The "Easter According To LDub: Part I" Story

Preface:  Today seems rather surreal, since most in the United States, and perhaps the world, who are Christians, are not supposed to go to church on one of the holiest Christian days of the year due to the COVID-19.  During my lifetime I have never experienced this and pray that it will never happen again. 

It was an ordinary day.  Reading the literature that has arrived from St. James Episcopal Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where Carol and I are members.  Years ago we purchased plots in the historic graveyard that abuts the church.  Many historical people are buried there and one day, along with my Mother and Father, Carol and I will remain.  The online literature that came today tells about the Easter services that will take place on Easter Sunday.  A small story told of giving thanks for Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Christ.  Thought I would read a bit more about him and share it with you this Easter Sunday.  So...the following may shed a bit more light on what actually happened to Jesus after he had been taken down from the cross.  Read on...

Joseph of Arimathea was a biblical figure who played an important role in the burial of Jesus Christ.  The account can be found in each of the four Gospels.  He is called "Joseph of Arimathea" since he came from the Judean town of Arimathea.  This helps distinguish him from the many other Josephs in the Bible.  In Luke we can see that he was actually a part of the Council of Sanhedrin, which was the group of Jewish religious leaders who called for Jesus' crucifixion.  However, if you read more in Luke you will see that Joseph was opposed to the Council's decision and was in fact a secret follower of Jesus.  Joseph was a wealthy man, although it is not known where he may have obtained his wealth.  He is also known in Luke as a "good and upright man."  After Jesus' death on the cross, Joseph, at great risk to himself and his reputation, went to the Roman governor Pilate to request Jesus' body.  Nicodemus, the Pharisee who had visited Jesus at night to ask questions about God's Kingdom, accompanied Joseph.  Both men were granted custody of Jesus' body, and they immediately began to prepare for his burial.  They wrapped his body in strips of linen and mixed in myrrh and aloe.  Being that it was the Day of Preparation, the sixth day of the week, just before the Jewish Sabbath, they hurriedly placed Jesus in Joseph's own tomb, located in a garden near the place of Jesus' crucifixion.  What they didn't know was by placing Jesus in Joseph's tomb, it fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy spoken hundreds of years before Jesus' death. ("He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth."). This is one of many prophecies that have confirmed Jesus' identity as the Messiah and Son of God.  The day after Joseph and Nicodemus buried Jesus, the chief priest and Pharisees went to Pilate to request that the stone Joseph had placed in front of the tomb be sealed, and a guard posted, for three days.  They were worried that Jesus might do something, since he had said He would rise after three days.  They also claimed that Jesus' disciples might attempt to steal the body in order to fabricate a resurrection.  Didn't matter anyway for on the third day he rose from the dead just as he had predicted.  Due to all of these circumstances, Joseph has been part of many stories and legends.  Some have said that Joseph of Arimathea was the uncle of Jesus' mother, Mary.  However, the Bible makes no such connection, so the claim is unsubstantiated.  Another story says that Joseph supposedly made many trips to Britain for trade and is said to have eventually brought the gospel to that country.  Once again, there is nothing in the Bible about what Joseph did after Jesus' burial.  What we do know from the Scriptures is that Joseph of Arimathea was rich and part of the Sanhedrin, and he procured Jesus's body and laid it in his own tomb from which Jesus rose again in power three days later.  Amen.  

St. James years ago when I sang in the boys choir.

As a child who sang in the choir at St. James Episcopal, I loved the Easter services.  Mom, Dad, brother Steve and I would arise early on Easter morning, dress in our finest Easter clothes, grab a small bite to eat and head to the 7:00 am Easter Sunrise service.  Dad and I would sing in the choir and after the service would head to the Parish House for breakfast which my mother and other ladies who had children or husbands in the choir had prepared.  Great meal!  We would then visit with my Nannan on North Pine Street in center city Lancaster to search for Easter baskets and then home once more for a few more Easter baskets. Then back to church for the 11:00 am service where we sang once again and my brother Steve and mom would have a chance to participate.  At 4:00 pm we would return once again for the service where the woman and girls choirs would join the mens and boys choirs where all children would be given a flower which was allegedly from Joseph's Lovely Garden.  After being given a flower, everyone would sing "In Joseph's Lovely Garden."  Now, that was really neat with everyone holding their flower high above their head. (A few did drop and make an awful mess, but it was still fun. You would take care of your flower until the next Easter and bring it back once again to be judged as to the biggest, brightest, and oldest.  If you were the winner in one of those categories, you would be given a beautiful Lily.  I'm not sure if I ever won a Lily, but the memories of Easter's past still fill my mind.  Easter has changed over the years at St. James and there are no longer flowers given out to everyone, but they will never be able to take those memories from me!  Happy Easter to all!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Easter According To LDub: Part II" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking back on the many Easter's past when we could physically attend church at St. James Episcopal rather than watch it on my computer.  Many years our minister would talk about The Seven Words Of Jesus On The Cross.  As a child they had very little meaning, but as I got older I could begin to understand what they meant.  I'm assuming that most Christian religions share the same theology about Easter.  But for those who never had the chance to know these final words, I have copied them into this story if you care to read them.  They read:

7 Last Words of Jesus

What Phrases Did Jesus Speak on the Cross and What Did They Mean?

