"Full Fathom Five" Special Story

"Full Fathom Five" is a title that has intrigued me. I first encountered the title as a blog a few months after I began reading some blogs a couple of years ago. I eventually learned how and why this title with Shakespearean origins became of such significance to blogger, Mary Lee Coe Fowler, a writer, teacher of English and ESL, stimulating her to write this book.

Mary Lee disclosed she had never known her father, Commander James Coe, who honorably served in the United States Navy Submarine Service during World War II. He was one of the multitudes of U.S. servicemen who had their lives taken from them during that war, including those lost at sea like her father, Commander Coe and his crew.

She never knew Jim Coe as he had returned to duty before she was born. Her brother's and sister's memories were limited as they were quite young, too, when their father left to fulfill his military assignment, ultimately in the Pacific. Mary Lee's ability to learn about her father from the time he was lost at sea was complicated by her mother and others not speaking of him, especially with the children, from the time he was declared lost. Only after her mother's death, and as a mid-life adult reading Shakespeare's "The Tempest," did the author receive the impetus to actively undertake discovering who her father was.

The author's youthful perceptions of this military man who was also her father were influenced by other factors. She was maturing as a young person of Quaker background whose peace-seeking values during the turbulent sixties, in the midst of an increasingly unpopular Viet Nam war, contributed to her formulation of a questioning attitude toward any and all military personnel, motives, actions then, and of other times.

Finally, in her mid-years, determined and curious to know this man, this unknown person to her, she sought information from those who knew her father and mother. She contacted men and women family friends, military men with whom he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, those with whom he served and those he commanded during WWII. She gradually began to piece together a view of various aspects of her father's personality from personal accounts described to her, based on events others shared with him, harvested from their memories.

His professional persona also emerged as fellow Annapolis graduates and other naval personnel related stories from their experiences with and about him. Official records and other naval documents contribute to the authenticity of facts discussed in the book. A striking picture of this naval officer, her father, reveals one of which she and the family are rightfully proud.

Whatever the personal and professional composite perspectives reveal, they are, at best, a tantalizing portrait of Jim Coe, her father, with which she must be satisfied. And yet, I wonder if there might be times when she wishes, "Oh, if only I could have known him." Or, "I wish he could have known me...my family....." Reflections on earlier years must invite memories of past instances when crossing her mind are thoughts like, "I wish I could have turned to him for counsel and comfort, or given him solace....."

I think based on conclusions drawn from some of his own reported and documented actions, he would be pleased with the manner in which his life, beliefs, values are presented here. His dedication to the United States Navy, and especially the Submarine Service, is above reproach. He more than fulfilled his duty, but he did not just blindly serve. He worked behind the scenes in a constructive manner toward correcting inequities that needed changing.

Like her father, the author, too, has examined issues research revealed affected daily life and survival for him and his crew(s.) This was especially so of those matters known to be of concern to her father, some of his crew and other officers, in her effort to present a true picture of certain known facts. She shares an appreciative humor for her father's own introduction of subtle levity into a serious issue which attracted unexpected attention from fellow Submariners and Naval Brass.

Analysis and reasoning enable her to make some logical inferences, drawing conclusions and describing conjectures that are worthy of consideration. She refers to known information that has provided distressing facts about some military decision making processes, possible deficient military equipment, imprudent choices based on political issues that may have resulted in the death of submariners.

I was impressed with the fact our country had such valiant warriors as her father, his crew and the other Submariners. Valiant warriors is what they were, those who persisted in performing their duties to the utmost of their abilities in a dedicated, just and honorable manner despite obstacles not of their making.

I find it deeply regrettable any of them had to function under less than optimum conditions. Regret, however, is insufficient for any of those whose lives were forever altered, or who did not survive at all, just as it is for their loved ones.

Thank you for conducting this search for your father, Mary Lee Coe Fowler.

Thanks to all those who shared their impressions, stories, memories, facts, documents.

