The years do something to us. Age is a state of mind, yet I grew up thinking, well, not thinking about it at all. I do remember thinking that I would not live past 30 years old. Now, I'm over twice that.
     Along the way things happened. I learned to do normal every day tasks the 'easy' way, to buy things that make life 'more convenient', and often ignored what I was told was good for me. Like it is with Life, it knocked me on my rear more than once and it got harder and harder to get up. Discouragement, disappointments, losses that seem to make no sense brought on depression, anxiety, a callous attitude. Living in a rut seemed normal cause the people around me seemed to also be rutting out a life of existence.
     I think I've made it this far by refusing to accept defeat and I seemed to have a natural ability to resist conformity; even though I rolled around in the mud at swamp level a great deal of my life, I never thought I belonged there. Somehow I managed to hold on to that little mustard seed of faith someone talked about in church during my youth. And now as I take a more in depth look at God and come to terms with God as a much greater entity than I could have possibly imagined, I'm seeking on a more adult level, not so much leaving behind my childhood beliefs, but allowing them to mature. Each day I learn that there is so much I do not know and this adventure I am on...makes me smile.
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     Recently I revisited the American Dream through author Emmet Fox in his book, ALTER YOUR LIFE. How uplifting it was for me to read his discussion of such topics as the American Dream and symbolism, among so many others. His work was published not so very long ago (1950) but long enough for me to experience the passing of his life into mine.
     As Fox states, it is our task for each American to realize the American Dream in our own life. No where did he mention that it meant owning the most toys or the best home or having the most money. The American Dream is about making ourselves personally free. "Free in body, by demonstrating bodily health." Free in Spirit and Soul by liberating ourselves from prejudice and any other forms of oppression from the Old World. Allowing our Spirit to rise above personal greed, jealousy, mean pride, resentments all of which are common among humanity in all countries. "The American Dream is not a fine theory to be written upon paper, but a life to be lived, for its own sake, and for the sake of the nation, and for the sake of humanity."
     Fox goes on to state that we are not a true American when we allow ourselves to judge the worth of a person by anything other than his character or if we discriminate against a person for any reason that is outside his own control. He further states that if we allow ourselves "...to be dazzled by any exalted Office, or intimidated or hypnotized by pretentious titles or gorgeous uniforms of any kind, you are no true American."
     Fox concludes by touching upon some of the symbolism used by our country. I particularly love the one of the Eagle. He reminds us why the eagle was adopted as our national bird. The eagle, unlike other birds, does not seek shelter when there is a storm, it does not fight the storm by trying to fly through it; the eagle soars above it. We learn not to run away from our problems nor to fight them with only our will power; we learn to turn to a higher power where there is eternal peace and harmony.
     The book, ALTER YOUR LIFE, along with other Emmet Fox books can be purchased through Amazon.com. I have the Kindle version.
    There are a lot of truths we must find. As you travel your personal journey, remember to soar. I'll be watching for ya.

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Quote: 03/28/2011
 
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug." ~ Mark Twain
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Radio Interview 03/26/2011
 
Join me in listening to my 'first' radio interview with Gloria Horsley and her daughter Heidi who founded the Open to Hope Foundation. The interview will play on April 14, 2011, 12 p.m. PST. Please visit the Open to Hope web site by clicking on the box below, to see and experience the many stories and interviews shared by people who are traveling their personal healing journey through grief and loss. Though we each travel our own journey, we need not travel alone.
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I am very happy to share the news that writer Joan Meyerson won a 2011 Writers Guild Award for her screenplay for the 2010 Memorial Day Concert. In her acceptance speech Joan said, "I have to thank above all the soldiers and their families who were willing to share their stories with me.  More than anything I wanted to be true to their words, their emotions, their reality.  I accept this award in their honor." 
I am proud of you Joan and thank you so much for doing such a terrific job.
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Joan Meyerson at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel Feb. 5, 2011 in Hollywood, CA. Photo taken by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images North America

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This video is A.J. Cook and Blythe Danner as they perform our story during the 2010 Memorial Day Concert.
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How time flies. It has been several months since I have made a blog entry. I will be spending the next two weeks trying to get this blog page updated and active...again. Come back and visit soon and feel free to leave a comment.
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Author Glenda M. Carter, Actress Blythe Danner and Joan Meyerson writer of the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert visit Bruce's name at the Vietnam Memorial Wall in DC., May 30.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
 A glenda carter story

