Spirit Frank

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Our view of the finite in modern times fluctuates with the current assessments and discoveries of the universe and our place in it. In the earlier periods of human history, the earth and its resources appeared infinite; new lands to be discovered just over the next hill or the latest scientific findings giving an ever widening view of our world and our access to it.

This marching mindset of mankind was halted abruptly with the popularized photo showing the blue planet Earth hanging alone in the dark space of the present unknown. It was a winnowing of the consciousness, blowing away the chaff of myth and speculation that had clouded and obscured our view of the finite and infinity.

This mass realization of the finite stores of our "Earthship" began the movement toward the concept of sustainability. But acceptance of such ideas are slow to take hold, even when prime examples, such as the dust bowl years of the plains states, pointed to the need for soil conservation, a concept even today not fully realized.

Like many terms and words that pop into our media-broadening culture, sustainability is thrown into the mix of organic-conservation-green-global warming-hybrid vehicle hype. For the vast majority of those who hear these words, they remain just that, words and concepts hastily agreed to as necessary but, "don't bother me with it now". It is hard to imagine famine with a full larder.

Our dictionary shows ten ways the word "sustain" can be used. The three held most in common are: to keep an action or process going; to supply with food or other necessities of life; and to keep the spirit or mind from giving way.

In all species from bacteria up, communication is possible because of shared senses and interests. Survival, no matter the level, is the shared interest of all, contrary to the fact of disappearing species from the actions of trying to keep a process, which worked well in the past, continuing. The evolving complexity of any system makes it harder to maintain the status quo of that system.

There are a only a finite number of avenues that can be pursued until it is realized that a new system must be installed. Agriculture at present is pinning final hopes on larger machinery, more chemicals, and genetic manipulations. At present, these approaches have resulted in higher food prices from petroleum costs, pollution of our environment, and a monoculture vision of future food production which could end in a global famine.

Often it is easier to maintain the physical than the mindal or spiritual. The chore-like nature of life demands a cadenced obedience for continuation, with change coming from within individuals out into the larger thinking construct. Change always begins with an individual whose actions are then taken up by another individual and then passed on. Swimming upstream to spawn newness is often the hardest thing to sustain.

Friends, neighbors, or relatives may wonder why one spends so much time and effort on trying to be more self-sustaining. As with anything of a lasting nature, foundations must be put down before anything else can be added. Innovation needs to be not only introduced, but also practiced.

Aside from a farmers market, at which one can obtain fresh produce and baked goods, there exists a need to procure other staples to round out the diet. An enterprising neighbor has taken an old building and refurbished it into a feed and general store. Although it works as a distribution point for feed going out, it also is becoming a distribution point for feed coming in. Local cheese and eggs are presently available with organic beef coming soon.

It is estimated that if everyone ate just one meal a week from locally grown or produced food, it would save 1.1 million barrels of oil presently used for transportation of food from around the world.

The ability to sustain change, no matter how small, in the face of a seemingly unchanging majority perspective, requires the same patience and dedication that it takes to plant a seed and continue its care until its fruition benefits all, proving we can grow.

Copyright (c) 2008
Giannangelo Farms Southwest
http://www.avant-gardening.com

Mother Loses Her Dad, Frank King, our Hero

In the early summer of 1958, Gramp King began to complain to my mother that he had a sore throat that wouldn't go away. She took him to the nearest Veterans Hospital where he was told he had an infection in his ear. It was infected and he was treated and sent home. He seemed to better for a short while but his energetic spirit, even at the age of eighty-one, prior to his illness was gone. In late August he returned to the hospital with a sore throat and an earache.

This time, the prognosis was accurate..."I'm sorry Mrs. Fleury, but your dad has esophageal cancer and it has metastasized." My mother, with tears running down her cheeks, asked if there was anything we could do to treat it. We were told we could keep him comfortable with painkillers but we could not heal it. It had spread too far.

"How long has he got to live?" Mom sobbed.

" I can't be exact, but my best estimate is that he will be lucky to make it to the end of This Year."

Mother wanted to take him home, but the doctor told her he'd need around-the-clock care (In 1958 there was no available "hospice" like we have in 2008). So, Mom did the next best thing, Gramp went to a nursing home less than two miles from where her home was so all of us could visit him often since we were all living in Easthampton.

The loving Father, Grandfather, and United States Government cited Heroic Soldier began his agony. He lost his voice and had to write notes. The medications given in 1958 had to be given in such large doses to make his pain remotely bearable that he began to live in a half-conscious state. One or another of us visited him every day. Mom was there every day no matter who else came. I went there several nights a week.

Gramp had a roommate, Charlie Smith, who was very kind to him especially during the long nights when as time went on, nothing seemed to stop the pain. He told us that Gramp was a valiant man. Only once did he say that he wished he could kill himself. The rest of the time he suffered in silence or with low moans.

We all wanted to bring him home for Thanksgiving, but by that time he could only swallow liquids and was very weak. As Christmas drew near he was unable to eat or drink.

On Christmas day we all knew the end was very near. He was hemorrhaging but still awake enough to recognize us all with his sky-blue eyes and hand squeeze. We stayed with him into the evening when the doctor told us it looked like he'd go on for a day or two.

We were all at home for an hour or so when the phone rang. It was a little after ten o'clock. We knew what that call was before we answered it.

This was goodnight. It was goodbye. The shrunken hand had moved slowly across the sheet and grasped the crucifix hanging at the side of his bed. Frank closed his tired eyes forever. The victory had been won and he had gone to claim his everlasting reward, the reward of those who are honest and faithful.

About the Author

(c) 2008 Bernard J. Fleury, B.A. History and Classical Languages, Ed. D. Philosophy, Government, and Administration, is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Educational Administration.
Dr. Fleury’s lifelong interest in history from the perspective of the people who lived it, is evident in Chaps. 8 & 9 of A Bee in His Bonnet (website: http://greatgeneration.net) that is his grandfather Frank King’s Great Generation story as he recorded it, and told it to his daughter and grandchildren.

Do you think Will Eisner would slap Frank Miller?

If Will Eisner saw The Spirit Movie do you think he'd slap Miller for ruining his work?

No, having met Mr. Eisner some years ago I think he was way too nice to do something like that. Should he have? Yup. Having heard now that Michael Uslan was involved I think there was NO excuse for it.

Iowa men’s basketball: For new coach McCaffery, family is top priority
Frank and Mary Ellen Pugliano said their goodbyes, then watched the plane depart from Albany International Airport last Sunday afternoon.

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