Reflections on Zach and Life

Today marks six months since I completed 33 years in elected public office and the newly elected members of the Maryland legislature were sworn into office. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve for so many years and adjusted virtually immediately and quite easily to no longer holding public office.

Lloyd and I were present in the balcony of the House of Delegates chambers in the Maryland State House in Annapolis to witness Eric Ebersole, Terri Hill, and Clarence Lam take the oath of office and assume the role of representing Legislative District 12. I was aware of deep gratitude of their willingness to take on this major responsibility in our democracy.

Many of you have asked me, some more than once, what happened to my oft repeated commitment to continue my monthly e-newsletter. Clearly I have not done so for six months now. My answer - wisdom directed me to do otherwise. I determined it wise to limit my role during that first legislative session during which I did not hold office to mainly that of an observer, albeit a quite vested one. Given the numerous changes in Annapolis, I thought the session went quite well. Clearly revenue sources will be a central issue throughout the next four years.

I have been spending my time catching up with friends of all ages, some new and some of long standing, travelling (mostly with Lloyd), and focusing on my meditation practice. Last week I participated in my tenth annual weeklong silent retreat at a center in the rolling farmland outside Richmond, Virginia. It is led by a Buddhist monk named Shinzen, though the focus is not religious. I am aware of the depth of the impact with peaceful mindfulness and am so grateful to my friends David Glaser and Judy Vogel for "putting me on to it" ten years ago. What a blessing.

Virtually every day that we have been home here in Columbia, I have walked 3.5 miles, often with Lloyd, Sometimes we walk out our back door and down Swansfield Road to the magnificent Middle Patuxent Valley, for which our beloved Jim Rouse donated thousands of acres. We have watched it change from winter snow covered hills through the newly spring green to the current lush summer foliage. Other times we walk out our front door and down Cedar Lane to Little Patuxent Parkway around the Clary's Forest "loop road" and back. Many of you have "honked" as you drove by us in your vehicles. Keep on honking!

So today I resume what I plan to be a monthly communication of my experiences and observations of the impact of public policy - local, state, national, and international- on the lives of we humans and our planet. Although not a religious communication, it will include my observations on the impact of major religious leaders such as the Dali Lama and Pope Francis, who currently speak to me as truly, clearly, and courageously as anyone about the needs and conditions of our planet.

In the past months, I have given thought to doing some other form of writing about my combined spiritual and public policy journey. I have been gratified and humbled by the suggestions and offers of editing assistance that I have received from professional writers and journalists. I focused on this prospect during some of the "sits" on my recent retreat.

I look forward to continuing to share this amazing life with all of you.

Reflections on Zach

March 11 marked an entire year since Zach took his last breath on this earth. On that day Lloyd and I were riding along the ridge of the Andes and in the Sacred Valley adjacent to Machu Picchu in Peru. At about 3:30 our tour bus stopped at a walled-in village of indigenous peoples who raise their own food, weave their own clothing from alpaca, and sell their products to groups who have attained approval to visit inside. About 14 of us entered the walls and received demonstrations of weaving and cooking. I told Lloyd that at 4pm I was going to step outside the gate, and I did. I sat on the knoll of a bright green mountain and watched white clouds move swiftly through a deep blue sky. I noted 4:15 as the time Zach took his last breath. He was right there with me in the magnificent Andes. You probably won't be at all surprised to know that I believe this cannot be simply a coincidence. Zach and I had many beautiful conversations about various spiritual traditions throughout the ages and around the world. I so benefited from his curious and reflective mind.

Zach continues to be with me in spirit continually, particularly when I am outdoors looking at the night sky. (Venus and Jupiter have performed for us beautifully this month, reminding me of one of my favorite Hafiz poems "The Planets are Throwing a Party Tonight.")

Zach continues to be with me in spirit continually, particularly when I am outdoors looking at the night sky. (Venus and Jupiter have performed beautifully for us this month, reminding me of one of my favorite Hafiz poems, ."The Planets are Throwing a Party Tonight".)

Lloyd and I have a small deck right off of our bedroom, and it is part of my bedtime ritual to stand out there with memories of Zach and all he taught me about how precious life is. "Come from love, not fear" was one of our favorite centering phrases. Since he departed this earth, I have been with him and the moon and stars and planets in Italy, Greece, Haiti, and more recently Peru, Ecuador, and Barbados. I so often recall the quote that Father Richard, my Mom's friend who serves life by heading a hospital, orphanages, and schools in Port au Prince, sent me shortly after Zach departed from this earthly life: "When we die, we lose neither our awareness nor our understanding. Rather our awareness becomes as wide as the sky and our understanding as deep as the sea." So Zach's spirit constantly encompasses his Mom, his Dad, his sister Julia, and all of his loved ones More than a few of my friends, and some whose names I do not know, have told me that they benefit by focusing on Zach when they are in times of pain and sorrow. I believe it's a good idea to include times of joy.

The 2015 New Year's edition of the Baltimore Sun included "remembrances" of eight individuals from the metropolitan area who had died in 2014. They were mostly men and women in their seventies and eighties who had made significant contributions to academia, government, business, or sports. Then there was Zach Lederer, age 20, whose "signature fist-pumping pose gave hope not only to those in medical situations, but also to those in life who had other problems. They had to think 'if he can do it, I can.' " And so it continues. You may be aware that the University of Maryland basketball team had a stellar season this year. Zach, who would have been a senior, had served as student manager of the team. His parents follow the team closely and attend the games when they can in seats set aside for them by the coach and team. During at least a few of the games recognition was given to the inspiration that Zach had and still does give to the team.

