Blog archive
August 2024
1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024
1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024
First Anniversary
08/19/2024
Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024
Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024
The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024
Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024
Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024
Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024
Future Housing Options
08/15/2024
Message from the President
08/15/2024
There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024
Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024
A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024
Haikus
08/13/2024
One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024
Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024
Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024
July 2024
Alma Stokes, The Struggle in Pasadena
07/25/2024
A Poetry Gathering: Liberating Experiences Available
07/19/2024
Civil Rights Movement Series
07/19/2024
Happy Hours in Pasadena: A Villager’s Perspective
07/19/2024
Pasadena Village and the National Dialogue on Villages and Healthy Aging Research
07/19/2024
President's Message
07/19/2024
The Kern River Rafting Caper
07/19/2024
The Village Artists Group creates creative camaraderie
07/19/2024
An Example of Inherent Racism
07/14/2024
Current, Upcoming Events
07/04/2024
June 2024
No Real Recourse For Discrimination
06/30/2024
A Personal Statement of Strength and Well-Being
06/25/2024
Juneteenth Reflections
06/24/2024
Reflections on 2023-2025
06/21/2024
Reactions and Reflections Re: Juneteenth
06/19/2024
As Our Organization Grows, Villagers Recall Personal Highlights
06/17/2024
From the Outgoing President
06/17/2024
Letter from the Incoming President: Beginning Our ‘Lagniappe’ Year
06/17/2024
The Editorial Team Looks Back: Creating the Voice of the Village
06/17/2024
This Year's Resource Fair was the Most Successful Ever
06/17/2024
Telling the Whole Story
06/12/2024
Nashville
06/10/2024
May 2024
Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024
Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024
Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024
Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024
Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024
Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024
Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024
Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024
Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024
Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024
Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024
No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024
An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024
Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024
Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024
The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024
Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024
April 2024
Rumor of Humor #2410
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2411
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2412
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2413
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2414
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2415
04/28/2024
Rumor of Humor #2416
04/28/2024
Stimulated by "Caste"
04/22/2024
Tulsa reparations, Religion and Politics
04/09/2024
March 2024
Trumps War with Black Women
03/31/2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
Nashville
By Jim HendrickPosted: 06/10/2024
The summer after high school graduation was like having money burning a hole in my pocket. Not that I had any money. All I had was a burning desire for something to happen. Shit was happening everywhere. Vietnam was a teenage death trap. The South was a killing ground for Black people and anyone who fought against racism. The West, especially San Francisco, was my Mecca. The kingdom of free love and openness. New York seemed like a monster that would consume me alive. Here I was, stuck somewhere in the middle.
Nothing good was happening around here. Clint died a week after graduation. His super sharp ‘62 Impala couldn't make that turn on old Book Road. He slammed sideways into a big Elm tree. Clint had graduated a year before. Also, he stole my girlfriend Sophomore year. But still, he was really alright. It's a huge bummer he croaked. It seemed none of our options were much good.
The parents were really pretty cool. They felt relieved I had finally committed to attending university in the Fall. I could deal with that only if I could get out this summer. I didn't tell them that but I felt it quite strong.
Searching the Want Ads for a week to no avail left me frustrated and cranky. Hanging out at Hank’s Cafe one morning, I ran into Mario, a dude I'd worked with at Colonel Sanders Fried Chicken the year before. Mario was the chief line cook. Me, a lowly dishwasher. Mario usually called me kid. We sipped caffeine and shot the shit for awhile. We agreed completely that our prospects were far from top notch. Into my third cup, a classified jumped out from the morning paper I was pursuing ‘Looking for bright, energetic go-getters. No cold calling, appointments only. No out of town travel. Guaranteed $100 a week to start.’ “Check this out, Mario.” He wasn't interested. He was still with The Colonel. There was a pay phone a block from Hank’s. I called the number listed in the ad and made an appointment for 2pm.
The appointment was with Bob Blanding Enterprises. Bob approached me like I was a long lost friend. Bob gathered the 6 of us that showed up by 3pm.
“Gentlemen, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I possess the rights to a revolutionary household machine. ” He proudly produced a metallic box. It had a cool space age look. “This is the Atomic Toaster. It is the easiest and fastest way ever conceived to toast anything ” We were all nodding like fools We were just eager, over-eager really, for something good to happen in our lives Bob latched on to our collective fear and sold us on possibilities.
3 guys ducked out after Bob finished. I stuck around. The other 2 seemed to know each other. I hung back and waited to see how Bob would deal with us. He was on the telephone for quite a while.
“OK guys, I'm guessing you are interested since you've signed the contract for the next 8 weeks. ”
Again, we were nodding like puppets.
“Well, it's a simple deal, really Show up tomorrow, here, at 8 am.”
The 3 of us awkwardly ambled outside There were a few folks, male and female, hanging out as we exited the building I assumed Bob was recruiting an army. This was shaping up like a life changing adventure or an ill advised and thoroughly unproductive catastrophe. I was game to go with the flow.
I didn't have a ride to the job for tomorrow, so I called Lance, who worked at the A & W near my meetup Sometimes, it helps to have friends Lance dropped me off right on time. I would have to make time to call Felicia about staying with her
“Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.” Bob was standing behind a long table With Bob were 2 other men. “I see we have our space age marketing team. ” We all sat around the long table. The 2 gentlemen with Bob handed us each a notebook. “I want you to become completely familiar with our revolutionary product and how to sell it. Each of you, separately, will study the notebook for the next 30 minutes. ” He nodded his large head vigorously, “After 30 minutes, we will see who has our sales approach and who doesn't. ”
I was startled. I didn't realize this was a competition. Fear clouded my mind for the entire 30 minutes
“OK, folks, myself and my colleagues will meet with each of you to determine your suitability for our enterprise.”
I paid no attention to what was happening with any other candidate. I concentrated only on being friendly and smart. I hoped that would be enough since I remembered almost nothing about the product.
“Well, young fella, are you sure you're 18?
“Yes, sir.”
“You got a real nice smile. You're hard.”
“I'm what?”
“Hard, you're on, congrats.”
I became the nodding puppet again.
The dude was at least as old as my old man and never expressed any emotion. He held both arms out with palms up, “OK, show up at 8 o’clock tamra mornin’. Capeesh?”
This man truly frightened me. It was like he was strangling me with his eyes. All I could manage was a squeaky, “thanks.”.
I awkwardly offered a handshake which my interviewer ignored. He eagerly waved over another candidate while I exited.
It was chilly the next morning as the 6 of us, 1 female and 5 males waited. 15 minutes stretched to 30. One of the guys left. The woman went back to her car to wait. Finally, one of Bob’s colleagues, not my interviewer, showed up in a large, old model, dirty black Mercury with a red driver’s side door. He unlocked the glass door to the building without saying a word. The 5 of us followed him inside.
“Alright, y'all jest wait here Bob’ll be here soon to tell y'all what we're doin’.” He folded his arms and leaned against the unpainted wall.
There were folding chairs scattered throughout the room. Each of us found a chair. I just stared at the floor. The room was littered with construction materials and old coffee cups. I kept trying to will myself into tranquility.
The minutes dragged by. The man with the keys disappeared through an inside door. We started looking at one another, collectively wondering if a big joke, or something worse, was being perpetrated on us. All of us seemed afraid to speak. I know I was. Maybe, there was no reason to be friendly in this more adult world. Friendliness must be a sign of weakness, I surmised.