SUMMERTIME FUN

ARRIVING AT GRANDMOMMY'S HOUSE

(Travis and Sophie)

Want to stay youthful and fit? Try keeping up with young grandchildren! I don't know if it's the exercise of tending to two small children, ages 8 and 4 (Kelly reminds me she's "almost five" - at least she will be in November!), or if it's just the "busyness" of keeping up with them and their needs that occupies the mind and leaves you no time to think about your aches and pains, but the last four days I felt like I was in a time warp. I remember so well the years of having young ones at home in the summertime. But we didn't have the Disney Channel or a computer to play games on. Those two things made it easier for this grandmother.

At one time I would have lifted four-year-old Kelly and placed her in the grocery shopping cart. This time I had to admit to her that Grandmommy couldn't pick her up! "That's okay" she said, "I can walk". She and big brother Travis helped me pick out groceries. I taught Travis how to smell the cantaloupes to pick a ripe one, and he learned quickly. Our only snag was at the checkout counter. If I were a young mother today, I think I would give the store managers so much grief that they would be forced to remove all the candy and junk that every little kid begs for while moms or grandmothers are trying to check out! I would even go so far as to get up a petition. Of course, my grandchildren were little angels and took "no" for an answer without any argument! Of my own three children, I had one who, at the word "no", would hold her breath and fall in the floor -- even in the grocery store. Back then a pop on the butt would not land a mother in jail!

We had fun at the park, where we fed the ducks and Travis told me the names of the turtles we saw. The snapping turtles as well as the "painted" turtles. That reminded me of the baby turtles that were sold in the Five and Dime stores when I was a kid (not the same kind that we saw in the park). Those were captured and designs actually painted on their little shells. (Animal rights activists put a stop to that, as the paint somehow killed the little turtles -- maybe smothered them? They also discovered salmonella was carried by these cute little pets.) Only once did I spend some of my allowance and bring one home. It mysteriously got out of the bowl we put it in and disappeared. My mother was not one to cater to pets, although she did allow us to have a Cocker Spaniel. We would also manage to coax some stray cat to hang around. I remember one we had when I was in high school that sensed my mother's dislike. Therefore, every time she would be in the back yard hanging out the laundry, this cat would wind its way in and out around her legs. Rubbing and purring the whole time. When Mother had enough or would nearly trip, she would kick at the cat who would promptly grab hold of her leg with all four paws and dig its claws in. It's a wonder my mother didn't kill that cat. But maybe she did...

A picnic lunch, lots of climbing around at the playground, more looking at the ducks, turtles, and fish, then everyone was tired and ready to go home. Another day we went to the airport and saw the vintage World War II airplanes pictured in the slideshow at the top of the page. For $125 a person, they will take you for a twenty minute ride. Needless to say, we stayed grounded.

It was a fun, busy few days. Sophie, seventeen years old and nearly deaf and blind, did not let that deter her. She managed to topple the trash over one day and Travis had to retrieve the remains of a corn dog that Kelly couldn't finish. Sophie dragged it under the table, hoping no one would notice that she was chowing down. And then... and then... besides waking me up at 6:30 one morning to be let outdoors, Sophie's sense of smell led her to her great adventure:
My mother would be turning over in her grave (if she had one) over this picture. I used a lot of disinfectant this past week!!

Recently, Travis and his dad, Matthew celebrated birthdays. Travis got the ultimate little boy gift, and we all enjoyed his Daddy's birthday cake when he and mom, Amy came to take Travis and Kelly home to Austin.



I was pleasantly tired last night after everyone was gone. Then the house became too quiet -- and I missed those little ones!

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There’s a commercial on television that brings me such delight that I wish I had a way of saving it! The dad is going to drive the family SUV, which has a third seat all the way in the back. His little girl is getting into the car and going to the rear seat, which is obviously hers. Since they appear to be the only ones going on this trip, Dad tells her to move up towards the front and sit in her brother's seat. She does so, and the moment when she looks around from this forward view, with the sun roof open above her, her eyes widen and she gets this ecstatic look on her face. “Ohhhh, wowww…” she says. You can feel her joy and amazement. (What a great little actress.)

This is how we might react if we allow ourselves to view the world through someone else’s eyes. Sit in their car seat for a change… walk in their moccasins for a while. Our own viewpoint can become pretty narrow at times, and we truly need to see through fresh eyes... Maybe through the eyes of our own children or grandchildren? Ohhhhh, wowwwww...

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Thanks for all the good things happening in the Gulf.. It appears they have finally stopped the oil leak. Those of us praying for the end of this disaster and the restoration of the lives of those affected will continue until it is over. There will be good that comes from this. Changes in the way the oil companies operate will have to be made. The damage done will last for years.

A little note from The Christian Science Monitor July 9th of some more good being done to save the wildlife :

(Denise Rowell, USFWS.)

"Researchers and biologists place sand around sea turtle eggs they placed in a cooler after harvesting them from the sand in Cape San Blas, Fla., on Friday. US Fish and Wildlife and other authorities are relocating thousands of sea turtle eggs to a warehouse on the East coast of Florida in an effort to save them from the oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill."

