spring happening

morning walk

Hi,

It occurs to me that writing a blog entry once every few months is a little like a digital Christmas letter. I am pretty sure my readers are all family members...

There are less than 2 weeks left of tax season, and consequently, of my current employment. As usual, I have learned a lot about myself, my interests and abilities. I have met a lot of interesting people. I am horrified to be working at $10.50 an hour, but thrilled to have paid off my credit cards. With my last few paychecks, I will reduce what I owe for my home equity loan. I feel better about being able to deal with the future...and, of course, I know lots about taxes, which will serve me well.





Spring has finally come to Athens. We had a cold spring this year, but I know we will soon be too warm. My Dad has been very busy planting and caring for the vegetables, with very little help from me. Peach trees have bloomed, peas and radishes are up, and he has set out many lettuces and broccoli, and started the tomatoes and peppers. The windows are open some days, and people are stuffy and sneezy from pollen...even me, which is pretty unusual. I keep thinking I am getting a cold, but apparently, it's just an allergy.

baby peas coming up along the fence

The news is pretty discouraging, with the state legislature passing a law that makes carrying guns ok...in bars and churches. It is quite terrifying. I will have to move, become a hermit, run for office, or buy a gun and learn to shoot it. (not really). Then there's the recent Supreme Court decision about unlimiting contributions to political candidates.

Last night, though, in spite of being tired and not wanting to take the time, Ray and I went to hear Morris Dees speak at UGA. The School of Social Work is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The current dean was a professor of mine, Maurice Daniels. He is African-American and has worked to publicize little-known civil rights figures and make sure the current generation learns the history of this fight. We saw part of a movie about Donald Hollowell and his work.

Morris Dees is 79 years old and very active and vibrant. I am jealous as my back has been bothering me some, and I worry a lot about the rest of my life. He grew up very poor. He did not use the term share-cropper, but I know he picked cotton as a teen. His parents wanted him to become a lawyer, because farming was a hard life. He was wealthy at a young age and founded the Southern Poverty Law Center. We heard about a few of his cases and the tireless efforts they have been making. He was funny, moving, and, most importantly, hopeful. I get so weighed down at how things are going, I really need to listen to people like him. (I just read that the Athens Justice Project is closing). About the recent Supreme Court decision, he said that when people like the Koch Brothers threw so much money around trying to get Romney elected, the voters said, "no. That's not the kind of president we want." He thinks it backfired. Perhaps he is right.

They work for women's rights and LGBT rights, as well as those of

African-Americans, and they do it using the legal system (and lots of money). He talked about a woman whose son was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan, who forgave her son's killer in the courtroom, and even made the judge cry. The murderer testified against the Klan and the mother now owns their fancy headquarters.

On another front, Adrian is with Molli in Boston this week to attend his green card interview. Life can be very ironic. When his mother died suddenly in January, he was with her in Mexico. Meanwhile, his work permit had arrived in Boston. He has not yet used it. He has been arranging to become the guardian for Tamara, his 14-year-old sister, and settling his mother's affairs. He plans to sell her little house and they hope Tamara will be able to live with them and go to high school in Boston by next fall. She is having a tough time, as you can imagine, adjusting to life without her mother. Apparently, being a guardian does not give you any immigration rights...sigh. They have made several inquiries and it seems Adrian may have to stay with her in Mexico for months or possibly years. Meanwhile, Molli is plugging away at law school, but naturally misses her husband, not to mention that their plan involved him earning money to support them.