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Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Our lives have returned to “normal” after a three-
day visit from granddaughter Natalie, 2+, and her su-
per-duper parents, Matt and Vicki.
So our two shy-of-strangers indoor cats have
come out from hiding. “Rocky” the raging Pomera-
nian has settled down after feeling afflicted by Nata-
lie’s affection. “Bingo” liked the attention and was
quite gentle with her because of his herding instincts.
Our doors are open again, as under Natalie’s
Rules all open doors must be closed. Various knick-
knacks and other loose items, including shoes, have
been put back where we normally keep them, as under
Natalie’s Rules anything not nailed down or under
lock-and-key is fair game for relocation.
In fact, she opened my dresser drawer and re-
moved my change container, dumping it quite nicely
on the floor. We had a good time together picking up
all the coins and keys. Seriously, I got a kick out of it.
And the dogs’ water dish no longer has dog food
floating around in it, a homey touch devised by “Nat.”
We now have several videos memorized after
watching them repeatedly with our active little darling
from Carlsbad in San Diego County. These include
“E.T.” and “Thomas and the Magic Railroad.”
We had a great time with our guests, especially
“Nat,” sometimes called “The Natalope.” And speak-
ing of loping, I was honored to be invited to run with
her up and down our hallway several times on several
different occasions (pant-pant). She’d say, “Let’s
run?” And, of course I’d reply, “Sure, let’s go.” And
off we’d go, racing from the living room to our home
office and back again. Then she’d say, “Again?” And
off we’d run again. And again. And again.
Besides having the stamina of well, a 2-year-old,
she is one smart cookie. She converses quite well on a
variety of topics, although sometimes I have to check
with mom or dad for interpretation. She enjoyed the
children’s tour at Oregon Caves National Monument.
She kept saying, “I’m in a cave!” Then, because she
was so happy, she began singing her favorite
“Barney” song. Very cool.
My wife, Jan, is still Nanna, but I’m now Pop-Pop
after being PaPa until this visit.
All the Crayons in my Crayola locomotive are na-
ked now, as Natalie doesn't believe they should have
wrappers. Bare colors are best. She also thoroughly
broke in our couch, leaping like a champion from
couch to hassock and back again. And again. She
never seems to exhaust her energy, which makes it a
trifle tough at bedtime because she wants to stay on
the move, but we know it’s time to rest. (We’re not
the least bit tired, it’s strictly for her benefit).
My “Eeyore” stuffed replica got a workout, but
he’s all better now. And so are Jan and I. We miss
them a lot, but know we’ll see them again.
Excuse me now, I’m going to run up and down the
hall and look for naked Crayons.
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Illinois Valley News
(Editor’s Note: Views and
commentary, including state-
ments made as fact, are strictly
those of the letter-writers.)
* * *
Typed, double-spaced
letters written solely to this
newspaper are considered for
publication. Hand-written let-
ters that are double-spaced
and legible also can be consid-
ered. Cards of thanks are not
accepted as letters.
* * *
Veterans Day 2004
From Tina Haemmerlein
O’Brien
(Editor’s Note: The
writer is public relations
chairman for Glenn Mor-
rison Unit 70 American
Legion Auxiliary in Cave
Junction.)
In 1921 an unknown
World War I U.S. soldier
was buried in Arlington
National Cemetery. This
site, on a hillside overlook-
ing the Potomac River and
Washington, D.C., became
the focal point of rever-
ence for USA veterans.
Similar ceremonies
occurred earlier in England
and France, where an Un-
known Soldier was buried
in each nation’s highest
place of honor: Westmin-
ster Abbey and the Arc de
Triomphe.
These memorial ges-
tures all took place on
Nov. 11, giving universal
recognition to the cele-
brated ending of WWI
fighting at 11 a.m. Nov.
11, 1918 -- the 11th hour
of the 11th day of the 11th
month. The day became
known as Armistice Day.
Armistice Day was
primarily a day set aside to
honor veterans of WWI.
But in 1954, after
WWII had required the
greatest mobilization of
soldiers, sailors, Marines
and airmen in the nation’s
history; after U.S. forces
had fought aggression in
Korea; the 83rd Congress,
at the urging of veterans
service organizations,
amended the Act of 1938
by striking “Armistice”
and inserting “Veterans.”
With approval of this
legislation, Nov. 11 be-
came a day to honor U.S.
veterans of all wars.
