The Anecdotal Life Part. 73

There is something deadly about the few days after Christmas , when guests hurry off and one is struck by the empty, cold and quiet, struck by the simple acts of remaking beds and putting what is now totally useless, extra china away. The clock doesn't even sound the same. The bongs are reminders of "Christmas past" when everyone kept complaining about it's accuracy and leaden tones. Then it was funny. But my cats and I wander about realigning ourselves to the sudden unwelcome space and sit for a moment all piled up together catching our breath. "who were those 'beloved' people?" Then I collect myself and look around at the trash, the endless array of ornaments and decorations cheerfully strung all over the place in every possible spot and begin the long, painfully slow, cleanup and repacking of box after box, after box. Just when I was feeling sorry for myself, a friend called and she, in her wonderful forthright, demanding voice said, "Come to dinner! Darren's ( her son) is home!" Ah, perfect, The Biggart fix! I love this family-"as individuals and as a race." A powerful Irish and peaceful Pennsylvanian mix.
We tell our stories of where we've been and where we're going and why, laugh at our foibles and cheer each other on. For me, it's my boat, painting , writing and current struggle with the challenge of collaging a postcard for a New York subway competition when I am used to paintings that have been as large as five by eight feet. Darren to a final few months of college and then to New York with amazing chances already for a break. How does this kid do it? Well, shrewd choices, hard work, tremendous parental support and the concomitant talent might explain it. Rosemary back to the rattlety-bang pace of running a lovely school, and Rob to his 18th month countdown to retirement from BGE. (I think he needs to get a boat). We will regroup anon and pour out our hearts over the kitchen table, exchange disasters and triumphs and above all... be together. Happy New Year everyone; may you have friends like mine.
Copyright: December 30, 2007

The Anecdotal Life Part. 72

With our boats "up on the hard" all we have to worry about now is whether or not the ethanol in the gasoline tanks is busy eating up those selfsame tanks and all the stuff it's connected to.
Or so I thought until I read the Capital Newspaper here in Annapolis. Headlines read "Court Ruling Could Bankrupt City"...a quote from our Mayor Moyer.
Wasn't sure that concerned me other than it could mean higher taxes, (bad enough that!), but the lead line caught my eye and the second line got me to my feet immediately. Line one: "Maryland's highest court ruled against Annapolis Friday in a a 5-year-old legal battle over whether retired police officers and firefighters are entitled to raises in their pension." Line two: " the Court of Appeals said the city must give retirees the same raises their active-duty brethren receive." Well, well, well, how do you like that? Does that mean the new pension ruling passed to raise pensions for teachers, the one that leaves out all teachers who entered the system before 1985, is illegal and subject to review for fairness? Hmm, I hope so, because here I go again, campaigning or appealing to powers that be, such as AARP and the NEA for help in a cause that has been lost so many times in favor of the state legislature. We used to have a terrific retirement teacher's pension in Maryland when I entered the workforce in the 1970's. Then the finance committee of the legislature put their clever but heartless heads together and sometime in the 1980's offered the teachers a new pension and wow, we could withdraw our funds we'd already paid in if we opted for the new pension. Well, a lot of people did and a lot of people got skunked by a pension that was so bad Maryland dropped to the 48th place in the nation's ratings on pensions. After a time when, surprise , surprise, they couldn't get good teachers, another offer came around that was to correct all that. Only it didn't. What it did, do was to include bus drivers, custodial workers, cafeteria workers etc.; all of whom had been left out of the state pension plans. So a somewhat less substandard, but still below average pension was put in place sometime in the 1990's because the people in Education and their support people don't do the numbers that are hidden in a tiny formula in their contract and were feeling grateful just to be included.
Recently a new twist from the twisted State's financial minds hit the boards and passed because it ,too, sounded so good to the majority.. A raise in the pension to attract new teachers was proferred and it was for all those who entered the system after 1985. Forget how the now older, retired teaching population was doing. Nasty smell of ageism there. Well, I object again, as I did before. And now God willing, maybe we have a case.

The Anecdotal Life Part. 71

What a rush. The trip to Santa Monica (with a profound thanks to my second son) to see my first son, daughter-in-law, and almost born, new grandson, was so full of love and laughter...greatest combo on earth. Thanksgiving dinner at the Penthouse didn't hurt either. Then before I knew it, I was off to Albuquerque just before the next fires hit southern California.
Albuquerque astounded me with a totally broadminded take on Art, while evincing within their art, a tremendously creative and ofttimes, outrageous foment. That town is "a toddling town". So it seems, is my sister who set the pace for trooping to every great place possible.
The people are easy going, open and not so full of themselves those as on the East Coast. Money and property mean way too much back home. Nowhere else do we take ourselves and our lineage so seriously. Sometimes I pull out my lineage just to defend myself. It's a pity Ellis Island is on this coast. How do incoming aliens and how have incoming aliens dealt with all that attitude.
But now it's nearly Christmas. We all, in our family, are having to restructure our holidays as well as ourselves to fill the gaps (more like canyons) left behind by those two who passed, and as well as those gaps left by the dear people we lost on the hill of friends surrounding our communal cottage.
We are all different now, our tasks within the family broader and more heartfelt. Everything means more because we have been struck dumb by the fragility of our existence and the power of Death. I don't expect Christmas to be a laugh a minute, but it will be important. I have had the honor to watch various members arising to meet the challenge of rebuilding our connections. Now we have a chance to witness the power of life. I especially wish a genuine and loving Christmas to them all....and to my friends.
Copyright: December 2, 2007.