The “Enforcer” was a nickname...

we lovingly bestowed upon my Father.

Sid Sambur was a small man with big opinions on what constituted right vs. wrong.  He had no qualms about tossing out the Yellow BS flag if he noticed wrongdoings. When it came to “putting people in their place.,” he wasn’t equipped with a pause button. He would not submit  to being taken advantage of or being belittled.

There’s multitudes of Sambur stories of my father’s Clint Eastwood persona. Here’s one example: 

In the early 70’s, I was still living at home in the Bronx. It was toward dusk when I headed out with a buddy on a short bicycle ride. Unfortunately, I flatted out. We began pushing our bikes back to our somewhat safer neighborhood. As the darkness descended, we pushed faster. Too late. We found ourselves in a cul de sac of teenage White thugs displaying sharp knives. Their message was simple and direct. “Drop the bikes, you Jew Bastards and run.” This wasn’t the time to attempt negotiations. We dropped the bikes and ran.

When I got home, I was more than shaken. (Those were the longest knives I’ve ever seen!) Dad heard me come in and asked, “What happened to you? Where’s your bike?” Between sobs, I related the events to him. “Jeffy! Get in the car. We’re going to the Police Station.” 

Dad drove to the PD as if our jalopy had lights and sirens. Sid Sambur didn’t gently make entry into the Station. He erupted volcano-like through the front door. I followed along  on the trail of  pumice and ash. “I want to speak to someone about a bicycle theft. Those hoodlums pulled knives and called my son a Jew Bastard. I want to file a report.” 

The Cops response to Sid’s explosion was shall we say, underwhelming. Only a bicycle theft? Just knives instead of a Saturday Night Special? Being called an Anti-Semitic slur? Yawn! thought New York City’s Finest. 

The Detectives were lethargic at best. Sid got louder and angrier. There was finger pointing too. Finally one blue collar guy had enough and began filling out the paperwork. After I gave my statement, we were ushered out the door. My Dad was still voicing his strong opinions.

I never did get my bicycle back, but I did see another dimension to my Father. 

Sid Sambur is no longer with us. May he finally get a good night’s sleep and Rest In Peace. 

I believe he passed on his “when you see something, say something” gene to Jeffy his youngest son. 

If Sid were alive today, he’d be nauseatingly appalled (like me) at our current state of affairs. He too would see the stark similarities between Germany In the 1930’s and America in the present.

 

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2020/02/adolf-hitler-was-most.html 

The difference is my Father would verbally speak out. I use an I Pad to get my point across. I fear the repercussions of getting punched in the face or worse by voicing my opinions. Like I mentioned in my last post, there’s a lot of pissed off people out there.

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2020/06/seeking-serenity-in-uncertain.html

So...on this Fathers Day, I’d like to Thank Sid Sambur for bequeathing me with my “Don’t follow the crowd” gene. That “Lord of the Flies” mob mentality is oftentimes wrong. 

Last photo: Me toasting to the memory of Sid. He was the ultimate survivor. 

Cheers to all the great Dads who made a difference.

Seeking Serenity in uncertain...

angry and awkward times. 

Do you know what the most worthless item of 2020 is?

A day timer!

Our lives are now in a constant holding pattern. The new norm is cancellations.

Like so many others my spring and summertime plans have been nuked and ravaged by Covid.

April camping and hiking in Canyonlands National Park? That didn’t happen. The Earth Day tree planting gig? Negative. The five night backpack trio into the Grand Canyon? Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!  The Friends of the Library Book Sale? Fahgettaboudit. The entertaining, informative and inspiring Green Drinks Happy Hours. Gone to Zoom.A Rockies baseball game fundraiser for Joe? What’s baseball? (No ballgame but donations are still being accepted. Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society) https://www.joescanlanmemorial.com/ 

Since mid-March my calendar contains nothing but emphatic slashes. There’s been no letup. All the cool volunteering gigs, the Brew Festivals, the groovy concerts in Buckley Park and the Steamboat Springs Crane Festival have been cancelled. Yet! The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is still scheduled for Labor Day Weekend. Go figure. Varoom! Varoom! 

