Front ‘n Center

Sunday, June 07, 2024

Yesterday, a PBS “Frontline” series captured my attention for hours. The excellent miniseries reminded me of and taught me much more about the many events surrounding the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Back then, and with the whole world, I watched for 444 days as the United States received barrages of humiliation, vitriol, and hatred from Iran. Previously, that nation had been among America’s closest allies.

Those events happened prior to widely accessible cable and 24-hour news. I followed the available politics and remember the pressures on Jimmy Carter’s administration to turn matters around, resolve them, and bring every hostage home. I never fully grasped the whys and whats behind the Iranian population revolts and that horrifying hostage crisis.

This “Frontline” series filled in the gaps. It explained Iran’s change from a religiously led nation into a democracy having strong leadership by its Shaw. He was educated, had a progressive outlook, and managed Iran’s oil wealth in ways that enabled much of Iran’s population to access education and affluence. He allowed a loosening up among the citizenry that gave women rights to freedom, allowing women to stop wearing burkas, pursue formal education, and seek meaningful work. Iran’s population included a large portion of opposing conservative religious forces; they despised changes toward modernity and especially were against women’s freedom.

The details of Iran’s history of rapid change shed light on that massive portion of its population that remained mired in religiosity and relied on the wisdom of Mullas. A nation-wide change from repression to wealth won’t ensure the best benefits for all its citizens. That portion of Iranian citizens not gaining wealth believed the Shaw’s vision and leadership didn’t represent them. They instead continued to rely on religious leadership and eventually circled around Khomeini.

“Frontline” details the rise of Khomeini, and what made him influential enough to cause Iran’s Shaw ultimately to fail. It effectively explains why Iranian students took American hostages. “Frontline” also takes us into the White House and details the Carter Administration’s challenges, efforts, and failures to achieve the hostages’ release.

This gripping series sheds light on Iran’s crises and explains much about its current political and social status. Watching forces us to think about America, too. Our citizens have differing perceptions and opposing views about how to correct this nation’s key ills. Many Americans worry about the implications for ongoing progressiveness.

Dear Friends: Social transitions happening rapidly are scarily unpredictable. Diana

Sidetracked

Saturday, June 08, 2024

Yesterday, I forgot everything, including that it was National Donut Day and that I was scheduled to work. In the afternoon, a manager phoned, and I leaped into action, tossing on some working-style wear and hurrying away to work for a few hours. That forgetting prompted me to worry about my brain’s ongoing capacity to perform. My friend Julie says it’s more likely I didn’t sleep well enough the night before; thanks, Julie; I’ll take that one.

Actually, I became sidetracked early by a delivery the day before that wasn’t right. Arriving home from work, a riding lawn mower ordered online from Walmart had been delivered in my absence. The machine was in a large wooden crate and sitting on a pallet. Its wheels were in cavities to hold the mower in place during transport. Without a hydraulic lift capable of freeing the heavy machine’s wheels, I had no way to remove it from the packaging and pallet.

The next morning, after a long struggle to determine the delivery company and find a phone number, I managed to contact it. A sympathetic person said the organization didn’t have lifting capabilities and that its delivery workers never unpackage products. She suggested I ask a neighbor to help me unpackage and unload, but that job seemed too big. Finally, I called Walmart and had long discussions with several customer service types. Their simple solution was to return that whole package.

What a waste of time, of shipping, and of labor! Anyway, everything is going back to Walmart.

Right away, I did what should have happened in the first place and called Home Depot, where I used to work and know how the store handles deliveries. I ordered a riding mower and asked that it arrive fully assembled and unpackaged; no problem. HD will have the mower soon at my home and immediately driveable.

Those complicated negotiations consumed at least a couple of hours. Immediately afterward, I got busy handling chores and never thought about going to work. Nonetheless, I became unhappy about the forgetting, because it might signal an unlikeable.

There’s something welcome about blogging relative to comprehending the electrical and chemical processes happening within a brain. As long as I can string together ideas and concepts clearly enough and with logical flows, I may assume brain activities are functioning properly.

Still, how can one simply forget to go to work, and on a scheduled day?

Dear Friends: ‘Tis a puzzlement, mixes of stress, anxiety, and emotions in a single brain. Diana

In The Rough

Friday, June 07, 2024

Assuming the outcome of my background check won’t be troubling, I will shift into a new role selling Fine Jewelry. While waiting for an outcome, I am reading books and going online to learn about geology in general and a gemologist’s role in the gemstone world.

I was toying with the idea of studying to become a certified gemologist. A little research teaches that studying and evaluating gemstones involves numerous highly technical tasks. An accredited gemologist has gained the specific skills to identify and grade stones.

