I refer you to a report by Jason Vallee on Southington.Patch.com which might provide our Quest for Common Ground readers a better understanding of what the town and state crews have been doing since the early hours of Friday morning.
We're aware that some residential/secondary roads have not yet been cleared so we thought this might be helpful. I'm aware of at least two emergency situations, elder condominium communities that were not yet completely cleared where the Fire Department came in with an Ambulance and EMS and a police cruiser to get the persona needing attention to the hospital. We witnessed one in our own condo community.
So there are means for the worst situations to get prompt attention. Some have emailed me about religious services. Not all the churches in town have cancelled masses and services, for instance where the clergy's residence is on the same property as the church or is adjacent to it and the pastor can walk over to the church. Individual judgment according to individual situations needs to be used to decide whether to venture out or not. Safety should always be the first consideration.
Now, here's the advisory from Southington Patch. Just click the link below.
Crews-working-to-make-roads-passable-but-cleanup-could-take-days#photo-13318077
Stay warm and take advantage of things you've been wanting to do at home and never have time to do!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Blizzard Charlotte - Digging Out
Watching a Town and a State Dig In as it Digs Its Way Out of a
Governor Dannel P. Malloy
-------------------------------------------------------
From Southington Town Council to the Town Manager
Snowfall of about 36 Inches of the White Stuff in As Many Hours
Bulletins from Southington Town Hall and the State Capitol.
By E. Richard Fortunato
What a whopper of a snowstorm! Blizzard Charlotte has broken all records in Southington and many other parts of Connecticut and other northeastern states. Notwithstanding an enhanced state of readiness by the State of Connecticut and the Town of Southington, Blizzard Charlotte has exceeded most expectations in coming down down so heavily, so fast and with a record-breaking snowfall between Friday and Saturday. Scott Haney of WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford just stated that weather forecasters and record-keepers are saying that Charlotte has been the biggest snowfall since 1905. "I have never seen anything like it", said Haney.
On the positive side C l & P reported this afternoon that so far we've had zero power outages in Southington.
The storm has caused wide inconvenience to citizens pressing Governor Dan Malloy to close state roads until 4 pm Saturday. Southington Town Manager, Garry Brumback, wisely asked residents to voluntarily stay off the roads except for an absolutely emergency situation. Today it was reported that town roads were clear of traffic and that people were cooperating in staying safely in their homes and off the roads. Business was, of course, greatly inconvenienced with a virtual shut down of all schools, businesses and commercial activities other than those involved in the clean up.
From my perspective at home with only TV and the Internet to keep track of things, I was impressed with the compliance of the citizenry, the carefully targeted clean up work of the State and Town Highway Teams as well as the Police, Fire and Emergency Services departments working around the clock with only brief breaks for rest and food. Everyone seemed to put the public safety and a return to normalcy first. For those who may not have noticed, our Town Manager has made it a special mission, with the cooperation of the media, to keep the public awareness of our clean-up status high, through a series of town hall e-ommunications updates every few hours throughout the storm.
While we are not yet out of the proverbial woods, I commend all of the efforts of those who have been hard at work out in the cold for the comfort and safety of the rest of us. It is personally rewarding for me to play even a small part in the communication process. I invite you to offer your thought, experiences and insights with the visit of Charlotte in the Comments at the end of this post.
From my perspective at home with only TV and the Internet to keep track of things, I was impressed with the compliance of the citizenry, the carefully targeted clean up work of the State and Town Highway Teams as well as the Police, Fire and Emergency Services departments working around the clock with only brief breaks for rest and food. Everyone seemed to put the public safety and a return to normalcy first. For those who may not have noticed, our Town Manager has made it a special mission, with the cooperation of the media, to keep the public awareness of our clean-up status high, through a series of town hall e-ommunications updates every few hours throughout the storm.
While we are not yet out of the proverbial woods, I commend all of the efforts of those who have been hard at work out in the cold for the comfort and safety of the rest of us. It is personally rewarding for me to play even a small part in the communication process. I invite you to offer your thought, experiences and insights with the visit of Charlotte in the Comments at the end of this post.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, from Southington Town Manager, Garry Brumback
February 9, 2013 at 4:02 pm.
February 9, 2013 at 4:02 pm.
This is the final update from the
state but we will keep you posted until all roads are passable.
The Governor has lifted the travel
ban effective 4:00 pm today.
