"LOOK DEEP INTO NATURE. . ."

Amidst all the noise and clutter and divisions involved in this presidential election, I’ve searched for the wisdom of nature and those who write about it and speak about it to calm myself down.  As Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”  I was especially proud recently to hear my granddaughter marvel at the formation of the clouds and the skies spectacular color combinations as we made our way to school.  I was deep in thought, but she was the one who noticed. 

 

 

 

 

With only nine days to go until the election, I’m reminding myself of what the American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience.” And patient I want to be, because life is full of wonderful everyday moments, as “corny” as that may sound.  Years ago I gave a special aunt a book I knew she would appreciate; it was called AIN’T NATURE GRAND!  She enjoyed the book immensely because she loved everything about nature, including the poems written about it.  She always encouraged me and my children to appreciate and wonder about the beauty of our planet earth.  Remembering her and her calm spirit, I’ve included some simple photos of nature I've taken, along with a few meaningful quotes.

 

"In wilderness I sense the miracle of life, and behind it our scientific accomplishments fade to trivia."  (Charles Lindbergh)

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life." (Rachel Carson)

"If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere."  (Vincent Van Gogh)

 

 

 

 

MYSTERIES SURROUNDING A MUSICAL GENIUS--BEETHOVEN!

Recently a book about Beethoven nearly jumped off the shelf at me.  I first saw it at a wonderful little bookstore in northern Minnesota.  I still can’t understand why it beckoned me since I don’t spend hours and hours listening to Beethoven’s music.  I do, however, enjoy his music immensely and have always been fascinated with his life’s story and the incredible obstacles he overcame.

 

The book I mentioned is BEETHOVEN’S HAIR.  I would highly recommend reading it, even if you’re not a huge Beethoven fan.  It made me appreciate Beethoven’s passion and devotion to his music, despite the painful medical ailments he endured for decades.  It also aroused deep compassion and empathy within me for the man who endured and whose music lives on. He was a true genius!

Beethoven’s life was not easy from the start.  He was a natural musician, but at times was beaten and dragged out of bed by his father, and was forced to play the piano.  Beethoven had a strong connection with his mother, who was much the opposite of his father, but when she died, Beethoven became head of his household; his father could no longer function because of alcoholism. 

BEETHOVEN AT 13

 

When Beethoven was only a teenager, Mozart listened to one of his compositions and remarked, “Keep your eyes on that one; someday he will give the world plenty to talk about.”  And indeed he did, having composed 138 major compositions. His classical music is loved around the world, and even during his time, it was viewed as revolutionary.  He was a revered composer, and when he died, 20,000 people were in the streets of Vienna, where he had lived for many years.

Shortly before Beethoven died in 1827, at the age of 56, he was visited by a friend, who brought along a 15-year old piano student of his, Ferdinand Hiller.  They visited him several times over the next few weeks.  Beethoven encouraged the young musician to devote himself to his music, which he did for many years.

When Beethoven died, it was Ferdinand, upon the approval of his teacher Johann Hummel, who cut a lock of Beethoven’s hair.  It was not an uncommon thing to do during that time period.  In 1883 Ferdinand presented the lock of hair to his son Paul as a birthday gift.  The lock of hair was kept in an oval wooden frame and remained with the family for many years.  During World War II it transferred hands in an amazing story and still left unsolved mysteries. The book shares many more fascinating details about that time.

Amazingly, in 1994 two American men who were devoted to Beethoven and his music had an opportunity to acquire that lock of hair, which contained many strands. Because of their purchase at an auction, extensive scientific studies were conducted on Beethoven’s hair.  The belief was that perhaps the public could learn more about what caused the many illnesses that plagued Beethoven, as well as his deafness.  After lengthy research, it was discovered that he suffered from severe lead poisoning, nearly four times the normal level.  Nearly two hundred years ago little was known about the effects of lead poisoning.  We now know that large amounts of lead can cause constipation, diarrhea, stomach cramps, gout, joint pain, headaches, lack of appetite, and even hearing loss and eye problems, which were constant problems in Beethoven’s life.  One of the questions was how that poisoning occurred.  The book reveals that it may have been a combination of lead poisoning sources, including lead pills, which were prescribed by doctors, as well as wine, which contained lead, and many household items.  The medications that were meant to improve Beethoven’s health caused it to deteriorate dramatically.  He suffered greatly for years, including loss of hearing, which became profound by 1800.  It caused him immense despair.  It was his music which literally kept him alive; he felt he had much to share with the world.  He expressed those sentiments in a letter to his two brothers in 1802.  Although the letter was never sent, it was preserved through the years.  It was Beethoven’s wish that his doctor would keep it and add it to the description of his illnesses so the world might better understand him. He hoped that one day the world would know why he suffered from such painful illnesses and loss of hearing. 

