The Margins of Ways Long Past

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 12, 2017 in Community, Education, Hiking and Nature, Inspiration, Travel

July 20, 2017, Hagerstown-

I left Philadelphia, yesterday evening, with minimal trouble. It seemed that, at some point, there were more people coming INTO the city, than were leaving. I drove through the northern third of Delaware, bypassing Wilmington, going through bustling Newark- seat of the University of Delaware (both cities are on the itinerary for July, 2018) and across Maryland’s northern tier, through Thurmont (not a sleepy, bucolic town, but a modern, virtual bedroom town of Frederick- itself a bedroom town to Baltimore and Washington) and Frederick, where I stopped just in time for a police car to head to its emergency. I continued a few miles further, and stopped for the night in Hagerstown, intending to spend the morning exploring this city that once signified an enclave of antebellum Southern thinking, just shy of the Mason-Dixon Line.

I heard that there is still a lot of progress to be made here, in race relations. That is pretty much how it is everywhere. Human relations always need work. I am not in favour of demolishing relics that we might find disturbingly reflective of outmoded ways of thinking, but I do believe we must USE such monuments and artifacts to educate people on the excesses of the past, so that we may, as a people, do better towards one another, now and in the future.

Hagerstown does not maintain any sites that pay homage to racist thinking, and in fact promotes visits to sites that commemorate Black History in the city. I have kept a brochure on the subject, for a future visit. Meanwhile, today’s visit focused on the north end of downtown and on City Park, with its duck pond, acres of beautiful woods and its art museum. Jonathan Hager House, with a small historical museum, sits on the north end of the park. It was closed today, though.

Let’s start with a look at the north end of downtown.

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The nice ladies in this Welcome Center provided me with a wealth of information about the historic sites in the area- and gave directions to Antietam, which will take up my afternoon and evening.

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Street art is not common, at this end of town, but what there is, is upbeat and colourful.

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There were two windows, devoted to the dissemination of wisdom, in this building. The saying on the left has pretty much been my credo, for many years now.

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The above left could have been said by Honest Abe, Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers- or Ed Wood.

I proceeded to note some architectural gems. Here’s St. John’s Lutheran Church.

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The fire station has endured a great many storms.

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Every town, that has an active theater troupe, is blessed. This is the Maryland Theatre’s centenary.

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It was time for lunch, so I took my deli stash, and headed for City Park. Nothing beats a picnic table, overlooking the water.

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There are water fowl galore here, and the pond is well-stocked with fish.

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The forest is healthy, and well-populated, by various animals. I came across a couple of fellow humans, washing their hair at a water pump. Those who do live in the park, pick up after themselves, quite nicely.

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The trail to the museum wends past the ducks and their happy home.

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The upper picnic area is well-suited for larger groups.

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This purposeful being greets the visitor to Washington County Museum of Art, founded, in 1929, by William and Anna Singer. Diana, accompanied by her trusty dog, was fashioned by Anna Hyatt Huntington.

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The museum features a full range of artistic media. There are two cases of exquisite blown glass.

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I have selected only a couple of scenes, inside the facility, as this is already a long post. One painting, among the many fine pieces, stood out to me: Hugo Bailin’s “Earth Forces”.

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One of the loveliest features of this museum is its Saturday Morning gallery, which showcases the work of area children.

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Lastly, here is the delightful Atrium.

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I am providing links to the places I visit, from here on out and will see if WordPress will allow me to back-edit, and provide links to places I have visited thus far.

Here is: http://wcmfa.org/, which, unfortunately you’ll have to type in yourselves.

I ended this Hagerstown excursion with a look at the closed Jonathan Hager House.

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NEXT: Antietam National Battlefield

The Art of Durability

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 10, 2017 in Education, Historical, Spiritual, Travel

July 19, 2017, Philadelphia-

Whilst waiting for some family members to meet me at downtown Philadelphia’s Cafe Ole,

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A brief walk showed that this belonged to a museum and art gallery, the Center for Art in Wood. I spent about an hour, in the astonishing museum, which showcases both the traditional plank art of northern Europe and several contemporary pieces, from around the globe. Several variations use the root word, Mangle, meaning cut, as their base. Below, is a Danish piece, called a manglebraette.

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Bear with me, I am taking the liberty of interspersing the traditional ware with contemporary pieces. This one, by an American, Michael Scarborough, celebrates Buddhism.

