What change is forthcoming? Yes, the holidays are almost here. There is a chill in the air. There is fresh powder on the ground. But, what do we do with ourselves for entertainment? What about facing depression during and after the holidays? Here are some tips to get you keen on spring and out of the blahs of the holiday season because “Seasons Change”.
• Volunteer to feed the hungry and homeless during this holiday season
• Plan a small mini-vacation to a destination driving distance from your home. (I live in California so I suggest Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Las Vegas, or San Diego. There are always inexpensive packages for these locations at this time of the year)
• Go to the mall (my mother and her caregiver do this daily. They do people watching which makes them happy)
• Go to the beach, look at the waves (I personally find this quite recuperative)
• Buy a digital camera and take pictures
• Remember, take care of yourself first
• Be alert to physical problems and keep yourself healthy. Our immune systems are in more jeopardy this time of the year.
• Postpone major decisions until Spring when the weather is better and less gloomy
• Laugh
• Pamper yourself. Get a facial or go shopping. Window shopping doesn’t cost anything and is therapeutic.
• Make a list of what you enjoy doing alone. Do these items. It will help with depression after the holidays.
• Set future goals
• Take one day at a time
• Spend time with friends and accept them with all their imperfections
• Join a club
• Eat nutritiously and consider taking vitamin supplements
• Avoid masking the melancholy with drugs or alcohol
• Try to reduce financial or other stresses in your life especially during the country’s economic crises. Things will improve.
• Help others. You will forget about your ailments.
• Spend time outdoors as the weather permits
• Do a winter house cleaning project-pick a closet that is neglected-it’s fun and therapeutic
• Continue to participate in activities that are fun for you, and with people who are special to you
• Don’t underestimate the effects of small pleasures
The holiday season will be here before we know it. This will be the year that will provide us with happiness and a wonderful end to the blahs of the holidays. “Seasons change” and this one appears to be a great one.
By Roberta Mark Engel
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Work Was
by Anna Bernard
Work was bad smelling whiteboard markers,
Rote repetitive Open Court lessons,
A hundred repeats of 2 digits times 2 digits,
Show and tell with trilobite fossils,
Holding off going to the bathroom,
Being hungry but too bad (same as the children),
Not wanting to say one more word,
Preferring to sing the Camouflage song
or the one about the homeless little bird.
Work was enjoying writing skills so textured and soulful
from those so young that I wanted to cry,
Suffering over writing so meager,
badly spelled, and reluctant
that I did cry.
Work was sharing my intense delight
in learning something new,
But so much of it became
Sharing how to take a test
how to take a test
how to take a test
Get it right (dammit) this counts--
Perhaps now this is all that counts.
Ask the principal.
Ask the president.
How many of you are already hopelessly
left behind?
Listen! Listen! Listen!
Don't run,
Don't fall,
Don't trip and land on my left side.
If you must, bump my right side
which has no consequences.
Where did the joyous times go?
And all your precious days of childhood?
And my well being?
I had a vision once of the teachers
from 90 years ago walking down the Main Hall
in their long sleeved white blouses,
long gray skirts softly swaying.
Now I don't see them or me.
Me, younger and cheerful,
or me, wobbling with tremors
in that last year.
My likeness from a 1996 school portrait
is in one of several murals in the long hallway.
I am in the California Missions painting
wearing a full length green dress,
a soft red shawl.
I stand beside a friendly cow,a duck,a lamb.
I stand beside other faculty members
painted in their mission finery
or humble white if they were
cast in the role of the Fernandeño Tataviam.
That is all that is left
to be my mark - my Gilroy was here -
now that teaching the young is there
and I am over here
some place else.
Work was bad smelling whiteboard markers,
Rote repetitive Open Court lessons,
A hundred repeats of 2 digits times 2 digits,
Show and tell with trilobite fossils,
Holding off going to the bathroom,
Being hungry but too bad (same as the children),
Not wanting to say one more word,
Preferring to sing the Camouflage song
or the one about the homeless little bird.
Work was enjoying writing skills so textured and soulful
from those so young that I wanted to cry,
Suffering over writing so meager,
badly spelled, and reluctant
that I did cry.
Work was sharing my intense delight
in learning something new,
But so much of it became
Sharing how to take a test
how to take a test
how to take a test
Get it right (dammit) this counts--
Perhaps now this is all that counts.
Ask the principal.