Peace and love,

Marilyn

HODGEPODGE & GIVING UP THE GHOST

I always think of Alaska as being cold and snowy year 'round. This pristine scene looks as if it could be in Northern California or Washington State. Daughter Carajean and family decided to enjoy the cooler weather of Alaska while on vacation this year.

Yep! That's ice in the water! You don't see anyone swimming in this lake, or is it the ocean? Somewhere in Alaska.

Back home, they will be remembering this when the Panhandle temperature rises to 100 degrees this summer.

Branch, Audrey, Tanner, Carajean, and Ashlyn

This is probably the safest way to get around in the Alaskan wilderness to be certain you don't run into any bears! That's Ashlyn, looking good and ready for an adventure.

A reminder that they all dared to do this same thing, skimming through the treetops of the rainforest in Costa Rica! This makes the rides at Six Flags look tame by comparison!

By the way, I heard that Tanner kept the folks onboard ship entertained while answering questions that supposedly "could not be answered" from a book his Papaw was reading. He enthralled a Professor of Physics, who asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His reply was "an astrophysicist". There goes my environmentalist... Must be all the Carl Sagan he's been reading!

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Grandson Travis recently completed a week at motorcycle camp. At nearly eight years of age he was the youngest one there. In the first picture he is receiving instructions. It rained a lot the week he was there, but the mud didn't deter them, as you can see in the next photo.









By the end of the week, he was "poppin' a wheelie" for his Uncle Craig! It was a mighty proud little boy at "graduation", and I heard he just might be getting one of these bikes for his birthday.

His Dad Matthew took the pictures, sending them with the caption "mini me". Not only does he look like his dad did at that age, now he's following in his footst... uhhh, motorcycle tracks! He's #1 in my book!

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Early this year I watched a popular movie star being interviewed. Not only is he an award winning actor who has starred in many action movies, but his personal life has always been one to be admired. He and his wife have four children, one of which is an NFL football player, and they are involved in many worthwhile charities as a family. I was a little taken aback when he told the interviewer that this year he is reading the Bible cover to cover for the second time in his life. As many years as I have spent attending churches of different kinds, this is something that never occurred to me to attempt. The most popular, all-time best seller in the world and I, an avid reader, spiritually curious seeker, have never read the whole book! Thus I began the monumental task, using two different versions of the Bible...the King James version, and the New International Version, which I use to clarify some of the language. I wrote my former pastor recently to get a metaphysical meaning of one of the terms.

I found myself enthralled with the stories that I thought I had heard growing up. However, I realize I was always being told a "sanitized" version! I am a great fan of mysteries and psychological thrillers, but never have I read of such mayhem as is contained in the Bible. I am nearly finished with the second book of Kings, and I swear I've read of more polygamy, adultery, incest, wars, cannibalism, and executions/murders of various horrendous kinds -- in particular, beheadings, that were committed by the "righteous" and "God's chosen people" than anything our children supposedly are exposed to in movies, video games or television in today's world. It is no wonder that some fundamental, religious extremists who view the Bible literally are driven to commit similar horrendous acts "in the name of God". (Or Allah, if the Koran is nearly as violent as the Bible.)

However, I have been learning new terms that cause me to laugh out loud at times. These terms I had to look up in the NIV version for interpretation. "Those who pisseth against the wall" was one that caused me to giggle. What an apt description of males! A couple of terms I had heard before, but did not know their origin. "He slept with his fathers" and "He gave up the ghost". How much more colorful than "he passed away" or plain old "he died" or as in my church, "she made her transition". MY KIDS: LISTEN UP! When my body wears out and you are ready to spread my ashes, I want the obituary to read, "She gave up the ghost"!

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Recently a nonprofit organization in Burnet, the Global Art Initiative, joined with International Medical Outreach and Feed the Children, to send over 200 painted crutches, walkers, canes, and wheelchairs to the Haitian people who were disabled in the January earthquake. Not bad for a small town of less than 5,000 people. The Church of the Epicenter has joined with a group that is helping to bring fresh water to the people there as well.

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I know we all (at least we women) have looked in the mirror and were shocked to see "our mother" looking back at us. That was tough, but I recently was horrified when I thought I saw my grandmother looking back at me! That ever happen to you?

Ah, aging. It is happening to all of us all of the time. But when a musical icon from our youth like Ringo Starr turns 70, as he did recently, it really brings it on home. As he was celebrating with his fans on the streets, he gave the familiar "peace sign" and all together they shouted

Peace and Love!
Marilyn

65-Year-Old Memories

I went to Mineral Wells to spend some time with Dad on Father's Day. Somehow the subject of private airplanes came up and I said I didn't think I would ever go up in one again. Especially if there was no one but the pilot on board who could fly it. Dad shocked me when he said he wasn't afraid, as he knows he could land a plane if he had to. He said he learned how to fly a plane while he was in Okinawa during World War II.

Although Dad's Airborne Unit never made a combat jump, after paratrooper training in New Guinea they made a jump onto Okinawa, where they ran a cleanup action on the caves in the mountains looking for anti-aircraft guns. They were there when the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Japanese surrendered. His Unit was the second one sent to Japan for the Occupation, going there from Okinawa.

