As back-to-school time has arrived, it has unfortunately been back to the tragedies and threats at schools, too, leaving us all to ponder what has happened to our society that has never been perfect.
I had never heard of that Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., where the latest sad incident occurred, but I learned it had opened in 2000. As a graduate of the University of Georgia, I certainly was aware of Winder just west of Athens and formerly knew some students who went to the traditional Winder-Barrow High School in the same county.
We all wonder about the 14-year-old Apalachee student who was charged with killing four people and his motivation, state of mind, and upbringing in this world of today. The same questions are out there regarding the shooter of former President Donald Trump this summer as well.
And who would have thought we would start having so many people making school-related threats in Hamilton County, knowing the consequences of just those threats?
I started thinking of how much different society is from 50 years ago when I was starting the ninth grade at Baylor School, although the imperfection of life was quite evident in a lesser way then, too. And that includes remembering some 1970s’ school bomb threats, when tracing the calls or written comments was more challenging.
I also still vividly remember three tragedies or unfortunate events from that summer of 1974 when I was growing up in the Valleybrook subdivision. I recall the July 31 kidnapping and subsequent killing of dentist Dr. Robert “Buddy” Elliott from his Big Ridge home by two men (even though I never understood all the details); the Aug. 9 resignation of President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal; and the Aug. 20 tragic death of television news personality Mort Lloyd in an airplane crash while flying to visit his parents after his victory in the Democratic congressional primary.
Because of President Nixon’s downfall, Democrats had easier times getting elected in 1974, and Mr. Lloyd could have defeated Republican incumbent LaMar Baker, just as his wife, Marilyn, did after taking his place. She went on to serve for 20 years after initially getting what some called the “sympathy” vote.
I have always wanted to know more about Ms. Lloyd and regret that I never had a chance to interview her or talk with her one on one before her death in 2018. I remember attending a few events where she was when I worked with the Chattanooga News-Free Press but never shook her hand.
I mean this in a very respectful way, but she always seemed a contrast from a distance. She had kind of a warm Southern manner more befitting a neighbor down the street than a politician when you would hear her talk, yet she was able to hang on to office for 20 years and gain praises among her supporters. This no doubt caused frustration for Republicans in a community that was largely conservative even then, even though I believe she was conservative on certain issues.
And almost like a country music song, her life had plenty of ups and downs, including being preceded in death by three of her four husbands while married.
She was of an era when women were treated with respect and manners, but not always fully respected. But she was certainly a pioneer for all the area women office holders of today, who don’t really have anything holding them back anymore.
I have also wondered why so many local TV news personalities have ended up running for office. Besides Mort Lloyd, three who come to mind are Dan Howell, Bill McAfee, and Ray White. What current TV news personality would you like to see run for office?
Speaking of local TV news personalities, I had wondered why Alison Pryor had left as a meteorologist with Local 3 News, as she seemed to be a natural for that position and had a sincere, capable, and upbeat manner that would likely have continued to endear her to viewers.
I saw where she is now the media coordinator for the Tennessee Aquarium, so maybe I better understand the move. That is a high-profile position in the public relations world of Chattanooga, so she will likely still be visible locally and maybe have a more regular schedule.
Of course, we are in an era when so many people under 50 get their news not in the traditional formats of TV, radio, or traditional newspapers or print news sites anymore. That is, even though talk shows still seem to be popular on TV and radio, especially the latter.
Phil Donahue, who died Aug. 18, was one of the national TV show hosts who started a new trend by having guests talk about everyday issues instead of just having celebrities. His death started me remembering getting to be an audience member for his show in 1990 while fellow Chattanoogan David Palmer and I were visiting former newspaper colleague Steven Epley in New York.
We had walked through the NBC studios for a tour when an NBC employee offered to give us tickets to a taping of a Phil Donahue Show either later that day or the next morning.
As I found out, the topic was the decision by Mills College, a women’s school in California, to go coed, and most of the students and others were not happy about it. I remember thinking that maybe this was my chance to get on TV as one of the audience members asking a question, even though I was shy. But I think the angry students they had on the show and some others they talked with via long-distance video took up most of the time, and little remained for a small number of questions by audience members closer to the stage.
