Adam Crisp | Savannah Now | June 13, 2007 [Article spotted by Captain Jack.]
Wedding reception ruined because of high-tech game on Tybee Saturday evening.
Geocaching is supposed to be a harmless game in which techno-savvy treasure hunters use Global Positioning Devices to find trinkets hidden in remote locations.
But a Saturday trek for hidden “treasure” under the Tybee Pavillion turned out to be anything but harmless.
Kathy volunteered to be a caseworker for the Red Cross Katrina Disaster Relief. She had to help evacuees get money and set up a plan for what they would do next. Each day she would talk to all kinds of people to help get their official case set up, discuss options, and get money meant to get them through the next few weeks. A certificate of appreciation came in the mail a few days ago, which the girls and I made sure was put in the official place of honor: The Refrigerator. In the attached photo, a Clyde magnet is holding the certificate up. An icecream scoop magnet is holding up Claire’s science test with a score of 118, the highest in the class. “Even higher than the boy that always scores the highest,” according to Claire.
Refrig of fame.
There is an Estonian in our house right now. She has been working in our neighborhood all day. She came to our house earlier, and Kathy found out she needed a ride at the end of the day, so of course, being an Estonian, Kathy felt compelled to offer her a ride.
Danny, Kelly, and Claire are talking to her. I’m printing out a couple of Ted’s Estonian stories for her to take with her. I’m going to suggest that if she borrow someone’s car she drive within the speed limit.
The DJs on the radio were trying to figure out Google’s logo today:
Kathy and I looked at it and decided it had something to do with water… perhaps conserving water. Later Kathy figured it out and sent me this e-mail:
I found that when I put the cursor over the Google the bottom of the screen explained what it means: World Water Day.
How is that for free advertising for Google? A bunch of DJs talking about the logo for more than a minute. Then they started trying to look up funny word combinations to see how many hits they got.
Going to Kingston, Jamaica to serve the poor was not something I wanted to do. I fought against it up until the very night before we left. But, God would have it no other way. He clearly spoke to me through others, telling me that I was going to go. For that, I give thanks.
The experience was joyful and fulfilling. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so content, so safe, and so free of worry. I was allowed the honor of being a mother to children who didn’t have one. I was an entertainer to women whose days are mostly spent in the same shelter, doing the same things, with the same people day in and day out. I was glad to do the mundane work of sweeping, mopping, making beds, and folding laundry to serve men with AIDS who are living their last days.
(This article was written for the Neumann News.)
“You must come down,” we first heard Father Ho Lung say during Jesus 2000. “Come work with the poor.”
Starting in 2000, Kathy and I decided to make an annual contribution to Missionaries of the Poor. We would take our Christmas budget– the money we would spend on ourselves and family, and send a matching amount to Father Ho Lung. If we spent $10 over budget, the matching amount would go up $10.
This was a great way to shop at Christmas. Every gift was also a gift to the poor.
In the fall of 2003, Father Brian, one of Father Ho Lung’s lieutenants, walked into St. John Neumann. Kathy felt like Jesus had walked into the room. He told his story of being called from his banker’s job in Jamaica to work with the poor. He told of being sent by Father Ho Lung to start a mission in the Philippines with literally a song and a prayer. Father Brian was inspirational. “You must come down. Come work with the poor.”
That night, Kathy and I decided we should go. With two little girls in school, we could not figure out how the two of us could go together. I think the Holy Spirit inspired us with a solution: I would go with our oldest, Nicole (21), and a year later, Kathy would take our son Danny (17).
Around 8:30 I was ready for morning mass (DC’s on call tonight) and Kathy was in the shower. I went to check the internet for something and saw this photo. At first I thought Ben Lauden had been caught because of the beard, then I read the story. I went up to announce to showering Kathy that George Bush had just won the next election. She couldn’t believe Saddam had been caught. She was so excited she almost couldn’t finish taking a shower.
In church, we were reminded by Father Stuart that we were called to pray for our enemies and that we should pray for Saddam Hussein. I figure he’ll be eating well and get some great health care for a while. Better than living in the “Spider Hole” where he was reported to be found.
Monday night, Danny and I went out to buy 2 mirrors for a homemade periscope. We ended up buying two 99¢ cosmetic mirrors. Last night we made the periscope.
One of the greatest challenges was to figure out the length of cardboard that would be used to support the main mirror. I knew the diameter of the tube was exactly 3″ and that the angle had to be 45°. Seems like sine or cosine would help. After a lot of doodling, the formula x = 3″ ÷ sine(45) would give the correct length. Worked perfectly.
That may be my first practical use of sine.
On our mirror hunt, Danny noticed a bright star near the moon. It was a hazy night, and the light was so bright, that I suggested that it was an airplane. I couldn’t even see any other stars.
