Tom Chavez

Tṛṇāvarta, the Whirlwind Demon

    King Kaṁsa had a demoniac friend with mystic powers, named Tṛṇāvarta, who could change his shape into that of a whirlwind. Kaṁsa called Tṛṇāvarta to go to Vṛndāvana to kill young infants.

    One day as Mother Yaśodā was holding baby Kṛṣṇa on her lap, he felt too heavy. Being unable to carry him, she unwillingly placed him on the courtyard ground and went about her household affairs. 

    At that time Tṛṇāvarta appeared in Vṛndāvana. Raising a great dust storm, he lifted the child up out of the courtyard. The dust and wind became so dense that no one could see himself or anyone else. 

    During the storm, Mother Yaśodā could not find her baby, who had been taken away by the whirlwind, and she began to cry very piteously, falling upon the ground like a cow who has just lost her calf. 

    All the cowherd women immediately came and began to look for the baby, but they were disappointed to not find Him.

Bill Engelhardt

To my fellow Marines, here's to the 245th..Semper Fi!

Steve Frederickson

Drew Allen

Jim Dickinson

Bill Le Penske

John Durham

Gregg Wilson

Larry Mulneaux

Terry Kirkpatrick

Brian Bearg

Ann Lally (Keane)

Thank everyone who gifted us with their military service. I flew three years military charter for Northwest Airlines for the Army out of McCord Airforce base to Ukota Japan; where they would switch to an aisan crew to DeNang.Vier Nam. I brought cream of crop over and the war torn home. They would leave my plane and kiss the tarmak .After 13 hour flights every 5 days I experienced a very emotional time comforting my fellow patriots.I listened alot. God bless all of you., rhank you, Love Annie

Patrick Calkins

Today is Veterans Day 2020 (US Army 1965-1967) and my 75th birthday. To all the Highline Class of 1964 veterans and vets of every class, take extra care and be well for another year and thank you for your service

Gregg Wilson

Hi Ann,

Ladies like yourself who actually served are literally unknown.

Thank you for your service.

Tim Jones (Jones)

Thanks to all the veterans who served their (our) country. 

My dad was a Marine. Marine Air based at Sand Point on Lake Washington. Dad was the mellowest guy. Hard to believe he was in Marine Boot Camp!  

I joined the Air Force Reserves in 1965. The 941st MAC out of McChord. Flying C-124 transport aircraft. My day job was working for Boeing, 727 assembly line.

My supervisor came up to me on January 26, 1968 and said: "Tim, you have a phone call in the office". A phone call for me? I had never even been IN the supervisor's office.  The call was from my dad, informing me that my Air Force Reserve Unit had been activated.  I had to report to McChord the next morning at 0800, in uniform. Whoa!  Well, that event changed my life in many ways.. 

Ann, you certainly have had an interesting life. Thank you for your special service to your country and service members. 

My oldest son, Graeme is a Coast Guard Reservist. Been in about 15 years now; a Senior Chief. Currently serving as advisor to Sector 13 Commanders. Thank You Graeme.

Well, the younger generations have little or NO knowledge of the Vietnam conflict. WWII, nothing.

I think out educational system needs some improvement...Just a thought....

These are challenging times...

Thanks again to all those who served and especally to those who gave their ALL!  

Tom Chavez

Dick Surman

My thanks and appreciation to all Vets out there.  Me:  30 yrs Svc '64-'98 with 4 yr break to attend UW.  "Aim High" to you all.

Dick Surman

Virginia Wolfe (Scheffer)

Keep these great salutes to our veteran's coming.....every day.  Thanks to all!

Bob Beveridge

Sorry for the delayed response; was travelling:

Grandpa Oz:  WW1-Observation Baloon Pilot; France; became National Commander of the DAV

Uncle Doc:  WW2-Submarine Service; was in Manila when the shooting started.

Uncle Gene:  WW2: Supercharger Specialist; US Naval Aviation

Dad:  WW2-gunner on a Torpedo Bomber

Me:  Cold War-Reactor Operator on a Nuclear Submarine

Brother: Vietnam War- Load Master, USAF Reserve @ McChord Field

Tom Chavez

Tṛṇāvarta Interupted permanently

(May be ‘inappropriate', reader discretion advised)

    Tṛṇāvarta went high into the sky with baby Kṛṣṇa, who suddenly became very heavy and caught hold of the demon’s neck. He felt as heavy as a mountain to Tṛṇāvarta, who tried to escape, but could not. Screaming fiercely, he plummeted to the ground of Vṛndāvana and died. His body became visible to all the inhabitants.

    When the cowherd men and women saw the demon killed and the baby playing on his body, they immediately picked Kṛṣṇa up with great affection, very happy to get back their beloved child. They talked about how wonderful it was that the demon had stolen Kṛṣṇa but had fallen down dead. 

    They said, “Those who are sinful suffer their karma, but Kṛṣṇa is pious; therefore he is safe from calamity. And we too must have performed sacrifices in our previous lives, worshipped the Lord, given charity and acted for the welfare of society. Because of such piety, the child is safe from all danger.”

Betty Weiks (Rickard)

Tom,

If you think it may be inappropriate, why post it?? You have heard from many that these posts aren't appreciated. Please stop sharing them.

Bruce Mennella

Right on and thank you Betty!

Tom Chavez

Betty, I used the word ‘inappropriate’ sarcastically, which I regret. I live to be corrected and I accept your rebuke in that sense. I don’t mean to disturb or discomfort Bruce and others. As Diane puts it, I am exercising my freedom to share what I find to be meaningful with those who can appreciate it. 

