Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

June is a pretty special month.

It is known for marriages, which is good news for the bridal shops and tuxedo rental people. The traditional church wedding isn't as popular these days. The younger generation seems to like the outdoors better. Weddings on the beach or down in the apple orchard seem to be more to their liking.

San Diego County will start issuing same-sex marriage licenses on June 17. As sad as California's finances are, they will do anything to make money. My warped mind can envision all kinds of scenarios. I wonder who carries who over the threshold. Picture Rosie O'Donnell being lugged through the bedroom door by her skinny partner. Sounds like hernia time to me.

Traveling around the world while I was in the Air Force eliminated our kids from having to worry about who they married. Not much chance of maybe marrying a half-sister. This can be a hazard in a small town and reminds of a story that I heard.

This man, his wife and their son were having supper and the son announced he was going to marry Sue Jones. After supper, his dad took him aside and told him that he could not marry this girl.

Gladys Miller

"Why, Dad?" he asked.

The father explained that when he was younger he was a Casanova and she could be his half-sister. That broke the boy's heart and he did not marry Sue.

A couple of months later, the boy came up with the same story except he was going to marry Lucy Murray. Again, the father took him aside and gave him the same reason that he should not marry Lucy.

The boy didn't know what to do. He moped around the house all evening. Before going to bed, his mother took him aside and said, "Marry who you want, son, because he is not your father anyway."

June is also the month when most high schools have their graduations. I remember my graduation very well, because when the superintendent handed me my diploma, he said, "I never thought you would make it."

My reply was, "Fooled you, didn't I!" Of course, I was not the ideal student.

On June 1, Gladys Miller of Emporium observed her 90th birthday. She is one of the leading blood donors in the country. People that receive her blood are getting the blood of a thoroughbred and will probably have a long life, too.

Quality of life is important and if it is good, you should enjoy your longevity. I believe Gladys has the secret to long life and is enjoying every minute of it.

Vacation time is upon us, but I believe that many families will be thinking again about where they will go. Because of the high cost of fuel, everything has gone up. A trip to the grocery store is a good way to judge how the economy has changed.

We have to do something to get control of the price of oil. We have large oil reserves under our own soil but are afraid to go after it. Too many special interest groups have too many theories about the environment.

A date that should never be forgotten is the June 6, 1944, better known as D-Day. This is the day that the Allies attacked the German army on the beaches of France.

Can you imagine how the troops felt when they dropped the ramps on the landing craft and they faced the withering fire from the Germans? Walking into a wall of bullets must have taken so much courage.

There is an old song that is titled, "June Is Busting Out All Over," and along the roads the wildflowers are doing just that. Everyone has flowers planted and they sure are pretty.

If you are not married, this is the month to do it. If you do get married, remember that I like wedding receptions.