13 dead soldiers in Fort Hood -- Does it Matter?

Does it matter one more life is lost?

4,500 dead soldiers in Iraq
and Afghanistan?
Maimed?
Is it the price of Freedom?

Several hundred thousand
dead civilians.
Wounded?
Is it the price of liberation?

18,000 Americans dead because
of the lack of health care?
Is it the cost of democracy?

2 million homeless in American.
Is it the price of capitalism?

30 million without health insurance.
Is it the price of a global empire?

16,000 die every day due to
hunger?
Every 5 second another child dies?

Does it matter?

2009 Letter

Zoe and T -Creating Loving rEvolutions.

Holidays 2009

Dear friends;
2009 stared joyously for us knowing that a Democrat Obama was in the White House and therefore our 3 week trip to Australia would be pure fun and not relocation and job hunting. And “us kids’ did have fun exploring the spectacular natural and city wonders of the island continent. T made his Australian premiere in Sydney. Our good friends Vinay, Rachel, Maya and Ella deliciously hosted us in Melbourne which we used as a base to explore Victoria Coast (spectacular views as you can see from the postcard). Nature and wildlife was Z’s personal highlights. This included kayaking over 30ft surf to bond with the seals off the coast of Apollo Bay. T was singing “Yo soy marinero?” the whole way. We ventured to the northeast corner to oldest rainforest on earth dating back to original 1 continent 415 m years ago Pangaea. We luxuriated in a cabin at www.daintree-ecolodge.com.au (best ever spa experience, small, homey) the cabins have screened in front porches with hot tubs that let you camp “simply” in the rainforest. We moved on to simpler accommodations at http://www.capetribbeach.com.au/ located at the end of the dirt road in the Daintree at Cape Tribulation where the rainforest meets the great barrier reef.



We made lots of friends especially the night critters at X’s walk. Read T’s amazing description on X’s website.http://vermontpoet.blogspot.com/2009/02/night-walking-in-cooper-creek-in.html T also got to see the Cassowary one of Australia’s biggest birds at 75 inches tall and 120 pounds. Just walking across the road



Though despite the drought, the incredible cities, nature and people of Australia we did decide to come back home and cheer on the Obama administration and experience the biggest economic recession in US history in person. After all our beloved Tegan (featured on our postcard) would miss us. Maybe some of you would too though you would likely come visit. But maybe you will visit us in Vermont at our home on Blue Heron pond (pic here of Blue of pond). We continue to think there is no better place on earth than our pond and its surrounding 75 year old hardwood and pine forest. We recently found out we have an elm tree one of the few to have survived the blight. And our Heron or is it the son or daughter of our original Heron keeps visiting us and now even lets Zoe swim in the pond while s/he remains there.

Z continues to focus on improving life for the 455 million men and women around the globe with OAB. This year she helped launch a new product for the condition Toviaz which comes with a behavioral change program offered as part of the treatment www.toviaz.com/yourway . We both have worked most of our lives in health care with a focus on trying to increase individuals’ self-responsibility for wholistic care as a focus so it is great to see these types of programs happening. Remember you are own best doctor- take care of yourself! Because who knows if health care reform will ever really happen. Amazing how every developed country, except the US, considers healthcare to be a basic right. If only Roosevelt had lived longer Americans too would have universal access to health care (link to FDR’s 2nd Bill of Rights).

Us gypsies also traveled this summer to Italy and Greece with nephew Conner and good friend Dean to explore ancient wonders, modern gelato and to search unsuccessfully for fresh Greek dolmades (unbelievably and disappointingly to Conner dolmades are not even on the menu). (NEED PHOTO OF FAB 4 HERE) Obviously we will have to return to Greece and continue the search. Maybe the islands next time? Too many exciting things happened in 2 weeks to go into here but do visit T’s blogspot XXXX for details. How can one be anything but delighted when sitting in Trevi fountain, splashing about in Piazza Navona, eating gelato in front of the Pantheon, walking the streets of Pompeii and Herculaneum, holding your breath (in wonder and fear) for an hour while traveling from Sorrento to Positano, swimming illegally in the blue grotto, watching the full moon over Delphi, climbing on My Olympus and Mt Parnassus (looking for Centaurs) swimming in the Mediterranean….ah yes. Our last day of the trip was magical we got to visit the newly opened amazing Acropolis museum where the glass floor lets you see the excavation below you and the windows have great views of the acropolis. We then had lunch at the canal cut through the isthmus of Corinth followed by a refreshing swim on the way to the ancient Epidaurus theatre to see Lady Helen Mirren in Racine’s Phedre. http://vermontpoet.blogspot.com/2009/08/mid-summers-night-dream-with-phedra-at.html#comments
The autumn has been long and spectacular in the northeast (enjoying global warming while we can) we were able to enjoy the colors on visits to Boston to see friends while T partners with a Director there who is putting on a stage version of his children’s story Binga Bonga. Z dances through her time there learning to be a www.nianow.com instructor. This fall T celebrated his birthday with a weekend long house party with new and old friends (some of who came all the way from the Congo) to sing in his new year.


We continue to support work in international health and community development. Z is on the board of directors of Behrhorst Partners for Development which helps rural communities in the Mayan Highlands with clean drinking water, safe water for crops and latrines. You can see celebrations at our most recent project by going to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZWmV81IcvM For only $80 you can help a villager get this package of services. Each villager will donate in-kind labor valued at approximately $40 to match your gift and improve the life and health of their village. If you donate at www.behrhorst.com a holiday gift card will be sent to your giftee.

Both of us remain on the Board of GRACE Cares a non-profit we started to help local heroes. Go to www.gracecaresvt.com to make a donation to education projects in India, food projects in the Dominican Republic or reforestation in Morocco. If you wish to give in honor of a friend this holiday season a gift card will be sent to them in your name.


