Autumn has arrived.

On the last evening of summer Lloyd and I invited the immediate neighbors from our cul-de-sac to visit our home for refreshments. We printed up a handout with the dates and times of upcoming magnificent performances by the moon, planets, and stars for the remainder of the year 2015.  It gets quite dark in our little area, providing a good opportunity for great viewing.  I included on the paper a poem: "Autumn is another spring, when every leaf is a flower." (Albert Camus)  In an ever expanding circle of interconnectedness, Katerina, one of our granddaughters, said when she looked at the handout "I'm studying Camus in class now" at Wilde Lake High.

On our walks we observe more and more dry crunchy fallen leaves underfoot, particularly on the hilly paths off the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area.  Mentioning our walks, I cannot fail to tell you how we continue to get such a kick out of the "beeps and honks" from an increasing number of you along Cedar Lane and LPP.  What fun, and I so love fun!

Lloyd has hung two new hummingbird feeders outside our kitchen windows - one over the sink and one beside the table where we eat most of our daily meals.  Over the 23 years that we have been living together in our townhouse, we have had numerous such feeders which rarely attracted hummingbirds.  These two new feeders are very small - about four ounces - and the humming birds really love them.  We get so much pleasure watching these tiny winged creatures.  In Ecuador last spring we visited a hummingbird sanctuary swarming with hundreds of birds in a screened-in area of about 30' by 30'. Some lit on our hands and stayed for 15 minutes or more.  I experienced an awareness of feeling so profoundly trusted.

As sponsors of the legislation that created the Howard County Arts Council over thirty years ago, Lloyd and I are so gratified to see the arts continue to thrive in our community.  The quality of concerts, theater, and the visual arts is truly stunning for a community of our size, and we attend the performances and exhibitions frequently.

When I was a five year old first grader at St. Bernardine's Elementary School in West Baltimore, I played the role of Mary in a nativity scene in a school Christmas play.  Some of the kids said I was chosen because my older sister, Martha, had entered the order of nuns, Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), who taught at the school.  My mom, of course, differed and believed it was pure talent that landed her youngest daughter the pivotal role  At any rate, that nativity scene uncharacteristically elicited much laughter from the mostly parental audience because I could not keep my veil from slipping off of my head and had to keep reaching down to the floor, on which I was kneeling by Joseph and the infant doll in the crib, to return it to its rightful place.  I have never performed on stage since, though in later elementary school years as a member of the choir I was occasionally pulled out of class to go next door to the parish church and sing solo in Latin from the choir loft at a funeral mass.  My mom opined that I was chosen because I had perfect pitch, though, alas, years later we learned that the nuns said I was the only kid in the choir loud enough to fill the entire church from the loft. Fast forward to the present and the upcoming next segment in October of the Columbia Festival of the Arts.  I received a call from Valerie Lash, Dean of Arts and Humanities at Howard Community College (HCC), whose energy and  talent serves our community so beautifully through Rep Stage and other venues, asking me to play a small part in one of the productions of the Festival.  So after almost 70 years I will be back on stage along with other familiar faces from our Columbia community.  Come see us on October 4 at 3pm at the community college, and please pray that  my veil stays put.

Rehearsal went great last week, and the director, S.G. Kramer, said I delivered my modest lines beautifully! 

Culture and the arts are thriving throughout HCC under not only Valerie, but others such as Tara Hart and Helen Mitchell.  I recently attended the Rep Stage production of  Baltimore Waltz.  Magnificent!  Jim Karantonis is a friend who has volunteered and given me some guidance on my writing-very helpful and energizing.  Jim describes himself as a story teller.  I have heard him deliver one of his "stoop stories" at HCC.  Last week at a performance of the HCC Arts Collective, he read "The Prize" a true story from the psych wards during the Viet Nam War.  I was truly bummed out when I had to leave before his reading. Jim sent me the radio recording of this piece which he describes as "my small way to remember the soldiers."

REFLECTIONS ON ZACH

I continue to hear from people, some of whom I don't know, about how their lives are being inspired by Zach and the way he lived his precious, though brief, life. I am including a message I received recently from Jerry Krasnick, a long time friend here in Columbia.

"I went camping a few months back, and I was hiking a mountain that had some tough challenges for me.....my MS is getting worse, so it's difficult to hike steep inclines.....anyhoo....I got near the summit and was contemplating giving up and going back down.......I thought of two people that always had the attitude of "never give up,"  my mother and your grandson Zach.

I made it to the top.

Love & Peace,

Jerry

Last week, Zach's sister, Julia posted on Facebook, continuing his family's dedication to keeping his beautiful, indomitable spirit alive.  And alive it is.

"#tbt with my bestfriend, miss you more than anything"

On November 21, the annual Zaching Against Cancer Foundation will hold its second(?) annual run/walk at Turf Valley on Route 40.  Lloyd and I have signed up for the 5K, I walking and he jogging (at least part of the way).  Most of our family will be there as well, and Zach's mom, my daughter, Chris, expects a good turnout.  This foundation was Zach's idea and he led the first several board meetings sitting at the head of their dining room table with board members including two Centennial High coaches among others.  Zach wanted to help other kids with brain cancer have the loving support he so experienced.

Go to "Zaching Against Cancer.org" and come join us.  We had a great time last year and would love to see you.

REFLECTIONS ON BALTIMORE

I am so encouraged to read in the Baltimore Sun that the University of Maryland Law School from which I graduated is offering a course on Freddie Gray exploring "the legal and social challenges that surrounded Gray's life and death, and continue to fuel the distrust between police and the community in many poor and minority neighborhoods-challenges of housing, policing, education, violence, unemployment and health care."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/bs-md-ci-freddie-gray-class-20150903-story.html

Regarding violence, the following Baltimore Sun editorial, makes a point about guns in our communities that we simply must grasp:  "To stop the city's rampant gun deaths, we must remain appalled by them."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-homicides-20150903-story.html

"The Beast Side: Living (and Dying) While Black in America", a series of essays by former Baltimore City middle school teacher, D. Watkins, was released in September. D. grew up in Baltimore's east side.  His publisher describes the essays as "searing dispatches from urban war zones."  I grew up in Baltimore as well, on the west side.

