Dateline Dayton — I wrote last week about the number of homicides in Dayton by the month, and I mentioned June wasn’t over. Sure enough, there was one more murder, making June the deadliest month in the history of Dayton record-keeping.
Last weekend, all the noise in the Dayton area wasn’t from fireworks. Four more homicides over the holiday. Will it ever stop?
Can the day arrive when we respect life?
Derrick Forward, president of the Dayton NAACP chapter, said that “parenting is the key to stem the next generation of violent criminals.”
“Community standards need to change,” said Katy Crosby of the Dayton Human Relations Council, “so that violence is not tolerated and police are trusted.”
Citizens have the right to own a gun, but not a weapon. I am sure our forefathers did not mean to sanction weapons when instituted “the right to bear arms.” That does not mean carrying a weapon that can kill multiple people at one time.
Holiday Is for Parades
Last Friday night we went to Waynesville, the antique capital, for supper. Signs posted along Main Street said:
“No parking between 10 and 2 on Saturday.”
We returned to Waynesville on Saturday to see what was going on. They have monthly street fairs in the summer.
We went back to the Village Restaurant for breakfast. A noon hour parade was the reason for the parking ban.
Since we had chairs in the car, we stayed for the parade, a typical small town procession, led by the police car, followed by the school band, cars, horses, scouts, tractors, and lots of fire trucks, just back from a fire at McDonald’s. A great parade for the kids since most participants were giving out candy.
When we window-shopped later, Pauline found a small kerosene lamp for $5.
On Saturday night we attended the Dayton Dragons baseball game. Good thing we enjoy going. They lost again. At least it was a close game and not a run-a-way, as we have experienced in the past. The Dragons are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds, who are having a horrible season. Maybe the Dragons don’t want to show up the Reds.
Sunday we went to church early and then to our first auction in a long while. This was a good one for both of us. There were 300 dolls for Pauline to enjoy and a large collection of First Day Covers for me. I just dabble in First Day Covers, however, at one time I was purchasing them from the Post Office. I sold my collection, but I resumed collecting a few years ago. I purchased 11 albums and one box.
Pauline did not purchase any dolls. Later she was kicking herself for not buying one she really liked. We bought a small chest for our dining room and two throw rugs for the kitchen.
Hot Dog! Or Not?
We celebrated the Fourth of July by attending Mass, and we enjoyed coffee and donuts afterward.
By 1 o’clock, we were at our condo’s office, for a short flag ceremony followed by a brief parade, one police car followed by two cars.
Since the weather was threatening, the kids, usually in the parade must not have wanted tp get off their computers. Or maybe they weren’t up yet.
Hot dogs were to be served at the pool between 2 o’clock and 4, but the threatening weather knocked out those plans.
I checked back at 3 to make sure because I was counting on that hot dog for supper. Aren’t TV dinners great?
Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net
