Flying Felines
By
Gerry Niskern
What do flying cats have to do with Labor Day?
Well, let me explain. You see, a couple of weeks ago, my grand-daughter flew with her two older teenage cats from Anchorage, Alaska to Greensboro, North Carolina. She and her husband were leaving the cold rain of their home of ten years for the warm climate of the Carolinas. Hubby and a friend drove their two cars across the country earlier and set up the house. Although he is experienced, he will be going to school to become a certified welder. She is a Cosmetologist and is already working and building a client base.
In the United States anyone can move any time and anywhere they choose. People change jobs and homes at will. This Democracy we live in has the freedom to make personal changes, unlike many other forms of governments around the world.
I’m reminded of my mom and dad driving across the United States from West Virginia to Arizona in the summer of 1942. My sister and I shared the back seat with many a serviceman hitching a ride trying to get home on leave. Both my parents need the dry climate for their health and were free to make that move even during wartime.
My late husband’s parents made a different journey in the late 30s across the country from the Dust Bowl of Texas to sunny California with two little boys in the back seat. His dad was a carpenter. He looked for work up the coast and ended up following the crops for a while. My husband, the older boy, talked about changing schools every month as they moved on.
The freedom we have in this country to move, change jobs, schools and even places of worship is all a good reason to celebrate Labor Day. Labor Day, the first Monday is September began in the late l9th century to thank American workers for building our democracy. American workers were able to labor anywhere they chose or to move seeking a better life.
The two flying felines, I am told, are real happy in their new, warm home and so are their owners!

“Are They Really Ready for School?”

by

Gerry Niskern

(This was published in The Arizona Republic)

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 Taylor Swift logo 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, and get ready to dig deep for a pair of the latest in sneakers.
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 by my dad.
My significant other used to say that all he ever had was a paper sack for carrying his fried egg sandwich!