Earth Girl

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Posted by on in children, Community, Family, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 22, 2026- Hana was born under the sign of earth, much as her father was born under the sign of water and I, her grandfather, under the sign of fire.

I had a penchant for controlled, responsible burns, in my twenties and thirties. Earlier, I loathed arsonists for their destructive use of what I saw as a element that was cleansing, when used the right way. Fire should be controlled, with a system for extinguishing in place before the spark is even lit. My continuing connection with fire is mainly a concern with cleansing places. Clean-ups can be accomplished without burning.

Aram could while away hours playing with toy boats-in a sink, on a pond or lake. Eventually, he took his sign one step further and became a sailor. He took to swimming at age five and has never stopped. He steered a destroyer in and out of crowded harbours, around the Pacific Rim. He remains in the Navy Reserves.

Hana turned four months old today. It will be a while before we know her interests. She does look at signs, and logos on t-shirts, scanning them from right to left. She sometimes laughs at the appropriate moments, even before the rest of us are chuckling. As for any earth connection, it’s probably there. She does like sitting and watching the mother rabbit that has taken a spot in our backyard, probably getting ready to birth a litter. She also loves watching the leaves on trees being blown by the breezes (Yes, I know that’s an air sign thing.) She is dedicated to her army crawling exercises, and knows when to turn at corners and stay within boundaries. I will have a better sense of how strong her earth sign is, as the weather warms and I get her out in the yard or to the park. Will it be a passing interest, like mine with fire or abiding, like her father’s connection with water?

Happy Earth Day, everyone.

Whose Voice?

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, Community, Family, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 21, 2026- My family had a brief “conversation”, between the three of them, about going out for a brisk walk after the adult dinner. Hana had the veto poser, since it was intended for her benefit. She “spoke” her opinion and essentially wanted to stay in. It’d been raining most of the day, and she was hungry, besides (She usually has a feeding just before bedtime). They stayed in, she had her feeding, then quietly went to bed. Mom and Dad relaxed in the family room and had a much-needed private conversation on another matter. I stayed out of both situations.

Earlier, there was some discussion about an enterprising rabbit, which was trying to collapse the cover over our lettuce patch. Aram chased it off, as I would have. While he, as property owner, has the final say in how wild animals and birds are tolerated on the property, I would focus mainly on keeping the small garden safe and leave the rest to be grazed. It saves on mowing.

People in Virginia narrowly approved a redistricting proposal that could be used to favour one party over another. The cities and suburbs voted “Yes” and rural areas, “No”. I am personally against any gerrymandering and if Texas ever came up with such a referendum, I would be a naysayer, for the simple fact that I believe every citizen of voting age should have an equal voice. I think the Legislatures should also stay out of it, and an Independent Redistricting body, in each state, should do the honours.

Basically, my take is that each person deserves empowerment, commensurate with their developmental level, from Day One. If one can understand the matter and have good reason for their opinion, then he/she should have a say. A full range of voices brings out the fuller truth.

Rounding the Corners

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, Education, Family, impediments, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 20,2026– Hana has taught herself to turn, when she gets to a corner on the crawling mat. She had been getting frustrated at the presence of a baseboard and wall, but understood, when I lightly knocked on them, that the choice was to either move left, onto the carpet or right along the north edge of the mat. She chose to turn right. She later had a very satisfying army crawl session, and went completely around the mat, turning at all four corners.

My granddaughter’s early demonstration of common sense shows that it doesn’t necessarily take a command of language, in order for the thought process to engage. Perhaps there is a lesson here for some who either overthink things or whose minds are so bollixed up that common sense appears to have gone on permanent vacation.

I am hardly proposing “Are You Smarter Than A Four-Month Old?”, yet we could do without some of the word salads that are coming out of the mouths of some prominent people, including a few who are in leadership positions. We could do even more without the defense of inanity that follows such diatribes, in certain elements of the media.

Life is a series of rounding corners, and in many cases, of following a path out of the square or triangle into which one has been wearing a path. Hana has already figured that out, also, and has communicated to me that she wants to be able to crawl outside the mat. Once her parents and I set up a safe, clean route for that, it’ll happen.

No matter what age one is, there is no need to turn a path into a rut.

Snapped

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, Family, impediments, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

April 19, 2026- The news about a man killing seven of his children, and one of their friends, hit hard. It happened in Shreveport, 2 hours and 49 minutes from here. There are a thousand reasons why anyone would be prompted to kill his/her own offspring-and none of those reasons are good. There is speculation that the suspect, himself now dead, just snapped. There are survivors of the day’s events, and maybe they will shed some light on what led to the slaughter. It will pulsate for a long time.

