Categories
Election People

Contributions

Today’s cuppa celebrates the people who do the work that makes elections possible.

Being an Election Clerk or an Election Judge can be fun, such as when you learn that somebody’s a first-time voter, and you cheer for them as they proudly accept their “I voted” sticker. There’s also a thrill that comes from knowing that you’re contributing to history, even on a small scale – a thrill that can cause your heart to beat just a bit faster, even if only for a moment.

Mostly, however, working in an election involves a repetitive process of making sure stuff happens in the right way, at the right time, and gets to the right place in the right format. You must arrive at the polling place early, often before the sun is up, and you’re the last one to leave at the end of the day, which might end up being longer than you anticipated (it’s up to you to ensure that everybody who is in line when the polls close at your location gets to vote, no matter how long it takes). In between the start and the end, you are responsible for the machines, and the papers, and the questions, and everything else it takes to manage the process at your location.

During popular elections, the work can keep you on your toes. During off-years, there might be long stretches of the day when nothing happens, when you’re waiting for somebody to show up and cast their vote. Sadly, slow election days tend to be more common than the ones that keep you busy; nevertheless, they still require coordination and people to make them happen.

If you’d like to contribute to the election process, you may want to find out how to participate in these types of roles. Requirements vary, based on local election rules; you can learn more through your elections office. While there are specific expectations and possibly training involved, it’s typically not difficult be to be part of the action.

The success of free and fair elections depends on the willingness of citizens to contribute to the process. So, here’s to the election workers. Thank you for all you do so that we can make our voices heard.

Categories
Life People

Tall

“If you can only be tall because someone else is on their knees, then you have a serious problem.” – Toni Morrison

Categories
Adventures Life

Aliens

My perspective on aliens was greatly influenced by the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Directed by Stephen Spielberg and released in 1977, it tells the story of of a small group of people, each affected by personal encounters with alien visitors, each on a journey to make sense of their experiences and learn the truth.

For a time when I was a youngster, I was obsessed with this movie. I don’t specifically remember seeing it in the theater, but that was the only way to see movies back then, so I must have. I’ve seen it many, many times over the years since then.

A companion book, which told the exact same story but in written form, was released around the same time as the movie. As a kid, I read (and re-read) everything I could get my hands on, including this book. Even today, I can remember parts of the book word-for-word.

There was also a soundtrack (on vinyl) that I listened to over and over. I loved the part where the aliens and the humans communicate with a musical sound-off, back and forth, the notes blending together. In the movie, that scene includes flashing lights, with different colors representing the various notes and tones.

You might say I was a weird kid, being so fascinated by these things. And yes, I would probably agree. In my defense, however, it’s not unusual for kids to become obsessed with things. Ask any parent who’s listened to multiple descriptions of the most minute Minecraft creations or who instinctively cringe just a bit when they hear, yet again, the theme song to a popular kids’ show that seems to be everywhere (all the time it never goes away there it is once more it never stops).

Anyway. Aliens. I believed, based on CEotTK, that it was entirely possible that aliens existed, and that one day, when they thought we were ready, when the time was right, they’d show themselves to us Earthlings. Later, E.T. the Extraterrestrial came along (also a Spielberg movie), reinforcing this hopeful belief.

And then, in college, I took an Astronomy class called E.T. – The Search for Extraterrestrial Life, during which we worked through the Drake Equation and came to the conclusion that the likelihood of a Spielbergian event actually happening is just about zero.

Crash. Burn. For a while, the possibility of alien magic vanished.

But then one day, I saw the movie Contact. I didn’t become obsessed with it as I had with CEotTK. It did, however, restore my hope in the possibility of aliens. A more educated, wiser, pragmatic hope, certainly, but the magic came back.

This morning, as I was waiting for the coffee to perk, I read a news story about the recent discovery of fast, repeating radio bursts coming from a distant galaxy. The pattern is radio bursts for 90 days, followed by 60 days of silence, then the radio bursts start over.

It’s likely the pattern has nothing whatsoever to do with aliens, that it’s caused by some type of natural galactic event.

Then again, maybe that’s what the aliens want us to believe.

Categories
Life People

Anne

Growing up, I was taught to believe that age brings wisdom, that those who know best have been around for a long time. I might be smart, I might be informed, but when the elders speak, whatever is in question is decided, and whatever is decided is correct.

Being raised with that perspective isn’t unusual. Children, especially very young children, don’t have the life experience or the knowledge necessary to safely navigate the world; that is why parents, caregivers, and other adults protect and teach them. Respect for our elders is logical. Cultivating and encouraging that perspective is an effective means of safeguarding our offspring.

It makes sense, then, to believe that children should be seen and not heard. Except – there are times when children are wise. There are times when children know best.

Consider Anne Frank. Anne and her family hid from the Nazis, beginning when Anne was 13 years old. She and her family were discovered, arrested, and sent to concentration camps when she was 15 years old.