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Australian artist, Ashley Eriksmoen, presents this Judeo-Christian piece.

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Who wants a wooden sheep?

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These Icelandic pieces are examples of that nation’s trafakefli traditional craft.

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Sweden’s variation is known as mangelbraden.

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Norway’s woodcraft, mangletraer, is displayed at the front of the exhibit. Some pieces are in glass cases.

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Finland adopted the art form, as well, and is the easternmost country in which the mangleplank tradition took root. Its form is called kaulauslandet.

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Surprisingly, it is the Netherlands which is credited with originating the art form. Merchants of the Hanseatic League spread it to the Nordic lands. The Dutch form is called mangelplanken.

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The variety, in both styles and uses, of woodcraft could capture one’s interest for hours, I think.

Here are a couple of other contemporary pieces.

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I will definitely be back here, next summer, at the very least as a customer-for one of the gallery shop’s more utilitarian pieces, while learning more about plank art. I, who whittled as a child, could possibly fashion something of use, one of these fine days.

Sixty-Six, for Sixty Six, Part LXI: Brandywine’s Message

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 8, 2017 in Education, Family, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Inspiration, Spiritual, Travel

July 19, 2017, Chadds Ford-

My nephew wanted to hit the trail, this morning, so after a few rendezvous snafus, due to differing GPS entries, we met at Birmingham Friends Meeting House, near the site of some of the heaviest fighting. The battle raged here, on September 11, 1777. Today, we were the only people on this little hill, south of Chadds Ford. The Brandywine Valley, today, is better known for its wineries, for the Wyeth family’s presence and for the Longwood and Main Fountain Gardens, than for one of the heaviest battles of the American Revolution.

Of course, without the battle, which showed the British victors that the war was far from over, it’s likely that all the beauty of this valley would be under entirely different auspices, today. We spent the first forty minutes of our visit, in and around Birmingham Friends Meeting House and its Peace Garden. First, though, here are a couple of views of the area that was the battle zone, 240 years ago, next month.

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What is the province of grazing cows, today, was a harrowing encampment, for men on opposing sides, but all far from home. The hospital where all, regardless of loyalty, would be treated for their injuries, was in this modest building- then and now, a Quaker Meeting House.

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Many of their fallen comrades would be buried, in a mass grave, on the south side of this cemetery. Hundreds lie here, with no regard for their ideology. All were viewed as humans, by the farmers of Birmingham Hill.

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This plaque announces the Peace Garden of Birmingham Hill.

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Again, the serenity of the day- with the distant echo of muskets and cannonade.

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This verse, by John Donne, is one of several cogent quotes, placed carefully, throughout the Peace Garden.

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William Sloane Coffin also offers a simple comment on the world of today.

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A poignant expression of love, from a local farmer to his departed wife, signifies the ongoing daily life, around the battle and its aftermath.

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After time for reflection, we headed to Brandywine State Museum, and spent an hour or so there, before walking to Washington’s Headquarters. The museum offers detailed exhibits of muskets, British rifles (which were largely responsible for the Royal Army’s early successes) and cannonry. It is, like the Museum of the American Revolution, a well-balanced institution.

In the nearby woods, this long-abandoned gazebo tells of how nature regards the vagaries of war. It grows over the remnants, and challenges us to unearth them.

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This was Benjamin Ring’s root cellar. Mr. Ring was the host to General Washington, and his troops, who camped in the fields.

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The Rings most likely stayed in this “servants’ quarters”, during the Revolutionaries’ encampment.

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Here is the main farmhouse, where the General and his staff planned what turned out to be an inadequate strategy. Much was learned from the battle, though, and it was the hubris of the British, combined with French and Polish support for the Americans, which led to the rising of the Revolutionary forces, after Valley Forge.

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With this, my nephew was off to pick up his little girl, from pre-school, and I was headed to Philadelphia, after a fabulous lunch, at this bustling, somewhat friendly establishment.

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Sixty-Six, for Sixty Six, Part LVI: Return to Down East, Part 1- Green Acre

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 2, 2017 in Education, Inspiration, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

July 16, 2017, Eliot, ME-

I had anticipated visiting relatives, outside the immediate family, today. I just was not sure which ones. Last night, I got a message from a long-lost cousin, saying that he couldn’t meet with me this time around, but would I please consider visiting his mother, my paternal aunt, on her birthday.

