READY OR NOT, HeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeRE'S 2014

Like it or not, 2014  is here!.  We wonder where has time gone? It is as if the months had torn themselves free from the calendar and taken off with the wind. With or without scholarly interpretation, we try to take an inventory of the past year's events.

As we ponder, nature answers with her own rhythm. We may at times try to thwart her, to dismiss her, or act oblivious but nature in 2013 remained the independent stern mistress she has always been and shall always be.

In 2013 we allowed ourselves moments of pride for small and large fetes even as we ached with regrets for that which we did not do or failed to say.  Children brightened our days as the fate of others was cruelly ended.  Friends, family and notables left us with fond memories.

In 2013 we saw the ugly face of greed as the powerful among us refused to acknowledge humanity's frailty. So what will 2014 look like?  Ready or not, it is here.  Have a good one!

WARMING WINTER'S COLD WITH MUSIC

One of the ways I overcome winter's frigid weather  is by listening to  music like Paul McCartney's symphonic poem, "Standing Stone."

McCartney describes the power of ordinary places,  the quest for answers to age-old questions and his own fascination with Celtic mysticism in music that is extraordinary.  He spent four years composing what he considered his second "largest scale classic work."

The poem itself is worth a read.  McCartney concludes his verse's  opening introduction by saying,
"I hope the music is strong enough to stand alone without help from the poem and that you, the listener will enjoy what you hear."  It does and I do!

So if you are tired of heavy coats and boots, of  chipping ice off the windshield, and wishing you were some place other than where you are, turn on your favorite music and let the melodies transplant you to warmer spots.

NRA: GUN PROFITEERING?

After the last stuffed toy, and flowers, and balloons are placed, candles lit, vigils and grief stricken people and children leave the spot where another shooting has taken place when do we begin to ask who profits from all this?

In spite of evidence of out right corruption by gun and ammunition manufacturers and illegal sale of guns in open markets when do we condemn the protection afforded these purveyors of destruction by the NRA and our elected officials?

In spite of men and women and children acting as self-appointed vigilantes how do we not understand that we cannot have or maintain a free, equitable civil society in which to live without enforceable laws?

How do we succumb to tricky slogans, to scape goats or to our own fears by backing the NRA and electing the men and women who profit from the organization?

Our children, men and women, our streets, each of us need the lawful protection of accountable public servants like the police not profiteers like the NRA or the gun business and industry or feint-hearted representatives.

THANKSGIVING 2013

                                                                                 





THANKSGIVING 2013

 

 

SO SMALL A CREATURE ARE WE 

 

REASON, TRUST IN EACH OTHER SUSTAIN US

 

AS WE COME TOGETHER ON THIS DAY

 

WITH CLOSE AND NEWLY MADE FREINDS AND FAMILY

 

REMEMBERING TOO THOSE NOT HERE.

 

 

BEVERLY D. REHFELD

 

 

 

 

                                                                      

ALLERGIES & ANDY ROONEY

Allergies plague us. Doctors, pharmacists as well as friends
recommend all sorts of remedies.  If the allergy is too bad sometimes
a prescription is written.   Most times it's catch as catch can over the
counter products are purchased and some work.  Sneezing and runny
noses are quieted until they come back again and again.

Packaging for pills, large and small all shout I AM  THE CURE.
Specific instructions for use are carried on most products. They tell us
how to unwrap and use pills.  That's when I miss the late Andy Rooney.

Rooney was television's sweet curmudgeon. He closed "CBS
60 Minutes" with the most irreverent remarks about ordinary
 things that don't work well. He had a whinny gravely kind of voice
 and always told manufacturers why their products don't work.

I thought of Rooney when  I made my umpteenth purchase of allergy
pills.  The package had arrows for easy opening. I pushed the arrows.
The pills did not come out. I tried a scissors and then a knife and
finally the pills came out.  They were crushed.

I wish Andy Rooney was around to tell
pharmaceutical companies they ought to do something
about all those cute arrows that don't work.

