WAG MORE, BARK LESS!

 MY MEMORABLE DOG MARTHA

Pulling up to my grandchildren’s school in the morning, I often spot a beautiful golden lab inside the car in front of us. What catches my attention even more is the WAG MORE, BARK LESS bumper sticker.  Not only do I love dogs, (labs in particular), but it makes me laugh and reflect on the lessons we can learn from dogs.  Here are a few of them:

            “When you feel dog tired at night, it may be because you’ve growled all day long.”

            “The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.” (author unknown)

            “Dogs are miracles with paws.”  (Susan Kennedy)

            “A dog can express more with his tail in seconds than his owner can express with his tongue in hours.”  (author unknown)

            “No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.”  (Christopher Marley)

            “Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.”  (Max Eastman)

            “I think dogs are the most amazing creatures, they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.”  (Gilda Radner)

            “To err is human, to forgive canine.”  (author unknown)

            “One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you’re feeling blue is that he doesn’t try to find out why.”  (unknown author)

            “Yesterday I was a dog.  Today I’m a dog.  Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog.  Sigh, there’s so little hope for advancement.”  (Snoopy)

FDR and FALA

FALA AT FDR MONUMENT

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WITH FALA

ELEANOR WITH FALA AFTER FDR'S DEATH

            Soon I hope to pay a visit to Alabama to meet a special lab named Hank.  My son has told me all about him.  I can’t wait!  Remembering some exceptional dogs from the past, here are some photos to prove it, including FDR’s memorable dog Fala.  Perhaps the most endearing quality of a dog is its faithfulness to the end.

COURAGE IN THE FACE OF FLYING!

My long-time friend Jan displays extraordinary courage in emergency situations, but she’s deathly afraid of flying.  For seven intense years, she worked in the emergency room of a Twin Cities hospital.  Her title was health unit coordinator, but her roles involved much more.  She was the compassionate counselor to a hysterical mother whose child had just died.  Her own sadness and outpouring of emotion had to wait.  She was the tender, soothing soul to the terrified four-year old awaiting a doctor’s visit.  She was also the one who stood steadfastly firm to demanding parents.  Frequently they attempted to bypass necessary hospital rules and regulations.  Doctors were well aware of Jan’s medical knowledge and were eager to have her helping hand, even though she didn’t have a medical degree.  They knew she had a steady hand and could always be trusted.

Although my friend had no fear relating to others’ medical emergencies, her fear of flying forced odd detours in her own life.  Remembering numerous turbulent flights, she diligently sought other forms of travel.  (She’d come perilously close to flying and then . . . Rationalization set in.)

            “If you fly, you don’t get to see the countryside,” she’d say.  Train trips are a more peaceful way to travel.  There are so many interesting people on the train.”  And on it went.

Recently Jan rented a car for a seven-hour drive to Chicago, followed by an uncomfortable 21-hour train trip to New York.  The occasion was her daughter’s college graduation, but she nearly missed it.  The drive took longer than expected and it took a mad dash to the train platform to rescue the trip.  It didn’t bother Jan though.  She’s used to sprinting now, being a part-time pizza delivery driver.  The emergency room eventually took its toll. At 51 she’s the exception to anyone’s rule.  There’s rarely a neighborhood she won’t deliver to.

            “If you project fear, people sense it,” she says.  “So don’t put it out there.”

Many customers appreciate her exceptional service and care.  She’s the best pizza delivery driver in town; she also makes many of the products she delivers, including homemade natural soups, exquisite salads, and desserts.  People have often said that some of her creations belong in the finest restaurants. Additionally, she fills the role of the neighborhood nurturer while staying true to herself.  Her creative soup signs bear this out.  One sign several years ago displayed pictures of Iraqi people, young and old, as well as American soldiers.  The pointed message asked people to consider the impact of the war.  The featured soup was Red Lentil Curry, but the message went much deeper.

Perhaps Jan’s most courageous and selfless act was nurturing her sister during her final months of life, as she struggled with lung cancer.  Jan’s tender soft hands often soothed Sandy in moments of excruciating pain.  Her calm steady voice reassured her.  And Jan reminisced with her sister about times filled with laughter through the years.  One memorable moment involved their attendance at a behavioral psychologists’ meeting, where they were obvious displaced souls.  Their own behavior lacking, the two of them burst into uncontrollable laughter at meeting’s end and were virtually driven away by harsh penetrating eyes.

