"A GRANDFATHER IS SOMEONE . . ."

MY DAD WITH MY NORWEGIAN GRANDFATHER; THEY BOTH LOVED CHILDREN.

 

Some time ago an unknown author remarked, “A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.” Those words could easily have been spoken about my father.  He adored his grandson and I will always cherish the only picture I have of them together, when our son was only two months old.  I especially remember him now because March 1 marks the thirty-ninth anniversary of his passing.

MY MATERNAL GRANDFATHER (ON RIGHT)

 

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD IN WISCONSIN

 

MY TWO GREAT-GRANDFATHERS, ARNE AND FRANCIS

 

I also remember my grandfather Oluf, who was born on the same day (Feb. 4) as his father Arne.  I never met Arne, but I’ve heard many stories about him and his travels to Wisconsin from Norway.  He and my grandfather were incredibly hardworking men, as was my father.  They were not afraid to take risks in order to provide a better life for their families.  I honor their memory and that of grandfathers and great-grandfathers everywhere with these special quotes and photos.

            “GRANDFATHER, GREAT SPIRIT, ONCE MORE BEHOLD ME ON EARTH AND LEAN TO HEAR MY FEEBLE VOICE.”  (BLACK ELK)

            “MY GRANDFATHER TAUGHT ME GENEROSITY.  HE SOLD SNOW CONES IN HARLEM.  I WENT WITH HIM AT 5 AND HE LET ME HAND OUT THE CHANGE AND SNOW CONES.  I LEARNED A LOT IN THE COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE DID THAT.”                                        (ERIK ESTRADA)

            “MORE AND MORE WHEN I SINGLE OUT THE PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME MOST, I GO BACK TO MY GRANDFATHER.”  (JAMES EARL JONES)

            “I WAS TOLD BY MY GRANDFATHER WHO WAS A MINISTER THAT WE ALL WERE PUT HERE ON EARTH TO BE OF SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND IT IS QUITE GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT IF I AM ABLE TO BE OF HELP TO ONE THAT IS NOT ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES, THEN I AM FULFILLING MY OBLIGATION AS A HUMAN BEING.”  (DIONNE WARWICK)

            “NO COWBOY WAS FASTER ON THE DRAW THAN A GRANDPARENT PULLING A BABY PICTURE OUT OF A WALLET.”  (UNKNOWN AUTHOR)

            “IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE I COME BY THE PASSIONATE COMMITMENT I HAVE TO BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, IT ALL STARTED WITH MY GRANDFATHER.”  (BILL CLINTON)

 

            “YOU’VE GOT TO DO YOUR OWN GROWING, NO MATTER HOW TALL YOUR GRANDFATHER WAS.”  (IRISH PROVERB)

AN UNEXPECTED SONGWRITER

Today, Monday, February 25 is the 76^th birthday of a dedicated, hard-working, loyal man who’s been trusted by Americans for decades.  He also has an interest you probably wouldn’t suspect—he loves song writing and has worked with different musicians across America.  Bob Schieffer has been with CBS for over four decades as a journalist, anchor, and challenging interviewer of politicians and others on FACE THE NATION.  I’ve admired and respected him for a long time.  I’ve also learned a lot from his perspective on the news.

Bob Schieffer was born in Fort Worth, Texas and served in the Air Force as a young man.  Through his years on television he’s won six Emmy awards for excellence and has written several books.  He also appeared on 60 MINUTES for over twenty years. He’s a leader in his field and inspires the confidence of millions.

So today, I send my best wishes for a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to a man who’s given much to his country.  Here’s wishing there are many more!

"SOONER OR LATER"

 

Probably my favorite quote in the world was expressed by Susan B. Anthony, an American civil rights and women’s rights and women’s suffrage leader who lived from 1820-1906.  An amazing woman of her time, she paved the way for women of future generations. For a period of time she gave nearly one hundred speeches a year.  I’ve included her memorable quote, along with photos of mine that I felt matched the sentiment she expressed.