In the meantime, one of his good buddies was a pilot, flying the L-4 (Liaison-4) Grasshopper (a Piper aircraft) on Okinawa. He flew liaison and spotting missions to find the Japanese and inform the US troops of their positions. Dad said they had the Japanese more or less contained on one corner of the island. During their "spare time", Dad's friend took him up in the L-4 and gave him a few flying lessons. The landing strip was on the beach, and the wind coming off the ocean sometimes made it difficult to stay over the strip in the light aircraft. The plane would swerve inland, requiring another lift and attempt to land again. I could see the delight in Dad's eyes as he told me this story. He was back there in the cockpit of that plane and having a great time!

Many years later, in civilian life in Mineral Wells, another good friend took him up several times in his personal private plane and allowed him to fly it as well. I don't think he landed this one, but he said he was certain he could. Jeez.. I hope the opportunity doesn't present itself, as I know my Dad would do it. At 91, he still feels there is nothing he cannot accomplish.

Dad still is very active. He goes to the VFW and the American Legion twice a week, where not only do they have a good meal and a drawing for a pot full of money, but they always have music. The ladies are lined up to dance with him. That must be the secret of his good health -- and good looks! Nothing makes you feel and look better than to feel like you are necessary for something -- even dancing with all the ladies! When he's not dancing, he's there with his buds playing poker once a week. He also mows his own lawn, and has a project in the works to mend his privacy fence and paint it. His little dog Mickey is a great companion, but even he can't always keep up with Dad's pace! Keep it up, Dad!

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Wildlife Rescue in Progress: (National Geographic Photo)

• On June 15th twelve rescued sea turtles were released into the ocean off Cape Charles, VA, making room for injured turtles from the Gulf at two East Coast aquariums, New England Aquarium in Boston and the Virginia Aquarium in Virginia Beach. Teams from these aquariums rehabilitate stranded turtles from around the country and release them back into the ocean. The Gulf of Mexico is home to five species of endangered or threatened sea turtles. More than 350 turtles have died or been injured since the BP oil rig explosion. At least 62 turtles have been found covered in oil. Hopefully, many of them will find a place to recover in one of these aquariums.

• On June 22nd two U.S. Coast Guard cargo planes carried 62 Brown Pelicans and one Northern Gannet from Louisiana to the Aransas Wildlife Refuge in Aransas Pass, Texas on the Gulf Coast. Fish and Wildlife Services hope they will stay in their new home.

Every single turtle and every single pelican that are rescued keeps them that much further from extinction.

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To Dunk or Not To Dunk

In 2007 I was working on a biographical handbook for my 50th high school reunion. One of my former classmates was writing me about his reluctance to attend, as so many in our small town were so conservative -- both politically and religiously. He had had some unpleasant conversations regarding religion and politics at past reunions, and didn't want to repeat them. His present religious intolerance was related to a bad experience when he was very young with a minister in our small town who insisted he be baptized for "his mother's sake"! Knowing he would be glad if he did come to the reunion, as it would be a once in a lifetime experience, I wrote the following to him:

"Many of us suffered similar experiences growing up in the Bible belt. I can remember being frightened out of my wits at age 6 by a minister ranting, raving, taking his coat off, dredging up images of hellfire and damnation to the point he was dripping in sweat. I was on the first row and just knew he was speaking directly to and about me. Evil little 6-year-old that I was, I had to be 'saved'! I 'walked down the aisle' that night and couldn't wait to go home and tell my parents. They forbid me to be baptized, and rightly so. However, at the tender age of 12, at a tent revival in Bangs, Texas, I was determined it would 'take' this time.... and it did.... and I was dunked.

As I grew, I incessantly questioned religious leaders, relatives, and even dear old Mr. Sweeney (our high school science teacher), when I worked in the darkroom. I could see the rampant hypocrisy and inconsistencies in our religion and none of it made sense to me. Therefore, when I had children of my own, I vowed they would not be subjected to my experiences. I eventually found a church that I could live with... A priest won me over when he made the statement, 'I'm here to love you, not to judge you'. And thus began my relationship with the Episcopal church. I loved all the solemnity, ritual, (ours was a 'high' church), and a particularly rebellious and controversial priest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. All three of my children were baptized (sprinkled, not dunked!), and my older son later became an acolyte in the church. They never heard about hell, Satan, or that they were born with original sin until they were much older and ventured to attend friends' churches of different denominations.

Which leads me to a story about my youngest child, Matthew. He is ten years younger than his siblings and still was living at home during my last marriage. We lived outside Denton, Texas and frequently attended a small country church which my in-laws attended. The first summer we lived there, Matthew and his stepbrother went to Vacation Bible School. A week into the school I got a call from the young minister that he needed to speak with me about Matthew. He had so much concern in his voice that I hurried to the Pastor's Study that very afternoon. After our cordial greetings, he got right to the 'problem'. He told me he was greatly worried about Matthew. I asked him why and he replied, 'I asked Matthew if he was saved'. (Uh-oh, I thought) 'And?' I asked. 'His response to me was, saved from what?' At which point, I immediately burst out laughing. This did not win me any favors.. in fact, from that day forward, whenever we attended this church (which wasn't frequently anymore, even though he was a very good speaker) this man of God would never look me in the eye again nor would he shake my hand at the door!

