Steve's Random Musings

The Fight for Our Lives

2012-01-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

When I look at my own life, do I see the good wolf in me? Is my life “outward” looking and focused toward others?
Or do I see that bad wolf in me? Is my life one of self, of self focus, of “me first and maybe even only?”

I heard old Indian wisdom tale the other day. I heard if from John Warnick who heard it from Scott Farnsworth who heard if from Lori Denison, who heard it from….

It is the story of a Cherokee grandfather who is trying to teach his young grandson an important life lesson. Here is how that story goes:

"A fight is going on inside me," the Cherokee elder said to his grandson. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves."

"One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

"This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather which wolf would win.

The Cherokee elder replied, "The one you feed"

The Three Red Marbles

2012-01-27T08:19:00.000-08:00

"Our days are numbered. One of the primary goals in our lives should be to prepare for our last day. The legacy we leave is not just in our possessions, but in the quality of our lives. What preparations should we be making now? The greatest waste in all of our earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day.”—Billy Graham

The Three Red Marbles story is one I heard from John A. Warnick. He didn’t personally experience it but he tells it so well that I have simply quoted him nearly verbatim below.
John A. says:

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, ragged but clean, hungrily surveying a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the grocery store owner) and that small boy next to me.

"Hello Jimmy, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya."

"How's your Ma, Jimmy?"

"Doin’ better Sir. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller.

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.

"Not zackley but almost . . .";

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble", Mr. Miller told the boy.

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

I moved to the check-out counter where Mrs. Miller, who had noticed me absorbing the dialogue between Jimmy and her husband, proudly said, "There are two other boys like Jimmy in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Tom just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with Tom Miller’s compassion. A short time later I moved to Colorado but as the years passed I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Last summer I returned to that Idaho community for a family reunion and learned that Mr. Miller had died. Several members of my family were going to the visitation. So I went along to pay my respects to this fine man. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to greet Mrs. Miller and offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line I noticed three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts . . . all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, who was standing by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved next to the open casket.

I noticed that one by one, each young man stopped, briefly placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket, then moved on to leave the mortuary, wiping his eyes.

As Mrs. Miller greeted my relatives and then me, I reminded her of that story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she led me to the casket. "Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Tom "traded" them. Now, at last, when Tom could not change his mind about color or size . . . they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Tom would consider himself the richest man in Idaho." With loving gentleness she lifted his lifeless fingers. Resting underneath were three shiny red marbles.

I HAVE TIME FOR YOU

2011-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00

As a young boy and then a young adult, I watched old men (regardless of how you define that) unable to any longer do the physical things that were so easy for me.

I remember once in the Kennedy days when the push was all about getting and staying fit, I stood in the kitchen of my parents in law’s home and did that really dangerous trick of jumping into the air, holding my arms out to my sides and then kicking up my legs and touching my fingers with my toes. I could only do it once, but that didn’t matter. No one else in the whole house would even try it.

As I moved through life, I didn’t so much disrespect older folk who couldn’t keep up; I just quit including them in plans.

I wonder how I’m going to feel when my grandsons are old enough to treat me that way. I certainly don’t expect them to do otherwise, but I imagine I’m going to feel unwanted or like a “fifth wheel.” I don’t look forward to that but I do understand it.

I read a short piece in Guideposts written by Debbie Macomber about how her sons learned that the most valuable Christmas gift they could give their grandparents was just their time. Grandma doesn’t need a wrapped token under the Christmas tree, but she sure needs to know her grandchildren treasure her regardless of whether she can stay with them as they climb up into the fort in the backyard.

Maybe it starts the other way around. The grandboys do need toys under the tree, but they more need to know that I have time for them whenever they want it from me.

Don’t we all need that? Don’t I need your time and you need mine? Isn’t that what honoring each other is all about? Isn’t that what fosters love and relationship between people?

Every time an old person dies, a library burns down

2011-11-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

When I was about 6, my grandpa was visiting. He, my mom and I were in the grocery store where I discovered a $5 bill lying partially hidden in the oranges display. I grabbed it! “Look what I found,” I exclaimed.

My mother solemnly informed me that we’d have to turn it in to the cashier at the front of the store. “What?” Grandpa retorted, and proceeded to explain exactly what would happen to the $5 bill should we follow that course.

I have absolutely no recollection of what I did with the money, but can you see how that experience might have impacted, good or bad, my values regarding money?

This is the same grandpa who was visiting another time and happened to discipline me more severely, I concluded, than I deserved for that transgression. I skulked into the hall closet where it was dark and I could really feel sorry for myself. There I discovered his dress pants hanging on hangers. Aha…an opportunity for pay back. I proceeded to take scissors and chop each pair of pants off at the knees. When I was discovered, my mom….Well, this is a good place to end the story.

My grandpa died when I was a know-it-all teenager. I remember sitting at the foot of his rocking chair listening to him pick his old banjo. I never, ever, got around to asking him about him. I was simply not old enough to be interested. I wonder what his own feelings were about the $5 story; I wonder what his feelings were about my shenanigans in the closet.

What would you give to have had the foresight to capture your parents’ and grandparents’ life stories before they left you?

It’s easy to do, you know.

Opportunities in Education

2011-11-20T15:34:00.000-08:00

I know of a little boy in preschool. His name is Daniel and he has known for awhile how to print his name. The other day, he was being “cute” and wrote his name as ida. His teacher responded by pointing out that she knew he was capable of writing his name correctly. He replied that he wanted to be called Ida today.

Teacher has a choice, doesn’t she? She can declare he has done it wrong and make him try again until he gets it right. That, I think, is the approach under today’s methodology of how we teach kids. (sort of like how we taught kids 60 years ago)

Or, she can accept his creativity and call him Ida that day, all day. That was her choice that day.

On the way home, Daniel told his Daddy what had transpired and said, “let’s see how many other names we can make from the letters in my name.”

No need to elaborate much. One approach is indoctrination, drill and practice and calling attention to failings. The other is a learning opportunity, a creative experience and a celebration of what a child does well.

Which one best encourages a kid’s love of learning?

What’s Developmentally Appropriate and Who Cares?

2011-10-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

John and Kim

I’m sorry, but I’m objecting seriously to a pendulum swing in our elementary education philosophy that says we must set objective standards that measure how and what our kids are learning. We seem also to have adopted a rigid curriculum that all schools not only have to teach and test on, but have to stay in lockstep with each other. Now I’d support that for the sake of consistency and accountability if all kids were robots or clones containing the same genes as each other.

Phone doesn't work!

As it is, if some kids haven’t yet developed at the same rate as others, they are expected to “get it” anyway. And how we insure that, of course, is by “drill and practice.” The teacher drills the kids and drills them and they practice and practice more until the kid either finally “gets it,” or she doesn’t. If she doesn’t, there are serious consequences to the child and the teacher and the school, including the kid’s realization that she is dumb.

Regardless of whether the child gets it or he doesn’t, if he’s one that had to have it hammered into his head, what do you think the whole process does to his love of learning? Most, if not all, kids enter kindergarten and even first and second grade with wonder filled eyes and a genuine desire to absorb and learn. Ask any kindergarten teacher about that. It’s one of the delights of teaching.

So, let’s hammer these kids who aren’t quite ready to read chapter books by third grade, or to recite the alphabet sounds, sing the alphabet song, and count to 100 by the time they are in kindergarten; let’s make them feel they aren’t quite up to snuff. Then let’s watch as they turn away from learning, dislike and distrust school, and later abandon any thought of college.

Before this particular pendulum swing, teachers, at least creative ones, were more intent on celebrating a child’s successes than emphasizing his failings. They understood that sooner or later each child’s light bulb would flash on, that each kid learns and “gets it” at a different time than his peers, but ultimately their learning is enhanced and they love being there.

I suspect that many teachers who are less creative actually like the new swing. It’s easier, more familiar and they don’t have to worry about merit performance. Most creative teachers, on the other hand, are frustrated with the “one size fits all” concepts. It seems to me these teachers are leaving the profession in droves—at least those too old and too experienced to cow-tow to the pendulum swingers.

It’s sad for me to watch. I was sitting with a little five year old boy the other day. His speech is not as developed yet as some of his more verbally blessed peers, but his mind, his experiential development is way ahead of many of them. Consequently, he’s developed a little shyness. An adult came up to us and remarked that, “I can’t get this boy to talk to me at all,” even though the man was barely more than a stranger to the boy. “Well, he’s a little shy still,” I remarked. The man informed me, in front of the boy, that this was something “I’d really worry about if I were you.” Typical! The guy didn’t mean to be mean. He’s just got an old timey picture of what a 5 year old ought to look like and, by golly, if the boy doesn’t fit the mold, we all should be doing something about it.

A neat idea for learning music outside of the public schools

2011-09-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

Some good friends of mine, John and Britta Fay, operate the Mesa County version of Sera Schools Music Programs, one of the largest and most extensive community-based music and arts schools in Colorado.

I’m interested because I know how wonderful it is to be able to perform music with Britta. She’s got all the professional and non professional skills necessary to enjoy performing music of nearly any genre and has taught me a lot just by playing in the band with her. Sera Schools programs are formed around four components, PACE, PATTERN, COMPASSION, & FUN. If you’re interested, you can learn even more at the website.

