Heroes Around Us

Reading the news is often a depressing experience, but yesterday, I read a story about a previously unknown piece of American history and realized that there are heroes living among us.

The news article was about a now 100-year old woman who was an experienced post-WWII spy--and is only now coming out from behind the cloak and dagger.

The article published by The Daily Beast begins, "Capt. Stephanie Czech arrived at the U.S. embassy in Berlin wearing civilian clothes, as always, and delivered the report she’d been carrying to the intelligence section. The war may have ended, but Czech was still working, undercover."

I am pleased that people can keep secrets like this for so long, but secretiveness of the intelligence business often deprives the rest of us from appreciating their tales of intrigue and sacrifice. As I read the story, I noticed that Captain Czech was a child of immigrants and was allowed to perform such important duties for the United States.

The current political discussion about the value of immigrants to our society needs to be placed into context by stories such as this. 

Sadly, probably because she was an agent and a woman, the recommendation to decorate her for her actions has languished for 70 years. Fortunately, she is still alive and can finally be recognized for her service to our nation.

We can finally say thank-you to a true American hero.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 28, 2015

1. This is the last Monday in December and therefore the last Monday of 2015. Next week it will be 2016.

2. The NFL continues to amaze me--despite terrible calls by the referees, the Ravens won yesterday.

My New Socks

3. Socks--I used to hate getting socks for Christmas. Now, I like their individuality.

4. Christmas parties are the best.

5. At church on Christmas Eve I learned that I am in a playpen.

6. Back to the constant political drone!

7. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees again and the doors and windows were open allowing the warm December breeze into the house. That just sounds weird.

8. I am spoiled. No snow and no cold. I wonder if January can be better than December?

9. Hoverboards are the new skateboards--lot's of adults are going to be visiting emergency rooms around the country.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Back into the Fray

2015 The Family

With Christmas now firmly behind me, it seems that it is back into the rhythm of life for me.

I am still enjoying my gifts and also enjoying seeing others with the gifts that I provided, but tomorrow is, after all, Monday and I must head back to work. I am blessed that the entire family was together. 

The Guys in Ugly Team Sweaters

I relish these moments, especially with Mom and Dad, because we can't get everyone together that often any more.

We had some fun. And we ate a lot of food.

We enjoyed some awesome wines like Barboursville Octagon 2005.

I also watched some sports.

But mostly, we were just together and did not have the TV on with the rotten news of the day. The world did not impinge upon our celebration.

And so, tomorrow, it is back into the real world, at least for a couple of days. I will  start listening to the political news and world news and the international news. I am grateful for the respite.

Happy New Year.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Remembering Yesterday

What a fantastic day yesterday was--as it played out.

Ethan and Jax around their tree

We had to run the air conditioner to battle the warm temperatures and mostly the 100 percent humidity. I was seriously thinking of putting on shorts and sandals, why? Just because I could. It was warm and too humid. I was just happy that it was warm!

Even Riordin Likes Christmas

We managed to keep the water from coming in, mostly. There was a small leak around one "almost" closed door as the skies opened up and deluged the land. We probably would have received snow measured in feet had the precipitation not been in the form of rain.

Thank you for the rain.

I wore an aloha shirt for much of the day, except for the family picture because the guys had decided to wear ugly football team sweaters. When we were planning, it seemed like a good idea. 

Mom and Dad Opening Gifts

The day started early, by 7 AM Chris and I and my Mom and Dad were with Ethan and Jackson and Nicole and Mike as they celebrated the day. It is always fun to watch the boys open gifts around their own tree.

Chris with a new Poncho

Then, by 9:30 we were back at the house for our own celebration and then making preparations for the big events of the day: dinner and celebrations. Everyone was present for the family picture--which went well. Jeremy and Nicole and Lucas spent the whole afternoon celebrating with us and thanks to P&T for stopping by, I know how tough it is to make everyone happy on big holidays.

At one point during most of the day there were two drones flying around the house terrorizing unsuspecting people and animals. It was really funny to watch. One drone looked like the Millennium Falcon while the other had a more traditional appearance.

I am happy to report that no injuries were noted.

The highlight of the day? Well, the entire day was a highlight. It is that simple (or complex). The whole family was together and the celebration was a day long affair. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas 2015

In the quiet of the morning, before the day begins, I have been thinking about the blessings that I have.

Cooking in the Kitchen

They are many--fantastic family, great friends, and great prospects.

Yesterday we cooked, laughed, went to church, played games and enjoyed each other. 

Today? More of the same!



I saw some geese flying overhead as I was walking into church yesterday--their wings beating against the dark sky carrying my spirit with them above the ground. 

I will carry that vision with me today as I enjoy watching the family interact with each other and know that we are all soaring through life, with nothing to keep us down except ourselves. 

Merry Christmas. 

It is not over! It is just beginning.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas Eve 2015

It arrived overnight. This most magical day of the year. The day before Christmas when it either gets done, or not.

The house is quiet now, it is still pre-dawn and I am the only one up--but the chaos will soon begin as the plans of the day come to fruition.

I remember as a kid thinking that Christmas Eve was the longest day of the year--now it is, in fact, one of the shortest.

I guess the activity helps me get through the day and prepared for the main events of tomorrow.


The first gift of Christmas was given over 2,000 years ago and arrived in a garage somewhere on the outskirts of the Roman Empire in Israel--and we still celebrate his arrival to the world and into our lives, even now.

