Good Morning All & Happy Earth Day!
On this day in 1970, Earth Day was founded. A U.S. Senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson was a driving force behind the creation of Earth Day. It inspired me to start an “Ecology Club” at Olympia High School when I was in my sophomore year. Among our charter members was Terrence Unsoeld, a daughter of Willi Unsoeld one of the first Americans to climb Mt. Everest. We organized various trash pick-ups around campus and recycling days where we collected newspapers, cans, bottles, etc. and we put together an Earth Day celebration event at the high school with speakers and various organizations related to ecology and environmental protection were present. I’m reminded of a book I read that had a profound influence on my way of thinking about the environment and what some people have called “Spaceship Earth.” It was called “The Closing Circle” by Barry Commoner and the theme of his book was that “everything is connected to everything else” and, the older I get, the more that theme is true. As the Good Book says, our Creator gave mankind the responsibility for being good stewards of Creation. How do you think we are doing? Our Creator sure gave us a beautiful place to inhabit…maybe we need to “step up our game” to do a better job taking care of it. What do you think?
Speaking of taking care of Creation, some of the best stewards of Earth are our farmers. I was reminded of this in going through old letters from my wife Judy, who worked on her family’s wheat farm outside of Lewiston, Idaho. They were beautifully written letters and she spends some time talking about various aspects of farming. Here are couple of excerpts from one of those letters, written from one of the wheat fields that was being harvested:
“I must go dump Art’s (Judy’s cousin Art) combine. I know it’s Art ’cause there’s this little American flag on the top of his machine—I’m back…This is really a messy job. Just look how dirty your letter is. I suppose I should get a different job, but I wouldn’t have near as much fun if I did. Today work is dragging, though only 3 of our 5 combines are running. It leaves a lot of time to fill. I have changed my mind about having a lot of time—3 hours have passed, full of unloading combines and unplugging headers. What a mess I am. Oh well, that’s one of the hazards of the job…”
“…Now, all of a sudden, I’m a very popular truck driver. I have three combines waiting to dump on my truck. I don’t like barley harvest ’cause it itches, but its better than dry peas. They’re really dirty…”
“…We got two days of rain, but now we don’t want it. I tell you, farmers are never satisfied…”
In another letter, Judy writes:
“As for harvest this year, that is the one question you don’t ask around farmers this year. One example—one field that usually yields 60 bushels an acre—this year gave between 20 and 25 bushels an acre. There’s always next year, though. Today we are rained out (the train makes the grain so tough the combines can’t cut it), so I get a day off.”
Here’s to our farmers and all those who practice good stewardship of what we have been given by our Creator!
Speaking of celebrating people, Happy Birthday wishes go to friend Steve today, son of our beloved former neighbors Anatol & Lida Demus; and belated Happy Birthday wishes go to friend Easter, fellow Taekwondo student, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. Here’s to you two! Also, Happy Birthday today to actor Jack Nicholson, who is 83 today; and to singer/guitar player extraordinaire, Peter Frampton, who turns 70 today; to Seattle Seahawk great, Marshawn Lunch, who is 34 today! Here’s to all of you, too!
I came across the 1969 Topps Football Card for Charlie Krueger, defensive tackle great for the San Francisco 49ers. He played a remarkable 15 seasons in the NFL, all with the same team! Charlie was born in Caldwell, Texas in 1937 (he was the second oldest of eight children—he came from a poor family—his father worked at a light factory and made mattresses on the side to earn money), played high school football at Caldwell High School and then went on to play college football at Texas A&M under legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He credited his success in football to Coach Bryant. He was a first round draft pick of the 49ers in the 1958 NFL Draft. His 1969 Football Card says: “An outstanding defensive lineman, Charlie is considered the best pass rushing tackle in the National Football League.” At 6’4″, 260 lbs., he had great size, quickness and agility. He enjoyed playing under Coach Dick Nolan with the 49ers: “Dick Nolan was a very moral sort of person…He might kick you n the butt, but he was fair. You’ve got to have a certain tenacity as a defensive player, and it worked out for me.” Charlie was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He suffered some serious injuries during his playing career and has suffered significant pain since retiring from football in 1973. After his final NFL season in 1973, Charlie continued to suffer knee pain. During an operation on his left knee in 1979, he learned that he had been playing without a ligament in his knee since the early 1970s. He sued the 49ers for damages, and after a long legal battle, a San Francisco superior court judge ordered the 49ers to pay Charlie $2.3 million in general damages & $66,000 in special damages in 1988. The court ruled that Charlie was regularly anesthetized between and during games, and endured repeated, questionable steroid treatments by the 49ers team physician. He has undergone five knee surgeries, had his left shoulder replaced, and had a fusion procedure on his spine. Additionally, he’s had bypass surgery. Charlie loved to explore mountains of California and also did some mountain lion hunting, but as his medical condition deteriorated over time, he had to give that up. After football, Charlie settled in Clayton, California, where he has worked with Easter Seals, March of Dimes and the Max Baer Heart Fund. He developed an interest in opera and symphony music and worked with committees for the arts. His wife, the former Kris Adler, was the daughter of the director of the San Francisco Opera. He is now 83 years old. Here’s to Charlie Krueger of San Francisco 49ers fame!
Here’s the word definition for the day:
Rhapsody (Rap-so-dee): “An effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feeling…” “A free instrumental composition in one extended movement, typically one that is emotional or exuberant in character.”
Here is the thought for the day:
“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.”
—Rachel Carson, author of “Silent Spring” and an inspiration for the creation of “Earth Day” as quoted on one of Judy’s letters to me in 1977.
Here’s to a great Earth Day and lots of love & good wishes always!
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)