Lady Liberty Brigade
The Meetinghouse
1400 Old Bartow Eagle Lake Rd. #4110
Bartow, Florida 33830
Voices from the Past Advocate for Mass Transit
Song:
I’m in a hurry to get things done
(oh,) I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and I don’t know why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CICwZ01bT3w
My grandfather was first to have a car in his community, a small town in Indiana—Francesville. It was an Essex. Later he owned a Ford Motor Company dealership in a neighboring town—Monon. In 2000, years after he was gone, I was walking alone over the fields of his beautiful Mill Farm where is a lake, a hill, a forest. It’s a sacred place where in days past the family reunion was held every 4th of July.
Also, tragically, one 4th of July, in 1935, young Paulie, my mother’s handsome, charming, gifted brother, crashed his airplane and was killed before them all, his girlfriend, Ruth, surviving. He was only 21—my mother, 16. He had been so excited about his new plane, “Dad, you’ll see me flying in!” He did fly in, but the next day, being a novice pilot, he shot up too quickly causing the plane to stall which meant the plane came straight down, nose first. It was a two-seater, Ruth behind him. He had shouted to her, “Jump! Jump, for your life!” But she had said, “No, no, Darling, I’m staying with you!” Inconsolable, it was many years before she finally married.
In reverie, under the trees on the hill, feeling especially near to my grandparents and those who had gone before, in my spirit these words unmistakably came to me:
“Cars and trucks shall spiral down. Railroads, mass transit, hiking and biking will spiral up and there will be quiet places amid the city for horse and buggy.”
I then drove into Monon just in time to see what appeared to be a truck and car parade going down the main street of little Monon–like I was being shown how out of balance things were. Immediately after this experience on The Mill Farm, there was the Firestone Tire Recall.
Back in the Bronx, where I lived at the time, I met an elderly gentleman, David Ashley, whose expertise was public transportation—he could tell you the history and present of mass transit in cities all over world—he loved trains. He related the superior mass transit of Spain and Switzerland—also of some of our American cities which have free mass transit: Chattanooga, Savanah, and Seattle. “Cars and trucks have become weapons of mass destruction causing 1/10 of the population to use up 9/10 of the resources,” he said. The US ranks first in oil consumption at a rate of 20.7 million barrels a day. (Wikipedia)
The car industry did spiral down. I wish I could have been an advisor to President Obama, “Don’t bail out the car industry. Put the money into trains, buses, and bike sharing. Give the car employees train and bus jobs.” I blame myself more than President Obama. I should have been more persistent and diligent in getting the message out. Even now, there has been much recall in the car industry. (Please see recall information below)
In New York, I didn’t need a car. On subway or bus, you can read, sleep, visit or watch people. Once a sign in one of the subways read: One subway car keeps 125 cars off the road.
Here in Bartow buses are infrequent during the week–no transportation on weekends or evenings. Cars are a big expense—people dependent upon the bus are greatly limited in job opportunities. Polk County is said to be #7 out of the top 100 areas for poverty, partly due to lack of a good transit system. (Brookings Institute) More people with jobs will mean a stronger economy and more taxes collected. I believe good public transit will lower crime—people will be less stressed out.
On NPR, the Diane Rehm show, concerns were expressed about lenders too often giving car loans to those who are too poor to be reasonably expected to afford the payments. They default on their loans and then have no way to get to work.
Elderly people, who don’t want to drive and really shouldn’t, feel they must if they want to get around.
Too many cars on the road and the lack of public transportation bring stress to everyone. Get Used to Gridlock on I-75, Experts Say, (Lakeland Ledger, 8/29/2014). It’s bad for the environment and the air we breathe.
In Viewpoint, Polk County Democrat, January 24, I read, “Mass Transit is alive and well in Polk County.” Really? I’ve been in many cities, and this is by far the worst.
For example, wanting to attend a meeting in downtown Lake Wales at 12:00, I call MY RIDE County Wide Transit Plan, 855-POLKBUS (765-5287) to enquire about getting there – a 30-minute trip by car.
I am kept on hold for 8 minutes. Finally, when someone answers, this is the route: Be at the courthouse at 6:10 (This requires a 20-minute walk in the dark.). Catch the 22XW to Winter Haven terminal. Catch the 30 to Walmart, Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales—a place I do not want to go. For downtown historic Lake Wales, I will need to catch the 35 and it goes infrequently. Let’s see, did I write down all the times the 35 leaves Eagle Ridge? Anyway, I can’t leave later than 6:10 or I won’t be able to make the connections to arrive at noon. Now what about getting back to Bartow? I am exhausted at the getting-there directions. I feel I just can’t ask how to get back. To go to an hour meeting would be an all-day project.
