Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, August 7, 2021

OPINION 13 
Mountain Views News Saturday, August 7, 2021 OPINION 13 
Mountain Views News Saturday, August 7, 2021 
MOUNTAIN 

VIEWS 

NEWS 

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR

Susan Henderson 

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR 

Dean Lee 

PRODUCTION 

SALES 

Patricia Colonello 
626-355-2737 
626-818-2698 

WEBMASTER 

John Aveny 

DISTRIBUTION 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Stuart Tolchin 
Dinah Chong WatkinsAudrey SwansonMary Lou CaldwellKevin McGuire 
Chris Leclerc 
Bob Eklund 
Howard HaysPaul CarpenterKim Clymer-KelleyChristopher NyergesPeter Dills 
Rich Johnson 
Lori Ann Harris 
Rev. James SnyderKatie HopkinsDeanne Davis 
Despina ArouzmanJeff Brown 
Marc Garlett 
Keely TotenDan Golden 
Rebecca WrightHail Hamilton 
Joan Schmidt 

Mountain Views News 
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for the City of SierraMadre; in Court CaseGS005940 and for the 
City of Monrovia in CourtCase No. GS006989 and 
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Madre, California, 91024.
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Mission Statement 

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Integrity will be our guide. 

STUART TOLCHIN 


PUT THE LIGHTS ON 

YOU ARE HERE 

In the early years of television, which were

also my own early years, one of my favorite programs 

was YOU ARE THERE. The program presented an 

historical event as if it was happening in the present.

On hand were real news reporters questioning the 

participants about what was going on. I imagine

Walter Cronkite asking General Washington why he 

was standing up in the boat during his crossing of the

Delaware River. 

Maybe that particular incident never was dramatized but I do rememberreal reporters being on the scene. Not only Walter Cronkite but also Bill Stout 
and Grant Holkomb and maybe Eric Sevaride and Charles Collingwood andperhaps even Edward R. Murrow. My point is that these were the real news 
men making history real and made watching something other than cartoons andHowdy Dowdy important to a 7 year old.

70 years late I realize I really wanted to know what was happeningTHEN but I am very fearful (I want to say PETRIFIED but that is too extreme)
of learning what is happening NOW. As you obviously know there is so muchgoing on, so much to talk about but I have so little of relevance to say. Yes 
there is global warming and connected horrendous heat waves, there are fires 
raging, people out of work living in the streets, the pandemic continues and newvariants appear that threaten even our children. There is so much confusion that 
leaving the house venturing to an indoor restaurant requires an act of bravery. 
There are water shortages in some places, food shortages in others and Iran isbuilding up its nuclear arsenal.

Seriously, the continuance of human life is being threatened, probably 
most all of us think about it but really don’t have much to say. Educated friends, 
of similar politics, casually say stuff like “Well human beings have been around 
a long time and almost all species eventually become extinct and soon it will beour turn and by then I won’t be around.”

I have heard childless adults say proudly that they are pleased that theyhave not brought children into this world who would have to face the eventualcoming disaster. HELP.

What have I done? I AM HERE and I have done nothing but complain and 
look for someone or something to blame. Racism, Police brutality, inadequateeducation, continuing and increasing economic disparity, EVIL corporations 
and their elected puppets, a failing system of separation of powers and a money 
run democracy. There are too many reasons to name and too few solutions.

I applaud and was moved by the actions of Representative Corey Bushwho slept for four days on the Capitol Steps that resulted in executive action thatforestalled evictions for awhile.I think her action is the kind of action that must 
be taken by populations around the world. Nonviolent but dramatic actions that 
show a willingness to be uncomfortable and silently scream for change.

Meanwhile I have done nothing and have allowed myself to be concernedwith life’s usual trivia and much about my article not being understood or 
complain about the price of football tickets.

Yes, you and I are HERE right now, we are witnessing what is going on 
around us but keeping our eyes closed. Is there a Walter Cronkite or Edward 

R. Murrow around an educated, experienced person who can lead us out of 
this wilderness? Whatever happened to Charlie Rose – Oh, like everything else 
maybe it’s better not to talk about it.
ENJOY YOUR SUMMER! 
DINAH CHONG WATKINS 


CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE WRONG KIND 
EVERYDAY OLYMPICS 

“Citius -Altius -Fortius”. Latin for “Faster, Higher, 
Stronger” is the inspiring motto for the Olympics. Brawny 
for some, lithe for others, a lifetime of training and split-
second decisions will hopefully take them to the winner’spodium. 

But to be an Olympic-caliber athlete takes perseverance, dedication and anatural talent so few are willing to invest in. The singular focus these athletes 
live with day in and day out can be almost otherworldly. Unattainablefor the average Joe, Jo or Zhou. 

So what about an “Olympics” for the rest of us? 

