Memories of Grandma Mary and Grandpa John Maybin

Mary and John Maybin were the grandparents of Cousins Krissy and Nikki.  They shared their two granddaughters with Grandma Muffet (Grandpa died right after Krissy was born) and I was her only other grandchild.  Due to this and not having a grandson, Grandma and Grandpa Maybin took me on as their own grandchild.  She also considered my parents to be her family.  Grandma Maybin would host Thanksgiving at her home for Grandpa Maybin, their children and grandchildren.  Since hosting them would have left Grandma Muffet, Mom, Dad, and I without anyone to celebrate Thanksgiving with, she would invite the four of us over for lunch.

When I was little, Grandpa Maybin would invite the family with him to the Barberton VFW and that meant inviting my parents and I.  The children would get gifts and he would say he had three grandchildren, so I would get a gift too.  Grandpa Maybin died in 1992, at the age of 70, when I was eight years old.  I went to the calling hours and it was the first time I saw a person in a casket.  In 1995, Grandma Maybin and Susie moved and we continued to celebrate Thanksgiving in their new home.  In 2004, due to scheduling conflicts with Krissy and Nikki's in-laws, the family's Thanksgiving celebration was moved from Thursday to Friday.  During the last 15 years, Grandma Maybin gradually turned over the responsibilities of making the meal to Susie.  In 2012, they hosted Thanksgiving for the final time before turning it over to Aunt Kathy in 2013. 

In addition to Thanksgiving, we all got together every Christmas and exchanged gifts.  There were also some Easters when we got together too.  Any other time there was something going on with Aunt Kathy, Uncle Tom, Krissy or Nikki, we all got together.  Since Uncle Tom's family were like family to us, I invited Grandma Maybin and Susie to my BHS graduation party in 2003 and my University of Akron graduation lunch in 2008.

During a family get-together in January, Grandma Maybin wasn't able to join us since she was in the hospital.  It was an unusual feeling not having her there, but she was back again when Nikki and Andrew hosted Easter at their house for the first time.  It ended up being the last time I saw or talk to Grandma Maybin before she died on July 3, 2014 at the age of 92.

Memories of Grandma Willa Mae and Grandpa Tom Webster

I have a lot of wonderful memories of my paternal grandma and step-grandpa, Willa Mae and Tom Webster.  I always looked forward to Grandma’s phone calls every weekend and the birthday cards I got every year.  Most of the time I spent with them growing up was when they came to visit at Rolling Acres Mall.  We would usually eat pizza for lunch in the food court and walk around the mall.  Dad, Grandpa, and I would usually stop in Kaybee’s toy store to look at the toy cars while Grandma would look at the women’s clothes.

 

The weekend before Christmas, Dad and I usually went to Marion to visit the family for the holidays.  Grandma always made a lot of good food and gave a lot of good gifts too.  The ’57 Model Chevy she bought me in 1998 was my all-time favorite.  A mini-license plate with the words “Keystone State” and the name “Mike,” reminded me of Grandpa.  I also saved a “tooth fairy” pillow Grandma made for me and a car sweater that I got for Christmas when I was five.  The times that Dad and I came to visit Marion in the summer were also great and I always enjoyed getting lunch at Bob Evans or Ryan’s.  Grandma’s family and car photos albums were also near to look at and really helped in constructing the Cox family tree. 

 

My most fond times with them was when I graduated from Barberton High School in 2003.  They came to my graduation on May 31 at E.J. Thomas Hall and to my graduation party at Barberton’s St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on June 21.  I called Grandma the week of my graduation party to ask her to make potato candy since I figured it would make a good treat.  It turned out to be a big hit and it was all gone by the end of the party.

 

Grandma died on June 7, 2005, at the age of 81.  She had been battling an eight month illness dating back to a heart-attack she suffered in October 2004.  I only saw Grandpa five times after Grandma died, but I would call him several times a year during his years as a widower.  I called him for the last time on May 29 and we had a nice talk.  Grandpa turned 90 years old on June 11, went to the hospital the next day, and died on June 17, 2014.

