Which sports did you play in high school?

 I spent some time with the gymnastics team.

The team gave me a letter to put on my letter sweater. A letter sweater was a prized possession for me at that time. I have lost it over the years, and wish that I had it back. The sweater was white, and the letter was maroon.

Concordia Ft. Wayne, Indiana

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The homes in the picture are not a part of Concordia. Only the large buildings are part of Concordia.

Don Wolfrum, October 03, 2022

Glaucoma is fluid pressure in eyes

 My pressure was high, and I had sharp pains in my head. I went to the doctor, and she sent me to an ophthalmologist. My daughter, Vicki Callender took me to doctors, when I lived in Pittsburgh, Pa. The ophthalmologist sent me to the Allegheny General Hospital Ophthalmology Department in Pittsburgh, Pa. One eye went blind. I was treated, and part of the treatment was putting drops in my eyes. My cataracts were removed. I was treated about five years at Allegheny General. Then we moved to Arizona, and I have been treated about five years in Arizona. Eye drops and inspections of the eyes every few months is the treatment. One of the eyedrops is Lumigan. A thimble full of Lumigan is about $1000. A small bottle of Lumigan is $600, and it is about one half a thimble full. I just went to the doctor. The last appointment was six months ago. I’m scheduled to go to the doctor four months from now.

Don Wolfrum, October 02, 2022

Have you ever won anything?

 

My feline companion
We came back to Arizona in 2018. There were two cats living here. when we arrived. Roxie, a Siamese cat, was one of the cats. She slept in a cooking pot in the kitchen cabinets. She was attracted to me, and started sleeping between my feet in bed. She started staying in my bedroom most of the time.
Cats are unsanitary, and although I didn’t want to be exposed, I tolerated her.
She cuddles next to me, she bites me, she lashes out with her front paws. and taps me on the shoulders when she wants attention. She licks my hand, when I touch her front paw. Her ears and her back feet are cold. She likes her cold back feet held, when she cuddles. She makes eye contact, but it is limited. She makes vocal sounds, when she is happy. When I make the bed, she follows me around the bed, making vocal sounds. She gets the urge to bite then.
I go to bed around 10 pm. Roxie knows when it is 10 pm. She leaves my room to go to take care of her needs around 10 pm. We have a “scratcher” in my room, which both cats use. She avoids the other cat, and likes my protection, when he comes into my room. She gets out of the way, when my wife puts drops in my eyes.
If I put my hands underneath the sheets, she will attack any motion under the sheets.
When I eat in the kitchen, she stops by and makes her presence known.
When I go to the bathroom, she knows where I’m at, and comes in quite often.
She isn’t afraid to show the other cat that she will stand up to him. She spends time in the window sill in the daytime. She warms up in the window sill.
A plumber came to the house. Roxie got under the covers on my bed. I'm, pretty sure she was being cautious, because there was a stranger in the house.

Don Wolfrum, October 02, 2022

Have you ever won anything?

 My feline companion

We came back to Arizona in 2018. There were two cats living here. when we arrived. Roxie, a Siamese cat, was one of the cats. She slept in a cooking pot in the kitchen cabinets. She was attracted to me, and started sleeping between my feet in bed. She started staying in my bedroom most of the time.

Cats are unsanitary, and although I didn’t want to be exposed, I tolerated her.

She cuddles next to me, she bites me, she lashes out with her front paws. and taps me on the shoulders when she wants attention. She licks my hand, when I touch her front paw. Her ears and her back feet are cold. She likes her cold back feet held, when she cuddles. She makes eye contact, but it is limited. She makes vocal sounds, when she is happy. When I make the bed, she follows me around the bed, making vocal sounds. She gets the urge to bite then.

I go to bed around 10 PM. Roxie knows when it is 10 PM. She leaves my room to go to take care of her needs around 10 PM. We have a “scratcher” in my room, which both cats use. She avoids the other cat, and likes my protection, when he comes into my room. She gets out of the way, when my wife puts drops in my eyes.

If I put my hands underneath the sheets, she will attack any motion under the sheets.

When I eat in the kitchen, she stops by and makes her presence known.

When I go to the bathroom, she knows where I’m at, and comes in quite often.

She isn’t afraid to show the other cat that she will stand up to him. She spends time in the window sill in the daytime. She warms up in the window sill.

I attended a one-room school.

 I attended a one room school in Ayersville, Ohio in 1936. The new school opened in 1937. A female teacher taught 6 grades. I was in the first grade. There were two general stores near the school. One morning I saw a dead man frozen in water in the ditch.

There was another one room school about one half mile from our house. I went to a community event there. I was less than 6 years old. One of our neighbors was in a play in which he ate a whole pie, or pretended to. I was convinced that the neighbor was evil, if he could do that. I made sure to avoid any contact with him.

Andy Wolfrum purchased the coal storage building at the school; later on. He added it as a kitchen to his house.