Ask the president.
How many of you are already hopelessly
left behind?
Listen! Listen! Listen!
Don't run,
Don't fall,
Don't trip and land on my left side.
If you must, bump my right side
which has no consequences.
Where did the joyous times go?
And all your precious days of childhood?
And my well being?
I had a vision once of the teachers
from 90 years ago walking down the Main Hall
in their long sleeved white blouses,
long gray skirts softly swaying.
Now I don't see them or me.
Me, younger and cheerful,
or me, wobbling with tremors
in that last year.
My likeness from a 1996 school portrait
is in one of several murals in the long hallway.
I am in the California Missions painting
wearing a full length green dress,
a soft red shawl.
I stand beside a friendly cow,a duck,a lamb.
I stand beside other faculty members
painted in their mission finery
or humble white if they were
cast in the role of the Fernandeño Tataviam.
That is all that is left
to be my mark - my Gilroy was here -
now that teaching the young is there
and I am over here
some place else.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
UP, UP AND AWAY
By Roberta Mark Engel
Have you flown on an airplane recently? The security lines are longer. We are interrogated, searched and told to undress. Liquids have to be packed inside our checked in luggage or else they are confiscated. Any toiletries to be carried on the airplane must fit in a four ounce zip lock bag. We are exhausted before we set foot on a plane.
There are similarities and differences between procedures for domestic and international air travel at US metropolitan airports. Before we go “Up, Up, and Away”, we will provide you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
The Ticket Counter is the beginning of our trip where we show our identification and e-ticket. We need to adhere to the individual carrier’s baggage requirements which are up to 50 pounds per bag for domestic and international flights. In addition, the piece or pieces of luggage needs to be unlocked. Quite a number of the domestic airlines charge for luggage placed in the baggage compartment of the plane. In addition, each individual airline has its own rules governing your luggage. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
The X-Ray area is our second information check point where we are either instructed to bring our luggage to an x-ray counter and watch it go through the x-ray process. Hand luggage and personal items are x-rayed. Most carriers permit one piece of hand luggage and one personal item such as a laptop. Film should go in your carry-on bag. Do you have a gift to carry? Please do not take it wrapped. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, he or she may have to un-wrap our gift. If there are any specific questions, we need to contact the individual airline carrier.
We are also asked to remove our shoes, coat, suit jacket and purse and place them in one or more bins provided at the station and then put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. We need to try to pack our coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. We could wear slip-on shoes. This will allow us to take them off and put them back on quickly. We also need to remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the cases through the X-ray machine. We need to hold our pet in our arms and proceed through the metal detector. Infants and children need to be removed from baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector.
We may also be asked to remove jewelry and coins, depending on the sensitivity of the scanning equipment. We are also required to remove our laptop from its case and lay it flat in one of the bins. We will may also have to be searched by a metal detector receive a possible pat down inspection. Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
• Keys, loose change, cell phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) or smart phones
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Head coverings and religious garments are acceptable during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
There are additional TSA requirements to follow called “3-1-1” requirement which means the following: It stands for 3 ounces or less in a one quart-sized clear zip-lock bag. One bag per passenger is placed in the screening tray. The definition is the following: a 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin which limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. Obviously, this is a security measure. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. We need to declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. We also need to declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
Departure Gate identification and boarding passes are still necessary for all flights. A passport for international flights or a drivers’ license for domestic flights is required in addition to your boarding pass.
Once we arrive to our European destination, passports are rarely checked if we remain in the terminal for other European locales. Planes don’t always drive up to the gate; we may be required to take the assigned bus transportation to our gate. The decision is dependent on available parking spaces at the hanger. Our luggage is checked through to our final destination. If we are taking another flight, we will go through hand luggage security and then show our passport before taking our flight. But, here is the caveat for international travel: Did you know that meals served on all international (non-American airlines) flights are hot and complimentary inclusive of all liquor? In addition, most international airlines have individual, integrated entertainment seen on a TV monitor.
I am led to each checkpoint with friendly personnel at Los Angeles International Airport, but, I noticed that there is no consistency with the rules and regulations for each carrier. In addition, safety enforcements increase or decrease depending on our security status. I have noticed, though that the international airports have less security especially while traveling within the European community (EU).