Me? I was satisfied that I had 'saved' my own children from being force fed religion! They did get exposed, though. (Photos above and at left of Matthew in 1982 -- He looks like an innocent imp, doesn't he?)

I have another really funny story about my nearly 80-year-old mother when she joined the Mormon Church and went through their baptismal process, but that will wait until another time."

I went on to reassure my classmate that we were spreading the word that this reunion would not be the appropriate place to discuss politics or religion! The classmate, who obtained a doctorate in mathematics, and is a professor of math at a New York university, did attend the reunion I'm happy to say. I noticed him in deep conversations several times, but never heard him complain. I assume the conversations were of an amicable nature.. devoid of politics or religion!

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I hope the little story above doesn't offend anyone. I certainly don't mean to. I think that this was brought to my mind due to the volunteer work I've been involved with lately. There are so many good programs in this little town that help those in need. The people involved are from all different religious denominations. As I work with them, each has very lovingly invited me to attend their church. Each Sunday I find myself debating whether or not to attend a church, and if so, which one.. And why? Much as shopping for a pair of shoes, I seem to be looking for a church that "fits". And THAT does not feel right to me. I hate to say this, but it all reminds me of my stance on warriors and war. I love the church members, but don't feel so good about their religions.

And even though my children -- all grown up with children of their own -- do not attend churches today, I am proud that each of them is an honorable, decent, loving, and compassionate human being. Good to one another, to their children, and to me. Each cares deeply about what goes on in some or all aspects of society. And of course, you all know from reading my blogs what kind of children -- my grandchildren -- they are raising. Hmmmm. Isn't that what religions are supposed to be about?

I've been cultivating "good news" to share in coming blog posts. I'm also awaiting a batch of Alaskan photographs to help cool the spirits of those of us who have been sweltering in the Texas heat of late.

Until next time..

Peace, love, and a cool dip!
Marilyn

Good Stuff Really Does Happen..

But sometimes you just have to look for it.

A nonprofit organization called Green Container International Aid is on the ground and working toward utilizing discarded shipping storage containers for housing for the victims of the Haitian earthquake. There are many designs around. Some would be stacked into apartment like dwellings. There are many of these containers sitting empty at U.S. ports, and can be had for under $1,000. GCIA needs donations or intervention by businesses or other organizations in order to get more of these fitted out for use before the hurricane season presents more deadly problems for the Haitians now living in substandard tent cities. The many shipments of food and emergency supplies that poured in after the earthquake provided some of these containers, however, many more are needed. This makes so much sense to me, as these containers are extremely sturdy, and even waterproof, which will be a boon during the rainy, hurricane season. I have put GCIA's website in the list of organizations to the left of this post. You may go there and read about the important work being done by them, and how to help.

A few months ago, Habitat for Humanity proposed a multi-year plan to help 50,000 Haitian earthquake-affected families. In May they received their first donation to this fund. The African-American Baptist Mission Collaboration donated $500,000. The Clinton-Bush Fund made $300,000 available for emergency shelter kits, and the German Foreign Office contributed $500,000 for the kits.

In reading updates on the Haiti earthquake, I have been impressed by the number of Hollywood celebrities not only giving money from their own pockets, but actually going to Haiti and working along side of relief organizations. Sean Penn -- one of Hollywood's former "bad boys" has practically lived in Haiti since the earthquake. He has donated so much time and money that when one interviewer asked him how much money he had spent, his reply was "Enough that I'm going to have to make another movie very soon!" Patricia Arquette was on TV recently with a group of young men learning to weld, a skill needed to put necessary doors on the steel shipping containers. Many have donated millions of dollars.. Sandra Bullock for one. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Jennifer Anniston.

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I have been so discouraged watching the news of the Gulf oil spill. The news coverage, as usual, has been extremely negative. Seeing the photos of the poor birds and sea animals is heart-breaking. After watching weeks of this on TV, and on my internet news sites, I decided that Dr. Andrew Weil's suggestion that we periodically go on a "news fast" is really good advice. I deleted both of the news sites I had on my computer homepage. I love my computer, and after I put the coffee on in the mornings I come in here and turn on my computer. I used to think that I was helping my emotional state by not watching cable news, but choosing instead to read whatever news I wish on the internet. Now it seems even my favorite sites are going for the sensational headlines to grab their share of internet readers. Consequently, after checking my emails, the very next things I would see were lists of headlines from Huffington Post and Google News. It has gotten so bad that lately I've even seen "dirty" expletives in the headlines themselves! Boy! that'll get your attention at 7:30 in the morning! What if one of my little grandchildren were to come in to use my computer and were faced with that? Delete buttons come in mighty handy. I enjoyed using mine.