Jesus Christ made seven final statements during his last hours on the cross. These phrases are held dear by followers of Christ because they offer a glimpse into the depth of his suffering to accomplish redemption. Recorded in the Gospels between the time of his crucifixion and his death, they reveal his divinity as well as his humanity. As much as possible, given the approximate sequence of events as portrayed in the Gospels, these seven last words of Christ are presented here in chronological order.

1) Jesus Speaks to the Father

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." 

In the midst of his excruciating suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself. Here we see the nature of his love—unconditional and divine.

2) Jesus Speaks to the Criminal on the Cross

Luke 23:43

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 

One of the criminals who was crucified with Christ had recognized who Jesus was and expressed faith in him as Savior. Here we see God's grace poured out through faith, as Jesus assured the dying man of his forgiveness and eternal salvation.

3) Jesus Speaks to Mary and John

John 19:26– 27

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." 

Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his mother. None of his brothers were there to care for her, so he gave this task to the Apostle John. Here we clearly see Christ's humanity.

4) Jesus Cries Out to the Father

Matthew 27:46 (also Mark 15:34)

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” 

In the darkest hours of his suffering, Jesus cried out the opening words of Psalm 22. And although much has been suggested regarding the meaning of this phrase, it was quite apparent the agony Christ felt as he expressed separation from God. Here we see the Father turning away from the Son as Jesus bore the full weight of our sin.

5) Jesus is Thirsty

John 19:28

Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." 

Jesus refused the initial drink of vinegar, gall, and myrrh (Matthew 27:34 and Mark 15:23) offered to alleviate his suffering. But here, several hours later, we see Jesus fulfilling the messianic prophecy found in Psalm 69:21.

6) It Is Finished

John 19:30

... he said, "It is finished!" 

Jesus knew he was suffering the crucifixion for a purpose. Earlier he had said in John 10:18 of his life, "No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father." (NIV) These three words were packed with meaning, for what was finished here was not only Christ's earthly life, not only his suffering and dying, not only the payment for sin and the redemption of the world—but the very reason and purpose he came to earth was finished. His final act of obedience was complete. The Scriptures had been fulfilled.

7) Jesus' Last Words

Luke 23:46

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 

Here Jesus closes with the words of Psalm 31:5, speaking to the Father. We see his complete trust in the Father. Jesus entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands.

Perhaps next year our world will be a safer place to live without fear of disease or warfare and you will be able to attend church on Easter if you are a Christian.  Seems like we have struggled enough this year to last us a lifetime.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Please! May We Swap Leaders For The Next Few Months?!!" Story

Orient Beach on Frenchf St. Martin...we will miss you!

Preface: My wife and I have been visiting the island of Dutch Sint Maarten/ French St.Martin for the past 20 years.  We have made many friends over those years and enjoy our yearly visits immensely.  We were scheduled to visit for a few weeks beginning May 10th.  

Happy Bay on French St. Martin...and you, too!

That is not going to happen!  American Airlines has canceled flights, Sint Maarten is not allowing flights from anywhere except from a French or Dutch island and the Prime Minister of the island has placed a strict "Stop Moving" ban on the residents of the Dutch side.  I'm sure it will be enacted on the French side also in the near future.  So...we had to cancel our vacation this year.  Hopefully we will be able to return to Paradise once again, but as in life, there are no guarantees.  The following is what one news reporter wrote about the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten.  As my story title says today...it can't be soon enough!

It was an ordinary day.  Until I watched the video posted on Twitter that featured Silveria Jacobs, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten.  The video was posted by a BuzzFeed News Reporter Emmanuel Felton under a headline which read "Leader's Blunt Coronavirus Message To Her Citizens Has Gone Viral."  Mr. Felton says that Silveria Jacobs isn't accepting any of your excuses for leaving the house. In wake of the threat posed by the global coronavirus pandemic, PM Jacobs ordered a halt to all nonessential movement in the small Caribbean nation of just 41,000 people.  