Hopefully, travel information will now be more comprehensible. “Up, Up, and Away” should have provided you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
Have you flown on an airplane recently? The security lines are longer. We are interrogated, searched and told to undress. Liquids have to be packed inside our checked in luggage or else they are confiscated. Any toiletries to be carried on the airplane must fit in a four ounce zip lock bag. We are exhausted before we set foot on a plane.
There are similarities and differences between procedures for domestic and international air travel at US metropolitan airports. Before we go “Up, Up, and Away”, we will provide you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
The Ticket Counter is the beginning of our trip where we show our identification and e-ticket. We need to adhere to the individual carrier’s baggage requirements which are up to 50 pounds per bag for domestic and international flights. In addition, the piece or pieces of luggage needs to be unlocked. Quite a number of the domestic airlines charge for luggage placed in the baggage compartment of the plane. In addition, each individual airline has its own rules governing your luggage. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
The X-Ray area is our second information check point where we are either instructed to bring our luggage to an x-ray counter and watch it go through the x-ray process. Hand luggage and personal items are x-rayed. Most carriers permit one piece of hand luggage and one personal item such as a laptop. Film should go in your carry-on bag. Do you have a gift to carry? Please do not take it wrapped. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, he or she may have to un-wrap our gift. If there are any specific questions, we need to contact the individual airline carrier.
We are also asked to remove our shoes, coat, suit jacket and purse and place them in one or more bins provided at the station and then put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. We need to try to pack our coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. We could wear slip-on shoes. This will allow us to take them off and put them back on quickly. We also need to remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the cases through the X-ray machine. We need to hold our pet in our arms and proceed through the metal detector. Infants and children need to be removed from baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector.
We may also be asked to remove jewelry and coins, depending on the sensitivity of the scanning equipment. We are also required to remove our laptop from its case and lay it flat in one of the bins. We will may also have to be searched by a metal detector receive a possible pat down inspection. Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
• Keys, loose change, cell phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) or smart phones
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Head coverings and religious garments are acceptable during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
There are additional TSA requirements to follow called “3-1-1” requirement which means the following: It stands for 3 ounces or less in a one quart-sized clear zip-lock bag. One bag per passenger is placed in the screening tray. The definition is the following: a 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin which limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. Obviously, this is a security measure. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. We need to declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. We also need to declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
Departure Gate identification and boarding passes are still necessary for all flights. A passport for international flights or a drivers’ license for domestic flights is required in addition to your boarding pass.
Once we arrive to our European destination, passports are rarely checked if we remain in the terminal for other European locales. Planes don’t always drive up to the gate; we may be required to take the assigned bus transportation to our gate. The decision is dependent on available parking spaces at the hanger. Our luggage is checked through to our final destination. If we are taking another flight, we will go through hand luggage security and then show our passport before taking our flight. But, here is the caveat for international travel: Did you know that meals served on all international (non-American airlines) flights are hot and complimentary inclusive of all liquor? In addition, most international airlines have individual, integrated entertainment seen on a TV monitor.
I am led to each checkpoint with friendly personnel at Los Angeles International Airport, but, I noticed that there is no consistency with the rules and regulations for each carrier. In addition, safety enforcements increase or decrease depending on our security status. I have noticed, though that the international airports have less security especially while traveling within the European community (EU).
Hopefully, travel information will now be more comprehensible. “Up, Up, and Away” should have provided you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Man on Wire
by George Rembaum
The Man On Wire is a documentary movie about walking across a wire between the Twin Towers in New York. It shows how one can dare to do an impossible act and succeed if one stays with the dare. What kind of person can take on such a challenge and stay with it? First of all, you must share a total belief in your instincts and feel that anything can be done if you work hard enough at it, and refuse to be discouraged by the naysayers. The hardest part is to have such belief in yourself that you would try anything, and not give up when things turn against you. The first part,the total belief in yourself, shouldn't be so hard. In your life you have seen experts in all fields turn out to be people with simple goals that were highly studied and not found to be wanting. We are all experts in living and keeping abreast of intellectual endeavors. So why can't we hope along with all the others that we can affect the flow of events by our studied ideas?
