There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
A funny thing happened on my way to the Exorcist . . . but, for what it's worth, I'm back!
It's been a while since I sent some words your way. For what it's worth, it was Father's Day when last I threw my thoughts upon a sheet of paper. Since that last missive, I have experienced some technical difficulties about which I remain pretty clueless. I simply know that the computer exorcist coerced lots of worms and several trojan horses to leave the body of my home computer allowing it to return to the trusted state I previously knew. It took several months for the computer doctor to recognize the demons that possessed my machine and to miraculously extract them. I'm confident that the problems could have been cured in a shorter period of time, but at the first signs of trouble I tried to cure the ills myself. I make so few mistakes that it took some time for me to notice that my computer's brain was showing signs of complete meltdown. I recalled someone saying "garbage in, garbage out" in referring to the end product of computerization. Finally when I came to realize that it was me who was on the edge of craziness (a condition I've nurtured from birth), I sought professional help for my computer. End result - all is well with the computing mechanism and its output. Questions still remain about the input artist.
For what's its worth, a lot has transpired since we last met through the printed word. Lives on earth have ended, others have begun. Memories have been made; some have lost their minds. Successes have been met; failures have interrupted some plans. Love has joined people together; hate has divided our world. Blank canvasses have been covered with paint. See the colors. Smell the fumes.
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I've got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
For what it's worth, there is a war going on. War can bond people together and tear families apart. Each generation seems to experience war. You can look it up. The war of my generation was Vietnam, a conflict that generated an outpouring of protest. The restless spirit of protest is grounded in the lyrics of the 1967 Buffalo Springfield hit "For What It's Worth." It has become a song for the ages in that it symbolizes the feelings of a nation during the late 1960s, my high school years. Regularly on the airwaves of AM radio in those days, I knew every word. I can still sing every line of "For What It's Worth" each time I hear it today (OK, I can't carry a tune in a bucket, so I use the word "sing" loosely in this context). I think it is on every soundtrack of every movie set during the late '60s and early '70s. It was during those days that I personally adopted Buffalo Springfield as my favorite band and even though their time together was short lived, the sounds of that band remain at the top of my favorites list. The members of Buffalo Springfield spawned the yet to be groups of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Poco, Loggins & Messina, and the Souther, Hillman, Furay Band. In late April 1968 I was fortunate to see Buffalo Springfield live at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis. They played as the second group in a concert of three super groups of the time. The Beach Boys were top billing with the Strawberry Alarm Clock opening the evening of music. I'm thinking that Drew Stewart and Carl Cross were with me as I celebrated my sixteenth birthday listening to my favorite band and the music they created, but my mind was a bit fuzzy then and moreso now. I was totally unaware that Buffalo Springfield would disband fewer than thirty days later in May 1968. News of the death of bassist Bruce Palmer in late September of this year at age 58 sparked my memory of seeing the Springfield live. Their music lives on.
The song "For What It's Worth" surrenders my mind to another time. I was a fortunate son during the Vietnam conflict with a draft lottery number of 248. I was able to pursue an education with little concern of being drafted for military service. I specifically recall registering for the military draft on my eighteenth birthday in 1970 alongside good friend Mike Brand who is five days older than I. Mike had waited the five days allowed by the Selective Service Commission so that we could go through the registration process together. I did have friends who courageously served our country during the latter stages of the Vietnam war. Some of them did not return home to awaiting families. I see many parallel lines between the Vietnam effort and the current war in Iraq. Regardless of your vantage point on the present situation, all lines seem to blur when things get personal. Much like catastrophic illnesses, one pays scant attention to the harsh realities of the disease until it strikes someone near and dear. My youngest daughter Elizabeth's boyfriend, PFC Robert Paine of Roland, Arkansas, will soon be deployed to Iraq with his guard unit. He is a gentle young man ready to defend freedom. On this Christmas Day I pray for peace on earth, good will toward men.