A certified person distinguishes among natural, synthetic, and imitation candidates by identifying each stone’s quality, shape and potential, light absorption and reflection, and facet measurements. A gemologist assesses a stone’s unique characteristics to grade it, using factors like color, clarity, cut, and carat weight.

Other elements of a stone’s quality are its rarity and market demand, making valuable the element of selling experience

Gemologists do their work in many settings. They research gemstones, are educators teaching others, act as consultants to jewelry stores, and have personal clients they advise on gemstone selection and purchase.

Where might all this information guide me? Or seem too much and leave me? Am I intrigued and energetic? Above all, am I inspired?

Dear Friends: A sales role that invites some formal training will help to advise me. Diana

Word World

Thursday, June 06, 2024

An article entitled “What’s your nudge word for 2024? Let us help you discover it” caught my attention in today’s Washington Post. I was attracted to the idea of a nudge word after earlier exploring something similar and selecting a word.

The Post set up the discovering process as a game. I studied it and decided to play.

Everything starts by identifying an overarching word. The lead question is: What single word describes your hopes and dreams for 2024? The game then offers many categorical choices: active, optimistic, mindful, relationships, strength, growth, and personal relationships. I chose “mindful.”

Next, another game step was to “Focus on words that will nudge you toward positive change.” Many words related to mindfulness were offered, and I selected such as observe, awe, gratitude, notice, thankful, breathe, awareness, anticipate, and balance. Finally, I found one that summarized it all, and already that word was a favorite: appreciate.

I’ll take it. So, “appreciate” will be my nudge word for 2024.

Last month, I was thinking about “appreciate” in relation to my upcoming birthday. I wished to actively and often feel more appreciative as a change and birthday gift to myself. For several weeks, I paused and focused on appreciating but eventually got too busy and preoccupied with unrelated thoughts.

I appreciate the Post article’s cool word game which helped me renew a pleasing frame of mind. To me, appreciating touches a deep sense of gratitude and recognition, and taps into wishes to feel seen, valued, and understood. I am recommitting to actively being mindful and appreciative and staying on track this time.

Dear Friends: Words, tiny little abstracts that trigger big feelings and thoughts. Diana

Stripings

Wednesday, June 05, 2024

As a department store salesperson, I often learn helpful things. Here’s a valuable tip: Choose striped bed linens because they clearly identify the long side.

By keeping that in mind, I’ve been encouraged to think more about “stripe.” It’s a word with a real-world meaning (aside from being a pattern, as on linens). In the real world, military and police forces have stripes on a uniform that “identify clearly” rank and power.

I’m interested in how “stripe” is used as a metaphor for earned experience or rank. Describing someone as having a “stripe” suggests a distinctive quality or trait. That way, “stripe” suggests a distinction, individuality, or uniqueness that sets someone apart.

We often hear the term “stripe” used in business, sports, and academia. We understand it as referring to “earned respect and recognition” and applied to someone who’s done good work and accomplished achievements.

I’m an informal writer who writes often. I’m always word-focused because English word usage and meanings are complex. Words often suggest much more than their basic descriptions, forcing me to consider sociology in general, historically, and in the present.

Dear Friends: It does make sense to appreciate the value of using striped linens. Diana

Cheesing

Tuesday, June 04, 2024

This is National Cheese Day (really!). Later this week (get this!): June’s first Friday is National Donut Day. In exploring celebratory days, I’m finding that opportunities to appreciate are overwhelming, and it’s enough already. I’ll stop searching and yet make a shout out: Happy Cheese Day!

I wrote yesterday morning that the outside weather looked blowy and chilly. I was correct for those conditions lasted all day. My window this morning reveals similar weather behavior. For me, this is a day off from work and I’ve planned to tackle much-needed outside work. If today remains windy and cold, I’ll stay inside where plenty needs doing, too.

While inside, maybe I’ll poke into the cheese world. There’s much to explore about its cultural significance and the human passion for making it. I could learn by reading or streaming documentaries about the history of cheese, its different kinds and methods of making, and its lasting cultural significance.

Good learning can transform perceptions. Learning could turn my chuckles about National Cheese Day into awe.

Learning an appreciation of cheese on this day represents only a beginning. More ahead and scheduled annually, will arrive on October 15.

Dear Friends: The donut product also has a history and a big (bah!) cultural influence. Diana

Spring Debuts

Monday, June 02, 2024

These high early winds create my expectations for today: Hay rises in the air, and shirts take flight, it’s a windy day’s chaotic delight.

Yesterday, reading a few books about gemstones taught there are numerous gems and varieties. That discovery was daunting because soon, I will be working in Fine Jewelry sales. Perhaps my best hope going forward will be to have all the monthly birthstones memorized, at least.

