Need Some Water

Growing up in grade school I was always looking forward to playing on the school teams. You had to wait until 5^th grade to go out for football. Christ the King was a touch league with other Catholic Schools in the area. It may have been touch football ….. but it could get rough.

In 7^th grade we thought we had a pretty good team so we challenged the town midget football team to a game of tackle. They thought they would walk on the field and just run us up and down the field. We had a great group of players and boy …. were they surprised? They thought they were playing a bunch of the Catholic School wusses.

We knew most of the kids on the other team for we had grown up with them playing town sports. Initially there was a lot of trash talk going both ways in a fun manner. However…I am pretty sure they had a new found respect after the game.

Standing on the sideline you always waited for your name to be called by the coach. Hutch, we need you to do a fast sweep around the outside. I was always waiting…I was ready. I specifically remember one game, standing on the sideline watching our team, it was a hot Saturday morning. The score was close, everyone was tired.

Finally …. it happened…my name was called… our coach says “ Hutch come here.” I hurried to put my helmet on and as I am running down to him I am desperately trying to buckle my chinstrap.

Yea coach…what do you need? “It’s getting near halftime, the players are tired and thirsty, why don’t you run up and get them some water for half time.”

My heart sank…I was ready but I was not deterred. I loved football and I was determined to hold my head up high. My time would come.

And it did come, in high school I played 3 sports….Football, Basketball and Track. I went out for football my junior year when I realized my career in basketball was waning. Although I loved basketball, the starting 5 when I was a freshman were all sophomores, I could see the writing on the wall, I needed to find a new sport to excel in. I looked to football and track.

I remember a basketball game against one high school in my sophomore or junior year. The other team was playing a man to man defense and I was playing the forward position. The defender kept trying to trash talk me… “Hey, you gotta jockey on,” he kept pushing me and throwing jabs at me as I was making cuts. This went on for the entire quarter. Trying not to get sucked in to his taunting….as I was going up for a rebound, he was just about hanging on my back, I jammed my elbow down his throat. I think he was caught a little off guard. As I made my way up the court he said…”Ohhhh, you shouldn’t have done that, now you really going to get it.” I just ignored him and continued to play.

A few minutes later I got the ball on the right side and I faked a jumper and went down the baseline and under the basket for a reverse layup. As I was extended and in the air the center from the other team came across the lane and punched me in the privates, and as I came down bellied over in pain, he proceeded to do an upper cut that landed on my left eye. He then pushed me and I fell into the stands and the crowd took a shot.

The ref called a foul, Hey, how about throwing them out of the game…

I could barely see and had to leave the game after the foul shot. You are probably asking; did I make the fouls shot?

I really don’t remember. I do remember that I had to wear a patch over my eye for 3 days and I had a slight limp.

Yardstick

I went to a Catholic grade school. One of the most important things you do when you are in 2nd grade is study for your 1st communion.

Back in the day we had the Baltimore Catechism. To this day, I know many people whose faith has not grown beyond what they learned in the Baltimore Catechism….

You might remember some of the questions:

1….Who made us……God made us.

2…Who is God… God is the Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things.

3…..Why did God make us…. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven.

To make your 1st Communion you had to not only study the Baltimore Catechism, but you were constantly quizzed on the questions and you had better know the answers.

One thing about Catholic Schools in the 1950s…. we had nuns. They were real sticklers when it came to learning your Catechism.

“I would like you to go home tonight and review all these questions and tomorrow we will have a quiz.”

I went home that night….I studied and highlighted, took notes and went over the questions and answers multiple times. I was going to be ready and know all the answers.

The next day, in class the nun decided to have an oral quiz. I was in the 1st row and she started asking the 1st question to the 1st person in my row. The 2nd question went to the person in the 2nd seat.

I sensed, there is a pattern going on here… Now let me see. I am in seat number 7, that means I am going to get question number 7. What is that question? I know I know the answer. What was that question? Let me take a sneak peek in my book.

Ahhhh. Question 7

“Mister Hutchinson. Will you please come up here.”
Why did you open the book….”

I did not open the book.

