Thoughts while sitting on the Calvertville store porch

The other day I went back to the Calvertville Store. It was quick and easy because I went in my mind. The shade of the porch felt good as I opened the screen door with the silk-screened Colonial Bread ad on it and strolled inside. Ralph smiled and said, “Boy, it has been a long time since I saw you. How you been?”

“I have been doing fine, how about you?” I said as I plunged my hand into the cold water of the Coca-Cola cooler. Feeling around I pulled out a six-ounce Coca Cola in the familiar green bottle. “Ralph, how about a bag of salted peanuts?” “Sure thing, Larry, that will be ten cents for the peanuts and the pop.” I went out on the porch to sit a spell on a nail keg and ponder.

We are right smack dab in the middle of political turmoil as the president and congress can’t seem to agree. Everyone is worried about being re-elected and keeping all of the honest and dishonest money in their war chests and power; as the national debt goes up faster than Superman chasing an errant asteroid.

I reflected about all the sick people I know. People all over the world pray for the sick to be well. So do I. What would happen if all people were suddenly well and if no one needed to take medicine? The world economy would collapse like a cheap tent in a summer storm.

Then I contemplated about the alcohol and other drug problems that plague America and the world. The war on drugs and alcohol will not be won until the reasons that cause people to want them are found and addressed. I have noticed that those who try to drown their troubles in alcohol learn that troubles can swim. Those who try to escape life through other drugs find out that troubles find them because they always leave a forwarding address. It is as easy to get illegal drugs in America as it is to get into a community college.

I took another drink, swatted a fly and thought about the economy in Indiana and America and pondered why so many plants are closing and jobs are being shipped to other countries yet other countries come to America and open factories. Why can’t boards of directors and CEOs understand that they are cutting the throat of the American Economy? Listen: If you are wearing a shirt made in Columbia, watch a Korean TV, use a computer made in Japan, take medicine made in Ireland, use a Mexican made water heater, buy tools made in China, wear cologne from France, eat fruit grown in Chili and green beans grown in Guatemala, take pictures with a camera made in Taiwan, use oil from the Mid-East, drive a German car, dust souvenirs made in China, use Christmas decorations made in Austria and eat Swiss chocolate don’t complain about jobs going overseas. We often shoot ourselves in the foot with an Israeli made Uzi.

It is amazing what comes to mind while sitting on the porch at the Calvertville Store.

Larry Vandeventer. Go to my two websites – Larryvandeventer.com and wjrambler1956.com – and purchase my books. I grew up North of Calvertville and graduated from Worthington High School and Indiana State. Contact me at Goosecrick@aol.com or 317-839-7656.