Five mornings a week I leave home before 7:00, I usually approach the Frederick Malkus Bridge five minutes later. Some months I watch the sun rise over the Choptank and it is a breathtaking, golden gift. Lately, the sun rises early, 6:00 ish, so I miss that, but the Choptank is still always breathtaking. One morning in March, the River was a “down comforter” of fog that made me think of Carl Sandburg’s poem: “The fog comes in on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.” Some mornings, the river is so choppy that I imagine that the waves are aggressive animals punching and beating the water. Other mornings, the river looks like polished glass. I whisper a thank you for its calming beauty as I drive across the Choptank. I feel it’s centering energy as I head to work, teaching five and six year olds.

Thursday morning, I saw the break lights of a semi-truck and some cars and knew that an accident had happened right in front of me. Traffic was paralyzed for an hour, I watched ambulances, State Police, fire trucks, and other emergency vehicles fly by. A helicopter hovered then landed beyond my view. After the helicopter took off, Police officers began moving those of us stuck on the bridge. I was informed by a very polite officer that I was expected to back up and exit the bridge. It was a huge relief to be driving again.

The detour through East New Market and Preston was a bumper-to-bumper nightmare. For two and a half hours it was stop and go, my maximum speed was six miles per hour. Thankfully, the rural drive provided charm and beauty with its green, springtime farms and cool breeze. I tuned to Country Radio and sang along with Garth, Johnny, Willie, and Crystal. The left turn on the “T” at Preston Ford took an hour and a half. It was reassuring to approach the Choptank River once again, this time upriver, crossing on the Dover Bridge.

As the end of the school day approached I suddenly realized that the bridge could still be closed, the thought of another detour was almost too much to handle, mentally. The police officer that directed my way off of the bridge in the morning had warned that it would take hours to reconstruct the accident scene then clear the debris. I hadn’t had time all day to think about it, which was good, my students have 100% of my attention when I’m with them. I hadn’t really processed how traumatic it all was and I felt selfish for complaining about the inconvenience that the accident caused me. I was relieved to learn that the two injured drivers were in stable condition. I texted my son who lives and works in Cambridge, he quickly responded with an all clear-both lanes are open.

Driving home was as if I was seeing Route 50 with new eyes. I was happy to see each of the homeward-bound landmarks. Hole in the Wall, Paris Foods’ igloo, High’s, and finally the Malkus Bridge. I felt a sigh of relief as I approached the eastbound span. The Choptank River is home to me, welcoming like a mother’s arms waiting for a hug. Returning to Cambridge, I’m always thankful for such a beautiful body of water that is such an important part of my life.

According to The National Weather Service, March is traditionally the rainiest month of the year in Maryland, April is the fifth wettest month. During the month of April, a band of strong winds, known as the jet stream, moves northward. This changes the air pressure and leads to an explosion of cumulus clouds, the type of clouds that create rain showers. April showers bring May flowers.

The rainfall and the rising temperatures during the month of April do help flowers grow, especially perennials that have been dormant during the long, cold winter months. The real reason that we find wisdom in saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” has less to do with a literal reading of the proverb and more to do with our need for hopefulness. The proverb assures us that there is a reward for our patience, it is a gentle reminder that all good things come to those who wait.

May is a month of transformation, the bridge between spring and summer. May is rich with possibilities, in our gardens we are finally enjoying a host of blooms. The earth is almost vibrating with energy pent up during the winter months and all around us life feels new. The leaves appear on trees, flowers bloom, and weeds seem to pop up overnight in the first weeks of spring.

Learning to read weeds as clues to our garden soil’s condition can help the soil recover. Weeds are an indicator of your soil’s heath. If you have large patches of one kind of weed, your garden is trying to tell you something. Dandelions and fleabane are the two “weeds” that popped up in my garden in April.

Dandelions get their name from the French term “dent de lion” which means “tooth of the lion.” The teeth are in reference to the deeply toothed leaves.

Although dandelions are vilified by the “lawn care” industry as weeds, they are the first food source in spring for hibernating pollinators and our disappearing bees. Unlike most other plants, dandelions have both pollen and nectar, not merely one or the other.

