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What if?

By
Curtis Plant
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0

 I remember sitting in a sixth-grade social studies class with the other football players driving our teacher crazy with “What if” questions.

“What if Germany had won WWII?”

“What if China invaded us today?”

“What if?”

“What if?”

The questions went on and on.

He finally threw up his hands and …well you get the idea.

How many times have we talked ourselves out of doing something productive with “What if” questions?

What if nobody likes my idea?

What if nobody appreciates what I do?

What if people make fun of me?

What if others think I’m stupid?

I’ve asked that one many times myself and no  you don’t need to send me an email to confirm the answer. 

There’s nothing wrong with looking at ideas from all angles before implementing them. 

That’s actually quite commendable. 

But more often than not, we sabotage our own success by talking ourselves out of a good idea because we’ve asked one too many “What if” questions.

What if Columbus hadn’t sailed the ocean blue in 1492?

What if Marco Polo had stayed home?

What if George Washington had refused to serve as the first president?

What if Steve Jobs had given up after the first apple computer had failed to meet his expectations?

What if your parents had never met?

There are some things that we will never know the answer to.

However, what I can tell you is that you will never accomplish anything if you sit around asking “What if?”

Life is short. 

Yet there are so many things that still need to be accomplished.

Someone needs to cure cancer.

Someone needs to solve the deficit.

Someone needs to find the answer for baldness. 

Someone needs to invent the perfect zero calorie meal. 

Someone needs to find  a real alternative energy source. 

Someone needs….

This list could go on into infinity. 

Someone has to do it. 

Someone has to roll up their sleeves and come up with some solutions.

Someone needs to take a chance. 

Someone needs to dare to be the one. 

What if that someone is you?

OKC Bombing Remembered

By
Curtis Plant
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0

April 19, 1995 is a date forever etched in the minds of Oklahomans. 

Like other life-altering events, those affected can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. 

That morning at 9:02 am a truck  that was parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City exploded taking the lives of 168 innocent lives, including 19 children. 

Miraculously, there was a sixth month old child who survived without suffering any injuries. 

Madison Naylor was at the YMCA daycare located next to the Murrah building at the time of the incident. 

Today, Naylor is a first year medical student at the University of Oklahoma. 

In a news release from the university she is quoted as saying that even though she can’t remember the bombing, she also can’t remember a time when she didn’t know about it. 

Naylor goes on to say that she was affected when she saw the children’s chairs at the bombing memorial. 

That inspired her to want to do something good and positive with her life. 

Naylor realizes that the bombing is “still part of people’s lives.” 

Although she may not remember the bombing that changed her life forever, she has used it to fuel her desires to make the world a better place. 

Is that ‘Junk’ in Your Attic or Basement Worth a Fortune?

By
State Point
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(StatePoint) From baseball cards and sports equipment to postcards and toys, is that “junk” in your attic or basement dusty treasure or just dusty? We’ve all heard of families getting rich from the sale of rare memorabilia. So how can you tell if your stuff is valuable and how can you sell it, if it is?

“The general rule is that the older the item, the more valuable it is. 1980 is not old. 1960 is kind of old. 1910 is old,” says Al Crisafulli, Auction Director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that has helped many families identify and sell valuable items.

In one instance, Crisafulli determined that a family’s baseball bat that spent decades beside their front door to protect from intruders, was actually used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig — and Love of the Game Auctions sold it for them for more than $430,000.

He is offering these tips to help determine if your items are valuable:

Baseball Cards

Cards from the 1960s and earlier are collectible, and those from before the 1940s can be extremely pricey. Do they have sharp corners, no creases and retain original gloss? Do they depict star players and Hall of Famers? A Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner or Mickey Mantle will sell for more than non-stars.

With particularly old cards from the 1880s and early 1900s, look for tobacco and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal or American Caramel. Unopened packs from almost any era can be valuable.