On Oct. 8, 1954, Presi-
dent Eisenhower signed a
bill proclaiming Nov. 11 as
Veterans Day. The procla-
mation read in part, “On
that day, let us solemnly
remember the sacrifices of
all those who fought so
valiantly, on the seas, in
the air, and on foreign
shores, to preserve our
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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to
P.O. Box 1370, Cave Junction, OR. 97523
‘Let’s start healing’
From Joe Armstrong
O’Brien
Now that the insanity
and overheated rhetoric of
the lead-up to the election
are gratefully lessened, the
possibility of a contested
result seems a plausible
scenario.
I think that it is impor-
tant for us to start healing.
The mood of the country
has gotten really mean. It
seems that we focus so
much more energy on the
things that, seemingly di-
vide us, than the vast ma-
jority we share.
If we step back for
some perspective, I think
that it would be instructive
to follow the money mon-
soon. Other than the ap-
palling level of negativity,
spite and disregard for any
degree of civility or truth,
this election was largely
about money.
Think about this elec-
tion’s campaigns (at the
presidential level alone)
having spent more than a
half-billion dollars. The
corruption of the electoral
process at the level is mak-
ing a sham of our democ-
racy. How can we hope to
export democracy to the
world when our example
of it is becoming so dys-
functional?
Wealth in and of itself
is not a bad thing. The
wealth that I refer to is a
big part of the picture that
emerges when you look at
how this is more of a class
war than the seeming arti-
ficially huge rift between
the so-called right and left.
All they need from
most of us is our vote to
keep them in power; our
continued consumer
spending; and our compla-
cency about being manipu-
lated. We get our informa-
tion from sound-bites. We
get distracted by hot-
button issues that play to
passions and promote divi-
sion.
At the time we were
attacked we were told not
to sacrifice anything ex-
cept for some little-used
freedoms that we probably
wouldn’t miss anyway.
Just go on spending your
consumer dollars or the
terrorists win.
The rhetoric is like
Orwellian double-speak:
repeated often enough,
black is white, lies are
truth, war is peace, hate is
love.
What I mainly want to
offer as a relative new-
comer to the valley, which
I dearly love, is that at a
local level, as neighbors
and fellow humans, we can
unite to become more pro-
ductive, content and happy
people.
We can support each
other with tolerance, un-
derstanding and apprecia-
tion of our similarities and
differences.
When the dominant
messages coming from our
national leaders promote
fear, distrust and outright
hatred, we -- as the ones
who are affected most
negatively -- must come
together and reject the
politics of hate and fear,
and find something better.
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Community Christian Academy
Christmas Bazaar
Gifts - Books - White Elephants -
Baked Goods
Saturday, Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
New Classes
Offered at Deborah Dawson’s
Center for Artfull Being
Beginning Drawing for Adults
Basic drawing for those who have always wanted
to learn but were afraid. Non-critical approach in a
calm and serene environment.
Thursday mornings 10 to 11, November 18 through
December 9.
Cost for 4, one-hour classes is $50
Supplies are pencils, eraser and drawing tablet.
Advanced Drawing for Adults
This class is for those who want to improve their
drawing skills and produce finished works. We will
study technique and composition.
Tuesday mornings 10 to noon, November 16
through December 7.
Cost for 4, two-hour classes is $80.
Entered as second class matter June 11, 1937 at Post
Office as Official Newspaper for Josephine County and
Josephine County Three Rivers School District, published
at 321 S. Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523
Periodicals postage paid at Cave Junction, OR 97523
Post Office Box 1370 USPS 258-820
Telephone (541) 592-2541, FAX (541) 592-4330
Volume 67, No. 33
Staff: Kacy Clement, Becky Loudon,
Michelle Binker, & Shane Welsh.
Paladin Business Services - Kina Perez
Member: Oregon Newspaper Publishers
Association
heritage of freedom.”
It would be good to
say, “Thank you,” to a vet-
eran this Veterans Day:
Thursday, Nov. 11. And
wear a poppy to show re-
membrance, or wear a flag
pin to show pride in the
United States of America.
We need to show sup-
port to the brave men and
women who have served
our country in the past, our
present and the future.
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This workshop will focus on inner and outer self-
image. We’ll explore our light and shadow side
using a variety of media in a safe and non-critical
environment.
Saturday, November 13, 1 to 6 p.m.
Sliding scale $20 to $50 for 5-hour workshop.
Sign-up at Blue Moon Café or Studio 203 above
Blue Moon. Phone 596-2023.
Private Lessons and Gift certificates for the
holidays are available at $20 per hour.
November Art Walk:
Deborah Dawson will show her newest
work at Blue Moon Café.