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  Banking in the Afterlife The Legend of Linda from Leland Bank     Leland   Bank was a living Normal Rockwell painting -   small,   rural    bearing a unique charm and character that reflected the town’s close-knit community. The building was a modest structure,   made of   weathered clapboard with a simple entrance under a covered porch. The   paned windows   were large so people outside could see what was going on inside. The large cannonball safe* was strikingly visible. The interior was welcoming, although the floors creaked. The walls were lined with dated local photographs, 4 H posters, yellowed newspaper clippings, and a FarmWise calendar hung opposite a school clock.   A broad wooden counter spanned the front, where   tellers welcomed customers by name. Wooden desks were scuffed and scratched, showcasing a rich patina, while upholstery was faded and frayed. Still, the bank’s interior exuded a sense of warmth and nostalgia, reflecting years of memories and everyday l
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Ron the Yarn Spinner

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Tonight, tonight, the plans I make, tomorrow, tomorrow, the story I create.  Though the tale will not win me fame still, Ronald Tragasz is my name.  No straw-like words made golden here nor little imp that I keep near to help me  write propitious prose of words that sing for glass beads or a ring.    
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  Flowbee                                                                                                       Back in the early 1950s,   comic books were   still around. My Favorite was the Katzenjammer Kids,   although those were hard to find. In the back of the comic, I would always like to look to see what quirky items were being advertised:   X-Ray Glasses: These were   classic comic book ad staples, promising the ability to see through objects, although kids soon found they were   just cardboard with a few colored lenses. A real gip.   Invisible Ink Kits: These kits included pens and special ink that could be used to write secret messages, which would only be visible under certain light conditions.   Giant Insects and Reptiles: Ads often featured rubber or plastic models of enormous insects or dinosaurs, which were marketed as   collectibles.   Magic Tricks and Illusion Kits: These ads offered a variety of magic tricks and illusion equipment, including the cl
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  Mars Lights and Snap Decisions                                                                                                         He stands erect on the back step   gripping the sturdy, metal grab bars with both hands.: It reminds him of climbing the monkey bars as a kid. The fire truck, an   older model with a large bell and mechanical siren, races through the streets of 1930s Chicago. The fireman’s posture is tense and focused. He wants to avoid more back pain. He braces   against the motion of the truck and the wind whipping past his turn-out coat. The truck’s engine roars, and the sound of the siren blares, piercing through the urban din. But Engine 89’s headlights blend into the early morning traffic. They are sealed beams, but so are the lights on the fireman’s personal sedan.   There’s nothing visually distinct to announce the fire truck’s arrival in this matter of urgency. The fireman's face, partly obscured by the helmet, is set in a determined expression. Wit
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  Train of Life                                                                                                  In the late stages of World War II, as the battle fronts were constantly shifting, the army   faced a dire situation with a high number of casualties and limited resources. Using a European   railway system became a crucial element in the evacuation and treatment of wounded soldiers. One particularly dramatic episode occurred in Europe during the winter of 1942. Army personnel   were operating a special hospital train that became known as the "Train of Life." This train was tasked with treating and transporting wounded soldiers from the front lines. The winter was harsh, and snow covered tracks hampered progress. Staff aboard the "Train of Life" worked tirelessly to stabilize the wounded and treat severely injured soldiers in sometimes slow-moving   jostling railroad carriages. Then matters became worse. During one particularly critical evacuation
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  Goodbye Mister Potato Head                                                            Twentieth century toys were analogue, using mechanical or simple physical methods to operate.   Toys like wind-up dolls, tops, Lincoln Logs , wooden trains, and simple board games, all functioned without the sophisticated digital display common today. None were more classic than Mister Potato Head. The original version of the toy consisted of various plastic facial features and accessories that kids   could attach to an actual potato allowing them to create their own whimsical characters. It was a very simple toy. Too simple perhaps. In 2020, toy maker Hasbro, Inc., located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island,   “ Made a significant change to the brand's name for a more inclusive and modern approach. The company introduced a new line called "Potato Head" as part of a broader effort to move away from gender-specific branding and to be more inclusive. The rebranding allowed for greater f
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  Bottles and his brother Al                                                                                      Al rushed his wife Mae to St. Bernard hospital; he suspected food poisoning because of the   milk she poured into her   breakfast cereal. It was spoiled; she didn’t know.   He   was angry and Al was the one guy in Chicago you didn’t want mad at you. But he realized it was nobody’s fault. Milk at the time was not marked with an expiration date and there were no controls on milk production or distribution. When milk expires, bacteria begin to multiply making consumption unsafe, but it is not readily apparent. Souring, curdling or color change come later. Al decided he was going to do something about the situation and he and his brother Ralph championed the “cause”   ultimately becoming responsible for the expiration date on the half gallon of Skim, 2%, Whole, Chocolate, Filtered or White milk in your ‘fridge” today and more.   Al was Alphonse Capone, and the expired
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