I was caught red handed. There was no lying my way out of this one…

“Come here Mister Hutchinson…
Stick your hand out.”

Wow….What is going on…. What have I got myself into…

At this point, she reaches back and on the ledge of the chalk board is a yardstick…

Uh Oh…

“I said stick out your hand…”

I’m thinking….What are you going to do with that yardstick…

Crack….

Not only did she hit my hand with the yardstick…

The yardstick breaks.

The nun is very upset now…

“Now look what you done…
you are going to have to buy me a new yardstick.”

What…

Not only am I experiencing pain…now you are going to make me pay you for your infliction…

Is this some sort of Purgatory….

“You have to bring in $2.00 tomorrow so I can buy a new yardstick.”

I am thinking…

Well the yardstick wouldn’t have broken if you didn’t hit me with it.

Lying…Is that a venial sin…

Can I still make my 1st Holy Communion…

For those of you worrying…

Yes I did receive my 1st Communion and I went on to be an altar boy in later years…

Dominus Vobiscum…..Et cum spiritu tuo…

Timetables

People always compliment my math skills. What they don’t know is the story behind my wizardry.

In 5th grade I had Mr Costigan. If you ever acted up in Mr Costigan’s class, he would give you an assignment. Do the timetables 1-10…25 times and bring them in tomorrow. That was how my year started out.

Back then I always a little bit antsy…I had trouble sitting still in my seat. I was also nosey and I liked to talk…

“Mr Hutchinson….let’s pay attention back there.”

Well as the year progressed…so did the number of timetables I had to write…

“Mr Hutchinson…do the timetables 1-10…100 times and bring them to me tomorrow before class.”

It got to a point…. if I had any spare moments…even when I was not in trouble… I was writing timetables. I knew it was only a matter of time.

In fact, I had so many timetables in storage that I sold them to other less unfortunate students who met Mr Costigan’s wrath. You need 25 or 50 of them? Here I got plenty stashed. Just give me $.25 cents a page. I’m just gonna keep on writing anyway.

Well, I made it thru 5th grade and my math skills increased dramatically. Ask me a multiplication question and I knew the answer right off the top of my head.

Guess who I had the pleasure of teaching me in 7th grade….

Good Ole Mr Costigan…

“Mr Hutchinson…I see we can pick up right where we left off. You might as well just start writing…I know you are long overdue and probably missed me…”

What a sense of humor on that guy… You gotta love Mr Costigan.

So I began 7th grade…preoccupied with trying to get ahead of the curve. Mr Hutchinson please write the 1-10 timetables 100 times and bring them into me tomorrow. (He didn’t even start at 25, for I was a veteran. He went right to the 100 category). One time I reached into my school bag and said….”Here ya go….100 timetables”…He just laughed and said…. “better keep writing.”

Well, I did make it thru 7th grade and again my math skill increased dramatically.

Did I tell you I won the math award at 8th grade graduation?

And the math award for all around excellence in math goes to George Hutchinson.

I almost fell out of my seat.

Really…A math award….Thank you Mr Costigan…

In Our Blood

How many of you like going to the beach…

Our family has been going to the shore since 1956
I think our love for the beach…
Is in our blood

Growing up…
Our family would rent a house down the shore
For the month of August
Each weekend all the aunts…uncles and cousins
Would show up at the house and…
To see us all head for the beach
Probably looked like an invasion…

Here comes the Hutchinsons…

Umbrellas…chairs…blankets…kids…shovels and balls

Did I say kids….
There were 28 grandchildren
We stormed the beaches and…
Took over
There were Hutchinsons everywhere…

As we grew older and started having our own families
The tradition continued…
My Pop and Mom built a house
Designed to hold 6 children… their spouses
Plus 18 grandchildren

The people down the street once referred to our house as…
The orphanage
There was always so many kids running around

People often say…
History repeats itself

Just like when we were growing up
Every weekend…
All the siblings would head to the shore…

More…
Umbrellas…chairs…blankets…shovels and balls

As our children started to get older
We were fortunate enough…
To buy our own shore house