Near the end of the book, the authors, Russell Martin and Lydia Nibley offer this observation:  “Nearly two centuries after his death, it was clear that Beethoven had been exposed to a massive dose of lead, a long-term poisoning by some consistent source of lead, or a cycle of lead exposures that resulted in his lifelong illnesses.  Perhaps this diagnosis could even explain something about his deep emotional states and his creative genius.”

BEETHOVEN'S GRAVE SITE IN VIENNA

 

There are many more facts and observations revealed in this wonderful book.  The drawings are also intriguing and almost mesmerizing.  I have vowed to read more in-depth accounts of Beethoven. Perhaps the most endearing quote I find ever attributed to him was, “Oh, it would be so lovely to live a thousand lives.”  No doubt his music will continue to endure for a thousand years and more!

A SUPERSTAR IN EVERY WAY!

This morning I read an article in my local newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune about an exceptional person, who just happens to be an NFL superstar.  There is no doubt that Larry Fitzgerald, who plays for the Arizona Cardinals as a wide receiver, will one day be a member of the Football Hall of Fame.  But far more important than that, as many of us have known for a long time, he’s dedicated to improving the lives of people around the world in countless ways. Yes, he donates a great deal of money to multiple charitable endeavors, but he also travels the world, visiting over 80 countries on six continents making life better for people in need.  He has helped fit children with hearing aids, dug wells and irrigation systems, and been an NFL spokesman for breast cancer awareness. He has helped tornado victims in Minneapolis, paid for underprivileged kids to participate in football camps, and provided supplies for them that they could not otherwise afford. His mother, who was a strong influence on him, worked for the Minnesota Department of Health and was also actively involved in combating breast cancer and HIV/AIDS. She died of breast cancer in 2003, but remains an exceptional inspiration to her son because of her compassion and willingness to give of herself. 

Larry Fitzgerald knows that he can make a difference with kids because they look up to him as a role model.  He wants kids to have some of the same opportunities that he did growing up in Minneapolis, and he’s tremendously giving of his time and resources.

He was invited by former President Clinton on a mission trip to Uganda last July. He knows that people everywhere look up to him, and like his mother, he has lived by example. He has also gained a worldly perspective and humility by witnessing the simple joys and appreciation of life by those in far less developed countries. 

At age 29, Larry Fitzgerald is an exemplary man who plans to continue to travel around the world to make a difference in whatever way he can.  No matter what team you support, he’s a superstar representing all of us.

EVER WONDER WHY?

I must admit to a fascination with history and politics over the years, perhaps even a mild obsession, but I sometimes chuckle over the metaphors occasionally used by journalists and commentators.  I wonder why they seem almost frenzied when they get into grading debates and presidential candidates. Last night I heard references to it being “the bottom of the ninth.”  I know that baseball fever is in the air now with the playoffs, but a presidential election is quite a different game, with much higher stakes.

Another thing I wonder about is why about forty percent of the American electorate doesn’t vote in the presidential election.  It only occurs every four years and there are usually vast differences between the candidates.  A few days ago I listened to a discussion on Minnesota Public Radio with three news people from different countries.  One of them was from Australia; he found American politics fascinating, but mentioned that it’s mandatory to vote in Australia.  I found it interesting that there’s a fine or penalty for those who don’t vote.  I wonder how that would be accepted here; I have my suspicion that there might be a revolt about that idea.  Still, I wonder why so many people opt out of the whole concept of voting.

