MEMORIAL DAY 2023

My daughter-in-law, Miggie and my yonger son, Andrew and I spent an early

Memorial Day visit here in Silver Spring, Maryland.  We had a lovely dinner

at a favoriet Italian Restaurant.  We enjoyed each other's company and then came 

back to my apartment and went over family photos and told stories.  When they left.

I picked up my May 27 edition of the New York Times and read the article, "Tornado.

Treasure. Tina. Turner. The singer enthralled us by bringing her electricity to songs

about survival."

 Because it was Memorial Day, I remembered a ceremony in Ardmore, PA.   

where I use to live.  Our services were held at the end of a football field,

next to a duck pond. There were always one or two people who raised and 

and lowered the flag poles. Several others brought beach chairs and watered 

to one or two pots of flowers.  Most people were elderly. As the day began, young

people came to the field to play touch football.  After a while, some people from

a High School Band began to play.  And couples pushing baby coaches came and

put a blanket on the ground just to enjoy the day, as the Train from Ardmore, came

by on its way to New York.  I think of all this on Memorial Day 2023.

I do so not to recreate a memory of more than 50 years ago.  I live now in a

Retirement Community that is about to be torn down. But I do wonder, what

sort of commitment to integrity and honesty shall be remembered of the people

who now govern Seabury at Sringvale Terrace, in Silver Spring, Maryland?

What ever befalls me and where ever my home will be, Tina Turner's 

zest for life shall stay with me.

Beverly 

beverlyrehfeld1@gmail.net

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And VOTE.

NEUTERED BUNNY 'N ME

It appeared MARCH was refusing to give way to May.  Pouring, drenching rain, still made many of us put

away plans for outdoor events.  One night, when an angry, wind awaken me from sleep,  I went

to my window to see if any damage had been done.  As I looked out, below me, there was a creature on

my lawn.  I was not sure what it was.  It was fat and laying very still.  I knew it was not a squirell because

it did not seem to trouble the small birds flying close by.  The small creature began nibbling at the plants

on the lawn.

As I watched, the animal caught sight of me and stood up.  There was no bushy tail, so I decided,

it must have been a bunny rabbit that had escaped from its cage.  I opened my window and asked

the animal, why are you up so early and what happened to your tail?  With that, the bunny rabbit

stretched its legs and said, " I am looking for the hole I live in."  What are you doing under my

window? It was quite cold and I wanted to give the creature somthing to eat.  "You don't

have to do that! I'll get my food and warmth from my family."  Your family?  "Yes. Maybe you

forgot. You met my family, the mouse family, when you moved here.  So, we remember

when you moved in and we'll know when you move out." But this place is about to

be torn down. "It does not matter. Our family knows all about that. We keep this 

information to ourself."

But who will profit from all this? It had started to rain again,and the neutered Bunny

 was looking for a new dwelling in which to live.

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EARTH DAY 2023

 On a DC 9  Airplane, our pilot, did a slow dip to the East and we were able to

see a large river below.  We asked our flight attendent wether or not it was the 

Mississippi.  She wasn't sure but said, "I'll ask the captain." Shortly there after, she 

returned to tell us, there would be a delay coming into St. Louis because of cloudy 

weather.  The flight captain identfied the river below.  It was called,"Driftwood."

When Shazia and I came back home, I looked for "Driftwood" on my computer.

I did not find "Driftwood" but what I did find was extensive information about the great rivers

that feed into the North American Continent from Canada, and South to Mexico.  For me, as

I look forward to celebrating EARTH DAY 2023,  I feel sure that "Driftwood" was among the great

 rivers.  This small story began a 4-day trip we made to St. Louis to attend the Memorial and Life  

Celebration for Donald L. Snyder.  During our time away, we met with Don's family and many 

of his friends. Don was survived by his sons Richard (Elspeth Keller) and Philip Snyder (Carol) and 

three grandsons, Owen, Alex and Elias.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Carole.

In the next two weeks, I shall be celebrating EARTH DAY and ARBOR DAY.  I will do so

reminded of the beauty and value of all life.  So, even as "Driftwood" seems unlisted among

the great rivers of this continent, it remains near and dear to many who know it.

beverlyrehfeld!@gmail

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DONALD L. SNYDER MEMORIAL AND LIFE CELEBRATION

THE PROGRAM DEPICTS DON EXPLAINING SOMETHING TO A YOUNG STUDENT.  THE PHOTOGRAPH, WAS TAKEN AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY,  IN LOUIS. DEPICTING DON'S DEVOTION TO TEACHING MATH, PHYSICS, ENGINEERING, AND SCIENCE. 