Prime Minister of Dutch Sint Maarten Silveria Jacobs

On April 1 an hour long briefing was held by officials of the island with Jacobs saying, while being taped, "We can stop the spread of the virus.  Stop moving! Simply, stop moving!  If you do not have the type of bread you like in your house, eat crackers.  If you do not have bread, eat cereal, eat oats, sardines," she said.  Jacobs told residents of the small island, which was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017, to treat the pandemic like a natural disaster.  She continued, "You're supposed to have a two-week supply for hurricanes, and at the beginning of this I said, 'Prepare your disaster kit as if you would for a hurricane."  She told people not to buy water or toilet paper, but rather one to two weeks of food in the event of a full lockdown, which would mean grocery stores would close.  The Prime Minister said she doesn't want to order a full lockdown, so she is urging people to practice social distancing and remain home as much as possible.  "If the people of Sint Maarten do not adhere to the measures that the government of Sint Maarten is putting in place for your own safety, then I have no other choice," she said bluntly.  Mr. Felton writes that in contrast to briefings by US officials and President Donald Trump, which even some people in conservative media have found to be not useful, many people found Jacobs' straightforward tone quite helpful.  Many of the people sharing Jacobs' video are children of the Caribbean diaspora who could hear echoes of their own mothers and grandmothers in her address.  Others, including my wife and myself and many more around the world, are clamoring for her to-the-point leadership style.  Mr. Felton reports that given how unseriously a lot of the west is taking this, I feel like all leaders should be talking to their citizens like this.  It truly is female leadership at its finest.  We love to see it.  I must admit that I totally agree with Mr. Felton.  If only we in the United States had leadership such as the island of Sint Maarten is receiving we would feel so much better knowing that someone is really in control of the situation.  So, I propose we swap leaders for the remainder of this pandemic!!  Watch Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs frank talk she gave to the residents of the island.  It doesn't take an hour or more of talking and gesturing with your hands needlessly to get across what you want the people to do.  And, I suspect they will do it!!  Bravo Prime Minister.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Ramblings From Someone With Nothing To Do!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Still practicing "social distancing,"  wearing my mask and being bored!  So, what to do?  Well, we did need some food for the cats so I headed the couple of blocks to the pet store to stock up on both wet and dry food.  Took me all but half an hour and I was home again trying to find something to do.  I've already cleaned the grout between the tiles in our kitchen and hallway and trimmed all the bushes around the property and mowed the grass twice within a week.  My next task for the day was to sit on my lounge chair and do something constructive such as type something for all to read.  Talked with my wife, Carol, about an idea or two, opened the top on my MacBook Air and hit the orange colored box with the big letter "E" on it.  The "E" stands for Extraordinary which happens to be the first word in the title of my blog.  Carol suggested I write about the Easter holiday or perhaps something going on around the city where we live, Lancaster.  Tough to do right now, since I am limited in where and when I may drive.  Then I remembered a street sign I had seen on the way home from getting my cat's food which read "Bareville".  To many, the name of the little town is hilarious.  And...I guess it could be.  But, I could list many other towns nearby that are funnier than that.  Then I had my "Ah Ha" moment.  I've already written about towns such as Blue Ball, Mt. Joy, Lititz, Bird-In-Hand so why not find a few towns that I have never heard with strange names and write about them.  I found a recent post that listed a few towns that have names that you might be glad you don't have to tell people that's where you live. They are:

Boogertown, North Carolina.  When I first saw this one I did have to laugh a bit.  I'm sure you probably did also, unless you happen to live in Boogertown...and then I'm sure you don't laugh at the name anymore.  So, why is this town called Boogertown?  Well, it actually refers to the stories of boogeymen who lived in and hunted the forests of a North Carolina town.  But, boogeymen never really existed; it was just a name made up by bootleggers who were trying to keep townspeople and authorities out of the woods while they made their "juice".  This town is in Gaston County, NC and has as many events and activities as any other town in any other state in the country.  Just happens to have a funny name that makes everyone laugh.

Humptulips, Washington.  A town with a really odd name.  And, I'm positive that most of you had to laugh when you read it.  The name originated thousands of years ago and is a Salish word of the native Chehalis tribe.  The word translates to "hard to pole" which refers to navigating the Humptulips River with downed timber in its water.  Now, others see it differently and say it means "chilly region".  Doesn't really matter what it means except for the fact that it is a region with a proud native history.

Two Egg, Florida.  This has to be a joke, right!  Nope, it is an area in Jackson County, Florida that doesn't have a city government so no one pays taxes or has access to municipal services.  The name came about when the Great Depression hit in the 1930s and mothers would send their children to the general store to trade two eggs for sugar.  The store eventually became known as a "two-egg store" and visitors began calling area Two Egg.  It actually made it onto the Florida map in 1940. 

Hell, Michigan.  So you really can go to hell if you want.  And, I'm sure many people really do go to hell.  The town is near Ann Arbor and was first settled in 1838 where it had a general store and grist mill.  The founder of the town, George Reeves, would pay farmers for grain with whiskey.  The farmer's wives used to claim their husbands had "gone to Hell again" when they visited Reeves at harvest time.  But, wait!  There is yet another reason for the name.  "So schön hell" translates to "so beautifully bright."  But, then Reeves comes along and says, "I don't know, you can name it Hell for all I care."  So, no matter what the reason might be, it officially became Hell, Michigan in 1841.  And, today you can pay to be the Mayor of Hell, Michigan for an hour.  How much will it cost you?  Hell, I don't know. 

And, the final town is one that I have been through as well as have shopped in many times...Intercourse, Pennsylvania.  This town is in the heart of Amish Country and is surrounded by his and valleys of farmland.  The shops in the town sell Amish goods such as hand-made quilts, furniture, toys and crafts.  The town is one of the biggest draws when tourist come to see The Amish. Heck (notice I didn't type something else) if I came to visit I certainly would want to buy something that said I was involved in Intercourse.  Heavens, I have been through Intercourse many times in my life.  The town was originally called Cross Keys, but it wasn't a colorful enough name, so in 1814 the name was changed to Intercourse.  After all it is at the intersection of State Routes 340 and 772.  Intercourse, PA was featured in the Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis 1985 film, "Witness".  