Putting politics aside, here are a number of other things I’ve pondered about.  I’ve lumped them together into the EVER WONDER WHY category.  These are just random thoughts-- things that have crossed my mind as I’ve been out and about. 

            EVER WONDER WHY car dealers and liquor stores often have an abundance of American flags outside their establishments?  Are they more patriotic than the rest of us, or. . .?

            EVER WONDER WHY the thought of jury duty has many people agonizing, including me, while others would relish the opportunity but never get called upon?

            EVER WONDER WHY there seems to be so little patience on America’s roadways, and at times it seems like there must be a “pedestrian feeding frenzy.” I see and feel distracted drivers everywhere, and have found myself guilty as well at times.

            When I become a driver rather than a pedestrian and park as far away as I can in a shopping center parking lot, invariably someone decides to park right next to me, inches away.  I do wonder what that’s all about.  At least I’m still getting in extra walking, even if my car has an equal chance of getting its door “dinged.”

            EVER WONDER WHY people sometimes walk around in heavy coats when it’s a warm, sunny fall day?  Just because the calendar says mid-October doesn’t mean that winter is upon us.  I guess that’s what years of living in Minnesota is like.  On the flip side, there are plenty of Midwesterners who walk around in shorts and t-shirts when it’s below zero.  Still wondering about that!

            And yes, I wonder frequently about people who drive into DO NOT ENTER areas around libraries, fast food places, businesses, etc.  I guess it seems to them like it’s no big deal.  Still makes me wonder!

            I wonder too about the elderly gentleman who recently entered the express lane ahead of me and just decided abruptly to come to a complete stop as people in the non-express lane motored on. Good that my father taught me about patience being an important virtue, along with being prepared for most anything.

            And of course, I wonder why chocolate is always so hard to resist.  Rationalization is the easy part.

            Just wondering what those thoughts are all about and what ponderings others have.  At this point in my life, I guess I should just be grateful for an active mind that's ever curious.  That little girl sure was!  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! 

AN EXTRAORDINARY AMERICAN WOMAN--108 YEARS STRONG!

MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS

 

Nearly two hundred years ago President Andrew Jackson said, “One man with courage makes a majority.”  In reality, he could have been speaking about an extraordinary American woman named Marjory Stoneman Douglas.  She, more than anyone else, fought tirelessly and valiantly to save the Everglades of Florida.  She faced strong opposition from landowners and agricultural and business interests who wanted the Everglades drained because they considered it swampland, a nuisance and mosquito infested and wanted to build homes on it.  She took up the cause at the age of 79 and continued until her death at the amazing age of 108. 

 

In 1993 Marjory was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton, the highest civilian honor awarded in the United States.  She was once visited by Queen Elizabeth II and gave her a copy of her famous book, THE EVERGLADES, RIVER OF GRASS.  When she died in 1998 the INDEPENDENT, a British newspaper wrote, “In the history of the American environmental movement, there have been few more remarkable figures than Marjory Stoneman Douglas.”  She became known as the “Grandmother of the Glades.”

Marjory was a persuasive and eloquent speaker.  Her supporters became known as Marjory’s Army.  Regarding the Everglades, she once remarked, that “swamp” was an important part of the ecosystem.  She called the Everglades “a river of grass,” just as the native tribes did many years before.  In her 1947 book she described the world of water and grass and how it held “the secrets of time.”  Her first line in the book stated, “There are no other Everglades in the world.”  Her book didn’t take long to sell out and it got people involved in the importance of protecting the region.  Lawton Chiles, former Florida governor once said about her, “Marjory was the first voice to really wake a lot of us up to what we were doing to our quality of life.  She was not just a pioneer of the environmental movement, she was a prophet, calling out to us to save the environment for our children and our grandchildren.”

