East, ’65, Jim Ryun receives Pres. Medal of Freedom (July 2020)

Former track star, legislator to receive high honor 

by Taylor Eldridge teldridge@wichitaeagle.com

One of Wichita’s greatest all-time athletes is set to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor on Friday.     Jim Ryun, the Wichita native, was was the first high school runner to break 4 minutes in the mile in 1964 & later served 10 years as a member of Congress, will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump at the White House on July 24, according to a tweet from Ryun’s son, Ned.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded for “exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to the White House.

Ryun told WIBW 13 in Topeka that he was honored to be chosen as a recipient of the medal after a running career that produced world records & even a silver medal in the Olympics.  Not bad for someone who was cut from all athletic teams in junior high growing up in Wichita.

“I think you can learn a lot about patience, & while you really like to see results, sometimes those results take time to materialize,” Ryun told the TV station.  “That’s often hard to hang onto because everybody is so into the instant impact of it.  The thinking to remember is failure can be a temporary detour to success.

“If you don’t see exactly what you want in that moment, give it some time, pray, keep working, and see where you can go.  I never would have imaged my career would become what it was & that on July 24, 2020, I will be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.”

After his successful running career, which included three trips to the Olympics & a silver medica in the 1500 meters at the 1968 Mexico City Games, Ryun served in the United States House of Representatives from 1996 to 2006, representing the 2nd District in Kansas for the Republican party.

During his time in Congress, Ryun mostly sponsored bills focused on commerce & foreign trade & international finance.  Most notably, Ryun was the primary sponsor of a bill introduced in 2001 that established a commission for the purpose of encouraging and providing for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, a landmark decision that established racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.

However, the Wichita East & University of Kansas graduate is best-known for his running accomplishments.

In 1964, at the age of 17, he became the first high school runner to break the 4-minute barrier in the mile with his time of 3 minutes, 59 seconds at the Compton Relays in California — a national record that lasted nearly 36 years.  Ryun still owns the most sub-4 minute miles for a high schooler (five) & the only one ever to be recorded at the Kansas high school state track & field meet (3:58.3 at the 1965 state meet).

When I broke 4 minutes, that changed my paradigm of thinking,” Ryun told WIBW.  “That night I couldn’t really sleep.  I had adopted it as a goal, but the actual time goal was coach (Bob) Timmons’ goal.  I started thinking, “I wonder what could happen if I started taking more ownership.'”

With the help of Timmons, who wa his coach at East & later at KU, Ryun became a five-time US champion, including 3 titles in the mile.  In a two-year span, from 1966 to 1967, Ryun set the outdoor world records in the 800, 1800 & mile races.  He also broke the indoor mile world record & remains to this day one of just four men to hold the indoor & outdoor mile world records at the same time.  He is the last American hold the world record in the mile.

But an Olympic gold medal escaped him.  Ryun first qualified for the Olympics, in the 1964 Tokyo Games, as a high school junior at East.  He finished with a silver medal at the 1968 Games in Mexico City & was the heavy favorite entering the 1972 Munich Games, but Ryun was tripped in the opening qualifying round & his petition to be reinstated was denied, ending his chances of pursuing gold.

It wa difficult to accept for Ryan, but he said that experience helped spur on the second phase of life life.  He has since authored three books, hosted his own running camp, & given motivational speeches at thousands of conferences , workshops, clinics & churches.

Ryun said that the latest honor has made him reflect back on career.  In 1966, he was named Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsman of the Year.”  In 2003, ESPN.com picked Ryun over LeBron James & Tiger Woods as the best high school athlete of the century.  In 2018, he was one of 30 athletes in the inaugural class inducted into the National High School Track & Field Hall of Fame.

And now, in 2020, Ryun is receiving perhaps his greatest honor yet. —Taylor Eldridge:  316-268-6270 @tayloreldridge

2 Words that will Change your life TODAY by Joel Osteen: Faith Words, Oct. 2019

my personal “IAM” daily affirmations:  some are from, paraphrased from &/or inspired by Joel Osteen’s book 2 Words that will change your life TODAY.