Thank you for sharing Jim Coe and yourself in Full Fathom Five -- A Daughter's Search.

I'm sharing this early in a tribute before Memorial Day, especially to Submarine Service veterans, those lost at sea and all these orphan families. Those who are interested and intrigued by both the personal search of the author and the well-written laypersons descriptions of the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service will have an opportunity to order, possibly even receive this book to begin reading Memorial Day.

(Yes, this is a blatant book promotion from which I have nothing to gain, nor is the author even aware I'm doing so. I am clearly impacted by the nature of this story for more reasons than I've described here that I may write about later. I've also requested my local chain bookstore(s) feature a few copies in their brick and mortar stores (you might wish to do the same) though the book can be ordered online including at Amazon.com.)

Time To Talk

I recall that Saturday, May 13, 2006 morning standing by my husband's bedside, still absorbing the fact of his unexpected death during his sleep. The understanding and supportive police officer stood quietly across from me at the far corner of the foot of the bed. He had arrived at my home within a few short minutes in response to my emergency 911 phone call, after I discovered my husband's lifeless body whose facial skin was already cool to the touch of my fingertips and lips. The officer had offered his help with various questions as to what I might like him to do, or what did I want to do ... whatever. I just recall his calm, rational manner, but I cannot bring to mind many of the specific words exchanged between us.

I'm sure he must have inquired about the circumstances of my husband's death which I vaguely recall describing to him as I, too, was trying to make sense of it all. I think I told him of my husband having just seen his doctor the previous morning for a follow-up visit. For the prior two to three years, my husband had periodically undergone various tests to determine whether or not he had a small abdominal aortic aneurysm. Sometimes the aneurysm appeared to be present, sometimes not, but the medical action plan had been to track the small bulge for any increase in size. Tracking had been an ongoing problem since the bulge often was hidden from view during ultrasounds. The definitive angiogram or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) tests could not be administered since he had other serious medical problems making either test unsafe for him.

My husband had told me the Dr. said the results of this most recent ultrasound once again failed to reveal the aneurysm's presence, but they could not conclude it no longer existed, much less know its current size. Once I made that 911 call, I know I remained on the phone with the operator until the police officer arrived. I know I phoned each of our children, reaching my son immediately, leaving a message for my daughter for our later conversation, but I cannot recall making those calls, when in the sequence of activities I made them, or receiving calls returned. I do remember my son saying he would immediately begin making arrangements to fly home. He arrived later that night. My daughter and granddaughter came home at a mutually agreed upon later date, but we had frequent phone contact daily until then. I don't recall whether that day or later days I phoned others significant in my life.

I knew I must remain strong for my children and myself. I was very good at that with lots of experience. Always before for me, once the crisis was over would be time to emotionally let down. This time proved to be the same only to a degree, but different in so many other ways including the process that lay ahead of adapting to my life being forever changed.

Later the officer went outside to direct the emergency teams. I expected their arrival would be heralded first by the large red fire truck with sirens screaming, soon followed by a small red paramedic truck, from having experienced that scenario before numerous times when I had to call them for my mother. This time, when they arrived on my street, there was no siren since I presume they had been forewarned there was no life in the balance here. An advance directive clearly specified no extraordinary means were to be taken to prolong my husband's life, but he was past the point of having such techniques administered anyway.

Before the officer went outside to direct paramedics to our house, I stood by my dead husband's side, thoughts racing through my mind of those hours from the last time I had spoken with him, had seen him breathing peacefully in his sleep, until the moment I found him. So many words came to mind. For much too long there had been sensitive topics around the edges of which we skirted, that might gradually emerge from time to time. There were those topics with other issues of more recent vintage where the rocky barriers had only begun to be worn down, allowing our words to begin sliding more easily over their once razor sharp edges.

I told the officer, as though somehow he could call back my husband and we could rectify this matter that was pressing on my mind, "There was so much we needed to talk about...so much that we hadn't had an opportunity to yet say...."

