I was impressed with her preparation. She reminded us that we are really blessed to have the media and technology advances that we do but must remember that we should use them wisely. Since media can be a powerful influence, to choose media that uplifts us and helps improve relationships. She commented that she noticed since most of her friends now have Facebook (she does not, she really isn't interested in it yet), they don't communicate with her as often anymore. Balance in all things is the key.
She asked each of us to draw the form of media/technology that we spend the most time with. Then we were to make a personal goal on how we would use that item more wisely - maybe with the amount of time we spend or what we are doing on it. We cut out our drawings and placed them where we would see it at least three times a day. We have one month to work on this goal. At the end of the month we will discuss our experiences.
Daria drew an iPod touch that looks like the real thing. On the face it looked like the "notes" app, where she wrote a verse about making good choices. Ken drew his truck (to represent his truck radio), I drew my computer, and Dustin drew the iPad or Kindle to represent video games. I think the lesson was worth it.
On another note, Daria had the opportunity to take the SAT in January through the Duke Talent program (this is only to give them an idea of how they rank compared to college bound seniors) and she also made it into the National Junior Honor Society. She will be inducted on April 19.
Dustin builds with Legos more than ever. With each new creation I'm more and more impressed. His last large scale creation turned out to be a B-17 bomber from WWII. He built this out of his own stash of Legos (which he can never have enough of - and we are always looking for more) and his pure imagination. It underwent a few upgrades since the first design but the B-17 sports 10 crew members, waist guns, top and bottom turrets, engines, and front gunner. The letter "H" (as opposed to a "C") on the tail is my favorite. He was so excited about his creation that we brought it up to show the WWII veterans during Spring Break. They were impressed, especially the B-17 veterans. I don't know how he does it. I can only organize Legos into colors and categories.
Ken is chomping at the bit to use one of his new tools on a woodworking project. He and some buddies attended a national woodworking show that was held here recently.
I had an interesting experience yesterday. Actually I've had two significant experiences in the past few weeks. The first was the experience of a lifetime to fly on a B-17 with WWII veterans. I'm going to save that for its own post because it was so super amazing.
Back to yesterday where I found myself speaking to three
college classes at the invitation of a History Professor and WWII veteran and
Pearl Harbor survivor Dave Hughes. I still can't really believe it and am
writing it down so I can process the whole experience. Eighty-eight year old Dave (who I know very
well) has been going to this college for the past 9 years as a guest speaker.
This year he and the professor thought I
should come along. I brought along my military tribute video that each of you
watched last Memorial Day. I've remastered
and streamlined the video and added new information - it is a ton better.
These history classes have just completed the section on WWII, thus the reason
Dave is speaking. Professor Watson used my video to open each class with. To my
surprise, all three times, at the close of the video, Professor Watson who was visibly
emotional had tears in his eyes. His
father served in WWII, and I knew that he and I had the same feeling about the
importance of learning history. I was invited to speak after the video and then
again after Dave's presentation. Just so you know, Dave is much more enjoyable
to listen too. Never mind that he survived Pearl Harbor, his ship was attached
to some of the most famous ships: the Enterprise, the Hornet, and the Wasp -
earned six battle stars including Midway, and was sunk by torpedoes just a year
after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Dave himself floated in the water off of the
Guadal Canal for 12 hours before being rescued. He jokingly says that he and
ten others formed a circle in the water and sang songs the whole time. Two of
the men sang every song off key and that must have scared the sharks away! Dave
is a hoot to listen to and can keep you laughing even during a lecture on a
horrible war. I am not that captivating, but I was invited so I would do my
best. Actually I really don't have a problem speaking in public, at least on a
subject I'm comfortable with. What made me feel out of place was that I was
surrounded by a Professor with a PhD who obviously knows history, a WWII
veteran who was there and a room full of college students who are earning their
degrees. I can't claim any of that, no PhD, no military service, no college, no
degree - so it felt odd that "I" was the one speaking to
"them." I do however have a passion for history, and I do know enough
about the veterans I've interviewed and apparently my photography and work was
enough to amount to something. Enough that Professor Watson said he'd like to
see me back again.
On my drive that morning I thought about what I might
initially say. I knew vaguely what the Professor wanted me to speak on. I know
that for most people history can be a bore. It's good teachers like this man who try to bring it to life for their
students. I won't go over everything I
said but I will mention two things that I hoped the students would take away
from that class. One was my experience with a man I worked for in High School,
a Vietnam Veteran. I interviewed him for an extra credit project. It was then
that I remember thinking "These stories need to be told." That is one
reason why I do what I do. Secondly I told them and I write it here because I
believe it whole heartedly. That is, that no matter what classes they have to take, no matter what their degree is
in or what they do with their lives, the most important class or classes they will ever take, will be
history. Whether you like history or not, it is so important to learn it and
know it. When we know our history, our nation's history and the history of the
world, it effects everything we do, how we vote, what type of citizen we
believe we should be, what type of parents or worker or what we do for others.
I truly believe that. People can know history and have different opinions. They
have taken what they have learned and it has helped them make educated
decisions about what they believe. If we don't understand history we are bound
to repeat it and when we do know history we know what we can do to make things
better. It was amazing to look out at this class, no doubt some will one day be
our leaders, doctors, engineers, etc. and they shook their heads in agreement. I
was humbled to have been there, it really was an honor and opportunity that I
will never forget. 
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