THE SCARIEST HALLOWEEN

The night was chilly and misty.  But she had decided to  go out anyway.
She put on a rain cape and pulled the hood over her face.  She went out
and headed straight for the pumpkin patch. I know my way she thought.

Mist covered the ground. It was scary.  As she walked along, she thought
she saw a mob of people making their way toward her.  They were being
led by the tiniest bird. Then she began to see the people were all
very small children in single file like in a parade.

The leader had big floppy ears and was carrying a WWII flyer's helmet
 and wore a white scarf. The last child was waving what looked like a big letter.

All of sudden some one pulled at her coat.  She looked down and saw
a  round bald headed kid.  It was Charlie Brown!* He pulled her down
and whispered, "Want to know what's in the letter ?"

According to Charlie the kid was writing to the great Pumpkin.  The kid
asked the great Pumpkin if he could help the children understand a few
things like why people were losing their good senses.  Charlie continued talking.

Like asking the Great Pumpkin why people were
telling lies.  Like saying kids don't want to learn to read, or other things.
Like guns don't kill people or why moms and dads were called lazy
because they did not have a job or why people were so mean to each
other and other lies about a whole bunch of stuff to each other.

That's when Charlie paused.  He Looked up and then looked directly into her eyes
and asked "Do you know why?" and then he disappeared into the misty night.

                           *  *  *  *  *

*With apology to Charles M. Schulz. 1922 - 2000

 

VINEYARDS OF MISSOURI

On a recent beautiful, cold 40 degree day, I took the opportunity
to visit Missouri's wine country, even though I am no wine connoisseur.
We took highway 40 West to a small, two lane, hilly road to Augusta.

I wasn't disappointed.  The trees were beginning to show and
weeping willows gave us a royal bow as we passed them.

Our road followed the Missouri River and we were soon passing
rich farm land and historical markers. We passed quickly but
we passed one that marked Daniel Boone's home and
museum. Near by the Bush Wildlife Preserve which once housed an
ammunition center is said to have bomb shelters hidden in the ground.
Signs for gun and fishing clubs popped up every so often. 

Defiance, one of the towns we came through had small houses with
white picket fences and signs that the Katy Trail ran through it.
Bicyclists,  families and walkers were using the path.  As we came
close to our destination, Balducci Vineyards, we passed row after
row of the vineyards of other farms.

To my surprise I learned there are more than 120
wineries in Missouri located in nine different sections of the state.
 A brochure with all this information is available at the
Missouri Wine & Grape Board, missouriwine.org

Any one of the nine wine trails of Missouri is worth a day's trip for the
scenery alone.  I did taste a red and white and found them pleasant.

 

MECHANISM VS TECHNOLOGY: OR A FAD?

The window display in an up beat shop caught my eye. Piled one on top of each other were portable record players circa the fifties.  Each player was a different size and color.  Each had a 75 rpm,vinyl record on its turn table.

 Not an iPhone. Not a smart phone.  No curly cues, just plain, ordinary looking portable record players.  So what's the difference between this mechanism and the technology we now have to listen to music?

My guess is it may be lonely as an audience of one on an iPad when a record player lets you share music with others.  Or is it just another fad?

MUSIC: US AMBASSADOR TO THE WORLD?

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra often plays music by living, established composers like John Adams, Steve Reich and Thomas Ades.  But one of the first concerts of this season previewed the work of  Patrick Harlin, a young composer and his composition, "Rapture."

According to our program, Harlin counts traditional classical music and Jazz among his influences.  He  credits  James Tabors  book, "Blind Descent" about the crippling onset of emotion, known as "The Rapture" which cave climbers  experience after living weeks in total darkness. At the conclusion of the composition, the audience rose to its feet shouting bravos and hosanna as the composer came to the stage.

It was clear to many in our audience that this approximately 8 minute
composition represents the strength and determination of people in this country  and will serve as a a good will Ambassador around the world.

NRA & MENTAL HEALTH: BED PARTNERS?

The NRA would have us believe the organization is an advocate for the mental health system.
According to Wayne LaPierre, head of NRA: "Mental Health patients should be taken off the streets and be committed!"

