Ann Carol Goldberg

Helen Keller as we all know is renowned for overcoming severe sight and hearing handicaps devoting her adult life to improving the lot of the disabled. Her name is recognized by millions, her life story is familiar to so many. In a recent visit to her birthplace and museum in Florence, AL, I learned so much more about her family life beyond the classic stories of her growth, development and nurturing by tutor and governess Annie Sullivan.  

Helen lost her sight and hearing at 19 months and quickly became the focus of attention by her parents Arthur and Kate Adams Keller. In that regard, I wondered about the impact of her afflictions on her siblings and the reactions of her 4 siblings; two half brothers, James and William Simpson, sister Mildred Campbell Keller and brother, Phillip Brooks Keller. Did they feel equally loved by their parents or ignored in deference to the energy, anguish and devotion given to Helen in learning to overcome her handicaps.  In her 9th year, she was enrolled in the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA and left her birthplace in Florence. She reportedly did not return home to live after this move.

On the museum tour, the docents highlighted her parents success and wealth, living on a 640 acre plot of land. They touted the continuing success and brilliance of the modern day Keller family engaging in highly regarded careers,  The continuation of the family line reportedly is due to Helen’s sister Mildred with three daughters to carry on.  

Little is known or documented of the lives of Helen’s two older half sibs; James Keller b abt 1869-In 1900 living with cousins and grandmother in AL, unmarried and William Simpson Keller b abt 1876-In 1929 living in Alabama married to Annie, Civil Engineer (Highway) for the State of Alabama. Neither James or William had children to carry on the name. Not unexpectedly we learned that her half siblings were quite affected by their neglectful upbringing, both leaving Florence for elsewhere in AL.  James is quoted as saying “I feel overlooked much of the time with Helen getting all of the attention.”  James is believed to have died young, in the early 1900’s, but the circumstances are unknown.    

Her full fledged sibs were Phillips Brooks Keller b abt 1892-1n 1920 living in TX, unmarried, Civil engineer and sister Mildred Campbell Keller 1886-1969 in Montgomery AL, married to Laban Tyson. their 3 children were: Katherine b abt 1910, Patty b abt 1915 and Mildred b abt 1918, responsible for carrying on the family name. 

William James, a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher said of Helen Keller in 1908, “Whatever you were or are, you’re a blessing.” http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_James
Indeed she was a blessing to many but how often we do not learn of the realities of life and living and the affects individuals have upon one another. I just wanted to share these glimpses into the back stories of a personality we have all come to know and revere. 

The images; the Helen Keller museum and the famous pump, site of the triumph of Annie Sullivan tapping Helen’s understanding of language. 

Tasks on this day; Seeking a little humor and distraction on this day after the election debacle. Seeking sights to see while we wait for service on our motor coach in Red Bay, Al;  trying to see it all as we travel down new roads.

After lunch at Swamp Johns, mentioned in the former blog, we set off toward the Coon Dog Cemetery a few miles down the road we are on. This is certainly a remote part of Alabama and is listed as a must see, worth the drive.  The site is unique, peaceful and quiet and there are no crowds. Paul and I were alone.

The Coon dog is highly regarded in this part of the US and the love of these pets certainly shines in this Cemetery. The first grave was dug in 1937 and took off from there. It is a field of graves, all adorned with plastic flowers, American flags, dog collars, photos, loving comments and a great variety of headstones dating from ’37 to the present. We were joined by a mom and daughter from Birmingham, Al trying to see as many highlights of the area as possible in two days. We talked, suggested places to visit and pranced together among the graves exclaiming over the dogs names, ages at death (up to 18 years old) and delighted with our visit to yet another unique site.

Enough gab, photos tell it best.