The Man On Wire is a documentary movie about walking across a wire between the Twin Towers in New York. It shows how one can dare to do an impossible act and succeed if one stays with the dare. What kind of person can take on such a challenge and stay with it? First of all, you must share a total belief in your instincts and feel that anything can be done if you work hard enough at it, and refuse to be discouraged by the naysayers. The hardest part is to have such belief in yourself that you would try anything, and not give up when things turn against you. The first part,the total belief in yourself, shouldn't be so hard. In your life you have seen experts in all fields turn out to be people with simple goals that were highly studied and not found to be wanting. We are all experts in living and keeping abreast of intellectual endeavors. So why can't we hope along with all the others that we can affect the flow of events by our studied ideas?
Thursday, July 9, 2009
My 60th Birthday
By Gary Bernard
What left have I
When I turn around
to see my footprints fade
And time in a child's cradle
Gives it a brief look
Only to be surprised again
And again
As History is a fool's child
Because it's sixty years
And my birthday
And the mariachis
Martin and the staff surprise me with
And seventy people and more
And it was supposed to rain
But it didn't
And the sun nestled in the puff of clouds
And the garden that tried to thaw
In the weeks past the February freeze
And cousin Ron leaned over to me
"Gary" he said
"All the people are here because they love you"
And Diane brought me a diabetic cake
And Adam was on time
And the mixture of work
And friends and family
Like all old friends and family
Talked and strummed guitars
And ate
And the shoulder surgery that hasn't properly healed
And the tax audit
And people enjoying themselves
All friends, all family
All the people
I love
What left have I
When I turn around
to see my footprints fade
And time in a child's cradle
Gives it a brief look
Only to be surprised again
And again
As History is a fool's child
Because it's sixty years
And my birthday
And the mariachis
Martin and the staff surprise me with
And seventy people and more
And it was supposed to rain
But it didn't
And the sun nestled in the puff of clouds
And the garden that tried to thaw
In the weeks past the February freeze
And cousin Ron leaned over to me
"Gary" he said
"All the people are here because they love you"
And Diane brought me a diabetic cake
And Adam was on time
And the mixture of work
And friends and family
Like all old friends and family
Talked and strummed guitars
And ate
And the shoulder surgery that hasn't properly healed
And the tax audit
And people enjoying themselves
All friends, all family
All the people
I love
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Remembering
By Ruth Aroni
I remember sunny days and pink roses and skinny girls with smooth legs and bald old men crying in the night.
I don't remember where I left my virginity or if I ever had it to begin with or if it was on the bus after I got off and walked to my apartment.
I have always tried to be clean and neat and tie things in bundles and smile at handsome men who I hoped found me attractive although I never did get picked up by one.
I don't see why you are always telling me to change and get better and do better and look for another answer when I'm fine just the way I am.
I have never sat in first class on an airplane, drank a martini, sat through three movies in a row, eaten less than two chocolate chip cookies at a time, danced the tango, or used a hula hoop.
I wonder why the sky is blue, why Nuns wear black and white, why I love to dance so much, what it's like on the moon.
I do not want to shut down, lose my sense of humor, miss a sunset, lose my teeth, miss love, break a red crayon, burn my mouth from hot chocolate, get a ticket.
I tried to fry an egg, laugh at your jokes, wear pants that were too tight, rob a bank, run for school president, make friends with someone small.
I try not to let my ground turkey spoil.
I remember sunny days and pink roses and skinny girls with smooth legs and bald old men crying in the night.
I don't remember where I left my virginity or if I ever had it to begin with or if it was on the bus after I got off and walked to my apartment.
I have always tried to be clean and neat and tie things in bundles and smile at handsome men who I hoped found me attractive although I never did get picked up by one.
I don't see why you are always telling me to change and get better and do better and look for another answer when I'm fine just the way I am.
I have never sat in first class on an airplane, drank a martini, sat through three movies in a row, eaten less than two chocolate chip cookies at a time, danced the tango, or used a hula hoop.
I wonder why the sky is blue, why Nuns wear black and white, why I love to dance so much, what it's like on the moon.
I do not want to shut down, lose my sense of humor, miss a sunset, lose my teeth, miss love, break a red crayon, burn my mouth from hot chocolate, get a ticket.
I tried to fry an egg, laugh at your jokes, wear pants that were too tight, rob a bank, run for school president, make friends with someone small.
I try not to let my ground turkey spoil.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
This is Where I come From
By Anna Bernard
Rolling mountains, determined creeks, small shacks,
red earth and brown cliffs with minimal vegetation
Heavy basalt rocks that formed at the bottom of the ocean
before they were shaken
and thrust to lie mild and still by the roadside,
by the cemetery, the railroad tracks.