Marjory Stoneman Douglas was born April 7, 1890 and was an accomplished writer and environmentalist,as well as a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, civil rights, and the fight against poverty. She wrote over one hundred short stories for magazines and in 1915 she started working for the newspaper her father started, which became the Miami Herald. As a reporter she wrote about life and events in Florida in the early 1900’s.  At that time there were only a few thousand people living in Miami. She joined the Red Cross in World War I and cared for refugees in France.  When she returned to the U.S. she became assistant editor for the Miami Herald.  In 1923 she left the newspaper and branched out on her own, continuing to write and speak out about injustices that she saw.  She had learned to become a risk taker, just as her father, who was an adventurer and one unwilling to accept defeat, despite several business failures.  He also strongly opposed attempts to drain the Everglades and influenced Marjory in that regard.

MARJORY AS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE

 

Marjory was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and was an only child.  Her parents moved to Providence, Rhode Island when she was three and separated by the time she was six.  Reading became a means of escape for Marjory and she started writing her own stories, the first of which was published when she was only 16.  As her mother became seriously ill, it was her grandmother who encouraged Marjory to become independent.  She attended Wellesley College near Boston and in 1911 she and her college friends formed a club to support women’s voting rights.  Her mother, whom she was very close to, died shortly after Marjory’s graduation.  She had been a talented musician.

Today, little more than a decade after Marjory’s death, there is a nature center in Key Biscayne, Florida called the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Nature Center.  For Marjory it  represented the importance of our connection and dedication to the environment.  Few things she viewed as more important.

One day I hope to visit the Everglades.  I’m certain that it will be a memorable and inspirational journey and Marjory Stoneman Douglas will be there in spirit.  She is proof of the amazing difference one person can make in our world.

POIGNANT AUTUMN DAYS!

Recently after I dropped my grandchildren off at school, I drove over to Medicine Lake for a relaxed stroll along the lake, taking in the beautiful fall colors.  I had barely gotten started when a good friend of mine called with startling news—her son had been killed in a car accident a few days earlier. I grappled with any meaningful words to say.  She had gone through so much over the last few years, but this had to be the most devastating occurrence of all.  How could I begin to imagine what she was experiencing?  Having three children of my own, the loss seemed incomprehensible.  I offered my heartfelt sympathies and told her to call me day or night.

Early the next week I called to invite her to lunch if she felt up to it.  We met at a favorite lunch spot and had a memorable time with the little boy she takes care of.  She had gone back to work that day.  Then we drove to a delightful, quaint Minneapolis playground.  While her little guy played with other kids, my friend and I sat at a park bench and just talked for several hours about her son, the exquisite fall day, and our memories of days spent together when we both worked as nannies.  And there were plenty of silent moments, but they weren’t awkward; they were very poignant.  I will never forget that afternoon, and I doubt that she will.  We ended the day at a little ice cream shop.  When it was time to leave, there was a realization of what this day had meant.  As I drove to pick up my grandchildren, I understood the fragile nature of our lives, but the richness of it as well. 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering my friend, I’d like to share a few photos from that poignant day and week.

LESSONS FROM BETTY WHITE, A LEGEND!

BETTY WHITE AT A 2010 GALA EVENT

 

BETTY WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE WHITE HOUSE

 

One of the most popular women in America today is the ninety-year old actress, television personality, singer, author, and animal lover and crusader, Betty White. She’s been an actress for over sixty years and has won seven Emmy Awards.  She hosted Saturday Night Live in 2010 and was the oldest person to ever do so.  She’s been on numerous hit shows, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Golden Girls, as well as Hot in Cleveland.  There’s an endless list of shows she’s appeared on and actors she’s worked with.

I have long admired Betty’s acting talent and zest for life, her infectious humor, and her unwavering support for animals of all types.  In addition, she has a strong sense of tradition, yet a real quirkiness and an ability to think “outside the box.”

Betty White was born in Illinois, but moved to California with her family during the Great Depression.  She wanted to be a writer, but discovered an acting career in high school.  She’s never given up her love of writing, however.

She still loves playing poker with friends, as well as games, and is admittedly addicted to crossword puzzles, which she calls “mental gymnastics.” 