Dandelions generally indicate poor soil that is compacted and low in calcium. Dandelions pull nutrients such as calcium deep in the soil and make them available to other plants. Dandelion taproots do a great job of loosening hard-packed soil, aerating the earth, and reducing erosion. Dandelions are also great fertilizers for your garden.

Dandelions are world-famous for their beauty. They were a common and beloved garden flower in Europe and the subject of many poems. In Japan, horticultural societies were formed to enjoy the beauty of dandelions and to develop exciting new varieties for gardeners.

Dandelions are more nutritious than many garden vegetables. The flower is packed with iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It has more vitamin C than tomatoes and more vitamin A than spinach.

Native to Asia and Europe, the dandelion has been recorded in ancient writings. Ancient Arabian physicians used dandelions to treat liver diseases and digestive problems. The dandelion arrived in the Americas at the time of the Mayflower.

At the end of the day, dandelions are just plain fun; they seem to be earmarked for children. It’s the only flower that children can pick without getting into trouble. A child in a field of dandelions can spend the day blowing on the puffballs while making wishes with the seeds.

Superstition led to the name fleabane, it was believed that dried clusters of the plant could rid your home of fleas. Fleabane is a North American native. It is a pretty daisy-like wildflower that can be found in fields, against buildings and fences, and along roadsides in early spring. After wildfires or other major destructive events, fleabane is often the first wildflower to sprout. You may see it growing in charred fields of a once vibrant forest or the field of a recently chopped forest.

Fleabane flower heads range from white to pinkish to pale purple. Fleabane is easy to control through mowing or pulling, making it the ideal “weed.” Fleabane is a member of the aster family which includes sunflowers, cosmos, mums, zinnias, and marigolds.
Fleabane, a pollinator’s best friend, provides nectar for hungry, overworked bees, butterflies, and moths. The seeds are a favorite snack of the American goldfinch, sparrows, and ground finches.

Fleabane’s presence is a boon for garden biodiversity, ensuring that a garden isn’t just a visual treat but a thriving ecosystem. Fleabane’s root system is a natural warrior against soil erosion. Fleabane safeguards your garden’s topsoil from the ravages of wind and water. In the face of drought, fleabane stands tall, thriving while other plants wilt.

Many years ago my husband and I made the decision to discontinue the maintenance of a traditional lawn, one dominated by a single grass cultivar. By embracing a biodiverse garden, we are saving money and no longer have the frustration of fertilizing and mowing our lawn. Our ground cover includes purple creeping thyme, clover, and vinca. Our garden is filled with assorted plants that promote biodiversity. There are azaleas, black-eyed Susan’s, daisies, lamb’s ears, wildflowers, echinacea, lemon balm, mint, sage, Rosemary, oregano, potatoes, garlic, dusty miller, peonies, and tomatoes, to name a few. These different plant species support microorganisms in the soil. Diversity helps mitigate harmful pathogens, increasing available nutrients and improving the soil.

Our garden definitely looks messy and wild with patches of flowers growing in between the raised vegetable beds. Its wildness offers food and a habitat for a variety of species. With the help of compost, dandelions, and fleabane, I look forward to another abundant growing season.

“Cough in your corner” was the mantra repeated over and over in my kindergarten classroom upon our return from spring break. We had a healthy January and February but travel and a week apart introduced a new strain of germs to our group.

COVID took a big bite out of me over two weeks ago. It began innocently enough with laryngitis and a stuffy nose. The third day brought a throbbing headache which I recognized as a COVID symptom. The fourth night was wrought with night sweats. High fevers and brain fog were next. The final symptom was the loss of my sense of smell. I was exhausted despite sleeping over fourteen hours a day.

Sitting in an Ancient Minerals magnesium bath for twenty minutes helped with my recovery. According to PubMed Central, magnesium is an essential mineral or element for immune health. Our bodies can’t “make” magnesium, we must get it from outside our body. Transdermal sprays and creams are a quick and effective way to replenish magnesium levels and prevent deficiency. Vitamins C, D, and zinc are also recommended by PubMed Central to boost the immune system while recovering from COVID.

Unity Point Health suggests eating a teaspoon of local honey and gargling with salt water to soothe a sore throat and cough. Hot tea and broth are also recommended to ease COVID symptoms.