Memorabilia & Equipment

Look for old advertising posters depicting sports stars and food, tobacco or sporting goods brands. This doesn’t mean ads torn from magazines, but those used as store displays and for other purposes. Tin signs are highly collectible from the 1900s into the 1960s, but low-quality reproductions aren’t. Pre-1950s catcher’s masks, baseball gloves and bats can be valuable, especially those endorsed by star players. Condition is important but used equipment can be valuable.

When you go to sell sports items, consider a specialty auction, such as Love of the Game, which has the expertise to properly research sports pieces, and maintains lists of bidders specializing in this area so it can get top dollar for these items. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Postcards

Postcards of your vacation destinations likely are worthless. But those depicting famous people, such as movie star cards and vintage baseball postcards, can be valuable. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs. No matter the type, the older, the better, and the more famous, the better.

Old Halloween or Christmas postcards from the early 1900s can be expensive. The same goes for many intricate “hold-to-light” postcards, where portions of scenes light up when held to strong light.

Toys

Look for famous characters, such as early Walt Disney items, superheroes, Star Wars, etc. The most prized toys are those in original condition with no broken pieces and paint intact. And if you have original boxes, you might strike gold!

So, while you’re cleaning that attic, basement or garage, don’t rush to purge. Before throwing out old “junk,” determine if it’s valuable!

The Tuskegee Airmen

By
Curtis Plant
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0
source www.redtail.org

In September, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt set in motion a highly controversial experiment. The “experiment” was the training of African American’s to be military aviators.

The men who took part in this experiment would go on to form the 99th Fighter Squadron, one of the more efficient and successful squadron’s during WWII.

At the time of President Roosevelt’s decision, the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama was under construction. The air base was located at the renowned Tuskegee Institute that had been founded by Booker T. Washington.

The first instructor on the base to train the future aviators was Lt. Col. Noel F. Parrish. His first aviation class began in July 1941 and consisted of 13 cadets, only 5 would graduate. However, by the end of the war, nine hundred and ninety-two pilots would graduate. Many serving with distinction.

The 99th Fighter Squadron earned quite a reputation for their tremendous success at escorting bombers on their missions. According to the Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum, the squadron was able to conduct 200 out of their  205 missions without losing a single bomber. “No other escort group can claim such low losses.” In 1945 the airmen participated in the longest bomber escort mission of the war for which the members received a Presidential Unit Citation. During that mission they destroyed three German ME-262 jet fighters and damaged five additional jet fighters without losing any bombers or any of their own fighters.

During the war they became known as the “Red Tail” fighters because of the red that had been painted on the tail of their planes. The red tail became so recognizable that enemy aircraft tended not to even engage with them in combat.

Fortunately, the Tuskegee Air Field trained more than just pilots. During the war they trained pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes and pilots in the air.

Despite their huge and shinning successes, the Tuskegee Airmen faced dreadful and inhumane discrimination.

On many bases they were not allowed to enter the officer’s clubs even though they themselves were decorated and deserving officers.

However, they bravely continued on defending their country and setting examples of what a honorable soldier should be and how he should act.

Tuskegee Airmen will go down in history as some of the greatest aviators to ever pilot planes.

Hopefully we are closer to that day when we begin to judge others not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

As a part of Black History Month, we salute the memory of the Tuskegee Airmen. May their memories and deeds live on forever!

Picture Source: www.redtail.org

Notre Dame Cathedral

By
Curtis Plant
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 One of the most famous churches in the world caught fire Monday. The church suffered major damage, including the loss of its iconic spire. 

The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the foundation which was laid by Pope Alexander III in 1163, although it took  300 years to complete. 

The name Notre Dame means “Our Lady”. 

It is the most visited monument in France. There are approximately 13 million people per year who visit the church. 

The breathtaking gothic architecture features stained glass windows and an organ that utilizes 7,800 pipes to create music that reverberates through one’s very soul. 

