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THE THREE-BASE ERROR
In the great game of baseball, if a fielder lets a ground ball go between his legs or if an outfielder fails to catch the ball and the runner winds up on third base, it is called a three-base error. Errors of this sort are to be avoided like the plague. But I am involved…
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HOBGOBLINS AND GANDER SAUCE
The explanation for this current title will probably appear before the end of this essay. This means that those of you who wonder why this lovely title exists will have to hold on for a while and it will give you a vital interest in the outcome of this little piece. Over the 11 years…
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THE MOTHER OF ALL ARTHRITIS ATTACKS
Seven or eight years ago, the pain of arthritis descended upon my back and legs. I sought advice from the Summit Medical Group, which has a staff of renowned physicians. After a time, I visited the orthopedic department and saw Dr. Corona, who listened to my symptoms but who did very little else. I told…
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GOING HOME
Among my fellow GIs of the Second World War was an idea that enjoyed almost complete universality. The idea was to win the war, bid farewell to the United States Army, and go home. The GIs of World War II came from every walk of life and from every corner of the United States. But…
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MEMORIAL DAY 2009 A RETROSPECTIVE
Memorial Day will be celebrated two days hence. On that day, the President of the United States will lay a wreath on The Tomb of the Unknowns. In Millburn, New Jersey the American Legion post will gather a few of its members, dressed in overseas caps, who will march from their headquarters on Main Street…
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A LITTLE BIT OF THISA AND A LITTLE BIT OF THATA
About the only advantage in being raised during the Herbert Hoover Depression of 1929 was that the radio carried intelligent music. The lyrics had a story line and there were harmony and melody to the music. There were dozens of bands that toured the country at a time when almost every major hotel offered a…
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MARBLES
The genesis for this essay had to do with a remark made to me by Dr. Andrew Beamer following our most recent discussion. In essence, Dr. Beamer said that I had all of my marbles and seemed to have held onto them late in life. I am not quite certain that Dr. Beamer is right…
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WHY DO WOMEN DO IT?
Simply put, I expect to be denounced and excoriated for the essay that is to follow. I am at a loss to tell you if being denounced is a greater penalty than being excoriated. But I can guarantee you that neither one is pleasant. As long as I am not castigated, I believe I can…
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A TWOFER
The title to this essay is a phonetic one as spoken by Americans. Its real derivation comes from baseball. If a hitter gets two hits in his four or five at-bats, he will announce that he had a “twofer.” (If he was hitless in his times at bat, he would mournfully say, “I had an…
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LAMENTATIONS ON “I WISH”
I keep two identical dictating machines on my desk. The left one is for dictations that I turn over to Mrs. Eva Baker for transcription. The right one is for notes about future essays. Recently I recorded some notes on the subject of lamentations which was a subject I wanted to do an essay on. …