Confusion

One cryptic email is followed up with an email from another source regarding a friend and co-worker in my hockey world.

My friend, a member of the USPS, was pinned against his mail jeep by a car that swerved into him. Multiple broken bones, severed arteries in his legs and currently in intensive care.

And that is all I know.

I feel helpless when I think about how quickly our life can change.

A long way from our friend

There are times when a voice over the phone line does not comfort well enough. The promise of a hug does not carry with it the consolation of the actual. And the thought that you would drop anything to be with your friend in a time of need, while it works perfectly in theory, is not easily accomplished.

All I can do is say that we love you dearly. We miss you. And we wish we were right there to help in whatever way help is needed.

Fred Korematsu

This was a message from Brandon this morning. I had never heard of Fred Korematsu before yesterday...which I hate to admit considering my heritage. But I learned of him when this link came across my desk. It started an email conversation with Brandon.

For those of you who do not know Brandon, he and I grew up in Central Maine together, best of friends from middle school on and even attended Middlebury together. He decided to return to Maine after graduation and was a teacher for many years. He is now the Schools and Curriculum Coordinator for the Maine Civil Rights Team Project. He is tasked by the Office of Maine's Attorney General to increase the safety for all Maine students by addressing prejudice and bias-based harassment at the school level...K-12.

Our world needs more Brandons....

Brandon and I got into a discussion about Fred Korematsu, Japanese internment (US and Canada), WWII and the implications that our American history has on the current environment we live in. Primarily, the general misconceptions we now have of the Muslim faith.

His message:


Thought I'd share...

I do a monthly newsletter. I needed a topic for my introductory column. I had a few ideas, but after exchanging e-mails on Fred Korematsu, I thought that he's be a good inspiration. Not enough people know about him.



He was one of millions. He was an American. He attended public schools. He played sports. He had a part-time job. He graduated. He got a full-time job. He was living the American Dream. He believed in his country.

Then he became one of thousands. He was Japanese. He was the enemy. He was not to be trusted. He was to be watched carefully. He was not allowed outside of Military Area No. 1. He was to be detained, interned, feared.

Then he became one. He would not submit. He would resist. He would cry injustice. He would fight. And he still believed in his country.

He was Fred Korematsu, a Japanese-American in California who resisted Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order #9066 that allowed for Japanese internment during World War II. Korematsu fought his case all the way to the Supreme Court in 1944, who decided that the government’s actions, while extreme, were justified in times of emergency.

It took this country many, many years to admit that it was wrong. In 1983, a U.S. District Court judge formally vacated Korematsu’s sentence. He stood in front of that judge and said “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so that this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.” He devoted the rest of his life to that cause.

After the attacks of 9/11, Korematsu warned the U.S. government not to repeat the same mistakes of World War II. He was a vocal and visible advocate for civil rights and civil liberties until his death in 2005.

On January 30, California celebrated and observed the first-ever official Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution. It’s a shining example of the greatness of America. In recognizing our past and presence failures, we offer hope for the future. This country and its constitution failed Fred Korematsu. His civil rights and civil liberties were violated. His faith in America, his identity as an American, and his life were shaken.

But Fred Korematsu believed in something. He believed in it even when he had no obvious reason to continue believing. Eventually there were apologies, pardons, compensation, honors, and ultimately recognition, but in the moment, there was only Fred Korematsu and his belief that he was right. Amidst his struggles, that must have offered some solace, knowing that eventually, what is right will inevitably gain acceptance. It takes hard work and struggle, but ultimately, for someone, it’s worth it.

“[D]on’t be afraid to speak up. One person can make a difference,
even if it takes forty years.”

-Fred Korematsu, 2005

For more information on Fred Korematsu and his amazing life, go to:

http://korematsuinstitute.org/

Memories

This made me think of my old friend this morning.

Major Faux Pas

Growing up, I was never good with names. When we took the 6 hour drive to New York to visit with my Mom's family, I would spend all 6 hours quizzing my mother on the names of all my relatives.

I have worked diligently over the years to develop ways to remember names of co-workers, distant friends, clients and many others. I rely on repetition, mnemonics and outright cheating (check the cell phone...check FaceBook...check the notes on my hand) in order to make sure I don't get caught without a name.

It all failed on me tonight.

A repeatedly called a friend I work with the wrong name tonight. When she called me on it, I completely blanked and could not conjure up her name. A name I usually was able to find without even thinking about it.

I failed.

All I could do was apologize.

Many times in life, I have felt like a jackass. Tonight, I would have been lying if I said I felt like a jackass.

I was the jackass.

Kelsey, I am so sorry. While this is not who I am, it IS who I am. I work so hard to cover up my difficulty with remembering names and tonight, it all fell apart.

I am so sorry. I can't begin to think of what I can do to make it right and I can't begin to tell you how much shame I feel.

To my wife

I read this post from Momastery and immediately thought of you. I was reminded of our commitment to each other, my love for you and of the wonderful friendship we have developed and maintained over all these years.

There is a song by Bebo Norman, called "Borrow Mine." It is a song he wrote about a conversation heard between two friends; one, who was going through deep personal troubles, told the other, "I just don't know if I have faith anymore." The other friend replied by saying, "Then, you can borrow mine. I'll have enough faith for both of us."

I love you.

Firsts

This morning, Hope had to go into Emi's room and wake her up around 7:15. Typically, Emi wakes up on her own between 6:30 and 6:45. It is a race occurrence where we need to wake her up.

However, this morning, she said, "Mom, I don't want to wake up."

