Currently reading

Carl Sandburg's Lincoln

According to one review:

"It picks up with the trip to Washington and goes to the end of 1863. Author Carl Sandberg does an excellent job of weaving Lincoln's story into that of his times. As the reader progresses through this book, he is taken to the White House, the battlefield, the home front and foreign countries. At times the narrative diverts into a study of military and political figures and scenes which affect, but do not directly involve, Lincoln himself. The transition is often so smooth that the reader barely notices that he has moved from Lincoln, to others and back again.''

In my opinion, this book reads like one long poem.  It is exquisite, and thoroughly researched.  There are plenty of "Lincolnisms" and my favorite concerns him whittling while waiting for the results of his election.  "Mary, I believe we have won!"

And his quotations are golden.  How about this one?

"If you think you're at the end if your rope, tie a knot and hang on."

GRATITUDE FOR JULY

 1.  Stagville

2.Unity Recovery in Philly

3.  Quinton

4.  dogs, especially. black mouth curs

5.  Beverly

GRATITUDE

1.  the blood moon

2.  my friend Bea

3.  my bro

4.  the Constitution

5.  lavender oil

6.  the Eiffel Tower

7.my poetry group

8.  Ireland

9.  hope

10. Emily Dickinson

11. Cape Cod

12. rain

13. friends

14. Erin

15. Emily Ruth

16. openness

17. Tia

18. opportunities

19.  ICA in Boston

20. Boston in general

21. Lennox the boxer

22. Adrienne

23. peach wine

24. tiny fans

25. Carolina Theatre

26. swimming pools

27. deep breaths

28. compassion

29. Conrad Neumann

30. the Otter software

31. ADF

32. forests

33. Unity

34. Netflix

35. Bennett Myers

36. Marriott Hotels

37. Toyotas

38. ceiling fans

39. Merce Cunningham

40. Black Mountain College

41. Asheville

42. air conditioning

43. Virginia

44. Beverly

45. Rosa Parks

47. John Lewis

48. Being retired

49. job opp at Nasher

50. new Nasher pullover

51. Earl Grey tea

52. getting credit card paid off

53. history

54. forests

55. my computer

56. 2 beautiful and healthy granddaughters

57. rain

58. slave narratives

59. soft cozy blankets

60. the forest elephant

61. taking it easy

62. 10 min. on elliptical

63. Duke gym

64. having no car payments

65. warm showers and baths

66. Judge Luttig from Dec. 6th hearing

67. C-span

67. "the music of that place"

68. Alaska

69. zen breathing

70. the Kennedys

71. NAMI

72. the f word

73. mindfulness

74. peach wine

75. being an extravert

76. independence

77. agency

78. walking

79. movie theaters

80. possibilities

81. brindle boxers

82. Tribeca

83. Steam Boat Springs

84. Durham Church

85. UU

86. massage

87. hyacinth

88. Laddie

89. archives

90. Goldens

91. Courthouses

92. energy

93. codgers

94. singing

95. U. S. medicine

96. a memorable birthday last week

97. enough money

98. enough food

99. being enough

100. Olivia and Sharon

 PANDEMIC CAUSED EXTENSIVE LEARNING LOSS

FOR NORTH CAROLINA STUDENTS

That is the headline for the Durham Herald for March 4, 2021.   The Pandemic affected all students, across the board.  All grades, across the board, negative impacts.  "For all grades,  almost every subject (Except English II), and especially for Math, Science, and Biology."

For economically disadvantaged students, and all other students, especially reading in grades 4, 6, 8, and 5.  Even AIG students were negatively impacted.  According to Michael Maher, DPI's executive director of the Office of Learning Recovery, "this is not on the backs of teachers, principals, or superintendents."

Since learning has been so disrupted over the past two years, schools across the country are striving to get students caught up.  Some of the issues that students have been grappling with are:  quarantine rules,

PAULI MURRAY -- LEGAL CAREER

THE WALLER CASE

https://www.aaihs.org/gender-civil-rights-and-the-case-of-odell-waller/

The Netflix documentary,"My Name is Pauli Murray," beautifully captures the life of Pauli Murray.  The film was released in 2022.

Friend to Eleanor Roosevelt and a lifelong activist, Murray 

 Jan. 13, 2022:  

DISCOVERIES!

2022!   Still adjusting to writing 22 and not a bit unhappy to see 21 fly. 

Currently obsessed with Hugh Mangum.  And his breath-taking photography.  Sarah Stacke's book is triumphant and I just discovered this blog by Elizabeth Avedon.  Wonder if she is Richard's daughter?

https://elizabethavedon.blogspot.com/2019/07/day-or-night-archive-of-hugh-mangum-by.html.