*”In my many years I have come to a conclusion, … that one useless man is a shame, two [useless men] is a law firm and three or more [useless men] is a government.”*
~John Adams
******** *”If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed.”*
~George Bernard Shaw
******** *”Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.”*
~ Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
******** *”Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.”*
~P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian
****** *”Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!”
~ Ronald Reagan
******* *”The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.”*
~Mark Twain
******* *”What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.”*
~Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)
******* *”A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.”*
~Thomas Jefferson
******* *”We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.”*
IN ANTICIPATION – ( another article for your friendship website )
As the days and weeks lie ahead, we are anticipating that the lifting of the lockdown can’t come soon enough. I’m a bit tired of the confinement plus, I need a hair-cut badly. Our venturing out would be dramatically different than what we could ever have imagined just 3 months earlier.
The New Normal
After 3+ months within the confines of our homes, we will shortly venture out of our protected cocoons. Will we all function as before? I have always been quick to greet and extend shakes with others, particularly with my students. Each of us will be behind virus protected N95 masks, where smiles will partly shield our enthusiasm with each encounter. Do we greet each other with elbow bumps now that the proverbial handshakes are taboo? How about the enduring embrace?
Let’s step back and examine the pre-Covid 19 days. The word, social distancing, didn’t exist at least not in the context of today. Perhaps it did for others previously too, who didn’t want to share their world’s with ours. The ease of befriending someone certainly was easier back then. How about coffee or lunch sometime? Our smile and handshake reaffirms our sincerity. Facial expressions now hidden behind our masks, could connections still be made? Post Covid 19, are we to be leery of others particularly in making new friends? Can we trust others even if both parties have been tested negative? Has our society erected a shield that makes it impenetrable to meet others and making new friendships? It will certainly be a challenge and we must extend ourselves even more than before.
A Brave New World
My Conversational English classes previously have been populated with students from all corners of this planet. The union and blending of each rich culture meshed nicely with our American ideologies, makes for a bright future. I’ve always consider my classes as the sharing of ideas and the love for one another. These thoughts are paramount for me. My legacy is to leave my class and this world happier, always with a sense of hope. Whenever the school year resumes again, I will as always explain the virtues of love and the caring for all.
During the last several months, we found how fractured we are as a society and the depth of the financial divide amongst us. Even more so now is the need for unity. To coexist in this world, we depend on one another. After each of my sessions, I will continue to say, “be good to someone new and love those who are close to you”. Then off to lunch at a nearby restaurant for eats, treats and more stories. Creating the environment of caring and love must be nourished by all of us. The enrichment by all is what makes our world a better place. This can be achieved mainly by making friends.
Will my students return and will new ones attend? I’m looking forward to the Brave New World and what it brings.
Roz Koo, 92-years-old, gets help from Letty Avena (right) as she prepares to read a book in the garden courtyard of her apartment building on Thursday, May 14, 2020 in San Mateo, California. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle
Koo helped found Self-Help for the Elderly’s San Mateo senior center. During our present Coronavirus Epidemic, Self-Help has closed their physical spaces, but they still deliver food to those who need it. And they offer Connection From a Distance. Koo and eight (or so) others have split the duty of calling 1,000 of the center’s users. They have another 100 to go. They speak to them in Mandarin or Cantonese or English. “Mostly they appreciate someone calling them. I tell them this all will pass, and we can come back to the senior center again. Something to look forward to.”
Roz is also Co-Founder of the The 1990 Institute <www.1990Institute.org>
TEAM PIPIT ( Fred and wife Chris ) – Extraordinary Birding Feat: 150 species in all 14 Vermont Counties – Picture here with son John
January 13, 2019: We found a delightful breakfast place in downtown Leesville, always an encouraging way to start the day. The people were friendly, the food was good, and we were given helpful directions for finding accessible sections of the national forest. Of course, we had checked e-bird for locations where Red-cockaded Woodpeckers had recently been seen, but we knew we were in for a long search. The forest roads led in all directions and appropriate habitat seemed to be everywhere. We explored for most of the morning without any success. Eventually, we decided to try a change of scenery and headed off to the Dove Field Recreation Area, a large wildlife management area of open fields, known to be especially good for raptors and sparrows. We got there around 1:00 in the afternoon and in a little over an hour mustered up 14 species. Among them, were an immature Northern Harrier, 2 American Kestrels, 2 Savannah Sparrows and at least 15 Chipping Sparrows. The habitat was so enticing, however, that we resolved to come back the next morning if we had time.
