“Are They Really Ready for School?”

by

Gerry Niskern

I’m sure you’ve seen them. Who could miss the must have for school lists in magazines and newspapers?

According to the experts, the young ladies need the new see through backpacks for their books. The kind with wheels would be even better. And remember their jean jackets don’t have the stone washed look this year, but anything with a fringe works!

Speaking of clothes, the boys favor the cargo pants, with at least fifteen pockets, including one across the rear. The shirts must be a popular brand their crowd is wearing, s and get ready to dig deep for a pair of the latest in footwear.

Of course, you could have one of those kids who waits to see what everyone else is wearing. Then you and the child are hitting the mall in the evening during the first week of school when she should be home hitting the books.

Dressing like your peer group in school has always been important to a student. I remember when new kids came to Phoenix Union High. If a young man from back east showed up in shirt, tie and dress slacks, you can bet he came back the next morning in Levis and the mandatory white tee shirt. Eastern girls came in nylons the first day, but wore bobby sox from then on.

The basic school supplies were pretty much the same between east and west. Now the choices are mind-boggling. If you are picking up a Nike binder for your child, you should know if the instructor requires the contoured, zippered or ensemble style. Of course, iPads are a must and don’t forget how handy a pager and cell phone can be. Your student needs a new cordless mouse for his computer and separate phone line, for research, of course!

. The other day I saw, among some school supplies, a key ring displaying the temperature, time and it even had an alarm. I guessed the alarm was to wake you up when math class was over. The first-graders weren’t neglected. They can find personalized pencils in sets of four with a choice of over 200 names.

Kind of makes you yearn for the days when getting ready for school involved a simple trip to the corner grocery for a Big Chief tablet and a #2 pencil, doesn’t it? And remember the lunch pails? I had a pretty orange one with my name scratched out in block letters across the lid.

Ken used to say that all he ever needed was a paper sack for carrying his fried egg sandwich.

“Grandpa’s Points of Interest”

By

Gerry Niskern

When my dad moved our family to Arizona it was quite a change from hiking the green hills of West Virginia to the exploring Sonoran desert of Arizona and the wonders of the northern part of the state.

When my dad became a grandfather he was in his glory. He had four grandsons, each a year apart and two granddaughters, youngest and oldest. He loved to take them on excursions throughout the state to see the “points of interest”, as dad was fond of calling them. Our children were transported by Grandpa and Grandma to every part of Arizona.

They traversed bumpy, dirt roads to see Strawberry, Wickenburg, and numerous ghost towns. They saw Bumblebee, Kearney and Pumpkin Patch. They went to see the wildflowers on the desert every spring along the Bee Line Highway.

They visited Sunflower and dug and built dams in Sycamore Creek. They went to McNary to experience their first train ride. The Alligator Farms in Apache Junction was a favorite haunt; as were the Manzanita car races on Saturday night.

My sister and I always did say our kids had it easy. We, on the other hand, remembered trips as kids to see “points of interest” that involved getting up and on the road before dawn. “We’ll get a jump on the traffic and then stop for breakfast later; let me know when you see a place.” After two hours on us yelling, “Dad, there’s a restaurant”, mom would put her foot down and say, “I need my coffee!” My sister opted out of the scenic tours when she reached her teens and I was soon so follow.

Of course, dad’s scenic tours as a grandfather weren’t without mishaps. I remember once my little daughter came home with a stained dress from a hike on the desert because she picked up a desert tortoise and it peed bright orange all over her. Or the time they ended up in the ER because her little brother decided to challenge a jumping cactus. The cactus won and he ended up with an arm full of cactus spines that grandpa tried at first to remove with his trusty pliers.

I believe the last excursion that all six grandkids were on was to the Grand Canyon. Most were in their teens. They loved getting to practice driving on the way up. Hiking Bright Angel trail and the horse back riding was fun. But when grandpa would say “Everyone get ready. We’re going out to see a point of interest along the canyon’s rim,” a collective groan went up.

