Recently, our conversation with strangers has changed. We are asking the same questions of each other. We are all seeking factual information. We are looking for and listening for factual replies.
We are asking how will we be affected? What will we do? Where will we go? Will we be safe?
When will it happen?
From Salem Oregon on the West Coast to Idaho Falls Indiana, to Casper Wyoming to Lincoln, Nebraska, to Kansas City Kansas, to St. Louis Missouri, to Nashville Tennessee, to Charleston
South Carolina on the East Coast, in less than three months from now, a great migration of people
will move across this country.
There will be no walls nor boundaries nor political threats to stop the influx of people. Neither
language nor religious doctrine or organizational ideology will stop the influx of scientific information.
Neither social, educational nor economic status nor color nor life style will stop the migration
of people from the very young to the very old.
In large cities to small towns and isolated hamlets, from impoverished neighborhoods to fortified gated estates to country farms and in schools and universities, people have been planning and working together to safely view and record the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017 which will cover a large area of the United States.
Events atmospheric conferences, and philosophical poetry and prose are planned. NASA,* The Astronomical and Sundial Societies are conducting expositions and sending speakers along with
special safety viewing glasses to inspire and educate people where ever they may be. The United States Postal Service has issued a first-of-its kind Forever Stamp on which users can make their
own eclipse using the pressure of their thumb.
Public expositions to introduce the public to the local events sober and entertaining are planned. Some were already conducted. Here in St Louis one such event The St. Louis Eclipse Expo was already held. It was attended by nearly 5,000 people who were eager for more information. Special telescopic telescopes to simple designs for making home-made safe-Eclipse viewing boxes were displayed.
In 1894, the American writer and editor of the posthumously published works of Emily Dickinson, Mary Loomis Todd wrote of her experience of seeing "The Total Eclipses of the Sun of 1870" which crossed Sicily. In it she says, "The spectacle is one which, though the man of science may prosaically state the facts, perhaps only the poet could render the impression."
________________________________________
*NASA's website
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Monday, June 19, 2017
SKYWATCH* JUNE 2017
SKYWATCH* JUNE 2017
ONE NIGHT DURING THE HEAT OF JUNE
A COOLING BREEZE CAME IN
THE TREES IN THE GARDEN SWAYED
AND WHISPERED RELIEF, AS DID WE
SITTING UNDER WELCOMING BRANCHES.
_____________________________
*Every once in a while, we sum up the month's weather
and planetary movement. We do so believing weather
could be the unifying force for all regions of our
Country if not the world
ONE NIGHT DURING THE HEAT OF JUNE
A COOLING BREEZE CAME IN
THE TREES IN THE GARDEN SWAYED
AND WHISPERED RELIEF, AS DID WE
SITTING UNDER WELCOMING BRANCHES.
_____________________________
*Every once in a while, we sum up the month's weather
and planetary movement. We do so believing weather
could be the unifying force for all regions of our
Country if not the world
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
MUSIC: CALMING PEOPLE THROUGH DURESS?
One evening, late in April a friend and I went out to listen to three unusual musicians. The weather that night was a part of the storm system that had created havoc around the world. The rain never seemed to end creating flooding in rivers and streams.
Even so, the small out of the way place we were in was crowded with people.
The three musicians and their instruments were an unusual combination. There was an Irish piper
playing unilleann pipes, a guitarist and one playing bass. All three were well known and played jazz country-western and blue grass favorites.
Before the evening was over, four other musicians who had been in the audience were acknowledged and joined in for a real jam session.
As I sat there that night, and the rain and flooding continued I remembered that so much of history records that music has often been a way of providing hope even in the most turbulent time as it did that night.
Even so, the small out of the way place we were in was crowded with people.
The three musicians and their instruments were an unusual combination. There was an Irish piper
playing unilleann pipes, a guitarist and one playing bass. All three were well known and played jazz country-western and blue grass favorites.
Before the evening was over, four other musicians who had been in the audience were acknowledged and joined in for a real jam session.
