Age takes a toll and time runs short

 

I spent Saturday at a memorial service for Mike, a friend from college, who died suddenly. It was a good service, lots of memories were shared, and I was grateful to have been there.

Mike wasn't the first of my friends from high school or college to pass. Three others preceded him, but each died years ago, when we were all in our mid-20s, and the rest of us could expect to live long, active lives. Two of those early deaths involved rare diseases and the third involved a freak workplace accident. The unusual circumstances involved provided some solace for the rest of us. 

And that's what makes Mike's death difficult for so many who shared the pleasure of knowing him. Mike was our age. He was the first in our group to die when older individuals are supposed to pass from natural causes. His death is a stark reminder that we have more days behind us than ahead of us. 

One could see it and feel it at Mike's memorial service. Gregarious men, ones who typically crack wise and share loud laughs, sat in silence, mumbling only a few words and offering feeble handshakes. A few sat silently, locked in a hundred-yard stare. I recognized the stare. I've worn it several times since learning of Mike's death. 

For those of us who shared our college years at Northern Illinois University with Mike, his death hit hard. It wasn't just the shock of the news or the realization we'll never again share a conversation with him. 

His death forced us to look again at the health issues many of us developed in recent years, the growing list of medications we take to manage conditions common among those advanced in their years, and the inventory of new pains we have in various parts. It's in the odd noises we make when doing once-simple tasks, like pushing ourselves up from a chair, lifting a fork, or taking a pee. 

It's there in those vacant, hundred-yard stares we present. It's as though we can hear the Grim Reaper passing near us and whispering, "Age takes a toll, and time runs short."

I met Mike at the student newspaper at NIU. Mike worked in the sports department, and I worked in the newsroom. We became friends and shared the experiences of college life in the early 1980s. I was 20 when I met Mike.

I'm in my sixth decade now, so are my friends from high school and college. Some are retired, many more are planning for the day they will leave the workforce. Most are parents, and many are grandparents. And all of that came sooner than expected.

We ponder Mike's death and wonder how we reached this point in time so quickly. More than 40 years rolled by, one after another. The young man I attended parties with and stood next to at football games, grew old and his body grew weak, until it gave out one night while he slept. 

I look at my reflection in the mirror and wonder when my body will give up. And will I be blessed to pass as I sleep in my bed?

Age takes a toll and time runs short.

-- Thank you for reading. Comments and feedback are always welcome. Post a thought here or send a note to kbotterman@gmail.com.

The many types of 'two kinds of people'

 

There are two kinds of people in this world, and I've learned about many of them from one friend or another. It turns out there are actually many types of those two kinds of people. And it won't surprise you that belong to several types of those two kinds of people. 

Here are few of the types I've heard about:

Those who put ketchup on a hot dog and those who do not.

Those who like dogs and those who like cats.

Those who shut-off the lights when leaving a room and those who do not.

Those who use a car's turn indicator before executing a turn and those who do not.

Those who like the Beatles and those who don't

Those who close their mouths when chewing food and those who do not.

Those who sit quietly when watching a movie and those who ask questions from the opening scene to the closing credits.

Those who drink coffee and those who do not.

Those who are Cubs fans and those who support that other Chicago MLB team.

Those who golf and those who are happy.

Those who will hold a door for those and those who will not.

Those who make "to do" lists and those who do not.

Those who appreciate sarcasm and those who do not.

Those who use napkins and those who use the back of a hand or a shirt sleeve. 

Those who tie their shoes and those who do not.

Those who fish and those who do not.

Those who like Western movies and those who don't. 

Those that push a chair in when they leave a table and those who do not. 

Those who remain young at heart and those who do not. 

Those who write about other people and those who do not. 

I am confident there are many other "kinds" out there. Your contributions are welcome.

-- Thanks for reading. Questions and comments are always welcome. Leave one here or email kbotterman@gmail.com.

Bogdanovich and contemporary audiences

 

Film director and movie historian Peter Bogdanovich died in early January, and his passing sparked an ongoing discussion that I'm still sharing (and enjoying) with several friends who, like me, are movie fans.

Our dispute involves the timelessness of Bogdanovich's films, particularly his early works. My friends insist that a classic is classic. Film classice are classics today and will be considered classics years from now, they say. I think that general statement applies to some films, but not necessarily to the ones Bogdanovich directed. 

For those not familiar with Bogdanovich's career, he was considered a film genius in the 1970s. He was 31 when he directed 1971's "The Last Picture Show," a movie that earned eight Oscar nominations, winning two. It was his second movie as director. Critics called it a masterpiece and compared Bogdanovich to Orson Welles and his film "Citizen Kane."

