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THE WAVES OF OUR LIVES!

Having recently been invited by a dear friend to spend a week at a beautiful cabin on the North Shore of Lake Superior, I’m reminding ...

Monday, September 29, 2014

WEATHER---YOU LIKE IT . . . .OR NOT!


Mahatma Gandhi once said, "There is more to life than increasing its speed."  Living in a large city, I see plenty of examples of speed all around me, and at times it drives me crazy. This year I've vowed to make some major changes, and one of them is to walk as often as I can, regardless of the weather, and enjoy the endless parks and lakes of the Twin Cities.  I've lived here for over four decades, and I still think it's one of the most beautiful places in the U.S.

That being said, the weather is extremely variable.  And yet, there is endless beauty even on the stormiest days.  This morning on my walk along Medicine Lake, I got caught in a
brief downpour, but I didn't fight to race back. I saw a 

fisherman casting calmly from his boat.  I waved to him, and he returned the greeting. A simple act, but a good feeling and connection.  Einstein once said, "There are only two ways to live your life.  One is as though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle."  I choose to believe the latter.  

Here are a few simple photos from my enjoyable morning walk in the rain. 


And now, as I write this, the sun just peeked out.  As the American writer Emerson said, "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."








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Saturday, September 27, 2014

LESSONS FOR THE RIDE!


It's amazing the thoughts that occur along the road of life, as one travels the highways with pre-teens.  I often have a lot to share with my grandchildren on our 40-minute drive to school.  Sometimes it involves things we observe along the way, or hear on the radio, and they're as eager to share or vent as I am. Occasionally the topic is rip-roaring "off the charts" funny.

But today it was my turn to talk unexpectedly about something I'd observed about myself in the last day or so. And that revelation suggests how writing has transformed me in countless ways, even though I struggle at times to let go of insecurities, and almost talk myself out of trying something new.  It's often hard to allow myself to be vulnerable.  Sometimes those old messages take hold, and the new ones fight to keep you in balance. 

Yesterday, however, was a bit of a breakthrough.  I decided to delve into an area I rarely go--a fictional story with some roots in reality.  To some it might have seemed a little silly and out-of-character for me.  I wasn't sure where the story about Earlee Mae would lead, but I knew the process and message were important.  And it made me feel more creatively alive.  I discovered that writing could be fun in a totally different way.  I told my granddaughter that she had taught me a lot about being adventurous in writing and not being afraid to go where the pen leads you, and to mix in a little humor along the way. 

Writing is often hard work and sometimes tedious, but when you're in the groove and having fun and not being so concerned with how the final product is viewed, it can even be therapeutic.

So there it is in a nutshell.  I may be aging faster than I'd like, not as active or in shape as I used to be, but I'm still curious about what goes on in the world and want to share my thoughts and ideas whenever possible.  And I know that the young people who share my world are equally curious and have much to share with me.  Thank goodness that we're along for the ride together.  I know already that these are moments we'll never forget!

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Thursday, September 25, 2014

EARLEE MAE, METEOROLOGIST, ADVENTURER, AMAZING FRIEND!


Earlee Mae was one opinionated woman!  She arrived in Minnesota one frosty fall day in early October, 1995.  She had no idea what to expect of her new life in a state which she knew little about.  What she did know was that she had a secure job offer, and she was darned sure that she needed a change from her Carolina roots.  She was always excited for a new challenge, although her friends and family didn't always agree with that.  They could never understand why she would leave home and seek employment in an uncertain land so far from home.  It was, by all accounts, about as far north as you could get, and who ever heard of Minnesota anyway?

But Earlee was convinced of one sure thing--her life was about to change dramatically, and she couldn't imagine it any other way.  And besides being opinionated, she was confident and more than willing to "rock the boat."  No matter what others thought, she always marched to her own beat, even as a young child.  She was focused and "driven" and determined to succeed, and there would be no stopping her.  I admired her enormously for that.  She was a truly remarkable woman, and I considered myself very lucky to be her friend.

I met Earlee at the local ABC television affiliate in Minneapolis, where she was the new morning meteorologist and I was one of the receptionists, taking calls from listeners.  I never understood how easily she could stand in front of the camera, point to weather maps, and joke with the newscasters at that hour.  I could barely function at five a.m., so she truly amazed me.  She was an early riser, so that part was easy, but I could never imagine how smoothly she made it all look on camera, and how easily understandable. At that hour people were in their "busy" mode, and Earlee was appreciated for being concise and articulate, full of good humor, with a distinctive and pleasing voice.  Simply put, she was a winner!  She exuded confidence, and viewers, as well as station personnel, loved her.  The calls that came in to the station were almost unanimously positive about her.