It’s lots about kids, although there are adult programs as well. Britta’s contact information is info@seraschools.com or you can go direct to the website and browse on your own. Sera Schools Site

LABOR DAY ANTICS

2011-09-08T13:38:00.000-07:00

Earlier this summer, Jan and I bought bikes. Actually, Jan went out to “just look” because her’s was very old and maybe even dangerous. I’m not interested. But I did go along with her just to keep her company. For you who may not be getting the message, this is the same way we got our dog, Rex, in 03.

So, we have these neat new bikes and actually ride them for about 45 minutes two or three times a week. Since I stopped racquetball (due only to our changing workout centers to one with no courts), I have missed getting any kind of good heart exercise on the off days (those not involving the aerobic machines). When we began using the bikes, I took my heart monitor with me and was pleasantly surprised to see that I got my heart rate up to about the same levels as when I was on the elliptical and with less work. So, I’m a happy camper. We are seeing it getting colder and much darker in the early morning when we would prefer to do our exercise program. So biking days are numbered and I’m looking for storage hooks strong enough for these two monsters.

I do still have to work and Jan does still have to visit with the grandsons. You know, what’s a person to do? Exercise only has certain priorities, donchaknow. (By the way, I learned that neat saying from Pat Evans in Albuquerque. If anyone of you knows how Max and Pat are doing, I’d appreciate hearing.)

So, it’s Labor Day, 2011—just a couple of days ago. We traditionally make the trek to Ouray to soak in the hot springs pool because that was our first date, Labor Day 1994. Actually, we’ve only missed once since then.

This time, we loaded up the bikes! I really can’t believe it and I’m sure many of you who have known me for years are positive this whole thing is a made-up fantasy to show everyone that even at my age (72), I’m still superathlete. Although my balance seems to be slightly shot.

Loading up the bikes took exactly the amount of intelligence and engineering ability that I possess. But, we finally managed. Drove then the 60 miles to Montrose and stopped at the north end of town in a beautiful park. We unloaded the bikes – much easier than loading them—and took off down an obvious trail. About 25 minutes later, we were at the extreme south end of Montrose near the museum. My odometer said we’d gone 6 miles. In the course of trying to verify that, I broke it! So, I am assuming we came back the same 6 miles, but I’m not sure we went 6 miles in the first place. Anyway, a 45 minute bike ride was a high spot for both of us.

We went on to Ouray and revisited our tradition, including having lunch and getting back home about 4 pm. What a blessed way to spend a holiday with Jan. Hope yours was equally wonderful

Time To Think, Inc—The Thinking Environment

2011-08-23T14:43:00.000-07:00

How does the Thinking Environment mesh with story telling? I recently received my certification as a consultant in the Thinking Environment. Technically, it is an International Certification as a Time To Think Facilitator Consultant. I’ve been working on that for about the past four years.

I think the following, taken from my book, Success…Swimming in a Sea of, best describes it:

We ask a question—but are we really interested in the answer? And when the person launches into a story in response to our question, do we view it as an irritant? When we are sincere in our quest for an answer, we are blessed many fold if that person begins to relate an experience.

Stories matter and telling stories matters. They represent who we are. They disclose our life experiences, our values, and why we are who we are. And they help us to capture, preserve and then pass on our true legacy. Who we are is our legacy; our wealth is not much more than a piece of us, and for many, an insignificant piece.

For me, to learn what a contributor to this book believes about the meaning of success in learning and education is interesting. I am fascinated by education on all levels and am strongly opinionated about the different approaches taken to education by various politicians.

But the true value of these stories for me is just hearing the stories and listening to the person behind them. At some point, each reader of this book will finish it and put it aside. The book and its contents will gather dust. Ah, but what if a reader is the child or grandchild of one of those who freely contributed her stories to this adventure?

And what would that child or grandchild give, or pay even, for the opportunity to hear the contributor’s stories in her own voice years and years from now?

I remember my Granddad Graves sitting in his rocker pickin’ at his banjo and singing some old Tennessee hill song. He had left Tennessee when he was a very young man with his big brother--and on foot. Since his passing, I’ve heard a few stories about some of his life’s adventures and lessons. But I heard none from him. I was too young and he was too old.

I suspect many of us would look with sadness on our missed opportunities. What I would give to hear him talking again, and to sit with him while he talked about life growing up in the Tennessee hill country. I wonder how different my own life might have been had I learned from him, just as earlier generations learned life and death lessons at the feet of the old ones.

The libraries represented by your parents, your grandparents, and even yourself are at high risk. Let’s get out the fire extinguisher! Purchase a small, inexpensive, digital recorder. Sit down with one of your important libraries and ask one or two very focused questions.

• When did you and grandma first meet and what initially attracted you to her?
• If this were your last day on earth, what would you want to tell her?
• Finish this sentence: I come from a people who....
• What are two or three of the most significant changes you’ve seen in the world during your lifetime?
• If you had an abundance of time, energy and money, what are some of the things you would you do with the rest of your life?

Once someone begins a story, it goes on and on. Concentrate your attention on grandpa; let him know you are really interested, and be very careful not to interrupt him. Interruption will guide his conversation where you want it to go instead of where he wants it to go. Digression and “rabbit trails” are a blessing.

Burn the recording onto a compact disc and pass copies among loved ones as gifts. It may take a short while, but they’ll all soon recognize the gift for what it truly is.

Most of us never realize the fortune that lies within our library.

The Truth is not illusive, it’s just that nobody’s tellin’ it!

2011-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

New Bikes

Like many of you, I get my “facts” from the nightly news. At least a large part of my understanding of what’s going on in our state legislatures and our Congress comes from that source. Certainly not all by itself. It’s really just the entertainment industry, you know. But if I couple what I hear from those sources with a few well known and more trusted, independent commentators’ opinions, just maybe I can get a fair handle on where the truth may lie. Of course I’m not including all of the broadcast media. Certainly not Fox News, MSNBC and other cable broadcasters.

So, if I have it right it’s a pretty squalid picture of the quality of our governmental leaders. I really never believed we’d get to the point of being as laughable as the leaders of other nations that we occasionally see break into fist fights on the floor of the chambers. But I think that’s where we are. We have many more than a small few who view their political future as being far more important than the people living, and trying to get along, in this Country.

Right now, I believe John Boehner is acting in good faith and trying to resolve things in a way that will actually be in the interests of the Country. I think the same regarding the President. But, with a few notable exceptions, most everyone else should get out of the way and shut up. They have zero credibility.

For quite awhile, I was blaming the Republicans for being so intractable and unwilling to move even if it caused terrible damage to our economy and our Country. I was pretty ready to line them all up for a spitting party (or worse).

Then, Obama put entitlements on the table! The minute he did that, the Democrats came out of the woodwork, out of the muck and looked every bit like the grasping and gasping Republicans. They’re all the same peas in a pod. Some commentators just smile and say, “It’s all politics. It’s all posturing to see who will come out on the other end best positioned politically. No one really will allow the Country to crater.” I don’t believe that. I think those people will in fact let the chips fall into the crater hole and then point the finger at the other side.

I guess it’s okay to finally realize we can’t trust most of them, except now I’m at a frustrating place. I need information so I can be informed! Sorry, but that’s just who I am. But now…where am I going to get it?? Any thoughts out there? I’ve always been a glass half full person. Maybe one of you who shares that philosophy can help me out here.

Watts Up? What?? No, WATTS up. KAFM RADIO

2011-07-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

You know I’ve been working with KAFM radio here for some time now doing a series of interviews with local people. We call it, Priceless Conversations in the Grand Valley. It’s a lot of fun, but it also has gotten me personally closer to the station, its philosophy and some of its personalities. I’ve sort of become a fan and enjoyed taking some “ownership” interest.

So when I heard about this wonderful fundraiser for their “Watts Up” project, I was immediately excited. Actually, it didn’t start out as a big deal fundraiser; it was really just a gift from some supporters. But from there it took on a life of its own and…well you can see from the below blurb how many wonderful people and companies have gotten on board with contributions. This “Cruiser” will be a dream to own and to drive around. So here’s a little shameless pitch. Whether, you have any luck at winning raffles or not, get on board with a $20 ticket purchase. I did. (Oh, I’m sorry I spilled the beans. You should know that if I bought a ticket, no one else has any chance of winning!)

You’re connected! Here’s your opportunity to win a Classic 1987 FJ60 Land Cruiser. The KAFM Classic Cruiser comes tricked out and custom-designed thanks to Safari Ltd., All Metals Welding, Scotty’s Muffler, Bud’s Signs, U.S. Tech, Perri’s Collision,Glass Pro and Big O Tires. And you’ll be ready for any backcountry adventure with some sweet gear and accessories provided by Summit Canyon Mountaineering, REI, Board and Buckle and Mountain Khakis.

Tickets are just $20 dollars and all proceeds benefit the Watt’s Up Campaign to increase KAFM’s signal strength to 300 Watts! Tickets are available at KAFM, 1310 Ute Avenue; at Safari Ltd., 10th & Pitkin;on-line at kafmradio.org; call 241-8801;or your favorite on-air programmer. That’s the KAFM Cruiser Raffle, brought to you bySafari Ltd. and all these great businesses and supporters who believe in the power of community radio.

Random Warm and Fuzzies

2011-06-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things I’ve come across recently (they aren’t original, I “borrowed and paraphrased” them) and want to share:

The hardest thing about travelling alone isn’t having to do it all yourself. It’s that there’s no one to share your joys with. It’s the same if your beloved spouse is sick and you can’t share the everyday happenings that are the stuff out of which we weave our lives. It’s lonely out tonight.