YET HE HAD MANY CONTRADICTIONS AS WELL. 

A MAN OF MANY HABITS, HE WANTED THE FRONT ROW SEAT WHERE EVER WE WENT. WETHER AT THE WOODWORKERS GUILD PROGRAM of "SHOW AND TELL", OR AT JOE'S,  THE SCIENCE CENTER, OR HERE FOR SATURDAY MORNING LECTURES. THOUGH HE DID HIS SHOPPING AT SUPER MARKETS; HIS LOVE OF "THE HILL" IN OLD CITY, ST. LOUIS, FORTIFIED HIM. HE WAS GENEROUS TO A FAULT. REMEMBERING THE NAMES OF MANY WORKING PEOPLE AND OFFERING HIS HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLES. YET, HE WANTED TO YELL, "GET A JOB," TO HOME LESS PEOPLE. HE WAS A SHY MAN TO MYFAMILY, YET ENJOYED THEIR COMPANY WHEN THEY VISITED.

HE INSPIRED MANY PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE EARTH AND THE MOON. HE WORKED HARD TO BRING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIGNIFICENCE AND PLEASURE OF BUILDING SUN DIALS AND LOCATED MANY OF THEM IN CEMENTARIES AND IN SCHOOL YARDS. DON INSPIRED MANY PEOPLE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS COUNTRY AND SOMETIMES AROUND THE WORLD.

I SAW A GREAT DEAL  OF MISSOURI'S NATURAL BEAUTY AND
MEET SO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE DON HAD SHARED MUCH OF

IT AND THEM WITH ME.  HE DELIGHTED IN SO MUCH OF LIFE

AS DID I WITH HIM.  

 

SUNDAY MORNINGS WE WOULD ENJOY BREAKFAST AT CHRIS'

DINNER WHERE PEOPLE WAITED IN LINE WITH CHILDREN.  WHEN

WE CAME IN, DON PULLED OUT A HAND FULL OF COINS.  HE GAVE

 THE CHILDREN COINS TO DROP INTO A POT.  THE CHILDREN

WATCHED THE COINS SPIN AROUND AND DROP OUT OF SIGHT.  DON 

WATCHED THE CHILDREN TURN TO HIM. THEN HE SAID, "WHERE DO YOU THINK

THOSE COINS WENT?"  AT THAT POINT, I UNDERSTOOD. WE WERE ABOUT

TO LEARN ABOUT GRAVITY.  DON WAS PLEASED.  AFTER THAT WE WALKED

AND HAD A LOVELY AFTERNOON

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Don't retire, reinvent yourself.

Don't Retire, Reinvent Yourself.

During the St. Patrict's Day holiday.  Some of my family

came to visit me.  They stayed at a hotel close by.  We had

a pleasant time sharing stories, photographs and memories.

Just before that, my son, who is a classic Jazz lover took me

to see and hear The Conservatory Classic Jazz Band.  I 

thought of both events because I enjoyed both.  Then I

saw the latest issue of The BECON NEWSPAPER with

the headline Don't Retire, Reinvent Yourself.

The Conservatory Classic Jazz Band did exactly that. 

When the pandemic of 2000 hit this world, six talented

musicians got together and played.  They formed the 

Conservatory Classic Jazz Band to present traditional

jazz to Washington DC audiences.  They play New

Orleans style, Chicago style, small-group swing and

mainstream.  On the night we saw them they also

did a Jam Session in the middle of their performance.

The following day, when we met with our family,

I was glad to see some family were trying to reinvent

themselves.

Beverly

beverlyrehfeld@gmail

Wear your mask.  Wash your hands.

 And VOTE!

SKY WATCH 2023

 JANUARY, FEBRUARY
IN COMES MARCH...

Bringing with it our hope for greater 

opportunity For World Peace 

as we plant seeds in the Planet's

Earth for greater understanding 

even as Clouds rush past balloons.

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       ************

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.

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Wear your mask.  Wash your hands.

Get your shots and VOTE.