As I sat there that night, and the rain and flooding continued I remembered that so much of history records that music has often been a way of providing hope even in the most turbulent time as it did that night.
Friday, April 28, 2017
WHAT IS JOY?
In April I described a small book which was written and self published by me called JOY.
At the time I explained that I had published only 20 copies which I sent to friends, family and former colleagues.
The book was a compilation of stories I sent my grandchildren more than 20 years ago when they were very young.
There was considerable interest by readers who asked for copies.
I believe they too understand that we adults and society have much to learn from children.
I promised to send an outline of the book along with a listing of the stories I developed.
My grandchildren are now adults taking on their own responsibilities as contributing members to our society and this world.
The book came about because of the interest and support given me by Felice Barsky Silverman of Ardmore, Pennsylvania who read every story I wrote and encouraged me to publish them.
A friend here in St. Louis, Missouri helped me gather together old, yellowed copies and created the book's design and title.
The final product was and is a simple story of values and imagination.
STORIES ONCE ENJOYED
TREES: EMMA AND HOBEN BECOME ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE.
THE SLIDING BOARD; EMMA BECOMES ATHLETIC.
HOBEN'S GAME: HOBEN INVENTS HIS VANISHING GAME.
I'M PROUD OF ME! EMMA DISCOVERS HER OWN SELF ESTEEM.
WHAT DO GROWNUPS DO? EMMA AND HOBEN AND COUSINS RACHEL AND JASON
DISCUSS GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES.
BUGGY MORNING: HOBEN LEARNS ABOUT OVERCOMING FEAR ON A MORNING
WALK WITH HIS PARENTS ,
TAY-O THE KITTY: EMMA TELLS HER CAT WHAT TO DO TO OVERCOME WHINING.
THE RED WAGON: EMMA TAKES A TRIP.
THE TURTLE: EMMA AND HOBEN LEARN ABOUT PRIVACY ON A WALK WITH THEIR PARENTS.
IT'S ME! EMMA INTRODUCES HERSELF TO THE WORLD.
RED HAT, BLUE HAT, NO HAT AT ALL EMMA AND HOBEN WANT TO MAKE SOME
PERSONAL COSMETIC CHANGES.
* * * * * *
At the time I explained that I had published only 20 copies which I sent to friends, family and former colleagues.
The book was a compilation of stories I sent my grandchildren more than 20 years ago when they were very young.
There was considerable interest by readers who asked for copies.
I believe they too understand that we adults and society have much to learn from children.
I promised to send an outline of the book along with a listing of the stories I developed.
My grandchildren are now adults taking on their own responsibilities as contributing members to our society and this world.
The book came about because of the interest and support given me by Felice Barsky Silverman of Ardmore, Pennsylvania who read every story I wrote and encouraged me to publish them.
A friend here in St. Louis, Missouri helped me gather together old, yellowed copies and created the book's design and title.
The final product was and is a simple story of values and imagination.
STORIES ONCE ENJOYED
TREES: EMMA AND HOBEN BECOME ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE.
THE SLIDING BOARD; EMMA BECOMES ATHLETIC.
HOBEN'S GAME: HOBEN INVENTS HIS VANISHING GAME.
I'M PROUD OF ME! EMMA DISCOVERS HER OWN SELF ESTEEM.
WHAT DO GROWNUPS DO? EMMA AND HOBEN AND COUSINS RACHEL AND JASON
DISCUSS GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES.
BUGGY MORNING: HOBEN LEARNS ABOUT OVERCOMING FEAR ON A MORNING
WALK WITH HIS PARENTS ,
TAY-O THE KITTY: EMMA TELLS HER CAT WHAT TO DO TO OVERCOME WHINING.
THE RED WAGON: EMMA TAKES A TRIP.
THE TURTLE: EMMA AND HOBEN LEARN ABOUT PRIVACY ON A WALK WITH THEIR PARENTS.
IT'S ME! EMMA INTRODUCES HERSELF TO THE WORLD.