Our children were able to live my dream…
Spending the whole summer at the shore

It is our love for the shore
That sparked me to write my first book…

Beach Etiquette
https://beachetiquettebook.com/

Our beautiful beaches hold memories
For generations of vacationers and locals alike…

This book is a tribute to all who share the beaches…

With a little Beach Etiquette
We will preserve its’ beauty
And pay it forward…

Our book is available on Amazon
And makes a great gift to anyone who love the beach
https://beachetiquettebook.com/

Speaking about paying it forward
As I said earlier…
The Beach is in our families’ blood…

Our son Brenton has recently developed…

The World’s Most Eco-Friendly Beach Chair

He is another ocean child
Looking to aid the environment…

Introducing Low Tides Ocean Products
https://lowtidesop.com/

Each Lowtides chair is made with…
2.5 pounds of upcycled
Ocean bound plastics

With over 8 million tons of plastic flowing into our oceans each year,
Stopping the flow of waste into our oceans and upcycling the plastic
Can be the solution to cleaner tides.

Lowtides has just began a kickstarter campaign
To introduce their chairs to the general public

As part of their kickstarter campaign…

Lowtides is currently offering special pricing options
With up to 30-40% off

Their chairs are designed to be…
Durable…stylish…and ecofriendly

They are also making a children’s chair

We invite you to learn more about Lowtides Ocean Products

https://lowtidesop.com/

With your purchase and support…

You will help begin to…
Turn the tide on ocean pollution
Preserve its’ beauty
And pay it forward…

Going to the shore and hanging at the beach
Has always held a special place in my heart
Heading over the bridge
Smelling the salt air
Has always been special

You can sense a transformation…

The ocean calls us to be one
Allowing us to create memories
That will live on and be shared for a lifetime

Every Day is a Gift…

The Hand of God

I walked into a coffee house the other day
And saw a friend of mine
After chatting for a few minutes
He said…

I love your newsletters
Keep them coming
In fact I used one of your newsletters
To help support a conversation I had recently

I must say
I was surprised yet humbled…

Several years ago a close friend told me…

God is where your shadow falls…

Without realizing it…

We are always touching people…
Making an impression with
The things we say…
The things we do…

My Pop used to say…

Be careful…
People see you before they hear you
You only get one chance to make
A good first impression

I have always carried those words to heart

We happen to take so much of what we do
For granted…

Have you ever been feeling low….
And someone took the time to…
Just listen…
Possibly offer words of encouragement

Have you ever needed a helping hand…
And someone turns up and says…
How can I help you

Have you received a call
From an old friend or acquaintance…
Hey…How are you doing
I was just thinking of you
I wanted to touch base and
See how you are

Listening
Sharing
Giving of yourself
Service to others

This is the hand of God in motion
We are blessed…
To be able to bring it to others

Thank you Jay for the kind words…

Every Day is a Gift…..

Check out the link to our new book…

Beach Etiquette

Available on Amazon
https://beachetiquettebook.com/

A perfect gift for family and friends ….

Thank you for your referrals

The Magic Bank Account

Recently, a friend reached out to me and sent the below message. Thank you, John, for thinking of me. I would like to share it with you…

George, This is you!

John

THE AUTHOR IS NOT KNOWN.   IT WAS FOUND IN THE BILLFOLD OF
COACH PAUL BEAR BRYANT, ALABAMA, AFTER HE DIED IN 1982.

The Magic Bank Account

Imagine that you had won the Following *PRIZE* in a contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 In your private account
for your use…..
However, this prize has Rules:
The set of Rules:

1. Everything that you didn’t spend during each day would be taken away from
you.

2. You may not simply transfer money into some other account.

3. You may only spend It.

4. Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another
$86,400 for that Day.

5. The bank can end the game without warning; at any time, it can say,

Game Over!” It can close the account and you will not receive a new one.

What would you personally do?

You would buy anything and everything you wanted right?  Not only
for yourself, but for all the people you love and care for.  Even for
people you don’t know because you couldn’t possibly spend it all on
yourself, right?

You would try to spend every penny, and use it all, because you knew
it would be replenished in the morning, right?

ACTUALLY, This GAME is REAL…   Shocked ???
YES!

