REFLECTIONS ON LIFE – April 2018

Absolutely Everything is Connected

REFLECTIONS ON HOME IN COLUMBIA

Upcoming Maryland Elections – June 26:

This month marks the end of the first full legislative session in more than 20 years in which I did not participate as an elected member of the Maryland House of Delegates.  I had been considering leaving public office for a few years before I “retired” in 2014.  Having served thirteen years in county office and twenty in the state, it seemed that it may be a good time for me to change my “lifestyle,” and thereby my husband Lloyd’s as well.  I was undecided.  Then when our grandson, Zachary, died at the age of 20 from brain cancer, it was very clear that, much as I valued my time in public office, I wanted to make my contribution to the universe in a different manner. I had been inspired by the quotation from Jackie Robinson that Zach had chosen to go by his name in his graduation yearbook from Centennial High School– “A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives.”  As much as I value public policy, I knew that I wanted to make my impact in a more personal way.

Prior to the 2014 election, the state radically changed the makeup of District 12 that I had represented for 20 years.  When I served, the district had two sub-districts but following the census of 2010 the legislature merged the district into a single entity. This meant that all three delegates would be elected in the same district that would contain three times the population that I had represented. 

I chose to publicly support Terri Hill, whose family I had known and respected for years, to become one of those three.  I did not then know Clarence Lam or Eric Ebersole who won the other two seats.  Now looking back, I can say that I am very grateful be represented by each one of them.  As physicians, the medical expertise of Terri and Clarence is invaluable amidst so many changes in health care public policy.  The experience that Eric has had as a teacher in our Wilde Lake High School among others gives him deep insight into one of the most important areas of public policy.  It is so clear that the students admired and respected him. Together these three delegates have been strong and effective advocates for the social, economic, and environmental justice so needed in our state of Maryland. 

Terri and Eric are running for re-election to the office of State Delegate for Legislative District 12.  Clarence is running to fill the State Senate seat vacated by Ed Kasemeyer who recently announced his retirement from public office after many good years of public service.

For those in District 12, I encourage each of you to join me in voting for:

Clarence Lam for Senate in District 12

Eric Ebersole and Terri Hill for Delegate in District 12

I believe it is very important that they continue their excellent record on public policy for the State of Maryland.

Life is moving along quite smoothly for the birds and squirrels visible outside our bedroom windows.  The bird feeder hanging from a branch of the large pine has many birds coming and going from the first sign of daylight till dusk- cardinals, robins, sparrows, wrens, and goldfinches all stop by for a snack, sometimes as many as a dozen at a time feeding on seed and suet dangling next to the feeder.  On the deck below there are just about as many.  We frequently eat lunch and dinner at an old round oak table right inside the window to that deck level and are both mesmerized by the birds gathered at the feeder.  Lloyd is quite skilled at recognizing their various and unique sounds.  I am catching up to him slowly.

Our squirrel neighbors continue to be delightful in their very active bounding from branch to branch to roof to another tree.  They did, however, fall somewhat out of my grace.  Along the railing of our middle floor deck there is a wisteria that grows up from the ground below and entwines itself among and through the four horizontal boards that form the railing of the deck.  For years that wisteria yielded no blooms.  Then about five years ago we were blessed with about four big beauties dangling from the twisted vine in their upside-down conical shape.  Subsequent years yielded about the same.  Two weeks ago we spotted four large ”buds” about the size of a small pinecone.  A couple days later, I noticed a squirrel holding one of them in his front “paws” and gnawing on it.  I smacked my palm down hard on the top of the rail and the squirrel leaped down.  Now only one of the buds remains, and it is slightly “chewed up”.  PHOTO We still love those squirrels and the entertainment they provide and yet need to remind ourselves of these words about nature:  “All good things are wild and free.” (Henry David Thoreau) That includes our wisteria-nibbling squirrels.