It literally sits at the center of Paris. There is a brass plaque stating the fact on the premises. The church is located at point zero and all locations in Paris are measured from this point. 

Notre Dame is the location of some notable moments in history. 

It is the site of the Coronation of a 10-year old King Henry VI as King of France just two years after his coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1429. 

Mary, Queen of Scots married Dauphin Francis there in 1558. 

Pope Pius VII conducted Napoleon I’s coronation there following the French Revolution. 

The Cathedral was the setting of Victor Hugo’s famous literary masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 

The cathedral claims to be the home of the actual crown of thorns that Jesus wore. 

In 2015 Andrew Tallon, a professor of art at Vassar College used lasers to scan the entire cathedral. His scan allowed for construction of a near perfect digital replica that may come in handy once reconstruction begins. 

Donations are already coming in to restore the church to its former glory. 

It’s incredible how one structure has had such an impact on a nation. 

The building itself is more than just brick and mortar. It’s a symbol of something deeper for the people of France. 

It’s as if it is the substance of the entire history of the nation. 

In a way it has become all things to all people.

The millions of people who go through it’s doors all find something inspiring and life changing. 

When flames were leaping into the sky this past Monday it wasn’t just the cathedral that was going up in smoke, it was if a piece of everyone was going up with it. 

Image source [http://flickr.com/photos/19034016@N00 Christopher Kramer] from San Francisco, CA, USA ”’Title:”’ Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris ”’Description:”’ Notre Dame Cathedral. From the backroads trip tak

Memorial Day

By
Curtis Plant
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Monday we will take time to remember those who have died in the service of our country.

It’s important that we never forget many have paid a great price so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. 

Lincoln referred to these brave soldiers as those who have given the last full measure of devotion. 

It’s more than just a day off from work. 

It’s more than just a time to roast hot dogs and barbecue.

For a long time it seemed as if those activities of leisure were disrespectful. 

After further consideration, that’s possibly not the case. 

The men and women who gave their lives for freedom believed in the American dream. 

Part of being an American is enjoying freedom, each in our own way. 

In other words we get to chose how to remember and honor our fallen. 

If a friend or loved one would have wanted you to remember them by spending quality time with family then do so.

However you chose to remember them, remember them. 

Never forget!

The Joy of Reading

By
Curtis Plant
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0

This past week I received a surprise package from Jon Harris who lives in Berkeley, California. 

Many of you know Jon was raised in the Irving community and is one the local historians who has recorded much of the history of Ryan, Irving and Jefferson County. 

The package he sent me contains various books. Some of these I know Dennis Underwood will enjoy. 

The one that caught my eye (it was also the one Jon suggested I read) was by James W. Loewen titled, Lies Across America: What our Historic Sites Get Wrong.

Although, I’m still in the early pages of this very well written, well argued text, it’s clear to me that we as human beings have grown complacent in our thinking. 

In our quest to save time, much of the news and information we consume is scaled down to 30 second sound bites. 

We are also cheating ourselves by taking everything we see and hear at face value.  

In his book, Loewen illustrates with many examples how monuments and historic sites are often designated and or erected by people who have an agenda to protect or prejudice to perpetuate. 

Sadly, many of the messages these historic sites convey are misleading or just factually wrong. 

What’s even more surprising to Loewen is the number of visitors to these sites who never question the validity of the messages they are receiving. 

I’m ashamed to confess that in times past, I have been one of those people. 

By now, most have heard about confirmation bias. This occurs when people only read and consume information that reinforces their prejudices.

 What’s even worse are those who will “make up sources” in order to confirm their arguments when debating a point of view.

So not only are we not questioning the facts that are given to us. We tend to make up our own to further our agenda. 

I can’t count the number of times, someone has cited a source to validate their argument, then I learn later their so called source was either misunderstood or simply non-existent. 

Many years ago, I was watching one of my favorite ministers online. During his very moving and well crafted sermon, he told a heart wrenching story about a young man who died tragically during the Oklahoma City Bombing. The story was very compelling and made an excellent point. 

