Of Life and Death

Friday afternoon I attended a memorial service for the mother of a dear friend. Lest those of you who know me think this was the passing of a woman in her seventies or eighties, let me enlighten you. This was the death of a woman my age, whose daughter befriended me 14 years ago as I experienced some of the darkest days of my life. Amy’s friendship got me through a difficult divorce. She bolstered my damaged self image and supported my quest to reposition my talents and move forward. She brightened my days, over and over again, for months on end. Meeting her mom on many occasions, it was evident where Amy got her fantastic smile, her witty charm and her everlasting joyous outlook—from her mother, Alice.

As Alice’s life briefly unfolded through letters from her sisters and message from the minister in front of a packed room, it was obvious the number of lives this woman had touched. Family, students, former students, teachers and administration sat shoulder to shoulder, with tissues in hand, as one word or sentence took each of us back to a moment shared with Alice. I remembered the first time I met Alice when Amy brought me home late one weekend night. Alice was up and reading, something I learned very quickly was a passion. I remembered the first Read Aloud I had at Sheffield Primary—when Alice graciously gave up her planning time to come and read to second grade. I remembered the first time I saw Alice after I knew she was ill, at a school district function last October. She looked wonderful, her signature smile radiant as ever and I couldn’t help but think that she had beaten this horrible disease and was on her way to recovery. I saw her again in July when I was working summer school at Newman Smith. She seemed fatigued, but her smile was luminous. Our anticipated conversation was never realized as she was called to the phone and I returned to the library.

Mostly I remembered getting the news of her passing. I hadn’t heard my phone ring in the middle of a crowded IKEA. As I listened to the phone message, the crowds became invisible and I caught my breath in one giant gasp, followed by tears of sadness—grief for my beautiful friend Amy, and her brother, who had lost both of their parents in such a short time. Sorrow because Alice would never see her two beautiful grandchildren grow up. Almost simultaneously, melancholy swept over me as I realized how finite our time here is.

I suppose the message I am most imparting is the briefness of our earthly sojourn. Making the most of every moment is essential. Giggling with my six year old grandson, sharing a book with my kindergarten students, instructing my older students about the power of the written word, those in books, but more importantly their own—through all of these, I give away a small piece of myself that will be my legacy.

“The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live.”
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.

Please Watch this Video

A few days ago I posted some facts about John McCain that I thought were important for people to know before they went to the polls. Apparently, Barack's campaign advisors have determined it is important as well. Some will say this is a negative attack. I say it is an informative video. It isn't so much that McCain attempted to cover up fraud, which he did, but that he hasn't changed his polices against deregulation since then.
Folks, you can not allow the kindergarten kids to guard the cookie jar while the teacher is out of the room. The same rule applies to officers of large financial institutions. Faulty accounting caused the savings and loan crisis and bad judgment by five senators attempted to cover it up and allow it to continue.

This video is narrated by a federal regulator who was there during the whole debacle. He makes sound economic sense.
http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo

Another Huskies Win

Well, October 4th has come and gone and my alma mater has won another D2 football game. They are more than halfway through the season with 6 wins and no losses. Next week will be a real test as they meet long time rival East Stroudsburg University Warriors. I have no doubt they can win the game. In my opinion, the Warriors, a rather young team, will not be able to hang with the Huskies through the whole game. This is also a home game for the Huskies after two away. I imagine they are happy to back home on their new turf. I just wish I could be there to see the game. Instead, I'll be at my computer listening to WHLM on the Internet, applauding and yelling as though I were sitting in the stands.

GO HUSKIES BEAT THE WARRIORS!!

Thirty Days and Counting

In about thirty days, the voters of this country go to the polls to elect the 44th president of the United States. The decision will affect all of us for at least four years and possibly longer. I say longer, because our current president's bad fiscal judgment and horrendous foreign policy has put this nation in a very precarious position that will effect us for years to come. As I get closer to retirement, I wonder if I'll be able to afford it. My question for all of those voters is: Are you still thinking seriously about voting for John McCain, that rebel maverick, and his pit bull, hockey mom, VP candidate, Sarah Palin? To listen to John and Sarah in their respective "debates" you would think both belong to some mythical third party because they sure weren't acknowledging that they had anything to do with the Republicans who held office for the last eight years.

If you haven't made your decision yet, think about these facts.
First, John McCain, as a prisoner of war, gave aid and comfort to the enemy in the way of giving military information and participating in radio broadcasts for the communists and meeting with communist delegations that including the Cubans. These matters never reached a military court even though other soldiers in similar situations were court martialed. In 1989, US Senator, John McCain, was one of five US Senators accused of corruption as part of the Savings and Loan scandal. Known as the Keating Five, only 2 of the five managed to save their political careers. One was McCain, the other John Glenn. Miraculous what name recognition will do for you. Even today, John McCain calls himself a maverick despite the fact that he has supported George W. Bush on almost every political decision in the last eight years. Yes to tax cuts for the highest economic brackets, yes to war in Iraq based on false intelligence. He voted against bills supporting women's rights in the area of reproduction, including the Teen Pregnancy Education Act. In several other matters, Mr. McCain chose the route of No Vote, perhaps so he could later say he did not support the failed policies of the Bush administration.
John McCain is also the man who didn't know how many houses he owned. Okay, we all know his wife is the one with the money, but he has been married to her since 1980--don't tell me he doesn't know how many properties she or they own. And if he truly doesn't know--are you sure you want him running the largest democratic nation in the world?
To all in public education, John McCain supports vouchers as well as charter schools and merit pay for teachers. All three ideas weaken public education in my humble opinion. Frankly, I am tired of Washington politicians telling the nation how bad our public education system is. There is NO other nation in the world who educates the masses as we do.

