It’s All In The Name,
Over the past weeks our television weathercasters have been regularly reporting 100 degree days coupled with extreme drought. This pairing provides ample opportunity to compare our current weather with that of the 1930s and with the Dust Bowl.
They compare the summer of 2026 with the summer of 1936. I find the heat of 1936 most intriguing because that was the summer my parents were expecting me.
I know that most Oklahomans, either by interest or necessity, become something of an amateur weather person.
Will Rogers said, “If you don’t like the weather in Oklahoma just wait a few minutes. It’ll change.”
These jokes are variations on regional jokes told on the plains from time eternal. “Do you know how we measure the wind in Oklahoma? We tie a log chain to a post and when it stands horizonal, well, we have a breeze.” I never really appreciated this one until I drove through Amarillo in December.
Hum. Just thinking. Do you suppose the Plains Tribes sat around the fire and spoke of the weather? Told weather jokes? They must have.
These days my back porch gets very hot very early. This morning I stepped out the door and was greeted by the scent of fresh mown grass. That fragrance carried on the morning air is one of God’s special treats.
At this point, Billie called out to me that there was something on TV that I would want to hear. She was right.
These days I try to avoid any discussion of politics. Even when I win, I lose. It is even rarer for me to have the opportunity to discuss the names of U. S. Navy ships. It seems that a name change has been proposed for our latest carrier. The ship had been named for one of America’s true heroes, Doris “Dorie” Miller. Miller was the Mess Attendant aboard the USS West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. After carrying several wounded sailors to safety, Miller manned an antiaircraft gun. He shot down several attacking Japanese aircraft. Miller became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross and to be nominated for the Medal of Honor. He was promoted to Cook, Petty Officer, Third Class.
Miller was born and reared in Waco, Texas. He was killed in action in November of 1943. Miller was 24 years old.
Over recent years, the Naval tradition has been to name carriers after past Presidents. The USS William Jefferson Clinton will be commissioned by 2036.
Although we have the tradition of naming carriers for past U. S. Presidents, we also have had a tradition of naming carriers for naval heroes. So, in January of 2019 the new carrier under construction was named the USS Doris Miller.
I know it is most likely just me overthinking the situation but something about this just doesn’t feel right.
Welldoneisbetterthanwell said. – Benjamin Franklin
