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My friend, Amy, gave me one of those calendars with a quote for each day. I have been enjoying it a lot and so have the kids, especially Finn. Today's quote was "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can!" by Watty Piper from the inspirational book, The Little Engine That Could. The calendar had this picture on the front
which is why Amy bought it because I love this motto. Inside the calendar on the first tear off page was a history of this poster entitled "Old Advice for a New World".
Read on.
"In 1939, as Britain prepared to enter World War II, government ministers turned their attention to the task of bolstering national morale. Two posters designed for that purpose made it onto walls and windows across the country by the time the war was officially declared. A third was also created, reserved for a moment of greater need. That poster, representing a full 65% of those printed, was to be used only in case the worst happened; it would go into circulation only if the Nazi army crossed the British Channel. With white type and a crown motif on a solid red background, it read "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON".
The posters were never needed. Most of them, more then two million copies, were destroyed.
Then, in 2000, Stuart Manley, a bookstore owner in northern England, discovered a single specimen of the long-lost poster, folded neatly at the bottom of a box of used books. He had it framed and hung it in his shop, where it immediately attracted attention from his customers. The image -- created by an unknown civil servant -- was now in the public domain, so he was able to create reproductions. In the last decade, as the world has endured a different kind of trouble, the design has increased in visibility, status and perhaps meaning."
So there you have it. I wonder if Stuart Manley was able to copyright the poster. If so, he is one rich man.
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Where to begin?
I have never been a fan of American football. It takes forever for the game to end. There are a ridiculous amount of stops and starts. Most of the players are ginormously huge and fat. The gross hairstyles these days are just well, gross. It is FREEZING cold when most of the games are played. The grown-up cheerleaders are just embarrassing (sorry cheerleader friends). It's supposed to be all testosterone-y and then guys are hugging one another, spanking one another, dancing and constantly looking at the butt of the player in front of them which is tightly packaged in shiny spandex. Each team's fans participate in a silly tribal "war": the face paint, the chants, the mottos and slogans. Each player is glorified for the ability to throw, to run, to catch or to smack the crap out of another guy. And then get paid for it.
There are some good moments when you watch what the human body can actually do or endure. And it's nice when your town is represented. And the camaraderie is nice when it's not over the top.
I will confess that I enjoy college football, but only LSU, and it was warm when we attended the games.
I know there are some who will say that football (soccer) has some of the same attributes that I just described. I will argue that they are nothing at all alike except for the weird tribalness. The players are a lot more fit and for an ADHD TV watcher like me, an hour-long match is fab.
I do wish the Ravens the best, but I will be very happy when the Super Bowl is OVER!
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Craig's Uncle Art's wife, Julia Cox McCarter, died this week and he attended her funeral yesterday afternoon in Pennsylvania. This is a copy of the email he sent to his family and is posted with his permission. I want Craig to write my eulogy.
Dear Family,
Yesterday I attended the memorial service for Julia Cox McCarter. It was a cold day with a biting wind. Soon after crossing the border into Pennsylvania there was a dusting of snow on the ground in places. The 2nd Presbyterian Church in Carlisle was warm and inviting.
I had time to hang up my overcoat before everyone was asked to take seats. I'm not so sure about protocol at funerals and didn't see any of the McCarters when I went into the sanctuary, so I wasn't quite sure where to sit. Luckily everyone was filling in from the back forward, so there were plenty of seats up front! I took a seat near the front in an empty row and the family began filing in. Uncle Art looked over and recognized me. He waved me over and after a handshake told me to sit behind him. The McCarter girls were running a little late, but made it just in time with all four girls (Pat, Jo, Ann, and Jane) with Bob and about 6-7 grand kids (Paul, Andy/Corrine, Phoebe, Joanna, Tim, and Ben).
The service was very special due to Julia's son, Michael. He gave the most fantastic eulogy of his mother. You could tell they loved each other very much and had a wonderful relationship. Julia gave Michael strict instructions about what to say and not to cry. He did a fantastic job and it was very moving. I sincerely hope everyone will treat Michael as a member of the McCarter family and he spoke a bit about this. His mother loved Art and everyone spoke about how she lit up when he walked into the room. Michael joked that when he drove 4 hours from NYC to be with his mother in the hospital that her first question was always, "Where's Art?!?"
