Preschool Offers Antidote To Hate

January 12, 2019 by Woody

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Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Preschool Offers Antidote To Hate

A stone’s throw, albeit by a strong arm, from my home is a preschool. Too, there is a synagogue. Both are wonderful neighbors.

Recently, and appallingly, a swastika was spray-painted on the front signboard of Ventura’s Temple Beth Torah. Children’s World Preschool shares this signboard and within its classrooms grows the antidote for such ugliness.

I know this to be true because my wise friend, Venturan award-winning author Ken McAlpine, says so. A number of years ago, Ken briefly became a “student” at Children’s World and chronicled the experience in my favorite chapter of his terrific book “Islands Apart.” Below are a few colors from the daily rainbows he saw inside the shared classroom of teachers Ronna Streeton and Odette Huber:

“One day I caught the tail end of a small uproar. Someone had pushed Alek to the ground as he was getting a drink from the water fountain. At almost the same instant two girls were in the bathroom, one urging the other to follow her lead, which she did, both of them plunking their hands in the toilet. When it rains it pours.

“So immediately La Famiglia came into the classroom to discuss things. First we lay on the rug and listened to ‘Imagine’ (‘…all the people, living life in peace…’). Then the children sat up. Mrs. Streeton sat in her chair in front of the class.

“ ‘I have some things to talk about,’ Mrs. Streeton said. ‘Remember how we said we’re all a family? Well I’m unhappy with some members of our family now. It doesn’t make me happy when members of my family are doing things that are very, very wrong.’

“Everybody waited quietly. Mrs. Streeton continued.

“ ‘You have to treat others with respect. And you have to know how to make good choices. When somebody says something to you that you know in your brain is wrong, you need to be adult and make the right choice.’

“Of course Mrs. Streeton, Mrs. Huber and I all knew that adults don’t always make the right choices, but we kept that secret. They would figure this out soon enough.”

Sometimes, of course, adults do rise tall and make the right choices as the following story from writer Cindi Leive reveals:

“When my father-in-law was 58, he volunteered with a group that assists disabled athletes. Fit but no marathoner, he agreed to run the first half of the New York City Marathon tethered to a blind runner who’d flown all the way from Thailand for the race.

“At mile 13, another volunteer would take over. Except: That other volunteer never showed, and there was my father-in-law, exhausted, with 13 painful miles he’d never trained for ahead of him.

“ ‘What did I do?’ he recalls now. ‘I kept going!’ All the way to the finish line – inspired by the even more heroic efforts of the blind man beside him.

“I think of that story often, and not just while running. With the right motivation you can almost always go farther, accomplish more, reach higher than you thought.”

The children at Children’s World Preschool, I believe, will accomplish more and reach higher than we can imagine. Ken agrees, concluding his chapter titled “The World to Come” thusly:

“If things are done right in little worlds now, maybe the bigger world will one day be a better place.”

It’s a pretty thought, especially when we have the same feelings Mrs. Streeton shared with Mr. McAlpine: “Sometimes I think the world is mostly good, and sometimes I don’t. I try to believe, but it’s hard.”

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Wooden & Me Kickstarter Front Photo Check out my memoir WOODEN & ME: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece” and my essay collection “Strawberries in Wintertime: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” …

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“Second Scoreboard” Finishes First

January 5, 2019 by Woody

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Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

“Second Scoreboard” Finishes First

Chuck Thomas, my former colleague and mentor, believed in taking a day off now and again and using someone else’s words to fill his column.

And so I do today, with an abridged version of a recent school assembly talk given by Thacher’s Athletic Director Pete Fagan. His wisdom on “The Second Scoreboard” echoes the teachings of another late mentor of mine, Coach John Wooden, and seems invaluable to one and all, on the court or off, as we travel through 2019.

“Hello and welcome back,” Fagan began.

“Before we left for vacation, we were entertained with a fun basketball game. Even though the boys didn’t win the game, it didn’t mean we weren’t winners that night. We were winners of the more important scoreboard – The Second Scoreboard.