However, we are encouraging residents
to stay off the road unless absolutely necessary. Crews are still working very
hard trying to clear an access pathway to all roads and traffic makes this more
difficult.
We continue to have plows working
hard and they are starting to make significant headway. Please keep in mind that we do not, (nor
should we), staff for historic events. This was a historic event. Our crews
will do all they can to make all roads passable before they depart for the
evening.
The plow crews are pressing on past
4:00p in the hopes of cutting this pathway before they shut down for the night.
Please keep in mind that while our
goal is a pathway for all roads, total plowing my take a couple of more days to
complete.
Thanks, as always for your patience,
understanding and support.
The crews are making slow progress on cutting pathways on all roads. The Highway Supt is keeping all of the available crews on the road for several more hours with the goal of getting these pathways cut.
Due to the extremely high levels of snow and the rifts associated with them it may be until later this week that the roads are completely plowed. Once we get the emergency pathways cut we will reconvene to ensure we have a sound strategy to get the road clearing completely and efficiently as possible.
I am encouraging everyone I talk to to keep this storm in perspective…it is the worst storm to hit this area in over 35 years with almost 30 inches of snow and 4-5 foot drifts. The snow plows began pretreating the roads at 4:00a Friday and have run almost nonstop ever since. They are working as hard as humanly possible while keeping an aging fleet operational and being diverted by emergency calls and transporting public safety people to points they can get to work.
Garry Brumback, ICMA-CM
Town Manager
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Governor Dannel P. Malloy
TRAVEL BAN LIFTED AT 4 PM
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that
the travel ban will be lifted at 4PM. This will apply to all roads,
including limited access highways. “While we are lifting the ban on travel this afternoon at 4PM, I
still want to urge residents to stay off the roads if at all possible,” said
Governor Malloy. “Crews are out clearing roadways as we speak, but the
fact is we are going to feel the impact of this storm for some time. The
longer we can keep traffic out of town centers and off of our highways, the
more effective our recovery effort will be.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 9, 2013 6:45 pm
School Update Regarding Monday, February 11, 2013
From Dr. Joseph E. Erardi
Superintendent of Schools
Southington, CT.
Southington, CT.
I have coordinated a regional call with superintendents for 5:30 p.m. tomorrow evening, (Sunday, February 10th). Shortly thereafter I will be able to update all on the status of school on Monday.
-------------------------------------------------------From Southington Town Council to the Town Manager
Please pass along our thanks on behalf of the
Town Council to Highway, Police and Fire Departments for their efforts in
keeping our community safe during the historic snow event. We also appreciate
the timely updates from Town Hall in keeping everyone informed.
John C. Dobbins
Chairman
Southington Town Council
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection
Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
360 Broad Street, State Armory
Hartford, CT 06105-3706
At 6:45 PM Friday, February 8, 2013 - radar and surface observations indicated heavy snow moving into Northern CT. Temperatures currently range from the upper 20’s in Northern CT to near 32 F at the coast. NE Winds at 25 – 30 MPH are gusting to near 40 MPH at the coast. At 6:45 PM CL&P and UI were reporting a total of 6,652 customers without power primarily in Southeastern Connecticut. Total snowfall ranges from 1 – 3 inches in Western CT up to 5 – 8 inches across the rest of the state. Tides are currently running 2.5 feet above normal in Western Long Island Sound.
This Evening and Overnight…Blizzard conditions with snowfall rates up to 4” per hour and zero visibilities at times in blowing and drifting snow. Lows dropping into the low 20’s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 50 MPH inland and up to 70 MPH along the coast. Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected during the evening high tide. Tides are forecast to run 2 – 4 feet above normal resulting in overland flooding 1 – 3 feet deep in low lying areas of Western Long Island Sound during high tide which is at 9:50 PM in Western Long Island Sound.
Saturday Morning…Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 5:00 – 8:00 AM. Strong North Winds gusting to 50 MPH Inland and 60 MPH at the Coast. Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 8:00 AM. Later in the morning the moderate snow is forecast to taper off to flurries by Noon.
Saturday Afternoon…Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.
Total snowfall may be historic with 16 – 24” in Western CT, 20 – 36” in Central and Eastern CT and 15 – 30” along the coast. Isolated amounts to 40” may occur. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest conditions and will issue another update at 10:00 PM.
