I couldn't have asked for a better present for my birthday;
My longest lasting friend came over to my house to play.
She's so busy with healing and making others happy
That we barely ever have time to be just "she and me."
She wanted to take me out, but I wasn't in the mood.
I made lunch; she always likes my way of preparing food.
We had a whole afternoon, just to ourselves;
There was much of our last few years in which to delve.
We had been separated too long, by too many miles,
Longing for the sight of each other's tears and smiles.
Like a sister, I'm a part of her and she's a part of me;
This is a bond from which we will never be truly free.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Play Days
Talk about two ends of the spectrum, from art to animals in less than a week.
One niece called me to do lunch, then we went to the museum to take a peek.
She had never been to NOMA, though she's quite an artist herself,
I thought that this introduction could give her creativity some help.
Then, another niece came over with her husband and their boys;
This time it wasn't for them to play with Richard and their toys.
We took them on a field trip to the Global Wildlife Center,
Where into the world of children's wildest dreams we can all enter.
There are four thousand deer of several species, camels, and zebras, too;
But this isn't simply viewing, like we have at any zoo.
We ride along in jungle trams, but to the boys, they're trains.
The tractor driver gets up-close; the tour guide calls the animals by name.
How much fun is it to feed a bison, and a giraffe, and her baby?
We were a little disappointed because these animals were being lazy,
So we actually only got to feed the aforementioned herds,
But the joy of the children of all ages was still too much for words.
The weather couldn't have been finer; we had a nice cool breeze.
The youngest child was lulled to sleep upon his daddy's knees.
It was a perfect kind of Sunday, even though we got home late.
For the Sunday roast that I had cooked, they really couldn't wait.
The daddy had to go to work, the mom had homework to do;
I was glad that of their busy hours, we were able to share a few
We'll be together again this week, to celebrate my birthday
Nothing is ever better than when the families come to play.
One niece called me to do lunch, then we went to the museum to take a peek.
She had never been to NOMA, though she's quite an artist herself,
I thought that this introduction could give her creativity some help.
Then, another niece came over with her husband and their boys;
This time it wasn't for them to play with Richard and their toys.
We took them on a field trip to the Global Wildlife Center,
Where into the world of children's wildest dreams we can all enter.
There are four thousand deer of several species, camels, and zebras, too;
But this isn't simply viewing, like we have at any zoo.
We ride along in jungle trams, but to the boys, they're trains.
The tractor driver gets up-close; the tour guide calls the animals by name.
How much fun is it to feed a bison, and a giraffe, and her baby?
We were a little disappointed because these animals were being lazy,
So we actually only got to feed the aforementioned herds,
But the joy of the children of all ages was still too much for words.
The weather couldn't have been finer; we had a nice cool breeze.
The youngest child was lulled to sleep upon his daddy's knees.
It was a perfect kind of Sunday, even though we got home late.
For the Sunday roast that I had cooked, they really couldn't wait.
The daddy had to go to work, the mom had homework to do;
I was glad that of their busy hours, we were able to share a few
We'll be together again this week, to celebrate my birthday
Nothing is ever better than when the families come to play.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Today
Today, the smell of dark roast coffee awakens us to our new reality.
Today, we are again on the harbor, just one door down from yesterday.
Today, there is roast to brown for our family's superb Sunday supper.
Today, we watched the babies feed the flocks at our conservation center.
Today, their daddy would be late to work, so we packed supper to go for them.
Today, I read and watch the sailboats, as he watches a little TV.
Today, there's a ring of sunset clouds, as we say good-bye to another day.
Today, we are again on the harbor, just one door down from yesterday.
Today, there is roast to brown for our family's superb Sunday supper.
Today, we watched the babies feed the flocks at our conservation center.
Today, their daddy would be late to work, so we packed supper to go for them.
Today, I read and watch the sailboats, as he watches a little TV.
Today, there's a ring of sunset clouds, as we say good-bye to another day.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Passion Play
What to do when words are simply superfluous?
How can we proceed when passion comes into play,
If all the many little bits of our reality
Continuing failing to line up the right way?