“We’ve used the phase ‘The Second Scoreboard’ for many years on this campus. For the new people, this might be a new term to you. So what does it mean?

“On the surface, we kind of all know what it means – it implies that we worked hard to win, but didn’t. And regardless of the outcome of the games, we feel good about our performance. But there is more to The Second Scoreboard than just ‘trying your best.’

“The first scoreboard is what it implies: the final score of each contest, the simple outcome of either winning or losing.

“The Second Scoreboard is a different and more important measure of our success. Here’s how we win on The Second Scoreboard . . .

“Preparation. How you practice and prepare is a measure of The Second Scoreboard. Scoring points on The Second Scoreboard means intentness in your practice, giving it your all, recognizing and correcting your mistakes and listening to your teammates and coaches. There will be many people more talented than you, but there is no excuse for someone to work harder than you.

“The Second Scoreboard means you are practicing and playing with integrity. When you win, you do it with humility and when you lose, you lose with dignity. You play the game the way it is supposed to be played: with honor for yourself, your school, and your opponents. You hold fast to your principles and beliefs.

“Winning on The Second Scoreboard means you have confidence. You believe in yourself. It is the knowledge that your preparation is fully complete and that you are ready for competition. Your confidence is what happens when you’ve done the hard work that entitles you to succeed. Each time you play and face adversity, you gain strength, courage and confidence.

“The Second Scoreboard means you are resilient and determined. You bounce back and focus after failures and letdowns. You bring your best effort to the next play, practice, and contest. You are determined to do your absolute best, even on the lowest, most frustrating of days.

“The Second Scoreboard means cooperation, enthusiasm, initiative, loyalty, friendship, respect, commitment and team spirit.

“The Second Scoreboard is a measure of your character.

“And lastly, The Second Scoreboard means you are respectful. You act in a way that demonstrates appreciation of the game. You take time to appreciate your surroundings and the chance you have been given to participate. You are respectful to yourself, your teammates, coaches, opponents, officials and fans. You are a sportsman or sportswomen of the highest standard with no compromise.

Fittingly, Fagan concluded his talk by paraphrasing Wooden’s personal definition of success: “And focus with the peace of mind you will obtain through the self-satisfaction in knowing you made the best effort you are capable of.”

The Second Scoreboard is first-rate.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Kind Givers Make Ball Drive Success

December 29, 2018 by Woody

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Kind Givers Make Ball Drive Big Success

“Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life,” Mark Twain wrote. And, “It is higher and nobler to be kind.”

For the ninth consecutive year of Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive, Star readers have proved themselves to be noble and kind in making Christmas Day more beautiful for local disadvantage kids.

In the spirit of the Star’s Bellringer campaign, I’d like to publicly thank those kind givers (who did not request anonymity) who were not mentioned previously:

Glen Sittel gave two basketballs, two soccer balls and one football, noting: “Knowing that many deserving kids will be receiving one of the best gifts ever always lifts my spirit.”

Linda and Tom Parizo gave a mixture of 13 soccer balls, basketballs and footballs.

Howard Reich gave two each footballs, soccer balls and basketballs. Sheila and Tom McCollum dropped off one of each, as did Thomas and Karyne Roweton.

Pam Hurley gave two each basketballs and footballs.

Jerry and Linda Mendelsohn, as has become their tradition, took grandchildren Garrick, 8, Dannika, 5, and Parker, 4, to buy and distribute 12 soccer balls and 12 basketballs. “Once again, the kids were reminded how important it is for disadvantaged kids to feel special and loved at holiday time,” Jerry noted.

Lynda Rice donated two soccer balls “in memory of my brother-in-law Dick Rice who was the kindest soul who passed away recently.”

My ol’ pal, former Star sports-writing legend Jim Parker, gave two soccer balls, as did Patricia Herman.

Sally and Tom Reeder donated a dozen assorted basketballs, footballs and soccer balls.

In memory of local coaching legend Bob Swanson, his longtime weekly “Friday Breakfast Group,” donated eight basketballs.