Having covered the state of affairs for the birds and squirrels, now on to the BIG news of the month of April outside our home.  We live in a community of 60 townhomes.  It is on land regulated by a unique and rare zoning category.  Each homeowner owns the land extending 10 feet from their home’s foundation.  All 60 owners jointly own the remaining acres including two ponds.  Our home is located between the two ponds. A new neighbor living two doors removed told me last Wednesday that she had seen eight goslings and their proud parents by one of the ponds.  Neither Lloyd nor I had yet seen them, although we looked every morning. Having lived in our community for only a few months, the excitement our new neighbor exuded was definitely over the top, Lloyd and I walked around the pond and spotted the two grown geese, mom and pop, with their brood following behind them.  Remembering Thoreau’s quote in relation to the squirrels and the wisteria, we know “all good things are wild and free.” We can only hope that these goslings have a longer life free of harm from the pond’s snapping turtles than their cousins had last spring

* * *

Two of our closest friends in our town home community lived just one door removed from us.  The husband died a couple years ago and his wife followed last year.  She grew a beautiful lush patch of daffodils that lit up our entire cul-de- sac each spring. Last year I gave some of these beautiful blooms to her daughters at their Mom’s burial service and promised to do so each year for the daughter who still lives nearby.   This week I dropped some of her mom’s daffodils off at her home leaving them on the front porch.  She sent me a warm thank you note. Absolutely everything is connected.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Gandhi

REFLECTIONS ON ZACH

May 1 of this year marks 25 years since Zach was born.  His continuing gift to me:  whenever I feel sadness, anger, fear, or any other negative emotion coming on, without fail, truly without fail, as well as without invitation, an image of Zach and the sound of his voice enters my mind.  His voice often takes the form of one of his many tweets during the last years of his short, though immensely inspirational life (sometimes simultaneously funny).  In a past Reflections I included a list of Zach’s tweets.  Now, in recognition of the 25^th anniversary of his birth, I have decided to include that list of tweets each year in my May Reflections.  May you enjoy, savor, and imitate. His tweets will follow my signature.

REFLECTIONS ON BALTIMORE, MY HOME TOWN

The Baltimore Sun                                           April 17, 2018

“Waters to get French arts, letters honor”

While France’s President Macron was receiving good reviews during his first statesman’s visit to the U.S. (see Reflections on Our Planet Beyond the U.S.), Baltimore’s own John Waters was being named an officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters (Order des Arts et des Lettres) for contributing “significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world.” Who ever would have dreamed 50 years ago when we were growing up in Baltimore that “crazy John Waters” would attain such international acclaim?  Actually, it’s not at all surprising. Truth be told, he is a genius in the world of film.

*  *  *

A couple weeks ago, Lloyd and I took the Metro to Washington D.C. for the weekend.  We stayed in the Watergate Hotel because of its proximity to the Kennedy Center where we had snagged two of the last available tickets to “A World Premier Theatrical Performance based on  “Between the World and Me” by Ta-nehisi Coates commissioned by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  So why am I writing about this in the Baltimore section of my Reflections? 

Because as a Baltimore native myself I believe it is important that we highlight the fact that this young man, with one of the most creative compassionate minds in our world, be connected to his birth place as often and as clearly as possible.) I have written in two prior Reflections of the huge impact this story, set in the same section of Baltimore where I grew up, has had on me.

We walked over to the theater early because if there was any possibility of our catching even a glimpse of Ta-Nehisi, I didn’t want to take any chance on missing it.  From an eventually full house of 1100, we were some of the first to arrive.  Lloyd purchased a beer for himself and a glass of wine for me.  We sat down on a small couch by which everyone entering the theater had to pass.  This is not generally characteristic of me, but I was so excited at the possibility of seeing this magnificently insightful author who is awakening tens of thousands of people my age to the depth of the impact of racism, even though we had previously been quite certain that we already understood it. I was truly nervous.  For the first 15 minutes, the entrants walked by us slowly, and then, all of a sudden, there he was, Ta-Nehisi, wearing jeans and an undocked long-sleeved plaid shirt, walking with three other guys about his age. They were walking directly toward OUR couch.  “There he is,” I whispered to Lloyd. I had not even considered preparing some insightful intellectual comment were I to be so fortunate as to see Ta-Nehisi up close.  Then I heard myself involuntarily saying, with some fervor, one of my Mom’s favorite sayings when she had a happy experience “Oh my goodness!”  It was evident that Ta-Nehisi was doing his best to keep a big wide smile from turning into a laugh at this ebullient greeting from a white haired septuagenarian.  Having composed myself, I managed to emit a calm but friendly “hello” which he acknowledged with a big smile.