During the ten years I’ve known her, Jan has displayed courage and compassion in countless extraordinary ways.  She still doesn’t fly, but I’m convinced that one day she’ll conquer that challenge too.

c

KATHARINE WRIGHT--DEVOTED SISTER OF THE WRIGHT BROTHERS

KATHARINE AT GRADUATION FROM OBERLIN COLLEGE

 

ORVILLE WRIGHT

 

WILBUR WRIGHT

 

Orville and Wilbur Wright were world-famous aviation pioneers and inventors who’ve been given credit for building the first successful airplane in the world.  In 1903 they had the first successful flight of the Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  It was considered “the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight” by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.  Much is known about them, but until recently, little was known about their remarkable sister Katharine.  She was a dedicated supporter of Will and Orville and immensely proud of their achievements.  Without her, their success would have been far less known and recognized.  I recently finished reading THE WRIGHT SISTER by Richard Maurer, who learned about Katharine while doing other research.  What he learned was fascinating.  By the end of the book I wanted to jump back in history and meet the woman behind the Wright brothers.

Katharine Wright was born in 1874 and grew up in Dayton, Ohio.  Her older brother Wilbur was seven years her senior, Orville three years.  She was very connected to them, as well as her parents.  In many ways Katharine was much like her mother, who died when she was only thirteen.  Susan was a gentle, kind, and compassionate woman who was dedicated to her children and capable of making “something out of nothing” with the limited salary her husband Milton earned as a bishop of the United Brethren church. 

THE WRIGHT FLYER, 1903

 

Milton Wright was quite an amazing man for his time as well.  He encouraged Katharine to attend Oberlin College in 1898, an opportunity nearly unheard of for a woman.  In comparison, her brothers Orville and Wilbur dropped out of high school to start a printing business.  Eventually they opened a bicycle shop and later turned their passions to flying. The flying experiments which they conducted in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina were done to test ways of controlling a glider in flight, which they hoped would lead to a powered machine.

In 1907 Wilbur traveled to Europe to try to arrange airplane deals.  In 1908 the Wright brothers tested their Flyer, wanting to sell it to the U.S. government.  Following numerous successes, it crashed on September 17, 1908.  The propeller had broken and the army lieutenant on board was killed and Orville seriously injured.  It was Katharine who was with him for weeks nearly non-stop at the army hospital in Virginia.  She left her teaching job, never to return.  Then in late 1908 when Orville had nearly recovered, Wilbur invited him and Katharine to sail to France. He offered to pay Katharine a salary if she would become their social manager.  She and Orville sailed in January the following year.  She later called it “a dream.”  She met famous aristocrats and royals, who were interested in Orville and Wilbur’s inventions, but were charmed by Katharine. She was a big hit with the French, and unlike her very shy brothers, Katharine was very outgoing. She was called “the third Wright brother” by European newspapers because she was so good at connecting with important people who had an interest in buying her brothers’ planes. She and her brothers were awarded the Legion of Honor, the highest decoration in France, established by Napoleon Bonaparte.  Very few women from the U.S. have received that award. 

Upon returning to Ohio, Katharine became a huge celebrity, along with Wilbur and Orville. She became very important in entertaining visitors from around the world who were interested in aviation.  She also served her brothers well as an officer in the Wright Company.  After Wilbur died unexpectedly, Katharine turned to running the household for Orville and her father. They were all devastated by Wilbur’s death from typhoid fever, but it was Katharine who held things together. In 1914 they moved to Hawthorne Hill, an elaborate mansion outside of Dayton. 
Three years later her father died.  Orville came to depend on Katharine more and more.  He never imagined that she would choose a life away from him and whatever his needs were because she had always been there for him. She loved him and had been completely devoted to him.

But within a few years she met her college friend Harry Haskell, who was an editor with the Kansas City Star.  He had always been in love with Katharine and asked her to marry him.  She was extremely reluctant to tell Orville; she was fearful of his reaction because he had always depended upon her.  It was Harry who broke the news.  Orville was distraught and refused to attend the wedding or have anything more to do with Katharine.  She was upset with the loss of her relationship with Orville and tried valiantly to heal things, but Orville refused to give in. It was only when Katharine was on her death bed two years after her marriage to Harry that Orville came to see her. She died of pneumonia a day later. 

Katharine was remembered glowingly by one of her dear friends as a gracious, sensitive, caring, and gentle woman.  She clearly understood the pain others experienced and knew how to comfort them.

She was also a strong woman who stood up for women’s rights.  She became an advocate for equal pay for women who were faculty members at Oberlin College.  She had a fierce devotion to her former college, which was the first college to regularly admit female and black students.  Many of its students also went on to receive PhD’s. 

