Dad's Pocket Watch

This is the actual watch I purchased...very good condition.

 I know when a person sees a clock a number of thoughts might pass through their minds; thoughts like making every minute count or that my life is get shorter every minute. I love clocks and watches. Not sure why, but every time I see a clock or a watch or an old clock radio I just gotta take a look. The loud ticking of a mechanical clock is both relaxing and annoying; but always conjures up memories of grandma and grandpas house or my own house as a very young child. My mom loves clocks as well and maybe that is where my fascination with clocks comes from. Now bear in mind I am not obsessed with the notion of time as much as I am the clock.

I was in a store the other day that sold second hand stuff and I came across an old Westclox Bull's Eye pocket watch. I was immediately reminded of the countless times I saw my dad pull his out of his pocket attached to his belt by a rawhide fob to check the time. We would be fishing and he would pull out his watch, working together, gardening, or any other of a number of times one might check the time. Dad was a tree surgeon and a wrist watch was out of the question for him; I am not sure if he viewed it as a safety hazard or not but it was always a pocket watch. Nothing fancy either, it was always the least expensive most reliable he could get; and it was almost invariably a Westclox Bull's Eye.

When I saw the watch in the case at the store I knew that I wanted to buy it as little reminder of my dad. Brand new I am fairly certain that the watch sold for less than $5.00, the problem is that I could have purchased 2 or 3 brand new watches back in the day for what I paid for this old one. Pursuing nostalgia can be an expensive endeavor, but to me it was worth it. I can almost imagine dad rolling his eyes if he knew that I bought this watch for almost $15.00...funny.

Harry's Secret

His name was Erich Weiss by the time of his death he was likely one the highest paid entertainers of his day. He was born into a Hungarian-Jewish household in 1874. He lived in Appleton, WI; I have driven past his house situated over the river. His name was changed to Harry. A master showman known for his mystifying magic, and a distinguished flyer. What we remember him most for is his ability to escape. He was the master of "escape-ology" (wow is that a new word?...you heard it first right here).

On March 10th, sometime around 1904(?) he was challenged by the London "Daily Illustrated Mirror" to escape from a special pair of handcuffs they had prepared. There were six locks on each cuff and nine tumblers on each lock. Seven days later 4000 spectators gathered in the London Hippodrome to witness the outcome of this seemingly impossible challenge.

At 3:15 in the afternoon Harry Houdini stepped into an empty cabinet that came up to his waist, he lowered himself into the the box. Out of sight for 20 minutes he stood up smiling. The crowd broke out in applause thinking that he was free...but he was not, he only asked for more light. The lights shown brighter and again he lowered himself into the box for another 15 minutes.Once again he rose out of the box and into the sight of the crowd. Applause erupted certainly he was free now; he said he needed only to flex his knees. Down into the cabinet box again for another 20 minutes (the crowd murmuring and wondering what was going on, certainly this was unusual for Mr Houdini). The heat of the lights and the confines of the cabinet were too much, he was overheating.

Leaping from the wooden cabinet Harry twisted and turned until his manacled hands were in front of him so he could reach a pocket knife in his vest pocket. Harry opened the knife with his teeth and bent over so far that his coat tails fell and hung over his head. Grabbing the coat he pulled it over his head and then proceeded to cut and slash his jacket to ribbons and toss it aside. The crowd roaring with approval Harry leaped back into the box. Again lowering himself he remained out of sight for another 10 minutes. With all of the drama and flourish that he could Harry leaped out of the box to show his hands were indeed free waving the bulky handcuffs over his head. Pandaemonium erupted and the crowd exploded with excitement and enthusiasm; certainly Harry Houdini had accomplished the seemingly impossible.

Later Harry was questioned in an interview why he had interrupt the process so many times with what seemed meaningless reasons. He replied that his ability to escape was based firmly in the knowledge that could escape. His ability to escape was based in knowledge. He interrupted the show to allow the audience to to bolster and keep up his own enthusiasm. Two things set Harry free that day, the knowledge that he could indeed be set free and the cultivation of his own enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is vital in all of our lives. It is what keeps us going forward in the face of the dull monotony of life; we must find something to get excited about and run with it. Without an enthusiasm for learning, teachers and students fail, without it salespeople starve, and leaders would have no followers. Nothing really important is ever achieved without some form of enthusiasm to motivate us to accomplish the deed.

The secret to our lives as Christians is to have a knowledge of all of the great things that God has promised us, and being excited about it. His Word should stir up and instill enthusiasm in us. No one is going to be interested in the God you serve or your  testimony if you are not excited about being a Christian.

When you cannot "feel" the excitement of your own Christianity...you better "know" something about your Christianity.

Lucky Me

I am not sure who has ever played in the lottery but as of today the jackpot is over $500,000,000. That is over a half a billion dollars. I asked a cashier at a gas station near Shiocton, WI if people were buying lottery tickets and she replied that the machines have been humming. Well the winning numbers will be picked tonight and someones dreams may come true.

I had a certain something happen to me the other day that proved to me that I am in fact I am a "lucky" guy. I am not sure I believe in what everyone seems to view as luck; but if I did I would have gone right out and bought myself a lottery ticket.  I recently purchased a new gas grill for...grilling I guess...anyway as I was putting the grill together I opened a bag that contained the ignitor switch and the battery that would provide the power for the ignitor to spark. I know it all sounds complicated but when I push a button I hear a click and then a whoosh and then the grill is lit.

So as I am about to slip the battery into the ignitor case I noticed that the battery had a unique name brand label; the label had three large sevens on it. Wow my first thought was this is gonna be a great grill, my second thought was that today might be a good day to get a lottery ticket. Now please bear in mind I have never purchased a ticket. If I had done so I would likely have done it wrong, and all my earnings would have gone to someone else. I decided to save my money and apply it toward the purchase of a gas tank and gas; which nearly requires a loan from the bank...or winning the lottery...what was I thinking?