A Citizen

I've been busy lately (who's not?). I went to Chicago to chair my last CABF board of directors meeting a week ago. I'm on my way to Boston for a conference today. And I am excitedly anticipating my cruise in less than three weeks.

But in between was the best of all. I attended the sneak preview of Citizen Schaefer that will be broadcast on MPT Monday, March 30. William Donald Schaefer was the honored guest at the sneak preview shown at the Charlestown Retirement Center where he lives. One hundred of his closest friends attended, as well as 150 of his new neighbors at Charlestown.

The movie is a wonderful slice of history, Maryland, Bawlmer, all as seen through the biography of the man whom we call Mayor, Governor, Comptroller. I realized though that it was my history too. I must be getting older because it seems impossible to believe that the first Baltimore City Fairs that he started were just when I moved there to go to college. He transformed that city. He exemplifies two guiding principles: his life has one direction - forward; and he cared only for the people. I adore him to pieces.

I hope you get to see the film. Maybe you will be crying at the end like I was.

Another Leigh Hunt poem to share with you.

Abou Ben Adhem

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold: -
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said
"What writest thou?" -The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still, and said "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

2009 - A Special Year

This is a special year. I'm 50. Bennett's 50. We've been married 10 years. I graduated from college 30 years ago. I've worked for the State of Maryland 20 years. I've been Executive Secretary at the Board of Public Works for 10 years. We even have two graduations booked for this year - Natalie from high school in May and Mallory from college in December. And just think, it's been 60 years since my dad's class graduated from the Naval Academy.

So to celebrate, I'm moving into the 21st century and starting a blog! Mostly what got me to do it now is that Bennett and I are celebrating all these great things by embarking on a two-week cruise in April. Four years ago, when we went to Hawaii, I sent a daily email to certain folks detailing our day's adventures. This time, I'll let you do the work and log on to the blog . . . where I hope to post reports from San Diego, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Columbia, and Fort Lauderdale, maybe even with photos. My how the world can change in four years!

This is my inaugural post, a timid toe in the deep waters of the internet. I call my blog Sheila's Share because if you want, I will share with you my little share of the world (oh, yes, I did like the alliteration).

And with apologies to Jenny and total credit to Leigh Hunt, I'd like to share a poem.

BENNETT kiss'd me when we met,
Jumping from the chair he sat in;
Time, you thief, who love to get
Sweets into your list, put that in!
Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have miss'd me,
Say I'm growing old, but add,
Bennett kiss'd me.