That's right. When I was seven years old. With all the nuclear stuff happening in Japan I've been thinking about Harry a lot. I used to tell my 7th grade students about him when I was teaching ESL in Bangkok. I didn't have any attention problems in class while telling the story. Just a lot of questions. Especially my Japanese students. I would give the class a little WWII history lesson. I ended it looking at one of them and letting it be known that I had actually met and shook hands with the man who had dropped two atomic bombs on their country. I could see their eyes get wide and their jaws kind of drop a little. They were not bored.
Knowing Harry is personal with me. I'm proud of that. I've been wanting to tell this story again. Now I think is a good time.
From the age of 4 I grew up in Independence, Missouri. That's the same town that Harry grew up in. Harry moved there when he was 6.
At age 7 my grade school class walked to his library. It wasn't far. About 4 blocks I think. I remember going under Highway 24 through a pedestrian tunnel. I thought that was cool. In the auditorium there were lots of other students. Harry came out and gave us a short talk. Afterward, he stood in front of the stage as each of us walked by. He shook each of our hands and said a few words to us. I really don't remember what he said. I sure remember the handshake and his face. I always thought my dad looked like Harry. I still do to this day.
When I was in junior high school I saw Harry take his famous walks. At least I think I did. It was not a big deal. It never caused a disruption in our class. Just an old man with a cane taking his morning walk. My school was one block from where Beth and him lived. Unless you were in the know you really couldn't tell a former president lived there. Just like all the other old houses on the block. Just a typical middle class neighborhood. Harry liked it that way.
I want to Harry S. Truman High School - "Home of the Patriots". It's a public school. Harry went to Independence High School (now called William Chrisman High School). It's a public school too. My older brother graduated from there. I missed going to Chrisman by one year. They split the school because of expanding enrollment. I'm glad I went to Truman High. I like the name.
When I was 11 my father died. His body was put in a room at Carson's Funeral Home in Independence. When I was 21 Harry died. His body was not flown to D.C. for viewing in the Capital Rotunda. Harry didn't want it that way. His body was put in the same room where my father's body was put for viewing. I've always reflected on that over the years. I wasn't there when Harry was in the room but I remember the room well.
Harry never thought of himself as a big deal. But he was and still is a big deal to the people of Independence. He's still a big deal to me!
Harry "gave em hell" while he was president. I miss that now. Harry was not afraid to pop off with a few choice 4-letter words for his opposition from time to time. I think that would be refreshing today. Don't think we'll get that from our current silver-tongued resident, however.
I miss Harry. Wish he was still around. If we ever get the capability to clone a person from their DNA he'll be first on my list to bring back.
When I get discouraged with what is happening in our country I look at my right hand and think of Harry. Looking at it gives me the energy to "give em hell" a little longer. I thank Harry for that. He's my right-hand man!