Precision Parking. Unless you’re in the downtown core, the majority ofparking spaces require a nose first maneuver, easy enough for First-TimeDrivers and Seniors with glaucoma. The real test is parallel parking on amain thoroughfare with a line of impatient drivers gunning their engineson your rear bumper. After the third try and getting numerous “flipping thebird” from other drivers, you wonder is the anxiety-induced reflux worth itor should you just valet? 

My husband laid down a strip of neon Hazard tape in our garage so I’d stopbacking into his garden tools hanging on the rear wall. Most of the time Iline up the car on the markings - most of the time. 

Chauffeur Relay. Is there no better example of crystal-clear communicationneeded between teammates when relaying your dependents from home 
to school/friends/doggie daycare and back again? Woe to the competitorwho forgets or is delayed on their turn. They will incur immediate and longterm silent treatments from the “human-like baton”. Being the last one to 
be picked up is eerily similar to being the last one chosen on the dodgeball 
team at recess. Spare yourself years of family therapy bills, and add those 
pick-up times on your Google calendar alerts. 

Fabric Hurdles. Three and a half foot high piles of clothes intermingled withdamp towels, sneakers and permission slips from last month’s class tripform a constantly changing landscape, challenging even the most nimbleplayer to navigate the rooms with speed and avoid falling into a batch of 
ripe, tighty-whities. 

100 meter Dash. Otherwise known as Black Friday, this event combinesspeed, strategy and well placed elbow shots. Winning competitors will playthis as a team sport with Number 1 Son tasked with fighting through thecrowds to grab the deeply discounted 80” HDTV, Mom and Dad shellingout the credit card with the not-terribly useful bonus airline miles, Number 
2 Daughter checking out the app ShopSavvy for the lowest price and 
Grandma loaning them her Handicap Parking placard for close access tothe entrance. 

Garden Wrestling. Digging out shrubs and hedges, pruning 12 foot tall,
spiked sago palms, hauling 50 pound bags of mulch and organic fertilizer;
it’s the Grand MHA SmackDown - the Mixed Horticulture Arts with Nature 
as the mother-of-all competitors. Sub-specialties include injury-freelawn mowing, fending off neighbor’s complaints about your high decibelleaf blower, anti-itch remedies for Poison Oak, and decoding wildlife droppings 
in your backyard. 

While the Olympics roll around every fours years or so, we of the non-elites,
the average, the ones who will never receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze medalbut get a paper Participation Certificate instead, we may forego the Winner’s 
podium but can lift ourselves up with this inspirational-like motto 
taped on our refrigerator doors - “Facilius - Tranquillus - Sapidus” (Easier 

-Calmer -Tastier). 
Email me at dinah@aletterfromabroad.com 

Read more at: https://aletterfromabroad.wordpress.com 

RICH JOHNSON NOW THAT’S RICH! 
KID QUOTES AND WISDOM? 


Jesus once said (and it was documented by His disciple 
Matthew): “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become 
like children, you will never enter the kingdom 
of heaven.” 

I have always taken those words seriously. Any of you 
who know me can attest to the fact I act like a child... 
nanner nanner! No, not child-ish (though sometimes)…
rather child-like. I can act like an adult when 
it is absolutely necessary. But I limit those adult like 
activities to the rare moments. 

A Facebook post caught my attention and delighted me with childish wisdom 
and perspective. I added to the abbreviated post and hope you enjoy these jewels 
of rhetoric. And please, pass them along. 

Teacher: Maria, go the map and find North AmericaMaria: Here it is 
Teacher: Correct. Now, Class, who discovered AmericaClass: Maria 

Teacher: Glenn, how do you spell “crocodile”?
Glenn: K-R-O-K-D-I-A-L 
Teacher: No, that’s wrongGlenn: Maybe it’s wrong, but you asked me how I spell it (Love it) 

Teacher: Clyde, your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s. 
Did you copy his paper?
Clyde: No, sir; it’s the same dog 

Teacher: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps talking when people are 
no longer interested?
Harold: A teacher 

Violet: (crying hysterically)
Mom: Violet, What’s wrong? Why are you so upset?
Violet: Because I can’t get this shirt to work!
Mom: Violet, honey…You can’t get the shirt to work because they are pants 

6 year old: Why am I sick?
Mom: You have a virus. 
6 year old: No, why am I sick now? It’s not a school day! 

Mom: I’m so lucky to be your mom.
6 year old: I’m so lucky to have so many LEGOs. 

Are we taking the stairs or the alligator? Royal, age 4I pledge allegiance to the flag of Captain America Isla, age 3Mom, I’m getting a cold…or a flute! Clara, age 4 

(With a stuffed up nose) Mommy, my nose isn’t working. I need a new one please. 
Benji, age 3I will miss you while I’m sleeping. Bryce, age 4 

Sometimes I like to listen to Taylor Swift in my room and cry about cats that have 
died. Hannah, age 6 

Have a good week. Please support your city’s local businesses: restaurants, retail 
shops, etc. They can use the business.