On the bright side. I haven’t been furloughed or fired, contracted the virus or failed to pay my bills.  I live in Durango, CO. I’m at an epicenter of natural beauty. My nice young neighbors do Welfare Checks on the new old guy in the ‘hood. My situation could be worse. 

But I know things aren’t right in the World. There’s more than a few pissed off and edgy people out there.

Two examples: On a Memorial Weekend hike, I came upon a single parent and her two kids. They had backpacked down to a scenic campsite adjacent to a creek. It was mid morning, sunny and almost sweltering. They had a napalm sized campfire blazing away. I smiled before saying, “Good Morning! Maybe you aren’t aware of this but there’s a Forest wide fire ban in effect. We haven’t seen rain in a long time. It’s awfully dry.”

Mom sort of glared at me before telling me to mind my own business. I backpedaled away after she informed me my Mother dresses me funny. Sheesh! Of course, I phoned the authorities. 

At a recent Covid related demonstration in Durango, an organizer described mask wearing people as “cowards.” The reason? They were submitting to the local Health Department’s suggestion of looking like the Frito Bandito in public places. OY! This could only lead to the Govment taking away our firearms! Where will all this tyranny end! 

At least Durango’s demonstrators weren’t hoisting AR-15’s. 

“Liberate Michigan! Liberate Wisconsin! Liberate Virginia!” Instigated the Commander of Controversy. 

His Followers followed.

All this was going on prior to the murder of George Floyd. Riots and looting broke out in major cities. Mayors mandated curfews. The mayhem was followed by the  theatrics and absurdity of President Lying Scumbag performing a photo op while clutching a Bible. (There’s never a lightning bolt when you need one.) 

Do African Americans have a reason to gripe? You bet they do. 

When the first British slave ship (Isabella in 1684) discharged 150 African slaves in Philadelphia, the die was cast. Bigotry and racism would become a cornerstone of America’s History. Slavery (AKA that Peculiar Institution) would hound our Country from 1776 to our present times. 

The dream of “all men are created equal” was penned by Thomas Jefferson.  Our Founding Father was a philosophical slave owner who was blind to his own hypocrisy. That was just the beginning of our Nation’s embrace of White Supremacy. Google the Three/Fifths Compromise (1787), the Dred Scott Decision (1857), Sharecropping (slavery light), Jim Crow laws, the rise of the  KKK (1865), Plessy vs.Ferguson(1896), 3,446 lynchings and finally ponder why it took until 1947 for Jackie Robinson to swing a bat in the Major Leagues.

A historian could fill volumes with more examples. (Me too.)

So far in the post, I’ve covered “uncertain” and “angry.”

Here’s the awkward part. 

Covid 19 hasn’t been cured. There Is no vaccine. The virus is still lurking around. People will continue to get infected. Many will die.

It’s a crappy time to be sociable. Attempting to make new friends and acquaintances when you’re seen as a possible virus vector is awkward. (Socially distanced hugs and handshakes are pretty unsatisfying). All my plans to get involved with my new community have been derailed.

For these reasons and the many others I mentioned in this older blog.

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2020/04/im-not-sociologist-nor.html

I’ll revert to my old sociable hermit mode and seek out nearby silent, serene and spectacular places. There’s more than a summer’s worth of exploring nearby. Hopefully the marmot terrorists will leave my truck and camper alone.

 https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2020/05/im-not-mechanically-inclined.html

Does this mean I don’t wish to see anyone? Not at all. Friendly, good natured people with entertaining or interesting stories are always welcome in my camp. Bonus if they bring IPAs, desserts or cold veggie pizza.

Hope to see some of you this summer and fall. 

Stay sane, safe and healthy out there,

Jeff

I’m not mechanically inclined...

The rare times I check under my vehicle’s hoods, all I see are incomprehensible gizmos, gadgets and doohickeys. Well that’s not 100% correct. I can point out the engine and the battery. Oh yeah, and the window washer reservoir too. That’s about it. The rest I chalk up to mechanized magic.