That New Year's edition of the Sun also contained a list of "Most-Viewed Maryland stories for 2014". Of the eight "remembrances" of individuals, only one individual, Zach, was also included in the ten stories most-viewed on the internet. The more time passes, the clearer it becomes just how intentionally Zach developed his will to live his life with brain cancer in a way that would inspire and thereby help others. It brings to mind the Jackie Robinson quote he chose for his Centennial High School yearbook, a year before the discovery of his second brain tumor following the one he had as a younger boy "A life is not important except the impact it has on other lives."

This spring another grandson, Patrick Knowles, graduated from high school in Montgomery County. Lloyd and I were present at the graduation. When the principal recited this same Jackie Robinson quote at the end of the ceremony, I knew Zach had found a way to be with his cousin at graduation. Patrick will be following Zach to the University of Maryland.

Reflections on My Beloved Hometown, Baltimore

I grew up in West Baltimore near the site of the Edmondson Village shopping center before it was constructed. I walked a mile down Edmondson Avenue to St. Bernardine's Elementary School. I used to walk with my Mom to catch the streetcar on this avenue and ride it to the Lexington Market in downtown Baltimore where we would buy our weekly meat and produce. By the time I went to high school, these trolley tracks had been torn up, and I would take the bus on the same route past the market to the intersection of Charles and Saratoga Streets, transferring to another bus northbound to Seton High school near the Baltimore Museum of Art about one mile from the intersection of Pennsylvania and North Avenues, the hub of the recent, tragic riots. Years later I would walk to that same market for a lunch of fresh seafood at Faidley's stall when I was a young mother and student at the University of Maryland School of Law.

Shortly after the riots, Lloyd and I attended an outdoor program very close to this intersection where David Simon, prophetic creator of The Wire and The Corner, spoke to an audience of about 200 sitting on metal folding chairs. He had flown into town in short order and of his own accord to encourage people (us) to support Baltimore during this most difficult time. It is very important that we in nearby affluent Howard County heed his words. A few weeks later, I and three long time women friends from Columbia drove in to Center Stage in Baltimore to see a performance of "Marley" . This production, which had record attendance for the venue, drew a packed house of human beings of all shapes, sizes and colors who virtually "brought the house down" while up on their feet singing Bob Marley's magnificent songs at the end of the performance.

There are possibilities for moving beyond this violence, and we must all be a part of the healing.

News Articles

Washington Post

"A Crusader's Quiet Farewell"

I very rarely describe a human being as a "hero". I reserve that term for those who habitually demonstrate courage in the face of personal harm and for the benefit of the greater good.

For many years Bill Moyers has been one of my heroes.

This Post article covers some of his many contributions to protecting our rights in a democracy.

I find the closing paragraph quoting Moyers particularly poignant:

"I've lived long enough to see the triumph of zealots and absolutists, to watch money swallow politics, to witness the rise of the corporate state. I didn't drift. I moved left just by standing still."

And so it is, Bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/bill-moyers-signs-off--for-the-final-time-he-swears/2015/01/01/1c641bac-9118-11e4-a412-4b735edc7175_story.html

Financial Institutions

I am so grateful that Maryland's Attorney General is demonstrating the courage to take on the injustice so evident in our financial institutions. We clearly have a need for many more like him in our nation.

Frosh

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-md-frosh-everest-20150618-story.html

Taxpayers have bail big banks out

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/we-bailed-you-out-and-now-you-want-what/2015/06/05/95ba1be0-0a27-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html

Wall Street

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/when-wall-street-offers-free-money-watch-out/2015/07/10/11452e6e-2583-11e5-b72c-2b7d516e1e0e_story.html

The Pope, The Dali Lama, and Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi

The follow three articles reflect my opening paragraphs on the possibilities of major positive impacts by those in religious positions. Though the Burmese leader does not hold a religious position, she had endured long suffering through meditation to benefit her country.

Dalai Lama

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dalai-lamas-birthday-underscores-tough-road-ahead-for-tibet/2015/07/05/64d7a716-20ef-11e5-84d5-eb37ee8eaa61_story.html

Dalai Lama article  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/dalai-lama-getting-his-second-wind/2015/07/10/02cfe2e4-26b8-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html

The Pope

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-pope-the-saint-and-the-climate/2015/06/17/2087095e-1531-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html

Burma

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/burmas-fragile-transition/2015/06/16/56bd4746-1463-11e5-9518-f9e0a8959f32_story.html

Prize-Winning Author Chabon Returns to His Beginnings

Sometimes the words of a inspiring masterful author can help us appreciate our Newtown of Columbia, particularly when he grew up here and is the grandson of our beloved founder, Jim Rouse.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-author-chabon-20150418-story.html

The Right to be Free from Guns

Freedom from guns seems so distant when we read daily of more and more gun violence in Baltimore. We must hold on to the real possibility that we can attain this freedom. This effort will take all of us. We in Maryland are blessed to have Vinnie de Marco leading us with his compassionate wisdom.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-right-to-be-free-from-guns/2015/06/24/0e2d8d04-1a8c-11e5-bd7f-4611a60dd8e5_story.html