Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, May 6, 2023

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Mountain View News Saturday, May 6, 2023 

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


Little “Purr” 
Besties—NOVA 
& COSMO

These two tuxedo 
brothers are super-
duper friendly! 
Cosmo has the 
cutest little "milk 
mustache" and 
Nova has a white blaze in the middle of his 
sweet face. Nova is fearless. When something 
loud, big or scary happens, he runs to it. He 
is a adventurer in that he investigates every-
thing and has no fear of failing at a physical feat. And he never gives up. He runs up to humans 
for affection all the time. Cosmo is a sweet, playful kitty that has to live in his brother’s 
shadow. He’s more timid than his brother but in a normal kitten way. They are a good pair. 
They play together some and alone. Please adopt together. They will come neutered, vaccinated, 
tested negative, microchipped, and more! See more cute pictures of them on our 
website’s Very Young page. www.lifelineforpets.org.


ONLY A PIECE OF PAPER?

[Nyerges is an educator and author of many books, such as “Urban Survival 
Guide,” “Extreme Simplicity ,” and others. More information can be had at 
www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

I was finishing a long conversation with a man, and he mentioned that he 
and his mate had been together for three years.

“Oh,” I replied. “Do you plan to get married?” “Nah,” he said, almost disdainfully. 
“We don’t need a piece of paper.”

“Huh,” I responded. “what do you mean, a piece of paper?”

“You know,” he told me, “the marriage certificate. It’s just a piece of paper.”

“Oh,” I replied, letting it sink in, wondering if he really believed that or if it was just his 
excuse to not make a commitment. I wanted to engage him in a conversation about that, 
but it was the tail end of a long conversation and my time was short. I said goodbye, and 
learned some months later that the two split up and went their own separate ways. Their 
relationship was not based on a piece of paper, but what was it based upon? Is marriage 
just a “piece of paper”?

We’ll come back to this, but first let’s look at how we regard other “pieces of paper.”

Money, in one form, is just paper, isn’t it? We accept it as a real form of exchange for whatever 
number is written on it, and we work for it, and trade with it. We even sometimes 
give those papers as gifts.

But money is not just any piece of paper. You and I cannot print documents on our printers 
and call them “money.” Governments contract to have those papers printed on special 
papers and they control those papers along with all the banks they work with. Yes, there 
is fraud and counterfeiting, but somehow we regard what those papers represent as “real,” 
and we live our lives with that paper called money. Certainly, money is more than just a 
piece of paper.

Then there are college degrees. Some have said that an academic degree is just a piece 
of paper, as in the popular movie The Paper Chase. Maybe, maybe not. After all, does 
the student spend two, four, maybe six or more years just for a pretty piece of paper? Of 
course not! And it is really not the paper they are after, but rather what doors it can open 
in society and in the work place.

I have known academic doctors who were detailed experts in their fields, fields that they 
had a special passion for. They earned their degrees and they proudly displayed their paper. 
But it was not the paper they worked for it was the knowledge, and the door-opening, 
and the key to further research and knowledge.

I have also met brilliant individuals who eschewed the higher degrees. I remember Anthropologist 
Paul Campell whose wife always wanted him to get his pHd, and he would 
not do so. He would not do so not because he was lazy, or poor, but because he despised 
oth-er academics with higher degrees who acted as if their degree, per se, conferred special 
wisdom on them. Campbell loved knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and felt there 
was no reason to take the time to earn the degree. 

The piece of paper called the degree is primarily the symbol that you did the foundation 
work so that you could continue in your chosen field. One could always call into question 
the value of that paper by maligning the institution that awarded it, but that often is 
nothing more than academic hair-splitting. The paper is, essentially, the proof that you 
did your basic work.

Then there are so many other papers in our society that we need and embrace, and treat 
like holy relics. What about the Trust Deed to your home? Would anyone say that is 
“just” a piece of paper?

Getting back to marriage.

I have heard the pros and cons many times about the value, or lack thereof, of getting married. 
Marriage is not a piece of paper; the paper is merely society’s recognition that two 
people made a loving commitment. If there is no commitment present, there is no marriage. 
The piece of paper merely reflects the personal, inner commitment. Then, those 
two people will together face a life of challenges, heartbreaks, pain, joys, experiences, children, 
and will hopefully learn more about one another and grow stronger in their love and 
commitment. That’s the ideal. We all know it doesn’t always happen that way. 