It’s been 28 years, since I last set foot in the State of Maine. My last visit there didn’t go very smoothly, and I have been embarrassed to return to the last place I stayed. This time, though, I was determined to make it a good day.

I started out at Green Acre Baha’i School, located in Eliot, just over the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, NH. The property, once owned by a spiritualist, was deeded to the Baha’i Faith by Sarah Farmer, after ‘Abdu’l-Baha visited the property, in 1912, and told Ms. Farmer that he foresaw a great center of learning rising there.

It is, at present, a vibrant place of spiritual education, and Green Acre has forged strong ties with the surrounding communities. I spent about two hours there, before heading up to York. A high point is always visiting the room where ‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed, during his visit.

Here are some scenes of Green Acre:

The first building that greets the visitor is a large classroom center.

The administration building and registrar’s office is located diagonally across the street.

The administrator’s residence is next to the registrar’s office.

Overlooking it all is the majestic Sarah Farmer Inn. Students in the various programs, which are generally a week or two in length, stay in this Victorian establishment.

One may walk down to the banks of the Piscataqua River, across which is Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s only seaport

The Great Lawn offers a sweeping view of the campus.

Back in the Sarah Farmer Inn, I recalled having sat and meditated in the parlour, on a previous visit.

Upstairs, one may pray and meditate in the room where ‘Abdu’l-Baha stayed. After I had done so, with three other people praying in the room, it was most prudent to take this photo, from outside the room itself.

Upon leaving the Sarah Farmer Inn, I was informed that there was a picnic and barbecue outside, which I promptly joined. A pleasant meal of chicken and several vegetarian dishes, and a chance meeting with friends from Arizona made for a fine ending to this short visit.

I had gathered both nutritional and spiritual sustenance, which would carry me safely onward, eventually back to Arizona. This day, however, would bring further joys into view: Stonewall Kitchen, where my aunt works; Old York; York Harbor and the Mason Preserve, and a nice little gathering, in auntie’s honour. Stay tuned.

Sixty-Six, for Sixty Six, Part XLIX: One Lady’s Flame of Learning

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 22, 2017 in Education, Historical, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

July 10, 2017, South Bend-

The University of Notre Dame has long been the stuff of legends, particularly when it comes to college football. There is, of course, far more to this fine institution, so it was ironic that the stadium was off-limits to the public today, with intense construction work being done, in and around it. My tour of Notre Dame, courtesy of a long-time correspondent, focused on everything else that makes this campus such a great institution.

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Our tour began near the Joyce Center, a performance center, named for one of the University’s prime movers, Reverend Edmund P. Joyce.

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I am always drawn to student art. This metal dinosaur was produced by a team of Notre Dame students, and is one of a wide variety of projects, visible around campus. While I was there, several pieces were being transported to storage, saving them during the summer construction.

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Horticulture is as vital here, for aesthetics and soil enrichment, as it is at any great public place.

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I give you two views of Touchdown Jesus, the lovely, famed, and rather presumptuous, mural which faces Ara Parseghian Stadium. SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

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Rev. Drs. Joyce and Hesburgh are seen, discussing their vision for Notre Dame.

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There are several panels, along the wall of the University Library, depicting symbols from the Old Testament.

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There are four concrete pavilions, in the center of campus, honouring those who fought in World Wars I & II, Korea, Vietnam and the ongoing conflicts in western Asia.

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In the central fountain of these pavilions, is a steel ball, representing our shared planet.

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The Washington Center, Notre Dame’s administrative center, is topped by this golden dome.

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Along the central corridor of the Washington Center are several portraits, depicting the life of Christopher Columbus. An ornate crown may also be viewed, at the north end of the corridor.

My guide and I next proceeded to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The modernesque features of the interior stand somewhat in contrast to the interiors of several much older cathedrals of, say, western Europe. Nonetheless, the artistry does a fine job of telling the Eternal Story.

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The High Altar, the Altar of St. Peter and the Altar of the Blessed Mother appear, lined up.

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The Basilica’s ceiling calls attention to the Divine Sacrifice.

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This tree shows its resilience, after a sacrifice of a different sort.

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It was now time for my guide to head back to her other duties, so from here, I spent several minutes on my own.

