Saturday, December 29, 2018

Echoes and Foreshadowing.....

I used to read two or three books a week......for years. I've slowed down and now find that I'm lucky to finish the one I should be reading for my monthly book club. I'm not sure why, but I can't read as much or as fast as I used to. Probably aging eyeballs.....and a preference for sitting at my sewing machine.

But I did just finish the new book by Barbara Kingsolver, an author I do enjoy. I read her Poisonwood Bible years ago and liked it so much I read it twice. The newest novel, Unsheltered, was not an easy read.....but it was a thoughtful one. Chapters flip back and forth between two families living in Vineland, NJ. One in 2016 and one, generations prior, just after Charles Darwin published his faith-shattering work on evolution.

It's an effective writing technique, but took me several chapters to begin to sort out the characters and see the similarities in their lives. And now, after finishing, I will have much to ponder as I think about this novel and it's concerns about our earth's future.

Quotes from early Vineland struck a strange foreshadowing: "I suppose it is in our nature.....When men fear the loss of what they know, they will follow any tyrant who promises to restore the old order." That particular quote pertained to the man who founded Vineland as a sort of utopia.....one that benefitted the few over the many.

And then a quote from the today family: "....One percent of the brotherhood has their hands on most of the bread. They own the country, their god is the free market, and most people are so unhorrified they won't even question the system. If it makes a profit, that's the definition of good."

This book will stay with me for awhile....the story of two families, unrelated, but sharing so much in common. Relationships that don't work....economies that don't support the family....futures that are full of uncertainty.

Barbara Kingsolver makes me think.....and I think I'll go work on a quilt....


Thursday, December 20, 2018

No Horizon and Thundering Protest....

Walking along "our" lake never gets old. It's a pretty grey and gloomy day in Port Washington this morning....a bit of a drizzle. So Fenway and I had to put on some rain gear for the important 9:00 Necessary Walk.


We went out walked behind the water treatment plant....looking out at the quiet water I could hardly see any horizon....grey "nothingness" stretched across the water. Even our lighthouse was "gone". I should have been able to see it sitting at the end of the breakwater. Nope.


This lake changes every day....from fierce raging surf to calm Carribbean blue. Watching Lake Michigan is one of our new favorite hobbies.



We continued on and went behind Newport Shores Restaurant....across the street from our condo building. The restaurant is next to the harbor and, this time of year, the harbor is home to lots of ducks and geese. I realized that none of them were in the quiet water, but many were standing in the parking lot. As we approached a few loud honks greeted our progress.....spreading throughout the flock as they slowly began to walk back toward the water.....until Fenway charged to the end of his leashe. The geese took off in protest....all in one huge burst of energy. The noise from the flapping wings surprised me! I guess I've never been that close to so many geese taking flight....it was loud!


Nature close to home....fascinating.....

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

School Supplies......

The picture came across my internet feed a few weeks ago.....a photo to remind us of the anniversary of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School where twenty children were killed on December 14, 2012. The image stayed in my mind and floated to the surface every once in awhile. It just kept "nudging" me.


And then, this past week, two pre-schoolers in our way-extended family presented me with other opportunities to think about young children. One, at age 2 1/2, was busy learning to ski in Colorado! And the other, at age 7, faced a serious but happily fixable health challenge in California. So little kids were on my mind.

So I got to thinking about schools.....and getting kids ready to go to school. And the school shootings that have become all too sadly common in our America. Grade school students dead? Check. Middle school children killed? Check. High school students as victims? Check. College campus sites for mass shooting victims? Check.

And then my brain began to remember getting our two ready for that first exciting day of kindergarden.....years and years ago. For Todd, in New Jersey, the school was nearby, so we walked, his supplies in some sort of back pack. For Megan the school bus pulled up at the end of our driveway here in Nashotah and she smilingly climbed on carrying her crayons and pencils and whatever else she was supposed to bring to the classroom.

Then I began to imagine a soon-to-be first day at kindergarden. Eager or shy little children accompanied by proud but not-quite-ready parents greated by their first grade school teacher. With the teacher's welcome the parents slowly walk back down the hallway and out the door. And then the teacher gives the newbies a few instructions. She (or he) takes them all back to the hallway out side the classroom door and shows them their lockers. She explains that they should find the one with their name on the front and there is a whirl of activity as little ones look for their first names....some with a little more assistance than others. When they are each in front of their own locker the teacher explains they should open the locker and this is where they will stop first thing each school day to hang up their jackets, and in the winter store their boots in the bottom. So light jackets and sweaters are shrugged off little shoulders and hung on hooks inside the metal locker.