Where are we to store the energy
That seems always ready to explode,
When there are polite society things to do
And there's no time or place to unload?
We must make time to sing, and dance,
And paint our passions into action.
We must celebrate our bodies with others
Who give our souls deep satisfaction.
Run a fast race, hit a ball far,
Play a great tune on the piano,
Hug each other, oh so tight,
Swing as high as you can go.
Roll on the floor with laughter,
Give each other big high fives.
Don't hold it in, express it;
Passion is what keeps us alive.
How can we proceed when passion comes into play,
If all the many little bits of our reality
Continuing failing to line up the right way?
Where are we to store the energy
That seems always ready to explode,
When there are polite society things to do
And there's no time or place to unload?
We must make time to sing, and dance,
And paint our passions into action.
We must celebrate our bodies with others
Who give our souls deep satisfaction.
Run a fast race, hit a ball far,
Play a great tune on the piano,
Hug each other, oh so tight,
Swing as high as you can go.
Roll on the floor with laughter,
Give each other big high fives.
Don't hold it in, express it;
Passion is what keeps us alive.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Patriotism in Practice
Touring the World War II Museum twice in one week got me to thinking about patriotism and business practices. Andrew Jackson Higgins, a native of Nebraska, and an adult entrepreneurial son of South Louisiana, was the quintessential American patriot. He was as rugged as a mountain man, as hard working as any lumberjack, as tenacious as a trapper, and as fair-minded as a family of farmers.
Hitler called Andrew Jackson Higgins "The New Noah". General Eisenhower said that Higgins won World War II. Neither of these things is exactly true. Higgins was more like Moses than Noah, and, if it's true that his boats won the war, it was the chosen people of South Louisiana who he hired that made it happen. Higgins was the patriot and visionary leader who believed in America, and the people who worked with him were wise enough to follow his lead.
Higgins had little formal education, but was one of the most creative problem solvers of the twentieth century. He knew more about building small boats than anyone who had ever lived. He was also a master at creating communities that worked together for the common good. Higgins consistently practiced fairness in his hiring practices and in pricing the goods purchased with the taxpayers' hard-earned money. This is what patriotism should be about.
Nobody believed more firmly in the American way of life than did Andrew Jackson Higgins. He believed that vision and hard work was the way to make waves of much-needed change, and he proved it every day. With his example and leadership, he inspired tens of thousands of average citizens of South Louisiana to give their all to their country. His American ingenuity combined with Louisiana labor proved to be unbeatable.
Higgins hired anyone who was willing to work: man, woman, black, white, healthy or infirm. He used the trade schools that already existed and set up on-the-job training schools at his plants. He got to know the people who worked with him by being on the job himself. As problems arose, he addressed them; even setting up a subdivision with a school and recreation facilities for Higgins Industry families when housing shortages presented themselves. This should be a hallmark of patriotism.
Higgins invested his mind and his money into our country. He insisted on giving our government the lowest price possible on his products. It was through his efforts that then Senator Truman created a commission to investigate and resolve the price gouging that many military contractors were practicing with impunity. This also should be a hallmark of patriotism.
Since 1997, hundreds of volunteers have invested thousands of hours in recreating Higgins Boats for the World War II Museum in New Orleans. This group of dedicated boat builders is now a non-profit organization called The Higgins Boat Society. The Higgins Boat Society celebrates and salutes the life and spirit of Andrew Jackson Higgins and the proud people of Higgins Industries. Not only our country, but a lot of Louisianians owe much of what we have to them.
Hitler called Andrew Jackson Higgins "The New Noah". General Eisenhower said that Higgins won World War II. Neither of these things is exactly true. Higgins was more like Moses than Noah, and, if it's true that his boats won the war, it was the chosen people of South Louisiana who he hired that made it happen. Higgins was the patriot and visionary leader who believed in America, and the people who worked with him were wise enough to follow his lead.
Higgins had little formal education, but was one of the most creative problem solvers of the twentieth century. He knew more about building small boats than anyone who had ever lived. He was also a master at creating communities that worked together for the common good. Higgins consistently practiced fairness in his hiring practices and in pricing the goods purchased with the taxpayers' hard-earned money. This is what patriotism should be about.