Each of us is already a winner of this *PRIZE*. We just can’t seem to see
it.

The PRIZE is *TIME*

1. Each morning we awaken to Receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of Life.

2. And when we go to sleep at night, any remaining time is not credited to us.

3. What we haven’t used up that day is forever lost.

4. Yesterday is forever gone.

5. Each morning the account is refilled, but the bank can dissolve your
account at any time WITHOUT WARNING…

SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds?

Those seconds are worth so much more than the same amount in dollars.
Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because
time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be Happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here’s wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day…
Start spending….

“DON’T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD!”

SOME PEOPLE DON’T GET THE PRIVILEGE!

 

Every Day is a Gift

It Is a Small World After All

I walked onto the beach the other day

After setting up my chair

I went over to one of the guys

I have met on the beach

Over the past couple of years

 

It was the 1^st time I have seen him

On the beach this year

 

I said…

It’s good to see you again

Are you ready for

Another great summer…

 

At that point

I felt a little embarrassed

I stopped and said…

 

I’m sorry…

But I forget your first name

I’m George Hutch

 

He just chuckled and said…

 

Just call me JC

That’s always easy to remember

 

We got into some small talk

And then he started talking about the beach…

 

The beach is already getting a little crowded…

I can’t believe it…

People are just plopping down

Sitting on top of each other…

 

Look at all the beach over there

 

And those people going into the water…

The life guards are 2 blocks away…

 

What are they thinking…

They are putting other people at risk…

 

I casually said…

I think you will like the book I just wrote…

 

You wrote a book…

What’s the title…

 

Beach Etiquette…

 

He turns to his wife…

 

Hey KC…

Come over here

 

Remember that book you just bought me…

 

Beach Etiquette

 

Here’s the guy who wrote it

 

I love that book

I was always thinking I should write a book about

Beach Etiquette

 

You did a good job

 

I was sitting drinking my coffee the other day

And I read a couple of chapters…

 

I found myself laughing

It’s pretty funny…

 

I love the art work

 

Wow…

How about that…

 

It is a small world after all…

 

In case you are interested

Check out our website…

 

https://beachetiquettebook.com/

 

Several people have told me

They bought a copy

And after reading it…

 

They went back and bought more copies

To give to their friends

 

I’ll take that as a compliment

 

I am glad people are enjoying the book

 

If you would like a few laughs

I invite you to read the book

Leave a review on Amazon…

 

The buzz is out there…

This is a grassroots campaign

 

We need your help to keep it going

 

We can all brush up on our Beach Etiquette

It’s a Miracle

Sometime last August

I noticed a small lump on my face

It was on my left chin

Right below my left lower lip

 

I thought

It is probably an ingrown hair

I’ll keep an eye on it

 

By the end of September

I noticed it was getting bigger

I went to the doctor for my annual physical

I asked…

What is this little lump on my face

 

Oh…It looks like a cyst

No one knows why you get them

It could get bigger

It could get smaller

Or just go away

 

I wouldn’t worry about it

Most doctors don’t like to cut in that area

For there are a lot of nerves in that area of the face

 

So…I went home thinking

Maybe this will just go away

 

Another month passed

I noticed it was getting bigger

 

Hmmmm…

I should probably get a 2^nd opinion

 

Hey hon…

Do you know a Dermatologist I can call…

 

Just google Dermatologists in the area

See if you recognize any names

 

I see a name I know

I call their office

 

I’m sorry….

The Doctor is not taking any new patients

 

Can you at least give me a referral…

Do you have any names I can call…

I’m running blind here…

 

I can give you a couple of numbers

Try these…

 

Kathy….my associate says…

We went to a dermatologist in Voorhees

We liked him

You might want to give him a call

 

Sounds good…

Give me the number

I called and got an appointment

 

It’s just a cyst

It could get bigger

It could get smaller

It may just go away

 

If I were you…

I would probably cut it out

You don’t want it getting infected

That will hurt

 

I would need to make a small incision

It will take about 15 minutes

You will need about 3-4 stitches

See the receptionist out front

I can do it on Tuesday

 