Such a strange turn of events this week, the Supreme Court does not reign so Supreme, The Hobby Lobby decision forces yet another setback for women thwarting individual needs and valuable health care choices, Israel mourns young lives once again, Iraq is burning, the Ukraine is burning, Afghanistan is electing, GM is scorched, the first major hurricane is brewing, Brazil is raising the global popularity of football (soccer), Cuba’s face is changing, Great Britain is weighing major decisions toward loyalties and affiliations, illegal aliens are getting younger and younger and more desperate and I just learned that Willie Nelson is releasing a new album featuring his original compositions at 81 years of age and in April, earned his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul. This just skims the top of the barrell of world news. 

My message to John goes like this; but, first of all, John is John Nugent, Producer/Artistic Director Extraordinaire of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, version 13. June, 2014.

Dear John;
Here it is, so fast in coming, the days just after the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival ends. The question is now what to do today…the rest of the week. How to fill the time that for nine explosive days were filled with listening to samples, picking the first draft of our schedule for the evening, striving to get to several events in one evening on our beloved Jazz pass.

What a shining festival year this has been, so fully packed and over in a blink. The 13th season of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival was grand. For me, this was the year of the vocalist. While many of the instrumental groups still place high on my favorites list, I was struck by the supreme talents of female singers such as Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lorraine Klaasen, Karrin Allyson, Phaedra Kwant, Cyrille Aimee, Ester Rada, and of course, Catherine Russell, Diane Shuur (both known and loved) and so many more.

You have broken last year’s record for number of attendees, offered and exceptional number of varied performances, feature the luxury of all venues within walking distance negating the need for long drives, shuttles or other hassles to get between events and kept Rochester top on the map for international jazz festivals. How I thank you for the opportunity to sample and hear music I would not find on my own, to meet new people that often lead to lasting friendships, and to renew other friendships.  No more to be said as you hear from a multitude of attendees with advice and their own words of wisdom.  So I wish you a good year and will go now to my playlist to listen to some of the gems from this years 13th edition of the Jazz Festival.

Ann Carol Goldberg
cgstudio.net

Random thoughts; first of all, thanks everyone for your good wishes for our milestone anniversary. We were blown over by the messages.

Second, as many of you know we are obsessed by the Rochester International Jazz Fest and hardly able to concentrate on our daily life activities without humming, skipping, singing and praising the many memorable performances we are attending. A few highlights have been Akiko Tsuruga (Hammond Organ), Lorraine Klaassen, phenomenal African singer, interpreter and natural-born entertainer, Two Siberians–guitar and violin actually from Siberia and unique and entertaining, Woody Pines, funky and intriguing playing and singing (duo guitars, harmonica, drum, kazoo), The Brubeck Brothers quartet, celebrating their dad’s legacy and talented in their own right, Les Doigts De L’Homme Quintet, picking and singing their way into your hearts.

However, I am blown away at the talent of Cecile McLorin Salvant, a singer, interpreter and true entertainer. We saw her first show at Kilbourn and tried to return for the 2nd but word got around so we could not get in. Once in, no one leaves the hall. She revived songs from 1905 and 1920 (Nobody sung in her style was like a mystery story, even though you anticipate the ending–a long, breathy, sigh — the word “you”). She works the audience, seeming to interact with each and every person in the audience so you feel she is singing for you. Gorgeous in her white rimmed glasses, turquoise/blue dress and bright white HIGH heeled shoes with ankle strap, her apparently 4 octave vocal range, varied uses of intonation, brilliant interpretations, and regard for her band are extraordinary.

And she was introduced as “an up and coming talent.”  I think she has reached that category and will hopefully become a house hold name. Now back to the computer to plan our next Jazz festival jaunt. It is so hard to choose.

Ann Carol Goldberg

I haven’t written a Message in a Minute in several months–too busy gathering adventures and images, but I have to much to share with you.  Today on my mind the joy of reaching 50 years of bliss married to a great guy. June 21st, 1964, a hot, summer day. We are still so much in love, best of friends and gathering so many adventures, trying to cram everything we have dreamed about into our lives.

I find joy in sharing my thoughts with friends and getting your feedback on your life adventures, ups, downs and the wonders of daily living. My hopes are that human kind will work harder to save the environment for future generations and to lessen the hatred and hopelessness we have seen spread as we travel the world and work together to reach goals that should not be unattainable.