Brutal as some of these essays are, I believe they can help us understand what we must do to revive this city as a place where all human life is respected and valued.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-d-watkins-beast-side-20150905-story.html

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bs-ae-d-watkins-review-beast-side-20150911-story.html

           

MARYLAND PUBLIC POLICY

After several years of failed attempts, Maryland adopted the "Medical Marijuana Law".

I was a co-sponsor.  During the past year, much deliberation has taken place on the most advantageous method to administer this new law in a way that provides the most benefit to those who want it to ease the symptoms of various diseases and addictions while at the same time preventing harm and abuse.  Having prepared and adopted clear and strong guidelines, the state is now accepting applications for the first round of licenses to administer this law.

One application is from a consortium led by Blaise Connolly Duggan, a Columbia resident and graduate of Wilde Lake High School, who is now the director of the Penn North Drug Addiction Treatment Center in downtown Baltimore located in the center of the recent riot area.  This center, founded by Blaise's parents, Bob Duggan and Dianne Connolly has been operating for years as the only on demand drug treatment center in downtown Baltimore - show up at the door and you get treated.  You may have to come in and wait a while, and you do get treated.  The  center has received very high marks from the judicial system in the city for the low rate of recitivism in its clients.  Since the recent riots, the center has also provided food and activities for the area's kids.

There are several other Wilde Lake grads are on the consortium's board with Blaise.  I will be working with them.  Stay tuned.

Lloyd and I recently attended the memorial service for Richard Israel at St. Anne's Church right on the circle in Annapolis.  Richard had worked for years in the Maryland Attorney General's Office.  He provided excellent legal guidance to me on various controversial bills I sponsored over the years.  Richard was an attorney who truly loved and respected the law.  Several years ago, he left that office and ran a successful campaign to serve as one of Annapolis' Aldersmen.  He brought his love and  respect for the law and good public policy to that arena for several years. 

Richard was a brilliant, principled man who also had a marvelous sense of humor. A few years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.  The way in which he lived with this disease which spares little in those who live with it was exemplary.  He inspired so many of us.

Then during the last legislative session, Richard performed what I believe may have been the best work of his life.  He voluntarily served as the human face for the "Death with Dignity Bill."  He did not get the benefit of this legislation at his life's end because it did not pass the legislature.  I'm certain that his courageous and life-loving example moved this public policy closer to being in law for others of us who hope to have its benefits available to us  at the end of our lives.

Thank you, Richard.

NATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY

Recently I read through the e-newsletters I have sent out during the past two years.  I was surprised to see that in virtually every one I had mentioned Pope Francis in one way or another.  Clearly there was something about this human being that caught and held my attention. 

When the Pope addressed Congress, I was on the lawn with thousands of others.  The simplicity and directness of his words stood out along with the softness of his voice and facial expression.  In my case there was agreement with the large majority of his points on public policy.  His ability to give voice to very strong positions with a gentle voice is something I want to learn.

Watching many of Francis' other appearances and listening to his talks on TV, I saw love show up on the faces of so many of his listeners, some of whom more frequently wore frowns and some who had expressed contrary public policy positions.

How many times during his visit to the U.S. did Francis say "Remember to pray for me. Don't forget." What a beautifully simple and effective way to get us to bring forth his presence and his message.

In his presence, I experience hope.

BEYOND THE U.S

I recently had a long cup of tea with Mike Clark, co-publisher of the literary periodical, Little Patuxent Review, and a former reporter with the Baltimore Sun who covered me when I served as a Howard County Councilmember and County Executive.  He had offered me some guidance with my writing skills, and I took him up on it. (A few years agoMike helped me organize my thoughts for a talk to a local congregation on public service and spirituality.)  Our conversation over tea ranged from our spiritual perspectives to world events, particularly the Syrian refugee crisis.  I told Mike that in the midst of all of this tragedy, I found some beauty and justice in the juxtaposition of Hitler and Germany's current Chancellor, Angela Merkel, one of the strongest advocates for these refugees.  Could there be a clearer contrast with Hitler? The next day Mike sent me his profile of Merkel.  (I am beginning to think I may appear to  be practicing fabrication, and yet it's true, I just this minute received a message from Mike forwarding me an interview with Pope Francis which has not received wide distribution. Note that we have not collaborated on the use of the work "interconnectedness".)

"Liz-  Angela Merkel, research scientist who grew up in communist East German,  turned German political leader:

Merkel represents the efficacy of maternal wisdom in social policy.   Maternal wisdom reflects the  sensitivity for children, family and community.  It sees the body politics in these terms as fundamental to society.  You can imagine her feelings when she saw the photos of the drowned Syrian child and how it touched the essence of what was an unfilled destiny of that child--and how Germany itself--besmirched by the horrors it caused in WWII and the holocaust--can find liberation and renewal by opening its arms.  Maternal wisdom  re-energizes a graying German society with immigrants seeking opportunity and it re-defines what it means to be a German offering hope rather than violence and death implied in the uber race consciousness of the Nazis and the rigid thought control of the Communists.  Maternal wisdom helps with the transitions essential to social mobility, creativity and opportunity.  it defines social policy as

an extension of family and community and sees the value in our inter-connectedness.

Mike"

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Pools of sorrow, waves of joy.

Are drifting through my opened mind

Possessing and caressing me.

Across the Universe  Lennon and McCartney

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~Liz