HOW HIGH DOES THE EAGLE FLY?

On a cold, bleak day in early January, I was invited by a friend to go to Clarksville, Mo. considered the "Eagle Watching Capital of the Midwest."  We took a road known as the Little
Dixie Highway which runs along the Mississippi.*

As we watched for eagles, we passed the River's rich bottom land, now converted into well kept farms, with a large sign proclaiming, "This is a Flood Plane.  IT WILL FLOOD when the river does!"

Though I spotted a falcon perched high on a tree branch, unfortunately, we were either too early or late in the day to see the eagles. We did see the locks that catch debris, and ice before the river carries them into St. Louis.

We strolled through Clarksville as though it were a summer day. We visited a few shops that were opened.  We found a restaurant and bar which was opened. We went inside. A few men were at the bar who appeared less than friendly to strangers.

I was intrigued by other people and children who were there. I wondered how much did they know about the creatures, the environment, the climate and the laws and regulations protecting them, their communities and the state of Missouri. It would not have surprised me that people who live such independent, isolated lives thought a weapon is a necessity.                              

The merchants whose shops we did visit were friendly and lived in Clarksville the year around. They appeared anxious to talk with us about some of the interesting things they had for sale.

During our most recent national election, I thought a lot about the people of Clarksville and the Eagles and how well they seem to be able overcome the harshness of their environment while working toward their survival.

Maybe as citizens we  need to overcome our fear of each other and learn to work together toward the future as do the people and Eagles of Clarksville.

*More Information:
 clarksvillemo,org/eagledays

JANUARY PLANET*

Earlier this week the planet closed out the day much too warm for January

Promising tomorrow will be more in keeping with the calendar.

While offering a preview of the next act

Behind props of snow and ice and rain

Spring awaits its cue.



*Every once in a while, we will sum up the weather here
and planetary movement in the sky believing that weather
 may be the unifying force in all regions of our country.

HARD WORK/KNOWLEDGE: PATH TO THE FUTURE

It is hard to believe that we are about to ring in another New Year but we are. In this past year we learned of the death of friends and family and of national, international and local notables,  We enjoyed moments of joy and accomplishment in education, science and sports.


We heard and acknowledged the calls to improve the process of fair and equitable justice and began to do something about it by taking action that will continue. We have come down and off the roller coaster of elections and financial upheaval and uncertainty.  Societal, environmental and atmospheric discoveries and changes have been made even as we reveal our misgivings about where these changes were going or how would we deal with them?

 We are mindful that at times we may seem lost at sea without the human energy drive to overcome fear as we navigate the uncertain  shoals of change but we need not be.

As we welcome 2017 we need to move on.  Life is not a  "tweet." It is a pathway to secure a future
that acknowledges knowledge, science and technology that takes us to the hard work of dealing with change which we can and will make.

May the Year 2017 be a discovery of  patience, respect and humility for all of us..



         

THE UNOPENED THANKSGIVING CANDY BOX

I met Rose Mass in 2014.  She was a small, dynamic, older lady. I was a stranger to her and to the City she loved. She became a good friend.

She and I seemed to have had similar life experiences. She shared my zest for life and for living, fearing no stranger or new experience.

In her youth she broke quite a few glass ceilings before we understood what a glass ceiling really was.

She wore her "titles" of student, teacher, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother as well as dear aunt with dignity and humility, yet always independent and seeking justice in many ways.

She was a loyal and encouraging friend to many with whom she shared wide interests:  from bridge, to tennis, to music, to reading, to food, to politics and to  humorous asides which she used to break intense moments.

Her love of travel took her on a a freighter trip to sail the sea, She saw much of the world, visiting with still more family as she went along the way.

Toward the end, it was difficult for her to remain mobile. She did so with the love and help of her four sons, their prodigies,and a loving capable care giver.

I would stop in to visit with Rose every once in a while and when I did, I would take a small token
that could please her.  She seemed glad to see me,  always reminding me that I should have voted one way or the other.

Ten days ago, I bought a box of Thanksgiving candy to take with me for Rose.  I never did get to visit  her. As I write this, I learned that Rose Mass had died and the Thanksgiving Candy remains unopened.

During this holiday and this time in the history of our country, it seems worth remembering that
my friend leaves behind a virtual army of people whose lives she affected in a positive way, reminding each one of us that the richness of life is here for each of us to enjoy regardless of who we are or what we may have.

MAY THE HOLIDAY BE A GOOD TIME FOR YOU AND  YOURS.

THANKSGIVING 2016

THANKSGIVING 2016

WE COME TOGETHER TO ENJOY THE HARVEST

AT TABLES SOMETIMES ELABORATE, SOMETIMES MEAGER

BRINGING DISHES ACKNOWLEDGING WHO WE ARE

AND FROM WHENCE WE  CAME

GATHERED TOGETHER WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

LISTENING TO STORIES, MEMORIES OF THOSE NOT HERE.

Beverly D. Rehfeld

VOTING, ASTRONOMICAL DISTANCES & GRAVITY

Recently, I joined a friend to attend two fascinating scientific lectures.

Both presented the advances in answering questions once thought to be without merit.

The titles alone could have been off-putting: "Splitting Hairs Over the Distance to the Nearest Star," by Dr, Keter M. Murch and the other "Unsung Heroes of Quantum Physics by Michael Ogilive."

Each lecturer was knowledgeable and related scientific information and exploration to the technology we now take for granted.  Each lecturer brought an excitement for inquisitiveness and teaching.

As we listened, often to theory and language strange to my ear, I thought of the questions now before us as we go to the polls to vote for candidates and issues that will affect us in very human ways.

Will we vote for our own personal priorities?  Do we vote to advance the opportunity for many or do we dictate the "right way" to be designated by a few?  Do we question our own responsibility in respecting and maintaining or destroying communal behavior?

So it is that I think of the vote we need to make in the important elections of 2016 and the questions we need to ask ourselves as well as the questions we need to ask of those who want to represent us.

SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!

"TRUMP, TAXES & CITIZENSHIP"*

David Brooks columnist described the dilemma so many of us face with the 2016 elections.

Sure we believe in following the rules but what do we do when the rules seem to apply to others rather than ourselves?

What do we do when the political process we have seems to have broken down and the only choice we have is to look to the lesser of evils in candidates or political parties?

In his September 4th column Brooks said, "If you are a tax payer your role in the country is defined by your economic and legal status.  Your primary identity is individual. You're perfectly within your rights to do everything you can to look after your self interest.

"As Trump and his advisers have argued, it is normal practise in our society to pay as little in taxes as possible.  There are vast industries to help people do this. There is no wrong here.

"The problem with the taxpayer mentality is that you end up serving your individual interest short term but soiling the nest you need to be happy in over the long term.

"A healthy nation isn't just an atomized mass of individual economic and legal units.

"If you orient everything around individual self-interest, you end up ripping the web of giving and receiving. Neighbors can't trust neighbors.  Individuals  can't trust their institutions and they certainly can't trust their government."

So, as Citizens maybe we need to question whether or not the candidate's political rhetoric is in keeping with our understanding of democratic pluralistic, communal life?

How will what we hear and read affect each of us as well as others, increase our broader understanding and participation of the Citizen's role in a democratic society?

And how will each candidate help us meet the changes we will need to make which  will affect each of us, our lives our ambition and our security?

No easy quick answers to be sure.  But if we shirk from our responsibility to vote as Citizens we are less than we have always been as a people and as a nation.

SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!

*David Brooks, September 4, 2016