NEW YEAR 2023

 AS THE YEARS GO FORWARD

WE MUST NOT LET FEAR MESMERIZE US.

LET US FIND WAYS TO RESPECT AND PROTECT

HUMAN AND NATURE'S NEEDS.

AND KNOW THAT COME WHAT MAY

THERE IS STRENGTH IN OUR DIVERSITY.

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com/

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Get your shots and VOTE.

THANKSGIVING 2022

THANKSGIVING 2022

Each year, I try to send a special Thanksgiving message. 

I try to send something that would be a musing

about our world. Sometimes the message would be a part

of what I call "SKY WATCH", in which I  urge readers

to get outside to  see the stars and planets above. But

this year, it is hard for me to send such a message, because

of the death of my companion, Don Snyder, who lived 

in St. Louis, Missouri, and died just before Thanksgiving. 

So,when I read Margaret Renld's Column, "How to Give Thanks in 

a Messed-up World," I liked it and turned to memories of

Don.

Don and I shared a sense of adventure.  He seemed a

stickler for focus and attention to technology.  He gave

freely of his time to try to set up a computer system by

which I was able to communicate with my readers

from around the world.  But once he started to show

me something, if I was diverted he would tell me,

"No! Not now!  We have to get this done!" It is Don

that I remember as I write now.

It was because of Don that I learned about the 

beauty of  Woodworking.  It was with him that 

I attended the Saturday morning lectures on math

and physics. The turmoil which has affected so many

people had affected us as well. I left St. Louis

to come to Washington, to be close to my children.

Don sold his small house and moved into another facility

at the request of his family.  Though we were unable 

to see each other.  We were able to keep in touch 

with the technology he showed me.  Because of that 

and because of the messed-up world he and I were in.

Don died miles away from me during the Thanksgiving Season.

Then I remembered the words of Margaret Renld in her

column on November 26, "loss and love will always

belong to each other, that sorrow has always been 

joy's quiet twin." I spoke with Don's family.  And 

then I walked in my small garden.  The crisp air told me 

snow will soon come.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

Wear your mask.  Get your shot.

Wash your hands. VOTE

 

LET'S BEGIN WITH JUSTICE

 Let's Begin With Justice.

Several weeks ago, I went to see the show

"To Kill A Mocking Bird" at the Kennedy Center.

When I came out to the Lobby, I bought a T shirt

with the words from the show, "Let's begin with Justice."

As I read of Attorney General Merrick B. Garland's

decision on whether or not to name a special counsel

to investigate Mr. Trump and his actions "to undercut 

faith in the institutions ability to investigate the former

president."

 

I have faithfully followed the actions and aspirations

of many people in public office.  It is not difficult to

discern who wants to serve people.  It is also easy 

to spot those who wish to undo acts of fairness.

I hope that Mr. Garland continues in his quest

for law and justice, and is supported by all the

people.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

Wear your mask.  Wash your hands.

Get your shots. and VOTE.

THE MEGA MANSION BEHIND POLLY 'S OLD HOUSE

 THERE IT WAS!  THE OLD BROWN GATE,

covered over with white paint, swinging open 

to the front lawn.  Beyond, the house had ten broad,

well-worn steps to a large porch.  On one side of the porch

 was a glider comfortable enough to hold and sleep adults and

children on warm summer nights.  There was enough room under the porch to 

hide children, animals and secret treasures.

The front door opened to a large, square hallway that lead to two ample stairways leading to four

bedrooms. The third floor lead to more bedrooms and an attic for storage.  On the first floor, 

one side of the house held a small sitting parlor behind which was more room.  The living and

dinning rooms were across the hallway. The kitchen was in the back with old-fashioned cabinets

and appliances.  Two dogs and a cat were housed in the yard. The animals came in and out of

the kitchen for warmth when the weather was cold.

Polly was a writer, editor, and political activist who took her five children to the South to work

with women who wanted to learn about child development in the sixties. When she returned to

Washington, DC, she moved into the large home I have described.  Polly's home was located on

a small street that also offered space in the back yard where she grew vegetables.  When

her children began to develop carers of their own, to keep up with expenses, Polly rented rooms

to a few students. She also purchased a small tract of land in Pennsylvania where the children and grandchildren helped her build whatever they needed. Her beat-up truck had enough room in the 

back to pile everyone willing to help at the Farm and supplies.