 

"SOONER OR LATER WE ALL DISCOVER THAT THE IMPORTANT MOMENTS IN LIFE ARE NOT THE ADVERTISED ONES, NOT THE BIRTHDAYS, THE GRADUATIONS, THE WEDDINGS, NOT THE GREAT GOALS ACHIEVED.  THE REAL MILESTONES ARE LESS PREPOSSESSING.  THEY COME TO THE DOOR OF MEMORY UNANNOUNCED, STRAY DOGS THAT AMBLE IN, SNIFF AROUND A BIT, AND SIMPLY NEVER LEAVE.  OUR LIVES ARE MEASURED BY THESE."

SPECIAL FRIENDS WITH THEIR BUGGIES

 

 

HEINZ RICHTER AS A YOUNG BOY

 



OUR SON WITH A SPECIAL CABIN NEIGHBOR

MY AUNT ELLEN WITH OUR SON

 

MY BROTHER AND FRIEND

 

 

ME WITH MY BROTHERS

 

MY MOTHER AND HER NIECE

 

MY MOTHER WITH HER CAMPING FRIENDS

 

MY AUNT WITH HER FRIENDS

 

A SPECIAL BABY, OUR DAUGHTER

 

 

HEINZ'S TOUGH DAY

 

MY AUNT ELLEN WITH SPECIAL PALS

 

CABIN MEMORIES WITH MOM

 

 

A SPECIAL AUNT, EARLY 1900'S

 

           

"KEEP TRYING, FLY HIGH"

Bessie Coleman once told her mother that she was going to “amount to something.”  In her short, but remarkable lifetime she did more than that; she inspired countless others around the world to follow their dreams and not let anything hold them back.

 

Bessie became the first African American to earn a pilot’s license. As one of thirteen children born to sharecropper parents in Atlanta, Texas, Bessie loved to read and dream of a better life.  Her two brothers who had fought in World War I and returned home safely told her about French women who could fly planes.  Bessie listened intently to those stories and was determined that she would one day fly a plane.

A Chicago newspaper editor, Robert Abbott told her that she could learn to fly in France; she just needed to save her money and learn French.  He offered to help her find a flying school when she did.

Bessie moved to Chicago in 1915 at the age of 23.  Initially she worked as a manicurist in a barber shop.  From there she went to work in a restaurant and took French lessons from a Berlitz school in Chicago.  She was able to get some financial help from a banker, but not able to attend an American flying school because of discrimination against blacks and women. That was not about to stop Bessie, however.  Her passion for learning to fly was resolute.

Within seven months Bessie earned her international flying license in France, despite knowing no one when she arrived.  Her obstacles often seemed insurmountable to others, but to Bessie they were just challenging steps along the way.  She performed at numerous air shows in the U.S, including one on Long Island in 1922.  She did stunt flying and daredevil maneuvers to earn money and formulate her dream to open a flying school for African Americans.  She also spoke to audiences around the country and was admired by blacks and whites everywhere. Some called her QUEEN BESSIE.

One area where Bessie drew the line, however, was in refusing to perform in air shows where African Americans were not allowed to purchase tickets.  Her message to blacks was “You can do something too.  Keep trying.  Fly high!”

Eventually Bessie was able to buy her own plane, but it crashed in California; she wound up in a hospital for three months.  The planes she could afford were not in good shape, but she wasn’t afraid of taking risks; she had done it all her life.

Bessie was about to realize her dream of opening a flying school, but in 1926, the day before the air show in Jacksonville, Florida, her plane crashed during an aerial show rehearsal with her mechanic friend and the two of them were killed.  Her funeral was held in Chicago, where 5,000 people attended.  She had encouraged so many others to follow their dreams and never give up. She had dared to follow her passion for flying and today is considered a pioneer in women’s aviation.  In 1995 a commemorative stamp was issued in her honor, and I’m proud to say that my eleven year old granddaughter told me about learning of Bessie’s achievements this year. Today a Chicago public library is even named after her.

Bessie Coleman died in 1926 at the age of 33, but her legacy will live on and continue to inspire people worldwide.

TIME MARCHES ON!