I remember Mr. Donahue seemed nice as he came out and talked to us audience members in an upbeat manner before the taping began. As it ended, he quickly said he would like to stay around and greet us, but he had to go tape another show of some kind. He then quickly exited the stage.
It is hard for me to believe that occurred nearly 35 years ago, or that 1974 was 50 years ago. Where did the time go?
I say that in part because on Sept. 4, I reached the milestone age of 65. I felt flattered that I had quite a few people wishing me a happy birthday even weeks before the day came. Of course, 95 percent of them were insurance company salespeople wondering if I also needed any Medicare-related supplemental insurance.
The phone rang regularly, the emails came, and I believe one person even knocked on our door while we were out and left his card.
Although I never completely understand everything on such matters, I was able to get signed up for Medicare after several efforts on the computer and one or two phone calls. I was also able to make one simple additional call to the place where I previously had health insurance to get signed up for the supplemental policy.
I also examined my Social Security needs, and while I was at it looked in the mirror to see if I had any additional gray hairs, too!
65 is one of those landmark ages that most people consider significant, even if the age one signs up for Social Security payment varies from being a little under 65 to closer to 70, depending on one’s situation.
It also used to be the classic age for retirement. For some reason when I think of turning 65, I picture the man retiring on his birthday after 30 or 40 years working for the same large corporation, and about 40 or 50 co-workers being on hand, a short “thanks for the memories” speech, and cake being enjoyed.
Since I have been blessed to get to do some freelance journalism work and adjunct college teaching off and on over much of the last 20 or 25 years, and neither one of those technically have a mandatory retirement age, I hope to continue doing such work in some form over the immediate future. And except for the three years when I taught public high school in Cleveland and Knoxville, I have been able to control my own schedule during much of each week. So, that has almost been like semi-retirement.
There are some days, of course, when I have to busily finish up a couple of stories while also getting ready for my class or classes, and I am always glad when those days pass. And I have had my load lightened slightly in the number of stories I write for a publication connected to the Knoxville News Sentinel and have only taught one class a semester the last two terms at the University of Tennessee.
And for some reason, those changes have been more enjoyable and less stressful, even though I travel to Knoxville for both of those opportunities and have to make sure they are still worth my time and reduced pay.
And as I have mentioned before, I never know when any of them will be stopped due to the fact both jobs as freelance contract workers are more expendable, but I am still enjoying them as I go. I hope your stress and busyness levels are not worse than you want!
Turning 65 is also a time when we evaluate where we are, if we have achieved what we want and have had a content life, and what we still want to achieve or do in the remaining time left. I have been thrilled to get to write for a living, even though I have not been able to afford a Maserati doing it. Also, like maybe most people who write, a Pulitzer Prize or maybe a bestselling book would be a nice little additional reward to round out my mostly inconspicuous career. Ha ha!
And I hope to still to travel more and find other ways to help people than the one or two measly activities I do now.
Regarding regrets, I don’t really have any, although I do sometimes think about not having any natural children. I must admit that it is not always easy seeing people gloat over their children or talk about how meaningful they are in their lives, even though I can certainly understand and appreciate those viewpoints and know I would be just like them if my situation were different.
I did not get married until I was in my mid-30s and my wife, Laura, was in her 40s, so having children was not an option. But I have tried to embrace her three sons from her previous marriage and all their children, as well as my niece and nephews and their families. And I try to be a positive encourager to the college students I teach and try to let them know I am interested in their wellbeing, encouragement I did not always feel from professors as an undergraduate.
I am actually amazed that several acquaintances around my age also did not end up having children, and some of them have not married. Hopefully they are content and do not have any regrets, either.
I realize we all are given different roles to play, and all we can do is make the most of those opportunities in a positive way and try to help people along the way. After seeing all the sad news of recent days involving the schools, I realize many young people still need positive supporters and helpers in addition to their parents, too!
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Jcshearer2@comcast.net