Category Archives: Education

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 14

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Posted by on in children, collaborating, Community, Education, Family, Historical, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

July 5, 2026- The fireworks were so much fun for people, the past two nights, that there were a few sets going off tonight. We just went about our business. For Hana, that meant sleeping soundly through it all.

She is focused on her sitting up, which is getting longer, with less help. She knows now to use one hand to prop herself and can stay upright for 4-5 minutes, before wanting to move on to something else-and then sitting up again.

Our focus today was an early birthday celebration for Aram, who has chosen to work on Tuesday, his actual birthday. Hana understood that it was Daddy’s special day. When I left, in mid-morning, for a Baha’i devotional, she was puzzled as to why I was leaving the house alone. I promised that I would be back in time for the family outing.

At noon, we all went to a place called BBQ Chicken, and enjoyed two varieties of said item, Hana sat patiently in her stroller, while the three of us ate. We then went to Daiso, a Japanese dry goods store and picked up a few things-among them, a rain coat for me and a body bib for Hana. I also stopped in at 85 C and bought mini pineapple cakes for Aram’s birthday celebration. It was a nice afternoon, though probably less than exciting for our girl.

HANA’S NOTE- I was confused when Papa went out alone, after my parents said we were all going somewhere. I asked Papa why he was leaving, and he said it was to a devotional, whatever that is. Anyway, he came back right at Noon, and we went for Daddy’s birthday. This is the first time I have heard the word birthday. Yesterday was “America’s” birthday. I would like t meet that lady someday. She seems pretty popular.

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE-1957 During the second half of First Grade, Miss Lavin took us, on foot, to the Saugus Public Library. She rang her bell the whole way down Central Street. We were all guided by police officers, who stood at each intersection. It was a nice introduction to the Library and I got my first card that day.

In the summer,I was given my First Communion, a Roman Catholic sacrament. It was my first time wearing a suit and tie, also. For the next six years, I had to go to Sunday school, every week after Mass.

Second Grade started in September. Mrs. McCarrier was our teacher. She showed us subtraction and two-digit addition, plus how to tell nouns from verbs and articles. We began the SRA program, a reading enhancement tool. I did well in it, but didn’t get along with the instructor, who had no patience for students who read at a higher level. I never understood her reasoning. In October, our Principal. Mr. Lynch, told us about the launch of Sputnik, a Russian satellite, which was the first rocket launched into space, That was our first school-wide assembly.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 13

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

July 4, 2026- Today is America’s 250th “birthday” as an independent country, marking the Declaration of Independence. Of course, five years of struggle ensued, before the Continental Army, with help from France and the German state of Prussia, defeated the British Armed Forces, which had their own help from the German state of Hesse.

Hana was feeling independent today, and so got everyone out of bed, fairly early this morning. It is our dry season, so the sun shines brightly very early into the east-facing windows, one of which is facing her crib. She will face her parents’ bed and call to them. Usually, on a weekend, that means time in their bed, and if she is in the mood fro crawling around, as she was this morning, there is no sleep-in. I am up by 6 or 6:30, anyway, so hearing her on the baby monitor at that hour was not difficult.

We largely spent the day at home, tending to cleaning issues. I got to Farmers Market and Saved by the Bagel, this morning. I got our watermelon, which will be enjoyed tomorrow, as sweet cantaloupe- the best I’ve had in years, was our mid-afternoon treat. We went to HMart, in the afternoon, to get the meat that Yunhee will need for the week’s meals. Aram “won” a blue dinobear for Hana, at the HMart Grip and Grab Arcade (only in Anime is there a dinosaur-bear hybrid. It is made to look cute and plush, though, so Hana took to it right away.

She has also started to stand straight up (with support), when her clothes are being changed. I get the feeling she is trying to help. She will need to convince her father of this; he wants her to lie still-though it is actually easier to put on an outfit, when standing. She is still working on sitting up, also, thus giving the impression of a child working overtime on developmental activities.

HANA’S NOTE- I don’t know much about birthdays, but my family has been talking about Daddy’s birthday being in a few days. America’s birthday is today. Who is she and why does everyone have the day off?

YEAR IN REMEMBRANCE; 1956- I walked to the Felton School, for First Grade, two days after Labor Day. Mom walked me there, with Cheryl beside her, and David in a stroller. Our teacher, Miss Lavin, taught us to print our names and to spell Felton School, as well as Saugus, and several other words. She also taught us to add and subtract single digits, and built on what Mom had already taught me about reading. David surprised me one day, when I went home after school and he showed that he could walk. My reaction was-“Look out, world!”

The Hana Chronicles: Month 6, Day 4

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

June 25, 2026- Hana sat up twice today, on her own. She called to me, both times, so that I knew she had reached her goal. Of course, she will build on this and be able to sit without support, for several minutes at a time, well before reaching 7 months.