I go to funerals for one reason only. It is to grieve with the walking wounded, those left behind. Those who fell have already made it home.

What does it mean to say, “My Heart’s enlarged?” I guess it could mean I have a serious physical ailment. But as our years increase, maybe it has a different meaning. My heart’s enlarged. Each year let me care a little less about me and a little more for others.

What three words best describe you? Play a little game and think on this for awhile. Maybe you are thinking along the lines of, funny, happy, outgoing, lovable, verbose, etc. Jerry Lewis said in regard to himself, “Room for improvement.” How about “willing to learn?” Lots of fun with this one. Do it around the dinner table.

Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo

2011-06-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

[This, to the left, is my Dad. He's been gone since 1971. Would have been 101 this year.]

* * *

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It is very moving and inspirational, but I think what makes it one of the best is that it is very challenging to me. Moving, inspirational, challenging, all at once.

· If you’re not a “believer,” you’ve gotta read this book because it is just a wonderful read, all about a little boy.
· If you are one who totally believes in heaven just as it is depicted by this little boy, you’ve gotta read the book because it will absolutely affirm your faith.
· If you are one who believes in heaven but has no idea what that means other than some sort of euphoric, infinite life with God ( that’s me), you’ve gotta read this book because it will enlighten you in a very credible way.

A little four year old boy has a near death experience and finds himself hanging out in heaven for three minutes. The events he describes would have taken much longer than that in “our” time. He comes back because Jesus tells him Jesus is answering the boy’s daddy’s prayer. Over the course of some time, he describes his experiences. He is not “reporting.” He is, in a matter of fact manner, answering questions as though he doesn’t understand why the question was asked in the first place. He describes people and things he could not possibly have learned or experienced at three and four years old. He met and conversed with a relative he’d never heard of. He couldn’t identify the relative from photos shown him until he saw a photo of the person much younger than when he’d died. He immediately recognized the photo and identified the relative. “In Heaven,” he said, “no one is old.”

The book is filled with those sorts of descriptions and the challenging part is that the telling and manner of the relating is totally credible. The only possible way to discount the credibility is to simply discount the entire book. You’re free to do that. If you are a believing Christian like I am, it’s implausible to discount it entirely. So, I’m left with the challenge: how can this be true unless it is? Is his father, who is the author, simply making it up? You just about have to say that if you need to discount the book entirely.

The boy was asked what Jesus looked like. He couldn’t identify him from any of the traditional depictions we are all used to seeing. But, when shown a drawing of Jesus done by another child, from another country, many years earlier who mysteriously began drawing pictures of heavenly figures but who had no Christian upbringing at all, the boy’s face showed clearly that he was looking at an accurate depiction. And he said, “that’s him.”

Imagination – how exciting

2011-05-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

This comes from a story in guideposts.

Mother and her small son are walking out from a restaurant when they encounter a fat, black garden hose across the sidewalk. Someone’s watering the shrubbery under the windows and is pulling the hose slowly across the sidewalk. The boy excitedly shouts, “Look out for the big, black snake!”

Mother jerks him over the hose and says, “That’s not a snake. It’s just a garden hose.” That’s sad, sad. I remember sitting behind the wheel of my dad’s big, blue Buick when I was about 11 and piloting it on exciting flights to various places; I remember engaging in running gun battles with noble enemies, all while on my stick horse.

Imagination must be something we’re supposed to grow out of as we become adults. I hope that when my five year old grandson tells me something he experienced while playing in his fort, I’ll always take him seriously and ask him to tell me more and what happened next.

Okay…what’s an E-Mag?

2011-03-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, Doug May, put together what he called an “E-Magazine” a number of months ago. I’d, of course, never heard of that but when I saw his, I was hooked. “I gotta have me one,” I said.

You may not be on my distribution list to receive it, and if you’d like a preview, just email me and I’ll forward one to you as an email. Then, if you like (but only if you like), I’ll place your name on the list and you’ll get each issue.

The magazine is basically an email, but not an attachment to one. In it I will reference articles I find of interest and that I think you may enjoy. I will provide a short blurb about the article and then give you a link so you can choose to go read it or not. The articles I reference may be ones I’ve written on my own blogs, ones that other bloggers have posted that I like, or just something I read about somewhere.

The neat thing is that you can scan the page and decide if an article interests you. If it does, you just click the link. If not, you just go on. That really beats sending a mass email announcing a blog post and providing a link to the blog. Then you have to open the blog itself just to see if you are interested.

The magazine will also contain short notices of interest such as the upcoming Tax Seminar I’m offering (which I'm now calling, Build a Fence or Buy an Ambulance) and when/how to register for it, some photos and even some thoughts of mine.

It is also a great place for me to promote something you’re doing that you’d like people to know about. Just contact me and we’ll talk. Let me know if you’d like a preview. Of course, the E-mag is free to you in any event.

Cap and Trade—A Yellow Dog idea?

2011-03-03T15:37:00.000-08:00

Cap and Trade is a concept allowing the free market economic system to establish the value of pollution. A pollution tax is another method to ascribe a monetary cost to pollution. Both seem reasonable alternatives, yet neither is purely effective in establishing true value under the free market.

Simplified, a free market system allows a price/value to be set for a product that represents close to its true value. It’s basic supply and demand. Buyers and sellers essentially set value. Outside influences, of course, happen but theoretically the system works well and has for a very long time.

But along comes something that gummies up the works. Pollution. We want clean water and air. Producers of product pollute sometimes. Pollution has a cost, sometimes huge and sometimes not, but it doesn’t factor into supply and demand unless that cost is reflected in price. If Seller doesn’t have to include pollution cost into price, buyer doesn’t have to pay for it. Society suffers; taxpayers often pay.

Most of us agree that pollution is bad and needs to be controlled. We don’t want to be forced to drink polluted water. So, along comes government (experts and bureaucracies) and says, “we’ll set a cost for pollution and it’ll be paid by the producer to allow him to pollute (wouldn’t matter much if it was paid by the consumer as a cost to be free from pollution). That cost is now added to the price of the product.

Both methods of valuing pollution costs, tax or cap and trade, have been around for decades. Tax is simply set by the government. Cap and Trade allows some free market influence in the setting of the pollution costs because producers are assigned units of pollution and can trade those among themselves.

The interesting thing is: I would have thought from the noise coming from fiscal conservatives these past few years that cap and trade was a liberal, left wing, Yellow Dog concept allowing big government interference in the market. Truth is, cap and trade came out of conservative thinking years ago as a better way to control pollution without so much government interference as a tax would cause.

The battle really has little to do with the merits of cap and trade. The battle is basically over whether there should be pollution control at all, or to what extent. It’s the “global warming” fang against fang thing. Those on one side are derisive of the other side.

It’d be nice if people would own up to their true reasons for objecting to something. But, then, we’d all be educated as to what’s going on and that’d never do, would it?

National Affairs magazine

2011-02-15T14:36:00.000-08:00

About a year and a half ago, I began reading a quarterly publication called National Affairs. It’s published by National Affairs, Inc in Washington, D.C. Today, I want to spend a short time hopefully being persuasive in suggesting you take a careful look at it.

The following from Wikipedia provides a pretty good overview and a testimonial from David Brooks:

National Affairs, Inc. … publishes a public-policy quarterly by the same name. It began publishing National Affairs in September 2009, describing itself as "a quarterly journal of essays about domestic policy, political economy, society, culture, and political thought. It aims to help Americans think a little more clearly about our public life, and rise a little more ably to the challenge of self-government."

On September 7, 2009, David Brooks of the New York Times reviewed the first issue. He wrote that "The Public Interest closed in 2005", leaving "a gaping hole. Fortunately, a new quarterly magazine called National Affairs is starting up today to continue the work." Brooks continued by noting that the magazine occupied "the bloody crossroads where social science and public policy meet matters of morality, culture and virtue." "In a world of fever swamp politics and arid, overly specialized expertise," Brooks wrote in his closing, "National Affairs arrives at just the right time."

The articles are contributions by a number of men and women who hold positions that tell me they have intelligent opinions. So far I’ve not been disappointed. In fact, this is just what the doctor ordered for me, a relatively inarticulate, wannabe deep thinker who tends toward the free market with a slightly right of center prayer, but who cries out at the people who respond to pain by just saying, “oh, she made poor life choices and now has to pay the price—her bad.” I’m a progressive entrepreneur, I guess. Never made much money but enjoyed the ride and believe I continue to make a difference.

It’s fair to say the magazine has a center-right feel. Most, but certainly not all, of the contributors are in that camp or maybe even a bit more right than that. But, I’ve never read an article that I didn’t think offered a good beginning, at least, to some careful thinking about big issue matters. The economy, health care, main stream Americans, what drives our political thinking, childhood obesity, states’ interests vs federal interests, and just about anything that matters regarding American public policy are all found between the covers.

If you, like me, really care beyond knee-jerk, you will really enjoy reading this every few months. This thing is less than $30 a year and just beats the heck out of Oberman and O’Reilly yelling at and talking on top of each other.

John Boehner

2011-01-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

I’ve recently experienced a sort of epiphany—at least I’ve begun to change my mind about our estimable Speaker. Funny how making judgments about people way too soon can come back to bite you.