Winter scene at the cabin

 

My childhood park in Wisconsin

 

One of my mother’s favorite refrains in her later years was, “Time marches on.”  Such a simple phrase, and yet so thought provoking.  The trouble is, it seems like it marches faster all the time.  I’m not sure why, but I feel especially drawn to nature themes now. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the great American writer once said, “After reading Thoreau, I felt how much I have lost by leaving nature out of my life.”  That sums up my feelings too.  And as much as I long for spring, I’m trying to stay in the moment because that’s all we really have anyway. 

Serenity--Lake Superior

photo by Heinz Richter--at the cabin
 

A special pal at Lake Harriet in Minneapolis
 

A foggy day in Rhode Island

 

 

A special morning

My gully pal

A few nature memories from the more recent past, and some that others have shared with me, for which I am grateful. 

**A footnote--Sometimes I think my grandchildren overlook beautiful nature scenes as we drive around the Twin Cities, and I feel a wee bit annoyed.  And then one day my granddaughter says, "Grandma, you've got to come see this."  I look out the front door and there it is--the most beautiful sunrise ever. A moment I won't ever forget!

"THE HEART THAT LOVES . . ."

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, celebrated widely around the world, and on this day I often remember fondly special people who have been part of my life, as well as those who have made an imprint in some way.  I especially remember my grandparents who were married for over 60 years, and although poor monetarily, were rich in spirit and love for one another and family. It was Oscar Wilde who said, “Who, being loved, is poor? Oh, no one.”

There’s a wonderful Greek proverb that says, “The heart that loves is always young.”  Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or just an ordinary day, “Love is truly the only gold.” 

My mother with her dear friend Verna

 

And on February 14, the day love is in the air, here's to all the special kinds of love, including cherished friendships. Thomas Jefferson once said, "The happiest moments of my life have been the flow of affection among friends."

 

     "When the leaves of your album are yellow with age,

     And the words that I write here are dim on the page,

     Still think of me kindly and do not forget,

     That wherever I am, I remember you yet." 

                    YOUR DEAREST FRIENDS

    

 

Mom with her friends Georgia and Wilbur

 

                                             

 

photo by Monika Kopek

 

                                Thinking of all those special people in my life,

                                                      HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 

 

 

ALMOST ANYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL!

 

Wanda Gag, a Minnesota artist who was passionate about drawing and writing children’s stories once said, “Draw the things about you . . . the very ordinary things, such as chairs, stoves, wood piles, frying pans, smokestacks.  Almost anything is beautiful and drawable, if you can look at it that way.”

Those were inspirational words for me, as I sought to write about everyday things, however simple they seemed.  Nothing was too insignificant and I became a more interested observer. In many ways Wanda was my mentor.

I first became interested in Wanda Gag when I discovered one of her delightful children’s stories—MILLIONS OF CATS, which is still the oldest American picture book in print.  I read it over and over to my children and was fascinated by the simple illustrations. 

Wanda grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota.  She was part of a very artistic family, involved in storytelling, drawing, and writing stories and poems.  She spoke German as a child, and in later years, became a translator as well as an artist.  She adored her father, who was a well-known regional artist, as well as a painter and photographer.  Unfortunately, he died when Wanda was only 15.  Before his death he told his beloved daughter, “What Papa couldn’t do, Wanda will have to finish.”  And she did, with a flourish.  But along the way she did everything she could to support the other five children in her family.  Wanda was the oldest daughter and needed to do all the housework and cooking.  At one point she sold cards she had made to support her younger siblings.  Her dream had always been to be an artist.  She and a friend wrote stories together and Wanda included stories of her own.  For four years, from 1913 to 1917 she attended the St. Paul School of Art and the Minneapolis School of Art. 

Wanda also entered magazine contests and sent in some of her drawings and stories to earn money.  She was devoted to her family and determined to help them survive financially.

In 1917 Wanda went to New York to attend an art school on scholarship.  She became a commercial artist in 1919.  Many of her prints are in the National Gallery of Arts.  One famous artist who was inspired by her work was Maurice Sendak.  In all, Wanda wrote ten children’s books.  She became well-known internationally for her lithographs.