Life, especially when stress levels are not addressed, preferably by family members who have cache with the suffering one, can be overwhelming. In my extended family, interventions have been timely and effective-in saving marriages, mentoring wayward teens and young adults and, in one case, saving a life. My parents had cache on both sides of the family, and were not shy about stepping up to help, when they saw a problem.

I had a dream last night, that Hana had been spanked for crying-not by her parents, and certainly not by me, but by another family member, indeterminate. In the dream, I was yelling at the punisher, who just shrugged their shoulders and said that’s how it is here. To be sure, in real life, none of the three of us are inclined to use corporal punishment, for any reason. Certainly, an infant would be kept safe from such a thing, especially for self-expression. Once she reaches toddler stage, her parents vow to be firm, saying and meaning “No”, when necessary, while still acknowledging her feelings and offering some limited, acceptable alternatives. The same will continue throughout her childhood and adolescence. I will support them in their efforts.

Eight tender souls, their lives snuffed out, as someone on whom they should have relied turned on them and became their executioner. It could be laid at the feet of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, on our culture of anonymity, on the shifting sands of spiritual connection, or lack thereof. It is always a wake-up call-and how many of these will be needed, before each community takes stock of its members?

What I’ve Done Lately

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

April 18, 2026- The out-of-the-blue critic questioned whether I have done anything “today” for women and girls. I answered. matter-of-factly, because when someone addresses me by name, my idea of courtesy is to acknowledge what seems to be their concern. My career, protecting and educating children and teenagers aside, what I am doing NOW is to help raise a little girl to be forthright, to articulate and follow her dreams and to grow into a woman of character and strength-like her mother and maternal grandmother, like her paternal grandmother, like her great grandmothers,

That will likely mean little to the ideologue who spent too much time worrying about what a man she’s never met-and is unlikely to ever encounter-does to help womankind. Actions are never enough for someone whose anger, mindset, life experiences create a blindness that would take years of counterbalancing to relieve.

So, I consider the comment that I made, on a longtime friend’s site, about narcissists not having anyone to blame but themselves, for whatever lack of success they may have in finding a mate. Even after pondering the critic’s remarks, I hold fast to that conviction-and do not regard it as making excuses for anyone’s bad behaviour. Narcissism is a condition, not a dodge; just as, for me, autism is a condition, but does not give me a free pass to conduct myself in an untoward manner.

I will carry on, tomorrow, and for years to come, helping my granddaughter embrace life to the fullest. I will stand beside, and help, other women and girls, whenever time allows and in the manner that they request. I will address statements and actions stemming from misogyny, to the best of my ability. I will not, however, be a slave to the loudest voices in the room. One size does not fit all, and mere ideology fits few, if any.

Progress

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Community, Family, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 17,2026- My chiropractor saw a fair amount of progress, in the loosening up of vertebrae that had been tight after my slipping on ice, in late January. It’s nice to be on track to be where I was, spine-wise, in December of last year. My overall medical state is excellent and a dental check-up will happen soon, under new auspices.

Hana is making progress of her own, building on her mobility skills. She is also very good at making her needs known-and this afternoon, while I was “burping” her, after a feeding, she spat up some and it got on my shoulder. She immediately pulled her head off my shoulder and fussed at me until I actually noticed the spots, a few seconds later. She notices changes in furniture and in what one of us is wearing. Not having much language yet, her visual focus tells the story.

Aram and Yunhee are each solving problems, in their respective job sites. The cybersecurity and logistics industries are lucky to have such proactive and dedicated workers. That’s not just me being prejudiced; each of them is working past hours, putting the actual task in front of them as the criterion for when to stop. on a given day.

On a wider level, humanity is making more progress towards solving various environmental problems. It may not be universal, by a long shot, but National Geographic has identified 33 people who are actively making inroads into specific problems, from ocean health to climate-friendly housing. Some of these folks are famous: Harrison Ford, Russell Westbrook, Stella McCartney and Shailene Woodley. Others, like Francis Kere and Lauren Eatwell, are bound to become well-known, for their efforts.

May your own efforts at improving your family’s and community’s well-being likewise make a difference, as the days roll by!

Reading

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, Education, Family, Literary criticism, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 16,2026– As part of my activities with Hana, I read to her for 15-20 minutes, each post-feeding session, before I put her on the mat for her stretching and crawling practice. I have read her a few small cloth books and several small picture books. Around the time she reached three months, I started reading “Heidi”, by Johanna Spyri. It was one of the books that Penny had as a child. Hana pays attention quite well, especially when I change my voice for different characters, like the mercurial but loving Grandfather or the sullen but efficient Fraulein Rottenmeier.