 

Thanks for the memories and I will never forget you two, as you get to celebrate again together in Heaven.

March 30, 1984

Some interesting things about the world, near and far, that was going on about the time I was born 30 years ago.

Celebrity birthdays include singer Celine Dion (1968), rapper M. C. Hammer (1962), actor Paul Reiser (1957), and singer Eric Clapton (1945).

News and Politics

US President: Ronald Reagan
Ohio Governor: Richard Celeste
Barberton Mayor: William Judge

Geraldine Ferraro (who passed away on March 26) became the 1st female to run for US Vice-President, as Walter Mondale's running-mate.  Mondale got crushed by the popular Reagan in the November election.

The Soviet Union and the communist bloc of Eastern Europe was still at it during the 1980s.  Germany was spilt into capatalist West Germany and communist East Germany.

The first Apple computer was introduced to the marketplace two months before my birth.

Local Happenings (Barberton and vacinity)

Highland and U.L. Light schools were in their final year as junior highs, as they would become middle schools in the fall.

Rolling Acres, which was right outside of Barberton, was the place to hang out.  It was anchored by Sears, JC Penney, O'Neil's, and Montgomery Ward.  O'Neil's flagship store operated out of downtown Akron.

Longtime downtown stores, F.W. Albrecht Grocery's Acme 9 and Marshall's Department Stores were concluding their finals years, as they were losing interest among modern consumers.  McDonalds was on Wooster Rd., next to the BHS parking lot on Hopocan Ave.  Old, but vacant, downtown building stood at the site of the current restaurant, as they were facing condemnation and razing.

Kroger supermarket, Zayre discount department store, and Revco pharmacy were tenants of the Austin Plaza.  Kroger would sell out all its NE Ohio stores that summer.

Click 54 (now Acme 14) faced Manchester Rd. at the time and were surrounded by outdoor Summit Theather and Coventry Drive-In.

Ohio Brass closed its doors after several decades in Barberton.  It now operates out of Atlanta, GA.

Sports

The Baltimore Colts packed up their equipment into a big Mayflower truck and moved out to Indianapolis early morning on March 29.  While there were rumors of the team's move, the way it was done, without any announcment, pissed off a lot of loyal fans.  The didn't get NFL football back until they got Art Modell to move the old Browns there as the Ravens in 1996.  Unlike Cleveland, they didn't get to keep their team's name, records, and heritage.

The 1984 baseball season started on April 7.  Detroit Tigers ace Jack Morris threw a no-hitter on opening day and the eventual World Series champs got off to a MLB all-time best 35-5 start.  Cincinnati Reds star Pete Rose got his 4000th career hit, becoming only the second player to do so (Ty Cobb, who's record would be broken in 1985 was the other).  The baseball world was introduced to Boston Red Sox "Rocket" Roger Clemens and "Dr. K" Dwight Gooden, a 19 year old sensation from FL, who debuted with the N.Y. Mets.

The Cleveland Browns released longtime QB Brian Sipe in February, who then signed with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL.  The United States Football League operated for three seasons in the spring, competing with the NFL for talent.

The L.A. Raiders would win Super Bowl XVII in January, becoming the last AFC team to win the game until the Denver Broncos would do so 14 years later.

Miami Dolphins second year QB Dan Marino would break all the NFL single season passing records in 1984.

BYU, behind QB Steve Young, wins the college football national championship.  They remain the only school from a non-power conference to win a championship at the D-IA level.

Patrick Ewing's Georgetown defeats Hakeem "The Dream" Olajawan's Houston to win the 1984 March Madness.  "The Dream" would be drafted 1st overall with the Houston Rockets, with UNC Michael Jordan drafted 3rd by the Chicago Bulls.  David Stern would become NBA commissioner that year.

