What Matters Most

Texas has been experiencing the worst drought in its state since the 1950's. The lack of measurable rainfall combined with the extremely high temperatures this past summer have given rise to numerous wildfires. A couple of my nieces live on ranches in Texas, one in Columbus and one in Arp. They both have had to load their cars with their valuable possessions in order to evacuate upon a moment's notice. I was amused in spite of their crises to hear what mattered most to one of my nephews, a seven-year-old. When his mother told him that they might have to leave and to gather up what he considered important, he came out with two cowboy hats on his head, a spray bottle of men's cologne, and an armful of Dr. Pepper's.

I have been thinking about what I would gather up myself in such an emergency. Most of us go for the electronic apparatus along with the family photographs and heirlooms. Since I value writing, I also would grab a copy of my yet unpublished novel and the computer drive that houses all the digital pictures from the past few years. Family Bibles have also been important in our family through the years. I value my mother's Bible and my grandmother's Bible the most since they were prone to write notes in the margins about life in general, not just theological issues. My cabinet includes a Bible given to my mother in 1928 by her paternal grandmother with the admonition "to read and follow." There is a Bible given to my step-grandfather by my grandmother Ethel in 1951 with the plan of salvation written by hand on the first page. I have a Bible given to my daughter Kimberly when she was six by her paternal grandmother. I have a small white Bible given to me by the Women's Missionary Union at a ceremony before I was married forty-six years ago. I even have a Bible written in German from our trip to Germany seven years ago. I can't imagine living without these family treasures.

After I am gone, my children will find a number of writings in my Bible as well. I am fond of writing down quotations from the various books I have been reading in retirement. Some are cynical, some are serious. I also have a couple of essays that I haven't shared with anyone. Our lives go by so quickly that it's simply impossible to say all we want to in this life, but I am hoping these writings will be what my children also value most.

Southern Patios and More

On my walks around the neighborhoods in Northwest Arkansas and in Central Arkansas, I often notice what I call "Southern patios." Most of the homes in our respective subdivisions were built within the past fifteen years and do not have a traditional front porch that so many of us grew up with. When we were young, we sat on the porch at night anywhere from the middle of March until the middle of November enjoying the cooler air and sharing food, drink, and stories with our neighbors. Modern homes simply have a one step stoop that goes directly into the front door of the house.

What is a Southerner to do but create a new "Southern patio," which means opening the garage door and sitting at the front of it to watch what's going on around? I have to confess that ours in Northwest Arkansas is plain with just a couple of camping chairs surrounded by the usual tools and lawn mower. Still each chair has a cup holder for that ever-present glass of iced tea, and really, that's all one needs. We often wave at those either driving by or walking by the house. We do not seem unusual to anyone.

I have noticed some unusual "Southern patios" recently though. One had a poster of John Belushi with a t-shirt reading "College" on it. The garage was also filled with comfortable chairs and surrounded by road signs with varying slogans: Stop, Yield, Railroad Crossing, etc. I hope these were obtained legally. Others have very nice sofas made of leather with refrigerators within each for those cool drinks on a crisp, football type of night. Some stay decorated for any season--it's not rare to see wooden pumpkins on sticks, lighted wreaths, Easter crosses with artificial flowers stuck in them, or any other suggestion of a new trend. One house even keeps a Christmas tree in the front window forever lit any time I walk by. I have often wondered if this is simply a sign of laziness from the owner, if one feels he or she needs the Christmas spirit year round, or perhaps--and this is my imagination working overtime I'm sure--there's a child who needs to be convinced he or she will see another Christmas.

In any event, "Southern patios" are entertaining and certainly give a sense of the personalities inside the home.

On the West Memphis Three

I have needed several weeks to reflect upon the freeing of the West Memphis three. This case came to the public's attention in 1993 when three eight-year-old boys were brutally beaten (one sexually mutilated) and killed. The investigation and subsequent trial convicted three men of the murder--Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin. They served eighteen years in jail before their release in August under the Alford plea, allowing them to claim innocence while admitting that the prosecution had more than enough evidence to originally convict them.

