 On The Line -- Issue 639 -- June 15, 2007  Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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On The Line -- Issue 639 -- June 15, 2007 Online News and Views of Life in San Benito County with Herman Wrede Published by HollisterOnline.com -- Copyright 1995-2008 HollisterOnline.com
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Let us hope that the two days just past are not a preview of summer weather on the Central Coast. On June 11 the temperature went to 94, six or seven degrees higher than the previous day.
But June 12 shot past the 100-mark, landing squarely on 101. That was accompanied by a humidity reading of 72 per cent. Residents who grew up in the East or Midwest were reminded of one of the reasons for moving here. Every summer seems to have more days in which the temperature is in three digits. Last summer comes to mind, when three and even four days in a row topped the 95-degreemark. Oh yes, some old-timers will repeat the local myth that San Benito County never has more than three consecutive days of heat despite records showing otherwise. But they grew up hearing it, so they repeat it regardless. June means more than just hot days. Many youngsters who have gone to school since they were six suddenly find themselves about to graduate from high school. Some of that number plan on going to college, and many have looked forward to the day they could enter the job market. But many are still unprepared for the world and, despite being told that they are the leaders of tomorrow, they are somewhat of at a loss to know what to do today. It is not an unusual situation because many generations have already experienced it. Something in the way of a job will turn up eventually, even if it seems to take forever. Most people find a number of jobs they do until the one that seems to just fit them comes along. Military service is an option that fewer recent graduates are taking because of the Iraq War, now in its fifth year. The all-volunteer services offer many incentives to enlist but still find the numbers of those joining up are much fewer than in previous years. Flag Day arrives on June 14, dating from that time in 1777 that the Second Continental Congress authorized the flag for the fledgling nation that was still in the throes of revolution against England. The day is not celebrated as widely as it once was and relatively few people can tell you on what date it falls. Some veterans' groups and businesses will honor it because it is a day to display the colors. June also means the rodeo for San Benito County residents, an event that has been going on at Bolado Park since before the Depression. As many as five generations of some families have taken part in it over the years. The traditional parade the day before it opens will be held along San Benito Street in Hollister on June 21, and thousands of people are expected to line both sides of San Benito Street to cheer on the riders and marchers as they have done for many years. The San Benito Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo (to give it its official name) is scheduled for June 22-24. Some families will be there all three days to root on their favorites and to enjoy the thrills that come with riding and roping. There is another observance before the rodeo, one with many more celebrants. It falls on June 17 this year, the third Sunday of the month. It is that time-honored holiday, Fathers' Day. Being a father is somewhat as tricky as being a son. My father, for instance, had a boyhood that was marked by his father's sternness. If any of my five siblings or I thought our Dad was stern, and each of us did at times, we probably had it much easier than he did as a boy. Dad had a number of rules that he lived by and that he expected his children to observe. "Always keep your word," he admonished us. "That way, people know they can depend upon you. If you don't think you'll be able to meet someone at, say, nine o'clock, tell him so, otherwise he might wait for you needlessly." Another rule of his was always to be loyal. "If one of your pals needs a hand in doing something, do it -- unless it's wrong. Even then, if you're a true friend, he will probably appreciate it later." Another rule he lived by was to be kind to other people and to animals. "There's already too much grief in the world," he would say. "Sometimes a smile or a gentle word will be just enough to lift someone out of sadness." We knew those things without him telling us but they were important to him, and we were his children so he taught us. If we transgressed, we knew that he would feel that he had failed us in some way, and we did not like the thought of that. He was not our only instructor in doing the right thing. Mom and our grandmother, our teachers and the adult of our neighborhood saw that we kept on the up and up. After awhile, we found we needed no one else to do what was right. My father died 34 years ago when my daughter was four and my twin sons, one. They never met him because we lived thousands of miles away from him. Even so, I told them a lot about him As a father, I found that telling my children rules to observe was not enough in itself to have them do it. I also had to show that I was living by the rules so they would understand their importance. None of my children were perfect in behavior but I must say that they were usually dependable, loyal and kind in their dealings with others. I hope that the legacy my father left me will continue to enrich them as it certainly will their children. Life is fleeting but the generations keep alive that which they have found valuable. Someday when my grandchildren are themselves parents and grandparents they may find that life has been better than it might have been for them because they had a few rules that kept them on track. |
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