Who Cares How the Jaguar Feels? Maybe the Jaguar Does

I am grateful that my friend Karen passed along this bit of news today or I would not have known -- one of our favorite high school teachers had died.  It is not exactly sad news since she lived beyond 94 years, and I think that is something to be celebrated!

 

The 'she' is Sister Marguerite Tarleton, one of my English teachers at Saint Paul Catholic High School.  Sister Margueite was a petite woman and already getting up there in age when she taught us. Sadly, we probably weren't always as respectful and attentive as we should have been but that's how 16 & 17 year old kids sometimes behave.

 

She had a habit of reciting literary passages aloud to us and then when she got to a 'bad word' or a suggestive passage, she would go silent, and we would read that to ourselves. You can imagine the giggles this practice elicited from teenagers. She was also prone to repetition.

 

Honestly, to this day when I hear the name Sister Marguerite, I immediately think of one line that she must have repeated 1 if not 100 times:

 

"Who cares how the jaguar feels?  Maybe, the jaguar does!"  Again, we probably giggled and I know I can't be alone in that association with the phrase.  But countless times over the years, I have thought about how perfect a line it is and what a beautiful credo to hold to. Sister Marguerite was one smart cookie and she knew what she was doing!

 

For me it's a take on 'walk a mile in someone else's shoes' rolled together with 'do unto others as you would have done to you' together with 'treat people and animals with respect'!  I wish I could have seen her again later in life and told her what a great teacher she was! 

 

I will admit, I had to look up the passage to see what work it comes from -- The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell.  I printed out a copy online and I'm going to re-read it this week.

 

So, here's to Sister Marguerite Tarleton (and to all those wonderful teachers out there)...thank you!

    

Nice to meet you, Guy Fawkes!

If you can't laugh at yourself...

Tomorrow is Guy Fawkes day in England.  In 1605, he was involved in the failed attempt to assassinate King James I to return a Catholic to the monarchy...or so they say.  The plotters wanted to blow up Parliament and Fawkes was placed in charge of guarding the gunpowder.  Authorities got wind of the plot and Fawkes was captured and interrogated but jumped to his death before hanging.  Every Nov 5, citizens commemorate the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires and/or fireworks!  Often a likeness of Fawkes is burned in effigy.

I know a lot about Guy Fawkes now, but on my first visit to London I was unaware of this historical figure.  Blame it on my history education which went heavy on British citizens coming to Jamestown and Plymouth aboard Ships named Susan Constant and Mayflower, and those Redcoats of the Revolution.

So one night on our London vacation, my friend and I were visiting with some friends of friends who lived in London.  They took us to many fine establishments over the course of the evening and a good time was had by all:)  But before going out, we all met up at one of the flats where we were introduced to all the young men and women, one with the name of 'Guy Fawkes'.

It wasn't til the next afternoon, on a tour of Parliament, that we heard a little story about a man named Guy Fawkes!  Imagine our faces as we heard the story told by our guide.  I can't remember if I first laughed or cursed:)  (Think of it as if you told some visitor to the US that your name was Benedict Arnold and they went around all night calling you 'Benedict' or 'Ben Arnold'...and you laughed)

The jig was up -- we had been had:)  I remember frantically trying to recall how many times I had referred to that 'guy' as Guy.  Always happy to provide a good laugh -- the expense was minimal! 

So every November 5, I toast not to Guy Fawkes but to the prank that we were cast in!

