Author: sssmahh303

New York, New York – Part 2

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Big Apple, Big Hearts

Mary Ann

New Yorkers get a bum rap for being unfriendly or rude or cold.  They are busy people, but they are at heart kind people.  If you ever watch multiple lanes of traffic at the Holland Tunnel, you will see New Yorkers narrow several lanes of cars blending them into two lanes to exit or enter the city. I have a friend who calls it braiding. The out-of-towners are the ones breaking the lines and are not civil. New Yorkers know that none of that will make a bit of difference.  The line goes when it goes.  Patience is the answer.

When you are riding the subways and are departing or entering the station, New Yorkers will hold a door for the person behind them.  They hold until someone grabs the door.  They don’t look at you but let go when you take hold.  No one says thank you.  Then, you in turn, hold the door until you pass it on to another. 

For the most part, people will stop you on the street and help you find your way if they see you with your nose in a travel guide.  If I ever asked for directions, I was readily given assistance. You can’t ask for more. 

When I first moved to NYC to work, I had no idea what I was doing most of the time.  As I shared before, there is a very steep learning curve.  Early in the transition, I visited a few times to find a place to live and meet the people I would be working with and so on.  

I stayed in a hotel in Chelsea area of the city.  My future boss lived on the Upper West Side.  On one of the early visits, I was to take the subway uptown to meet the boss to go out for dinner.  He told me to take the C train and get off at 86th Street. 

So, I off I went to take one of my first solo subway rides.  I came downstair to the trains and stood by the sign that gave you information about the C Train.  Along comes a train, the door open and I entered the subway car.  We are humming a long, and I notice that we were traveling out through the avenues and not moving North through the streets.  Something was wrong.  I asked someone on the train where the train going.  It was going to QUEENS!  Queens was a foreign country as far as I was concerned, and I was going in the wrong direction.  

The woman I asked where I was, kindly got off the train with me and walked me to the other track to get me going in the right direction.  There I stood where I had started at the C Train info sign.  A train came, the doors opened, and I entered.  We are moving along and suddenly we were moving out through the avenues on my way to QUEENS.  It was Groundhog Day, and I was doing exactly what I did the last round. What was I doing wrong?

I was sitting next to a Budish Monk in his saffron robes and several construction workers surrounded me. I asked for help, and they stepped up.  One of the construction guys in a plaid shirt walked me over to the transit map and explained the routes.  There are three trains – the A, C, and E – all using the same track.  I was getting on the E and not the C.  You must look on the front of the train to see which is which.  I was thinking of subways in Europe where one train is on one track.  People were chiming in giving me advice.  I said I will just up to the street and get a taxi.  No, no, you will never get a taxi on a Friday night, and it will take you forever to get uptown.  Stay on the train!   They gave me directions, and since I now knew how the trains ran, I was on my way finally.  At the time, you could not use a mobile phone in the subway, so I had no way in getting in touch with my boss.  I was just late, VERY late.

I was finally on the right train and made it to 86th street.  I came out of the subway and called my boss as we were walking towards each other.  We greeted one another with laughter.  It was funny after I made it to him.  It wasn’t so funny at the time, yet I never felt scared or panicked because there were kind people around me who were willing to go out of their way to help me on a busy Friday night when they just wanted to get home.  So, I know firsthand the kindness of New Yorkers, and they don’t deserve the bum rap of being rude.  

If I remained on the E Train and actually went to Queens, I may have never found my way back to Manhattan. What an adventure that would have been!  However, I know that someone would have helped me,  The city may be known as the Big Apple, but it is also should be known as a city with a Big Heart! 

Invisalign

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When I was in seventh grade, I got braces.  I was one of the few kids in the school to have them.  And on top of that, I wore glasses.  Four eyes became metal mouth. In those days, you wore metal band around the whole tooth, and you wore little rubber bands to pull the teeth in the right direction.  I can remember that each time I went to get them tightened, I was in pain before we hit the elevator. It was a very long two years to get my teeth straight.  Then it was retainers for years. Did any of you have those experiences in your junior high years? 

