My Writing Life: September 2022

Sunday, September 25, 2022

An Interview to Barbara Evans Kinnear

Today I have the honor to interview Barbara Evans Kinnear, daughter of Richard Eager, a World War II veteran whose experiences are documented in her recently released book: “Richard Eager” a Pilot’s Story from Tennessee Eagle Scout to General Montgomery’s “Flying Fortress.”

I think it is important to highlight that the origin of World War II is rooted in the rise of fascist dictators like Benito Mussolini in Italy and Adolf Hitler in Germany. These fascist dictators capitalized on the economic anxieties of the time to abuse their power, and to scapegoat groups of people. These dictators used racial hatred and national pride to gather support. One of their strategies was to ban books. Banning books is a feature of dictators, so we need to be aware of the implications of such behaviors to avoid falling for the same past mistakes that led to persecution of dissidents, human rights violations and so much human suffering. Their disregard for democratic principles escalated and expanded beyond their borders to dominate other countries. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941, The United States of America declared war on Japan. Italy and Germany were allies of Japan and declared war on the United States.

Barbara Evans Kinnear: Thank you, Julia, for your interest in my father’s book. I am very grateful.

Julia: Tell us about your father. What was his mission?

Barbara: My father, Richard Ernest Evans, was a young man coming of age just as the Second World War erupted. For him, and for many other young men and women, this was a harrowing and life-changing time to be alive. In the service of their country, average citizens became professional soldiers and had experiences that movie producers can only dream about. As they performed their duties, they met, served, and protected illustrious and prominent leaders, who are today recognized in the pages of history, but they themselves are not.

Captain Richard E. Evans was an American B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. He flew 55 combat missions over North Africa, Italy and other German held territories. During that time, he was chosen to fly British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery to wherever the General needed to be throughout North Africa and Italy. Evans and “Monty” traveled together during a particularly dangerous phase of the war, when the Allied forces were just beginning to turn back the brutal Axis armies that had invaded North Africa and were closing in on Egypt in an effort to gain control of the strategically vital Suez Canal. Over the deserts of Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt, a rocky but honest and respectful friendship formed between the young American pilot, Captain Evans, and his British commander, Field Marshal Montgomery, later to become 1^st Viscount of Alamein.

Captain Evans retired to the Air Force Reserves months after the Japanese surrendered, returning home to his wife and young daughter. He was asked to fly again when the Korean War began. He continued in the Air Force flying the B-47, B-52, and he became the B-58 Test Squadron Commander before retiring from the Air Force in 1959 as a Command Pilot and full Colonel.

Julia: What inspired you to write this book? What is it about?

Barbara: Colonel Evans was inspired to write this book. He loved telling the stories, and felt there were lessons to be learned, people to remember and most of all tales to tell… of the bravery of the American military and their families at home during WWII.

With humor, humility, and honesty, he shared personal lessons on perseverance, loyalty, fairness, fear, and respect. He wrote with great detail, so one could clearly imagine the scene as he described it.

As the title implies, this book is both a coming-of-age story with memories and lessons from home, as well as a WWII story with unique adventures and experiences.

Julia: How did you research the information? You mentioned your father was a storyteller. Did he like to write about his experiences? Is the book written from your father's point of view?

Barbara: The 21 chapters my father wrote between 1990 and 1993 are, the heart and soul of the book. Chapter drafts were sent to family members, and we worked, commented, and encouraged him to continue. Given that he was writing 50 years after the war, many memories were frightfully clear, and some subconsciously blurred, but later drawn out.

Colonel Evans told his stories from his point of view. His “voice” is very clear. These are the stories of those whose names are known in history books, but also those who are not known by name or who did not survive the war.

He gathered personal letters, photos and many notes and references to add context to his stories. He also compiled a humorous glossary of pilot’s vernacular. To provide greater perspective and color to Colonel Evans’ book, we have included more research and additional archival materials, including: a chronology of his life’s milestones and Second World War details; an appendix of original family letters, V-Mail, commendations and interesting documents, all primary sources that shed light on his fears, reflections, and important personal and professional relationships.

