JoAnn Shade: Violence continues to cast its net around us
JoAnn Shade
Columnist
A mantra we repeated in our many years of Salvation Army work was articulated often by our social worker, Barb Arnold: “No violence or threats of violence.”
It’s a simple phrase in expectation that while we were together at The Salvation Army, violence would not be accepted.
It reminded the young people in our care that even if we disagreed with each other or became angry, violence was not an appropriate response.
We hoped the concept might extend beyond the walls of our building, transferred to homes, schools and neighborhoods as well.
JoAnn Shade: Ashland is blessed by those who live for others
JoAnn Shade
Columnist
As a child, I remember numerous elm trees of our community being devastated by the Dutch elm disease. On block after block, beetles invaded the trees, and their larvae tunneled under the bark, creating pathways for a deadly fungus to spread, clogging the water-conducting cells of the elms. Two giants oaks have fallen
I thought about the loss of those towering elms as I read the words of retired UMC pastor Tom Snyder and his wife Kitty. They wrote of the deaths of two longtime Ashland residents: “Two giant oaks have fallen.” As the Snyders noted, Norm Sommers was an educator who helped shape hundreds of educators in his long career, while Joe Murray was both a lawyer and a determined champion of social justice who never really retired.
She wants to wait no more on a cure for a standing problem facing one and all
JoAnn Shade
Columnist
One of my pet peeves is waiting in line. Daily cafeteria lines in high school and college come to mind, as do security checks at airports and sporting events.
My one cruise experience was even worse, as we were herded like cows through a cattle chute as we prepared to board the ship.
I’m not much for small talk with people I don’t know, so I often carry a book when I anticipate standing in a line for an extended period of time. Girl Scout motto: Be prepared! Disney’s FastPass+ and Cedar Point’s Fast Lane+ allow those willing to dish out extra money to skip the line (or at least access the shorter line) is brilliant.
JoAnn Shade
Columnist
As young Salvation Army officers, we attended a yearly three-day retreat, and my parents traveled to our home to care for our sons, generally with good results. However, family lore holds a few traumatic memories for grandparents and grandsons.
One that comes to mind is when Spartacus, our rescue dog, escaped out the front door and took off for parts unknown.
My dad finally tracked down the dog and coaxed him into the car. Bringing him into the house and taking off the leash, my dad stared helplessly as our wandering dog ran through the house and out the (open) back door.
JoAnn Shade
Columnist
True confession: my mother didn’t like the Dr. Seuss books. She didn’t like The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham. She wouldn’t have liked McElligot’s Pool or Scrambled Eggs Super! either, if she had even heard of them. I haven’t been a top fan either, so haven’t thought much at all about his books until this week, when his name flooded the news cycle.
No more publishing six Dr. Seuss books
Why? Dr. Seuss Enterprises made the decision to stop publishing six of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s books, saying they “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.” Now, headlines, chyrons and social media posts are up in arms about how Dr. Seuss is being canceled, and how terrible the world is.