Today, kiddos have a much different experience.  Most children are wearing braces today. You are really not different from anyone else at school.  It starts much earlier with pallet spreaders, retainers before and after, and the development of Invisalign – the invisible retainers that gradually move your teeth. You must wear those retainers for 23 hours a day and that can be difficult for young people to do.  However, you can’t really see them, so you “quietly” make the changes to your smile. 

Initially what started my brace journey was a little girl jumping on my back when I was three and I hit the refrigerator, and my front tooth blacken and died.  I lost the tooth way too early so when the permanent teeth came in, my one front tooth crossed the other front tooth.  The braces fixed the tooth and my bite, so I was gifted with a great smile.  

In my 50s my teeth began to shift. The cross over tooth was crossing over again and the other tooth was drifting back so I had a shadow when I smile.   It would show up especially in photos.  My dentist in NYC suggested I try Invisalign to fix my teeth again.  So, in my sixties, I began to wear braces, the new improved version, but nevertheless it was still braces. I was one of the orthodontist’s oldest patients.  At my age, I oversaw my own procedures.  I would check in every 6-8 weeks.  I was given the trays, and I was very disciplined wearing them for the required 23 hours.  Occasionally I would take a few  extra hours off.  I was able to complete the procedures in 15 months.  The Orthodontist corrected the shifting tooth, but he also realigned my bite, so my bottom teeth did not touch my top teeth making them better for old age.  The final trays become your retainers, and they prevent you from grinding your teeth and wearing them down. 

I was happy that I decided to wear braces twice.  Once is enough for most people.   However, if you are not happy with your teeth or your smile or having problems with your bite causing problems with your teeth, Invisalign is something to consider.  It cost me $5000 for the procedure and some of it was covered by my dental insurance from work and I had money in my HSA.  Today, it would cost you up to $9,500.  To me it was worth every cent.  I am very good at wearing my retainers each night.  On my first round of braces, you were weaned off retainers – every day to three times a week to once a week then done.  Really, you are never really done with retainers because teeth shift.   So, if you want to keep that beautiful smile, it will need constant attention. If you ever considered doing Invisalign, it is easy and not too much discomfort.  Remember, you are never too old to begin again whether it is your first or second time with braces! 

SteadyScrib

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

My brother-in-law, Ron, has Parkinson’s.  He fights a valiant battle each day with dignity and grace.  Everything is hard, and each day the disease steals a little more from him.  As a family, we are always looking for ways to make things easier for him.

Parkinson is a neurological disease that has many symptoms, and it seems that each person has a different set of them.  So, when I came across SteadyScrib, I thought we had found an answer to a common challenge for Ron and many other Parkinson’s patients – micrographia. The handwriting is often so small that you can hardly read it.  

SteadyScrib was developed by two college students, Izzy Mokotoff and Alexis Chan, from Northwestern University.  Izzy had a grandfather with Parkinson and handwriting was difficult for him.  Alexis was a biomedical engineering student and had the skills to develop a new product.  They set out to solve the problem.  They eventually developed the prototype, applied for a patient, and proceeded to manufacturing.  SteadyScrib was an idea that became a reality thanks to two young, innovative, passionate women.  

It is a writing system that uses a magnetic clip board and a pen that is weighted, magnetic, and has a special grip that is like the ones that young children use to gain pencil control.  I went on the waiting list to get one once the pens were available for purchase.  Patience was needed because all the steps to production take time.  Eventually, the little company informed me the pens were available.  I ordered one.  It arrived shortly thereafter.

I took the pen to Ron and sat with him as he gave it a test drive.  He was able to print with larger, readable letters.  You wouldn’t know he had a writing challenge.  Then he wrote his signature, and it was almost perfect.  It was miraculous.  The pen worked.  I do however believe a little practice is needed to perfect one’s handwriting.  It is that old round, round, ready, write that we all did in elementary school when it was just reading, writing, and arithmetic. 