After the service there were refreshments in Fellowship Hall and a long receiving line to pay respects to Michael and Art. It was nice to visit with the McCarters. The Engleharts (Lois's brother/wife) were there and Peg's Mother and Sister. Peg's mother looks fantastic for 90! After the reception we all went back to Julia/Art's house for just family time. It was so nice to get Art telling stories for the benefit of the grand kids and to have a chance to talk with Ann, Jane, Jo, Pat, Bob, well everyone! Sue Hardy was also there, but couldn't stay for long.
After an hour or two Michael needed to head back to NYC. He sort of got in the middle of the gathering (in the kitchen of course) and asked for everyone's attention. It got quiet right away and even though it seems like a small thing Michael was visibly impressed at how quiet and polite this family is. He wanted our attention to just let everyone know that not only did Julia love Art, but she truly loved the whole McCarter family. Looking around the room at three generations of truly nice people, I have to admit that I understand what he meant.
We concluded the evening, well my part anyway, with sincere requests that the Maryland McCarters join everyone at Brigantine the week of 28 July and start meeting the Robinson's at their cabin on the Chesapeake this year. We will definitely have to do our best to catch up. We all also mostly agree that the bonfire at the farm Christmas 2007 was maybe the best bonfire ever and we'll have to engineer a repeat performance.
All in all it was a nice gathering of the family and I'm very glad I was able to attend. I'm very glad to have had a chance to speak with Andy. He's doing well in the Army and enjoying his field of Satellite Communications. Paul is looking for a job in his field of Criminal Justice and wants to be a prison counselor. Phoebe and Tim are living and working in Philly where their brother Ben just passed the bar. Joana is a sophomore at Sheppard University. Anne's kids are migrating to Colorado. Pat's kids are in Athens starting families and SF dancing/yoga/pilates. Everyone is doing well. Art looks pretty good for an old duffer. Despite some shaking from Parkinson's it still seems to be well under control and he's very lucid. I got him to sing "Strip Polka" and everyone seemed to have a story about Gran McCarter and a switch and her amazing ability to find one at a moments notice when she wanted to apply one to a miscreant's bare legs!
On a separate note of ClanMcCarter news...Owen has been chosen to play clarinet with the 7th and 8th graders and is very excited for a trip to Hershey Park for a performance...Evan has applied for a High School Work Study at the National Security Agency for next school year and just received a Conditional Job Offer. Wow! He's really growing up!...Finn is having a great year all around!
I hope you are all well and have a great long weekend!
Love,
Craig
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We've hit our six months back anniversary. It feels like a lifetime ago and also almost like we never even left the US. Weird.
I have been pondering a few things lately. This weekend, I listened to a story about someone receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer and it was noted that her fingernails and, I assume toenails, got all yellowy and fell off. I never knew that about chemotherapy but it makes sense since hair and nails are the same type of substance. Then I started thinking about chickens and wondered if their feathers would fall out if they received chemotherapy. That would just be mean to find that out, but I wonder. I am glad angels don't get cancer...
For those of you who use bars of soap, why is the soap soapier when it's newer? I just used a new bar of soap and the bubbles were so much better than from a thin and used bar. Does the soap get dirty on the outside? Does the soapy ingredient rise to the outer edges as the soap hardens? I have wondered this for a long time.
Why does dust gather into dust bunnies? I am guessing static cling has something to do with it, but I am too lazy to Google it. I'm sticking (get it, sticking?) to static cling, electrons, etc.
I think that's enough for now so you don't think I am too crazy.
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Hi everyone. Happy New Year! I think this was the first time ever that all three children were awake at midnight to bang the traditional pots and pans salutation to the new year and also that Craig was awake to assist us.
I don't really have any serious 2012 resolutions: tolerance of stupidity and/rudeness, more exercise and more travel are pretty much it. I jokingly said "Choose Civility" as a resolution but we all know that ain't happenin'.
Today, we are taking down the Christmas decor and Craig is reading about raising chickens and rabbits. Maybe patience should be one of my resolutions in 2012.
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