Kyle Maynard has made it to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro! It was yesterday, Jan. 15th, the early hours of the day on eastern standard time that he along with his team, made it to the top. It took him ten days to do so and this is from a young man who has arms just to his elbows and legs just to his knees. I have written about him before on my blog. (Please go and look at those posts from Nov. 27th, "No Excuses" and Nov. 29th "Kyle Maynard" of this past year.) If you look at the following link you can hear what another man has to say about him who is a climber who also has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro so he knows that an accomplishment this really is... http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-731657
Kyle, you CAN conquer anything! I found a short video on YouTube that is used as an introduction before his speeches. Please watch it and be amazed. His story is a very inspiring one and I hope that you share in my admiration of this young man. Kudos to Kyle!
These pink flowers are camillias and were in bloom on Dec. 26, 2011 at Stone Mountain Park. Come back soon to Georgia, Kyle! Maybe I will meet you one day on the walk up trail. Hope so!
After we climbed Stone Mountain today, the nice woman who worked in Memorial Hall (the building at the base of the mountain) insisted that we get our Climber's Certificates for climbing the mountain. She told us that she usually works at the East Gate and waves people through in their cars (the ones who have their yearly passes on their vehicles, like us!) I told her that I had recently made a square for SIBOL www.sunshineinternationalblanketsoflove.blogspot.com . Sue from SIBOL is asking for people to make squares of what they see from their window, or THINGS THAT ARE CLOSEBY, so I decided to TRY to make Stone Mountain on a square.(Sue is in England and this particular blanket will be auctioned off to benefit the charity, MENCAP). So, Barbara, who usually works at the East Gate, here it is! Hope to see you again very soon. We love Stone Mountain!
On our climb up the mountain we were able to walk beside the man who enjoys walking up the mountain as he sings and plays the guitar. His voice really carries up the mountain as you are hiking up and it is lovely to hear him sing and play the guitar at the same time. His name is Tony Taylor and he says he tries to climb every day but he said that sometimes work gets in the way!
The temperature got up into the 50's today but it was below freezing last night. Can you see the ice in this photo above?
Hey Richard, do you promise you are far enough from me so no one can see me? Thanks, hon! Those mountains in the background are 60 miles away. Beautiful clear day today!
These last three photos are on the Cherokee Trail and can you see how Stone Mountain looks silver through the bare wintry trees? That is me hiking behind my son. Today was very nice, since all three of us were able to go to the mountain. Hope you all like my simple Stone Mountain square and the music from Tony Taylor, someone who just sings for the joy of it, and also the photos of our little family hiking and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine at Stone Mountain.
Louis Zamperini. Do you recognize the name? I think everyone should know him and his story...
Louie will have a birthday on Jan. 26th and he will be 95 years old. He was born in Olean, New York to Italian immigrant parents but the whole family moved to Torrance, California when Louie was two years old. Since he could only speak Italian he was teased as a youngster and consequently got into many scrapes and fights and became something of a juvenile delinquent. His older brother Pete was able to get him interested in trying out for his high school track team. ( His joke was that he had been running from the law for years, so he had plenty of practice!) Louie became a terrific runner and he set records at his high school. He earned a place on the 1936 Olympic track team which was held in Berlin. (If you don't know the Jesse Owens story, please look him up, he won four gold medals at those games).
Now, Louie didn't win any medals but the description of his track days and his memories of the Olympics are carefully written about in his book "Devil At My Heels" which is his book, co-written by David Rensin. Laura Hillenbrand, in her research for her book "Seabiscuit" kept coming across Louis Zamperini's name during her research for "Seabiscuit". She called him up and after speaking to him for a few minutes, she knew she had her subject for her next book... The book that she wrote about him "Unbroken" was named the best nonfiction book of 2010 by Time magazine.
You see, Louie's story of his track days and the Olympics in Berlin in 1936 are interesting but what makes him a hero is what happened to him during World War II. He crashed in the South Pacific and was adrift at sea with two other men on two tiny rafts. Two of the men survived, after enduring starvation, shark attacks, Japanese strafing from overhead planes, and severe storms at sea. Louie lost half of his body weight, a young man who had been an Olympic runner... He was "rescued" by the Japanese and then spent the next two years in POW camps and was tortured and singled out due to his Olympic fame. One of the guards nicknamed "The Bird" was brutal to him and Louis refused to give in...that is where the "Unbroken" title comes from, the book that Laura Hillenbrand wrote.
After the war, Louie returned home but he could never get over the ordeal that he had endured and became an alcoholic and was spiralling downward. Luckily, he had married a beautiful young woman by the name of Cynthia Applewhite. She had heard of a young preacher from North Carolina by the name of Billy Graham and she encouraged Louie to go and listen to him. Louie did attend one of the revivals in California and completely turned his life around. He actually went back to Japan and FORGAVE his former captors. (He was not able to meet with "The Bird" but you have to read "Unbroken" to find out what happened!)
After I first read the book, "Devil At My Heels", I was so moved by it that I wrote a letter to the publisher and asked them to please let Louie Zamperini know how much I loved his story and to please convey that to him. Imagine my surprise and delight when I received a letter from Mr. Zamperini himself! He actually sent me a note to tell me that Laura Hillenbrand was writing a book about him. Due to her illness (she has chronic fatigue syndrome) it took seven years for her to finish it. I would suggest reading "Devil At My Heels" first and then, read "Unbroken". The second book goes into such detail about his Louie, his family, his very good friends and his war buddies, which you will already know from the first book! "Unbroken" is not an easy book to read, but my feeling is if those men could endure what happened to them, then surely I can READ about it.
