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September 2020
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Love Thy Neighbor Notes FromThe Field
So, there I was sitting in my truck in the parking lot at the Bass Pro Shops in Las Vegas. My truck’s outside temperature gauge read 110 degrees. It was hot. I’d just finished returning a purchase, and my phone buzzed with a text: “Hey babe, looking forward to seeing you! What’s your ETA to get home do you think? And will you be home for dinner?” It was Shelli, my wife. I was on the last leg of a trip. I decided to call her back, instead of text. What happened next surprised even me …
“Hello,” I said.
A distracted, “Hey babe …” came the reply. There was a lot of commotion in the background, people talking over one another. I could hear my son Caleb’s voice.
“What’s going on?”
lady videotaping the kids and yelling at them to put their masks on. So, I approached her just to find out what the issue was.” “These kids are thugs; they’re not wearing their masks and they’re rude,” the lady said. “I called the police, and they’re on the way.” Shelli asked the lady if she had a child at the skate park. “No,” she replied. “I was just driving by and saw they weren’t wearing masks.” Needless to say, it was a long drive home. I went from thinking, What the heck? to I’m pissed . And, in between were these questions: What is going on? How did we get here? Now, some of you may be thinking, “Here’s where Jeff will give us his political opinion!” Nope. “He’ll blame it on Trump or tell us it’s the Democrat’s fault.” Nope. “Or tell us why wearing a mask isn’t helpful and really doesn’t work.” Nope. “Or that it does.” Nope. Actually, after the anger in my own soul subsided, I thought of two people who could speak to this with a little more clarity
and understanding. The first actually faced the acrimony and fear that we find ourselves in today. In many ways, I wonder if we’ve found ourselves back in those times to some degree. He said: “We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of the fairest portion of the earth, as regards extent of territory, fertility of soil, and salubrity of climate. We find ourselves under the government of a system of political institutions, conducing more essentially to the ends of civil and religious liberty, than any of which the history of former times tells us. We, when mounting the stage of existence, found ourselves the legal inheritors of these fundamental blessings. “We toiled not in the acquirement or establishment of them — they are a legacy bequeathed us, by a once hardy, brave, and patriotic, but now lamented and departed race of ancestors. Theirs was the task (and nobly they performed it) to possess themselves, and through themselves, us, of this goodly land; and to uprear upon its hills and its valleys, a political edifice of liberty
“Some lady just called the cops on Caleb and a couple of his buddies.”
“What?!?”
“We’re at the skate park and this lady just called the cops ...”
You can imagine what was going through my mind: Are they okay? What did they do? Was there a fight? The scenarios were flying at me faster than lightning. And then the one thought that haunts me now more than ever: My son’s Black. As I write that, the emotions start to well up within me — those of a deep sadness and concern for my son and a fury that the color of his skin should even matter, regardless the circumstances.
“So, what’s going on?” I asked. Being four hours away is not helpful in these situations.
“Caleb and a couple of boys were at the skate park skating,” Shelli began. “I went to the grocery store and just arrived to find this
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WHAT IS AGE BUT A NUMBER? A Dutch Man’s Quest to Change His Legal Age
In 2018, Dutch native Emile Ratelband was 69 years old. The thing was that the motivational speaker and founder of the Ratelband Research Institute didn’t want to be 69. So, he went to a Dutch court and petitioned for the right to change his legal age. His intention was to change the year of birth on his birth certificate — bumping it up by 20 years. As a result, all records would show him as 49.
as to say he would be willing to delay his pension benefits another 20 years if need be.
In an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Ratelband said, “When I’m 69, I am limited. If I’m 49, then I can buy a new house, drive a different car. I can take up more work. When I’m on Tinder and it says I’m 69, I don’t get an answer. When I’m 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position.” Interestingly enough, Ratelband’s request wasn’t dismissed outright by the court. The judge found merit in the argument and said that people desire to change things about themselves all the time, adding that maybe age was one of those things we should consider — “maybe” being the operative word. The court ultimately decided that “Ratelband is at liberty to feel 20 years younger than his real age and to act accordingly.” But the judge added that changing his legal documents would have “undesirable legal and societal implications.” The court added “[T]here are a variety of rights and duties related to age, such as the right to vote and the duty to attend school. If Mr. Ratelband’s request was allowed, those age requirements would become meaningless.” Today, Ratelband is 71 and continues his battle to change his age. While he may have lost in his initial quest to legally change his age, according to NPR, he intends to appeal the decision.
Why did Ratelband want to change his age?
He told the court he didn’t feel like a man who was going on 70. He said he felt good — he felt like a man 20 years younger. He even said his doctors agreed and that they’d told him he had the body of someone younger. But there was another major reason Ratelband wanted to change his age. He said doing so would increase his overall happiness and would be helpful on dating apps. He would no longer have to deal with the ageism that came with being 69. Ratelband even went as far
Is Stress Harming Your Memory?
How to Cope With Daily Triggers
Stress can cause more than just a bad mood and low energy. Over time, mental exhaustion from stress can lead to forgetfulness and reduced cognition. This can hamper your ability to do your job and enjoy life. Though stress is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to mitigate some of the negative effects of mental exhaustion, including forgetfulness. First, consider the source of your stress. These days, a common stressor is social media. If your feeds are full of bad news and negativity, shut them down. Many researchers suggest that spending less time on the internet leads to better health. Several studies have found that constant internet use, including time spent on social media, is negatively impacting our memories. Research from Harvard, Oxford, King’s College London, and Western Sydney University all confirm this: Too much internet use is a bad thing. Of course, it can be easier to delete a social media app than it is to eliminate other types of stressors. Coping with a stressful coworker, for example, can be difficult. You have to figure out why they’re causing you stress and how the situation can be remedied. Dealing with a work-related confrontation can be hard, but having that difficult conversation and resolving the problem can ultimately lead to less long-term stress and improve your mental health.