Just having that “piece of paper” is no guarantee of a successful marriage. But the lack of 
it can cause serious problems, such as when one partner is hospitalized, or when there are 
financial issues, or when one party dies. The “piece of paper” becomes the legal power to 
help get things done in the legal eyes of society. And the piece of paper does not guarantee 
that the marriage will not end in divorce – that’s is wholly up to the two parties. As to 
what makes a marriage successful, well, that’s another topic entirely.

Incidentally, have you ever wondered how likely “arranged” marriages are to succeed? In 
many countries, parents still select two young people to be married. Interestingly, the 
success and divorce rate among arranged marriages is about the same as other marriages 
where the two parties decided on their own to tie the knot. 

Marriage is a unique intimate relationship and learning patience and cooperation and 
many other skills are some of the keys to its success. It is far more than “a piece of pa-per,” 
though the paper is the outward symbol of that relationship.


Pet of the Week

 This big ball of fluff might look like a polar bear, but he has 
the sweet disposition of a teddy bear. Meet Samoyed/Husky 
mix Arctic! This handsome guy is also a social butterfly. He 
adores everyone he meets and happily goes from person to 
person getting pets, scratches and whatever treats you happen 
to have ready. Arctic has become quite a star at Pasadena 
Humane; he is a volunteer favorite, and the volunteers love 
taking him out to the play yard for games of fetch or frolicking 
in the kiddie pool. He also finds it hilarious to jump out 
of the pool and shake out his beautiful coat right next to you. 
Arctic responds well to training- he knows some basic commands 
already and is ready to learn more. Come meet stunning 
Arctic today! The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All 
dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-
appropriate vaccines. New adopters will receive a complimentary 
health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, 
as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. 
View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.
org. Adoptions are by appointment only, and new adoption 
appointments are available every Sunday and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. 
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email.


WHAT: Love, Dolly. A musical entertainment 
celebrating the life and career of Dolly Parton.

WHO: Starring Kim Eberhardt, David Kirk 
Grant and Chris Booke. Presented by Sierra 
Madre Playhouse.

WHERE: Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra 
Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. This is just 
east of Pasadena. Ample free parking is available 
in lots behind the Playhouse and across the street, 
as well as street parking.

WHEN: June 9- June 18, 2023. Fridays and Saturdays 
at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.

ADMISSION: $45. Seniors (65+) $40. Youth (21 
and under) $25. DISCOUNTS: Teen tickets (age 
13-19) are available at $5.00 through the TeenTix 
Pass program. Go to our website to learn more. 
Group discounts are available for groups of ten or 
more. Go to our website to learn more.

RESERVATIONS: (626) 355-4318.

ONLINE TICKETING: http://sierramadreplayhouse.
org

CONSUMER ADVISORY: Suitable for all ages.

Covid-19 information: The wearing of masks is 
recommended.



For the first time ever, Sierra Madre Playhouse 
presents Love, Dolly, the #1 Dolly Parton tribute 
act on the West Coast, on its stage!

Kim Eberhardt talks and sings like country legend 
Dolly Parton, and performs her beloved hits 
like "9 to 5," "Jolene," "Islands in the Stream," and 
"I Will Always Love You" with her live band of 
musicians. This is a country party you've just got 
to see!

Audiences call Love, Dolly “Perfection!” “An awesome 
show with heartfelt stories and toe-tapping 
songs!” “A wonderful, uplifting evening!” “A definite 
must-see!” “It’s the BEST!”

Kim Eberhardt’s love of Dolly Parton began 
young, early in her performing life, and was only 
enriched when she was cast as the Dolly Parton 
role in the stage musical 9 to 5. Kim’s award-
winning show business career as a multi-talented 
singer, actress, dancer, and cho-reographer has 
taken her all over the world.

Also starring in Love, Dolly are professional musicians 
David Kirk Grant on Guitar/Vocals and 
Chris Booke on Bass. David has over 30 years of 
experience performing in live bands and in musical 
theater all over the world. Chris has performed 
with some of the most re-nowned musicians 
in the best jazz clubs, regional theaters, and 
cruise ships.

Kim says “This show is my love letter to Dolly. 
It’s an honor to perform some of the best-known 
and most beloved Dolly songs while sharing wonderful 
and inspiring stories about Dolly’s life and 
career. She is a national treasure!”

The Sierra Madre Playhouse, a non-profit organization, 
is a performing arts center. It has widened 
its range from plays and musicals to also include 
presentations of classical and popular music, 
films, storytelling, solo shows and dance.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com