Jack Casey, in honor of his deceased brother Dennis, donated three soccer balls and one basketball.

Dave Long and Shirley passed out ten assists, all basketballs; Shelly and Steve Brown passed out four; Bill Wintersteen gave three; and LuAnn McDuffee donated two.

Jim and Sandie Arthur gave out two basketballs and six softballs “in honor of our two daughters who never ‘threw like a girl’ and our three grandchildren who love anything involving a ball!”

Susan Bardsley pitched in a dozen official Major League Baseballs, and Chris and Len Bates donated three cans of tennis balls.

Pat McGovern gave two soccer balls and one basketball in honor of her three grandsons ages 10, 9 and seven months.

Orvene S. Carpenter donated two basketballs and two soccer balls.

Laura Gulovsen gave “a pink/blue official soccer ball so that a girl might have her very own practice ball.”

Brad and Mia Ditto gave a mixture of 10 balls. Dropping them off Mia was inspired by the happy faces at a Boys and Girls Club to do even more. Brad shared: “My very good-hearted wife and her very generous sisters organized a toy drive” and gave 100 additional toys.

“In honor if our dad, Bob Tuttle,” wrote Toni Tuttle-Santana, she and husband Jaime, and Trudy Tuttle Arriaga and husband Raymundo, gave six balls

Kay Giles and Michael Mariani gave three soccer balls and Kathy and Ken McAlpine kicked in one soccer ball.

Tennis legends and legendary role models Mike and Bob Bryan served up 10 cans of tennis balls, 10 basketballs and 10 soccer balls.

Special thanks to Kymberly King for making two trips with her Sleigh Utility Vehicle filled to overflowing to drop off balls for foster kids.

The finally tally for this year is . . . drumroll, please . . . a whopping 471 new sports balls – up from 322 a year ago.

Thank you, dear readers. Your kindness is unbelievable.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Life Wonderfully Imitating Art

December 22, 2018 by Woody

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Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

It’s a Wonderful Life-Imitating-Art

Oscar Wilde, in an 1889 essay, opined: “Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.”

In 2018, I observed life imitating art from 1947. Specifically, this month a friend of mine has become a female version of George Bailey in the iconic feel-good film, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Her tale did not start out wonderfully.

My friend, who for privacy’s purpose I’ll call Georgia, two years ago battled breast cancer. Medical bills not covered by health insurance, combined with being a single mother who put three children through college, left her walking a financial tightrope.

A self-employed independent contractor, Georgia is superb at her craft and busy. No matter, her tightrope started to sway. Then it began to fray. The problem was not a lack of work, but rather clients slow to pay. And, worse, not paying.

When falling off the high wire seemed imminent, Georgia did for herself what Mary Bailey did for her husband when all seemed lost. Mary went into town spreading word that George was in dire straits; Georgia, reluctantly, asked for help on Facebook.

The results were the same. In the film, Uncle Billy says, “Mary did it, George! Mary did it! She told a few people you were in trouble and they scattered all over town collecting money. They didn’t ask any questions, just said: ‘If George is in trouble, count on me.’ You never saw anything like it.”

Georgia’s friends responded in kind. However, instead of dropping money – bills from wallets and purses, coins raided from a glass saving jar or a jukebox – into a large wicker laundry basket, Georgia’s townspeople made donations electronically through PayPal.

From near and far and farther still, nearly 40 individuals filled Georgia’s wicker basket with more than $2,500 – enough to keep her safe and dry from the thunderstorm until some work payments due are expected to come in. Indeed, and by deed, Georgia’s friends exemplified famed poet Maya Angelou’s advice to “Be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud.”

In addition to filling the wicker basket, Georgia’s friends importantly filled her heart with words of encouragement and love.

One friend shared, “Others have helped me in various ways, and in the future there will be someone you can help – in one way or another.”

Another: “If we can’t rally around our fellows when they need it, then what’s the point of our ‘community’?”

And: “Remember always to take care of yourself (heart).”

