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