Our mental health system is in great need, but to use mental health in a clever public relations campaign is to mislead the public. It is outrageous and will not work.

The problem is that we permit unregulated manufacturing, distribution and sales of military guns, equipment and ammunition to be used by people on our streets and country roads. The unregulated business of guns is not acceptable.

It is time for voters to tell our elected officials, and those who would represent us, we will not be side tracked by simplistic language or solutions.  It is time to stop being afraid of the NRA and take back
the civil society in which all of us, gun owners and non owners live.

AUTUMN STILL A GRAND LADY!

Autumn marked her arrival with an "I'm glad to be alive" kind of day!  Temperatures were where they belonged, high 60s, low 70s.  Clear skies and little or no humidity brought bikers, walkers, joggers, people pushing strollers with infants, still more skipping behind were out in force.

Jackets were off, some shorts still prevailed, and cars rolled down  windows to reveal more children, some guys and dolls and lots of picnic baskets for those headed for the country.  Dogs, pedigree and rescue alike were eager to give their handlers a run for their money.

Every once in a while a tree showed a red leaf as if to say, watch these branches, we are about to show you some brilliant color.  Flower beds were turning golden with new plantings and meals were eaten out of doors.

Autumn provides us with a lazy yet energetic, colorful pace and a time for reflection all her own. We hope this Grand Lady will be as kind and gracious  to river, land and sea in the months ahead.    


 

WORDS TO OVERCOME CYNICISM

Recently, another series of Dr. Martin Luther King's unknown speeches was found in the archives of The New School in New York City.  The speeches were from a series of Lectures given by Dr. King on "The American Race Crisis."

When I read through the article by Mona El-Nagger (The New York Times), I was impressed once again by Dr. King words exhorting all citizens "not to be afraid knowing that we do live in a country where equality of opportunity is a reality."

Dr. King's rich, uplifting voice may be silent but his words once again ring true.  Words that inspire many of us to go on working toward that reality, even in the face of cynicism.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AND THEN SOME!

Last week, my ability to post to my blog or to receive and send e-mails was knocked out of commission.  As a result many comments and emails went unanswered.  Most importantly,
my post about Dr. Martin Luther King was delayed.  I apologize for the delay.

BASEBALL: SHRINKING THE WORLD TO SIZE?

The man sitting across the isle from me, on a recent trip out of St. Louis, was wearing a baseball cap with the letter "A" on it.  He was reading a book written in Japanese. I asked if he lived in St Louis. He did not, nor did he speak much English. Yet, we were able to communicate in a limited way.

He was a fan of Ichico Suzuki the Japanese baseball player.  He was on his way to see a game between the Yankees and the New York Mets.  Since 2007 he has been traveling to this Country to attend major league games. He has made a list of 30 games he wants to see.  So far he has seen. 14.

He drew a map on my small notebook to show me where he lived.  His home is in Fukuoka a city and port in Japan on an inlet of Tsushima  Inlet.  Then he wrote his name in English block letters and in Japanese characters.

Somehow, our limited conversation about baseball seemed to shrink the world to a smaller size.

DOES MARRIED LIFE TREAT COUPLES WELL?

August is turning out to be a busy month. On my birthday  I renewed my annual membership in "Club Eighty." Took an over night trip to Philadelphia to see the National Museum of American Jewish History and the Barnes Art Museum and in Florida, I watched my brother and his wife renew wedding vows taken fifty years ago.

As my brother and his wife came down the isle they made a handsome couple. He in tux with a flower in his lapel. She looking beautiful in a sheath. They were preceded by two granddaughters throwing rose petals. .  

In the audience were their three children and spouses, four grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins and old friends. At the piano was their oldest son crooning "their" song.

They received the blessings of the Rabbi as the cantor sang. They exchanged vows especially written by each for each other and then, in keeping with custom, my brother broke the traditional wine glass to remember those who were once forced from their homes to settle in lands across the globe.

