MICK KAHLER'S WORLD

The buzz over the 250^th birthday of the United States is winding down and it made me look back to the summer of 1976 when the Bicentennial was approaching.  Two hundred years as a country was a really big deal and everyone, of all ages was way into it.

I’ll share exactly what I did on July 4^th 1976 but first, there were other things happening during that summer.

I was 15 years old and finished my freshman year at York High School.  I was earning money doing weekly mowing of 6 lawns.  Three in my neighborhood and three on the northside of Elmhurst.  I’d load my lawnmower in the trunk of our Chevy Caprice and my mom would drop me off to cut away.  Then she’d come back ninety minutes later and I’d pack up with some freshly earned cash in my pocket.  Money for wiffle balls, movie tickets, pinball playing at the Game Room in Lombard, poker parties and I can’t forget slushes at the White Hen Pantry.

Mowing lawns was my source of income in the summer of ’76.

I was pitching for the Red team in Colt league that summer in the Elmhurst Baseball league.  It was my first time throwing from 60 feet 6 inches (just like the  pros do) and my final mound record was 3 wins & 6 losses.  Four losses came at the hands of the ultra-star filled Green team but in two of those games I HAD them beat but my fielders fell apart a bit in the last inning.  Still, I learned so much about pitching that summer and that led to three solid years pitching for the York Dukes and then American Legion ball.

Pitching for the Colt League ‘Red’ team was a big learning experience for me.

Mariott’s Great America in Gurnee opened that summer.  You could buy tickets in advance at Jewel for less than 10 bucks.  My mom woke me up one morning and said she wanted to take me up there to check it out.  This would lead to future visits to Great America in the summers after that.

Marriott’s Great America opened its first season in the Summer of ’76.

For the 4^th of July, the BIG day to celebrate America’s bicentennial, I hosted four friends for the day at our house.  We loaded up a laundry basket full of water balloons and had a massive balloon bout. A pizza dinner followed then my sister Marianne drove us to see the fireworks. Since a late night poker party was happening at our house afterwards, we convinced Mary to buy us cigars to smoke during the card playing.  My pals slept over that night and I recall we had some bottle rockets and firecrackers to light up too. Nobody lost any fingers that night.

What better way to celebrate our nation’s 200th birthday than with a big water balloon fight?

At the end of July, I attended my first ever rock concert, Elton John’s 4^th and final night at the Chicago Stadium.  We landed tickets 2 months earlier and the countdown to this show was a constant focus for me. Marianne took me, her boyfriend at the time, me and two pals as we rocked out to the hottest act at the time. This was the first of many times I’d see Elton John in concert.  What a blast that first experience was!

Elton John was the first ever concert I ever saw and it rocked big time back in late July of ’76.

One downer of the summer of 1976 was the passing of our beloved part German Shepherd dog “Coach.”  Coach was our first ever dog and a beloved member of the family for 12 years before incurable kidney issues happened.  He was gently put to sleep the second week in August and it devastated all of us.  Even our pure white kitty Miss Priss mourned Coach as she kept vigil by his backyard dog house for 2 days after his death.  Rest in peace Coachie.

Losing our beloved dog Coach was the one downer of the Summer of 76. He was a great member of our family.

When the summer of ’76 wrapped up, I was about to start my sophomore year at York where I’d be on the Yearbook staff, struggle through Geometry with Mr. Urbaniak, go 2 and 0 for the Dukes of York with a team leading E.R.A. of 1.54. (I told you I learned lots about pitching in ’76) and would move on to summer baseball at York plus my first part time job at White Castle.

This all went down fifty years ago.  Fifty years. And yet, it sometimes feels like it just happened.

NEXT BLOG– When I know, you’ll know.

“He said I don’t drink but sometimes I want to pop that top, take a swig and make the world stop and watch it fade away.  He said I don’t smoke but sometimes I want to light it up, yeah when things get tough, sometimes I need a smoke break.”  (‘Smoke Break’- sung by Carrie Underwood) Folks, I can’t put it any better than that.

We are just about halfway through 2026. Long story short, it was a rough year at school from mid-August of 2025 until the end of the summer session. It was not just in my room but in other classrooms at our therapeutic school. We are understaffed and often over-taxed with crazy challenges. The search for staffers is constant but it is very difficult to find worthy people who want to do this kind of work with our Special Ed kiddos.  As I’ve often said, this job ain’t for sissies.  

However, things are being worked on to ensure the 2026-2027 school year is a more positive one.  That’s all that needs to be said about that.

The kids can be a challenge but they’re alright. I think.

On Monday June 29^th at 2:30 my summer break starts.  So then it’s time to rest for the next 6 weeks.

I have a couple of household things to take care of: Water seal my front and back steps, paint the front trim of my garage, and book the sealcoating for my driveway.

As expected, I’ll be spending the bulk of my time swimming laps and sunning with my ‘Summer Family’ at East End Pool.  We’ve already been together for a few weekends but going full blast daily is very much looked forward to!  Thanks to sunny late spring days my tan is really going well and it’ll only get better.

