“In a broad sense modern war represents the greatest failure of humankind. War means that we have not been able to accomplish our goals or resolve our differences without resulting to killing each other.” —The Nuclear Delusion 1976

Monday, this week, was my last day at Austin Manor after a number of years, something like five or seven years working with residents and staff and Edison, the dog that likes to take staff on walks. Over the years we have discovered various routes and have learned there are certain spots on the blocks to avoid usually due to other dogs. This year has been quite peaceful.

One of the most interesting parts of being there, aside from walking Edison, was to have a weekly writers’ group based on Natalie Goldberg’s “Writing Down the Bones…freeing the writer within.” The residents are invited to read what they’ve written or they can pass. The majority read.

Natalie says: “I don’t think everyone wants to create the great American novel, but we all have a dream of telling our stories — of realizing what we think, feel and see before we die. Writing is a path to meet ourselves and become intimate. Think about it: Ants don’t do it. Trees don’t. Not even thoroughbred horses, mountain elk, house cats, grass, or rocks do it. Writing is a uniquely human activity. It might even be built into our DNA. It should be put forward in the Declaration of Independence, along with the other inalienable rights: ‘Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness — and writing.’” —From Writing Down the Bones.

On a sad note was the loss of Moose Skowron, a five-time World Series champion with Austin ties. I remember those ties and getting to watch a lot of baseballs go sailing out of Marcusen Park here and I believe in Albert Lea.

I was young then and that’s when my father would call the umpire a jughead with a bad a call.

It was also important to see that Jackie Graves received new gravestone. Jackie was a pro boxer. I think I even acquired his autograph.