Before us stood two people who had come together 50 years ago, not sure of the future to begin a life together.  Both needing to become familiar with each other, other families and different ways.  

He became a respected physician, recognized for his work with men, women and families, and as trusted friend to his siblings.  She worked with him in his practice and then in recent years became an artist in her own right. 

Through it all, there was time for children and grandchildren, for family, as favored uncle and aunt, and to pay attention to  the needs of aging parents.

It was not easy.  They laughed and shared moments of  grief and sorrow, and sometimes moments of exasperation with one another.  Together they learned to accept extended family quirks, habits and customs even as they began to create traditions of their own.

Their generosity, warmth and good humor extended to many in different ways as did their respect for each other's  feelings.

All this came to mind as I watched them renew their vows and as I participated in their extraordinary reception, dinner and weekend long series of events.

Yes, 50 years of married life has treated this couple well!

ASIAN FOOD, NATIVE AMERICANS, IN MISSOURI?

The invitation was for lunch.  We would be eight women and we would hear a presentation on the findings of a small Study about a tribe of Native Americans living in Arizona.

The Report on the Study was disquieting, sometimes shocking that Treaties made with Indian Tribes were still  broken or unfulfilled. We learned too about the damage to children and family life.  There were many questions and much discussion. As I listened, I thought of the many native Americans who settled along the banks of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers as well.

But it was our all-Asian menu* selected, cooked and presented by our hostess which created the most curiosity.  We learned the food was purchased from a place called Seafood City.

Seafood City is located in a former supermarket in the center of St. Louis' Asian neighborhood.  The store carries frozen and packaged foods, all with labels and brands from countries like Vietnam, China, Philippines, Japan and a handful of American products. Most salespeople speak more than one language and some speak English.

Fresh fish are spread out on large flat tables lined with ice chips, salt and seaweed.  More exotic seafood like soft shell turtles, dungeness crabs, craw fish, different verities of shrimp and live lobsters swim in large aquariums.  Employees working in the fish area wear the heavy clothing, shoes and hats of fishermen as they prepare their fish.   Live frogs are available when they are in stock.

Walking around the store I was reminded of the diversity of people, customs and food found here in  Missouri where Native Americans and immigrants could fit so well, given a chance. 

 

                       * OUR MENU                                     

 

SALAD CAPRESE

Yoba, Pea Pods, Dried Mushrooms

Water Chestnuts, Cashews

 

FRUIT COCKTAIL

Rambutan, Lychee,

Jack Fruit, Longgun

 

MOCHI RICE CAKES

 

MOCHI ICE CREAM BALLS

 

FRESH LYCHEES

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARE WE TURNING INTO TRIBAL SOCIETIES?

We read of foreign countries where power is accrued with guns and armies. We read of tribal wars.
We read of guns used to silence dissent.   We sigh and tell ourselves these are backward countries.

Then we read of daily "shoot outs" in our cities and towns. We read of the increase of gun sales. We read that guns and ammunition are becoming a fashionable accessory to be worn on the hip. We read of our legislators enacting laws to assure the free flow of weapons and ammunition.

We grieve for innocent lives cut down in familiar places by military style guns, even as we rush out to buy more of the same. 

What then is the difference between us and tribal societies in which lawlessness and guns rule the conditions under which people live?

THE CANARY TAKES A WALK!

He came out from the underbrush. He was carrying a white parcel.  He placed the parcel on the ground near the walkway, gingerly fixed this way and that. He left the parcel on the ground and went to the small fence which protects walkers from the gulley below. He began to warm up. He finished, gave the parcel one last look and then began his walk.

As I passed the parcel I slowed down to have a look.  Under the white sheet was a bird cage.  In it was  a canary.   A bird lover bringing his canary with him as he went on his walk. It seemed an odd
but nice thing to do.

I felt sure the man enjoyed his walk. The canary must have enjoyed being outside. I went on my way smiling.

BITCOMS: HERE WE GO AGAIN?

I had lunch with a friend who is familiar with financial markets. We talked for a while and then I asked what she knew about BITCOMs.  She said, "Not a thing but I'll ask the hot shots in my office."