During the next two years, Bogdanovich directed the popular comedy "What's Up Doc?" and "Paper Moon," a hugely popular hit that was set during the Great Depression. The movie earned four Oscar nominations, and a win for Best Supporting Actress. 

But that was the high point of his film-making career. From the mid-'70s onward, Bogdanovich struggled professionally and personally. He directed movies that were slammed by critics and unpopular with audiences, although there were notable exceptions along the way, "Saint Jack" (1979) and "Mask" (1985). 

He twice filed for bankruptcy and had a string of failed relationships, including two marriages that ended in divorce.

Bogdanovich continued working throughout his personal challenges, and had a recurring role in HBO's "The Sopranos." 

He was a gifted writer and film historian. I've read a couple of his books and recommend his written work to those with an interest in American film history. Bogdanovich will always be linked to his early film success, but I think he'll be remembered most for his work as a writer. 

Many serious movie fans (including my friends) insist "The Last Picture Show" is a timeless classic, one that audiences today appreciate as much as the audiences of the early 1970s. I agree the film is a classic piece of art, but I don't think it is accessible to contemporary audiences. 

"The Last Picture Show" is set in a small Texas town that is barely hanging on in the late 1940s. The film is shot in black and white and features a cast that was largely unknown at the time it was released. Critics and audiences alike embraced the movie's stark black and white images. It was an effective device for telling this particular story. 

Bogdanovich used black and white film again in 1973 to tell "Paper Moon," the Depression-era story of a con man and his child partner. Audiences loved the film, as did Hollywood. However, it's difficult to say how much of its success was due to the use of black and white film.  It featured an interesting story and starred a charming Tatum O'Neal, then age 10, as a young hustler, playing opposite her real-life father, Ryan O'Neal. 

Bogdanovich's decision to shoot in black and white paid off in the early '70s, when audiences still included many who lived through the time periods in which "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon" were set. Many had memories of the Great Depression, the post-World War II years, and they grew up when watching movies and television in black and white was the only option. Color film wasn't widely used until the 1960s, so watching a black and white movie was a familiar experience for them.

None of that can be said for much of today's audiences. Nearly all of those alive during the Depression and World War II are no longer with us, and the last American TV shows shot entirely in black and white were made in the late 1960s.  

Contemporary audiences want to view films featuring vibrant colors and do not relate well to black and white film, probably the primary reason Hollywood rarely produces a black and white today.  

That is one reason why I think Bogdanovich's biggest films have limited appeal today.

The second reason concerns the stories Bogdanovich told through film. He made character-driven movies, a quality common to the movies Hollywood produced 50 years ago. Today's scripts are action driven. They emphasize computer-generated special effects, explosions, and are set at a pace that rarely allows for character development. Hollywood also loves franchise films, productions that allow for one installment after another. 

The content of Hollywood productions moved in a significantly different direction during the past 35 years, and the type of movies made in the late 1960s and 1970s simply are not made today. Many factors contributed to that shift, and I think changes in the reading habits of American audiences is a key reason, though it receives little notice.

The simple fact is that Americans read fewer books today than they did half a century ago. Yes, many Americans read a good deal today, mostly in the form of texts, emails, or other electronic data. But the Pew Research Center and others who study the topic consistently note that a growing number of American adults say they didn't read a single book in the last year. 

The Center maintains records about American reading habits dating to the early 1970s. In 1976, just a few years after Bogdanovich made "Paper Moon," about six percent of those surveyed told Pew they had not read a single book during the past year. The number increased to nearly 24 percent in 2015 and stands at 27 percent today. 

American film audiences, particularly younger segments, have shorter attention spans and have less interest in character-driven stories than audiences found in movie houses a generation ago. And much of that is attributable to their aversion to books.

My friends acknowledge my arguments but insist they apply only to the general category of film audiences, not to fans with a sincere appreciation for good movies. With those viewers, "The Last Picture Show" and "Paper Moon" are accessible and will always be viewed as timeless classics, my friends insist. 

They might be right. But Bogdanovich found huge success making movies that were popular with general audiences, and the habits of those audiences are not practiced by today's movie audiences.  

-- Thank you for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome. Post here or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com.

The irony (and fun) of Rodgers winning the MVP award

 

I enjoyed a good laugh when I read the other morning Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year.

I have nothing against Rodgers, and considering he posted 37 touchdowns against only one interception last season, he seems to be as worthy of the award as anyone else. In fact, Rodgers received 39 votes for MVP while Tampa Bay's Tom Brady earned 10 votes, according to an ESPN report.

