SUNDAY IN THE PARK
November 21, 2010
Thanks for stopping by for our Sunday morning visit here in the park. Isn't it interesting how in a matter of just a few days the temperature has risen by twenty degrees? Nevertheless, the squirrels know it's only temporary, so they continue their mission of finding and storing their long-winter food supply.
THE LOOK OF BREASTS. For most of my life, a significant portion of young women wanted their breasts to appear to be in a size proportionate to their other measurements. God made some of their breasts to conform, others had to wear padded bras to achieve that look, nevertheless they were cautious about who knew their secret.
Along came what we now call breast augmentation surgery. The padding no longer has to be secured in a bra; it can now be put behind the breast's skin and tissue. More often than not they don't look God-made. And many of those who have them aren't interested in keeping it as their secret.
Victoria's Secret invented a bra that others have copied, that makes ordinary, un-augmented breasts appear to be augmented, regardless of their real shape and size. Isn't it odd how perception changes?
In this case, what was REALLY Victoria's Secret in the past, is a bragging point today.
BILL CHERRY'S GALVESTON MEMORIES. About this time of year in 2000, a collection of some of about
600 of my prior newspaper columns were published in a book titled Bill Cherry's Galveston Memories. Many thousands were sold for $19.95. Out of print now, used copies sell on amazon.com for more than $80.00 a piece while new ones bring more $350.00. I think that's amazing.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. For purposes of reminding you of your high school civics lessons, criminal offenses are not between the victim and the perpetrator, but between the perpetrator and the governmental entity whose laws the perpetrator broke.
In state offenses, the elected district attorney files charges against the perpetrator then asks a selected committee of citizens - a grand jury - if it feels there is enough evidence for the case to be tried. The grand jury either indicts the perpetrator or it doesn't.
But in essence, no one but the voters has any control over the district attorney and that's only at election time. Meanwhile, the DA gets to decide whether or not to attempt to try a case. So oft times whether a criminal is prosecuted or not is decided by a jury of one person, the DA. And with some DAs, that is often times decided by whether or not he thinks he's a good enough attorney to fend off the defense attorney. The latter is a selfish and unconscionable tact, and a violation of the office,
For several months and from the sidelines, I have been watching how Dallas Country District Attorney, Craig Watkins, is handling what may be a case of murder. Five months have passed and the case has not been brought before the grand jury. I'm beginning to wonder if it will be settled by a jury of one - Mr. Watkins - or will it be brought before the grand jury as our civics lessons taught us that it should be?
REALTORS GIVING UP. I had three interesting conversations last week. Two were with Realtors who have served their city and clients for many years. One in Dallas told me that she is barely hanging on - substituting extra church work for her unused real estate time. The other is in New Hampshire. She's decided to look for other employment.
The third conversation was with one of the officials of our local association of Realtors. We have nearly 14,000 members. The association has consciously worked to keep the membership at that level by finding new licensees to replace others who have been dropping like flies.
It seems odd to me that we financially support a business plan that encourages finding new members who will compete with ourselves; especially when so many who were loyal members are no longer able to hang on because, at least in their cases, there isn't enough viable business to go around.
THANKSGIVING. Throughout my adult life I've made it a point to regularly support organizations that feed the poor, the disadvantaged and the homeless. Thanksgiving is especially a good time to do that. One Dallas organization that could easily be the poster child for their assistance programs is the non-federally funded Austin Street Centre. It's in Dallas at 2929 Hickory Street, Dallas 75228. And Centre's phone number is 214 428-4242.
CENTURION EBBY HALLIDAY. OK, I'm jumping the gun by four months. Ebby Halliday is an icon around Dallas. She founded one of the largest privately owned real estate companies in the U.S. About 1,200 agents claim affiliation. And even though she will be 100 years old this March, she still leaves for her office each day about 7:30 AM and is often the one who turns out the lights at closing time.
She called me last week - we've been friends for more than 45 years. She was excited about how the federal and state elections had turned out, a lot of that due to her personal involvement, by the way. She was the treasurer for one Dallas County candidate, and he almost beat the incumbent. She said she was sure her man would win next time. And she said she couldn't wait to see the outcome of the 2012 presidential election.
I thought to myself, this is how you live a long life. You continue to reach for and be excited about the future. Ebby is confident that she will vote in that election, and she'll be 101 years old when she does it.
DENNIS MILLER. I've never been a fan of the TV program "Saturday Night Live." At one time one of the 
stars was comedian Dennis Miller. In recent years, he's hosted a more serious program. It's a radio program carried by one of the networks. It airs for three hours each weeknight. I am totally amazed at this man's vocabulary, the size of his "thinking cells," and his ability to cleverly express himself.
If I were teaching high school English or speech, I would do my best to get my students to listen to Dennis Miller as a learning tool. Learning by obserevation is a powerful method for education.
Thanks for sharing the park bench with me today. If I don't see you before Thanksgiving, I wish you a happy one filed with family and joy. See you next Sunday. --Bill Cherry
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - PARK CITIES
Since 1964
214 503-8563
Comments(3)