Throughout the ages people have used false claims in hope of enticing us. Whether it was a Circus Pitchman promoting an illusion, or a speculator selling worthless land or  a financial wizard offering a double our money back opportunity, we are taken in by colorful characters and their offers.

Now comes the "First Exchange-Traded Fund for BITCOMS."  Described in the New York Times Business News Section on July 2 as "an alternative crypto-currency that exists outside the realms of governments and central banks - a virtual currency."

 The article sounded like the same kind of thinking that conceived  the  scheme for hidden derivatives
which caused the financial havoc that is still with us.  I sure hope  not!

NULLIFICATION OR COOL HEADED REASONING?

Seems state and congressional officials are pursuing nullification and a steady stream of violent verbiage to undo Federal Laws that meet the needs of people.

 Federal Laws that seemed to help overcome injustices in voting, in marriage, in the health and welfare of men, women, children and families, in a common sense approach to gun control, in penalties for pollution, in fair and equal taxation methods all are targeted for nullification by many state and congressional representatives. 

Thank goodness for those elected officials who stand up against such moves and encourage citizens to use reason and cool headiness in the face of threats and misinformation.

RESTAURANTS AND DR. SUESS' ADMONITION

In the 70s, many small family owned and operated restaurants opened in cities and towns across the country.  Some restaurants revitalized blighted areas. They offered eclectic menus. Locally- grown American fare was served along with dishes from around the world. The ambiance was often one that included music, poetry readings and wall hangings by local artists.

These restaurants became places to meet neighbors and people with like-minded interests. Politics, sports, the trials and tribulations of raising children, and  the complexity of human relationships all could be heard at tables or in booths sometimes placed close together.

Such a restaurant was Duff's which was opened in 1972.  Family owned and operated, it soon became the "in" place no matter the weather. In wintertime, the interior was plain and warmed by the sun as it streamed through the restaurant's stained glass front windows.  In the summers, outside tables and chairs were hard to get. Year round, writers and authors held readings and once in a while a violin could be heard.

Many restaurants here and throughout the country that were established in the years since the 70s no longer exist .  Now, this ever popular St. Louis spot  closed its doors too on June 21.  It will have its final literary reading on June 22nd.

Above Duff's front door hangs a quote from Dr. Seuss:

              "Don't cry because it's over... Smile because it happened."

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT MISTAKES?

Two small children and their mother came into my favorite coffee shop.  The children looked as if they might be brother and sister.  The boy was about three.  The girl about five. Both were beautiful, exuberant children.

The mother ordered breakfast while the children selected a table and then roamed about.  When the mother brought the food, they all sat down. I returned to reading  my paper until I heard the mother yell, "Say you are sorry!" When I looked up the mother was on her knees on the floor trying to clean up a mess and the little boy was running to the other side of the restaurant shouting, "I won't!"

I do not know what happened but the whole scene made me wonder.  Do we use "sorry" as an acceptable response to excuse our mistakes instead of doing the hard work of cleaning up the mess we sometimes make?

THE VILLAGE OF BRUSSELS ILLINOIS

Brussels is a small Village between the Illinois and Missouri  Rivers not far from the Mississippi reached only by water. On one of our last pretty days in May we drove out to visit it.

We used the super highway surrounding St. Louis to cross over to Illinois.  We traveled past Bush Stadium, home of the Cardinals baseball team,  crossing the bridge of the Missouri River to where the River meets the Mississippi and took River Road to the city of Alton, home of the Bald Eagle.

Once on River Road, old salmon colored cliffs with caves from another age escorted us along the way.  The City appeared to be one visited by tourists and summer people. Artsy dress shops stood beside bait shacks and a large marina had boats of all sizes in its docks.

Past Alton the heavily trafficked highway became a two-lane country road weaving up and down  around hills and farm land and corn fields distressed by rain and flood.  We saw no live stock. The homes were modest with recreational  vehicles parked in the driveways and children's swings and plastic pools on the lawns.  The one or two McMansions we saw looked out of place.