Well, there you have a few new names you can talk about at supper.  Perhaps you may want to visit one of them or at least go online and buy a sweatshirt, t-shirt or cap with the name of the town on it.  Then everyone who sees you could have a good laugh.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

The "Did You Know That A Globe Isn't An Accurate Depiction Of The World?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Checking out a story titled "5 Ways Maps Have Warped Your View of the World."  It was an article I found on the "Travel Trivia" website which somehow was deposited in my mailbox a few years ago, but one that I haven't deleted...yet.  

Logo for the Travel Trivia website.

The story told me that I tend to trust information that I get from educational settings and resources around me.  I thought for a minute or two and realized they were correct.  This is particularly true when I see the same images over and over again and realize that there must be agreement among experts on said topics, or they wouldn't continue to publish the same images.  This is especially true of the Mercator projection map which is a two-dimensional representation of Earth's geography created be 16th century Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator.  

In 1569 he created a projection map that has had a lasting influence on how we all view the world.  Unfortu- nately, this two-dimensional rendering of the three-dimensional sphere we live on has some distortions.  Right?  Those distortions and the way Mercator chose to work within the limitations of the transfer from three dimensions to two dimensions have warped the way people view our globe.  Seems there are at least five misconceptions of a three dimensional globe then there are in real life.  #1 is that on a 3D globe, Africa is really bigger than we think.  On a globe Canada seems to take up quite a bit of the top of the globe and dwarfs many other countries and even whole continents.  Canada on a globe appears to be larger than Africa.  But, Africa is quite a bit larger than Canada.  Actually, Canada would fit three times inside Africa.  Try taking a globe apart and flattening it and see if that's the case.  Seems mapmakers wanted more space to add details to their land, while the intricate portrayal of African countries and their inter-locking roadways, waterways and geological features was simply less important to those who had the power over such decisions.  So, today most people think Africa is much smaller than it is in real life.  #2 is that Africa appears to be divided in half by the equator on a globe when in fact Africa is primarily in the Southern Hemisphere.  #3 is that Mexico appears to be smaller than Alaska. A fact that, too, is untrue.  Seems that land masses on the top portion of the map, such as Alaska, got an extra boost in size.  The single state known as Alaska dwarfs Mexico and makes it seem like Mexico could easily fit inside Alaska.  Once again...not so!  Mexico takes up 758,450 square miles while Alaska is 663,300 square miles in size.

Globe of the world. Is it accurate?

 #4 is that Greenland is much smaller than you may think according to a globe.  Greenland is geographically located in North America and on a globe receives a stretched distortion that makes it look huge.  On a globe, Greenland looks longer than Africa  and wider than South America.  The truth is Greenland is only 836,330 square miles making it smaller than not only the entire continent of Africa, but also a single country within it (Algeria).  Actually Greenland is not much more than a large island off the coast of Africa if placed next to it.  #5 is that Antarctica Isn't as massive as it looks on a globe.  Seems the South Pole received the same treatment on the globe as the North Pole.  It looks massive and it really isn't.  The South Pole doesn't stretch from edge to edge around the bottom of the globe as it looks as if it does.  While it is 5.4 million square miles in size, it is not the gigantic presence it seems to be on a three-dimensional globe.  Actually, Russia is larger at 6.5 million square miles even though it doesn't look to be on a globe.  Asia is the largest continent on the planet and is three times the size of Antarctica, but a globe doesn't appear to show it that way.  The first known terrestrial globe that has survived was made by Martin Behaim at Nürnberg in 1492.  Many others have followed with much the same sizes for most of the parts of the world.  I have been searching for a globe to put in my office for...well, lets say most of my lifetime.  But, I have never purchased one...yet.  And, now that I know it shouldn't look as is does, perhaps I'll just forget buying one.  The last thing I need now is more fake facts in my life.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Your Personality Is Very Personal" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at my fingers and trying to decide what my personality may be based on the length of each finger.  Now, for me that can be a bit different than for most of you, since the fingers on my right hand are different than the fingers on my left hand.  All goes back to one day years ago when I was teaching a lesson on how to run the offset press to my Graphic Arts seniors.  As I was giving my demonstration and they stood next to me watching, I made a wrong move and in no time my right hand was caught in the press.  And boy...did that hurt!  I'm not sure who displayed the most white on their face, myself or the half-dozen guys standing around the press that had stopped automatically when my hand became lodged in it.  I grabbed the wheel in front of me with my left hand and turned it until my right hand became dislodged.  Looked at it and after telling my class to sit down in their chairs, headed to the school nurse.  She knew there was nothing she could do with the tip of my pointer finger, which hung to the side of the rest of the finger, so she grabbed her coat and we sped to the hospital as quickly as she could drive.  About an hour later I had a hand that had an index finger that was about the same length as my little finger, since after twisting and pulling it back in place, at a slight angle, it had shrank close to half an inch.  Thus, the fingers on my right hand are a different length while on my left hand my ring finger is longer than my index finger.  

