Part III of III
Rounding out the many things I learned this year:
Game Changer – My favorite video of MTV’s heyday was ‘Take on Me’ by A-ha. You may recall the creative rotoscope animation that took 16 weeks to draw. What I didn’t know until recently is the EV revolution origin story is tied to the Norweigan band. Three years after taking home six Video Music Awards in 1986, lead singer Morten Harket and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen were in Switzerland, where they bought a Fiat Panda that had been converted to run on a battery and shipped it home. Then they started driving in bus lanes, parking illegally and skipping paying tolls to gain attention and encourage classification of electric vehicles. It worked. A year later, the government changed the law. Today 87% of cars sold in Norway are rechargeable and 98% of its electricity is renewable. Turns out A-ha wasn’t gone in a day.
Standing Out – When tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon, it made international sports headlines. When gymnast Simone Biles – the GOAT – chose not to participate in several events at the Summer Olympics, the mental health of athletes became front page news. It is an issue that impacts everyone, not just famous athletes; however, when those at the height of their profession show the vulnerability and candidness to openly discuss their challenges, it benefits all of society. The Houston-raised Biles definitely deserves to be TIME magazine’s Athlete of the Year.
Gift Giving – While there still are no grandkids in our family, our youngest gifted us this year with the most wonderful grand-dog: a German Shepherd/Beagle mix. He’s just about the smartest dog on the planet. Austin Pets Alive! is a no-kill rescue in the largest no-kill city in the country. When it began in 1997, the kill-rate in the Texas capital city was 87%. Today, the save-rate is 97%. Whether there or in your community, consider contributing to a no-kill shelter. Your gift might lead to a child – or a wannabe grandparent – getting a rescue dog or cat they’ll fall in love with… just like I have with Moonshine.
I’ll conclude, as always, with a quote about the most wonderful time of the year: “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie
Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Seasons Greetings. May the year ahead bring many blessings and much joy to you and your family… and continued success in all things.
