​Weathering the Storm with the WP#200

First and foremost, a happy and healthy new year to all who read my crazy, personal, and sometimes professional blogs. They, of course, have evolved, depending on the situation and I expect, as long as I continue to write these blogs, they will continue to do so. It is crazy to think that this is the 200th entry which started back in 2020 to help me and turns out, others, to get through the pandemic and yes, it helped and last week, was a very of the year in review. I still find that it helps me to get through some weeks and, I suspect, it will in the future. ​

An event happened before the new year started and one that also had me reflecting to a time, a very long time ago. I had thought about it at the time, almost a year ago, when Rosa and I were in Las Vegas to get married, and we did other things. I remember, after we filed our paperwork, we were strolling back towards our hotel, and having once upon a time, been a fan of Pawn Stars, and while it was ‘reality tv, and no, I did not expect to meet any of the crew, we went in there anyway, as it was along the way. I did have a question to ask the employees inside, not just about the stars, but about a signed book I had in my possession. I only mention this as our 39th president died just before the old year ended. ​

Why, you ask, was I interested in this signed copy of a book by Jimmy Carter? Well, I met him many, many years ago at a book signing at a bookstore in Saint Paul, MN called the Hungry Mind Bookstore on Grand Avenue, near Macalester College. Not sure if it exists anymore, but maybe my friends from the Twin Cities can let me know. The date was January. 12, 1994. Former President Jimmy Carter made an appearance at the Hungry Mind Bookstore in St. Paul to sign his latest book,” Turning Point: A Candidate, a State and a Nation Come of Age.” While the moments were fleeting from this anniversary of sorts, 31 years ago, this coming next Sunday, I thought it was important, given his passing a week ago. I don’t if any of those who read this were at that same book signing, but if you were, let me know. ​

I mentioned that I had gone to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop (Pawn Stars), and, not knowing that this last year, would be his last, I asked one of the employees what his autograph would be worth. He was not a rock star, a movie star, or any other type of star, but he was president for a term from 1977 to 1981, and I was not yet old enough to vote, but I do have recollections of that time in history, being a teenager and all that comes with that time of life, so when the chance to “meet” a president was made available through this book signing, I went on what I suspect was a cold January day and I still have that signed book, which brings me back to going to the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. When I asked the employee, if the book, signed by President Carter would have any value, he said the fact that since he had written so many books, and lived such a long life, really, these books would be a dime a dozen. I did not have the book at the time, which is good, since if he had said there was value, I may have gotten rid of it right then and there. ​

For me, it is one of the few books I kept when I was cleaning house and downsizing before I moved to Italy, and in the end, it is a memento of a time in my history and crossing paths with a man who was president, but by all accounts, an extremely honest, hardworking, and passionate individual who truly put service first, as well as living an amazingly full life with his wife of 77 years before she passed a few years ago, compared to the chaos that now overwhelms the world of government on both sides of the pond. While I finally found true love later in my life, I hope that my love for Rosa and my life with her, for as many years as we have together, continues to grow. Maybe that is the lesson learned, beyond the tangible things in life, what is most important in this next year and beyond and that is working and making our marriage better as she and I approach our first year of marriage in February. ​

We won’t make 77 years, but I want every year and, every day, week, month, minute and second to be special, even if life gets in the way. I have met some other celebrities in my lifetime and while it was nice, I feel that my very short meeting at the book signing was impactful, during a time of great chaos in history and in my life, as it is now. His passing, at 100 years of age, is the end of an era I believe, even though the current and next presidents are in their 80’s or soon to be. We will see what happens in this year of 2025 and there are those who are fearful of this next 4 years. I can only control things to a point in my little world here in my little home in Rome, and not the massive outside forces hitting us from everywhere and anywhere. My home, along with my wife, of almost a year is my sanctuary and I think that is how it should be. ​

Although sometimes I have fallen back on bad habits, I still believe that stressing about things about which I have no control, should be limited. I have made no resolutions for the new year, but really, keeping to my new way is what is best. The simplest things in life are the most important and I think Mr. Jimmy would agree and I also had back in the 80’s when I was a road warrior in my first brand new car, a 1986 Hyundai Accent, did my first road trip which included a stop in Plains, GA, and it was as they described. As that time, it was a one stoplight town I believe, or maybe that is simply a faded memory, but for me, it was just cool to go to the small town of a former president, even though I have been to others in my driving days around the US. Not sure I will ever get back there to Mr. Jimmy’s home, but now that he gone, I find myself reflecting a bit more. ​

Thank you as always for your support of our crazy little world in this new year. I am crazy busy with travel planning and after a bit of a holiday, back to teaching at the school. Until next week, stay happy, healthy and safe and if you are ever in Rome, check in with Rosa and me. ​

Note: This was an article confirming the former president’s appearance at the bookstore. The writer of this blog does not have any affiliation or claim to the article, the author and simply used this as a reminiscence of having been there.  https://www.writerscast.com/david-wilk-interviews-hungry-minds-bookstore-founder-david-unowsky/