But, for those of you with normal fingers, there is a way to tell your personality by the length of those fingers.  If your ring finger is longer than the index finger, and you are a male, you are more than likely handsome and charming, make lots of money and can get along with just about everyone.  If your ring finger is shorter than the index finger, you are the confident type and perhaps narcissistic.  At times you hate to be disturbed and are not very romantic.  If the ring fingers and index fingers are the same length, well you are a good mediator as well as very loyal and loving.  You're calm, organized and never get rattled.  As for me, it all depends on which hand I decide to look at to determine what I may be that particular day.  Another personality trait can be decided by where you fall in your family line.  If you are the youngest child you more than likely are the most spoiled while the eldest is the most responsible.  You are also the most "powerless" since your siblings were allowed to do more by your parents.  But, the youngest is usually more spoiled which can cause problems with independence later in life.  The youngest is also the most relaxed and easygoing without a worry in the world.  They are also the most charming, but manipulative.  If you are a middle child you get quite a bit of attention and are very competitive.  You can adapt quickly and usually try to avoid conflict.  You are very social and independent.  The eldest child of the family can at times feel inferior which will affect their confidence.  But, the eldest are usually trusted more which leads to greater responsibility.  Makes you a good leader, responsible, trustworthy and ambitious.  See yourself yet?  Well, you have one more shot at your personality if you can look at the way you sit.  

Body language tells quite a bit about a person's personality.  If you sit with your knees together and feet apart (position A) you are very creative and charismatic and view life as an adventure.  if you sit with your legs crossed (position B) you are a dreamer.  You have a rich imagination and are a good listener, but in touch with your own feelings.  If you sit with your knees apart (position C) you are more than likely a chaotic person who can't sit still.  Your mind is always moving and you have a short attention span.  Also helps to have clean underwear.  If you sit with your legs touching from knees to feet (position D) you are very smart and a good thinker.  You are honest, calm and can't stand to gossip.  Finally if you sit with both legs together, but off to the side (position E), you are very goal-oriented and value a career.   You are ambitious and set high goals and standards for yourself.  But, you can lose sight of what you already have since you always aspire for more.  Well, after examining your fingers, legs and where you fall in the family tree, you should know a bit more about yourself.  But, it's all hypothetical depending on what you think of yourself.  And that...can be be totally different than what someone else thinks of you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "I'm Not Giving Up! Take Back St. Joseph's" Story

Preface: The following intro- duction telling of the history of the St. Joseph's Hospital was taken from several pages of information I have accumulated from the web.  I have tried to condense much of what I read while still keeping the story accurate.  St. Joseph's Hospital, later renamed UPMC Pinnacle, is now closed.  And, people are not happy about it.  How did this happen?  Why did it happen?  No one seems to have the answers to the questions.  What will come of it?  A group of faithful residents have formed a community group to see what can be done.  This story will attempt to give you some information into the hospital and what may be done in the future. 

It was an ordinary day.  Reading a Facebook Page known as "The Lancastrian."  As I scrolled down I found post after post after post about the St. Joseph Hospital in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  

St. Joseph's Hospital was built as a charity hospital in 1878 and was the first hospital in Lancaster County.  It was built and operated by St. John of God Order of Brothers and almost immediately ran into financial difficulties.  The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia took over the hospital in 1883 with an operating budget of $2.50, two apples and a mission to minister to the sick and poor.  

When they arrived, the building didn't have electricity, running water or beds.  Despite being met with a strong anti-Catholic sentiment, the Sisters won over the community by their devotion to the community and the care they gave to their patients.  The Sisters, who worked tirelessly without a salary for many years, scrubbing floors, cooking the food for their patients, keeping medical records and washing all the clothes and linens of the hospital, also provided spiritual support to their patients with daily visits by the pastoral care department, most of whom were not Catholic.  

Their devotion and care of their patients and for the community became known throughout Lancaster.  In 1884, the first operating room was established and the hospital became incorporated in 1885.  At the turn of the century, a new wing was built for surgery and The Training School for Nurses was established in 1902.  In 1944 I was born in the hospital and three years later my wife was also born in this hospital.  In 1971, our oldest son was born in the hospital.  So, you see, we all have a stake in what may happen to this hospital on College Avenue.  

A bit more follows:  In 1950, the community partnered with the Sisters in recognition of their care and devotion, the original Victorian building was replaced by new buildings.  Serving 121 patients in their first year, over the next 120 years St. Joseph's evolved into a speciality hospital with a medical staff that encompassed over 30 medical specialities.  Due to the dwindling number of women becoming nuns, the Sisters' ability to continue their service at the hospital was becoming impossible, and their devotion and service to the community was costing the hospital millions of dollars.  

They reluctantly sold the hospital in 2000 to a for-profit Florida chain, which renamed the hospital Lancaster Regional Medical Center, who in turn sold it in 2017 to UPMC Pinnacle.  Then in December of 2018, the Lancaster community was told UPMC Pinnacle, one of only two hospitals in Lancaster City, was slated to close by March 1st.  It now has been closed for some time, but...not dead yet!!  In 2019 a vigil was held to talk about St. Joseph's Hospital.  This place is an important part of Lancaster's history.  It is our blood, sweat and tears that went into this hospital and the battle needs to be fought. (Ann Wenger)  We pray to you, God and thank you for the strength you have given us to fight this and we pray the extra strength to keep on fighting this. (Pastor Kevin Brown).