Georgia replied quickly, “Dear friends: I’m absolutely speechless. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. More soon.”

“More soon” include these heartfelt words: “I’m still in the process of thanking everyone personally, but one side benefit to all of this is that I’ve had personal conversations with so many people that I have thoroughly enjoyed. The reconnecting has been amazing.”

And later: “I am overwhelmed and beyond touched at my friends who were there to support me in any way, shape or form. … I am okay now all thanks to you and my shoulders feel lighter. … I don’t think I’ll ever not be embarrassed about this, but I’m feeling tremendously blessed right now.”

That beatified feeling goes both ways. By bravely sharing her plight and allowing others to help her, Georgia gave her friends the joy of being a rainbow in her cloud.

“Come on in here now,” Mary tells George in the closing scene. “Now, you stand right over here, by the tree. Right there, and don’t move, don’t move. I hear ’em now, George, it’s a miracle! It’s a miracle!”

It’s a wonderful story, Georgia’s, of life imitating art.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Turning Page on a Novel Year

December 15, 2018 by Woody

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Page-Turners Before Turning Page on 2018

Like a marathoner easing his stride in celebration over the final ten meters, with 16 days to go in 2018 I can coast in to my annual goal of reading one book a week.

Presently, I’m at 51 books. Actually, that tally is for published books. In truth, I’ve already reached 52 if you count the novel manuscript for “The Best Week That Never Happened” that recently sold to a publishing house and will come out in early 2020.

“Best Week” – written by my all-time favorite author, my daughter – was my favorite read this year, but since it’s not yet in print it will have to wait to officially make my annual Books I Loved This Year list below.

Let me begin with the latest 448 pages I’ve consumed, “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. The former First Lady is a first-rate writer and role model. Enlightening and inspiring, honest and revealing, “Becoming” is about as good as memoirs get. One complaint: I wanted more pages.

Speaking of more pages, “Cutting for Stone: A Novel” by Abraham Verghese was the longest book I read this year: 667 pages of terrific storytelling.

“A Prayer For Owen Meany” by John Irving is, from page 1 to page 627, masterfully told with heart and intrigue.

“The Long Ships” by Frans G. Bengtsson is another long book that is time well spent inhabiting. This 528-page-turner brings to life the Viking seafaring world of the 10th century.

“A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” by Mark Twain had me laughing out loud – and also wondering what took me so long to read it. Similarly, John Steinbeck’s “The Pearl” is a gem I’m glad I finally got around to reading.

“Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man’s First Journey to the Moon” by Robert Kursen was flat-out superb. Although it’s nonfiction, this remarkable Space Race book unfolds with the captivating storytelling of a novel.

Local westerns author Scott Harris, whose debut novel “Coyote Courage” I recommended previously, this year finished the second trilogy in this Brock Clemens’ series with “Battle on the Plateau”, “Mojave Massacre” and “Ambush at Red Rock Canyon.” All three are quick, fun reads.

Those who grew up in the 1960s will surely enjoy the nostalgic “Be True To Your School: A Diary of 1964” by former newspaper columnist Bob Greene.

Uniquely taking place almost entirely in a single hotel, “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles is, simply put, a masterpiece.

Two World War II winners: “The Snow Goose” by Paul Gallico, a former New York City sports columnist-turned-novelist, is about a hunchback and a girl, love and bravery, and the Battle of Dunkirk; while “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr is an equally spellbinding tale about love and survival.

Something old and something new: “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrick Backman and “There, There: A Novel” by Tommy Orange.

Speaking of old, “The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Escaped” by Jonas Jonasson was surprisingly delightful, with the main character out-Forest Gumping Forest Gump in the way he meets historical figures.

Winning the Pulitzer Prize is a tall order to live up to, but “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer just might do so in how it entertains and lifts the spirits.

