NEW YEAR GREETINGS

AS WE TURN THE CALENDAR

WE CHRONICLE LAST YEAR'S EVENTS

NOW MAY WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR

VIGOROUSLY MEETING INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES

WHILE RECOGNIZING WE ALL SHARE THE SAME PLANET.

BRANDING AND TODAY'S CHILDREN

She is a beautiful child.  Long hair pulled back in a pony tail tied with a

big bow. She saw me and did a quick twirl holding out her skirt as she spun.

I asked her how old are you?  Six she answered with poise.


She wore a fancy dress,  bright white shoes with a small heel and white stockings.

I asked what was she doing up so early  and where was she going? 

She tells me, "to have my picture taken."


I tell her how beautiful I think she looks.  She points to her outfit.

With pride she points to her dress, to her shoes, to her stockings

and tells me the brand name for each.  


When she left,   I wondered.


When we, or children are so absorbed with keeping up with "brands" or

commercials  do we discourage curiosity or the enjoyment of each other?

SKYWATCH: NOVEMBER 16

November 16 began warm and balmy

We caught glimpses of deep blue sky

between billowing clouds

But not for long.  Mother Nature took charge

pulling back to real November behavior

and we were surprised by her agility.

THANKSGIVING 2017

We come together grateful for our bounty

Sharing with family and friends dishes in rituals of story telling and songs

Some from one generation to the next 

All hopeful for the future 

Even as we remember those not here.

NOVEMBER 11 SKYWATCH

Armistice/Veterans' Day begins cold with sun in a clear sky

 Crisp, colorful leafs break underfoot

 Friends greet us as they feed an outdoor fire with wood

Demonstrating nature's bounty

Reminding us of the meaning of this holiday.

"BEHOLD A CHILD"

"Behold a child"  about the Lost Children of Tuam, Ireland, appeared in the New York Times( October 26. ) It is a  Special Report by Dan Barry.

It was for me an inspiration about the power of one individual's inquisitiveness and perseverance to right a wrong.

The article vividly describes what happened to unwed women, their children  society and institutions which tried to deal with starvation, ignorance and
and political upheaval in Ireland in the 1920s.

There is a video Online which can be viewed at nytimes.com/tuam-video

By way of a personal note, I thought of colleagues who worked, and still do to
try to shut down institutions that forget the human quality of people they serve.

ON HALLOWEEN

Sometime when the moon is high in the sky

And the October day becomes one in November

When frost kisses the pumpkin

Reasonable people may behave unreasonably

for which they may be forgiven.