This blog is a PSA today.  If you know anyone with Parkinson’s or are dealing with it with a family member, this pen seems to work well for indecipherable handwriting. This brings back some control and independence to the Parkinson’s patient.  Everyone should have a good strong signature – Hey, Gen Z or whoever, hear this!  This is coming from an elementary teacher who taught penmanship!!

SteadyScrib Pros – This is a relatively easy system.  The materials are well-made.  It works, and it did for Ron!  

SteadyScrib Cons – It is a bit pricey at $75.00.  It could get cheaper if more are produced.  This is a small operation.  Some of the fee is given to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or another Parkinson’s group of your choosing. They now have gel ink cartridge replacements – 3 for $15.00.  if it works, it is worth the price regardless.  They do offer a payment system.  

Contact Information – SteadyScrib.com is the website.  You can order the pen and replacements cartridges from the site.  There is lots of additional information available, testimonials, and the story behind the invention.   

Thank you, Izzy and Alexis for changing the world and making it better for Parkinson’s patients. 

Royals

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

 With Love, Megan

Mary Ann

Ladies from my generation, do you remember when you were little girls and being enchanted with John F. Kennedy, his wife Jackie, and their children, Caroline and John-John?  They were American royalty – remember it was the time of Camelot.  I think when they were in the White House, I fell in love with fashion and just adored seeing the latest pictures with Jackie’s outfits with her iconic pillbox hats and her adorable children riding their pony Macaroni or playing in the Oval Office.  Then the time was gone in a puff with the presidential assignation, yet I continued to watch for pictures of Jackie and her children.  

Then during my daughter’s youth, Princess Diana reigned more than the British Isle.  She was a fashion icon with her cute little boys, Prince Wills and Prince Harry.   Her clothes were just beautiful, and she epitomized a true English rose.  It was fun again to see what she was wearing and what she was doing.  Princess Diana was a breath of fresh air from the stodgy monarchy.  (I can’t remember Princess Anne as a fashion forward icon.)  Her time ended too quickly with her untimely death. However, she still dominates a good bit of the news.  

Then the next generation, in our present time, came on the scene with Wills and Harry growing up and marrying.  Prince William marries Kate Middleton, and the new princess is just lovely as well.  They have three adorable children, George, Charlotte, and Louie. 

Later, Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle.  The new Duchess of Sussex has an exotic beauty about her and has a flair for fashion.  They have two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – again adorable.    

The larger world and our own personal lives have been full of challenging times, and there doesn’t seem to be much making us smile.  Yet, when I look at the news and the British Royals are featured, I know I will be uplifted with beautiful clothes and cute pictures of their children.  It may seem shallow, but I am thankful for the respite from the woes of our world.  

I realize that the Royals themselves have their own set of problems – stay calm and carry on is something they live by. I was a big fan of Meghan Markle when she was on Suits.  Her blog, The Tig, was an early lifestyle site.  She has always loved food, wine, entertaining, crafting, and travel.  She had a healthy following.  Then you fall in love with a prince and your whole life changes where you must put away the things you love.  

The honeymoon with the British press lasted for a few years then they turned on Meghan.  I am sure that all the accusations have some truth about her, but who would like to live under the pressure of constant judgment.  Whatever you do, it is not right. You might decide to leave that life behind.  Fast forward to present times, Harry and Meghan did just that, and they had to make a living to afford the lifestyle they have been accustomed to and most importantly pay for protection for their family. – all big bucks!

Which brings me to a review of Meghan’s new lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan, on Netflix.   I was trying to watch with an open mind because I like her, and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the series.  I learned something new every episode either about cooking or decorating or gardening or entertaining.  I appreciated all her creativity. She moves throughout her world in confident and caring ways.  She has come back to the roots of the things she loves.  Again, she is being judged on everything she presents, but she perseveres. She is a little worker bee even if she is a queen bee! 

