Simply Beautiful

“You take care of the grass, the grass will take care of you”–Flint Hills saying.

After weeks of rain, the Kansas Flint Hills look like a sea of green.

Saturday, June 12th, there were over 5-thousand of us floating on that sea near Bazaar, Kansas.

We were there for the 5th anniversary Symphony in the Flint Hills Concert and it was simply beautiful.

The stage was set up at the bottom of a hill on the South Clements pasture owned by Edward Bass of Fort Worth, Texas.

Throughout the concert cattle grazed on the hillside behind the symphony–ranchers and riders moving them about– a graceful choreographed dance in the tall bluestem grass.

I sat listening to Copland’s “Buckaroo Holiday”, staring at the vast landscape, the oceans of air above us and felt completely swallowed by my surroundings.

Organizers offered rides in covered wagons that rolled across a ridge top while people set up their chairs and picnic suppers.

I kept thinking of the people who crossed this country looking for a new life. I thought about the women who carried babies with them: some in leather slings on their backs, others bundled in a hot crib in a buckboard. Here we were, sitting on land where they walked, listening to a symphony.

Lyle Lovett was the special guest artist. He added to the magic and played one of my favorite songs, “If I had a boat.” At some point between his appearances he looked at the crowd and said, “I want you all to know, I don’t think I’ll ever forget this night.” Neither will I.

One man’s gift, another man’s legacy

Ted Horn died Friday. He was 91. His name probably won’t sound familiar to many of you unless you were close followers of the late Larry Stewart, the man most people knew as Kansas City’s “Secret Santa”.

Ted was the man who got all the giving started. Ted and his wife Ruby ran a diner in Houston, Mississippi some 30 plus years ago. He’s the man who fed Stewart the biggest breakfast on the menu when Stewart didn’t have a dime to pay him. Somehow Ted figured that out. When Stewart started feeling around in his pockets, acting like he’d lost his wallet, Ted knew what was going on. He’d seen it before and in this case he knew exactly what to do. He reached down on the floor and came up with a $20 and told Stewart, “Here, I think you dropped this.” Years later Stewart confessed he paid the bill in a hurry and took the change and ran. He was sure the person who really dropped the money was going to come back for it. It wasn’t until after he filled his car with gas and was headed to another state where he could get some help that he realized what had happened. Ted Horn had helped him in a way that let him keep his dignity and Stewart never forgot.

He repaid Ted by giving his own money away when he finally had some. I’ve seen him pay for a stranger’s gas and drive away before they knew what had happened. I know he wrote a check once to help a young man get a heart lung transplant…a very BIG check. And finally, about 20 years after the good deed that changed his life, I saw him hand Ted Horn an envelope with $10,000 in it. Ted was an old man by then, caring for Ruby who had alzheimers.

Ruby died, then Larry died, but Ted carried on. For the past several years photographer Tim Twyman and I have called Ted in Tupelo, Mississippi on Christmas Eve or as close to it as possible. We wanted him to know we were thinking about him and we knew where the goodness all started. It started with a kind man who ran a diner and sometimes struggled to raise his own family.

I’ve been to Ted’s house twice. I’ve met his wonderful children. I’ve eaten breakfast in his kitchen. Ted had a big room on the back of his house and at Christmas time he had an enormous train set on a table there. In the middle of the set was “Secret Santa” station.

Ted came to Kansas City with his daughter Sandra Cox a few years back to help us with a big surprise for Stewart when he finally revealed his identity. Larry was battling cancer at the time and he only lived 3 months after this picture was taken. We took Ted and Sandra to lunch at Union Station and tried to make sure he understood the party was for him as well as Stewart.

Ted’s family asked in lieu of flowers mourners instead practice a random act of kindness. I plan to do the same here in Kansas City.

Consider this. It doesn’t have to be a $20 dropped in a homeless man’s hat. You could simply open a door for someone; offer a smile to a child; go visit an old person in a nursing home. If they’re still alive, call your parents and tell them you love ‘em. Larry and Ted would both appreciate that. I think they’re pretty busy right now. I’m convinced they’re having biscuits and gravy in heaven.

