You Can Count on Me

I'm not sure how this movie ended up on our NetFlix list.  The movie is based on unconditional love.  Brother (Terry [Mark Rufflao]) and Sister (Sammy [Laura Linney])

grew up without their parents, who were killed in an automobile accident.  We see them later, in their 30's. Although both are flawed and do things things that hurt, their love overcomes their bad behaviors.  There are lots of AA/AlAnon themes (unspoken) in the movie:

• Live and let live,
• Easy does it,
• Let go and let God,
• Just for today,
• Fake it till you make it, and
• Just accept, don't expect.

The over-arching theme is the unconditional love between a brother and sister who lost their parents and deal with that pain together growing up.

La Virgen Maria 2007

This roadside memorial to the Virgen is North of the Echo Amphitheater.  (Echo amphitheater is a natural amphitheatre located in Rio Arriba County, in northern New Mexico in the southwestern United States, about 17 miles West of Abiquiú and about 4 miles up the road from Ghost Ranch.)

 



We stopped by here on our way back from skiing in Chama.

Dust Bowl

Last Friday night (11/2/12) I got to see a preview of the upcoming Ken Burns "Dust Bowl" film.  Quite an experience.  The preview was very moving...it's hard to believe what those folks went through.  They survived on almost nothing.  No bath.  Everything covered with dirt and worst of all, the dust pnuemonia.


Co-producer Julie Dunfrey introduced the series and afterwards signed the


book.  She's a very nice lady and had a quiet confidence and humility.  This film will probably be the last work with actual survivors of the dust bowl.

Two dust bowl survivors, Sam Arguello (Clayton, NM) and Boots McCoy (Texas County, OK), were present and told some of their stories.  Black Sunday, when the sun disappeared, was especially vivid.  Boots' sister developed dust pnuemonia afterwards and died.  He never forgave God for taking, "Little Sister".  Sam's family had a 40 acres farm North of Clayton.  After the event, we hung around and talked with the survivors.  Sam's family (son and granddaughter) were with him and I thanked them for coming all the way to Albuquerque for the event.  Sam's son knew Philmont and I enjoyed talking to him about that part of NM.  Boots could have tlked all night, and I wish we could have stayed and listened to him. 

It's interesting.  Most of the audience were older: 50+ for sure, and probably 60+.  I don't think younger folks know about the dustbowl.  We can tolerate alot...the dustbowl proves it.  We just don't act that way.

Ron McKuen

I saw Rod McKuen  in Houston in 1967 or 1968.  I was very impressed.  I liked his poetry, especially since it was writtten by someone so cool.  I haven't thought about it in decades, but yesterday I found his book, in someone's shadow, in Dixon, NM, at the St. Anthony thrift shop ($0.50).  I read the Prolog, Another Beginning, at the Sugar Nymphs Bistro in Penasco, NM, (East of Dixon),  after the Dixon Art Studio Tour.


The Prolog story is dedicated to Jerry Kramer
 (1958-1968 Green Bay Packers, Farewell to Football.  He was a lineman coached by Vince Lombardi . 

As with a lot (i.e., most) poetry, I'm not sure I understand it, but there are a few phrases that I like, and will continue to think about.

"To see a new door open I'd go almost anywhere.  Even backwards, if I thought I had the time"

If "new door" means opportunity...
and
"Even backward" means doing something that I thought about earlier in my life, but skipped...
then:

This poem could be prophetic. 
I'm going to think about it.

Cape May, NJ

Cape May, NJ
We went to Cape May in the "off season" after attending a conference in Longwood Gardens (March 2012).  It was cold and windy...but still beautiful.

The structure in the background is a "Fire Control Tower" (as in, "Ready, Aim, Fire!", not a USFS lookout tower), from WWII.

USMC Poster

I agree with most of what's on this poster, but not all.

1.  Kill people for a living.  Correct.  Marines have one primary purpose, to win battles for the United States, and that entails locating, closing with, and killing the enemies of the United States.

2.  Marines are not politically correct.  Correct.  Marines are extreme.

3.  Being a Marine in not like being in a TV commercial.  Correct.  Analogies do not work for describing what it means to be a Marine.  If you're a Marine, you know.  If not, you  don’t.

4.  Humor gets us through.  Correct.  FYIYCTAJ.

5.  Marines are hardened.  Correct, BUT "No better friend, no worse enemy" is also true.

6.  Blood-thirsty.  No.  This is not correct.  Marines do not take pleasure in killing.  We are not murderous.  We put a lot of thought and training into the killing of the enemies of the United States.  To be a true warrior, one must respect the enemy.  The enemy you are facing in AFG especially deserves respect.  Your job is to accomplish you mission and protect your team.  Killing the Taliban is part of the job, but it's important to do so in the right way.  It does matter.  You have a Higher Power who you must answer to when the killing is over.  It matters how you do it and your attitude.  Respect is key.

7.  SOB. Yes, without question.

8.  Disregard for public opinion.  Absolutely; leave that to the Generals.

9.  S/F/F.  Absolutely; it's what holds together.

Texas Black Bean Incident

Fredrick Remington captured this event in his painting, "The Drawing of the Black Bean".  I'd forgotten about this episode (I didn't get to take Texas history since we lived in Oklahoma during the Junior High years [NOT called "Middle School" in those days {and I prefer Junior High --- goes with Junior Varsity, which we don't have any more either}].)  I was reminded of the story while reading the Bigfoot Wallace chapter in J. Frank Dobie's book, Tales of Old Time Texas.  

• 

I'd forgotten that after the Battle of San Jacinto and the Treaties of Velasco in 1836, Santa Anna and the Mexican Army did not stop invading Texas.  The Black Bean Incident followed from the Texans response to the Mexican invasions of Texas.  In 1842, Alexander Somervell, a customs officer from Matagorda Island, attacked the Mexican Army, recaptured Laredo, and took Guerrero, Mexico.  Afterwards, five Texas captains and their men refused to return to Texas and continued the attack at Cuidad Meir.  Outnumbered, the Texans were defeated and marched towards Mexico City via Matamoros and Monterrey (for punishment).  

In February, 1843, the Texans escaped, but 176 were recaptured and sent to Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, where Santa Anna ordered their execution.  The governor refused and the prisoners were moved to Rancho Salado.  Through diplomatic efforts, Santa Anna agreed to compromise: only one in ten would die (i.e., those who drew a black bean).