During the presidential campaign and for some time thereafter, I was of the strong opinion that Mr. Boehner was one of those who believed in just saying “No” to any idea coming from the Democrats or President Obama. It didn’t matter what it was, the merits (or lack thereof) were not even worth consideration. I perceived him as proclaiming that if it came from “that camp,” his life’s mission would be to destroy it. He’s not the only one, of course. He’s not even the one who announced repeatedly that the Republican goal was to bring the President down no matter what, but I did feel he was in the middle of that group.

But then I heard what I thought was softening. I heard a couple of things that might represent a rationality that I hadn’t thought was there. These were remarks about concepts and future challenges that would require effort, thought and discussion with people across the aisle. I was surprised, but not skeptical.

Now I hear others saying the same thing. There seems to have been a slight rhetorical shift. “Job destroying taxes” sounds less inflammatory than “job killing.” A little less. And, he seems to be saying that repealing the health care legislation could pave the way for Congress to pass “common-sense reforms.” Again, I’m a little surprised, but very thrilled to hear a powerful Republican say that we should be open to “common-sense reform.” Personally, I’ve always felt the strength of the recent health care legislation was that it might just force our Country to finally face up to the need for quality health care reform.

And, of course, we know we have a strong and effective leader when we see him publicly display emotion a couple of times and the best shot the pundits and others can take is to laugh at him. So, he’s less of a man because he feels for people and isn’t afraid to show it? Give me a break!

Don’t say you ever heard me say this, but Speaker John may just become the best we’ve had in many a decade.

INTERMISSION

2010-12-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

A midweek gathering to equip the community for life in Christ.

This article likely has more interest for people living in my community, but I think there’s value for everyone to know about it, and so it’s worth the time and space.

Intermission is a new community ministry taking place at Monument Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 PM. It begins on January 12.

Each Wednesday will kick off with a supper provided by the Church—not a pot luck—so just bring yourself, your family and your friends. There’s a small charge for the food. I think it’s $1 for kids up to 6^th grade, $2 for older kids, $3 for adults and $5 for a couple.

Dinner is followed by a short devotional and encouragement for the community time and then a whole bunch of classes happen. They only last from 7 to 8 PM, but there are activities and classes for children K-5^th grade [that’s called Commotion], classes for middle and high school students [that’s called Crave], and then three different adult classes to choose from:

Ephesians: “A study through Paul’s encouraging letter to the church to discover its relevant message for us today.

Art: Remaking a Masterpiece: We’ll select a work of art to be “remade” as a group project.

The Apostle’s Creed: Exploring a summary of Christianity’s basic beliefs.

Each class is designed to last about 6 weeks and then another will take its place.

I am personally inviting you, whether you go to Monument Presbyterian Church or not, to join us in fun, fellowship and study. You are each and all absolutely welcome and you don’t have to bring a thing except your interest to be a part of the evening.

www.monumentpc.org is the website and you can find the street address and maybe even driving directions. It’s in the Redlands.

THE KENNEDY DETAIL

2010-11-22T17:54:00.000-08:00

I just spent a week on the beach in Puerto Rico! One of the things I enjoyed doing the most (besides helping Grandsons Daniel and Jake play important games in the sand and surf) was to read Jerry Blaine’s new book, The Kennedy Detail. I read it very carefully and with tremendous interest as well as emotion because I lived through that time. I, like you, got nearly all of my “facts” over the past fifty years from the media.

Incidentally, for all you conspiracy theorists out there, Jerry will be interviewed on December 2 on the Discovery Channel. I believe it is in the evening at 7 PM. I also understand that the Channel will discuss some of those conspiracy theories before that time, although I can’t seem to find out when. Here’s a suggestion (an obvious one, at that) from one (me) who is always intrigued by conspiracy but who long ago determined that such avenues in regard to the Kennedy assassination were simply not true ones, but were part of our culture’s need to make sense out of the insensible. So, don’t draw any conclusions about conspiracies until you hear Jerry’s interview or read the book. He pretty well disposes of them all.

Jerry was one of the special agents serving in the United States Secret Service and was assigned to the Kennedy Detail. In other words, he was there. After nearly fifty years, he decided it should now be okay to share; time to tell the story, factually and from an insider’s notes and personal recollection. Actually, I need to pluralize that. Jerry got the notes and personal recollections of all the special agents on that Detail. It took him years to put it all together.

This posting is not to be a book report. Already there have been short interviews of Jerry and Clint Hill (another “he was there” special agent) on Fox, on CNN and CNBC that I know of. Shortly I expect most of America will have read the book for themselves and I urge you to be one of the readers if you have any interest in what happened to the President, why it happened, if there is fault to be found and what happened to the hearts of the agents who were there and were charged with protecting the President but who, through no fault of their own, failed. What became of each of them afterward, and what it was like to have that sort of job. If you want more inside detail, vidoes and a list of interviews Jerry has given and will be giving, go to his website, www.kennedydetail.com.

President Kennedy became a personal friend to most of the agents who served him. What do you suppose it was like to lose him suddenly and in the way that it happened, yet be given absolutely no time to grieve because your job required you to immediately throw your shoulders back and assume the same role in protecting the new president and to make it be seamless.

I do have a couple of thoughts that I want to share. The first has to do with President Kennedy’s legacy to you and to me. Since his death, I’ve seen the media and lots of authors deliberating and communicating opinion as to Kennedy’s worth as a president. What I saw them doing is to chronicle the good accomplishments, chronicle the less than good ones, total them up with a resulting score card that says he was either a “great,” or “good,” or “mediocre,” or “not-so-good” president. That’s okay. That’s the way our society grades people. What did they achieve? And were the positives heavier than the negatives? To me, as one interested in real legacy, it’s all irrelevant!

I prefer what I read by looking between the lines of Jerry’s work: when John F. Kennedy came to office, he offered us all hope. That’s not to imply we particularly needed it after our previous president-- but just a sense of beautiful hope nonetheless. That is, after all, a core need of human beings and Kennedy offered that to all of us.

When he left us three years later, notwithstanding the grief and outrage we all felt, he left us with that same hope. His life, his presidency, brought you and me blossoming hope. He loved us and we believed him. That’s his legacy to his people. And what greater one could there be?

Another observation I drew has to do with the integrity of the guys (and gals) who serve in the Secret Service. You know they’ve got a code of silence. They can’t talk about things. It’s just how it is. Yet our media folk need someone to blame when tragedy happens. Maybe it’s not just the media; maybe it’s all of us. When our beloved is taken away or when national tragedy happens, we need to find out who messed up, whose fault is this anyway. And so it was with this one. I remember the press and the television pointing fingers at the Secret Service and saying that since it was their job to prevent this, the occurrence had to mean the Service is at fault. A little simple investigating would have nipped that conclusion in the bud. Yet not until now has the Secret Service been able to speak up.

I think it’s the media’s prioritizing it’s desire to sell product over the need for honesty—to check facts. But that’s just me.

It’s just not manly!

2010-11-05T15:34:00.000-07:00

It seems about every time I try to engage a group of people in conversation about relationships, listening, sharing thoughts and feelings with others, I run into the same problem. There are always at least a couple of men who just don’t feel comfortable “going there.”

Now I understand that! I was raised that way, too. But my rub comes from the guys who try to say that’s just the way men are—it’s in our genes. Hogwash! It’s cultural. It’s how we guys were raised. We’re from independent, do it yourself, take charge people whose ancestors were ranchers and pioneers.

Believe it or not, there are studies that tell us that if we deny our need to share feelings and to be loved and to love (not just your spouse and kids), we are at risk of actually perishing!

This from Dr. Henry S. Lodge in a book he co wrote with Chris Crowley, Younger Next Year.

In general, men don’t do such a great job of staying connected to people, or of living fully as they get older. Men think they can separate reason and emotion, mind and heart, thinking and feeling. Having performed that remarkable trick, they think they can put the emotional side on the back burner, or ignore it completely, and they tend to believe they will be better men as a result. This is a mistaken notion. It is not a good idea and it is not possible. It is unhealthy and delusional; it goes directly against the grain of how we were made….Connect, commit and be young.

His point, from the context of the rest of the chapter, is that if you deny your emotional side, if you won’t connect and commit, you’ll be a lonely old man. Lonely old men (and women) die. So if your manly lifelong habit is to avoid sharing, sharing feelings, you’ll soon forget how. It’ll be a lonely old existence, and a short one, for a lonely old man.

Have you ever been interrupted?

2010-08-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

I don’t mean someone steps on your conversation.

Your wife decides to leave you—out of the blue! Totally unexpected—just didn’t see it coming, man. You’ve got three little kids.

Your boss calls you in with the news that you’ve been chosen to take a permanent vacation from this job. Or, your five year old struggling business just couldn’t weather the recent recession, you’ve totally run out of savings and you’ve closed the doors. Bankruptcy looks like the only next step.

You learn that your youngest daughter, age about 30, has been diagnosed with a particular illness, a terminal one, and she has two small children. Or, you learn your teenage son was killed in an automobile accident an hour ago.

This blog today isn’t just about the question of why bad things happen to good people. It’s really more about what do you do when your life and your life’s big dreams get interrupted? Where do you look? What do you look for?

Some say that Christians have an easier time of it than non believers. I’m not at all sure of that. But, Christians do have an arrow that others may not realize is available. Prayer. But I think, unfortunately, that Christians misunderstand that arrow and misuse it. That’s why they don’t necessarily have the easier path to recovery.

