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Joan Ruggles (Young)

With the current many photos of upside-down flags, I was wondering how Mr Smeby feels about this practice. I remember posting a photo on the forum some years ago of my Democrats Abroad 4th of July party where we were holding an upside-down flag. Mr Smeby was most disturbed by it and called us un-patriotic. "The United States Flag Code officially stated flying the American flag upside down on land conveys the nation is in distress - think SOS levels of emergency and urgency." It was our objection to Trump's presidency that caused us to feel the nation was in distress. Maybe in the MAGA use of the same upside-down flag, Mr Smeby feels differently? 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jack Mallory

A flag is a piece of cloth consisting of a variety of colors in some specific pattern. Any one flag has the potential to hold an infinite variety of meanings, often very different from one individual to another (Opinions, so to speak.) 

I've seen the American flag pattern of colors imbued with an enormous variety of meanings over my 78 years. On Army bases, on pick-up trucks, on T-shirts, Pro-Vietnam war, anti-Vietnam war, pro-Trump, anti-Trump, honoring veterans, buy your used cars here . . . Anybody seen red, white, and blue condoms?

I can't understand why any individual gets their undies in a twist around someone else's opinions about what a piece of cloth means, or how it should be displayed. 
 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jack, I agree but I don't think you were referring to a Supreme Court Justice like Samuel Alito, displaying it at his home when it means support for the Insurrection or at his beachhome signifying a National Christian religion...so sometimes it is very offensive when its displayed like that for someone who is supposted to be fair. Love, Joanie

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Hi, Jack or Joan, can you help me. I followed all the instructions to upload a photo and it won't work. I can't figure out what is wrong. I put the photo on my desktop and browsed over to click on it and then upload it but nothing happens. Any ideas would be much appreciated. I have so many beautiful garden pictures and thought once in awhile I could show you those. Also had a good cartoon. Love, Joanie

Glen Hirose

                 And a Ball game...

Jack Mallory

Joanie, at my age my capacity for outrage is more limited than it once was. I'll skip colored cloth flown over houses by Supreme Court justices or their wives since I have no way of knowing what it symbolizes to them. If I want a good case of outrage I'll read some Supreme Court decisions, where their intentions are clear, or read Trump saying he can terminate the Constitution. Flags, right side up or up side down are diversions. 
 

I don't think the photo posting is working. I've been trying to post for days. 
 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Hi Jack, Thanks for your note. I was so happy to figure out how to put a photo on the forum and it would never work so now I see you have had trouble posting them too. Maybe the site will be up and running sometime soon. Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

But having said that, now pix are working again!

*********

Day before yesterday in the canyons above Salt Lake City. Old farts did pretty well at 8,500 feet--I had my doubts!

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Jack, the picture of you and Deb is great. Love those mountains in the background too.  I thought that this cartoon summed things up. Glen, thank you for the nice Father's Day post...those nachos look delicious!  Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

Photo posting still working! 
 

Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. 


 

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Hi friends, I thought you might enjoy seeing the beautiful flowers in my garden. Love, Joanie

Jack Mallory

Gorgeous, Joanie!

And some beauty from Newport Beach:

Herons everywhere I go. A Black Crowned Night Heron. 

Jack Mallory

Dinner last night with one of my old immigrant students, all grown up with kids of her own. 
 

Not sure it's due to my teaching, but Maricela and her husband produce artisanal mezcal! And if you were bilingual like many immigrants, you might know what sal de chapulín is!

Glen Hirose

Beautiful flowers Joanie. That's Nature's way of smiling at you.

Beautiful litre of Mezcal Jack, not sure if Nature is involved in that.

Jack Mallory

Come on Glen--sal de chapulín?

Joanie Bender (Grosfeld)

Glen Hirose

     Jack 

     Lleno de metales pesados desconocidos...

Jack Mallory

Glen--pero también lleno de chapulínes molidos y sabrosos (tasty ground grasshoppers)!
 

Off to Santa Barbara this morning, to visit one of MY old teachers: my undergrad advisor, dissertation committee member, and friend for 50+ years.

Glen Hirose

    My Spanish is as good as my French. 

Stephen Hatchett

Joyce, here's hoping you at least look at this forum from time to time.  That feature about you and your career was, well ... We are just really glad you are doing so well.  Findina a career in something you love, and then making that a lifelong career while mentoring younger folks is sorta the best one can do -- Good Show.  And here's betting that your mentoring goes up a level or two to help  those younger folks find a lifelong career doing something they love -- whatever that turns out to be.

Socializing with folks our age is cool, but working with younger folks as kind of a fountain of youth. One smiles more.

Jack Mallory

Back in the Granite State. A bit of California still on my mind:

Santa Barbara beach. It's a wonder anyone graduates from UCSB, with this an an alternative to the library!
 

Jack Mallory

Steve--but socializing with folks even older than us (yeah, they do exist) can be pretty cool, too. Just spent a couple of days with an old, in every sense, friend in CA. Barbara was my undergrad mentor at UCSB, on my Ph.D. Committee, friend for 50+ years, 85 years old. Her new, possibly boyfriend, is 91. Both bright, lively, active. They provide answers to the question, "How could I possibly be that old?"

They've been meeting at the beach to walk dogs every morning for much of the last year.

Nora Skinker (Morton)

Speaking of "working with older folks", I've been delivering meals (via volunteering for Meals on Wheels) to shut-ins, hoarders, physically challenged, financially strapped, elderly people for over twenty years.  I can't begin to express how utterly wonderful it has been getting to know the dear souls on my routes through the years. Most have good reason to be grumpy and out of sorts, but none are either. The organization is beyond competent and those in charge are a pleasure to know.   Eligibility only requires a desire to help and a set of wheels. Gas is paid for and each volunteer decides how often or how little time he or she can afford to extend. Substitutions are made whenever needed.

Setting out to serve has resulted in a surprising turnaround: it is I who has been served!

Jay Shackford

Well said, Nori.  Meals on Wheels and all the other food banks are great organizations. Good to hear you are up and about and doing good deeds.  Nothing more worthy than feeding the hungry.  Bests, Jay