Ellen Hawkley's Birthday - May 3rd
My mother-in-law, Sarah Ellen Adkins Hawkley, was born on May 3, 1916 just prior to the era of the flu pandemic that killed millions of people.
I especially admired her unflinching resolve to move forward in complicated circumstances.
For example, living with her parents during WWII while her husband was serving in the military, she received a telegram that he had been shot down over Germany and was possibly a prisoner of war. She subsequently gave birth to Daniel Leland Hawkley (my future husband) on September 14, 1944. Not that she had much choice in giving birth, but knowing Ellen, there was no "woe is me" or blubbering while awaiting the eventual joyous return of her husband.
Later, Ellen served the community of American Falls, Idaho for decades as a nurse and hospital administrator. If she were alive today, she would be among the first of the first responders and the last to give up on any patient in her care.
Her lifetime of service to her parents and eleven siblings is legendary -- her cooking, divine.
One of her favorite sayings was, "Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze."
OK.
My guess is that Ellen Hawkley would suggest I celebrate her birthday by continuing to "wear a mask" in public, "stay home," and "social distance." Ugh.
In her honor, I will do those things -- for the time being -- albeit with a bit of a "chip on my shoulder"
and even though I do not believe being ordered to do so by government officials is Constitutional.
I will "follow the rules" until they are no longer consistent with scientific facts -- because there has been enough death already and because there is no need to repeat even a tiny fraction of the 1917 era.
I would just ever-so-much rather do things because they are requested and Right,
Not because a government official circumvented the Constitution and ordered me to obey.
I especially admired her unflinching resolve to move forward in complicated circumstances.
For example, living with her parents during WWII while her husband was serving in the military, she received a telegram that he had been shot down over Germany and was possibly a prisoner of war. She subsequently gave birth to Daniel Leland Hawkley (my future husband) on September 14, 1944. Not that she had much choice in giving birth, but knowing Ellen, there was no "woe is me" or blubbering while awaiting the eventual joyous return of her husband.
Later, Ellen served the community of American Falls, Idaho for decades as a nurse and hospital administrator. If she were alive today, she would be among the first of the first responders and the last to give up on any patient in her care.
Her lifetime of service to her parents and eleven siblings is legendary -- her cooking, divine.
One of her favorite sayings was, "Apple pie without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze."
OK.
My guess is that Ellen Hawkley would suggest I celebrate her birthday by continuing to "wear a mask" in public, "stay home," and "social distance." Ugh.
In her honor, I will do those things -- for the time being -- albeit with a bit of a "chip on my shoulder"
and even though I do not believe being ordered to do so by government officials is Constitutional.
I will "follow the rules" until they are no longer consistent with scientific facts -- because there has been enough death already and because there is no need to repeat even a tiny fraction of the 1917 era.
I would just ever-so-much rather do things because they are requested and Right,
Not because a government official circumvented the Constitution and ordered me to obey.
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