Juneteenth may mark the end of slavery in the United States but must begin with acknowledgement for that bloody time in our history. This Federal holiday asks us to envision new horizons with opportunities for more than hope. Let us note how substantial change comes about, with people making their voices heard loud and clear, through peaceful protests and intentional voting. Looking backwards or forward, regardless, Juneteenth is provocative for it demands that we speak truth and face fact. We are a nation of mostly immigrants, some “Bought, sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare” but at this moment we are all “Praying for a dream” “on the pulse of this new day” (Angelou).
Category Archives: Life
Desert Gaze
Recently we spent an afternoon in Joshua Tree National Park as a reconnaissance for a longer road trip we hope to do next Fall, and wow, the whole experience was just hours of WOW. Not as hot as we expected and far more beautiful. We discovered a variety of vegetation and land forms under a blue blue sky and a sandy vast earth below. Needless to say, we were quite taken by all of the park. This post is only a first impression, laced with some factual information. The desert gaze is everything fabulous, so yes, please, come wander along with me.
May Day
Even surrounded by the bright blue one can feel the imminent danger targeting our lives these last 100 days. The emergency signals are sparking from one side of the globe to another while we wonder exactly how to respond. This week alone the Reading Partners program that allowed me to read with several 4th graders was cut by the White House. At least 20 states are suing over this abrupt elimination of over 1,000 AmeriCorps programs. “My question to this administration is: Is nothing sacred? Is nothing worth protecting?” Philip J. Weiser, the attorney general of Colorado, one of the states that sued, said in a virtual joint news conference on Tuesday” (The New York Times).


