So yesterday the news was all abuzz with the word that President Obama presented Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in America. Every station covered how Obama was influenced by Dylan’s lyrics and musical stylings. Anyone who knows me knows I don’t really care for ‘ol Bob, so should not be surprised that I wanted to know who the other twelve recipients of America’s highest civilian honor were.

Madeline Albright, former Secretary of State and our first woman in that position

John Paul Stevens, a former Supreme Court justice

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and Senator from Ohio – kinda more important than Dylan in my book, why hasn’t he received this honor already???

Toni Morrison, one of the most influential authors of the previous 25-30 years

Dolores Huerta, cofounder of the National Farmworkers Association

John Doar, civil rights attorney in the 1960s who helped make it possible for Obama to become PoTUS in the first place

William Foege, former director of the CDC who worked tirelessly to eradicate smallpox, you know that one, like chicken pox on steroids that would kill indiscriminately? Yeah, he should have gotten this award long, long ago

Gordon Hirabayashi, who fought against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, are we seriously so lax in recognizing the importance of his efforts? 70 years? That’s just sad

Jan Karski, who survived the Holocaust and was among the first to share his experience in a concentration camp. Again, why such a long time to recognize the importance of his impact on the world?

Pat Summit, NCAA women’s basketball coach

Shimon Peres, President of Israel

And most importantly, a woman who has had profound and lasting impact not only on American girls but girls world wide:

Juliet Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts

But what the news covers is that Bob Dylan was given an award for his music. That to me is the most sad and pathetic aspect of this whole ceremony. First, we don’t recognize or award some of these people for their incredible courage and impact on the world for more than 50 years, when we do it’s posthumous, and then the news doesn’t even make a comment on how their contributions helped make America what it is today.

So as an American, I say thank you to Juliet Gordon Low, Jan Karski, Gordon Hirabayashi, William Foege, and John Doar, some of the less glamorous honorees, yet to me the most important, and I’m sorry we didn’t thank you with this award sooner.

I was recently asked to do a guest blog post on a site I just love: The Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things. I was delighted to do it because I love the site, and it turned out to be a mutual admiration arrangement because their site admin loves my blog Who Were They? So, the guest blog post is up and I hope you’ll take a second to read it, then browse around the Museum. It’s pretty awesome!

Once again I’m apologizing for not having had much to say in the previous month. I have a lot of great ideas to blog about…as I’m drifting off to sleep or driving home from work. Not really opportune moments to have a quick blogging moment!

We decided to thin down our stuff, getting rid of things we have have moved from one house to the next without ever really unpacking, things we do not need, don’t fit, are worn out, etc. It’s a good exercise and forces me to really consider the need/want motivation behind each item. My sewing room is the worst! It has become a catch-all for historical clothing, craft supplies, research books, and of course an unused crib. Don’t you keep one in your sewing/craft room? I have it listed on craigslist for sale but I doubt anyone is going to buy it. Honestly, it’s the third or fourth time I’ve listed it there with not one nibble. Last week we decided we were done with the ‘temporary’ dining set we bought of the former occupants of our house (in 2005!). I listed it for FREE on craigslist and the only response I got was someone wanting the chairs. Sigh…we wound up hauling the beast – it is very very heavy – out to our front lawn on Saturday morning. Not even 10 minutes into the project, the “free” sign not even hung up, someone was asking about it. Not 20 minutes later, the massive table, 8 chairs and two leaves were gone. We are very happy using our smaller table which gives us a lot more space in our kitchen!

So, if you know anyone who needs a really beautiful, gently used crib, I am selling one. Still. :-) 

The April resolution was to read to Melody 3 to 5 times a week. I think I might have hit 3 times a week. Although she loves chapter books, Melody hasn’t been very interested in the ones I tried on her. Alice in Wonderland was not a hit at all, which surprised me. I don’t remember how old I was when my mom read us the Narnia books, but it seems like they might be a little old for her. Anyway, we have been enjoying several books that Aunt Virginia gave to her last year – 365 Penguins, Bats at the Library and Beetle the Bard.

The March resoultion is still hanging in there. I walk 3-4 times a week most weeks. We had a lot of rain recently so that interrupted me, but for the most part I get in my walk whenever possible. I also still have been off fast food for two months, which is a huge accomplishment! The thought of it now is pretty gross and I hope that’s a mindset that stays with me forever. I might have fnally broken this addiction, fingers crossed!

May’s resolution is no TV 5 nights per week. That is really pretty stupid, lol. How about no TV 3 nights a week and if I make it to 5 that’s a bonus?