It’s not that I’m stupid or lazy, I’ve never been interested in learning the ins and outs of carburetors, fuel pumps and alternators. I don’t even know the difference between volts, watts and amperes. It’s not a concern of mine. BUT I can tell you Mexico abolished slavery in 1824, the Antiquities Act (granting presidents the right to set aside National Monuments) occurred in 1906, that the National Park Service was established in 1916 and LBJ signed the Wilderness Act into law in 1964.

Great info for trivia contests, but not helpful when things break down. 

Somehow, I’ve survived.

So...recently on a shake down camp out with my new toy, I was forced into dealing with mechanical issues. 

A) I changed a flat tire for the first time since Reagan was President. It only took me two hours.  (The Penske Racing pit crew hasn’t called to offer me a job). Actually I was pretty proud of myself since I wasn’t crushed under the axle while yanking the tire off. AND! All my fingers are still attached.

After patting myself on the back, I shouldered my backpack for a bit of exploring in La Plata Canyon. 

B) Upon my return to my new home, I spotted a marmot peeking out from beneath the front wheel well. Now I know engines are rated by horsepower, there’s no mention of marmot power. Of course, I yelled at it. “Hey! Get outta there!” Apparently it didn’t understand Bronx accented English. The BIGLY rodent retreated into the hinterland of the Toyota’s engine compartment. I discovered how to unlatch the hood and peered inside. Yes, there was a chubby fur ball wedged between a few thingamajigs. I found a stick and poked it with the dull end. It didn’t budge. I prodded it again while yelling, “Come on! Move!” That time it fell out of the compartment and waddled away. I figured I better check to see if there was any damage. I cranked the key and “Whew!” the truck started. Oh what a feeling! Toyota!

The rest of the camp out was somewhat uneventful. 

But what is eventful is the quiet, peace and beauty of La Plata Canyon. I live 15 minutes away from where the La Plata River crosses Highway 160. We are practically neighbors.

Last photo: That’s me in my palatial dining room. 

Stay safe, sane and healthy. 

Jeff

Memories of Mother’s Day...

I get a bit verklempt (Yiddish for overcome with emotion) on Mom’s Day. Clara Sambur passed 48 years ago, but for me it still seems like an eye blink ago. My memories of her are vivid and unforgettable. Yes. I still miss her.

Another crystal clear Mother’s Day recollection was attending Colorado Rockies baseball games with Joe Scanlan. Stage 4 Cancer seized Joe in the spring of  2019. Now I’m left with fond memories of the many games we caught on those special second Sundays in May. A great baseball/friendship tradition lost forever.

I knew Joe for over three decades. I can honestly say there was never an unkind word spoken between us. Plus! There was all that laughter. I’d feed him lines and away he’d go. Joe could have been a top notch stand up comedian. A Rodney Dangerfield II. 

 Sure, I miss him.

In June 2019, the Scanlan family hosted a memorial for Joe in Denver’s Washington Park. Heres the tribute I wrote about Joe.

https://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2019/06/parting-is-nothing-but.html

From that sad day, the idea of a fundraiser was born. Somehow something positive would come out of losing Joe. With the BIGLY help of Joe’s niece Nikki an American Cancer Society memorial donation website was created. The event was centered around a Sunday Rockies game. Well, Covid-19 screwed that up like everything else. Now we are left with just the donation part, in which thus far, the response has been anemic. (A sincere Thank You to those 43 generous donors). 

Through the years,  I’ve been involved in many fundraisers. The best analogy I can come up with is this. Fundraising is similar to ingesting  a vile tasting medicine in which one hopes for a good outcome. No one enjoys asking people for money, but it feels satisfying to see the Bucks rolling in for a a good cause, (Like the American Cancer Society. If you are reading this, you or someone you know has dealt with cancer). 

On a personal note: Since I understand the ugliness of fundraising, I have great empathy toward those who are brave/stupid enough to put themselves through this grief. So upon receiving an email or a Facebook plea, this is what happens.

.

Oh look! John or Jane Doe are seeking greenbacks for a worthy cause. I’ll donate some dinero and score a monetary mitzvah. Maybe some Good Karma even. There! That didn’t take long. Now I’ll go back to drinking my IPA. I hope John and Jane Doe achieve their goals. 