Nobody believed more firmly in the American way of life than did Andrew Jackson Higgins. He believed that vision and hard work was the way to make waves of much-needed change, and he proved it every day. With his example and leadership, he inspired tens of thousands of average citizens of South Louisiana to give their all to their country. His American ingenuity combined with Louisiana labor proved to be unbeatable.
Higgins hired anyone who was willing to work: man, woman, black, white, healthy or infirm. He used the trade schools that already existed and set up on-the-job training schools at his plants. He got to know the people who worked with him by being on the job himself. As problems arose, he addressed them; even setting up a subdivision with a school and recreation facilities for Higgins Industry families when housing shortages presented themselves. This should be a hallmark of patriotism.
Higgins invested his mind and his money into our country. He insisted on giving our government the lowest price possible on his products. It was through his efforts that then Senator Truman created a commission to investigate and resolve the price gouging that many military contractors were practicing with impunity. This also should be a hallmark of patriotism.
Since 1997, hundreds of volunteers have invested thousands of hours in recreating Higgins Boats for the World War II Museum in New Orleans. This group of dedicated boat builders is now a non-profit organization called The Higgins Boat Society. The Higgins Boat Society celebrates and salutes the life and spirit of Andrew Jackson Higgins and the proud people of Higgins Industries. Not only our country, but a lot of Louisianians owe much of what we have to them.
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Wonder of We the People
Is it true that they were "The Greatest Generation",
These people who lived "The Great War" of our nation?
Have we, too, not answered when we have heard the call,
Seeking to create justice within our own country's walls?
We withstood the killing off of our childhood God
That left no eternal father to hold us as we sob.
What makes The New Almighty happy is not suffering,
But promotion of the peace that justice will bring.
And what about the people who used to be our slaves?
We are now teaching and rocking their innocent babes.
And the women held hostage by their masters at home
Are now promoting justice with the skills they have honed.
Our military and their families who were spit upon
By our country that was ashamed of wars we hadn't won
Have won the right for all of us to choose our own way
To show our love of God and country before we join the fray.
There are very few leaders who themselves are true or brave,
But we still fight for the justice that humanity craves.
Against the voices of greed and fear that encourage hate,
We push back with the passion that makes our people great.
It is the courageous individual standing for what we believe
Bonding with others against those who promote hate and greed.
We have changed the very fabric and face of our nation
To more closely resemble the diversity of all creation.
Diversity is, in the end, what makes a species strong.
We have fought to redefine the tribe to which we all belong.
America still embraces change because, not only they, but we
Have kept up the quest for justice that defines our liberty.
These people who lived "The Great War" of our nation?
Have we, too, not answered when we have heard the call,
Seeking to create justice within our own country's walls?
We withstood the killing off of our childhood God
That left no eternal father to hold us as we sob.
What makes The New Almighty happy is not suffering,
But promotion of the peace that justice will bring.
And what about the people who used to be our slaves?
We are now teaching and rocking their innocent babes.
And the women held hostage by their masters at home
Are now promoting justice with the skills they have honed.
Our military and their families who were spit upon
By our country that was ashamed of wars we hadn't won
Have won the right for all of us to choose our own way
To show our love of God and country before we join the fray.
There are very few leaders who themselves are true or brave,
But we still fight for the justice that humanity craves.
Against the voices of greed and fear that encourage hate,
We push back with the passion that makes our people great.
It is the courageous individual standing for what we believe
Bonding with others against those who promote hate and greed.
We have changed the very fabric and face of our nation
To more closely resemble the diversity of all creation.
Diversity is, in the end, what makes a species strong.
We have fought to redefine the tribe to which we all belong.
America still embraces change because, not only they, but we
Have kept up the quest for justice that defines our liberty.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Learning How Louisiana Won the War
Richard's work as archivist and all-round volunteer with The Higgins Boat Society at the World War II Museum has, since 1997, been the joy in his life. Today we were to show it off to my aunt and her husband who is a WWII veteran and worked for the Higgins Boat builder, Andrew Jackson Higgins.