May the blessings of the season be with you and your family. 

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Christmas without Snow

I've been thinking about Christmas. 

As I have been enjoying the non-stop onslaught of sappy Christmas music, I have noticed a definite connection between snow and the songs of the season. Recognizing that the date for Christmas was set by the church, some people have postulated that the date was chosen to coincide with a Roman mid-Winter holiday. 

I found an article which postulates that the date may have been set differently and that the confluence of the dates is a happy coincidence. 

In a National Geographic article about the Winter Solstice, it is postulated, 

For more than 2 billion Christians the solstice has long been overshadowed by Christmas. But to historian David Gwynn of the University of London, the proximity of the two events may not be an accident.

One theory holds that Christmas was set on December 25 to replace a Roman holiday, which had roots in a pagan cult of Sol Invictus (the unconquered sun), says Gwynn. A second theory surmises that early Christians arrived at December 25 by counting forwards nine months from March 25, the traditional date set for the Annunciation to Mary.

"It is also true that these explanations are not necessarily mutually exclusive,” says Gwynn.

Ayers Rock, Australia

Clearly, the December date is associated with winter and darkness--but south of the equator, it is summer! Do they sing summer Christmas songs in Australia and Chile, South Africa, and Argentina?


Perhaps they do--I have found a rendition of Jingle Bells adapted for Australia! Yup--adapted. It made me roll on the floor laughing.

Koala Santa

Check these out, and go to the website to translate some of the uniquely Aussie terms:

Lyrics: Aussie Jingle Bells

Dashing through the bush
In a rusty Holden Ute
Kicking up the dust
Esky in the boot
Kelpie by my side
Singing Christmas songs
It’s summer time and I am in
My singlet, shorts & thongs

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Engine’s getting hot
Dodge the kangaroos
Swaggy climbs aboard
He is welcome too
All the family is there
Sitting by the pool
Christmas day, the Aussie way
By the barbecue!

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Come the afternoon
Grandpa has a doze
The kids and uncle Bruce
Are swimming in their clothes
The time comes round to go
We take a family snap
Then pack the car and all shoot through
Before the washing up

Santa on the Beach

OH, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
ON A SCORCHING SUMMER’S DAY
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS
CHRISTMAS TIME IS BEAUT
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO RIDE
IN A RUSTY HOLDEN UTE

Christmas does not have to be a snow event! And this year, right here in Maryland, it is going to be 74 balmy degrees.

So while some people are lamenting the lack of snow and frigid temperatures, I am relishing the warmth and wishing I was on a sandy beach somewhere.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

The Last Gifts of Christmas

Poinsettia Tree
Columbia Mall, Columbia, MD

It happened overnight; Autumn surrendered and Winter arrived. 

To celebrate the event, I sojourned to The Mall in Columbia to complete my Christmas shopping. I especially enjoy viewing the poinsettia tree that adorns the mall each year. I only needed a couple of items to finish my shopping.

As cashier handed me the bag containing the gifts that I had purchased, I told the her that I was going to do something crazy--and I did.

Santa announces the First Gift of Christmas
The Polar Express

I held the bag above my head and announced, "The last gifts of Christmas."  In my mind I was replaying a scene from The Polar Express, where Santa awards the first gift of Christmas--but I am sure the reference was lost on all of the startled shoppers except myself. They did give me a polite chuckle.

Unfortunately, my Mom had to witness the entire event. I'm sure she thought I was crazy.

But--as winter has finally arrived, I have completed my shopping and starting tomorrow, the days will begin getting progressively longer as the dark season wanes.

The celebration is underway!

I've already hauled out the holly, which is part of a classic Christmas song that was actually set in July. Maybe that is why I like it--the song is really about summer. More like how it would be to celebrate an Australian Christmas.

Let the holiday get underway--winter has arrived. Springtime cannot be more than about 90 days away!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - December 21, 2015

1. It is Christmas week. The craziness will be over by next week, but the celebration will continue.

Sunrise in Pennsylvania from the Moving Car

2. I love the sunrise, especially in new places like Saturday morning, in central Pennsylvania on the way to New York.

Snow Starting to Fall

3. Holiday parties are a lot of fun. It is too bad the holidays end.

4. This is a great time of year, there are four holidays in two months!

5. Snow, why did there have to be snow. Chris and I drove form Maryland and encountered snow in northern Pennsylvania. 

6. Is it baseball season yet? The Ravens are reduced to playing pre-season games to close out the season.

Snow out the Car Window

7. I have not been traveling much lately, hence, there have not been any "Out the hotel Window" posts. I miss traveling.

8. I was excited that Congress finally accomplished its Constitutionally-mandated business and funded the government. Yay!

9. Snow is a lot more palatable when I know that I get to leave it behind.

10. Uneventful car trips are the best kind!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Apple Tree in Snow

A few weeks ago, I snapped an image of this apple tree as autumn was ending.

I happened past the tree again yesterday and saw it again during a snow storm. The same tree, with apples on its branches still, standing against the onslaught of winter.

It was a cold day. The snow was falling, but not accumulating in any great amount. The sky was dark and gray. But the tree stood strong.

I liked the apples still clinging to the bare branches. Holding on against the dark season.

It certainly isn't a Christmas image. But it is life.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Ithaca, NY