DAN BREWSTER: THE TRIUMPH OF PERSONAL VICTORIES OVER PUBLIC LIFE The passing of Dan Brewster marks a story of personal courage over the image and seeming "victories" of public life. Born with the silver spoon of family heritage, this interesting individual brought lessons for us all. As an early summer part-time helper when he was first running for the U.S. House, I learned the real and the image surrounding public life when driving Dan Brewster to political meetings. My father's encouragement to "help Dan" also helped me to see the complexities, and sometimes unrealities of a busy public life .

As Senator, Dan attracted attention when he ran as stand-in for President Lyndon Johnson during a heated primary when the segregationist George Wallace saw Maryland as a test of the political climate for the future of civil rights. He was what one might today call a "compassionate moderate": almost an endangered species in today's political world .

But the real story of Dan Brewster has been at the personal level. Son Gerry has said it best in describing Dan's devotion to his country and his rising above the challenges of alcoholism: " It wasn't a perfect life. He made mistakes and had setbacks, but he became an inspiration by overcoming those mistakes."

A second memory of Dan Brewster was tied into my volunteer work as a new Board member of the Maryland State Fair, continuing a tradition begun by my father who directed the agricultural education programs at McDonogh School. Dan and Edwin Warfield, then Adjutant General of Maryland, assembled a "Friends of the State Fair" volunteer cadre of citizens. Dan, Ted Warfield and others mobilized these citizens to block commercial development of the nearly 100 acres that provided an agriculture education center and, for many city dwellers, their only exposure to farm life and live cows, horses and young kids off the farm to show these animal and compete for the coveted blue ribbons. Dan served as President of the Fair's Board of Directors; he was a quiet but true leader who set the tone for a tradition that continues with today's Board President and management: Grove Miller,Cecil County farm and civic leader, and Max Mosner Executive Vice President/General Manager.

Just this past spring, at the Grand National Hunt Race, Dan and I had what was to be our last conversation. In addition to his usual tweaking me for being a naval officer/ 6th Fleet navigator, instead of the Marine Corps, we talked about how he was doing in what we described as his "health department". Instead of concern or complaint, his simple observation said it all : "Feeling less than perfect is just part of life; but being here to watch the horses and see friends , makes the other stuff less important."

Dan's strength to cope with life's personal challenges had an undergirding by heroism in World War II Marine Corps landings on the Pacific islands of Guam and Okinawa. Sharing those challenges and helping Dan has been his special partner and wife, Judy, whom he met at a recovery center. Their story together is one of inspiration and strength for all who knew them; truly, Dan and Judy have worked together to translate the "before" challenges to a positive "after" story in both their lives.

When the scorecard is finally totaled up, it is the personal victories and private accomplishments that are the most real . As has been said, real character and strength is demonstrated when "no one is looking". Daniel Baugh Brewster has been a live demonstration of that strength.

Labels: Dan Brewster, Maryland, Spiro Agnew

  11:43 AM •  0 Comments •

AUGUST: " TIME OFF " AUGUST : " TIME OFF " TIME
(or, 4 weeks for family, peace, reflection , escape from excess ! )

Almost 2 weeks into August : "half time" of the quiet month . A quiet day that begins with 2(of 4) grandkids (other 2 on the west coast in Seattle) on a quiet lake in Maine : the Pemaquid Pond reigns supreme as morning rain is forecast and afternoon "cool" and sun are predicted .

What happened? The skies and temperature did exactly what the Maine forecasters, typically understated , predicted! It is cool/ sun and late day showers -- just as the weather and public radio / television predicted . Also, the media --- or lack of it -- provides the blessing of no CNN ,Fox News, or "Sunday Soaps" -- those yak,yak" interviews that , with the exception of Tim Russert's "Meet the Press" , are platforms for endless political platitudes .

On the Noisy Side:

August spares Maine's Pemaquid Pond cottage/ camp occupants, the noise of presidential debates and "straw polls" being conducted a year & a half before before the 2008 election. Television "democracy" now centers around such pressing issues as Rudy Guiliani's and Fred Thompson's "trophy wives", Dennis Kusinich's empty analyses, and whether Barach Obama is really black. The only approval really come from the political consultants / owners of the media and ad agencies smiling at the their wealth , increasing because of the expansive view of the 1st Amendment's "free speech". The Founders would never have envisioned this "hot air" as constituting the new democracy , during the drafting of the Constitution.

And then, there is " our Maryland " where the news is minimal and vague as to what Gov. O'Malley is really going to do about a $ 1.5 billion deficit , except that he seems to be standing by for orders from Senate President/"czar" Mike Miller . As the same time , O'Malley is visibly and vigorously organizing events , rallies for Presidential candidate Hilllary Clinton with Miller organizing for fellow trial lawyer John Edwards.

On the more Thoughtful Side:

A more substantive reach on the mind came yesterday in an Aspen Institute forum on global warming, beamed in by Nat'l Public Radio. Al Gore issued a warning that, with respect to a serious perspective on global warming, political maneuvering must take a back seat to both moral and long-term vision. It is becoming obvious to Americans -- except for most "election year" politicians -- that same applies to Social Security reform , which has languished with "hiding" by the Congress, plus the weakness of Bush II's declining 2 -term presidency.

What Is Important:

To sort out what counts in these quiet days of being away, just two samples : the meaning of art and of family. In the case of the Pemaquid Pond and its nearby hills and lakes, the draw to watercolor painting continues and sometimes the unexpected gives something special. Just two weeks ago, the two managers of our local post office challenged me to do a painting of the historic North Nobleboro church in the rural woods 10 miles from Pemaquid Pond. As I gathered paints / brushes / pallet and paper to paint, it became obvious that the mosquitos were as a active at the bucolic scene as the artist! With a fast couple of sketches and photos, a painting in the home studio turned out to capture the quiet beauty of the century old little church.

The painting met its fate at the annual North Nobleboro Fair this past Saturday where the highlight auction carries bargain prices for everything from quilts to battered furniture looking for a new homes . The painting went "on the block" and spirited bidding took is to $250.00: top price for the painting to which I had added a framing mat to blend with the white color of the church . And yesterday, I learned at the post office that several in the congregation had chipped in to buy the painting ; put it in the small church itself -- with a plaque as a memorial to a couple who were early leaders of this country parish. They were also grandparents of Andrea, one of our post office managers / early leaders of this country parish.

What a lesson of joy and peace, in the midst of a world that is beset by more-than-needed lost perspective and selfish politics and financial greed.

The icing on this cake continues to be family and, today, the fun of listening to 2 of the 4 grandkids having a "blast" of fun / kidding around and companionship with two Maine kids , also 10 and 7 years of age , deciding on when to jump into the lake and what they like best about life, fun,and friends. Yes, there IS hope and meaning in even the 21st century world! We just have to find and recognize when and where that meaning is!

Labels: summer, vacation

  2:36 PM •  1 Comments •