We arrived at the ferry dock.  Owned and operated by a private family, the ferry was small but carried about a dozen cars, a truck, and a group of people on bikes and us across  the Illinois River to Brussels.

Inside the Village, we learned that Brussels is in the National Register of Historic Places. The Village covers 0.56%  of land. The Census of 2000 found that 141 people were citizens of Brussels.

The Historic Wittmond Hotel is situated on the Village's Main Street. Next to it is the town's cemetery, and the old Jail.  The front of the Hotel features a wide front porch down on which I could imagine Wyatt Earp or John Wayne striding, spurs click, clicking away on the wooden planks.

Once inside, we found a bar, gift shop and small dinning rooms all in dark woods. Built in 1874 the hotel featured black and white photos of the original owners, and other important figures of the time. Windows were hung with old lace curtains and lunch was served family-style.

Old medicine bottles lined the shelves of the gift shop.  Among them St. Joseph Mineral Oil and something called Tyrone Tonic.  An old poster was displayed for the book "Crooks Kill, Cops Lie" by Bill McClellan of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper. Glass display cases held old and new bric-a-brac.

As we left Brussels we noticed a large sign, "Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge." We had planned to take the ferry back over the Mississippi but we returned the way we came, with the ferry over the Illinois River hoping we would not encounter more flooding.

MEMORIAL DAY LETTER TO FELLOW CITIZENS

Memorial Day 2013 commemorated the sacrifices so many made in foreign lands and here at home. We remembered in small cemeteries and national ones. We remembered them and their families in community and veteran hospitals across the land.  Religious services for the dead and wounded were offered in tabernacles and mosques.

We draped flags, barbecued favorite dishes, played baseball, golf and croquet and favorite games with children and grandchildren.  We tended our farms and animals. Others worked through the holiday caring for the frail and ill among us. Still others spent the day working to rebuild national and man-made structures devistated by wind or flood, sometimes both .

Bands played.   Radios blared.  We strummed guitars and banjos and sang old and familiar songs.
Some festivities were well attended, others canceled by storms. Speeches were made. Officials spoke of freedom, liberty and  opportunity.  Yet, many of these same officials seem to have forgotten  what the treasure of  this country is all about.

It seems somewhere along the way to "governance" legislators are consumed with a process known as nullification.  The term is often used as an excuse for lack of enactment or implementation of laws which already or would  provide for the "good and welfare" of people.

So it was that on this Memorial Day in particular, amid all the colorful parades, decorations and speeches, I wondered why we, as citizens, continue to elect and support officials whose greatest achievement is to nullify laws that have served us well in the past?

Is it not time that as citizens we lose our fear of "government"?

Sincerely,
Beverly D. Rehfeld, Citizen

ANOTHER MILESTONE!

First came those who influenced and inspired them.  Then came the blue gowns. Faces, all colors, smiling, some looking grime almost bored under black mortars, worn seriously some flippantly with tassels bouncing.  Many searched the audience for a familiar face while staying in processional order.

They took their prearranged seats on bleachers in the auditorium festooned with balloons  hand held, others hung from cross beams on the ceiling. On each side of the stage, large screens showed their portraits and the new places they soon would call home.

They attentively listened to remarks by people who had come to know them over the years,  sometimes well, sometimes superficially. Offered were words of  advice and  personal experiences.

Then four of their peers rose to speak.  Each message expressed  appreciation, anticipation and a humorous reflection. While all on stage and in the audience acknowledged and celebrated  the heroic efforts made by some to be a part of the Class of 2013.

Diplomas were given, tassells turned to the other side of  Mortars and the Recessional began
with my granddaughter in it as I marked another milestone in her life and mine..

SO ENDS APRIL!

So ends April
Marking a month of lunacy and tribute
Ending and beginning life
Defining what is, is not terrorism.

Changing climate foretold by educators and scientists
As the rivers spill over
Earth shudders
Fires break out
Levees give way
People, animals, homes, schools, crops lost
Even as last year' s pansies show their heads above ground.