I loved the little edible flowers in the first episode and cannot wait to get some.  I will be sprinkling everything.  I loved the idea of using a Ziplock bag as a pastry bag with a scissor snip.  I love hosting so she gave me a few ideas to spruce up the guest room.  I haven’t tried the recipes yet, but I will.  I am going to rewatch the series again and catch the things I may have missed.  And it is exciting there is going to be a second season.  I can hardly wait.  So, despite how other may feel about her, she has given me a place to escape our challenging times and enjoy a pretty life!  I can’t wait for her to reissue her products – they sold out within an hour.  She may be more popular than presented.  

When I was a young woman, we had Alexandria Stoddard.  She wrote books about living a pretty life. I always loved reading her suggestions.  I think this is what Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is trying to do – giving us ideas for making the ordinary extraordinary in simple ways!  Then came Martha Stewart.  I lived by everything she said.  She went off to prison, and we all seemed to still like her.  

If you haven’t watched With Love, Meghan, I think you might enjoy it.  No need to judge her, just use her ideas in your life to make things more interesting and enjoyable. Get some dried edible flowers sprinkles and spread a little joy!    

Note: The Second Season dropped earlier than I anticipated. I just finished watching Season 2. Again, lot of ideas to make your life prettier. I also purchased some of the products that As Ever offered. The packaging was very well done with little details such as personal notes and the like. The products seemed to be of fine quality – I got my flower sprinkles. The apricot jam I ordered was out of stock. They reimbursed me for it and are sending a free jar once they restocked. I think that is excellent customer service and encourages future purchases.

Gifts for Children

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann 

I have worked with children for over 40 years, and during that time, they have taught me a few things that I would like to share.  I am also a mother and grandmother, and the family, too, have all taught me life lessons as well. So, I compiled a list of what I think are the most important gifts, the most valuable gifts, you can give children.  These are not American Dolls or video games or a new Smartphone. These gifts are from the heart and soul and will outlast any toy.  Originally, I wrote this for a school newsletter, and one of the parents who was a publisher of a city magazine also ran it in her magazine – a sweet gesture to me.  

Gifts for Children
  1. The Gift of Love – We need to give our children unconditional love.  They need to know that there is a safe harbor from life’s storms.
  2. The Gift of Time – We need to make time for each of our children each day.  The time you have children in your home will go very quickly, and it is the minutes of a day that you make the biggest difference.  Take time to read, time to talk, time to snuggle, and time to be with them.
  3. The Gift of Acceptance – God gives each child treasures to bring into the world. Each child has different abilities.  We need to be happy with the treasure and not dwell on the things that may not be a strength.  Perfection is a hard burden for a child to carry. 
  4. The Gift of Language – We need to be talking to our children and helping them to learn words. We need to give them lots of experience so they can talk about them.  We need to read to children, say nursery rhymes, and “play” with words.  This is not the job of the television.
  5. The Gift of Example – We need to walk our talk.  If we expect our children to be honest, we must be honest in our own daily lives.  Your actions speak louder than your words.  Children are watching.
  6. The Gift of Consequences – We need to let children learn that their choices have good and bad consequences.  We cannot create a perfect world for them. That is an injustice to children who live in an imperfect world.  They need to know how to cope with mistakes and disappointments.
  7. The Gift of No – Children need to have boundaries and to know their limitations.  We can say “no” to a child, and he or she will still love us.  Children are not in charge of families.  
  8. The Gift of Curiosity – Children naturally love to learn, and we need to keep them ever curious about the world. We need to develop lifelong learners so they will keep growing. Your interest in the world will plant those seeds.  

As parents and grandparents, we have the awesome responsibility to shepherd our children and grandchildren through life.  Hoping these gift ideas will help be a north star to what is truly important to our children.  

It has been a few years since I originally wrote this article.  I don’t think I would change anything that I proposed.  If anything, I think I would add something about kindness, especially in the times we are living.  Be Kind is just too important to be ignored today.  We need to talk about it and live it each day.  It fits with most of the other gifts.

Hoping this blog with help you and the families in your life in the coming school year.  Learning is more than reading, writing, and arithmetic.  It is also growing a loving and kind heart, and you can be the most influential teacher with these gifts to the children in your life.   