In retrospect now, I pause to think, that fateful Saturday the 13^th day he died was the same day and date we had begun our first full day as husband wife so many decades ago. We were married on the preceding Friday night the 12^th -- the exact same day and date I shared my husband's last wakeful living moments, two months shy of our forty-third wedding anniversary. Just imagine, in forty-three years, we still had much love and laughter to share, so much more we needed to talk about.

Mother's Day Thoughts

(The aging washer is leaking,
The dryer is squeaking,
Mother would appreciate
the humor of this happening today.)


Mother, I wish you could experience the world today. You always said you had no fear of dying, but would be reluctant to go because you didn't want to miss anything. I have the same view for myself. You saw much change in your lifetime. I think of you and these thoughts of your first twenty-one years come readily to mind.

born in the nineteenth century
horse and buggy days
daughter of a prosperous farmer
fence lines clear of weeds
indicating a good farmer

father performed outdoor chores
matching work horse pair
plowing, harrowing, discing,
cultivating, planting
grain, corn and garden

threshing parties
sheaves of oats, barley and wheat,
corn shucking,
hay raking,
fork tossing hay in mow

raising chickens and ducks
roosters, hens, drakes
cows with calves
pigs with piglets
sheep with lambs

harvesting crops
root cellar storage
butchering and dressing meats
milking the cows
collecting honey, beeswax

pets and progeny
mares with foals
mouser cats with kittens
herder/guard dogs with puppies
chicks and ducklings

mothers work indoors
wood stove for cooking
baking bread
bearing and raising children
nursing the ill

food preservation and canning
apple, cherry, peach trees
blackberry, gooseberries
jams, jellies
herb collection like mint leaves

gathering eggs
cream separating
making cottage cheese
churning butter
making smearcase

sewing and mending
pattern and dress making
yarn for knitting, crocheting, tatting
quilting designs, stitching, needle point
hooking rugs

recitation of poetry
story telling using elocution skills
piano playing and singing
games, riddles, reading, writing
stereoscopes and pictures

candles to electricity
hand pump priming for well water
eventual party line phone
two longs and a short ring
outdoor plumbing - two or three holer

children's playhouse
curtains, tea set
miniature furniture
china head dolls
dressing cats and kittens

winter's heavy woolen clothes
mothballs
dry cleaning non-existent
deodorant yet to be
large tubs, spit baths

playing church piano and organ
dating mostly for church social functions
breaking rules by sneaking off with date to go dancing
coming home snuggled under blankets in horse drawn buggy
horse required no guidance -- always knew the way home

family, friends, classmates,
boyfriends, neighbors die
Influenza Pandemic of World War I
Influenza Epidemic of 1918
World War I

automobiles and airplanes coming

passing the Boxwell proficiency exam
requirement for high school attendance
moving into town to live with a family providing
them household services in exchange for room and board
high school graduation

acceptance and enrollment in "Normal School"
graduation after two years
teaching in one room school house
women given the right to vote 1921
mother legal age that year -- always voted thereafter.

My mother knew from her own mother, my grandmother, who advocated in her farm community for women's rights, supported by my grandfather, the challenges to achieve Women's Suffrage (right to vote.)

The 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote was first introduced in the United States Congress in 1878, passed by both Houses in 1919 with that same wording -- 41 years later.

Progress can be slow.

She would have loved to have participated in the primary elections this year. She would be listening to the candidates words closely. She would be giving strong consideration to the state of our country internally, our status in the world. She would recognize the serious issues our nation faces -- that these problems must be resolved, such as health care, our infrastructure deterioration, domestic economic condition, the war(s) in which we're embroiled, the need to preserve each citizen's rights and freedoms, to name just a few matters.

She would be pleased when the focus stays on these campaign issues. She would be angered when efforts from any candidate, their supporters, or the media introduced misleading sound bites, negative innuendo into the dialogue. She would marvel at the unique combination of political party candidates from which we will choose our next President of the United States.