I've decided that my 30-minute network news broadcast in the evening should be enough doom and gloom to fill me in on the latest "disasters". I do admire their attempt -- at least I've seen it on NBC and CBS, to give at least one "good news" segment at the end of their evening broadcasts. I'm considering not watching their news at all. I can go online anytime and with one click view headlines from all over the world... if I want to, that is. In the meantime, I've been delighted to find a couple of websites that have nothing but "good" or "happy" news. I've also shared them in my list to the right.

One heartwarming story on the Good News site was of an 11-year old girl who wanted to help the wildlife affected by the Gulf oil spill. She contacted the Audubon Society with her proposal to seek donations for the wildlife, and offered to send each person who donates one of her own sketches or watercolors of birds. It's a beautiful example of what wonderful, compassionate children we are seeing in the world today. With the assistance of the Audubon Society, Olivia Bouler created a fund-raising program and has raised over $80,000 so far. You can read about her story and see her precious bird pictures on aolartists.com. AOL kicked off her campaign by donating $25,000 and setting up a web page for her.

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Another good story that captured my interest lately was about British Airways CEO, Bob Moore, who turned down a six figure bonus for the second year in a row. He didn't think a bonus was "appropriate" as the company has suffered such large losses, and so many of their airline employees have been on strike. You sure don't hear of any American CEOs turning down bonuses. Especially those on Wall Street. I'm not saying it hasn't happened, but it doesn't make headlines when it does!

I have a personal friend who is a small business owner. His son is in partnership with him. When business dropped off dramatically last year, he had to dismiss many of his employees. However, he had a few loyal employees who had been with him for years that he wanted to keep on his payroll. In order to do that, he and his son both went months without taking a paycheck for themselves.

I remember hearing of so many large corporations laying off hundreds of employees while their CEOs were still receiving salaries in the millions! Is it any wonder that so many of these big companies went under.. and are still going under? How many $50,000-a-year employees could still be employed and a business remain viable if their executives took even a million dollar a year pay cut.. much less turned down bonuses?

You know, the cause of so many of the problems we face in today's world seems to boil down to one thing -- "GREED"!

We would not be fighting over illegal immigrants if we forced huge fines on companies that hired them! If the job market for illegals dried up, wouldn't they stop coming? It's the companies who want to increase their profits by paying peon's wages that have created the Mexican illegal immigrant problem. So they would have to pay a decent living wage to a U.S. citizen to do the same work? It might cut down on their profits!

The horrendous accidents we hear of such as the Massey mining accident in West Virginia that killed 29 men, and the Gulf oil spill, where 11 men died and who knows how many millions of birds and wildlife will lose their lives before this is contained and cleaned up, boil down to companies ignoring or skimping on safety issues to save money. And these companies go right on getting away with safety violations. And it's not like they aren't making huge profits. According to the New York Times, BP's net profit last year was $17 billion! I wonder why Halliburton hasn't been held responsible for their part in this disaster? Don't you? I hope the U.S. is successful in getting BP to pay for all the cleanup expenses, plus fines for ignoring some safety issues.. and even criminal charges if criminal negligence is proved. Even if it means bankruptcy, it would be such a good lesson for companies that continue to risk our environment for profit. And hopefully, severe punishment would be a deterrent to such violations in the future.

I know I seem naive, and think solutions to a lot of our country's -- indeed, the world's problems are simplistic. But all the complicated reasoning/solutions in the world don't seem to be working!

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The picture at left was sent to me a couple of days ago by my daughter Carajean from her iphone. They are on vacation in Alaska. She didn't send any information with this, but I emailed her that whatever the story, the bear looks TOO DARNED CLOSE! Her girls Ashlyn and Audrey both are on Facebook, and my sons told me that the girls are posting lots of beautiful photos there. Not enough reason for me to join Facebook again. I'll wait until they get home and send me more by email.



May lots of really good stuff be happening in your world. Tell me about it!

Peace and love,
Marilyn

WABI-SABI AND TWO MORE GRANDCHILDREN

A good friend recently told me about a popular book on "wabi-sabi"... a Japanese philosophy of living. I was intrigued with her brief review of the book, and as our local library staff would gag before putting such a book on the shelf, and we have no book store in town, I googled the term. There is much written about this, however, these excerpts from an article written by a Japanese architect, Tadao Ando, were more authentic sounding than some of the "pop" articles I scanned. He writes poignantly and in great detail about the subject. In brief, he describes wabi-sabi thus:

"Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death...it reveres authenticity above all. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, not warehouse stores; aged wood, not Pergo; rice paper, not glass. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet - that our bodies as well as the material world around us are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, rust, and frayed edges, and the march of time they represent.
..In Japan, there is a marked difference between a Thoreau-like wabibito (wabi person), who is free in his heart, and a makoto no hinjin, a more Dickensian character whose poor circumstances make him desperate and pitiful. The ability to make do with less is revered... For us in the West, this might mean choosing a smaller house or a smaller car, or - just as a means of getting started - refusing to supersize our fries."