Here in Polk County, I advocated for Mass Transit. Sometimes I wore my Lady Liberty crown. (www.ladylibertyqualityoflifebrigade.com) I was stunned by much of the reception I received revealing a lack of vision and kindness:
“I have a car. I don’t need public transportation.”
“I don’t want any more taxes. Who’s going to pay for those buses?”
Do they realize how much the cars are subsidized? The roads? In The Atlantic Monthly, January/ February 2015 Buses are for Other People, “Driving charges might be more compelling if we considered the full economic impact of auto dependence. The secondary costs—from lost productivity to road accidents, to pollution. . .estimates are staggering. One scholar has put the total social cost of motor-vehicle use at as much as $3.3 trillion a year.”
When I wait with my bike on the corner of Wilson and Van Fleet and observe the noise and rush of all the trucks and cars whizzing by, I want to ask, “Where is everyone going in such a hurry?” And if someone doesn’t move on the very second the light turns green, a horn will likely honk.
Contemplate all that is sacrificed for these cars—our pristine forests, wildlife and more and more of the earth is covered with concrete.
Song:
Alabama–I’m in a hurry
I’m in a hurry to get things done
(Oh,) I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and I don’t know why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CICwZ01bT3w
Rebel. Get off the merry-go-round and out of the “the rat race.” Take a walk-in nature. Amble down a lane led on by surprises. Ride a bike and discover a new path–so many beautiful places here in Florida. Sit on a bench with a cup of coffee or tea, peanut butter balls* and your journal writing down thoughts that come on the wing. Hear the angels among the whisper of the trees. Maybe your mother on The Other Side is trying to get through to you. “Wherefore we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses.” (Hebrews 12:1) Listen to a bird call. Ride a bus with a book. Notice who’s sitting next to you.
I pray eyes be opened and perceptions enlarged to the importance of good public transit for all of us. As has been said, “What affects one segment of the population affects us all.” When we come to solutions, they are best for everyone concerned. Mass transit benefits everyone. We may differ as to how the buses are paid for, but it should be a given—we must have mass transit.
A friend, Doug, who has had a near death experience, told me some years ago, “If you go too fast, you’ll age.” The faster you go, the less time you have. So, consider, go slower—don’t always rush about in cars. I challenge you—fast your car for a week. Ride the bus, bike, catch a ride with someone else, borrow a car, or what about possibly walking? You’ll meet people, have adventures, and may be surprised by some divine appointments.
*peanut butter balls—these can satisfy your sweet tooth without being so bad for you.
Mix these 5 ingredients together: Peanut butter ( or almond butter—it’s better for you), dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, or cherries), nuts (I prefer walnuts); maple syrup (the good kind) or honey and dry milk (I prefer Alba—it’s from cows not treated with rBST) Roll in balls and put in refrigerator.
Notes:
Look at these recalls:
5 OF THE BIGGEST CAR RECALLS EVER:
http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/car-recalls/ –below copied from website.
- The Chrysler Group’s recall of 13,000 Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s due to anti-lock brake problems. Through the years they have let devastating design flaws slip through the cracks in the production line resulting in more than a million models recalled.
- Toyota’s Out-of-Control Gas Pedals, 2009 and 2010—Size of recall 9 million vehicles.
- Ford’s Failure to Park Recall. 21 million vehicles affected. All vehicles between 1976-1980.In the largest auto recall to date, Ford was forced to repair 20 million vehicles after a safety defect in their transmission system caused more than 6,000 accidents. 1,700 injuries and 98 deaths. Cost to Ford $1.7 billion
- The Tahata Seatbelt Scandal, 1995
8.3 million vehicles—Numerous models affected—Honda, Nissan, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, GM, Mazon, Suzuki, Subar, and Isuzu. Between 1986-1995. The belts were prone to crash and jam, trapping the driver and passenger in their seats. Replacement 8 million—estimated cost $1 billion
(5) Fire Strikes Ford Vehicles
Size of recall: 14 million vehicles—1996.
