Will's World 03 27 2010

Story Chapel, just inside the main entrance to Mount Auburn

 Cemetery, in Cambridge, Mass.  The cemetery, founded in 1831,

is the first landscaped cemetery in North America. 

I understand that no human is perfect but shouldn’t each one of us be striving to get closer to perfection --- not in a fanatical, but a reasonable manner.


Lin Yutang in From Pagan to Christian mentions Confucius’s concept of ren-ren. “This philosophical idea of ren, or true manhood,” states Lin, “became, for Confucius, an ideal somewhat difficult to attain. … [He] did allow that this true manhood was within reach of everyone. … But to be a ‘real man,’ in English as well as in Chinese society is not easy. I suppose Confucius would say that Abraham Lincoln was a ren-ren, a real man, an example of the human best, consistently maintained at a high level.”

Lin later states: “A harmony is established between the moral universe without and the laws of true manhood within. In discovering his true self, man finds unity with the universe, and conversely, in finding unity with the moral laws of the universe man realizes his true self, or true manhood.”

Although their achievements may be far fewer than those reached by Lincoln, there are people still striving to improve themselves and society at the same time --- Tony Torosian for example.

An obituary in the Thursday, March 25, 2010 Boston Globe describes how Torosian had spent over 25 years attending court proceedings in Boston’s federal and state courtrooms --- just because he enjoyed doing it. And eventually, lawyers and judges began seeking advice from Tony regarding how their cases were developing.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf is quoted as saying: “There are some people who drop into court proceedings occasionally; there are others who come regularly, but nobody was as almost religiously devoted to observing the operations of this court as Tony.”

Confucius observed that when an individual educates and improves him/herself, society benefits. We all have the opportunity to do just that, and not only society but the universe also will benefit.

A military burial was held for Tony Torosian at Mount Auburn.

"Tony always enjoyed a good cigar," said his brother Bob Torosian,

 above right, as friends and relatives of Tony began smoking

cigars, in remembrance of Tony, soon after the funeral service.

Buds and small blossoms began appearing on some

of the trees in Mount Auburn Cemetery, which covers

175 acres of meadows, hills, ponds and woods.

Harold Edgerton, pioneer in stobe

lights and photography.

B.F. Skinner, pioneer in behavior modification.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The name sounds familiar but I don't know if he ever

accomplished anything with his life. More notable graves include:

Charles Bulfinch, Curt Gowdy, Buckminster Fuller,

Mary Baker Eddy, Felix Frankfurter, Oliver Wendell Holmes,

Winslow Homer, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and many others.

Interior of Story Chapel

Will's World 03 26 2010

John F. Monahan: Dec. 7, 1954 --- March 19, 2010

“Toward the end of T.S. Eliot’s life,” according to author Bernard Bergonzi in ‘T.S. Eliot,’ “a friend asked him if he could say more about some lines from Little Gidding:


And what the dead had no speech for, when living,

They can tell you, being dead: the communication

Of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living.


Eliot replied that we cannot fully understand a person’s life, and grasp the totality of his being, until he is dead: ‘Once he is dead, the acts of his life fall into their proper perspective and we can see what he was tending toward.’ ”

But even in death, as in life, it’s very difficult to get a proper perspective of John F. Monahan. John, 55, my dear friend for over 35 years, died last Friday, March 19, by his own effort and left many grieving friends and baffled relatives wondering why.

It was not because his life’s work was complete. John seldom completed anything. His life and his years as a talented photojournalist were an ongoing project with no end in sight. He existed to be doing; he rarely contemplated any long-range results of his actions. He was too busy doing. Capturing the exact photo he wanted; finding the exact word he needed; determining the exact moment to act.

John was interested in, and knew something about, most everything --- atoms to Adam; zits to Zaphod Beeblebrox --- and still thirsted for more knowledge and understanding. But he was never able to understand the complexities of everyday life: the monthly bills, the legal documents; the required forms; the rituals that most folks must go through to have an orderly existence.

He was too busy doing. He was on a quest but I’m not sure if he even knew exactly what would indicate that his quest was attained. He seemed to be fascinated by the journey and intoxicated by air itself.