In setting tasks for herself and practicing diligently, until she completes the task, Hana is a mirror of her grandmother. Penny always had a project or mission to accomplish. In many ways, Yunhee,, always doing some work on behalf of her daughter, is likewise setting the example. Hana notices what is being done on her behalf and part of her already wants to emulate purposeful activity. In her large playpen, my granddaughter is always on the move.

In my own sphere, any thoughts of slowing down have been quickly disabused. In keeping watch over this dynamic little girl, I will be just as occupied as in the days of community service and travel. Then again, slowing down was never my intention when I came here. Whether there is one grandchild, two or three grandchildren, the joy of passing the baton will be long in playing out.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 30

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

June 20, 2026-

The play pen doubled in size, this afternoon, an advance gift to Hana as she reaches six months. Her mom and dad worked hard on this, and she appreciated it on a certain level. She will have a lot more room to exercise and is very close to being able to sit up. without assistance. That would be a fine gift to Aram, for his first Father’s Day.

She has also resumed sleeping on her back, which will be more restful for her spine. It could be her body’s cue for both sitting and trying to stand up, but we’ll see. Solstice energy may also be coming into play here.

My day was fairly quiet- a trip to Farmer’s Market and over to Staples, for photocopying in advance of my hosting of a devotional tomorrow. We looked at our two trees in front. One of them will at least need to be trimmed. The days of yours truly going up on a 12-foot ladder, saw in hand, are most likely over- if only for son’s peace of mind. We will hire a tree specialist.

As we took a brief stroll, this evening, the strains of South Asian music-either Indian or Pakistani, could be heard coming from the ramada at Hoblitzelle Park. This bodes well for the summer nights ahead. We could go over and sit for a while, as Hana gets older. For now, though, it’s bedtime at 7 or 7:30.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 29

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

June 19.2026- Juneteenth, and the skies were raging! We awoke to heavy thunder and lightning, with about 3″ of rain falling, during the course of the morning. Aram went into work, driving carefully, on roads that were not yet waterlogged. The flash flood watch came a little later.but we were happily inside, until the rain stopped. There was no walk for Hana today, though. The stroller does not need to be pushed through mud, which usually runs onto sidewalks and gullies that form on the inside lanes of surface streets.

It goes without saying, that I will encourage Hana to resist any unlawful authority. I will tell her to respect and obey her parents, teachers and police. I will tell her that anyone who disrespects her person has not earned her respect. I will tell her that there is a system for reporting unprofessional behaviour by those who are vested with authority, and that her parents and I will be the first people to whom she should report such things.

This is the legacy of Juneteenth, that no one need consent to slavery under another human being-or group of humans. This is so, no matter the economic, political or social status of the would-be enslaver. Not all enslavement is plantation-based, as we see from the Epstein files and other accounts of human trafficking. No one deserves to be under another person’s thumb, no matter the initial enticement.

My granddaughter will know this, from the time she can walk.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 27

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

June 17,2026- Wednesday is a longer day for Hana, as her parents carpool together. This means that her Daddy gets home later, since Mom is bound to wait until a certain time to clock out and works farther away than he does. He otherwise gets home about forty minutes before her.

I help Hana deal with this by spending more time with her, inside the playpen-just being there while she goes about her selected activities: Working to operate a set of levers that open little doors, where Sesame Street characters appear, doing her developmental exercises (grabbing her feet, while lying on her back; pushing herself up on all fours) and crawling about, with a towel draped over her back-almost like a shawl. She loves my reading her stories from the Marvel characters, Pete the Cat, Dr. Seuss and “Girl Power” stories, based on Disney characters, as well as English translations of simple children’s stories from Japan and China. Being so little, she probably would love anything I read her. Just the fact that Papa is here for her is everything.

The most amazing thing about Hana is her body clock. I will hear her on the monitor that I keep in my room-up and talking to her parents, at 5 a.m. That’s not exactly their idea of an alarm clock, but she is up and wants to have her diaper changed-or just be held. They make it work, just as parents have for thousands of years. She “reminds” me, when it’s time for a feeding-saying “Hey, okay” and extending her arm towards the kitchen. I am usually already on top of it, but having her feel responsible for her own well-being is a good thing. When she is tired, she has only to show frustration at something, and into Papa’s arms she goes- for a nap in the crib or with me in the rocking chair. Usually, she is out like a light in 10 seconds or less. This little girl works hard at her playtime.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 26

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

June 16, 2026- Yesterday, Hana put a small towel across her back and crawled around with it., like a shawl. She did the same today. This afternoon, she put a small clean face wipe between her top and bottom incisors and looked up at me, with the cloth hanging from her mouth. Her eyes have a spark of mischief in them. The child has a sense of fun.

She also is showing more initiative, in trying to help, gently taking the feeding spoon in her hand, while not trying to grab it from me. She also puts her two hands around the feeding bottle, again not trying to take it from my hands, but just as a n extra pair. Her father was the same way as an infant and toddler-always trying to help where he could.