So my Columbia friends who share my deep admiration of Ta-Nehisi and his brilliant, though sometimes painful-to-read writing, be happy in the knowledge that that I represented us brilliantly!  And now with total awe, I will truly treasure having attended this performance.

REFLECTIONS ON PUBLIC POLICY – LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL

County of Howard

THE BALTIMORE SUN                                                   APRIL 15, 2018

“Affordable housing still scarce in county

Application period open, but advocates say vacancies aren’t keeping up with need”

Clearly we are not providing for a very large segment of our community and that is a serious and unjust failure on the part of all of us.  Just about zero in the eight years since our county council approved Howard Hughes’ request for 2500 new units in Downtown Columbia.

                                                                                            April 17, 2018

“Neighborhood centers spark Columbia furor

Proposal to shut eight of them leads many to fear losing town’s character”

Anyone who thinks this is a good idea for CA clearly has absolutely no idea whatsoever of what made this community so attractive in the first place.

                                 

State of Maryland

“At the end of ‘most successful’ session, a look at legislature’s hits and misses”

It’s good on occasion to hear the political party leaders agree.

United States of America

The Washington Post                                                            April 5, 2018

“Stain of bloodshed’: RFK’s calming words on April 4, 1968”

A clear and moving example of what is called for in a time of crisis.  Do we have anyone who could do this today?

REFLECTIONS ON OUR PLANET BEYOND THE UNITED STATES

FRANCE

The Baltimore Sun                                                          April 26, 2018

Macron charms Hill

French leader stresses shared values to Congress

“Let us not replicate past mistakes,” he (Macron) said, ”Let us not be naïve on one side – let us not create new wars on the other side.”

POLAND

Lloyd and I attended a Candlelight Concert at Howard Community College this month.  We have been attending these inspiring concerts ever since Norm and Nancy Winkler first organized them in the 70’s forming the Columbia Candlelight Concert Society.  The quality of these concerts is unparalleled in such a small community. None has been more inspiring than this one featuring three Jewish musicians – one playing a cello, one a violin, and a piano  - who had just returned from Poland where they had played at the 75^th anniversary of that nation’s ghetto uprising. The musicians described the crowd of many thousands walking toward them in the streets as they played in Poland.  They told us in the audience that they had never been more moved and inspired.  Sitting there enveloped in the exquisite tones and rhythms, I grasped, possibly more clearly than at any other time during my 74 years on this earth, just how priceless freedom is, and just how fragile.  We simply must not take it for granted, as I fear we may have in our own nation, the United States of America.

The Washington Post                                                        April 20, 2018

“Poland 75^th anniversary of ghetto uprising marked”

KOREA

The Baltimore Sun                                                             April 20, 2018

“Koreas push for end to 1950-53 war

North and South agreed to seek denuclearization”

By Matt Stiles and Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times

“What Kim has done so far is bring us back to the starting line for talks.  The question is whether the talks can lead anywhere or if this is all we get.”

No matter what, we must hold on to a thread of hope

REFLECTIONS ON OUR UNIVERSE

The Washington Post                                                     April 7, 2018

“At 9 billion light-years away, star is the most distant from Earth ever see"

“Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope. …Officially, the star’s name is MACS U1149+2223 Lensed Star 1.  The astronomers call it Icarus …a hundredfold more distant than any other lone star previously detected.”  As if the vastness was not already totally incomprehensible.  I find a few moments concentrating on this creates within me somewhat of a balance with the apparent growing disorder on our own planet Earth.