My father passed away 2006, and I vowed to bring the book to the public, especially given the broad interest in General Bernard L. Montgomery, whom my father flew.

I had saved my father’s best finished chapters, but in 2008, my family and I lost everything in the disastrous Santa Barbara Tea Fire. We thought his work was gone.

However, within months of the fire, my stepmother asked me to take some boxes, belonging to my father out of storage in Los Angeles. Within the retrieved boxes, were drafts and drafts of the chapters, plus Air Force records, photographs and more. There was enough to get started… but the paper drafts and floppy disks were a mess. I remember asking myself, “How are we going to do this?” and then thought, “Just one page at a time.” And so, my family and I began.

Julia: Would you like to share something that you learned from your father's personal experiences?

Barbara: “Richard Eager,” was a young man with the heart and humor of a young Eagle Scout coming of age in WWII. He was given this nickname by his fellow pilot cadets for his over-eagerness, his gung-ho attitude in everything he pursued.

One of the most important life lessons that I learned from my father was he was grateful. He shared his stories with remarkable optimism for the future and with gratitude for his family, his life, and the experiences from which he benefited.

Julia: What did you enjoy the most about co-authoring “Richard Eager” a Pilot’s Story from Tennessee Eagle Scout to General Montgomery’s “Flying fortress”?

Barbara: My family and I worked over ten years to bring my father’s book to publication. The work was not every day of course, but over the years. USA and UK archive research was continued from what my father had provided. Iconic photographs that illuminated the stories, many from family, were found and restored. Important facts about B-17, crew members, who flew with Evans, were found, and added to the book. Editing the entire book, including the assistance of a fine line editor, was most important. A skilled designer, local publisher, printers and more added to the complexity of publishing the book.

What did I enjoy about being the co-author… a promise to self was fulfilled, a beautiful book has been published, and this book has become a way to honor and remember Colonel Richard E. Evans and those he hoped to recognize in his chapters

Julia: Is there anything that you would like to add about the book?"

Barbara: We happily learned this past spring that “Richard Eager” A Pilot’s Story was given two silver medal finalist awards by “The Next Generation Indie Book Awards” program. One award for autobiography/Biography and one for Military. And most importantly, 100% of the revenue from the books that are sold online and in bookstores goes to the Air Force Aid Society to permanently endow an educational scholarship in the name of Colonel Richard Ernest Evans.

The selection of this charity for the Colonel Richard Ernest Evans Memorial Fund is an ode to my father’s appreciation for everyone in the Air Force. At the end of WWII, General Hap Arnold, who created the AFAS, gave a speech to “Thank all those who fly and those who make flying possible.”

Julia: Can you tell me about the Air Force Aid Society?

Barbara: The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force founded in 1942 by General Henry “Hap” Arnold and his wife, Bee. The Society is dedicated to helping dependents of eligible Airmen and Guardians in three ways:

-Emergency assistance for families with financial needs

-Targeted community programs, such as childcare, car upkeep, and spouse employment

-Education support with scholarships, grants and loans made available to dependent children or spouses of Airmen and Guardians, active or retired. Education grants are based on financial need. The Endowed Colonel Richard Ernest Evans Memorial Fund, along with other donors, financially support the General Arnold Education Grant Program. Since launching in 1988 nearly $ 167 million dollars in Arnold education/ grants have been awarded to 109,499 hopeful scholars.

After enjoying this intreview with Barbara Evans Kinnear, you may also be curious to check my writing on Wind, Sand and Stars a book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

And the Animals will Teach You

“The creatures who dwell in this book, from the rabbit in the desert to a German shepherd named Kirby, teach us how to live in the moment, how to be peaceful, how to trust, how to share strength and power, how to face fears, how to heal and how to love.” Margot Lasher

At my local library I encountered a book that left me speechless due to its introspection, reflections and fascinating true stories about communication with non-human animals.

Margot Lasher’s And the Animals will Teach You was published in the year 1996, and I conclude that her book was able to anticipate scientific discoveries about the cognitive and emotional intelligence of non-human animals.

