Reflections on the 4th of July
Mysteries are appetizers to the uncertainties of life. They raise questions, which challenges us to find the answers. Sometimes we do. Sometimes we do not. Yet, it is interesting to engage in this exercise. History is the same. It contains mysteries to be solved. They can be of the past, present, or future. Adopting this perspective can add spice to pepper our lives.
It is well known how important it is to live a busy life, particularly as we age. A valuable way to do this is to be a volunteer. It adds value to our lives, particularly since we are serving others with our time. I do so by writing this column and serving on the Board of the Hayward Area Historical Society. I also serve as a docent on the USS Potomac, which was the yacht used by Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was President. Its home is at Jack London Square and is open to the public. There is much to learn when visiting the ship. It is also entertaining. Among the opportunities provided by the Potomac are to take cruises on the bay. As a ship, it also contains mysteries. One happened on July 4th. It came from an unexpected person and was about the present and future. Yet, it was based upon the past.
A young boy of twelve was on the ship with his mother and younger sister. He was polite and interested in the history of the ship. He was also sharply dressed and wore a bow tie. Yes – a bow tie! I asked why? His mother answered the question. She explained that he dresses to suit his sense of life as he wants to live it. His perspective was born from watching a movie about another ship and era. The movie appeared in 1997. It was about an event in 1912 – the sinking of the Titanic. It was made before the boy was born. Yet, it created an interest in his heart and mind. It was not only about the ship. It was about the era and the way people dressed and acted. He saw something that appealed to his sense of self, as well as to how he wanted to live his life.
What he saw was an appreciation for elegance and style. He also saw expressions of dignity, and an affinity for the romance of life. Other factors attracted his attention, such as protocol and manners. The same with propriety and civility. He became fascinated with the era and the people that populated it. He decided to live in this moment and into the future in a manner that includes these factors. Our contemporary zeitgeist, he feels, is empty of elegance. Therefore, it is up to him to live with a purpose, which includes adding these values to pursue a life of propriety and dignity. He seeks, like a modern Montaigne, to live a good life. With that, he has written a script for how to live. He is the lead actor, director, and producer.
As he left the Potomac with his mother and sister, I shook his hand and thanked him for discussing his life with me. I told him that he is an amazing young man. I felt privileged to talk with him. He smiled and thanked me. He felt the same about me. Among his characteristics are those of being quiet, observant, respectful, polite, curious, and interested in the world around him. His home is in New Mexico. I shall never see him again. Yet, I will continue to think about him. In another thirty years he would make a good President of the U.S. To volunteer on the USS Potomac is a rewarding way to spend time. Being on board on the 4th of July added value. Meeting an exceptional young boy was a gift. I learned from him. It also enhanced my hope for the future of our country. As the boy and I talked, I felt the presence of FDR. He was also listening and learning from the young boy. The Potomac, after all, was his ship to use when he was President. He felt good about the boy and his potential to become like him – a President. It was a good day to be on the bay on the USS Potomac.