Sixties Saturday

Claremont Folk Music Festival - 2008

Jackson Browne, Ben Harper, Taj Mahal


A "Sixties Saturday" is how I describe my experience this past weekend. I'm an avid jazz fan who also enjoys a variety of music genres and performers. The 28th Annual Claremont Folk Festival had me entering the grounds around 10 a.m. About twelve hours later my being was permeated with the musical rhythms, lyrics, melodies, dancing that made the day and night one to remember, though I was tired and sunburned.

The experience was unexpectedly enhanced for us by coincidentally encountering a couple there I first met at free weekly Sun. afternoon jazz concerts I started attending a short time after my husband's death. This retired physics professor in his retirement years has serendipitously become a drummer. He now plays in a local country/folk music group consisting of other retired physics professors. They have been pleasantly surprised to find themselves asked to perform at clubs and at other paid venues. I'll have to write their story sometime in the future as examples of what new and interesting activities elders pursue in retirement years, if others are interested.

Claremont Folk Music Festival - 2008 was a spectacular success with a sellout crowd as it is every year -- had to get our tickets early. Jackson Browne, Ben Harper and Taj Mahal were the evening entertainers appearing on the main stage.

Claremonters were especially thrilled to welcome home one of our own -- Ben Harper. He is the son of the daughter now operating Claremont's unique and famous Folk Music Store her parents founded in 1970. Many local people, including the couple I mentioned above, have personal memories of Ben, his musical involvement with their sons during his school years here. Ben is married to actress, Laura Dern.

Features writer Brenda Bolinger wrote a succinct description of this festival's history in the Sat. April 28th online edition of "The Claremont Courier":

"The roots of the festival began when Dorothy Chase, co-founder of the Folk Music Center, Doug Thomson and a small group of dulcimer players began meeting together at the park on Indian Hill Boulevard. Ms. Chase, and her spouse, Charles, began the music center in 1958, introducing traditional and folk music to the region and offering music lessons and instrument building and repair. Sycamore Elementary School, the festival site, was the first venue at which the Chase duo presented performances by music greats such as Doc Watson, Brownie McGee and Kris Kristofferson. The Folk Festival continues the almost 50-year tradition of supporting folk music."

Three Festival stages provided entertainment for all ages during the day:

The Courtyard Stage
Ross Altman, singer and songwriter performs original songs ranging in subject from the L.A. Riots to homophobia.

Cynthia Artish a veteran performer pioneering the American folk harp movement who also teaches harp at the Claremont Folk Music Center, directs "Harps of Hope" healthcare harp music.

Rick Shea - "An acclaimed vocalist and formidable guitarist" performing everything from traditional folk and country to working with folk and rock legends.

Dulcimers of Dunlore is a hammered dulcimer ensemble of five women who create a unique and wondrous sound with a repertoire including traditional, classical, ancient, and international melodies and more.

John Rockwell demonstrates his ukulele skills on this link in a number of videos.

The Children's Stage
Angela Lloyd who is well-known "...as one of the unique performers on the national storytelling circuit...appearing throughout the country" the festival program notes.

The Happy Crowd has been entertaining children with their writing and music performances for over 16 years coast to coast via live performances and Children's Radio -- "Havin' Fun"!

Dan Crow has been entertaining children and their families internationally using music and stories, a sense of humor in live performances. He's a writer composer and award winner of renown including on the Disney Channel.

Uncle Ruthie Buell is the host and star entertaining with songs, stories, poetry, live guests and bilingual tales on her local weekly radio show at KPFK 90.7 FM.

Drum Circle introduces all ages to drumming, rhythms of many cultures describing techniques and patterns.

Dance Hall Workshops
Of special interest to many were performances and workshops in the Dance Hall for Scottish Dance, Tango/Salsa, Middle Eastern, West African Drum & Dance led by other professionally successful teachers and entertainers.