Amy Galper, noted aromatherapist, has a protocol for regaining one’s sense of smell after COVID. Olfactory dysfunction affected five to fifteen percent of COVID patients in a review by the CDC in 2022. That number has increased to sixty percent in 2024.

Four times a day I individually inhale jasmine, lime, eucalyptus, and cinnamon essential oils. This process is a treatment option for people with olfactory dysfunction. I have been sniffing the oils for several days now and I can actually get little whiffs of coffee brewing.

Regaining one’s sense of smell is important for a patient’s quality of life, and it is a safety issue. Smell is a form of emotional support, but it also warns you about gas leaks, rotten food, and other dangers.

The new CDC Covid guidelines recommend returning to work after 24 hours of being fever free without taking fever-reducing medication. The key change is five days versus ten days of isolation. My symptoms started improving so back to work I went, not 100% but better.

When the first cases of COVID emerged in March of 2020, the WHO stated that none of the American population had any specific immunity against the COVID pathogen. At least 98% of the U.S. population now has some degree of protective immunity against this severe illness. The CDC 2024 Yellow Book states that hybrid immunity protects with long-term durability against severe COVID illness.

In the spring of 2023, the federal declaration of Covid-19 as a public health emergency ended. As of the end of 2023, nearly one in four adults had still not caught COVID . The CDC stopped its case counting as part of its Covid tracker because states stopped reporting the information. Despite elevated levels of COVID, hospitals are reporting that they have avoided large-scale spikes in admissions.

“That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Earth Day

“Good evening, a unique day in history is ending. A day set aside for a nationwide outpouring of mankind seeking its own survival.” Those were the words of Newscaster Walter Cronkite as he described the aftermath of the first Earth Day in 1970.

The protests brought together people from all walks of American life, accounting for ten percent of the U.S. population, to demonstrate and voice their demands for sustainable change. Amid the demonstrations, protesters brought New York City’s usually bustling Fifth Avenue to a halt. The environmental impact of the post-war consumer boom was beginning to be felt at that time. Oil spills, factory pollution, and other ecological threats were on the rise, with little, if any, legislation in place to prevent them.

In July of 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was established by special executive order to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation. Earth Day also led to the passage of the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts. President Jimmy Carter signed bills during his years in office banning DDT and lead in gasoline.

April 22, 2020, was the fiftieth anniversary of Earth Day. The theme was Climate Action. Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, most of the three-day celebratory activities were held online. In many places, staying at home at that time, resulted in cleaner air for the short term. The climate crisis and sustainability are not new concepts, but it feels as if we’re only taking baby steps toward solutions and change. Could it be that Earth Day has been around for so long that we’ve lost the spark for environmental action?

The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs Plastics. Earthday.org has called for a 60% global reduction in plastic production by 2040.

World War II necessitated a great expansion of the plastics industry in the United States as the need to preserve scarce resources made the production of synthetic alternatives a priority. Plastics provided those substitutes. Plastics production during World War II increased by 300%.

According to author Susan Freinkel, “In product after product, plastics challenged traditional materials and won, taking the place of steel in cars, paper and glass in packaging, and wood in furniture. The possibilities of plastics gave some observers an almost utopian vision of a future with abundant material wealth thanks to an inexpensive, safe, sanitary substance that could be shaped by humans to their every whim.

Through the 1960s and into the 1970s plastics became more and more a part of everyday life. Thanks to injection molding and thermoforming, goods could be produced quickly and affordably, making items that used to be a luxury more accessible to people around the world and from all walks of life.

Plastic debris in the oceans was first observed in the 1960s, a decade in which Americans became increasingly aware of environmental problems. Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring exposed the dangers of chemical pesticides. In 1969, a major oil spill occurred off the California coast, and the polluted Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire, raising concerns about pollution. As awareness of environmental issues spread, the persistence of plastic waste began to trouble scientists.

Plastics became a special target in the 1970s and 1980s as anxiety about waste increased. Plastic is disposable but lasts forever in the environment. It was the plastics industry that offered recycling as a solution, encouraging municipalities to collect and process recyclable materials as part of their waste management systems. However, recycling is far from perfect, and according to the Science History Institute, most plastics still end up in landfills and the environment.