Through it all
Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi
Working People lining river shores
Remembered in song
Watch as economic progress, health, and education stall
Representatives who prefer to look away
Off set by Voices growing in number
Demanding no more false idols or messages!

So ends April!

DON'T COUNT MISSOURI OUT YET!

If we think of Missouri as a know-nothing state, we are kidding ourselves.  Here's why!

A school in the Ozark Mountain area allows teachers and others to bring and use concealed weapons in school.  Many parents were pleased with the action, but some felt uneasy and would prefer  alternative ways to protecting the safety of their children.

Whether it is health care for a select few, or unequal sharing of the burden of taxes, or failure to  limit easy access to manufacturing and the sale of guns, Missouri's Citizens recognize the danger of each to each of us and our communities.

We live on farms, in cities and towns.  We know there are many of us, voters and organizations working diligently on issues that have and do impact the quality of life where we live. We know too that some of our work has been a surprise to those who represent us up and down the great rivers which sometimes have separated us from each other and the rest of the country.

We have been schooled by and live with nature's moody disposition.. We have learned how to carry on before her screaming winds.   We are one state with communities of men, women and children, threatened or prospering in rural counties or on city streets.

We recognize this and caution the skeptics, don't count Missouri out yet!

THE RESTORATIVE REVERE

We have neglected, abused and plundered her.  We have exalted her in prose, poetry and song.

We know her as a source for joyful memories even as her rage has caused sorrow and destruction.

We chart and predict her moods from serene to furious and unrelenting  

We are in awe of her colors which range from  gloomy grey  to  sparkling blue.

We feel sure she can be trained and controlled.

She tells us she will not be trained or controlled.

She reminds all of us, the powerful, the ordinary, nation and citizen alike, she rules without dispute.

All this was part of a restorative revere as I sat on her beaches on  a recent trip to see the

Atlantic Ocean off the Florida Coast.



  

LAST HICCUP FOR THE SEASON?

Missouri like the rest of the country awaits the last hiccup of the season.   

Still, wild sparrows come to my terrace looking for food.  Apparently the last person who lived here feed them well.  Other birds fly and scurry about frequently.  Looking for what? A mate? Food? A place to nest? 

The clouds above are heavy and sliced every so often by sun rays.  It makes me wonder if it is even worth packing for a trip South.

Much as I know Mother Nature is a lovely lady, there were times when she appeared to be down right rude and mean blowing fierce winds at all in her way.  But even when she had things the way she wanted them, she still overstayed her visit, refusing to leave.

So dear lady, let this be your last hiccup for the season and bring on Spring!

BEETHOVEN & THE ELUSIVE HEDGEHOG?

I attended a recent performance of the St. Louis Symphony.  On the program led by conductor David Robertson was Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 in D major, op.56 a.  In the Symphony the instruments talk back and forth to each other in a delightful way.

According to our Program, when Beethoven created the Symphony he was loosing his hearing and was so despondent that he contemplated suicide.

Yet, when I listen to this Symphony, I picture a small hedgehog darting from here, there and everywhere to avoid its pursuers.  Just when the pursuit seems to have exhausted itself, the little hedgehog shows itself once again and the pursuit begins again.

On this occasion, sitting a few rows from the Orchestra, listening to the music  and watching David Robertson as he gestured and moved, for me Beethoven even in all his despair was depicting the elusive hedgehog that I imagined.

NO MATTER WHERE: WALKING IS GREAT!

No matter where, starting the day with a walk is like opening the pages of a new book.  Outside, depending on the season birds and animals, children, friends and strangers are encountered along the way. The smell of the earth whether pungent or sweet reminds us of earlier attachments to the land.

Recently, the changing weather has curtailed walking outside. Luckily, my new apartment building provides rides to a nearby shopping mall where dozens of  people take walking seriously. The before rush hour "traffic" is as colorful as I find in a park or on the streets of a neighborhood.

Once inside, mothers push their  children in strollers that overflow with heavy coats, sweaters, toys and, of course one or sometimes two children. Walkers, singly or with friends use shops  or indoor fountains as  mile markers.  Older people, some with disabilities, some with athletic physics smile or look grim in their task of keeping "up."