Other Workshops
Workshops throughout the day were conducted by most of the performers on virtually every instrument imaginable and some quite unusual and less common such as the didgeridoo. A focus on instrument making also attracted many, a popular and well-known feature of the Claremont Folk Music Center.

During this entertainment variety there were many presentations showcasing environmental interests. As the program noted:

"In addition to the promotion and preservation of folk culture, this year's Festival is committed to encouraging sustainability ... meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ... we are all members of a global community."

This Festival is presented under the auspices of "...a nonprofit education and arts organization dedicated to the advancement, promotion and preservation of traditional, contemporary, and international folk music, instruments and folk culture" the program states.

Main Stage
Beginning at 10 a.m. preceding performances of each of those headliners named above was a lineup of individuals and groups of some renown of their own:

The Squeakin' Wheels performance brought their special style encompassing spirituals to contemporary vocal and instrumental pieces.

Joel Rafael appearing during the next hour is internationally recognized as a songwriter and interpreter of Woody Guthrie's songs performing solo and with the Joel Rafael Band. One of his songs especially roused a supportive crowd responding to the lyrics of "This Is My Country"

I especially enjoyed Yuval Ron, an international composer and record producer who creates innovative music embracing Jewish, Muslim and Christian faiths. His ensemble unites musicians who are Arabic, Israeli and Jewish with Christian Armenian artists.

The BladeRunners vocal and instrumental music combines country with modern contemporary and progressive bluegrass.

Da Lion is a West African drumming and dance troupe whose founder, Leon Mobley is also the percussionist for Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. This ensemble of musicians, singers and dancers provide sounds with a bit of funk, hip hop and jazz.

Main Stage Evening Performers

These internationally known musicians have websites which I will provide links for here for any who might wish to read further about them.

Jackson Browne performed two of his compositions that elicited an exceptionally loud vocal hand clapping crowd response. You may listen to each of these songs on these YouTube links: "Lives In The Balance," and "Drums of War."

Ben Harper presented "Black Rain" with this audio recording most closely approximating his Festival performance. Some YouTube video links at other performances are provided here for other special Festival songs he sang: his recording"Gather Round The Stone" is linked here to a YouTube video of an earlier L.A. live performance. "There Will Be A Light" with a YouTube video link. (He also recorded this with The Blind Boys of Alabama.)

He played and sang what ultimately became his first recording, LP "Pleasure and Pain" with fellow folk guitarist Tom Freund. (Lyrics on song title page.) Prior to his successful recording he noted sharing these lyrics with his grandmother, Dorothy Chase who said words to the effect, "You may have something." This folk, rock, reggae, blues, gospel singer indeed did. His family background is unique and special as he shares his "Roots."
Ben closed by singing with his mother, Ellen, this new song he said he had planned to introduce soon in Spain, as the duo rendered an emotionally moving performance of "My Spanish Red Wine."

Taj Mahal had everyone on their feet with his high energy music, songs he sometimes had everyone sing along with him. He also interspersed his show a few times with lyrics that would wake up any crowd with some of their sexy innuendo -- edgy. This biography link best describes his musical background quoting him:

"I have songs in my head from so many languages and people. I know my sound is in the middle of this whole." - Taj Mahal."

Here's a taste of a blues tune from YouTube including a version of this one he performed for us:
"Mailbox Blues."

I found it impossible to engage in all the Festival's daytime activities, but I didn't lack for entertainment. I'll likely be back again for next year to listen to the performing artists. Maybe I should try to attend a workshop and create an instrument of my own. I know how to do so with just common ordinary plastic straws. On the other hand, I do think the singing bowls they have in their store are a bit more appealing than any instrument I likely could create. Still, we never know 'til we try.

