“Let’s Go, Fly a Kite”

By

Gerry Niskern

I received a photo the other day that “warmed the cockles” of my heart

My great-grandson had launched  a beautiful purple and yellow kite and his just turned three-year old daughter was flying it.

What a thrill it is for a little child when their dad finally lets them fly the kite all by themselves.

I imagine my great-great-grandaughter felt just like I did when my dad finally let me hold the string of our kite. Dad always constructed our kites from thin scrapes of wood and newspapers. But one day he came home with a surprise.

He called our new kite the “All American Beauty”. He paid a whole 25 cents for it.The red and white vertical stripes were topped off with a blue field of white stars. Then dad told us to write a secret on a slip of paper. He said we were going to send a message to the heavens. Somehow he attached the paper to the kite string and it went scooting up the line as we watched in amazement!

Her great uncle, an avid kite flyer, says she has to launch a kite by herself someday before she can be a pro. I’m sure she will; with the help of her dad just like he is going to help her learn all kinds of new fun skills!

“A Different Kind of Memorial Day”

By

Gerry Niskern

We all know that Memorial Day is dedicated to the remembrance  of the war dead. In years past, we visited the cemetery with flowers for the graves of any member of a family that passed away, but we seem to have gotten away from that. Too bad.

I have a suggestion for a new kind of Memorial Day. Lets have a memorial day that is devoted to the memory of families. Is there someone’s grave you need to visit? Take the kids. Let them place the flowers on the grave and answer their questions.

If you are having a family party of Memorial Day, stop for a minute and remember to start a dialogue about any grandparents that are gone. See how much the little ones know about great-grandfather or a great uncle. Get out the family album and point out the pictures. Tell who was respected and who wasn’t. Get ready to answer some tough questions here.

What kind of man Grandpa was, where he worked. What games did Grandma play with her children. How did she dress? Were they born here or did they come from another country?

The whole country is weary of hearing about Covid 19, but take a moment and talk about the people who have lost the lives to this pandemic, many, many more than was necessary. Have your family party, but take a moment to remember. Not just the war dead, but everyone who is gone. The word that unites all families is “Remember”.

I’ve taken part in a couple of graduations, I’ve prepared kids for other graduations,  and I’ve attended lots of graduations.

But this year is different. It is hard for everyone. Take middle school, for example. I remember my class at Adams School marching down the aisle of the auditoriam singing at the top of our voices, “Adams we sing to thee, school that we love….” Probably a little corny for the kids nowdays, huh?

Two of our classmates were playing pianos as we sang. The girls wore the dresses we had sewn in Home Ec class and the guys wore dress pants and shirts. This year the middle schools everywhere will have no ceremonies.

My graduation class from Phoenix Union High School numbered 750. We had looked forward to that day for a long time. My story took a little twist.

The class was supposed to march out onto field of Montgomery stadium in order of their scholastic record. My boyfriend was number 50 and I was 150. Still not bad out of 750, right? He was the Salutitorian. I was busy typing his speech for him and we totally forgot the rehearsal the night before. He was allowed to walk in front and give his speech as planned. The teachers in charge didn’t want any last minute changes.  But some had to be punished. No amount of parents intervention was tolerated.   So,  I was relegated to the end of the line, walking with the dumbest guy in our school. He turned out to be a well known politician on our state!

I know a young lady who is graduating from Sunnyslope High School this week. She will have a few friends over and they will take pictures in their caps and gowns. Then I hope they have some fun that day too. You see, she has worked very hard and earned a full scholarship to Grand Canyon University. I wish she could have her ceremony.

My Great-Grandson has just completed 4 years of Medical School. He has worked and deserves a celebration and so do his parents, but there won’t be one.

I wish we could all promise the next year’s graduates that we’ll do everything we can to help stem this virus and hopefully by next graduation season everyone  can march across that stage at their school and receive their reward.

Mothers day 2020

By

Gerry Niskern

I remember being asked many times, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And my answer was always “A mother”.

Finally, when I did become a mother for the first time and I brought that chubby baby girl home from the hospital, I was in heaven. And  that “Mother’s Day” celebration took place when each unique baby was born, I fulfilled that fervent childhood wish.

Sure, I would succeed in other careers later in life, but being a mother was the best of all. Every mother runs the spectrum of joys and heartbreak. It comes with the job and you feel it all, the good and the bad. It’s a tough job, but the best job anyone could ask for. Moms are the ones who know the meaning of 24/7!

I was far from perfect, believe me! And if you don’t, just listen in on one of my family gatherings when the grown kids try to out do each other with the “worst thing mom did to me!”

Businesses are all geared up this year as always touting the wonderful presents you can give your mother this Mother’s Day. The marketing experts have out done themselves with guilt driven advertising. They miss the point that the gift was already received, the gift of being a “mom”.

I would like to think that I speak for every mother when I say,”The pleasure was all mine!”