I can’t remember right now how many years I’ve been involved with The Salvation Army, but I continue to learn even more about how superb an organization it truly is. I don’t regret a single minute of time I’ve lent to their cause. That incomparable balance of deep spiritual commitment and heavyweight competence in a crisis… well, it just kicks glutimus maximus!
Archive for September, 2005
Doing the Most Good
Thursday, September 8th, 2005They were gentlemen… and giants
Wednesday, September 7th, 2005I regret that my schedule today didn’t allow me to attend the service for Charlie Hazelrigg. Unlike so many others in this community, I never got to know him well, but I’ve had the pleasure of his kindness, charm, and wit on so many occasions that I’m feeling like I’ve lost another friend. I think he was the kind of person who had that effect on everyone who knew him.
He took a shine to Dana in the early 90s when he was asked to scrutinize her manuscript for a 64-page community viewbook we produced. His admiration for her writing skill had a strong and lasting influence on Dana’s confidence as a communicator, or that’s my observation, in any case. He never failed to ask about her when we chatted, and usually would make a characteristically mischievous remark about her good looks. That was the Dr. Hazelrigg I knew. I could imagine him as the young and dashing Naval officer… a ladies man, no doubt.
I’ve been a Rotarian for eleven years and the most memorable lunch program during that time was the meeting when Bill Balden and Charlie Hazelrigg talked about their recollections of serving in the Navy during the second World War. Balden was one of the first aviators to successfully conduct long-range bombing missions off an aircraft carrier and land at night without much fuel left. In an era of dangerous occupations, it was considered an outrageously perilous feat to achieve even once, and yet he made history by doing it again and again across the South Pacific. Hazelrigg had his ship struck by a bomb and a kamikaze plane off Iwo Jima, and the crew went on to accomplish its mission under his command. What kind of rare leadership does it take to face those circumstances and inspire men to surmount those odds?
Both Bill and Charlie are gone now. I’m proud to reside in the town in which they chose to live. It was a community made finer by their presence. It is a community now diminished by their absence.
We have GO for throttle up
Tuesday, September 6th, 2005Back home at the Town House, and it doesn’t take long before the studio engines are revving: deadline for a horse industry magazine ad, and Kentucky Trust jump-starts more Website refinements.
In addition, the Salvation Army Captain and I will be having a working lunch tomorrow to map out a local community relations plan for the hurricane disaster response. There are a lot of developments that the public needs to know right away. We’ll be setting up a “disaster response center” for the collection of emergency goods that the Captain will take with him when he leaves for the damage zone. The United Way wants to partner with the Army to organize a team of local volunteers to provide help under his leadership. He hopes to act as an on-site source of information for the media back here at home. The Kentucky-Tennessee Division, like others in the Southern Territory, will be opening up our summer camp for evacuee relocation. And there’s even more to communicate.
Timing is tricky, because Dana and I have a lot to accomplish before Friday, so we can take the weekend for our 23rd anniversary observation, and then after that I’ll be leaving for Lake Huron and my annual salmon harvest.
Labor Day with BJW
Monday, September 5th, 2005After breakfast with Mombo, Joan, and Darb, it was time to shake off the corsair dust. Dana, Marty, and I traveled to Indianapolis and spent the holiday with Bruce. He was eager for activity, so we did a wheelchair trip to the fountain courtyard and took some pictures. Then Dana cut his hair while Marty and I watched the middle part of “Clear and Present Danger,” which features the Bogota RPG assault on the SUVs. Harrison Ford reportedly did his own stunt driving in the final escape. I knew that scene was coming up, but I’d forgotten how well it had been crafted. If Ford can use his clout to make sure “I-J-4” comes anywhere close to the excitement of that sequence, it won’t even matter if Indy has a beer gut. (But I’m certain that Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and Frank Marshall couldn’t care less about my apprehensions when it involves their decision to monkey with that trilogy.)
Fron’s vision unfolds
Sunday, September 4th, 2005The Ohio Renaissance Festival!
The persona of Cap’n Lice might be too potent for extended wear. This role-playing business can be heady stuff. I’m such an amateur.
(What’s that you say?)
Voice of reason: “You don’t have to literally become a reeling pirate with his “decks awash.” That’s why they call it A-c-t-i-n-g…
As usual, Brendan hits the mark.
“Slime water” may be good for pirate blood (or mild lunacy), but bad for just about anything else.
Another long day straddling two states
Saturday, September 3rd, 2005I joined my duathlon-minded chums for an early “Pound & Pedal” event prior to packing up and departing for Ohio. This year it was an unfamiliar course near Harrodsburg with numerous hills. The weather was bright—clear—stunning. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the sky, and so I took a wrong turn during the running leg that added a couple of unnecessary miles to my total distance (20 miles). I hadn’t really pushed at a racing pace, but by the time we arrived at the motel in Wilmington I was feeling rather wiped out. Family was pouring in, and I stayed up far too late socializing and making final preparations for the next day’s festivities.
Clan members make a successful escape
Friday, September 2nd, 2005The Hornsbys of Metairie are heading our way via Baton Rouge. They left Sunday morning before Katrina hit the Gulf coast. Timsby’s dad is reportedly stranded at a VA hospital where he works, and there’s no word yet about his circumstances or whether the facility is being evacuated. The family is traveling light.
We’ll connect with them in Ohio near the site of the Renaissance Festival.
Headley Lice (recently promoted by Her Majesty to the rank of Admiral) cannot get himself in the mood for a playful celebration.
Various & Sundry, part twenty-three
Thursday, September 1st, 2005— Month of August workout totals: Swim-7; Bike-5; Run-5; Lift-0; Yoga-0.
— In a display of auto-beneficence triggered by serendipity, I endorsed a mildly convoluted but brilliant scheme put forward by my pal Ernst for a double upgrade of our two-wheelers—he strips his bike of its components, replacing them with state-of-the-art, gizmotic sweetness and recycles the perfectly wonderful parts to my Peugeot. I end up with a virtually “new” bicycle—an entirely different shifter/gear-ratio setup that transforms a 12-speed to a more modern 16-speed, with superior rims, performance seat, new brakes, bars, and stem, plus a lighter alloy crank assembly. The deal was sealed when he uncovered a roll of rare, hot-yellow Benotto bar tape. My 29-mile, duel-knob ride test Wednesday night was dominated by even more joyous delight than I was expecting. The single item that didn’t fit was the rear brake caliper, and so the only former elements that remained, other than my classic steel frame, were the tires, front derailleur, rear brakes, and seat post. Thus, a small, self-centered part of my life as a fitness geek is ripe with satisfaction.
— There are a lot of Americans who are no fans of the Second Amendment, and I wish I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard or read the question, “Why do people need that kind of a weapon to go hunting?” Too bad it could not remain an abstract quarrel, so we need not acknowledge the reality of a grim but eloquent visual checkmate—the wire photo of a New Orleans business owner standing his ground, holding a pump-action Mossberg with pistol grip.
— I’m still trying to process the recent knowledge that Marty will leave soon to live hundreds of miles away. Our relationship since he came to Kentucky has been good for both of us. I understand why it’s happening, but the realization hasn’t penetrated into my emotional body.
— Bruce is anticipating going home as soon as this weekend. This time it looks fairly solid, but there have been false starts before, so I’ll believe it when it actually happens. I hope it does soon, my son…