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As a floater, I greeted Veterans as they entered the airport in anticipation of a trip to Washington, D.C. to visit their respective War Memorials.
I met World War II Vets, Vietnam War Vets and Korean War Vets. I held their hands, kept them company, engaged them in conversation, assisted them with a wheelchair, if needed. I assisted with putting on their t-shirt, escorted them to the picture station, and fetched coffee and donuts for them. It was such a gratifying experience.
I could not help but think of my father, a WWII Veteran. He would have loved every bit of the attention, and the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. and the World War II Memorial would have made him proud. Of course, I would have been the one to escort him on the trip. Neither of us would have had it any other way.
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The volunteers were great to work with, and some of them, as seen in this picture, got into character, and delighted the crowd with hugs and kisses.
Here's a modern-day Rosie the Riveter. She was a floater, too. She greeted, she kissed, she shared laughter, and she honored the Veterans. It was fun watching the surprised smile on a Veteran's face as she approached and "did her thing" to make them feel welcomed and honored. Who doesn't need a hug or a kiss from a stranger every now and then?
After all of the fanfare, we watched as the guardians (the persons who accompanied the Veterans on the trip) whisked them away past TSA. They were on their way!
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What I experienced next was even more exhilarating than the send-off, if you can imagine that being possible.
I returned to the airport that evening to be a part of the “welcome wagon” as the Veterans arrived back to Louisville around 9:30 p.m.
As the Veterans passed through hundreds of us lined up on both sides of a human tunnel, we cheered, waved flags, saluted and thanked them for their service. It was hard to hold back tears...and some of us didn't.
At one point, I looked at my husband, who I had dragged to the airport with me. He was over-the-top excited and got caught up in the emotion of it all, too. When I tell you that I dragged him along, I really did. I didn't give the poor man a chance to say no. I talked it up and told him that it would be an experience of a lifetime. He had just gotten home from work, and I hit him with the opportunity before he could sit down good. He generally doesn't mind hanging out with me in places unknown, but on this day, he told me that he had a crick in his neck and needed to sit a spell. "Of course, dear..." And one hour later, I was getting dressed in my red, white and blue. He casually made his way to put on something patriotic, and off we went to the airport. (He was very appreciative of the invitation, and even though he hasn't thanked me yet, I know...)
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As the Veterans walked through the human tunnel, I found myself getting super excited to see the return of my new friends from 4:00 a.m. As I saw them, I took the liberty of stepping out into the aisle to take a picture. I felt a certain connection to them, a real bond. I met some of their family members and boasted having met their loved one that morning. The family members were appreciative of the warm welcome and love we showed the Veterans. We were all family at that moment in time. There were no signs of posturing, no political agendas, and no thought of the color of one's skin. We were Americans on our best behavior, and it felt and looked good.
"Oh, how important it is for us to walk hand in hand and breast to breast to bring out the best in humanity, all while celebrating our heroes and she-roes." ---Paula McCraney
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So, if you are the more spontaneous kind and not so much like me, the “To-do list” type, then forgo a bucket list. But, one thing’s for sure, you should consider spontaneously signing up to volunteer with the Honor Flight Bluegrass. At the least, spontaneously show up during the return flight in the evening to welcome the Veterans back home. I guarantee you will enjoy the experience.
For more details about the Honor Flight Bluegrass, the next flight, and to sign up to volunteer or support the mission, visit www.honorflightbluegrass.org.
Everyone is welcome to stop by and have muffins and coffee with Councilwoman McCraney. She is looking forward to seeing you and hearing about your concerns. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 14, 2019
THE COFFEE ZONE
(Westport Village)
1301 Herr Lane
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
 The Venardos Circus, a unique Broadway-Style Circus will debut for its next tour stop in Kentucky, its second in the state, with performances at Louisville’s Brown-Forman Lawn, 1325 River Rd, Louisville, KY, from September 5-15, 2019.
Created by former Ringling Bros. Ringmaster Kevin Venardos (veh-NARR-dos) in 2014, the Venardos Circus wraps world-class animal-free circus acts into a Broadway musical-style format dubbed, "The American Circus with the heart of a Broadway Show."
General Admission Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth under 12 yrs. Babes in arms are free with a paying adult (24 months and younger). Premium Reserved seating is priced from $35 to $45.
For more information use the following link. https://www.gotolouisville.com/events-calendar/the-venardos-circus-a-unique-broadway-style-circus-tour-to-perform-for-firs/
 
 Trivia Night at the Louisville Zoo is a fun-filled night of music, prizes, and trivia that will be held Wednesday, September 11 from 6-9 p.m. This event requires a ticket and is for those over the age of 21. Food and drink specials will be available beginning at 6 p.m. Trivia questions start promptly at 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place teams with the overall winner receiving a Behind the Scenes Tour! There is a maximum of eight people per team. The deadline to register is September 9. For more information or to register, please visit the Louisville Zoo's events page.
The Big Table, a welcoming event aimed at bringing people together to share food and conversation, is returning to Iroquois Park on Sunday, September 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. Last year, more than 1,500 people participated in the event, and organizers this year will be setting up for 2,000 attendees.
The third annual event is hosted by The Big Table, with major support from the Global Human Project and the Louisville Metro Office for Globalization. Each participant is asked to bring a dish, fruit, dessert or non-alcoholic drink to share with at least eight people. Participants are encouraged to bring a dish that reflects something about them, has a family story or personal significance, along with a recipe card. Tables, chairs, eating utensils and plates will be provided by event sponsors, but in case of an extra-large turnout, organizers encourage participants to bring a blanket and extra utensils.
