New England 2

August 2022

 

A Walk in the Woods at Shakespeare & Company Theater - I pitied the two very gifted actors who stood in the extremely hot sun in the outdoor Roman Gardens Theater wearing suits and ties - even winter coats briefly to represent the winter season. They delivered a compelling, sometimes comical, 2-hour dialogue portraying arms negotiators - one Russian, oneAmerican. Author, Lee Blessing, presented an up close and personal view of their relationship and left you pondering the new perspectives he unveiled.   

Another 80th Birthday Party - The Goodfellows (a.k.a., Pat and Goody) both celebrate their 80th birthdays this year. They have been together through thick and thin since they were in high school. They have been dear friends throughout the years! Goody was Bob’s best man when we married in 1970. I’ll never forget his toast, “With Monda’s good looks and Bobby’s athletic abilities, their future children will…”  Bob’s mother, Lena, yelled out, “What about my son's good looks?” The whole crowd broke out into laughter.

Trinity Solar Company - I have wanted to convert to renewable energy for years and was finally persuaded that this family owned company who has been operating for 34 years, was the way to go. I have been on a solar farm program for the last year, but it has not been a smooth ride. I have qualified to lease 14 roof panels which they install/maintain and will reduce my bill $30/month. The local electric company has increased rates 30% in the last year and Trinity will not increase more than 2.9% in one year. I know they will get the tax incentives, but I feel it is important to go renewable. The contract is for 25 years, so I may or may not be around to decide what to do then, but I have transferred ownership to my kids already, so they will make future decisions. 

  

Book Club - Mom and I joined a book club at church which discussed the book Waking Up White by Debby Irving. It was a thought provoking book which revealed the many ways which we unknowingly do harm when trying to help in personal interactions with racial “others". White privilege is exposed for what it is and you find yourself realizing how many opportunities you have had in life that were totally inaccessible for “others”. 

Ty Allan Jackson is a local independently self-published author who has skyrocketed in his career as an author and motivational speaker. His target audience is elementary and middle school students, but adults can learn a lot from his books on financial literacy. A decade ago, his 8-year old son asked if they could have a lemonade stand. Ty agreed and fronted him the money to buy supplies. Much to his surprise, his son earned $50 and when he asked what to do with the money, Ty checked the book store and there weren’t any books on the topic. That was the springboard for him to write numerous books about how Danny Dollar could make his money grow. It took a year to write and another year to publish it. He was turned down by 147 publishers and decided to do it on his own. Now he earns 6 figures and is being approached by schools and Disney… MCLA (a local community college) granted him an honorary doctorate degree and asked him to create curriculum for teachers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have time. I bought books for my grands and when I gave them the books, they were well aware of Ty Allan Jackson as he has been to their school a couple of times already.Wishing him well in his venture ❤️. 

All four grand-kiddos came for the last weekday before school starts - no swimming, just hung out and ate cinnamon French toast and bacon breakfast that they love, followed by a discussion about Mimi being away for the winter. I assured them that I love them very much and if I call them, please answer. And they can call me anytime, of course. Lily pipes in and says, “So you love Rich more than us!?” I quickly countered that it is a different kind of love.

When we are traveling, I wish there was a way to learn about the area. So I got an app, “Autio”, which plays recordings of the local history wherever you are! 

It knows your location by the GPS (obviously) and starts telling you the story about the area. Today when we went through Springfield, MA, I decided we should actually visit the Springfield Armory Museum where I had taken my Mom and Dad coincidentally 10 years and 2 days ago according to my Google Memories - who knew?

We had the opportunity both times to have the tour given by Alex MacKenzie, who happens to be my niece's husband. He is a wealth of knowledge regarding the entire history of the now National Historic Site. 

In brief he walked us from the mini-diorama of the original Armory by sharing the story of Henry Knox who in 1775 trekked with oxen and 58 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, NY down Lake Champlain and across the Berkshire Hills through Springfield to Boston (known as the Knox Trail). The Red Coats soon scattered after seeing the artillery. What stood out to Knox in Springfield was the barren sandy hill which he recommended as a location for the necessary Armory after the Revolutionary War. Upon the success of this treacherous trip, President Washington named Knox the first Secretary of War.  

 

Invented by Thomas Blanchard, the first timber based machine shakily created Musket rifles...

The government decided to invest in smart people like Eli Whiney, who could improve the conditions with metal based machinery allowing better precision as well as interchangeable parts (for repair), which allowed them to do mass production in war preparation (250/hour) employing thousands of people (50% women during WWII). This is said to have helped launch the Industrial Revolution. 

 

Over the years they learned how to create a breech load rifle which has a single cartridge, and then to a 5 cartridge load. In 1893 they designed a rifle that had a bayonet and a trench digging tool all in one. Yikes!

The heavy artillery was created to take out the enemy as needed for tanks, helicopters, airplanes, etc. 

 

I think the highlight for me is the Organ of Muskets (1100 Model 1861 rifles each weighting 10 lbs) which were arranged with precision in a double musket rack as it has stood since the museum opened in 1871.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow passed through Springfield on his honeymoon bound for the Berkshires. This is the poem he wrote:

This is the Arsenal. From floor to ceiling,

Like a huge organ, rise the burnished arms;

But from their silent pipes no anthem pealing

Startles the villages with strange alarms.

Ah! what a sound will rise, how wild and dreary,

When the Death Angel touches those swift keys!

What loud lament and dismal Miserere

Will mingle with their awful symphonies!

I hear even now the infinite fierce chorus,

The cries of agony, the endless groan-

Which, through the ages that have gone before us,

In long reverberations reach our own.

On helm and harness rings the Saxon hammer,

Through Cimbric forest roars the Norseman's song,

And load amid the universal clamor,

O'er distant deserts sounds the Tartar gong.

I hear the Florentine, who from his palace

Wheels out his battle bell with dreadful din,

And Aztec priests upon their teocallis

Beat the wild war-drums made of serpent's skin.

The tumult of each sacked and burning village;

The shout, that every prayer for mercy drowns;

The soldiers' revels in the midst of pillage,

The wail of famine in beleaguered towns!

The bursting shell, the gateway wrenched asunder,

The rattling musketry, the clashing blade; 

And ever and anon, in tones of thunder,

The diapason of the cannonade.

Is it, oh man, with such discordant noises,

With such accursed instruments as these,

Thou drownest Nature's sweet and kindly voices,

And arrest the celestial harmonies?

Were half the power, that fills the world with terror,

Were half the wealth, bestowed on camps and courts

Given to redeem the human mind from error,

There were no need of arsenals nor forts.

The warrior's name would be a name abhorréd!

And every nation that should lift again

Its hand against a brother, on its forehead

Would wear forevermore the curse of Cain!

Down the dark future, through long generations,

The echoing sounds grow fainter and then cease;

And like a bell, with solemn, sweet vibrations,

I hear once more the voice of Christ say "Peace!"

Peace! and no longer from its brazen portals

The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies!

But beautiful as songs of the immortals,

The holy melodies of love arise.

1844, 1845

Retirement 

I worked my last night of Tanglewood with Ringo Starr! I am now in full retirement which is bittersweet as I love my coworkers and great management, Dave Winn, Nic Vincent, and Emma Adler. 

Student Council - I am proud to say that two of my grandkids (cousins Lily and Zachary) are on the 5th and 6th grade Student Council at Lee Elementary School.

 

First Day of School:

And football:

Went to Glens Falls to say farewell to Rich’s family this weekend since we are hitting the road in a week. A few tears were shed😢