The Curse of the Mummy

The curse of the mummy is the stuff of legends. It started with the mysterious deaths of some of the people who discovered the tomb of King Tut. Some believed it was divine retribution for disturbing the remains of some powerful dead people. Scientists say some deaths probably had more to do with bacteria found in the tombs than superstitious juju. Not the stuff of Indiana Jones, but there you are.

What few thought to examine until recently? What was “the curse” for the mummies? Did the Pharaohs and their families suffer from the same kind of diseases we do?

(Photo Courtesy: Dr. Michael Miyamoto)

It turns out they do and the results may surprise you. Most of us think of strokes and heart attacks as a modern problem–the result of bad diet and too little exercize. But last February, Dr. Randall Thompson of the Mid America Heart Institute, along with doctors, egyptologists and researchers from all over the country, examined 22 mummies from the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo and discovered ancient arteries look much like ours.

The difference between them and us is their fat build up and calcification was discovered to be part of the normal disease and aging process. We start out with the same potential and accelerate the damage by what we eat and don’t do to stay healthy. In other words, we live much longer than mummies, but some of us have insides aging more quickly than the ancients.

I’m always fascinated by how projects like this begin. Who got the idea, “Hey, let’s take expensive CT machines to Egypt, scan mummy hearts and see what we find”?

Well, consider this. This project started after a doctor saw a small placard in a Pharaoh exhibit in Cairo that said “this man suffered from heart disease”. That doctor did what millions of others NEVER did. He asked the question, “How do they know?”, then proceeded to find out. The rest is now ancient and modern history.

Cancer without Coverage

Giovanni Mesa is one in 13.7 million. That’s how many young people ages 19 to 29 are not insured. They represent about a third of all the uninsured people in the U.S. and “Gio”, as his friends call him, is among them.

Gio was an otherwise healthy young man, a soccer player and all around great guy. He is not the kind of young man to let his insurance lapse. In fact he didn’t even know he had until he was diagnosed with cancer.

A thumbnail: Gio’s checking account was hacked. His insurance payment was an automatic deduction from his account. After he was hacked, he opened a new account and the deductions did not follow. In addition to this, he moved while all this was going on and never received notice that his insurance was canceled.

In April of 2009 he was diagnosed with lymphoma. Gio was treated for cancer without healthcare coverage. His prognosis and his attitude are good. His balance sheet? Not so good. He owes close to $50 thousand dollars.

His friends are throwing a benefit for him at The Rhapsody in Independence this weekend. Some very generous businesses are donating things, all kinds of things for a silent auction. Some people are playing poker to support him. But maybe the greatest donation he’s received is support from his friend Matt Hawley. Yes, Matt is one of the Steamboat Arabia Hawleys. He’s also a talented video editor and he’s followed Gio with a camera from diagnosis to treatment to wellness. He’s created a video that’s on Youtube about Gio and he hopes to make it in to a documentary one day. I hope he does. Gio is an inspirational guy and others can probably learn a valuable lesson from him. They need to see how hard it is to navigate a life-threatening illness without health insurance.

Check out Gio’s story on the KMBC 9 News tonight and consider this: How much will Gio have to pay for health insurance in the future?

For more information about his fundraiser: http://therhapsody.net/gio/

Pedal Power

If you didn’t catch stage 7 of the Tour of Missouri in Kansas City Sunday, you missed a really good event! Organizers were hoping for big crowds for what could be the final lap of this world class cycling event in the state. Missouri made a 3 year commitment to the race. Without a big sponsor or cooperation in Jefferson City, we may not have a chance to see this again.

Broadcaster Paul Sherwen with Tour of Missouri winner Dave Zabriskie of Garmin-Slipstream

Here’s what they say we’re getting out of this: over a half million people watching the race as it crosses the state. Last year it brought in close to 30 million dollars–this in return for a $1.5 million dollar investment by the state. But here’s what all those stats are missing. Lt Governor Peter Kinder said in Kansas City Sunday that this is an event that connects rural Missouri with the metropolitan areas. The race winds through small towns where people bring their lawn chairs out to see some of the fastest riders in the world. High school bands play for the crowds of fans. Most cities have a charity ride in conjunction with the tour and almost all of them have a kids race of some kind where every child goes home a winner.