A Night at Slane Castle

I enjoy live music and spend quite a lot of time engaging in this pastime...it brings me joy and comfort. In addition to discovering great new music, I have made wonderful friends along the way. I'm sure there is an opportunity cost associated with the time and money I have spent over the years, but for me, it has been worth it.  It's not just about the event itself, it is about the journey -- the city visited, the laughter over dinner, the drive there and oh yes, the event itself! Think I am exaggerating -- take a look at my drawer, album, poster boards of ticket stubs of concerts, sporting events and special events.  Most of these only date from the last 15 years.                                                                              When anyone asks what is your favorite concert, I am able to answer quickly -- September 1, 2001, Slane Castle, just outside Dublin.  It's rounding out the Top 10 where I have difficulty.  I discovered a great website a few months ago where I can put my writing and ticket stub memories to good use -- stubstory dot com.   Check them out on facebook Below is my inaugural post.  "U2 at Slane Castle (2001) Seeing U2 on vacation...in Ireland...at a castle...with 80K as-rabid-fans-as-me!   Bono had just buried his father, they hadn't played Slane Castle (outside Dublin) in over 20 years and they were coming home.  The energy and emotion would be palpable that Sept 1, 2001 night and I had to be there!                                                         (this picture taken in 2005, but...)                         Only problem was, I had no ticket!  So stateside, I took a leap of faith and contacted a seller via the Irish website ‘ebid’ and arranged to meet my seller at the Dublin bus station.  The transaction went smoothly and I was over the moon with excitement– I had a U2 Slane Castle ticket in my hand and they were going to be filming the show for a DVD!                                                                             Unlike previous trips to Dublin, there really was a love affair going on between the city and their rock stars…Streets, New Years Day, Pride, One, All I Want is You, I Will Follow etc. were playing from every nook and cranny all week.  I made a return pilgrimage to Windmill Lane Studios (where they recorded their early albums), had a drink at the Clarence (a bar owned by U2), checked in with TM to make sure my ticket was legit (it was) and soaked up the U2 revelry!  This was no mere evening show.  An Act of Parliament was needed to make this concert happen and the masses were descending for the all-day music festival!                                                                        The Irish are a talkative and festive bunch but man oh man, I went thru reams of security — scanning my ticket more than 4 times as I walked over the river and thru the woods to Slane Castle that morning.  That afternoon, Ireland was also playing in a huge soccer match — a run-up to the World Cup, and they prevailed.  We watched it on the big screen …ole…ole…ole..ole!  Jason McAteer scored the winning goal and Bono serenaded him that night.  The opening musical acts were good, but I was distracted….excitement beyond containment! I had tagged along with some Australians and we found a spot right outside the heart-shaped catwalk. 9.5 hours standing and waiting — no bathroom breaks, and then the stadium erupted just before 9pm as the Dublin lads took the stage to Elevation! I don’t think I have ever heard a better, more emotional version of Streets than that night, especially as the lights came up and panned across the crowd.  I still get goosebumps when I watch that particular video.  That song is made for stadium play! We had managed to talk security into letting us move over the rail into the VIP area as U2 took the stage.  It felt like we could reach out and touch them, but I held back:) I had to keep pinching myself but my little 4-leaf clover was still to be unearthed.  As luck would have it, we met some of the crew standing next to us and they brought us backstage before the show ended.  I got to watch Adam, Bono, Edge and Larry walk off that emotional stage and we got a few shout outs!  Fireworks lit up the sky as we traversed back to our shuttles — I think the U2 guys were ensconced in their hotel rooms back in Dublin before we even made it to the shuttle bus:)  This had been a magical night! I flew home to DC on Sept 4, 2001 and went back to work…and a week later, the world changed."

Be Mindful of What's In Your Trunk!

A rambling trip down I-95...

I have driven the Virginia to Connecticut route and back more than 150 times over the years and I still get antsy when I make a wrong turn in and around New York City.  Driving back last night, I followed a different route courtesy of LOLA, my GPS.  Then she 'lost satellite reception' right at a crucial turn...think Robert Frost...but I took the road less correct.  Minor panic as the Welcome to Manhattan sign greeted me before a new toll plaza appeared.  Thankfully, I was but a mere 5 minutes from the George Washington Bridge and this route actually afforded me a beautiful view of the bridge across the Hudson River.