Thank You, Eternal divine Christ-Light Presence, that I AM [that ALL-who-are-willing are:  e.g., all beings, non-beings species, non-species; within, around & through all dimensions, non-dimensions & infinitely more …]

gently, safely, calmly, securely, easily, effortlessly, peacefully, protectedly, lovingly, infinitely, instantly, automatically, eternally, everlastingly, compoundingly, gratefully, joyfully, joyously, blessed, completely, kindly, always … & infinitely more …

awesome, amiable, affable, acclaimed, admitted, admired, applauded, amazing, advanced,  abundant, abundance, amazing, awarded, all …

beautiful, brilliance, brilliant, bubbly, blessed, bright, brightest, bountiful …

courageous, courage, caring, calm, cheerful, charismatic, charisma, calming, charming …

delightful, delighted, delighting, delight, dear, dearest, darling, dedicated, divine …

efferescant, everlasting, eternal, early, enough / more than enough, enthusiastic, enthusiasm, effervescent, effervesence, exciting, excited, excitement, enlightened, enlightening, enlightenment, enriched, enriching …

fun, fun-loving, funny, friend, friendliest, friendly, friend, fantastic, fabulous, family, fulfilled, free, fine, forgiven, forgiving …

gentle, gentlest, gently, generous, grace, graceful, gracious, glory, glorious, generous, generosity, glamorous, grand, grandest, guided, genius, gifted, gifting, guarded, gratified, gratefully …

Highest Power, Highest Glory, Highest Destiny, healthiest, happiest, holy, holiest, heart-felt …

intelligence, intelligent, illuminated, instant, inventive, ingenious, inspired, inspiring, immortal, immortality, interested, interesting, I AM, innovative, innovated,  …

justice, joy, jubilant, jubilation, just, joyous, joyously, joyful. joyfully …

kind, kin, king, knowing, known, kindest …

love, loving, light, Life, lucious, luciously, lavish, lavishly, luxurious, luxuriously, lovingkind, likeable, lovable, lovingkindness …

mindful, magnificent, magnificently, majestic, majestically, miraculous, miraculously, marvelous, marvelously meaningful, meaningfully …

new, now, numinous, nice, neighborly, noteworthy …

Om, order, orderly, omnipotent, omniscient, omni-loving, omnipresent, omnipopular, omni-healthy, omni-prosperous, omni-beautiful, opportunities-filled …

peace, prayer, presence, present, popular, pretty, powerful, patience, pleasant, plenty, protected, protection, prosperity, prosperous …

queenly, quintessence, quickened, quiet, queen, quick …

regal, royal, rested, resplendent, resplendence, restored, restoring, resurrected, redeemed, redeeming, revitalized, revitalizing, recognized, recognition, renewed, renewing, rejuvenated, rejuvenating, renewing, renewed, reenergized, re-energizing, resurrected, resurrecting, re-beautifying, re-beautified …

safe, safest, secure, serene, serendipity, sensation, spirited, spirit, strong, strongest, splendid, satisfied, satisfying, stupendous, soulful, successful, sacred, smart, smartest, showcased, spotlighted  …

tremendous, trustworthy, truthful, truth, transfigured, transfiguring, transformed, transforming, thankful, thankfully, thanksgiving, tremendous, tremendously, terrific, trustworthy, thrilled, thrilling …

union, uplifting, uplifted, unconditional, unconditionally, unconditionally lovingkind, understanding, understood …

vim, vigor, victorious, vivacious, victory, victorious, victoriously …

wise, willing, wealthy, winsome, wonderful, wondrous, wealthy, winner, whole …

x  ecstasy, ecstatic, exhilaration, excel, excelling, excellent, excellence, exuberance, exuberant, exciting …

y  yes, Yahweh, yielding, yield, yahoo! yippee! …

zest, zeal, zip, zoom …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Politics!

Theodore Roosevelt:  The most practical kind of politics is the politics of decency.

Why God made a dog: https://youtu.be/9wWHLdHroyQ

Why God made a dog: https://youtu.be/9wWHLdHroyQ

Oprah’s Golden Globes’ acceptance speech: this generation’s version of “I Have a Dream” speech

Oprah Winfrey’s rousing acceptance speech about social values for her Lifetime Achievement Award:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss6qQM054B0

Friends!

FROM ONE FRIEND TO ANOTHER

Take two minutes to read these sayings and be sure to read all the way to the bottom:

Written by Andy Rooney, a man who had the gift of saying so much with so few words.  Rooney used to be on 60 Minutes TV show.