My birthday is in May, and the emerald is my birthstone. I have a pretty ring featuring one, but I rarely wear it because I am not much into personal jewelry. My pending job in Fine Jewelry, however, is nudging me to alter some attitudes, and I’ll wear the ring today.

My view out a window suggests that, as I’ve been writing, this morning’s branch-bending early winds have calmed. That makes me revise my earlier prediction: In this stillness, I will find my center and savor the gentle weather.

Oops, I’m speaking too soon. Apparently, these morning winds are circling, as now my window is revealing the high-blowing again.

Dear Friends: One more hot coffee before I bundle up and head out. Diana

Moving, Grooving

Sunday, June 02, 2024

Yesterday, in a nod to our extravagant natures, Susan, a store manager, and I tried on expensive sunglasses. She’s wearing a Versace, and I’m wearing a Gucci. My Guccis didn’t alter the world’s appearance, but having them on was a kick.

I was celebrating because the store officially is transitioning me into a new role. I’ll become a part-time salesperson in Fine Jewelry. The change will follow my background check. All I have known about fine jewelry is that it’s pretty, and I enjoy wearing my own few pieces for special occasions.

I have begun reading books about gemstones which are opening a world of personal adornment to me. The experts speak about deep human desires, for beauty and self-adornment, a love of brilliant colors, and the thrill of seeing sparkling white light from a diamond—in other words, there’s a world of motivations for buying and owning gems.

It’s been so since time immemorial, but like everything else, increased scientific knowledge and technological advances have altered the buying and selling of gemstones. For eons, those processes were based on assessments at eye and gut levels. Modern technology has brought accuracy to identifying and assessing gems.

On a personal note, this new position will give me more knowledge about the retail world and teach me new, specific sales skills.

Dear Friends: My wish to work and learn that began two years ago gets more interesting. Diana

Play Ball!

Saturday, June 01, 2024

Yesterday, my friend Julie and I attended this season’s opening game. We watched the Bend Elks against the Walla Walla Sweets from seats high up in nearly full bleachers. Their game was pretty good, but we left at the top of the fifth inning because I didn’t have a warm jacket. (Here in Bend, when the sun goes down, the wind gets chilly.) I’ll go see the Elks again, next time wearing my new (official) Elks ballcap and new Elks t-shirt, and bringing an appropriate jacket.

I enjoyed seeing the game with Julie. She’s from Chicago and knows the Sox and the Cubs. She’s also a retired social worker. She observed the crowd around us, as interested in people as in the game. She pointed out relationship behaviors that showed people relaxing, bonding, and enjoying the game. In the noisy, busy stadium environment, her observations of family-like pleasantries spoke to the “human values side” of baseball.

About sociology and human values, yesterday, the department store where I work part-time said farewell to our manager, Lisa. She’s happily moving on in her career but she was in tears throughout her crew’s goodbye.

A wonderful leader, Lisa is alert and smart, quick-moving, technically capable, and people-oriented. She knows everybody who works in the store and likes us all, and she manages efficiently and effectively overall.

Here we all were yesterday. Lisa is in the middle, identified by a big, shiny necklace.

Dear Friends: After a memorable day off, I’ll be working and adapting to change today. Diana

End-To-End

Friday, May 31, 2024

I’ve looked forward to today, the opening day of baseball locally. Our Bend Elks will play against the Walla Walla (Wash.) Sweets. My friend Julie and I will be in the bleachers, stomping and yelling for the Elks.

Last season, after hesitating for years to go to an Elks game, I attended one. I had expected little of a second or third-string training team. To my surprise, that game was a big family event. I was challenged to find a parking spot and an empty bleacher seat. The game, a slam dunk for the Elks, didn’t hold my interest throughout; however, the sociology did. Throughout, family groups cheered and stomped for the Elks and children had a grand time.

I picked up on a local club’s larger appeal, which extends beyond the game itself, by creating a sense of community and offering an affordable, accessible form of entertainment. I got hooked on attending and planned to buy a season ticket, but my working schedule interferes, so when possible I’ll attend games.

Today is important, too, unique in a different way. This is the last day our store manager, Lisa, will be working with us; she’s moving to Colorado to start managing a larger store. I’m not on today’s working schedule, but going to the store and will bid Lisa a fond goodbye. She’s one of the best managers I’ve been fortunate to know. All of us who work in this store will miss her.

This Saturday will be my next working day. It’s also the start day for our store’s new manager. I’m certain to be saying more later about the change.

Dear Friends: A day that’s starting emotionally and later winding up energetically. Diana