Thomas F. Gavaghan
Region 3 Coordinator
Friday, February 8, 2013
Southington Storm Cleanup Update at 7:00 pm
Blizzard Charlotte Update from Town Manager
Garry Brumback
In Southington, we are getting great support from our residents and therefore have been able to keep up with the plowing. I just spoke to both dispatch and Highway and the traffic has been very light allowing for our teams to keep the roads relatively clear. The snow is still falling the conditions of the roads are treacherous but we are staying with it. So long as weather permits our crews will continue to try and stay up with the snowfall and plan to plow until after midnight. After a break for rest and food they will get back at it in the early morning.
We are still requesting that only emergency vehicles be on the road until 8:00 am so we can keep ahead of the snow.
Dispatch reports a couple of minor issues with disabled vehicles and minor accidents. The highway I-84, however, has been very difficult and required the bulk of our responses to support state activities.
Below is the current weather for the state…We will keep you posted as updates are available.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Subject: Blizzard Update from DESPP / DEMHS at 7:00 PM
Blizzard Update from DESPP / DEMHS…
STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER - ACTIVATED
Please see attached update…Text of the Update shown below…
BLIZZARD WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE…
HEAVY SNOW MOVING INTO NORTHERN CONNECTICUT…
POTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM IMPACTING THE STATE…
COASTAL FLOOD WARNINGS ISSUED FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY…
At 6:45 PM radar and surface observations indicated heavy snow moving into Northern CT. Temperatures currently range from the upper 20’s in Northern CT to near 32 F at the coast. NE Winds at 25 – 30 MPH are gusting to near 40 MPH at the coast. At 6:45 PM CL&P and UI were reporting a total of 6,652 customers without power primarily in Southeastern Connecticut. Total snowfall ranges from 1 – 3 inches in Western CT up to 5 – 8 inches across the rest of the state. Tides are currently running 2.5 feet above normal in Western Long Island Sound.
This Evening and Overnight…Blizzard conditions with snowfall rates up to 4” per hour and zero visibilities at times in blowing and drifting snow. Lows dropping into the low 20’s statewide with Northeast Winds gusting to 50 MPH inland and up to 70 MPH along the coast. Moderate power outages and moderate coastal flooding expected during the evening high tide. Tides are forecast to run 2 – 4 feet above normal resulting in overland flooding 1 – 3 feet deep in low lying areas of Western Long Island Sound during high tide which is at 9:50 PM in Western Long Island Sound.
Saturday Morning…Heavy snow tapering to moderate snow from West to East between 5:00 – 8:00 AM. Strong North Winds gusting to 50 MPH Inland and 60 MPH at the Coast. Zero visibilities at times with Blizzard Conditions until 8:00 AM. Later in the morning the moderate snow is forecast to taper off to flurries by Noon.
Saturday Afternoon…Continued blowing and drifting of snow with Northwest winds gusting to 40 MPH at times and ground blizzard conditions at times.
Total snowfall may be historic with 16 – 24” in Western CT, 20 – 36” in Central and Eastern CT and 15 – 30” along the coast. Isolated amounts to 40” may occur. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) will continue to monitor the latest conditions and will issue another update at 10:00 PM.
Thomas F. Gavaghan
Region 3 Coordinator
Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection
Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
360 Broad Street, State Armory
Hartford, CT 06105-3706
email: thomas.gavaghan@ct.gov
TEL: (860) 529-6893
FAX: (860) 257-4621
CELL: (860) 250-2548
24 HR Pgr: (860) 708-0749
Blizzard Message from Southington Town Manager
 |
Blizzard Alert |
1) We have pre-treated our roads and will begin plowing operations as conditions require. Our priority will be to Health and Public Safety facilities along with main roads and hills.
2) If the forecast is accurate we expect to pull our plows off the road at 9:00 pm tonight except for emergencies and will resume plowing operations at around 4:00 am on Saturday.
3) We are requesting that travel be limited to emergencies only during these hours.
4) A parking ban is in effect from 9:00 am Friday until further notice.
5) Residents are reminded that blowing snow from driveways and sidewalks into the street or right of way is prohibited by ordinance. Violators will be issued a citation. This is necessary to ensure that our plow trucks can clear the roads as efficiently as possible.
6) Shelters are on standby and will be activated in the event of serious power outages.
7) We have established a virtual EOC and will be responding to email and cell phone inquiries.
8) The Police non-emergency number is (860) 378-1600; for emergencies call 911.
