Piano

Greetings, everyone. I hope you've had a good week. Have you ever noticed that no one plays the piano anymore? Sure kids still take piano lessons, at least I think they do, and we have a fellow here at the retirement community who plays the piano on special occasions, but I don't think you see as many pianos in homes as you used to. I remember when Christmas, or Thanksgiving, or what have you would come, and as part of the festivities folks would gather around the piano and sing songs and have a good old time – and that's the point. You don't see as many pianos in people's homes now. I wonder why that is.

J. Cooper Thurlow

Your Thoughts

Hello!

You know, normally this is where you'd see my “thought of the day,” but this time I want to hear your thoughts! Christopher tells me there's a “comments” section on this website, so why not leave some? One of the great things about that Roy Rogers was being able to have conversations with folks. Otherwise, it's just me talking, and I don't think you or I want that. So leave a comment! I'll be glad to hear from you. That's my thought of the day.

Cooper Thurlow

Baseball

Hello folks -

Like I said in my last note, I spent my Labor Day watching a baseball game. Whenever I do it always brings back memories of my older brother Leslie, who was lucky enough to play some minor league ball many years ago. We both grew up loving baseball, and I can remember when I was about 7, which means he would have been 11 or so, our dad took us to see a St. Louis Cardinals game. It was a lot of fun watching Stan Musial and Enos Slaughter. I believe that was the year they won the pennant, too. I even got the autograph of a young man named Creepy Crespi, who played second base, just like I did. Unfortunately, I think that was the last year he played baseball. I still have that autograph somewhere, though I haven't seen it in awhile. Like I said, when he got a little older my brother Leslie played baseball in school. We both did, he was just a bit better at it than I was. He led our high school team in batting average his junior and senior years, and after that he signed on to the Columbus team. The traveling was hard, something I certainly learned about once I became a salesman, but I know it was some of the most fun he had in his life, and I certainly had a lot of fun hearing about it. I hope you have too.

Cooper Thurlow

Labor Day

Hello!

Sorry about the delay there, folks. It seems my grandson Christopher went on vacation without telling his dear old Grandpop. I had to hear about it from his mother, who happened to be checking his e-mail. Still, he's back now, and I do love him, even though I may not love the choices he makes in life. Why I remember growing up you told your elders everything. From dating advice to buying a car to how your day at school was, there was a time when elders weren't just respected but listened to. Now I'm not some old crank, and this isn't directed at Christopher, it just seems to me that you don't have as many conversations across generations as you used to.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a good Labor Day. I myself took in a baseball game on television, and we had a picnic here at the community. There was some good potato salad and some good conversation. I always thought Labor Day was an important holiday to celebrate. Even though I don't really “labor”much these days, it's still good to take a break from everyday life now and then.

Until next time,

Cooper Thurlow

Radio Thoughts

Hello again!

Today I want to continue the theme of things I like with talking about a radio program they have here. Now I don't know if they have it where you are, maybe we're just lucky here in Pine Oaks, but every weekend on the radio here they play those “old-time” radio programs originally from back when I was a youngster and a teen. The other day I heard an old “Gunsmoke” and an episode of the Burns and Allen program. I'd nearly forgotten how enjoyable that Burns and Allen show was. I can't think of a program nowadays, radio or television, that's as funny as Burns and Allen was. I do like those “CSI” programs, but that's a different kind of show. It was good to hear those shows again. I'll bet a fella could make some good money producing some modern-day versions of those kinds of radio shows. I know I'd listen.

J. Cooper Thurlow

My Name

Greetings! Cooper Thurlow here. You notice I didn't include the “J” there at the beginning. That's because that J is precisely what I want to talk about. When I was growing up, heck for most of my life, people have called me either “Cooper” or “Coop.” Mostly “Cooper” because it's more respectful. My parents called my by my proper first name, but I never cared for it. Maybe I was just a big Gary Cooper fan. Maybe my parents were, too, for giving me that name. From time to time, though, people would see me sign my name, when I do use the J. I guess this would be at a bank or a making a sale or something. Anyway, they'd ask me “Hey there Cooper, what's that J stand for?” Well I'll tell you. It stands for “James.”

And that's my thought of the day.

Danny Kaye

You know who no one talks about anymore? Danny Kaye. Now there was an entertainer. I guess there's not a whole lot to that “thought of the day.” That movie he did from medieval times was on the other day and it got me thinking. “You don't see many comedians like that these days. Now it's all n-word this and v-word that. “The box with the fox is the brew that is true” beats 'em all, if you ask me.

J. Cooper Thurlow