Locked-In Syndrome Movie

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
DVD Release 4/29/08

"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" movie is based on a book by the same name about which I wrote extensively on 11/30/07 (see archives.) The book's author, Jean-Dominique Bauby writes about his experience with Locked-In Syndrome after a stroke at age 43 years of age. This syndrome is characterized by complete body paralysis and inability to speak. The challenge is how to communicate. People around Bauby must first recognize that he is actually mentally intact in his body, then a system must be found that will enable him to express himself.

Of special signifcance in my original post was mention of two individuals living today who know first hand what a diagnosis of Locked-In Syndrome means to their life. I since have noted a third here, but there are likely more. This sudden circumstance presents the communication challenge which these people have faced with varying success in overcoming (not all can) :

• a New Jersey, U.S.A. husband and father, Steve Chiappa, in 2001,
• a young mother Glenda Hickey in 2000 of Alberta, Canada, as noted in these links to ABC News stories
• a New Zealand Rugby player, Nick Chisholm, since 2000 in a BMJournal report.
  

I read Bauby's book when it was first published, then followed with intense interest the progress of the book to movie screen a few years later. "Diving Bell..." had limited theater release last year beginning with that end of ' 07 release date. Now the DVD is available.

I expressed some concern last November about whether or not the book's translation to the screen would aptly represent Bauby's story, since I have often been disappointed with other books' movie versions. I wrote I would comment on that matter once I viewed the film.

I had an opportunity to view this movie some time ago prior to the earlier Academy Awards ceremony. I was quite pleased with the production and can unequivocably recommend the film for viewing. I thought the movie portrayed Bauby's experience in such a way as to convey the unique happiness and joy he was able to create for himself within his limitations.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, awarded the film's director, Julian Schnabel an Oscar. (Correction: thanks to OldOld Lady of the Hills at "Here In The Hills": Schnabel was nominated for an Oscar but did not win.) Other awards for the film preceded that nomination including a Golden Globe as Best Director and Best Foreign Language Film. Read Chris Cabin's review at "Filmcritic.com"

The movie trailer can be seen at this Moviefone link.

The following comments will be most fully appreciated after reading my earlier post referenced above or even viewing the film.

I was able to immerse myself in this movie's story which features French dialogue augmented by English subtitles. The visual effects were especially significant in their ability to convey Bauby's perspective. I experienced simultaneously with him awakening to the fog-like gradually whitening light he sees when he first emerges from his stroke-caused coma. He sees a world that is startling to him as slowly human figures assume a more clearly defined presence, then he hears their voices offering information orienting him to his situation. This is his beginning to derive meaning from his surroundings, establish his new reality.

Medical personnel begin with accepted informal testing procedures to examine every facet of his functioning, including senses, motor skills for movement. Can he hear? Does he understand the words he is hearing? Is he able to speak? What body movements does he have? If he can't talk, is there some other way in which he can communicate? Is it possible to somehow devise a system using questions that require some sort of yes or no response, but with no spoken words? Could he possibly use a system that doesn't require speaking to actually designate words, then put words into sentences for complex thoughts? These questions were only a few of many that are asked, but require in depth exploration over a lengthy time period to determine whether or not he still has any of these skills.

Incorporated into this film are details of his life prior to his stroke with scenes integrated through the means of flashbacks. We become acquainted through his own recollections of complicated factual aspects of his personal life with his children, their mother, his father, his own psychological reckoning with his circumstances. His attitude, emotionality, and effects on behaviors, feelings of others are an integral part of this movie's story, his life story.

He perceives his paralyzed virtually motionless body as being beyond his control alone in a sea; envisioned like a heavily leaden-weighted deep-sea diver, sinking to the ocean bottom much as a diving bell. Ultimately, he realizes his mind is free as he imaginatively visualizes a world, desired activities, people, places in which he flits about much as a butterfly.

I, personally, find Bauby's story-telling of his life experience illustrative of possibilities in such a physically limiting life situation. I recommend this movie not only for that reason, but because I experienced the film overall as a pleasure to view. I do want to add a few thoughts that came to my mind as I watched the movie.

