‘Bout says it all — Alzheimer’s
Paul H. Carr inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame
My uncle, Paul H. Carr, is a man of legend in my mother’s family. He was one of 9 surviving children, 8 of whom were girls, with my mother as the youngest. I don’t know the exact date, but my grandparents divorced, something very unusual for that period of time. This left my grandmother to raise the last part of the brood by herself. She did whatever was necessary to keep all fed, housed and clothed. While doing that, she was famous for helping those in need who were not part of her family. It was just who she was. In many ways my grandmother, aka Mama Carr, is also a family legend. Proof of this was the summers at Mama Carr’s house where “The Sisters” would faithfully return with their own broods to stay for various lengths of time. I remember that there always seemed to be a gang of cousins there. I believe “The Sisters” truly revered my grandmother.
Paul H. Carr came of age, and by this I mean he graduated high school, right in the middle of War World II. He was an only son, he was a farm boy, it would have been easy for him to have gotten a deferment and stay out of the war. Like so many of his generation he chose not to. He chose country and patriotism above all other considerations. I’m not quite sure why Continue reading “Paul H. Carr inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame”
If We Organize, We Can Change the World | Heather Booth | TEDxPennsylvaniaAvenue
R.I.P. Jimmy LaFave
Of course, I was way on the outside looking in, but in Jimmy’s final days he gave to us a wonderful lesson on how to die well. Something we all hope to do.
Below is a link to the article in the Austin Chronicles about his passing. Very sad day indeed. I cherish each and every performance of this great musician I was able to see.
We Need Woody Guthrie and Jimmy LaFave
Last weekend Robin and I made a pilgrimage to the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The reason for this pilgrimage was because Jimmy LaFave was going to be playing there. Jimmy is at the top of my list of favorite musicians. I have been listening to him for 20 years, and if I do not have all of his CDs, I have the vast majority. His music speaks to me on so many levels. The fact that he is not more famous than he is, says more about the music industry Continue reading “We Need Woody Guthrie and Jimmy LaFave”
Ernestine Johnson: ‘The Average Black Girl’
I Forgot My Phone
Wisdom is Where You Find It
Spent a few hours today with my mother, who is on the Alzheimer’s path. . .on a “good” day, she knows something is not right, and tries to figure out what that is. . .she is one smart lady. . .tough and practical. . .she did not know where she was going to sleep tonight. . .I tried to reassure her without triggering her. . .at one point, she looked at me and said, “When we were younger, the things we thought were hard were really pretty easy.” I am still making my back into the solar system after being blown away by that observation from a “demented” person. . .Mom, I am developing more and more admiration for your courage as a practicing human being dealing with what life has delivered to your front door step. . .I hope on some level you are aware of that fact. . .
A note from my brother James Michael
5 Things to Say at the End of Life
To The Best of Our Knowledge is interviewing Steven Spiro, a Buddhist Chaplain, on mindful dying. He has five things to say at the end of life.
- I love you
- I forgive you
- Please forgive me
- Thank you
- It will be okay
Not bad things to say at any point of life.