2009 & 2010 FUN PLANNING

If you would like to mix fun with volunteer work the very experienced tour guide Ms. Z will be leading a tour to Guatemala.


May 28 (arrive for dinner) through June 2nd (departures) we will see the beautiful colonial sights of Antigua, market in Chichicastenango, Lake Atilan (Z’s plans on some kayaking), visits to villages in the Mayan Highlands where we will help with a project. You can do optional add on of visits to Tikal or fishing or sailing on the Rio Dulce. For more info go to http://www.behrhorst.org/tours and see a recent tour itinerary. Approximate cost is $900 excluding airfare. Please email me at: koppzoe@yahoo.com if I get 10 people to sign up I will start planning.

PARTY!!!
This year we will be having our 20th (Z’s 32nd ) annual tree trimming party on December 13th 2009 3:00pm. So come on up for the party or night.

February 14th at 3:00pm the 33rd annual Chocolate Lover’s Party will once again provide legal intoxication with some of the world’s finest chocolates.

As always wishing you joy and peace in the new year!


Namaya Shows Music/ Performance and Creative Space:

T had shows at the Jazz Mind in Honolulu, I enjoyed performing. Then on to Sydney at El Rocco cafe - Harry and Deb backed me -- good show there. Then down to Melbourne with wonderful hosting at Cafe Voltaire. Great environment for the arts in Australia. Though it is hot. The last day were there it was 45 C. Yes, 45C. Over 115 F!

T had shows at Magnet Theater, at 5 C Cultural Center in NYC, shows in Vermont, performances in Hartford, and making terrific connections with his new creative music colleague/friend Chris Bakriges. Also, he did a new short play this year called "Kulandia" about Ku Z monaughts that travel through space on the power of an orgiastic collective moan and arrive at the planet Earth devastated by nuclear waste. My friend Naomi Bennett directed this and it should be on the internet soon.

The new play "Four Prophets" where it is part installation project with Jesus, Mohammed, Moses on 3 toilets as Satan comes wheeling in on a pimp mobile rickshaw pulled by the head of Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and Citibank. They then have a conversation who is to blame for the insanity of mankind?

Vietnam: Past and Present
I was down in Sydney Harbor with a a Vietnamese Man mid 50's, and as we shook hands I felt an amazing sweep of history. I as a young sailor at the end of Vietnam War and where was he? Vietnam was a defining period in my life and many in my generation. Friends and acquaintances we knew killed and maimed in the war. During my service in the Navy I met several Quakers and came to readily see the merits of pacifism. As I said at a recent Quaker Meeting, I have been a Quaker in training for the past 35 years, but even for a Friend I am quite cantankerous.

Now in Sydney Harbor, this Vietnamese man and I casually chatting... all this hatred and killing by both sides. Vietnam suffered upwards to 2 million dead, the US 60,000, plus all the wounded. Yet, we were here on holiday in Australia. Could we have imagined this 35 years ago?


$680 Billion dollars and counting:
My thoughts, then and now turn to the subject of war. I find now at 55 with the INSANE MILITARY POLICY of the US, $680 billion dollars by Congress, plus perhaps another several hundred billion dollars, I feel a profound shame and loss. How can this nation with so much greatness and potential continue to squander it on the military? How can we rob all of the future generations of America? I find it beyond belief that anyone in my generation that went through the Vietnam era can not be outraged by this on-going madness.

Then in Australia I am looking through this same lens... here is a country that spends a relatively tiny amount of money on the military and it has the money for education, housing, and health.

The book "War is a Hoax" by Smedley Butler Major General in the Marines and two time medal of honor winner spoke eloquently that the only people who war benefits is the rich capitalists.



Palestine -We will be in Jordan, then over to Israel and Palestine from 26 December on. The situation on the ground in Palestine has been getting worse. Israel continues to build housing and settlements on Palestinian land. Taking land away from Palestinians and building on it. I went to a conference in September and the group was called "End the Occupation." We continue to support this and other groups that are looking to a two state solution where there can be a viable future for the people of Palestine and Israel.

Other travels: This summer with nephew Conner and our friend Dean we traveled to Italy and Greece for two weeks. Entries on the travel section on ORACLE OF DELPHI. There is a long section in the Travel blogs about this and seeing the English national Theater performing Phaedra at Epidorous. Loved traveling with Conner, we think he will be a traveling sort.

Books:
Infidel and Cage Virgin Aaayan Hirsi Ali.

Music
Chris Bakriges: With this wonderful jazz compositions based on a Meditation of Matisse.
Donna Creighton: Singer song writer from Canada. Love her work

Poets:
Marc Zegan in Cambridge

Namaya at 55: I am getting ready for the next part of my life. In the past year, I've been decluttering my life, physically, emotionally, financially, creatively, and spiritually. That is a tall order. But in essence it is looking at what has worked for me and what hasn't. What is demanding the most attention, what projects matter the most to me, and where do I need to focus on.

Though I really enjoy Homeopathy, I have been putting this aside for now to concentrate on the creative projects and writing. I will return to homeopathy in 2010 but in a different way with our program to educate people about health entitled "Apple Seed Health."

GRACE CARES supports small scale community development projects around the world. We have one project in India that teaches health care and English and based on that the project holders are slowly moving to a broader community health project.

Please check out some of my new art projects at www.vermontpoet.com/gallery and in the music and book section, as well as the section on Landmines. One project I’ve been designing is a Peace/ Meditation Garden using old military weapons and building fountains and art projects. It combines alternative energy, community development, and design.

Hope everyone is off to a safe and healthy new year.

Love

Zoe and T and Tegan who sends "meows"