Models affected: Numerous Ford models, including The Explorer, Bronco, F-Series, Trucks and Lincoln Town Cars
What Happened? Just months after a faulty ignition scandal rocked the company, the Michigan automaker was forced to recall a massive 14 million vehicles after it was revealed that a small electronic switch used to deactivate the cruise control function when the brake was applied could overheat and start a fire. At the cost of $20 a switch, the fix is estimated to have cost the company around $280 million.
(6) Ford Ignition Problem, 1996
Size of Recall: 8.7 million vehicles
Models Affected: 1988-1993 models of Ford Aerostar, Bronco, Crown Victoria, Mustang, Escort, Tempo, and F-Series Trucks; Mercury Cougar, Grand Marquis and Topaz and Lincoln Town Car.
What Happened? During the late ’80s, the auto giant installed ignition switches in its vehicles that were prone to short circuit, leading to overheating, smoking and occasionally full-blown fires within the steering column. Sometimes the switches even ignited when the car was parked and turned off. Luckily, Ford managed to recall the flaming igniters before any injuries were reported. The incendiary mistake cost the company around $200 million.
Conclusion:
Though these might be some of the most expensive recalls to ever strike America’s auto industry, they certainly aren’t the last. Every day, government regulators and victimized consumers continue to uncover widespread oversights in automakers’ manufacturing process, forcing the industry to undergo ever-more recalls and “Safety Management Campaigns.” So, drive safely out there, because you never know which vehicle will be the next to be dubbed America’s most dangerous.
I did hear from my grandfather on the Mill Farm.
I add this funny story—some background:
My grandparents came over from Austria/Hungary in 1904. Things were well for them in Europe, but they belonged to a church that didn’t believe in war. My great grandparents didn’t want to give their sons for Europe’s wars. They felt led of God to come to America. Since they obeyed early, they did not come as refugees but brought their fine furniture, chandeliers, etc. on the boat.
Later during World War, I and World War II family and friends lost their sons and their land. My grandparents were often sponsoring people coming from the Old Country, which today is no longer Austria/Hungary, but Serbia. Their town, Cvenenka, is 100 miles from Belgrade.
The church also had quaint customs, some like the Mennonites and Amish.
My grandfather, one of the ministers, was progressive for his church and time. For example, he had a radio, which he covered with a cloth so as “to not offend the brethren.”
One day an elder of the church was coming to visit by train. This elder had a conviction against cars. Since he was not met with horse and buggy as he expected, but my grandfather with his car, he was in a quandary. What was he supposed to do? He certainly had to be true to his conviction he felt God had given him. He elected to ride with one foot outside the car.
Passed down through the generations, my mother told this funny story with a laugh. But now I’m thinking, “Maybe that elder had something and we shouldn’t laugh so much at him. Sometimes people have to be extreme on the other side to pull society over to the middle and more balance.”
As I am looking up this recall information, I am understanding more clearly the message I received on the Mill Farm. Since my grandfather was so responsible for getting cars on the road, could it be that he now wants to be helpful to see what can be done to get things more in balance?
My grandparents were wonderful people—hardworking, generous, and thrifty—as opposed to some who are lazy, selfish, and wasteful.
He also had an International Harvester dealership in Francesville. If people didn’t pay their bills, he did nothing about it—especially during the depression. He was always there to help people. Likewise, my grandmother’s hands—gardening, freezing, canning, and then giving out the Mason Jars—I remember, especially plums. If there were any disagreements or bad feeling between any of us, she would touch our arm and say, “You go now and make peace.”
Peace? Do cars vs mass transit have anything to do with making peace?
I did hear from my grandparents on Mill Farm.
Rebecca’s Memorial
I am grateful to be here in quiet, beautiful Topanga. The place Rebecca loved. I’m grateful to be with you, the family and friends who love her. I’m grateful she passed in her home among the mountains.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121
Some of you know the significance of the butterfly and how it has become a connection with Rebecca.
Not many days before her passing Matt, Rebecca and I were in the main room. I looked out the window and saw a white butterfly among the rosemary, “Oh, there’s a white butterfly in the rosemary! Rebecca burst into tears. She said she had asked God if she was going to be well to let her hear the word, “butterfly.”
Of course, we were thinking of her being healed in her mortal body. But she’s healed! She has the ultimate healing. Several times she dreamed she was running. She runs, she flies and as Matt said, “She’s dancing, drawing and designing.”
December 3, I walked with heavy feet to the mailbox. All my thoughts. Noah and Nate so young without their mother. I was thinking to get a word and this word came, “Carousel.” I repeated it so I would be listening for that word. A word that would lead me to something I needed to know.