Ando goes on to say that "the term Wabi has come to mean simple, unmaterialistic, humble by choice, and in tune with nature.. Sabi things carry the burden of their years with dignity and grace: the chilly mottled surface of an oxidized silver bowl, the yielding gray of weathered wood, the elegant withering of a bereft autumn bough."I guess I should no longer be embarrassed when someone laughs at me for wanting to take the fallen branch or an armful of dried reeds and weeds home to arrange in a vase! Or for not wanting to refinish and varnish the old table bought at a garage sale. I understand more why I am drawn to old animal skins and bones and feathers. And why I love to take pictures of old, weathered farmhouses and fence posts. And why I hang onto cheap, often chipped, depression glass or kerosene lamps that belonged to my great-grandmother... Or the small chair my grandmother's grandfather made by hand for her when she was a toddler. These are just a few of my wabi-sabi treasures.

I loved living in my two-room "barn" those seventeen years. My mother hated it. It didn't have the modern kitchen and comforts of even a small apartment. My dad was so embarrassed by it that he refused to bring his wife or any of their friends to visit me there. He said he was ashamed of its rustic appearance, and said to one of my children, "She doesn't have to live that way." However, it never stopped my kids from visiting; and I held many fun -- even spiritual -- get-togethers with family and friends from my church in that simple wabi-sabi barn surrounded by woods. And oh, how I grew emotionally and spiritually during those lean years. Yes, Dad, I did have to live that way, and I am better for it.

Now if I could only learn to enjoy and revere my wrinkles and liver spots and carry the burden of my years "with dignity and grace". (That is, after I try all the lush creams and potions that Anat gifted me with when she visited last week.)

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My other two grandchildren, Cameron and Hannah, also did extremely well in school this past year. Cameron finished his sophomore year at LSU, and Hannah completed fourth grade at the Dallas School for Gifted and Talented. Cameron wrote the following at my request:

"I got a 3.8 last semester, and a 3.5 this semester, so grades turned out pretty well. I probably could've done better if not for being so preoccupied with the operas. I spent anywhere from 10 to 30 hours a week in rehearsals or doing shows, so obviously, it cut into my study time. Hardest classes were music theory, German, and biology.

(This summer) I'm working at the same job but it's not necessarily a preschool for the deaf. It's a regular preschool that deaf kids attend during the school year. The deaf kids are about to leave for the summer while the kids with hearing will stay there over the summer. I only work with the deaf kids here and there. There's not much of a difference except that I have more experience now and I feel I've gotten better at my job (not that I was bad in the first place). It beats the heck out of flipping burgers; I like having a job that can keep me intellectually engaged. I'm always observing the kids, and trying to figure out how I can guide them as well as trying to evaluate their personal needs. They're a ton of fun. It's almost like I get to be a kid again with them - playing pretend, hide and seek, freeze tag, etc.

(In my opinion, those children are lucky to have such a neat guy to teach and play with them! But then, I'm a lucky grandmother to have you for a grandson.)

My first professional opera gig is going to be The Barber of Seville with Opera Louisianne (in Baton Rouge) in November of this year."(Image at right is from a Knoxville production of The Barber of Seville.)

My son Craig -- always the wit in the family -- responded to my request for news of Hannah with this: "Dot and I decided we would just tell you that she got her first B, said no to drugs and stayed abstinent. Ain't that enough?"

Ha! Of course that's not enough for this grandmama! Hannah's mom Dot wrote that because Hannah transferred to the magnet school for gifted and talented this past year, and it was such a dramatic change from her previous school, she was not involved in any extracurricular activities. Although she made her first "B" (in Social Studies) this year, she brought it up to a 90. Her mom said that Hannah is a voracious reader, at times to the detriment of doing her homework.

In my opinion, a "B" in a gifted and talented school where students are pushed to the limits to excel is pretty darned good! It's good in any school, and is probably equal to an "A" anywhere but there.

Hannah's summer: "Summer will be at daycare and includes Six Flags, Hawaiian Falls, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Wax Museum, Medieval Times, swimming twice a week, weekly library trips, movies, Farmer's Market trip, and cooking lunch."

Sounds like lots of fun to me! Hopefully, we can squeeze in a trip to Grandmama's house as well.

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Until next time, this is your wabibito, Marilyn, signing off

with peace and love.

END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Checking in with my children, I got the following news of my grandchildren. As any proud grandparent would do, I am exercising my bragging rights. Daughter Carajean wrote this first report on her three, Ashlyn, Tanner, and Audrey.

"Ascension Academy Orchestra (at right) participating in a music festival in Dallas for which they won the grand prize (3 foot trophy). Ashlyn sits 3rd chair, first violin section. She has been on the A/B honor roll all through middle school, and was voted Most Popular in her class this year.

Ashlyn is in the middle in the photo at left. She has been attending a private academy that her big sister Audrey graduated from two years ago as Valedictorian. Ashlyn has been very active not only in the orchestra, but also in sports - volleyball and basketball. She has decided to attend public high school next year.