The Baltimore Sun                                                          April 15, 2016

“Galactic explorer Tess will seek new worlds

NASA spacecraft set for liftoff on Monday night”

“Look up at the sky tonight.  Every star you see…plus hundreds of thousands, even millions more – will come under the intense stare of NASA’s newest planet hunter.”  And yet, amidst this incomprehensible scope, are we humans willing to exercise the influence we DO have in our own communities here on earth, such as insisting that Jim Rouse’s beloved Columbia not be allowed to morph into an exclusive community?

“Pools of sorrow, waves of joy

Are drifting through my open mind

Possessing and caressing me

Across the Universe

~Lennon and McCartney

Be well and love life.

~ Liz

Zach’s Tweets

* Sunshine blue skies

* Blood comics were rock bottom today and the doctors didn't expect me to get out of bed. I worked out and went to a friend's'

* I had a slight fever this morning. Maybe I am mortal.

* Just had an allergic reaction to a blood platelet transfusion. Too serious ^ghives #swelling #oxygen mask

*Just heard that the word Zaching is now on Urban Dictionary

* Waiting for my procedure to have a catheter placed in my neck without anesthesia.

* Just had an operation and I never took off my Nikes,

* Had a good time at the UMD Men's basketball banquet tonight. It was great to see all the guys one last time. #blessed

* Eighteen and living the dream.

*No voice today, karaoke with the boys got too serious last night

* Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out (John Wooden -one of Zach's favorite coaches and authors)

* I think my chemo's scared of me #justsaying

* Calling it a night. Back to the grind tomorrow.. starting round 3 of chemo, #bringit Pain is temporary #truth

* Not sure how I feel about being 19. #Idontlikechange

*The First 10. Birthday wishes I got on FB were from people in Greece. It was May 1st in Greece before it was May 1st here. #crazy #cheating

* 19 incredible years of #livingthedream #blessed Saw a streaker and a fight tonight, what more can you ask for out of an Orioles' game.

*Stand by me

* The nurses take so much blood from me ever^yday, I don't know how I haven't deflated yet, #impressive

* The nurses are giving me a ton of Benadryl to knock me out before the transfusion. They're in awe that I'm not passing out. #superman

*More blood transfusion = more waiting #getmeouttahere

* Good morning everyone. It's going to be another good Preparing all sorts of speeches

*Finally got that base tan on m bald head yesterday. #crucial

* I get all sons of messages from strangers telling me that they're proud of me and what I'm doing. I can't help but smile. #emotions

* I'm going to be honest... I think I'm superman #FACT

* Time is so precious. #takenothingforgranted

* I know what is within me. even if you can't see it yet.

* Writing a speech as I sit outside in the sun. #beautiful

* Look me in the eyes, it's okay if you're scared. So am I. #classic

* My hair's departing words to me: distance can only strengthen our relationship. I'm missing you bud. #bald In the middle of an incredible conversation with @KingHugel about heaven. #deep #beautiful

* Happy mother's day Mom. You're the greatest, even if I claim to be

* Be who you were born to be. #legendary

* The other day l was introduced as a cancer victim. 1 corrected him and said that I consider the cancer itself to be the victim.

* Heading to DC to surprise a young man (Joshua Dupuis) at his pizza party.: He's getting brain surgery tomorrow and considers me a hero. #humbled

* Among the greatest feelings in the world. Waking up in your own bed for the first time in a while:

* Gonna he a good day. Already pounded out 112 pushups. #getstartedearly

* Just finished my 30 days of radiation treatment. #emotional 

*Slept through the night for the first time in a month. #grateful #radiationproblems

* Fathers Day to my best friend  @johnlederer. You do so much for me, and have made me who I am, #grateful

* Woman at radiation saw the scars on my head, then proceded to inform me about Zacking. I just went along with it. #tootunny

* I just want to inspire one person as much as the kids fighting cancer at Hopkins have inspired me. #cantbedone

* The first thing my social worker said to me was I'm so sorry that you have

to go through this.