Being a student of history and having a curiosity about the Bombing itself, I did some research to find out more about this young man. 

It didn’t take more than a few minutes of research to discover the entire story had been a fabrication. It made the rounds on social media before it was eventually debunked. The young man in question never even existed. 

It was a valuable lesson for me. 

I’d followed this minister for years and have little doubt he used the illustration in good faith, thinking it was true. However, in this case he had failed to do his homework. This is surprising considering this man has an earned PhD and was once a president of a prestigious Bible College. 

This brings me to my point. 

We all have biases and beliefs we hold on to dearly and will fight for till Jesus returns. 

That being said, it would do us all good if we would simply learn to slow down. Absorb facts and information more thoroughly. Take time to do our own (unbiased) research to verify if what we are hearing and seeing is true. 

Become a student again. Learn to read. Let your curiosity run wild. Start questioning things. Develop a true hunger for learning. 

I think that’s why I enjoy reading. It challenges me on so many levels. When you read you have to slow down. You have to think. You have to question what is on the page. You have to examine your own biases. It makes you a deeper broader person. 

So, thanks Jon. I appreciate the books. More importantly, I appreciate the lessons they are attempting to convey. 

Learning to live in the moment.

By
Curtis Plant
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0

 Everyone has moments they look back on with fondness, moments perhaps which even define them as a person. 

Sadly for many of us, those moments are too few and far between. 

Sometimes it’s because life is too busy.

However, much of the time it’s because we simply fail to live in the moment. 

Thomas Carlyle once wrote, “Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”

That statement had a profound impact on a man by the name of Sir William Osler. 

In a speech to students at Yale University, Osler related the truth of that statement in a short sentence, “live in day-tight compartments.”

Osler went on to explain. He said forget about yesterday, don’t focus on the future and simply focus on today. Put another way, live in the moment. 

Researches have accumulated DATA on what makes people unhappy. 

What they discovered is that one of the contributors to unhappiness is a habit that everyone engages in throughout the day. It’s called mind-wandering.

We as humans have the ability to let our minds wander to other things instead of focusing on the task directly in front of us. 

In other words, we are not doing what lies clearly at hand. 

Let’s face it. We live in a fast-paced demanding world. 

Everything was due yesterday. 

Because of that, we feel a constant need to be planning ahead, thinking about the tasks yet to be completed.

This causes chaos and confusion and yes, unhappiness.

Over the past few months, there have been a plethora of books on the market about mindfulness.  

Mindfulness is defined as achieving a state of mind where one focuses on the present moment. 

Some of these writers express this idea as if it is a new concept. 

They forget that the greatest teacher who ever lived taught this principle two-thousand years ago.

He said not to worry about tomorrow. He even went so far as to say not to even worry about what you would eat, drink or wear. 

What he was saying was to focus on the moment you are in. 

How many of us have missed out on life simply because we let our minds wander at the wrong times?

We are with our children playing a simple game but our minds are at work. 

Instead of enjoying time with our spouse we are thinking about other ways we could be making money. 

At other times we can’t enjoy our day off from work because we are worried about whatever is screaming at us the most in our minds. 

Moments are special. Sadly, if we don’t learn to live in those moments while they are happening there is a good chance we won’t even remember them. 

Life is short and is made up of moments. Let’s enjoy each and every one. 

Bennie Adkins New Book Available

By
Curtis Plant
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0

 He’s a relative, a friend, a war hero, a Congressional Medal of Honor winner, and now he’s a published author. 

Bennie Adkins, whose statue stands in Veterans Park as a reminder of the acts of valor on the battle field, has recently published A Tiger Among Us.

It’s a soldier’s story. It’s his account of the events that would one day lead to President Obama awarding him the Medal of Honor. It’s the story of bravery in Vietnam at a place called A Shau Valley. 

