Mr. Len, Our Favorite Classroom Visitor

Mr. Len describing his medals with well-earned pride.
 (He refused a Purple Heart, claiming that others' injuries were far worse than his.)

Maxing out use of the map by showing all the places he had been. 

Mr. Len and his wife Ms. Betty (as the kids affectionately called them, including my son) were always welcomed visitors in my classroom. Mr. Len and his wife were first invited to share their experiences about WWII--his from the naval warfront, and hers from the homefront. Needless to say, their marriage of more than 72 years was a sure bet they could finish each other's sentences and thoughts with a certain element of flair. It also made for some good entertainment when Ms. Betty would give Mr. Len a quick jab to the ribs and say, "Now, Leonard, that wasn't what REALLY happened..."

Using new technology to relive old emotions and experiences. 

He shared many details about life in the Navy, from those intense firsthand Pearl Harbor experiences in Japan, to life on a minesweeper. His mind was quick--one year we surprised him by pulling up and projecting photos of his ship from different angles, and he was so excited! The way he stared at the photos, you could tell the memories were swirling. He began pointing at all the different places on the ship and telling us who did what, what the different equipment was used for, where he used to stand, etc. Some say I'm a sap, but I had tears in my eyes to see him so animated recalling those details.  He held many many positions, including a school principal and ham operator, and with a twinkle in his eye, he would ask me each year whether I'd been promoted yet. He feigned disappointment at my perpetual stay in a single grade level.

Adding his firsthand account to news of Pearl Harbor. 

Mr. Len was quite a catch! Even after 72 years, their love for
each other was more than evident.

His sense of humor was at once rich and dry, and he loved when the kids asked questions, were awed by his many service medals, and admired his uniform. Before that first year of his visits, he told me he'd never been asked to talk about his service, and he thanked me many times for the opportunity. He felt a sense of relief, I think, that kids were interested in what he'd done and what he had to say; and the staff embraced him, too. It was such an honor to have them both come visit. We missed him dearly this year as he battled with health issues.

Mr. Len's service ribbons. His uniform still fit!

The kids were in awe of his medals--they'd never seen anything like them!

On a personal level, Mr. Len and his wife are my adopted grandparents and my son's adopted great-grandparents. We met years ago, and my son immediately took a liking to him and hung out with him while we were playing bingo at church one evening. For Mr. Len's 90th birthday years ago, the one "real" present he received (according to my son) (what do you need when you're 90?!) was a monster truck from him. Every time we would visit after that, Ian would bring his truck and Len would get down on the floor and play with him--my son's favorite memory of him.

When asked how he planned to celebrate his 70th anniversary with Betty, he quipped that he was going to take it easy, and hold out for the "big one" (75th), and if I replied positively to his inquiry of whether I was behaving myself, he'd give me a heck of an upbraiding. Methinks he was secretly a gossip hound. ;) And at that age, why not?!

My favorite memory would have to be that twinkle in his eye and how it embodied the essence of "him". Fun-loving, rarely a complaint despite his many health problems in his final months, and his knack for living a good life. Inspirational to the core.

In memory of Mr. Len and in honor of his wife, please talk to a veteran, and thank them for their service. From Mr. Len's reactions, it meant the world to him to be able to share memories that undoubtedly surfaced in some form or another on a daily basis. The simple act of connection and reconnection with others and with facts/ memories can be potent in its comfort.

Mr. Len, thanks for your life and all that you did for others. How you lived your life was definitely your gift to the world.

Mr. Len and Ms. Betty upon his return from a WWII Flight of Honor.

A picture from their first visit to my classroom.

Photo from another visit, just a few of the very many minds they opened. 

My son (R) and his friend with Len and Betty in front
of the Christmas tree laden with Ms. Betty's handmade
Chrismon decorations. Christmas 2012.

No Place Like Om

Click below for some views from Nepal--Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Temple (aka the Monkey Temple, thanks to all the holy monkeys!), and views from two of the monasteries where I had the opportunity to work and visit. I especially enjoy the meditative music, which was heard throughout many of the Buddhist areas in Nepal. 

The Spirit of Shakti

One of my favorite photos. Both of these women, weighted down with nearly 100 pounds
of agricultural goodness that they harvested. Note that the wide strip of cloth around their
heads is not a headband, but is the way they carry their loads. All of this is beyond
impressive to me, but their beautiful smiles in the midst of it all, were stunning.