Craig Barnes in his book, When God Interrupts points out that when the interruption happens and doesn’t just go away on its own, Christians pray, pray, pray and pray some more for God to fix it. And when God doesn’t fix it, we Christians believe we are somehow deficient in our faith or didn’t pray hard enough. So we pray, pray, pray some more. When he still doesn’t fix it, we’re devastated and can’t figure out why God would do that to us. After all, we were living that beautiful dream well, and he seemed pleased with what we were doing. No reason at all for an interruption!

It’s perfectly okay, perfectly natural to pray for the fix, Barnes says, but that alone is a misdirection. Pray also that your relationship with God be better, be healed, or restored, or just that he make your walk with him a little closer. After all, that’s the real healing, don’t you think? I know a lot of people who found their “problem” fixed to their satisfaction when that wasn’t the main focus of their prayers. Becoming closer and closer to Jesus fixes a lot of other things in our little lives.

How Did You Spend Your Dash?

2010-07-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, I came across a wonderful little inspirational video called, simply, The Dash. It is truly one of the most moving pieces I've ever watched. I'm going to link it here and hope you'll take your tissues and self to the YouTube video for about 3 minutes.

I have used this poem and the movie itself repeatedly in presentations to groups and it never ceases to create anew my sense of needing to be worthy. There are certainly some pieces of my life that I remember clearly and hope others can forgive. But I'd like to think that part of my dash is long past. Take a look at this and think about yourself and your own dash. Let me know, if you can bear it, what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsY6UrFIsNs

Grand Lake and pine beetles

2010-06-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

So tomorrow is Jan’s birthday. And I, of course, scheduled three client meetings in a remote town 200 miles south of here, one tomorrow and two Tuesday. Brilliant, though, I am and fully considerate. You can see that, no?

So, we took an early birthday road trip for three days to Grand Lake, Fraser and Granby, Colorado. It was absolutely amazing. We had no schedule so we just got up when we wanted to and wandered aimlessly.

A discovery we made is that in Grand Lake, very few people are up and about at 9:00 am. We parked wherever we wanted to and sat by the beautifully placid lake, right on the dock, and watched fish jump, couple of little kids casting toy rods (they readily admitted they had no hooks), and read our Hebrews study for Tuesday night.

Here are a couple of photos Jan took during this quiet time. (I took the cheesecake one)

Later on, things got busy and people were milling around, but that wasn’t until nearly 11:30.

I learned something else very interesting, I think. I don’t know if you can see it in this photo, but the pine beetle infestation has nearly covered many of the mountain sides around here. In real life, this mountain side appears just plain gray! It is very sad and has concerned many for years now.

But what I learned from our “boat driver guide” when we took a lake tour in the afternoon, is that things are looking very much better than we might expect if we just look at the gray mountain. About 100 years ago, this particular mountain was devastated by a forest fire. It grew back to what you see now. When the beetle infestation began on this mountain about 10 years ago, it attacked mostly the old trees, those about 100 plus years old (which is close to the life expectancy of those trees anyway.

She said she had hiked to the top of the mountain a couple of days ago and was amazed at the beauty of the new growth: pine and spruce trees already 3 to 6 feet tall, green and healthy plus lots of green undergrowth and aspen. She said she and her colleagues are quite optimistic now. Maybe we need a cleansing forest fire or some aggressive logging. But, it doesn’t bode as sad as I have been thinking.

So if any of you have thoughts, expert or otherwise, about pine beetle solutions, chime in. I’d love to hear your take on this thing.

The Time To Think Council

2010-06-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Today I want to talk about our Grand Junction Time To Think Council. About four years ago, maybe even five, Jan and I decided to form a Thinking Council patterned after Nancy Kline’s Thinking Environment Applications. http://www.timetothink.com

Our Council meets about once a month for a lunch get-together that lasts until about 2:00 pm. The protocol is that one of the members will bring an “issue” or “problem” or “opportunity”—just something that needs to be talked over or thought about—to the Council. We then spend a couple of hours ruminating.

What makes the Council’s approach so unique is that we define ruminating not as chewing the cud, or brainstorming, or dialogue, or arguing, or talking over each other, or discussing.

We engage in independent, solo, thinking out loud. We take turns, with each of us spending our turn in out-loud thinking that may or may not be relevant, that may or may not directly hit the topic and that may or may not provide a solution or answer. The point is not to give the “presenter” advice or counsel. The point is to give the presenter the benefit of the “thinker’s” very best, very deepest thinking. The thinker is absolutely never interrupted and there is never any dialogue during the thinking time. When everyone has had a turn at that, the presenter nearly always can articulate a solution or response that is uniquely that of the presenter, after digesting all of the independent thinking of the others.

This is an extremely powerful approach to problem solving. I’d never heard of it until I began my studies under Nancy Kline. When we started the Council here in Grand Junction, Colorado, we had eight people, out of the twenty or so we introduced it to, that committed to join. We have a great deal of fun, but the real value is the gift of listening and the gift of thinking. That is just too powerful to describe; it must be experienced. Our Council (of eight) stayed committed and together until the death of one of the founders, Terry Fine. We then replaced Terry with three other people. That was more than a year ago, and the Council now numbers nine. (We lost another member due to the pressure of time--membership requires a pretty consistent commitment)

To end with, remember this: The quality of everything we do depends entirely on the quality of the thinking we do first.

Anyone else out there doing anything like this?

Grand Valley Magazine reviews my story telling book

2010-05-06T09:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I saw for the first time the May issue of the Grand Valley Magazine. It contains an interview of me by the publisher all about my new book, Success…Swimming in a Sea of. The Magazine has been very supportive of and excited about my book and the article reflects that. I am pleased and hope you’ll all pick up a copy of the Magazine (and, of course, of the book as well).

But another point to make about this Magazine is how beautiful it is and how well designed and written it is. Even the advertising is appealing. This is a definite “item to have” around the house or office, on your coffee tables. You can check out the Magazine by taking a look at the website. www.grandvalleymagazine.com

With all that said, I think I’ll put a short excerpt from the book up as this posting today. Maybe I’ll continue with more over the next few postings. Let me know what you think.

What I am posting today is the dedication of the Book. I dedicated it to Terry Fine and I think you can see why by reading on. Here it is:

Terry Fine

Terry Fine, doctor of dentistry, passed away in 2008. His profession was that of a scientist. His life, including his professional life, was that of a servant, and a humble one at that. I first met Terry when I came to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1991 and needed a dentist to replace [the man who had been] my dentist during all those years I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

My respect for Terry grew to encompass far more of his person than just his gentle hands. Terry truly cared about the persons in his world. That was evident not only in how he treated those he was serving professionally, but by his relationships with his staff and his colleagues. His chapter in this book reveals that aspect of his hub, the foundation of his person, far better than I could describe.

In 2006 a small group of men and women in Grand Junction formed what was to become the Grand Junction Time To Think Council, and Terry was invited to become a founding member. The purpose of the Council is to meet monthly and to offer to its individual members the great benefit of the very best, deepest, richest, and independent thinking of each of the Council members on a given topic or issue.

Terry felt humbled to be asked to join; the Council felt honored that he accepted. That’s who Terry was.

The Council meetings typically last about two hours and involve lunch together. During one of our earliest meetings, after about 15 minutes Terry disappeared out into the hall. Upon returning, he apologized and told us he had to call his office to reschedule a patient: Terry had forgotten that we would not be finished by one o’clock p.m. and he had scheduled a patient for one and-a-half hours after the meeting began. Even though our Council was yet untried and possibly unworthy of a busy physician’s rescheduling his patients, Terry had made a commitment.

He was one who honored not only his commitments, but individual people as well. When I was considering writing this book, Terry was a very strong supporter. His encouragement did not stem from any earned merit of mine or of the project; he supported it because I thought it worthwhile. And his encouragement went far beyond simply saying positive words. I asked him if he would like to be the first interviewee for the book. He thought he didn’t have much of value that would be meaningful to others, but he agreed simply because it was my project and he wanted to support me. “If you want me to do it, then I’ll do it,” he said, “I want to support you.” So Terry was the very first contributor, and his chapter is found within the covers of this book. Over the time it took to put this project together, and right up until his death, he frequently asked about its progress and what problems I might be experiencing.

Terry Fine, a true friend and mentor to many.

So I ask you now, after reading this Dedication piece, what do you take away from this story? What kind of person do you think Terry Fine was and what sense do you have of his principles? Extracting the threads that make up the tapestry of a person, is what this book is all about. You can see more at the Book’s website, www.stevegammill.com/book

Story telling testimonials and thoughts

2010-04-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

I want to share something my friend, Karen Jensen, had to say about the book

“I thought the Success Book was an excellent compilation of stories and histories of people who have made an impact on our community. I have a special fondness for your book because I personally know several of your contributors so I am a biased reviewer! I think books such as this have an influence on our community and society as a whole as we begin to discover what "truly matters" in our lives and how we choose to spend our days. Keep writing....I think there are more tales to tell! Blessings, Karen”

Last Tuesday, April 13^th, I interviewed Jen Taylor on my radio show, Priceless Conversations in the Grand Valley. She was just a wonderful person to interview. You may know that I have been interviewing people who were featured in the book, Success…Swimming in a Sea of. There are, of course, lots of people out there in our community that weren’t in the book, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN! Jen’s one of them. I plan to include stories by others who weren’t in the book, but should have been, as we go through this year at KAFM.

