Happy Thanksgiving Time

She’s happy the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip is still holding.  (“Dear God, may the peace between Israel and Palestine continue, continue, continue.”)

Having the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving in her home thrilled her, though not so much while it was happening. She worried because she wanted everyone to be as happy as she was.  Were they?  Did she seem too serious?  Did her demeanor belie her joy? 

She was fearful she didn’t appear loose and relaxed at the dinner table. 

Actually, she wasn’t – internally.  Why?  Because she craved hearing everything about each of her grandchildren.  And, she didn’t want to ‘mess-up’ by bugging them with questions. 

There were many questions floating between her head and her heart - conjured up - that could spill out of her mouth and put a damper on the flow of conversation. 

Then she got it.  She wouldn’t interview – just listen and follow up with a comment or two. 

It worked.  It was a delightful, informative, sharing of college experiences from three generations, their Mom, them, and the grandmother.  “You were locked in the dorm at night?!?!”  

They’ve gone, returned to the independence of their college life away from home.  The grandmother is very proud of her granddaughter and her grandson.  Still she wants to worry about them, their challenges, and their choices.

However, this morning she smiled; loving the happy memory of Thanksgiving Day with her family. 

43,000,000 Gallons of Water

That’s how much salty ocean water they say Superstorm Sandy caused to flood the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in lower Manhattan on Monday night, October 29^th.  Those millions of gallons have been pumped out and damage caused by the salt-water repaired in one of the two tubes. This past Tuesday afternoon, fifteen days later, that tube of the Tunnel was opened to car traffic going into Brooklyn.  Sandy-caused inordinate traffic congestion is somewhat relieved.

I anticipated flooding in my home should the monstrous storm stay on its predicted path. I have a sump pump that pulsates into action during heavy rains or even with soft rains continuing for several days.   No electricity; no sump pump.  I agonized over the strong possibility of losing electricity.  I did – for four days.  But, I had no flooding.  I’ve learned because Superstorm Sandy was primarily wind and wind driven water surge (minimal rainfall) and there had been no rainfall for many days prior, the water table was low enough to save me from flooding.

Going forward, my ‘new normal’ will have to include a backup plan that is more than flashlights, a battery powered radio, prudently used candles and sheer fortitude.

Now, just as a fixture in ones home is a heating system and hot water tank, I hope to have my utility company install a permanent gas-powered generator.

Tears fill my eyes when I hear and read the personal words of those who suffered loss, loss that may never be recovered.  Their ‘new normal’ will be adjusting to drastic change possibly involving loved ones, housing, and career.

Aerial view of a Jersey Shore neighborhood in the wake of Sandy

In New Jersey in addition to the thousands of homes and businesses damaged and destroyed there were 33 deaths due to Superstorm Sandy’s destructive intrusion into our lives.  These deaths have been attributed to drownings, injury from fallen trees, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia.

I've read more than 7200 property owners in Connecticut have applied for assistance due to Sandy.

The good news is there are many stories of giving and sharing by folks able to do so, some also victims of the devastation.

I ask you to do what you can from where you are to help people who now have seriously disrupted lives.  My assistance has included giving to the Red Cross, and to a fund through the organized unit of United Methodist Women and additionally through my church.

                                            

That’s the way it is here in our tri-state area of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.  Sandy’s horrific flooding, smashing and uprooting of lives will need my assistance and yours for many months to come.

Have you helped?  Will you find a way to do so?  Thanks.

Dear Veteran,

You had my back.  You served our cherished United States of America; you served the world.

I am profoundly grateful.

I recognize your sacrifice. 

I mourn your sacrifice. 

I value the inspiring example you and those veterans who have died are to the generations of us who have come behind you, to live, work, play, love and dream in a democracy.

I pray the leaders of this country will continue to focus attention toward providing the resources necessary to improve your quality of life, where sorely needed.    I am optimistic.

I thank you for your service.

Sincerely,

Marva L. Stith

Recognizing those in my immediate family who are veterans, I include this excerpt taken from the Endnotes in Black Star Girl, my award-winning memoir.

Page 226:  “Three of my brothers would serve in the military; Jim in the U.S. Air Force, Larry in the U.S. Navy and Roy in the U. S. Army.  A brother-in-law (Pete Nelson) cherished his service in the U. S. Marines.“ 

Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Seven

A Birthday Post

In 1937 . . .