And then the teacher explains they should each take out the dark blue vest hanging inside and look at the back - again it has their name on it! A buzz of excitement as the children put on the vests and tried to zip their own zippers.....again some needing a little assistance. The teacher shows the children that each vest has a hood on the back that can be flipped up to cover their heads if needed.

Back in the classroom the teacher shows each child to their own desk....again with their name in bright letters....and everyone begins to settle in for the exciting first steps in learning. This is where they get lesson number one. The teacher says...."Girls and boys I am so happy you are going to be in my room this year! We are going to have so much fun and learn so many important things! I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you and lead you through this school year. One thing I must be sure you learn right away. Every day when you arrive, even if you are not wearing anything that has to go into your hall locker, you must stop there and put on your blue vest. This will be your first assignment for every day and will continue every day you are a student at this school! We will talk more about this in the weeks to come....but just know that I want you to be happy and safe here at school....and your bullet proof vest makes this possible." The teacher smiles.

Now.....on to the ABC's.....welcome to kindergarden in America.....

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Beauty Is Wherever You Find It.....

Fenway and I went out for his morning walk this morning at 9:00.....a "necessary" trip around the water treatment plant and along the lake. The water was quite calm today....amazing how Lake Michigan changes from day to day....or moment to moment.

We circled back through our building's parking lot and down the back sidewalk. I noticed a planter with a very exotic winter display. I think it was some kind of summer fern or at least a green spot until recent frosts.....and now it sits in it's pot until someone pulls it out and tosses it in the trash. It is "dead"....but it's also a certain kind of ghostly pretty.


At least I think so.....

Friday, December 14, 2018

Surprises......

Hmmmmm.....seems there was a Secret Santa roaming around our condo building last night. He left little snacks ourside a number of doors. Part of the holiday fun and spirit I guess. This is what he left for the neighbors....


I must be on The Naughty List because this is what was left on MY kitchen counter....


I'll try to be good next year!

Monday, December 10, 2018

Dissonance......

Driving home from Milwaukee this afternoon I was listening to the radio - NPR (my choice if I'm not listening to country music). I was thinking about other things....so the interview floated in and out of my consiousness and I didn't process all of it. Basically it was a discussion about recent information coming from the Mueller investigation and the once-well-loved-45-staff members who "flipped" and were cooperating. The voices said recent facts indicate that 45 may well be facing jail time....if proved correct.

And the word "dissonance" popped into my mind. Getting home I googled it. One definition says the word means "a lack of agreement or harmony between things." That's what I'm feeling tonight....uncomfortable dissonance.

The words "President of the United States" and "jail" just don't/shouldn't be included in the same sentence.

Sigh.

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Too Old? Never.....

When we moved back to Milwaukee we discovered a new December tradition. Downtown the BMO Harris Bank features a huge collection of Steiff animals - tiny and huge in a wonderful, annual display. Each year the theme is fresh and new....and when our local grandsons were little I took them every year to see the magic. And for them....it was magic.





There was a "no touching rule'' but that was very hard to follow....so we sometimes carefully and softly touched the animals, the snow, the fabrics. Each year the theme is new....one year we enjoyed King Arthur's Court, another year it was a Snow Queen palace or a candy factory....one time we went to space. The animals were the same, but the costuming and the staging was different each December and made the magic come alive once again.

But grandsons grow up....and as teenagers they no longer really want to trek to the city to see stuffed animals. So we go with our friends. One year friends from Madison went with us....this year it was friends who have lived in Milwaukee for years but had never been to see the display.



2018 - colorful Dr. Seuss! If you live near Milwaukee....no one's too old for that.......



Monday, December 3, 2018

It's That Time of Year....

This holiday season brings out the altruist in many of us.....something about decorating the house, gathering with family and celebrating together reminds us of all those who can't afford to do the same. And the pleas on TV and radio help us to think about where to contribute and just how to give back.

So our condo building is organizing a small effort to give toys to kids in our immediate area who, without the contribution, would wake up to an empty Christmas morning. One owner sent out an invitation to a Friday evening holiday gathering, another suggesting people could drop off an unwrapped toy, and my neighbor and I decorating a shopping cart to accept any donations. The cart already boasts a few teddy bears, Matchbox cars and some building blocks.



And then later there was an evening knock on our door.....Fenway barked a greeting as always as I made my way down the hall. I opened the door to see my smiling friend who lives way up on the eighth floor....she extended her hand and gave me a box of Christmas cookies. 



The season of giving....I love it....and the cookies are delicious!