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
For what it's worth, I routinely speak my mind. In the fall of 1967 I stepped into a sophomore English class under the tutelage of Virginia Umsted (later Virginia Umsted Castleberry). She encouraged speaking one's mind. Virginia Umsted Castleberry has passed from this life since my last writing. My continued interest in the written word lies within the framework of knowledge imparted by Mrs. Umsted and Mrs. Almarie Carr, two wonderful English teachers. Not only is Mrs. Umsted Castleberry one of my most memorable teachers, she became one of my dearest friends. Over the past few years, I was able to enjoy several delightful visits with her and to hear her inspirited words time and time again. At Mrs. Umsted Castleberry's funeral, her granddaughter mentioned that Virginia had a special knack of making everyone feel as if you were her favorite person. That she did. I truly felt that way each time I was in her presence. Kaneaster Hodges recalled the influence Virginia had on her hometown of Newport through the reading of several old newspaper articles, many of a social nature. He also quoted Henry Adams in saying "a teacher's life affects eternity." That is certainly true of Virginia Umsted Castleberry. She has definitely impacted my eternal being. Sitting through her funeral service was like being in her final English class. Thanks to her family for this experience.
I also want to remember Natalie Madison who has departed this Earth since my last wriiting as well. Mrs. Madison was the secretary to the principal during my high school days and the mother of running buddy Phil Madison (Class of '68). I went to church with both Mrs. Madison (Naaaaaaat as I affectionately called her) and Mrs. Umsted Castleberry. The two of them were the gatekeepers to my high school experience. It could have been the church connection that caused me to know they were always looking out for my best interest, especially at those times when trouble appeared as my sidekick, but they had that connection with many of my fellow students. I'm confident they did much the same for all others as they did for me. Maybe the way I accepted their special attention is different from that of others. Maybe not. The loving attention they gave me will never be forgotten. My heart is softer as an aftereffect.
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
For what it's worth, friendship is the best gift of all. Today is Christmas Day and the remembrances of family and friends bring me comfort and joy. When cruising Malcolm Avenue in the late '60s as a passenger in the 1957 Chevy of John and Bruce Pennington, we repeatedly listened to "For What It's Worth" on the 8-track tape player. Each time the lyrics came to the phrase "hooray for our side," John would substitute the words "hooray for Joe Miles" since the sound was somewhat similar. Now to most of you that would be a bit goofy. For all of you who know John, Bruce and me fairly well, you will be uttering "so what else is new." I will admit that singing out those words in lieu of the actual lyrics is pretty silly, but at the time it made a fifteen year old foolish kid feel good about the friendships he shared. I still feel good about those friendships. John and Bruce recently lost their sister Betty (Class of '64) to cancer. My heart breaks for all of Betty's family, especially her father Wardell, a fine man who has forever treated me as if I were one of his own.
Other friends have lost loved ones since the last time I sat down at this keyboard. Littermates Joy Stanfield, Patsy Pharis, Marva Borders and Roy Dale Pigg have all seen a parent ( Joy's and Marva's fathers and Patsy's and Roy Dale's mothers) walk through heaven's door. Also, Linda Lindsey's brother Pat passed from this life recently. And Coy Thompson's nephew, Jeff Thompson, was killed by a gunman during a concert in Columbus, Ohio earlier this month while serving as a bodyguard for the music group Damageplan. Coy notified me of this tragic instant. I ask comforting prayer be extended to Jeff's parents, Frank and Marilyn Thompson, and to other members of his family as well as to the Lindsey family, the Stanfield family, the Borders family, the Pharis family and the Pigg family.