1. I think the film story may have minimized one important facet I recalled Bauby writing in his book. He reported that initially, for some period of time, he was presumed by many, including some medical professionals, to be a mental "vegetable" by virtue of the fact he was perceived as being unable to talk. He wrote about overhearing discussions by some staff to that effect, the anger and frustration he felt but could not express. He even mentioned being subjected to discussion with words to the effect that perhaps his life could be allowed to end since he was just a vegetable, anyway. My impression from reading the book was that he had a much longer period of such awareness and the medical staff were much slower to establish his mental capabilities than evidenced in the film.

I believe that communication issue is of singular importance to everyone, family members, friends, medical personnel. We should all keep in mind that just because someone is without speech, or gesture, assuming the individual is incapable of understanding could be a tragic mistake. By the same token we cannot assume that everyone who does not speak, understands everything they see and hear. Obviously, a determination of the situation must be carefully made.

2. The scene where Bauby is asked short yes and no questions beginning with the most simple such as, are you a man, are you a woman, etc. did accurately reflect how insulted he felt. He did not understand the need for what he perceived as demeaning questions. A few individual patients and some family members who overhear this sort of questioning can become quite irate, even despite having received explanatory information about the necessity for questions at such a basic level.

Establishing the level at which someone is able to understand after any sort of possible life altering brain event is a very delicate process in which you can never assume any individual continues to function as they did before. In the beginning under those circumstances, querying anyone with higher level questions i.e. do cats bark, do dogs meow, can be highly demoralizing to someone who is suddenly shocked with the realization they should know the correct answer, but now they don't. Some are so embarrassed, they pretend, and guess. Keep in mind there's a 50-50 chance of getting the right answer with a guess in yes/no questions.

3. Such instant establishment of someone's ability to understand all words said to them with just one or two basic yes/no questions as depicted in the movie, is generally not likely. There's a gradation of question complexity.

4. A patient being given a choice of visitors is good. There can be situations where a patient's choice to not see select people might not be in that same patient's best interest and an effort to circumvent their expressed choice might be better -- at least one time. But care must be taken since as individuals we do have the right to make choices.

5. There were probably more interventions before the alphabet card was introduced and having him spell words -- including introduction of words to see if he could read them, then sentences and more. But, that would have been tedious to include all that in the movie.

6. His imagination and memory were not paralyzed nor was his ability to blink his left eye which they established. We cannot always assume these functions are fully intact with someone.

7. Humor was an integral part of his recovery. There is a scene with a telephone man who couldn't understand how a man who couldn't talk could use a telephone, followed by a funny comment about which Bauby laughed -- in his mind. I believe humor is essential for all.

I would especially welcome the comments of any others who view this film, have read the book, or find this subject to be of interest.

Movie "21" Memory/Hawaii Kilauea Volcano

Hawaii Trade Winds Not Blowing Out Volcano Gases For 2nd Time
Volcano National Park had to be evacuated earlier this week for a rare second time on 4/23/08 United Press reports at "Federal News Radio." Big Island's Kilauea Volcano has continued to spew its sulphuric gases, but the trade winds have failed to blow out the noxious fumes their news reports. Volcano National Park Officials are also quoted there, saying they're in contact with the National Weather Service and "...look forward to favorable winds by week's end." The link above provides additional information. My earlier blog posts this past week regarding Pele and the recent volcanic eruption provide links and information regarding the first evacuation which also included surrounding communities.

"21" Movie Stimulates Vegas Card Gambling Memory

I decided to take advantage of the special early afternoon rate to go to the movies recently and received the added bonus of a memory being stimulated. I've been so pleased our community finally has our own five screen theater complex again. Our previous theater closed some thirty years ago. I've been taking advantage periodically of viewing offerings of featured independent films I've looked forward to seeing. Often these are the films that never are shown in our surrounding communities more commercial movie houses.