9) For further updates please monitor the Police website and Facebook page.
Thanks for helping us pass this information along to all residents. .
Garry Brumback, ICMA-CM
Town Manager
Friday, February 1, 2013
Amid Super Bowl Mania, Nation’s Church Youth Seize Opportunity to Fight Hunger
By E. Richard Fortunato
You don't need to be a sports fan to know how big the Super Bowl is, Neither do you need to be an economist to know that the Super Bowl is Big Business!
I did some research and learned that 179 million people will be tuned in Sunday when the 2013 NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers meet the AFC
title winning Baltimore Ravens in Super
Bowl XLVII at the New Orleans Superdome. Over 39 million will throw a super
bowl party, buying food and beverages to celebrate the game with wings, pizza,
chips, soda to celebrate with their guests. Some 7.9 million are buying new TV
set while 3.9 million homes will buy new furniture items, such as entertainment
centers, chairs and couches, and 7.5 million will buy decorations, never mind
the millions more who will dine and watch the big game at restaurants. The Super Bowl is expected to bring $185
million to New Orleans. The source survey of the Retail Advertising &
Marketing Association further projects total Super Bowl spending to reach eleven billion bucks! Again, that’s an 11 with nine zeros following!
Now, contrast what American consumers spend celebrating on this one Sunday each year with the fact that one in seven households in the U.S. are living in poverty,
the highest in 52 years and it affects more than 16 million children, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Now, look back 24 years to January 28, 1990, the day the San
Francisco 49ers demolished the Denver Broncos (55-10) in Super Bowl XXIV.
That
morning, Brad Smith, a seminary intern in a
Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., prayed: "Lord, as we enjoy the
Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of
soup to eat". That prayer inspired the youth in Columbia to ask folks for
a dollar to help fight local hunger. The idea has swept the country since 1990.
Super Bowl weekend has become a time to mobilize our youth to fight hunger and
poverty in their local communities, transforming our annual Super Bowl into the
nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving. That’s why it’s called the
Souper Bowl of Caring. Since its inception, the movement raised over $100
million to feed the hungry.
That
morning, Brad Smith, a seminary intern in a
Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., prayed: "Lord, as we enjoy the
Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of
soup to eat". That prayer inspired the youth in Columbia to ask folks for
a dollar to help fight local hunger. The idea has swept the country since 1990.
Super Bowl weekend has become a time to mobilize our youth to fight hunger and
poverty in their local communities, transforming our annual Super Bowl into the
nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving. That’s why it’s called the
Souper Bowl of Caring. Since its inception, the movement raised over $100
million to feed the hungry. 
In 1996, Rev. James Debner, Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and the youth of his congregation introduced the Souper Bowl of Caring to their suburban community of Southington, CT. located just 18 miles southwest of the capital city of Hartford. They chose Bread for Life, the local soup kitchen, as the recipient of the donations they collected to help feed the hungry in their town. Within a few short years, young members of other local
churches began participating in the movement, including First Congregational
UCC, Grace United Methodist, Saint. Dominic R.C., Saint Paul’s Epsicopal and First
Lutheran Churches. Since 1996, they have
collectively raised a total of $25,747 plus 1,224 lbs. of food for
Southington’s hungry.
Last
year, in the nation, 9,905 participating groups collected a total of $9,954,189.56
in cash and food items for 8,596 local charities. In each community, the money is directed to local charities of their choice. Southington youth groups continue to donate their gifts to Bread for Life which feeds the local hungry through several programs operated by Bread for Life, which also collaborates closely with Southington Community
Services and its Food Pantry throughout the year, thus reaching more folks who simply need a bit of assistance in making ends meet. Nationally, over
14,000 groups are enrolled in the 2013 campaign which runs through this Sunday,
February 3rd.
Youth Director,
Bev Montana, reports that each succeeding year youth groups at St.
Dominic Church have continued to say “YES” to carrying the program forward. Pastor, Fr. Ronald May applauds the program and how much it means to the young people as well as those who benefit from their good work. At Zion Lutheran, Debner says,
“Continuing the program is a powerful advocacy for the less fortunate around
us. The youth understand the concept of
touching people, one at a time. Remembering the poor resonates with the play on words
of Super Bowl for the generous donors who understand that someone
out there is not celebrating today!”