Betty grew up in a family that loved animals and had many of them.  She wanted to be a forest ranger or zookeeper, but at the time she grew up, that was not a possibility for girls.  Instead, she’s worked with a Los Angeles zoo for nearly fifty years.  One of her proudest moments was being invited to become an Honorary Forest Ranger at a special ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.  It was a very emotional moment for her as it brought up memories of her father.  Betty has said, “I shall continue to work my hardest to spread the word that not only must we protect our wilderness areas—we must appreciate them.  They are an endangered species.”

Betty once admitted she enjoyed being with animals more than humans.  She added, “Animals don’t lie.  Animals don’t criticize.  If animals have moody days, they handle them better than humans do.” 

Loving animals as I do, I find many of her comments heartwarming.  Here are a few additional ones:

            “Cats love you very much—they are just more subtle about it.”

            “I can’t imagine being without animals.  And there are so many older dogs that need homes desperately.  So that’s where I’ll look, and we can grow old together.”

In her latest book, BETTY WHITE, If You Ask Me, she also offers other important words of wisdom, gained from experience:

            “I think everybody needs a passion.  Whether it’s one passion or a hundred, that’s what keeps life interesting.”  Betty talked about her passion for writing. She loves to purchase writing tablets and notebooks, and says that it recharges her battery when she’s searching for things to write about.  She mentioned John Steinbeck, a good friend who would do the same thing when experiencing writer’s block.

One thing I’ve often thought about as I’ve gotten older and Betty expressed so eloquently:

            “One thing they don’t tell you about growing old—you don’t feel old, you just feel like yourself.”

And finally, a few additional thoughts from a remarkable woman:

            “You can’t get carried away with your image, because you know better than anyone else who the Real person is.  You don’t just luck into integrity.  You work at it.”

            “If you’ve ever lost a loved one, or witnessed it, you can’t help but see that the body is an envelope for the letter.”

BETTY'S STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

 

Betty will be ninety-one next January and she has no plans to retire.  She is a divine inspiration!

A ST. PAUL LEGEND--CHARLES SCHULZ, CREATOR OF 'PEANUTS'

 

On November 26, it will be ninety years since the birth of an amazing American cartoonist who brought joy and laughter to millions of people around the world. Charles Schulz, better known as “Sparky” had a passion for drawing cartoons from the time he was a young boy.  He enjoyed observing people in different situations and described it as “mental drawing.”

Charles received his nickname from an uncle shortly after his birth.  The name came from a horse featured in a popular comic strip called Barney Google.  He remained “Sparky” throughout the rest of his life.

Sparky’s parents encouraged him to draw.  He and his father read and analyzed the comic strips in papers and Sparky often drew things with an unusual twist. His kindergarten teacher recognized that and once said, “Someday, Charles, you’re going to be an artist.”

The insults Charles experienced as a child often worked their way into his cartoons, as well as people he interacted with. His best friend’s mother played the piano and loved Beethoven.  Later PEANUTS character Schroeder played Beethoven’s music on his toy piano in Sparky’s comic strips. Sparky had a great sense of humor and his comics often reflected that. He once said, “There are no artists in the family, but there are a lot of funny people.”

Growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota Sparky loved playing hockey, and his father even turned the backyard into a skating rink.  I found myself especially relating to the picture of his grandmother playing goalie against him.  In 1993 he was even inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. 

But hockey wasn’t his only love.  He also played baseball, and that too showed up in his cartoons, as the well-known character he created (Charlie Brown) often wound up on the losing end in ball games. 

SPARKY AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

 

Sparky was a shy, skinny teenager and was eager to finish school.  More than anything he wanted his drawings to succeed and receive credit.  He was frustrated that his drawings never made it into his high school yearbook, even though they were submitted, and many years later he admitted, “That was a crushing blow.”

Those who encouraged him along the way, however—his parents, his high school art teacher, and others were fondly remembered.  He wanted desperately to become a professional cartoonist, and at the age of fourteen, his first drawing was accepted—that of his unusual dog Spike who sometimes ate pins, tacks, and razor blades.  Sparky got the drawing of Spike published in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. 

Sparky’s parents paid for him to enroll in a drawing correspondence course during his senior year in high school.  They paid for it in small installments every month. They knew how much he loved drawing and encouraged him in every way they could.