Clearly those who vote on the award believed Rodgers earned it. And the irony of Rodgers winning the award, after all the intense criticism he received in 2021, made me laugh.

Information (I can't call it news) flows so rapidly these days that we hardly have time to fully process yesterday's controversy before the headlines serve up something new to make us fighting mad.

Why, only a few months ago sports writers and commentators were telling us Rodgers was a rotten egg because he ducked the Packers organization during much of the previous off-season. And they told us he was a lying scoundrel that ought to be driven from the league for violating the NFL's Covid-19 guidelines.

More than a few reporters were nearly rabid in their words about Rodgers. One writer suggested his actions put every NFL player at risk of death by C-19.

I don't follow the NFL closely so the intense views puzzled me, and seemed over the top. Rodgers certainly had some reporters, commentators and fans worked up, but most people seemed unmoved, willing to judge him based on his on-field performance rather than what he did off the field.

I think that's how it should be with professional sports, minus some obvious exceptions.

And it appears many others agree. All the fuss about Rodgers that aired in recent months seemed in the end to be more smoke than fire. And that's often how it goes these days.

-- Thanks for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome. Post them here, or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com.

Wading through the headlines

 

An interesting announcement

Jesse Sullivan, a Republican running for governor in Illinois, recently announced Kathleen Murphy, a Republican strategist, would be his running mate.

Sullivan, a venture capitalist from Petersburg Illinois, promotes himself as an outsider and a down-stater. He says his campaign is about fighting high taxes, crime, and corrupt politicians. He has not previously held elected office.

Neither has Murphy, a mom and political operative from DuPage County. I don't know either one of them. I have never met or spoken with either Sullivan or Murphy. They seem like nice people, from the little I know of them, and they might do well in Springfield, if elected.

The pair are in a crowded field. There's something like five or six other candidates seeking the Republican nomination and the chance to face Governor JB Pritzker in the general election. The biggest challenge I see for the Sullivan-Murphy team at present is name recognition among Illinois voters. Perhaps they can overcome that challenge. The Illinois 2022 primary election is in June.

Speaking of politics

If you want to see something strange, check out Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's video announcing her campaign for reelection. Her friends and supporters might like it, but I found it creepy and unsettling. Let's just say sincerity is not Pelosi's strongest characteristic

Pelosi to U.S. Olympians: Be cool

I thought it odd when Pelosi warned American Olympic athletes last week not to anger the Chinese government with comments about things like China's forced labor camps, political prisoners and human rights violations. The instructions seemed bizarre to me. I don't understand why she didn't simply wish them well, tell them to do their best and offer prayers for a safe journey. Career politicians do weird things. 

Stirring the pot

I came across this nasty report from Catherine Herridge at CBS. Herridge tells us that some of President Trump's advisers talked about seizing voting machines in the days after the 2020 election. It's only deeper in the report that those involved in the "discussion" dropped the idea when they learned they lacked legal authority to do that sort of thing. 

In fact, it appears those involved were brainstorming ideas, came up with a weird one, but did nothing with it, because someone said they couldn't do it. Of course, that isn't much of a story, is it? 

Better to make it sound like Trump's top men plotted to seize voting machines with the possible intent of either destroying them or at least significantly tampering with them.  Still, that's not the way it was. 

I found it all disappointing, particularly coming from Herridge, who once did some highly competent reporting while covering the Pentagon.

It flows across the Southern border

A recent news report told about two Connecticut high school students who overdosed on weed laced with fentanyl. They were among thousands of Americans who overdose on the drug every month, according to authorities. These are the same authorities who tell us fentanyl flows across the Southern border, which exists in name only since President Biden took office.

I found it interesting that on the same day the two high school overdoses were reported CBS News told us the demonstrations by Canadian truckers threaten U.S. trade with that country. It seems our priorities are a bit mixed up, but that's just one guy's opinion.

Lori Lighfoot plays the blame game - again

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot routinely plays the blame game, pointing the finger of responsibility for everything wrong with Chicago at nearly anything but herself and her policies. This week she blamed the city's ongoing surge in carjackings on the remote-learning efforts the Chicago Public Schools employed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Previously she attributed Chicago's street violence to Indiana, Trump, the court, and Cook County's State's Attorney. Lightfoot frequently cites guns as the reason for the bodies that pile up in the city's streets, even though Chicago has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation. 

I'm one of those who believes Chicago's crime epidemic runs much deeper than any one weakness, but I also believe much of what Chicago experiences today is directly linked to Lightfoot's accommodation of crime and lawlessness during the summer of 2020. She doesn't even think that far back. It's much easier, you see, to blame teachers, the federal government and a long list of others.