Earlee had studied long and hard to land her position at our local television station.  She had worked her way up the ranks, filling in at smaller television markets, but she hadn't expected to be offered this job in the Twin Cities, where weather was variable and sometimes extreme.  It sure wasn't like that most of the time in the Carolinas.  And yet, she loved the challenge!  She often heard from tourists: "This is a lovely area, with all the lakes and parks and emphasis on arts and education, but I could never imagine myself living here during the winter."  Even some of the long-time residents had found it increasingly difficult to tackle the snow drifts, ice storms, and below zero weather.  But then there were the beautiful sunny winter days, just made for skating and skiing and sledding.  Earlee found herself going back and forth through the years with her feelings about her adopted home.  It was easy to remember the warm sunny December days in Carolina as she was growing up.  When she called family members to tell them that the wind chill temperature on a particular day was -30 degrees, they were in disbelief!  How could it ever get below zero, let alone more than thirty degrees beyond that, they wondered!  Earlee found it fascinating, but like nearly everyone else, she was not enthralled with how it felt on her skin.  But it did make her more empathetic with listeners who called in and complained.

For nearly 18 years Earlee and I were good friends, despite the 12 years difference in our ages.  She was practically a youngster when she arrived in Minnesota, being only 35, while I was a budding baby boomer, and starting to feel my age.  Earlee was starting to feel restless during the last few years she was at the station, longing for a new environment and new challenges.  She no longer saw her future as a meteorologist.  "Too limited," she said.  And the last year she spent here was filled with surprises, but the real clincher was weather related--snow in early May!  I remember the day she said to me, "I need to move on, Lynda.  I'm not even sure what my future holds, but I want to see the world and explore what's out there.  I'm going to take a year off to consider the possibilities.  And who knows why, but I want to see France and Germany and Belgium, and places beyond.  I want to hear the wonderful accents and learn some new languages.  I want to ride the trains and see the countryside, and meet new people from different cultures.  There's a big, wonderful world out there, and I want to be part of it."

So that was it!  My friend Earlee Mae was off to new lands and new adventures.  I shed more than a few tears when she left, but she taught me a lot about taking risks, living life to the fullest, and like Thoreau, marching to her own drummer.  She'll always be my dear friend and role model.  I remember those 18 years as the best years of my life.  Thank you Earlee!! 



(Dedicated to my good friend Angela)

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Wednesday, September 24, 2014

MILD METRO ADVENTURES!

A good friend of mine coined the phrase "Mild Metro Adventures" a few years ago, and it definitely resonated with me, and made me laugh.  She and I have those simple, fun adventures nearly every time we get together, and it never gets "old."  Over the weekend I was telling another friend about the unusual phrase, and she chuckled and said she loved it.



I used to think the word "adventures" had to involve big, exciting things or far away places.  Not anymore!  Over the weekend my friend Angela and I explored a historic and very scenic Minnesota city. Stillwater, called "the birthplace of Minnesota," is just a short drive from the Twin Cities



area.  We spent little money there, and had a sparkling day, just strolling the streets and popping into interesting and unusual shops, as well as exploring the hilly river town along the beautiful St. Croix River.  In many ways it felt like we were being transported to another era.  It was hard to leave this charming city and its many lovely Victorian homes, fascinating architectural styles, and challenging hilly roads.  People were light-hearted and engaging, tourists and locals alike, and it was definitely a "Mild Metro Adventure" in every sense.  Stillwater offers a variety of festivals throughout the year, and despite an occasional traffic jam, it makes me reconsider my current life in the city. 

On the 45-minute drive home we checked out a small vineyard and wonderful apple orchard.  The picture-perfect sunny autumn day added to the charm.  No doubt this "Mild Metro Adventure" will be on my highlight reel for many years to come. 

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

AND THE UNDERDOG PREVAILED!

About a week ago I was waiting at a stoplight, on my way to take my grandchildren to school, like I do every weekday morning. My mind was wandering and I was thinking about the upcoming day.  All of a sudden I spotted a little mouse racing frantically to get across the busy crosswalk, totally oblivious to the mountain of traffic that was about to charge ahead the minute the light turned green.  It was a comical sight, but I found myself cheering loudly for that little fellow to reach the other side.  My grandchildren were trying to figure out what all the excitement was about, as I yelled "Go little mouse, go, go, go, go."  I'm sure I would have looked silly to many if they had noticed, but I clearly wanted that tiny underdog to make it to "safer pastures",  ahead of the monstrous vehicles.  And amazingly he did!  It made my day and opened up a conversation with the kids about underdogs.  Yes, I do love those who are not expected to "make it" in whatever way, even that little mouse.  My granddaughter said afterwards that she was cheering for him too.

As I thought about underdogs, a number of memories came to mind.  Those woeful University of Wisconsin football teams of the 60's and 70's were definite underdogs in nearly every game, but I cheered for them loudly, even if the final score confirmed why they were huge underdogs.  Now that they're often favorites, I see the other perspective a little differently, but it still doesn't sway me from enjoying the moment.  A fellow named Stephen Shaw once said, "Everybody loves the underdog and wants them to win unless you just happen to be playing against the underdog."  How true!

Last Fall I was in Alabama, visiting my son and his wife, and Auburn, the university where he teaches, was playing their old football rival, the University of Alabama.  Auburn was definitely the underdog, even though they were playing at home.  By some absolutely miraculous occurrences, Auburn pulled the game out at the last minute.  The underdog prevailed, and we were loving it.  We danced around the house, laughing and hollering like "nobody's business."  It was a huge thrill, especially to share it with my family. I will never forget that day.