Here’s a pretty typical comment I heard after Jen’s program. This from Gwen DiCino:

“Your interview with Jen Taylor was great – Dave, his grandpa and I listened to it together in the conference room. She is great, and I was intrigued by her comment that she was raised “free range”. Sounds just like my childhood! BTW, Chris Murr is giving the presentation at Rotary on COPMOBA on August 11^th. I know Chris from my old Allstate sales days.”

Some people just have a way—and, again, Jen’s one of them. Can you imagine the wonderous picture that pops into your mind when you hear her comment that she was raised “free range?”

Chris is Jen’s husband and he is one of the contributors to the book. Next month, we’ll be talking with Jamie Hamilton. Hopefully, we can get him to mention JUCO while he’s on the air. That's Tuesday, May 11th, 12 noon at 88.1 on your dial.

And, I’m in the middle of trying to set up a podcast. I expect to launch it in a week or so. We did record Jen’s interview, so that’ll be the first podcast we’ll try. Once it’s up, I’ll let you know how to find and listen to it.

Now for an exciting story telling thought. I have been interviewed for the May issue of the GRAND VALLEY MAGAZINE. Krystyn Hartman did a telephone interview and we got excited together about the book, why it was written, how I chose the persons to feature in it, and what its purpose is. So, keep your eyes peeled for the May issue. Should be out soon.

Comments to my last story

2010-04-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

To get into the flow of this story, take a look at John's comment to my last post. It's right below this one. This is great and speaks to the value of blogging. My take is different from John's even though we seem to share the same philosophical bent on what’s wrong with things: we’ve swayed in this Country too far away from caring about our people and too far toward making profits regardless of the hurt it might cause to others. It’s a pendulum thing.

I’d love to hear from others who may have read the Article or who just have an opinion. Maybe it’s my free market leanings of the past fifty years, but I just disagree that stifling risk taking and innovation is ever good. But I do agree that rampant, uncontrolled and total freedom in the market place generates ever more selfish, “the greatest profit at any cost,” cultures, and I think we’ve all seen the hurt caused under that view. In other words, I don’t think "survival of the fittest at any cost" has current value in civilized cultures.

So, it’s a matter of balance, as the Article points out. Where do we each come down in the discussion about balance?

I’m not sure how many people may have pointed to this problem before, but I am sure I’ve never before heard it put quite this profoundly: innovation and entrepreneurship absolutely needs cohesion for its survival; cohesion absolutely needs innovation and entrepreneurship for its very survival; yet each is bent on the destruction of the other.

As I read Manzi’s article, I thought he was pretty clear in his ideas regarding solutions. Others didn’t. Again, that sort of disagreement is probably what makes our Country great even though people on both sides believe strongly that we’re near the edge of Armageddon.

Keeping America's Edge

2010-03-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

I mentioned last week reading an article in National Affairs by Jim Manzi called Keeping America’s Edge. Most of us seem to walk through a great many years of life so close to the forest that we simply can’t recognize it because of all the trees blurring our way. At least I do.

Manzi is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. His writing style tells me he is extremely intelligent--and that gives him credibility with me.

I find myself fascinated by people who can see the big picture and reference it by pointing to the individual trees. I felt sort of yanked back to where the forest was actually more than a misty outline.

The Left, the Liberals, are concerned with America’s Social Cohesion. (Oversimplification: government can best respond to our moral obligation to care and provide for humanity.) On the extreme, that’s all they are concerned with, except for the need to destroy innovation.

The Right, the far Right, is concerned with innovation, entrepreneurship and those qualities that allow us to move forward, to be interested and excited. (Oversimplification: a non regulated free market system can best provide for humanity’s empty tummies, provide us all with the good life and our Country with world leadership.) On the extreme, they advocate the immediate removal of all market regulation and most restrictions on behavior; if problems arise, the free market will “self correct.” That’s all they’re concerned with, except for the need to destroy the “cohesives.”

But such deregulation would disrupt and undermine Cohesion which is essential to a just and decent society and which actually produces the kind of citizens that the free market system requires. And, of course, total big brother government would destroy innovation and spirit.

Cohesion absolutely must have innovation in order to survive; innovation absolutely must have cohesion in order to survive. If you think about that, it’s obvious. Yet, the two are in deadly competition against each other. Sounds to me like a mutual suicide pact. They in fact are intent on killing each other out of existence.

The policy makers, the politicians, the movers and shakers in this Country, some of them, seem to know this and realize that the solution is balance. But finding a way or ways to balance these competing forces is extremely difficult and won’t happen overnight. Current policy people seem unable to move (or maybe unwilling?).

Manzi is not only skilled in articulating the problem and revealing it to the likes of me, he is also keenly adept at pointing out particular trees we should be husbanding and, pretty much, how to do it.

Anyone else out there who’s read this? Chime in with your comments.

Thoughts since last time...

2010-03-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

The discussion I posted February 21 about capturing the stories of our WWII Vets, drew the following comment from Michael Salogga. He posted this on the 23^rd.

Michael Salogga said...

I'm just now reading Tom Brokaw's book, "The Greatest Generation" and it is a great compilation of "libraries" of experiences of veterans and those stateside during WWII. Each story is a phenomenal snapshot into the lives of people that lived through the war and how it changed them forever. Good for you Steve, for taking the time to get those stories in writing. It is an honorable task and one that every family member should take on personally. The insight is invaluable when seeing who they are, what motivates them and how they look at life, family, community and country.

I am still hoping to hear from some of you who have a dad or grandfather still alive that is a Vet and whose stories you might like to have on a CD, in their own voice, to preserve and pass on to your loved ones. If you do, please post a comment and give me your contact information.

And, BTW, if you are interested in one of the finest vacation experiences you can imagine, check out Tracks and Trails blog. The link is right here beside this posting.

* * *

Just yesterday, on KAFM Radio, 88.1 on your dial, I interviewed Deanna Strand. Many of you may know that Deanna, after 26 years of owning and running her own aviation company here in Grand Junction, is taking a slightly different track and is helping John Hendricks of the Discovery Channel develop a new adventure called Canyon Air Tours. This Company will offer air tours, both fixed wing and helicopter, of some very spectacular sights and scenery in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah.

I interviewed Deanna over a year ago for my book, Success…Swimming in a Sea of, and the discussion yesterday was a follow up, a part of a new radio show we’re calling Priceless Conversations in the Grand Valley. I’ll be talking with some of the people whose interviews are featured in the book and some who aren’t. We’ve had two shows so far and among the comments was one that thought we sounded like we should be on NPR. I don’t mind hearing that kind of feedback, for sure, for sure.

Our next show will be Tuesday, April 13th at noon, and my guest will be Jen Taylor. Jen wasn’t in the book—but probably should have been. I’m just making her acquaintance and am really looking forward to a Priceless Conversation in the Grand Valley with her.

* * *

I hope you all took a long look at Don Pettygrove’s comment to my earlier posting about balance in our political and social lives. It helped me a lot to hear the reasoned philosophy that I have seemed recently to be somewhat withdrawing from. That sort of discussion is what I’ve been hoping would happen with this blog.

Just today, I began reading an article by Jim Manzi in National Affairs, the Winter, 2010 issue. It’s called Keeping America’s Edge and I urge us all to read it, to consider this much broader picture of who we are, where we are, and how we will or won’t maintain our world positions. It is clear to me that this is someone who’s thinking I need to adopt—as much as I can.

He carefully and intelligently describes the competing forces, innovation and cohesion, their components, their necessity to each other for survival and their propensity to destroy each other in spite of the survival needs.

Our Libraries are burning!

2010-02-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

The other day, someone posted on Facebook a truly moving video about a WWII P-51 pilot reunited with a replica of his plane and a bunch of other WWII P-51 vets. This man had 55 missions under his belt, all in one plane, February. Here’s the link if you’d like to spend about 30 minutes wiping your eyes and listening to a few powerful and wonderous stories. http://www.asb.tv/videos/view.php?v=1bf99434&br=500%3E

There’s an old saying (I’m not sure where it originates, but as with most truths, it doesn’t matter). “When an old person dies, it’s like a library burning down.” When I’ve talked to groups about storytelling, that saying has proven pretty powerful. You know, we’re losing our WWII veterans in ever greater numbers, daily. Soon, there just won’t be any libraries left.

WWII vets may be unique in another way, as well: they just aren’t, it seems, inclined to tell their stories. They are pretty humble people, at least about that. I’ve sometimes asked a child or grandchild what their dad experienced during the War. They all say, “I don’t know—he just didn’t talk about that much.” That was certainly my experience with my own dad. He was in Normandy at the time of the invasion. I never did learn whether he was in the invasion itself. I think I just failed to ask—but he never volunteered any stories either.

Twice now I’ve interviewed WWII men. Both times were memorable. One’s son thanked me and said he’d learned things he’d never known about his dad. That man was a survivor from a ship sunk by a Japanese submarine. The other man had never left stateside, but spent the entire war training young pilots how to fly fighter aircraft in Europe. His impact on our war effort was pretty obvious.

But, be careful. It was “shell shock” in those days—today it’s PTSD. I’ve learned not to ask a direct question about combat experiences. It can inadvertently trigger some devastating consequences. I’ve learned how to ask more subtle questions that allow a person to “go there” if he wants to.

Do you know any veterans? Maybe it doesn’t matter if they are from The War, or from a more recent one, but we’re losing libraries. Get yourself an inexpensive recorder. If you contact me, I’ll send you a copy of my question list. Collect those stories and pass them on to loved ones who would love to have dad’s (or granddad’s) stories, in his own voice.