CBS Sunday Morning had a disturbing opinion about recycling in their story about a study called “The Fraud of Plastics Recycling.” According to the story, experts have said that 48 million tons of plastic waste is generated every year in the United States, but only five to six percent of it is actually recycled. This story accuses the plastics industry of a decades-long campaign to “mislead “ the public about the viability of recycling. The story goes on to state that the plastics industry will say pretty much whatever it needs to in order to placate American consumers.

CBS experts say that each year at least eight million tons of plastics enter the ocean-the equivalent of one garbage truckload every minute. By 2050, there will be more plastic by weight than fish in the ocean.

The United Nations Environment Program suggests steering clear of purchasing plastic gloves, making sure that our toiletries are plastic-free, choosing food without plastic packaging, and rolling our sleeves up and organizing a clean-up. There is hope if we all do our part.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

For many people in ancient times, a total solar eclipse generated fear. They thought the world would end or a great evil would follow. Myths often involved a beast trying to destroy the Sun with the fate of Earth hanging in the balance.

In Mark Twain’s book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, the hero (who is transported back to Camelot), gets captured but avoids being hanged with a wave of his hand, seemingly making the Sun go dark. “For a lesson, I will let this darkness proceed, and spread night into the world; but whether I blot out the Sun for good, or restore it, shall rest with you.”

Total solar eclipses are a cosmic coincidence, how else do you explain that the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun but also 400 times nearer to earth? The eclipse makes the only two disks in our sky appear the same size. It would not be the case if either were larger, smaller, nearer, or farther away.

Judaism has longstanding interconnections with astronomy. As for eclipses, Rabbi Mordechai Becher, suggests that eclipses were created by God for a profound reason. “God created a system that would remind us regularly that our choices can create darkness, even at times when there should be light.”

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it is believed that the energy of positive and negative actions is multiplied during major astronomical events such as a solar eclipse. Some of the recommended spiritual activities on these days include chanting, mantras, and sutras.

Some Christians believe that an eclipse portends the coming of the “end times” that will precede Christ’s return to Earth as prophesied at various points in the Bible. There is a persisting belief among some Christians that an eclipse occurred during the crucifixion because three of the Bible’s four Gospels mention a three-hour period of darkness as Jesus died.

According to Art and Living Magazine, the eclipse is a good time for prayer as the Sun is connected to both the mind and body. When all three celestial bodies are aligned, so is the body with the mind making it a good time to meditate.

Last month, Jeanette Epps became the sixth Black woman to ever travel to space, according to NASA. She shared her excitement for Monday’s eclipse from her very unique perspective. “What we can see, mainly, is the shadow of the eclipse over the earth as it passes through,” she said. “We won’t be able to look directly at the sun and see the eclipse that way. But what we’ll see and we’re looking for is to see the shadow as it crosses over the earth.”

Moon Pie has released a Solar Eclipse Survival Kit, which includes four chocolate mini Moon Pies and two pair of glasses. You can buy the kit at Walmart.

Though Maryland is not in the path of totality for the solar eclipse set for Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be plenty of reasons to look to the sky here on the Eastern Shore.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

Feng Shui is an interior design philosophy that aims to harmonize humans with their environment. Harmony is achieved by positioning furniture in accordance with universal energy flow. Although there isn’t any scientific evidence that Feng Shui works, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that people are affected by their surroundings.

Feng Shui is based on the Taoist theory of Chi. Chi is the Chinese name for universal energy, and without Chi, there can be no Feng Shui. Feng Shui allows you to achieve specific life improvements by positioning or designing your surroundings with the principles of natural energy flow. The goal is to optimize those energy flows and harmony between you, your home, and your family.

Feng Shui is used today to help people design spaces that support feelings of comfort and safety. Ann Shipley, MD, a functional medical doctor, believes that when people take action on making their homes and workspaces feel and look better to them, they have a sense of feeling stronger, healthier, and happier. Creating an environmental sanctuary for the body to rest, relax, and restore allows the limbic and nervous systems to reset and balance, according to Dr. Shipley. Dr. Shipley goes on to explain that the benefits of feeling safe and comfortable with a positive mindset about the environment may lower chronic stress, which can lead to better blood sugar balance, stronger immune system, lower depression, and anxiety.

