Are you ready for Halloween?

By

Gerry Niskern

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As early as August you could ask any child “What are you going to be for Halloween this year” and you would get a confident reply like, “I’m going to be Batman. Of course, that statement is always followed by “or maybe Spiderman, or if it’s a little girl, Elsa from Frozen” No sense in getting locked in too early when a better hero might come along. Of course, this last character switching drives the parents crazy; especially the moms who were planning to make the costumes this year.

Halloween, dating to when it officially started around A. D. 830, when Pope Gregory IV proclaimed Nov. 1 as All Saints Day, also known as Allhallows, has by tradition been a kid’s night for fun. It’s their one night to depict their favorite characters, act out their fantasies, and have a really creative good time.

This is the one holiday that the kids own. They don’t have to go to Grandma’s house and they don’t have to mind their manners, (well, maybe a little). Then, on October 31, when night falls, it’s trick-or-treat time. Adorable queens and courageous characters from Star Wars take to the streets, allowing mom or dad to come with, of course. Sometimes, grandparents tag along too.

I remember when I took my first child, just turned two, trick-or-treating. She had blue silk Chinese pajamas and I fashioned a coolie hat for her. The gregarious two-year-old practiced “trick-or-treat” until she could say it perfectly. But, at every house, she just held out her paper bag and gave the occupants the meanest look she could muster, refusing to utter a word. As I recall, my mute China Doll came home with quite a little sack of loot anyway.

Of course, times have changed. I’ll be the first to admit that times have gotten a lot scarier in recent years. Take the children to the houses where you know the occupants. It’s a little more trouble, but who can deny them the fun of being out after dark and passing shadows of ghosts and goblins on the way?

Caterers and restaurants say adult Halloween parties are increasing rapidly. That’s fine, but just don’t forget this one special holiday really has always belonged to the kids.   They deserve this opportunity that comes so seldom in school these days to let their imagination run wild and act out their fantasies.

“Field Trip to Yesterday”

by

Gerry Niskern

School has been under way for a few weeks and now it’s time for, you guessed it, field trips! Sooner or later, you parents and grandparents will be asked to help with a class excursion. Go ahead, volunteer. You might enjoy a journey down memory lane as I did some years ago when I accompanied my granddaughter’s fourth grade class to see the place where our illustrious state legislators convene, the Arizona State Capitol.

When the bus full of excited children drew close to the lush, beautifully landscaped grounds of the capitol, the sight of the green grass brought back many fond memories.

On any sweltering summer day when the word went out over the old neighborhood that the capital grounds was being irrigated, it brought kids from every direction. The cool, bubbling water flowing out of big clay pipes quickly filled with children running and shouting through the knee high water. Droplets showered any state official who happened to be walking by.

A few minutes later I was brought back to reality as the kids filed off the bus. My granddaughter’s teacher was explaining the history and architecture of the capitol. As instructed, they looked up the sidewalk to the front doors of the gray building. “Oh, those wonderful sidewalks,” I mused. “If these kids could just try those smooth paths of roller-skating ecstasy.”

I remembered how I used to strap on my skates, give the metal clamps a hard turn with the key, squeeze a drop or two of oil on each wheel and cruise one block over to the capital sidewalks with my friends. At that time, the entire capital block was criss-crossed diagonally with slick paved walks juvenile skaters’ dream about. Slamming our feet down and pumping our legs faster and faster we delighted in the clickity-clack as we raced down the walk bearing down on groups of employees, swerving around them at the last second and rocketing down another walk.

The best surface was inside the building. The rotunda had mirror smooth marble, inlaid with the state crest of Arizona. Of course, those skating sessions only lasted a few minutes each time. Our sounds would invariably bring an indignant adult out of an office door, shouting, “You kids get out of here; you know better than this!”

As my granddaughter’s class was solemnly shown the various chambers where the state legislators worked at the time, we walked past the library door. I recalled a friend and I happened by that same door many years ago. An older boy, Ken, asked “Would you like to see the lady on the dome?”

“Sure,” we replied. We followed him on tiptoe through the deserted library to a corner where we climbed some empty shelves and through a scuttle hole to the roof. Breathless, we looked with awe across the city below. Startled by a creaking sound, we glanced up to see the golden winged lady weather vane moving slightly in the breeze. We left the same way we had come and then wound our way down the circular stairway to the ground floor.

When my granddaughter’s class walked down the big staircase they were allowed to stop and lean forward over the railing to study the state seal on the rotunda floor. As the teacher explained the meaning of each part of the seal, one boy was reprimanded for causing his loud voice to echo. “Too bad,” I thought. “This was the neatest place in the world to test your yodeling and hear your voice resounding back to you, again and again. That is, until some grownup ordered you to leave.”