Tanner (Left) With Cousin Race
(With Some of Their Many Awards)

Tanner has been on the A honor roll since he started school. (This year) he received all kinds of awards: science, principal's, good citizenship, science bowl, Reflections Literature Award (he wrote an essay on Beauty is... and won 1st place), Battle of the Books Champions, Honor's Choir and last but not least hula hoop award! He made hundreds on every TAKS test this year. In addition to winning an academic scholarship to Ascension ($500) and testing at a grade level of 11 in all subjects, he and (cousin) Race started a recycling program at school and won a special award for that. His recent leisure reading is an algebra book and Carl Sagan's, 'The Universe'.

Audrey made all As and one B+ (89) (Editor: Audrey wrote ME that the B+ was in her elective, Forensic Anthropoloy! This class triggered an interest she now has in one of my favorite TV shows, BONES). She danced hip hop with SMU this year and won a cash prize. She is home until second summer session, July 1st. She finished her 2nd year and is still majoring in environmental science."

Audrey wrote the following to me recently:

"This summer I am going to work really hard at getting back into shape. Ballet classes, gym, yoga, tennis.. I am so excited. I was a member of the SMU hip hop dance crew this year and LOVED it. We had so many performance opportunities. We participated in the World of Dance Competition and didn't place, but it was such a great experience. We have high hopes for next semester with new choreography. We did win the SMU talent competition and received $200!

Of course I will be playing the violin with the quartet my mom is in. (I try to play with them every time I come home). I hope to take Physics II this summer at home (pending approval from SMU)."

Next Saturday Carajean, Branch, all three children, and CJ's Dad and Ann will depart on an Alaskan cruise. Audrey promised to take lots of pictures for me.

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A friend and I share jokes via email. After one particularly cute one about what kids say, she wrote me the following: "When Leah was 4, she was at yet another checkup with the pediatrician. As usual she was being a chatterbox. The doctor asked her what her Daddy liked. She looked up for a moment, then said, 'Actually he likes scotch and fish.'"
(Not to embarrass the dad, but you know who you are!)

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Daughter-in-law Amy was very busy with the children's activities this past year. PTA as well as being a Cub Scout den mother. She answered my request for a report on the year as follows:

"What a great school year it has been. I can't believe it is almost over. Kids don't get out until next Friday.

Travis' accomplishments this year: He made the all 'A' Honor Roll two nine weeks and all As and one B the next two nine weeks. He started the year in 2nd Grade. He played Flag Football for the first time this year and had a great time. Although his favorite sport is Baseball, which he played in the spring, and was a star player on the team. He got his Wolf Cub Badge at the Blue and Gold Ceremony in February and is loving being a cub scout. His goal is to become an Eagle Scout one day. He also received his Bear Neckerchief (photo at right) last week. He will begin his Bear Trail this summer to acquire his Bear Cub Badge in February 2011. He is going to be on the Steiner Shooting Stars Swim Team this summer and Brendan Hansen, an Olympic swimmer will be the coach. Travis is so excited. He also came in third place last weekend at the Cub Scouts' Cubmobile Derby! (picture below) We are looking forward to a fun summer, and he is looking forward to being in the 3rd Grade in the Fall.

Kelly started her first year of preschool and is a little 'social' butterfly. The teachers all love her and say that she is a beautiful loving little girl and loves to make new friends. She knows how to write her name, first and last, and loves to try and read. She knows all her alphabet. She is one smart little princess. She took ballet and tap lessons in the spring and had her recital in May. She is learning how to swim. She will be going into Pre-K in the fall."

At left, Kelly performs a tap dance to "Baby Love" at her recital. On the right is Kelly and three of her preschool classmates. She is second from the left.

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Memorial Day I was excited to have both of my sons with me. Son Craig and his delightful, beautiful lady friend, Anat, visited from Dallas and Plano. Matthew, Amy, Travis, and Kelly came from Austin. We ate and talked and ate and talked some more. I got lots of "baby love" from Travis and Kelly, and Travis filled me in more on his schedule for the summer. He's really excited that he will attend a motorcycle camp for kids, as well as going to Cub Scout camp, where they are going to teach them archery and B.B. gun shooting. (I acted like these were great things... even tho I'm worried he is too young to ride motorcycles, and guns... well, his Dad and Mom know what's best for their own kids!) I really loved the visit with all of them. I only wish it could have been longer, and that the rest of my family could have been here as well.

It was such a brief visit that I extracted a promise from Craig that they would come again - soon!! Also, he is the only one who hasn't given me his report on how well Cameron and Hannah did in school this year. I will put that on the next blog.

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Before I close I must tell you that I got the picture below of the baby wrens who's mom built her nest in my philodendron. They are so ugly at this stage -- only a mother could love them. It's difficult to make out how many are in there. I think there were only three. I thought I would go back later when they were a little more filled out and had more feathers. Less than a week later I did so, and to my surprise, they had already flown the nest!

Boy! I'm glad my kids never looked like that! I don't think there would be any of my "bragging" blogs if they did!

Until next time.

Peace and love,
Marilyn

WE WILL NEVER FORGET

Memorial Day 2010...

This past week I spent a few days working with a group of wonderful people from different churches helping them prepare and then hold a huge garage sale. The proceeds are to go toward assisting the youth of one of the churches attend summer church camp. The sponsoring church is full of many young families and youth of all ages. They have several terrific programs designed to attract and keep the young people.