When I got back to the house, Nate said, “Mimi, do you want to see the park I made on my phone?”
“Sure.’
He began giving me a guided tour “And here’s my carousel.” Wow, the word! It was delightful that there was a Presence to give a word I would hear. But what did it mean?
A few days later Matt told of a dream he had of Rebecca. I took this opportunity to ask him, “Does carousel mean anything to you?”
“No.”
Later that day I was out with Atrick, their dog. She was running up and down the hills and I was throwing a ball to her. I was praying about my family and our country. Suddenly, in my spirit, “What goes round and round?” A carousel! And then I knew.
“Atrick, come!” I ran in the house to click on a song! A song with the words, “Are you tired of spinning round and round?”
Before when I had played this song, there was Evie, the soloist, with her audience, but now there were all these photos of butterflies. The title, “Give it all, Give it all, Give it all to Jesus.’’
Give Them All to Jesus – Evie Tornquist – YouTube
I cried. I was comforted.
Later, when I told Jacinda this story, she said when she had been there previously, she had made a video of Rebecca and Nate going round and round in a carousel. I knew nothing of this. But God did. Rebecca did. I have a picture to give you of Nate and Rebecca. Also, one of my favorite pictures of Rebecca with Noah.
There are more butterfly stories which are on the Memorial Page. I’ll tell one more. When I returned to Topanga in June, Jeff, Matt’s Dad brought me to the bottom of the steep hill going up to their house. Matt came down As we both got in his car, a white butterfly flew in the window, across the car and back out! Rebecca was happy we were together.
Rebecca was remarkably cheerful and patient all those months. Of course, sometimes she cried. She continued to help Nate and Noah with their schoolwork. And go over Matt’s book. She was not a complainer. She would say, “When you get a chance, could you. . .?’ I felt I had to say to her, “Rebecca, don’t hesitate to ask me to do something.”
Several times Rebecca quoted, ‘‘In everything give thanks.” What? There she was in her wheelchair saying, “In everything give thanks.” In recent days I’ve thought about this a lot. “In everything, give thanks.” I’m familiar with that verse. Yes, to give thanks for good things, but everything? The seemingly bad things? I’ve known in my head that that was right. But have I really been putting this into practice? No, I haven’t. I made a list of things I wished were different and pronounced over them, “In everything give thanks.” Today, especially we need this. We need to guard our minds against negativity. When a person goes to war, they go through boot camp. If one is going to be in the Olympics, there is training—not all of it easy. “In everything give thanks” is in the armory of the Spirit. Everything in the physical is a shadow of the reality in the Spirit. Many have said this, including Plato. ‘While we look not at the things that are seen but the things that are not seen. The things that are seen are temporal; the things that are not seen are eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:18) In everything give thanks enables us to see things from another perspective, to see behind the scenes where we can be better guided to know what to do. In guarding against negativity, we should not affirm that which we do not want to continue. It enables us to see The Invisible, to enlist the Invisible Host. Things may not be as they seem.
“In everything give thanks” is not easy. It takes practice. We can understand something, yet not be proficient in it. A tennis instructor illustrates what to do—you understand, but you don’t immediately become an expert tennis player.
I called Mark Wallace, one of Rebecca’s professors at Swarthmore. We talked for an hour and 16 minutes, and we felt Rebecca heard everything. I was hoping he might have some of Rebecca’s writings. He said “unfortunately they had been renovating his office and he had been throwing everything out.” However, later he emailed, “Absolutely a miracle ; you suggested I look in my office one last time; I was convinced nothing was there but, lo and behold, there it was:”
Surely the angels preserved that particular paper!
He wrote:
I enjoyed Rebecca’s Statement of Purpose to Berkeley you posted at the memorial site. I hear the clarity of her distinctive voice in this statement. I can’t believe it is 20 plus years old; it sounds like she wrote it yesterday. I don’t understand why she passed, what sense it makes for such a vibrant and visionary young woman to be taken from you and her family and other loved ones and friends. But then I recall the hymn, It is Well With My Soul, whose author penned this haunting song during a terrible time in his own life, and I think perhaps some comfort, if not comprehension, can be found in times of terrible loss
Yes, we identify with what her professor has expressed.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee.
When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock
that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2
For where your treasure is, will be your heart also.
I
Sometimes sorrow and joy hold hands.
