My Slow Takes (vol. 2)

1. I was reading some information on the French and Indian War and discovered there was an African America who was part of the famous Rogers Rangers. His name was "Duke" Jacob. Here is an excerpt from Burt Loescher's "History of Rogers Rangers, Volume 4," describing him.


"Another Ranger veteran was "Duke" Jacob,  a 26-year-old Negro, and a gifted fighting man. The story of his life was a sad but frequent commentary of the times. For his three years of valorous service in Rogers' Rangers his owner in New York had granted him his freedom. Jacob, one of the colorful characters in Rogers' Rangers sported the regulation green Ranger jacket but lined it with red; regulation "buckskin breeches" but blue Indian stockings. He wore "fine white shirts, with 'chitterlings,'" a spotted handkerchief and his "gun" was "Iron mounted." Jacob gained fame for his valor at the Battle of Ticonderoga."

2. We selected a new kitchen sink and faucet set for our home. My experience in dealing with installations of anything having to do with water is not positive. So I enlisted our youngest son and we spent a long afternoon putting in all the new stuff. Of course the old stuff was "contractor grade" material. So that meant we ran into issues. Not major ones but just enough to make the process a wee bit irritating. We finally completed everything. One minor leak in the sink basket. We fixed that and now everything is fine, for the next 15 years.

3. This week was the final for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The two teams; Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. I'm a Buffalo Sabers fan, but hockey is an exciting game so I follow the playoffs no matter who is playing. Monday night was game 6 and the Bruins needed the win to continue. They completed that by starting off the first period with 4 goals. Ending the game 5-2.

Game 7 was in Vancouver and prior to the game Boston player Nathan Horton poured water, that he brought from Boston, on to the Vancouver Canucks ice. I love sports superstition, it makes the games more interesting and gets the fans and players "into" the game. Boston started the first period scoring a goal and continued scoring until the third period. Boston 4, Vancouver 0. It's a beautiful day in Boston.

4. One of my responsibilities at work is to set up laptops in different rooms for use by various teams in our organization. It is interesting how a group of people can make a mess of a work area. They start with a clean organized area and proceed to slowly clutter their environment. I wonder how their homes are. Do they live in this same type of disorder? Do they feel that since this is work they can not be concerned about how it looks? No matter, I just move on to the next room.

5. Father's Day is this Sunday. God's blessings to all of you. Enjoy your day and remember your Father.

6.  I listened to NPR "StoryCorps" this morning. Walter Dean Myers was interviewed by his son Christopher. Walter is a writer who grew up thinking that he was not loved by his father. At one point Walter published stories that were told by his father. When he presented these to his father to read there was no acknowledgment, no feedback as to what he thought of the writings. Walter later discovered that his father could not read. He didn't know this at the time and his father never shared this with him. Walter shares with his son Christopher and they work together "writing and illustrating."

My father was not one to share, but I believe that he still loved me. His generation was different from mine and he did what he felt was right. I learned through my spiritual journey to love and share with my sons. They know my beliefs, my opinions about many things and that I love them.

Walter, thank you for sharing your story.