Let Them

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

Mel Robbins is the number one female podcaster in the world.  She excels at taking research and making it relatable to the average person.  Mel knows how to ask just the right questions of her podcast guests.  She is authentic and vulnerable as she share her life stories and experiences.  Over the last few years, she has developed The Let Them Theory, and it now has become a best-selling self-help book.  

If you are fan of Mel Robbins, you will love the book.  If you are new to her work, you will find answers to questions you may have.  For me, Let Them and Let Me which are the two main premises of The Let Them Theory reminded me of the Serenity Prayer.  Let Them and grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change are both alike, and Let Me and grant me the courage to change the things that I can are similar.  Regardless, it is good advice to live by.  Mel tells you how to use the principles with several examples from her life or her family and friends.    She has done in depth research and had conversations with experts in the field of psychology that she shares in the book.  

She gives excellent advice on friendships and romantic relationships.  When you are hurting from a toxic friendship or trying to heal from a broken heart, you can find solace in The Let Them Theory.  Individuals with addiction issues can find support in the book as well.  

Life is hard and sometimes you need a little help from you friends, and sometimes a friend can be a book. You cannot change other people. You can only change yourself.  You have to say Let Them and then take steps to Let Me to care for yourself.  As someone who tries to fix everything, The Let Them Theory, was a good book to relate to my character flaws.

This is worth a read in your personal journey to self-discovery.  If you like the book, check out the podcast.  The Mel Robbins Podcasts are also full of good advice and interesting guests.  I am not sure Mel herself has developed new ideas, but she does bring the work of others to her audience and does the digging for you.  Her keen sense of what is important guides the way.  She can summarize topics in a concise and empathic manner making many subject relatable and understandable.  Thanks, our friend, Mel!  (When you listen to the podcasts, you will understand this ending.) 

Placemats

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

As I shared with you in past blogs, I like to use items in different ways than their original purpose.  So, I want to share with you new ideas for a placemat.  

This all started when I was looking for accent pillows for my guest room.  I could not find exactly what I was looking for, but I did find the perfect pattern on a scalloped placement.  I bought four of them.  I paired them to create the front and the back of a pillow.  The placements were a black flowered pattern.  I made a black and white checked ruffle to surround the pillows (an easy way to make a ruffle is to sew a piece of yarn along the open edge of the material using a wide zigzag stitch. Then just pull the yarn to gather the material).  I attached the ruffle between the placements and then I sewed them all together leaving a small opening to add quilt stuffing.  Later, I hand stitched the opening.  

The pillows were just perfect in my guest room that was decorated in black, white, and pink.  The pillows accented the black and white toile bed spread and black and white checked dust ruffle and European pillow shams.  I have since used the same pillows in my bedroom that accented the black, white, and red bed linens.  Those placemat pillows are one-of-kind and have remained in excellent condition in two different bedroom settings.  This is an easy and inexpensive way to create unique décor.

Crafting unique tissue “boxes” is the second idea for placemats. The steps are simple, and the creative ideas are endless.  First, you need to buy some placemats.  At the end of each holiday season, stores such as Marshalls or HomeGoods discount the holiday placemats so for a dollar or two you can find the cutest seasonal placemats.  Then you fold the ends of each placemat to the center.  Pin the open ends at the top and the bottom of the placemat to secure it.  At this point, you can add trim such as pom poms, rick rack, or beads between the pinned ends.  Craft or fabric stores have trims available, and I did find several resources online that include Amazon, of course, but there are small companies that specialize in trims which may have more unique designs.  

After you have everything pinned together, you sew up the two ends.  You are almost done.  I then use holiday jewelry which is often on sale after the holiday as well.  If it is a pin, I put it in one of the corners.  Sometimes I use a novelty button or applique which may need to be sewed on, or I use Velcro dots or fabric glue to attach. The holiday jewelry gives a little character to the tissue “box.”  Then use Velcro dots to close the tissue top.  72 count boxes of Kleenex or other brands that are about 2 inches high fit perfectly inside with a few wiggles.  Also, you can find some soft-sided packages of tissues that fit as well.   Press the Velcro dots together pulling the tissue at the center.  Voila!  You are done. 

