MODERN ANTIQUE

Yesterday I had lunch with my oldest son, Bill, to commemorate his birthday. Besides giving him a present, I told him part of his “inheritance” has been repaired and now works good as new.

Bill knew immediately that I was referring to a special gold pocket watch. Since my grandfather and father had Charles in their name, it seems appropriate that my son William Charles will inherit the watch. Actually, to tell the truth, I told my parents at Bill's birth that one of the reasons he got his middle name was to give him a claim for the watch. The inscription inside the watch case shows that on November 29, 1908, my grandfather, C.W. Ellington, was given the watch by the Sunday School of Second Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia. That church began on December 13, 1854, with eleven members in the living room of my grandfather’s grandmother, Mrs. Mary Ellington. Below is her photo and the house which is still standing.

My grandfather moved to Hickory, North Carolina, to be with his pastor from Petersburg, who had become pastor of the First Baptist Church.


C.W. Ellington opened a bakery in Hickory and continued teaching Sunday School for many years. The pictures below show the growth of his class from 1922 to 1923.



Could that be "the watch" on his coat lapel?

(click on photos to see full size)

In the lower photo my father is sitting on my grandfather's lap.
Inside the hunter's case of the watch is a photo taken in the early 1920s of my father with his mother and sister. I can imagine my grandfather opening the watch up daily for many years, each time looking at the photo of his family.



After we talked about the 100 year old antique watch, Bill opened his birthday card. On the card I wrote him a note to remind him that he is at the one-third century old mark. So, in a sense, he is a “modern antique.”

Bill earns his living as an artisan, specializing in decorative painting. Hopefully he is creating work that will be around for a long time. You can see his work by clicking on www.BellingtonDesigns.com

BABY BOOMED

Kathleen Casey-Kirschling made the news this week when she applied for Social Security benefits. She is generally recognized as the nation’s first baby boomer. She was born on January 1, 1946, at 12:00:01 a.m.

I am toward the head of the class of baby boomers coming into the “golden age.” Of course, for years I have gotten the AARP marketing material. I have never liked those folks knowing how old I am and frequently reminding me of my age with their solicitations. However, I admit getting older does not seem so bad when I get the “old geezer” rate at movie theaters.

But today was a little rough for me. As I walked into the barbershop I noticed a large sign that informed me today was seniors discount day. Dare I inquire how old I must be to pay $5 less? I confess I did not have the heart to even ask how old you had to be. To tell the truth I guess I did not want to be that old. :-(

Then I went to the grocery store. As the clerk scanned my items, she nodded her head toward a sign in front of me. Quickly I glanced down and saw the large yellow sign with black letters: “60 years and older - 5% discount today.” Since the clerk asked me so discretely, I ’fessed up and told her I qualified.

Yet inside my cool was blown. I have read, and agree with the statement, that baby boomers seem to think we look 10 years younger than we are. Here I am just barely qualifying for the grocery discount, but so quickly and easily I am spotted as a candidate. It must have been the haircut that causes my white hairs to show more prominently!

Just now my wife has just walked in the room. Without knowing what I am writing about she says that I look like a teenager with my knit shirt and jeans.

With her comment I guess I will delay my plans. After today’s experiences I was thinking about getting some gold chains to drape around my neck and unbutton my shirt half-way down my chest.

But I think I might still look into buying a red sports car or a motorcycle. Maybe this baby has not boomed out completely. :-)

TURN TURN TURN

I am beginning to feel “a little old.” At Operaton Christmas Child processing center I lead a team of nine young men. The oldest is in his early 30’s. When it comes to sheer physical labor I am forced to acknowledge I cannot keep up with them. I don’t like the feeling.

Today while we were talking about basketball, one of the guys said, “I bet you were good in your day.” Now I feel like an old geezer way over the hill.

Tonight while I sat in a tub of hot water trying to soothe my aching muscles, I remembered the words of Ecclesiastes 3. It gave me some solace ... “everything is beautiful in its time.”

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

To hear Roger McGuinn, founder of The Byrds, sing the song click below:

http://www.ibiblio.org/bitcasting/rmg-300.mpg