In recent months John had focused more and more on religious matters. Some might want to believe that he finally achieved his quest by fully embracing his spirituality and his journey has ended in a beautiful place.

But I don’t know and never will. John and I had a falling out. He was extremely angry at me and refused to talk to me during the last weeks of his life. He felt that I betrayed our friendship. I considered him irrational and didn’t bother to respond to some of the statements he made to others.

Maybe it was I who was irrational. I loved John like a brother for three decades then in his last few weeks, when I knew that he was struggling with depression and worse, I foolishly did not try hard enough to break through the barrier between us. I was ignorant of his many recent activities and naively thought that once he got over being angry at me that we would once again be friends. But I didn’t try hard enough to help a friend.

I let him down, and he died.

Illustration by David Rose, presented

to John when leaving for Gannett Newspapers.

Home of The Post community newspaper (second floor) in

Roslindale Square (Boston), where John began his journalism career.

John's sons, Sean (far right) and Paul (third from right),

greet visitors at Thursday's wake.

John's close friend for over 50 years, Matt Carroll shares

memories of John at the Trinitarian Congregational Church

in Wayland, Mass., where the celebration of John's life

was held on Friday, March 26, 2010.

 

John's son Paul reads scripture during the celebration service

at the Trinitarian Congregational Church.

Will's World 03 03 2010

Mildred C. inside the Crystal Cathedral.

Glass, and plenty of it, sparkles in the sunlight, and dazzles visitors at Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., which is the home of Rev. Robert H. Schuller and his internationally televised “Hour of Power”, which claims an audience of approximately 20 million.


“To inspire and motivate persons through possibility thinking to grow in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ so they can be the persons God dreams, desires, and designed them to be,” is the Cathedral’s mission statement.

Schuller, 83, often preaches sermons focusing on positive actions, and has written 37 books, in hopes of motivating his audiences. He began his career in Orange County when he rented the Orange Drive-In movie theater and held Sunday services from the roof of its snack bar.

According to church officials, “The New Yorker said in 2008 that Dr. Schuller’s ministry is the ‘phenomenon’ behind today’s mega-church movement.”

When we visited the church, my parents enjoyed the architecture and the many statues depicting Biblical scenes that were scattered about the campus.

First stop after leaving the church was the Salvadoran restaurant in Santa Ana, “El Curtido” for some delicious Carne Deshilachada (shredded beef sautéed in onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers.

"Peace Be Still" statue depices Jesus walking on water.

"The Holy Family" statue.

Dining at "El Curtido" in Santa Ana.

Friendly and helpful waitress at "El Curtido" restaurant.

Will's World 03 02 2010

Cooking hamburgers at Paul's Place on Los Alamitos

Boulevard in Los Alamitos, Calif.

It seems that my parents, on their visit to Seal Beach, Calif., and I have been spending a great deal of time lately just feeding our faces. But that’s not true. When we’re discussing family matters and important issues there is little opportunity for taking photos, so most people only see is us feeding our faces.


But isn’t that true of so many other situations. A few photos, a thirty-second video of an event, a ten-second sound bite, five column inches of text: all are often the medium by which we learn of an important event. Only, often we don’t recognize it as important event. We absorb it only as facts and figures of something happening but emotionally we are not deeply moved. We don’t get the whole picture.

If it’s not of the magnitude of “9/11” or the “Haiti Quake” most of us are not really interested about the snippets of life that flicker before our eyes. If they don’t affect me directly, why should I care?

Note to self: WAKE UP!!! Live the life that I’ve been fortune enough to have been given. Every second counts. Every life counts. Every breath counts.

Paul's Place: all tables and chairs are outside.

Only the cooks and cashier have a place under the roof.

Everything is cooked to order.

Mildred and Bill chose the "California" burgers.

Dining in the sunlight.

End of day discussion with Jacky and Venerable H.D.

in coffee shop near University of the West campus in Rosemead.

Photo of Will at work years ago:
http://picasaweb.google.com/wm.harting/VintageGlobeNews#5435571459684240802

Jim Karaian, Will, Marcella Morgese in the Boston Globe newsroom (approx. 1990).

Will's World 02 28 2010

Mildred C. at Hsi Lai Temple, Hacienda Heights, California.