Don Wolfrum, September 30, 2022

•  
  

You should write a book . I love your stories!

Nancy Rupp, October 01, 2022

What was your first boss like?

 Mr. Harold Gershmel was more of a companion than a boss. He wasn’t aggressive, was entertaining, and was devoted to his wife and family.

He was an excellent piano player

I don’t remember conversations with him regarding teaching. This was true throughout the entire school year.

Don Wolfrum, September 19, 2022

What famous people have you met and how did you meet them?

 Ft. Eustis Post Soldier of the Week

I was appointed post soldier of the week in Ft. Eustis, Virginia.

Brigadier General Frank S. Besson was commandant of the post in 1953.

I was his aide for one week.

General Besson became a Four Star General.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_S._Besson_Jr.
I was given a picture of General Besson, and it was at Vicki Callender’s house.

Don Wolfrum, September 17, 2022

S&P 500

 S&P 500 is an investment managed by Standard and Poor’s

The investment is in a group of companies.
If some of the companies do not do well, they are removed. Companies doing well replace the ones removed.
SPDR are like an S&P stock and are easy to purchase.
The rate of return is above 10%.
Here is a link to an investment calculator:
HTTPS://AMERICANFUNDSRETIREMENT.RETIRE.AMERICANFUNDS.COM/TOOLS/CALCULATORS/INVESTMENT-CALCULATOR.HTM
If $100 a month is invested for 50 years, about $60,000 is invested. The value of the SPDR purchased is approximately $1,471,241.67
A number of possibilities can be considered, $25 a month investment could be made in earlier years, and $150 investment in later years.
SPDR link:
HTTPS://WWW.INVESTOPEDIA.COM/ARTICLES/INVESTING/122215/SPY-SPDR-SP-500-TRUST-ETF.ASP 

Don Wolfrum, September 14, 2022

One day at a Houston Texas Kroger store

 Several thugs, who lived near the store, entered the store. I was hit with a pistol. It knocked me out. I thought that I had been shot. A tooth was damaged. The store manager was shot. The bullet went through his upper body, but didn’t have any consequences. Cathy, head cashier, was shot and killed. A cashier was shot, and she was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to Cathy’s funeral. It was unusual. Participants said they were happy that Cathy was in heaven.
Nancy That is a horrific event God was watching over you . So sad things like this happen.

Did you ever move as a child?

 Yes. My father found a job as a farmer near Ney, Ohio. We lived in Ayersville, Ohio, and Ney was about twenty miles away. The farmer job included a house. We lived there for a whole school year. A star baseball pitcher lived in Ney at that time.
Nancy I didn’t know this thank you Don! Yep Ned Garver was from Ney, Ohio.
Don Wolfrum  I couldn’t remember Ned Garver’s name. (And a lot of other ones)

My father had big problems

My father had big problems.

He didn't have close friends.

Instead of love and kindness, he hated and was discontented.

One example, he was a Lutheran and openly displayed a dislike for Baptists.

My mother was on her deathbed. My father ranted about her going off and leaving him.

He was treated, but it didn't help.

I think Dave and Nancy will agree with me.

Don Wolfrum, September 05, 2022 

 

Are you still friends with any of your friends from high school? How have they changed since then?

As near as I know, all my former classmates are dead. I visited Norbert Schackel and Herman Reese around 1948. They lived in Decatur, Indiana, which is about twenty miles southeast of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. My classmates would be 92 years old now in 2022. I have a 1945 high school yearbook, which has pictures of my classmates. Thanks to my brother Dave, who sent it to me. Louis Nuechterlein was a senior when I was a freshman. He was an organist. The following video is of one of the pieces of music, which he played.

Royal Botanic Gardens Hamilton, Ontario

 https://www.google.com/search?q=Royal+Botanical+Gardens+Hamilton,+Ontario&newwindow=1&sxsrf=ALiCzsYOJ9dnPoOkRRUY7oiNYW2F4elFXw:1661706890218&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi82qXHhOr5AhW5DEQIHSYoDrIQ_AUoAnoECAIQBA&biw=1396&bih=656&dpr=1.38

Iris

HTTPS://WWW.RBG.CA/GARDENS-TRAILS/BY-EXPERIENCE/WHATS-IN-BLOOM/IRIS/ 

Horticulture and Collections

HTTPS://WWW.RBG.CA/PLANTS-CONSERVATION/HORTICULTURE-COLLECTIONS/ 

Rose Garden

HTTPS://WWW.RBG.CA/GARDENS-TRAILS/BY-EXPERIENCE/WHATS-IN-BLOOM/ROSE-GARDEN/ 

Weddings

HTTPS://WWW.RBG.CA/VENUES-RENTALS/WEDDINGS/  

There are other events

Children’s birthday parties

Corporate events, etc.

Don Wolfrum, August 28, 2022

  

What is your best relationship advice?

What is your best relationship advice?

