Desiderata

This is older than you. I sometimes find it Xeroxed, framed and hanging in neglected corners of hospitals.

Take it down, trust it to your memory, put it among your “Things To Be Remembered,” and look at it when your spirits are low. It’s guaranteed to make you feel strong again. Trust me.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy

            Max Ehrmann, 1927

Do all the good you can.

Thanks to Barry Carter for telling my story

I am very grateful to Barry Carter, who wrote an article about me that was published in the Star Ledger.  I appreciated how carefully he listened to what I had to say and how accurately he reported it.  He articulated it in a concise manner.  And the article was on the first page of the New Jersey section so lots of people saw.  I've been delighted to hear from old friends and to make new friends, like the School Ambassadors at North Boulevard Elementary School in Pompton Plains, NJ.  Rutgers University, where my husband Ernie Thompson's papers are kept, also got in touch.  I am happy that they would be interested in adding my papers to his.  It is wonderful to have this support for spreading the word that writing is so important for so many people!

I did notice that the title of the article said that I was a one-time activist.  Maybe "one whole lifetime activist" would have been even better.

Kudos to Barry!  As my son Josh's Jamaican friends say, "Big Up!"

North Boulevard Elementary School Ambassadors sent me a present

Today I received a wonderful present from the School Ambassadors of North Boulevard Elementary School in Pompton Plains, NJ.  Lorraine La Tempa, School Nurse and facilitator of the School Ambassador Program, said, "They are boys and girls that make a difference in our school and community."  They made clay pens for me to give to the students in my memoir writing class.  There was a letter included with the pens.  It said, "We read the article in the Star-Ledger about you and your writing class.  We were happy to hear about all you did in your life.  We are a group of 4th and 5th grade students... Our group meets at lunch time and we do service learning projects.  Our group is called School Ambassadors.  As a group we decided to make pens for you and your writing class.  We hope you enjoy them.  It is great to hear how you are using writing as favorite memories of your lives.  By reading the article we also learned about desegregation and treating everyone equally."  The letter was signed by Jessie, Hailey, Heather, Evelyn, Julia, sofia, Catherine, Jenna, Veronica, Caitlin, Teagan, Victoria, Joylene, Leah, Maelana, Lucy, Melissa and Erika.

Thank you, School Ambassadors.

I hope that the efforts of these wonderful young people will inspire others to pick up their pens and start to write.  I am organizing a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for the Maggie Ink Project.  The money will support the publication of the stories of all kinds of wonderful people.  Please donate to Maggie Ink.

Keep writing!

A Favor for a Friend

I was hospitalized a while ago at a different facility, and a family, whom I shall blog about separately, departed. About 3:00 am, a new tenant arrived who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergies and asthma. She was desperately ill, and the staff took care of her most of the night.

By morning, we had become acquainted. She is from a neighboring city and a fascinating and lovely woman. She is middle-aged, a religious woman, the mother of a family.

By mid-morning, we had become fast friends. She did me a kindness when it came dinner time. She actually got up out of bed and came where I was, bed-bound and unable to walk. She came over a few steps, found my food for me and helped me start eating.

The next day, we continued our friendship and at dinner time, she said, “You know I had ice cream and cake for dinner, but it didn’t satisfy me. Have you got anything?” I said, “Yes! Some people brought chocolate kisses and I have Werthers.” She said, “I’ll come over,” and she did. She picked up a handful of candy and started to eat it. She was leaning against the wall opposite me, where I could see her. The television was a few degrees away, but I was not watching it. I was watching her.

I suddenly noticed she was starting to slump. We have machines in hospitals for calling nurses and aides, but they work slowly. By the time someone notices a signal and finishes with another patient, minutes can go by, a quarter of an hour can go by. It wasn’t going to work just to push the button, so I took a deep breath and I started yelling “Help.” Four times I yelled “Help,” and she continued to slump.

We were near an open door and a hallway, and someone came and grabbed her around the middle, like a sack of sugar, and we saved her from falling and crashing her head. Later, we learned she did have these black-out episodes and it could have been serious. I was so pleased that I was able to do a little favor for my new friend.

Do all the good you can.

Serendipity

When Shirl stopped working for me, I wanted to give her a present, but what?  She shared with me that she loved linzer tortes, the cookies with raspberry jam in the middle.  She remembered them as the most delicious things she had ever tasted, but she had not been able to find the equal of what she remembered.  I was telling my friend Liga Stam about this and she said, "I know how to make linzer tortes!"  "What great luck!" I said.  "Would you make some for Shirl?"  And she agreed.  I think they're going to make them this Sunday!