“Sing, Unburied, Sing” by Jesmyn Ward is a gritty, powerful novel taking place in rural Mississippi – and, at times, taking place in the “in-between” between death and heaven. Narrated by four characters, and three generations, in alternating chapters, “Sing” is perhaps the book that most moved me in 2018.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Holiday Generosity Bounces In

December 8, 2018 by Woody

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Holiday Generosity Bounces and Rolls In

The official motto of the Special Olympics is, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Ian Eaton, a local Special Olympian who has on numerous occasions carried the lighted torch during the opening ceremony parade through Ventura, altered the motto slightly in support of “Woody’s Annual Holiday Ball Drive” dedicated to giving new sports balls to disadvantaged kids: If I cannot give 100 sports balls, let me be generous in helping the cause with one ball.

Actually, Ian, donated one each basketball, football, and soccer ball with the note: “These balls aren’t 100, but hopefully some children enjoy them.”

Eaton’s sentiment was in reference to the Camarillo-Somis Lions Club, which made a “Christmas in June” promise of 100 balls, and this week dropped off 33 soccer balls, 33 footballs, 34 basketballs.

Below are some more of the special gifts that have bounced in to date…

Tim and Cindy Hansen, who give books to kids year-round through their curbside Little Free Library, donated one football, three soccer balls, two basketballs and two playground balls.

A mountain of gifts from “Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive.”

Brent Muth’s annual “Ballapaloza” party with boyhood friends Mark Franke, Adan Valenica and Craig Rasmussen, collected a variety of 53 balls in honor of their late friend, Mike Sandoval, and their late coach, Gerry Carrauthers.

Eileen and Michael Maloney dished out three soccer balls, two playground balls, a football and a basketball.

Karen and Dave Brooks made a splash with one each basketball, football, soccer ball, volleyball and “four spongy baseballs for little kiddies.” Karen also noted, “Dave also donates golf balls throughout the year to the water hazards and rough at River Ridge Golf Course.”

Sandra Janotta donated one soccer ball and one basketball; Lee Draughon gave three each basketballs and soccer balls; and Carol Ann Roth gave three basketballs; and Barbara Coffman gave one basketball.

From Dave Flood came some brand-new baseball bats, balls and gloves with this note: “I’m 87 years old. When I was a kid we had no Little League, but we played on any empty lot we could find and we got our bats from the high school team – broken bats that we put screws in and taped up.”

Stephenie and Mark Thomas donated a case of 20 cans of tennis balls.

“Happy Holidays!” wishes for the kids came from Linda Peddie along with one each soccer ball and basketball.

Charis Werner dished two basketballs, two soccer balls and a football.

Draza Mrvichin donated a variety of 18 balls and Vana Guidotti donated one soccer ball and one basketball.

Alan and Kathy Hammerand gave nine balls mixed evenly between basketball, football and soccer, and noted: “We believe that it is so important for kids to have the opportunity to develop healthy, active lifestyles at an early age.”

Jim Cowan for the tenth consecutive year dished out 10 basketballs. He also emphasized that he believes deeply in the Golden Rule and to “love your neighbor as yourself” – “I am 87 now and these principles have guided me and my family over all of these years.” These principles also apply to everyone who has donated to the Ball Drive.

There is still time to pass out your own assist to a young neighbor in need by dropping off a new sports ball at a Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, youth group or (through Dec. 21) at Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon St. in Ventura. Online orders can be shipped to the same address.

Also, please email me about your gift at woodywriter@gmail.com so I can add your generosity to this year’s tally.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Thomas Fire Lesson A Year After

November 27, 2018November 27, 2018 by Woody

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Lesson from Thomas Fire a Year After

It was bound to happen, sooner or later.

Had it been a year sooner, however, I believe I would have been far more upset – both at the loss and at myself for being responsible. Such is one tiny token given by the heinous Thomas Fire that – like California’s recent tragic wildfires – took so very much, from so many, a year ago come this Tuesday.

First, the backstory. For Mother’s Day a handful of years past, my daughter and son came upon the lovely idea of giving their mom four ceramic bowls – each unique in bright colors and design, one for each family member.

Because my wife is half-Italian, on her mother’s side, it was decided it would add meaning to honor this heritage with hand-painted Italian bowls.

