UNCLE RED

 

GOSHEN — Paul T. Emmert, 86, died Saturday night, Feb. 16, 2013, at Courtyard Healthcare where he had been a patient for one year under Hospice care.

He was born May 8, 1926, in New Paris to George and Fae (Rock) Emmert.

He married AnnaBelle Aschliman on Nov. 26, 1950, in New Paris.

He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Paula Emmert of New Paris and Linda (Blaine) Gilbert of Goshen; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jacqueline Kurtz of New Paris, who came to live with the family at the age of 8, upon the death of her mother Rachel, Fae Emmert’s sister.

Paul was preceded in death by a daughter, Marcia Bloss; his parents; and three young siblings, Harley, Eddie and Kathleen Emmert.

Paul graduated from New Paris High School in 1944. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Armored Guard Division.

He then worked for the New Paris Post Office under Postmaster Ora Stiver for a number of years.

He owned and operated his own business, Emmert Poultry, delivering dressed poultry, meats and frozen food commodities to grocery stores and restaurants. He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church.

In honor of Paul’s wishes, there will be no calling except for one hour before the service at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Grace United Methodist Church, located on Main Street, New Paris. The service will be conducted by the Rev. Robert Nelson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Goshen Home Care and Hospice, P.O. Box 723, Goshen, IN 46526; Salvation Army, P.O. Box 114, Goshen, IN 46527; or the Missions Department at Grace United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 25, New Paris, IN, 46553.

Elkhart Cremation Services is entrusted with arrangements.

 

 

I am fairly sure that not very many people in the US have a draft card signed by their uncle!  As noted in Uncle Red's obituary above, Red served in the Navy and was a draft board member in Elkhart County for a number of years including during the time of the Vietnam War - or as the Vietnamese say, the American War.  At age 18, I had registered as a conscientious objector and at 22, after college, was drafted as was virtually every young man at the time.  Normally anyone who registered as a CO got called before the draft board for questioning, but I did not get that call.  Only recently Red told me that the draft board often met informally to discuss draftees and one of those discussions resulted in my being granted CO status without having to appear - which most likely spared me from the usual hectoring from some of the board members.

 

Family and friends have many fond memories of Uncle Red, and I am hopeful that they will be shared in the comment section below.  Godspeed Uncle Red.

THE MAGIC OF GIF

 

 

All About GIF Here

RON WISNER SPIRIT AWARD

 

 

I have previously written about best friend and colleague Ron Wisner.  But this post is about the Spirit Award given in Ron's memory by the CU-Colorado Springs community.  The award description and selection criteria are a good reminder of the many things that Ron stood for.

 

"In memory of Ron Wisner, former UCCS Dean of Students, friend, colleague and outstanding campus leader, we are honored to present the Ron Wisner Human Spirit Award to one outstanding UCCS student leader."

 

"The Ron Wisner Human Spirit and Leadership Award"

Vision:      

 

o   consistently sees possibilities and opportunities in a big picture

o   articulates and communicates possibilities and opportunities clearly

o   inspires others to join in supporting the visions

o   consistently identifies solutions to current and future challenges

 

Integrity:     

• is a model of ethical word and action
• takes stands against unethical and dysfunctional situations
• is dependable, reliable, and credible
• consistently chooses the higher road, the harder right instead of the easier wrong 

 Relationships & Teamwork:

o   brings out strengths and talents of and supports all individual group members

o   inspires others to lift the human spirit and improve the human condition

o   practices “inclusion” of other organizations/department members in planning and implementing activities

o   is a strong proponent of diversity

o   seeks and values feedback from others

 

Actions:

• shows initiative in moving projects and teams forward
• demonstrates on-going flexibility, creativity, and perseverance
• makes a highly significant contribution to students, the University and surrounding communities through responsible stewardship

 

 



BORN TO RUN - CABALLO BLANCO & THE TARAHUMARA

 

 

If you have ever laced up the running shoes, gone for a run, felt a bit of exhilaration, peace, wonder, accomplishment and exhaustion all wrapped together, then you definitely need to read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.