Do I really want this cut out…

Stitches…

Let me get one more opinion

 

I call another doctor…

It’s just a cyst

It could get bigger

It could get smaller

It may just go away

 

Is it bothering you…

If not…

I would not do anything

 

If it starts bothering you

Call me and we can cut it out

 

I would have to cut from here to here

And you would need about 6 stitches

You’ll have a small scar on your face

You’ll look tougher

Like you got cut in a fight

 

Do I really want this cut out…

Stitches…

 

I think I like when he said…

 

I would not do anything

 

Another 2 months pass

It looks like it is getting bigger

But sometimes it looks like it is getting smaller

 

All of a sudden…

My lower left lip is getting numb

I am having trouble opening my mouth

My left chin is getting warm

The bump is getting red…

 

The cyst is infected…

 

I start making phone calls…

The doctor can see you in 2 weeks

 

You don’t understand

It’s infected

I need to see someone now

Not 2 weeks

 

I’m thinking…

My friend is a plastic surgeon

If anybody is going to cut my face

I might as well go to the best

 

I call John’s office…

 

I’m sorry

He’s in a consultation

Can he call you when he is done…

 

He gets right back to me

 

I am going to call in an antibiotic

Stop and see me Friday

 

I walk into his office on Friday

 

Ohhhh…That looks pretty bad…

You still taking the antibiotic…

 

I don’t think I want to do anything today

I’ll just clean it up

And get all the infection out

 

He gives me a local

And starts working on the infected area

Everything is oozing out

 

He explains…

You have body oils under your skin

Sometimes they come together and crystalize

Then they grow a small skin around it

Like a lima bean

To protect it

That’s what a cyst is

 

I can see the top of the cyst

I think I can get this…

 

You feeling alright…

 

Just like pulling a tooth

He goes in and…

 

POP….

 

Wow… look at this thing

That’s been in there for awhile

 

I think we got everything

Just keep Neosporin and a band aid on it

 

What….No Stitches…

 

No… I think it is going to heal fine

Come see me next Friday

 

It’s a Miracle

 

No stitches

No cyst

And…

1 week later

There is little evidence

That anything was ever done

 

Thanks John…

Your hands have been blessed by God

 

 

Every Day is a Gift

 

We find ways to save you money…

Thanks for the referrals

 

 

 

Thank

Get Your DNA Here

If you have been watching tv at night lately

 

You have probably seen the commercials…….

 

 

“I found out I was 20% Native American….

 

 

I thought I was Italian but I’m actually German”….

 

 

(I find myself saying……

 

Ya vol herr Kommandant….

 

For no apparent reason)…

 

 

That is for you Hogan Hero fans…

 

 

Contact Ancestry.com and get your DNA results today

 

 

I was thinking…

 

This might be a great gift for my wife’s birthday

 

So I contacted the company and ordered 2 DNA kits

 

 

Wellllllllllll……..

 

The results are in

 

 

When people ask

 

So what nationality are you….

 

 

I would normally say Irish and English

 

My mother was 100% Irish

 

My Pop….75% Irish and 25% English

 

 

My wife is 50% Italian from her father’s side

 

A mix of Irish and Scotch from her mother’s side

 

 

When the results came in

 

My wife was shown as…..

 

38% Italian

26% Irish

20% Great Britain

6% Western Europe

 

What happen to the Scotch…..

 

Is that filed under Great Britain….

 

 

My results came in a couple days later

 

I am……

 

Drum roll please…..

 

92% Irish

4% Italian / Greek

2% Western Europe

 

 

Not even a trace of English blood

 

Or as they say Great Britain….

 

 

Hey hun….I’m 4% Italian

 

 

You’re not Italian

 

 

It says here I am 4% Italian

 

That means I am only 34% less Italian than you

 

 

That got her blood pumpin….

 

 

You’re not Italian

 

You’re gonna deny me my 4%

 

 

Well….I have had a lot of fun knowing the results

 

 

I still can’t believe….No English

 

But 4% Italian….

 

 

Those Romans really gotta around

 

 

 

 

What does your DNA say….

 

 

It may makes for good conversation…