On the final weekend the hospital's doors were open, The Lancaster Healthcare Rights Committee hosted a "Weekend of Action" and hosted a public forum for the Lancaster community.  Members of "Put People First! PA" from across the state joined and assisted the Lancaster Healthcare Rights Committee with the community forum and it was a success.  The forum was filled with personal stories, group discussions and a slide show showing the timeline of the hospital.  Story after story was told and the local TV stations covered the event on the evening news.    It is time to "Take Back St. Joseph's."  It was decided to address City Council and the County Commissioners at upcoming meetings.  On the Facebook page,  post after post told the story of the hospital.  

Close to 80 comments were posted.  Recently, during this stressful time of fighting an unseen enemy, it was suggested that the hospital be equipped for the homeless and perhaps extra beds for fighting the Coronavirus.  Why not?  How much would have to be done to get it working.  Since it was last used, were all the beds taken from the rooms?  Is there no more furniture in the place.  Do the elevators no longer operate?  Is the electricity still turned on?  Is there running water still available in the building?  Many questions need to be answered, but...why not see if it is possible.  Maybe the "Take Back St. Joseph's" group can get to the bottom of all of this.  I'm sure the city of Lancaster will be better because of it.  And, I'm positive the Sisters would smile once again!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - click on images to enlarge them.  Dates appear on many of the old photographs.

The "Lancaster's Jolly Old Mayor" Story

It was an ordinary day.  A bit over 200 years ago and the city known as Lancaster, Pennsylvania had just been incorporated.  And, since the city carried that prestigious title, it needed a Mayor.  The Governor of Pennsylvania at the time was Simon Snyder who happened to have been born in Lancaster.  He served three terms as Governor and led the state through the War of 1812.  He decided that Mr. John Passmore would be a great choice for Mayor of Lancaster.  

Mayor John Passmore taking the oath of office.
Drawing by Charles X. Carlson.

I have written about Mr. Passmore a few times in the past, posting photos of his house on East Orange Street, and telling of his massive size.  Before Mr. Passmore was appointed Mayor, the city had burgesses.  The Chief Burgress and under Burgesess were a group of elected officials that helped to govern the community. In the city of Lancaster, these positions were unpaid.  The word burgess is a French word meaning inhabitant and freeman of a fortified town.  After being appointed Mayor, John Passmore received a stipend of $200 a year ($4,000 in today's money).  Today's Mayor Danene Sorace earns about $85,000.  Mayor Passmore was respected and skilled enough that he was re-elected twice.  Mayor Passmore was a very colorful character.  He was born on January 12, 1774 in Newcastle, Delaware and left home at a young age to move to Lancaster.  Shortly later he became a law student at the law office of the Honorable James Hopkins.  He married Elizabeth Alexander on December 18, 1809.  

Lancaster County Courthouse in center by Charles Carlson.

She died on March 1, 1814,  He remarried  Mary Clark three years later on January 2, 1817.  She was 16 years younger than John.  In 1890 Gov. Snyder appointed Mr. Passmore the Prothonotary of the Lancaster District of the Supreme Court.  This District was comprised of Lancaster, Berks, York and Dauphin Counties.  Mr. Passmore also served as city alderman as well as treasurer of St. James Episcopal Church.  

Old City Hall.

Mr. Passmore was a real character.  Smoking on public streets at the time was against the law.  Didn't matter to John.  A local resident accused him of smoking in public and John agreed, so he fined himself twenty shillings (about 19 cents).  It didn't stop him from smoking in public though.  Another resident of Lancaster, James Buchanan, came into Mr. Passmore's law office one day and took a book from the shelf.  

Drawing by Charles X. Carlson.

After finish reading it he laid it on a table and departed the office.  Wasn't long before John walked out of his office and called to our future President to return and put the book back on the shelf.  In the past I have written about the size of Mr. Passmore.  He weighed close to 500 pounds which caused many anecdotes about him.  He was referred to as "Hizzoner" which is a corruption of the title "His Honor".  His historical home at 247 East Orange Street is a Gregorian style colonial mansion.  

Mayor John Passmore's home at 247 East Orange St.

In front of the home is a carriage stepping stone as well as a hitching post for horses.  Both still remain.  Another feature of the home is a second story busybody mirror.  This is a device of three mirrors hung from a window with a metal rod, arranged so a person inside the house could see who is at the front door without being seen.  This device was one of Benjamin Franklin's many inventions.  As I have written before, John died October 20, 1827 at the age of 53 and had to be taken to St. James Churchs' cemetery in a large wagon since he needed a supersized wooden coffin to hold his large body.

The "Is There A Comparison Between The Black Death And COVID-19?" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading an article telling about the invention of the platen press and movable type which were said to have been a "game changer" at the height of the Renaissance, since it allowed both religious and classical texts to be disseminated through the population at large.  During my high school Graphic Arts classes, I taught both the historical background as well as the mechanical background of the art of printing.  Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type in the mid-1400s which gave printers the capability to print multiple copies of printed pieces which made the printing press the instrument through which the cultural revolution of the Renaissance spread through the population instead of being contained among the elite.  

The letterpress which used movable type to print documents.