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That time was spent in the Jordan Center for Science.

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The Center’s biological and medical research is wide in field, most notably its research into blindness. The Museum, closed when I was there, has an extensive collection of skeletons and taxidermy.

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The Sundial hearkens back to a time when naturalistic observation meant the difference between life and death.

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This has been one of the more fascinating campus tours, along with that, four years ago, of Princeton University, courtesy of another longtime correspondent. So, farewell, Notre Dame and Ara Parseghian Stadium.

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Peacefulness Is Back

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 7, 2017 in children, Education, Family, Inspiration, Personal goals, Social, Spiritual, Striving

June 7, 2017, Prescott-

Questions of longevity are always in the background, as I think about what one might do, over the next three to five years. I just finished reading a book, Apocalypse, by Dr, Jim Richards, a Christian writer and broadcaster, and will have more to say about said book, a post or two from now. The thing I wish to mention, here, is Dr. Richards’ trust in God is a true thing of beauty, and I have to say, I share just about all of it. That gives me something on which to work.

Several things happened today, all of them good. I pretty much am down to two large and two small sections of brush, to be cleared, after a mild, cool morning served as my incentive to get more done than I had planned. I got more supportive e-mails from the District, including one I had never expected, from my recent supervisor. Goes to show, I need to work on my reading of people’s cues. Anyway, the job situation looks set for the coming year.

Housing is something about which I am still pondering. I am also getting advice, mostly unsolicited, about my supplemental finances. The final decisions about both will be made towards the end of this month.

Having spoken at length with Aram, last night, I reiterate as to how proud I am of what he has achieved, and how he is facing continuing challenges. He has another person to support him in his efforts now, and that, as many of us know, will make all the difference.

The car will get serviced on Friday, I will continue downsizing and yard work, the rest of this week- and the latter part of next, and in between, run an errand of mercy in southern California, as well as visiting a friend, or three, there.

Rough patches tend not to last long, if one pushes forward with, as Muhammad Ali said, “eyes on the prize”.

The A-Team

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on May 17, 2017 in Education, Personal Values, Striving

May 17, 2017, Prescott-

In my twelve years of public education, 1956-1968, there were mostly competent educators, a few misfits and twelve stand-up, top flight professionals, who either were my teachers of record or served as mentors beyond the immediate classroom.

One, Miss Bernis Hanlon, passed on, over the weekend. She was my fifth grade teacher, and one of two at the Felton School, Saugus, MA, who went above and beyond, when it came to building character. It was largely Miss Hanlon’s influence that brought me out of my shell, had me at least approach a modicum of competence in a few sports and join the Boy Scouts. She taught us that boys and girls, working together, accomplish three times as much, as the genders working separately. She taught me that having a then little-known disability (mild autism) was never an excuse for not doing one’s level best. She built on the framework which my third grade teacher, the then Miss Joanne Nugent, had started.

Fast forward, to 1966-67, my Junior Year at Saugus High School. I had survived junior high school, the awkwardness, the quirky behaviour, which had generated taunts from otherwise good people, and the fires of our eighth grade year. Only the stalwart protection of Mr. Paul O’Brien, who died earlier this year, and Mr. Ron Ahern, and the character education of the late Miss Gladys Fox,kept me on an even keel. I had endured inept teachers, in three of my freshman classes. I had mastered grammar and punctuation, with the guidance of Miss Miriam Kochakian, as a Sophomore. It was the junior year that brought Mr. John Quinlan and understanding of Algebra, Mr. Bernard Hussey and a stellar United States History class, Mrs. Lillian Pittard Bisbee, and love of prose, and the renewed mentorship of Miss Hanlon, by then a colleague of Mrs. Bisbee and a full-on enthusiast of poetry and drama. The two ladies set the stage for Mrs. Katherine Vande and the best creative writing instruction I have ever had (Senior English).

Miss Hanlon was an integral part of that A-Team of mine, and I can’t imagine how my life would have played out, without her presence. I know she is smiling down on all of us whom she loved, with that reassuring, infectious Irish grin.

Conversation

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on April 20, 2017 in children, Education, Social

April 20, 2017, Prescott-

Boy: “You’re old!”

I: “True, that.”

Boy: “You have no friends.”

I: “Actually, I do. One is very special to me. Many others are also in my heart.”

Boy: “No one has friends, so that’s a lie.”