Orville lived twenty years beyond Katharine, until 1948.  Her husband Harry Haskell became a part owner of the Kansas City Star and won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism twice.  He eventually remarried and died in 1952.

Although Katharine Wright did not live a long life, she lived a remarkable life, filled with adventure, love, and concern for others.  I’m glad I got to know her as an individual as well as The Wright Sister.

MEDICINE LAKE AND THE 45TH PARALLEL

Nearly anywhere you might venture in Minneapolis, St. Paul or the Twin Cities suburbs, you are likely to find a body of water.  Each one of those lakes or rivers has a uniqueness of its own.  Medicine Lake, which is located about 20 miles west of Minneapolis is a delightful place to just sit and enjoy the view of the lake or follow the walking path along the east and west side.  It’s the second largest lake in the Twin Cities and is surrounded by unique and beautiful homes.

AN INTERESTING SIGN ALONG THE WAY

 

 

 

AN AERIAL PHOTO OF THE LAKE

The weather in the Twin Cities has been unusually warm and sunny for November and perfect for long walks and picture taking.  Here are a few that I’d like to share.

 

 

A CHALLENGE IN WINTER NO DOUBT!

 

SPRAWLING HEIGHTS, A SQUIRREL'S PARADISE!

 

 

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE

PHOTO OF GEORGIA O'KEEFFE BY ALFRED STIEGLITZ, 1918

 

 

Every year about this time, as another birthday approaches, I remember an incredibly talented woman who has always inspired me with her zest and passion for life, her feisty independent spirit, and her bold and beautiful artwork.  I’m also proud to say that she was born and raised in my home state of Wisconsin and shared my same birthdate—November 15.  How I would have loved to have met her! Years ago I had a chance to visit New Mexico, where she spent decades inspiring people around the world with her amazing paintings.

CERRO PEDERNAL MOUNTAIN IN NEW MEXICO

 

Georgia O’Keeffe was born in 1887 near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  She was named after her paternal grandfather who came to the U.S. from Hungary in 1848.  Since the age of 10 she had wanted to be an artist and was able to receive art instruction from a local artist. There were times when she doubted her ability to succeed with her artwork, but she became one of America’s most important and beloved artists. In 1977 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.  She was 90 years old at the time. She lived another eight years and died in 1986 at the age of 98. Her work is displayed in museums around the world and volumes have been written about her.  Sante Fe, New Mexico proudly honors her work and spirit with the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.  The area of Taos, New Mexico was beloved by her and inspired much of her work.  She loved the Ghost Ranch area and bought a house there in 1940. She loved painting the mountain Cerro Pedernal and once said, “I painted it often enough thinking that if I did so, God would give it to me.”

Georgia married well-known photographer, art expert, and gallery owner Alfred Stieglitz in 1924.  He exhibited some of her work in New York, where she had moved in 1918.  Her first show included oil paintings and water colors. Stieglitz was twenty-three years older than his wife and she out-lived him by forty years.

GEORGIA O'KEEFFE PAINTING

 

Georgia O’keeffe was known as a loner.  She once said, “I wish people were all trees and I think I could enjoy them then.”  She loved painting nature scenes and often made paintings of clouds and rock formations and flowers. Many of those paintings are displayed in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Remembering a remarkable American artist, here are a few final quotes attributed to her:

            “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life, and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.”

            “Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small.  We haven’t time, and to see takes time—like to have a friend takes time.”

            “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment.  I want to give that world to someone else.  Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower.  I want them to see it whether they want to or not.”

            “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say another way—things I had no words for.”

            “The days you work are the best days.”

            “Singing has always seemed to me the most perfect means of expression.  It is so spontaneous.  And after singing, I think the violin.  Since I cannot sing, I paint.”

           

PEACE PILGRIM

From 1953 to 1981 the inspirational woman who chose to be known only as the Peace Pilgrim walked across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico spreading the message of peace and love.  Her pilgrimage started in California.  Within eleven years she had walked over 25,000 miles and at that point stopped counting.  She continued for the next seventeen years, until her death in a car accident as she was being driven to an event in Indiana in 1981.  At that time she was making her seventh trip across the United States.

The Peace Pilgrim was a woman with boundless energy and love.  She stressed a message of simplicity.  She walked alone, without money or organizational backing.  Her goal was to inspire others to work for peace.  She wore a blue shirt, slacks, a tunic with pockets in which she carried a comb, toothbrush, pen, and copies of the message she wanted to share. The message on the front of the blue tunic was “Peace Pilgrim” and “25,000 Miles on foot for peace” on the back.