I’ve learned that

the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

when you’re in love, it shows.

just one person saying to me, ‘You’ve made my day!’ makes my day.

having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

being kind is more important than being right.

you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I can always pray for someone when I don’t have the strength to help him in any other way.

no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

life is like a roll of toilet paper.    The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we ask for.
money doesn’t buy class.
it’s those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
everyone hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I’ve learned….
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I’ve learned that

the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
life is tough, but I’m tougher.
opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I’ve learned that

a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, you’re hooked for life.

I’ve learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

… hat the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

To all of you:  Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
It’s National Friendship Week.Show your friends how much you care.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND, even if it means sending it back to the person who sent it to you.

If it comes back to you, then you’ll know you have a circle of friends.

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!   YOU ARE MY FRIEND AND I AM HONORED!
Now send this to every friend you have!   And to your family.  This was sent to me by a friend.

Why bother with education?! Education is a powerful passport to your future.

Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.     Malcolm X

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.     Nelson Mandela

He who opens a school door, closes a prison.   Victor Hugo

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.     Benjamin Franklin

Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.     George Washington Carver

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.     William Butler Yeats

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you … grow.     Anthony J D’Angelo

 

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.     Maimonides

Education is not preparation for life; it is life itself.     John Dewey

The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.    William S. Burroughs

A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.     Mark Twain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiring Websites from “The Passion Test” by Attwood & Attwood

Take what you like & leave the rest (copy & paste into your browser, if any links, below, don’t instantly connect to the your chosen Website; or use “Google” to find most up-to-date links):

http://www.ThePassionTest.com & to take the Passion Test:  www.PassionTestOnLine.com & to access the e-book:  www.ThePassionTest.com/fromsadtoglad or become a certified Passion Test facilitator:  www.ThePassionTest.com/cert

I participated in two “Money & You” 3-day, intensive experiences & highly recommend the wisdom, focus & power of the dynamic learning:  www.ThePassionTest.com/moneyandyou;

Additional resources for your consideration:  www.ThePassionTest.com/perfectcustomers; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/detinytraining; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/jamesray; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/jimbunch; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/creatingpower; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/eker; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/alexm; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/emi; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/aaron; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/onecoach;  www.ThePassionTest.com/bni; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/pierce; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/successu; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/wildlywealthy; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/healingcode; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/stephenco; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/sunildas;  www.ThePassionTest.com/amazon; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/marsvenus; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/hendricks; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/teens; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/supercamp; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/selfgrowth; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/scc; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/lefkoe; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/coachville; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/doinglife

from “Passion Test” contributor-authors:  www.JanetAttwood.com; http://www.StayinInLove.com; http://www.EnlightenedAlliances.com

Read interviews of folks, whose remarks are included in “The Passion Test” book:

http://www.DebbieFord.com; http://www.BestYearOfYourLife.com; http://www.RichardPaulEvans.com; http://www.TheChristmasBoxHouse.org; http://www.CoveyLink.com; http://www.Abraham.com; http://www.MarciShimoff.com; http://www.HappyForNoReason.com; http://www.ISTPP.org; http://www.TM.org; http://www.PermanentPeace.org; http://www.Hagelin.org

More resources:  www.ThePassionTest.com/thework; http://www.PassionTest.com/sedona; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/centerpointe; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/canfield; http://www.ThePassionTest.com/bustingloose;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.FbgTX.org/806/Community-Visioning

http://www.FbgTX.org/806/Community-Visioning  & CommunityVisioningFbgTX.org  & RoseMarie.Mazanke@HotMail.com; MWiggins@FbgTX.org; YSingers@Yahoo.com; KMyers@FbgTx.org; LLangerhans@Austin.RR.com; Jim.Mikula@GablesCorp.com  Volunteer your time & wisdom to discover what makes our community great & what could we do to make it even better.  Ernie Loeffler, Convention & Visitors’ Bureau:  Director@FbgTx.org; 

www.FbgTx.org/680/Mission-Statement

http://www.fbgtx.org/806/Community-Visioning & RoseMarie.Mazanke@HotMail.com;