You will be physically attracted to your partner. Try to find a partner, who you want to share your whole life with. Be willing to tolerate your partner's character, and vice versa. You must trust your partner.

Did you ever take any road trips?

 I’d say a trip from Defiance, Oh to Dallas, Tx is a great road trip. We moved to a Dallas suburb; Oak Cliff. Mary was hired immediately as a hostess in a seafood restaurant called the Zuider Zee. I went to work in gas stations. I was hired by Kroger in their warehouse. Kroger decided to transfer me to their Houston Tx division after several years, I supervised warehouse transportation. There were 100 tractors, 200 trailers, and 100 drivers. 13 drivers served the Lake Charles La area. McAllen Tx was the southernmost area served by the Houston division. I learned how to ripen bananas, and I was a banana ripener. I was also a Kroger store manager once upon a time. I ended up in Curtisville Pa after 13 years in Texas.

What is one of your favorite meals?

 

Spaghetti.
Any spaghetti, but my wife Mary’s spaghetti is the best.

My wife Mary and our grandson Henry.
Vicki Callender took this picture.

What is one of the funniest things you've ever done?

 

What is the funniest thing you have ever done?

I posted Steve Martin and Kermit the Frog on Twitter

People liked it

Funny also

The Mississippi Squirrel Revival
Click link below please. 
HTTPS://WWW.BING.COM/CK/A?!&&P=23F618DAE3FC36C0JMLTDHM9MTY2MTIYNTKYMIZPZ3VPZD05ODM2MMMZOS04MMRMLTQ0OTCTOWM0ZS03YTRKODM4Y2YYNDMMAW5ZAWQ9NTIWNQ&PTN=3&HSH=3&FCLID=15615441-2295-11ED-AD8C-7D190DF766FE&U=A1AHR0CHM6LY93D3CUEW91DHVIZS5JB20VD2F0Y2G_DJ1LMTZMRZFZRGFNVQ&NTB=1

Don Wolfrum, August 21, 2022

What do you think is the meaning of life?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life 

I'm a Capitalist, Believer, Conservative, Constitutionalist

I'm a former owner-operator. I owned my own trucks. I leased the trucks to freight companies. I was happy to see the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) removed from US regulations. Freight rates went up after they were removed. Airline ticket prices went down.

I think health insurance should be sold by capitalist companies, not by the government. Government should be limited. It is bad enough as it is. Making government bigger is expanding a bad thing. Ronald Reagan would agree.

I think the constitution should be interpreted as it was intended at the time it was written; originalism.

Don Wolfrum, August 18, 2022

What were your favorite toys as a child?

My favorite toy was my bicycle. I liked to ride it, and I liked it’s paint job.

It was durable. You didn’t have to work on it to keep it running. It performed well on roads. I didn’t climb mountains with it

I had a pair of clamp on roller skates, but I didn’t have any concrete to skate on. I had a BB gun, but didn’t have money to spend on BB’s.

I did like to play checkers, and Chinese checkers. But they are games; not toys.

Don Wolfrum, August 10, 2022

Which people were the kindest to you in life?

 Which people have been the kindest to you in life?

My wife, grandparents, and two others.
Joseph D. Gezienski, who lives in Curtisville, Pennsylvania is one. My truck broke down near the Route 8 Exit on the Pennsylvania turnpike. I discovered that the truckstop had put gasoline in my diesel truck. My wife was living in Houston, Texas. I put my truck in the repair shop, and that’s where I met Joseph. He owned trucks, and he offered me a job. He was also involved in many other businesses. I started driving, and Joe suggested that I buy a truck from him. I did, and bought another truck from him several years later. My wife moved from Houston, Texas, and we bought a house in Curtisville, Pa. My daughter Vicki was 12 years old at the time.
I quit driving my own truck, and went to work for Angelo Fonzi. He had quite a few trucks of his own, and owned a company, which had hundreds of owner operators. I was top revenue man for about 15 years. My wife, Mary, worked for Fonzi too. We worked in Hammond, In. I drove a 34 wheel rig from Hammond, In to Buffalo, NY. The route was through Canada. The route was from Gary, In to Detroit. The route went from Detroit, through London, Hamilton, and Niagara to Buffalo, NY, There were three 34 wheel rigs running to Buffalo. Myself, James Farler, and Jerrold Luipold.
My wife lived in Curtisville, Pa the first years of driving from Gary, In to Buffalo. I had a 400 mile commute. On Friday night I took a cab to the train station in Gary, In. I would get on the train bound for Pittsburgh, Pa. The train had a delicacy; boiled shrimp sandwiches. I slept in the seats. One of the main stops was Cleveland, Oh. Saturday morning I would arrive in Pittsburgh. We would go home, and I would leave Pittsburgh around noon Sunday. Monday morning I would be back in Gary, In in the truck.

The house pictures are our home in Curtisville, Pa.
We had a hot tub and a pool table.

My wife has been very kind for 69 years.