Our classmate, Steve Frederickson, used an expression which comes back after all these years: “There is no accounting for taste, said the old lady as she kissed the cow.”

One man’s food is another man’s poison.

Or, as William Blake put it:

Both read the Bible day and night

One reads black and the other white.

I respect all our qualified and worthy classmates. Tolerating discomfort or pain is austerity, and austerity is required to achieve excellence in any field. No pain, no gain. The austerity of tolerating my posts, however unworthy they may be, will only make you even more qualified and worthy.

Take the positive, negate the negative, and be happy and blessed.

Bill Engelhardt

Without comment. 

Jimmy Carter getting a tour of his new office. 

Linda Pompeo (Worden)

I have had the wretched experience of being hacked.  Trying to get back to normal.  The hacker sent emails to all of my contacts requesting $400 worth of itunes cards sent to his address because 'I was too sick to do so myself'.  Now in the process of upgrading all of my security systems in hopes of never having this happen again.

To all that were contacted....my apologies.  

Diane Paulson

https://legacy.suntimes.com/obituaries/chicagosuntimes/obituary.aspx?n=judith-engel&pid=194147178

Judy was in Bluebirds, last on the right on the picture a few days back. Her Mom Leah told us about her relatives who were in Nazi concentration camps. Their son was my brother David;s age and Judy was my age. She would have these imaginative setups like a stage and she'd be acting out all the parts. I'd go over to play but often didn't know what my lines were. She went to Gregory Heights elementary until they moved. 

I can relate to Tom's post about the child Krishna, for a lot of reasons. There is also this ,from Matthew 25  'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me

and I think much of what is posted here is not specific to Highline 1964, and what Tom posts and Gregg also, I don't read most of it, but I don't mind it being here

Gregg Wilson

I have found that three ingredients help oppose the wuhan virus:

10,000 IU of Vitamin D3

10 mg of melatonin

5 mg of chelated zinc

Shuting down the country has done far more harm than the virus. I have doubts about wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart. Maybe washing hands is helpful. It is a flu virus, and we get a flu virus every Autumn. Getting a vacine is productive. There has been way too much hysteria. 

Tom Chavez

The Name Giving Ceremony

   One day sage Garga visited Nanda Mahārāja in Vṛndāvana. Garga could calculate solar and lunar eclipses and clearly see past and future by astrological science. 

    Vasudeva had sent Garga to perform a name-giving ceremony for Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. Vasudeva warned that if King Kaṁsa found out, it would be dangerous. Garga told all this to Nanda, and they decided to do the ceremony secretly in the cowshed.

    Garga told Nanda that the son of Rohiṇī would greatly please his family and would be called Rāma. Due to his extraordinarily strength he would also be called Baladeva. 

    He then said, “As for your son, some will call him Kṛṣṇa, and others will call him Vāsudeva.” This was a hint to Nanda that Kṛṣṇa was actually Vasudeva’s son (born in prison and exchanged.)

    Garga continued, “My dear Nanda, in previous births this child protected righteous people from oppressors. He will cause all good fortune. Whoever becomes his devotee will never be troubled by enemies. Kṛṣṇa will increase in power, intelligence, and opulence to a superhuman level. Protect him carefully so that he may grow without disturbance.” 

    In various ways Garga Muni described the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa, and then departed. Nanda Mahārāja felt himself most satisfied, fortunate and blessed.

Tom Chavez

    Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa began to crawl on their hands and knees. The bells tied to their waist and ankles tinkled as they moved. The children were very active and Their mothers, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī, were anxious to protect them from cows, bulls, monkeys, water, and fire. 

    The children were anointed with saffron and sandalwood, and while playing in the courtyard they also became smeared with clay. When they crawled back to their mothers, Yaśodā and Rohiṇī would place them on their laps, cover them with the lower portion of their saris, and suckle them. 

    Sometimes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma would crawl to the cowshed, catch the tail of a calf and stand up. The disturbed calves would begin running, and the children would be dragged over clay and cow dung. Yaśodā and Rohiṇī called the neighboring ladies and they would all enjoy the fun, laughing loudly. 

Bill Engelhardt

Happy Thanksgiving!

Betty Weiks (Rickard)

Happy Thanksgiving, Pirates! Arg!

Tom Chavez

Amongst the many conscious entities living on this planet, on innumerable other planets and in other realms, there is One who is supplying the needs and desires of the many. Let us offer our homage and gratitude to that absolute truth and supreme cause of all causes who is One without a second, inexhaustible, the oldest, the wisest and eternally a person.

Tom Chavez

The Butter Thief

       In a very short time, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma began to stand up and move about on their legs. The village of Vṛndāvana was full of cowherds, producing an abundant variety of milk products including yoghurt, cream, butter, clarified butter (ghee) and makhan. 

       Makhan is a kind of butter churned from special yoghurt made with fresh creamy milk. The cowherd ladies made first-class makhan, which they stored it in large clay pots.

       Kṛṣṇa was very fond of makhan, which he ate whenever and wherever he could find it. He became known as Makhanchor, meaning Butter Thief. It was a challenge for the ladies to hide their makhan from Kṛṣṇa.

Ted Comstock (Briggs-Comstock)

Here in England, we have gone into lockdown a couple of times, which slows the spread of C-19 a bit. Yes, it works, and yes, it's a pain in the ass (or arse, in my new language). It got to me, so I did what musicians tend to do -- I wrote a song about it.

If you need an (ironic) laugh, it's at 

https://youtu.be/FA4XxWiLFjQ

Enjoy!