To all Co-Chairs 2017 Community Visioning from MWiggins@FbgTx.org:  allanandbobbye@hotmail.com; pastortravisblc@gmail.com; cseminara@goodsamfbg.org; jessica.mittel@gmail.com; ken@carrdevelopment.com; leeann.bailey@me.com;  BVorauer@FbgTx.org; shearer@shearerpub.com; tommusselman@gmail.com; vinyard@nimitzfoundation.org; janie.holloway@yahoo.com; ajillcarr@yahoo.com; matts@arrowheadbanktexas.com; KMyers@FbgTx.org; LLangerhans@Austin.RR.com; RoseMarie.Mazanke@HotMail.com; ysingers@yahoo.com; Jim.Mikula @GablesCorp.com; JBahlinger@FbgTx.org;

Clinton Bailey, P.E., Assistant City Manager, City of Fredericksburg, 126 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624  O 830-997-7521  C 830-889-5897  F 830-997-1861

Mission of the City of Fredericksburg, TX:  Leading with integrity while providing the best customer services to our community.

36 on GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE  including 4 co-chairs:  Alice.White@TTU.edu; BVorauer@FbgTx.org; Shearer@ShearerPub.com; TomMusselman@GMail.com;  Prospective Committee Members:  LLangerhans@Austin.RR.com; MBirdlebo@Yahoo.com; Beverly0099@ATT.Net; BHeath@FbgTx.org; 1943Bob@GMail.com; RHickerson9@GMail.com; CBailey@FbgTx.org;  Justin.Davis.Here@GMail.com; JylD@HotMail.com; Ken@CarrDevelopment.com; KKimmey@TheWorkKs.com; Kyle@KyleForTexas.com; Larry@LarryJacksonAntiques.com; LesMeurer@EarthLink.Net; MHess@HCTC.Coop; MoSaiidi@GMail.com; Penny@FbgTxChamber.org; W.Vins@GMX.De; Polly@Dogologie.com; RWT17@HotMail.com; EDC@FbgTx.org; Director@FbgTX.org; 8-’17 list additions:  LeeAnn.Bailey@Me.com; JBahlinger@FbgTx.org;  Bryan.Benway@House.Texas.Gov; MBirdlebo@Yahoo.com; Jessica.Mittel@GMail.com; RoseMarie.Mazanke@HotMail.com; MWiggins@FbgTx.org; Robin.2.Boone@AMPF.com; LCrump@GillespieCounty.org; COlfers@GillespieCounty.org; DSchuch@GillespieCounty.org; Pat@KyleForTexas.com; Bobby@MillerEquip.com; KMyers@FbgTx.org; Jim.Mikula@GablesCorp.com;

BUSINESS COMMITTEE  Co-chairs:  LeeAnn.Bailey@Me.com; Jessica.Mittel@GMail.com; Prospective members:

ken@carrdevelopment.com

astevens@hillcountrymemorial.org

bheath@fbgtx.org

vinyard@nimitzfoundation.org

cheryl900@yahoo.com

director@fbgtx.org

jeanniej@gmail.com

justin.davis.here@gmail.com

shearer@shearerpub.com

fbgace@yahoo.com

larry@larryjacksonantiques.com

lbrather@icloud.com

mreno@hillcountrymemorial.org

penny@fbgtxchamber.org

polly@dogologie.com

rwt17@hotmail.com

edc@fbgtx.org

e-invitees for Gillespie County vision presentation:  Kent Myers <kmyers@fbgtx.org>; Linda Langerhans <llangerhans@austin.rr.com>; ysingers@yahoo.com; Jim Mikula <jim.mikula@gablescorp.com>; Rose Marie Mazanke <rosemarie.mazanke@hotmail.com>; Marion Wiggins <mwiggins@fbgtx.org>; jessica.mittel@gmail.com; ken@carrdevelopment.com; leeann.bailey@me.com; allanandbobbye@hotmail.com; pastortravisblc@gmail.com; cseminara@goodsamfbg.org; fbgcarol@me.com; Brian Vorauer <bvorauer@fbgtx.org>; shearer@shearerpub.com; tommusselman@gmail.com; vinyard@nimitzfoundation.org; janie.holloway@yahoo.com; ajillcarr@yahoo.com; matts@arrowheadbanktexas.com

