Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
| Cooperstown December 1, 2006 |
Soon after joining Southern Bell in 1964, my boss called me in to
announce that I had been selected for a three month training
program run by the Bell System at a deluxe resort hotel in
Cooperstown, N.Y.
The hotel was leased by Bell during the off season and it became
an advanced data communications training facility with rooms
announce that I had been selected for a three month training
program run by the Bell System at a deluxe resort hotel in
Cooperstown, N.Y.
The hotel was leased by Bell during the off season and it became
an advanced data communications training facility with rooms
overlooking scenic Lake Otesaga, meals in the gourmet dining room, and a color television in the
lobby. Don’t laugh; Saturday Night at the Movies on the only color TV in the hotel had the lobby
jammed on Saturday evenings unless you hauled off to nearby Oneonta for a meal at a different
place for a change.
Our training routine was pretty demanding in terms of homework but there was still time to see
the town and the beautiful surrounding Adirondack Mountains. Cooperstown was a small burg
with maybe two traffic lights. When one of the guys called the local theater one evening to find out
when the movie began, he was asked, “When can you be here?” For all that, it still boasted
several museums, not the least of which is the nationally known Baseball Hall of Fame. Of
course, Cooperstown is supposed to have been the place where baseball was invented.
After being there only a couple of weeks in December, it snowed and the ground was covered until
I left Cooperstown three months later. I awoke one morning to look out over the lake and
overnight, small fishing shacks had sprung up on the ice. That was a new one for me.
It was drawn and quartered by the Department of Justice in 1984, but until then the Bell System
was the world’s largest corporation and wielded power beyond just telephones. On our bus trip
back to catch planes at Kennedy airport, we were running late and Ma Bell arranged somehow for
a police escort through the City, sirens, flashing lights and all. But as we looked out the windows
we were being passed by taxi cabs on both sides. So much for fear of the police in New York in
1964.
When I got back to Louisville I was greeted by a notice from the draft board. The Vietnam war was
really heating up and I was classified 1A. That was before the lottery system was invented and
meant that I was at the front of the line for being drafted into the Army.
lobby. Don’t laugh; Saturday Night at the Movies on the only color TV in the hotel had the lobby
jammed on Saturday evenings unless you hauled off to nearby Oneonta for a meal at a different
place for a change.
Our training routine was pretty demanding in terms of homework but there was still time to see
the town and the beautiful surrounding Adirondack Mountains. Cooperstown was a small burg
with maybe two traffic lights. When one of the guys called the local theater one evening to find out
when the movie began, he was asked, “When can you be here?” For all that, it still boasted
several museums, not the least of which is the nationally known Baseball Hall of Fame. Of
course, Cooperstown is supposed to have been the place where baseball was invented.
After being there only a couple of weeks in December, it snowed and the ground was covered until
I left Cooperstown three months later. I awoke one morning to look out over the lake and
overnight, small fishing shacks had sprung up on the ice. That was a new one for me.
It was drawn and quartered by the Department of Justice in 1984, but until then the Bell System
was the world’s largest corporation and wielded power beyond just telephones. On our bus trip
back to catch planes at Kennedy airport, we were running late and Ma Bell arranged somehow for
a police escort through the City, sirens, flashing lights and all. But as we looked out the windows
we were being passed by taxi cabs on both sides. So much for fear of the police in New York in
1964.
When I got back to Louisville I was greeted by a notice from the draft board. The Vietnam war was
really heating up and I was classified 1A. That was before the lottery system was invented and
meant that I was at the front of the line for being drafted into the Army.
___________________________________________________
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV) |
| Copyright © 2005 leoshoemaker.com |
leoshoemaker.com
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Albums, commentary, inspiration and information
| How I found a new life by Leo Shoemaker |
