A loving tribute

William Whitney Cunningham, Sr., a man whose life was marked by choices and challenges, passed away the day after Thanksgiving this year. To me, he was a friend, advisor and my father-in-law, but to Lois, he was Dad.

As a dentist, Lois's Dad was a perfectionist in his procedures and astute in his business practices. As a teacher at Baltimore School of the Bible, he impacted hundreds, if not thousands, of people around the world. About 50 years ago, he helped launch Congress, an annual evangelical retreat for singles aged 16 and over, at Greenwood Hills Conference Center in Fayetteville, PA. It continues to this day and is still influencing teens and young adults for Jesus Christ long after he stopped being involved.

As a travel agent, he traveled to every continent and more than 130 countries, often at the expense of carriers and hotels seeking his business. I remember when he went to Egypt for a $47, four-day weekend, because it was cheaper than staying home. It was also his first attempt at self-producing a video to entice potential travel clients. Much of it was shot while riding a camel near the pyramids. We politely watched it, but I don't think it sold many tours.

He was a wheeler-dealer, an entrepreneur always ahead of his time, a vintage car collector, and as one nephew describes, "The family's great orator with a phenomenal command of English language, prose, and poems. He ranks along with William F Buckley, with Uncle Billy's heart being a little left of the center."

Another friend said, "My memories of your Dad are of happiest days, and his laughter and fun were contagious."

He was an over achiever who was not always appreciated. It seemed he always had a better, a cheaper, and faster way to do something and could talk anyone else into doing it, whether he pursued it or not. He was never at a loss for words, comments, or opinions. He had plenty and was not shy about sharing them, but doggone it, they were always creative, interesting and often humorous, unless you were the brunt of his ire. If you disagreed with him . . . well, let's just say it wasn't pretty.

He was never one to talk about, or admit, his age. It seems everyone his age was so much "older" than he. For a while, he even stopped "having" birthdays, yet when he turned 80, no one was surprised, just polite. In fact, to celebrate his 80th, he issued a family proclamation that everyone - all 23 children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - was to go on a free cruise to Bermuda with him. No one had to be asked twice.

He moved to St. Charles, Illinois, near Chicago, this past year to live with Lois' sister, Christie, as his health was rapidly declining. He couldn't see to drive anymore, and he was physically losing strength to diabetes and a weak heart. He joined the local V.F.W. for the first time, rode in the Veterans Day parade, and bought an electric scooter so he could "drive" himself to the nearest Starbucks. Just because he was 87, it didn't mean he had to be old!

Lois had a wonderful conversation with him Monday, just before Thanksgiving, and he was looking forward to gathering with family under the big shade tree on the family homestead at Cuddebackville, New York, to celebrate July 4th next year, an old family custom. Instead, we will gather to spread his ashes and we too, will tell stories about the man who raised my wife and her siblings, and who is known to some as Dad, to others as Poppa Bill ("Grandpa" was an age identifier), and to many as Uncle Bill. He will be missed, but certainly not forgotten.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time of year that we celebrate God's bounty to, and protection over our nation, as the Pilgrims did nearly 400 years ago. Just as the master of the vineyard surrounds his prize grapes with a net of protection from outside predators, so are we surrounded by a hedge of protection from our predators. While the media sends a barrage of conflicting political messages about money, military and mismanagement in Washington, we are nevertheless surrounded by a net of protection that no foreign enemy dares to penetrate, at least not for now.

Compared to other nations, we really are a land of plenty, and Thanksgiving is the one day out of the year set aside to commemorate just that. It's a time when families traditionally get together and eat, and eat, and eat. Every family has its favorite turkey recipe that has been passed from generation to generation, even though they only use it twice a year, Thanksgiving and Christmas, and of course each one is the best one ever.

We will justify our gluttony as we will have worked up an appetite going into New York to elbow our way to a front row "seat" for the Macy's Day parade. Others will justify it as preparation to fend off crowds of fellow shoppers on Black Friday. But no matter what our rationale, when we finally push ourselves away from the table we vow to never eat so much again, when in fact, we all know it's just a warm-up for Christmas.

Holiday heat

This past weekend we returned to Art at Murray Pond, in Killingworth, CT, to photograph Joan Levy Hepburn crafting beautiful hand-blown Christmas ornaments in her glass studio. She's a gifted musician, multifaceted artist, and teacher who excels in a variety of mediums, including glass.

Huddled over a custom made configuration of twenty paired propane fueled torch nozzles facing each other, she carefully applies spaghetti-like colored  solid rods of hot glass on top of a bulb of glass that she has just blown from a clear hollow tube. She patiently moves, twists, and spins the ornament to keep the temperature as even as possible while all the time talking around the mouthpiece of the blow hose.

Then, at just the right moment, the talking stops, and her cheeks expand like a jazz trumpeter as she forces air into the open end of the glass tube to give it a little more shape. When the ornament is done, she seals the tube, puts a loop on top, and lets it slowly cool until it's  ready to hang on a tree.

Just like glass, if we get heated too fast, we crack and break and are not pleasant to be around. But if we allow ourselves to evenly respond to the heat and become malleable, then slowly cool down, we become that beautiful masterpiece that everyone wants to be with this holiday season.

Veterans' Day 2011

What was once known as Armistice Day, commemorating the cessation of battle in World War I, has slowly evolved into what we now celebrate each November 11, as Veterans' Day. When President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day in 1919, he said, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations."

For veterans, it's a day to remember the good, the bad, and the ugly about serving, the people, places and events. But it's also an opportunity for everyone to remember the cost our freedom and thank those who served along with the families of those who gave their lives while serving. Most came back to live "normal" lives; however, many did not, but they all served.

Many joined the military right after graduation from high school or college. To them it was a mark of patriotism and courage, though not fully understanding the concept of "ultimate sacrifice." It was not always a popular career choice, especially in the sixties, and many veterans were shunned, ignored, or ridiculed by some because they were willing to fight and if necessary, kill or be killed in the interest of peace. Vets in my time were uneasy about including their military service on their resumes as it was considered a red flag in the job market.

Conditions have dramatically changed during the past ten or fifteen years. People who know vets, thank them for their service on many holidays, not just Veterans' Day. Many businesses offer our veterans discounts on major remembrance days, and a couple extend the discounts throughout the rest of the year.

As for me, it was an honor to serve. Thanks to all who served with me. I trust you will be honored today as well.

Ice soccer anyone?

Just over a week ago on Saturday, October 29, 2011, Connecticut was crippled by an early, wet snowfall. Our trees were still full of beautiful yellow and red leaves which unfortunately became weighed down by the snow.

By mid-afternoon, we had lost power and the only sounds we heard were trees and branches cracking and crashing around us under the weight of the wet snow. We were fortunate in that we only lost two large trees along with enough branches to make our front yard look like a field of saplings.

Yes, it was a nuisance, but oh so beautiful. Once we got the maple tree out of our driveway, we could drive around to see the overall impact of the winter storm.

While we love the simplicity and laid back atmosphere of a small town, I’m often amazed at their priorities. I mean, I know soccer is important, but just when the majority of the residents are trying to adjust to life without electricity, the town’s automatic sprinkler system kicked in to keep the playing fields green. Yes, these are the same fields that I blogged about September 15, 2011, when they were under four feet of water, following hurricane Irene. I have to admit, of the two images, this is my favorite.

As for our electricity it came on about an hour ago, eight days and five minutes after it went off. Three minutes later, the First Selectman (Mayor) called asking for our vote in the upcoming election. Hmmmmmmmm.