Arts and Entertainment

Singer Marvin Gay was shot to death after an drug induced arguement with his father on April 1.

Happy Days and Three's Company would air for the final time on ABC after decling ratings.  The Cosby Show, Who's the Boss, Mr. Belvedere, Murder She Wrote, and Miami Vice debuted.

Since 80's rock is my favorite music genere, it's no surprise there were a lot of good songs out around the time of my birth.  Karma Chameleon by Culture Club was Billboard Music Top 100 song from February 4 to 24 and Jump by Van Halen from February 25 to March 30.  Footloose by Kenny Loggins took over from March 31 to April 20, followed by Against All Odds by Phil Collins (April 21 to May 11), Hello by Lionel Ritchie (May 12 to 25), Let's Hear it for the Boy by Deniece Williams (May 26 to June 8), Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper (June 9 to 22), The Reflex by Duran Duran (June 23 to July 6).  Other good number ones that came out before the end of 1984 was Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr., What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner, Let's Go Crazy by Prince and the Revolution, I Just Called to Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder, Caribbean Queen by Billy Ocean, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!, Out of Touch by Hall and Oates, and Like A Virgin by Madonna.  I can't forget to mention that Michael Jackson was the King of Pop at the time.

Top movies were Beverly Hills Cop, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Gremlins, the Karate Kid, Police Academy, Footloose, Romancing the Stone, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Splash.

Favorite TV Sitcoms

This is a blog that I saved from MySpace that I decided to update and repost:

Mom and I were talking about our favorite TV sitcoms.  These were among my favorites, beginning with shows that went off the air no earlier than 1990.  Many of the shows were in blocs that aired on ABC Friday (TGIF), NBC Thursday, and CBS Monday.  I'm sure of the nights and most of the dates, but some of the dates are approximate.  Most would probably consider these nights to be the best on TV over the last 20 years.  If anyone has any feedback, let me know.

Top 10 (Not in any particular order)

Married with Children, FOX Sunday, 1987-97

3rd Rock from the Sun, NBC, 1995-2001
Two and a Half Men, CBS Monday and Thursday, 2003-
Boy Meets World, ABC Friday, 1993-2000
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NBC Monday, 1991-96
Becker, CBS Monday, 1998-2004
Cosby Show, NBC Thursday, 1984-92
Perfect Strangers, ABC Friday and Tuesday, 1986-93
Full House, ABC Friday and Tuesday, 1987-95
Modern Family, ABC Wednesday, 2009-

Next 10 Best (Not in any particular order)

Seinfeld, NBC Thursday, 1991-98

Cheers, NBC Thursday, 1982-93
Step-by-Step, ABC Friday, 1991-97
Family Matters, ABC Friday, 1989-97
Everybody Loves Raymond, CBS Monday, 1996-2005
King of Queens, CBS Monday, 1998-2007
According to Jim, ABC Tuesday, 2001-
Home Improvement, ABC Tuesday, 1991-98
Blossom, NBC Monday, 1990-95
George Lopez, ABC Tuesday, 2002-07

Animated Sitcoms

The Simpsons, FOX Sunday, 1989-

King of the Hill, FOX Sunday, 1997-2010

2013 Year-in-Review

Cousin Nikki and Andrew, who were living in Maryland, moved back to Ohio in March, buying a home near the Portage Lakes.  Soon afterwards, Nikki announced she was expecting her first child.  I went to see her house a few times, once in May and once in August.

 

On March 15, Deacon Michael Petrochuk was ordained as a Minister of the Episcopal Church and a Friday evening service was held in his honor, with a reception afterwards.

In May, Aunt Kathy asked me if I wanted to re-stain the deck at her home, which I decided to pursue.  I had to fight a rainy two months in June and July before the weather dried out around the beginning of August.  It paid a lot better than what I make at work, plus she saved a lot by not having to hire a professional.