The Peace Pilgrim became an accomplished speaker along the way, talking to thousands of people of all walks of life.  She was interviewed by national and local television and radio stations and newspapers.  She spoke to university and high school students, churches, and civic clubs.  She was fearless on her walks, never hesitating to walk through ‘dangerous’ parts of cities, as well as rural areas.  She sometimes slept along the side of the road when no alternative was available.  Her message was to get people involved in working for peace. She once said, “I have known that my life work would be for peace—that it would cover the WHOLE PEACE picture:  peace among nations, peace among groups, peace among individuals, and the very, very important inner peace.

 

For the Peace Pilgrim, problems were seen as opportunities.  She once said, “I did as many good things as I could each day, not forgetting the importance of a pleasant word and a cheery smile.  The medicine this sick world needs so badly is love.”

The Peace Pilgrim often spoke of simplifying our lives.  She said, “Instead of hardships, I found a wonderful sense of peace and joy, a conviction that unnecessary possessions are only unnecessary burdens.  I own only what I wear and carry.  There is nothing to tie me down.  I am free as a bird soaring in the sky.  I walk until given shelter, fast until given food.  I don’t ask—it’s given without asking.  I never accept a penny for the work I do.”

The Peace Pilgrim continues to be an inspiration to many, myself included.  I have reread the book about her numerous times and offer these quotes as reminders once again of what an amazing difference one individual can make in our world.

            “Of course I love everyone.  How could I fail to?  Within everyone is the spark of God.  We people of the world need to find ways to get to know one another—for then will we recognize that our likenesses are so much greater than our differences, however great our differences may seem. Every cell, every human being, is of equal importance and has work to do in this world.”

            “To the world I may seem very poor, walking penniless and wearing or carrying in my pockets my only material possessions, but I am really very rich in blessings which no amount of money could buy—health and happiness and inner peace.”

            “Some people seem to think that my life dedicated to simplicity and service is austere and joyless, but they do not know the freedom of simplicity.  I am thankful to God every moment of my life for the great riches that have been showered upon me.  My life is full and good, but never overcrowded.  If life is overcrowded, then you are doing more than is required for you to do.”

            “Think of me and all my earthly possessions.  Think of how free I am.  If I want to travel, I just stand up and walk away.”

            “Live in the present.  Do the things that need to be done.  Do all the good you can each day.  The future will unfold.”

            “Life is like a mirror.  Smile at it and it smiles back at you.”

CLARK'S TALES: THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH TIME. . .

CLARK'S TALES: THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH TIME. . .: Bill Watterson, the Calvin and Hobbes cartoonist once said, "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."  After a few weeks o...

THERE'S NEVER ENOUGH TIME. . .

Bill Watterson, the Calvin and Hobbes cartoonist once said, "There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want."  After a few weeks of heightened stress involving jury duty, as well as election concerns, I'm ready and willing to do plenty of NOTHING.  I'm not even going to feel guilty about taking time to just BE.  I feel tremendous satisfaction in completing my jury duty experience, even though I would never have chosen to do it. Being much more of an introvert, the thought of sitting through a jury trial and then deliberating an outcome with eleven strangers raised my stress level more than I'd like to admit. I definitely didn't want to take any calls when I came home.  But I'm glad for the experience and the interesting, caring, and  honest people I met.  They renewed my faith in the way our legal system operates. I will always remember that unique experience.

As far as the election, I'm incredibly glad that it's over as well. It's been a long grind muddling through the issues and ads and returns that came in last night.  It was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time, but a fascinating process to be a part of.  For the most part, that too renews my faith in our system of selecting leaders.  Last night while I was waiting in the car for another family member to vote, I watched countless families with small children go about their civic duty. Sometimes it was a struggle for them to get the kids in and out, and at one point, I jumped out of the car to rescue a runaway stroller as a mom was busy strapping her two kids into car seats. I admired her commitment. It was a cold and windy night, but she was not going to let anything stop her from voting.  It reminded me of taking my own kids into the voting booth many years ago. 

But now that those important learning experiences have passed, I'm ready to get on with my life in other ways.  I'm excited to dial down the stress level again and just take in the joys and wonders of everyday life.  As Ferris Bueller once said, "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look once in a while, you could miss it."  I don't plan to.

And if I start worrying about that next birthday approaching in a week or so, I'm reminded of Emily Dickinson's wise words more than a century ago:  "We turn not older with years, but newer every day."

"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.