So it starts....

#44

I have been silent, politically speaking, recently.

Politics are what they are...seems like certain things never change.

Today frustrated me immensely. Why in the world do we need to extend the Bush era tax cuts to those earning $250k or more a year? Why? Can someone please explain this to me?

Why do the Democrats continue to kowtow to the Republican pressures and allow this? Take the fight to the streets. Explain to the dirt poor constituents in the Republican stronghold down south that the reason taxes are going back up is because the Republicans refused to extend the tax break because the rich were not included in the break.

All this to get an extension on unemployment benefits? Take that out into the streets and let the populace know that Republicans are fighting against it as well. See how well that flies within their constituency.

C'mon #44, grow a sack and get people mad. You are there to make a difference. You are there to make a change. Prove it to me. Be our leader, not our great conciliator.

I wanna go...

More Mountain Biking Videos

Grateful for an old friend

I came across her post last weekend. The song stuck with me after Emiko seemed to like it. Hope agreed that it was a good cover as well.

Tonight, all was quiet in the house as Hope had passed out on the sofa. Emiko was asleep upstairs and I turned to one of the guitars to see if I still could teach myself how to play a song. A few moments listening, a few moments of tuning and I started to catch it.

Thanks, Sedson, for getting me to dust off a guitar tonight. It was relaxing and reinvigorating at the same time. A few moments of time to myself while I made a little music.

Late nights

Emiko, you woke up last night and quietly called out for Daddy. Thanks for being so considerate...you didn't even wake up Mom who needs her sleep right now. You asked me to pick you up and we cuddled in the glider for a handful of precious minutes before you started nodding off again. I asked if you were ready to go back to bed and you said yes. But I wasn't ready to put you down.

I cherish these moments with you. I marvel at both how much you have grown and how you still fit so perfectly in my arms. I cherish your sleepy hugs and your quiet answers to my questions. I marvel at how clearly your mind processes thoughts, even when you are so tired. I will cherish these quiet father and daughter moments for the rest of time.

All my love,

Dad

Lesson Plan 7 - The Importance of Family

"Family is not an important thing, it's everything." - Michael J. Fox

Dearest Emiko, the quote above says it all, in fact, I'm having a difficult time trying to think of ways to expound on this. However, I would like to point out that family is not always blood relation. Family is also those friends closest to you, your sisters and brothers from other mothers.

Family will always help you get back up.

Family will always be there in your darkest hour.

Family will always share with you in the good and bad.

Family will always challenge you but they will never ask you why.

Family will always show you that you are loved.

Emi, I grew up a long way from our related family. It was an 8-10 hour trip from Maine to see our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. And so, while we cherished those visits with our relatives, we also had a tight group of family friends who doubled as our Maine family. Our parents were best friends with our best friend's parents. That gave us two additional sets of parents who made sure we stayed in line, made sure we remained disciplined, made sure we didn't slack off from our studies. We always knew someone who loved us was looking after us.

My Mom and Dad always impressed upon us the importance of taking care of your family, and your friends, first. Your Mom and I hope to be able to do the same.

Family first, always.

With so much love,

Dad

Monday, November 15, 2010

Emiko's first Av's game!

Well, not really. She has been to plenty in utero and she actually attended opening night in 2008 for a dinner with Sally before the game (Hope and Emi left during the anthem).

But, Emiko's first Av's game.

Since there was an early start on Monday, Hope and I discussed taking Emiko to the game. Of course, Emi overheard this and immediately latched onto the idea of going, thus negating any chance of us backing out.

We all drove down to meet Sally with Emiko chattering busily in the back seat about going to a hockey game. We walked in to the Pepsi Center and Emi continued to chatter about the big building, how she has been here before and that she was going to a hockey game.

We gave her a ticket which she carefully clutched and then passed to the ticket checker at the front door.

We paraded through the club level. For a while, she rode on my shoulders until a Pepsi Center employee asked me to pull her off my shoulders since there was a danger that she might fall. I complied and while she was safely on the ground, we put in ear plugs to protect her little ears.

Once we reached the front row seats, she sat for a moment but preferred to stand at the railing and stare at the ice. As players came out she became super excited. She laughed, danced to the music, and watched the entire first period on her feet.

At this point, it was time to take her home. I helped walk Hope out of the Pepsi Center. Emiko screamed the entire way which made for a long walk. She didn't want to leave, she wanted to stay and watch more hockey. She is in love with the game and simply wanted to see more.

If Canada is ever looking to offer someone honorary citizenship, Emi deserves it!

Emiko in the morning

Emiko called out when she woke up around 6:30 this morning, saying "Daddy...Daddy."

Hope suggested that I respond and I trundled out of bed and went into Emi's room. She was lying in her bed, surrounded by her blankets and her stuffed animals. Quite quiet and very calm.

As always, she told me "I woke up."

And I responded, "Yes, you did. Do you want to go cuddle in my bed?"

"No, I want to go downstairs.I want to check on Molly."

"But Mommy is in the bathroom. Do you want to go see her in the bathroom?"

"No, I want to go downstairs. I want to check on MOLLY and Izzy!"

"Ohhhh...they aren't her right now."

A sad face.

"We can ask them to have a sleepover next time they are here. That way they could be here in the morning."

A happy face.

"Yes, I want to go downstairs to check on Molly!"

******

My lovely daughter in the morning.

A late drive home

On my way home tonight, I noticed that my "freeze" warning indicator was illuminated on the dash.

Winter is coming....