The Barefoot Mailman, among other things is a novel by Theodore Pratt. The Novel is fiction, but the men that delivered mail from Palm Beach to Miami did exist.
Here is a quick story about these mailman.
I worked for the Barefoot Mailman Gift Shops from 1970 to 1989. I read Theodore Pratt’s book, but I never did get to see the MOVIE that was based upon this Novel. Recently, I found a company that supplies copies of old movies that have fallen into Public Domain. They had The Barefoot Mailman movie so I ordered it.
This 1951 Movie turned out to be 88 minutes long. I cannot say it is a GREAT MOVIE, but it did satisfy my curiosity. It stars Robert Cummings, Jerome Courtland, and Terry Moore. Sooner or later, I’ll figure out how to upload this “Public Domain” Movie to my web site.
At the end of this post is Today’s Gospel
Luke Chapter 7 36
Perhaps I go to Mass expecting to hear a Passage that is relevent to MY current life and problems. None-the-less, I’m always surprised when a Mass reading or the Prist’s sermon is so fined tuned for me. Today we heard that the one with the most sins forgiven by God is the one that loves the most. It’s easy to forgive the little offenses. It’s harder to forgive the big offenses. In that same manner… it’s easier to ask forgivness for our own small offenses. It’s much harder to ask forgivness for the big offenses.
1 2 A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
37
Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
38
she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
39
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
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Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.
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“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages 3 and the other owed fifty.
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Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”
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Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
44
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
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You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
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You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.
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So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love. 4 But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
48
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
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The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50
But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
One of the luckiest breaks I had during my college days in Scottsbluff Nebraska was ending up with Bill Wesche as a dormitory room mate. Bill had just finished his Service in the Marines. Still wearing his boots, Bill came on campus ready and motivated for an education. It was obvious from the beginning that Bill was a decent quality man. His very first task was driving around Scottsbluff to find the right Lutheran Church where he would feel at home. His commitment to God taught me that I had some maturing to do in this area of my thinking.
I soon learned that Bill was from Ohio and grew up on his Father’s farm that was across the street from his Grandfather’s farm. Bill soon learned that I was a “City Boy” and typically knew NOTHING about farming.
I’m reminded of this shortcoming every time I visit my “City Girl” daughters on THEIR FARMS in North Florida.
On different trips to their homes, I have seen and learned many details of farm life. I have seen goats giving birth. I’ve seen goats and cows being milked. I’ve seen rabbits slaughtered and skinned. I have had some GREAT rabbit stew. I have witnessed my grandchildren taking this knowledge for granted.
During my last visit, Sussette had a friend give her some additional chickens for her Circle W Farms. To my surprise these chickens laid different color eggs. In Massachusetts I remember all the eggs were brown. Once in Florida the majority of eggs in the supermarket were white. I had NO IDEA that chicken eggs came in so many colors.
This reminds me of one of Bill Wesche’s first observations about me.: “I’ve heard about city boys like you… but I never met one before” – BW
During my grade school years I’d like to spend time in our formal living room. This was the largest room in the house and it had two great features. The far wall was one large picture window looking over the “Woods” behind the home. The second feature was my “Sisters’ Piano”.
I enjoyed playing with the piano. My music lessons were on the trombone, but the piano allowed me to experiment with chords and harmony.
In my high school years I had a little Music Theory training and most enjoyable experiences playing music in the bands. This gave me more appreciation for the complexity and beauty of music and more ideas to try on the living room piano.
The “Wire Recorder” was the forerunner to the large Reel Tape Recorders. These recorders reordered sounds on a thin silver wire. These wire reels looked like today’s monofilament fishing line. I found a wire recorder in the attic and used it to play duets with myself. I’d record one part of a song on the recorder. During the PLAYBACK I’d play the harmony or countermelody. Looking back, it was a mistake to record over my Dad’s collection of Archbishop Fulton Sheen’s radio programs. On the bright side, Archbishop’s works are available online. On the other hand, my musical recordings were lost a longtime ago.
I did not get much of a chance to PLAY music after high school, however more than four decades later I still enjoy listening to music and I enjoy listening closely to the particulars of melody, harmony and countermelodies. I enjoy the sounds of different instruments, and I can get “lost” within the details of a musical selection.
Looking back over the years, I can see that MUSIC has been my “Escape” of choice for my whole life. For this reason I enjoy visiting the site:
http://www.musopen.com/
This site is FREE. They have a selection of classical music and music scores for download. The capacity to hear and “See” music is fun and brings back happy memories. I also recommend this site for students, of all ages, to help them gain an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of music.
My fondest memories growing up were those of cruising along the New England Coast. Especially being on the ocean at night, is like being in a different world.
Having the boat for the summer months, required my dad and me to work all the weekends through the Spring… getting the boat ready for the summer. The by-product of all this work was the opportunity to spend time with my dad and learning how to use tools, how to paint, and how to do many tasks that would serve me well through life.
Maybe the best lesson during these weekends of work was learning how to organize a big job into small individual manageable tasks. This lesson served me well while working through college. This lesson helped me in my first job that I kept for 18 years. This lesson made it possible for me to start and succeed in my own business.
Of course, working along side my dad was something I always looked forward to. We had many conversations about all kinds of subjects. This time helped me appreciate what a good, caring, decent, and intelligent man that I had for a dad.
I was very fortunate to be brought up Catholic and to have the opportunity and privilege to attend the Sacred Hearts Church and School. In today’s climate there seems to be controversy in my Church about many issues. Most of this “Controversy” comes from those that “Feel” it is consistent to be “Catholic” and still be able to “Choose” which Doctrines they will believe and follow and which they will not.
These people are wrong. The Catholic Church, by definition is the “UNIVERSAL CHURCH”. Under His Holy Father in Rome, the Church’s teachings are “Universal”. It is not a “Pick and chose” proposition.
Each and every day the Sisters of Saint Joseph had a more profound affect on my life than all the years I have been listening to priests at Mass. The sisters by their example and dedication taught right from wrong as well as the existence of GOD and of Good and Evil. Many consider the Parish Priest to be the leader of the parish. This may be true, but the Sisters are the ones that had the most profound influence on out lives. For me, it would be interesting to know how by Sacred Hearts Grade School classmates remember their time in school.
As my years pass, I am increasingly impressed with the knowledge, wisdom, and Christian values taught by these dedicated Nuns.
This home in Bradford, Massachusetts is where I lived my first 20 years. I considered myself to be fortunate. Being adopted into my family at the age of six weeks would result in not knowing my exact heritage. On the other hand, not knowing my heritage makes it easier for me to be comfortable with many different ethnic groups. Being in South Florida now, I frequently come in contact with people from all around the world. I never know if I am talking with a distant relative.
Also, being adopted and having two adopted sisters has very personally demonstrated to me that adoption is a very workable plan and solution. My adopted parents were my parents in every way.
Politically I am what they call “Pro-life”. I truly cannot understand how the taking of INNOCENT human life can be called a solution in any way, shape or form. This debate over the loss of 4000 lives per day could be much easier to understand if the so called “Pro-life” people could articulate their ANTI-ABORTION beliefs ….. and if the so call “Pro-Choice” people would be honest enough to call themselves PRO-ABORTIONISTS.
Apparently, I was quite sheltered from the “evils” of life. I grew up in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts being conservative in almost all respects, yet I never realized I was a minority.