When our first grandson was five we took him camping. We started out the Beeline Highway and when my resident historian asked him to pay attention and listen to probably his third lecture on a “point of interest”, he said, “Grandma, would you turn the radio up louder?”

“Don’t Clean Out That Closet!”

By

Gerry Niskern

Have you read all those articles that come out this time of year instructing you how to clean out and organize your closets? Don’t believe a word of it.

It’s all a conspiracy of the fashion industry to force you to go out and buy new clothes. You’ve heard the old saying, “What goes around, comes around.” Well, if you wait long enough, any fashion will come around again.

Anytime that you go online, read the newspaper or watch TV you will get the latest fashion forecast. According to the breathless commentators, the exciting new color this year was an earthen burgandy. Well, I have sweaters, tees and turtlenecks in every shade of burgandy in my closet, and guess what; I didn’t buy them this year.

Every other year, bell bottom jeans are in, and then they are out; as are jean jackets, except when they’re in. The same is true of wide legs or skinny legs on pants. Wide belts with huge buckles for jeans for women are in, as they were twenty-some years ago. I have some really neat ones in my closet.

Ever since the l800’s, ready-to-wear manufacturers have enabled middle class to dress well. Before that everything was made at home or by a local seamstress. When Mr. Buttrick started the Buttrick pattern company he streamlined dressmaking for the average family in this country. Clothing was very affordable for everyone and of course, as years went by the fashion industry found it more and more profitable to declare styles and colors out of date.

Soon the car industry jumped in. In the l920’s General Motors was first to systemize the process of slightly altering cars each year to grab the buyers attention. Soon all the companies followed suit. After all, what was the point of buying a new car if the body style didn’t shout “new model?”

Years ago you could redecorate your home safely knowing that your choice of colors would be “in” for a few years. Not anymore. If an artist publishes a print in the trendy colors and it doesn’t sell out in six months, forget it.

After all, creating desire for the latest trend, whether it is a new car, redecorating your home or a new set of duds, is what has built the huge global market that exists today. On second thought, maybe you all better clean out those closets and go buy something new!

“Labor With Love”

By

Gerry Niskern

Labor Day was the signal of the end of the season at my parents business each year. They started their small manufacturing plant and retail store where they produced evaporative cooler pads and sold new coolers and parts here in the valley in l950.

The majority of residents used evaporative coolers.

When they opened, my dad, a time study engineer, had everything planned down to the last detail. The retail store was in front and in the large back facility he positioned    work tables, the rolls of cheesecloth and bales of shredded aspen needed. Every motion was planned down to the last detail.

When they placed the first ad for “unskilled” seasonal workers, only women applied. Some were Anglo and one was Mexican. They exchanged ideas on life and families as they worked together making the pads, laughing and talking. Heating and Cooling service men would stop by for parts and pads and kid around with the workers. Of course, they had to keep it quiet when the Spanish program was broadcasting the daily soap opera.

Ernestina, the original Mexican lady returned to work year after year. In the off season she worked at Phoenix Linen supply. Her husband worked a seasonal job at Anderson-Clayton cotton gin. They were raising four children in a home with a dirt floor and outside shower. All four kids eventually graduated from ASU.

Most of the Anglo women who applied worked one season for something special they wanted to buy for their home. Nellie, the second Mexican lady, came the second year. She worked at a bathing suit factory in the off season. She made fresh tortillas every morning for her family and always brought some to share.

One African American lady was their shaker for a few seasons. She shook and fluffed the damp excelsior so the women could grab loose handfuls more easily. They never had another shaker as good.

Mom hurried from the customers up front to the back room helping and supervising the women. She made them fresh coffee at break time which she served with liberal doses of her views on morals, democracy and whatever she had baked the night before.

As years went by the Anglos went on to better jobs and more Mexicans women answered their ads. Mom eventually learned some Spanish and they learned English.

By Labor Day, the season was over. Come the New Year, the help wanted ad ran again and the chance for honest labor was offered: No matter what your ethnic background or legal status. No one cared.