I hope to impart to her a love of the printed word, both as a listener and as a reader. I learned to read basic words around age four, and mastered phonetics by the age of six. Aram was able to read by the age of five. Hana focuses on the words that are on some of the t-shirts I wear around the house, and I tell her what they say, several times a day, when we are together. When she is able to sit without assistance, I will start introducing letter cards and familiarizing her with the sounds associated with each letter.

Around age two, I hope to start introducing short words on cards, and have her repeat the sounds. Of course the read aloud activities will continue, even after she starts pre-school. I look forward to talking with her about the books we read-what she likes and dislikes about the book; who her favourite and not favourite characters are and why. Most importantly, I want to encourage her to think about what is read.

The printed word has been, in many ways, a medium that kept me grounded, while at the same time expanding my horizons. I wish the same for my grandchild.

Her Rules

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Education, Family, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 15, 2026= Hana is able to complete three “laps” two forward and one back, army crawling on a ten foot long mat. She will not give up until the third lap is finished, most times. A week shy of four months, my granddaughter is showing very definite drive, getting annoyed with herself if she doesn’t complete a lap. She will, however, stop and listen to me telling her it’s okay to rest. The last thing I want is to foster a hyper-anxiety over developmental tasks. This is where self-concept and work ethic begin, on a very rudimentary level.

She has a definite preference for sleeping on her belly, or at least laying on her right side. If I return her to lying on her back, she huffs and goes right back on her side. She definitely has the mindset, “my body, my rules”, when it comes to sleeping position. So, we monitor to make sure she is able to breathe, then turn her on her back, when she is in deep sleep.

She likes being near the table, when one or more of us is eating, and will babble a comment or make a sharp sound, to draw attention. I think most of this is due to sitting in a bouncy chair, so far below table level. There is also her being quite sociable, enjoying being around people. I know that she will not be ignored, as she takes her place in the world.

I will encourage my granddaughter to be assertive, while also respecting the rights of others, as she formulates her rules of engagement.

Comfort

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Family, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 14, 2026- Both my son and daughter-in-law work from home, most days. Hana knows when her mother is in the office, which is across the hall from the living room, where her play mat is located. For several days now, she has been getting frustrated at reaching the end of the play mat and having to turn around and army crawl back the other way. I finally figured it out, this afternoon. She wanted to try and crawl to her mother’s office. It would involve going on a section of carpet, then up onto the wooden foyer and over to the office. I deflected her. Instead, she got to sit in the office for about ten minutes, until she was getting too chatty while her mother was on a conference call. It was okay that I took her back out. She had been able to have a little time, realized her goal, and felt comfort.

A little bit later, some heating/cooling technicians came by, and fixed some duct work issues that had left us feeling like we were living in a sweat lodge. It hasn’t been too hot outside, so the fix is a proactive one-given that we can expect several days of 100 + F temperatures, between late May and September. The four of us will now have comfort. We will also save on energy costs.

The second most important thing I can do for my family, right now, is to provide some relief for Aram and Yunhee, in household maintenance, as much as possible- especially in keeping the kitchen and bathrooms clean and the yard in order. It is in the interests of all four of us, that they not feel overwhelmed by the trifecta of job, parenting and home. I remember all too well how that felt. There is no shame in providing a fair amount of comfort.

Meticulous

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Posted by on in Assistance, children, collaborating, Family, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Striving

April 13, 2026- The semiannual check-up began an hour late, and lasted two hours. The late start was due to the doctor spending an extra hour with the patient before me. When I came in, he spent the first hour going over my experience with Prescott VA, then spent an hour going over my recent lab results, and explaining his position on a certain medication. During that time, we each ate our lunch items, while he meticulously went over my vitals, which he found quite good. The one area that he found could improve, is the focus of the medication he is prescribing. Otherwise, he feels I am on track for a reasonable longevity. Suffice it to say, this physician is easily the most thorough and knowledgeable medical professional I have consulted since I left Phoenix.

Hana had a surprise of her own, this morning. I had to answer Nature’s call, while I was working with her on her army crawling, so I put her on her back, on the mat, did my business and came back a minute later. She had turned over and was back to army crawling, on her own. She repeated this same action, this evening, when her mother set her down and put something in the next room. The little girl has a very strong drive to build her developmental skills. She is also quite systematic, already, in how she goes about her activity.

Aram went around the house, this evening, and catalogued all the points that I will need to go over, with some workmen who will be here tomorrow, regarding the heating and cooling system, and a few peripheral issues. He is getting out in front of the potential heat waves that are bound to come in a month or two. My son has grown into a meticulous man, though I saw the seeds of that early on, even when he was a middle school student. He would want to go back over certain material, two or three times.

I am getting the sense that now the key to good health and well-being lies in careful attention to detail. I find that most gratifying.