Not long after that he was drafted into the army.  As he prepared to leave for training, his mother became ill and died in early 1943.  It was a rough blow for Sparky, who was very close to her.  It was Dena, his mother who told him to name his next dog Snoopy, which he did years later.  Snoopy became the famous and talented daredevil in Sparky’s PEANUTS comic strip.  Snoopy was the dreamer, like Sparky.

After Sparky’s time in the army, he worked on comic strips for a St. Paul company and studied students artwork and drawings for another school.  Eventually he started drawing pictures of kids and he used the names Linus and Charlie Brown from friends he met at the art instruction school. 

Sparky received a big break when he got some of his cartoons published in the St. Paul newspaper and the Saturday Evening Post magazine.  From there his cartooning took off rapidly.  By 1950 his PEANUTS comic strip ran in seven newspapers across the country. 

Sparky’s first love, a woman who also worked at the art school and had red hair, ended in bitter disappointment for him.  He had hoped to marry her, but it never worked out.  She did, however, become his inspiration for the red-haired girl in his cartoons. 

By 1951 Sparky married and adopted his new wife’s one-year old daughter.  They moved to Colorado from Minnesota and it was there that he created “outrageous” Lucy, who reminded him of his own new daughter.  Linus, always the curious one, was added after the development of Lucy.

Colorado was a brief stay, and within a year, Sparky and his young family were back in Minneapolis.  His cartoon work grew, as did his income, and his cartoons became wildly popular on college campuses.  Within a few years one hundred newspapers were carrying his PEANUTS cartoons. 

Sparky and his wife Joyce had five children, and by 1958 they had moved to California, where a former friend lived.  She had encouraged them to leave the snow and cold of Minnesota behind.

By 1965 Charles Schulz, widely popular cartoonist had his first television program, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS, which now nearly fifty years later, has become a classic.  I still enjoy watching it with my grandchildren, as Charlie Brown searches for the meaning of Christmas.  One of my favorite parts is watching Charlie decorate his simple little tree with help from his friends. 

More television specials followed, including a CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING.  In 1966 his Christmas special won an Emmy award and Sparky accepted it saying, “Charlie Brown is not used to winning, so we say thank you.”

As time went on, Snoopy, Charlie’s adventurous dog became an astronaut in one of Sparky’s comic strips, and in 1969 the Apollo 10 space crew named the command module Charlie Brown and the lunar module Snoopy.

Sparky and his wife divorced in 1972, but his comic strips continued.  By late 1973 he re-married.  Ironically, he met his wife at the Warm Puppy Café.

Sparky always remembered his early cartooning days and was eager to help others new to the business.  He was an avid reader and remained curious about life. Snoopy often reflected what Sparky was feeling in his own life.  At times Sparky researched events that he wanted to portray in his comic strips.  That was especially true of the fiftieth anniversary of the D-Day invasion.  His own experience as a young army soldier in World War II had strengthened him mentally and physically.  He never forgot the importance of D-Day, a turning point in the war, and wanted to honor those who had fought so valiantly.  He spent a lot of time researching the historical event and created a lengthy comic strip.

In doing research about Sparky, what delighted me was his comment that “It’s hard to convince people when you’re just staring out the window that you’re doing your hardest work of the day.”  Sometimes ideas for him were slow to come and at other times they came in waves.  Boy, could I relate!

For over fifty years Sparky drew and wrote his own cartoon strips.  He had a wonderful sense of humor, which was reflected in his cartoons.  He loved spreading happiness and imparting lessons learned in his own life.  I’ll always remember Charlie Brown saying “Good grief” and Lucy’s “Rats.”   And who could forget Charlie’s endless attempts to kick the football, only to have Lucy pull the ball away at the last minute.  I kept hoping that just once Charlie Brown could show her! 

 

In later years Sparky won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an induction into the Cartoonist Hall of Fame.  How proud his parents would have been to see that!

I enjoyed reading Sparky’s one-time comment to a journalist, “I’m a little bit of all the characters because that’s what I draw.  I used to be more Lucy than I am now. . but I’ve learned to temper my sarcastic remarks.”