Wanda loved the country and often worked in New England during the summer.  She was a rare children’s author and illustrator for the time. She was thrilled to eventually see her work sell at well-known New York galleries.

Wanda Gag died of lung cancer in 1946 at the age of 53.  She was putting together another book of fairy tales at the time.  Her younger sister Flavia completed the book, which was called MORE TALES FROM GRIMM.

Today there's a wonderful Wanda Gag museum in her hometown of New Ulm, Minnesota, where stories of her life and work are proudly told. It’s an enchanting place to visit.

Wanda Gag was an extraordinary woman—uniquely gifted in drawing and storytelling and a kind, compassionate human being. She was often confronted with adversity, but always dealt with it admirably.  Papa would have been extraordinarily proud of her. What Papa couldn't do, Wanda did indeed finish.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE GAME MOM LOVED!

My mother passed on her love of sports to me.  In the spring and summer it was all about baseball for her—from spring training games in Arizona where she could watch the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, to summers at our Wisconsin cabin listening to radio broadcasts. Nobody could call a game like the legendary Bob Uecker of the Brewers, unless it was Harry Caray of the Cubs. The Cubs were her team as much as the Brewers; she loved to reminisce about players she adored—Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg,  Henry Aaron, Warren Spahn, to name a few.  She just loved baseball, win or lose. 

MOM WITH HER BASEBALL STARS AND HEROES

 

One day Mom was at the Cubs spring training ballpark in Arizona and was accidentally hit on the wrist by a foul ball.  Although it was painful, the benefit of being able to meet and hug a few of her heroes made it all worthwhile.  It didn’t stop her from going to as many games as she could over the next decade.  Now that she’s moved on to the “next level of play,” I always think of her when spring training is just around the corner and the long winter is about over.  I’ll never forget the hundreds of ballgames we went to through the years and the joy we shared.  There’s currently snow on the ground and a new round of flakes swirling about, but I’m still excited about Opening Day and the sound of PLAY BALL! Spring training gets it all started. 

Here are a few quotes to share from the world of baseball:

            "It’s designed to break your heart.  The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”  (Former Commissioner of Baseball, A. Bartlett Giamatti)

            “If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I’d trip her.  Oh, I’d pick her up and brush her off and say, “Sorry, Mom,” but nobody beats me.”  (Leo Durocher, former baseball manager)—My mom would have loved that one.

            “It might be . . . it could be . . . it is!”  (Harry Caray’s home run call)

            “I don’t want them to forget Ruth.  I just want them to remember me.”  (Hank Aaron)

We remember you Henry, and the special lady who loved you and your game as well!

WINTER WONDERS IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA!

Recently I visited a friend in northern Minnesota and marveled at the peace and tranquility of the region.  Solitude is a sacred word to me, and I found it there.  At one point we drove farther north to Duluth, which is on the north shore of Lake Superior.  Along with Superior, Wisconsin, it forms the Twin Ports.  Duluth was named after Daniel Greysolon, Le Sieur du Luth, a French explorer who lived from 1639-1710. He must have been thrilled with his discovery.

 

 

I’ve included some photos of the Duluth harbor area, as well as the region south of there, where the deer contentedly roam and search for food.  I could have watched and observed them for hours.  May Sarton, a prolific American writer sums up my feelings best:  “Whatever peace I know rests in the natural world, in feeling myself a part of it, even in a small way.”

ELEGANT CRYSTAL RIVER!

There are many beautiful rivers in my home state of Wisconsin, but one that has special meaning and loveliness is the Crystal River, near the small town of Waupaca, Wisconsin.  It’s also the region where my childhood friend lived until her tragic death of leukemia at age 13, over 50 years ago.  In remembering her, I’d like to share a winter's photo of the Crystal River and a beautiful location, as well as a poem I wrote about the majestic river over ten years ago.

MAJESTIC RIVER, EVER CHANGING UPON THE STREAM OF TIME,

NOT UNLIKE THE FRAGILE, UNPREDICTABLE COURSE OF HUMAN LIFE.

ELEGANT CRYSTAL RIVER, GLIDING GRACEFULLY ‘ROUND THE BEND.