During her years in hiding, Anne kept a diary, documenting daily life and her thoughts and feelings. She was a teenager living in extreme and terrifying circumstances, which undoubtedly influenced her perspective. But in most ways, she was still a child, with limited knowledge and experience beyond her home, her school, her family and friends.

As a child, she wrote enduring words of wisdom and insight that have been and continue to be shared around the world. Her words remind us that understanding, awareness, and intelligence take time to develop, but they are not uniquely linked to age. Wisdom is gained when we listen and observe, believing in the power of hope and kindness; when we are steadfast in our values but open to possibilities, respectful of differences, willing to connect, eager to share.

Today, June 12, is Anne Frank’s birthday. Today’s cuppa celebrates her spirit and the wisdom of children. There are many lessons they can teach us, if we are ready to learn.

Categories
Life

Answer

”The best way to view a present problem is to give it all you’ve got, to study it and its nature, to perceive within it the intrinsic interrelationships, to discover the answer to the problem within the problem itself.” – Abraham Maslow

Categories
Family Food Pets

Spaghetti

On Spaghetti Nights (like last night), we fix a small serving for Mollie.

Noodles, a tiny bit of sauce (garlic and onions aren’t good for dogs, so we are careful not to give her more than just a suggestion of flavor), and a lot of cheese.

We put it out for her, and she eats while we eat. It makes her quite happy.

Mollie loves spaghetti. She loves cheese. I think what she loves the most, however, is feeling like she’s part of the action, part of Spaghetti Night. When she’s done eating, she’ll make her way to the couch, where she’ll fall asleep with a doggy smile on her face.

Today’s cuppa is inspired by Mollie, who reminds me to be grateful for the simple happiness that can come from a plate of spaghetti.

Categories
Family Life

Nest

The other day, a friend asked if my husband and I will be “empty nesters” now that our youngest son has finished high school.

The simple answer is yes. Come September, that is what we expect will happen. That’s the natural order of things, right?

The kids grow up, they move out, start their own lives. They stay in touch, they come home for holidays and special occasions. If they live nearby, they might drop by just to say hi, have a meal, take the dog for a walk.

But then, they return to their homes. They no longer sleep under your roof. They are no longer living in your nest.

Here’s the thing, however – life comes at you fast. And sometimes, when the unexpected happens, your nest is the best place; the most convenient, or comforting, or cheapest, or safest place. Sometimes, the kids end up back in your nest, even if only temporarily.

My husband and I expect that we will soon be empty nesters. We enthusiastically support our sons’ steps toward independence; we are proud of the young men they’ve become and are still becoming. We’re also looking forward to life as a couple, just the two of us, for the first time in decades.

We also know that the nest may not always be empty. And, that’s okay with us. We, like all parents, want what’s best for our children – even after they’ve grown up. If what’s best is for them to return home, we’ll always make room for them to do so. I suspect most parents feel the same way.

While the simple answer is yes, the real answer is more complicated. The term “empty nesters” may only refer to a period of time, not a permanent state of being.

So, here’s a cuppa for all of us who watch as our children fly from our nests, knowing that it’s a good and exciting and happy part of life. And, here’s a cuppa for all of us who know that, should the time come, we’ll also open our arms and our hearts to welcome them back.


Categories
Life

And

I woke up this morning thinking about a communication technique that I learned a while back: replace the word “but” with the word “and”.

This tiny change can shift a conversation from adversarial to advocacy.

That’s a great idea, and how do we make it happen?

I see your point, and I will add this thought…

We should try that plan, and we can put these steps in place to improve the chances that it will work the way we want it to.

I wish I could say that I’ve consistently adopted this technique. Unfortunately, it is hard to break the “but” habit. I’ve found, however, that when I do make the effort to use “and” in place of “but,” I spend less time defending and more time achieving.

Of course, switching from “but” to “and” isn’t always the right choice. “And” implies agreement, acceptance. Two or more possibilities, each being an option. Sometimes, there isn’t – there can’t be – an either/or. Sometimes, you have to take a stand.

But (and yes, I chose to use “but” in this case), in situations where “and” might work, it’s worth a try. Who knows where it might lead?

Categories
Family Life

Graduation

My youngest son graduates from high school today.

It’s natural to think about time on a day like today. From a linear perspective, I see the years by looking back and remembering. I see the future when I imagine the moments to come.

But some believe that time is circular, not linear.

If so, I am now and still always will be rocking him to sleep, reading him bedtime stories, admiring his LEGO creations, taking him trick-or-treating, helping him pack his camping gear. I’m listening to him as he describes his scientific experiments and short story ideas. I’m laughing at something funny he says. I’m watching him blow out his birthday candles and buying him new shoes again and again and again as he grows from tiny baby to young man.

And, I am now and still always will be watching him extend his hand to accept the diploma that signifies the end of one journey and the start of another.

Regardless of a linear or circular perspective, time is a continuous event. As is my love for him. Never ending.

Categories
People

View

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” – Ansel Adams