Earlier-meetings’ participants:  Beverly0099@ATT.Net;   e-list for 7-25-’17 meeting:  Kathy Shearer <shearer@shearerpub.com>; bvorauer@fbgtx.org; tommusselman@gmail.com; cbailey@fbgtx.org; leeann.bailey@me.com; 1943bob@gmail.com; kyle@kylefortexas.com; ken@carrdevelopment.com; jessica.mittel@gmail.com; justin.davis.here@gmail.com; bheath@fbgtx.org; mhess@hctc.coop; rhickerson9@gmail.com; larry@larryjacksonantiques.com; kkimmey@theworkks.com; edc@fbgtx.org; penny@fbgtxchamber.org; lesmeurer@earthlink.net; jyld@hotmail.com; beverly0099@att.net; polly@dogologie.com; mosaiidi@gmail.com; rwt17@hotmail.com; w.vins@gmx.de;   llangerhans@austin.rr.com; rosemarie.mazanke@hotmail.com;

Family Life Committee Members  David Ewing <dewing5151@gmail.com>; Pastor Travis <pastortravisblc@gmail.com>; allanandbobbye@hotmail.com; Carol Seminara <cseminara@goodsamfbg.org>; fbgcarol@me.com; aburrier@fbgtx.org; ahudson@fbgtx.org; audeliadelacruz@yahoo.com; bobbyjoelpr@gmail.com; vinyard@nimitzfoundation.org; garciabrenda824@yahoo.com; brook.bodenhamer@yahoo.com; Janie Trantham <janietrantham409@gmail.com>; Julie Southwick <southwickjulie@gmail.com>; leeann.bailey@me.com; Martha Foster <marthafoster42@gmail.com>; mreno@hillcountrymemorial.org; penny@fbgtxchamber.org; ron@33rdjdjpd.org; Keith Whited <whitedranch@gmail.com>; Pamella Spruiell <pspruiell@aol.com>; Ernie Loeffler <director@fbgtx.org>; Linda Kay <tomorrowlady@yahoo.com>; Marion Wiggins <mwiggins@fbgtx.org>; brandiw@fisd.org; brandilou17@gmail.com; jolivares@c4newcommunities.org

Quality of Life Committee    Brandon Vinyard <vinyard@nimitzfoundation.org>; Aaron Kolterjahn (aaronkolterjahn@gmail.com); Andrea Warren <awarren@fbgtx.org>; Anna Hudson <ahudson@fbgtx.org>; Beverly Reynolds <beverly0099@att.net>; Bill Heath <bheath@fbgtx.org>; Carlos Fernandez (carlosf_dez@yahoo.com); Cheryl Fernandez <cheryl800@yahoo.com>; Diana Armbrust <dianaarmbrust@yahoo.com>; Dixie Cope <dixied2014@gmail.com>; Ernie Loeffler <director@fbgtx.org>; Hollie Reno (renohollie@yahoo.com); Janie Weisinger <janie.holloway@yahoo.com>; Jeannie Jackson <jeanniej49@gmail.com>; Jerry M. Luckenbach <jluckenbach@austin.rr.com>; Jill Carr <ajillcarr@yahoo.com>; Justin Hill <theburgfbg@yahoo.com>; Jyl Miller <jyld@hotmail.com>; Karen Vanek <kvanek@hotmail.com>; Kent Myers <myers.kent@gmail.com>; Lewis & Brenda Rather <lbrather@icloud.com>; Marion Wiggins <mwiggins@fbgtx.org>; Martha Foster <marthafoster42@gmail.com>; Matt Seidenberger <matts@arrowheadbanktexas.com>; Pat Weinheimer <kurtpatw@gmail.com>; Randy and Charlotte Briley <cabriley@att.net>; Sharon Joseph <sjoseph1@austin.rr.com>;