Today’s post  is a dedication to some pretty amazing women in Nepal. I’ve been fortunate enough to live with families throughout  my stay, so I’ve been privy to some extraordinary inside knowledge about family life. Before I continue, though, understand that because of the dramatic geography of Nepal, many groups of ethnicities exist within Nepal, as many as 70+ by some accounts. There are also Hindu-driven beliefs, Buddhist beliefs, and syntheses of the two regarding the women’s role(s). In short, it’s near impossible to make blanket statements or generalizations; my observations, then, are not intended to capture the nuanced traditions of all groups. They are simply that—observations I couldn’t help but make during my stay here in Nepal of some very deserving women.

And what about Shakti?

Shiva may be the most dominant of Gods in the Himalayan kingdom, but the female in Hinduism is a manifestation of both motherhood and Shiva's female companion, Shakti. Shakti is primarily benevolent, but when she is wild, she is referred to as "Feminine Cosmic Energy of Lord Shiva" (ok, so, "benevolent with attitude"--sounds about right to me!).

Shakti is considered the creator, preserver and destroyer, a Universal Mother/ Mother Goddess with power to restore balance and destroy evil forces. Every Hindu God has its Shakti--without it, their power would not exist. She goes by other names (Devi, Durga, Kali, to name a few), and is revered as divine for her influences and powers.

See if you agree with me that these Nepali women personify the Spirit of Shakti...

Evening time, and the sisterhood of Nepali women is still evident. Red
clothing is typical for married women.

Some beautiful smiles. This mom enjoys the Holi festival with her kids,
wisely out of the fray.

Many of the older women are still hard-working, but they still know
how to enjoy themselves--this woman is also enjoying events of the
Holi festival from a safe vantage point. 

Beautiful colors abound in their dress, even when they are working.

Traditional craftswomen still work their magic
with painstaking care.

One of my hosts, known as Didi or Hem-ji. She typically
starts in mid-afternoon to prepare the evening meal.

Uphill, barefoot, and laden with goods. As this picture was taken
about 10am, she was probably on her 3rd trip from the terraced fields.

When I see these women early in the morning,
it makes my running feel so very frivolous.

Again, these women can be seen in the evening. Can you tell I was beyond
impressed? I would love to show you pictures of their weather-worn
 faces close up, their smiles when I greeted them--still so polite despite
  their loads, but I didn't want to be intrusive.

Dedicated and hardworking teachers; 3 of them travel from the village
at 4:45am to teacher college, return on the 10 o'clock bus to teach
at 11:00 am. Teachers share the duties of of teaching all students,
regardless of age. 

My incredible host "sister", who allowed me to stay in her home, shared
her lifestyle, and provided real insight into the ways of Nepalese women.

"Didi" is in charge of getting the day started. A mainstay
around the school grounds and my host family, this is
one amazing woman. Salty yet caring, with a heck of a
sense of humor. Kids and adults alike absolutely adore her.

As traditional as she is, Didi was still curious to learn
a wee bit about technology.

Oh how I would have loved to speak fluent Nepali
with Didi!

The women are meticulous about their homes, even
sweeping the packed dirt area outside the entryway.
They use brooms made of twigs, sticks, and
sometimes straw. And yes, sweeping the dirt actually
DOES make quite a difference.

Washing clothes is a typical morning chore, especially on Saturdays.
Nepalese normally work 6 days/ week, with Saturday being their
"weekend."

Women in the fields, taking a well-deserved break. I've been told
more than once that the agricultural workers date back generations,
and that they are content with what they do.
I'm certain that answers would vary according to whom I asked.

The familial bonds are strong here, outside of the big cities. Here you
can see 3 generations together while mom works.

Local women gathering water from the town well. 

Didi, posing for me--in all her glory. Bejeweled daily with
a beaded necklace, a wristful of bangles, red dress, and
dual red tikkas on the forehead and the hairline, like other
married Hindu women, she is a lovely force to be reckoned with,
Her photo embodies the strong spirit of
so many women I have met. And most definitely, the
indomitable spirit of Shakti. 

Wondering if my fellow femmes have a touch of Shakti within, too? ;)