It’s a first person account of an atrocious battle that cost some of Adkins’ fellow soldiers their lives.

In the preface Adkins relates what the Medal of Honor means to him and why he wears it proudly.

He writes, “I was awarded the Medal of Honor for my actions during a battle in the Vietnam War, but I wear it in honor of others. I wear it for the more than fifty million men and women who have served our country in both times of war and peace. I wear it to remind us all of their sacrifices and how so few of them have worked so hard to keep so many of us safe throughout our nation’s history. [Today, our military represents just one percent of our nation’s entire population.] I also wear it to honor the 2.7 million Americans who fought in Vietnam, especially the more than fifty-eight thousand who died there, twelve hundred of which never came home.

“But most important of all, I tell them that I’m honored and humbled to wear the Medal of  Honor not for myself, but for the sixteen other men who fought with me during the Battle of A Shua in March 1966, five of whom paid the ultimate price.”

In the prologue he relates the story for which the book is named.  

They had found a place to rest for the night after he and his 11 special forces companions had spent 38 hours fighting against an enemy that outnumbered them 10 to 1. 

Out of the 17 Special Forces soldiers stationed at Camp A Shua these 11 were the only ones still alive. 

Their orders were to evacuate. The plan turned out to not be as simple 

as it sounds. The enemy was attempting to prevent their evacuation and plans had to be changed. Adkins was forced to improvise.

Finding a secure place on the high ground seemed like the best solution.

A rescue attempt was made, but one of the helicopters was shot down. 

They would be spending another night in enemy territory.

Waiting.

It would be the next day before another chance of being lifted out could be attempted.

It was during that long lonely night that they encountered an Indochinese tiger.

Not only were they being hunted by the enemy, they were being hunted by a predator that was at home in the jungle and had no fear of Adkins and his fellow soldiers.

The book relates a captivating story that readers will have a hard time putting down. 

A Dream Deferred?

By
Curtis Plant
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0

 Langston Hughes once asked, “What happens to a dream deferred?

We could ask, “What do we do when a dream is deferred?” Do we simply give up?

We all have dreams. At least we did in our younger years. 

Some of us wanted to be astronauts, writers, spies, doctors, lawyers, superheroes, etc. 

As time passed we adjusted these dreams to fit our skill sets and in some cases to fit reality. 

Sadly, some of us quit adjusting our dreams and instead quit dreaming altogether. 

Jon Waid said at Tuesday’s chamber meeting that many new year’s resolutions are discarded by Valentine’s Day. 

The reason for this, he  said, was because we don’t have a system in place to implement those resolutions. 

Perhaps the same can be said about dreams. 

Maybe we don’t see our dreams fulfilled because we failed to implement a system that would enable us to achieve them?

It’s fun to dream about climbing Mt. Everest.

However, if that really is a dream you want fulfilled, you will need to set some plans in motion to achieve it.

It’s healthy to dream.

Dreams can be inspiring. 

I encourage you to dream again. Create some goals. Aspire to achieve. Learn to live. 

It’s okay if you have failed over and over again. 

Revive the dream.

This time,  however, create or learn a system that will enable you to achieve it. 

The best way to do this is to start out small. 

Make baby steps toward you goal. 

I heard it once said, “the best way to eat an elephant is slowly, one bite at a time.”

Next, make your progress measurable. 

For instance, if you are going to climb Mt. Everest, obviously, you will need to be in good shape. 

Research, find out what kind of physical shape you would need to be in. How far would you need to be able to walk (climb)? 

Go to the gym. Build your muscles. Increase your endurance. 

Do this in stages.

Also, find out what kind of equipment you will need. How much will it cost? Adjust your budget to be able to afford it.

Finally, there will be times when you have to settle for climbing Mt. Scott instead of Everest. 

That’s okay. 

At least you will make it to the summit. 

At least you will be dreaming again. 

Go ahead, live a little.

Enjoy life. 

Dare to dream. 

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