Court House Square Advisory Committee:  timothy@woolsacks-inc.com>
To: “Linda Langerhans” <LindaLangerhans@austin.rr.com>, “Mark Wieser” <mark.wieser@jelly.com>, “Joseph, Sharon” <sharon.joseph@lpl.com>, “Judy Vordenbaum” <judyvordenbaum@gmail.com>, “Debbie Farquhar” <creativemarketing1975@gmail.com>, “Glen Treibs” <pegtr@yahoo.com>, “Tim Sawtelle” <tim@jayhanna.com>, “David Sawtelle” <david@latigotx.com>, “Jim KeeterJr” <jimkjr83@gmail.com>, “Dorman Schmidt” <vjschmidt@gillespiecounty.org>, “Barry Wagner” <barry@bwagnerarchitect.com>
Cc: “Tim Dooley” <dooleys5-10@austin.rr.com>, “Bryan Bierschwale” <bcredit@verizon.net>, “Lester Frantzen” <lcfrantzen@gmail.com>, “Eric Mustard” <emustard@mustarddesign.net>, “Rose Marie Mazanke” <rosemarie.mazanke@hotmail.com>, “Kent Myers” <kmyers@fbgtx.org>, “Gary Neffendorf” <gneffendorf@nimitzfoundation.org>, “Anna Hudson” <ahudson@fbgtx.org>, “Tony Klein” <tklein@arrowheadbanktexas.com>, “Royce Hunter” <roycehunter@gmail.com>

 

 

 

Rodgers <stacy.rodgers86@gmail.com>; Tamesha Jumper <tjumper@austin.rr.com>

Dealing with grief: https://www.neptunesociety.com/resources/the-guide-to-pet-bereavement-what-to-expect-after-the-loss-of-a-loved-one & more

As many years as I’ve been in the health field, it’s never been easy to lose someone, whether personally or professionally. Although it’s something many people avoid talking about, death & the grief that follows it are unavoidable.

I was reminded of this recently after losing a lifelong friend who lost her battle with cancer. We knew some months ago that we would lose her… but it didn’t make it any easier. My grief is something I’m still dealing with (& know I will continue to deal with). I’ve been doing a lot of research for Public Health Corps on this topic lately in an effort to help any of our readers who may be going through a similar difficult time, & I thought I would share some of my findings with you, as well.

Laid to Rest at Home: How to Plan a Home Memorial Service for Your Departed Loved One
https://www.redfin.com/blog/how-to-memorial-service-at-home

The New Stages of Grief: 5 Tasks, No Timeline  https://www.caring.com/articles/five-stages-of-grief

Final Logistics: A Step-by-Step Guide to Handling a Loved One’s Belongings After Their Death:  https://www.closetbox.com/resources/final-logistics-step-step-guide-handling-loved-ones-belongings-death/

Supporting a Child When Someone Dies:  https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/bereaved-family-friends/supporting-grieving-child

Coping with a Child’s Illness While You’re in Recovery: Learn Coping Methods While Going Through this Difficult Time:  www.drugrehab.org/coping-childs-illness-recovery/

Dementia Patients and Grief:  https://www.pathwayshealth.org/dementia-care/dementia-patients-and-grief/

The Guide to Pet Bereavement: What to Expect After the Loss of a Loved One:  https://www.neptunesociety.com/resources/the-guide-to-pet-bereavement-what-to-expect-after-the-loss-of-a-loved-one

When Grief Becomes a Mental Health Issue:  www.healthyplace.com/blogs/recoveringfrommentalillness/2016/03/when-bereavement-becomes-a-mental-health-issue/

publichealthcorps.org   340 S Lemon Ave #5780 | Walnut, CA 91789

Death is nothing at All by Henry Scott-Holland: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland

through Sherril.Skibell@TTU.edu at Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Sheffield Lutherer’s memorial service & read by Alice at memorial service of Dr. John Aure Buesseler at the 46-yr.-old CEO Roundtable:  This poem is often read at funerals. The author, Henry Scott-Holland (1847-1918), a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral of London, did not intend it as a poem, it was actually delivered as part of a sermon in 1910. The sermon, titled, “Death, the King of Terrors” was preached while the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster.  READ  COMPLETE STORY  PRINT

Death Is Nothing At All by Henry Scott-Holland More Henry Scott-Holland  

https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

LifeStories Alive: MOKrent@LifeStoriesAlive.com

You are invited to FBG Morning Rotary’s breakfast on Thur., June 22, 6:45a at The Buffalo Nickel Bar & Grill at 105 S. Llano St. in downtown Fredericksburg – in case our  “LifeStories Alive” speaker* might be of special interest to you & your family.

* Mike O’Krent –  the founder of LifeStories Alive, LLC, specializes in the making personal history videos for families.  MOKrent@LifeStoriesAlive.com

Born and raised in San Antonio, TX, Mike received his degree in Marketing and Management from Southern Methodist University.

