Living Treasures

Reading the paper while sipping coffee at Bean Affair Coffee and More I came across two obituaries that reminded me of one of my dreams. Several years ago I had read about the Living Treasures program in Santa Fe, New Mexico: honor the elders who have generously served the community with kind hearts and good deeds.

The first obituary was for Robert “Reg” Wilson, a native of the Sonoma Valley. He passed away days after being inducted into the Sonoma Valley High School’s athletic hall of fame. The event was one of the highlights of his life.

The second was for Virginia Sweet. As a child she was inspired by a story she read about Amelia Earhart’s transatlantic flight. During World War II she became of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. The WASP’s were civilians that ferried planes from factories to air bases around the world. She flew 52 different types of military aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress bombers and the p-51 Mustang.

After the war these ladies were basically forgotten. That is until July 1, 2009, when President Obama, signed a law that offered recognition and Congressional Gold Medals, the highest award Congress can give to a civilian, to the WASP fliers. Virginia Sweet had suffered a stroke earlier in the year and the family feels that she may not have understood what they had told her about the hard-won honor. She has since passed away and a niece will accept her Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony later this year.

One was recognized and honored by his community, the other passed away not knowing of the recognition. That is why the living Treasures program intrigues me.
We need to honor the elders in our communities while they are living and are able to participate. Before leaving Oregon I had the pleasure of organizing one ceremony at the church I was attending. Reading these two obituaries makes me want to start the program here in Healdsburg.

Cup of Coffee Networking in Healdsburg

Cup of Coffee Networking

After two years of involvement with the Sandy (Oregon) Area Chamber of Commerce’s Good Morning and Good Evening networking meetings I moved. My new community has very few networking opportunities. So, I realized I had the opportunity to start a Cup of Coffee Networking group. A private investigator from Oklahoma, Joe Sting, the networking movement based on coffee, networking and free. The only cost is the cost of the coffee at the host coffee shop,

On Tuesday, July 21st, I will host the first meeting of the Healdsburg Cub of Coffee Networkers meeting at Bean Affair, 1270 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg, We’ll start at 9am. This is one of the great places.

Have been promoting through the limited network I have already created here in Healdsburg. It will be fun to watch the group go. Joe has two websites: http://www.cupofcoffeenetworkers.com/ and http://www.cupofcoffeenetworkersonline.com/. There is also a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=45338304730


Happy networking

50 Life Lessons from Regina Brett

Last week a friend sent me an email on 50 life lessons. It ended stating that only 7% of the people would forward it. The email I got identified the author as a 90 year old columist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

A google search revealed a bio and email adress. I sent Ms Brett an email and got the following response. The power of the internet is amazing.

She said I could forward the lessons. I hope that includes this posting on my blog. The picture is from her website.

Tom


Thank you for reading my life lessons. Feel free to forward them on to others to share.

Yes, I am the author.
No, I am not 90 years old. I actually turned 53 this year.

The Plain Dealer ran my 45 lessons when I turned 45. I added
5 more and the paper ran all 50 when I turned 50.

The 50 life lessons column is the most popular column I’ve ever written in my 15 years as a columnist. Below is the original version. Please feel free to forward it to all you know, but please keep my name and contact information with it.

You can read more about the "lessons" in April of 2010 when Grand Central Publishing releases my book, "God Never Blinks: 50 Lessons for Life's Little Detours." You’ll be able to learn more about that at http://www.reginabrett.com/ in the coming months.

Thanks again for sharing the lessons. Feel free to share yours with me.

All the best,


Regina Brett

Metro Columnist
The Plain Dealer
http://www.reginabrett.com/
www.cleveland.com/brett
216-999-6328


Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett

Sunday May 28, 2006

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com or 216-999-6328
To read more of her work:
http://www.reginabrett.com/
www.cleveland.com/brett

Thank You Mrs. G.

At Stayton Union High School we had two biology teachers. Dr. McKenzie taught six periods and Mrs Guttormsen, the girls PE teacher taught 7th period Biology. Long before the books became popular I was able to be part of "Biology of Dummies". That's what I remember. Me and the cheerleaders, so who is complaining. I passed and later, in my senior year, Mrs. G let me take her daughter Beth to the senior prom.

Through a little detective work on the internet and a helpful Beth, I was able to track Mrs. G down and yesterday I sent her a thank you card.

Not saying "thank you" before it is too late and a "missed opportunity" and I have had enough of those. I had some great teachers in my 12 years of education in Lyons and Stayton. Almost all are gone now. Mrs. G now represents all of them.

