Life Lessons Learned Archives - Page 2 of 3

Public Service

I get DM’s sometimes from people I’ve never met. Sometimes they change my life. I didn’t know Councilman Ric Gordon until he messaged me to say he had read about my background and wanted to endorse me to run for governor. I felt pretty special and appreciated it so much that I drove to Greenbelt to sit in his living room – with his wife, Carla, and adorable dog. I listened as he told me about the important projects in his community. I was impressed by the depth and caring, of the true commitment to public service. As a local councilman in Greenbelt, Ric changed lives. Last Sunday, we gathered the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, a spot where the locals hang out, to honor his life. It was the most Ric-like place of all places. If you’re looking for casual and friendly – and amazing fried chicken – this is it. The vibe was local. The room was packed. The speeches were personal. Ric’s wife, Carla, invited all to speak, and it seemed every person in the room had an anecdote to share. One person after the next stepped up to the mic to tell a story of how he changed their life. Stories about how he would just call people he wanted to know – or who he knew needed his support – and offer to help. I spoke of my gratitude for his support. But my message was this – honor his spirit by getting involved. Run for office. If you don’t want to run, volunteer for someone you think should be running. That is the legacy of public service. We can all make a difference.

Adventures with Leslie: Sunglasses

“Laura. I need you to come and get me. I need sunglasses.” I thought this was just a ploy from Leslie to get me to visit her. I hadn’t been able to drive for six weeks and she wasn’t having it anymore. She wanted to come to my house and take care of me. When she couldn’t do that, she reverted to something she knew would work – a request. A new one. Never did I imagine Leslie asking for sunglasses. She barely set foot outside for decades. Leslie is in a great program. In the last few weeks, she’s been to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Hershey Park, and Toby’s Dinner Theatre. It’s a full life. But there is no substitute for the joy Leslie experiences in her family relationships. Every single person who regularly interacts with her, including her Direct Service Providers, is family to her. They are what she talks about. “Which rides did you ride at HersheyPark,” I asked. “The monorail. Laura, Conrad took a cruise. You should call him and talk about it.” And then she’d tell me about Conrad’s trip. Conrad works at her day program. Leslie’s joy is in being connected to family, and for her that includes community. She enjoys the other activities but it’s connection that matters most to her. That’s why I invited every member of our family to her recent birthday party. It was the first time she has been celebrated in years. I ordered pizza, dozens of balloons, and we made a cake. In our family, we always make our own cake – even if it’s from a box. Decorating it is half the fun. Family members who’ve barely spoken to each other in years all celebrated and smiled together. That’s the power of Leslie and of the special people like her in our community. They love everyone. I get big hugs from her roommates every time I visit. It’s lovely.

Golf

I’m not sure if it was a love of athletics or an occasional need to get out of the house, but my son took up golf last summer. My sister, Leslie, had come to live with us and he was helping me clean out 50 years of mementos, trash and furniture from my mother’s house – it was a bit stressful. Without a single lesson, Alex became an almost-scratch golfer with an entry-level set of clubs…yes, he put in some hours He had his first lesson this spring. He loved it so much he signed up for the Maryland State Golf Association Amateur Tournament. Guess what you don’t think to get if you’ve never played in a tournament? A caddy! Guess who he asked? At the last minute. Mom! I drove him over, thinking I was dropping him off. With groceries in the car, no makeup, and zero experience, I was his caddy….fortunately, they offered me a golf cart! It was so much fun!! I went to the snack shack, ordered sandwiches, snacks and drinks…put the groceries on ice…and rode around in a golf cart all day. So fun!! I was on the cart path, not in the fairway, when one of the guys in his group hit the ball into the back of my cart (photo). It actually saved him a stroke.