In a life-changing experience, from 1996 through 2000, Mike interviewed Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation. It was through that experience he discovered the significance and technique of recording the life stories of loved ones. That formed the basis for his LifeStories business.

 

Since founding the business in 2006, LifeStories Alive has filmed legacy videos for hundreds of client families and non-profit organizations.

Mike currently serves as a Trustee for Austin’s ZACH Theatre. He has served as the Chairman of the Yom HaShoah (Day of Holocaust Remembrance) Committee for the Jewish Community Association of Austin from 2009 to the present.

How much good there is in the world!

It is so many years since 9/11/2001,  but here is a wonderful story about that terrible day.

Jerry Brown, Delta Flight 15…(true story) from a flight attendant on Delta Flight 15, written following 9-11-’01:

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, we were about 5 hours out of Frankfurt, flying over the North Atlantic .

All of a sudden the curtains parted and I was told to go to the cockpit, immediately, to see the captain. As soon as I got there I noticed that the crew had that “All Business” look on their faces. The captain handed me a printed message. It was from Delta’s main office in Atlanta and simply read, “All airways over the Continental United States are closed to commercial air traffic. Land ASAP at the nearest airport. Advise your destination.”

No one said a word about what this could mean. We knew it was a serious situation and we needed to find terrafirma quickly. The captain determined that the nearest airport was 400 miles behind us in Gander , New Foundland.

He requested approval for a route change from the Canadian traffic controller and approval was granted immediately — no questions asked. We found out later, of course, why there was no hesitation in approving our request.

While the flight crew prepared the airplane for landing, another message arrived from Atlanta telling us about some terrorist activity in the New York area. A few minutes later word came in about the hijackings.

We decided to lie to the passengers while we were still in the air. We told them the plane had a simple instrument problem and that we needed to land at the nearest airport in Gander , New Foundland, to have it checked out.

We promised to give more information after landing in Gander . There was much grumbling among the passengers, but that’s nothing new. Forty minutes later, we landed in Gander … Local time at Gander was 12:30 PM … that’s 11:00 AM EST

There were already about 20 other airplanes on the ground from all over the world that had taken this detour on their way to the U.S.

After we parked on the ramp, the captain made the following announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, you must be wondering if all these airplanes around us have the same instrument problem as we have. The reality is that we are here for another reason.” Then he went on to explain the little bit we knew about the situation in the U.S. There were loud gasps and stares of disbelief. The captain informed passengers that Ground control in Gander told us to stay put.

The Canadian Government was in charge of our situation and no one was allowed to get off the aircraft. No one on the ground was allowed to come near any of the aircrafts. Only airport police would come around periodically, look us over and go on to the next airplane. In the next hour or so more planes landed and Gander ended up with 53 airplanes from all over the world, 27 of which were U.S. commercial jets.

Meanwhile, bits of news started to come in over the aircraft radio and for the first time we learned that airplanes were flown into the World Trade Centre in New York and into the Pentagon in DC. People were trying to use their cell phones, but were unable to connect due to a different cell system in Canada . Some did get through, but were only able to get to the Canadian operator who would tell them that the lines to the U.S. were either blocked or jammed.

Sometime in the evening the news filtered to us that the twin towers buildings had collapsed and that a fourth hijacking had resulted in a crash. By now the passengers were emotionally and physically exhausted, not to mention frightened, but everyone stayed amazingly calm. We had only to look out the window at the 52 other stranded aircraft to realize that we were not the only ones in this predicament.

We had been told earlier that they would be allowing people off the planes one plane at a time. At 6 PM, Gander airport told us that our turn to deplane would be 11 am the next morning. Passengers were not happy, but they simply resigned themselves to this news without much noise and started to prepare themselves to spend the night on the airplane.

Gander had promised us medical attention, if needed, water, and lavatory servicing. And they were true to their word. Fortunately we had no medical situations to worry about. We did have a young lady who was 33 weeks into her pregnancy. We took REALLY good care of her. The night passed without incident despite the uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

About 10:30 on the morning of the 12th a convoy of school buses showed up. We got off the plane and were taken to the terminal where we went through Immigration and Customs and then had to register with the Red Cross.

