Lincoln Logs

Hayter article for November 10, 2019

“Lincoln Logs can save lives”

             Well, I had no idea. – Whoa! Sorry about that. While waiting for you to show, I decided to do some research on Lincoln Logs. Beg pardon? Right, the small, log-like blocks that you link together to make a cabin. They’re like Legos, only they don’t hurt as much when you step on one barefoot.

            Anyway, when it’s article time, I generally stare at my blank computer screen and think up stuff. What came to mind this time was Lincoln Logs. I was wondering if they were originally called “Linking Logs.” Get it? I thought that maybe children started calling them “Lincoln Logs” because kids have trouble accepting names. The things children do with grandmother and grandpa are criminal. I heard a kid call his grandmother  “Granny Gammy.” I fear I’d be forced to return the favor by calling the grandson “Snothead.”

            But let’s try to get past that. The thing that I learned from my research is that John Lloyd Wright is the one who invented “Lincoln Logs.”  John was in Japan back in 1916 helping his Dad. Frank Lloyd Wright was building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. To make the structure more capable of withstanding an earthquake, Frank Wright, decided to lay the foundation by using huge, notched, wooden beams that fit together. It was believed that there would be enough play in the beams to withstand an earthquake. 

            Low and behold, the Great Kanto Earthquake hit Tokyo in 1923 and leveled many of its buildings. But, the Imperial Hotel came through it all right. By the way, the Imperial Hotel made it through earthquakes and the bombings of World War II, but didn’t survive the wrecking ball. In 1968 it was demolished to make room for something that better suited the times. 

            And the Lincoln Logs? Well, during the hotel construction, John, who was 24 at the time,   had a falling out with his dad over money issues.  So, John came home to the U.S., where he hoped to make some money on his own. That’s when it hit him. – Bop! –  Notched beams! He made some small notched beams before deciding that notched logs would be better for kids. So, in 1919, he introduced the country to “Lincoln Logs.” Oddly enough, the first set of logs came with a diagram on how to make Uncle Tom’s Cabin. I kid you not.

            Right now, I must hit you with a quick transition. Bear with me. On the same page as the Lincoln Logs article, there is a small picture of a man sprawled out on a snowy street. Below the picture are the words “How to fall safely.” Instead of changing the subject to guard dogs,  I’ve decided to share the “How to fall” article with you in the hope of saving at least one of you. So, give me a few minutes to read the article. In the meantime, you might see if you can build a cabin out of Wheat Chex.

            Okay, I’m back. I hate to lead with this, but in 2016 almost 36,000 people died from falls. Some from cranes, cliffs, and crags. Nothing learned from the article would save you from a towering fall. But, if you start to fall while on the ground, there’s some good news to be had. For example, if you trip over a box of Lincoln Logs and find yourself falling forward, whatever you do, DONT try to catch your fall with your outstretched hands. If you toss all your weight on your hands, you’re going to break your wrists. There’s a good chance you’re going to be feeding yourself with your elbows while sitting on a bean bag.

            No, you need to turn sideways and try to land on the meatiest part of your body. For Rob Reiner, that would be his head. (All in the Family?) For me, it’d be my nose. For normal people, it’d be your shoulder, butt, or thighs. The article said “buttocks,” however, while you’re falling, I doubt seriously that the word “buttocks” is going to come to mind. 

            Oh, and stay loose. That means bend your knees and elbows. Above all, do not inhale. Inhaling will cause you to stiffen up. -- I had no idea, either. -- A stiff body breaks. A loose body flops. Been my experience, a flop requires less physical therapy.   

            Now, pretend you’re falling backward. Do the same thing. During your fall, try to position yourself to land on your side. If that’s impossible, then you need to put your head down. In other words, chin to your chest. If nothing else, it will put you in a good position to pray.

            I know what you’re thinking. During an actual fall, there is no way on God’s green earth you’ll be able to remember this. There’s an answer for that. You’re not going like it, either. You need to practice falling. I wouldn’t suggest trying it in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, or while standing up in bed. No, you might try it on a trampoline, keeping in mind that several of you will experience a fall while trying to mount the trampoline. If that occurs, pretend it’s a practice fall.

            We might pause to note that most of us have already fallen a time or two… or six. Those of you who haven’t will. And when you do, remember to flop. And, should we experience an earthquake, you might want to stand on some Lincoln Logs. While I don’t recommend you practice falling, I do recommend that you prepare your Lincoln Log platform ahead of time.

           

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hayter.mark@gmail.com – You can find Hayter’s Christmas book by going to Amazon.com and keying in “Mark Hayter Christmas Storybook Story”. Talk about a great Christmas present!