Thoughts On Mothers And Mother’s Day

by Kevin Burton    “Your mother!” is the ultimate street putdown because your mother is your ultimate friend.     When it doesn’t work out that way for a person, that lack is felt and carried, maybe unexpressed or unacknowledged, but carried nonetheless.     If you have somehow overlooked it, today is Mother’s Day. It may …

Let’s Hear It For Geezer Beepball

By Kevin Burton    In a recent post about attempting to move forward in a Covidized world, I mentioned a project (“The Covid Question Still Looms Over All,” March 24).    I mentioned that some friends asked my wife and me to participate in a major collaborative effort, without giving details.    As of Tuesday …

Letters From Hamburg: Sophomore Studies

by Kevin Burton    Well here it is, go day for me, a musical milestone of sorts, at least I hope.     This is the day I get into a local studio for an assessment of sixteen of my original songs. Publishing this post is one of the final things I will do before heading …

Cinco De Mayo Started In My “Hometown”

By Kevin Burton    Do you know the story behind Cinco de Mayo?    No, it isn’t the Mexican national Independence Day.  That would be Sept. 16.     Cinco is the celebration of a famous battle an undermanned Mexican army won over invading French troops at Puebla, Mexico. Puebla is the city I lived in …

Young’s “Ohio” Is Ultimate Protest Song

by Kevin Burton    At Kent State University they say May 4 the way all Americans say Sept. 11, the date being the only reminder needed of an unspeakable tragedy    May 4 was the day in 1970 when Ohio National Guardsmen shot 13 Kent State students during a protest of the American invasion of …

A School For The Spiritually Blind

By Kevin Burton    If you are a regular Page 7 reader, you have heard me talk about my days at the Ohio State School for the Blind.    I didn’t want to be there at first, but grew to where I didn’t much want to be anywhere else.    Well I now think it …

What Is Your Definition of Family?

by Kevin Burton    At a church I attended in Columbus years ago, the pastor mistakenly referred to my “wife and kids” one day.   Back then I had neither wife nor kids, but his mistake was understandable. I am mentioning this anecdote today as I try to define the term “family.”    A good …

Bengals Needed Lineman, Not Receiver

by Kevin Burton    Once again the Cincinnati Bengals failed in Cleveland.    This time it was not on the field but in the NFL draft.  The team failed to address its biggest need, offensive line, by passing on tackle Penei Sewell from Oregon to take Ja’Marr Chase a wide receiver from LSU.     I’m …

This Tardy Gift Leads To Culinary Capers

by Kevin Burton    Good things come to those who wait, so they say. Well, I have waited.    This was supposed to be a gift for my wife’s birthday. Then I learned that it wouldn’t be shipped by then and not even by our anniversary two months later.    Well here it is, finally, better …

Could The Beatles Have Rocked The 70s?

by Kevin Burton    On my Amazon Echo device, Alexa Myers has made me a post-Beatles play list.  She calls it Beatles playlist because I couldn’t make her understand the name I wanted for it.  No matter.    The list has my favorite tunes from the Fab four after their 1970 breakup.    My first …