 

The Hidden Tribe is the Tarahumara of Mexico's Copper Canyon, the Super Athletes are folks like Scott Jurek shown at the top running with Tarahumara Arnulfo Quimare, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen was the brainchild of Caballo Blanco, and it matched the top Tarahumara runners against some of the top US ultramarathoners in a 50+ mile race on the trails through the Copper Canyon. 

 

 

Here is an interesting YouTube video about the Tarahumara

 

 

Copper Canyon and Land of the Tarahumara

 

There are many reviews of McDougall's book, such as this one, that discuss not only the race and the runners, but also topics such as sports medicine and evolution.  However, here I want to share a bit of what I learned about Caballo Blanco, aka Micah True, aka Michael Randall Hickman.

 



 

 

The first time that I had heard about True, Caballo Blanco, is when he disappeared.  On March 27 of 2012, True went for a run in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico.  As usual, he was alone and was going for a long run - but he never returned. Here is a timeline of the search, and the New York Times wrote an extensive story about Caballo here.   But the stories in the Boulder Daily Camera brought True's story closer to home because of Caballo's long-standing relationship with Boulder and the Colorado running community. 

 

In the final chapter of McDougall's book, we read about the moment that Christopher had been waiting for - Caballo was telling his story about how he came to be the White Horse of Copper Canyon - his progression from Michael Hickman to the Gypsy Cowboy to Micah True to Caballo Blanco.  Sorry - you will have to read the book for all of the details, but suffice it to say, you will surely find it fascinating. 

 

What struck me most was this passage that McDougall wrote:

 

"When I get too old to work, I'll do what Geronimo would've done if they'd left him alone," Caballo said.  "I'd walk off into the deep canyons and find a quiet place to lie down."  There was no melodrama or self-pity in the way Caballo said this, just the understanding that some day, the life he'd chosen would require one last disappearing act. 

 

"So maybe I'll see you again. Or maybe I won't"

 

And at the age of 58, Caballo went out for his last run, deep in the canyons, and found a quiet place to lay down and die.

 



 

 



ELIAS 1, 2 & 3

Elias 1 is from the Hebrew Bible.  Elijah and Elias are used to describe the same person, with Elijah being Hebrew and Elias being Greek.  The prophet Elijah (1 Kings 16:29 to 2 Kings 2:18) practiced his ministry in Israel during the reigns of King Ahab (874-853 BC) and his son King Abaziah (853-852 BC).   Elijah, a Tishbite from the region of Gilead, was a prophet in Israel during the reigns of Ahab, Ahaziah and Jehoram. All his life Elijah was active in the defense of God. His teachings brought him into constant conflict with the Kings of Israel, and on one occasion had to flee for his life. He fought against the cult of Baal, and clashed frequently with Ahab's wife Jezebel, who had introduced the pagan cult in Israel.  The New Testament uses Elias in reference to the Old Testament Elijah.  The above was taken from  here and here and much more information can be found here.

  

Elias 2 is the Oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.  I had the pleasure of hearing a performance of the oratorio last Saturday evening at Peterskirche.  Information about the program can be seen here and here, information regarding the choir here, and about the orchestra, here.



As some of you know, Elias 3 is the most "important" Elias.  Elias Swartzendruber Moyer is our grandson, son of Jonathan and Rachel Moyer, and here is Flying Elias:







ANIMAL EYES



From both an aesthetic and an evolutionary perspective, eyes are fascinating.  This post is not a detailed reference to the great variability, complexity and development of eyes - google 'animal eyes' and you will find an abundance of information and images.  A good example of more detailed information is at the University of Utah link here - be sure to click through the 17 slides showing the progression from the most simple eye to the most complex. 

Here Are Some Of My Favorites