The tissue “box” fits almost anywhere and becomes part of my holiday decorations. I change for each one. The tissue “boxes” make nice gifts, and I always give a few extra boxes of tissues with it.  You can also make ones that go with your bedroom or wherever and are more permanent parts of your décor. 

I have had fun finding all the placemats and the accents for tissue “boxes” and pillows. As they say, “Necessity is the mother of Invention.”  It has been true for these creations.  I hope you will give this a try and use an ordinary placemat to create unique items for your home.  

Earn Your Wings

by sssmahh303, posted in Wellness

Mary Ann

When I was a little girl, my mother would always say that when I did a kindness, I was earning my wings.  I had no ideas what she was talking about until one day I realized I was earning my angel wings, a place in heaven.  Boy, was that an epiphany! 

We are living in a world where kindness is a vanishing commodity.  There are still very kind people who go out of their way to help you.  However, there is a lot of cruelty in the world and just plain meanness.  They are not earning their wings.  

We need to have grace with one another.  It makes life a bit easier when we do.  Etienne de Grellet famous quote summarizes this way of living.  “I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being: let me do it now.  Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”  Imagine if we all lived by that advice.  No Hunger, No War, No Poverty, No Hate, No Bullying, No Hurt….

I have been blessed with kind people in my life, and I try hard to be kind to those in my orbit.  As they say in the south, my life has been “an embarrassment of riches!”  If, I ever win the lottery, I would have such great joy giving most of it away to help the world.  Wouldn’t that be fun to make that happen?

 When I look back on my life, there is an incident that showed me what real kindness is.  I was perusing an antique shop, and my eyes landed on a cherry dresser that had 7 mirrors on it, and it was instantly love at first sight.  What beautiful lady stood before this gorgeous piece of furniture when it was newly made?  Well, I asked the shop owner how much it was.  He said $1600.  It might as well be $160,000.  I was just recently divorced, and I had to provide for two children.  Teaching did not pay enough to allow such a luxury.  However, the owner said that the dresser was a consignment piece, and the owner of it was picking it up later in the week. I could talk to her and see if she would sell it for less. 

So, I returned to the shop and met the lady who owned the dresser.  I asked her if she were willing to sell it for less.  She asked what I could pay.  I pulled $500 out of the air knowing the piece was worth so much more. She said if I would give her $600, the dresser was mine.  Well, $600 was also impossible for me to buy it, and I told her.  She said that if I could send her $50 a month until it was paid off, I could have the dresser.  This lady did not know me from Adam, yet she took a chance.  She was trusting a young woman who fell in love with her antique dresser. 

I came to know that she herself was a former teacher, divorced, and raised her children by herself. She had walked in my shoes and knew it was like to not to have much money.  She wanted someone who loved the dresser to have it.  That was me!  For the following year, I sent a check each month and at the end of the year, the dresser was mine.  I still have that beloved antique and forty years later, I have never forgotten the kindness that was extended to me.  It may be just a piece of furniture, yet it actually was so much more.  It was one person touching the heart of another, a lesson to remember for a lifetime.  I have tried to pass this particular kindness on by giving most of the antiques that I no longer needed or wanted to someone who would love them. They are gifts! 

So when you hear someone speak about passing kindness forward, remember when someone was kind to you, keep it in your heart, and earn your angel wings for a better world!!

4H

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

Throughout your life, you become members of different organizations and clubs.  It may be Girl or Boy Scouts, fraternities or sororities, church groups, Kiwanis, Rotary, VFW, book clubs, sport teams, and on and on.  All of them have influenced you in some way adding to the fabric of your life. It is our tribe or community.  It is a place where we belong. 

