We were all concerned because he had not been feeling up to his old self. Little John’s 7th birthday was the next day and Jennifer came home for Spring break on the 23rd. Bear and I left to visit friends at the Lake of the Ozarks for a week-end, later in the month. They had a very lovely home on the lake with two boats and a paddle boat to accommodate their children and grandchildren.
We were told that Pete was doing well but would be on extended leave until he was able to come back to work. We were willing to take up the slack for him….he would have done the same for any of us….and so, April passed by another year……
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