Just some of my ‘Summer Family’ who I swim and water walk with. Great folks!

OTHER STUFF– My cable TV package was upgraded so I can watch most Cubs and White Sox games.  I’m happy when either team wins; no more Cubs Suck/Sox Rule stuff for me.  I just want to see good baseball played. And my sports nerd ways kick in when I keep scorecards of various Cubs and Sox games.

Movie wise, I have interest in seeing “The Odyssey” but haven’t looked into many other film offerings.  I’m sure I’ll find some decent flicks to watch.

“RAISED ON THE RADIO” UPDATE- My radio memoir continues to collect dust.  The final edit was done last year and all the photos have been selected. I still need to hire someone to format it to the specs via paperback and e-book for Amazon.  But the real hold-up is the energy and time I need to properly promote the book.  That means social media postings, interviews, public readings and all other points of selling my story.  I don’t see me ready to launch until at least the Spring of 2027.

However, there’s a couple of side projects smaller in scope that may actuallygo public before “Raised on the Radio.”

Not much else to report on.  I just want to take things slow and easy and re-charge.

My mantra for the next month and a half can be found in a new song from Kenny Chesney titled “Carry On” which was co-written by Chase McGill, Matt Jenkins and the great Jessi Alexander who is a fine singer in her own right.   

Here’s the song and happy summer to all!

Kenny Chesney’s song covers my summer outlook.

Next Blog- When I know, you’ll know.

I’ve got lots to cover.

NEWS & VIEWS-As a regular watcher of the Channel 5 News, I’ve noticed they’ve changed their on-air schedules.  Like all local news anchors, Allison Rosati and Stefan Holt worked on the air Monday through Friday.  But for the past few months, they’ve moved to a Sunday through Thursday schedule.  Maybe this has something to do with TV ratings but I like the change.

Allison Rosati and Stefan Holt do a Sunday thru Thursday schedule for Channel 5 .

Speaking of TV news, I don’t like it when reporters and anchors cover shootings with the phrase “Shots rang out.”  Rang out? Rang? No. Gunshots are NOT bells.  They need to say “Shots were fired.”  Scary but true.

When radio or TV hosts refer to enjoying alcoholic drinks by calling them ‘beverages’ I give a long eye roll. It’s like they’re trying to be sly and cute.   Jeez, just call the drinks for what they are, COCKTAILS!

I also don’t get or use the term ‘bathing suit.’ I don’t know anyone who bathes in a one piece, bikini or swim shorts.  Calling it a “Swimsuit” is the only way to go.

TV TIPS-

I watched all seven installments of DTF-St. Louis on HBO.  I liked it O.K. but the ending of this whodunit fell flat.  If there’s another run of DTF shows, the ending better be worth rolling through several episodes.

The 3^rd and final season of Euphoria debuted last week.  Lots of blowback for the way buxom bombshell Sydney Sweeney’s character is exploited as she joins “Only Fans” to make money.  Other women on the show are also being objectified in creepy ways.  This series has always been about sniveling young adults who take drugs, booze and sex abuse to levels that would made Caligula blush.  I’m not watching anymore of this worn out and desperate series.

The 4^th season of ‘The White Lotus” series will feature Heather Graham in a role.  Ms. Graham is 56 years old and she looks better than actresses and other famous women 25 years younger than her. It shows what healthy living and no botox or plastic surgery can do for someone.

SHADES OF GRAY-I respect a woman’s decision to cover up her graying hair. FYI- For many years my dad owned a beauty shop and he colored more customers’ hair than you can imagine.  Still, I think more women should go natural and give the gray look a chance as they age. If they don’t like it, they can always color it back again.  A friend of mine recently commented that she was now 65 and coloring her hair blonde just wasn’t for her anymore.  Women, it’s your choice.

Pat Benatar let her hair go gray and she looks great with it.

MUSIC NOTES-My karaoke go-to song used to be Warren Zevon’s “Lawyers, Guns and Money” but next time I warble in public, I’m going with Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man.” You’ve been warned.

This summer John Melllencamp is going to belt out as many hits as he can on a big concert tour.  Country veteran Tim McGraw is also doing a summer road run.  If I could only choose one of these two guys to see, I’d have to go with McGraw.  Nothing against Mellencamp but I’ve seen John live close to a dozen times.  I’ve only seen Tim in concert four times, the last time being in the summer of 2000.

Ever since she came on to mainstream the country music scene, I’ve been a big fan of Ashley Mc Bryde.  Her latest single “Bottle Tells Me So” is probably the best song she’s written and recorded to date.  Now almost 4 years sober, this track covers the moment of clarity Ashley had when she realized it was time to stop boozing, for good.

Ashley McBryde comes clean about getting sober in the best song of her career.

One more music tip.  I never saw the movie “Reagan” but recently learned Clint Black recorded a classic country tune for the film’s soundtrack.  This song closed the movie and it’s a darn good cover.

Clint Black does this classic song justice.

NEXT BLOG- When I know, you’ll know.