Dear Friends--

Are the years going faster?  Or, is it my elevated age that makes me think they are?  I hope you enjoy the holiday with those who are important to you...Here's a snapshot of what's been important to me this year.  I wish you much happiness, interesting events, entertaining people, and contented times in 2014.  Be well. 

 (Click on "older posts"on the bottom right  if you want the full story)  

There is much for which I am thankful--

I celebrated my 73rd birthday on Machinac Island.

Six weeks in Minnesota

It is quite extraordinary that Megan, Andy, Lindsay, and Sydney can enjoy the cabin built in 1935 at Horseshoe Lake for six weeks.  I enjoy visiting & witnessing their lives at the lake.  Since they do not have the army of adventurous helpers as was the case for many years, it is a considerable commitment and I am proud of them.

 There has to be water down here somewhere!

Riding bikes on the sand paths and roads can be both challenging and fun!  Watch out for the laundry!

Seeing the sea: a new way to "get around"

Volunteering in developing countries has come to a close due to my diminished energy and barking back. I am thankful for the privilege I had of working with so many international teachers for eleven years.

Last winter I joined the Semester at Sea ship for five weeks of their four month semester lf learning around the world sponsored by the University of Virgina.  I joined the ship in Singapore, visited Burma, India, Mauritius, and South Africa. Desmond Tutu joined the ship at the beginning of January, and he and I both left the ship in Cape Town where he lives.

While on the ship, Nelson Mandela was in and out of the hospital and much was made of his health since he is an icon representing hope and forgiveness in South Africa.  As we all know, Desmond Tutu (fondly call "The Arch") was a pillar of moral authority while Mandela was in prison, and a force of the truth and reconciliation commission following Mandela's release.

I recall Tutu saying that it would not have been possible for Mandela to forgive the injustice of the apartheid government had he not spent 27 harsh years in prison.  Mandela simply came to the conclusion that if he was released and did not forgive, he would still be in prison.  Given the current economic hardship of 45 per cent unemployment and poor government leadership, there is still much to forgive.  Hope will be challenged now that Mandela has died, and I am sure that "Arch" will be a pillar again.

"The Arch" and me

Great economic disparities are obvious in the many townships

Community toilets and water on the edge of the housing in the townships....such a long walk.

The Village-to-Village Network begins in Chelsea

Something called "The Village-to-Village Network" began a few years ago out east where a group of seniors got together and organized themselves to help them stay in their homes as they aged.  The concept combines seniors offering time and talent to volunteer for others as well as access to vetted contractors who will work at reduced rates for various repairs requiring more than volunteer time and skill.  In Chelsea, we are beginning the Chelsea Center Senior Services as our form of the Village-to-Village network.  In addition to seniors, some younger folks connect to perform "service projects" for seniors.  I was the lucky recipient of the hockey teams effort in a fall clean-up.

Documenting the growth of a special tree

For twenty-eight years, I have taken pictures of the red maple tree planted at the tennis courts at Mason High School in memory of Andrew.  This year I created a book that documents the tree growing.  The Kite Network--a group for which I volunteer--put a copy in their library as an example of how grief for the loss a child was channeled.