What you are doing?

How many times have you said something and suddenly found yourself in one of those deja vu moments where you could feel that same emotion from the past?  As I have grown older, I find that these sorts of occurrences seem to happen more frequently.  Is it simply a matter of our breadth of life experiences or is it a reflection of history just repeating itself?  Well, I was chatting with some colleagues the other day and something struck a chord setting off one of those deja vu moments.  It was one of those precious lines my daughter would use that triggered a smile; allow me to explain.

Like many parents, when there was an opportunity to include my daughter to assist with my home projects, I welcomed the chance.  This provided so many teachable moments, as well as the infinitely valuable time of just having time with your kids.  It would be difficult to say who received the greater gift!  On one of those occasions, my daughter started asking me what I was doing, but of course it was said with the tone of a child, "What you are doing?".  I began to explain what it was I was doing and then showed her.  Seemingly, with each step of the process I'd hear her angelic voice query yet again, "What you are doing?"  It was then that I realized how genuinely innocent a child can be, and just how priceless those moments are.

We did many projects together over the years, and increasingly, she earned more and more responsibility, kind of a mentor ship program I'd say.  I guess that's what parenting is all about after all, isn't it? 

There were several other little expressions that surfaced over the years, but few had the resonating echo in my head that this one has.  I'm sure if I asked her about this today, she'd have very little recollection; but if I asked her, "What's happening?", I imagine she'd say, "Good", and that's how I'd know my little girl is still inside that mature, young lady!

Walking the Plank can be a Good Thing

The high seas have provided the highway for mariners of all varieties for millennia, and the tales from the sea are rich with intrigue, mystery, and at times, tragedy.  Pirates have held their place in the rich history and lore associated with navigation on the high seas.  The curiosity and behavior linked to pirates seems to infiltrate the play of young children, even today.  Although the swashbuckling exploits of my youth are well behind me, I recently was out for a run with some friends and had a momentary flashback to my childhood.  Let me explain.

New England weather requires a modicum of flexibility in order to make the most of the seasons.  For example, you have to endure mud season to get to the summers in Maine, black fly season in NH ushers in the 4th of July, and the snow and ice of winter necessitate some "careful" decision making when the conditions are, shall we say, potentially dangerous to your health.  However, as with anything, these sorts of inconveniences clearly are offset by the rewards of living where you want.

Running outside in NE during the winter months can present some unique challenges, the least of which are the cold temperatures.  With the availability of such lightweight, yet warm technical gear, outside activities are more manageable, but there are still few remedies for dealing with the snow and ice.  On a recent trail run between snow storms,  we encountered a bit of frost on the boardwalk that makes up a portion of the trail.  The footing appeared to be even more treacherous than we had already been dealing with on the snow covered trails to boot.  Rather than risk falling, it was time to walk the plank.  As we made our way carefully across the foot bridges, our decision was affirmed that walking those slippery planks showed good judgment, something those pirates wouldn't appreciate or find among the booty in their treasure chests.  Arrgh!

Silent Night

On this the two hundredth anniversary since Silent Night first debuted as a Christmas carol, much has been written about the poem's author, Father Joseph Franz Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber who put the words to music.  It is reportedly the most beloved Christmas song of all time and has been translated into more languages than any other.  In the movie, Joyeux Noel, which depicts the famous WWI Christmas Eve truce, the music of Silent Night echoed in the night air which, at least for a brief moment, allowed the warring countries to lay down their weapons of destruction.  In that case at least, the calming melody knew no enemy and spawned a unity in the face of hatred.

It is my hope that the true meaning of Christmas which resonates so clearly in the lyrics of Silent Night remain on our minds and in our hearts all year long.  Peace on earth and goodwill to all peoples!

If We Build It, They Will Come

There are times when a life event leaves you with such an indelible mark that it resonates long after it actually happened.  I am certain that we all have experienced this.  Equally, there are quotes that carry such historic significance that they make their way into the history books.  Unfortunately, because few of us possess the unlimited amount of disk space necessary to remember it all, we rely on a combination of means to bring the past into the present.  Well, for a group of visionaries from Delaware, Ohio, the stars aligned perfectly for the passage of a tax levy which left a community no longer asking why but instead realizing their vision of "Y not", and let me explain.

Delaware, Ohio is located at the center of the county that bears its name and is one of the fastest growing counties in the country, immediately north of Columbus.  It is the birthplace of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States, home of harness racing's, Little Brown Jug and Ohio Wesleyan University, just to highlight some of its rich heritage.  When I lived there, a burning question that had been raised long before my arrival was, "why doesn't Delaware have its own indoor pool complex?"  Over the years, a variety of explanations had been voiced, but eventually, the need became more apparent.  The high school swim team called the pool at OWU its home, and the community was fortunate to have access to the facility too, but there were growing  limitations.  The time had come to mobilize on this opportunity.

