BOOK ABOUT ELLSWORTH & RUTH BLACKWELL

Just a week ago, my cousin Bruce asked, "When will you finish the book?" Finish? I thought. I need to get started. When I didn't answer, he asked again, "When will it be done?"

"I have no idea. It's a huge project!"

"So, when will the book be finished?"

I told Bruce, "I've challenged adults in classes just the way you are challenging me."

"Yeh," he said, "do as I say, not as I do."

After more friendly haggling over a date, we decided 18 months from last Saturday, with an extension of six months.

I've worked on it every day since returning to North Carolina six days ago. That may not sound like much, but it feels like a real shift in my commitment to write this wonderful biography of a beloved Baha'i couple NOW! One reason for the procrastination is the amount of material I already have, much of it collected in the mid 1980's, as well as ideas for a lot more. It's like overwhelming! But at least one friend since last weekend reminded me of the riddle: How do you eat an elephant? (answer: one bite at a time)

My commitment is not for any number of hours at this time, but to work on it every day. As happened in this first week, I expect most days, the work will be for at least two or three hours or more, but even if it's the end of some day when other activities have kept me from the book, I'll do at least a half hour before going to bed.

I have uncovered additional treasures in my plastic storage file box labeled "Blackwell Book." (BTW, this large collection of materials includes about twelve audio cassettes of my visiting with Ruth in 1984, items researched from Archives at the Baha'i National Center also in the mid 1980's, letters to me about the book from numerous prominent Baha'is who have since passed on to the next world, as well as recorded interviews done in the last few years of friends who knew Ruth in Colorado or in Haiti after Ellsworth's passing in 1978. This box has moved from Illinois to NC (several homes in NC) to the Navajo Nation in Arizona, back to NC, again to several locations.) I have three audio cassette tapes by Ellsworth from 1971 and 1972. I'd forgotten these, even though I transcribed them in 1984. In addition, I discovered another cassette of a fireside talk by Ellsworth in 1974 that is now in the middle of transcription. It is very inspiring to hear his lovable, sincere voice, full of stories and witt, humor and love. It sounds like he's in the living room with me now, but the recording was done twenty-five years ago.

I expect to post updates every week or so as a progress journal for me and for anyone who is interested in reading it as I move on now with this exciting real adventure.

Albuquerque with Pearl on Friday

We checked out Estate Sales. Talked on phone with brother Tom in St Augustine, FL, and he was wishing he were with us to look for bargains. Then Pearl and I treated ourselves to lunch at a great Bar-B-Q place.....photo here so I can remember the next time I'm in Albuquerque. Of course we went to Old Towne.
While in town, I went with Curt and Pearl to the Baha'i Nineteen Day Feast at the Albuquerque Baha'i Center. Curt and Pearl and I left home on Friday at 5:45am to go to the Civitan Breakfast. That morning it was to thank and honor local clergy. Curt, President of that chapter of Civitan, introduced me as representing the Baha'i community.

Quick ten day trip to southwest

Gone from home in NC only February 4 - February 14, this trip includes many of my favorite places and visits with some favorite people. One full day of traveling, three different planes for three flights, and I was there! Sure beats driving both directions as I've done two times recently.
First stop: Albuquerque to be with Curt and Pearl. We went with her mom to medical appointments in Gallup the first day I was in New Mexico. Of course we went to Earl's. Here's a photo, as Pearl says, of her mom wheeling and dealing at Earl's.

Are we already in 2009?

I koow that. We're already into mid February, and this is my first post this year on my blog. Being on facebook now, there's a limit to how many places I can post updates.

Looking ahead

It's beautiful fall back in this part of North Carolina.
I believe this is my last day to have fun updating my blog with memories since I left home October 4. There are many more photos and memories that have been put into my computer and may sometime get printed for scrapbooks, but not soon. I'm feeling thankful for all the recent experiences and invigorated to start my revised routine back home. I have a commitment with three weekly Baha'i Ruhi Institute new study circles that involve average drives of over two hours round trip each. These begin this week and will run for undetermined length of time, every Mon-Tues-Wed. In additin, I've made a promise to myself to put regular, almost daily (M-F) focus and energy into the Blackwell Book that's been a "must do this" in my life for over twenty years. This commitment will be a personal challenge because I want to treat those hours like serious uninterrupted work time, something I've not done recently except for temporary part-time work with Dine College in Tsaile, AZ. So........... Retured I am............but active with really worthwhile activities. Life is good.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to remember...........

"O thou handmaid of God! In this day, to thank God for His bounties consisteth in possessing a radiant heart, and a soul open to the promptings of the spirit. This is the essence of thanksgiving."

Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’ page 179

Jamaica treasures

Tom and Elsy really enjoyed the laid back joyful friendly tourist atmosphere of Jamaica. Favorite trinkets brought back include hat with dreadlocks and shirt for Chis and a wood carved guitar player.

Houston this morning...Sneads Ferry by mid afternoon. This is so much easier than driving!

8am Houston time. I’m in the airport, already through security, at the gate with about 45 minutes till boarding. The good news is that there is good internet connection, and I figure I can finish updating my blog. The bad news is that it is not a free service, and I’m not going to pay to get on the web. I can write some and then add it to the blog if I have time between flights in Charlotte or later today or tomorrow from home.
HOME….that sounds good. To be in my own home, my own kitchen, my own yard, in my own bed, driving my own car. Life is good.
Elsy and Tom got home last night. It was a good trip for them, from a business standpoint and more importantly from a personal standpoint. They are both much more relaxed than when they left five days ago. I had fun with both boys while their parents were gone. My son was impressed with the homework done and test grades received by his sixteen year old this past week. When Elsy hugged me good-bye this morning at the airport curb, she said, “Thank you for everything. You brought a lot of love into the house!” Who could ask for more? On the way to the airport, we talked about possible times together sometime soon.