According to Eisenhower, Higgins "won the war"; Hitler called him "The New Noah". I think of Higgins Industries as "The Louisianians Who Won the War" with their hard work and cooperation. With the amount of play we swamp rats do, it's not surprising that partying is that for which we are best known. But an old adage on the bayou is that we work hard and we play hard. This would be closer to our truth.
My aunt and uncle were driven by their school teacher daughter to New Orleans from "down the bayou" to see what kind of honors had been bestowed on their contemporaries, dubbed by Tom Brokaw as "The Greatest Generation". They weren't disappointed. What a wonderful job has been done on the World War II Museum! There's so much to see and do that we actually never got to visit the PT 305 work site with our Cajun relations. This is okay because there's enough left to see to fill at least one more day.
It's a nicely paced place, in that there are several short films interspersed in the exhibits. Especially for those who have to take it slow, we were never stressed or over-stimulated. We started out with a guided tour of "The Homefront" and "The Pacific". The tour guide recognized Richard several times as an expert on Higgins contributions, and asked for his input in the tour. Richard, of course, became embarassed and declined to comment. It was also very touching that the tour guide, more than once, asked for my uncle's input.
We followed this tour with a forty-five minute film of eye witness war accounts. The experience evoked such strong emotion in me that I was glad when my cousin suggested that we take a lunch break. Off to lunch we went at the forties-themed diner in the museum operated by celebrity chef John Besh. Everything served was done well, unlike the food choices at so many tourist venues. It made me proud that Chef Besh was staying true to what people expect from New Orleans cuisine.
The final event of our day was something new to all of us, the four dimensional movie narrated by Tom Hanks. By this time, my eyes and heart were brimming over. It was with great relief that we accepted my cousin's suggestion that her parents had experienced enough for one day, and we saw them to their car.
They plan to return for a live show, coupled with another John Besh dining experience in the Stage Door Canteen. At this time, they'll tour the third wing of the museum. That's when they'll probably see the PT 305; but by then the PT boat will have been moved to a fourth wing of the museum where patrons will be able to watch the boat builders in action.
So much to see...
According to Eisenhower, Higgins "won the war"; Hitler called him "The New Noah". I think of Higgins Industries as "The Louisianians Who Won the War" with their hard work and cooperation. With the amount of play we swamp rats do, it's not surprising that partying is that for which we are best known. But an old adage on the bayou is that we work hard and we play hard. This would be closer to our truth.
My aunt and uncle were driven by their school teacher daughter to New Orleans from "down the bayou" to see what kind of honors had been bestowed on their contemporaries, dubbed by Tom Brokaw as "The Greatest Generation". They weren't disappointed. What a wonderful job has been done on the World War II Museum! There's so much to see and do that we actually never got to visit the PT 305 work site with our Cajun relations. This is okay because there's enough left to see to fill at least one more day.
It's a nicely paced place, in that there are several short films interspersed in the exhibits. Especially for those who have to take it slow, we were never stressed or over-stimulated. We started out with a guided tour of "The Homefront" and "The Pacific". The tour guide recognized Richard several times as an expert on Higgins contributions, and asked for his input in the tour. Richard, of course, became embarassed and declined to comment. It was also very touching that the tour guide, more than once, asked for my uncle's input.
We followed this tour with a forty-five minute film of eye witness war accounts. The experience evoked such strong emotion in me that I was glad when my cousin suggested that we take a lunch break. Off to lunch we went at the forties-themed diner in the museum operated by celebrity chef John Besh. Everything served was done well, unlike the food choices at so many tourist venues. It made me proud that Chef Besh was staying true to what people expect from New Orleans cuisine.
The final event of our day was something new to all of us, the four dimensional movie narrated by Tom Hanks. By this time, my eyes and heart were brimming over. It was with great relief that we accepted my cousin's suggestion that her parents had experienced enough for one day, and we saw them to their car.
They plan to return for a live show, coupled with another John Besh dining experience in the Stage Door Canteen. At this time, they'll tour the third wing of the museum. That's when they'll probably see the PT 305; but by then the PT boat will have been moved to a fourth wing of the museum where patrons will be able to watch the boat builders in action.
So much to see...
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