There had been several citizen groups researching the prospects of developing such a space, and those proposals fell short of being realized.  In 2000, CIRCA 2000 was spawned and picked up this noble cause again, without success; but the group, CPR, Citizens to Promote Recreation, gained the traction and inertia needed to make the project happen.  First, it took gathering signatures to show the support, and that happened.  Second, CPR continued to promote its agenda and presented it to the community's elected officials.  The spokesperson delivered an eloquent summary of the proposal and concluded his statements by saying, "the tax is minimal, the need is great, and the time is now."  That compelling argument struck a chord with the board members who supported the measure, and thus this initiative was allowed on the ballot of the special election.  Third, it would be up to the voters to decide the fate of the proposed tax increase, and on August 5, 2008, that tax levy passed.  Three for three, a hall of fame batting average in my book, but more importantly, a giant step forward that would favorably change the landscape of the city and county for generations.

Now, 10 years later, the "Y" at Delaware has definitely become a reality and is one of central Ohio's busiest.  The coexistence with the National Guard has become a model for other communities around the country.  However, what makes this so special is the vision of a few has benefited the many who have passed through its doors.  The words, "if we build it, they will come" couldn't echo more loudly in the "Y" at Delaware today, and why not? It has become all that was envisioned and more.  No recount needed on this vote, the "YEAs" have it!

Waiting for a Star to Fall

The ancient mariners guided themselves around the globe using little more than a sextant and the stars above.  The Greeks named many of the stars and the constellations were named, particularly those stars that make up the signs of the Zodiac.  Many of us today can spot the Big Dipper, known to the scholars as Ursa Major, but beyond that, fewer people actually know these various celestial collections.  We simply take out our hand held electronic devices and hit the maps app and viola; we are on our way.

Unfortunately, with the ever increasing problem of light pollution, seeing the stars so vividly has become even more difficult.  The glow from large cities effects us even when we are out in the country.  With the expanding population, there are more homes, and consequently, increasing numbers of street lights.  I remember my first flight to California before starting graduate school.  My parents put me on the redeye out of Boston, and on the way across, you could imagine the cities below based on the size of the radiating footprint.  As we approached the LA basin, I have this unforgettable image of this expanding sea of lights.  It overwhelmed me.  While in California, my friends and I would head out to Joshua Tree or into the mountains to camp, and the night skies there were not tainted by those city lights.  That's where the stars had center stage and would light up the night sky.

Late July into early August marks the annual Perseid meteor shower which for star gazers is one of the years "highlights".  So, if you are blessed with a clear night and are so inclined, raise your eyes to the heavens in hopes of catching one of these remarkable displays.  You won't be disappointed, and if you don't, you may have to wait for next year's "stars to fall"!  Enjoy.

FOMO

The family vacation, Rangeley week, began on Saturday, and the anticipation has been palpable for several weeks leading up to this much beloved week of fun.  For some, the week has had a delayed start because of scheduling conflicts, although if one can arrive even for a few days, the experience is worth the effort.

I received a series of text messages shortly before and after my arrival which generally is not unusual under these circumstances, but what I didn't appreciate was the lingo used to describe not being physically on site.  FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out evidently is the abbreviated text jargon for this very emotion.  Well, I am that much more informed about the texting world than ever before, after my daughter shared this generational information.

Rangeley week has been a fixture now on the summer calendar for nearly 3 decades, and it has morphed into the equivalent of SBW, Summer's Best Week, and TAFJ, That's a Fact Jack!

Hidden in the Fog

While sitting on the front deck of a my sister in law’s family camp in Maine, I was looking out over the lake which was blanketed in a dense fog.  The morning Sun was up, but its warming effects hadn’t yet taken hold to burn it off.  Having enjoyed a glorious day of weather the day before and having been here several times over the years, I knew what the landscape ought to look like, yet I couldn’t see any of it.  I heard the soft  sounds of voices echoing from the lake, presumably those of fisherman heading to their favorite sites.  The distinct hum of car and truck engines in the distance, the chirping of birds, and the many other sounds of the day all provided for the melodious background music.  

So, what does this all mean?  In many respects it reminds me of the meaning of faith.  Faith is believing in the things that you cannot see.  When the fog is thick and obscures the view, one must rely on those other senses to offset the visual impairment.  It is having complete confidence that those unseen images really exist: however, as the fog lifts, the panoramic view confirms the presence of one’s belief that there is something wonderful out there just waiting to be “scene”!  Keep the faith my friends…