Perhaps you'll reflect on moments in your own life when you were the underdog or you cheered someone on who played that role.  Life is filled with those of underdog status, and I'm happy to acknowledge them--even that little critter who defied the odds!

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

"SHE IS BEYOND BELIEF" . . . .

The famous sportswriter, Grantland Rice once said of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, the amazing female athlete of the twentieth century, "She is beyond belief until you see her perform."  She not only played an unbelievable array of sports, including basketball, baseball, golf, track, swimming, skating, cycling, and more, but she excelled in them like no other woman of her time.  She once said, "My goal was to be the greatest athlete who ever lived."  Although she wasn't appreciated by some teammates because of her seeming arrogance, especially in her younger years, she was voted Female Athlete of the Year six times by the Associated Press.  That included a span of over 20 years. She became truly one of the greatest American athletes of all time.


Babe was born in Texas in 1911.  A classic tomboy, she was often chastised for not being very feminine.  She was strong and muscular, although only of average build, and she definitely didn't want to accept losing. She was once voted the Greatest Female Athlete of the first 50 years of the twentieth century.  She won two Gold medals in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, in the 80 m hurdles and Javelin throw, and a Silver medal in the High Jump. At the end of her career she had 48 pro wins, 41 of them in golf, on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, which she and Patty Berg founded.  She was once asked how she could drive a golf ball more than 250 yards, and she replied, "You've got to loosen your girdle and let it rip."  A writer from the New York Times, Charles McGrath once said about her, "Except perhaps for Arnold Palmer, no golfer has ever been more beloved by the gallery."

Babe married George Zaharias in 1939, a year after they met and she became smitten by the wrestler, who also participated in the 1938 Olympics.  He eventually became her manager and advisor.

Babe died of colon cancer in September of 1956.  Not long before that she won her third U.S. Women's Open by 12 strokes, proving once again what an amazing athlete she was. A lasting tribute of hers, along with her husband, was to establish the Babe Zaharias Fund to support cancer clinics. She was an incredible athlete--rare indeed, and women athletes everywhere can be grateful for her contributions to the world of sports.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014

"NEVER THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE LAST OF ANYTHING."

I've often felt inspired by a remarkable writer from the last century who was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1909. Eudora Welty's home in Jackson is a National Historic Landmark, and with good reason.


The outstanding writer who lived there won the Pulitzer prize for fiction, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  There's a portrait of her in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian (shown above). Her works include forty short stories, five novels, three non-fiction stories, and one children's book. She was proud of her southern roots and wrote short stories and novels about the South. 

It's not as well known, however, that Eudora Welty loved photography.  After she finished her studies in English Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she returned to Jackson, Mississippi, where she took photographs showing the Great Depression.  Her photos often showed the rural poor of Mississippi and the effects of the Great Depression. One particular book she wrote was inspired by a woman she photographed ironing in the back of a post office. It was titled "Why I Live at the Post Office." 

May 2 is a significant day in Jackson, Mississippi because it's Eudora Welty Day.  She is buried in that city, and on her headstone it repeats words from her book The Optimists Daughter:  "For her life, any life, she had to believe, was nothing but the continuity of love." 

Here are a few additional thoughts from an American writer who was a remarkable woman:

     "All serious daring starts from within."
     "A good snapshot stops a moment from running away."
     "Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into beaming a part of it."
     "Never think you've seen the last of anything."

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

"THE JOY MACHINE!"

Today I had lunch with a very dear friend whom I had not seen for at least four months.  It's always an adventure when we get together, in conversation and spirit, and in building an array of memories.  You see, my friend Anne calls herself "The Joy Machine."  Her philosophy is that she can always make her own fun in the simplest ways and spread joy everywhere she goes.  Julia Child must have been thinking of Anne when she said, "Life itself is the proper binge," because she doesn't miss a beat in making people feel cared about and appreciated.  She listens with a kind heart, smiles endlessly, and shares stories from a lifetime of learning, which has included working as a sign language interpreter, horse trainer, high school teacher, and writer. 

But perhaps one of the things I value most about Anne is her endless curiosity.  Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity."  Anne has never stopped being curious about people and what their lives are all about.  I once had a spur-of-the-moment idea when I was with her, and said, "Let me just float this out there. . . ."  She loved it, and offered up all kinds of interesting responses.  It's often been a starting point for us in conversations and the laughter follows. 

Tonight I read an interesting phrase on Facebook, which totally applies to Anne--"Remember when you were a kid and were happy for no reason?  Be that again."  I immediately thought of my delightful one-of-a-kind friend.  She's added to my life in a thousand ways and I will be forever grateful that I met her several decades ago.

Here are some quotes that make me think of this special friend:

     "Stay is a charming word in a friend's vocabulary."  (Louisa May Alcott).  Anne has remained an endearing friend through many challenging times in my life. 

     "The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts; and the art of life is to have as many of them as possible."  (Michel de Montaigne).

     "You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late."  (Old Proverb)

     "The best way to know God is to love many things."  (Vincent van Gogh).

     "We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same."  (Anne Frank).

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