As I look back on my life, I belonged to many clubs, but the one organization that really influenced my life and helped me become who I am was the 4H.  I think most people think of 4H as a farmer’s club, and it does have famers.  However, it is far more than that. 

I was in 6th grade and joined the Dog Husbandry Club that was sponsored by the Purina Company and run by our local commissioner who had a rescue center for unwanted animals.  We were lucky to have such a caring man lead us.

 My brother, Timmy, and I loved our English and Irish Setters, so this club was made for us.  We learned about grooming, feeding, training, and showing our dogs.  We learned about responsibility with charts that depicted our hours devoted to training and grooming, and we would post the amount of feed we used to care for our dogs.  We would have a local dog show in the spring and a County 4H fair dog show later in the summer.  We demonstrated our mastery of skills at those shows.

As I grew older, I would do demonstrations about canine care – Primp Up Pooch or First-Aid for Pooch.  It gave me experience in public speaking, a skill I have used my whole life.  I would later become the club’s president, so I was learning leadership skills in that role.  My role expanded with the following years.  In my senior year of high school, I became a Keystone Winner representing the state of Pennsylvania at the National 4H Conference in Chicago, IL, 

We stayed at the Conrad Hilton – a big change for a small-town girl!   What an experience to be with hundreds of 4Hers representing their states.  Big cooperations like Ford or General Motors sponsored banquets for us, Miss America spoke, and we were guests of the city at their various attractions such as the Field Museum and a night club called The Cheetah.  It was truly a life-changing experience for me – there was a big world out there that I wanted to see. 

 4H gave me opportunities and experiences that have lasted a lifetime and shaped the person I have become.  I always loved the 4H Pledge. It is a meaningful way to live one’s life, and each leave of the clover represents a different H – head, heart, hands, and health.  It has always stayed with me, and I can readily recite it.   Let me share it with you.

4H Pledge

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,

My heart to greater loyalty,

My hands to larger service, 

And my health to better living, 

For my club, my community, my country, and my world.

What a positive way to live life!  However, the 4H Motto is what has been a true North Star in my life.  It is To Make the Best Better.  Whatever I have undertaken, I have tried to make it even better. The 4H gifted a pledge and a motto that has shaped my life, and I am so thankful for those words.  

The Year of the Penguin

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann 

Every year to celebrate Earth Day, Disney with National Geographic produces a nature film on a particular animal – elephants or big cats or polar bears.  This year they did a three-part series on penguins – such delightful little creatures!  Their very survival is a challenge in every aspect.  Yet, they seem to do it with such a good attitude, a lesson for us all.  

There was also another film this spring about a penguin that was both charming and captivating.  The Penguin Lessons is a true story about a professor, Tom Michell, from an elite boy’s school, St. George’s, in Argentina during a fascist regime in the 1970s.  The professor, a bit of a curmudgeon, is adopted by a penguin that he saves from an oil spill while on a trip to Uruguay.    When you are claimed by penguin as one of his peeps, you do not have much choice but to bring it home with you.  This is where the story unfolds.

The penguin, Juan Salvador, captures the hearts of everyone he encounters, even taming Michell’s unruly English class. Juan Salvador is a great listener to Michell, the cleaning lady Maria, and eventually the headmaster himself.  It was time to end the no pet rule.  Michell played by Steve Coogan and Jonathan Pryce as Headmaster Buckle are naturals for these leading roles and masterfully portray their characters.  However, Juan Salvador steals the show in every scene he is in. 

This film is far from an animal special.  There is an underlying story of the plight of the Argentinian people during a dictatorship.  Thousands of people disappeared off the streets and were never seen again.  This storyline is portrayed by Maria the cleaning lady and her granddaughter Sofia, a political activist, giving other penguin lessons that are applicable to our world today.

I love independent films – good stories, fine acting, low budget, and usually smacking with charm in one way or another.  For the most part they are shown in small, unique theaters throughout the country from the Angelika in NYC to local renovated ones, often a hidden gem, in your local community.  You should seek one out to see films like The Penguin Lessons and feel the magic in the dark.