 

Suddenly Illinois Democrats are concerned about crime

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, two Democrats, made headlines this week talking about new efforts to fight crime in Chicago and other parts of the state. Both accommodated the lawlessness seen across the state during the summer of 2020, but now strike a 'get-tough" stance. Could it be both have finally seen the light, so to speak, or is there an election approaching? 

Tired old Hollywood

I had a good chuckle while reading a report about Hollywood's plan to remake 1990's "Presumed Innocent," a mediocre film adaptation of Scott Turow's bestselling novel of the same name. Hollywood is looking to produce an eight-part TV series. The original film starred Harrison Ford, and I remember it as slow and disappointing.

Maybe the new series will strike a chord with audiences, but I think the effort is further evidence that today's Hollywood is incapable of making original and outstanding movies that engage audiences and ultimately are timeless in their appeal. Prove me wrong.

  

-- Thank you for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome. 

A couple of thoughts on a winter day

 

I made a good batch of chili the other day, just in time for an early February snowstorm in my area. 

I'm one of those people who believe there's no such thing as a bad bowl of chili. I say the same thing about pizza. Friends tell me they only enjoy chili at certain times of year - early autumn and during the winter months.

I enjoy chili year round. During warmer months I might make a batch featuring chicken or ground turkey. I've made batches that included ground sirloin and ground pork. I've made batches without beans (the way my relatives in Texas tell me chili must be made), and I've made a batch or two that includes two or three different types of beans (the way my Italian friends tell me chili must be made). 

I'm partial to a recipe that calls for ground beef, chili beans, onions, and red and green peppers. It's a recipe I grew up and still enjoy, even when my Texas relatives call it a chili of "Northern aggression." 

Confirming what we suspected:

Researchers at John Hopkins University released a study that concluded the lock-downs ordered during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020 had little impact in the fight against the virus, a matter many already believed to be true. 

Like most I complied with the orders because I had little choice the matter, and I put faith in the medical and science experts who were leading the fight against a virus we knew little about. And I think that was the right thing to do at the time. 

However, if additional research supports the findings of the John Hopkins' study, I hope that truth is widely shared and recognized. 

Interesting but not exactly meaningful

USA Today offered a report that named some of the "winners and losers" of this year's national signing day for college football. The report had a few good observations, I thought, but missed the mark on others. 

I'm not sure signing day remains as important as it once was, particularly when we factor in the college football transfer portal, which allows the big stars of last year's signing day to transfer to another school this year.

I enjoy reading these reports and even the early power rankings, but I keep in mind that it's all speculation. It's good material for the sports writers and bloggers, and it's interesting to college football fans like myself. As my Uncle Ernie was always fond of saying about such things, "Nothing really matters until the whistle blows at the start of the first real game of the season." 

-- Thank you for reading. Comments and questions are always welcome. Leave a message here or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com.

And that wraps up our Christmas celebration

We took down our Christmas decorations today - the tree, the ornaments, the manger set - and put them in storage, where they'll stay until November 25, the day after Thanksgiving Day, when we typically decorate our home for the season. 

When I was child, everyone in my large family enjoyed participating in putting up the Christmas, but few were on hand to help take everything down and pack the boxes away in the attic. 

What a difference in moods. It's difficult to imagine a more striking contrast or one so stark. Holiday music played in the background as we decorated the house in December. Rarely was there a note of music played as we packed boxes in January. 

One month was filled with joy and speculation fueled by thoughts of what Santa Claus might bring. The next month was shrouded in dread, both for the dreary task of packing away the holidays and for the Midwest's bitter January weather. 

Consequently, the process of striking the holidays in my house back then was disorganized and hastily executed. Strings of lights were balled and shoved into bags. Ornaments, candlesticks, and assorted related items were snatched up and crammed into boxes with little regard for their safekeeping until next autumn. 

The long-dead tree dropped needles everywhere as it was dragged from the front room and dropped at the curb, where it sat until a disposal crew collected it later in the week.

It was not our finest work. Every November, as we unpacked the boxed decorations and untangled the strands of lights, we promised we'd do a better, more organized job of putting in away in January. 

We never reached that goal during my years in my parents' house, but my wife and I did a good job of it today.

We divided the tasks and carefully tucked away ornaments. I disassembled the artificial tree and secured it nicely in the storage room. The project took a few hours to complete, but the decorations are neatly packed and stacked.

It's taken us about 60 years to get it right, and hopefully I'll have another 50 years to perfect the process.

-- Thank you for reading. Comments are always welcome. You may post them here, or send an email to kbotterman@gmail.com.