This is what I’m proposing. If you could find it within yourself to toss anything (For emphasis: ANYTHING) toward the Joe Scanlan Memorial 

https://www.joescanlanmemorial.com/

I’ll donate to your passion as well. BUT! There are limits. I won’t  drop moola in the laps of politicians or religious organizations. Pretty much anything else works for me. I’ll even donate to Save the Monarch Butterflies. 

RIP Mom and Joe. The world needs more people like you. 

Any donation would be greatly appreciated. 

Let’s make dough for Joe! 

Durango, Colorado: Small city of

Big Mitzvahs.

Jeffy! Please explain what a mitzvah is? Can I eat or drink it? Is it a cure for Covid-19? Is it an animal, mineral or vegetable? 

Nope. None of the above. A mitzvah is “an individual act of human kindness.” (From Wikipedia).

It’s a good deed. 

Since moving here I’ve been on the receiving end of more than a few “random acts of kindness.” Here’s some examples: 

A) While mountain biking in August I broke my rib and lost my I Phone at the same time. A Good Samaritan returned the phone to me via a drop off point. When I offered a reward for his honesty, his answer?  “That isn’t necessary. Just pay it forward.” 

Awesome! (BTW. My rib remained broken)

B) in November, I ventured into my favorite brewpub when I turned 65. I mentioned to the always friendly bartender, it was my birthday. Upon hearing that, she poured me a Double IPA (gratis), lied and told me I looked a lot younger than 65 and best of all came around the bar to give me a hug! (Body contact was allowable in 2019.) 

C) When I was running dangerously low on IPAs. I drove to the local liquor store to purchase more. After choosing two cases of the “Nectar of the Gods” I went to pay. I told the easy going cashier,  “I’ll drop this case off in my car and come back for the second one.” I shlepped the case outside, placed it lovingly in my vehicle and turned to get the other 24. Wouldn’t you know it, that nice young man had followed me out with the second case. 

I was shocked. “Thanks! This would never happen on the Front Range of Colorado.” 

His reply? “No problem. This is how we do things here. Welcome to Durango.”

All fine gestures of goodness. Right?

However the above are all minor mitzvahs compared to the kindheartedness I recently witnessed in the Parkside Terrace neighborhood.

Let’s face it, Covid-19 has disrupted all our lives. Innocent outings and events we once took for granted have gone away after the first Covid cough and fever. We miss the normalcy of eating in a restaurant, going to a movie and for some, the tradition of a college graduation.  

At Parkside Terrace, one of our neighbors is Emma, a shy, soft spoken, soccer playing 2020 Fort Lewis College graduate. For her, there would be no official college finish line. 

No graduation ceremony for Emma? No way! Fellow neighbors Molly and Tanya (both FLC Alumni) flew into action. Molly created this invitation for all. But that was just the beginning. 

On Graduation Day, Emma was coaxed out of her home by Tanya. On went Emma’s cap and gown. Out came a few tears. To the strains of piped in “Pomp and Circumstance” Emma did a skateboard lap around the townhomes. She was closely followed by an admiring crowd.

After her Graduation March the convocation began. Emma received a prerecorded inspiring personalized commencement speech. Then Molly gave an Atta-Girl talk to Emma. It was Emma’s special day so she got the last word in. Emma told the audience about her hopes and dreams. She concluded with a sincere “Thank You!”

Then the party began! Custom made FLC hats with tassels were tossed into the air. Fireworks were lit. Molly’s husband, Ethan brought out multiple trays of appetizers. Bottles of booze and hand sanitizers mysteriously appeared on the tables. Beer cans were popped open.Upbeat music and laughter were heard. 

It was wonderful.

All because two Saints displayed empathy towards a woman half their age. 

That’s a mitzvah!

Last photo: There’s an abundance of Do-Gooders in Durango. This was my attempt to hold their wheels.

When presented with a choice. Choose being kind. 

“Sometimes people mistake the way...

 I talk for what I am thinking.”

“You cannot run faster than a bullet.”

“The problem with me is that I am fifty to one hundred years ahead of my time. My speed is very fast. Some ministers have had to drop out of my government because they could not keep up.” 

“There is freedom of speech, but I cannot guarantee freedom after speech.”

“I have to keep law and order and it means I have to kill my enemies before they kill me.”