From the sacred to the science fiction, my parents and I did a great deal of traveling today.


We started the day at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, California, enjoying the last day the temple celebrated the Chinese New Year. Both my parents enjoyed the visit and had many questions about Buddhism as we drove home on Interstate 610.

As night approached, my mother, daughter and I headed south on Interstate 405 to Dana Point to see a screening of “Plans 1 to 8 From Outer Space.”I played a character in this 66 minute movie, which was a take-off of the early 1950s science fiction movies.

Dana Smith --- author, set designer, actor, sound man, costume designer, chief bottle washer, director, editor and a dozen other positions --- is an inspiration for anyone who has a dream. He began writing Plans 1 to 8 From Outer Space” over ten years ago and by sheer determination and creative energy he was able to produce a full length science fiction movie.

To get a sense of Dana’s humor, and some movie clips, visit his website at: http://www.inconsequentialfilms.com/Default.aspx#

Absalom C. enjoying some of the statues at Hsi Lai Temple.

Hammering the gong for good luck in the new year.

Mildred C. and statue of Master Hsing Yun.

Newspaper advertisment for movie.

Dana Smith: the genius and driving force behind

"Plans 1 to 8 From Outer Space"

Will's World 02 26 2010

“Just don’t take me up to Los Angeles again. I can’t stand that traffic,” said my father when we were discussing places to dine. He complains about any drive to Los Angeles before we start the trip; he criticizes the roads, drivers and hectic pace of any drive to Los Angeles while we’re on a trip; and he regrets almost everything about any drive to Los Angeles after the trip is over.


For whatever reason, he has a great fear of driving in heavy traffic.

So, today we headed south to Laguna Beach, and my father seemed much calmer.

My father at least recognizes a fear he has, although he may not be dealing with it in the most beneficial way. Myself, I’ve had fears that I have refused to recognize and have paid a heavy price for it. We all have fears. The well-balanced person will recognize those fears and deal with them in the best way possible. The unbalanced person will attempt to ignore those fears and thus make decisions illogically just to avoid fearful situations.

I believe that fear fuels depression and depression enhances fears. Together they can hinder growth and happiness in anyone. Of course, a solution is to recognize my own fears and deal with them honestly. What can be done to lessen or eliminate the fear? So far, I’ve always found a way out of the fear/depression entanglement, sometimes by myself, but more often with the help of others. And I know I must reach out for help when I need it. I no longer foolishly think I can always do it by myself.

We’re all in this together.

Mildred on the beach with volleyball players.

Mildred and Bill outside the original Wylan painting on the parking lot wall.

Time for a sweet break in Laguna Beach.

Enjoying yet another sweet break, this time at Johnny Rocket's.

Will's World 02 25 2010

Grabbing a pickled egg at Philippe.

“This is terrible. Boy, look at this mess. This is terrible,” said my father looking at the traffic slowly moving north on Interstate 5 toward downtown Los Angeles. “Remind me to never to travel on these highways again.”


“Dad, all you have to do is relax,” I responded. “You’re the passenger. You can’t control the traffic but you can control your own thoughts and actions. Just learn to relax.” End of min-sermon.

“Oh, this is terrible,” he moaned in a slightly softer tone.

We arrived at Philippe restaurant on Alameda Street, near historic Union Station, at 11:15 a.m., just before the noontime rush. The restaurant, according to its brochure, “is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Southern California, family owned and operated since 1908.” It still has its original wooden stools and has sawdust scattered throughout the dining area.

Celebrities and L.A. officials often plop down at one of the communal tables to devour a sandwich or two . The brochure states that “L.A. Times reporter Cecilia Rasmussen says, ‘burly railroad, brewery and factory workers rubbed elbows with judges and politicians.’” And judging by what we saw, that’s correct.

My parents and I ate the Pork Double Dip sandwiches, dill pickles, potato salad, cole slaw, and pickled eggs. Philippe is known for dipping the bread into gravy before making the sandwich, which makes it a very tasty meal.

Philippe, the Original, on Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Placing orders at the deli counter.

Mildred and Bill eat everything in front of them.

Dining tables are on two floors.

A sight seldom seen any more: telephone booths.