TO EACH OF US, WHAT MAGICAL, MYSTICAL TALES DO YOU NATURALLY PORTEND?

I SEE IN YOU REFLECTIONS OF LIFE—

ONE MOMENT SUBLIMELY SURREAL,

THE NEXT MOMENT PERILOUSLY SWIRLING TOWARDS THE INFINITENESS OF TIME.

HOW MATCHED WE ARE IN MOVEMENT, AND IN SPIRIT.

HOW VAST AND DEEP OUR POTENTIAL.

MAJESTIC RIVER, EVER CHANGING UPON THE STREAM OF TIME.

"WE LOVED EACH OTHER. IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT." (Paul Hornung, former Packers Great, and a Football Legend)

The Lombardi trophy, given out to the winner of the Super Bowl, represents a legendary coach and time and a standard of excellence.  Having grown up in a Wisconsin household in the 1960’s, Lombardi and his teams were a source of tremendous pride in our state and the city of Green Bay, the smallest city in the National Football League.  Vince turned the Packers into winners and champions after dismal years that we thought we would never recover from.  He was a fascinating man in so many ways, and when the Lombardi trophy is hoisted high, regardless of who wins it, I always think of the legendary coach and hero.  I thought that if I wanted to know more about him and the trophy that bears his name, others surely would as well.

Vince Lombardi grew up in Brooklyn, a devout Catholic who played at Fordham University.  He was a member of the “Seven Blocks of Granite.”  He coached football in high school, college, and the pros.  He became an assistant at West Point and was eventually hired to be a Giants offensive assistant.  He wanted to become the New York Giants head coach, but when that didn’t happen, he accepted the Green Bay head coaching job offered to him in 1958.  In those days the team was terrible and in disarray.  Paul Hornung, the Packers halfback and future Hall of Famer said about that time, “Vince changed my life, and he came along at just the right time.  My first two years with the Packers were so unhappy and unsatisfactory that I was ready to quit and do something else.  I needed a sense of purpose and direction in my life to keep me from drifting, and that’s exactly what Lombardi gave me.”  He went on to say, “All of us who were touched by Lombardi were defined by him.  He taught us how to win, and the winning gave us an identity that each of us has carried through life.  After all these years, he still lives in the hearts of all of us.” 

During Lombardi’s time during the 60’s, the Packers won five NFL championships and two Super Bowls.  There was a definite mystique about Lombardi and his teams. Hornung said, “Because of Lombardi, our teams had a sense of closeness that enabled us to beat teams with more raw talent.  We loved each other.  It’s as simple as that.”  For many outsiders, Lombardi was the tough disciplinarian who wanted to win at any cost.  For those players and coaches who knew him best, that was an unfair assessment.  Vince was tough and harsh at times, but more than anything, he wanted his players to work harder than anyone, believe in themselves and their teammates, and pursue excellence.  As Willie Davis, an outstanding defensive lineman for the Packers once said, “He made me believe I could do anything.  I would have gone through hellfire for that man.” Jerry Kramer, the famous offensive guard for the Packers perhaps summed him up best when he said, “What they don’t know is that he was a very, very sensitive man. He could tear you apart, but he also had a knack of saying or doing just the right thing to bring you back up and make you believe you could be a lot better than you really were.”

After Lombardi’s second Super Bowl victory in 1967, he retired and became the Packers general manager.  But that didn’t last long—Lombardi missed coaching and took the Washington Redskins coaching job in 1969.  In just one year he was able to turn the Redskins around, but then he was diagnosed with cancer and died September 3, 1970 at the age of 57.  For the fans everywhere who revered him and the players who gave every ounce of effort for him, it seemed impossible that Lombardi, the giant, the legend was gone.  His son, Vince Jr. said, “Being a coach wasn’t enough for my dad.  He had to be a teacher.  He had to be a molder of men.”

Even though my team, the Packers were just eliminated from playoff contention, I will watch proudly as the Super Bowl winning team celebrates their achievement by holding high the most accomplished prize in American sports—the Lombardi trophy. I've included some of Vince Lombardi’s most famous and memorable quotes:

            “Football is like life—it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.”