It is surprising that this marvel was overlooked. Perhaps, it had something to do with the fact that it was written by an intelligent woman who meshed psychological knowledge with personal insights and observations; the world was not prepared to acknowledge the deep interconnection with other beings, the pith of her message.

If you have a special interest in relationships between human beings and non-human animals, this book is for you. If you perceive more about non-human animals than what you were taught in traditional education, this book will resonate with you, and reassure you.

I was mesmerized by how Margot Lasher shares her observations about relationships, and how these precious connections support our daily lives in various ways. The author embraces and honors her interactions with animals and how attuned she is with them.

There are three reasons why I cherish this unique read. First, her stories are riveting. Once you begin reading one of her intriguing anecdotes, you cannot put it down. Secondly, her insights are infused with wisdom, intuition and knowledge. She is a keen observer of everyone around her. Finally, her brief powerful poetical descriptions caress the heart and inspire the mind.

“In New England after a snowstorm, the sun comes out and the trees and ground and houses and ponds are all shining in whiteness. You walk outside and you feel a deep happiness at being alive. You feel awe in the presence of such beauty, and privileged to be part of this incredible setting. It stretches out like the night sky, sunlight touching snow in every direction. In this world you feel happy and blessed just to be alive. You feel the connectedness, the oneness of everything. You feel love for everything. I think animals feel this boundless love. Everything is full of wonder; everything makes them happy. Everything is an adventure in being alive.”

Her words encourage us to seek peace within ourselves, to dive into our source of strength and power.

“From feeling happy with an animal, you gain a deeper awareness of your own happiness. When you and an animal are together in the feeling of happiness, echoing the happiness between you, the feeling takes on a new richness and depth. Pure happiness echoes within and between you.”

The energy of Lasher’s book leaves an indelible imprint in my mind.

“When you are experiencing the fragrance of a flower, the motion of your own body, or the happiness of an animal, you are experiencing awareness. When you are tuned in, completely focused, you are one with the fragrance, the motion, the happiness. You are the awareness. The core of yourself is your awareness. The nature of animals is pure awareness.”

And the Animals will Teach You offers an exquisite journey for the mind, vivid sceneries, and stories that reveal the wonders of transformation, protection and friendship; along this path, Lasher guides us into our inner wisdom. Her experiences explore the depth of communication with animals, the nature of living in harmony.

“Animals are tuned exquisitely to harmony. Awareness of harmony is awareness of the energy of the whole. Animals live essentially in harmony.”

Margot Lasher is a psychologist who specializes in relational theory. She has taught many workshops on empathy, and is also the author of The Art and Practice of Compassion and Empathy.

If you enjoyed this post, you will appreciate my writing on Second Nature: The Inner Lives of Animals by Jonathan Balcombe.

Monday, September 5, 2022

Gaia's Own: Every Child's Guide to Living in Harmony with Nature

“If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine. You get in touch with Mother Earth, and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your roots, and that is meditation. If we choose every morsel of food in that way we become grateful, and when you are grateful, you are happy.”

Thich Nhat Hanh

The delightful exchange of letters between a grandfather and his empathetic grandchild can teach us a lot about life. Gratitude is the essence of a happy existence, because it means that we take nothing for granted.

Gratitude was at the heart of many ancient cultures, including the ancient Celtic wisdom, which I wrote about in my previous post. Gaia teaches us this basic concept everyday, when we live in harmony with Mother Nature, but when the norm is to ignore basic principles of reciprocity, we abuse other living beings and the environment, and we harm everybody in the process.

When we are thankful, we don’t take more than what we need. The troubles of humanity are the consequences of taking too much from Mother Nature—Gaia—and not giving back.

Today I am honored to write about Gaia’s Own, a book by Dharshana Bajaj, a writer and artist from India. In the exchange of letters between Satvika and her grandpa, a wildlife photographer, we gain insights and learn facts. Above all, we are inspired to make choices that support our authentic self, health and Mother Nature. Some people live under the delusion of separation. This book will help them to dissolve such a delusion.