After that we (the crew) were separated from the passengers and were taken in vans to a small hotel. We had no idea where our passengers were going. We learned from the Red Cross that the town of Gander has a population of10,400 people and they had about 10,500 passengers to take care of from all the airplanes that were forced into Gander !

We were told to just relax at the hotel and we would be contacted when the U.S. airports opened again, but not to expect that call for a while.

We found out the total scope of the terror back home only after getting to our hotel and turning on the TV, 24 hours after it all started.

Meanwhile, we had lots of time on our hands and found that the people of Gander were extremely friendly. They started calling us the “plane people”. We enjoyed their hospitality, explored the town of Gander and ended up having a pretty good time.

Two days later, we got that call and were taken back to the Gander airport. Back on the plane, we were reunited with the passengers and found out what they had been doing for the past two days. What we found out was incredible.

Gander and all the surrounding communities (within about a 75 Kilometer radius) had closed all high schools, meeting halls, lodges, and any other large gathering places. They converted all these facilities to mass lodging areas for all the stranded travellers. Some had cots set up, some had mats with sleeping bags and pillows set up.

ALL the high school students were required to volunteer their time to take care of the “guests”. Our 218 passengers ended up in a town called Lewisporte, about 45 kilometers from Gander where they were put up in a high school. If any women wanted to be in a women-only facility, that was arranged. Families were kept together. All the elderly passengers were taken to private homes.

Remember that young pregnant lady? She was put up in a private home right across the street from a 24-hour Urgent Care facility. There was a dentist on call and both male and female nurses remained with the crowd for the duration.

Phone calls and e-mails to the U.S. and around the world were available to everyone once a day. During the day, passengers were offered “Excursion” trips. Some people went on boat cruises of the lakes and harbors. Some went for hikes in the local forests. Local bakeries stayed open to make fresh bread for the guests.

Food was prepared by all the residents and brought to the schools. People were driven to restaurants of their choice and offered wonderful meals. Everyone was given tokens for local laundramats to wash their clothes, since luggage was still on the aircraft. In other words, every single need was met for those stranded travellers.

Passengers were crying while telling us these stories. Finally, when they were told that U.S. airports had reopened, they were delivered to the airport right on time and without a single passenger missing or late. The local Red Cross had all the information about the whereabouts of each and every passenger and knew which plane they needed to be on and when all the planes were leaving. They coordinated everything beautifully.

It was absolutely incredible.

When passengers came on board, it was like they had been on a cruise. Everyone knew each other by name. They were swapping stories of their stay, impressing each other with who had the better time. Our flight back to Atlanta looked like a chartered party flight. The crew just stayed out of their way. It was mind-boggling.

Passengers had totally bonded and were calling each other by their first names, exchanging phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses.

And then a very unusual thing happened.

One of our passengers approached me and asked if he could make an announcement over the PA system. We never, ever, allow that. But this time was different. I said “of course” and handed him the mike. He picked up the PA and reminded everyone about what they had just gone through in the last few days. He reminded them of the hospitality they had received at the hands of total strangers. He continued by saying that he would like to do something in return for the good folks of Lewisporte

“He said he was going to set up a Trust Fund under the name of DELTA 15 (our flight number). The purpose of the trust fund is to provide college scholarships for the high school students of Lewisporte. He asked for donations of any amount from his fellow travelers. When the paper with donations got back to us with the amounts, names, phone numbers, and addresses, the total was for more than $14,000!

“The gentleman, a MD from Virginia , promised to match the donations and to start the administrative work on the scholarship. He also said that he would forward this proposal to Delta Corporate and ask them to donate as well.

As I write this account, the trust fund is at more than $1.5 million and has assisted 134 students in college education.

“I just wanted to share this story because we need good stories right now. It gives me a little bit of hope to know that some people in a faraway place were kind to some strangers who literally dropped in on them.

It reminds me how much good there is in the world

“In spite of all the rotten things we see going on in today’s world this story confirms that there are still a lot of good people in the world and when things get bad, they will come forward.”

This is one of those stories that need to be shared. Please do so.

Wichita (KS) Community Foundation

Wichita (KS) Community Foundation:  www.WichitaCF.org & James Woods, Director of Donor Services, 316-264-4880, JWoods@WichitaCF.org

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