Back on the bus later, as we headed home, my granddaughter turned to me and asked “Did you like the state capitol, Grandma?”

“Oh, yes,” I replied. “The capitol is always fun.”

“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.

“The Face of Labor has Changed”

By

Gerry Niskern

Did you have any help preparing for the coming holiday that celebrates the working people in America? You probably had a lot more help from unseen workers than you realize. We all tend to take other peoples labor for granted, just like we take our country’s holidays for granted.

Our country’s unique national holiday came about because back in the late 1880’s around 10,000 workers in the garment industry walked off the job and staged a notorious strike in New York City. They demanded that common laborers in the United States have a day of recognition for their efforts.

Look around this Labor Day. Do you notice anything different? There is a lot of white hair out there. A fast growing number of the unseen workers are seniors. These older workers show up everyday, sometimes regardless of poor health. They see what needs done and they do it.

The people who hire seniors can’t say enough good things about them. They know they’re on time, with no call-in excuses of “the car broke down or the sitter didn’t show up.”

Do you know any of these people personally? Probably not, since they just melt into the blur of people who serve your needs as quickly as possible and get you on your way. When you do spot a senior on the job, remember that they are probably someone’s mom or dad, grandma or grandpa.

Most seniors didn’t expect to be working in what has always been described as their “golden years”. They’re working for various reasons. Many just plain need the extra income. Social Security doesn’t go far in this day and age. Others are stranded with no pension from life long jobs. Some were just unskilled or unlucky. As one fellow said to me, “By the time you can make ends meet, they’ve moved the ends!”

I recently attended a swim suit sale at one of our large department stores. The snowy hair on the sales lady was getting whiter by the minute as she tried to take care of the whole department by herself. When I overheard her say, “I’m getting too old for this!” I inquired about her age. She was 88.

Pat, a friend of mine, retired from the phone company a few years ago and is now a hostess at one of our local restaurants. “I ‘m working part time now in order to have money for traveling.

She went on to say, “I find that I have more patience because of my life experiences. In the restaurant business, you have to learn to not take things personally. You’re there to serve the public”

Jim retired from a large company and drives a van for the guests at a resort. He gets along with the young guys just fine. That is, after he let them know they were not to refer to him as “the old man.”

Several Seniors mentioned the fact that they were better able to relate to their grandkids because of working with the younger set.

I knew a distinguished gentleman by the name of Sam who is a Utility Person at AJ’s Preveyor of Fine Foods in Central Phoenix. He was 77. Sam raised ten children, had nineteen grandchildren and five greats. He’s retired from forty years with the U.S. Post Office; he always said, “I’m a people person and I love this job.”

When I asked him if he would be there on Labor Day, he answered cheerfully, “If it’s on Monday, I’ll be right here.”

“Have you been to a real football game lately?”

By

Gerry Niskern

The bright lights on the football field below our house have been on late in the evening the past few weeks. Down on the turf at the high school the jerseys are wet with sweat. It’s still in the upper 90’s at 7 o’clock. “Down-set-hut-hut!” The snap and the quarterback falls back and looks for the receiver. The slap of pads hitting pads and grunts, when spikes hit skin, fills the air as each linesman nails his guy. The scrimmaging goes on and on as these kids learn to play as a unit.

The boys get used to being called a few unprintables if they don’t hit hard enough, but as one young player confessed, “The worse part is the wind sprints at the end of practice.”   They won’t leave until around 8 and then it’s homework time. “If your coach is your science or math teacher, he’s harder on you than anybody.”

The quarterback doesn’t pull down 20 million a year and the halfback on this team didn’t receive a big fat signing bonus when he joined the team. They are required to sign in for workout during the summer. Most of the kids on the football squad at your high school can’t wait for the bell after last period.   Sure, there’s a little thought in the back of everyone’s mind that “maybe I could make the pros someday”, but that’s not what keeps them out there night after night. They love the game.

One of my earliest memories as a toddler back east is of sitting on the bleachers between my parents in the falling snow. While we cheered our team to victory the white stuff piled up on the blanket covering our laps. My uncle was their four- year quarterback. He was small but quick. He had to be. The steel mill towns up the river had a habit of keeping full-grown men in high school, at least through the football season. They played with little padding and Uncle Joe was rarely replaced during the game. I remember my mother screaming, “They’re piling on our boy.”