In 1999 Sparky learned that he had colon cancer and decided to retire from the comic strip he created.  His medical problems were serious and it was hard for him to accept.  His final cartoon appeared in February of 2000, and Sparky died the night before.

Charles Schulz left an amazing legacy and once said, “If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.”  I’m trying hard Sparky, and it gets easier as I age.

CHARLES SCHULZ, WINNER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

 

In remembering Sparky, a Minnesota legend, here are a few of his memorable quotes.

     “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today.  It is already tomorrow in Australia.”

     “Life is like an ice-cream cone.  You have to lick it one day at a time.”

     “Sometimes I lie awake at night and ask, “Where have I gone wrong?”  Then a voice says to me, “This is going to take more than one night.”

SPARKY WITH HIS WIFE AND HIS POPULAR 'SNOOPY' CREATION IN CALIFORNIA

 

I often see PEANUTS statues on my drives around the Twin Cities, and it always makes me smile.  Maybe Sparky’s smiling somewhere too!

A CITY REPRIEVE and A LOOK AT LABYRINTHS

Lately I’ve been searching more and more for ways to calm my mind, and at the same time find a balance that’s too often absent in my life.  I want to return to simple walks that are enjoyable and also lead to a healthier me. This morning I followed my intuition and found a quiet, meditative place that I’ve often thought of, but rarely visited. Amazingly, I only encountered one other person while I was there. It was just what I needed and craved.

 

The Millennium Garden in Plymouth, Minnesota is an incredibly beautiful place.  What I’m especially drawn to is the labyrinth and the simple beauty surrounding it. 

 

A STONE LABYRINTH IN SWEDEN
 

A LABYRINTH IN A FRANKFURT, GERMANY CHURCH, WITH TEALIGHTS

 

A BOSTON COLLEGE MEMORIAL LABYRINTH

 

Labyrinths, I’ve learned, date back at least 4,000 years.  They’re used by people of all different faiths and cultures around the world.  The walking paths are wonderfully meditative and helpful in quieting your mind and finding balance in your life.  Staying on the path leads to the center, but you can exit at any point; there’s no right or wrong way to follow it.  It’s a way to let go of your cares, ask questions, and escape from the frenzied world we live in.  It’s a path to well-being and simple joy, and I plan to make it more a part of my life. 

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 myself every day of how incredibly blessed I am.  First, to have such a kind, generous friend I love to spend time with, and secondly, to have a serene and magical place to rest and re-generate and watch the waves roll in hour after hour.  Tonight I stood next to the shore, staring at the endless waves and gorgeous pink sky overhead.  There was no one nearby.  I felt that life couldn’t be any more perfect.  Blessed solitude!

But, like many of us, I’m reminded that those waves of my past haven’t always been so easy to navigate.  At times I’ve created my own obstacles and roadblocks and at other times LIFE just happened—often joyful, but at times also extremely painful and difficult.  Often I was searching for something else “out there,” and the wisdom of others always seemed better than my own.  My insecurity and anxiety no doubt fueled the search and lack of trust in my own abilities.  But now none of that seems to matter. 

 

 

 

The waves remind me of the timelessness of life. Everything else seems insignificant. The intensity of the waves often changes, just as the events in my life and those close to me.  But I’m on more solid footing now and I can appreciate the view more than ever.

A LIFE REMEMBERED!

As I sit in Target sipping on coffee while listening to people ordering their specialty drinks, my mind strangely wanders to a desperately poor man, an ancestor of mine who lived in parts of two different centuries.  His ancestors had first come to this country from England in 1635, and within a relatively short period of time, they became prominent members of Connecticut history.  Much has been written about them, and William and Elizabeth Tuttle are buried on the grounds of what became Yale University.