I come from a great abundance of tears
Stubbornness, grit, and prayers before the shrines of saints
I come from Blessed Mothers and Novenas and dark polished pews with
horizontal scratches made by fidgety hands that came unfolded somewhere
around the Agnus Dei.
I'm from hard work and dreams, both humble and soaring
from rugged shoes and no shoes on the way to hundred dollar shoes
I come from pinching pennies and learning to splurge
From hope in Burma and a rock that a soldier carried in his pocket
I come from yellow roses
and memories of a girl who loved chickens and was loved by chickens that clustered around her in the twilight
I come from Wars and a Revolution in the 20th century
I come from the unique heartache of miscarried children and children under 3 months and under three years whose names are spoken in a whisper of loss
I come from winding roads and leaving home forever
Clifton and Morenci, Silver City and Hanover, Juarez and places in Chihuahua,
From floods and fires that rang the ridges and the understanding that Santa Ana is both the bastard who sold us and the devil winds
that gave us jumpy nerves and dry skin
I come from Pasadena and 90 years of Rose Parade watching
A hometown that changes all around but keeps the street names and the remembrances of my parents, my siblings, myself
I come from ocean splashes on a trip to Zuma Beach in a bathing suit with a turquoise clothespin pattern
I'm from homemade lemonade with bits of branches and sweet blossoms discarded by the sink
From countless family dinners around an oak table that I was taught to set perfectly
From Grandmas who believed in literature and universities though they had never been to campus
From people who thought poverty was for climbing away from while reaching out with helping hands
I come from copper mines
From Apache land and the Rio Grande, from the Gila River and the Mimbres,from Durango
From seashells found far from homes and the Tarahumara runners of Copper Canyon.
I come from walnut trees, and palm, sycamores and blue sky covered by smog.
I come from countless stars in the Southwestern sky
From lightening strikes and thunder
From people who moved North
Perhaps a millenium after moving South
I come from people who don't think in borders and boundaries
but in terms of rivers running first one way and
then the other and flowing
as we move out ahead
and as we follow...
Rolling mountains, determined creeks, small shacks,
red earth and brown cliffs with minimal vegetation
Heavy basalt rocks that formed at the bottom of the ocean
before they were shaken
and thrust to lie mild and still by the roadside,
by the cemetery, the railroad tracks.
I come from a great abundance of tears
Stubbornness, grit, and prayers before the shrines of saints
I come from Blessed Mothers and Novenas and dark polished pews with
horizontal scratches made by fidgety hands that came unfolded somewhere
around the Agnus Dei.
I'm from hard work and dreams, both humble and soaring
from rugged shoes and no shoes on the way to hundred dollar shoes
I come from pinching pennies and learning to splurge
From hope in Burma and a rock that a soldier carried in his pocket
I come from yellow roses
and memories of a girl who loved chickens and was loved by chickens that clustered around her in the twilight
I come from Wars and a Revolution in the 20th century
I come from the unique heartache of miscarried children and children under 3 months and under three years whose names are spoken in a whisper of loss
I come from winding roads and leaving home forever
Clifton and Morenci, Silver City and Hanover, Juarez and places in Chihuahua,
From floods and fires that rang the ridges and the understanding that Santa Ana is both the bastard who sold us and the devil winds
that gave us jumpy nerves and dry skin
I come from Pasadena and 90 years of Rose Parade watching
A hometown that changes all around but keeps the street names and the remembrances of my parents, my siblings, myself
I come from ocean splashes on a trip to Zuma Beach in a bathing suit with a turquoise clothespin pattern
I'm from homemade lemonade with bits of branches and sweet blossoms discarded by the sink
From countless family dinners around an oak table that I was taught to set perfectly
From Grandmas who believed in literature and universities though they had never been to campus
From people who thought poverty was for climbing away from while reaching out with helping hands
I come from copper mines
From Apache land and the Rio Grande, from the Gila River and the Mimbres,from Durango
From seashells found far from homes and the Tarahumara runners of Copper Canyon.
I come from walnut trees, and palm, sycamores and blue sky covered by smog.
I come from countless stars in the Southwestern sky
From lightening strikes and thunder
From people who moved North
Perhaps a millenium after moving South
I come from people who don't think in borders and boundaries
but in terms of rivers running first one way and
then the other and flowing
as we move out ahead
and as we follow...
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