     Several months ago Joan Meyerson, writer of the National Memorial Day Concert was searching for a story. She contacted 24 year old Taryn Davis, Founder of The American Widow Project to ask her to help her connect with a family from the Afghanistan War, instead Joan realized, Taryn would be her story.
     During their communication, Taryn told her about Glenda M. Carter
whom she had met at a very pivotal time of her life and Joan began to put
the story together.
     Three years ago Glenda who lives in eastern Oregon and Taryn who lives in Texas met on the VeteransWidows web site. Taryn was searching for support and Glenda the author of Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground: A Vietnam War Widow's Journey Through Unresolved Grief, was looking for a way to reach out to the new generation of Widow's of War. Both women were able to see beyond the obvious generational gap and focus on the greater need to reach out to the new widows so that they would not have to go it alone. Taryn's husband, Cpl. Michael Davis was killed by a road side bomb in Iraq on May 21, 2007 and Glenda's husband PFC Bruce L. Carter was killed in an ambush in Vietnam on September 11, 1968.
     In 2007, even with the tool of the internet, there was still not a lot of support for widows. “It seems that the widow is the last person our society wants to look at or deal with. I think it is because we are a reminder of the reality of war.” Glenda said. “We haven't known how to deal with the widow. Much to often people in our society continue to say, 'She's young, she'll get over it' or 'move on' not realizing how painful those comments are to someone who has lost the love of their life. While others can go back to their lives after a brief time of grief, a widow is left to re-define her entire life and it is nothing like just  'getting over' a case of the flu.”
     Glenda knew early in their friendship that Taryn was an answer to her prayers. “When I saw her do her first live interview on ABC, I knew God had answered my prayer. Taryn was the face, voice and personality that can cut through the many barriers put in place by society and reach the widows.” As Joan continued to put the story together, Glenda realized that she would be going to Washington DC for the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert. Capital Concerts paid the way and made the travel arrangements. Glenda who suffers from PTSD said, “Going from my life in eastern Oregon to such a huge event challenged every part of me and felt very much like I was heading 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' for real.  But they took care of all the details and all I had to do was show up.”
     While in DC, Glenda was able to meet several of the young widow's of war from all parts of the country. They accompanied her to the Vietnam Memorial Wall on Friday night and on Saturday, Glenda went with them to Section 60 in Arlington National Cemetery where many Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers are buried.
     AJ Cook and Blythe Danner were the actresses that performed Taryn and Glenda's story. Among other talents, Glenda met Gary Sinise, Joe Montegna and singer Katherine Jenkins. “Other than spending quality time with 'my girls' probably the most memorable time was going to the Vietnam Wall with Blythe Danner and Joan Meyerson and later having lunch with Blythe Danner. Blythe is one of the most gracious women I've ever met.”
      “Sitting beside Taryn and some of the young widow's in the front row of the concert, I whispered to Taryn, 'Look what you have done', I knew she would correct me at any moment but I let her look around her in bewilderment as to what I meant, then I smiled and said,  “no, you
didn't put all this together but you got us to the front row.”
      “We still have a lot of healing work to do with all generations. A part of the healing work is in educating society on how to deal with family and friends who lose someone. Loss affects all of us. For us the Concert was a historical event. Just talking openly about military widows is a step in the right direction. I decided early on when Taryn and I met that my focus would be on the military widow. In helping the widow, I help children and families. Taryn's work is outstanding and helps widow's of all generations to learn to live again.”
     You can visit the AWP website and read many of the stories they share and see the activities that they do to help them rebuild their lives www.americanwidowproject.org 
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Taryn Davis Founder of American Widow Project and Producer of the American Widow Project Documentary with Author Glenda M.Carter at the 2010 National Memorial Day Concert in Washington DC.
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Light 05/26/2010
 
It won't be long until the 2010 PBS National Memorial Day Concert. I've learned that many of the actors/actresses, other talent, and production crew volunteer their time for this special event that will honor those who have died in war, as well as their families. It is an act of love. I'm thinking that the light from all the energy and love will combine into a bright beacon that can reach people who still live in the dark trenches of the battlefield of their mind and will serve to guide them as their heart finds it's way...home.
May God add His blessing to the production, the people involved, and those who will be watching. May we walk with hearts filled full of God's Peace.
See you there.
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Almost 3 years ago I met face to face, for the first time, Steve Nolley a Marine who trained and served with Bruce. He was the one who identified Bruce after the ambush on the battlefield of Vietnam. When we met we did an interview for the local newspaper in Roseburg, OR. It was a couple of months before I met Taryn Davis, the young military widow who founded the American Widow Project and even in this interview, my thoughts were wondering how to help the new generation of military widows. I will post the link to the story. It was done in June 2007.
http://www.nrtoday.com/article/200770619026
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