At
First Congregational Church of Southington, the youth group, under the leadership of Youth
Minister Dawn Karlson, Souper Bowl began taking up collections a week ago. They look
forward to a successful conclusion of the drive on Souper Bowl Sunday. Also participating again this year, Pastor Carol Downs of Grace United
Methodist Church was positive in validating this fine giving opportunity for
the youth, the congregation and those who will be blessed with their
compassion.
This weekend, be sure to
look for the young people who put their hope and hearts in the generosity of
our community.
Meanwhile, learn much more about the Souper Bowl of Caring and consider starting up a group or joining an existing group
Meanwhile, learn much more about the Souper Bowl of Caring and consider starting up a group or joining an existing group
Sunday, January 27, 2013
It's the Darn Door!
Let's see. Where was I going?
 Ever walk into a room with a purpose in mind, only to completely forget what that purpose was?Turns out, doors themselves are to blame for these strange memory lapses.  Psychologists at the University of Notre Dame have discovered that passing through a doorway triggers what's known as an event boundary in the mind which separates one set of thoughts and memories from the next... Your brain files away the thoughts you had in the previous room and prepares a blank slate for the new locale. It's not aging, it's the darn door!
Thank goodness for studies like this; many aging citizens like me were really becoming alarmed at what else might be ahead for us!
I hope that study is confirmed soon... before I forget it.
|
Monday, January 21, 2013
Goodness: It was on the Old Black Phone
For years I have marveled at the wondrous nature of simple kindness, no, goodness, in humans!
Wouldn't it be a great achievement to bring more of it about during the years we spend during this life's journey!
In that spirit, I am pleased to post herewith a simple human story that came my way from a church friend today. The author is unknown to me. - erf
The Black Phone
When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our
neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the
wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to
reach the telephone, but I used to listen with fascination when my mother
talked to it
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an
amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's
number and the correct time.
My personal experience with the genie-in-that-box came one day while my
mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there seemed to be no point in crying because there was no one home to give me sympathy.
I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at
the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.
"Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.
"Information."
"I hurt my finger...", I wailed into the phone; the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.
"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.
"No,"I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it really hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.
I said I could.
"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.
She told me my pet chipmunk, the one that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information
Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things
grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne,
always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."
Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
"Information", said the now familiar voice.
"How do I spell fix?" I asked.
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I Somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.
Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense
of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your
finger must have healed by now."
I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"
"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me.
I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered,
"Informtation"
I asked for Sally.
"Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, "She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."
Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "Yes." I answered.
Well, Sally left a message for you.
She wrote it down in case you called.
"Let me read it to you."
The note said,"Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.
Whose life have you touched today?
Why not touch someone today by passing this on? That's what I just did.
Lifting you on eagle's wings.
May you find the joy and peace you long for.
Life is a journey... NOT a guided tour.
I loved this story and just had to pass it on hoping you would, too.
Wouldn't it be a great achievement to bring more of it about during the years we spend during this life's journey!
In that spirit, I am pleased to post herewith a simple human story that came my way from a church friend today. The author is unknown to me. - erf
When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our
neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the
wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to
reach the telephone, but I used to listen with fascination when my mother
talked to it
Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an
amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's
number and the correct time.
My personal experience with the genie-in-that-box came one day while my
mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer. The pain was terrible, but there seemed to be no point in crying because there was no one home to give me sympathy.
I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at
the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.
"Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.
A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.
"Information."
"I hurt my finger...", I wailed into the phone; the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience.
"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.
"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.
"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.
"No,"I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it really hurts."
"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.
I said I could.
"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.
After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math.
She told me my pet chipmunk, the one that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.
Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information
Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things
grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"
She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne,
always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."
Somehow I felt better.
Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."
"Information", said the now familiar voice.
"How do I spell fix?" I asked.
All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my friend very much.
"Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I Somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.
Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense
of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.
A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."
Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.
"Information."
I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"
There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your
finger must have healed by now."
I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"
"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your call meant to me.
I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls."
I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.
"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."
Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered,
"Informtation"
I asked for Sally.
"Are you a friend?" she said.
"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, "She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."
Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "Yes." I answered.
Well, Sally left a message for you.
She wrote it down in case you called.
"Let me read it to you."
The note said,"Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."
I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.
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Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.
Whose life have you touched today?
Why not touch someone today by passing this on? That's what I just did.
Lifting you on eagle's wings.
May you find the joy and peace you long for.
Life is a journey... NOT a guided tour.
I loved this story and just had to pass it on hoping you would, too.
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