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Surgeon Generals Parting remarks
by Karen Snyder Troxel 10 Jan '25

10 Jan '25

Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy’s tenure as US Surgeon General (since 2021, although he was also Surgeon General from 2013-2017) on January 7, 2025, wrote: “My Parting Prescription for America” which is “Community as the Formula for Fulfillment”. His description of the importance of community speaks to my heart. I wonder how his message can make an impact on the problems he identifies. The link is: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america…. I would love to hear your responses. Peace and love, Karen Snyder Troxel

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Octavia Butler's "Earthseed" series, "Parable of the Sower, and "Parable of the Talents".
by James Wiegel 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Are those the ones where mean people are in charge?? I dont like scary books Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver > On Jan 8, 2025, at 3:11 PM, Doug Druckenmiller <ddrucken(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Octavia Butler's "Earthseed" series, "Parable of the Sower, and "Parable of the Talents".

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California fires
by Sunny Walker 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Are any we know affected? Butchers? Blessings and prayers for all. Sunny

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The Playground
by Elsa Bengel 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

I second Jim’s recommendation of Richard Powers book Playground. Just finished it today. Perhaps in the future Earth will be known as Ocean! Also a shoutout for Judy Fishel’s latest book Even Alzheimer’s Won’t Stop Me is fantastic. A great gift for those with Alzheimer’s and family members. Practical and full of possibilities. Can find on Amazon or order directly from Bob and Judy. Elsa Bengel Sent from Gmail Mobile

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You will enjoy reading Playground by Richard Powers
by James Wiegel 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

I did. Oceans, islands, artificial intelligence, the last 50 years, Sheridan Road is mentioned, also East Garfield, children voting (what about the manta rays and corals??), lawyers, chess, Go, cleaning stations, a 92 year old Quebequise, …. One line I recall: “ there are 2 types of games: finite games and infinite games — in finite games, the aim is to win; in infinite games, the aim is to keep playing” Doug, I especially sense you would like this Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver

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Happy New Year from the Hamiltons
by Milan Hamilton 01 Jan '25

01 Jan '25

Well, we made it through to 2025. At the end of each year I like to reflect a bit on the significance fo it. So I went through all my Google photos month by month and made a collage of those that held the significance for Linda and me. (Linda might have a slightly different take but she is busier than me). Maybe you have done something similar. Anyway, here is the collage and my summary of 2024: *WHATTA YEAR! 2024 WAS!* January—Milan’s 87th BD massage February—Milan Took the Arrow train & Metrolink to Claremont for Brunch with old friend Vance J. from Houston; ANCA Presentation at the esri Forum on the climate crisis. March—Getting our Braemar garden ready for spring planting; Gathering at McDermotts, including Kyle Knutson family from Dallas, for a fantastic celebration of Frank’s good life & death. April--Earth Day 2024 Day of Climate Action in Redlands, with more than 30 projects, capped off with a celebration at the Redlands Bowl. May—Watching the garden grow, tomatoes and squash are a-comin.’ ANCA wraps up spring education series on health impacts of climate change. June—Linda’s 81st celebration at New York Pizza; ANCA movie night at UR*: Don’t Look Up,* with discussion on implications for our climate predicament. July/August—A month-long driving trip to the Midwest, seeing friends in Denver, cousin and son in Nebraska, grandchildren in Iowa, sisters in Wisconsin, more friends in Eau Claire, kids, grandkids, and great grandkids in Minnesota, several days at our kids’ cabin on the Crow Wing River, sending friend Frank’s ashes to the world (the Crow Wing ends in the Mississippi), and lots of “This Land is Our Land” on what might be our last cross-country driving trip. September—ANCA kicked off its fall educational series “Living Closer, Moving Smarter” on sustainable housing and transportation; co-sponsored our local city council candidates forum; fire season begins. October—kicking off the Map Your Neighborhood disaster preparedness program and holding the second Repair Café. November—ANCA’s educational program on the reality of recycling; a grant for education on the dangers of wildfires and smoke and kicking off the Northside Alliance for work climate education in a low-income community. Also, beginning the Map You Neighborhood disaster preparedness program with ten events. Oh yes, and the national election happened. December—ANCA booth at the Northside Holiday Celebration with information and a big fire suppression blankets distribution; the last of Milan’s weekly Joslyn Joy Writers group meetings; capped off with a week at our favorite Skylark hotel in Palm Springs. WHATTA YEAR! Lots of local climate crisis education and action, lots of signals from Mother Earth about the serious pickle we’ve got ourselves into, lots of turmoil around our dysfunctional political & economic system, and a great need for compassionate response to the suffering in our world. As we look forward to the coming year, we have another opportunity to get up on New Year morning 2025, throw open our door, step outside and shout “What have you got for us this year?” Happy New Year from the Hamiltons [image: Untitled design (2).png] -- Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com