I will encourage these behaviours- both the humourous antics and the helpful efforts. Both are signs of a creative and intelligent mind. She is also showing a considerate, sensitive heart. When one of us sneezes or coughs, she looks at us with deeply concerned eyes, and will crawl over, putting her little hand on our arm or chest.

Today marks 57 years since I enlisted in the United States Army. I served in active duty for two years and six months. After that, I was released early to go back to college. The military, back then, gave me the discipline that I had not allowed myself to develop. I might have benefited, actually, from staying in longer, but then life would not have unfolded as it did. So, mistakes and all, I am glad things turned out the way they did, for the most part.

I am glad that Aram chose service in the Navy. It did him a world of good, and brought him together with Yunhee. Now, he has a solid sense of adulthood-and we have Hana.

Will Hana be encouraged to enter the military, when her time comes? If I am still here, and still lucid, as I have every intention of being, I will probably not encourage her to follow that route-but rather to follow another path of service-not because she is female, but because by that time (2043-4), we ought to be on the path towards civilizational correction. It’s all conjecture, at this point, but that is where I see things headed.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 24

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

June 14,2026- Hana was shown a new puzzle today. It has wooden farm animals and a barn, which fit into spaces that also show a picture of each piece where it should go. She likes to take the pieces out of the puzzle. I will work with her, during the week, to associate one piece at a time with its proper spot, and try to get her to place it in that spot.

It was a nice quiet day for us, once her father got home early, after drill was concluded due to a power outage. That worked out nicely for Hana, who got that much more time to play with her Daddy. It would be too easy to figure that a pre-lingual child doesn’t miss a loved one, but we all know better-and besides, her parents miss her, too, during the week.

It rained hard, early this morning, but by 11, I was able to go and grab lunch for the three of us at Saved by the Bagel. Hana enjoyed beef and rice, with a side of pumpkin, all pureed, of course. We adults had cheeseburgers on bagels.

I read a memory that a friend had posted about my visit to his city, some years back. He has since married and moved to his wife’s town. When I next travel in that direction, I will be sure to pay them a visit. For the foreseeable future, though, I am happy where I am.

The Hungarian writer, Peter Dosa, has written of his emotional homes: Hungary,where he was born; Ireland, where he was raised and Barcelona, where he matured and where he still lives. I will offer a similar summation in tomorrow’s post.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 22

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

June 12, 2026- Hana may well be a foodie. Her eyes lit up, and she sat forward, for each bite of solid food that I presented to her at lunchtime. She is definitely already a member of the Clean Plate Club.

She then burns it all off, working incessantly at little push-ups, and crawls around the play pen. She also likes to have her feet up in the air, grabbing them with opposite hands. Then comes the power nap.

We took a walk through Hoblitzelle Park, this morning. It wasn’t all that hot, but the humidity hung in the air. Hana abides the morning walk, but when I suggested going out again this afternoon, she was very firmly not interested. I checked the temperature-and my granddaughter had it right.

Instead, I put on a Beatles tune, “Bungalow Bill”, one of their sillier songs and mimed it, which she giggled at. I danced around with her afterward, to “Give Peace A Chance”. She lost interest, though, after the twelfth repetition of the title verse.

I was asked, recently, whether I will be traveling any time soon. Some people think that, as soon as Hana can walk, my work here should be done. No, it’ll be “done’ when she is independent enough (age 7 or 8) that my presence does not need to be 24/7. My granddaughter comes from sensitive stock, and needs to know that she is deeply loved.

I miss many people across the country and the world. Those who are true friends know that my work on her behalf is worth every minute. They also know that they will always have a special place in my heart. Hopefully, I’ll see many again. For now, there is social media and there is e-mail.

The Hana Chronicles: Month 5, Day 20

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

June 10, 2026– Hana and I both understood that this would be a longer day than usual. Her parents took one vehicle to work, meaning that her Dad would have to wait for her Mom to get off work, at the mandated time of 5:30, before they drove back together. That adds an hour to his workday, but in the face of the inflation that is so cherished by some of the nation’s elite, people do what they must.

My granddaughter studies the faces of clocks and watches. She knows that my watch says 6:10, on most days when her father walks through the door. She saw that it said 7:10, when they walked through the door this evening. What that means to a five-month old child is beyond my grasp, but she is fixated on numbers.

For all that, she devoted her day to practicing the upper body support exercises that will lend support to sitting upright without support and to walking. Children just go through this process naturally. Hana has a single-minded devotion to it.

She is also showing two other aspects of her personality: Wardrobe preference and neatness. When I gave her a choice of what clothing to wear today, she chose a red and white polka dot onesie, with a green frog emblem. The emblem is to be worn on the back, but Hana wanted it on the front, so who am I to argue. When her bib got messy, during this morning’s solid feeding, she kept trying to pull it off, though we were not finished with the meal. She was much happier when I put a clean bib on her, and her face was cleaned.

She likes several musical selections, and was delighted by Harry Nilsson’s “Me and My Arrow”, from his recording, “The Point!”, which I played for her this evening.