In an effort to foster more intimate conversation and depth of connection, participants will be organized into tables of eight. Table Host volunteers will help seat participants and work to ensure tables are made up of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Table Hosts will also facilitate conversation and storytelling during the event. Approximately 250 Table Host volunteers are needed for this event.
New this year, residents who play an instrument are invited to bring their instrument and join in a post-dinner global music jam. Pick-up music venues will be arranged along the event area to continue facilitating connections during event cleanup.
In case of inclement weather, organizers will announce a cancellation of the event by 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 on social media and the event registration page.
Registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and event registration, visit http://www.thebigtable502.com or sign up on the Facebook event page, The Big Table 2019: The World’s Largest Potluck.
Dinner and A Show LIBA Style
Beware - A vampire is on the loose! Can you spot the real killer in the midst of a gathering full of monsters and ghouls? Enjoy this special performance just for LIBA members by the WhoDunnit Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at the Bristol Bar & Grille Downtown. LIBA members are being given a special ticket price of $25 per person (includes dinner) which is half of the normal ticket price!
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Networking at 6:00pm ~ Show starts at 6:30pm
Bristol Bar & Grille Downtown - 614 West Main Street, Louisville, KY.
WhoDunnit shows are original, lively and thoroughly entertaining, as well as a mystery lover's dream! Clues are cleverly included in the scripted action, and in between scenes the actors mingle with the audience in character, allowing guests to ask questions and get more clues. Audiences love interacting with the characters and trying to figure out who dunnit!
The 2019 Neuroscience Expo – Making Connections
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
The Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. Fourth St. Louisville, KY
Don’t miss this free event, where you’ll hear the latest information about treatments and support for epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and back pain. There also will be information on legal issues, life transitions and coping with neurological conditions.
Expect to hear from neurological experts on topics such as:
- New and Emerging Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
- Surgical Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease: Deep Brain Stimulation and Other Options
- Food as Medicine: Nutritional Therapy for Migraine Management
- Latest Information on Surgical Management of Epilepsy
- There’s a Therapy for That? Common Myths and Misconceptions of Pelvic Floor Therapy for Neurological Conditions
- When Is It Time to Transition to Memory Care?
The expo also will have more than 60 health and wellness vendors in the exhibit hall to answer questions and provide support. Register Online or call 502-205-4990.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Last day to register or change your voting information is Monday, October 7 by 4 PM!
Need a ride to polls on Election Day? A. Philip Randolph Institute (502.774.4834) provides free rides. Lyft and Uber may be giving reduced rides to the polls, or call your local party headquarters.
If you become sick or are in the hospital, you can still vote with an Emergency Medical Ballot. Request a paper absentee ballot between Tuesday, October 22 and Tuesday, November 5. Call your local Board of Election office to get an Emergency Medical Ballot. You will have to find someone to notarize your application for a ballot and then take that application to the Board of Elections to get your ballot. Once you’ve filled out your ballot, someone must take your ballot back to the Board of Elections before 6PM on Election Day
Any voter who will be absent from the county on election day, but does not qualify to receive a mail-in absentee ballot, can vote prior to election day at: Jefferson County Clerk’s Office Election Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Suite 301, Louisville, KY 40203.
In-Person Absentee Voting Dates and Times:
- Monday-Friday: Sept. 30 – November 4 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturdays: October 26, and November 2 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
In-Person Absentee Voting: http://elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/inhouse_absentee/
Mail-In Absentee Voting: http://elections.jeffersoncountyclerk.org/mail-in-absentee-voting/
Jefferson County Clerk’s Office Election Center 701 West Ormsby Ave., Suite 301, Louisville, KY
Phone: 502.574.6100 Fax: 502.574.5014 Email: Absentee@jeffersoncountyclerk.org
Grieving the Sudden Loss of a Loved one?
If you or someone you know is suffering the sudden and traumatic loss of a loved one, let us help. We offer free one-to-one grief mentoring in a confidential environment. When everyone else has gone back to their normal lives and you are left to process what happened, we can provide coping strategies for the weeks and months ahead.
Call (502) 791-9938 or fill out our Contact Us page: https://www.firsthourgrief.org/contact/
You don’t have to do this alone. Schedule an appointment today!
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Be on the lookout for scams related to Hurricane Dorian. These can be phone calls, social media posts, or emails. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the United States Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) have shared some great articles showing how you can protect yourself during national emergencies and beyond.
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Most importantly, don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. Do your own research on the charities by visiting their websites directly, not by clicking links in emails or social media.
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Do you see a street light out in your neighborhood? If so, LG&E has provided an easy way to report street light outages online. Follow the link to https://lge-ku.com/outages to file a report.
If you need immediate assistance, or to report a down wire or gas leak/odor, contact LG&E at: 502-589-1444 or 800-331-7370,
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Luftmensch
Noun: LOOFT-mensh (the “OO” is as in “foot”)
Definition: An impractical contemplative person having no definite business or income; an impractical contemplative person.
Used In A Sentence: She is a familiar type, a luftmensch, concerned only with her intellectual pursuits and sharing many of the dysfunctional and antiheroic qualities of her predecessors.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
~Nelson Mandela
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