Yes, the Summer does seem to be flying by. Still pulling up springtime "volunteer" foliage from the back yard, which responded most verdantly to last Winter's torrents.
Didn't get a chance to cover it last month, but July 12th of this year was the 200th birthday of one of my favorite authors, Henry David Thoreau! This year, I did not make it to the annual gathering of The Thoreau Society (of which I am a very happy member!) in Concord, Massachusetts, where the main celebrations took place, but we did some local celebrating here in Marin County with public readings of his works at both the San Rafael Public Library and the Barnes & Noble store in Corte Madera. The United States Postal Service has issued a commemorative stamp to honor Thoreau, as well!
I did, however, attend two special Thoreauvian events last year in Concord! The first was a week-long professional-development program for teachers entitled "Approaching Walden," offered by The Walden Woods Project (I'm also a member of this wonderful group!). I had applied for this program before I knew I'd be retiring from classroom teaching and then decided to go anyway, because the annual gathering of The Thoreau Society was taking place immediately after "Approaching Walden" and I'd be in Concord, anyway. Plus, I have continued to be involved in education through other avenues. Any teachers out there who wish to add elements of environmental stewardship and social responsibility to your curricula should visit The Walden Woods Project website and apply for "Approaching Walden"! The ideas explored during the program have had an impact upon the way I approach writing and even simple things like going for walks, by providing tools that help elevate the meditative nature of what I am doing, regardless of context.
Following that wonderful week with The Walden Woods Project, I had the joy of exploring even more perspectives upon Henry's writings and philosophies with the annual gathering of The Thoreau Society. While I was teaching American History, one of my favorite units to present was on the Transcendentalists of the antebellum period, because they believed so strongly in freedom of spirit and conscience.
Sometimes it exasperates me that we still have to fight so hard for our God-given right to personal sovereignty, but we have been amply warned about this battle for our souls. Thomas Jefferson said that "The price of liberty is eternal vigilance," and the Bible quotes Jesus as having stated, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force" (Matthew 11:12, RSV). Our desire for both liberty on Earth and citizenship in the Heavenly Kingdom are tied inextricably to our free will. If such warfare is unavoidable, I'm content to continue waging it with gusto, chiefly with the support of our church community, but also welcoming the inspiration of family and friends, Thoreauvian or not, with whom I have so many exhilarating exchanges.
Any of you who have not yet visited Concord, Massachusetts are in for a very unique experience when you do! I recommend taking at least three days to visit the town that brought us not only Henry Thoreau but Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Louisa May Alcott. Many historic dwellings there have been preserved, including the homes of Emerson and Alcott, and you can visit the serene Walden Pond, the site of Thoreau's home in the woods, and the beautiful Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where they are all buried on Author's Ridge. If you are fortunate, you will meet the two wonderful gentlemen who provide marvelous portrayals Thoreau and Hawthorne!
Just sitting here writing this, I can hardly wait to go back and see my Concord friends!
When next you travel with me "Across the U.S. in Die Frau Blue Car," I will take you on a visit to a few more places that are important to my family's history--Morristown, NJ, Staten Island, and Rhode Island!
Annie
Wealth is the ability to fully experience life." -- Henry David Thoreau
