Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Sunglassed Grief

 

Departing the cemetery 
after watering flowers at the grave
that I visit regularly,
the sunglassed woman
reclining in a beach chair
legs extended in front of her
quietly reading some book
in the midday sunlight,
not in front of a tombstone
but in front of an abundance of floral arrangements
evidence of some loved one's recent burial.
My thoughts cannot help but wonder.
I hope it was not her husband.
She seems too young.
I hope it was not her child
wishing no one that ache.
Perhaps a parent.
Perhaps.
I do not care to nor consider stopping to ask.
None of my business really.

Quietly she sits 
palpably alone.

We, two people
at the cemetery 
for the same reason;
wanting to be close 
to the pain.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Keep on Rockin' in the free world

There's colors on the street, red, white and blue

People shufflin' their feet, people sleepin' in their shoes
There's a warnin' sign on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin' we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan but I am with them
So I try to forget it any way I can

Keep on rockin' in the free world

- Neil Young

Monday, June 2, 2025

Dialogue

At one time, cranked to 11 in the Robinson 3rd floor dorm room at Aquinas College:

"Are you optimistic'Bout the way things are going?
 
No, I never ever think of it at all
 
Don't you ever worryWhen you see what's going down?
 
Well, I try to mind my business,That is, no business at all
 
When it's time to functionAs a feeling human being, will yourBachelor of Arts help you get by?
 
I hope to study further,A few more years or so. I also hopeTo keep a steady high
 
Will you try to changeThings, use the power that you have,The power of a million new ideas?
 
What is this power youSpeak of and this need for things toChange? I always thoughtThat everything was fine, everythingIs fine"
 
- Chicago 
 
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80s3warB_c0

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Opinion Maker Piece for Next Wednesday's Paper

 The Herald Palladium has started to report that local boards of education are currently
approving their 2025-26 school year budgets. Michigan school districts are required by
law to approve the next year’s budget before July 1. This applies whether the legislature
has done its job, or not, and sent the school aid budget to the Governor’s desk. They
have not.


In March, the Michigan House passed a school aid budget that cuts school aid by $5
billion or 25 percent. Likewise, the Michigan Senate in May passed an unlikely budget
that increased school aid by $850 million. In my thirty plus years of school finance
experience, I cannot remember a time when the House and the Senate were $6 billion
apart. The Appropriations committees and leadership in both chambers need to sit
down and have a realistic talk for the benefit of Michigan’s 1.4 million school children
and our underappreciated teachers.


This year’s school district budgeting must be that much harder with the uncertainty of
federal support, or lack of support, for public education. Statewide 83 percent of school
district revenues are from state and federal sources, according to Michigan Department
of Education data. My condolences to school boards, superintendents, and school
business officials who must approve budgets with so much uncertainty.


Public education certainly takes its fair share of criticism. Test scores need to improve.
So do graduation rates. Schools need to better prepare students that are college bound
but even more so for those who will be employed in trades upon graduation. Public
schools also must remember their mission of educating all students including those with
special needs.


My confession. I am a supporter of public education. Teachers, principals, bus drivers,
custodians, classroom aides, and school administrators have my deepest respect. Allow
me to share a few reasons why I appreciate these professionals.


MLive recently reported that in the 2023-24 school year, 35,495 students statewide
were considered homeless. That is about 2.5 percent of all students. A searchable table
in the article indicates that 848 homeless students attended schools in Berrien County.
Kudos to the school social workers, counselors, teachers, and support staff who work
daily to make a difference in the lives of kids who may not know where they will sleep at
night.


The State of Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI)
releases a variety of information on Michigan schools and students. In fall 2024
according to CEPI, just under 50 percent of students in Berrien County qualified for the
National School Lunch free lunch program. To qualify for the program, the household
income of a student’s family must be less than 130 percent of the federal poverty line. In
other words, in Berrien County, one half of students meet the federal government’s definition of being poor or near poor. For some schools, it is 75 percent of students or
more. Not all children have broadband Internet and computers at home. Some kids
come to school hungry. Thank you to school cooks who do their best to provide
nutritious meals to students daily.


Michigan law requires Michigan schools to provide educational and other services for
special needs students from birth until age 25. Statewide, 15 percent of students or
223,100 students qualified for special education services this school year, according to
CEPI. In Berrien County, there are 3,741 students who participate in special education
services in 2024-25. Bravo to the teachers and classroom aids who work with these kids
striving to enhance the educational opportunities of youth with various special needs.


Many Michigan students thrive. Often students will go on to study and graduate from
Michigan, Michigan State, Western, Grand Valley or one of several private colleges in
the state. Others will commence important apprentices or training in trade schools and
will become electricians, plumbers, carpenters, nursing assistants or home health aides.
Our lives are better when more students succeed in becoming productive Michiganders.


As a retired school business manager and a Past President of the Michigan School
Business Officials, I continue to follow the state school aid budget process and support
public education. Michigan schools and school staff are by no means perfect. However,
in my opinion, school staff are often heroes for kids.


My hope is that our state legislators and federal congressmen will agree with that when
they diligently get to work and appropriate funds to support the important work done
daily in our public schools.


“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Ben Franklin.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

A Selfish Wish

Tired. Fatigued. Beat. Worn out.

Stating the obvious.

Two cups of coffee are not curative

nor do they resolve 

my desire to have one day,

just one day,

where I can sit quietly

sipping those cups

without having any obligation

or anything on the day's agenda  

but that.

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Talking Book

Happy birthday to Saginaw native (my home county) Stevie Wonder.

From his Grammy award LP Talking Book:

You are the sunshine of my life

https://youtu.be/SbenaOqv4yQ?si=Pi5Ze9UhArYyqhjE

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Sweet Baby James

Something I did not know.  One of the first LPs I ever bought.

How Taylor Swift got her first name.  

I've seen fire and I've seen rainI've seen sunny days that I thought would never endI've seen lonely times when I could not find a friendBut I always thought that I'd see you again

- James Taylor

Together:  TS & JT

https://youtu.be/chV3yF_nNss?si=SJU2PtpI_H3mDuJc

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Tommy

Blasting on my vehicle stereo driving to Niles today to help a lady pay her rent.

"Listening to you, I get the music

Gazing at you, I get the heat

Following you, I climb the mountainI get excitement at your feet
Right behind you, I see the millionsOn you, I see the gloryFrom you, I get opinionFrom you, I get the story"
- The Who
https://youtu.be/AbxxuasmSpA?si=iFP8h8XqlklQLGP8

Thursday, May 1, 2025

The Last Slave Ship

 Unsure where I first heard of this book.  Nevertheless, I have been engulfed in it.

Certainly, a tale of what was the last slave ship to arrive on American soil, the Clotilda. But more then that.  The book centers on the lives of the African men and women captured in what is now Benin, their voyage to America in a slaver just before the Civil War, and their creation of Africa Town after the wars end.

A personal glimpse of Cudjo, one of the leaders of the group and who lived well into his 90s as the oldest survivor of the Clotilda.

Beautifully written even if at times the contents describe the inhumanity of slavery.  In some ways, comparable to Alex Haley's Roots.

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Last-Slave-Ship/Ben-Raines/9781982136154

Monday, April 28, 2025

Feelin' Alright, Not Feelin' Too Good Myself

Google is clearly following me. 

That's ok today.  Love the 60's outfits on Joe Cocker and the go-go dancers.

Apparently, all are Feelin' alright on Ed Sullivan that night (except my parents who likely switched channels):

https://youtu.be/fvH0TocgLFU?si=yFG4Nvm5V61ZcZ1s