More posts to come. Thanks for being such good friends and acquaintances and a good life to all.

Ann Carol Goldberg

On the eve of an extended travel adventure, my excitement is tempered by many thoughts. I will miss the many personal and electronically enabled bits of communication with all of you dear family members and friends. We have been anticipating this journey for several months and it now is actually going to happen; we hope according to the plan.  From our first stop in Kiev, across the lands that form Russia, to China, Tibet, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and more. What a dream trip. What unexpected encounters we face with people of all walks of life, both natives of the areas we visit and those traveling as we are, to learn, discover and be amazed at this great big world we inhabit.

The political temperature in our home land is soaring and we hope for some good resolution as we soar across thousands of miles, 12 time zones, hearing many languages and traveling via airplane, bus, boat and balloon. Upon our return, we hope that our beloved USA is in good stead, that we can keep the amazing places we have visited clear and straight and have the chance to share our adventures with all of you that are interested.

We wish you all good health, a beautiful fall and holiday season and many adventures ahead.

Journal item; 4 surgeries, 1 month 


Procedure #1; Westfall Surgical Center, Dateline; July 23rd, 2013 surgery to remove mucus cyst on index finger-left hand. Grandson Tal,10, flying into Rochester from summer camp in Wisconsin by himself and the help of Delta's air escort service. 

Storyline, while under local anesthesia, my purse “rang out” across the room--my cell phone. To my shock, the nurse handed me the purse and said go ahead, answer it. I spoke to Tal and then his escort updating his arrival time 5 hours late from Detroit, after a rainy delay.

Later I queried the surgeon about the nurse's action. He said no problem but was glad I am not Italian (hand talk). I responded, I am not Italian but still talk with my hands--NO WAY was I going to gesture with that left hand undergoing the knife.

Still having the surgeon's ear, I complained that last year the thumb joint was reamed and I had a “noticeable”, large purple bandage (being offered a color choice). This time the bandage was once again large but boring beige, with no choice offered. What gives?



Trouble! Dateline; August 1st, Storyline, I fell while “fiddling” with shopping bags and such, not watching foot placement. Urgent care than an evening in emergency, a Ct scan and big ice packs. Diagnosis, Zygoma and orbital wall fractures. Not good, painful, black and blue. Appointment in a week with a facial reconstruction surgeon at Strong.



Procedure #2; Brighton Surgical Center, Dateline; Aug 8th.  Storyline. first cataract procedure, right side as scheduled, given the go by the Doctor, much to my amazement. The AC was blowing furiously and lo and behold, blankets appeared—warm and heaven sent. I was covered with 3 and stopped shivering.

Surgery went well, I slept through and then heard the words, “wake up you are done.” Wow, I can now read with my right eye—monocular vision is my chosen plan and I was warm and comfortable for the duration of the stay in recovery. 



Procedure #3; Strong Surgical Center, Dateline; Aug 15th;  Storyline; Procedure involving facial reconstruction and more TLC, with blessed warm blankets. I am getting very spoiled. Surgery lasted about 110 minutes, half of the estimated time, the surgeon finding less damage than at first suspected. I stayed overnight, foggy, in pain, but warm by, yes, warm blankets and lots of caring staff. Home the next day. Taking care to follow directions for a successful recovery. 



Procedure #4; Brighton Surgical Center once again. Dateline; August 27th, Storyline; left eye  cataract replacement postponed only one week. How amazing in light of my recent facial surgery. Again, warmed by those blankets and a caring staff. Surgery went well, I was aware this time of work being performed on the eye. The surgeon remarked that often that is the case for the second eye.



Update; Now into the month of September, a month of new beginnings. My index finger and two cataracts are healing well, my face is no longer a colorful mask and I can now pay attention to those whom I have had to “ignore” but thought of so often. I wish everyone Jewish a wonderful and healthy new year, a good fall season to all and the ability to savor every moment of the day, seek the beauty of this world and witness healing among nations. 

Ann Carol Goldberg