Friday, February 13, 2015

Moormanism #30, 10-12-72, From McLeansboro Times Leader; McLeansboro,Illinois #Moormanisms

He used one of his causes again and also showed concern whether what he was doing was being accepted. This, I felt, was unusual because Hank, at face value, didn’t care how people looked at him.

MOORMANISM #30, 10-12-72
A man told me he couldn’t remember anything he read or heard anymore. He should count his blessings.
..........
There’s one thing for sure that I don’t know, and that’s how much I don’t know.

..........
When I was going to college we had a Queen for everything and a King for nothing.

..........
When I cuss someone I know they ain’t much worse than I.

..........
I have been cleaning moss out of a pond by hand, and an old bass surfaced yesterday and 
said, “Did you lose your home and move in?” 
..........
Let’s clean up McLeansboro Lake. Let’s rake the moss out with motor boats and a make-shift rake, if necessary. Let’s do something about it besides talk. McLeansboro Lake is an example of our thinking, “moss and weeds”. 
...........
There’s this woman I know, I’m going to do her a favor. I’m going to write a plastic surgeon in St. Louis to see if he can make her a nose a foot long. Then she can get into everybody’s business.
..........
The deepest hurt I have is that life is swiftly passing me by and I would like before I go to 
leave some good.
..........
This “bull-only” that I write..... Why not write the editor and tell him what you think. Do 
you or do you not want it discontinued.
..........
The rats had a big time in my house at night. I think they play football. Twice I have 
broken up the game by shooting through the ceiling. I’ll say one thing for them, they sure score a lot of touchdowns. 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

MOORMANISM #33, 11-23-72, From McLeansboro TimesLeader;McLeansboro,Illinois #Moormanisms

 Sometime ago I was alongside the Skillet Fork River. That river is incomplete. It needs a knife and spoon.
..........
We shouldn’t destroy any more woods in Southern Illinois. What’s it going to be like in 
the 90’s? What’s it like now? In most cases, money is of less importance than the trees. I feel people of our age need to leave some good behind and destroying trees is contrary to the need. Of course, forest management is something else. Why destroy whole wood lots?
..........
Once, Dad and I had an argument. He stated animals couldn’t think and I said they could. 
He stated animals act by instinct and I said my observations told me different. Dad said, “Come and talk to me again in five years when you have learned to think.” At least he gave me credit for being a human, if a slow one.
..........
In life there are things one must or should know. In life there are things nice to know. In life there are things not worth knowing. What do you need to know?
..........
I went into a bank in another city and wanted a loan to pay for my pond. The banker said, 
“If I were you I wouldn’t have any more ponds dug.” I replied, “I wanted those ponds, and if I were you I’d just take care of this bank.”
..........
Not long ago a pretty kid came up the street wearing shorts shorter than shorts. I said to 
the fellow sitting with me, “What pretty legs!” I meant for her to hear. A few days later I saw her wearing a dress like Tecumsah’s wigwam.
..........
At the market I purchased a peach pie. I cooked the pie and it was good except they 
forgot to put the peaches in it. Note I said peaches, not peach. 
..........
I have some turkeys. They gripe, moan, and groan even more than people. 
..........
Actually you shouldn’t talk about anyone because you might say a thing against a hidden friend. This hidden friend might do something for you someday. When you die he might come to your funeral.
..........
A few days ago I put some cornbread in my oven at 9 a.m. When I checked on it at 12 
noon the next day, it was done.
..........
I was digging into an old well when this thought came to me. Mistakes as well as guilt are made to be buried and forgotten and never brought to mind. If anyone reminds you more than once of a mistake you made, forget him.



MOORMANISM #32, 11-9-72, From McLeansboro Times Leader; McLeansboro,Illinois #Moormanisms

On my dad’s side the Moormans in name are all gone except me. And with me, that’s the same as all gone.
..........
I was asked if I caught any water for my ponds. I thought the ponds were doing well 
enough without me, therefore I didn’t help.
..........
We must be living in precarious times. Several have told me lately to “Be careful”. 
..........
A man told a woman he would get the door for her. That one stops me. 
..........
I made some home brew and a man told me to feed it to my rats. I do not want to be in a house with drunken rats.
..........
A bartender told a customer, “We only have two deadheads in here,” and the place was 
crowded. Actually, he didn’t even know me. 
..........
The real cause of such things as murder or other hideous acts may never be known by anyone. How many times have we stated that this caused this and think we are correct.
..........
Gray foxes are older than red foxes because they are gray foxes.

.......... 
The one about murder is classic Hank. He is taking a stab at those experts who think they know all the whys and wherefores. I think that if he were living today, he would be shaking his head. Every time you turn the TV on there is someone analyzing every act of violence or every political strategy. There are so many different slants on every issue, and each expert thinks he or she is right.
I also wonder what he would think about all the so-called scientific studies about exercise and everything we eat. It seems that every food that has been proven beneficial is also found to be bad for us. Hank would probably say that life is terminal and why worry and spend money for all these fancy studies. Things happen; living and dying go on. 

Moormanism #29, 9-28-72, From The McLeansboro Times Leader,McLeansboro, Illinois #Moormanisms

Hank was good at seeing through people, at getting to the point, and to seeing what was important. Some of his writings are about people in need and how hard it is to cure an obsession or addiction.

MOORMANISM #29, 9-28-72
When a father drinks and/or gambles, his kids pay in more ways than one usually. 
..........
A man told me he had sense he had never used. He needs to use it. 
..........
A human in adversity needs more than a donation. 
..........
When one has an obsession, to change it in most cases would be like trying to put a drain in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
..........
I went to the Eagles and won a frying pan. A gal said, “Now you can cook up a storm.” I 
wondered where that last one came from.
..........
There are two songs in particular that make me see red. One is “Everybody’s Got One”. I should hope so. The other is that the “Candy Man Makes the World Taste Good”. It makes me sick at my stomach.