Dad took time off of his job at Maaco in late June to due chest and leg pains.  He ended up getting two stints put in at the Cleveland Clinic on July 26 and decided to retire following that.  This led him to sell his toolbox, some tools, and car (Mom and Dad will share a car from now on).  I will post a separate post regarding the sell of his car.

August was the best month of the year by far.  I worked three eight hour shift to start the month, which was also the first three days of Acme's meat sale.  After that, I was on vacation from August 4 to 10.  I finished working on the deck on Monday and got my final check for it, which was great since I was getting ready to leave on vacation with Scott.  Scott picked me up at my house on Tuesday morning as we headed off to New York state.  We stopped for lunch at Bob Evans in Jamestown before getting to Oneneta to check into the Clarion Hotel around 5:30 p.m.  We got dinner at Subway before relaxing at the hotel the rest of the evening.  On Wednesday, we drove to Norwalk to see the Northeast Classic Car Museum before heading to Cooperstown.  We got lunch at a small restaurant in town before heading to the National Baseball Hall-of-Fame and Museum around 1pm.  Scott brought his nice camera with him and we got over 200 great pictures.  The entire experience was awesome, so I couldn't say that I had a favorite part.  After leaving the HOF-Museum around 5pm, we stopped at some sporting goods shops in the downtown before driving back to Oneneta.  After getting back, we had dinner at a local Italian restaurant and returned to the hotel for the evening.  We drove back on Thursday, stopping for lunch at Panera along the way.

I returned to work on Sunday, but I still had the BHS 10-Year Class Reunion to look forward to on Saturday, August 17.  It was held at Loyal Oak Park from 3 to 8pm.  It cost $15, which included pizza, pasta, salad, chicken, and jo jos from Fat Boy's, which tasted pretty good.  Many class reunions cost up to $60, but by eliminating the fancy meal, pre-paid alcohol, paper invitations, and postage, we saved at lot of money.  Most of the reunion was planned on Facebook, but Stephanie (class president) placed two ads in the Barberton Herald shortly before the reunion to make sure people who weren't on Facebook were aware of the reunion.  Stephanie was also smart by having a long one day event, instead of two evening events.  After leaving the park, we spent the evening at David B's.  I had two beers and left around 1am.  About 50 graduates and 10 guests attended, most to both events. 

I had a short night because the next morning at 10am, St. Andrew's had their annual church service and picnic at Columbia Woods Park.  It was a nice time as usual.

I started the Spring 2013 semester with two classes, Visual Design Literacy and Political Methods, both three hours classes.  PM was on Monday and Wednesday and VDL was on Tuesday and Thursday, so I had to drive to Kent four days a week for only two classes.  The first class was smooth sailing to earning an A, but I never completed the second class due to technical difficulities and conflicts with my work schedule.  I ended up dropping the class in March and decided to change my major from Broadcast Journalism (School of Journalism) to Applied Communication (School of Commuication) because it was more commuter friendly.  I considered returning to the University of Akron, but they started to require a 14 hour foreign language requirement for communication majors starting the Fall 2011 semester.

I signed up for a summer school course, Criticism of Public Discourse, but it was canceled due to low enrollment.  I then signed up for Visual Design Media, but it was also canceled due to low enrollment, so I decided to take it online.  After hassling with tech issues for three days, I canceled the online cours and decided to take the summer off.

I started the Fall 2013 semester with four classes, each three credit hours, since I fell behind during the past calendar year.  The courses are Foundations of Communication, Into to Technical Writing, and Communication Theory.  All classes were held Tuesday and Thursday, but I had a 3.5 hour gap between the first two.  There is also an online class, Information Fluency in the Workplace and Beyond.  I finished the semester with As in Technical Writing and Communication Theory, a B+ in Foundations of Communications, and a C- in Info Fluency.