I: ” Well, I have friends.”

Boy: “Pants on fire!”

I: “Her name is _____”.

Boy: “She doesn’t exist.”

I: “She would beg to differ.”

Boy: “People treat ME, like I don’t exist.”

I: “You very much exist, to me.”

Boy: “Well, no one likes you, or me.”

I: ” That’s sad to know.”

Boss: “Alright, you two. Quiet in there!”

I: Silence

Boy: ” See what I mean. She would rather we don’t exist.”

I: “No. You just need to follow rules.”

Boy: “I’ll never follow rules, ever!”

I: Silence

Second boss: “_______, sit against that wall for one minute, then come out.”

Boy: (After five minutes of not sitting against the wall: “Let me out, so I can do what the first teacher said.”

I: “Certainly. Go clean up your mess.”

Boy: Goes and cleans mess.

Second boss: “Hey! You didn’t follow MY instruction!!”

I: ” Look at what he’s actually doing. Let’s choose our battles.”

Second boss: “We’ll have this conversation later.” (Leaves room in a huff.)

Boss, to boy: “Welcome back, _______! Thank you for following instructions.”

I: “Let’s follow the rest of the plan.”

Boy: “Okay, Mr. B. Thank you for putting up with me.”

(The above is an altered version of a tale out of school, indicating what is wrong with both the education system and the American concept of hierarchy. The biggest lie ever told is “Children should be seen and not heard.”)

Sixty-Six for Sixty Six, Part XX: Genuineness and Imposture

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on April 1, 2017 in Assistance, children, collaborating, Education, Personal Values, Striving, Travel

April 1, 2017, Superior, AZ- I returned, briefly, to this roughly beautiful little town, at the edge of central Arizona’s Queen Creek Gorge, to partake of the Gorge’s eastern flank, popularly known as Devil’s Canyon, (I prefer “Spirit Canyon”), and a sandwich, coffee and butterscotch brownie prepared by a friend, Kathy, at Sun Flour Market.

She and the market’s owner, Willa, are prime examples of people who make everyone entering their enterprise feel genuinely welcome, like royalty. They work hard, as well, and their efforts show: The place was hopping, despite the relatively quiet Main Street.

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I have spoken before, of places where I feel safe. This establishment is another such place. I consider the ladies as friends, who love their spouses, AND have intensely caring hearts, when it comes to people in general. The Easter Tree is a nod to the children, whose parents bring them in, regularly, on Saturdays. You might note some Easter dresses, to the left of the tree. While I was there, a little girl talked her parents into buying one of the dresses. Needless to say, Sun Flour Market will see me, whenever I’m in the area.

I mention imposture, in the title, as well. I pondered, a great deal, whilst hiking in the canyon, after lunch, as to my own state of being. Friends will say that I am a genuine soul, and I am honoured by that. There are plenty of others, including several family members, who would say otherwise, and I have to live with that. My own personal jury is still out, on the matter.

Most such self-ambivalence stems from work. Going back to when I first entered the workforce, there were supervisors, like Phil Mitchell, Bob Powers and Sgt. Dave Cummings (United States Army), who saw my rough edges and used whatever sand paper they had available, to turn me into a fairly decent worker. Fast forward to the late seventies and early eighties, men like Peter Webb, Dr. Mike Duff, and the late Patrick Giovanditto also helped me hone my skills, often ignoring objections from less compassionate supervisors. My colleagues at Jeju National University, in Korea, were uniformly supportive of my work, during the five years I served as a trainer of English teachers. Back in the States, in the 1990’s, I got support and encouragement from Eugene Charley and A.T. Sinquah, whilst serving as a school counselor. Truth be known, many students, teachers and parents also believed in my abilities- far more than I believed in myself. The people with whom I worked last Spring, at Prescott High School, remain advocates, as well. These were the people who could see inside my heart.

The people I mentioned above are counteracted, to a great degree, by the majority of those under whom I have worked, including my current supervisors. Their negative opinions, unfortunately, only bring me back to a state of doubt. None of them have been able to see inside my heart. My own vision, often cloudy, requires constant cleansing and refocusing. All I know is that the safe zones in my world are what make such recovery possible. Perhaps some day, my work place will be a similar place. For the next eight weeks, though, I do the best I can, with six of my eight students as beacons of light.