This is an educational, thorough and entertaining read that will guide every child and teenager toward an existence of love and health. It will encourage them to get creative as well, to respond to the challenges they will be facing throughout their lives.

I highly recommend Gaia’s Own: Every Child’s Guide to Living in Harmony with Nature to educators and parents.

Children have the potential to understand things better. Unlike adults, they are not detached from their environment and the truth about how everything is connected. Fostering their inquisitve minds should be part of their education; it is important to cultivate curiosity along with compassion, instead of stifling them. This is why this book should be shared widely in schools. Our future depends on it.

Leonardo Da Vinci was ahead of his times when he developed the idea of harnessing solar power. His authenticity was fully expressed through painting, writing, architecture, engineering and ideas that continue to be relevant today. A rigid mindset would have restrained his creative power, but Da Vinci’s works required an open-minded approach to learn continuously and thrive.

I learned a lot from this comprehensive book (Gaia’s Own). I did not know that countries like Paraguay, Albania and Iceland only use renewable sources of energy to satisfy their electricity needs. I did not know that India is the world’s third largest producer of renewable energy (solar, wind, small hydro, bio-power).

I was thrilled to know that farmers in Japan managed to save the cranes from extinction through their caring thoughtful actions:

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/trying-to-save-the-red-crowned-cranes-of-japan

We all play a role in healing the planet through conscious efforts, creative ideas and mindful choices. There is a massive extinction crisis going on, and those who believe that it will not affect humanity are choosing a path of dangerous denial. This is happening right now. If the deniers truly understood how we are all interconnected, they would fathom that the survival of humanity is at stake.

“If you really think the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money.” Guy R. McPherson.

800 million people go hungry everyday in our planet. Yet thirty percent of the world’ s food is trashed. In the USA alone, 40 millions tons of food are wasted every year. The Global Hunger Index is calculated based on the number of people who are undernourished and the number of children under five who are underweight. Congo, Haiti, Zambia, Yemen, Madagascar, Burundi and Chad have the highest scores ( between 30 and 40). India has a score of 26. Somalia has the highest score: 50

On the other hand, all these countries are on the receiving end of tons of electronic waste dumped into them by some of the most developed countries, like USA, Britain and Germany, so in addition to dealing with hunger, they contend with pollution from outside sources.

This book brings to our consciousness issues that are routinely ignored. Raising awareness on the intricate ways through which we are all connected is necessary to inspire people to make responsible choices and to develop new sustainable solutions.

Those who work on the update of technologies should also be tackling the problems of sustainability in technology as a fundamental component of it. Overconsumption destroys lives; greed kills. We have destroyed the balance that allows us to live in harmony with Mother Nature.

We need to restore this balance.

We cannot extricate ourselves from reality, no matter how hard they try to distract us with trips to the moon and to other planets.

“Trees are the oldest life forms on earth, making up over 80 percent of the global biomass. They provide millions with nourishment. We get our wood, herbs, medicine from trees. Trees hold the soil in place, preventing soil erosion and landslides. They help in carbon sequestration and produce oxygen we all need to make life possible. They reduce air pollution, heat and gases that cause the greenhouse effect. They are home to millions of animals, insects and birds.”

Healthy forests are necessary for the oceans as well, and I explained it when I reviewed To Speak for the Trees. Without healthy forests, we will annihilate the fish, the whales, the dolphins…

With the burning of fossil fuels, which is also responsible for the production of plastic, we disrupt the health of forests and oceans. Industrialization has led to an exponential increase of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. A simple graph shows the increase over time. These gases trap heat.

By the same token, this increase correlates with the rise of global temperatures and climate change.

My simple question is this: does anybody believe that we will survive as a species after destroying the ecosystems of Mother Nature?

I cherish Satvika’s grandfather’s wisdom, and I hope it will reach many hearts and minds across the world.

“We are all interconnected with each other and everything else in Nature, so keep doing what you can. Spend as much time in Nature as you can and love her more. For she is you.”