                                                                                     

I think every state along the I-95 corridor was knee deep in construction last night -- Right Lane Closed Ahead signs were everywhere.  Thankfully, I had a cute little Mazda rental and a bag full of cds to occupy my time as I crept along.

A couple of things I did wonder about:

• Why are trucks allowed only on the upper level of the GW Bridge -- that defies logic?
• When the local NY City traffic report mentions 'In-Bound' traffic -- is that North or South? (For future reference, 'in-bound' refers to traffic coming from NJ into NY)
• Why does NJ Turnpike set a rate of $9.05 to drive the entire length -- who travels with nickels and why don't I have an EZPass anyway? 
• The newly constructed Delaware service area blows the NJ historically named service areas out-of-the-water!
• FYI -- Richard Stockton (Service area southbound between Exit 7 & 7A) signed the Declaration of Independence -- I hope that's not his only namesake.

...but I digress...

As I snaked my way thru Maryland on I-95S last night, I came upon the site where just six weeks previously, my tire blew out.  That frightening experience happened about 10:30 at night as I was also driving solo back from Connecticut.

Thankfully, I was able to bring my car safely to the shoulder from the middle lane -- wow, does it rock n roll.  After the requisite cry, I called AAA and was given an estimated time of service.  Just to be clear, I know how to change a tire, but I was not comfortable doing so on the side of a busy highway at night.  As I was hanging up from AAA, a MD State Trooper pulled onto the shoulder behind my car.  He offered to wait with me until AAA arrived.  We had a nice chat while AAA didn't show.

As an aside, my car was packed to the gills that night.  I was bringing back a classic old vanity (which now doubles as my desk) and that was wedged into the back seat.  As this was Labor Day weekend, I had decided to bring all my summer dresses up to my parents' house and give them (the dresses) a good end-of-season cleaning...and I also brought another load of my laundry and other odds n ends.  When you take a car trip, careful packing goes out the window.

So the officer began to take pity on me and probably went against protocol and offered to change the tire for me...I was to be his flashlight assistant.

So I popped the trunk from inside the car and suddenly heard nothing except a loud 'ahem' from trunk-side.  I quickly ran back there and just started to laugh!  Now strewn across the inside of my trunk, over the wheel case, was a tipped over bag of clean laundry that had contained all of my undergarments!  I continued nervously laughing while I grabbed at every exposed piece of clothing, stuffing them back in their bag.  Mom would be proud -- at least it was clean!

(The officer was able to get the tire changed and I was on my way.)

So, when you pack up that car next trip, be mindful of what's in the trunk:)  You never know who might be looking! 

And last night, that picture gave me a much needed laugh:)

Frontline -- The Anthrax Files

I love the PBS program Frontline -- it delves deep into current events, without regard for who might be dinged.

 

The first episode of the new season is entitled, 'The Anthrax Files' and aired on Tuesday, October 11.  It is available for online streaming  here. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/anthrax-files/

 

 

Just weeks after the September 11, 2001 attacks, another stealth terrorist(s) attacked by sending anthrax through the U.S. mail. Five people died, 17 were injured and hundreds had their lives turned upside-down.  And to this day we don't know with 100% certainty, the perpetrators.

 

Why am I so fascinated by this case?  Because (s)he attacked my place of employment and disrupted our lives for years!  Thankfully, no one lost their life there.

 

On that fateful day in October 2001, I sent two co-workers in my place to attend a meeting in one of the other Senate Office Buildings in Washington, DC, coincidentally, next-door to Senator Daschle's office.  At the same time that my co-workers were sitting down to their meeting, an intern in Senator Daschle's office opened a piece of mail filled with anthrax spores.  Because of the close proximity, my co-workers were quarantined for a bit and were told to take Cipro for several months -- Cipro is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and it is not without its side effects. I felt awful.

 

This Frontline investigation, coupled with a new Journal of Bioterrorism and Biodefense report, cast doubts on whether Bruce Ivins, the person the FBI focused on, could have acted alone in this case.  Before he could be indicted, Ivins committed suicide.  Was he involved? Did he act alone and if not, who are these other terrorists and where are they now?

