MY MAMMA DONE TOLD ME!
I remember the first few lines of this song, “Blues in the Night”, as in the title of the song. I heard the song in a movie I watching in an open field with the rest of the GI’s. The movie was shown in an open field beside an Army hospital where the American battle wounded soldiers were treated during the liberation of Luzon in the Philippines, 1944. The hospital was no more than the town church, and inside this church lay rows of beds for the wounded soldiers . This Spanish architecture of concrete and stone church was very similar to the ones you see in the Southwest US. Following his usual routine, the church catholic priest would still say mass at the front altar every morning!
What was the movie about? It was about a US pilot downed during the war and came back to his training Air Force school as a ghost instructor. This killed pilot was played by the actor, Spencer Tracy. He left a fiancée whom he obviously did not marry. And in one scene he was supposedly guiding a cadet pilot doing his solo flight. Spencer Tracy, the ghost instructor, was sitting on the back behind the cadet pilot and in one scene, he was irritably annoyed. Because this young cadet for one thing, was now dating his former fiancée. And while flying, this young cadet would start singing, “My mamma done told me!”. So Tracy, the ghost instructor would shout back, “Quit talking about what your mamma had told you and concentrate on your flying”. Being a ghost he supposedly could not be heard.
Why was this movie shown in the open area? By that time the Japanese planes in the area were pretty much decimated. And so there was no danger of enemy bombings. Not long before then, I had the interesting experience of seeing a US plane chasing a Jap plane . Then, after a few machine gun bursts, down went the Jap plane. I was imagining that the local natives were already rushing to the downed plane salvaging whatever aluminum scrap metal they could salvage. They would melt this aluminum metal to make pots and pans.

What was I doing hanging around that hospital area? It so happened my youngest brother was recuperating from a brain injury he sustained during a bombing raid, ironically by American planes. This happened when US planes bombed the town center a couple of weeks prior to the US landing in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. (General Douglas Mac Arthur himself landed on the beach with the first wave of infantry men). Before the landing, some US planes were reconnoitering the town area. Suddenly these US pilots were annoyed because Japanese anti aircraft guns started shooting at them. They proceeded to bomb the vicinity. Half of the house we were in was blown off. One person in our group died and a few wounded. Walking through the town streets later, we passed more dead civilians. General Douglas Mac Arthur landed on the beach soon after the first wave infantry men hit the beach. He strolled on the beach about 10 miles from where we were.

Days after the landing, an Evacuation Army Hospital was set up in town. An army major brain surgeon and his team picked up my brother, set him on a stretcher in a jeep for the army hospital. And he proceeded with an operation the next day. This team of jeeps had to travel through beside bamboo thick river trails outside town. We felt safer evacuating to the countryside bundocks after the bombings. Luckily, my father was a great diplomat, pleading with the US army soon as they secured the nearby town we were in. My wounded brother was beginning to go blind from possibly an infection. Anyway, here I was making my routine visits to see my youngest brother in the hospital.

While making my routine rounds of visits, I would pass through the center ailes of this hospital church and see these wounded GI’s. One wouded soldier particularly stuck in my mind. Because he had an open stomach wound and his inside guts were plainly uncovered. During my passings through I heard him shout a couple of times, “Momma”. I believe this kid was only in his teens. Not much older then my oldest brother. A few days later, I saw his bed empty and clean. So I asked the GI nearby where he was. He grimly said, “He died last night”. For a 12 year old, this made a lasting impression on me. I am now convinced what a powerful impression “Momma” makes on her child.

MY MOMMA DONE TOLD ME
WHEN I WAS IN KNEE PANTS
MY MOMMA DONE TOLD ME SO
AH HUEY AH HUEY, AH CLICKITY-CLOCK
I’VE GOT THE BLUES IN THE NIGHT

What myths, I believe, is said about old people.

Old age causes senility.

True you slow down in your comprehension or thinking. I believe senility is the result of older people not using their mental capabilities because of non involvement of what is currently going on. A classical example is where people pass the day watching only the TV. Or, of course, people who have Altshimers just are not themselves. Recall that Einstein discovered the Theory of Relativity in his later years.

Old age causes forgetfulness.
Old people concentrating on what is currently going in the present, don’t seem to have that trait. Think of the statement made that “older people are more careful drivers”.

People change personality as they age.
I believe most people stay with their personality at whatever age. Good guys stay good. Bad guys stay bad. That “mean old man” was most probably a “mean young man”.

Old people with sufferings such as sickness and other tribulations make them change for the better.
True they suffer. A few change and become better persons. That does not necessarily mean all of these people change for the better. My experiences taught me most people do not change their attitudes at all, no matter what.

Old people are more likely to be depressed or suicidal.
If one suffers from a long illness, it would be an effort to have a healthy mental attitude. Or if they are lonely such as, their adult children do not want them around. However, one should ask the question what has happened years ago. You harvest what you plant. No, in my opinion, depression or suicides can happen at any age.




Old people expect Death waiting for them just around the corner.
No, no no! Not all old people. Some of them are too involved in life’s activities; they do not have the time to think of their last day. For whatever reason, some do not slow down even in their sex life; Viagra or no Viagra; heart attacks or no heart attacks.

Old people become more religious and believe in a God when they realize life will soon end.
I believe a person stays an atheist or believes in a God all through his life.

Young people are prejudiced against old people.
A fairer insight is to ask the question, “How do old people view the younger generation”. Are they friendly or intolerant towards younger people?

Old people sleep more than young people.
Old people get more tired easily than younger people. This is why they are seen taking short naps during day hours. But I believe old healthy people sleep less during night time. So the bottom line, in terms of hours of sleep, is about the same.

Old people stoop as a permanent posture.
If a person has osteoporosis, what else can one expect. However, some old people develop this as a permanent posture. But the problem can be corrected if one has a younger wife who constantly reminds you to stand or walk straight.