Fans gather at the starting line for stage 7 of The Tour of Missouri at Pershing & Grand

Is it worth the money? I guess that’s for the politicians and the public to decide. The bad economy almost sucked the air out of the event this year…almost. I’m glad it didn’t. Here’s what I saw on the streets of Kansas City. I saw Johnson County cyclists lining Summit Street partying with west side residents. I saw people set up tents to picnic with total strangers who just happened to wander in. And I saw kids–lots and lots of kids–wearing paper numbers that signified they rode in the children’s race before the professionals took over the streets. I also saw pride in pulling this off. How do you put a price tag on that?

Brad Schrock, (center), flanked by Tour of Missouri Volunteers. Brad is the head of the K.C. organizing committee for stage 7.

Hey folks, summer’s over. Let me know who’s doing good in your neighborhood. It’s time to get back to blogging.

Teach Your Children Well.

Have you ever noticed how children with generous parents often grow up to be givers?

That’s certainly true of Johnnie Matz of Shawnee. His dad John first gave blood while in the Navy during World War II. Johnnie admires his dad and followed his example. His dad’s in his 80′s and still giving blood, but Johnnie, he’s giving circles around most people. He’s been rolling up his sleeves since 1972, to date he’s given 68 gallons of blood. No one at the Community Blood Center can remember anyone who’s given more.

He does it to help out, but what you might not know is helping others has benefits for donors as well. You see in order to donate blood, the center checks your cholesterol, your blood pressure and measures other vital signs that can alert you to illness and lifestyle problems before they become big problems. What would you pay for that at the doctor’s office? What’s an office visit? What’s your co-pay? What’s your deductible on lab work? You get the picture?

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the people I saw doing good in Kirksville, Missouri last week, especially the little people. After a tornado hit the northern edge of town all kinds of folks came out to help. The cutest were the very young children who came to pick up trash.

Some were hauling sheet rock bigger than they are and it was very cool to watch. What will those kids learn from that experience? Well they might walk away with Johnnie Matz’s lesson. When children see adults reaching out to others it’s not long before they’re trying to do the same thing.

Incidentally, Johnnie’s son and his wife also donate blood. If you’d like to do the same, contact the Community Blood Center (816) 753-4040 or visit them on the web for more information.

Say Cheese!

If you have a healthy smile, thank a dentist. O.K., you should probably thank a mom who bugged you to brush AND a dentist.

It’s easy to let it slide, easy to skip the nightly floss, easy to turn a two minute routine into 30 seconds of brushing and a quick rinse. Easy until you develop a problem.

Lots of people are skipping visits to the dentists right now because of money. If you have dental insurance, you’re one of the few and lucky. Since dental bills are out of pocket expenses for most of us, it’s easy to put it off, but you shouldn’t.

Gum disease is not glamorous and lately it’s being blamed for everything: heart disease, stroke, there are even links to pancreatic cancer. Have I scared you in to making an appointment?

Fortunately, a lot of people in Kansas City can get reduced cost dental service at the UMKC School of Dentistry. Their fees are 30 to 40 percent below a typical dentist. Yes, it usually takes longer to take advantage of this care, but when bills are in the thousands, how much is your time worth?

They see between 60 and 70 thousand patients a year at their clinic at 25th and Holmes in Kansas City. It’s an amazing resource for people in the community. The folks there were doing good things long before the economy went south.

The young woman in this photo is a volunteer from Village Presbyterian Church, helping a child in the Dominican Republic learn how to use a toothbrush. Many of them come from families where they share a brush. Something to think about when you make that appointment with your dentist.

Hooked on Credit Cards

Natasha Wycoff could just be the best thing that ever happened to your college student. For that matter she might do wonders for parents as well.

Natasha is a counselor at Consumer Credit Counseling Services in Overland Park. She helps people set their priorities, figure out how to keep their homes, how to send their children to college. She works with everyone from pensioners using credit cards to pay for medicine to people making six figures who can’t make ends meet.

I asked her how she helps people overcome the embarrassment of having to show their financial problems to a total stranger. She looked at me and said, “Have you ever asked your insurance agent if he could save you some money? Did that embarrass you? It shouldn’t.” That’s how she views her job. She’s looking for ways to help people get out of debt and save money.

Heaven knows we could use her kind of advice. After our interview she e-mailed me this article from SmartMoney.com. It says debt levels among college students have increased 44% in the last five years. They now owe an average of $4,100 on credit cards. 