Time passes, but friendships remain just as you left them, steadfast and strong. At Dr. Wayne Stanfield's funeral I saw George Mark Walden for the first time in more than 25 years. We were able to spend a few hours together reliving childhood shenanigans and catching up on life experiences since then. Earlier this month I enjoyed a nice phone conversation with Bill Duckworth who I have not seen since our days together at Newport Junior High School. Bill has recently moved back to Arkansas (Maumelle) from Arizona. I also recently reconnected with long time good friend Chris Sims from Batesville. Chris and I first met as bunk mates at Boys State in the summer of 1969. We then attended the UofA, Fayetteville together as freshmen and spent lots of time together in the early '80s while living in Little Rock. Life happened and different trails from that point have kept us apart. In recent weeks, a phone call and emails have brought us full circle and back in touch.
Friendship is a wonderful gift.We share love and laughter. We share heartache and pain. We share souls.
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
For what it's worth, "it's a wonderful life." And if you haven't seen that renowned Christmas movie in a while, I don't know where you've been. As a matter of fact, it is on television as these words are falling from my fingertips. Anyway, life is good. Sure there have been some experiences I just soon not relive, but, for what it's worth, I'm not going to complain. Growing up in Newport, Arkansas set the tone for life as I know it. Christmas time rekindles many fond memories . . . . .
~ For what it's worth, I would once again like to build a snow man with my sister Lana and friends Donnie Washam and Mike and Karen Fortune.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to my tap dancing lesson alongside George Mark Walden.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go sledding on the levee with Donny Appleton, David Sibley, Ann Gardner and Jenetta Ashley.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go on a winter night's Boy Scout camping trip with Bill Duckworth, Clay Wright, Kenny Thaxton and Gene Bennett.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to revisit Boys State with Chris Sims and Clay Wright.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to have a cheeseburger at Phillip's Cafe with Phil Madison.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go the White River Water Carnival in Batesville with Larry Treadway.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to St. Louis to a Cardinals game with Jim Reid Holden and Carl Cross.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to the Strand Theatre matinee with Glenn Gay, Donny Appleton, and Greer Guinn.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go fishing at Newport Lake with Margaret Ann Gillihan.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to a rodeo with John Brownd and Mike Tucker.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to a Razorback football game by bus from Newport to Little Rock with Gene Bennett.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to Budweiser beach with Bill Don Summers, Kenny Taylor, Danny Cordell and Mike Willhite.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to a Methodist Youth Fellowship meeting with Freeman Travis, Harry Goodyear, Tim McDowell and a host of others.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to trick or treat for Unicef with Ruth Johnston, Gail Thaxton and Joy Stanfield.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to a Junior Classical League slave auction with Buddy Conner and Pud Wooldridge.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to purchase Pam Cox at a Junior Classical League slave auction.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to sit through Betty Newell's speech class with Drew Stewart, Paula Jones and Kathy Spann.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to run a three legged race at elementary school Field Day with Kearney Blalack.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to step on a baseball field with Cledy Pollard, Steve Ahart, Mickey Doyle and Gary Slayton.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to visit Fayetteville for the first time with Mike Brand and John Brownd.
~ For what its' worth, I would like to go to the Sugar Bowl with Eddie Crawford, John Brownd and Freeman Travis.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to lead cheers at a Hound pep rally in drag alongside Drew Stewart, Mike Fortune, Danny Cordell, Joey Coe and Harry Mack Adams.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to ride my bicycle to east Newport to visit Cherry Smith, Nancy Rhodes, Bobbye Ellen Davis and Peggy Cox.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go to art class with Kristine Artymowski, Scott Baker and Ricky Harris.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to lifeguard at the country club pool alongside Ricky Wiggins.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to listen to the Mystic Blues with Dinny Bullard, John Sink, Eddie Jones, Bill Matthews and Joey Coe.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to go see "Babes in Toyland" with Mary Wynne Parker.
~ For what it's worth, I would like to listen to "For What It's Worth" with John and Bruce Pennington.
What is it worth? The value of friendship is priceless.
Well, it is Christmas. And thoughts of Newport and days gone by certainly conjure up the memories. I'll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.
For what it's worth, I'm still Miles from Nowhere ... guess I'll take my time.
joe
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