My great-great-great grandfather Rensselear Tuttle, who was nicknamed “Rancy” had a much different path.  He was born in Connecticut in August of 1789, the year George Washington became our first president in a unanimous vote of the electoral college.  It was also the year that the Bill of Rights was adopted and the first Thanksgiving Day was observed. That same year the Department of Treasury was founded and Alexander Hamilton was appointed as Secretary of the Treasury.  It was a trail of historic events in Rancy’s first year of life. I wonder what his early years were like and if he was aware of all the historic events around him as he grew to manhood. He was the oldest of eight children. His parents, Bostwick and Luania were very young parents and by 1810 they had moved to New York. It was there that Rensselear married Clarissa Crozier. By 1830 they journeyed on to Ohio where they lived for many years.  Clarissa became a mother for the last time at the age of 47; Rensselear was already 55. What a surprise that must have been!

By the 1860’s three of their sons were enlisted in the Civil War.  One of those sons, William, became a prominent and well-to-do Wisconsin legislator in 1858. Rancy and Clarissa lived with him at one point.

The two of them spent the last years of their lives with their children in various parts of Wisconsin, the last area being Clark County, where I grew up.  They were considered paupers and received a meager sum of $2.00 a week from the township they lived in for their care.  I have a hard time imagining how they survived on that amount, but there was no social security until many years later. From accounts I’ve read, when Clarissa and Rancy died, they were probably buried in unmarked lots near many other family members.  There are several graves marked with a simple wooden cross.  An obituary notice in an 1880 local paper tells of the school house where the service for Rensselear took place.

When Rancy died in July of 1880, he was one of the oldest people living in Clark County.  He had lived through the administrations of many presidents, the last being James Garfield, who became president in 1880.  That same year Helen Keller was born.

MY GRANDMOTHER MYRTLE TUTTLE (far right), about twenty-five years after her great-grandfather Rensselear died; this photo is from the same county where Rancy lived.

 

Rensselear experienced major historical events during his ninety-plus years, and although very poor, he will never be forgotten. This is one small way that I can pay tribute to him and keep his memory alive.  My grandmother Myrtle was nearly five when he died.  I wish I could go back and ask her if she had ever met him.  He must have had some amazing stories to tell.  I can only imagine!

PAWS AND REFLECT!

"CATS ARE CONNOISSEURS OF COMFORT."  (James Herriot)

HAPPY IS THE HOME WITH AT LEAST ONE CAT!  (Italian proverb)

Today, a quiet Sunday before a holiday, I spent part of the day on the porch playing board games with my grandchildren and observing Rocky, the social and lovable house cat who’s almost always in a relaxed mode.  When my grandson and I started playing CAREERS, Rocky took his pedestrian walk across the board and then curled up in the comfortable game box.  Not only does he try to find the most adorable pose, but he makes me pause to reflect and wonder why I can’t be more relaxed and carefree like that, at least part of the time. But just being around him makes me soften and smile a lot.  At times we strike up an odd sort of conversation and dance.  Suffice it to say that I’ve grown to love this cat. 

I didn’t grow up loving cats though, mostly because I’d never really been around them.  I was often afraid that when I did see one, it would sense my fear and jump right up on me.  That would have sent me in a panic!  I’d always had a dog in my life and they seemed far more predictable and affectionate. I still love dogs and am anxious to meet my new grand dog Hank.  He’s my son and daughter-in-law’s new lab addition to their household. I hear lots of stories about him and find myself wondering how he and Rocky would get along if they ever met, which isn’t likely to happen, but fun to speculate about.  I’ve learned that there’s a world of difference between dogs and cats, but now I’ve come to love them both.  And since I’m living with one adorable cat, I’m finding a little more joy and fun in every day. 

"ALWAYS TURN AND LOOK WHEN YOUR CAT GAZES BEHIND YOU WITH THAT INTENT LOOK IN HER EYES.  SOME DAY THERE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE SOMETHING THERE."  (anonymous)

These are a few Rocky photos of the day, with added commentary so there’s time to PAWS AND REFLECT. 

"Thousands of years ago cats were worshipped as gods.  Cats have never forgotten this."  (anonymous)

"Dogs come when they're called; cats get back to you later."  (Mary Bly)

"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast."  (unknown)

"Time spent with cats is never wasted."  (May Sarton)

"No matter what you've done wrong, always try to make it look like the dog did it."  (unknown)