I have to admit that when the murders occurred, I did not follow the case closely. I just knew that supposedly the young perpetrators were involved in a satanic ritual when the murders occurred. Since I also knew of other young people in my town, Siloam Springs, Arkansas, who were rumored also to be engaged in such practices, I believed this explanation for the murders to be reasonable. In subsequent years, many high-profile stars had begun to believe in the innocence of the West Memphis Three and worked tirelessly to free them.

As a grandmother of two grandsons, eight and six, I shutter to think of the pain that the relatives of these young innocents have undergone in the past eighteen years. Even they are divided regarding the innocence or the guilt of the three convicted. I know only that these young boys seemingly have died without justice--there is no justice if the West Memphis are truly guilty of the crime and no justice if no one else is convicted in the future of the crime. These boys--like Caylee Anthony--deserve to have their lives vindicated.

September11 and Forward

I have just listened to the wonderful gospel hymn "Amazing Grace" at the Sept. 11 ten-year remembrance ceremony on television. Like many living so many miles away from the scene of the tragedy, that morning seemed more of a dream than a reality. I had just completed my 7:30 a.m. class at John Brown University that beautiful Tuesday morning when one of my independent study students entered my office. Her name was Casey, and she shared that the World Trade Center in New York had just been hit by a plane. Also, like many others, for the first few minutes I assumed that it was a tragic accident. In another few minutes though, I heard from the noise in the hallway that another plane had just hit the second building in New York. Some students and I immediately rushed over to a colleague's house where we could watch the events unfolding on television and we were soon witnesses to the collapsing buildings, realizing that thousands of people had just lost their lives.

Since that time I suppose I also share with other Americans the reality of the transience of life but also of the importance of the joys of life. Since my retirement from academia in 2006, I have realized every day is a gift with the most important gifts being the time I spend with my children and grandchildren. Those memories include the special as well as the mundane--a family trip last summer to Seattle with my loved ones to enjoy the culture of not only Seattle but also Victoria, B.C., a two week trip to N.Y. overlooking the trade center building site with my daughter and then five-year-old grandson, a few days during spring break with my son and his children to a cabin in Eureka Springs, a late summer vacation to Galveston to the beach, sharing late night meals from Gino's family restaurant and Joe's Crab Shack, and the ever-continuing basketball and baseball games that the grandchildren participate in.

Yes, the wars in the Middle East with Iraq and Afghanistan still continue even after ten years as well as the new crises in practically every country there including Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria, and others. These man-made terrors pose new threats each day along with the natural events of nature that have hammered America this year--tornadoes, hurricane effects, floods, hail, droughts, and earthquakes. The world is tenuous and we within it, but let us hug our babies in our hearts each night and enjoy the scant, quickly passing time with them as they mature.

Dumpster Diving in Arkansas and Golfing in Martha's Vineyard

President Obama is set to give a "jobs speech" before Congress this coming Thursday night. We all know that the economic times are difficult for numerous folks these days. One of the strangest incidents I have heard of recently concerns dumpster diving and--no--it isn't for leftover food but discarded coupons. Many in Arkansas (and I'm sure many other states) are attempting to save money on groceries by utilizing cents off coupons and will get them any way possible.

Recently, President Obama and his family spent $50,000 of their own income to rent a vacation home in Martha's Vineyard for a vacation. He spent several days playing golf in the luxury town. Many in the media, especially on the right politically, have noted Obama's lack of concern about the common people with this show of wealth and well-being.

I fall on the side that one should live conservatively while the United States, as well as the rest of the world, struggles to make ends meet. With the high unemployment rate of 9.1 percent and many more people being underemployed, I simply think it was unwise of the Obamas to flaunt their economic status before hurting people.