Riverside Mission Inn

The Mission Inn of Riverside is more than a hotel. It is a museum, an arts center, a historical landmark and a hotel. The inn evolved from the two-story adobe home built by the parents of Frank Augustus Miller after moving to Riverside in 1874. The home was not in the Spanish style. The family took in guests and started adding hotel wings. Frank took over the hotel-home in 1880 and continued to expand the hotel.

It became a winter destination resort hotel, with guests arriving on one of the three railroads serving Riverside. Later they would arrive by automobile. The inn now reflects the long neglected early Spanish and Mexican heritage of California. It fills an entire city block in downtown Riverside. The property includes several restaurants and two chapels. It has been fully restored and is a National historical landmark.

We only had the chance to enjoy the Mission Inn restaurant but plan on returning when The California Department of the American Legion next holds their conference in Riverside. The food was excellent and there is so much more to explore. Spending a weekend at the Riverside Mission Inn is now on our bucket list.

Healdsburg, California

The mountain at the end of the street has changed. Now it is Fitch Mountain and I haven't got a picture yet. There is rare snow of cold winter mornings. Today the mountain is during brown (Golden by local definition) as the spring rains end.

There is a river too. The Russian River runs past Healdsburg on it way to the Pacific Ocean. The picture at the left is the old highway bridge. It crosses over Lake Sotoyome at the Veterans Memorial Beach. In past years a seasonal dam created the lake between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Now the dam is delayed to protect a non-native fish population that has invaded the river. The lake was once site of beautiful water festivals.

I'm not sure what this represents but I have wanted to get a picture of it since it first appeared.
Healdsburg is a city of nearly 12,000 located on what was Rancho Sotoyome, a 48,800 acre Mexican land grant awarded to sea captain Henry Delano Fitch in 1841. Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful rancho (the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant). The California gold rush of 1849 brought itinerants, squatters, and failed miners to the more generous farming land here. Over the years, these squatters settled on the verdant land owned by the Fitch family. In 1857, a fight named the "Westside Road Wars" commenced among the squatters. One of the winners of this colorful conflict was Harmon Heald, an Ohio entrepreneur.

Note, the name is Healdsburg. However a new owner remained the old A&W on Healdsburg Ave. I had to get a picture of their sign.

Though the town was not founded during Mexican rule, Healdsburg is centered on a 19th century plaza that still provides an important focal point for tourists and locals alike. I didn't get a picture of the plaza yesterday, but did get a picture of the Memorial to the son's of Healdsburg who lost their lives during WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

Stay tuned for more as I begin to explore my new home.

I'm on the Wall

Local Talent Coffee & Dessert Company is the creation of Heather and Ryan Brown. They have created a gallary of photographs on the wall of their coffee shop. That's me in the middle of the second row.

Here are the creators of Local Talent.

They are graduates of the Western School of Culinary Arts and have created a wonderful coffee and dessert shop in downtown Sandy. They have created a mini cafe in part of an old service station in downtown Sandy (38871 Proctor Blvd -- the west bound (toward Gresham) lanes of hwy 26). In addition to a wide range of desserts, Heathers creates scrabbles and breakfast sandwitches. At lunch there is a soup of the day and usually some type of salad. I also forgot the biscuts and gravy.

So, next time you are passing through Sandy, take a few minutes to visit Local Talent. The coffee is great and the desserts and food is wonderful. Heather and Ryan are truly local talents. Also, check on my picture on the wall.

Memorial Day 2009

This is from my blog post on Friday, March 09, 2007

A Memorial Day Note

I know Memorial Day is still several weeks away, but I came across this article I had written in 2002. I was looking or something else but this one spoke to me. If we want to do something different this Memorial Day, May 28th, we should start planning now.

While researching material for my Memorial Day presentation to the Columbia Gorge Kiwanis Club I came across the following on the Internet:

"This weekend I am going to do something different. I am going to buy some carnations each day and go to one of the nearby cemeteries and walk through the sections for soldiers. When I find a grave that has no flowers, I'll leave one and say a prayer for the family of that person, who for some reason could not bring their soldier flowers. I will pray for our country and all who serve or have served. For their families, who also serve by losing precious days, weeks and months spent with their loved ones who are off serving, preserving peace and the freedom we have in this country. I'll pray for the families who paid the ultimate price, who's loved ones died, or were taken captive and never returned. I'll pray for anyone who may still be held in captivity and thinks perhaps they are forgotten. I do NOT forget."