The press also allowed printed pieces to be printed in languages besides Latin, which allowed common people to understand them.  Ordinary people could now access the texts containing the most important works of literature in human history through open libraries and personal collections, rather than being reliant on the interpretations of the church.  The Renaissance was a period of explosive artistic and scientific growth for Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries.  Europe was trapped for a thousand years in social and cultural mire after the collapse of the Roman Empire.  The Renaissance marked a resurgence of innovation that set the stage for advances made over the following centuries that led us to the modern world as we know it today.  Though the press and movable type were important, the Black Death helped start the era.  Many historians theorize that the devastating pandemic known as the Black Death may have helped create an environment in which social change began to flourish.  The Black Death killed between 30 to 50 percent of Europe's population which put the feudal structure on which Europe's hierarchy depended in a precarious position.  Labor became more valuable and the average individual had better economic means as well as greater social mobility.  

The city of Florence, Italy.

Before the Black Death struck, life was focused on the afterlife, while afterwards they became more focused on achieving personal betterment and well-being in life.  It was said to have been the advent of humanism.  Florence, Italy was the center of the Renaissance.  Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Sandro Botticelli were from the Tuscany region, but Florence was the key city to gaining an understanding of how the Renaissance changed the underlying institutions of Medieval Europe.  Military might wasn't the only factor with architecture and art now being important.  The great thinkers of the city began to give us the works we remember them for today.  The Renaissance wouldn't enjoy such a lofty place in history if it were not accompanied by the achievements in art and science that took place.  

Artistic achievement was reached during the Renaissance.

Artistic achievement was funded by the wealthy Catholic Church which is why we see so many religious themes in the art of the era.  The great thinkers of the era made contri- butions to the astronomical, botanical anatomical and mechanical discoveries of the Renaissance.  Conflict at times was created between the church and these indivitduals such as Galileo after his discovery that the sun was the center of the solar system, not the Earth.  The Renaissance was so important in our history and perhaps had it not been for the Black Death, it may have never happened.  Will future generations be reading much the same thing about our civilization and COVID-19?  Only time will tell.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The "Another Great Athlete From Lancaster, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading about another Lancaster County baseball player who recently celebrated his birthday.  Yesterday I posted a story about Bruce Sutter who is the only player from Lancaster County to ever be voted into Major League's Baseball Hall of Fame. Another Lancaster County player, Tom Herr, was a 1974 Hempfield High School graduate where he was a three-sport star.  

Tom Herr jumps high to avoid the Braves' Hubbard as he
completes a double play to kill a Braves' rally.

He played 13 years in the Major Leagues and was part of three St. Louis Cardinals teams that went to the World Series, including the 1982 champion- ship team.  Tom played second base and had his best season in the National League in 1985 when he hit .302 with 110 RBIs.  He finished fifth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting and helped the Cardinals reach the World Series where they lost to the Kansas City Royals in seven games.  That year he played in 159 games, hit .302, had 110 Runs Batted In, had 49 extra-base hits, had a .416 slugging percentage, stole 31 bases, walked 80 times, struck out just 55 times and was voted to the All-Star game.  He played for the St. Louis Cardinals during 10 seasons as well as playing for the Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, San Francisco and the Philadelphia Phillies.  

Tom Herr's Cardinals Baseball Card.

His career stats were: .271 Batting Avg., 1,450 hits, 254 doubles, 41 triples, 28 home runs, 574 RBIs, 53 sac flies, 188 stolen bases, 627 walks and 584 strike outs in 1,514 major league games.  He also had a 9.89 fielding percentage and was an Ozzie Smith's double-play partner with the Cardinals for many years.  My grandson is a Freshman at Hempfield High School this year and will play on the same field that Tom played on years ago.  That was until COVID-19 arrived and ended the baseball season for Caden after only one game.  Besides playing for Hempfield, Tom was the manager for the Professional Lancaster Barnstormers in The Atlantic League.  In 1985 the St. Louis Cardinals played the Kansas City Royals in the World Series.  The series included the infamous blown call by umpire Don Denkinger in Game 6.  Tommy's Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series to advance to the Series and face the Royals.  The Cards took a 3-1 lead in the series before dropping Game 5.  Still had two chances to win, but in game 6 the Cardinals led 1-0 going into the bottom of the ninth.  If they could get three more outs they would have their second World Series Championship in four seasons.  

Tom's card when he played for the Phillies.

The Royals' Jorge Orta led off, hitting a chopper between first and second.  Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark went to his right, fielded the ball and flipped to pitcher Todd Worrell who was covering first.  Denkinger ruled Orta safe, although replays showed otherwise.  The Royals went on to score two runs in the inning to win the game.  Kansas City won the final game and the Series.  Tom said, "I can't blame Jack because in the bigness of the moment he went and fielded the ball to his right."  Tom was playing second base at the time.  "But, if you watch the replay, you'll see me standing right behind him.  It would have been such a routine play for me.  From where I was it was so obvious and such an easy call.  I was actually the first one to get to him (Denkinger) to say, 'How can you call him safe?'"  An argument followed, but since video replay wasn't enacted at that time, the call stood.  It was the only time all season that the Cardinals entered the final inning with the lead and didn't win the game.  Tom believes it was that call that was the start of the road to replay for baseball.  That was the year when Tom had his best statistics, but didn't win the Series to go with the great season.  

Tom Herr as the manager of the Lancaster Barnstormers.