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
II Corinthians 8:10
This I believe— All of Rebecca’s hard work, and everybody knows she was a hard worker, her standard of excellence is not for naught. She carries it with her. On The Other Side we begin where we left off. Nothing is wasted. This I believe with all my heart. I am comforted.
People say, ‘It’s not fair.” Not fair.
Our time on earth. All around us are unfair things. The earth is full of seemingly unfair things. We are here to experience life. To make mistakes, to learn, to grow. We need to guard our minds against negativity. How can we be conquerors with no conquest? How can we be overcomers with nothing to overcome? If there is no sadness, how can we know joy? Our life is a vapor. Rebecca’s life was short but even if you live to be as old as I am—82—life is a vapor. When you are my age, you are no stranger to sorrow. My husband passed when we were both 29.
Yes, all of us have experienced seemingly unfair things—how do we respond?
Also, probably most of us have done unfair things to others. I know I have. And to people I love. I want to be forgiven.
This is something else that Rebecca was diligent about. She forgave. She cared about resolving issues in relationships. I remember one letter especially she wrote. How important to forgive and be forgiven—to ask for forgiveness. It’s foundational for earth school. We all have these challenges. It’s foundational for world peace. And we know Someone—the Prince of Peace who said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’
`Forgiveness, along with love. When Rebecca was 5 years old, she recited the love chapter, I Corinthians 13 for my cousin, Stefanie’s wedding. It’s a good chapter for us all to memorize. Just a few phrases.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. . .
Love suffereth long, and is kind. . .
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things
Love never faileth.
For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part. . .
Rebecca and I told each other our stories. Some of the things we knew about each other’s lives were sketchy. We filled in the details. Near death experience testimonies speak of a life review. In a sense, we had a preview life review.
Many near-death experience books have come into my hands without my initiative. One told of a mother in the spirit world walking along her physical son trying to tell him something. He couldn’t hear anything she was saying. It was a different vibration.
Everything vibrates. Gratitude is the easiest way to raise our vibration. We’re thrown a curve ball, things are not turning out like we want. Throw the devil a curve ball, In everything, give thanks. Helen Keller said, “Although the world is full of suffering, it is full of the overcoming of it.” John Lewis was asked about how did current protests compare to the ones he was in. He said, “Well, there is one thing that is different.. Singing. They sang.”We must sing. We must sing in the dark. And not be part time soldiers. Singing only in the sunshine. Just condemning something doesn’t fix it. In fact, it can make it stronger as we focus on what we don’t want instead of what we do want. Covid. In everything give thanks. We need to change the energy, the vibration.
Rebecca had perseverance and character. If Rebecca in her wheelchair could say, “In everything give thanks, then what about us? Rebecca was reflective. In a writing she challenged landscape architects “to identify for urban dwellers the places to get lost. . .those places that allow for contemplation.”
Rebecca loved nature and beauty. She loved planting things. She spoke of neighborhood gardens and green space and how our actions affect the land and vice versa.
December 27:
I took my journal and sat on a tree stump surrounded by sage and the majestic Topanga mountains. I felt so close to Rebecca. I texted my friend, Ed, the son of my friend, Elaine, who has passed on.
People on The Other Side can be close to us because we sit in heavenly places.
Ed’s son, David, had been killed in Afghanistan… He texted back:
This is a great revelation you get about heavenly places. I talk to David daily and Elaine. . .and I believe they hear me, both being in that great cloud of witnesses.
A warm feeling comes over me.
And hath raised us up together and made us sit together
in heavenly places . . .
Ephesians 2:6
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. . .
Hebrews 12
But I do not want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
I Thessalonians 4:13
From her Statement of Purpose:
“Modern society and urban living have cast us out of our natural habitat, but we must find our way back to the Garden.”
We must find a way back to the “Garden.” Garden. .capitalized. I once had a stone to put on the ground with this inscription; “I heard Your Voice in the Garden.” There’s an old song, ‘I come to the Garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. And The Voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. . .”
Rebecca’s in the Secret Garden. Noah and Nate, your mother is in the Secret Garden. You will find her there in The Secret Place of the Most High.
Secret Garden – Song From A Secret Garden – YouTube
Rebecca, we carry you with us until we see your face again.
“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.
Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I will see God,
Whom I, on my part, shall behold for myself,
And whom my eyes will see, and not another.”
You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up So That I Might Stand on Mountains, Andre Rieu
André Rieu – You Raise me Up – YouTube
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
Songwriters: Graham Brendan Joseph, Loveland Rolf
