Publisher Notes
JANUARY 1, 2010
“Ring out wild bells… ring out the old, ring in the new…” Fun must run in the family according to a WSJ article (Wall Street Journal, “The Case Against The New Year” essay Dec. 26, 2009) … Alfred Lord Tennyson popularized the tradition of toasting at midnight for NYE. He’s a great uncle on my father’s side. I plan to continue 150 years later to create stellar celebrations and meaningful works, through chART and other projects in the works.
DECEMBER 6, 2009
Friday I danced with Santa at our winter chART event and this quiet Sunday morning finds me more pensive.
As a writer and a publisher, I am particularly grateful for the First Amendment. As a passionately patriotic American, I am grateful for all of our freedoms, the people who manifested our freedoms and the people who sustain our freedoms.
My Aunt Faye died Dec. 2 at 92, the eldest of my father’s six siblings. Another six siblings on my mother’s side have passed as well. Faye’s life was filled with running Vacation Bible Schools, writing and publishing poetry books, and serving as the county historian. She studied art at the local college and sang in the church choir. She was a mom. A good life.
What stood out in the obituary to me was her genealogist studies and writings for her local newspaper and for quarterlies for organizations. She was listed in Tennessee Belles’ Letters 1977; a member of the Hatchie Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) serving three times as Regent; National Society of Colonial Dames XVII Century, Founders of Manakin in the Colony of Virginia, National Huguenot Society, U.S. Daughters of 1812, National Society of Daughters of the Pilgrims, Daughters of the American Colonists, United Daugthters of the Confederacy. We all can celebrate and perpetuate our freedoms through our life’s work, in her case, with her pride of her heritage and her gift of writing.
I am also DAR eligible on my mother’s side who were early politicians in South Carolina, and served as southern political leaders for generations. On both sides, my family members contributed to founding this country. I love America.
So now, I find myself being me in this legacy of early American settlers, and passing out stacks of my art charity magazine at the performance of Handel’s Messiah at Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre in Orlando a week ago. One of the guests curtly refused my free magazine and asked if I was Buddhist. She was referring to my necklace. I gave a quick explanation that I got the rare purple jade Buddha necklace in Hong Kong because I admired the artistry of the piece. She didn’t like my response or that I didn’t say that I was Christian (which I am) and didn’t take the magazine. That was OK. The short exchange didn’t feel OK though and has lingered for several days now. In embracing our valued freedoms such as freedom of speech, how do we use our words to respect and enhance our country and culture and the people in it, those like us and those that differ?
Topic to come. Out of time now.
Thoughts? Comments? casey@cut-edge.com