Upon finding some imported dishes we favored, it was decided – by me – to get only one. This was because a single bowl cost about as much as airfare to Tuscany where one could meet the artisan and buy his or her pottery wares in person.

Before May even turned to June, the bowl suffered a chip beyond use. Mea culpa – rather, in Italian: colpa mia. Had I known any Italian swear words, I would have used them all. I made do with a few in English.

Prudently, a month thereafter the expensive bowl was replaced with a beautiful locally crafted bowl purchased at the annual Ventura ArtWalk. The bargain was extended with three more bowls to give us a full family table setting.

My wife was perfectly pleased and yet I still felt a need to replace the Italian-made bowl. A few months thereafter, for her birthday, I did. Perhaps it should be no surprise, however, that it went largely unused. We were all afraid of breaking it, most especially me.

Indeed, to eat salad or soup or pasta, or cereal or oatmeal or ice cream, from it seemed a little like hanging an original Picasso sketch on the refrigerator door with magnets. The new Italian bowl belonged safely inside a frame, so to speak, on display in a dining room hutch.

The dining room hutch in my boyhood home was filled with expensive bowls and more. It is where my late mom kept her good china and beloved blue-and-white Wedgewood plates. All were all destroyed when the Thomas Fire razed the house where my dad still lived.

Amid the heart-rending ruins, if one examined closely enough with rose-colored glasses, there was a sliver of a silver lining to be found: at least the good china and Wedgewood had been frequently used.

“A long life may not be good enough,” Benjamin Franklin noted, “but a good life is long enough.” My mom believed the same was true for nice things. She thought her good silver and china should be used and enjoyed regularly, not cautiously saved for special occasions. She considered every day a special occasion.

In the dark aftermath of the Thomas Fire, I decided to start using our Italian bowl daily. For safety’s sake, I never put it in the dishwasher but instead hand-washed it.

Perhaps the dishwasher would have been safer. The other day, a combination of soapy suds and carelessness caused it to slip from my grasp. It fell all of a couple inches before striking the sink, but that was still too far. It shattered like Humpty Dumpty after his great fall.

To be honest, my initial reaction was stubbing-one’s-big-toe-like anguish. Yet, quick as a finger snap, Zen calmness washed over me. People matter, things don’t – that important lesson from the Thomas Fire is an enduring gift.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Rants and Raves on This and That

November 25, 2018 by Woody

Is your Club or Group looking for an inspiring guest speaker or do you want to host a book signing? . . . Contact Woody today!

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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

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Rants and Raves About This and That

If you were expecting 600 words of nice this morning, put down the newspaper and go phone your grandma. I’m in an annoyed I-stubbed-my-toe kind of mood.

But I do love being able to wear flip-flops in November.

I get annoyed by the early darkness and wish we could keep Daylight Saving Time year-round.

I love that the clocks on my cell phone, cable box and GPS watch “fall back” automatically and I don’t have to reset them.

I get annoyed that anyone in America has to wait in line for two or three hours, some even longer, to cast a ballot. As the 49-year-old saying goes, If we can put a man on the moon . . . we should be able to get everyone in-and-out of the voting booth in under an hour.

I still love our election system, messy-as-a-baby-eating-spaghetti-by-herself that it is.

I get annoyed by political yard signs that remain out long after the election is over. I say politicians should be fined $1 per sign left out, per day, after a 48-hour grace period.

I love this election-inspired lyric from “Belief” by John Mayer: “Is there anyone who ever remembers / Changing their mind from the paint on a sign?”

I get annoyed that Christmas advertising now begins before Halloween. The day is coming when Americans will return from trick-or-treating and sit down to eat huge turkey dinners with all the fixings and then open presents the next morning.

I love giving out candy, giving thanks, and giving gifts.

I get annoyed by leaf blowers that simply move the mess into the street or neighboring yard.

I love seeing a pile of raked leaves – especially if kids are busy making a mess of it.