Can we find some balance? SHOULD we try to be more balanced?

2010-02-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

I started this as a pitch for reasoned balance and I guess I still advocate that though I’m not as sure as I was when I started writing the sentence. I’m talking about the way we human beings go about reaching important conclusions in community. If the issue is really important, global warming, health care, recession recovery, and the like, the extremes in our communities begin vicious derogation of each other. They deride not only the others’ reasoning, but often deride the others personally. I think we see that in our Congress by whichever party is not in power.

But that may not be all bad! Our communities, for very nearly 500 years in this Country, have addressed important issues this way and we seem to find innovative and successful conclusions, sort of in spite of ourselves, if we’re patient enough.

Most of my adult life (all of it, I think, except the past about eight years), I’ve been a Republican politically, fiscally, and in my world view of the free market system and values. I’ve never been an extreme, but I did used to listen to Rush—thirty years ago. I think at heart I still am a moderate thinker who leans to the right. But my perception of life is not there today. I have concluded that the free market system just can’t take care of its people morally without meaningful regulation. And that’s just because human greed jumps right in. I, as a once strong supporter of a regulated free market system, have long observed that the system just refuses to find a solution in particular areas, such as health care.

Of course, this is all my perception—perception of reality is all any of us have and it’s what makes it so hard to accept someone else’s good faith perception which contradicts mine. And that’s the point. If we seek balance softly and kindly, will we find it? I don’t know. Do we need to verbally abuse one another and be derisive of each other in order to arrive at right answers? I hope not, but I’m not sure.

I hope some of you share your thoughts, especially Don.

On the right of this blog page is a list of blogs I follow. You may notice I have added some since last time. One in particular, Confessions of a Colorado Conservative, is authored by one of my truly good friends, Don Pettygrove. I recommend you click on that blog and spend some time there. Don is clearly a conservative; Don is also a thoughtful, careful man who is caring and loving. He and I have spent lots of quality time disagreeing with each other, agreeing with each other, getting things done together and studying the Bible together. Politically and fiscally, we’re not on the same page today. Does that mean I no longer value his opinions? Absolutely not. His blog is here because I do in fact value him and his thinking.

I am a disciple of Nancy Kline’s Thinking Environment. www.timetothink.com. Our processes and methods are the polar opposite of “brainstorming” and confrontation. Take a look at that site and you’ll see a different perception of “a way of being in the world.”

I invite your comments and would love to share them and respond to them.

How much of an optimist do I have to be?

2010-01-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

So, our Supreme Court upholds the right of a corporation to make political contributions, at least in the form of money supporting advertising for candidates and issues. Can't contribute directly to the candidate, but can definitely purchase advertising. The basis of the decision? Freedom of speech/expression.

As you might guess, it doesn't matter at all whether the Court is correct in interpreting the laws and the Constitution. It matters even less that you and I might disagree or agree with the ruling. The question for now is what all this will mean to our lives and fortunes and those of people we care about. Hopefully, that's all of us.

Some are telling us woefully that there is absolutely nothing Congress or anyone else can do. Congress can't pass new, corrective action either because any corrective legislation would also be a violation of freedom of expression or, more probably, because the corporations would use their wealth to ensure the election of legislators who would refuse to pass such legislation.
That sounds pretty black! And just maybe it really is that bad.

Then there are some who claim this is a godsend---that allowing big business to completely control our lives would ensure the best of all possible worlds for us. Even though I have for decades been a free market advocate (until the last eight years, that is), I just can't buy that foolishness. I recall, as I'm sure most of you do as well, about 50 years of big business stiffling health care initiatives because most meaningful reform would seriously impact the insurance industry's ability to deny coverage where needed. That would be against the unregulated profit motives so necessary to the free enterprise system. (Tongue firmly in cheek)

To tell you the truth, though, I'm not as blindly afraid as some. I am, of course, known for believing good will come out of all bad and apparently bad situations. This is no different. The innovative spirit that so often shows itself in our people will again surface; creativity and small business will again prove its worth. New ideas and programs will shine and we'll be okay in spite of ourselves.

Then again, we may have a bumpy ride for some time. There is a good argument, at least it sounds "sound," that says foreign governments can now purchase influential interests in our large corporations and control our government. Justice Alito seems to say that's not so. I haven't read the opinion, but the media comments sound pretty logical (for a change).

What's your take on this "crisis of the day?" Please comment below.

Oh Them Broncos!!

2010-01-11T15:52:00.000-08:00

Well, we’re done for another season, Bronco fans. We’ve been here before a few times,same song, second or third or fourth verse. This time with different personnel, different coach…whatever.

I seem to ruminate each year on why. Apparently, without big John we just can’t do it. I don’t really believe that, but my frustration is that I believe each year we have really good talent. That is especially so this year. Orton is a surprisingly good quarterback; we have the best corners in the NFL; we have a terrific receiver corps—and we have Dumerville (at least for today)..

You know what? I have concluded this is all about coaching. I know a sports writer from one of the local papers pegs it on the offensive line. Okay, maybe so. But, that’s the same line that played the first six games, isn’t it? So, I say: point the finger at the coaching staff and assume (not just hope) McDaniels will mature a lot by next July.

Lots of teams experience a good start and then hit a slump or a couple of games where they seem to lack focus and intensity (read, which team is gonna show Sunday?). But when the slump lasts the rest of the season and the team looks really bad more often than just having an off day, and the personnel are the same (no big injuries, etc)…

Remember the game Orton was hurt and Sims had to come in? Remember the Texas Alabama game when Colt was hurt and a true freshman had to come in? Played nearly as badly as Sims at first, but managed to pull himself out of it and darned near won the game for Texas. What was wrong with Sims? Likely nothing that a little of coaching and preparation couldn’t have repaired. How could McDaniels let Sims be that unprepared?

It’s easy to say that on any given Sunday, any team can beat any other. That’s not the case here. On any given Sunday, the worst the NFL has to offer will in fact beat the Broncos.

Apologies to Lisa Bianco. I do love this team, Lisa. Hope I was kind enough in my choice of words.

Success...Swimming in a sea of

2009-12-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

Some may know that my new book is now published and available. You can get it on line or through contacting me. Shortly, I will have a website up (likely by the time you read this posting) and you can buy directly there. In the meantime, go to my main site, www.stevegammill.com and it will have a link to the new site, or just leave a contact message there for me to get ahold of you.

I interviewed 14 individuals living in our community and asked them each how they would describe what it means to be professionally successful, successful in learning and education, personally successful, successful in relationships and financially. Their answers were given by their telling their personal experiences and stories.

I have copied below part of the preface to the book. I urge you to get a copy. You will enjoy!

* * *

Happiness may well have a lot to do with how one defines the word. Likewise, whether one is successful in life certainly depends on how one defines success. If we look around us, it’s easy to believe that Americans are affected with the need to acquire “stuff.” Who has the biggest house? Who has the most cars in the driveway that aren’t junk? If those Americans whose life stories fill this book are representative, you may be surprised at what you hear.

This book was written with two purposes in mind. The first, of course, is to explore the meaning of “success”. Everyone interviewed for this book lives in the small corner of Western Colorado known as the Grand Valley. The process involved my interviewing each of them privately and all were asked the same questions and in roughly the same order. I framed the questions in such a way as not to influence or guide the response. Without qualification, the telling of one’s story is the single best and richest route to learning the heart of that person. In a book written in 2008 by Scott Farnsworth and Peggy Hoyt, Like a Library Burning, a Middle Eastern proverb is quoted: “When an old person dies, it’s like a library burning down.” That proverb is especially true if those old people have never shared their wisdom, their principles, their life’s learning, and their values by telling their own histories. World War II veterans leave us every year in great numbers, the libraries are going up in smoke.

Listening to a life story, even one, will reveal important lessons and values of the storyteller, even though that may not have been the purpose in the telling—and that telling is far more interesting to a listener than a two-line response to a direct question. Listen to the following story from my own childhood,—and please note that I asked you to listen, not just to read—and see what you hear and learn about the storyteller.

One day when I was probably nine years old I found myself downtown in a toy store—not that unusual for me. Of course, there was no such thing as a shopping center, so all the shopping we’d be doing was downtown. Well, I was in this toy store, which was probably the dime store, and I discovered a wonderful red tractor. It was plastic, it was dark red, and my memory tells me it was about eight or nine inches long and three or four inches high. It had black rubber treads and looked like a Caterpillar tractor, except that it was red. It cost $4. I had $3, probably all I had to my name.

What was I to do but go across the street to my dad’s office and ask him to help me out? I have no idea what I was expecting he would say or do, because he was not the kind to just reach into his pocket and dole out money to his kids anytime they thought they wanted something. But I only needed a dollar.

He was in his office wearing his white shirt and tie with his sleeves rolled up and working away on something or other. I don't remember the conversation or how I pitched it, but I remember him turning to his typewriter. I don't think he said a thing. I wish I could describe the sound that typewriter made when he inserted the paper and rolled that black roller so that the paper was ready to receive the striking keys. This was a typewriter you would expect to see in a newspaper editor's office in 1949. It was pretty big, made a lot of noise—a rhythmic clacking noise—and my dad was a superb typist. He could really make those keys sing—clickety-clack, clickety clack—and there was always that "ding" when the typewriter would near the right margin, and then that short break in the clickety-clack when Dad would reach up with his left hand, push the silver return lever so that the typewriter carriage would return to the left-hand margin, and the rhythmic clickety-clack could begin again.