            “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

            “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can achieve excellence.”

            “Winners never quit and quitters never win.”

            “Winning is not a sometime thing; it’s an all-time thing.  You don’t win once in a while, you don’t do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit.  Unfortunately, so is losing.”

            And just a few interesting facts about the Super Bowl itself.  Whatever team carries home that trophy will be able to display it permanently since a new one is made every year.  To this point, the top five teams with the most Super Bowl trophies are:  Pittsburgh Steelers 6, Dallas 5, San Francisco 5, Green Bay 4, and the New York Giants 4.  San Francisco has the best record in the Super Bowl—5 wins and 0 losses. 

"IF YOU DON'T TRY AS HARD AS YOU CAN . . ."

Roberto Clemente, an exceptional Major League baseball player for eighteen years from 1955-1972 once said, “If you don’t try as hard as you can, you are wasting your life.” Roberto never stopped trying to be the best possible professional baseball player he could, but more importantly, he did everything he could to improve the lives of people around the world who needed help, especially in his native Puerto Rico and Latin America. He never forgot what it was like to be poor and in need.

Roberto was born in 1934 and grew up loving the game of baseball.  His early bat and glove were made from a tree branch and coffee sack.  He had no money—just a love for the sport of baseball and amazing determination.  Eventually that desire and phenomenal skill brought him to his first Major League team, the Pittsburgh Pirates.  At the time he arrived in Pittsburgh in 1955, the Pirates had a losing record.  That didn’t last for long!  He made the city proud again.

The superstar from Puerto Rico was one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived.  I remember watching him on television many times as he played my favorite team, the Milwaukee Braves.  By the time his life tragically ended in a plane crash in 1972, Roberto had helped Pittsburgh win two World Series titles against the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles and been named Most Valuable Player in the 1971 World Series.  He batted an unheard of .414 in that seven-game series, including a home run in the critical 2-1 victory in the seventh game.  The amazing thing about Roberto is that he was also a fearless right fielder.  He had such incredible determination that no right field fence was going to stop him.  His career ended with twelve Gold Gloves, 3,000 hits, fourteen All-Star appearances, and a lifetime .317 batting average.  He led the National League in batting four times and on July 24, 1970 he was honored with a Roberto Clemente Night at the stadium in Pittsburgh. Many proud Puerto Ricans were in attendance.  The night also raised money for the numerous charities he generously supported.

Roberto died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 as he was on his way to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua.  He was carrying food and supplies, which he paid for, to help survivors.  There was heavy rain, and engine failure caused his plane to crash in the ocean. 

In 1973 Roberto Clemente was voted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He was the first Latin American player to have been so honored. 

Today there is a sports facility in Puerto Rico created so that poor children might have opportunities like Roberto.  His generous donations helped create it. 

Roberto is a hero worshipped and revered around the world.  He was an outstanding baseball player, but an even more amazing human being. He never stopped trying to make the world a better place.

ALL WORKED HARMONIOUSLY . . .

Having watched and agonized over some political turmoil during the last few days, I turned to much lighter thoughts and reading this morning. Thanks to my Great Aunt Sarah (a delightful lady), I found a diversion.  I love the stories and flowery language of the early 1900’s and I re-discovered a wonderful article from the 1917 Colby, Wisconsin Phonograph that made me laugh out loud. 

The local drugstore was having a contest during early April of that year and Aunt
Sarah won the biggest prize of all—a 1917 Ford.  Here are a few lines from that newspaper report:

Early 1900's--my hometown

 

            “Out of thirty-four contestants who entered the race, twelve stayed with it to the last and all worked harmoniously and honestly, but with lots of vim.  The race was fast and furious toward the last.  The telephone wires were kept very busy by anxious friends asking for the results of the contest.”

The phrase “all worked harmoniously” stood out at me.  That’s truly  a novel thought today, especially in politics.  Those might not have been “the good old days” nearly a century ago, but they've made me yearn for more harmonious times today.  I’m going to make a little extra effort to achieve that in my own daily life.  The New Year offers a fresh start—thank goodness!