I’m thinking of all the happy graduates accepting diploma’s this month wondering how they’re going to pay off student loans, where they’ll find work and how much credit they have left on their cards.

I wish I could introduce them to people like Natasha Wyckoff and others like her who are “Doing Good in a Bad Economy.” Here’s an idea, introduce yourself: www.cccservices.com.

Sisters of St. Francis

It started out as one container shipped to Brazil. Now they’re sending 20 to 30 thousand pounds of help to needy people all over the world.

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist didn’t wait for the economy to turn sour before they started “doing good”. For 17 years the Independence, Missouri order has been doing mission work that not only helps people, but the planet.

I first heard about the sisters when a columnist for The Kansas City Star wrote about how they needed volunteers to help repair donated bikes. I knew there would be a response and I was right. When I visited their compound at the northern most edge of Noland Road this month, I met Darrell Durst. Durst is a retired insurance man who spends most weekday mornings at their warehouse fixing the bikes. (He does take a day off now and then to go fishing when the weather’s right.)

What I didn’t expect to find was all the other stuff people are doing and donating. They have everything from hospital beds to school lockers to clothing–you name it. Things that would’ve gone in the landfill to make room for new equipment in this country, will instead go to Africa, South America and India.

The Sisters of St. Francis also operate two beautiful greenhouses to help pay their expenses. I couldn’t resist. The plants were healthy, inexpensive and absolutely beautiful. The nursery is open to the public Monday thru Saturday from about 9:30 to 4:00. It’s worth the trip, not just for the plants, but for the peace you’ll find there.

Sister Andrea Kantner heads up the world outreach program. I asked her if she ever gets to see the results of their good works, the change they make in the lives of strangers. She says she sometimes gets photos and wonderful letters. But among the things that move her the most? Seeing the change right here in the people who donate their time to work alongside The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist.

I know Victoria’s Secret

 

I’m claiming temporary insanity, peer pressure and a persuasive marketing man. How else can I explain why I accepted a walk on part in the Lyric Opera’s production of “The Pirates of Penzance”?

For years the little kids in our family and I have put on a play in the garage for the annual Halloween party, but nothing like this.

Jim DeGood of the Lyric called and sent a flattering e-mail asking me to portray Queen Victoria. He called me a “notorious Kansas Citian”, (read foolish), and asked me, “Won’t you be our Queen for a day?”

It started out well. This is wardrobe supervisor Janice Toombs next to my, yes, MY dressing room door with my name on it. (I’m pretty sure it’s a slide out card. There are four of us so-called celebrity women who will play the part over the next two weeks.)

The costume is gorgeous: an elegant black, slightly sparkly thing with a very tight waist. I asked the wardrobe people what happened to the anorexic who wore it last and they laughed. This is a non-speaking part, but I had no idea it would be a non-breathing part as well.

The opera is beautifully staged. I watched as director Dorothy Danner made suggestions about the slightest flicking of a handkerchief; the angle of a sword and yes, how to walk like a queen. (Slowly, very slowly.)

This is a very funny production and odd that it’s being performed in this time of real trouble on the seas. To compare what’s going on on stage at the Lyric to what’s going on in the pirate world off the coast of Africa is like comparing Captain Jack Sparrow to Captain Richard Phillips. There is no comparison. You will laugh if you see it–maybe even at me.

I’ll be honest. I was hoping I’d look youthful, slightly regal, maybe classy? It turns out I should have hoped for something a little less dead. Queen Victoria is the monarch who reigned for 63 years in England. She spent much of her life in mourning after the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. Her face portrayed the years and strain and so will mine Saturday night, the opening night of the performance. (Those make up folks are wickedly good.)

So what does all this have to do with “Doing Good in a Bad Economy”? Well the arts are suffering too, you know. (It’s no coincidence that all of the “celebrity” queens are from local media outlets or the theatre.) And if my writing about it, talking about it on T.V. and playing a part puts a few more people in the seats at the Lyric, it will make a lot of people happy. Plus, couldn’t we all use a good laugh right about now?

So here’s what I believe is Victoria’s Secret. She holds her breath, her tongue and her spine perfectly vertical.

Forgive me if this all sounds a little cranky, I’m still trying to figure out the new technology I wrote about last week and I’m not getting much sleep. I’m still wrestling with how to walk like a queen.