How are you going spending this Memorial Day? Is this just the third day of the three day weekend that marks the beginning of summer? Did you visit the grave of someone who served his or her country? Did you pause for a moment to remember the true meaning of today?
I will be in a local cemetery tomorrow morning with a bunch of carnations, looking for the graves of servicemen without flowers. I will leave one and say a prayer for that person. In many cases, it’s not that the families forget; there are no families left to remember these men & women. I do not forget.

Moina Michaels wrote in the following in 1915.
We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

General Order 11 of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued in 1868, states:
“Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation’s gratitude, the soldier’s and sailor’s widow and orphan.”

In 2002 I went to a local cemetery. Since then I have traveled to Cathlamet, Washington, my mother’s hometown and visited the cemetery when my relatives are buried. I have taken a bunch of carnations and visited each of their graves. I have also honored the veterans long forgotten.

Where will you be on Memorial Day?

Just write

It’s Saturday and time for my weekly blog post. That’s my plan now, to create a posting every Saturday regardless of any other posts during the week.

I have been encouraging a high school classmate to start a blog. She is a wonderful writer and story teller, but she feels she has nothing to write about. That’s the nice thing about blogs. You just write.

This past week I sent her the following:

“You have a ton of material in the emails you have sent me. Just write about what you are doing and thinking. Write about the sunrise to the East on a beautiful morning, the sunset to the west, the memories from the fresh cut grass. Write about growing up in Stayton in the shadow of the woolen mill. Write about finding a Paris Woolen mill lap blanket in a bottom draw that you just opened, and the memories it brings to life. Write about you spiritual journey. Write to leave a legacy for your grandchildren, great grandchildren and their great grandchildren. Leave them more than the dash between the dates on your tombstone and on the family genealogical records.

“Writing that last sentence made me remember the thrill of searching a microfilm of veteran pension applications at the Oregon Historical Society and finding the grandma McCoy's application, in her own handwriting.

“Write whatever comes into your mind. Let the spirit, let your God move the pen across the page (or your fingers across the keyboard of your computer) Write and share your life with the world.”

Mountain at the end of the street

One of the things I like about living in Sandy is the ever changing views of Mt Hood. The mountain can be very close or very far away, depending upon your view. When I walk out to Proctor Blvd I can look East and see the mountain. Well, on clear days I can. It looks like the mountain is at the east end of Proctor Blvd. The earlier picture was taken just a few blocks away. It's too bad the power lines will remain. This picture was taken in the early evening and the mountain was catching the beginning of a beautiful sunset.

The New Me!

Last month I was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies for the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet. I remained very calm when asked, but it is one of the things I had wanted to do. I had actually put it on my "bucket list". When it is written down it is just wishful thinking. So, I wrote it down and it happened. Paula Root, a local Farmers Insurance agent took this picture of me. A year ago I was 80 pounds heavier. What a difference! Ask me how I did it.

Mothers Day

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

Graduation

In my last posting I mentioned that my daughters would be graduating from the University of Portland. That happened this past weekend. It actually took two days. Saturday was the pinning ceremony for the nursing students. Aimee is a member of the 75th class of RN’s. They are 160 strong this year.

Saturday night was the president’s reception. It was held on the indoor tennis courts. Sunday stared with brunch and then standing in line to get into the Chiles Center. The commencement ceremonies started at 1:30pm and it was nearly 5pm before all the degrees (700+) were presented.

Aimee has a BS in Nursing. She is on her way to Texas and a new adventure. Ashlee has earned a BS in Secondary Education, with second major in history and a minor in Psychology. She is now looking for teaching position here in Oregon.

End of Month Thoughts (A day late)

I know, the title of this blog is “Tom's Rambling” and I would be the first one to admit that I have not been too faithful in rambling. I will try to do better.

Sunday is graduation day for my daughters. They are wrapping up four years at the Unversity of Portland. Aimee will have a degree in Nursing and Ashlee’s will be in education. I’m very proud of the two of them.

The picture was taken four years ago at their graduation from Grants Pass High School. It seems like only yesterday. That's Aimee on the left and Ashlee on the right.

It was a year ago that I finally asked Melissa Niece to set down and explain the weight loss program that she had been promoting at the Good Morning Sandy. A friend had gone from a size 44 to size 36 overnight and I was headed for a size 46 and larger shirts. After she got my attention I understood a simple fact: it’s calories in and calories out. I had managed to save up about 300,000 calories on the chance that I might miss a meal or two. I went on the program and it was a life changing experience. Melissa and John and now my health and business coaches and I’m helping other people discover the can take control there health. http://www.coachtom.tsfl.com/

This past week I also sent out my 200th greeting card. That’s only since December 2nd. The link to my card site is http://www.remembergreetingcards.com/TheCardCoach. Take a few minutes to check out the site and send a couple of cards on me.