Tom retired after 13 seasons in the Major Leagues.  He began coaching in Lancaster in 2005 and took the team to The Atlantic League Champion- ship the following year.  He managed the Washington Nationals Class A team in 2007 and then returned to the Barnstormers until 2010.  Tom hasn't been involved in baseball since that time.  He still lives in Lancaster with his family which includes his wife and two sons.  Oldest son Aaron was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first found during the 2001 season, but ended up playing for his dad in Lancaster in 2009.  His other son, Jordan, played for the Barnstormers in 2008 and then was signed by the Chicago White Sox.  Tom turned 63 on April 4th.  But, one of the biggest highlights of the Herr family was playing at Kunkle Field in the New Era Tournament (Now called the LNP Tournament).  Both of Tom's sons say that Kunkle was one of the fields they will never forget in their baseball career.  Funny, since my sons, as well as my grandson this past season, played at Kunkle in the same tournament.  The only one from all of us to win the title was Grandson Caden who won it this past summer went he helped with a homer and a suicide squeeze bunt.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an oridnary guy.

The "Lancaster's Only Baseball Hall Of Fame Player" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Opened the MLB (Major League Baseball) link on my email and began reading a story about a pitcher named Bruce Sutter.  Many people may've never heard of him, but for those of us living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his name is as recognizable as the word baseball, for you see...he is Lancaster County's only Baseball Hall of Famer!  

Bruce Sutter as a High School baseball player.

All began in 1970 when  Donegal High School, a small public school that sat close enough to the Susquehanna River that Bruce could throw a stone from the school and have have it land in the river, returned seven lettermen from the previous year's team.  One of these players was 6-foot, 1-inch 170 pound senior pitcher with the name of Bruce Sutter.  That year he led his team to the county title with a record of 6-2.  Six years later he made his Major League debut with the Chicago Cubs.  Recognize the name yet?  Well, it took him three years before he would win baseball's highest and most prestigious pitching award, the Cy Young Award.  THREE YEARS!!  He did it with what is known as a split-finger fastball.  No one could hit it...almost no one!  He entered a game on May 9, 1976 when the Cubs were playing the Cincinnati Reds.  He pitched a scoreless inning, one of many, many he would pitch before he retired from baseball.  He was a six-time All-Star and led the National League in saves five times, including 37 in 1979 when he won the Cy Young Award.  In 1981 he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and the following year helped them win the World Series by retiring the final 6 batters in Game 7.  He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.  He is also a member of the Donegal High School Athletic Hall of Fame.  Bruce was the fifth child of six whose parents were Howard and Thelma Sutter of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  He was the quarterback and captain of his high school football team, the captain of his basketball team, which also won a District championship, and his baseball team which won the County championship.   He was selected in the 21st round of the June 1970 draft, but decided to attend Old Dominion University before being drafted by the Cubs as a free agent in September of 1971.  When he was 19 he had surgery on his arm to relieve a pinched nerve.  He returned to the mound a year later and found his previous pitches weren't as effective anymore.  That's when he learned the split-finger fastball from his minor league pitching instructor Fred Martin. His large hands were a big help in learning the pitch which is a modification of the forkball.  His new pitch kept him in the Cubs organization.  He split the 1974 season between the Class A Key West Conchs and the Class AA Midland Cubs.  His record wasn't the best, but he had an ERA of 1.38 which is phenomenal.  In 1976 he began the season with the Class AAA Wichita Aeros, but pitched only seven games before being promoted to the Majors.  He pitched 52 games that year for the Cubs.  The following year he had a 1.34 ERA and earned an All-Star Game selection.  On September 8, 1977 he pitched what is known as an immaculate inning.  He pitched to three batter and struck out each one on three pitches.  He was only the 12th pitcher in baseball history to accomplish that feat.  But, what made it even more special was that the inning before he struck out all three batters, but did throw a few balls.  In 1979 he saved 37 games tying the National League record held by Clay Carroll and Rollie Fingers and won the Cy Young Award.  

Bruce Sutter as an Atlanta Brave.

That year he also was picked as the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year and The Sporting News Fireman of the Year.  That year would be his best ever.  He eventually was traded to the Cardinals whom he helped win the 1982 World Series and then in 1985 went to the Atlanta Braves. He retired from baseball in 1989 while dealing with a severely torn rotator cuff.  When he retired he had accumulated 300 saves, the third-largest in history behind Fingers and Rich "Goose" Gossage.  His career saves total was an National League record until broken by Lee Smith in 1993.  Bruce Sutter appeared on his thirteenth Baseball Hall of Fame ballot in 2006 which only allowed him 2 more chances after this one.  He was elected that year by receiving 400 votes out of a possible 520 and was only the Fourth relief pitcher ever chosen.  

Bruce accepting his HOF Plaque.

Sutter's Hall of Fame plaque depicts him wearing a Cardinals cap, although the Hall considers his "primary" team to be the Cubs.  Sutter's #42, which he wore through his career, was retired by the Cardinals.  He shares that number with Jackie Robinson whose number 42 was retired by all Major League teams in 1997.  The only other player to wear #42 and make it into the Hall Of Fame was Mariano Rivera.  Sutter's son Chad was selected by the New York Yankees in 1999, but only played one year of profession ball before becoming a college coach.  Chad now evaluates pitching prospects in Class AA and AAA.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

#42 worn by both Jackie Robinson and Bruce Sutter.