MY TASK OF LIFE COMPLETION AND LETTING GO

Donald L. Hammen is a longtime south Minneapolis resident, and serves on the All Elders United for Justice steering committee.

Until a few years ago there was a rocking chair in my house. It got moved into the garage to make way for a different rocking chair. Letting go of the rocking chair was hard. It took me some time to say good bye. That rocking chair had followed me around most of my life. There is a story here.
My father liked to sit in that rocking chair. When I was very young there was a television show on Sunday evening, I believe, that I wanted to watch called “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” I found that for me it was scary to watch by myself. When I found out that my father wanted to watch the same show, I asked him if he was willing to sit in his rocking chair and hold me while we watched together. I felt safe watching this show with my father holding me as we sat in his rocking chair.
Somehow that rocking chair followed me until I came to the realization I needed to let it go to make way for a different rocking chair. Letting go of that rocking chair was hard because of my memory of feeling safe with my father it held for me. Then there is the matter of timing. I didn't want to say good bye until I felt it was time.
Having just turned 81 on June 29, that's the way I feel about letting go with respect to my task of life completion. It does not help that I am aware that I live in a country whose government is experiencing a hostile take over by a party I regard as scary making me wish I could crawl up with my father in that rocking chair so I could feel safe with him holding me.
Now it is me holding myself to make me feel safe. Eventually it will be me letting go so I can re-unite with my Creator. There will be no going back so I don't want to say goodbye until I feel that the time is right. And if you have read this far you have taken the plunge into the river(flow) of life experiences which is Stories and Journeys.

DAVE MOORE RECOGNIZES ME AT THE MIDTOWN GLOBAL MARKET
With my 81st birthday coming up, I was aware that I needed to renew my drivers’ license mostly for Minnesota ID purposes. I made my way to the Hennepin County Service Center at the Midtown Global Market and completed that task.
Before my departure from the market I patronized a vendor for some lunch. While I was eating ,I was approached by Dave Moore who recognized me. We did some catching up. I remembered him from his days working at Seward Coop Franklin store. I am member of Seward Coop. He happened to mention that he reads Stories and Journeys in the Messenger.

A TEXT FROM RUHEL ISLAM CATCHES ME AND OTHERS BY SURPRISE.
The text said three things.1) Gandhi Mahal would not be reopening. The property has been sold. 2) Curry in a Hurry will reopen under new ownership. 3) Ruhel is leaving Minnesota. This is personal. I have a BE THE CHANGE TROPHY in my house that I received from Gandhi Mahal. When I was co-ordinator of Minnehaha Community Garden I rented a plot to Gandhi Mahal. This jump started Ruhel's vision of growing vegetables he could put into the menu items at Gandhi Mahal.
And so dear reader what are your memories Ruhel and Gandhi Mahal? Tell yourself, tell others or tell me via tesha@tmcpub.com.

NEWS FROM ALL ELDERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE
July 16. An All Elders socialization time breakfast was held at the American Indian Center on Franklin Avenue. This is not the American Indian Center I remember. I've had to revise my image of the American Indian Center.
Condolences to All Elders member Metric Giles upon the passing of his brother, Monitor columnist Melvin Giles. (Read more about Melvin on the Monitor website.)

TWO EVENTS IN JULY TEACH ABOUT LABOR HISTORY
Event 1) “MASSACRE AT FLOUR CITY: THE DEADLY BATTLE OVER LABOR RIGHTS IN THE STREETS OF SEWARD NEIGHBORHOOD SUMMER OF 1935.” Three Saturdays at the Vine Arts Center-2637, 27th Ave. S. devoted to talks and panel discussions musical presentations by Larry Long and the Twin Cities Labor Chorus and more.
Event 2) “REMEMBER 1934.” July 20 at the corner of 7th Ave. and 3rd Street. Commemoration of Bloody Friday and the Strikes that made Minneapolis a Union Town.
Elder Voices (Telling Our Stories/Sharing Our Journeys) is scheduled to meet Aug. 29, 10-11 a.m. at Turtle Bread, 4205-E.34th St. Look for the table with the Elder Voices sign.
In gratitude.