Chore Service, Memorial Day Parades, Open House CT, Recreation Programs, Local Schools and Regional High Schools and Council of Governments (CT)

To Start on a Promising Note and One of Respect for All who've served in the armed services and 'paid the ultimate sacrifice of dying in battle or from their wounds', I am lighting a symbolic candle. I find it helpful to remember loved ones who have crossed over at this time collectively as well. Each soul braving their life faces challenges no one can really know. I would add that many hometown heroes may also have had only moments to decide whether to save another at great risk or actual loss of their own precious life.

That happened to be the way our teen son Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton of Sharon CT crossed over to the other side on June 16th, 2009...trying to save his friends. There is much more about his actions online and in some posts on this blog (such as Remembering Kaelan.) A moment of silence now feels fitting even as the evening of this Saturday before Memorial Day, when military will fire blanks and play taps at the cemetery where he's buried in honor of his Grandfather Dale Dee Palmer Sr who served in World War II and his Uncle Marc who served in the Army.

Since I was a young girl (about 45 years ago) the ritual of watching the uniformed men fire guns and hearing the trumpet played whether in sun or rain seemed something from a movie on our quiet road, especially in the cemetery which was even more remote and largely forgotten.

I never dreamed I'd be standing at the marker where our son's cremains would be placed in the ground. With Kaelan's sense of playfulness, I actually found myself  at age 46 'racing him one last time' when the people who delivered his lovely headstone marked with a dove and the words of 'Our Beloved Kaelan..." on it had gotten the rectangular stone almost to the family cemetery before I could make sure they knew where they were going. Still the day of the burial, many family members stood in a light rain that stopped a bit only to let a hoard of mosquitoes have a chance to land on us. We were hurried along through our time then and yet knew even a month later that our lives had changed forever.

We thought not only of the tragedy of his passing but of his final message of 'showing a greater love' and realizing that was the theme of his life from his early days of being a big brother and even a younger brother and cousin and friend to many. He had a whole lot of love to give in his 16 and almost a half years... and it still resonates with a large circle of friends from his dear Housatonic Valley Regional High School (which I felt could be aptly renamed for him to help us all remember the bigger picture and keep our good will values and accountability skills in check.) Maybe a playground (with a challenge course) could be put up.

Whatever..more ideas come as the almost first decade comes round. And if I share his story as I did on a regular basis informally with many people in the first many years, I would hear a dozen other such close calls, mishaps or heroic saves or sadly more tales of youth and others lost to violence. Along those lines I have learned about the Battered Mothers Custody Conference, which is a remarkable national event that has made international connections as well.

The discussion that is the primary motivation of many advocates to remedy is one that calls everyone's compassion and intelligence into the circle. We don't know Who Will Be Next, but sadly we know for sure that Someone Will Be Next. The level of complexity can be overwhelming on many levels. yet a new Simple Solution has risen like a flag giving the command to "Declare and Not Back Down!"

"Resolution 72! Give Women the Children if there is a Custody Battle! (Generally they are the Victims of Abuse IF there is a dispute about custody.) See more on the BMCC site and consider putting a banner in Every Memorial Day Parade (Maybe I can do this at least on the sidelines in Sharon CT..and Falls Village..and by all means, PLEASE Do So in Your Area! You may save a friend or neighbor's sanity, access to their children or Life! Maybe even prevent a School shooting or a suicide of an abuser (one out of three times they will turn the gun on themselves if shooting others, generally 'some woman they perceive as their partner who they are Entitled to , much like a pet or property."

Okay so that's kind of deep and serious..but that's what most true soldiers would encourage US-All to do as we are Driving the bUS in our own lives and that of our neighbors, state and country citizen circles. It all adds up and we all have a Voice and a Choice to use it...or lose it, or worse. Now to the original post...and by all means, thanks for sticking with reading this post. That's a meaningful 'lit candle and moment of silence.' Definitely take a deep breath and relax...I listened to the free talk from Jenn McLean for Chakra clearing and that felt very appropos as well. Many blessings to one and all...

I'd love to see more communities and states benefit from these kinds of programs in the title such as Chore Service that has helped hundreds of people over many decades stay in their homes with non-medical care and rides. In Dutchess County (particularly Millerton NY and Amenia NY, NECC, North East Community Service provides help and Children's Health Programs in Southern Berkshires also does a wide outreach to young families. 

Economically and culturally in the MA area, the "1 Berkshire" type initiatives could be emulated. Sometimes I wonder if I am the only individual working toward these kinds of 'share the good ideas' networking to help keep people in or interested in the entire '14th Colony'/tri-corner area (aside from Chambers which are about businesses and non-profits, rather than citizens networking to help hold the areas together...)

Just hoping to spur more activism and want to Appreciate All Everyone Is Doing by Being Here Now and Investing and Keeping Up With the Basics. What if everyone were given a chance to ask for reasonable help in terms of crafting clear living and safety plans...and see what local resources and websites, options for housing, working, studying and more could be developed for each and every person? Kendal Community Homes in Oberlin OH have ways of helping seniors stay involved (donating 40K hours of volunteer hours apparently Each Year...).

Okay I'll put this on my blog, www.livfully.org which hopefully can inspire others to have FB pages and blogs to develop and track ideas over time, in their area and beyond over the seasons and years...and of course share ideas and theories to keep the party and discussion going as plan-it heart (earth) heats up (literally and figuratively..)

I shared this post on a local FB page in the Northwest Corner...and of course Wish Everybuddy the best. Audubon Sharon is having a special program Raptors and Reisling to raise funds for the nature center and its many programs.That's tomorrow, Sunday, May 27th, 2018. See their site for more information. I was fortunate to enjoy many aspects of that nature center and others who were involved with their annual festival that ran for over forty years. Maybe more school districts could pick up on that kind of initiative or blend it in with local fairs that are not too loud (no fireworks around animals, for instance.)

The Cornwall Agricultural Fair in Septmeber is amazing in that respect, along with many other larger fairs such as The Goshen Fair, the Dutchess County Fair and others that signal the end of summer and so much ongoing hard work by farmers of animals as well as food. Likely we need more forums to find a balance, something more sustainable than the 90 cows to every human on the planet for instant. See the latest study on the biomass from The Guardian. 

Likely networking small towns with cities would be one way to start learning to share and playing well with others. But of course building bridges is no small task and may involve a lot of Politics... Now back to those garden parties and times of remembrance of Memorial Day gatherings. Keeping communities connected is an ongoing way to honor everyone's past contributions and invite more team players toward crafting a caring circle of friends and brighter future for all...