This Church of the Epicenter also does many other charitable deeds. One of these is sponsoring Hope's Closet. This is open every Saturday for three hours. Anyone may come and get free clothing for their entire family free of charge. All of the clothing is donated by the surrounding communities, much of it of superior quality. The volunteers who work at sorting, sizing and organizing the huge amount of the donations represent many different churches. The building in which it is held has been donated for use also free of charge. It's a very large warehouse type building, with offices at one end where the local Christian Women Job Corps eventually wants to house their organization which trains/retrains women to enter the job force.

I have met so many wonderful, generous, loving people while helping out with these projects. Yesterday I was reminded that even though we of different faiths and backgrounds are bound in common causes, it doesn't necessarily mean we have the same beliefs in everything. I normally attempt to stay away from controversial topics when I am with these folks, but yesterday I got sucked into a conversation that I suppose is topical at this particular time... remembering and honoring our military, past and present.

When I arrived at the garage sale, my friend Frankie introduced me to a clean cut young man who is one of their youth ministers. We chatted a bit, then he said he had to leave to go to ___. It was busy in this place and my hearing is not what it used to be, so I thought he said "go to war"! Ridiculous, I know.. so I asked "where?" When he told me he had to go to work, I laughed and told him what I thought he had said.. and that I was glad I misunderstood him. For some reason, that led into a discussion about war, guns, raising young boys into men who are willing and capable of fighting for their country. In his estimation, boys should be taught at a very early age how to use guns.

Well, the results of this conversation were not to his liking I'm certain, as I could not be moved. He brought up Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I told him of my reading of a book about the A-Bomb and Hiroshima when I was only 12 years old, and how it affected me and made me anti-war, without knowing what that was. How I thought the bomb could have been used in a different manner and we still would have won the war. He was very passionate with his arguments, even bringing in how "we cannot expect to be protected by our local police forces". We went back and forth for at least 10 or 15 minutes. I truly did stay calm, and kept a smile on my face the whole time. But inside, I was shaking and thought about what this young man was trying to justify, and how much influence he and people like him still have on our young boys and men. I feel certain that guns and gun ownership are a big part of what he believes he must teach to them. He asked what I would do if my door were kicked in in the middle of the night! Were there some parts of town that I would be afraid to live in?

I tried to convey to this young man that I do not choose to live my life in fear. I am a strong supporter of our law enforcement agencies, and I appreciate what they do. I am also a strong supporter of our young men and women in the armed forces. (Hate the war, love the warriors!) However, I told him that as long as so many on this earth lived and planned for violence and war, and concentrated their thinking on "enemies" and how they can destroy us, war would continue. That we need to support the peacemakers as well. That our efforts at obtaining world peace should never stop. He was smiling with his lips, but there was anger in his eyes that I could say such things.

I do not understand how so many followers of Christianity can be so war-like. After all, Jesus the Christ was all about peace and loving your enemies. I know it is not that simplistic, but it is a teaching that must be adhered to if we are ever to have peace in the world.

Later in the morning we had a sweet young woman, accompanied by her mother, shopping the garage sale for everything from a sofa/daybed to dishes, lamps, decor, etc. to furnish her first apartment. I asked if she were going off to college or getting married. I was taken aback when her mother said "neither, she's reporting for duty in the military at a base in Georgia". I'm sure the look on my face showed my concern for this innocent young woman, because the mother was quick to tell me she was not to be a warrior, but she had been trained as a translator. She was taught Persian! Of course, that made my concern even greater, as I know this is the language of Iran. I said a little prayer that she would not have to be in some covert operation involving the Iranians up close and personal!

I am going to close this with a beautiful, moving poem I found on the Internet this morning, written by a sergeant in the 104th Infantry Division who served in Europe during World War II. His son found it in his father's basement, and was shocked, as his father never wrote anything else. The son said his father was considered a "tough customer", not seeming to be affected by the war. This was written by James Lenihan about killing a young German soldier.

Murder--So Foul
I shot a man yesterday
And much to my surprise,
The strangest thing happened to me
I began to cry.
He was so young, so very young
And Fear was in his eyes,
He had left his home in Germany
And came to Holland to die.
And what about his Family
were they not praying for him?
Thank God they couldn't see their son
And the man that had murdered him.
I knelt beside him
And held his hand--
I begged his forgiveness
Did he understand?
It was the War
And he was the enemy
If I hadn't shot him
He would have shot me.
I saw he was dying
And I called him "Brother"
But he gasped out one word
And that word was "Mother."
I shot a man yesterday
And much to (my) surprise
A part of me died with Him
When Death came to close
His eyes.

As we pause to honor the courageous young men and women currently serving in our armed forces at home and abroad, as well as to commemorate the lives of those lost in previous wars fought to preserve freedom around the world, let us make a promise to ourselves to spend as much or more time upon thinking about and supporting those who work for Peace on Earth.

Our thoughts are as strong as our prayers.

Blessed are the peacemakers...

Peace and love,

Marilyn