 

I don't know the answers but I hope the Department of Justice continues to investigate.  

 

 

 

 

The High School Reunion

('The Long and Winding Road' -- yep, that was our senior class song)   Last week, in the midst of dealing with my dad's emergency surgery and recovery, I found myself at my high school reunion.  The latter had been planned months ago so it was fortuitous that I was already going to be in town to see my dad.   This was probably the first reunion that I didn't stress about losing weight or finding something great to wear....older and wiser, I guess:)  I don't know if it was due to the down economy, but the planners of this reunion chose to keep things relatively inexpensive and low key, and it worked well. Casual attire was the name of the game and barbecue fare was on the menu.  And in typical SPCHS fashion, there was a keg and we kicked it by night's end.  There was also a ridiculously cheap cash bar and a DJ who spun music from the era.                                                                                           I don't care what kind of high school experience you may have had -- and for the record, mine was pretty darn good -- but we all tend to approach these 5 year incremental milestones with a hint of curiosity and dread!  I haven't attended every get-together, but tonight I was just looking forward to the party.   But, the ever-nagging insecurities often rear their ugly heads --  How do I make my life sound interesting?; How do I sound cheery when I get the inevitable questions -- married? No; Kids? No;  Followed by the inevitable, what do you do?; Will I recognize everyone?  Will people recognize me?  No matter how confident we are, there is a tendency at these events to revert to old circles of friends, cliques and stereotypes.  But tonight, I noticed something different.                                                                               Sure we initially gravitated to those we know best, but there was none of the stuffiness; none of the dread; none of the hesitation about talking to anyone outside the comfort zone.  Yes, there were awkward pauses and stilted chatter, but I made a point of connecting with people I don't see very often and re-connecting with those that have been out of my life for too long. Who knows...maybe this is how most people always feel at reunions and I have only just discovered my 'I don't give a damn' mentality. Or maybe it's that age, wisdom and wrinkles are the great equalizer.                                                                                              I had a fabulous chat with my grade school pal who I haven't seen since graduation -- she was probably the person in the room that I've known the longest.  I regularly saw her Christmas card, complete with ever expanding family, on my aunt's mantle (they had worked together and exchanged Christmas cards every year)  I also had a really great conversation about education with my old cheering buddy from junior high and high school.  I also spent a good deal of the night fighting back good-natured jabs at my perceived care-free lifestyle -- I go to a lot of concerts and seem to be on the go, per facebook status updates. In my defense, I only post when I have something fun going on:)  I marveled that most people had children, yes even that person, and some were in high school and college by now.  And I was also struck by the losses that many have endured.  Look, I won't lie, there were probably a couple of people I didn't make much of an effort to mingle with, but there were more that I regretted not having had time to spend time with.  It is for this reason, I hope we find a way to do these low-key reunions every two or three years instead.  And with the advent of social media, it should be easier to stay in touch and plan.     Another thing I noted was that the conversations were rooted in the present and future -- there was little talk of the old-days, except when we were trying to remember the last time we had spoken.  Who knows, maybe we just couldn't remember those details any more:) Even though I may not have as much in common with the lives of my high school classmates and friends, there is an unbreakable bond among us and it was evident this night.                                                                                             So I say to you, don't stay away out of fear or disinterest.  Make the time -- it may be just the exercise in confidence-building you need!

Getting Acquainted

Dear readers:

This blog may evolve over time, but for now I am ready to begin.

I live alone and frankly I am tired of carrying on conversations with myself, so it's time to Let My Inner Thoughts Out.

I live in Virginia, work in Washington, D.C. and try to enjoy each day as it comes.

Check back soon for the inaugural post about something we look forward to with a mix of curiosity and dread...

I welcome your feedback but please be respectful -- remember, I am new at this.