In January, I found out I had to get hernia surgery, which had to be performed laproscopically above the right groin area.  I scheduled the surgery on March 27, since I was on Spring Break from Kent State.  It was also good timing so I would be home for my birthday, Easter, the end of March Madness, and the beginning of baseball season.  I was off of work for three weeks as I recovered.  I was eligible for sick pay from the UFCW, plus I took a week of paid vacation from Acme.  I returned to work on April 16 and was back lifting as usual in early May.  I was looking forward to going swimming again this summer with co-workers at Dogwood, but due to Matt working another job, we never got anything together.

Acme offered a buyout to full-time employees in February, which cashier Beth took, in addition to three deli associates.  The deli also transfered three associated out, with another leaving a few months later.  Long-time assistant manager, Tony, was transfered to Norton Acme 6 at the end of March.  The manager, Bernie, retired on Sept. 6 as well as packer Newman.  Grocery stock man, Jim, retired from Acme the following day.  Other long time associates left this year, including Sherise, Dianna, and Una.  Several new associates were hired in May and a bunch more in October and November.

The holiday season was slightly different this year than in past years.  Instead of going to Grandma Maybin and Susie's house on Black Friday, we met at Aunt Kathy's house.  Also, cousin Krissy decided not to make the trip to Barberton for Thanksgiving and Christmas, instead opting to wait until Nikki's baby arrived.  I didn't get to see Dad's family this year, only getting to talk to them on the phone or on Facebook on some occasions.

2013 Fantasy Football Review

The 2013 season marked the second season that my fantasy football team, Big Mike Boyz, participated in the Damn D Fest's league, started by Matt D. in 2008.  In late July, the annual draft lottery was held at David B's in Barberton to determine the draft order of the 12 participants, which is done in a snake format (draft order reverses from round to round).  A month later, the draft was held at Greg and Mario's house, where we paid our $100 entry fee, up from $80 last season.  The extra money was used to compensate both the team with the best regular season record and the post-season champion.  There were two new owners in the league this season, Tyler (Acme co-worker) and Kyle (Matt's BHS friend).

The championship, won by Lee, was held in Week 16 since many NFL teams would be resting their starters in Week 17.  Lee had a big turn-around this season, after finishing tied for last place during the 2012 season.  Nick missed the postseason and had a losing season for the first time in the league's six season history.  Big Mike's Boyz overcame a low draft grade in 2012 to make the postseason, but that would not be the case in 2013.  Big Mike Boyz finished last place (12th) with a 2-11 record, only beating Kyle and Corey's teams, who finished in 10th and 11th place respectively, with 4-9 and 3-10 records.  My biggest undoing was drafting four players from the Atlanta Falcons, who went from being a potential Super Bowl pick in the preseason, to finishing 2013 with a 4-12 record.

This is a recap of my roster:

QB: I drafted the Falcons' Matt Ryan, who had a solid season.  My backup, Giants' QB Eli Manning, had a disappointing season, but I only started him during Ryan's bye week.

RB: I drafted Ravens' Ray Rice in the first round and he had a down year due to injuries.  Bills' Fred Jackson turned out to be my top RB for the season, with waiver wire pickup, Lions' Joique Bell, giving me a fill-in during bye-weeks.  Rams' RB Zac Stacy gave me a good stats once he got healthy, which happened to be around the time I acquired him.

WR: I drafted Falcons' Julio Jones in the second round, who ended up on the IR with an ACL tear during mid-season.  This led me to trade Rice and Rams' WR Austin Pettis to King Blake in exchange for WR Demaryius Thomas and RB Zac Stacy.  I definitely made out on the better end of this trade, although it was too little, too late for my team.  Vikings' Greg Jennings and Bucs' Mike Williams were both major disappointments, with Williams ending the season on the IR due to an hamstring injury that required surgery.  I picked up Chargers' Eddie Royal off the waiver wire and he was probably one of the most inconsistent fantasy players in the NFL this season.  Titans' Kendall Wright gave me decent stats for several weeks out of the season as a flex WR-TE.