When I visited Polly, I often shared a cup of tea. Though we were both interested in politics, we

shared or own aspirations as women, mothers and grandmothers.  I thought of all of this as we 

passed the Mega Mansion now being built where Polly's home once was.

I thought too,we need not bemoan the past.  But now we need to look to the future as our children

create memories of their own.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

Wear your mask.  Wash your hands.

Get your shot.  VOTE

 

SKY WATCH: FROST OVERTAKES PUMPKINS

The full moon smiled down on us. 

Frost covered our pumpkins and lawns.

Children were anxious for Halloween to begin.

It had turned cold.  We watched from our windows.

Let us make this Holiday one in which good sense 

shall prevail.  Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1,@gmail.com/

Wear your mask.  Take your shot.

  Wash your hand.     VOTE

 

THANK YOU JUDGE RAYMOND J. DEARIE

Thank you Judge Raymond J. Dearie

for helping to keep justice alive in America's

system of laws.  Judge Dearie was appointed

as a special master last week by federal judge

Aileen M. Cannon from Florida, who ordered him 

to perform a series of tasks related to the papers

taken from Mar-a-Lago.  The legal tap dancing

by a number of lawyers is mind boggling but

it was refreshing to hear Judge Dearie tell both 

sides of the issue, "we are going to proceed, 

with what I call responsible dispatch." 

This small story appeared seven days after

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed

new citizens at Ellis Island, the site of his family's

American origin story, and warned that the country

had become divided by factionalism, which has 

imperiled democracy and the rule of law.

During these weeks the world seems to be

seeing the best of us and the fear many of us

have toward change.  Even when it seems

we have lost trust with each other, a single

action such as Judge Raymond J. Dearie

may help us regain the faith we have that 

we will be able to proceed with "responsible

dispatch toward the future."

Beverly

Get your shots.  Wash your hands.

And VOTE.

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com/

WHEN TRUST IS BROKEN: AUGUT 29, 2022

NASA's next big Mission: to replace 

it's small ROVER on MARS with Helicopters.  

I first heard about this on CSPAN and in the papers.

Defying Gravity, was written by the same woman who has worked

at the US Government Space Agency for many years.  She is

articulate, and has written a factual book about her experience.  

The week before, I read that the total cost of Mars Sample Return

Mission, in collaboration with the European Space Agency,

will cost billions of dollars. But through the effort of both

Agencies, people from around the world will be able to learn

about the make up of a rock that comes from Mars.

 

 

At the same time, people are  following  reports of 

Attorney General B. Garland's attempt to seek information

 

about laws and justice in our Country.  

While  our President  Joe Biden is withstanding 

unprovoked criticism for trying to spend billions 

on so many issues, when all he seeks is that we vote. 

Why, when we have the opportunity to listen to his words? 

Do we not trust ourselves to elect honest, trustworthy candidates?

Once we have broken our trust with each other, how do we plan for the future?

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail/com

Wash your hands.  Wear your mask.

Get your shots. VOTE

SKY WATCHING AUGUST 2022

SKY WATCHING as JULY GIVES WAY TO AUGUST 

Stratocumulus Clouds bump up against dark 

Nimbostrartus Clouds and give us one rainbow

on top of another that still gives us more rain accompanied by 

thunder,  lighting, and damaging winds.  Mother Nature, 

once again reminds us, how fragile we are.

When the night quiets down it becomes simply a

lovely summer evening. 

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com/

Wear your mask.  Get your shots.

Wash your hands and vote.

 

INKY THE INQUISITIVE TURTLE

 A MIDTERM 

ELECTION ALLEGORY

The Turtle's name was Inky.  He had a beautiful, hard multicolored  shell. 

His arms and legs were very sturdy.  He had come a long way. When 

Inky reached the beach, he was very puzzled.

There were no sea shells.  There was nothing to remind him of where he

was.  He stretched his long neck out and saw something behind a very

large dune.  He thought, maybe it is a road.  Maybe the road will take me 

to waters I know. So he walked up to the road.  There was a lot of noise. 

Then he saw a small yard by the road.  He went there to rest.

That evening, a group of people saw the Turtle. One picked it up.and said, 

Lets make Turtle Soup for dinner. The second  man said, I will bring pots 

and pans. The third man said I will bring the table. The fourth man said

I will bring a red table cloth.  The fifth man said I will bring gold knives 

and forks and a pot filled with green leafs. The sixth man said lets cook  

tomorrow. Then they all went to sleep.  Some tried to turn Inky the Turtle 

on its back and laughed.  