It annoys me that dangerous, and senseless, “targeting” continues to happen in football. I say instead of ejection from a game, the first time a player uses his helmet as a weapon he should thereafter be forced to play in a bygone-era leather helmet. There won’t be a need for any second penalties.

I love high school and college marching bands.

It annoys me when the salsa is gone before the tortilla chips are.

I love the rare times the chips and salsa come out even.

I get annoyed by all the mixed signals about flu shots – “You must get it; no, you shouldn’t; this year’s vaccine will be a good match for circulating viruses; no, it never is.”

In the end – but in the arm – I always get the shot and I love it when, because of it or not, I don’t get the flu.

I get annoyed when I see someone toss litter out a car window.

I love seeing Good Samaritans picking up selfish people’s litter.

I am annoyed that Clayton Kershaw, who has 9 wins against 10 losses in postseason career play, was rewarded with an extra year worth $28 million on top of the $65 million the Dodgers already owed him for 2019 and 2020. As Lee Trevino used to say, “You drive for show and putt for dough.” The regular season is for show, postseason is for dough.

I love that his organization “Kershaw’s Challenge: Strikeout to Serve” donates millions of dollars to help others.

It annoys me when people complain seriously about minor annoyances.

I love this wisdom from Dick Dodd, a 90-year-old Venturan and longtime volunteer: “You gotta go to bed liking yourself, and the only way to do that is by helping somebody else.”

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

Early Christmas for 2018 Ball Drive

November 18, 2018 by Woody

Is your Club or Group looking for an inspiring guest speaker or do you want to host a book signing? . . . Contact Woody today!

* * *

For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

Early Christmas for 2018 Ball Drive

In my boyhood, I fondly remember picking wild blackberries and raspberries on humid summer days spent at a weekend cabin retreat in rural Ohio. My three siblings and I literally filled pail after pail with ripe berries despite the fact that nearly as many went directly into our mouths.

Despite their ready abundance, these gathered berries – and store-bought strawberries as well – in summertime were always a delicious treat. Too, an expected one.

Some of last year’s gift balls for disadvantaged kids.

Berries in the wintertime, in the Midwest, however, are something I cannot recall from my youth. I am sure they were available at the supermarket in the 1960s for a premium, but Mom never brought them home.

So it was a magical winter indeed when my family took a Christmas vacation to Ventura in 1971. I had never before seen the ocean in person, much less bodysurfed and built sandcastles; explored tidal pools at low tide and chased a “grunion run” under a full moon’s high tide.

And here is something else new and magical: fresh strawberries in wintertime. Instead of by the bucketful as with Ohio blackberries, we enjoyed Ventura County strawberries by the overflowing “flat.”

The following summer we moved from Columbus to Ventura and plump strawberries became year-round fare. Still, in my mind, “strawberries in wintertime” has remained synonymous for an unexpected treat.

I received such a treat this summer in an email from John Knittle. More accurately, I guess, it proved to be “Christmas in June.”

Knittle is a member of the Camarillo-Somis Lions Club and they wanted to learn more about my annual holiday sports ball drive. I came to a meeting and shared how it started . . .

About 20 years ago, I was at a local youth basketball clinic when NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos presented autographed basketballs to a handful of lucky attendees.

Leaving the gym afterward, I happened upon a 10-year-old boy who won one of the prized keepsakes – which he was dribbling on the rough blacktop outdoor court, and shooting baskets with, while perhaps imagining he was Ceballos.

Meanwhile, the real Ceballos’ Sharpie signature was wearing off.

Curious why the boy had not carefully carried the trophy basketball home and put it safely on a bookshelf, I interrupted his playing to ask.

“I’ve never had my own basketball,” he answered matter-of-factly between shots.

That Christmastime, thinking of that boy – and other boys and girls who do not have their own basketball to shoot, soccer ball to kick, football to throw – Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive was born.

Shortly after my visit to the Lions, president Russ White informed me the club had decided to throw in its support. And so, even before officially kicking off this year’s annual campaign with today’s column, already 100 local disadvantaged youth are guaranteed to receive a brand new basketball thanks to the Lions’ generosity.

