It is early morning in the middle of April. I am on a bus leaving Oxford, UK. I have kissed my daughter on the cheek more than twice. We have hugged one another many more times than that. Each embrace as if it were the actual goodbye – the one that would leave our parting fully signified and safe. All through, we smile into each other’s eyes to fill the gaps between… Read More
Yesterday I came into the Oxford University offices for public health. I was there to meet up with a friend and colleague. A slight woman greeted me. In contrast to the reserved decorum I have come to expect, this Oxford official nearly skipped up to meet me, smiling young and radiant above a cascade of pearls. Josephina was curious about my accent, about Oregon. She brought me water. I asked how long… Read More
Alongside what changes is what endures. Each is finally contained in the other. Many times, what remains most reliable does so because of its capacity to change. Here I am, visiting the UK because of one of those enduring things — family — more specifically, my beloved expat daughter. Today is Easter. That means many on the islands are following the tradition of gathering with families over meals — elaborate and larger… Read More
Sometimes I turn to internet sources for news updates. Huffington Post, NYT, stories posted to facebook, local papers’ websites for learning about where I am along the road. Often there are stories with photos of crowd scenes. Some are international, but I’m thinking today of domestic stories – Occupy, Tea Party, vigils, protests on the National Mall or at statehouses across the country. In the case of crowd photos from the U.S.,… Read More
No, Geraldo. It’s not the clothing. It’s about looking under the hoodie. mc By now, most Americans are aware of the death of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old young man who was visiting his father’s home in a gated community of Sanford, Florida. Trayvon lost his life to a single gunshot fired by a man who lived in the same community. At the time the fatal shot fired, it was dark. Trayvon, who… Read More
“It might feel good it might sound a little somethin’ but damn the game if it don’t mean nothin what is game who got game where’s the game in life behind the game “ Public Enemy Since the dawn of the species – a moment we can only approximate since the missing link is still…well…missing — human beings have had stories. Stories help us know how to live, how to endure. Through… Read More
Today is the third above 70 degrees in Wisconsin. Locals clearly love it. So do I. And … really? 70’s in late winter here in a U.S. state that shares a rather large lake (Superior) with the Canadian state of Ontario? Maybe it’s the Texan in me who can’t imagine anyplace else acting in total defiance of the seasons. Maybe it’s my vigilant interest in our reading the trends to avert calamitous… Read More
www.wpr.org Mar 14 ~ 5:00-6:00p.m. CDT MC ~on~AT ISSUE w/ Ben Merens … The EX:Change project and 100 VOICES – AMERICANS TALK ABOUT CHANGE debut on an hour-long public radio show this week. This is exciting, for sure! An hour call-in for chatting about listening across difference. The Wisconsin Public Broadcasting range includes Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Michigan and western Minnesota. And Ben Merens – an exceptional soul entirely devoted professionally and personally… Read More
A year ago, I spoke with Susan Stout (Voice 075), a PhD forester with primary oversight of significant research in the forests of the Allegheny of western Pennsylvania. Then, yesterday I marched with a small group of people who gathered in the small downtown area of Whitewater, WI. These things fit together. Almost 9000 miles down the road, I’m taking a break to visit here in Whitewater for the month. This is… Read More
I drove into Cincinnati from Manhattan. How many times will I be able to say that? Not many. And it was no minor feat. I’m guessing this is not the least bit surprising to any of you. Still, we say these things out loud to one another – partly as a request for validation – a “wow” that fits with the relative enormity of the accomplishment. The vast majority of Americans don’t… Read More
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