There was a Spider on the wall who saw everything and whispered

to Inky, "Don't worry." I will build a very strong web to keep you safe. 

The Spider, built a very strong web. The  oysters, clams, and sand pipers 

helped Inky the Turtle reach calm waters.  When the mean people

got up in the morning they were surprised. Inky the Turtle was gone

and so was the soup.

And that is why I believe Joseph Biden, Jr. will get us through the next

four years, as long as each one of us give our President all the votes he 

needs for the election process.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

Wear your mask.  Stay five feet apart.

  And get your shots.

With apology to the many writers who

write of Inky and to remember the many

stories by HINKY, my father.

SKY WATCHING ON JUNE 2022

 A small Maryland Brown Spider has taken refuge in a corner of my bedroom-window.

It has been there since the beginning of the year.  It grows fat on bits of weeds and 

other small insects. In the past few months it has built, what I call, its second floor, where another,  

spider has taken residence. When the rains come and pour down, I always wonder, will the spiders

be washed to the ground below. So far they have honored the space each has without fighting.

But last night, just before the moon began to set, Fire-Flies came out flying dangerously

close to the Spider Webs.  Each day comes as a challenge for me, and a few of my friends

who stop by to check on the survival of the Webs. Some how, all this represents the ability 

of nature to withstand the harshness of climate and weather, and provide all of us with hope 

for the future.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

Wear your mask.  Get your shots.

Walk five feet apart. VOTE

MEMORIAL DAY 2022...HAVE WE BECOME TOXIC

We commemorated Memorial Day 2022

in so many different ways.  We had our

cook-outs in back yards or in a favorite

park.  We pulled together family, friends

and people we have not seen since the

pandemic started.

In some areas we enjoyed sunshine. 

In other places, we listened as rain

flooded out towns, docks and homes.

Across our land we experienced the

reality of climate change.

The American Legion still held 

ceremonies in small parks and

national ones.  There were no large

marching bands but people did

salute First Responders.  By and

large, except for shallow political 

speeches, many people remembered

the voices of small children and

their teachers calling for the police

to come and help.  None came.

Before the Holiday was over,

President Biden pleaded with

each of us, to help him keep 

America from becoming so

toxic, we are unable to hear 

the voices of children and their

families.

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

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Stay 5 feet apart.   and VOTE

IS IT PROFITEER OR NEWS WORTHY

After Covid ended, I came home from a trip

to New York and New Jersey and found  

a pile of newspapers and mail.  When I opened 

the May 2nd Edition of The New York Times,

I was surprised to find Tucker Carlson and 

pictures of the FOX NEWS channel 

featured on the front page.  The article, written 

by Nicholas Confessore, is an expose of 

how easily Propaganda can influence people.

Though Tucker Carlson was the main focus of the story,

I was more intrigued by the names of Roger  Ailes

and Rupert Murdoch listed as owners of the FOX NEWS CHANNEL. 

Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch are men 

known for being destructive and even profiteers 

during great national strife.   Anchors, writers and producers 

are listed and give their alliance to the station and their bosses.

Asked about how he could miss lead the public about

Covid-19 and other issues around the January

2020 Elections.  Tucker replied, "Viewers are so

compelled to think, what is this? And yet for that

very reason.  It is so absurd.  Propaganda tends to

be effective because it is so ridiculous, so absurd."

For me, Mr. Carlson's words were especially 

unsettling.  

As President Biden works to reinstate Institutions and 

Policies destroyed by the propaganda of previous administrations,

for those who remember well what propaganda did, and can do,

it is time we get behind leaders like President Biden and 

Volodymyr Zelensky with all the support we can offer.

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.com

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Stay 5 feet apart.

    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

  

A Superpower Led by a War Criminal

Thomas L. Friedman author, and columnist

offers three suggestions to give us ways 

to go around the current situation we are in

with Putin, a War Criminal.

When I read Friedman's suggestions,* it was the

first time I felt there was a way to begin to deal

with the mess we are in. Friedman

offers three pillars for effective strategies.

Support the Ukrainians.  Broadcast loudly that

the World is at war "with Putin and not the

Russian people."  And finally, we need to end 

our addiction to oil.

Friedman ends his column by reminding us,

"Ukrainians are making the ultimate sacrifice

to hold onto every inch and ounce of their 

newly won freedom, is it too much to ask

that Americans make the smallest sacrifices

to and compromises to hold on to our precious

democratic inheritance?"

             ______________________

*New York Times 4-11-22

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