Home should be a recharge, it should be a place where you come in and feel embraced. People who follow the principles of Feng Shui attest to creating this welcoming energy in their home, and this in turn is thought to support their emotional wellness. According to Everyday Health magazine, Feng Shui is a form of self help. It isn’t about fixing your house, it’s about setting up your home to encourage the life you want to have. Transforming the energy in a room can shift your internal energy force, help you look at life differently, and bring benefits like feelings of safety, calm, peace, and more power or control in your life.

Removing clutter is important in Feng Shui, and that applies to any room in your home. By getting rid of things, you clear the way for other things to come into your life. Space equals opportunity. The most important rule to set before you begin to purge items is to make a sincere effort to bring less stuff in.

I spent a morning this week with my daughter de-cluttering my granddaughters’ bedroom. These little girls are very creative and their play can be very messy at times. It was such a delightful time clearing, cleaning, and rearranging. The room was noticeably lighter after we had finished. All of us were happier, the children immediately started playing with toys that they had forgotten about or lost.

A team of UCLA researchers has concluded that we have become a “clutter culture.” Many dual-income families don’t have the energy and time to organize the awesome array of stuff-toys, trinkets, furniture, games, electronics, clothing, and more. UCLA researchers have found that this clutter causes stress, our excess becomes a visible sign of unaccomplished work. Re-organizing and addressing clutter can be a proactive step towards improving mental well-being.

Psychology Today points out the benefits of spring cleaning and practicing Feng Shui are: better concentration, sleeping more soundly, improvement in mood, and being able to let go of the past.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.

We associate spring break more with sand than we do with Socrates, but the origin of spring break can be traced back to the Greek celebration of Dionysus. The Greeks liked to blow off steam with a three-day “awakening” dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility. People would dance, singers would perform, women would adorn themselves with flowers, and men would compete to see who be the fastest to drain a cup of wine.

According to OnlineSchool.org it is said that spring break began in the 1930’s in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a swim forum event. A swimming coach from Colgate University in frigid upstate New York decided to take his team down to Florida for some early training at a brand new Olympic sized pool in sunny Fort Lauderdale. The idea clicked with other college swim coaches and soon the spring training migration became an annual tradition for swimmers nationwide.

The popularity of spending a week in Florida each spring spread slowly, until it exploded in popular culture with Hollywood’s spring break movie release of “Where the Boys Are” in 1960. The movie was based on the book, “Unholy Spring” by college professor Glendon Swarthout, who wrote the novel after observing students on spring break in 1958.

In early March of 1965, my Mom had a case of “spring fever” due in part to the 40 mile wind gusts and the three feet of snow on the ground. My Dad was going to be out of town on a business trip and my mom thought that a few days spent in sunny California was the best “medicine.” After a quick call to the travel agent, we (my Mom and four children) were on our way.

Our first day in California was spent at Knott’s Berry Farm. My mom explained that when she was a little girl, her family would visit Knott’s Berry farm when it was a working berry farm. We had their famous fried chicken for lunch and bought several jars of the boysenberry jam for gifts. We rode the narrow gauge train on the Calico Railroad where the notorious Ghost Town Bandits hold up every departure from Calico Square Depot. A prospector showed us the “ropes” of panning for gold in the gold rush area. We witnessed the importance of the millions of Chinese citizens who left their homes to build the American railroads on the Calico mine ride. We learned that the amusement park and rides were created in 1935 to entertain the guests who waited hours for the mouth-watering chicken dinners.

We spent a day at Disneyland visiting the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, the Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World, Great Moments with Abraham Lincoln, and the Monorail. Walt Disney was fascinated by the life of Abraham Lincoln. The first Audio-Animatronics version of Lincoln debuted in 1964 at the New York’s World Fair and was so life-like that National Geographic magazine called the figure “alarming” in its realism. In 1965, the show moved to its current home at Disneyland. I had visited the 1964 New York’s World’s Fair with my grandmother, so I had seen Moments with Abraham Lincoln and had ridden on the Monorail. I was excited to be experiencing these with my family.

Day three of our trip was spent touring Olvera Street. Los Angeles was founded in 1781 by Spanish settlers on a site southeast of what is now Olvera Street near the Los Angeles River. Olvera Street is one of the oldest streets in Los Angeles and was named for the first judge for the county of Los Angeles, Augustin Olvera. On Easter Sunday in 1930, Olvera Street opened as a Mexican marketplace. Olvera Street offers a glimpse into the Mexican history of Los Angeles, it provides a cultural immersion where visitors can shop, dine, listen to music, and attend festivals and events. We ate a delicious lunch and then Mom bought each of us a pair of huaraches, some dolls wearing sarapes and some straw hats as party favors for my upcoming birthday party.

