July 2020, a month to celebrate and remember....a little nostalgia

Elsie, Jessie and I celebrated July 4th together with a delicious waffle and egg breakfast, watched "Lincoln" and sat on the lawn in front of Hoover Tower (most of the tower houses the library of War and Revolution) at Stanford to enjoy listening to Jim Welch play patriotic songs and hymns on the carillon bells up on top of the tower. Social distancing and masks kept us safe as we visited with others listening.

J

Jenna and Johnny Hickey are a fun family in our ward

Jessie and Elsie listening to the carillon hymns and songs

 Much has changed dramatically since the university's beginning in the late 1800's (including the loss of the high dome/tower in the church toppled during the 1906 earthquake). The acres of apricot, prune, and pear orchards and farmland I knew as a child in the mid-20th century have been replaced with homes, businesses, especially high-tech companies of Silicon Valley, connected by freeways with lots of traffic. But our valley is still beautiful, the climate is about perfect. The schools and cultural opportunities are excellent, and the cultural diversity is enriching. 

Below in the background was the old women's gym pool where I learned to swim and dive from the 3 and 10 meter board.  It has now been replaced with this recreation center with its own outdoor pool. John Arrillaga lived at my grandparents' home as a student, which home he eventually bought and gave in perpetuity as home of the Athletic Director. Homes on the campus may be owned for 99 years or until the owner is no longer affiliated with Stanford (in our case, our family home, built by my grandparents in early 1920's, was returned in 2006 to the university). We miss celebrating Thanksgiving, weddings and other events there.

Roble Hall was freshman dorm for my mother and for my generation female students.

The Old Union Building where I ate some Friday dinners with my grandmother in the cafeteria. Below is the old firehouse. During my childhood a whistle blew to signify "noon" and another at 5 PM to end the work day.

Lake Lagunita's old boat ramp has not been used for about 20 years since there is little rainfall and the lake is usually dry. It was created as a reservoir in 1870, to irrigate the orchards and alfalfa fields for Stanford's stock farm. It was the site of water carnivals and huge bonfires in November (when dry) before the traditional Stanford versus Cal Berkeley "Big (football) Game."

One side of the quad leading to Tressider student Union and the Bookstore, with the libraries and other dorms and classrooms off to the left. Sandstone and Spanish tile are the typical building materials so characteristic of Stanford.

Local artists have created a BLM mural on the street in front of the Palo Alto city hall...some letters are controversial.

Most countries have sacrificed and fought, and we must continue to to fight for justice and independence and 

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

July 24 is Bastille Day, or la fete nationale in France. 

I enjoyed the video presentation hosted by the French Ambassador to the U.S.(below), honoring the 200,000 French citizens who live here, many of whom have made great contributions during Covid, as first responders. The long history of support and cooperation between Americans and French was applauded. Leading French athletes, chefs, astronaut, musicians, leaders of the 10 French consulates spoke! I have many fond memories of watching Bastille Day Parades with my student groups before I retired from teaching French in 2006!

Early members of the Church of Jesus Christ left homes and sometimes family in Europe and New England, to make the arduous, dangerous trek on foot, by handcart and covered wagon to escape persecution and discrimination. Thousands died, many lived, as they settled in the west, areas with desolate lands unwanted by others. We celebrate their sacrifice and faith each year as we commemorate their arrival in the Salt Lake Valley on July 27, 1847. They made the "desert bloom as a rose." They have now spread across the world. Of the 16,000,000+ members today, more live outside the United States, all united as they live by faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the knowledge that we are all brothers and sisters, children of a Heavenly Father. 

Happy Pioneer  Day! Thanks to all pioneers, immigrants, for your legacy!

  As present day pioneers, (including the men and women throughout the world) we must set the patterns by teaching and exemplifying the principles we want future generations to live by. 

Good schools (mostly still closed during the pandemic) nice parks (somewhat open), where we can enjoy exercise and fresh air and camaraderie.
The small acts of kindness, toleration, forgiveness, the service we give can cast a long shadow. 

I miss my friend Ann-Kristin (my English speaking partner/tutoree) who has just returned to Sweden with her husband, a Stanford post-doc, to renew their visas. Unfortunately he will be unable to return to complete his second year, as flights not allowed into U.S. currently. International friendships, of which I am blessed to have many, help bridge divides, form bonds of understanding and appreciation.

With the Covid pandemic still not under control, even growing, we miss even those close, who feel out of reach....
Hasta luego!  Au revoir! See you again soon!

Happy Independence Day 2020

Happy Independence Day 2020!

Our early American colonies leaders met on July 4, 1776, to sign a Declaration of Independence from Britain, and few years later to ratify an inspired Constitution to guarantee freedoms, rights, ideals and hopes. But unfortunately our selfishness, pride, ignorance, and foolishness have often stood in the way of the justice and mercy that all human beings of whatever race, color, creed and circumstance deserve. Our hope is that the qualities expressed on this shirt will over-ride the shameful acts that continue to plague our nation. I am grateful to live in America...it is still "America the beautiful," and  I am confident that most of our people want to work for fairness and peace for all. It can and must be "land of the free and home of the brave."

Last week I wrote a longer, more thoughtful blog post, but just as I was about to send, it all disappeared. I don't have the heart to re-find and collect all my photos and quotes, but want to mention that I have watched many videos, read articles and books on Black Lives Matter and other topics, and believe our first step in solving some of our current problems is education and awareness. I learned more about Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day, when Texas finally freed all slaves 2 1/2 years after the official end of slavery, January 1, 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation. Statistics have hit home, and must change:

Incarceration rates for black men are about twice as high as those of Hispanic men, five times higher than those of white men and at least 25 times higher than those of black women, Hispanic women or white women. We must be inclusive, united. No one should be invisible!

I am always chagrined as I am made more aware of the huge movement of refugees, migrants, and homeless throughout the world. By the end of 2019, 79.5 million people, nearly as many people as the entire population of Germany, were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations, according to The UN Refugee Agency.
 It is hard to know what to do, other than making monetary donations and to pray for opportunities to help.

Meanwhile during this seemingly endless Pandemic, we are to live our lives at home, reaching out through social media, mail, phone calls, and in-person (social distancing) to teach, encourage, to help lighten and lift each others' burdens, to celebrate weddings, births, and to mourn with those who mourn. We can also enjoy nature, to laugh, to inspire. And hope that schools can resume soon. Our future leaders need to learn academic and social skills!



Our French book group gathered to bid "au revoir" to our friend Mijo (left) moving to France this week. Our cake was "Covid-safe." We removed masks just for the photo.

Unlike last July Fourth, having just returned from my 18 months in Chile, at our wonderful family reunion near McCall, Idaho, I plan to stay home foregoing picnics, parades, fireworks, patriotic celebrations. Sad, but necessary, as the Pandemic seems to go on and on! Memories and hopes for better times sustain me.

I can still enjoy walking, gardening, reading, learning, praying, and feeling gratitude. I hope for the best for all of us, everywhere.

I hope you will visit me when life returns to normal. 
Mi casa es su casa!
Happy Summer!
Happy Fourth of July!
Be safe and well!

Incarceration rates for black men are about twice as high as those of Hispanic men, five times higher than those of white men and at least 25 times higher than those of black women, Hispanic women or white women.

We must be inclusive, united. No one should be invisible!