RED HAT, BLUE HAT, NO HAT AT ALL EMMA AND HOBEN WANT TO MAKE SOME
PERSONAL COSMETIC CHANGES.
* * * * * *
Friday, April 21, 2017
"JOY" THROUGH GRANDCHILDREN'S EYES*
Late in the dreary month of March, I came across a very old file. It held 12 stories I had written to my two small grandchildren when they and I lived far from each other.
The stories reminded me how much children, grandchildren and family can teach everyone even when we live in tumultuous times with noise levels blurring thinking and common sense.
Yet, we need to move forward finding ways toward improvement and leaving self recrimination behind us.
But how to do this when often as a writer I have sounded more political than poetic, or when a good rant often stirs the hearts of my readers?
So was born the idea for my self-published book called "Joy."
With the help of a close friend, I took the stories I had written more than twenty years ago gathered them together and self published "Joy." The small book deals with things my grandchildren, Emma and Hoben experienced and did when they were very young children.
The stories have now provided me and them with the opportunity to share memories and laughter as we look to the future and our growth as people.
Perhaps, the next time when we speak of what we want for our children and grandchildren we need to first understand what the world means to them in terms of language and values they can understand.
________________________________________
*Even though only twenty copies of "Joy" was published, I am in the process of writing a summary for readers who heard about it and requested a copy.
The stories reminded me how much children, grandchildren and family can teach everyone even when we live in tumultuous times with noise levels blurring thinking and common sense.
Yet, we need to move forward finding ways toward improvement and leaving self recrimination behind us.
But how to do this when often as a writer I have sounded more political than poetic, or when a good rant often stirs the hearts of my readers?
So was born the idea for my self-published book called "Joy."
With the help of a close friend, I took the stories I had written more than twenty years ago gathered them together and self published "Joy." The small book deals with things my grandchildren, Emma and Hoben experienced and did when they were very young children.
The stories have now provided me and them with the opportunity to share memories and laughter as we look to the future and our growth as people.
Perhaps, the next time when we speak of what we want for our children and grandchildren we need to first understand what the world means to them in terms of language and values they can understand.
________________________________________
*Even though only twenty copies of "Joy" was published, I am in the process of writing a summary for readers who heard about it and requested a copy.
Friday, March 24, 2017
EULOGY TO ARNOLD*
Within the past year, I received news of the deaths of three of my first cousins. One was a man named Arnold Rosenberg. His Life and his legacy is recounted by his younger brother in the following Eulogy to Arnold*.
I believe it is a vivid and timely account of how much family and our country meant and means to all of us as well as those who are no longer here.
*With permission of Stanley Rosenberg
Eulogy to Arnold at Stanley Rosenberg <philly-fatz@hotmail.com
I believe it is a vivid and timely account of how much family and our country meant and means to all of us as well as those who are no longer here.
*With permission of Stanley Rosenberg
Eulogy to Arnold at Stanley Rosenberg <philly-fatz@hotmail.com
Sunday, March 19, 2017
PERRYVILLE MISSOURI RESPONDS TO TORNADO*
We heard the news first thing in the morning. A tornado had touched down in Perryville, Missouri, a quaint, town about 90 miles South of St. Louis.
The tornado tore through a path 15-miles long and one-half to three-quarters of a mile wide as it roared toward the Mississippi River. In its wake 115 mph winds destroyed a small subdivision of homes, leveling some, creating major damage to others and injuring people who did not take shelter.
A friend called a colleague in Perryville to ask if we could help. We were asked to bring some supplies even though we had been advised to stay away from the area.
We were detoured around the exact area of touch down and directed to go to a staging area where we found the temporary office for volunteers and first-responders. As we drove in, I noticed a number of women and children from neighboring communities carrying food dishes and other items.
The experience allowed us the privilege of supporting people from regions other than our own.
Most impressive was the well organized effort by volunteers as they recovered from what surely must have been a night of horror as they worked and walked into the following day's sunshine.
*The St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Report and overview of the destruction
can be found at: Ken Bell, kbelle@postdispatch.com
March 2, 2017 edition.
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