Ok, I'm a day late, but I promise to do better in the future.

Moving to Sandy, Oregon

This is a journey that I started two years ago. Somehow I first ended up in Damascus and then moved to Gladstone, Oregon a year ago. Now I'm finally making the move to Sandy, which will save me lot's of gas, since I'm in Sandy three or four days a week. The move will also save time too, since it is a 40 mile round trip.

Sandy is best known as the gateway to Mt Hood. The picture is from a recent chamber of commerce meeting at Mt Hood Hospice. This is the view of the mountain that we have on a clear day. Days such as this occur more often that we like to admit. The image of rain, rain and more rain helps keeps visitors away (don't let the people at the Chamber know I said that). Of course, rain in the valleys and foothills mean snow on the mountain.

The white patch of snow in front of the mountain is on the Devil's backbone. That is where the Barlow Road came down from Mt Hood. The wagon trains stayed on the high ground to avoid swampy areas along the river bottoms. From the backbone they had to drop down and cross the Sandy river. Then it was a steep climb up to Sandy. This was the last leg of the Oregon Trail.

Ok, enough history.

How long will I stay in Sandy. Who knows, it could be a couple of months or the rest of my life. I like the community, but opportunties may come along that draw me to other places. Until that happens, Sandy will be home.

4 Years of Blogging

I almost missed celebrating my forth anniversary of blogging. It was 4 years ago this month that I wrote my first blog entry. I will admit that it has been hit and miss. My goal has been one entry a week. There where times that I didn't average one per month.

This next year I will do better.

What does Jerome Kersey and CoachTom Have in Common?

Right off the bat, I want you to know that I’m not a professional basketball fan. Yes, I know, I live 20 minutes from the home of the Portland Trailblazers. So.

However, Friday night I had the opportunity to met Jerome Kersey (he’s the one on the left in the photo above). We both health coaches with a great company and Friday night we were at the Red Lion at Jenzen Beach for an overview of Take Shape for Life Program. We were there with over 1,100 people, the largest informational meeting in the history of the eight year old company.

Some came to meet Jerome and to have their picture taken with him. The majority of us were there to hear about how we can help reverse the trend of obesity in America.

The path to permanent weight control and optimal health started right here it Portland, Oregon. This is where Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen developed and field-tested the Take Shape for Life program.

Does it work? I think so. Since May 2008 have lost and kept off 80 pounds. I haven’t felt (and have been told looked) this good in years. My health coach asked me a simple question: could I eat every 2 ½ to 3 hours? I had no problem eating all day. I started on May 9th and never looked back. What is neat is that I have been able to go back to my favorite foods. I love banana cream pie and have it daily now. It’s a fat free yogurt, but have discovered I like it better than the real stuff. Yes, so of you would say I’m strange. I don’t mind. Every time I look in the mirror I thank Dr. Andersen.

I’m not going to list my phone number or email here, so this is not a commercial, but leave me a comment if you would like more information for yourself or a friend or family member. Together we just might save someone’s life. Friends don’t let friends eat too much.

Culinary Artist Date: The Blue Sage Cafe, West Linn

After seven months of a very structure meal replacement plan I was able to enjoy a Blue Sage Burger and fries (sweet potato). Oh what a treat for my first culinary artist date.

“Much of us dread dieting, associating it with hardship and deprivation. But what if healthful eating was actually fun.” That is how Julia Cameron introduces The Fifth Tool of The Writing Diet. She proposes taking a “festive, creative culinary outing once a week.” She goes on to say that theses culinary artist dates are “a serious tools for self-discovery.”

Between May and October I managed to reduce my weight by 31% and have been able to keep it off since then. My meal plan now allows me to enjoy the weekly culinary dates.

Where to go for my first one? I left home at noon with the intention of exploring the shopping area of West Linn, right across the Willamette River from Gladstone. I had been there once before but had not taken the time to explore the shops.

I quickly found the Blue Sage Café (http://www.bluesagecafe.com/) in West Linn’s Central Village. There are two restaurants. The other is in nearby Lake Owego. The founders of the Old Spaghetti Factory Restaurants own them. The atmosphere is “elegant ranch style” and the American cuisine has a Southwest flair. Rhonda, my server had me feel right a home.

Hamburgers have not been a part of my life since May, and while the menu has many great choices, I went for the Blue Sage Burger and sweet potato fries (pictured above). The burger was very good, as was the service. All in all I had a very successful first culinary artist date. I highly recommend the Blue Sage Café. They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week and for breakfast on the weekends.