TE: I drafted 37 year-old Tony Gonzalaz, who turned in a solid season in his 16th and last NFL season.

K: I drafted Falcons' Matt Bryant, who gave me a decent season.

D: I drafted the Broncos defense, which was expected to be one of the NFL's best this season.  Unfortunately for me, it turned out to be very average.

The Luminas and My Years of Driving‏

The 1998 Lumina that I took my driving test in, left the driveway of my family's house one last time on August 26, after 12 years in the family (all but 2-3 months of our time living there).  It was sad to see it go, but it had seen its better days and we no longer had use for it.  My mom first purchased the car in July 2001 after having it recommended to her by Dad, in addition to Grandma and Grandpa Webster.  Grandpa Webster drove a 1996 Lumina from 1998-2012.

I got my temps for the first time in March 2001, practicing with Mom's 1989 Chevy Cavalier.  I got to be a pretty good driver with that car, but since it was hard for my parents to get me out for practice, it expired prior to me being able to practice manuability and highway driving.  I renewed my temps the following June and scheduled my driver's test for August 31, the first Friday of my senior year sat Barberton High School.  I didn't have to take driver's ed since I was 18, although my mom later said she wished I had.  After my mom purchased the '98 Lumina she gave my dad the Cavalier, which she drove for the past six years.  My dad had been driving a 1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cierra, which was driven by Grandma Muffet before she had to give up driving.  Grandma told me at one time that I could drive her car whenever I wanted it since she did little driving.  After having a stroke in Sept. 2001, my parents decided to keep her car around for me since that was her plan.  However, that car was getting beat up, so the '98 Lumina became the car I drove most days.  Mom couldn't get out when dad worked and I was in school since she was caring for Grandma who was homebound.  I was glad that Grandma rode with me while I practiced driving since she could no longer get out by the time I earned by license.  Her stroke took place in the backseat of the '98 Lumina when we were returning from vacation after visiting family in Louisville, KY.

I got my parking pass for my senior year, which was done on a first-come, first serve basis, instead of class priority as was previously done at BHS.  Since I didn't like going to school early, I usually parked in the gravel S lot (sections of BHS parking were named by letters of the word "Magics"), across Barber Rd. near B&C (which closed in 2007).  I liked it better than parking behind the school anyways because I could drive right out of my spot right after school, although I usually got stuck talking to someone on the way.  The new BHS was only in its third year of existence, so driving in the parking lot was a free- for-all since it had not be regulated yet.  In those days, I still had my first cell phone, a huge Nokia phone that looked like a portable phone.  I used to leave it in the driver's side door compartment since it was too big to carry around, since I only had it for emergencies.  The most bizarre memory of the '98 Lumina was when I slid on ice and into a snow bank.  The insurance company sent someone out to tow it out of the snow bank at no cost.

In Sept. 2004, my parents loved the Lumina so much, they decided to buy another one, this time a 1999 version.  Mom was going to take the new one and give the old one to Dad.  However, I ended up totaling it after falling asleep behind the wheel on the way home from UA in late October.  Dad bought it off the insurance company and remodeled it with help from a few friends.  The project took a year and all three of us shared the Lumina, an experience I would never want to go through again, and it racked up 20,000 miles in that year.  Dad decided to keep it and gave the '98 back to Mom.  I continued to drive it to the UA until graduation in Dec. 2008.  After graduation, I began to save money for my own car and in May 2009, I bought a 2007 Chevy Impala, which is in the same family of Chevy cars as Celebrities and Luminas.

I drove the Lumina once in a long while after that and in Sept. 2012, Mom was tired of the air conditioning giving out on it and decided to buy a new 2012 Chrysler 200.  Dad sold his '99 Lumina and started using the '98 Lumina for another year as a work car until his health caused him to retire in August 2013.  In addition to the memories above, we also drove it on memorable drives to graduations, funeral, and to hang out with friends.