The last correspondence that I received was from John Naber. John is also a former Olympian who is a good friend of Louie's and is now helping Louie with all the letters and calls that he receives. www.louiezamperini.com
"What counts in the long run, is not what you read; it is what you sift through in your own mind; it is the ideas and impressions that are aroused in you by your reading". Eleanor Roosevelt
I really can't say why the story of this man's life struck such a chord with me. I can only give you this quote from his beloved brother, "I never met anybody who didn't love Louie". Read his story and see if you don't agree....
Very cloudy this past Saturday but it was warm and the air was clean and fresh, so we just had to go to Stone Mountain! It must have rained there in the distance. See the rainbow?
No matter how crowded it is at the top, I always manage to find a secluded spot for us to sit and have our coffee.
That's Richard on the way up and we are almost to the top!
The clouds were magnificent! After our climb up the mountain, even though it looked as if it could pour with rain at any moment, we couldn't tear ourselves away! We walked back down the mountain and then we went to the grist mill which is beautiful at any time of the year.
Now you have seen Stone Mountain in the winter which has a beauty of its own. Did you enjoy coming along with us today and being out in the warm fresh air? Hope so!
Does anyone remember my post about Cary Grant and the wonderful movie, Father Goose? I was reminded of that movie when I heard a few whistled notes from someone while I was at work. Today, the song "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress" came on the radio and I was transported back to the 70's and I was on the skating rink floor, moving exactly in time to the music. That song was by the Hollies, who are English, of course, but I thought it was amazing how very SOUTHERN they sounded. They also did the song, "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother". I really liked that song. When I looked it up, the wording is described as a "paraprosdokian" which is a figure of speech in which a sentence or phrase has an unexpected or surprising ending usually for comedic effect. Here are some examples that were given:
From Groucho Marx: I've had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it's still on the list.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Comedians often use this. I remember Rodney Dangerfield saying "Take my wife....please!"
Can you think of any others?
Now, you know I can't just mention these songs by the Hollies and not find them for you!
Ya'll enjoy this... I am still skating at Duvall's Roller Rink in 1972!
The Monastery of the Holy Spirit taken last year just after New Year's Day.
This is the oldest part of St. Simon's church, it is now used as a parish hall. Do you see the large rock, can you tell that it is very much like Stone Mountain? Our county is called Rockdale County, supposedly because it is so ROCKY. Kids have always loved jumping off that rock in play, my son included... Now, I have printed the entire poem of Desiderata, I thought it was beautiful as a teenager and I still do. If you already know it, skip down to what I have to say about it!
Go placidly amidst 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.
My sister had this poem which was on a big poster on our bedroom wall when we were teenagers in the early 70's. I remember it saying that it was written in 1692. It was actually written in 1927 by a poet named Max Ehrmann. The confusion over it is that the Rev. Frederick Kates, who was the rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland used the poem as part of some devotional materials for his congregation in the 1950's. Printed at the top of the poem was the church's name and date of it being founded, it simply said "Old St. Paul's Church, AD 1692". The poem became well known after it was discovered on the bedside table of Adlai Stevenson after his death. (Look at his story here www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/stevenson/html or you can also look at the info on wikipedia.) Once you click on the link above, just type in Adlai Stevenson and that will get you to his information. I always thought he was an interesting man and one that I really admire.
I was reminded of this poem today when I read that studies have been done that show the best thing for people who are suffering from depression is for them to do something for others. According to Sonja Lyubomirksy who is a professor at the University of California, these deeds are "Positive activity interventions" and recommend that it can be as simple as:
1) Being kind to others
2) Expressing gratitude
3) Thinking optimistically
4) Meditating on good things
Can anyone see where I am going with this? Doesn't this sound like what we have learned in church?
There, that is the newest part of St. Simon's church and it is the same rock, but at this angle, it looks as if the rock is laughing at us! Hey, don't worry little guy, we won't bother you, YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE!
On New Year's Eve day, Richard and I found the covered bridge on the Arabia Mountain trail! Isn't it a lovely sight? Months ago, when we walked on this same trail, we asked some of the bikers if they knew of a covered bridge but not one single person had ever seen it or even heard of it! I just looked up the name of the bridge's designer, Merle D. Grimes and discovered that he passed away in 2010 at the age of 53. He had planned and developed trails in Georgia, Colorado and also, the island of Kauai. A valued friend of nature... I really love that. I remember reading that this bridge was based on the designs of Horace King, one of the principal bridgebuilders in the South during the 19th century. His son, Washington King, built the covered bridge which was originally over the Oconee River in Athens, Georgia (built in 1891) but was moved to Stone Mountain park in 1965. Would you like to see some photos of that bridge?
Do you see that cars can drive across but on the left side there, it is for people who WALK! It is so pretty to look out from this bridge onto the lake...
These photos from Stone Mountain were taken on June 11th of this past year...
Can you see why we love to go to Stone Mountain and/or Arabia Mountain every chance that we can get? Wouldn't you?
"Merle would want us to search out some part of nature each and every day even if that journey is in our own back yard and experience the joy of the outside world...
Jeff Shoemaker, The Greenway Foundation
View of the sunrise from our house on December 31, 2011. (Taken by Richard!)