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Second Coming of Jesus
by Richard Alton 31 Dec '24

31 Dec '24

A good friend of mine just asked me if I believed in the second coming of Jesus.. wow, that stumped me.. second coming?? And then just got this seasonal card from Jim Wiegel: " maybe somewhere this greatest birth of all is about to happen"...wow, seems like all this sweet Jesus stuff again.. but something to think about *Get Off Your Donkey* Keep seeing commercials with people sitting on donkeys. It was a real mystery to me. Why were people sitting on a donkey with their iPhone, straddling and even laying on donkeys. It was cute but why was Mountain Dew having people sit on donkeys? Luckily, I was visiting my daughter in Oakland, and she explained it was asking you to *‘get off your ass!’* So, I am really into donkeys. They are supposed to be obstinate, stupid or silly. My brother uses to call me a stupid ass all the time. Hey, and it is the symbol of one of our political parties. The symbol of the Democratic party is a donkey! It seems that during Jackson’s Presidential run somebody called him a “stupid Ass” and before you knew it Jackson was everywhere with a donkey. Wherever he went there was a donkey or pictures. Amazing… seemed silly. Talking of silliness, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey. And it was a borrowed donkey, that was a colt- a young male donkey less than 4 years old and considered wild or never having been ridden before. Strange in that Jesus was coming as the Messiah of the Jewish people-but that donkey was probably a great symbol of his coming for the common man. But they had expected a lot more than this for a new King, the one to bring back their honor and overcome their enemies- especially the Romans. But Jesus did want them to get off their ass Now, I am into Paul Kingsnorth who is trying to make sense of our times. He argues that every great civilization has given birth to a new religion. The Egyptian Civilization grew up and released the Hebrew people from slavery; in response to the great Roman Empire came the Christian faith and now we have Western Civilization (he calls it the Machine or materialistic empire) is starting the stirring of a new sense of the awe/spirit. In the Industrial society we have become just a cog in the machine, a slave- all have fallen into technology. There is a brokenness of the spirit-a kind of slavery. The Machine (think of the Matrix movie- where you sell your soul for a glass of wine and a good steak) has us trapped, has us totally at the mercy of a consumption society. And we can expect another Imperial collapse. These huge breaks in human history do not come easy, but they will come! We have talked of the collapse of Western Civilization before and the symbol of this was the atomic Bomb. The movie “On the Beach” where life on the planet earth is slowly dying off from multiple atomic bombs. Now, although the bomb is still out there, I would say the collapse of western civilization, or the industrial era is symbolized by climate change- a finite planet slowly being killed by an infinite consummation. Now you need to read Octavia Butler’s book “Parable of the Talents”: humankind consumed by environmental devastation and economic chaos that have turned us into a land of horrifying depravity. During this, an Earthseed community springs up around a new faith that teaches “God is Change”. If Butler is too harsh you might try Duane Elgin’s ‘Choosing Earth” and his estimate that by another decade of climate change there will be calamitous breakdowns. But I am with Kingsnorth, that this current ‘machine’ civilization will be the breeding ground of a new spirit, a new awareness of the mysterium tremendum, a new person on a donkey to show up. Richard Alton, Broadway UMC, older but a little bit wiser -- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund The Last Chapter United Methodist Net Zero T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton(a)gmail.com Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?

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Completed Life of Suzanne Parker
by Terry Bergdall 31 Dec '24

31 Dec '24

Today, I received the following message from Angela and Bill Parker, daughter and husband of Suzanne. “My sweet mother and my best friend Suzanne Parker died suddenly this morning and we are absolutely devastated. She was our rock. Please keep my father, Bill Parker, and the rest of our family in your thoughts and prayers.” They asked me to ensure that notification is sent of OE and ICA colleagues. Once more info is available, I will ensure that it is forwarded to everyone. Terry Bergdall

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Our Wish for You and Our World!
by Milan Hamilton 25 Dec '24

25 Dec '24

Tis the season. May the season influence us all going forward. https://www.bluemountain.com/view/s97f93b34c7864d278148887185012a7c Mellow Milan Hamilton 80 North Center Street Redlands, CA 92373 Phone: (909) 943-1667 email: mellowmilan2(a)gmail.com

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A poem for you all
by James Wiegel 25 Dec '24

25 Dec '24

With best wishes Da Capo By Jane Hirshfield Take the used-up heart like a pebble and throw it far out. Soon there is nothing left. Soon the last ripple exhausts itself in the weeds. Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery. Glaze them in oil before adding the lentils, water, and herbs. Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt. Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat. You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life. Da Capo By Jane Hirshfield Take the used-up heart like a pebble and throw it far out. Soon there is nothing left. Soon the last ripple exhausts itself in the weeds. Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery. Glaze them in oil before adding the lentils, water, and herbs. Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt. Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat. You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life. Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver

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