1.      The US Social Security system began levying taxes on workers’ wages.

2.      Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record by flying his monoplane from Los Angeles to Newark, NJ, in seven hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

3.      President Franklin Roosevelt was inaugurated for a 2^nd term.  He became the first chief executive to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 instead of March 4.

4.      The Ohio River crested at 57.1 feet, almost thirty feet above flood stage. The flood of 1937 took place in late January and February.  One million persons were left homeless with 385 dead and property losses reaching $500 million. The Mississippi River crested at 14.8 meters.  Flooding left 37 people dead in Arkansas.

5.      The 1^st US permanent automobile license plate was issued in Connecticut.

6.       The nation’s first Social Security checks were distributed.

7.      Margaret Mitchell won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel, “Gone with the Wind.”

8.      Spam, a canned ham by Hormel was introduced to the public.

9.      California’s Golden Gate Bridge was opened.

10.  Wimbledon was televised for the first time.

11.  Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion.

12.  George Gershwin, composer, died of a brain tumor at age 38.

13.  Bill Cosby, comedian, actor, was born.

14.  The US house of Representatives passed the “Marijuana Tax Act” after a debate of 90 seconds.  It stipulated that pot could not be sold without a license.  No licenses were ever issued, thus making the sale illegal.  In 1970 Congress outlawed marijuana more precisely.

15.  The NYC Lincoln Tunnel opened to traffic.

 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

All of the above and so much more happened in 1937. 

At a celebratory breakfast this morning, a friend’s words warmed my heart.  I had said my blog post today would list a number of memorable or newsworthy events that took place in 1937.  She said, “. . .including God stopped the world and you got on.”  I was born November 9, 1937 along with my twin brother, Jim, who is celebrating our special day as well.  I am grateful.  (Read my award winning memoir, Black Star Girl.)

Another loving friend asked how it felt to be three quarters of a century old.  I am grateful and I am laughing!

Enjoy your day, also.

Bipartisanship

Two working together (for the benefit of the whole).

Will it ever happen in Washington, our nations capitol?  I’m going to say, “Of course.  It has to."   It won’t be easy.   I will project optimism.

In a TV interview this morning, Haley Barbour, former Republican Governor of Mississippi as an example of his party knowing how to compromise cited Ronald Reagan as having that valuable skill.  Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton are frequently referenced for their reaching-out and working-with-others style. 

  

Actually, I think a mountain of verbal turmoil higher than Mt. Rushmore will have to be climbed before we see meaningful compromise in our Congress these days.  The same is true for conciliatory activity between the President and Congress.

 A view from The William J. Clinton Presidential Library

Why would I think that?  Because it’s a different world from that of Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, even Bill Clinton.  Too much of our print, radio and TV media seems to incite more than inspire.

In these times, opinion-driven news programming comes to us with a strongly antagonistic viewpoint - entertainment feeding our emotions, not our intellect.   Do viewers mostly restrict themselves to the network that supports their political view?  I think so.  This does nothing to encourage their consideration of the merits in another point of view.

Back in the days of Lyndon, Ronnie or Bill, how prolific was talk radio? Did resoundingly partial TV news talkers keep us, the constituency, tethered to the party line?  

There was no FOX News and its promotion of the conservative agenda.  There was no MSNBC enthusiastically supporting the liberal viewpoint.  Today, disrespectful programming colorful, practically offensive, devalues the objectives of the other political party.  I have a friend who tells me she will not look at FOX News.  “I'm not  looking at that stuff.”  I understand.  I choose to look because I want to know why and how deeply they feel.  In spite of the bruising negativity, there is a chance I might learn something. That’s a good thing.  Once or twice, watching, working through what distressed me; I actually grasped a premise of some merit.  Too bad anyone has to hurt to learn.  

Yesterday we re-elected President Barack Obama, Democrat to serve another four years in the White House.   Election results show the Democrats maintained their majority in the Senate.  Republicans will continue to lead the House of Representatives. 

I’ve just turned on FOX News and shook my head at the relentless combative and negative discussion of what might happen, what is happening and what didn’t happen in Washington these past four years.  Not one bit of positive commentary was offered.  Depressing. 

Bipartisanship in Washington must exist in order to produce legislation important to correct what is broken in our troubled economy.  

Do you think the media helps or hurts achieve quality governance, i.e., bipartisanship?

I’m thinking televised opinionated political news is primarily destructive, gives no added value.  It contradicts any possibility of promoting compromise.  It’s not a good thing. 

Your opinion?