Hello Sweet Donna!
Thank you for dropping by. Wangari can teach us all what perseverence really means.
Hugs!
Luella and John
Luella and John :)
This is an inspiring example of courage. Seventeen is my luck number; my father's birthday is on the 17th of January; as a Junior in High School, I graduated from high school a year early at 17 [my birth date is 11/11]; when my fellow classmates was returning to their senior year of high school, I joined the Army via delayed entry [had to wait til my 18th birthday because my parents would not sign for me to join]; I was the leader of my Squad and the ONLY female in Signal Training [Strategic Micro Wave Operator] in a class of 23 males and one of three top graduates; my discharge date was the 17th of October; got married; attended Pierce Junior College in Philadelphia, became President of Beta Lambda Kai the first year; transferred back to Georgia [Mother insisted that I return home to take care of her business, she was due to have surgery and during Amtraking to and from visits with my former spouse our first child was born on the 17th of December. Our second child was born on the 17th of May. My first marriage deteriorated due to morale conflicts and the family tradition is that minor children in a broken marriage is automatically attached to elders and the Church Family.
Ten years later I met my current spouse and was surprised to learn that his eldest daughter's birthday is the 17th of June. His eldest son is ten years younger than myself and his youngest son's birthday is nine months after mines 11th of February. My current spouse and my mother share the same date 13th October [hers] and November [his]. Our child turned 15 on the 14th of January and my spouse's eldest son turned 40 the next day.
Last year on Veterans Day, my daughter hosted my 50th birthday at the National Guard jointly with my spouse. I plan to lavish her on her 25th birthday in May.
I can identify with Wangari Maathai from the experiences of my mother's sisters and elder sisters in the Church. I remember viewing a Public Broadcasting documentary on Maathai a couple of years ago.
Here are some more links, if anyone is interested in more media about Wangari's works and philosophies:
The last link is a "writer's" inspirational link. I will leave this post and go there to contribute my ONLY published poem, entitled "Love" - 2005.
Gettin' Better by the Tic' Toc'