Observations from my Backpack

Why now?  In assembling THE BOOK, my personal memories, I reached out to many, and one that responded was a colleague that we had worked with at the GI Film Festival in Washington, DC many years back.  It was a great experience as the "backpackers" attended the film screenings and held interviews. Today, she is with the Gary Sinise Foundation.  A reflection:  So many people today were not born on that day in September 11, 2001.  The aftermath changed our nation.  I was in our editorial offices for the PC Teach It Magazine in the customer service area.  We had televisions up mounted on the wall and watched in honor as the first plane went into the tower.  Then the second.  We sent all home following. I called my daughter.  She was in 100 miles away, and immediately she went home, and a  closest friend came to stay.  I packed a bag and drove to Columbia to be with my family.  Fear, we were headed into war and what was next?...

  This book is our "Pay it forward" - an inspiration for teachers and parents and those who work with children/kids in the afterschool or camps.  We provide lesson plans and templates of easy use and reproduction. The first half of the book, we share how we served military kids all around the United States and then came home to Charleston, and had the help of Mayor Joe Riley to integrate into the Charleston Promise Neighborhood. During our time serving the inner city kids, we covered the city, and within the pages of this book and our video pages, we share alot about the historical values of Charleston.   Charleston RiverDogs are within the pages, along with Larry Doby Lesson Plan, and interview with Mike Veeck. New book (237 pages) is out on August 12.   "A Backpack Journalist"  - stories about youth impacted by the program, plus lesson plans and templates, and a review by *Dr. Fred Medway on the positive effects of this afterschool program and a mili...

 Here is to a late afternoon walk at the Charleston Harbor, and seeing in the distance the Spanish Flag flying over this magnificent ship. the TRINIDAD!  A few years back I along with a group of my summer camp kids had toured this ship,  and it's back! I was invited on board and Paulo - gave me a quick tour, and with my iPhone I was able to capture a few of the interior areas of the TRINIDAD!  THERE IS A VIDEO ON OUR YOUTUBE: INFO BELOW FROM THEIR WEBSITE:   https://tallshipsamerica.org/vessels/nao-trinidad/ Story The Nao Victoria Foundation is a non-profit entity specializes in promoting and spreading historical events, which are supported by the construction of historical ships (the Nao Victoria, El Galeón and the Nao Santa María) that are sailed throughout the world’s ports. The vessels are a powerful, unique and very attractive marketing and educational platform that have been used successfully to support great world events during the last decade. Our vessel...

Before me under glass was the George Chicken Diary of 1715.  Normally this type of a rare find is kept in archival storage but for this special event:  Diaries & Drinks, several rooms had on display many historic diaries. The writing all cursive, and the prose when I could read, sounded "old English". Just like my Grandmother Mamie would have written, always so formal. Eliza Lucas Pinckney(1739-1762)  her letters now found in a book is shown here standing next to Cassique of the Kiawah's in an interactive exhibit.  Eliza is given credit for the development of "blue or indigo" and a manager of several plantations for her family.  Her letters are most interesting and tell the story of her life and those around her. I did purchase the book, and not sure on what shelf that is overflowing it will rest, when I am not reading it. Many say I have to many books.?  Cassique of the Kiawah's has long been a favorite historical hero of mine.  We have traveled m...

  Memorial Day has always been an important day in my life.  I always try to find a special event that memorializes those that gave up their lives for our freedoms in conflicts.  May 30, 1868 was the first day honoring the fallen,  and note the date, following the Civil War. And, I might add that growing up through the years, I was always reminded by Grandmother Mamie, with her two sons having served in World War II and her Uncle having died in service, that I should be more reverent as May 30 is of all days -my birthday.  In years past, I was able to attend the Rolling Thunder Event in Washington, DC and then followed by the Freedom - Musical performances on the Washington Mall (Lt. Dan Band was there). All in one weekend! Charleston, South Carolina, Saturday May 25, 2024 Beginning my day visiting a Vietnam Veteran, his wife and daughter was humbling. Their family has had a series of serious illnesses and fighting to get through it - to better health.  He ...

  A White Shirt The Charleston wind blew through my porch the day that Stan Foxworthy came to take a photograph of me for the book.  First and foremost, I do not like to sit still for a period of time, and for a photograph.  I would have loved to have had kids with me, or reading, or anything but sitting still and smiling. The white shirt.   That morning Stan called and said “see you shortly”.  I had on a white shirt, and standing by, my black turtleneck and a bright pink jacket.  Stan, a master of light, took one look at my porch area, felt the wind blowing through and said – “perfect!”.  “Sit he said”.  And forgetting that I had on this white shirt, well, we started. So let me explain further.  There is an old southern saying that often as we age,  we the daughter, begin to look like our mothers and take on their visual habits – ie what they would often wear! . So there I am with a white shirt on, smiling, the wind blowing through -and...