* Don't be sorry for me, I'm #Iivingthedream

* Can't sleep and my mind is running wild. #goodstuff

* Nurse kept me up all night. She was doing tests to see if l'm crazy. Somehow I passed

* Had an incredible conversation with Grandma today. #emotions

* Finished the fifth and final round of chemo #itsover • #grateful #emotions  '#blessed

*Chemo: round five. I'm still alive

* Hanging out with some crazy little kids. #cousins #vacation Had an incredible lunch with @KingHugel and my grandma today. #memories

* Just got a call from the. Huffington Post. They want to feature me in the greatest person of the week. #again #crazy Waking up at home. #itsthelittlethings

* Cancer cannot touch my heart, it cannot touch my mind, and it cannot touch my soul. Those three things will live forever. #JimmyV #truehero Heading to breakfast with grandma. #goodstart^. Just another opportunity to prove myself worthy of this life. #blessed #livingthedream

* Nike and Livestrong dropped Lance Armstrong. #crazy

* Had a beautiful lunch with Grandma, then got to go visit Millie Bailey. #goodday

* Great report at the doctors .#thankful

* Here we go! #surgery #pumped

* Cancer cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart. and it cannot touch my soul #JimmyV

* Hearing Christmas music on the radio. #goodstuff #tistheseason

* I'm thankful for sooo much, ^#livingthedream

* Already thinking/dreaming about the food tomorrow. I always enjoy my lunches with Grandma. #greatconversations

* Gave it my all at therapy today. #gettingbettereveryday #improvements

* Heading to the Comcast Center to give a Coaches vs Cancer Speech

* Had a seizure on Thursday. #recovering

* Home from the hospital #grateful

* Had a great conversation with @browntown7 about heaven. #beautiful

* No time for doubt #believe

* It's been a great year full of opportunities. #beatcancer

* At PT everybody stares at me because I yell when I'm doing the exercises. And the therapists tell their patients to #gohard like him.

* A careful man I must always be A little fellow follows me, I know I dare not go astray, For fear he'll go the self same way.

* I always have the best conversations with Grandma. #blessed

* great day #school #therapy #family^. #blessed

* I want the world to be a better place because I was here. #truth

* Just went to mass with mom. #blessed

* Just shoveled the whole driveway. #therapv

* Have to prove some doctors wrong. #enjoyeverychallenge

* Relearning how to walk for the third time. #opportunities #grateful

* Even on my mom's worst days when she's sick. she's #beautiful

* Just had a legendary conversation with Grandma and my cousin. #blessed

* One of my doctors told me. that I would never walk normally again. Today at therapy. I was pretty close. #driven #grateful I'm so fast that last night I was going to bed, hit the switch, and was in the bed before the room was dark.

* When I woke up the first thing I said to myself: We beat Duke! #blessed @alexlen25 and I shared an emotional moment in the lockerroom tonight. I love you big guy.

* I predict cancer's dismemberment, I'm gonna whoop him so bad he'll wonder where October and November went. #arrogance

* Beautiful day. We're all #blessed

* ^IZaching' with @ZLeds at the  Terpthon!!!

* Inspiration to many. Loved by all @ZLeds #FTK #terpthon13  Mom loaned her hair to me for a picture

* We are all _'leant to shine like children do.

* Keep practicing that smile. #loveyourself

* Life is tough...But it's worth it.

* Loving life. #everyday

* Cancer is the challenger, and doesn't hold a prayer. He's beginning to get nervous as Lederer won't break the stare.

* Good MRI this morning. Decided to Change it up and listen to the Temptations in my MRI today. #changes

* Were going to beat this.

* At graduation for @write_aLEDERER. #proud

* Had a great time at the und of the year basketball manager dinner

* After a lot of struggling, got dressed by myself this morning. #proud

* Happy mother's day to my mother. I couldn't make it a day with out you #blessed #grateful

* I have the greatest conversations with Grandma #blessed

* Had a great time at the: Race for Hope in DC. #weregoingtobeatthis #inspiring Great day with

Dad. #livingthedream #blessed

* You must train your mind and your body will follow. #beatcancer

* Going sailing with the family. #livingthedram

* Going to see 42 with Grandma

* Great day of physical therapy. #gettingbettereveryday^. Watching the #ravens game with mom arid dad. #livingthedream

* Great day. #sailing #family #friends #livingthedream