Years later in Phoenix, the big game at my high school was always on Thanksgiving Day. Back then most mothers timed the turkey to come out around six in the evening. After all, the Coyotes of Phoenix Union was playing their bitter rivals, the Mustangs of North High. The red and black against the red and blue was the best game of the year.

Forget the Pros. Think about taking your family to one of the games at your neighborhood high school. The Vikings have been gearing up. So have the Mountain Lions, Eagles, Knights, Cobras, Coyotes, Cardinals, Rockets, Demons, Trojans, Mustangs. The list goes on.

Most games start around 7 and are over early. The tickets are no more than three or four dollars. The bleachers aren’t wooden anymore and if you need a backrest, sit up top. Maybe you can show your kids or grandkids the plays you used to make or mom can teach them one of her old high school’s cheers. As you walk along the sidelines, you will feel part of the tension of the parents who have taxied these players to their practices year after year. They’ll be secretly praying that there is no “piling on” their boy.

When the band marches onto the field you’ll wish you knew the words of the school song. And I promise you, you’ll see a real football game!

“Get Over it!”

By

Gerry Niskern

Get over it! That’s what I find myself wanting to say to complainers about the heat here in Phoenix. Yes, we have high temperatures in the summer in Phoenix; and yes, it takes some getting used to. Do I need to remind everyone that we also have 7 or 8 months of beautiful weather?

Come on folks. You go from your air conditioned house to your air conditioned car to your air conditioned business or store. Those who work outside are allowed to complain, but not during our 7 or 8 months of beautiful weather, right?

I’m always amazed and a little disgusted by the weather forecasters in our valley each year at the first indication that the temperature might get up to 90 degrees, usually sometime in March. They immediately declare summer is here. Their constant chatter would have newcomers believing the first little flurry of heat will remain through the next six or seven months. Wrong. And don’t even get me started on their “Haboob” chatter.

Those of us who grew up here in the valley know that we always have warm and cool periods all through the spring and into June. We’ll have the occasional rainy periods and the heat will be turned on and off quite a few times in most households during the spring.

We long time residents also know that there is one good alternative to the high electric bills from air conditioners during the spring and fall months; evaporative coolers. During those periods when the dew point is below 55, evaporative coolers do an excellent and thrifty job. If you are lucky enough to have one on your home now, then you know that you can leave your windows open on the balmy spring days when using your cooler.

When a customer came into my dad’s cooler supply business years ago, heaven help him if he asked for help with his “swamp” cooler. Dad gave him lots of help, but first corrected the errant customer, telling them the correct name was “evaporative coolers”. I still cringe when I hear the term “swamp” cooler.

He told them the following: to service their cooler early in the spring. Use a two-speed blower motor. Install a thermostat to keep the temperatures regular during the cool nights. Install a re-circulating pump to save water and use a product to keep the alkali soft. (makes clean up a lot easier.)

The smell of fresh Aspen pads, the best, by the way, on the first hot days of spring and summer and the electric bill that is less than a fourth as with your AC will be enough to make you “get over it” and decide to stay in Arizona.

“School’s Starting Already?”

By

Gerry Niskern

The first thing I always think of when I hear that school is starting is “It’s time to get a Big Chief tablet and a new pencil.” Okay, now you know I started school in the Dark Ages!

I once asked a few people of various ages “What is the first thing that pops into your mind about school starting?” Here are some of their answers.

One five year old in my family who was eagerly waiting to start Kindergarten said,” I think I will learn to read,” and after a long pause, “And I think I will be thinking a lot.” I posed the question to his little sister who was starting Pre-School, but she “took the fifth!”

A granddaughter in middle school looked surprised at my question and answered, “Why, that’s easy. The first thing I always think about school starting is now we can go shopping for clothes.”

One fifty-something in our family answered. “I remember my first thought when I started first grade was, “I’ll get to ride the school bus with the little red-haired girl. Maybe I’ll get to hold her hand.” He continued, “I did; but after school started she got her long hair cut and I didn’t want to hold her hand anymore.”

An 89 year old friend said when school started each year, “ I worried about getting all my books. I prayed they hadn’t changed the texts so I could use the ones my older sisters had. Then off I went happily in my sister’s hand me down dresses too.”

A friend who has taught Kindergarten for many years answered. “That’s easy. Crying children; I call September the crying month. Only a third of my kids have had pre-school experience. The parents are actually the biggest problem. If they would say goodbye and just leave!”

My friend, a retired teacher who taught mathematics to seventh and eighth graders for years said, “Now when I realize it’s time for school to start again I think, great. I don’t have to go.” And then he added, “Tennis anyone?”

Last, I asked a young neighbor. She’s the mother of four grade school children and her response was, “Hallelujah!”