Memories of History

 

In 1961, my father was 36-years old and I

was fourteen.

In 1961 “Travelin’ Man” by Ricky Nelson and

“Crazy” by Patsy Kline were pop hits on the radio.

In 1961 the Berlin Wall was built by the Communists

separating East from West Germany. The U.S. backed

Bay of Pigs Invasion failed to overthrow the Castro

Regime in Cuba.

In 1961, my father and I traveled some 550 miles

by car from Kansas City to the Chicago Area to

visit my grandmother at Christmastime.

I have this photograph of my dad and me taken

by Uncle Ray with Step-grandfather, Joe, and

my five cousins on our visit to Grandma’s in

Park Ridge, Illinois.

Today in 2021, with Christmas nearly two-months

away, Grandma, Joe, Uncle Ray, and Dad are now

gone. I and my five cousins in this photograph

have survived to this day.

1961, a record in time, and especially for

me the beginning of a greater story to

unfold—births, deaths, people and places,

homes, holidays, jobs, travels, failures, suc-

cesses, family, friends, music and art.

1961, a period in history for me with 60 more

years to come, and cherished memories of a

life to be made in photographs yet to be taken.

                       -30-

Chris Hanch 10-4-2021

Make No Mistake

 

It took me quite awhile

to figure out all the ups and

downs, to master the ins

and outs of life.

Thank God I have been given

nearly seventy-five years

for which to apply all

the dos and don’ts in my

Library of Learning.

Suffice it to say, I am and

always have been a little

slow on the uptake.

Oh yes, I am only human

and have made my mistakes.

And too, I have apologized

to many of you who have

been in the line of fire

when I discharged my

unfortunate deeds.

But I’d have to say, I was

properly attired most days,

having put my pants

on accordingly every day—

left foot first and then the

right one to follow.

See, I was naturally

born a lefty. And I beg your

pardon, but right or wrong,

that is how I was properly

attired to begin each

and every day.

          -30-

Chris Hanch 10-2-2021

Time, Time, Time

 

It happens with the snap of a finger.

It happens in the blinking of an eye,

the fraction of time it takes to live

a life.

Measure it in millions of seconds

and still it does not seem enough.

It is only human to wish for more.

The countdown is on, my friends.

The digital clock is running, keep-

ing time gained and elapsed,

measured in one one-thousandths

of a second.

With a snap of a finger, in the

blinking of an eye--time, time,

time, finite and fleeting. Should

you prefer an hour glass analogy,

the granular measure of your life

and mine.

             -30-

Chris Hanch 10-1-2021

Driven

 

I am no longer driven by fame.

That has always been a self-centered

egotistical game.

I am no longer driven by fortune.

Time and chances for that in my life

have passed.

I am no longer driven by goals.

I have achieved all I can expect

of me.

I am no longer driven by sex or amorous.

My willfulness and testosterone have

for some time withered on the vine.

I am no longer driven by transportation

of my own. My judgment and reflexes

are a danger to vehicular and pedestrian

traffic alike.

I am no longer driven by hopes and

dreams for the future. I am relegated

to memories and dwindling abilities due

to advanced age and physical disabilities.

I am no longer driven by schedules

and time. Schedules are meant to be

kept responsibly, and time for me is

a dwindling commodity.

I am no longer driven by vanity.

The young, handsome and virile man

I once thought I was has long since

abandoned me.

I am no longer driven by security.

Frailty and irregularity leave me

vulnerable to innumerable man-made

atrocities and natural calamities.

I am, however, still driven by a touch

of insanity, realizing the craziness and

unpredictability of life have been an

integral part of me all along.

                    -30-

Chris Hanch 9-28-2021

Thoughts to Keep in Mind

 

These days of mine are precious and painful.

I ache, you might say, in pitiful delight.

Arthritis limits me in physical activity; my mind

craves music and memories on which to feed.

These waning days of mine provide the best

and worst of times.

Excuse my borrowing a phrase from Dickens,

it gives my present days a reason to rhyme.

Pathetically disabled, yet some joy and solace in my

old age I am able to find.

-30-

Chris Hanch 9-24-2021

Something About One Thing (for Consuella)

 

A friend made a Facebook post today

which listed One Thing to Do Today

as an incentive to “get the ball” rolling

so to speak.

I took the first painful step out of bed

and maintained my balance with the

aid of a walker making my first trip to

the bathroom.

I must have taken my first breath of

the day shortly after midnight for I

was alive when I awoke opening my

eyes for the first time around 5 AM.

I won’t gross you out with the personal

details of my first visit to the bathroom,

but I managed to have held my first # one

of the day.

After drinking my morning prune

juice I’m looking forward to a # two.

Suffice it to say, when you manage

to survive making it to a ripe old

age, everything is a number’s game

to be played.

One more time for many an action

no matter the degree of difficulty

is a gift and a damned good thing,

I’d say.

              -30-

Chris Hanch 9-22-2021

Treasure Trove

 

I sit here and contemplate all the

places, all the scenes, all the faces

I have seen and experienced over

nearly the past seventy-five years.

Some images are more clear than

others. Some have names to be

readily recalled; others have

names which over time and in

the descending fog of my old age

have slipped away.

Thank God, I have photographs

of many people and places I have

taken. Mighty glad I did.

For now, confined by my waning

and disabling physical condition,

I am set free emotionally to roam

again openly, and gleefully sift

through the Wondrous Treasure

Trove of My Lifetime Creation.

            -30-

Chris Hanch 9-20-2021