Once again, I am encouraging you dear readers to join in by dropping off a new sports ball – or balls – at any local Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, youth club or church and they will find a worthy young recipient.

Or drop balls off (weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 21) at Jensen Design & Survey at 1672 Donlon St. (near Target on Telephone Road in Ventura) and I will take it from there. Or have online orders shipped to the same address.

Also, please email me about your gift at woodywriter@gmail.com so I can add your generosity to this year’s tally.

Together, we can metaphorically fill a fruit flat to overflowing with sports balls and give a lot of kids “strawberries in wintertime” joy.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

T.O. Latest to Become Anytown USA

November 11, 2018 by Woody

Is your Club or Group looking for an inspiring guest speaker or do you want to host a book signing? . . . Contact Woody today!

* * *

For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:

Woody Woodburn

400 Roosevelt Court

Ventura, CA 93003

T.O. Latest to Become Anytown USA

“It won’t happen here,” used to be a common refrain when an unthinkable mass shooting occurred.

Such thoughts belong to nostalgic days. Mass shootings in America are no longer unthinkable; they are as commonplace as a sunrise.

That is barely an exaggeration, for already this year – according to the Gun Violence Archive – there have been 307 mass shootings in the U.S. Meanwhile, as I write this, we are 312 days into 2018.

Since I file my column on Thursday mornings, it is not unthinkable that the 307 total will have risen higher by the time you read this. In fact, statistically, that is highly likely.

The 307th mass shooting of 2018 happened in Zip Code 91361. Thousand Oaks. Inside the popular Borderline Bar & Grill. In other words, “it happened here.”

How could a gunman kill 12 people in a restaurant located in a city that is annually ranked one of the safest cities in the nation according to crime rate per capita?

A better question is, how could anyone expect any city to be immune from such mayhem?

Indeed, the next mass-shooting rampage – and, sadly, there will be a next one, and a next, ad nauseam – can happen Anywhere USA.

Just two weeks ago, on Oct. 27, it happened in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA, when 11 people were killed inside the Tree of Life synagogue.

It happened in Santa Fe, Texas, when 10 high school students were killed this past May 18.

It happened in Parkland, Florida, this past Valentine’s Day, when 17 were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Those 2018 shootings above are not an aberration. In recent years, it happened at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas; in a gay nightclub in Orlando; at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas; in a movie theater in Colorado; in front of a supermarket in Tucson; in an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.

Newtown, old towns, every town. The specific place changes, the number of victims varies, but the bullets constantly keep flying, keeping killing, keep injuring, keep shattering communities.

The faces of the victims change and yet they also remain the same: faces of young lives that will never fulfill their dreams; faces of Girl Scouts and teenage girls-next-door; faces of Little League boys and new fathers; faces of mothers who will never see their sons and daughters graduate from high school or college, not see them marry, not see their future grandchildren born; faces of friends and co-workers and neighbors.

And faces of heroes, like Ventura Police Sgt. Ron Helus, a 29-year veteran on the force who rushed towards danger inside the Borderline Bar & Grill, took incoming fire, took a fatal bullet, his selfless brave action saving countless lives at the cost of his own at age 54.

There can be no borderline on this issue: we MUST as a nation take action against gun violence. And assault-type rifles are not the only scourge. The Borderline madman used a single .45-caliber handgun, legally purchased, but outfitted with an extended magazine.

Following the Las Vegas Shooting, I wrote: “If this—59 dead, 527 wounded, by one civilian—is what our Founding Fathers had in mind when they wrote the Second Amendment, they were idiots. I do not believe our Founding Fathers were idiots. I believe we Americans are.”

Thirteen dead and 21 injured, on a weekday night, in a local bar and grill, in one of our nation’s safest cities, proves our idiocy continues. If you think it can’t happen where you live, think again.

It happened here.

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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.

Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com

WOODY WOODBURN

Writer, "Streaker" & Speaker

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Early Christmas for 2018 Ball Drive

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