Another thing you can do to reduce stress is avoid multitasking. Taking on multiple projects or doing too much in too little time can leave you feeling overworked. Plus, studies have found that multitasking is not effective. You cannot deliver the same results when your attention is scattered as you can when you are focused on one thing. To make matters worse, multitasking takes a major toll on memory and cognition, according to a study from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. If stress is impairing your memory, judgment, or cognition, take the above steps to reduce it. If you find your memory and cognition aren’t improving, consider speaking with a mental health professional to discuss your best next steps. Mental health and stress management are important, and the more we do to improve these areas of our lives, the healthier and happier we will be.
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TAKE A BREAK
... continued from Cover
and equal rights; ’tis ours only, to transmit these, the former, unprofaned by the foot of an invader; the latter, undecayed by the lapse of time and untorn by usurpation, to the latest generation that fate shall permit the world to know. This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform. “How then shall we perform it? — At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? — Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! — All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
That was Abraham Lincoln in his 1838 Lyceum Address. The second person said,
“What is the greatest commandment? ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.’”
DIY DOG-FRIENDLY DOUGHNUTS
That, of course, was Jesus of Nazareth.
Inspired by SunnyDayFamily.com
We have within our power to not “die by suicide” and see our nation and its people realize the ideals of our country that are yet to be fulfilled. We can only achieve this if we love our neighbor as ourselves. Do I think this lady should have called the police on 11- and 12-year-olds for not wearing masks while skating? No. Do I think her heart is good? Yes. She simply had a failure in execution. I also asked myself, What is she facing? Does she have a loved one fighting COVID-19? Or has she lost someone to this disease? I don’t know. I do know that I don’t lose any of my rights by trying to view life from her perspective. I would hope she would do the same, that she would know that we as a family wear masks when we go into a store or other public places. We wash our hands frequently. We do this not because the government has told us to but because we respect the dignity of others and do not want to see our nation commit suicide and lose the freedoms we enjoy today. It’s not easy, believe me.
Want to show your dog that they’re a very good boy or girl? Try this recipe for a tasty treat your dog will go nuts for!
Ingredients
For doughnuts • 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats
For topping • Greek yogurt • Bacon bits Special equipment • Doughnut pan
• 1/3 cup coconut oil • 1/2 cup xylitol-free peanut butter • 2 eggs
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Lightly spray doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a large bowl, combine all doughnut ingredients and mix well. 3. Transfer dough to doughnut pan. Use your hands to tightly pack each mold. 4. Bake doughnuts for 14 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. 5. To decorate your doughnut treats, place Greek yogurt in a small, wide bowl. Dip each doughnut in yogurt and sprinkle with bacon bits. 6. Place decorated doughnuts in the freezer for 10 minutes for the yogurt to harden. Serve straight from the freezer to your hungry dogs.
P.S. So, what happened you might ask?
The deputy sheriff showed up and did a great job. He spoke with the lady and explained that the kids didn’t need to wear a mask and understood her concern. He also told the kids to not be rude.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
Love Thy Neighbor
Should You Be Able to Change Your Legal Age? Is Stress Making You Forgetful?
2
3
When You Give a Dog a Doughnut
4
Did You Know Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’?
BEAM ME UP, LUCY How Lucille Ball Saved ‘Star Trek’ in the 1960s
Did you know that Lucille Ball — the iconic comedian best known for her 1950s show “I Love Lucy” — is the reason “Star Trek” exists today? Ball was a Hollywood force in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and she produced hit after hit with her production company. In fact, Desilu, co-founded by Ball and her then-husband, Desi Arnaz, was responsible for hits like “The Andy Griffith Show” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” The two were partners in the company until their divorce in 1960, and in 1962, Ball took over Arnaz’s share. In that moment, Ball became one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, and Desilu, one of the biggest independent production companies at the time, had a lot of pull in the industry. In 1963, one of Desilu’s biggest hits was coming to an end. “The Untouchables” was a crime drama starring Robert Stack. Ball needed
a replacement, and two potential shows hit Ball’s desk: “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.” In 1965, Ball took the pitches to her longtime network collaborator, CBS. They said no to “Star Trek” (but yes to “Mission: Impossible”), but Ball wasn’t about to give up on this new science fiction show, so she took it to NBC. The network was skeptical at first but ordered a pilot. The pilot starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Pike and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. There was no James T. Kirk to be found — not yet, anyway. The pilot, titled “The Cage,” was a disappointment. NBC executives weren’t about to put it on air, but they decided to order a second pilot after Ball agreed to help finance it.
Leonard Nimoy as Spock. NBC executives liked what they saw. The new pilot, titled “Where No Man Has Gone Before,” was put on NBC’s fall schedule, though it wasn’t the first episode aired on NBC. That honor went to the episode titled “The Man Trap,” which aired on Sept. 8, 1966. While Gene Roddenberry’s original “Star Trek” only lasted three seasons, it went on to become a major TV and film franchise. One of its recent iterations, “Star Trek: Discovery,” is about to enter its third season on the streaming service CBS All Access — all because Lucille Ball saw potential in a little show back in 1965.
The second pilot starred William Shatner as Captain Kirk, and he was joined again by
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