Our final day was spent with our cousins who lived on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Laguna Beach. Our cousins were older and much more “hip” than we were. The two boys looked exactly like The Beach Boys and were surfers. The descent to the beach was a little challenging but it was a beautiful day for a picnic. We swam but it was like a “polar Plunge,” the water was icy cold.

We flew home to more snow, perfect for spring skiing. Dad took us skiing the last day of our Spring Break, it was warm enough to ski without our parkas and hats.

The trip with Mom was very special, she was such a seasoned traveler, she had an itinerary and we accomplished everything that she had planned.

Traveling is so wonderful for our mind, body, and soul because it allows us to have new and exciting experiences and to break out of the often mundane day to day norm. Traveling of any extent provides such a great reset. Spring break is the perfect time to enjoy the weather that is warming up and to obtain the various health benefits that come from spending time in the fresh air and sunshine.

“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.” – Malala Yousafzai

March is Women’s History Month; this year’s theme is Women Who Advocate For Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Women’s History Month actually started as a local celebration of “Women’s History Week “ in Sonoma, California, in 1978. The movement gained such momentum and popularity that in 1980 President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week.

In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month was created to recognize, honor, and celebrate the many contributions that women have made throughout history to culture and society. The month also recognizes the struggles of women and their accomplishments over those struggles.

In the context of Women’s History Month, March has gone purple, green, and white in honor of those women who paved the way. Purple represents the dignity and determination of women who have fought for their rights throughout history. Purple is also a soothing and calming color that promotes harmony and balance. Green represents the hope and optimism that comes with progress and change. It symbolizes the new life and opportunities that women have gained through their hard work and perseverance. The color green reminds us that change is possible and that progress is within reach. White represents the purity of women’s intentions and the clarity of their message. It symbolizes the righteousness of their cause and their commitment to nonviolent protest.

My home state of Wyoming, rich in women’s history, has “The Equality State” as its nickname. Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote. William Bright, a resident of South Pass City, introduced the women’s suffrage bill to the Wyoming Territorial Legislature that passed in 1869. Many legislators voted for the bill hoping to increase the territory’s population. As a result, suffragette Esther Hobart Morris became South Pass City’s justice of the peace, and the first woman in the United States to hold a political office.

Nellie Tayloe Ross was an American educator and politician who served as the fourteenth governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927. She was the first woman in the United States to be elected governor. Nellie Tayloe Ross went on to become the first woman director of the U.S. Mint from 1933 to 1953.

On September 6, 1870, Louisa Swain, aged sixty-nine, put her apron on and walked to town to buy groceries. Louisa Swain, joining a group of women waiting to vote, was the oldest in the group and therefore the first woman allowed to vote in Laramie, Wyoming and the entire United States.

Wyoming Territory retained its woman suffrage law even when that law could have jeopardized the Territory’s application for statehood. In 1890, when Wyoming had a large enough population to become a state, Wyoming residents petitioned Congress with a constitution that included suffrage for women. Wyoming became the first state allowing its women citizens the right to vote. Wyoming women exercised their right to vote, in the 1880’s, ninety percent of women voted.

In 1880, Susan Johnson was appointed postmaster in Cheyenne and Mary Bellamy became the first woman to serve in a state legislature.

I often wonder if having free thinking parents while growing up in Wyoming was the reason that I avoided the pinch of inequality in being a woman. My parents celebrated our dreams and goals in life without question. Education was important to my parents and college was absolutely the next step after high school.

In an age (late1960s) when women wore hats and gloves, my Mother would show up to volunteer at my elementary school wearing Levi’s, rolled at the cuff, Minnetonka moccasins, and a beautiful blouse. She was an independent woman who pursued her art and music every day. Mom was a great role model who didn’t apologize for doing what she loved. She managed our family finances, invested in the stock market, and made the world’s best cream puffs. Her days included volunteer work that was always raising money to support women and children. My parents were equals, they were a team, they each had very busy careers and an active social life.