“I am the hero of Africa.” 

Quotes from Idi Amin Dada

Don’t recall Idi? Here’s a brief WW J history lesson.

In 1971 Chief of Staff Idi Amin staged a military coup of Uganda’s civilian government. At first he promised free elections. That didn’t happen. One week after the coup, he declared himself President and Field Marshall of Uganda. Soon thereafter segments  of the Ugandan Constitution were suspended. Later on Military Tribunals replaced the court system. Then the killings began. It’s been estimated 300,000 Ugandans were murdered in a country of 12 million.(Source NY Times). Lucky Ugandans were just exiled. All of this death and destruction sowed havoc on Uganda’s economy. This reign of chaos and terror lasted eight years. 

Amin’s oversized persona was a magnet for the media. The Dictator made good copy with his impulsive, erratic and insane behavior. 

“He is killer and clown, big-hearted buffoon and strutting martinet.”

• Uganda. Amin:The Wild Man of Africa, March 07, 1977, Time magazine.

'Capricious, impulsive, violent and aggressive he certainly is, but to dismiss him as just plain crazy is to underestimate his shrewdness, his ruthless cunning and his capacity to consolidate power with calculated terror,'' wrote Christopher Munnion, a reporter for The Daily Telegraph. 

Historians postulate Amin’s detachment from reality was a result of never being treated for syphillus. He was a Madman for a reason. As the quip went, “Look what VD did to Idi.”

Fast forward to the present President of the US. For many years the Commander in Tweet has entertained a worldwide audience with a daily dollop of “Deep State” conspiracy theories and demagogue rants. All spoken or typed out with little regard for truth or facts. For the sake of brevity, I’ll limit his drivel to the current Covid -19 crisis.

 Notes:  The Coronavirus threat was included in the President’s Daily Briefing in early January 2020. Source: ABC News

In 2018, the Trump Administration fired the US Pandemic Response Team (Source https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-fire-pandemic-team/ ) 

AND other cost saving measures...

“The Trump administration cut staff by more than two-thirds at a key U.S. public health agency operating inside China, as part of a larger rollback of U.S.-funded health and science experts on the ground there leading up to the coronavirus outbreak, Reuters has learned. Most of the reductions were made at the Beijing office of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and occurred over the past two years, according to public CDC documents viewed by Reuters and interviews with four people familiar with the drawdown. … The CDC’s China headcount has shrunk to around 14 staffers, down from approximately 47 people since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, the documents show. The four people, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the losses included epidemiologists and other health professionals…” 

But Hey! We have Space Farce ($40 billion) and the Great Wall of Racism (estimated $15 billion source High Country News). 

January 22. “It’s just one person coming in from China, and we have it under control. It’s going to be just fine.”

Feb. 10: “Now, the virus that we’re talking about having to do — you know, a lot of people think that goes away in April with the heat — as the heat comes in. Typically, that will go away in April. We’re in great shape though. 

Feb. 27: “It’s going to disappear. One day — it’s like a miracle — it will disappear.”

Feb. 28: “Now the Democrats are politicizing the Coronavirus...”One of my people came up to me and said. Mr. President, they tried to beat you on Russia, Russia, Russia. That didn’t work out too well...and  now this is their new hoax.”

March 9: “So last year 37,000 Americans died from the common Flu. It averages between 27,000 and 70,000 per year. Nothing is shut down, life & the economy go on. At this moment there are 546 confirmed cases of CoronaVirus, with 22 deaths. Think about that!” — Trump in a tweet.

March 16: Trump makes a rare rational speech by announcing nationwide social distancing recommendations 

.

March 24: “Easter Is a very special day for me. And I see it sort of in a timeline that I’m thinking about. And wouldn’t it be great to have all the churches full?”

April 18: “It’s going to be up to the Governors. I think we are going to see quite a few states starting to open. And I call it a beautiful puzzle. You have 50 pieces, all very different, and when it’s all done, it’s a mosaic. It’s going to be, I think a very beautiful picture.”

April 19: “Liberate Michigan! Liberate Minnesota! Liberate Virginia!” Trump in a Tweet in apparent support of protestors who are opposed to state closures and restrictions. 