One such film was the subject of an extensive post I wrote here earlier about "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly." I was able to watch that film prior to the Academy Awards and will write next time about the eminent DVD release.

The movie theater drama I recently viewed, "21," is inspired by real events in which six MIT students undertake making a financial killing in Las Vegas by card counting -- a practice not welcomed there. The cast includes Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, Kevin Spacey and others. If you're curious to see some scenes, read more about the storyline, and where it was filmed, I suggest you follow the link on the title above. I enjoyed the movie and left the theater feeling not only well entertained but in possession of a long ago forgotten memory.

Memories can be triggered in the most unexpected ways and at equally surprising times is a fact of which I've become more aware in recent years. This movie reminded me of those early college years, fellow student friends and acquaintances with whom I long ago ceased to have contact. Some full names I now remember, others are just shortened surnames by which the individuals were known, but I won't include them here.

The story as I first heard it was that two older students newly admitted from out of state had been talking about the possibility of devising a plan whereby they could beat a certain card game and win a lot of money gambling. Most of us just assumed this was the type of ideas fun talk that abounds on campuses but rarely goes beyond that stage. As the year progressed, however, these students were said to have progressed from talk to actually developing a system to enable them to win. Even then, those who heard the story concluded the system would likely not prove to be consistently successful beyond sport gambling in their dormitory.

Winter session passed and the spring session in the new year was coming to a close. Renewed rumors circulated in certain campus circles that the two students most specifically known as the brains behind this plan had actually come up with a system they and others, including a friend of mine, were increasingly confident would succeed. Furthermore, they were so convinced their system would work they were going to try it out in Las Vegas and win their fortunes.

None of us really thought such a trip would materialize into actual reality as the school year ended. Most of my friends left campus but I remained, attending summer school in an accelerated effort to hasten my graduation. The fall sessions began and my friend had not returned to the campus, so some of us began to ask questions about where they were. Eventually, someone purported to know that they had actually gone to Vegas, but that was all anyone knew. As the days, weeks, then a month or two went by we could only wonder if they had really gone to Vegas?

Questions abounded in our minds. Were they busy practicing their system as we spoke, accumulating thousands and thousands of dollars? Had they already won a lot of money, left the city and were now traveling all over the country, or even the world? I don't recall that we ever considered any of them might have incurred any actual physical harm from this venture, much less that anyone would figure out they had a system. I wonder if they considered all that in their planning? Of course we did know organized crime supposedly was in control of the casinos, if not the city, but surely these gangsters wouldn't be too hard on a few young clean cut college boys just having fun.

In the 1950s the rapid communication with cell phones and inexpensive calling long distances of today was not present. Long distance calling by the average person was usually done only in a case of emergency -- somebody died. So none of us really expected to hear from our former classmates right away and we didn't. In fact, we also wondered if maybe they might just go off to college somewhere else later and we'd never hear from them again.

Then, one late fall day I checked my campus mail box and found a letter that resolved the unanswered questions about my friend. He wrote me describing a much less exciting scenario of events than any of us had considered. He had gone to Vegas, but had not even been able to attempt to use the "system" as authorities had determined he was underage, and threw him out of the casino, so he never even got to gamble.

He wrote he had used his session's tuition money for this unsuccessful excursion which was less than pleasing to his father. Left without adequate tuition funds and to his own devices he had concluded the best thing he could do was join the Air Force which he had done. He was completing basic training at the time of his letter. I don't recall what, if anything, he said about any others who went to Vegas or what happened to them. I'm sure I would have answered his letter, but we didn't keep up a correspondence as I recall.

Many years later I happened to notice his name in an alumni magazine where he had updated his status. He had taken a position teaching at a university, having completed his undergraduate studies, then earning a doctorate after completing his Air Force enlistment term of duty. He was married and had a family.

Isn't it fascinating how memories are triggered? I wonder what other memories are waiting to emerge in the future?

Earth Day ' 08 /// Elderblogger Survey

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