We started back to the piney woods to try again for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker. On the way, in the small town of Fullerton, we chanced upon a flurry of bird activity. There was a field separated from the road by a wall or some kind of fence. There were two or three small trees in the field close to the fence. Some woods ran along one side of the field. We pulled over to the side of the road and parked. In the space of ten minutes, we found 3 Turkey Vultures, one Red-shouldered Hawk, an American Kestrel, a Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Eastern Phoebes, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2 Eastern Bluebirds and an estimated 20 American Robins. It was one of those unanticipated moments of excitement that birdwatchers love.
We proceeded on to the national forest to renew our search for the elusive Red-cockaded Woodpecker. This time we were successful. My checklist gives the time as 3:55 PM and the location as the Calcasieu Ranger District (Vernon Unit) of the Kisatchie National Forest. I doubt I could find the exact location again, even with the help of a map and a compass. The forest in this area is carefully managed to preserve the Longleaf Pines so favored by our target bird. The woods stretch on for many miles. Clumps of marked nest trees beckon in all directions. It was just a matter of time before we would encounter foraging birds. I think it might have been the robins and bluebirds that first caught our attention. These species are often found in open pine woods with grassy undergrowth. Perhaps it was the Pine Warblers and the more numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers. In any case, presently Pat spotted (or heard) woodpeckers. Adrenalin started flowing, my aging legs started creaking. Pat was shouting, I was stumbling. Eventually, I got two birds in my binoculars. I could see the broad white cheek patch and the barred black and white back. Years ago, when I first found these birds in Florida, I did so with coolness and confidence. Today, it was a desperate struggle with age. Our checklist totals tell the full story: 15 American Robins, 4 Eastern Bluebirds, 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 Pine Warblers, and 2 Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
American Pipit , Team Pipit’s mascot and namesake. This bird happened to be the Pratt’s 150th species in Caledonia County, found on Sept. 16, 2018
Fred Pratt once said to Billy about “Endearing Songs and Singing ” Your latest idea is neither naive nor all that novel. When I was studying German at the famed graduate language school at Middlebury College (back in the 1960’s), we regularly sang German folk songs (Volkslieder) as a means not only to learn popular and colloquial German, but also as a means of encountering and appreciating a different language and culture. We had a wonderful little book of songs which introduced itself with these words:“Sprich, und du bist mein Mitmensch; Singe, und wir sind Brueder und Schwestern!” This translates easily into English: “Speak, and you are my fellow man (human being); Sing, and we are brothers and sisters!”
Nona Mock Wyman at her store Ming Quong – Radiant Light – Walnut Creek, California, U.S.A.
Nona Mock Wyman was only 2 years old when she was abandoned at the Ming Quong orphanage in Los Gatos in 1935. One of her earliest memories is watching her mother walk out the door and never return. While she will never forget the pain of that loss, Wyman is a survivor. She has authored four books : Chopstick Childhood in a Tow 1997 – Bamboo Women 2012 – Ten Thousand Flowers 2015 – Chopstick Childhood 2018. She has kept in touch with her friends. _________________________________________________________
Billy : I started website <https://MingSingLee.com> presenting articles shining light on various aspects of Friendship & Friendshipology. Would love to have a brief article from you, Nona, on how you keep in touch with your childhood friends etc. etc.. RSVP Cheers !
Nina : seems the way I correspond w/Ming Quong ‘girls’ is –‘from the heart.’ what speaks 2 me, I forward; 4 example, Elena’s letter reignites, as she is a dedicated, respectful person; plus I’m aware of Maeley Tom –so forward to my MQ alumnis. running MQ store, I c more people, so that helps ! after writing 4 books & newsletters to my customers we connected
Nina : SO – MY ADVICE TO CONNECT WITH FRIENDS & ( MY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS ) : SIMPLY: WRITE FROM YOUR HEART
Nona Mock Wyman Ming Quong — Radiant Light 1517 1/2 North Main St Walnut Creek, CA 94596 11-6, Mon-Sat Nona- (925)939-8346