My parents had several dear friends who were ranchers. In one family, the husband was a surgeon and the wife managed the family’s cattle ranch. Another great example of equality that was the norm in my 1960’s childhood.

Unfortunately, in a 2022 U.S. News and World Report ranked Wyoming 45th out of the 50 states for gender equality. The state lagged behind other states in two categories – representation and power and family planning. The late journalist, Cokie Robert’s summarized the state’s history with gender equality during her keynote speech at a Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus conference in 2019. “Wyoming has a lot of firsts, but not a lot of seconds.” Despite having one of the highest levels of gender equality in labor force participation, the state has one of the highest gender wage gaps, though it has closed somewhat in the last twenty years.

Wyoming was a wonderful place to grow up but now it’s just a nice place to visit.

“Wyoming is the first place in God’s green earth which could consistently claim to be the land of the free.” – Susan B. Anthony

St. Patrick’s Day was made an official Christian feast day in the early 17th century and is observed by the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland, and the Lutheran Church. The day commemorates St. Patrick, the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Because St. Patrick’s Day falls during Lent, it became a day for Christians to take a break from the abstinence practiced during the weeks leading up to Easter. By the 1700’s, the holiday had started to take a decidedly more festive turn than its founders had intended.

In America, St. Patrick’s Day slowly shifted from a religious observation to a secular celebration of Irish heritage. Irish Americans in Boston held the first celebration in 1737. In 1762, New York City held its first parade, which is the oldest and largest St.Patrick’s Day parade in the world.

Saint Patrick’s given name was Maewyn Succat; when he became an ordained priest he chose the name, Patrick. Maewyn was born into a wealthy family in the fourth century in Roman Britain, possibly in the area now known as Wales. His father was a deacon and his grandfather was a priest in the Christian church. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he spent six years in captivity working as a shepherd. It was during this time that Patrick found God. After his escape, Patrick became a priest and returned to Ireland to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity. He spent many years evangelizing in the northern half of Ireland and converted thousands. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, Patrick, described as a humble man, had established monasteries, churches, and schools.

Legends say that Patrick used the shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, to students, by showing the example of the three-leaved plant with one stalk. In pagan Ireland, three was a significant number, the Irish had many triple deities, which may have aided Patrick in his evangelisation efforts. Icons of St. Patrick depict him with a cross in one hand and a sprig of shamrocks in the other.

Some are surprised to learn that Patrick was never canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church despite living in constant danger of martyrdom. This lack of official sainthood is because there was no formal canonization process in the 400s.

Before the nineteenth century the color linked to St. Patrick was blue. Green is now the typical hue, thanks to Irish immigrants who came to America and celebrated their Irish ancestry by wearing this symbolic color. The color green is represented in Ireland’s flag and the country is referred to as “the Emerald Isle.” According to fun folklore, you get pinched on St. Patrick’s Day for not wearing green because green makes you invisible to Leprechauns. Leprechauns are mischievous creatures, according to legend, that like to pinch people.

The original Irish shamrock is traditionally spelled seamrog, which means summer plant. The shamrock has been used as a symbol of the Emerald Isle since the late 17th century. The shamrock is a type of clover, although Botanists are divided on which species of clover. Shamrocks aren’t unique to Ireland, they grow all over Europe and the United States. The nectar of shamrock flowers is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. The shamrock or white clover is the perfect plant for organic lawn care as it fixes nitrogen. It keeps soil in better shape than grass does and it I s an excellent forage crop for livestock due to its high protein content. The shamrock is firmly established as an Irish emblem. For good luck, it is usually included in the bouquet of an Irish bride and the boutonnière of the groom. Viewed as an act of rebellion in Victorian England, Irish regiments were forbidden to display the shamrock.

Since 2010, famous landmarks have been lit up in green on St. Patrick’s Day as a part of Ireland’s “Global Greening Initiative.” The Sydney Opera House and the Sky Tower in Auckland were the first to participate and since then three hundred landmarks in fifty countries across the globe have gone green for St. Patrick’s Day.

Every year, officials turn the Chicago River green in honor of St. Patrick and the many Irish immigrants who helped settle the city.

“May you all have the happiness and luck that life can hold—and at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold.” -Old Irish Blessing

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner who was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting, and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband, Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.