New Arrival...

On Monday, I'll be picking out one of these little critters as a companion for Sheila. Let the fun begin!

Too Moving a Story to Pass Up...

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back-country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and being a typical man I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late.

I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man. And as I played 'Amazing Grace' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together.

When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full. As I was opening the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."

An Ed Sullivan Moment...

Today I received some mail that had an Ed Sullivan stamp.  I was reminded of a Sunday night in 1960, April 17th to be precise, when I appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show as part of the University of Rochester Glee Club.

During that time, one of the major sponsors of the Sullivan show was the Eastman Kodak Company.  They were also major supporters of the University of Rochester.  I suspect there was some connection between those two relationships that resulted in our glee club being invited to appear on that Easter Sunday evening.

We traveled to New York by bus.  Videotaping technology was young, but the show was actually half live and half videotaped.  We performed around 2:00 PM in front of a full house at the Ed Sullivan theater.  This is the same theater that is now used for the David Letterman Show.  Mahalia Jackson also was videotaped in the afternoon, so we got to meet her as well as Wayne & Shuster, a Canadian comedy team.

As the show was broadcast on Sunday evenings, they would intersperse the live sections with the videotaped segments, allowing them to change sets in the theater.  It really isn't a very big stage and could never accommodate multiple acts.  The result was that by the time the show was on, we were back in our hotel rooms enjoying the performance.  We were directed by Dr. Ward Woodbury, who was a wonderful choral director and a real perfectionist.  He went on in retirement to be director of the Florida Bach Festival for many, many years.

We all had to join the musician's union for one day in order to legally perform.  We got paid by Ed Sullivan Productions in the amount of $86.00.  It was a big deal to me and I recall holding onto the check for a long time before I deposited it.

He is risen!

This day has always been extra special -- the Feast of the Risen Christ! Once more, we're given the blessing of celebrating the Greatest of all gifts.

Mary Ann and I are staying home and will celebrate quietly. I baked challah bread this morning, a traditional Jewish sabbath bread. Mine doesn't look quite as pretty as the one pictured in the cookbook, but it will do just fine. It smelled wonderful as it was baking.

Mary Ann has been working very hard in her store. I don't think most people can possibly appreciate the enormous amount of work that goes into a one-person retail operation. She is the buyer, inventory manager, shipping and receiving chief, manager, interior decorator, receptionist, cashier, advertising manager, publicist, chief cook and bottle washer. The store reflects her hard work. Yesterday, I heard several people comment on how much they love to shop at Ebabe's.

So today, on this special feast, she may not be able to rest completely, but we will have a nice meal of roast pork, sweet potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce, and some condiments.

And we'll take time to thank our Creator for the Greatest Gift of all.

Wonderful Speech...

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?

His trial is over and he was sentenced.
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.
Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admi tted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stating, "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid.

Judge Young: "Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court ac cepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bear any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten . That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

God bless Judge Young and God bless America.

Farewell, Jerry... We'll miss you.

We learned this week of the passing of an old friend, Jerry Holland. Perhaps I should say the unforgettable Jerry Holland. If your path and his had ever crossed, you would remember him. He was bigger than life.

I think I first met Jerry in late 1990. He had come to work for Camber Corporation and opened an office in Crystal City, a huge office complex in Arlington, Virginia. Jerry had presented a business concept to our CEO, Walter Batson, and Walter had hired Jerry on the spot. Jerry had an extensive and successful career in the Army, the last several years of which had involved the acquisition process. He knew the military acquisition process. His idea was to sell support services to program offices that are trying to wend their ways through the countless obstacles and roadblocks that slow down or kill them. He was very successful and soon had one of the largest, most successful Camber divisions.

On several occasions, I flew to Washington to provide support to Jerry's projects and programs. Jerry was a born leader. He exuded a well-founded confidence. A sign over the door to his office stated, "Do something! Lead, follow, or get out of the way." And he meant it. Jerry arrived at the office at or before 5:00 AM. By the time most of us arrive at work, Jerry had done a half-day's work! He was dynamic, concerned about everyone and everything under his management, and a great businessman. His integrity was beyond question. If Jerry made a commitment, it was gold-plated. Because of that, his clients loved him. They came back for further services at a very high rate.

Jerry was also a great judge of people. His bride, Av, was evidence of that! But in the business world, he picked great workers and leaders who became some of Camber's finest. Our president, Joe Alexander, was an early Jerry Holland protégé.

Jerry was a dedicated family man. More than once Margo and I visited Joe and Av (and their beloved St. Bernards!). We could feel the warm friendliness of their home. And Jerry spoke of his family in the most tender, caring terms.

It will take a while for Jerry's departure to sink in. He served on Camber's Board of Directors for many years after he retired, so I got to see him just about every quarter. It's a shame that we don't appreciate each other a little more while we can. Jerry, I will miss you. You have suffered your last. Enjoy the Glory.

Visitor from the North...

A week ago last Saturday, I proceeded on my normal morning routine, which includes feeding the dog and two cats. When I approached Sheila's dog pen, I spotted a huge animal, feeding at the cats' dishes. It was a full-grown Alaskan Malamute. If you've never seen one of these dogs, believe me, they are very large.

I approached him cautiously, hoping that he was friendly, and he turned out to be so. I led him into Sheila's pen so that he couldn't attack our cats. He looked capable of making short work of eliminating them. He sniffed Sheila, but there was no sign of aggression. He did, however become very protective of the food dish.

I kept him in the pen and let Sheila stay outside the fence, since I didn't want him to run out in the road and get hit. I also began to realize that I couldn't keep him and hoped I could find his rightful owner.

Mary Ann and I placed an ad in the local newspapers and on the local radio station, to no avail. I realized that if I took him to the pound, he would most certainly be destroyed, an option I didn't even want to think about. I called Elsie West, who works in the gift shop, since Elsie is quite a dog rescuer, and she indicated she might know someone who could help.

Through a friend of a friend, we were put in contact with a young lady from Hartselle, Alabama, who saves Malamutes! Krista and her fiancé, Josh, came up to our home this afternoon and took the dog to their rescue site. They have four acres where they keep 14 Malamutes, Huskies, and wolf mixes. I can't tell you how relieved and happy I was to know that this animal has been saved.

Please spay and neuter your pets. Be a responsible pet owner.