As the morning grows late, coffee shops fill.  Maintenance crews begin their jobs and merchants and sales employees ready shops and kiosks for customers.

The fresh outdoor smells are gone. There is no natural sound of birds and the first sign of crocuses will be in artificial pots instead of pushing their way up amid blankets of moss but walking here sure beats complaining about the weather which keeps us confined and listless.

FINALLY! GOOD SENSE PREVAILS!

I write today as the much feared ice and snow storm begins here in St. Louis. The full force of Nature's erratic storms is a wake-up call for all of us.  Yet, it seems scientific and public concern are still often ridiculed.

As we enter the 21st Century we begin to recognize that our Planet's resources are finite. We are beginning to understand how our actions, or lack of them, impact on our environment.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York is advocating a sensible plan to buy out the owners of property hard hit by monster storms. He wants to declare the State's Coastal Flood Plain Areas as  loff limits for development.

When one studies the fragility of this planet's ecosystem, and the economic and health benefits derived from wetlands, Governor Cuomo's proposal is a huge step forward in planning for the aftermath of natural disasters. Would that other states follow suit.

JUST A WEATHER MAN? NO MORE!

Like a lot of people, I constantly complain about the lack of accuracy of weather predictors, better known as weather men and  women. 

As agreeable a weatherman as Al Roker is, he is no exception.  No doubt about it, Roker withstands whatever storm, flood, or disaster Mother Nature hurls at him, but I have never kept score on the accuracy of his weather predictions. Yet he scored big with me when he was able to get Vice President Biden to break order in the Inaugural Parade and shake hands with him.

This very small gesture by the Vice President and Roker's delight in "scoring big" delighted me and spoke volumes about the good humor and egalitarianism so reflective of our country as we celebrated the swearing in of our second term president.

The incident also secured Rocker's place to provide us with a reason to smile even in lousy weather.

PLAYING POLITICS WITH GUN CONTROL?

I support common sense gun control.  Here is why!

I am encouraged by the state-wide and national discussion about guns.

For too long we have regarded questions about what kind  of guns should be permitted in our communities, much like the quiet whispering we once did about feared diseases.

My sense is that people are scaling the walls of ignorance. It is no longer enough to speak of the reason for everyday killings on our streets as a matter of culture or mental health or violent movies or poverty, or  personal defense.  People know different.

We know there has to be legal and enforceable action taken to curb the business of guns.

In St. Louis one widely read columnist feels people should not get all worked up. His "take" on the situation is, "guns are everywhere and owned by everyone, so get used to the reality."  A host of letters from readers responded by calling for support of gun control.

In an organization of which I am a member, a draft for support of common sense gun control was combined with the great need for mental health funding..  Though the need for support of  mental health is a real one, in this case it appears it was thrown into the draft to placate those who tell us "to stop a bad guy with a gun, it takes a good guy with a gun."

The open discussion about guns is long overdue. We cannot be safe nor feel safe for as long as the manufacturing and selling of guns intended for war are easily purchased  on our streets, in stores, or at county fairs.

It is time for our elected officials to understand who we are.  We are farmers, sportsmen, parents, grandparents, gun owners and those who would not keep a gun.

 We shall no longer be bullied or listen to quick solution suggestions for protecting our children, ourselves or our communities. We want our local police department not a Vigilante committee to protect us.

It is time to enforce common sense gun legislation, regulation and oversight for one of America's largest business markets and for all of us to stop playing politics or speaking in "code."

We need to become serious about gun control.

NEW YEAR GREETING!

When I was packing to move into my new apartment, I came across a New Year Greeting written in 1962.  It was one I had written for the United World Federalists Regional Council. I send it now  as I believe it applies as much to 2013 as it did more than 40 years ago.

Peace, so serene to say
So hard to achieve.

Our hope,
That it comes not as a whisper
But with all the earnest drive
Of men and women hard at work
To construct something better.

A good year for you, valued reader and yours.