Then as Nicole and I drove home from Tuesday night Sunday school, we noticed the star again, The night was clearer. I figured it had to be a planet. Over at Jim and Barbara O’Callaghan’s, I had noticed a big telescope. Nicole called Aaron to ask her if they could look at this star/planet. Turns out their telescope wasn’t working, but Jim said it was Venus. We also called Fernbank and got confirmation from the planetarium man. This is the best view of Venus we’ll have for eight years.
Tonight, we went to the planetarium show “The Skies Before Columbus” hoping to get a peek at Venus through the big telescope. The show was good, but we have to wait until Thursday or Friday evenings when telescope viewing is open to the public.
All-in-all we’ve had a couple of nights of mathematical and scientific achievement.
Aug. 19, 1991
GORBACHEV FORCED ASIDE; HARD-LINERS SEIZE CONTROL
President’s health cited as vice president takes over
Aug. 20, 1991
SOVIET HARD-LINERS CRACK DOWN AS YELTSIN CALLS FOR RESISTANCE
Elite troops join Russian president, guard headquarters
New rulers ban strikes, replace elected leaders
Aug. 22, 1991
THREE DAYS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD
A leader is restored, a hero created and freedom won courageous Russians hurtle closer toward democratic era
Aug. 23, 1991
SOVIETS FACE POWER SHIFT AFTER COUP
Yeltsin urges more authority for republics
Aug. 24, 1991
GORBACHEV, YELTSIN JOIN FORCES TO STRIP COMMUNISTS OF POWER
Reformers seize control of KGB, military, police
Aug. 25, 1991
GORBACHEV RESIGNS AS COMMUNIST LEADER
Move could deal death blow to ruling party
Aug. 26, 1991
Russian leader seeks to undercut Gorbachev, conservatives
YELSTIN FLEXSES MUSCLE IN MOSCOW
Byelorussa is latest republic to declare itself independent
Aug. 27, 1991
SOVIET UNION COMING APART
Kremline’s rule ‘dead,’ meeting told 13 of 15 republics want out of nation
[From Brian Zahn across the border from Iraq.]
15 March
Dear Myra,
Received your tape the other day and I just want you to know how much I appreciate it. Thanks to you and everyone involved. It was really great to hear from the old school buddies. Since I don’t have the addresses for everyone on the tape please pass on to them that this old soldier was really touched. You may have heard that mail takes a while to get to us over here (38 days for your tape) so in case you think I had forgotten or neglected to respond that’s the reason.
I’m doing very well but really looking forward to getting home. My unit is part of the 1st Infantry Division or more affectionately known as the Big Red One. You may have seen or heard about us in the news but suffice it to say we led the attack into the Iraqi flank demolishing 3 entire Republican Guards Divisions.
We fought continuously for 5 days (well, 10 really but you guys weren’t supposed to know that we were in contact 5 days before the war really started) with no sleep. We only stopped to rearm, refuel, and reorganize. That was really the key to our success- we kept them off guard once the attack began. My battalion alone (about 1165 Infantry and armor soldiers with 60 tanks and Bradleys) was credited with destroying 2 Iraqi regiments (about 4000 enemy soldiers, 150 tanks and 100 armored personnel carriers).
I missed out on the last day of the Battle as I was slightly wounded and MEDEVAC’ed to a Combat Hospital. It’s a long story but they were going to send me back to the States. But I would have no part of that. I told the Doc to patch me up and I commandered a chopper back to the front line. I rejoined my unit just in time to attack and secure SAFWAN airfield- that’s where GEN Schwartzkopf presented the ultimatum to the Iraqi’s.
Please tell Don, Carey, Jewel (Congrats to the newlywed- wish I could have been there!), Kathy (thanks so much for the help with the tape),
Brad, Dave, Krista, Vicky, Jeb and Edwan and Sue (hope I didn’t forget anyone!) that I will write them as soon as I can get their addresses. I understand that the support for this thing back home is just overwhelming and your thoughtfullness is just one example. You truly have reason to be proud of your country, the men and women who served over here, and those at home who gave their time and effort in support.
I believe Desert Storm has demonstrated what we in the military have known for years but have had no opportunity to prove… that no army, navy, or airforce in the world is a match for ours; especially when we have the kind of political and social support we had in this war. For this, at least on behalf of the 1165 soldiers under my control, I’d like to thank all of you.
I don’t know exactly when we’ll be coming home. Right now it looks like at least two more months. We are holding the line of demarkation until the peace treaty is signed and then we have to clean up all of our equipment and wait for an airplane.
Well, gotta go. Thanks again for all you have done. I miss all of you and hope to see you soon. Maybe we can all get back together in Athens and, like Carey said “Reopen the 4th Quarter”.
Your Classmate and Lifelong Friend,
Brian
P.S. I also received your letter w/ the photos- thanks again! As I was telling Connie before I left home, the only thing that can bring a soldier closer to home than a letter is a picture or a tape.
P.P.S.- Hope you enjoyed the little souvenir of Iraq!
Myra copied all of us this letter, but kept the souvenir sand for herself!