I’ve saved the best for last!

April 23: “I see the disinfectant that knocks it out in a minute, one minute," the president said. "And is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning? As you see, it gets in the lungs, it does a tremendous number on the lungs, so it would be interesting to check that."

As of this post, here’s our present Covid-19 situation.

Confirmed 983K

Recovered 109K

Deaths 55,156

My Fellow Americans, I think it’s time for us to remove the Latex gloves. Let’s admit the President is wearing no clothes. Please let’s stop justifying his remarks by saying, “Oh that’s Trump being Trump.” NO! The President is a Whacko! A Nut job! He’s Looney Tunes! Trump’s train is running with empty cars! He’s mushuga! (That’s Yiddish for crazy.)

What I’m about to say is not meant for the titanium Trump supporters. You will cling to him no matter what he says, Tweets or does. Apparently, he’s giving you what you crave. (How’s that tax break for the wealthy going for you?)

Nor am I speaking to the Democrats (like me) who would prefer Lady Gaga in the White House over this Piece of Work.

No. This goes out to the Republicans who sat on the sidelines in 2016.

And the 2016 Moderates who were interested in “Draining the Swamp” but now realize that ecological niche has been replaced by a poop containing cesspool. 

And the Bernie Supporters who didn’t like the way the game got played so they took the ball and went home. 

Folks! Unless you want four more years of lunacy... (like Idi Amin)

Vote Blue no matter who.

Last photo: Decisions! Decisions!

I’m not a Sociologist nor...

do I play one on Facebook or TV. 

BUT! I am an avid people watcher. As Yogi Berra once said, “You can observe a lot by just watching."

Here’s what I’ve noticed.

Many of you have been withdrawing from other humanoids for decades. In some ways, the current social distancing has been prevalent (minus the six-foot physical spacing) for quite some time. 

Examples provided: 

The multitudes of people we see staring (in an opioid state) at a palm-sized inanimate object while the World goes by around them.

The rocket-like take off of texting over talking.   Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association states that 6 billion SMS messages are sent each day in the US, over 180 billion are sent each month, and 2.27 trillion are sent each year. According to Portio Research, the world will send 8.3 trillion SMS messages this year alone – 23 billion per day or almost 16 million per minute.Mar 6, 2017

All those Dudes and Dudettes wearing earbuds or headphones on streets, public transportation and wilderness trails. In 2013, 286 million headphones were sold worldwide. By 2019, the figure was 400 million. Source: Statista.com 

The explosion of “Emotional Support Animals” in the US. 

“In 2011, the National Service Animal Registry, a for-profit company that sells official-looking vests and certificates for owners, had 2,400 service and emotional support animals in its registry. Now the number is nearly 200,000.” 

Source New York Times.

On a similar note, there are many single folks who have unfurled the White Flag on finding a significant other. The reason? They are already in a deep relationship...with their dog!

The Facebook phenomenon where you can be whoever you want to be in front of 1000’s of “Friends”, many whom you have never met or will ever meet. 

Locally, I’ve noticed phantom neighbors who drive into their attached garages never to be seen again.

On a National scale, a demagogue won the Electoral vote on a campaign based upon fear, divisiveness and exclusion. 

No wonder people are turning inward. 

Now the Covid-19 virus has instilled a new kind of fear in all of us. 

We look at strangers as if they are malaria carrying mosquitoes. 

An innocent trip to the grocery store feels like we’ve walked into an armed robbery, masked intruders and all. Then you realize, you’re wearing a mask too. 

A little gimpy legged senior citizen like myself can now intimidate younger, stronger and larger men from approaching me. Some will avert their eyes as I pass by. I’m not a leper! 

I’ll admit it, I’m feeling isolated and lonely. A lot of folks are. Even a sociable hermit like myself enjoys the company of people every now and then. 

Many of my virtual acquaintances believe something positive will emerge from the current calamity. I think they imagine a worldwide group hug. I doubt it. A form of social distancing has been going on for sometime. Covid-19 has ramped it up to the next level.

Now being engrossed in an I Phone, wearing headphones or carrying an emotional support duck doesn’t seem so bad.

Is it summer yet?

Jeff