So it didn't take long for him to complete the task, and when he pulled the paper from the typewriter he handed me what was titled "Chattel Mortgage." It was two short paragraphs, double spaced and essentially said that I acknowledged borrowing $1 from the "party of the first part, Kenneth A. Gammill" and promised, as the "party of the second part," to repay "said debt " by Sunday, July 3, 1949.

The second paragraph said that if I didn't pay by the due date, plus 5 cents interest, I would release title to my new tractor and give up possession until such time as the debt had been paid or "at the discretion of the party of the first part."

I know that I got the tractor, because I remember playing with it out in the front yard where I had quite a structure built in the dirt for my toy cars and trucks. I have no recollection of paying the debt or of having the tractor repossessed. I'm fairly certain, knowing my dad, that I did, in fact, pay the debt.”

Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen has written a wonderful little book about storytelling called, Kitchen Table Wisdom. In it she says, “I have discovered the power of story to change people. I have seen a story heal shame and free people from fear, ease suffering and restore a lost sense of worth. I have learned that the ways we can befriend and strengthen the life in one another are very simple and very old. Stories have not lost their power…stories need no footnotes…. I have become prouder to be a human being.”

As you begin making your way along the pathways within these chapters, expect a joyful journey. You will definitely learn what some people believe it means to be successful in various aspects of their lives—professional success, financial success, success in learning and education, and personal success. And I hope you experience oh-so-much more.

This book has made me “prouder to be a human being.”

—Steve Gammill

The Power and Depth of Story telling.

2009-12-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

I’ve had some wonderful comments to this new blog. One came from Bob in Durango. He emailed it to me and I copied and posted it as a comment. You can see it below my last posting. More comments would be wonderful and welcome. I know a couple of you told me you had great thoughts but not the time to organize and then post them. So, do something short but sweet and see what others may have to say.

Today I want to offer what may be a new idea for some of you, but very timely since we are thinking of Christmas gifting.

Jan and I discovered and tried out a new on-line survey called Your Flagpage designed to tell us all what motivates us in life. This is a Christian based outfit, and very relevant to today’s world. We ended up giving the opportunity to our kids and to two of our older grandkids as Christmas gifts. If you’re interested in hearing more about that, check out www.laughyourway.com

More to the point, though, we also spent some time last week in a pricelessConversation™ called the Meaning of Success which we are also gifting to our kids this Christmas. The pricelessConversation™ technique (which I’m now calling RealConversations™) is exactly the same as I used in my new book, Success…Swimming in a sea of, which, incidentally, has just been released.

The idea is to use focused questions to discover and then capture a series of life stories of your own, of your parents’, your grandparents’, or even your children’s. The stories elicited using this technique grab and hold a listeners’ interest better than a recitation of a chronological history, and lead directly to a discovery of the most deeply held values. Additionally, of course, the stories themselves are fascinating, precious and absolutely priceless. You don’t need me or any other professional to help you do this. You just need two people, a “question asker” (aka an interviewer) and a story teller.

When I first began studying the idea, I was deeply moved by the recognition that I didn’t even know my own parents’ life stories, except just superficially. Both of my parents, their siblings and cousins, and all four of my grandparents (and their siblings and cousins) are gone! My dad and his father before him had put some of their history on paper. Not much, but enough to tell me there is much, much more there, most of which now lies hidden in the minds of deceased folk.

My other grandfather, my mom’s dad, was born and raised in the hill country of Tennessee. He was, I understand, a first cousin of Chet Atkins (who was likely not even born then). He left Tennessee to “seek his fortune” before 1900 and made his way to a life near his older brother who was farming in southwest Nebraska. He became a farmer, a school teacher, a superintendent of schools, a grocer and a retired person who played a pretty mean banjo. That’s about all I know. So, can you imagine the stories he held in his mind’s library? If they were shared, it was not in a format that I can see or hear. I do know (we learned after his death) that he was much older than my grandmother and had hidden that from her. I wonder why. I wonder why he left Tennessee, and what the relationship was with the Atkins family. What would I give today to know those stories? In his day, the best we could hope for was that he, or someone close to him, might have written them down. Today, were he still here, I could actually sit at his feet and listen to him tell me those stories; I could record them; I could transcribe them to paper; I could burn them to a CD.

My granddad’s library is gone as though it just burned down and nobody cared. The same can be said for lots and lots of other libraries that you know of.

I have become keenly aware of the deep, meaningful value we can offer to people, and to ourselves, by providing the opportunity for them to tell life stories. Aren’t you excited by the thoughts of the stories held in your loved ones’ libraries? Wouldn’t you like to discover them, to capture and preserve them in voice and content, and then to pass them on “down the line.”

As I said, there’s a striking difference between focused story telling and oral histories. There’s a high level of excitement in refraining from guiding the conversation in any particular direction; in embracing it when your person takes “rabbit trail” digressions; and in finding the person’s values exposed as threads woven into her tapestry of life.

It’s not rocket science; it just takes an interest in mom’s stories and a basic understanding of the techniques.

Our Kids' love of learning.

2009-11-24T13:09:00.000-08:00

I’d like to open this blog with something I am particularly passionate about. Education and how to go about it thrills me, especially when I watch little kids blossom. Of course, I have absolutely no formal training in the how to go about it department, but, after all, I’ve been to school, went through K-5 at least, and I understand that makes me an expert.

I just finished my second book. It’s called Success…swimming in a sea of. In it, fourteen individuals in this community described how they define success in their lives in various categories and what life experiences led them to those conclusions. A few of the contributors to the book are professional educators and it was amazing to me to learn that they, to a person, recognize the value of developmentally appropriate learning and are somewhat skeptical about today’s pendulum swing toward rigid standards.

These are quality educators who understand how to mold and shape young minds. They’ll quickly tell you that a child’s education can be individualized, that children learn at different levels and at different times,that one child’s brilliant achievement at age 5 may come just as brilliantly to another, but at a later age and perhaps in a different manner.

Many, many (perhaps not all) children show up for kindergarten, first and second grade eager to learn, full of curiosity, wide eyed, and energetic. They have an almost inherent love of learning.

Children whose teachers in grades K- 2 focus on creative education, sociable learning, and individual, hands-on imaginative teaching, will nearly always end up ahead of the game academically and they’ll get there with their love of learning intact. That’s not purely anecdotal; I’ve observed that myself for about twelve years now.

Unfortunately, this approach has run head on into a confrontational model which insists that appropriate academic achievement can only happen in a heavy, disciplined environment where learning the basics is what it’s about. Some call this a “drill and practice” model Most of us grew up under this type of system. Most of us survived it and learned (perhaps in spite of it). And, of course, we’re now experts in early childhood education.

This works fine for me if my child is one who thrives on the competition, the challenge, and who is developmentally ready for those challenges when they are literally shoved at him in kindergarten and first grade. The problem, of course, is that it completely fails to recognize that kiddos learn differently because they develop differently. Children who aren’t ready to learn addition and subtraction in kindergarten and first grade very often do learn that they are stupid and slow and just can’t measure up to the others.

What does that do to the excited, wide eyed, love of learning they brought to the table when they first arrived? How long before that love of learning is totally gone and the 5th grader can name all the state capitols by rote action, but couldn’t care less? Will he go on to college? Would she have if her love of learning had remained and excited her?

[Okay. This post is 564 words. Reasonable? Or should it be shorter? Incidentally, take a look at Don Pettygrove’s comment on capitalism and free enterprise. I plan to get to that one soon. It’s a great topic and now is an exciting time to think about it.]

How do I comment??

2009-11-23T13:19:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I didn't know this, but I guess you can't comment on a post unless you have a google account. Makes sense--it's their site. But, we really do want opportunity for comment or this whole blog won't fly (unless you all just want to hear what I alone might have to offer).

So, there are really three good options, but you have to take some action.

1. And this is probably the easiest. Open a google account! It's easy and it's FREE. On your browser, enter google accounts home page. Then click on the "create an account" link. Follow the easy instructions. I just did one for Jan (cuz I forgot how I did it when it was for me a few months ago), and it took about 15 seconds. They want your name and your email. Then you need to come up with a password-at least 8 characters. Then you just click on through the silly stuff (you agree to the terms of service, etc, and you copy the ridiculous phrase into the box). That's it. You do need to remember your password, though. Or,

2. you will receive notice from me after I put up each posting that I did so and you'll get the link. If you get that notice on facebook, twitter or linkedin, you can email me directly and privately with your comment. I can, if you're nice to me, take that comment and insert it into the next posting I put up. Or,

3. many of you will get notice of the posting by a direct email distribution from me. Again, it tells you I put up a post and gives you the link to the blog. You can simply email a response back to me as your comment.

I intended to have shared a "musing or two" with you before now, but got caught up in this how do I comment issue.

Incidentally, my next post on the Legacy Blog ( http://stevegammill.blogspot.com) should happen in a week or two. That's late, but it's the holiday's fault. I am going to Albuquerque to see the really neat people who live there.

Let's get started!

2009-11-19T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well, this will be the first posting to my new blog. Actually, I'm just giving this a try. Tomorrow or maybe Saturday, I'll put some Random Musings up here for real. In the meantime, take a look and let me know what you think of the set up. You can post a comment or just email or even call. This picture may not last. It's a bit dark and I can find something more fun, I bet. This is a sunset on the Oregon coast earlier this summer.