And now for Sarah...is there anyone in Alaska prepared to vote for her--or only those who want her out of the state? As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin, who ran on fiscal conservatism, spent an unapproved $50,000 to remodel her office. She attempted to fire the city librarian because she refused to comply with Ms. Palin's censorship of certain books (this librarian blogger opposes censorship). As governor, Palin supported the "bridge to nowhere" appropriation until it became a national joke and even then, kept the money in Alaska. So much for being fiscally responsible and cutting down on pork barrel expenditures. Ms. Palin attended five colleges and universities in six years before receiving a degree in journalism. Apparently in all that time she did not work on a school paper, or do anything else journalism related. And apparently that journalism education did not help her in her interview with Katie Couric where she came off as naive, uneducated, small minded conservative--who later reported on FOX that she didn't like Katie's questions--that she simply wanted to inform the public, in an unfiltered way, of what would happen if Barack Obama became president. The public would like to hear what Palin and McCain offer, but they never talk about that--mostly because they have nothing to say.
Frankly, Sarah Palin, master of folksy phrases like 'you betcha,''straight up,' and 'darn,' scares the 'heck' out of me. She is totally unqualified to be vp let alone slipping into the presidency should something happen to McCain.

Join me at the polls on November 4. Let's make sure that we really do bring CHANGE to Washington politics and our national government.

Death of an Idol

Paul Newman died yesterday. I cried today when I heard the news. He was a hero of mine since my adolescent eyes first meet his baby blues in The Silver Chalice. I must have been 13 or 14 years old and the 1955 movie was on our brand new color television. It was Paul's first big screen performance and the movie was not notable, but I knew the very moment I saw him on screen that I was in the presence of someone who would be long remembered. I continued to follow his career, watching older movies on television and the newer ones in the theater. I aged with Paul, even though he is almost three decades older than me. And how he did age, naturally, beautifully becoming such a distinguished older man. The last two roles that I admired him in were his performance as Kevin Costner's father in Message in a Bottle and the role of John Rooney in Road to Perdition. In between that first movie and his last, there were so many memorable moments. Here are just a few of mine, well worth watching, again and again.
The Color of Money (1986) .... Fast Eddie Felson
Absence of Malice (1981) .... Michael Colin Gallagher
Slap Shot (1977) .... Reggie 'Reg' Dunlop
The Sting (1973) .... Henry Gondorff
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) .... Butch Cassidy
Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Luke
Hombre (1967) .... John Russell
Harper (1966) .... Lew Harper
Hud (1963) .... Hud Bannon
The Hustler (1961) .... Eddie Felson
Exodus (1960) .... Ari Ben Canaan
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) .... Brick Pollitt
The Long, Hot Summer (1958) .... Ben Quick

My admiration for Paul extended far beyond his ability as an actor. His long marriage to Joanne Woodward survived in part because they removed themselves from the superfluous environment of Hollywood. They raised their children in Connecticut and managed to stay out of the public eye. Paul also pursued other interests, outside of acting. His long time association with racing was something that I am sure gave him great satisfaction. He was a competent driver. And then there's his establishment of Newman's Own brand giving us all quality healthy foods with profits filtering to nonprofit organizations. I hope this business will be continued by his daughter Nell.

I am going to miss Paul Newman, with his bedroom blue eyes and grin that was wider than the big screen. His on and off screen legacy will be with us for a long time to come.

When I was a BU Coed

Sometimes it is very hard to think about how far removed I am from my coed days at Bloomsburg University, then Bloomsburg State College. I spent some very happy years at BU, as a class leader, sorority member, and RA. I made some lasting friendships--people with whom I am still friends and with whom I enjoy spending time. But can it be that many years ago? I don't really feel that much older. I can still remember football games, wrestling meets, basketball games, even swim meets--only because a good friend was on the team. :-)

I remember sorority and fraternity functions, some a little wilder than others. Concerts by some of the hot groups, which will definitely give away the time frame; The Association, BS&T, The Loving Spoonful. I remember graduation, which occurred just a few days after my 21st birthday, early on a Sunday afternoon. My best friend and I managed to down a couple bloody marys before hand. I remember how proud my mom and dad were that their only child was a college graduate.

A long time ago, a wise and dear friend told me to treasure the special moments for much later times when I was rocking away my hours. She was right. Those very special moments will be with me for a long time.

Huskies Win Again

Yesterday's game was a bit of a nailbitter. The Huskies have always been a second half team, but I was really worried yesterday that Kutztown would pull out a win. But thanks to Coach Danny Hale's patient ways, the Huskies won 31-21. GO HUSKIES!
With four wins under the belt, there are still seven more games to go, including West Chester and East Stroudsburg.